Vijaya Rajagopal - A lover of challenges

  (An inspiring story)

In almost all modern, well-run, senior citizen Homes that I have visited or stayed in for short durations,  I have found some talented members organize programmes using their specific talents. It could be music, dance, plays, antakshari, quiz, tombola, etc. They are the `Movers & Shakers` of such  Homes. Phase 4 in Nana Nani where I have settled down for the last year is no exception. This article is about Vijaya Rajagopal and her association with Vasanthi Sampathkumar. The duo is popularly known as V2s in the community, who organize innovative, music-based programmes delighting their audiences. Vijaya is the ideas woman who masterminds the programmes and Vasanthi, her co-host, who helps with her suggestions to make the programmes memorable events. The audience loves the chatty, informal style of compering, in Tanglish ( mixing Tamil with English) by  Vijaya,  a master storyteller whose knowledge of our history, arts, culture,   scriptures, music, and Vedas is amazing. Besides Vasanthi she is ably supported by talented singers, dancers, and actors in the community.

 Vijay`s life story is an example of how one can convert challenges into opportunities and make life meaningful and interesting. 

Vijaya spent her early years in Bombay, where her father was working as a director in the Textile Commissioner's office.  The family was living in a four-room apartment in Matunga. Eldest among four siblings Vijaya was a bright student. Though she did her schooling in South Indian Welfare Society`s high school, Wadala , for her college education she was taken to Trivandrum where her grandfather was staying. He wanted her to become a doctor.

Vijaya says, “ I was a state rank holder in PUC and got a seat for medicine with a scholarship. But as my mother  was concerned about my health condition in Trivandrum, she took me  back to  Bombay. I gave up the idea of pursuing  medicine . Instead I got a BSc degree with distinction from S.I.E.S college. When I was  all set  to pursue an MSc fate intervened “

 Her would-be husband Rajagopal, a transport pilot with the Indian Air Force saw her at a family function. It was love at first sight. He made it clear that only  Vijaya would make an ideal wife for him. With determination, he overcame all the objections from both families and married Vijaya at a simple ceremony in their home.

Vijaya says, “ It was such a hurried affair that they forgot to get a photographer to cover the event. You know,  I don't have any photos of my wedding”

Post-wedding she was taken to Gwalior where her husband was posted then.

“ Air Force life was like a bed of roses`` says Vijaya. With her linguistic skills, she adapted herself to the new life well. She actively participated in many of the family events.  The arrival of a daughter and son also made life more challenging and interesting. When life was cruising along beautifully, fate again intervened. Due to health reasons, her husband decided to take voluntary retirement from service. The family first moved to Chennai and then to Madurai. In 1986 when her husband died at the age of 52, she was only 39, faced with the task of bringing up her two teenage children as a single mother.

‘ My daughter was a pillar of strength to me during those trying times. I acquired a B Ed degree from Madurai Kamaraj University, managing challenging assignments in government schools as part of the curriculum” says Vijaya

Then began her long journey as a school teacher where she had an opportunity to tell stories to children based on our epics. Both her son and daughter were well settled by now with their own families- her son living in the USA and her architect daughter who has a daughter, also an architect, settled in Pune. Vijaya successfully ran a Play School from her home in Pune where she moved to be close to her daughter`s home. After 25 years the Covid pandemic prompted its closure.

Vijaya says,” My husband used to say that we should help children as long as they want and then we should live an independent life without responsibilities. When I decided to act upon this idea, I looked at many senior citizens' Homes. With help from a relation, I  zeroed in on Nana Nani, Phase 4 in Coimbatore. I moved into the facility in November 2021.

“The first person I met in the dining hall where I had gone with my granddaughter on the first day was  Vasanthi. She told my granddaughter,  “Your Paati (Grandmother) will be happy here”.

At that time  Vijaya didn`t realize that she would be embarking on a new action-filled life and that with Vasanthi she would be involved in organising many memorable programmes in Nana Nani.

Vasanthi says, “ I was very impressed with Vijaya.  She looked very vibrant and full of life. I knew she would be an asset in our community.”

Vasanthi was brought up in Srirangam, the temple city.  During her student days she was a keen sportswoman. Badminton & basket ball were her favourite games in which she had won prizes at the district level. In 1968, she married  Sampath Kumar, a brilliant student and a rank holder who was working then in Bombay. Within two years he started his own business. The couple  spent the next 53 years in Bombay before they moved to Nana Nani in February 2019 after discharging all their family responsibilities.

“ During my long stay in Bombay, I was never involved  in stage activities. It was Vijaya who discovered me  and trained me to be her deputy in organising events. I have learned a lot from her and continue to do so”

 The first programme the duo organized was Anthakshari. The duo had to persuade the residents to participate in good numbers. It became a hit.  The second event was a Medley with 15 residents participating. In music, a medley is a collection of different tunes and songs that are played one after the other as a single piece of music..The event became so popular in Phase 4 that the team was invited to repeat it for the benefit of residents in Phase 3 & 5 of Nana Nani.

The first theme-based programme, a musical drama scripted and produced by Vijaya, using classical music was, Nandanaar, a Nayanar Saint, who is venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the eighteenth in the list of 63 Nayanars. Though she had not learned Carnatic music, Vijya listens to it every day and believes there is nothing like Carnatic music.

“In Aug 23, I had a stroke and foot drop. I didn’t know if I could ever move but I recovered soon managing with a walker and stayed at home. Thanks to very supportive and helpful friends  I was back in action. I like challenges, that Is why I keep getting challenges, I think” says Vijaya.

Despite Vijaya`s  mobility problem the duo  produced a musical drama on Ramayana using a unique concept.  A rare combination of three storytelling forms to present the venerated Ramayana story. With a running commentary narrated in her inimitable style by  Vijya, interspersed with 39 short and appropriate songs based on lyrics from the works of famous saints like Kabir, Kamban, Tulasidas, Theagaraja, and Mythili Sharan, sung beautifully by a team of 10 talented singers seated on the stage. In addition, the audience witnessed the enactment of selected scenes from Ramayana going with the flow of the story by veteran actors from the community, enhancing the impact of the narration. The repeated applause from the packed audience during the programme and a standing ovation at the end proved the resounding success of the programme.  

Vijaya says “I would write the story first. Team members good at music would provide their expertise. Simultaneously we would decide about the actors who can perform different roles. Then we would rehearse for several days until I  felt  we were ready to go on stage. It was all wonderful team work”

Inspired by the success of Ramayana, the duo presented a  similar show on Lord  Ranganatha of Srirangam fame. The story outline for this was provided by Mythili Narayanan @ Shylaja. This show also became a big hit. 

Their other acclaimed presentations include `Navagrahamum Diskhitarum` featuring the Navagraha Kritis by composer Muthuswami Dikshitar- tracing the evolution of Indian music and a Karaoke-based film music programme titled `Monsoon  Magic` featuring rain-related songs. It was interesting that while this show was going on it was raining heavily outside the Hall.

In addition to her involvement with music-based shows, Vijaya also started learning Sanskrit and Rudram (a vedic mantra)  after coming to Nana Nani. Everyday,  after lunch she also spends some time playing cards. Recently she started learning to play Bridge.

Vijaya  says, “ I don`t think I would have got such opportunities anywhere else. I have no time now. Despite  my  mobility problem, I am thoroughly enjoying my life here”

While Vijaya- Vasanthi duo is popular in the community as organizers of innovative programmes, Vijaya`s life story proves that age and physical problems are no bar to taking on challenges in life and living a fun-filled happy life.  Vijaya is certainly a role model among senior citizens in the community.