The Youngest Governor of India - Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan

Dr. Tamilisai Soundarajan is the most memed politician in Tamil Nadu (85,600 as per Google search) and the youngest Governor of India. As the state leader for BPJ, she was unfairly targeted by Dravidian goons on social media for her looks. Despite all the disagreements and differences in ideology with the Dravidian parties, Dr. Tamilisai always addressed her fellow politicians as brothers and sisters and welcomed them with a warm smile. 

She always lived up to the adage

Nool alavey aagumaam nunnarivu

Mey laith thava thala vey aagumaam than petra selvam 

Kulathalavey aagumaam gunam

Steeped in Partiarchy

The moment she was appointed as the Governor of Telangana on September 1, 2019, the media and meme creators made a U-turn. Now, they saw her as a daughter of Tamil Nadu going to serve the country and admired her for perseverance, boldness, patience, etc. Television channels and journalists camped outside her house to get a sound-byte from her. This sudden change in behavior brings out bipolar behavior of this society steeped in patriarchy and physical appearance.

Self-made individual

Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan comes from a very respectable family that has been involved in Indian politics for over 50 years. Both her father and uncle (dad’s brother) have a long association with the Congress party. As a young girl, Tamilisai closely observed her father and imbibe the right values. She was also a studious girl who qualified herself in the field of medicine and served the people of Tamil Nadu.

Unlike other politicians who grew in the party ranks due to their birth into a political family or heir politics, Tamilisai was a self-made politician. She served BJP in various roles starting in 1999 and became a full-time politician by mid-2000. She didn’t worry when she had to incur the wrath of her father and endure the bully of her relatives when she chose to join the BJP and not the grand old party.

Admirable qualities

Though Dr. Tamilisai failed to win people’s mandate to serve them as an MLA and MP multiple times, but that didn’t deter her from working harder. She stood her ground and was passionate and committed to see the lotus bloom in Tamil Nadu.

The political world is filled with more men, steeped in patriarchy and lineage and is not the best place for women. Nevertheless, Tamilisai steadily rose among the ranks in the BJP Party and was more respect than her father Kumari Ananthan who served the Congress party for over 50 years.

1999- South Chennai District Medical Wing Secretary in 1999

2001- State General Secretary Medical Wing

2005 - All India Co-Convenor (Medical Wing For Southern States)

2007 - State General Secretary

2010 - State Vice-President

2013 - National Secretary, All India BJP

While meme creators picked on her appearance, they failed to admired her oratory skills, proficiency in Tamil language and her sense of humor.

Next-door personality

Dr. Tamilisai looks like the next-door mother. Her experience and life journey is similar to the plight of every woman in Tamil Nadu and India who are ridiculed for their looks, unappreciated for their hard work and bullied by patriarchy. The only exception is her husband Dr. Soundararajan who stood beside her like a pillar of support. Today, she stands tall, humble and admired. She is a great role model and inspiration for both men and women who want to achieve something meaningful in life.

Thanks to Soundararajan and BJP

I appreciate her husband and children for being supportive and the BJP leadership for recognizing her patriotism, hard work, loyalty and commitment to the party and this nation. 

By giving her the role of a “constitutional authority” they’ve duly recognized “every woman” in Tamil Nadu.  I hope media, meme creators and society will now learn to respect women and the sacrifices they make for the family and nation.

As the youngest Governor, I wish Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan more power and success. I wish more Tamilisais' bloom in this Dravidian land steeped in patriarchy and male chauvinism. 

For your viewing

Please watch some of her interviews before and after the announcement. It is shocking to see unkind comments in the YouTube link before and surprising to see a big U-turn after the appointment announcement.

Before appointment interview: Pay attention to anchor Hariharan's tone and demeanor

After Governor appointment: Observe the change in tone and language of Hariharan

Watch the interview with Dr. Soundararajan and Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan