November 15 always happens to be a day I rejoice every year. This is the day that gifted me my elder sister, my first friend, my guide, my best critic and above all, only woman who can easily fit into my parents shoes as they slipped away with the time. Today, she is a celebrated HR Professional and feel-good friend to be around for many. What many do not know is the story of a strong woman behind this most-happy-good-looking-globe-trotting HR leader.
Born in a small town called Eluru, in West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh to the parents who welcomed their baby girl. Mother P.G.Sampath Kumari and Father N. Sampath Kumar named her Yamini Venkata Lakshmi (Ya- for the star sign she was born into, Venkata - for their ardently worshipped Lord Balaji for a child after the first baby being a breach born and passing away on third day of birth and Lakshmi - naming after her great grandmother). She was fondly called as SYV Lakshmi in her St.Theresa's school days in Eluru and having born in the era when the ever green Hindi Movie 'Bobby' was released, she was fondly called Bobby at home. She was the most favorite child of her grand mother Sakuntala Bai who raised us and she always used to cuddle her grand mother to sleep, sing songs along, enjoy the moments roaming around with her.
Religious rituals and festivals were grandly celebrated at home and she was always a part of the singing team along with our father. Ayyapa Bhajans used to have her singing her famous song 'Ayya Darshanam...Swamy Ayya Darshanam'.... Chanting Suprabhatam every saturday with our father was a ritual we never used to miss. She was also good at playing badminton with our dad in his office lawns. We both used to tag along with him to movies and eating out alot. She was also part of the singing team of State Government Employees Union Strike and went on the groove the 'Gadar Songs' and the so called 'Viplavanthmaka Telugu Geethalu' during the Emergency Period. This tiny girl was just a daddy's girl doing what ever he wanted her to do. I always had the privilege of taking over her uniforms, books and school bag as the school years slipped by. She had close set of friends unlike me where everyone I know was in the friend list. She used to keep her moments of joy and sorrow private and cherish every close friendship very deeply.
After her 10th grade, parents decided to move her to Chennai for higher studies. From an absolutely care free father to a disciplining authoritative mother, the journey was not easy. Like all typical mothers of those days, we had our own share of restrictions. We were not allowed to talk to strangers, keep the doors open when our mom was not around, not allowed for movies and hanging out with friends, and pocket money was very very limited to basic needs of commutation to school and back home. Those were the days we did not have a gas-connection or even tubelights at home. Yamini beared it all with ease. The change was not easy but her focus was only on getting into an good engineering college at the end of her high school .. She used to longingly wait for our visits to Chennai with our father.. She used to wait for my dad's telephone call to next door Meenakshi aunty's house. Those were the days where inland letters used to bring us updates, happiness and action items. SCIMA soon became her happiest school where she made new set of friends.
She was enjoying her city life until that cold winter morning in January 1992 that shook our lives like nothing else can. Passing away of our father to massive heart attack at the age of 48 leaving behind aged mother, asthmatic wife, three minor girl children, widowed elder sister and affectionate younger sister and her family. The ground under our feet quaked like hell. Just couple of months away from the most important public exams of 12th grade, she had to travel to Eluru to see our dad for one last time. She reached with my mom after 12 hours of train journey and both of us hugged each other and sat next to his still frame watching him all the night. Less did we know that our lives will be changed once for all.
The relocation of the whole family to Chennai, squeezing ourselves from a 4 bedroom house in Eluru to a single room and kitchen with the whole lot of things we decided to keep, life was suddenly changed. We sisters used to find solace in each other, We did not have the time or tide to even grieve as the stress of those times were high. Our mother became more agitated, worried and sick. Frequent hospitalizations, managing without servants or support system, depending on her meager earnings and having three young girls to deal with was becoming too much for my mother who was just in mid forties. Our younger sister Jayanthi was so young to even understand the changes. Bobby suddenly became more responsible, serious and more focused. She used to protect us from my mother's wavering mood swings and situations. For many years, we did not have money to even buy new clothes, go for a movie, or eat one meal out. We had to share what ever my mother could provide us and we used to spend time watching cricket and tennis at home. We used to do all house hold chores, keep our needs very limited and did not dare to argue with our mom.
Yamini did score well in 12th grade, but could not get a seat in Engineering college through the entrance in government college. My mother joined her in Meenakshi College for B.Sc Mathematics. She used to silently go to college and come back in afternoon and do her share of work at home and help her younger sisters. She was the only solace to show love and affection to both of us, as my mother was way too tied up with her office, home, relatives and running errands to pay EB bill, telephone bill, taxes etc. Remember those were the days we did not have internet banking, online payments or mobile phones. We could not afford autos, forget taxies or air planes.
We did have a fun remembrance of squeezing few Rupees to make her go and watch the movie 'Roja' when it got released without our mother's knowledge. She was mad about Nagarjuna and loved to watch all his movies. We as a family were mad about cricket.
Life was becoming stressful for my mom. We had lot of relatives and equally came lot of free advice's instead of help that mattered. My mom strongly believed that she will not take loans nor will lend anyone. She was the master of every penny she earned and spent. Giving the right education and getting us married became her life goals.
During my dad's first year anniversary, my mom was advised to get Yamini married. She was just going to be 18. Within couple of months, proposal for her marriage came in. My mother silently arranged for the meeting of the bride groom at our place. He was 23 and just lost his mother an year back. I became wild. Fought with her and argued with her. But my relatives kept pushing my mother saying it is a good alliance and she should not give up. Finally C.G.Krishnan came into our lives as a Young Bridegroom of the family marrying my sister Yamini when they were 23 and 18 respectively. They looked cute, all smiles, all shy, all innocent. Yamini will go crazy if I share her wedding pics as she looks like a country-fruit...a typical south Indian timid little girl..still in her teens, quite lost in a marriage that was just pushed on her and sudden change in life all over again. She had to drop out of the college after completing just the first year of B.Sc Mathematics.
Here began the evolution of Yamini Krishnan. The timid introvert Yamini found a altogether new life ahead. She moved to Guntur with her young husband and father-in-law who had his own set of rules and things to deal with . Krishnan and Yamini had an amazing set of friends who are still close even today. On her return from her honeymoon to Ooty, she got me my first watch and a hat for Jayanthi. We were elated to get gifts. From that day, she brings us home gifts every time she travels and this became a tradition for her and we enjoy that even today. She used to buy me clothes, slippers and books and also train tickets if we want to visit her. She learnt cooking, keeping up the house beautiful and hosting people and parties. Krishnan stood by her like a rock support encouraging her to pursue her education. She went ahead to continue her studies after marriage. Her husband's frequent and maddening travel gave her time to get back to writing and she started scribbling in her blog 'Maddening Silences' and she continued her poetry. She used to knit and paint.
After 5 years of marriage and after her niece Aishwarya was born, she embraced motherhood with the birth of Ajay. She continued to pursue her education and continious learning. Started her career as a Young HR executive, she found her calling in People Management. She is too good at handling people, networking, negotiation and suddenly all her hidden talents of managing people and process started emerging. Both Yamini and Krishnan enjoy travelling and probably she would have visited 25+ countries in the last 25 years and now handles several countries as part of her job responsibility..
The major turning point came when she decided to do Executive Course in management in IIM Calcutta. From there, there is no looking back. She did put her relentless efforts to learning and completing the course. She became a magnet attracting people and became a go to person to resolve people issues in the Organizations she worked for. Slowly and steadily she grew her career with care along with caring for her family. Hardwork and sincere dedication made her break all barriers pushed into her way. She had her fair share of challenges on home-front that she dealt with utmost courage and confidence. She stood by us at all times and was our gatekeeper when the tsunamis of time was at our doors to succumb us. She dared to call a spade a spade and she was very clear in her thinking, handling things and pushing her self to beat her best everytime.
Despite of her busy and erratic work schedules, she used to take the next available flight from anywhere in the world, the minute she heard that my mother was hospitalized. She used to directly drive down from airport to Sooriya Hospital and sit with my mother and keep working and she did this every single time my mother fell sick. She was there for us sisters and our children no matter what. Her calls are comforting every day. The happiness of having such a strong woman in our lives is a true blessing.
I and Jayanthi did lose our parents soon, but this woman never made us miss them. To her family comes first than anything. Her work is her worship. She loves traveling, driving cars and going on races, dress up bright and lighten up lives around her. She is the strongest influence on my daughter letting her chase her dreams.
Today Yamini Krishnan is a celebrated HR leader, well-established Speaker, amazing poet and writer, very inspiring spouse of a successful Sales Leader in the Industry, very caring mother and aunt, go-to-support sister and a great friend to many.
Every woman can be an achiever. But only few can achieve what Yamini could in life. It is because of the few strong ethical values in which she strongly believes. She motivates people and spreads happiness around...She brings in peace and happiness to our family. She is drafting many a success stories of people around her.
Writing her amazing journey was in my thoughts for long, and there could be no better day than today to jot this down.
Happy Birthday My Darling Sister- You are mine, My Pride...My support system...My best ever friend....You are best inhouse inspiration that we can have. Shine bright my dear Bobby...Love you for ever....
15 Nov 2019.....
