BALANCE OF POWER
Several high-profile couples in public service say they maintain a fine balance between their personal and professional lives
No room for power play here! Meet high-profile couples from the city, who hold powerful posts in the government. Yet, at home, they are like any other couple. Take the case of Akun and Smita Sabarwal, both holding key posts in the Telangana state government. They have, however, never let their professional power interfere in their relationship.
(Andhra Cadre) IPS Shikha Goel, Inspector General of Police (CISF) and Vijay Kumar, Deputy Director, Ministry of Home Affairs admit that they are like any other couple at home. “We strive to ensure that the atmosphere at home is completely normal. We do sometimes discuss important work related matters, but decisions are absolutely personal. As time is always a constraint, we try to make the best use of whatever little time is available. There is absolutely no competition between us and we are proud of each other’s achievements. We believe in collaborative partnership rather than a competitive one.”
For another couple, IPS Anjani Kumar, Addl DG, Law & Order and Vasundhara, Income Tax Commissioner, work and home is a delicate balance. Both jobs are quite different as the income tax and police departments have different work ethos.
“On many occasions, I don’t tell her the operational secrecy of my department. She also doesn’t share when she has to conduct a raid. Balancing office work with home at times becomes extremely challenging,” says Anjani. However, he admits, “I haven’t felt any kind of competition with my wife and she also feels the same.”
With such busy schedules, how do these couples manage their time at home? Says Vasundhara, “Being the wife of a police officer adds a lot of responsibilities at home as most of the time my husband is doing law and order duty in the Old City of Hyderabad.”
“But as a wife to a serving officer, it gives me immense satisfaction as the service he performs for society is heart wrenching,” adds Vasundhara.
IPS Swati Lakra, Additional Commissioner of Police, Crimes & SIT and IAS Benhur Ekka, Secretary SC Welfare Department manage their careers and relationship quite well. The couple supports each other to do their best. Says Swati, “We don’t bring work home, unless there are important things which need to be discussed. At home, family and our children are our only concern. We do discuss current events at home, but in a lighter vein. We are batchmates, so no extra effort is made to separate personal and professional work. We also try to compensate each other’s absence.”
We don’t bring work home, unless there are important things which need to be discussed. — SWATI LAKRA IPS OFFICER