The woman behind the master

Aruna Vishwanathan plays many roles in hubby and chess maestro Vishwanathan Anand’s life, apart from being a dutiful wife

She gave up a job in advertising to help her sportsman husband, chess grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand, build his career. “Since chess is a very tough sport and takes up a lot of his mental energy, I just try to make things easier for him. I handle his correspondence and logistics. Since time is at a premium, I ensure he enjoys his free time and also relaxes,” says Aruna Vishwanathan.

Aruna says after her marriage it was a natural progression for her to take care of her husband’s work. “As he played more and more tournaments, the stakes kept getting higher. He needed to give his 100 percent to his game. It was practical that we share the work. So I travel with him too, as we both enjoy travelling,” she says.

As a sportsman’s spouse, you get affected by his victory and defeat, perhaps even more than him. 

“When the going gets tough, you have to learn to let go and not put your feelings first. When Anand has had a tough tournament he always tells me, ‘It must have been really tough for you.’ I think it is these moments that bring two people together.” However, there is one thing that Aruna could do without, “The tension!” she says.

Even though she independently handles his work, she needs to consult him for everything. She says,  “From the colour of the walls to more important matters, we discuss everything. Even when he is playing, I make a list of things we need to talk about when he is free.

However, Aruna has not forgotten her advertising days. She says, “Maybe in few years, we would do something together on that front.”

Interestingly, she admits that along with the advantages, there are certain disadvantages of working with one’s husband. She says, “The main thing is to have your free space and be flexible. When Anand is working, I do my own stuff. I like dancing and working with  ceramics.

A sportsperson’s life is determined by the results of their games and so you have to be accommodating at those critical moments, but at the same time you should be careful not to go overboard.”

She continues, “It is also important to have some normal time together as a couple. So we try and get some time to just stay at home and do regular stuff. When we are at home, he helps with laundry and shopping. It is, after all, a normal marriage and it has to have involvement from both sides. I look at it as a partnership,” she says.
s_shubha@dnaindia.net