Nandhini — a life of service

“It really gets to me at times, but I try to maintain a good head in order to deal with everything that’s happening right now,” said Nandhini Rambachan about her life as a “public person”. The wife of Chaguanas Mayor Dr Surujrattan Rambachan, spends many evenings in public functions where Suruj is either carrying out his mayoral duties or conducting devotional service. “I pick and choose the events that I would like to attend. I’d rather cuddle up in bed with a good movie or read a good book than go out there at this time in my life. I have had a lot of the public life and I feel I should choose whether I would like to really go out there.” Nevertheless, she has learnt to enjoy all that is happening around her. She fits into any environment easily and this she says, is as a result of her attaining a diploma in Advertising, Public Relation and Management. Maybe the mayor was preparing her for his public life when he suggested that she study these subjects. As for Nandhini, she has been able to derive happiness from life as the wife of a politician and religious lecturer.

As early as 5.45 am Suruj leaves home for the radio station to host a devotional programme and late into the night his voice is heard again on radio as he is conducting a satsaang somewhere in the country. Nandhini just goes with the flow as it happens. When she is through her routine of running errands and the gym, she returns home in time to assist her husband in whatever preparation he is making for the night. Married to Suruj for 22 years, she entered a “whirlwind of activities” and says she will do it all over again. She admires her husband for his determination and his ability to deal with some of the most difficult circumstances that life has thrown in their path. She remains the humble one who is silent when the heat is up, hoping in her mind that Suruj will get out of the given situation in quick time. “He never disappoints me. I am always admiring him for something he just did. And I believe that this is what keep me going as a woman.” She couldn’t help but say that Chaguanas can only get better with Suruj, “He is a diligent worker who makes a genuine effort in doing his job properly,” she said.

She noted that while she could be selfish at times and complain about spending more time with her husband whom she loves dearly, she sees the need for him to be out there and she can only support him in his endeavour. “We have come a long way in life as a couple. It is not like I am holding down some big job that demands a lot of my time and I am trying to build a career of some sort. I am his wife first then I am anything else. “What Suruj is doing is demanding and I believe that he could not have stayed married if the woman was competing with him as being a recognised public figure,” she said. Nandhini was born in La Romaine to Mahadaye and Sahadeo Chanpatsingh. The last of nine children, her father died when she was only nine years old. She attended the Bien Venue Presbyterian School and ASJA Girls’ High School. Her first job was with former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj. After marrying Suruj she worked alongside him in whatever project he was involved in. She managed Amar Travel Tours when Suruj owned the company. When he entered politics she was at his side looking on as he made all the big decisions.

She moved to Brazil when he was named TT’s ambassador to that country under the NAR Government. It was while in Brazil that she first felt like a diplomat and knew that all the hard work was finally paying off. However, she says she was not one to stick her heads in the clouds. She related to people very well and soon learnt Portuguese to communicate with the Brazilian people. Her two children, Adi and Ranjana, were four years and six months old when she lived in Brazil. She learnt to paint on porcelain as a pastime in that country. “The people had a flair for painting. They would make all sorts of designs and I just took to it and I realise that it helped me to deal with the stress of everyday living,” she said. She still has the pots she painted when she lived in Brazil. At that time there where 98 diplomats living in Brazil and Suruj was one of the most popular as he introduced steelpan music and African dancing by hosting the Samaroo Jets Steel Orchestra and the Malick Folk Performers in Brazil.

“It was serious work being there and representing Trinidad and Tobago. But when it came to culture and art we had fun,” she said. How does she deal with personal problems with her children? “We have problems like every other family. My son is 21 and my daughter is 17. We do have problems like everybody else. And in these times Suruj is no longer the mayor but a father to his children. He deals with them like a father would,” she revealed. Don’t expect to see Nandhini  all dressed up in a $20,000 outfit at the high society parties and functions. “I’ll pass. I want to enjoy the simple things in life. I am happy staying at the back and looking on and enjoying what’s happening,” she laughed out loud. She loves to help people and often asks them not to mention what she has done. “I would help them yes. Then I’ll just turn and go my way,” she said. She dreads answering the phone at times.

“People would call and say they have no water, no lights, the road is bad and I would listen to them then I would gentle say call the Mayor’s office please,” she said. She noted that her home phone is like a hot line. “Every minute on the minute its ringing. I have grown accustomed to everything that’s happening and I would quickly divert my attention to some good music when the going gets tough,” she related. She loves a good Celine Dion and Frank Sinatra. She also loves to listen to the sitar by Mungal Patasar and she loves Sparrow’s tune about going to school (“Education”) and Denyse Plummer’s “Nah Leaving.” Nandhini is also the host of the radio programme “Sundar Sapna” on Sunday evenings on 106 FM.