BY – Karti P Chidambaram
The privileged me really cannot complain, even though my legacy has sometimes led to political victimization. On reflection, I can definitely say that the benefits far outweighed the negatives of being the son of a famous man. I am Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Finance and Home Minister P. Chidambaram, and currently a Lok Sabha member from the Sivaganga constituency in Tamil Nadu.
‘I remain deeply involved with tennis’
The one big regret in my life is not becoming a better tennis player. If I could go back to my growing-up years, I would have persisted with tennis for a little longer and seized every opportunity to play. Perhaps I would have considered doubles more seriously and not rushed into university. Looking back, I could have approached it differently. What gives me immense satisfaction now is that I remain deeply involved with tennis on the administrative and event management side. At present I am Vice President of the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association and actively support tennis players in India, especially from Tamil Nadu. I am also engaged in managing international tournaments.
So, tennis continues to occupy a big part of my life, albeit off the court. When it comes to my legal career, I studied undergrad in America and later law in England. In hindsight, I should have worked for a few more years in England before returning to India. One mistake I made was not spending enough time working under someone else, I didn’t practice law as I never wanted to, but it would have been good experience. Perhaps if I had stayed on in England, spending time working before becoming an entrepreneur with my cousin, I would have been better prepared for the challenges further. Another lesson is that instead of trying my hand at too many businesses, we should have focused on one or two areas with real potential for growth. So yes, there are many regrets.
From my school days, I wish I had better handwriting. My handwriting is terrible and I often feel envious when I see people with beautiful penmanship. It’s a small thing, but there are many such little things I wish I had done differently.
‘I too have been a victim’
Being the son of a famous person has been to my benefit. In a country as unequal as ours, privilege is a tremendous advantage, there’s no denying it. Sometimes, people judge you harshly because of preconceived notions, and in that sense, I too have been a victim. But overall, the advantages are far greater. Anyone with privilege, access, or wealth undeniably has a head start in India.
Of course, there has been fallout. Political victimization and targeting have happened, not because of who I am personally but because of my background, but everything comes with its ups and downs. Even in politics, despite a relatively easier entry, winning elections is never easy, you still have to win on your own merit.
Politics in Tamil Nadu is deeply emotive; it isn’t always driven by policy or delivery. The Congress, admittedly, is not the strongest political force in the state. Success here is less about individual popularity and more about strategic alliances.
What works in my favour is my consistent connection with the people. I make it a point to raise issues that directly impact the common citizen, topics that may not always grab headlines but matter deeply: from CIBIL score anomalies to the state of online education, to the everyday menace of stray dogs. I do not confine myself to what’s trending; I speak up on what’s real.
‘Have a vision to reinvent Congress in Tamil Nadu’
However, it is disheartening when my own party does not extend support, even on non-political issues like civic infrastructure or urban governance areas where Tamil Nadu is clearly lacking in both cleanliness and efficiency. I have ideas and a vision for how the Congress can reinvent itself in Tamil Nadu, but there seems to be little appetite for change. The party remains stuck in status quo, and frankly, I’m unsure whether I’ll ever be able to implement my vision from within.That said, Congress is where I feel most rooted. Despite my frustrations, it remains the space where I am politically and ideologically most comfortable.
In my constituency, our strength is historic. Thanks to my father’s four-decade-long effort in keeping the Congress unit active and respected, we have managed to retain a stronghold. We consistently deliver the highest vote share for Congress in Tamil Nadu, 12 -15 percent, compared to just 5 percent across the state. The alliance framework helps us win, but our local organisational depth is what sustains that edge. Still, I wouldn’t say I am satisfied with the way things are or with the party’s lack of innovation.
For me, the happiest times were when I was competing in tennis, in Tamil Nadu, India, and abroad. I played at the junior level in Europe and America, and during my college years, those were my most joyful moments and ones I dearly miss. Of course, every athlete has a limited window, but I could have pursued the sport better. I cannot complain, I never lacked resources or parental support. My parents gave me every possible opportunity: training abroad, traveling, competing internationally. I played tennis and cricket, captained my college teams at Cambridge for both. Even today, I enjoy cricket, though I prefer Test cricket over the IPL.
As for films, I watch a lot while traveling, usually on flights. I download movies and series; spy thrillers and historical documentaries are my favourites. For instance, I enjoyed the entire World War Two documentary series and have read and watched extensively about Nazi Germany.
Reading has declined for me, another regret. I once read newspapers and magazines like Time, though it isn’t the same anymore. Now, most of my reading is online.
‘Fluent communicator in Tamil and English’
I am fluent in Tamil, though I must admit that my grasp of Tamil literature is not as strong as I would like it to be, a personal regret. While I can read and write the language with ease, I lack the literary depth and nuance that comes from formal study. That said, I consider myself a clear and effective communicator direct, concise, and confident in both Tamil and English, and I take pride in that.
When it comes to Hindi, I do not speak the language. I simply never had the exposure. More importantly, I do not support the idea of its forced imposition. Learning Hindi, or any language, should be a matter of personal choice, not coercion. In Tamil Nadu, there is no functional need for Hindi. Language must be a bridge, not a barrier, and certainly not a burden imposed from above.
(As told to Lakshmana Venkat Kuchi, Editor, News24online)
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