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DINE WITH METROPLUS

"We are fine"

So arresting is the charm of the Chadalawada couple that you end up resigning yourself to be played upon to their wish, says P. Sujatha Varma

Photo: Raju. V.

Rao and Sudha harmoniously agree to disagree on many issues

Take away his juggling genius and there would still remain a man of compelling charisma. She is a pious soul, committed to the medical profession as much as she is concerned about the welfare of the poor and needy.

It is unusual to meet someone so poised that you naturally begin to respect them. Amicable and open in a way that quickly fosters trust and builds a rapport, Chadalawada Nageswara Rao and Sudha undisputedly make one of the most marvellous couples in the city.

Lending a touch of class to their personality with the ever-sparkling presence of mind, the couple has tasted success in every facet of life. Their decade-long stay in Boston, the Makkah of education in the United States of America, could not keep the couple away from their native and modest city of Vijayawada. "A doctor should essentially be empathetic to his patients rather than being sympathetic," says Dr. Rao, a urologist, unfolding the humane face of his persona. Their journey from Boston to Bezawada is an inspiring tale of events that have motivated people around them.

Managing reputed institutions like Dr. Pinnamaneni Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Foundation, Pinnamaneni Polyclinic and Dr. Pinnamaneni and Sita Devi Trust , is a challenge that the couple confronts with élan. The inspiring lines of a poem `I am fine' by Richard Cardinal Cushing motivate the couple not to frown even while facing adversities.

Relishing butter naan with dal fry, kadai vegetable and a vegetarian Thai delicacy over an animated chat session, the couple divulged strong emotions lying beneath its sober self. Rao studied medicine in Visakhapatnam while Sudha chose Guntur to pursue the course. Compromise is an ugly word for her. A fiercely independent woman, she got all the support she needed to be successful in life from her self-motivated father Pinnamaneni Venkateswara Rao, the first post-graduate in surgery from Andhra University.

Recalling their traditionally arranged marriage, the gynaecologist says she was opposed to rituals like pelli choopulu, a practice that precedes engagement. "Beauty is something which can never be evaluated looking at a face," she says deriding the way in which men develop fetish for feet of the prospective brides. Delving deep into the mysterious ways of God, she maintains that those who love God intensely and come to know Him intimately, don't find his ways so mysterious after all. "One should start being honest about oneself early in life," she says. "For God, man is the first priority. But, for man, God is the last resort," points out Rao explaining how He patiently waits for the unfolding of our understanding in gradual phases.

The couple considers the idea of presenting Dr.Pinnamaneni and Sita Devi awards as godsend. It's with a definite intention of bringing laurels and recognition to the city that they brought celebrities like Lata Mangeshkar, A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, Sudha Murthy, C.N.R.Rao and the likes. And, the effort goes on. Rising to the pressure of demands, favours and a stressed out lifestyle, the couple has learnt to harness what it takes to lead a life of peace and harmony.

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