Rajendra, the well-read speaker

Some call him 'the monitor', while others have nicknamed him 'the headmaster', but he isn't one of those haughty, arrogant types; it's his calm and composed presence that makes him the perfect man for the job. Despite an initial hesitation to get on the hot seat in the Goa legislative assembly, Rajendra Arlekar has managed to maintain discipline among 40 "different characters" that constitute Goa's congregation of legislators.
Arlekar attributes his tranquil personality to yoga and pranayam-a routine he follows everyday-followed by prayers and puja at his home. "I need this morning session to prepare for the day ahead and it helps me tremendously to manage the different moods at work. I didn't believe I could do justice to the post and I was very hesitant. But today, I am convinced that this was needed for me and according to our chief minister, I have surpassed all his expectations and so far done a good job." He admits that he was very nervous about facing moments where he would have to put his foot down and ask his peers to maintain discipline in the assembly.
Another secret to his peaceful outlook is his love for Indian classical music. "I always wanted to be a classical singer, but that never happened. Once in a while, I do try and learn a few ragas by myself," he confesses.
Arlekar is also an ardent reader, but he's selective about books. "I mostly read historical books and essays written in English or Marathi. I am very curious about historical events and how those episodes still influence today's happenings around the world. There are many phrases and quotes like the 'Himalayan blunder' - something that not many of us will know until we read it and this is something that always excites me," says Arlekar.
Stating that autobiographies inspire him, he adds that 'Roses in December' by the former chief justice of the Bombay high court, M C Chagla, is the best book he has ever read in the genre. "Reading not only makes you cultured, it helps you keep up with the times. I always tell youngsters, keep reading, whatever it may be. There is nothing to lose; reading will always be of help," Arlekar says.
Currently residing at Vasco, he shuttles between home and his constituency of Pernem every Tuesday and Thursday. "Every Tuesday, I visit panchayats and other places in Pernem, while I dedicate Thursdays for office time, where citizens visit me with their problems and concerns," he says, adding that the thought of going home in the evening and being with his family relaxes his mind and body after a tiring day. "But, sometimes, when I get home there is someone standing at the door with a genuine problem and I never let them walk away without attending to them."
Having tried his hands at a few business ventures and failing, Arlekar has strived hard to overcome these hardships and now runs a successful dealership with a petrol pump. He also runs an NGO that is presently collecting rakhis to send to the men who protect our borders. "It is to infuse patriotism among the citizenry and to let the soldiers know that their sacrifices are being appreciated," he says.
One look at a family photo reveals his sources of strength - his wife, a teacher in a Vasco-based school, his son, who is studying law, and daughter, a lawyer, who is married in Pune. "I am lucky to have my father and mother still around with me. It is my father who injected in me the dose of nationalism and his teachings have made me who I am today," he says.
Arlekar likes watching Marathi dramas, but can't remember the last time he watched an entire film. A non-vegetarian by choice, he loves his homemade fish-curry. "I am not a choosy eater. I have to adjust to different cuisines because we are such a diverse community in Goa. And whenever I visit someone, I try not to decline the food offered," he says.
He also likes traveling, but says he is more comfortable when he is at the wheel. Being with his family is important to him, and once in a while he does break protocol to go out for a long drive with his wife to take a break from the busy schedule.
Arlekar was instrumental in bringing in some landmark changes in the assembly like conducting the proceedings in Konkani. "There was a lot of groundwork that was needed to be done. Terminology needed a change, and it was a tough task, but I thought, 'If in Karnataka, they conduct proceedings in Kannada and in Maharashtra, they have it in Marathi, why shouldn't I conduct proceedings in Konkani?' Some remarked that I made the change because I don't know English. May be my English is not that great, but it's a foreign language and I am not ashamed of not being an expert at it. But shouldn't Goans who don't know Konkani be more ashamed that they can't speak their mother tongue?" he questions, asserting that he is an Indian, but a proud Goan too.
Having grown up in a political environment at home - a simple abode that has hosted many high profile guests like L K Advani and A B Vajpayee - he says politics has got a bad name and that is why good-natured, hardworking people need to get into politics to keep it clean. "I am a politician because I feel this is the appropriate way to transform society today. I would rather be a part of the problem and find a solution, than stay outside and spit venom at what is wrong," he says in conclusion.