Khalil R Kidwai

 

 

His father was a freedom fighter who had close links with the Congress. Moreover, he has been married to veteran politician and social worker Mohsina Kidwai for 55 years. But Khalid Kidwai has never ventured anywhere near politics.

He says: “My father was a freedom fighter and he devoted his entire life to the Congress party but politics has never attracted me. Even today I keep a distance from it”.

“We belonged to a feudal family. I was pained to see my father blow up the family wealth on his political pursuits. But when he noticed that Mohsina had a high level of interest in politics, he encouraged her,” says the 81-year-old man who runs a cable operating business in a posh Delhi locality.

“Despite differences in our ideas, we are a happy couple. I feel proud when I see that my wife is more inclined towards social work than political posts,” he says.

Does he feel overshadowed? “Not at all. I have my own social life so there is no question of ever having a problem with what she has achieved,” he says.

“I prefer to stay away from the limelight,” he says, asserting that he never ever tries to use his wife’s position to further his own personal ends. “She is my wife and she also knows her limitations as a wife,” says Kidwai.