A former journalist with the Times of India who was posted at Rajkot in the 80s and Vijay Rupani had been active as Vidyarthi Parishad worker,a. Corporator of Rajkot Municipal Corporation .He stayed at Prakash Society opposite Nirmala Convent,where my daughter was a student.
Rupani as chief minister congratulated her son,Shaurya Mishra,a student of Delhi Public School, Ahmedabad .He used a scooter with 1206 registration number for movement in the town.
Rajkot will observe a bandh on Saturday with over 600 educational institutions in Saurashtra announcing closure for the day. Radhika Rupani Mishra,stays in London where like her husband,Nimit Mishra,she is a CA When Rupani was removed as CM,Radhika posted her comments.
Yesterday, many political experts spoke at length about Vijaybhai’s tenure and contributions to the BJP. I am thankful to each one of them for their insights.
They described my father’s political journey as one that began from the grassroots—as a party worker—and extended to roles such as Chairman, Mayor, Rajya Sabha Member, Tourism Chairman, BJP State President, and Chief Minister. But to me, his journey began not with these titles, but in 1979, during the Morbi disaster.
Since then, he has stood on the frontlines through every major crisis—be it the Amreli floods, the Kutch earthquake, the terrorist attack on the Swaminarayan temple, the Godhra riots, the devastating floods in Banaskantha, Cyclone Tauktae, or the COVID-19 pandemic. My father was always present, fully engaged.
I vividly remember the Kutch earthquake.(2001) While my brother Rishabh and I were gathered at home with our school friends, my father left immediately for Rajkot to oversee relief work. He treated even his nephew’s wedding as secondary to his duty and took charge as Bhachau’s in-charge just a day after the quake. He took both of us along at different times to show us the devastation firsthand. He made us sit with relief workers and serve food so that we could understand the scale of suffering and service.
Growing up, we never spent Sundays at the Racecourse or at the movies. Our Sundays were spent accompanying our parents to the homes of BJP workers. That was the family routine. During the Swaminarayan temple terror attack, my father was the first to reach the site. He took me with him to witness reality and understand public engagement.
Few know this, but during Cyclone Tauktae and the COVID crisis, my father worked late into the night, often till 2:30 a.m., managing the CM dashboard, overseeing helplines, and ensuring every arrangement was in place. For him, being among the people and serving them has always been the core mantra.
We grew up with simple household protocols:
1. Always speak courteously, even if someone calls at 3 a.m.
2. Anyone who enters our home—regardless of time—is to be offered tea and snacks, whether or not Papa is present.
3. Maintain a simple dress code and humble demeanor.
4. First focus on studies, then leisure.
My parents were deeply invested in our education. A professional or master’s degree was non-negotiable in our home. Only after becoming financially independent were we even allowed to think about other, more trivial matters. Today, both my brother and I are settled in our respective fields and remain grounded—thanks entirely to our parents.
I still recall times in Rajkot, riding pillion with my father on his scooter. If he spotted a road accident or fight, he’d stop immediately, enter the crowd, offer help, and call for an ambulance. This wasn’t something he learned late in life—it is part of his nature. He is a clear thinker, driven to help people.
Someone with whom people from all walks of life can speak freely?
When it came to crime or law and order, he never hesitated to take tough decisions—be it through the CM Dashboard, the Land Grabbing Act, Love Jihad legislation, GUJCOCA, or the push for alcohol prohibition. Must a leader wear a stern face all day to be taken seriously?
In our household, this question has often come up—can simplicity and humility survive in today’s corrupt and cynical political atmosphere? Is it enough?
He never indulged in groupism or backroom politics. That is his defining quality. Those political commentators who believe Vijaybhai’s political chapter is over fail to understand this: choosing to step away from power without resistance or nuisance—out of ideological commitment to RSS and BJP values—is far braver than clinging to position
—Radhika Rupani