Malayali pride: Parents beam as Payyannur woman becomes India's UN representative

Payyannur: “Earlier, she was known as my daughter. Today, I am known as her father. It fills me with immense pride to see her presenting key decisions for the nation,” says Rajeshwaran, father of Saumya Rajeshwaran Nair, a native of Payyannur who has been appointed as India’s representative to the United Nations. Her mother Vasanthi is equally proud as she listens to all the praise.

As her father’s business was based in Gujarat, Saumya did not have her schooling in Kerala. She studied at Chandrabala Modi Academy in Gujarat, excelling as the top student in every class. When teachers signed her progress card, they would say, "Saumya is gold." 

After completing her Plus Two, it was her school principal Bhattacharya, who suggested that she join Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi. She later pursued her undergraduate degree at the College of Commerce and completed her postgraduate studies at the Delhi School of Economics before entering the Civil Services. 

Rajeshwaran credits Chandrabala School and the principal for shaping Saumya’s success. In 2014, she worked at the Indian Embassy in Dubai.

Saumya sings and dances, but her current schedule leaves little time for hobbies. She last visited Payyannur two years ago when she came for the G20 Summit. Rajeshwaran had moved to Gujarat in 1979, married in 1984, and Saumya was born in 1986. Having now entrusted his business to relatives, he resides in Payyannur.

Saumya’s husband is Dr Ramees Nathani, chief executive officer of an IT company in London, and children are Ahad and Zain. She also has a brother, Darshan R Nair, an engineer in the United States.