Pinarayi Vijayan recalls early struggles, urges students to face challenges with dignity

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday spoke candidly about his early life marked by poverty, recalling how he upheld his dignity despite hardship. Addressing students at the CM VIP Meet in Thiruvananthapuram, he reflected on his past struggles and advised young people to confront challenges directly and live with self‑respect.

The chief minister said that even during times of hunger he never shared his difficulties with others, preferring instead to live with pride. He remembered adopting single‑coloured clothing during his college years to conceal the limited number of garments he owned.

Sharing personal anecdotes, Vijayan described how his mother would sometimes give him a small piece of bread in the morning, which he would carry inside a file board and eat at lunchtime. On certain days, however, he had nothing to eat at all. “Such were the days of my life as a college student,” he told the gathering.

Vijayan urged students to draw strength from adversity, stressing that self‑respect and resilience are essential in navigating life’s obstacles.