Pradeep Yadav in a workout session in his gym. A picture by Ashok Karan

From playing the role of kings on stage, Pradeep Yadav has actually gone on to be a ?mantri? in real life, too. And though he very evidently misses the stage, as HRD minister, Jharkhand, he has found yet another interesting outlet of expression and means of reaching out to people.

If his role as a politician has overshadowed all the other characters he has played in over 40 plays, including the role of Raja Harishchandra after he became a minister, it?s because the soft spoken minister now finds little time for what still remains a big passion.

With all that stage success, the transition could well have been towards films than politics. Indeed, could have, had the roles been interesting enough, worthy of his real life persona, in which he gets to reach out to a large number of people, from all walks of life. On stage, too, he liked playing meaningful roles, not frivolous stuff.

His love for the stage goes back to his student days and he still remembers with pleasure the applause that greeted his role of Vikramaditya. ?A three-day fair is held every Diwali in my village?Bohara. I have acted in over 40 plays and mostly played the role of kings. I love sad or serious roles,? he said.

Vikramaditya was when he was in intermediate. Since then, and now, his life has come full circle from playing king to being a real life king, well, a mantri, to be politically correct.

Transiting to real life, fortunately for his voters, it?s only the serious role he has carried on with. Anyone who pursues sports the way he does, can be anything but sad. Yadav, son of a school teacher, and Chemistry graduate from Godda College, is so much into fitness that those who know him well in good humour say that even calls from VVIPs have to wait if they come while he is exercising.

He makes no secret of his love for cricket, football and all forms of physical fitness. A love he also shares with cabinet colleagues Sudesh Mahto and Madhu Koda, and its extent can be measured by the fact that the small courtyard of his Doranda forests colony bungalow is converted into a playing field when he is in Ranchi! Back home in Godda, he simply hits the bigger, real playing fields.

But though he played soccer till the district-level and cricket till the college-level, he never really thought of turning pro in these fields.

As a minister now, he hardly has the luxury of indulging in his favourite sports as much as he would like to. But his ministerial duties have not completely cut him off from his love for sports and fitness.

Both in Ranchi and Godda, he maintains a personal gymnasium. Besides, he walks five to seven kms everyday, apart from exercising for at least an hour every morning. A routine he dedicatedly follows, no matter what. To the extent that if he misses his exercises in the morning for some reason, he compensates for them in the evening.

Early to bed and early to rise is his fitness mantra. In bed mostly by 10 to 10.30, he is up before five. Even before the sun is up, or his personal security men by his side, he is off for his daily walk.

He likes to go alone on his walks, rather than disturb his guards. Back from his walk, he exercises in his multi-gym to tone up his muscles, using the twister, jogger, and dumbbells as well. He has had to spend a lot on his gym, but it has been well worth it, he says.

?Everyday, I give at least two hours to remain fit. Remaining physically fit is necessary for everyone and I know people realises its importance these days,? Yadav emphasises.

Physical health apart, yoga and meditation for the calm of mind so much required in his hectic life are not forgotten, either. The workouts are followed by those and puja, too.

He complements his exercise regime with the right kind of food too. Oily food is strictly avoided, while dinner is mostly light. Fond of milk and milk products, it?s not surprising he keeps a cow at home. While for two days in the week ?Tuesday and Sunday ? he remains off salt.

Yadav, whose life revolves so deeply around politics today, was actually completely into studies and sports till he passed his pass course. It was only when he joined the honours course in 1987 that he got associated with Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, student wing of BJP.

And after that, there was no looking back.

Today, his main passion is bringing in excellence in his department. For that, sometimes one has to be hard and a disciplinarian, too.

?I want my department to perform better than other departments and to achieve that I have to be harsh at times. I know I am not soft spoken, but it does not mean I misbehave with anyone,? he clarifies.

If he drives others hard, he doesn?t spare himself, either. And he justifies it saying it's because he wants himself and his department to achieve positive results at any cost.

And for those who thought ministers can only cook conspiracies, Yadav can cook good food, too! Though he hardly has time, he can?t resist giving instructions to his cook from time to time. With his family ? wife and two sons ?living in Godda, he devotes all his free time to work.

But whenever home, he makes it a point to spend quality time with them. With his sons sharing his passion for fitness, and a wife from whom he gets complete support, Yadav couldn?t have asked for more.

Anupam Sheshank