ONE would have thought life would have been a bed of roses for Maria Zeena Johnson and Regeena Wilson. After all, they are the daughters of the famous politician-turned-educationist Jeppiar. “But it has been a tough climb to the top,” says Maria. Along with her twin sister, the 29-year-old has been accompanying her father ever since she was seven. “My father has been my biggest inspiration. Reggie and I would watch him while he worked,” she adds.
“Even when we were little girls, appa would make it a point to drop us at school every morning. It was almost a ritual and it was the best part of the day,” says Maria. Today, Regeena heads the Jeppiar Engineering College while Maria presides over Sathyabama University.
And when one talks of Jeppiar, one cannot but avoid bringing up MGR. “Appa was like MGR’s right hand.
They shared a close relationship.
In fact, when we were born, it was MGR who named us
- Anbu Nila and
- Thanga Nila,”
says Maria who has now like her sister has taken on names accorded by their parents. “We were quite young when MGR passed away so we haven’t interacted much with him but he taught us many things in life. He was a very dedicated man and approachable by people from all strata of society.
Janakiamma loved us and we were like one big happy family,” reminisces Regeena.
As for the twins, the connection goes back to the womb. “I am closer to Reggie than I am to anyone else in this world. We are less like sisters and more like best friends. I keep telling my mother that I have known you only for 29 years but I have known Reggie for 29 years and 9 months. We have a connection right from The industrious sisters have learnt valuable lessons from their father and MGR and today preside over topnotch educational institutions. Regeena and Maria talk about sisterhood, fancy holidays and much more to Shilpa Krishnan YOGIC JOY: A happy boy almost cracks an asana in the air when we shared space in amma’s womb,” laughs Maria. Regeena agrees whole-heartedly.
“My sister is very special. Life has been so much easier because of her. The first day of school, the first day of college - all have been a cakewalk as Maria was by my side,” she says. “It’s almost as if we are linked telepathically. If I fall ill, so does she,” she adds.
They also love playing pranks. “We are married to twins as well but they are not identical. So we have our share of fun by trying to confuse them about our identity,” says Maria. “Even when we go shopping, we enter the shop one after the other and try to confuse the people at the shop,” laughs Regeena. While the twins shop at the many high-end stores on Khader Nawaz Khan Road, their favourite place to buy sarees is Deepam in Bangalore.
The twins also holiday together and their favourite spot is Europe, especially France.
“We love going to the many churches in Europe. And trying out the food as well,” says Regeena.
Their word of advice is simple. “Be yourself and manage your time well. Like Swami Vivekananda said,
“Every second on the clock is a second lost in your life,” says Maria. “And tackle every situation with a smile. The worst has already happened,” says Regeena.
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