On Raksha Bandhan, Yogi Adityanath’s siblings’ modest lives stand out, with a tea shop owner sister and an army-serving brother, contrasting with India’s many politically active families.
Yogi Adityanath clutched the role of Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2022 and bought noticeable changes to the state. He is often seen with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other political leaders, and rarely talks about his personal life or family.
Raksha Bandhan, the festival that celebrates the bond of brothers and sisters is the perfect day to talk about his siblings, who lead a simple life away from the hush and glamour of politics.
Born in Panchur village in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, to Anand Singh and Savitri Devi, Yogi Adityanath is the second child in a family of four brothers and three sisters. While two of his sisters maintain a private life, one, Shashi Payal, is occasionally seen in public. She interacts with the media and attends some of her brother’s political events.
Despite being the sister of a state Chief Minister, Shashi runs a small tea and snacks shop near the Mata Bhuvaneshwari Devi temple in their hometown.
ALSO READ: PM Modi Celebrates Raksha Bandhan at His Residence
Yogi’s eldest brother, Manvendra Mohan, works at a college. His younger brothers, Shailendra Mohan and Mahendra Mohan, have also chosen modest careers. Shailendra serves in the Indian Army as a Subedar at the India-China border, while Mahendra works at a school.
When asked if he meets his politician brother often, Shailendra once said he met him only once in Delhi after he became Chief Minister. “Our entire family refers to Yogi as Maharaj Ji,” he shared, adding, “Reaching a big position doesn’t make someone great; true greatness comes from doing meaningful work.”
ALSO READ: Bollywood Celebrities Share Heartwarming Raksha Bandhan Moments
CM Yogi's siblings have stayed away from the politics, unlike many families that are involved in the same career. This is in contrast to figures like Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi in Congress, or Bihar’s Tej Pratap and Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD.
In Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav is a well-known politician, however, his brother Prateek Yadav remains outside politics. Similarly, Telangana leaders K Kavitha and KT Rama Rao, both children of K Chandrashekar Rao, are also active in politics.
Yogi Adityanath’s life will soon be portrayed in the upcoming film Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi, which will trace his journey from humble beginnings to leading India’s most populous state.
