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India Speaks/ K L Chavan

'The BJP looks after my family whenever there is some crisis'

I don't mind working as a driver even though I have an M Com degree. I am content with whatever I am doing in life. After all, there are so many graduates in our country who have no jobs. So, in that sense, I feel I am much better off than them.

I was born in Kirtapurtanda village in Mantha, Jalna district. My father died when I was very young and my mother did all kinds of jobs so that I could study and get a good government job.

I worked hard, day and night, at my studies. My mother used to run the house and I didn't need to bother much about that. In 1991, I passed my M Com examination and thought my difficult days were over.

But my happiness was short lived. I did not get any government job. Luckily, I was working as a part time driver during my post graduation.

One day, I read an advertisement which said the Hertz company needed an English-speaking driver. Unfortunately, due to my rural background, I could not speak English fluently. Thereafter, I joined an English speaking course in Aurangabad. Luckily, after 6 months when I applied for a job at Hertz, I got it.

When I was doing that job, I cleared the government statistical officers exam. I thought I would get through. But unfortunately, I failed the oral exam. Thus, my dream of getting a government job was finally shattered.

I then realised I would have to be content being a driver.

After changing many jobs I got a job in a construction company where I drove a Mercedes Benz. My employer was a close friend of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde. One day, he told me I would drive Munde whenever he needed this car. I was stunned to hear that.

I have been a BJP supporter and a great admirer of Vajpayeeji since my college days. I have driven Advaniji, as I have Pranab Mukherjee, the Congress leader.

One of my most exciting assignments was when I drove Govinda. It was great fun. He had to travel from Parli to Hyderabad urgently and I drove the Benz at 100 km/hour. He was very impressed that we reached Hyderabad in four hours and offered me a salary of Rs 10,000 to leave Aurangabad and settle down in Bombay. I refused because I am more committed to the BJP than money.

The BJP looks after my family whenever there is a crisis. So, I don't have any problem. I am content. My only regret is I still have not got a chance to drive Vajpayeeji.

K L Chavan, 32, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde's driver, spoke to Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

India Speaks

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