Mahadev Shivgan is one of the Candidates fighting the BMC elections from ward 143 in Chembur. He represents the BJP and is part of the SS-BJP alliance.

He is also one of the few candidates who is neither a builder nor the relative of a sitting politician. He seems to be one of those exceptions in Indian politics – the first generation politician running for office.

He began his life in the village of Ambed in Lanja zilla in Ratnagiri, where he studied in the village school till the 2nd standard. his father worked at Swastik Mills in  Chembur. The eldest of 4 brothers, he realised at a young age that he needed to take financial responsibility for his life and help his father who was the family’s sole earning member . He began by working at various foodstalls after school to earn his pocket money.

After his SSC, in 1984, Mahadeo dropped out of school and began working with a civil contractor at the princely salary of Rs.300 per month. To make ends meet he started a vadapav stall. Two jobs that got him and his family a modicum of financial stability.

But, Mumbai is the city of entrepreneurship, and the bug bit Mahadeo too. He began an agency for contract labour. At the same time he got a job with Swastik Mills and he continued running his vadapav stall. I asked him when he slept. He laughed and said two hours between 3 and 5 in the morning – he had a very kind supervisor at the mill.

It is at this time that a thought crossed his mind. He came from a financially disadvantaged background, but through sheer grit, determination and hard work had managed to move from eking out a living to being comfortable. What about people who couldn’t work three shifts in a day? What about the less advantaged. That led to the setting up of a small fund built with members, that allows members to borrow small amounts for a small interest fee. He proudly says ‘no one has defaulted’.

There is more. And this part of the story will move you. I told my parents this, and they had tears in their eyes. Mahadeo still had links to his village. He saw the pathetic state of health care. He cobbled together money and resources, rented out a bunglow in his village – set up a hospital with 30 beds. The hospital charges a nominal fee. Mahadeo has got senior doctors from Mumbai to volunteer their time in his village. His daugther – a doctor – looks after the set up there. His son is an engineer. Not bad for a man who dropped out after the 10th standard because he needed to earn. For all those who doubt the India story, it is because we don’t get to hear stories like this.

Why BMC elections, i asked. ‘without power & authority’ (adhikaar) i can’t do anything more. he wants to improve the quality of state education. Make schools a place where children would want to go. He wants to upgrade the primary health set up in his ward (population 50,000 people). And he wants to fix water. Water for all.

He wants to have a say in redevelopment. Ensure that community requirements are not swallowed by builder greed. He wants community space for residents. A library and study area for children. Some area for a playground..

Sometimes, you meet people who give you hope 😀

Many thanks to Jiten Gajaria for that introduction.

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If you know any interesting people who are making a difference in their local, area in Mumbai, do drop me a line. Would love to meet them, talk to them and share what they are doing on this blog.