Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Feb 21: Journalism sometimes is a rewarding experience and many journalists make a note of it in ‘Reporter’s dairy’ or share the same on social media. One such story, of a Mangaluru correspondent meeting his family driver after 28 years by pure coincidence has touched many hearts.
Harsha Raj Gatty, of media firm Story Infinity and also a contributor for Daijiworld, had gone to meet 103-year-old Michael D’Souza for an interview, after he came to know he still drives his car with a valid license and probably is one of the oldest drivers in the country.
"I saw a Facebook post about this 103-year-old man and thought it would be an interesting story to write about his driving experiences and got an appointment to meet him at rationalist Narendra Nayak's house," Harsha said.
However, an hour down the line, during the course of the interview, Harsha was shocked when he realized that the person he was interviewing was in fact his family driver 28 years ago, and had driven him around when he was a two-year-old toddler.
"In 1989, we moved from Parkala to Mangaluru, and Michael stayed behind in Manipal. I remember he used to always give me orange colour chocolates. I did not have his picture and most of the things I remember are from a few incidents my mother told me and some faded memories. I realized that he was the same person when he started fumbling names of the localities, my relatives and parents during the course of the interview," he says.
Meanwhile, Harsha's wife Sandhya says what was supposed to be just another interview turned out to be an emotional reunion.
"Ten years back, Harsha had taken me to Parkala to show the home he lived in as a baby and then went on asking people around for Michael. Some residents said that he had gone back to his hometown and some said that he was already nearing 80 then and may not be alive. However, little did we realize that this 103-year-old Michael would turn out to be Harsha’s very own Michael Ajja," she says.
Meanwhile, Michael in spite of his age remembers Harsha and his family very well. "As a toddler, he used to always come running towards the car and sit on my lap and demand that I take him around and I always obliged. I am overwhelmed to know he is the same boy," he says.
As a matter of fact, Michael after the Saturday’s interview insisted on driving Harsha around for old time’s sake.
"I don't know whether to call it luck or co-incidence or circle of life. I am very glad that I met him and got a chance to interview him," Harsha said.
At 103-years, Michael has 85 years of driving experience, and is probably one of the oldest drivers with a valid driving license in India. Born on October 16, 1914 in Ooty, Michael was a soldier in the British Army and World War II veteran.
He later joined public works department under Madras Presidency and because of his expertise in driving any type of vehicle, used to operate the road-roller and says he has laid asphalt for the very first time on some of Mangaluru and Udupi roads.
After retiring from PWD, he took up jobs as driver for many people. "I first started driving when I was 18 years old. It has been 85 years since then and I don’t plan on giving up my keys till the lord sends me his vehicle," he says.
Michael was married to Eliza D’Souza and lived a happy married life for over 60 years. The couple didn’t have children and considered Michael’s brother’s children as their own. Eliza died in 2012 at the age of 83.
Ever since, Michael lives alone in his house in Hathill. He wakes up at 4 am, does all his household chores and sets out to work as a driver. "I don’t have any age related ailments. I eat rice, curd, chapatti and curry. I have stopped eating non-veg food as it is difficult to digest," he says.
He does not plan on taking retirement and believes that the mantra to a healthy life is being active. "I do all my chores and prefer to take the stairs than elevator even if it is the top most floor," he says.
In his driving career, he has been penalized only once, three months ago for not wearing seat-belt. "I promptly went to pay the challan and the inspector laughed and sent me back. He said he will pay it on my behalf," he says with a smile.
Michael's license is valid till 2019. "Last time, the RTO inspector in jest told me that I should come back to renew the licence and pass the fitness test in 2019. Let’s see if I live till then," he laughs.
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