Former Shiv Sena mayor, Mahadev Deole, set the trend of simplicity and frugality in public life by travelling in local trains. He was believed to be the last of the true Nagar Sevaks, given the kind of ostentatious life our corporators lead today. However, the legacy continues with our ‘First Citizen Candidate,’ Adolf D’Souza, The mild mannered crusader, clad in a simple khadi kurta over his blue jeans, during this candid interview with Vishnudas Sheshrao, said that he has always preferred local trains and buses, over any other mode of transport.Adolf considers himself fortunate to be chosen by a citizen’s group to serve people in the capacity of a councillor. It is observed that councillors of the cash-rich BMC are as rich as rich businessman in their respective wards, but Adolf is not one of them. He hopes that the next term of the civic body, after the forthcoming civic elections, will see his ‘tribe’ increase.
How did you, a ‘middle class boy’, turn to politics?
Juhu, which I represent, accommodates most of the intellectuals, professionals, scholars and activists of the city. In 2002, a Juhu citizen’s group called candidates who were contesting for civic election for a group discussion. In a question and answer session, a particular candidate did very well and showed interest to work with our group. So we supported him and consequently he won the election. However, after his victory, he rarely turned up, nor did he ever listen to suggestions of the citizen’s group. That span of five years saw no development in our ward.
Finally, we decided to elect someone from amongst us who could listen to our grievances and voice our concerns in the Corporation. Few members were shortlisted, including me, and I was selected as a citizen candidate from Juhu and elected as councillor in the 2007 civic elections.
Then why have you quit the Mumbai 227 group? Was that split painful and stormy like with other political parties?
No, it wasn’t like that. I took this decision after long consultations and discussions with group members and well wishers. The aim of our citizen’s group is to give a platform to the youth who want to serve the city in the capacity of Nagar Sevaks. However, Mumbai 227 decided to join hands with other organisations like Professional Party of India (PPI) and others. That would lead to import and export of citizen candidates from one ward to another. I believe by doing this, we may not be able to do justice to genuine local issues. We therefore decided to float the Mumbai Nagriksatta group.
On what basis are you selecting citizen candidates for the next civic elections?
Earlier, we thought that a candidate must be educated, capable, experienced and young. Then we analysed whether education was really such a big criteria - then Anna Hazare would be out, and Union Agricultural Minister Sharad Pawar, former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and Suresh Kalmadi would qualify as the most capable people. DMK MPs Kanimozhi and A. Raja are young politicians, but are they really ‘good’?
Then we realised that, integrity and patriotism come first, other things could follow. That is our criteria, and yes, the candidate should not have a criminal background.
And what will be the selection process?
We have sent an open invitation to all people who wish to be candidates for the next civic election in their respective wards. Those who fulfil the criteria of patriotism, integrity, clean character, capability and education will be shortlisted and called for interviews by the local citizens. Then the Voter Representative - representatives of registered housing societies, representatives of mandals, churches, etc will elect their representative – citizen candidate.
You claim that you have never participated in the ‘takka’ business. Then how do you manage your life? How good is your bank balance, if I may ask?
Earlier, I had an import and export business. After the elections, I could not give time to it, so I closed it down. My bank balance is Rs.5 lakh (actually, a debt of Rs.5 lakh). I have small business of bags. Besides, I get Rs.10,000 per month as remuneration from the BMC and that is how I run my house, which belonged to my late father. It is located right next to Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar’s house.
How many members in your family? Are you married?
I am not married! I don’t know whether I am happy or not. But when I retire to the bed, I get a sound sleep.
What were your priorities during your tenure as councillor?
Health and Education were my top priority. Actually, it should be vice versa, first Education and then Health. Most of my councillor’s fund was spent on the Cooper Hospital. Earlier, there was no English medium school and when I requested the civic education department, they said that there was no demand for an English medium school. With the help of NGOs and the Teach India group, we started an English medium school for the BMC, and in one year the number of student rose to 150.
Besides, the Irla nullah was considered to be the curse of Juhu. We forced the authorities to clean it so that dirty water would not overflow, particularly during the rainy season.
You said you are a non-political person and a Citizen Candidate. Then why did you back the Shiv Sena?
That is true that I backed the Shiv Sena, but that was not my personal decision. Instead those who elected me, asked me to support this political party. And you know, in a democracy, the majority is not always right but it leads. That is how it was!
People elected you to voice their grievances in the Corporation. But we hardly heard you in the Standing Committee Meetings or in the Corporation in the last four and half years.
One thing for sure, after one year in the Corporation, I avoided speaking at the meetings because it was useless. Since the last four years, at every budget session, the Mayor, the Standing Committee Chairman and the Commissioner, deliver long lectures on octroi infrastructure development. But, in the last four years, no tangible development has taken place. Then what is the use of verbose? Instead, I personally go to concerned officials in our ward or the BMC HQ to convey our problems and insist on them being solved. It is time consuming, sweaty and painful, but it has given positive results. So I follow this pattern.
lWill you contest the civic elections this time?
Honestly, at this point of time, I don’t know whether I will contest in the next election. My ward is reserved for an OBC candidate. I have invitations from other groups in other wards. I have neither accepted nor rejected their proposals. Personally, I don’t want to contest. But if my people ask me to be with them, then I will go for it.
It is observed that few Churches and their representatives, who are educated, are opposed to you? Where has it gone wrong?
I found that we are married to particular political parties for decades or generations. It will not be wrong if I say, minorities, including Christians, are married to the Congress, Marathi people to the Sena, fundamentalists and Gujaratis to the BJP. That is the dance of our democracy. For decades or generations, we have been giving our votes to particular parties regardless of individual capability, education or character of the candidate.
It is high time, rather than getting paralysis through analysis of problems, we take concrete steps. Remove the decades old bondage and divorce the old political parties, and give your valuable vote to the right candidate who will represent you and solve your problem.
“Rather than getting paralysis through analysis of problems, we must take concrete steps to remove the old bondage and divorce those parties”
Adolf D’Souza
www.nagriksatta.com
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