FULL CIRCLE

Like any aspiring middle class Indian adult, who is unable to inherit a landed property, Shambhu Chaurasia was keen to procure a small place of his own. He migrated from a small town in East India, to Delhi, for employment opportunities. He is a graduate and has been working in the media, as a freelancer. He is married and has two kids.

For several years he had been applying for the allotment of a flat from Delhi Development Authoriry. It had been like a lottery. The ratio between applicants vs allotted are close to 100 :1. He gave up.

He then looked for a flat that was available on Resale.
When he had seven lakh rupees (US$14,000) the price of the flats were ten lakhs (US$20,000). A few years later when he had ten lakhs, the price of the properties appreciated to fourteen lakhs (US$28,000). It was a never ending chase. Till 1995, most of the Development Authority flats were available for sale under Power of Attorney, but hardly any public sector banks were willing to sanction loan to an unorganized labourer.

Shambhu got to know the Managing Directors of the programme, who was constructing a Bungalow, and had also booked a flat in a co-operative group housing society, by paying a nominal ground rent, several years back.

The Society was under construction. There was a demand of three lakh rupees(US$6,000), towards construction cost. The Managing Director did not want to invest his resources in two properties. Society had dispatched several notices. But he did not respond. Finally, the Managing Committee decided to terminate his membership. They referred the matter to the Registrar, Co-operative Societies. The Managing Director of the Media Company woke up from a slumber, and finally decided to dispose off the flat. He spoke to his Finance Manager, who was keen to procure a flat. He was asked to look at the flat. He hired a cab – an ambassador. It was summer and the car was not air conditioned. He did not like the idea of going alone. He wanted someone to accompany him. He asked Shambhu to hop in, if he was not doing anything.

The journey from his office would have taken 45 minutes, under normal circumstances. There was a railway crossing. They waited for a train to pass by. Ten minutes later, a train did cross; but the gate refused to move. They waited inside the car. It was hot. Both of them were restless. A second train came and went. But the gate remained static. The Finance Manager was losing his patience. Shambhu pacified him, “The Government is considering a fly-over and in a couple of years you won’t have to wait here; you can zip across.” He asked Shambhu to live in the Present.

The traffic after the railway crossing moved at a snail’s pace. The street was full of cattle. It did not look like Delhi. It was like a overgrown village.

Finally they arrived after 90 minutes, to the housing Society, under construction.
They saw the flat model. It had three bedrooms. The construction would have taken two years and the residents would get possessions only after three years. The Finance Manager did not want to wait that long. He was keen to procure a flat and shift as soon a possible.

The Finance Manager did not like the idea of spending three hours, commuting each day, to work. He asked Shambhu if he was interested.

To begin with he was not keen either. He failed to realize the hidden opportunity. He disclosed his family in the evening where he went and what he saw. Owning a house sounded like music to the ears of his wife and children.
“Finally we will have a place of our own”. “No landlords”
“No rent to be paid”
“No hassle to shift every two/three years”

Shambhu met the Managing Director, the next day and mentioned that he was keen to procure it. Shambhu was informed that there was a court case because of non payment of dues. He was asked if he had couple of lakhs to pay to the Society, in a short notice.

The Managing Committee of the Housing Society was keen to cancel the membership of the Managing Director. They would have preferred to get another member and charge him Entry fees. Shambhu Chaurasia represented the case on behalf of the Managing Director. The judgment was passed in favour of the Managing Director. The membership was regularized. The Secretary called Shambhu Chaurasia aside and asked him to make sure that all future payments are made in time.
He straight went to the temple, offered prayers to god and donations to the priest. He was happy and delighted to cross a hurdle.

Since then Shambhu Chaurasia made several rounds of the office of The Registrar Co–Operative Group Housing Society, Secretary of the Co- Operative group Housing Society, Chartered Accountant, Lawyer, DDA office. He withdrew all his savings that he made in the last fifteen years. All the shares were sold; Fixed Deposits were disposed off, sold fifty silver coins and two gold coins that he inherited. The family did not take any vacations for three years.

The Society gave the receipts in the name of the Managing Director only. Shambhu Chaurasia was not sure if the deal was legal. He constantly worried, if he will ever be able to live in the flat? What happens if the Managing Director gives power of attorney to someone else, as well?

They finally shifted to their own house five years later. The flyover came up a few years after he moved in. Shambhu did not have to wait any long, at the railway crossing.

Shambhu did well professionally for a few years. He toyed with the idea of buying a second flat, for investment, as he did not have any pension, gratuity nor provident fund.
But his family discouraged him. They never had a good time when they were in their prime youth. Now they wanted to enjoy life. They wanted to eat chinese food in air conditioned restaurants , see movies in multiplexes, take vacations, buy jewellery…… they had an endless list. The story did not end here like a Hindi film.

Shambhu has crossed fifty five years. Media is constantly been looking for young people. He hardly got an assignment. He found it difficult to survive. His wife was neither qualified nor keen to find a job that could support the family.
Maid servant was terminated. Two Air conditioners were sold off. Between them they had four cell phones (one for each member) and one landline. It was reduced to two. They did not use their car for several months. They realized that even if they were not using the car, they invariably spend 10,000 rupees each year. So it had to go. Both the kids were forced to take educational loans.

He had to dispose the flat. He moved to the same town in east India, where he came from. Bought a flat at half the cost, and with the balance money he invested in Fix Deposits. He though he could survive on interest alone. Inflation forced him to look for a business where he could be gainfully employed and bring an extra income.
He opened a STD booth. Managed for a year. Mobile telephones
killed his business.

Shambhu switched to Internet cafe and later added a second hand photocopying machine. The customers are however declining. half of his regular customers have installed internet at home. Shambhu is a worried man. He is now toying with the idea to close down his internet cafe.

You can view images at flickr