Dheeraj More might be residing around 8,553 miles away from his hometown in a different continent, but the distance was only a number for him. The Brazil resident flew all the way from Sao Paulo to caste his vote for the Shiv Sena on Monday. An avowed Shiv Sena follower More has been following the practice for the last 8 years for civic, assembly as well as general elections. More has a permanent resident card in Brazil and is yet to surrender his Indian passport. For Dheeraj voting in Indian elections is nothing less than an honour.

"India is the biggest democracy in the world. Founding father of our Constitution BR Ambedkar ensured that we got universal adult franchise after Independence. We should exercise this right to choose our leaders," explained More.

21 years ago, in 1998, More left Mumbai for Hong Kong and then for Brazil. A textile engineer from Sasmira College, More is a polyglot and speaks six languages including Portuguese, Spanish and Cantonese. He started his career as a machine operator in the coastal town of Mahad. Following a tiff with his supervisor, a non-Maharashtrian, More quit his job and took admission in Mumbai-based Sasmira College in 1989 and never looked back.

Following the 1993 blast in Century Bazaar, More came forward to help the victims and his family. News of his social service reached Bal Thackeray who called him over and promised to help him succeed in his life. A meeting with the Shiv Sena Supremo made him a sainik for life. He owes his spirit of helping others to the local units of the Shiv Sena.

"In a shakha (Local Shiv Sena office) caste and creed barriers fade away. That had built the spirit of volunteerism in me which helped me a lot in Brazil. In Brazil, I had participated actively in street protests to support just causes," explains More.

When asked to translate the Shiv Sena greeting Jai Maharashtra (Hail Maharashtra) in Portuguese, he smiled and said, "Viva Maharashtra".