MEERUT: In 14 years, Gaurav Chaudhary had built up successful businesses in construction and spices in Germany. Now 33, he has left that life behind, come back to India for good and is contesting the panchayat election in UP.
“I have decided to work for my village,” said Chaudhary, a BJP candidate for the district panchayat election from Ward 18, which goes to the polls on April 26.
Chaudhary was just 19 when he left Meerut’s Kushedi village to study international business at the Erlangen Universität in Nuremberg. He went on to set up his own businesses and he moved to Frankfurt.
While he was there, he established a philanthropic trust for his village. But two things made him realise he had to do more.
“I had left when I was young. I had been sent to a gurukul in Kurukshetra, which didn’t encourage going home too often. Then, I was in Germany for 14 years. I had always longed to be home,” he said.
“My parents are old. I need to take care of them. And after getting global exposure, I feel there is scope for a lot of change in India and, particularly, my region.” On those lines, one of his slogans goes, “Vikas kiya hai, vikas karenge; jan jan ka samman karenge (we have developed, we will do more, we will respect each individual).”
Posters and air balloons dot the villages where he campaigns.
His is a family of prosperous farmers deeply rooted in the region. His uncle is a former pradhan.
“My agenda is long-term. It is about imparting education and changing the mindset of people. Without that, there cannot be growth,” Chaudhary said. “I want to stay on in my region. Full-time politics requires a great amount of time and sacrifice. For now, I want to be home … I also want my four-year-old daughter to learn about the culture and traditions of our country.”
His father, Mehkar Singh, is happy with his son’s trajectory. “Our country suffers a lot from brain drain. We need expats’ experience to build our nation,” he said. “I am proud that son thought of coming back from Europe to work for rural uplift.”