Gagandeep Singh, 37, West Delhi
For several weeks after he took up driving with cab aggregator Ola, Gagandeep Singh would use sun shades in his car to conceal his identity. So embarrassed he would be of his occupation, that he would leave home for work suited-booted, telling his family that he managed the transport business of a five-star hotel.
Today, he owns a dozen cabs, all operating for Ola, and is set to add luxury cars such as Mercedes, Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour to his fleet. “I earn around Rs. 4 lakh per month,” says the 37-year-old.
His son, a Class V student in a reputed school in Dwarka, is now aware that his father drives for a living.
“My son told me there was no shame in any work,” says Singh.
His wife, employed with Google, has also been full of support, and so are his relatives.
“Initially, I was most worried about what my two sisters would think about me. They are well-settled, and own luxury cars. However, one day they called me to say they were proud of me and my work,” says the man.
Singh was a national-level tennis player, something that helped him bag admission into Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce.
Up until three years ago, he was involved in his father's transportation business. “We owned 52 trucks, but losses forced us to sell them all,” he recounts.
When he started looking for work, his relatives in Canada suggested that he move to the country and begin a transport business there. His visa was ready, and he was all set to depart when one day he happened to visit a car showroom in west Delhi’s Rajouri Garden.
“A conversation with a sales executive ended up with me casually attending some classes held by Ola at their office in Gurgaon. The trainers said a driver could earn Rs. 2,000-Rs. 2,500 per day by joining Ola. That day I decided to dump the Canada plan, and take the plunge in India once again,” says Singh.
He purchased a Swift Dzire car which he immediately attached with Ola. But for days together he was unable to find a “suitable driver” even as the monthly instalment of his vehicle was calling out. The situation, however, turned out to be a blessing in disguise, he says.
“Not willing to wait anymore, I decided to drive the car myself. The first day, sometime in March last year, I earned a profit of over Rs. 4,000. I drove the second day and then through the entire month. I would ply the vehicle for 16-18 hours every day. By the month-end, I earned around Rs. 1 lakh,” says Singh.
He then began buying more cars. Now, he drives one of the cars himself even as several drivers work for him. “I drive the very same Swift Dzire that I had first attached with Ola. It is my lucky car,” he says.
His journey, however, has not been easy. “I would change into my driving uniform inside the cab. I did not want my son to feel awkward in front of his schoolmates,” he recalls.
On one occasion, he felt a strong urge to give up his job. “I had received a pick-up request from a railway station. The passenger called me a driver, and rudely ordered me to load his luggage in the cab. I felt insulted and had tears in my eyes,” he says.
