Meet Charles Michael D’souza – The centenarian with a valid driving licence

Meet Charles Michael D’Souza, who may be the oldest person behind the wheels in India — perhaps the world over — at the age of 108 years.

Michael, a world war veteran, has been driving for more than 90 years now and has no plans of stopping. Until a couple of years ago, this centenarian used to make a living by driving around bank employees, now he drives for leisure.

Born in the same year as the First World War, Charles served the British Indian Army at the age of 18, throughout WWII. He claims to have Greek ancestors who immigrated to India from Bethlehem.

In 1942, he left the British Army to pursue a career as a full-time driver. The Madras state government dispatched him to Mangalore in 1952 as a diesel concrete mixer machine driver. He later joined the Public Works Department when Mangalore became part of Karnataka in 1956. Until 1982, he was employed with the PWD. He worked as a private driver in Mangalore upon his retirement.

D’Souza still keeps a copy of his birth certificate from Ooty’s St. Mary’s Church. He also has his school diplomas, military records, identity cards, senior citizen cards, an age certificate, a number of driver’s licenses, government records, and a number of other documents to establish his age.

While stories of senior drivers making mistakes or causing accidents often make the news, youthful drivers are the ones who cause the most harm, he says.

For elderly people, retaining a license helps them maintain their independence, mobility, and dignity. Although Charles’ drivers’ license has been extended till 2022, his family exempts him from driving due to some reservations.