Lal Bahadur Shastri’s grandson leaves top job at Apple to join AAP!

From Apple to AAP, from a crore-plus annual salary to a job that promises no steady income, from deep pile carpets in corporate offices to an outfit that takes pride in brooms – that would be unusual enough.

But Adarsh Shastri (40), who joined Aam Aadmi Party on Friday, is not just any corporate high-flyer – he’s the grandson of former Indian prime minister, late Lal Bahadur Shastri, and the son of Congress leader Anil Shastri.

But the former PM’s grandson isn’t looking at his new role that way. Adarsh, who was head of sales for Apple in western India and working out of Mumbai, says his decision is based on personal conviction. “I had a cushy life with a great company. But somehow it did not feel right. I was inspired by Arvind (Kejriwal) and felt compelled to do more,” Adarsh says.

He quit his Apple job in the first week of December, and says he first got interested in AAP about seven eight months ago. “Kejriwal’s conviction impressed me,” he said. But what did Adarsh tell his father, a long-time Congressman? “I told him I don’t fit in with Congress culture,” Adarsh said, and added that he has his father’s “blessings”.

“I have been talking to my parents about this for the past two to three months. I told them about my decision to finally join AAP a few days ago. My father said I should go ahead with it if I feel this is my life’s calling,” he said.