Venkataramana Hegde: A Contented Century

Venkataramana Hegde of Salekoppa near Ekkambi village in Sirsi Taluk of Uttara Kannada (North Canara) or Karwar district passed away on 28 June at an over-ripen age of 100 years. He had just completed 99 years sometime back and had entered into the century. Interestingly, he was active and all on his own until the last couple of days according to Manjunath Hegde, eldest son of the Late

Venkataramana Hegde. Ganapathi Hegde is his second son apart from five daughters.

To Salekoppa since the Eighties: Thanks to late veteran journalist Garudanagiri Nagaraj and his passion for travelling across the state meeting interesting personalities and writing about them, was introduced by him to Venkatarmana Hegde’s family in the early eighties. For the first time, it was only with Garudanagiri Nagaraj and later with another veteran journalist, the late Dr C Sitaram to be followed by other scribes, friends and family members. Garudanagiri Nagaraj and Dr C Sitaram happened to be a deadly combination to enjoy and rejoice in travelling, meeting a variety of interesting characters apart from cracking jokes on others and themselves.

A great host: Venkataramana Hegde like all other Havyak Hegdes’ and Bhats’ was a great host and words fail to describe the hospitality. Perhaps Havyaks are the only sub-sect of Coastal Brahmins who literally work on their fields throughout the year unlike their counterparts in adjoining districts who own land but have people to work for them. Venkataramana Hegde was not just hospitable but generous and humorous as well. When visited for the first time, he seriously told me that it was Ekadashi day and no lunch due to fasting. It was only after some time that, came to know that it was just a dose of his jokes!

The hard way of coming up: Now, thanks to Manjunath and Ganapathi Hegde brothers’ the typical Areca nut plantation house is transformed into any modern farmhouse with all amenities including a Wi-Fi network also. But all such basic infrastructure has come to place over a period of time in the last few decades. To begin with, it was not only a Herculean task but an unforgettable nightmare to Venkatarmana Hegde, about seven decades back! As Garudanagiri Nagaraj recalls in his article on Venkataramana Hegde in his Kannada book titled “Patala Garadi”, it was an arduous task all along.

About Seven decades back: You can imagine the situation about Seven decades back in the previous Uttara Kannada district. The type of real wild forest terrain, incessant heavy downpours, innumerable waterfalls, the turbulence of the sea, thriving wildlife…Looking back, one can only visualize woes all along the way of the young lad Venkataramana Hegde. He was staying with his elder brother at Bettakoppa, a beautiful village amidst lush green forests a few kilometres from Sirsi. It so happened that the family owned a very small piece of land and both brothers were living with their parents. Had the land been divided among both brothers, it would have been difficult for both families to survive properly. Venkataramana Hegde got perplexed thinking about the same and resolved to leave the land to his elder brother. He decided to venture for his own future come what may and all along the way.

Beginning of a new journey: One fine day, Venkataramana Hegde accompanied by his wife Parvati and two young daughters paid respects and bid adieu to his elder brother and parents. He had nothing to boast of but for leaving on whatever clothes he was wearing with empty pockets and an abundance of confidence intermingled with the young age of 29 years. The whole family walked all the way till evening to reach Adnalli village Salekoppa near Ekkambi. Thanks to Kulave Bhat who had bought some land for Venkataramana Hegde. He began to work in the fields the very next day along with his wife. The couple struggled to erect a hut to stay and the immediate worry of a shelter was resolved but what about food grains? Luckily, three gunny bags full of rice reached them in a bullock cart, sent by from father’s house. In this way, the food problem was tackled and the next challenge was to develop the land for cultivation.

Hard-earned money goes into OC: Venkataramana Hegde, on his part had made up his mind to strive using his muscle strength for converting the barren land into a dream farm and had also shared the same with his better half. Kulave Bhat was of great help for any assistance in developing the land. But, in due process, he was also compelled to make some hand loans. As if this predicament alone wasn’t enough to bear, a known person persuaded him to put money into the notorious gambling racket called OC. Initially, he was hesitant and tried not to budge. However, in a weak moment, he got trapped in the bet gambling net and drained all the money he got by availing of hand loans.

Rs 10,000/- won: In order to pursue the habit of playing OC, he kept on borrowing. The loan amount went on increasing but Venkataramana Hegde was least perturbed and there was no stopping of playing. Perhaps it appeared that he was more determined in playing and winning rather than quitting midway. He played once again and this time to his own astonishment he was for a pleasant surprise to win Rs 10,000/-! He returned Rs 7,000/- availed as hand loans and told goodbye to playing OC. In the remaining amount he fully immersed himself to develop his dream farm the way he had thought it to be.

A life full of content: Thanks to his efforts day in and day out coupled with lady luck, Venkataramana Hegde gradually continued to prosper over a period of time. In the meantime, he also got married all five daughters and two sons and led a life full of content without ever thinking of making loans. He enjoyed travelling and travelled across the country apart from paying obeisance to Lord Vishwanath in Benares seven times. Thanks to his commitment to preserving, protecting and maintaining 25 acres of Soppina Betta or Forest Land, Shree Swaranavalli Matha recognized his efforts and felicitated him.

Price hike unwarranted: Venkataramana Hegde was always against steep prices for Areca nut, Cardamom and Pepper, unlike his contemporaries. He felt the price hike was unwarranted and feared such escalations will pave the way for people to spend lavishly while they tend to suffer in the absence of suitable remunerative rates. Many of them who heard him had a hearty laugh but soon realized his societal concern and why he genuinely felt so.

A role model to present-day youth: Probably no one has kept a count on the quantum of water that has flown into the Bedti River to date but role model towering personalities like Venkataramana Hegde aren’t much to have a count. Today, when the traditional farming community youth continue to migrate to towns and cities leaving behind the hard-earned developed farms Venkataramana Hegde and his sons remain a role model. May their tribe increase?

-Manohar Yadavatti