The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Full of hope, he walked back a tall man

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 02, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Full of hope, he walked back a tall man

Rasheed Kappan

WALKING WITH PRIDE: On their way back from the Chief Minister's "Janata Darshan," Nagaraj and his family had reason to smile: they will soon get permission to run their petty business at the subway near the Bangalore City Railway Station. — Ph oto:

BANGALORE: No one noticed them first, as A. Nagaraj, his wife Tulasi and their son Charan sat glued to their seats at Krishna, the Chief Minister's official residence on Saturday. But commencing his regular "Janata Darshan," Mr. Kumaraswamy could not miss the family that had a tale of harassment to narrate.

Nature has rendered him short, but Mr. Nagaraj wants to stand tall in society, proud of his little business inside a subway in the bustling Majestic area. Fighting against odds, he wants to assert his presence in the big city.

Yet, he had come across the wall of bureaucracy. The stifling official machinery had steeled his resolve to fight back. The "Janata Darshan" was his final hope.

Carrying aloft a bouquet of flowers, the family had arrived early in "Krishna." A thousand others, with their own grievances, awaited their "Darshan."

As the Chief Minister walked in, Mr. Nagaraj and his wife greeted him with a smile. Hope in his eyes, he put forth his problems.

The midget from Challakere in Chitradurga district had a genuine grouse. He had not asked for any favours but only for a permission to continue his business.

His second visit to the "Janata Darshan" turned fruitful. Mr. Kumaraswamy directed the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) to issue the necessary permission.

Mr. Nagaraj could now sell his ware in peace. The subway maintenance contractors and the security guards who troubled him with their demand for permission letters could be kept at bay. It was time to bid goodbye to those unending visits to the BMP headquarters.

For four years, Mr. Nagaraj had fought competing businessmen, a litany of snide remarks and the official machinery as he struggled to keep his business alive on the pavements of Majestic. Harassment often came from the lower level staff of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). It was a long ordeal for this man, who had first stepped into Bangalore 12 summers ago. Marriage six years ago had given him a companion. But the challenges had grown.

Tracking him at his business spot in the subway, The Hindu was in for a surprise.

Mr. Nagaraj, despite his struggles, was a grateful man, thankful to the Upparpet police for having arranged his marriage and to the Government for finally clearing his path. "The police have been very helpful. The then Assistant Commissioner of Police G.A. Bawa had even given me Rs. 3,000 cash while the local MLA had contributed another Rs. 5,000," he recalled.

Ms. Tulasi would often lend a helping hand in business.

Four-year-old Charan was a source of happiness. "He is now in play school. We will send him to a government school for his first standard," Mr. Nagaraj's joy was apparent. He was content too that his son would grow up without any physical disabilities.

In matters of income, Mr. Nagaraj's roadside business always came first that was his pride.

But over the years, he had found time to dabble in eight Kannada films and television serials, doing bit roles. It offered entertainment to thousands, but failed to fill his purse.

"There is not much money in films. I earn about Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 3,000 a month, sitting here from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. everyday. This is my bread," he said with a telling smile.

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