Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad   

Where there is a will, there is a way

Dhanaraj Satpute at his shop in Hubli.

HUBLI: For some, lack of support and encouragement don't appear to be deterrents. They take it as a challenge to pursue their passion come what may.

The cobbler turned publisher from Hubli, Dhanaraj Satpute, is one such person.

Having so far published 11 Kannada books single handedly, mainly on historical personalities and reformers, Mr. Satpute pursues his passion undauntedly.

Apart from publishing books from his makeshift 4x5 ft ‘publisher's office cum cobbler shop', Mr. Satpute's other passion is making sandals for seers.

Several noted seers of Karnataka have received sandals made by Mr. Satpute so far.

The 46-year-old cobbler, who ekes out a living by mending sandals and shoes at Basaveshwar Nagar Cross in Hubli, has now made a big sandal and a shoe despite financial constraints and he plans to handover them to museums for display.

After carefully managing his savings for one year, Mr. Satpute has made use of wood, aluminium and other materials for making the sandal and the shoe. While the bigger sandal measures four feet, the silver coloured shoe measures around two feet and two inches.

“The bigger one cost me around Rs. 25,000 while the smaller one Rs. 15,000. I have used rosewood and aluminium for making them,” Mr. Satpute said.

Mr. Satputej now wants to give both the sandals to two museums; one in the state and the other one in New Delhi. “I have already appealed to the district-in-Charge Minister Jagadish Shettar and MP Pralhad Joshi to help me in getting the sandals displayed at a museum. If people see them and appreciate my work, that would be the biggest reward for me,” he said.

Meanwhile his12th publication on Baba Saheb Ambedkar had been released recently and he was ready with his 13th publication “Goutama Buddha.”

Mr. Satpute can be contacted on 9731605594.

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