Sullia: While some end life and while some live on after defaulting a loan, here in Sullia, lives a man on self-imposed exile.
Meet Chandrashekar Gowda, who has been living in the forest over the last 13 years after his land was auctioned by a Co-op Society for defaulting a loan.
DC Ibrahim visited Chandrashekar Gowda’s ‘Home’
As he saw all his belonging go out of his hand, a dejected Gowda ventured into the forest in his favourite Fiat car and never returned.
They say, it is his way of silently protesting against the humiliation and injustice meted upon him.
Today, after 13 long years, in deep jungles of Bedrpane of Adthale-Aranthodi of Sullia Taluk, Gowda lives in his only possession-the Fiat car.
It was in 1999 that Gowda had taken a loan of Rs 27,400 from a Co-operative Society. The loan amount doubled in four years as he failed to repay it and even before he could think of ways to pay back, the Society confiscated his 1.29 acre land and auctioned the same in 2003.
Gowda just vanished from the village, but once in a while, the locals used to see him in Sullia Town selling some forest products. But, the man had changed. He had become a recluse who never interacted with people around him.
He had cut off all contacts with the outside world and he had gone into the shell. He had built a world of his own, where he evidently seemed to be at peace in company of nature, plants and animals.
Pulling out strong creepers from the forest, Gowda started knitting baskets, which he used to sell in the town to earn some money. With the same money he used to buy himself some essential commodities and return to the jungle.
With a thatched structure over the fiat car, Gowda seemed sorted.
Gowda showing his fiat car, which he calls home
People who know him say that he loved to wear good clothes, keep a clean shave and look good. But, that young man is lost somewhere in dunes of time.
The Gowda that world sees today is a thin, lanky man who has not had a clean shave or a hair cut since years. Long grown beard and hair talk of his disconnection to himself.
Silverlining
Recently Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim on learning about the life of Gowda, immediately responded to him.
The DC went into the forest with other officials, met Gowda and gave patient hearing to what the man in the forest had to say.
After couple of months, the DC had invited him to Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mangaluru and promised to give land, home, medical aid and employment.
But, refusing to all of the offers, Gowda had urged the DC to only give him a piece of land!
The Revenue Officials of the taluk say that all efforts to rehabilitate Gowda are on.
The result is to be waited and watched for.
