Report and Pics by Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (RD/SP)
 
Puttur, Feb 14: His name is Basappa, a 32-year-old man, born in Dharwad. He  studied up to SSLC.  "Owing to poverty, I could not study further", says Basappa, who is engaged in selling calendars, maps and religious pictures of all communities. He has set an example for many others like him who feel totally helpless, to lead a respectable life out of the income he generates through his trade.
 
We  met Basappa at Bhavana Arts Gallery  here with several calendars, maps and religious pictures in his hands. We were happy to know that he took pride in what he does.  

Basappa did not enter this business in the recent past.  He has been engaged in peddling calendars, maps. pictures etc since the past 15 years.  Along with him, there are six more families residing in Kaikamba, Gurpur near here, who eke out a living from this trade.
 
Basappa's parents are still carrying on farming activity in his ancestral Venkatapura village in Dharwad, North Karnataka. Basappa chose the trade of his uncle, that is, of peddling calendars, maps etc, after he discontinued his studies.  “This business is good, there is good margin in this trade,' admits Basappa. He peddles religious pictures of all religions while he gets delighted when he visits schools, with the stock of world map, India and state wise maps etc, as he happens to see the joyful faces of school children.  He procures his stocks from Bangalore and Hubli and keeps sustainable margin while selling them.
 
All the six families which migrated to Mangalore along with Basappa are earning their livelihood out of this trade.  All are living in rented houses.  As soon as their children go to school in the mornings, all the elderly folks carry their ware on their head and peddle their stocks, visiting various villages, through out Dakshina Kannada district. 
 
Basappa had undergone self-employment training at Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development and Self Employment Training Institute (RUDSET) in 2004.  He had also availed a loan of Rs 15,000 that he has already repaid, Basappa says with pride.  Besides, he acknowledges that his trade skills were honed by RUDSET.
 
Calendar Basappa has set an example for those educated and unemployed youth, who spend their time in front of computers at Cyber Cafés, seeking job opportunities and for those parents who aspire their children to become either doctors or engineers, and also for those who contemplate to commit suicide because they secured less marks in their final examinations.
 
Self-confidence is the greatest strength one needs to live on.  "We believe in it and lead respectable lives in the society by loving our trade.  You too can  do the same," is the message Basappa wants to convey. We wish that he will lead a contented life through the trade that is so close to his heart.