Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur

Kundapur, Apr 2: An old lorry manufactured in1973 and of 1210D model currently owned by Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala has been designed with new look. On Sunday it will travel to Dharmasthala from Malyady near Tekkatte where it has acquired its new look.

Malyady Sri Gajanana Truck Body Builders and Welding Works owned by Manjunath Achar has experienced workers who have served in this segment for over 40 years. The team has equipped the lorry with a fresh getup and enabled it to be driven away. The team worked hard for three months to make this change happen.

The lorry was owned by entrepreneur and social worker, Malyady Shivaram Shetty from near Tekkatte. He had acquired it in 1976 and the lorry had been used for about four decades. As spare parts were not available, the lorry had been stationed in a shed in front of Shetty's house near Tekkatte for the last some years.

When Dharmasthala Yakshagana troupe came to perform at the residence of Shivaram Shetty for the annual performance as per tradition, the manager of the Mela made enquiries about the old lorry and conveyed the same to Dr D Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala. Dr Heggade, who has special interest in old vehicles, conveyed to Shetty that Dharmasthala establishment is interested in getting this lorry to the museum. Shetty personally went to Dharmasthala along with family members on January 15 and handed over the lorry, as he felt it to be a divine opportunity.

Dr Heggade who collected all information about the lorry, invited those who were handling the lorry so far to the temple where he discussed about the lorry with the team, drew up the blueprint of the lorry himself and handed it over to the Malyady garage owner with instruction to reconstruct the lorry and return it to him. The garage owner took three months to rebuild the lorry even though the actual time required was one month because of the non-availability of spare parts which were brought from Bengaluru.

In the hands of Vighnesh Achar, Nitish Achar, Harish, Lawrence Beretto, Ramesh and Krishnaiah Achary, the lorry which has been designed on the lines of the old one is now ready. Painting work was attended by Sadashiv painter while electric work was handled by Star Gopal from Kumbhasi.

This 1973 model lorry will have a place of pride in Manjusha Museum, Dharmasthala. Garage owner Manjunath Achar Malyady said that he and his workers have worked on the lorry by treating the instructions of Dr Heggade as a quirk of good fortune that came their way.