Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MH)

Mangaluru, Jul 4: Taranath Kamath, a 94-year-old senior citizen, has dedicated the past 70 years of his life to delivering newspapers to the readers of Mangaluru.

Born on December 25, 1930, in Kankanady, Mangaluru, to Upendra and Sundari Kamath, Taranath grew up in a financially struggling family with an elder sister and a younger brother. After completing his education up to the eighth grade, he initially worked with close relatives and then spent a few years outside Mangaluru before returning to establish the Kamath News Agency in Kankanady. Over the past seven decades, he has distributed a variety of newspapers and magazines, delivering around 2,000 newspapers door-to-door daily.

Recalling the early days of his career, Kamath said, “About seventy years ago, when Mangaluru was not yet a large city, I started my journey in press distribution. Sujeer Manjunath Naik, who asked if I could deliver an Indian Express newspaper to an officer from Madras living near Kankanady, was the catalyst. I agreed, and from then on, I would take the newspaper daily from Hampankatta, Mangaluru, to the officer’s house near Kankanady, Padil.”

Kamath fondly remembers his late wife, Vijaya, who supported him in his work. After he injured his leg in an accident while delivering newspapers by bicycle and spent two years in the hospital, his wife took over the responsibility of distributing the newspapers. Today, Taranath's sons, Vinayak Kamath and Vishnu Kamath, work alongside him as distributors.

When the Navbharat newspaper was launched, Kamath approached Manjunath Naik for the press distribution agency, which Manjunath agreed to hand over. Each copy of Navbharat cost 1 anna back then, and Kamath earned 1 rupee in commission. He has since been steadfast in delivering newspapers to homes and offices while managing his distribution shop in Kankanady for the past 70 years.

"Sujir Manjunath Nayak, who inspired me to become a press distributor, and Jayakar, who supported me during my hospital stay, have been motivating factors in my life. I have always believed in caring for others and leading a simple life. I will turn 95 this December and remain dedicated to my career in newspaper distribution," Taranath Kamath says with a smile. Despite the modest earnings, he finds great satisfaction in continuing to run his small distribution shop in Kankanady.