Silvester D’ Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Sep 20: They say true love always wins. In the case of 22-year-old Akkamma and 24-year-old Erappa, thats what happened.

Akkamma from Gudyappana Mutt of Koppala district and 24-year-old Erappa from Fakeeraboodanala in Badami district had come to Manipal and were living in huts with their respective families due to drought in their villages.

They were poor, illiterate and unskilled labourers. Their families objected when they fell in love. The barrier of caste came in between them.  When they realized that it was not possible to unite, they eloped.  A missing persons complaint was lodged in Manipal police station.

The police, who went looking for them, found the two in Dharmasthala and brought them to Manipal.  The police advised both the families to get them married as both have attained majority. It became difficult to convince the boy’s family.

A well-wisher asked the couple to contact Spoorthidhama.  The couple met Dr Keshava Koteshwar of Spoorthidhama, who contacted both the families by phone and succeeded in obtaining their consent for the wedding.  The wedding took place on September 19 at Anegudde Vinayaka Hall and brought smiles on the faces of the couple, uniting both the families.

The organizers of Sri Vinayaka hall had made all the arrangements for the wedding.  Thekkatte Rotary president Manjunatha Prabhu, Secretary Sridhar Acharya, former president Sudhakar Shetty, Sr Lilly, Pushpa and Rayan were present.

Dr Keshava Koteshwar said, “Lovers should not run away just because of barriers of caste and creed.  There is no need for suicides. It is necessary to support love marriages in order to remove the dirt stuck on our societies.  However marriages should not break down.  If you want to build your married lives, we are with you”.         

"Though we faced hardships, we eventually succeeded in getting married with the help and guidance of Spoorthidhama," said an elated Erappa.