Harshini Brahmavar

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS)

Udupi, May 8: As per the saying ‘Old is Gold’, certain things never lose their value and demand despite remarkable changes in the market or in the tastes of the general public. In the coastal region of the state, mercury is rising day by day. People throng for soft drinks during this time to keep themselves cool.

When we think of soft drinks, different coloured soft drinks just pass through our mind. However, in olden days there were no soft drinks like the present ones in the market manufactured by MNCs. The choice was limited to Lemonade (Nimboo Sharbath), Buttermilk (Majjige), Ginger Soda (Shunti Soda). But sadly, due to the monopoly and heavy competition from the MNCs, these local soft drinks are becoming extinct.

In the midst of such fierce competition, the traditional Goli Soda (Soda with a marble in it for holding gas) of the coastal region can be still seen in some shops. One such person who is doing this for his livelihood since the past 59 years is Gundibail Sheena Naika.

79-year-old Sheena Naika does not know himself as to how many kilometers of distance he covers in a day. By continuing his livelihood, he is trying to preserve the traditional Goli Soda soft drink from becoming extinct. 

Sheena Naika is a familiar personality. He always sports a smile on his face. His daily routine has not changed even a bit since the last 59 years. All get surprised by his enthusiasm and self-confidence, which has not reduced even in the wake of such fierce competition from the MNCs which manufacture soft drinks. 

Sheena Naika does agricultural related work in the morning and then starts his business of making and selling Goli Soda. He peddles his bicycle for several kilometers and sells his product to seven to eight shops which have permanent customers who ask for these type of Soda. 

There is an interesting story behind Sheena Naika becoming a small businessman from working in a soda factory. Nearly 46 years ago, Sheena joined as a salesman in the Goli Soda factory of Kalappa Shetty. It was a big factory then. Sometimes, they used to sell these Goli Sodas using a three wheeled cart as the bicycle was not enough to cater to the demand for Sodas. Many people were associated with the soda industry during that time. However, as the years passed by Goli Soda’s market started to decrease drastically. As a result of this, Kalappa Shetty incurred huge losses. He gave 70 reusable soda bottles and the machine to fill the gas to Sheena Naika and asked him to pay rent to him. Sheena Naika who took this as a challenge is still striving to earn his livelihood through this business. 

Sheena Naika has given good education to all his five children. They are all holding good jobs now. His children pester him to give up this profession. But self-respected Sheena Naika pacifies them by saying that he will close down the business next year. However, his association with this business and the satisfaction he gets by earning his livelihood, does not allow him to completely close down the business. 

Sheena Naika does not use any chemical in the Goli Soda which he manufactures. Water, Ginger and little gas are the only ingradients of his product. Though the colourful soft drinks of MNCs are attracting the general public, there are people who still prefer Goli Soda in the society. If a person drinks one bottle of Ginger Soda of Sheena Naika, he is sure to feel light and refreshed.