Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Pics: Jitendra Kundeshwar

Mangalore, Aug 4: Politicians may be in the news for all sorts of reasons, most often for the wrong ones, but dig a bit below the surface and you may find that some of them are indeed gems. Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed his humane side when he looked after a young Nepalese boy for 16 years before handing him over to his family. Now, two political leaders from the coast, both very well known, have done a deed that truly deserves a standing ovation.

Manjunath, son of a coolie from Basavakalyana in Bidar district, is blind, but he has an extraordinary life. He lives with former union minister and Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes when he visits New Delhi, and with state health minister U T Khadar when in Mangalore.

Manjunath says he is eternally grateful to Oscar Fernandes for picking him up from the streets and giving him status, care, and recognition.

Manjunath has an ear for style and voice modulations of political leaders. He used to listen to speeches of leaders and imitate the same style and voice quality when reproducing them, thereby earning the appreciation of the public and some money in the bargain. He says he had been trying to approach Oscar Fernandes when the former union minister had visited Basavakalyana in 2009 in order to introduce himself. But he was pushed away by the policemen and gunmen around the dignitary every time he approached Oscar, he says.

The frustration felt by Manjunath came out in the form of tears which trickled down his eyes. Oscar, who noticed his tears, wiped them, and embraced him. Manjunath gratefully recollects that Oscar took him in his helicopter, and then by flight to New Delhi, where he was provided VIP treatment. "I used to sleep in a bed between Oscar on one bed and his son, Oshan, on the other. I was looked after like his own son," he explains with enthusiasm.

Oscar summoned a well-known ophthalmologist to his chamber and told him that he was ready to foot the medical bills if Manjunath's eyesight could be restored. But the doctor, who did not hold great hope for the boy, advised him to be referred to All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Manjunath was admitted there for a month, during which he says, he was cared for by Oscar, his personal assistants, and Oshan in turns. He says he cannot ever forget the affection and care showered on him by Oscar.

Manjunath lived with Oscar for six months during his first visit. He was then taken to Mangalore by present state ministers, U T Khadar and Vinay Kumar Sorake, when they visited Oscar by flight. Thereafter, Manjunath has visited these people a number of times, and he says he knows addresses, mobile numbers etc of these dignitaries by heart.

Karnataka health minister, U T Khadar, confesses that he brought the boy from the house of Oscar in New Delhi to the city. He says that the boy gets hospitality and care at his house either in the city or at Bangalore during his visits. Manjunath had recently visited Khadar to extend Ramzan greetings.