Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (GA)

Udupi, Jul 2: Though the government’s decision to ban arrack in the state has been welcomed largely, there are a few who have certain issues in this regard.  While the women have been waiting for this day for long, most of the men would have felt that this ban should not have been imposed.

It was owing to this reason that on Saturday June 30 (on the previous day of ban) there was heavy rush for the arrack. While some of them were found selling arrack at cheaper rates to clear their stock, some others preserved the stock to sell illegally once the ban is imposed.

But the customer's had different idea.  Those who were heavily reliant on arrack wanted to drink to the brim as if they would not have another chance in the life.  Every sachet they emptied was the last peg for them.

But a man at Brahmavar has a different story.  Raju (70), a daily-wage earner was truly worried on Saturday that his arrack would be banned and that he would not get to drink arrack officially hereafter.  Accordingly he decided to drink as much as possible.  But unfortunately he never knew that he would not get another chance to drink in his life.  Raju who had drunk excessively, breathed his last in the morning on Sunday July 1 owing to adverse effects of excessive drinking.

Raju was earlier earning his livelihood by playing harmonium by the roadside in Kasargod.  But a couple of years ago, he had shifted himself to Kundapur and of recent he had moved to Brahmavar.  He, along with his family was staying in a tent near Akashvani at Brahmavar.  Since it was rainy season and he had no work, he was earning his daily bread by repairing umbrellas and harmoniums in the Brahmavar and surrounding areas.

Raju had six children out of which two girls Poornima and Shobha have been given in marriage to Ramesh and Nagesh of Bangalore.  But of late they are leaving separately owing to differences between them.  Raju's four other children are in Sphoorti organization of Kedoor.

Now with the death of Raju, his wife Bhagya is left alone.  Though here daughters are living with here, it is not the loneliness that bothers her but worry of earning daily bread is taking a toll on her life.