Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jun 3: The girl who took a decision at a very young age to support her family through her small steps, has completed 75 years in the sale of fish. This innocent rural woman has not got tired. She emerges as a role model for the society. The woman in question, Meenakka alias Meena Marakalthi Kody Kanyana, who received 'Matsya-Jyothi' honour at the platinum jubilee of her professional life, deserves to be respected and hailed.

Meenakka, who is affectionately addressed as 'Meenakke' by the people of the locality and her customers, has spent all her 82 years at the seashore. She never wilted or backed out in the face of problems and daunting challenges. At the same time, she did not seek shelter from anyone. She got more and more involved with her family profession of fish vending, and supported her family since she was young. She picks fish on sea shore and even now she is not fed up with her profession because she loves her job.

Meenakka was born as the last of the five children of Guru Marakala and Thunde Marakalthi from Bengre. She was married to Kadekar Bola Marakala when she was 14. Even after marriage, Meenakka continued with her work of selling fish and supported her husband financially. Although life was difficult, the couple were leading a contented life. After her husband suddenly died, Meenakka was faced with the responsibility of raising her children. Meenakka's children were very young, with the eldest daughter aged six when she lost her husband. The need to look after the children and bear with the loss of her husband haunted her but Meenakka realized that the task on hand was to care for her three children. She overcame difficulties and challenges and put together every single penny she could. She worked relentlessly for the progress of her children. When she looks back now, she gets the satisfaction for having proved yet again that fisherwomen are adventurous, and she has become an achiever by her own right.

Recalling the situation prevailing 60 years back, Meenakka says that she never wore a footwear then but could easily walk thousands of kilometres without getting tired. She used to leave home at 4 am and come back at 7 pm. She used to walk tens of kilometres everyday selling fish by foot. With a basket of fish over her head, Meenakka sold fresh fish by visiting houses door to door. She has walked to villages like Koravadi, Manuur, Cherkady, Petri, Barkur, Koorady, Muddumane, Kokkarna, Vaddarse and other far-flung areas. She also sold fish at weekly shandies and gatherings. She only got paid what she deserved for her hard work, and never charged more with lure of money, she says. As such, although financially she is not well enough, she has the satisfaction of earning the trust and affection of her customers.

Meenakka's longstanding association with fishing activity had remained concealed from public glare all these days. G Shankar Family Trust Ambalpady, which began to search for senior fisherwomen engaged in traditional fishing activities, stumbled upon illustrious achievement of Meenakka. In addition to conferring Meenakka with 'Matsya-Jyoti' title, she was weighed against mackerel by the trust at a function. Meenakka has now got recognition and respect for her achievement.

Meenakka from Kody Kanyana has experienced ups an downs during her traditional fish trade. She becomes emotional when recalling her past. Meenakka is even elder to Dr G Shankar's mother, Laxmi Soma Bangera. Memories of harsh days in the past bring tears in her eyes. Even G Shankar becomes emotional when speaking about Meenakka. He says the image of his mother comes in front of his eyes when he comes across Meenakka.