Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Dec 17: Nettara Vishwanath Shetty (61), a physically-challenged person from Bangerakatte near Madantyar near here, died after thieves took away money he had collected for conducting the marriage of his daughter. He is survived by wife and four daughters.

Vishwanath Shetty, a fine Yakshagana Arthadhari and expert at husking areca nuts, worked better than the able-bodied. He was adept at bringing out melodious music from a unique flute having 16 holes, named 'Bheemana Kolalu'. Both his legs turned useless after he suffered from fever when he was 11 years old and since then, he moved around by using his hands. He was a good farmer and undertook dairy farming too.  Shetty had made a 'Maddale' percussion instrument by using thin areca nut sheets and several publications had brought out articles about his skills.

Shetty had fixed the marriage of his daughter for the 17th of December. Most of the preparations were over and he had sought help from various organizations for financial help. He had also approached minister Shobha Karandlaje for help when she had come to Macchina village some days ago. The funds raised by the local Buntara Sangha for the purpose had been sent to the Buntara Matr Sangha in Mangalore for pooling. Shetty collected money from the Buntara Sangha office in Mangalore and went to Kateel to visit the temple there. When he failed to come back home, his family members launched a search for him and found him lying in Kateel in an unconscious state. After he was brought home, he just said that he was deceived, before breathing his last.

Some one had deceived him and taken away the money he had. The exact amount he had in his possession at that time is not known. He was mentally devastated due to the shocking development and could not be revived by treatments given at Punjalakatte and Mangalore hospitals.