Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)
Bantwal, Jun 18: This senior citizen, who is 94, with a Gandhi Topi (cap) over his head, thick spectacles, ashes adorning the forehead and wrinkled skin, is just awaiting tea. It is not the tea itself that matters but the sense of honour that it carries which is special and unique for this matured individual.
M D Shyama Rao has been waiting since the last four to five years an invitation for the high tea offered by the President annually in memory of Quit India Movement.
It has been 72 years since India became independent. Most of those who participated in freedom struggle are not with us now. Some among those who are alive are bedridden and a few continue to be physically able to move around. M D Shyama Rao from here is one among such people, and he is the only freedom fighter from this taluk now.
Shyama Rao, who is from B C Road in the taluk, has his own house in the land granted by the government to him. But he now has been spending his retired life in the company of his son at Shivamogga. He has maintained his relationship with the taluk and has made it a point to take part in important programmes held here.
A few years back Rao had got a call from the office of the district deputy commissioner. He was asked to give his consent to an invitation for tea extended by the President of India. He agreed to participate in it and also gave details of the assistant who would accompany him during the journey. But he never got any response to the letter. The next year he expressed inability to go to Delhi on account of ill health. The year after, under the instructions from the deputy commissioner's office, Bantwal tahsildar had invited him and sought his consent letter for the tea. Shyama Rao was enthusiastic but a letter which reached him on August 7 had asked him to attend the high tea on August 9 at his own expense. This letter dampened his spirits as it came with a short notice of two days.
Shyama Rao has since been waiting to take part in the high tea in the company of the President since the last several years but has been compelled to stay contented at reading newspaper reports about the tea party.
At this advanced age, Rao continues to move between Shivamogga and Bantwal with the help of bus pass given by the government. He is agile and fit. This time around the desire to take part in the Presidential tea has kindled in his mind. At the request of the office of the deputy commissioner, Bantwal tahisldar Rashmi R, has sent report on health condition of Shyama Rao, consent letter and details about his son Sathish S S, who will accompany him in the trip as assistant.
Shyama Rao says he is disappointed at missed opportunities to take part in the tea party being arranged by the President for one or the other reason. He hopes that his desire will be fulfilled at least this year. Bantwal tahsildar Rashmi S R, said that she had evinced interest and sent his letter and other details to make sure that he does not miss out the tea this time.