Daijiworld Media Network - Koppal (SP)

Koppal, Jul 7: The inspiring story of a boy born in a family experiencing abject poverty, who began to sell peanuts at the Goan beaches to support the family, going on to become a part of the British army will soon turn into a biopic. Gopal Wakode's story is sure to give wings to the dreams of many poor youngsters whose life mostly is spent struggling with the problems of feeding the family members.

Gopal Wakode from Shahapur village in Koppal district was born into a family that was poor and illiterate. In a surprising development, the boy wriggled out of the family problems and joined the British army. He is currently serving the British military base in East Midlands, England.

Gopal is the son of the late Yellappa Wakode and Fakeeravva couple. He is one of the five children of Yellappa. He had an elder brother and three sisters. When Gopal was young, his father shifted to Goa along with his family in search of greener pastures. Yellappa became a liquor addict there and died in 1995. Later, Gopal's mother too breathed her last. His elder brother died a few days after his marriage. His sister-in-law lives in Shanapur even now. His three sisters have been married to men from the same village.

Gopal was ten when his family started living in Goa. Gopal used to shed tears every day after witnessing his drug addict father torturing his mother. His brother and sisters were innocent. In the light of the problems faced by the family, Gopal stopped attending school and began to sell peanuts on the beaches. He worked day and night with the sole aim of helping the family through the financial crisis.

An elderly British couple, Brits Coroll Thomas and Colin Hanson, along with their close friend, Linda Hanson, used to undertake a tour of India every year. The couple accidentally observed Gopal selling peanuts at Bethel Bath beach. The way he went about selling peanuts without being bothered by the hot sun, and his love of life won over their hearts. They took him to a nearby cloth store where they got him new clothes and a bamboo basket for selling peanuts, apart from a wristwatch. They then visited his parents living in a tent by the side of a road in Margao. They took pity on his mother. They left him, with the promise of meeting him again the next year.

Even after five to six years of selling peanuts, Gopal's family was as poor as it was. The British couple which came every year, extended financial assistance and behaved affectionately. When he turned 19, the couple took Gopal to England. From England, the couple used to extend financial help to his family. They also helped the family to marry off his sisters and to build a house. Gopal was provided cricket training in the local military barracks. Gradually, Gopal became a fine cricketer and became captain of the local cricket team. He also won several awards and honours considering his brilliance in sports and his behaviour. Considering his cricketing talent, a military officer admitted him into the army.

Gopal has since married Jasmin from England and has a daughter named Daisy. He is in England for the last ten years. For cricket and military service, he has travelled to Afghanistan, Kenya and Germany. He is a British citizen and visits his village once every three years.

Gopal rose in his life with his own efforts even though he was born in a poor family. He has been a subject of many foreign media reports considering his behaviour, gentle and caring nature, social service, and brilliance in sports. Considering that he was born in a backward hamlet to a poor family of illiterates and became a part of the British military will soon be on the silver screen in the form of a biopic. Media representatives and officers of the military are waiting for July 12 to watch the story of his meteoric rise in life.