For the first in a long time, I started having thoughts as I used to in school and early college days. I was an IAS aspirant from childhood so the feeling about India, the land, and its people always existed. Thanks to my school Vivekananda Kendra Vidyala for putting together the teaching of Swami Vivekananda in ways that stayed with me after almost 2 decades of completing school. After staying at Varanshi Farms for over 2 weeks, I was really looking forward to this day of meeting Mr.Amai Mahalinga Naik AKA "The Tunnel Man".
Amai Mahalinga Naik converted his 2-acre barren land to an organic agriculture farm. This 2-acre plot was gifted to him by a landlord who was impressed with the young Amai. Considering that the region is mostly rocky terrain, he dug horizontal tunnels into the hillocks to get water supply. I along with a few other people I met at the farm went to visit the Tunnel Man. We were received by the extremely simple earth Tunnel Man and his wife, who along stood by his side. I still remember her smile. We were fed with some organic fruits from his garden and kokum juice. The usual in these parts of Dakshin Kannada.
After giving us a quick tour of the tunnels and his irrigation system the Tunnel man took us inside his house to show us the awards. Little did any of yes expect his collection of awards.
While I was standing in the room mind blown by the number of awards he had received, The Tunnel Man walked up to me and handed over something in my palm. It was a medal. It was 'THE PADMASHRI'. I couldn't believe what I was holding. The most prestigious civilian award in India. I was holding the Padmashri in my hand. The feeling was beyond inspiring. The responsibility of me as an individual in this country. The learnings from school hit me hard as I walked back to my room that evening. Thank you Tunnel Man for this moment of a lifetime. 🙏
More about the tunnel man and his accomplishments as published in network18 here