Mukunda Kamath: Simplicity and hard work trademarks of his business and life

Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 20 February 2011: Mukunda Kamath is a perfect picture of simplicity and hard work. He has been a familiar figure in the Belle township since a number of years, first as a partner along with his father and elder brother in the grocery business and since around ten years as an independent sub-dealer in cement, the only in Belle and also selling sundry items especially those required by the farmers. Mukunda has been known for his generous disposition and has been a regular donor to the educational institutions and even to temples and the Belle Church.

 

 

 

Born on 23 November 1943 as the second among a dozen children, ten sons and two daughters of late B. Shankar Narayan and B. Lakshmi Kamath, Mukunda studied up to seventh standard in the Church Aided Higher Primary School. Among his classmates, Mukunda claims that Maurice Menezes of Thota-Thabail, Gilbert Martis of Kattingeri and late Gokuldas Kini were his close friends.

 

Though Mukunda had a desire to continue his education, his father, Shankar Narayan Kamath who was running a grocery shop near the church advised him to help him as he was finding it difficult to manage the business by himself along with his eldest son, Pandurang who had studied up to eight standard and had been helping him out in the shop. Having no other option, Mukunda joined his father and elder brother in managing the family business.  At that time there were three grocery shops in Bellle- that of Ananth Kamath, Gopal Pai and Shankar Narayan Kamath.

 

Though Mukunda and his elder brother Pandurang could not continue their studies, he is very proud of his younger siblings who continued their studies and completed graduation in different faculties. All of them secured good jobs and well settled in life. Four of Mukunda’s younger brothers got employment in different banks: Marthappa (retired), Krishna (retired), Devdas (still serving) and Govardhan (still serving). Two of his other brothers served in post offices-Vittala (retired) and Upendra(still serving in Shivmogga). One younger brother-Diwakara who is an engineer works in a private company in Mumbai and Surendra Kamath  does his own cutlery business in Belle. Two of Mukunda’s sisters-Muktha and Shakuntala are also graduates. Muktha is married and settled down in Kerala whereas Shakuntala  is in Mulki. Mukunda says that his brothers and sisters as well as their families visit their ancestral home at Moodubelle at least once a year and all of them have a strong family bond.

 

 

Mukunda along with his brother Pandurang continued working together in their grocery shop till around eleven years ago after the death of their father in 1983. Eleven years ago while Pandurang continued the grocery business, and Mukunda started his own venture in  cement sub-dealership. So far he is the sole distributor of cement in Belle.  Besides cement dealership, Mukunda also sells other items such as lime and seasonal articles for agricultural purpose especially the manure baskets known as ‘kannadi pudai’ in local Tulu language.

 

 

Mukunda married Meera Kamath from Haladi, Kundapur in 1967 and they have five children-three sons and two daughters. While the eldest son, Yogesh is at home, younger son- Dr. Bharat Kumar is an engineer and has been working for the Anglo-American Mining Company and  after  serving in the United States  is presently working in South Africa. Mukunda’s third son, Suresh Kamath, after completing M. Pharm is presently working as Deputy Manager in Matrix Laboratories Limited at Hyderabad. Presently he is doing research for Ph.D. degree. Among his two daughters-Geetha who has completed BA is married and settled down in Moodbidri and second daughter-Muktha is also a graduate.

 

Mukunda is a simple and hardworking person. He is quite jovial and forthcoming. Though he could not acquire higher education, he believes in promoting education. He has been in the forefront in giving donations to educational institutions and even to church activities.  He has been a regular bidder when donated articles meant for raising funds for the Missions are being auctioned on the Mission Sunday.  Mukunda says that he has faith in St. Lawrence as he and his family have been blessed by the saint in his business and gets inspiration to carry on in life in spite of various difficulties that he has been facing.  Mukunda has been a regular donor to various temples in and around Belle. He had served as the president of the Sarvajanik Ganeshsotsva Samithi of Geetha Mandir in Moodubelle for two terms in 2007 and 2008. He strongly believes in communal harmony and has friends from different communities.

 

 

 

Mukunda, though 68 years old has maintained his health by hard and regular work, limited food and regular walk in the fields and coconut garden. He uses his old bicycle to commute from home to his modest shop and back home. He has positive outlook in life and takes things as they come. Mukunda has a kind heart and whenever anyone seeks his help he comes to his rescue in whatever way he can.