She did not know who Ravi Belagere was. She had not heard his name, or his newspaper’s—or even what journalism was all about. Yashomathy only knew one thing; and it was that she had to, somehow, complete her graduation. So, she took the job. Even at the cost of treading onto a perilous, uncharted and unfamiliar territory, she was resolute in her aim of fulfilling that one goal—to get a good education!
As Yashomathy gradually became acquainted with the wide coverage of the newspaper and its vast range of contents—from politics to society, cinema, crime reports, science, sports, satirical pieces, columns, stories, novels, poems and, notably, the blanks that shed light on Ravi’s life—the Khasa Bath column, as well as the songs he penned for the Lavalavike column and the insights shared in the Bottom Item—each aspect familiarized her with a different dimension and progressively unveiled an entirely new world for her.
Succumbing to the allure of Ravi’s eloquent expressions—as captivating as his literary creations—and, gradually, discovering the nuances of his character, Yashomathy’s professional association with him evolved seamlessly into friendship, blossomed into love and culminated in marriage.
But Ravi’s failing health, brought about by work-induced stress, led to his abrupt retirement from the profession, leaving all his onerous responsibilities on Yashomathy’s shoulders, compelling her to confront profound questions about her future trajectory. But, throughout the ordeal, she endeavoured to remain committed to her job, facing each challenge with equanimity and addressing life’s vicissitudes with stoic composure.
Amid these challenges, Yashomathy’s aspirations to complete her graduation appeared ever elusive. However, she enrolled in the IGDCS Counselling Course at Banjara Academy, which equipped her with the skills to navigate life’s hurdles. Additionally, she took a course in Grapho Therapy and handwriting analysis from Nutan Rao. Motivated by her goal to achieve financial independence, she also pursued a Diploma in Boutique Management.
Then, from the shadows, death descended on Ravi, plunging Yashomathy into an existential predicament, while navigating society with her twelve-year-old child. In the absence of her husband, she found herself navigating grief and adversity without any support, under the watchful scrutiny of a vigilant society, all the while trying to uphold his legacy. She transformed their home—once the cornerstone of her existence—into a venue for film shoots to sustain herself.
However, this arrangement, which relegated Yashomathy and her son to the role of outsiders within their walls, proved untenable, compelling her to think differently. So, she started the Yashaswi Academy, offering art, music and dance classes. Concurrently, she began contributing a column to the Vishwavani daily, which was well-received by readers. This encouraged her to compile the articles in the form of a book under the banner of Ravi Belagere Publishing House, a venture she established to honour his memory and publish his works.
This publishing house has successfully released four of his books, carving out a notable presence in the market. Yashomathy also engages in many cultural initiatives through the Ravi Belagere Literature and Cultural Academy. She wants to, one day, establish the Ravi Belagere Kalabhavan and institute an award in the name of his beloved mother, Belagere Parvathamma, as a tribute to his legacy.
Yashomathy redirected the funds intended for the premiums of a life insurance policy towards obtaining a bank loan. This financial strategy enabled her to establish Rays Preschool and Day Care School under the auspices of the Ravi Belagere Education Trust. This venture not only created employment opportunities for twelve individuals but also garnered widespread acclaim, affirming that the legacy of success is synonymous with Yashomathy. Nonetheless, the journey to this accomplishment was fraught with challenges and was far from being an easy, or straightforward, path.
Without the backup of financial reserves, landed property, or even a name as big as her husband’s, Yashomathy has laid the foundations of her existence on love, patience, perseverance and hard work. Single-handedly raising her son to be a good man and attending to her ageing mother, she has cultivated the strength to face life’s challenges head-on. This path has equipped her with the courage to withstand any storm.
There was a time when Yashomathy would ask God, somewhat despondently, why her name was the singular one that both began and ended with the letter ‘Y’. She questioned the unique path her life had taken. Yet, now, she finds herself embracing an imperturbable stance of ‘Why not?’
Ultimately, she has a singular piece of advice to impart to people struggling through life as she has done: “Cherish every moment at your disposal. Refrain from squandering time on idle chatter or discussing others. Concentrate on honing your skills and passions. With unflinching dedication and relentless effort, success will, inevitably, crown you.”
(The author Girish Linganna of this article is a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also the Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach out to him at: [email protected])
Views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not reflect the editorial stance of Business Upturn.
