An Interview with Mr. B. DHARMARAJ SHETTY.

 

We are happy to publish herewith an interview with Mr.B. Dharmaraj Shetty, the president of 'Barkur-Brahmavar Nagarika Vedike (Citizen’s Forum)’, a well known industrialist, and yet another proud son of Barkur.  This  interview was taken from the newspaper Pattanna Suddi, for the visitors of barkur.com.

 

 

Q : In spite of being so very busy with so many industries in Mumbai, what prompted you in starting the "Barkur-Brahmavar Citizen’s Forum?" "How did it come about, and what are its goals, please?"

 

A : First of all, let me thank you for giving me an opportunity to express myself. I was born in Barkur, just down the valley near the Junior College.  I obtained my basic education in Barkur.  Even though I had established industries in Mumbai and became a successful industrialist, I wanted to serve my native place and I want to bring about some improvements in Barkur.  Therefore, along with a few like-minded people, we started this forum.  Through this forum we want to develop Barkur and Brahmavara as model towns, I mean model industrial towns:

 

1. We want to establish eco-friendly Small-Scale Industries. (SSI)

2. Develop these places, especially Barkur as a tourist spot.

3. In addition, we want to motivate, encourage, and train our people to grow agricultural products scientifically. 

 

Q : Whah, you are an ambitious man, and looks like 'you are biting more than you can chew!' Pardon me, Sir, for my audacity. Well, to begin with, how on earth are you going to make these people to grow rice, fruits or vegetables scientifically?  Do you think these people will change their ancestral farming methods?

 

A : We want to display to our local people through demonstrations how in advanced countries, or in other places (like Punjab)in our own beloved India, agriculture is being grown.  We want to explain the need for going for improved type of seeds, plants, breeding techniques, moderate use of fertilizers, and help adapt modern equipment.  For this purpose we have established close contacts with the reputable agricultural scientists of the "Regional Research Centre" at Brahmavara.  Through their active participation we are hopeful of achieving the target.  We should challenge these scientists! 

 

Q : What support you want to extend for the opening of small scale and cottage industries?

 

A : Already I have earmarked a plot near National Junior College and the preliminary works have already commenced to construct 28 industrial sheds, in which I want to support the people who want to establish small scale industries as well as cottage industries which are eco-friendly in nature.  I am having various project reports which have less than Rs. 5.00 Lakhs in investment, and the products are altogether new.  Interested persons may contact me and can have the idea/knowledge or a few tips from me.  I am thinking of providing uninterrupted power supply using our own transformers and generators.  Also, I have plans to support transportation and marketing of these finished goods produced in these SSI units. 

 

Q : Is it true, that you are having plans to support for growing medicinal plants?

 

A : Where did you hear that? In Barkur everybody knows every one, but now they know what is in our minds too? Oh, Yes, now a days "Ayurvedic Medical Treatment" is becoming more and more popular.  To help the local agriculturists to grow medicinal plants we propose to plant various types of medicinal plants near the Barkur Railway Station, as a botanical display garden. Our farmers or our business oriented agriculturists can visit this place and can gain any knowledge and this will certainly help the local people to go for the cultivation of medicinal plants.  Now a days these plant products, like roots, seeds, dried flowers, bark, harvested at various phases of the moon, are having great demand by the prestigious ayurvedic institutions.  Moreover, this will be a supplemental income which the struggling farmer cannot afford to lose.

 

Q : How do you propose in developing Barkur as a tourist spot?

 

A : Barkur can be developed as a very good tourist spot.  There are many historical places, but the need of the day is to clean them up and maintain them in proper manner. The temples deserve more respect than that. Even the grass, when trimmed, looks pretty, just as a girl's trimmed and combed hair!  We are preparing a master plan with the help of the Archeological Department to give a face lift to important spots.  We have to support some low budget hotels or motels.  We have to clean those pools/tanks in front of those holy temples. (We have to ask our people not to throw broken glass in the tanks!) We have already got success in making "Mathsyagandha Express" to stop in Barkur Railway station temporarily and we are making every effort to make this stop a permanent one.  We have provided many facilities at Barkur Railway Station and we want to develop this station as a model station in the days to come.  Barkur and Brahmavara will be model industrial towns.

“Thank you, Mr. Dharmaraj.  As your names says, You are the ‘raja of dharma.’  Hope barkur.com readers have something to say.”