DASANADODDI, India (AP) – Kalmane Kamegowda, a 72-year-old shepherd living in a nondescript village in southern India, has become something of a celebrity, gaining national recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi no less.
Kamegowda, who has never attended school, says he spent at least $ 14,000 on his and his son’s earnings, mainly through the sale of sheep he has maintained over the years to run a chain of 16 ponds to dig on a picturesque hill near his village, 120 kilometers long. ) west of Bengaluru, Silicon Valley in India.
The ponds, created over four decades, are designed to address the problem of water scarcity. Kamegowda – known as “Pond Man” – says they are “scientific” in nature, with the water flowing down a slope, keeping the ponds from drying out even in the scorching summer months. Birds and wildlife such as bears, leopards, deer and foxes use the ponds to quench their thirst.
Kamegowda, who has neat black hair and a gray beard, was once dismissed as crazy by other villagers. They mocked him for claiming that his father, also a shepherd, taught him the art of identifying soil moisture and using it to create bodies of water.
He mainly relied on shovels, shovels, and pickaxes to make the water bodies, and hired excavators when he could afford to structure the ponds.
The state government of Karnataka honored his work with a prestigious award two years ago. But national recognition came earlier this year when Modi praised his work in his popular radio broadcast, calling Kamegowda an “ordinary farmer” with “an extraordinary personality.”
“He has delivered a personal achievement that will leave everyone in awe,” said the first gentleman, adding that Kamegowda “dug 16 ponds, through his hard work and the sweat of his forehead.”
“It is possible that the ponds he built may not be very big, but then his efforts are enormous,” said Modi. “Today the whole area has been given a new lease of life thanks to these ponds.”
Social groups are now urging Modi to honor Kamegowda with a national award.
Kamegowda likes to show journalists around, limping on a bandaged leg from an ulcer that hasn’t healed for months. That limits his regular visits to his ponds today.
Four years ago, he saved some money for his daughter-in-law, who expected to give birth by caesarean section, but normally gave birth to a son, leaving him some money.
“I spent the same money digging another pond and named it Krishna – after my grandson,” he said.
Kamegowda, who has dozens of sheep, lives in an unfinished two-room barn next to his son’s house and enjoys spending time with his family. He keeps all documents and newspaper clippings that reflect his achievements.
He has a second nickname – ‘Vanapalaka’, or guardian of forests, earned by planting trees in an area near the ponds designated as a park by officials.
“Most villagers are proud of me, but those who are jealous are doing their best to slander my image,” he said. “I ask people not to pollute the ponds by washing clothes and to limit the use of water only for their livestock.”
“It’s nice to see villagers bring their livestock to these ponds to drink water, but it hurts when some try to slander me,” he said.
He referred to some villagers who, apparently jealous of the recognition he had received, petitioned the local administrator, complaining that Kamegowda considered the pond area his personal property, even though it was government land.
However, the local administrator, Deputy Commissioner MV Venkatesh, said he visited the village and discovered that “there is a false perception” about Kamegowda’s work. “His work is real,” he said.
This year, the state government of Karnataka has allocated 5 million rupees ($ 67,500) for the further development of river basins in the area.
Venkatesh noted that tanks built by Kamegowda are filled with water every rainy season and serve as reservoirs for birds and other forest animals during the summer.
“He is a very dedicated man, a very unselfish servant for the protection of the environment and the ecology. In fact, he is a role model for other people in watershed development, ”said Venkatesh. “He’s doing a really good job.”
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