Widow's Resilience: Overcoming Debt and Loss After Husband's Murder
In Bengaluru, Mallamma Goudar shares a poignant story of love, loss, and determination. She and her husband, Yogesh Goudar, faced opposition from both families for their love marriage, leading them to live independently. "My in-laws and my family had spurned us as we got married without their consent. Ours was a love marriage, opposed by both sides. Still, we lived on our own," Mallamma recounted. Her life took a tragic turn in 2016 when Yogesh was murdered, leaving her with four young children to care for alone.
A Debt-Ridden Life and a Visionary Dream
Mallamma described the overwhelming challenges she faced after her husband's death. "What did I have then? A debt-ridden life without a husband and four young children," she said, her eyes filled with tears. Yogesh was not just a family man but a visionary dedicated to social service. He dreamt of creating a model village with educated youth, no drinking water problems, and modern houses without tiled roofs. "Yogesh dreamt of a model village, where youths would be educated, there would be no drinking water problem, and above all, there would be modern houses, without tiles for a roof," she explained.
His philanthropic efforts included hosting mass marriages, sponsoring festivals, and funding poor students. However, these activities led to a significant financial burden. At the time of his murder, Yogesh had a Rs 28-lakh loan taken specifically for social service projects. "He would host mass marriages, sponsor festivals, and fund poor students. When he was killed, he had a Rs 28-lakh loan, which he had taken for social service," Mallamma noted. Remarkably, the creditors showed compassion and never insisted on immediate repayment. Through sheer perseverance, Mallamma managed to repay part of the loan herself.
Justice Served and a Legacy Continued
The family recently found some closure as justice was delivered in Yogesh's murder case. Akkamahadevi, Yogesh's elder sister, expressed gratitude to the court. "Kulkarni's threats to our family began in 2000, when he threatened my elder brother, Uday Goudar, over the zilla panchayat election. Thereafter, he had Yogesh killed, fearing that he would grow strong politically," she revealed, weeping. Basavaraj Koravar, a close associate of Yogesh, praised the judicial outcome. "This is a win for democracy and justice. This is a historic case wherein CBI did a wonderful job and so did the public prosecutors," he said, expressing relief and joy.
Looking ahead, Mallamma's son, currently a college student, has taken up the mantle to fulfill his father's dream. "The creditors never insisted on repayment. I somehow managed to repay part of the loan. Now, my son, who is a college student, will fulfil his father's dream of a model village," she stated with hope. This story highlights not only the personal struggles of a widow but also the enduring impact of one man's vision for community betterment.
