This grandpa is known for his scholarships

Helping needy

Any octogenarian would be content leading a peaceful life with his family members, having no worries over any issue. But here is a man, 86-year-old, who strives to provide financial assistance to needy students — from primary school to engineering.

Shankarappa, a resident of Chamaraja Mohalla, who retired as a Hindi lecturer in the year 1982, helps students with monthly scholarships. Born to H S Hanumanthappa and Sanjeevamma couple, he secured second rank in Kannada lower secondary exam in the then Mysore State and did many courses in correspondence.

His scholarships reach out strictly to economically backward merit students. he also doeas a reality check, visiting the house of deserving candidates and it’s only then he considers them for extending aid. The noble deed started with giving a scholarship of Rs 50 to two inmates of Thathaiah’s Anathalaya, on Narayan Shastry road in 1992. Shankarappa  kept a part of his pension amount for the purpose. Now, he has as many as 175 students for scholarships.

It didn’t take much time for Shankarappa to find help in  like-minded philanthropists. A NRI friend, gladdened by the gesture, contributed some money for the cause. Later his son too followed the suit. Now he has about 80 donors.

A woman sends a moneyorder from Bangalore towards the fee  of SSLC and PUC students every year. Shankarappa pools in his pension too to make sure that the children do not run out of resources for studies. Nearly 45 students have completed engineering apart from about 250 completing other degrees with the monetary help from Shankarappa.

Shankarappa’s pension may reach him late, but not scholarships to students. On the fifth of every month, exactly at 5.30 pm, a small convention begins on the terrace of his house, which he has specially renovated for the purpose. Beneficiaries gather here, share their achievements in academics, which they opine inspires them to aim higher. Abiding by the regulations set by the adorably called ‘Shankarappa thatha,’ students who receive scholarships, work hard and show progress in each exam. He literally warns students to show progress. Presently, 30 engineering students, five diploma, three BBM, four BA, seven BSc, 17 BCom, one BEd, 18 second PU, 19 first PU, 40 high school and 26 primary school students are the beneficiaries. Primary and high school students get Rs 100, PUC — Rs 150, degree students — Rs 250 and engineering — Rs 300.

Shankarappa, who has lost his son Vishwanath, says he has embraced all children who receive scholarships from him as his own. He has two daughters — one is a lecturer in Bangalore while the other is in Mysore. His wife Lakshmi, he says, has ever been a support to him — morally — in all his deeds. Students opine the money they receive from Shankarappa thatha helps them pursue their education. He urges his students to help poor and meritorious students when can afford to do so.

The elderly person also educates the students in the form of printed matter on the importance of parents and duties of children towards their parents. He insists upon the students to discharge their duties properly.