Dubai: The eleventh episode of talk show Subalterns by Village TV Trust, Mangaluru and St. Loyola College, Bengaluru, was held on Friday December 10 at 4.30 pm IST.
With the objective of ‘P2P – Local to Global’, the show is aimed at providing a platform for unheard young voices of the society and thus create a supportive environment.
Students Saritha B. K. was the special guest of the event. Saritha is the daughter of Gopal Singh, and Sundari. Her father is a security staff.
The event was hosted by Kiran Nirkan. The weekly programme is aired in Kannada.
In the beginning of the programme host Kiran Nirkan explaining the motto of starting ‘Subalterns’ said, “The new series has been started with an intention to provide a voice to the voiceless people, who belong to the marginalised communities of the society. As a part of the decennial celebrations of NewsKarnataka, we have undertaken this initiative.”
Speaking further he welcomed all the participants of the talk show series.
Gopal Singh hailing from Dehradun of Uttarakhand has settled in Karnataka with his family and earns his living working as a security staff.
Talking in a soothing Kannada, Gopal Singh stated his situation post Covid crisis. He said, I had no job for a month and the restriction on stepping out of house resulted in not being able to avail even half a litre of milk. Post reopening of the school, I had to take the debt in order to join my kids to school, he said.
Stating his financial condition, he said that the rise in prices and stagnant income have put him in a tight spot. Getting vegetables for meal too has become difficult now, he observed.
Answering host’s question on his dream for his kids career he said, Daughter who has her graduation, aims to get a banking job wherein son aims to pursue engineering whereas, Saritha aims to be a Chartered Accountant. Earlier when we approached bank in order to avail the loan, bank denied it stating the lack of proof, he informed.
Answering the curious question of Kiran Nirkan, on Gopal Singh’s exprience of leaving one’s own state and residing in Bengaluru, Gopal Singh said, I am glad to be here. Women here are treated with respect and people extend their hands when we stay hungry. I have resided in Delhi and Mumbai but I am more content to be residing here, he expressed.
Dr. Kumaraswamy Bijjihalli, Head of the Kannada Department in Loyola College, Bengaluru said that Subalterns is a wonderful programme. Loyola College has many students who belong to such marginalised families. Our college gives admissions to the students of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes, Ahinda and all the marginalised communities. We are very happy that NewsKarnataka has come forward and given a platform to express their woes.
He also added, we think our students’ dream as our own and so currently we have begun with competitive exam study circle with like-minded students. He also guided Saritha on her career dream.
Gopal Singh and family extended their words of gratitude to team Newskarnataka.
