2 years on, Padma Shri awardee Mogulaiah toils as daily wager

HYDERABAD: Honoured two years ago with Padma Shri for reinventing the rare musical instrument 'Kinnera', Darshanam Mogulaiah was recently spotted toiling as a daily wager at a construction site in Turkayamjal near Hyderabad. Life struck another jarring note when a post-award grant of Rs 1 crore in cash from the Telangana govt was spent on family exigencies, leaving the 73-year-old artiste popular as "Kinnera Mogulaiah" struggling for two square meals.
Mogulaiah outlines the reasons for the descent from the stage of the fourth-highest civilian award in 2022 to the construction site in Turkayamjal. "One of my sons suffers from seizures. For medicines (son and myself) alone I need at least Rs 7,000 a month. Then there are regular medical tests and other expenses," Mogulaiah, father to nine children, told TOI. Three of his kids died from ailments; three are married; three others are still students and dependent on Mogulaiah.
The artiste's wife passed away four years ago. "I tried to reach out to multiple people for work. People sympathised and politely turned me away. All hailed me for my glorious past and even gave me small amounts, but I got no employment," said Mogulaiah.
Matters weren't so grim earlier. "I used that money (Rs 1 crore state grant) for my children's weddings. I even bought a piece of land in Turkayamjal. I started building a house but had to stop midway as I ran out of funds," said Mogulaiah.
Things got especially tough when a Rs 10,000 monthly honorarium sanctioned by the state was discontinued recently, rued the artiste, not sure why it happened.
Allotment of 600 sq yard plot in Rangareddy dist still pending
I have been making the rounds of govt offices and meeting public representatives for help. All respond positively but do nothing. What's worse, many people click photos with me and circulate them saying I am begging for existence. It is very painful," Mogulaiah said.
Along with the 1 crore grant, the state had also announced a 600-square yard plot in Rangareddy district for the artiste. The allotment is still pending.
"I visited the Rangareddy collector's office three times. Every time, there is a new collector. They receive me well, enquire about my well-being and tell me that they will soon allot land near Hayathnagar. Nothing has happened so far. I met the Hayathnagar tahsildar. He told me the decision is pending with the collector," said the septuagenarian, bemoaning the alleged red tape.
Recently, the Kinnera player even met chief minister A Revanth Reddy and deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka. "The CM directed me to minister Konda Surekha and promised to take care of my concerns. I am waiting for a decision," Mogulaiah said.
One silver lining marks the roller-coaster ride. "Thanks to VC Sajjanar, managing director of TSRTC, I at least have a bus pass to travel for free," Mogulaiah quipped.