83-year-old man in Bellary marries woman half his age

An 83-year-old man created a sensation by marrying a woman half his age at Alipur village in Karnataka’s Bellary district.

The problems of old age and the need for a companion drove R G Sharabanna, a retired joint director in the department of public instruction, to tie the nuptial knot with 42-year-old Gangamma in a ceremony held at a religious retreat in the village last week.

Sharabanna, who was drawing a monthly pension of Rs 8,000, was leading a lonely life ever since his wife and daughter died a couple of years ago. His two sons are working in Bellary town. Hence, he chose Gangamma, a resident of Komballi village in Bellary district, to become his partner in the remaining part of his life.

Sharabanna was making no bones of the fact that he was entering into wedlock at such an advanced age in his life for the sake of security during his last days. “I need someone to take care of me in my last days. So, I decided to marry Gangamma”, he said.

But, Sharabanna incurred the wrath of his sons, who were opposing the marriage. Fearing that his sons would stop the wedding, which was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday, Sharabanna advanced the wedding by a day on Friday.

His sons, who had got a wind of their father’s marital plans, arrived in the village on Saturday to stop the wedding. But, they were disappointed to learn that their father’s marriage was already over.

After picking up a quarrel with their father, the two sons of Sharabanna went to the local police station and lodged a complaint against his behaviour. Meanwhile, Sharabanna, who is adamant on keeping his wife, too has registered a complaint with the police seeking protection from his sons.