Daijiworld Media Network – Canacona (DD)

Canacona, Jun 4: In the rocky village of Maddi-Tolop in Goa’s Canacona taluk, a retired teacher's grit and genius have transformed despair into hope. Seventy-six-year-old Balakrishna Aiya, armed with little more than determination and traditional know-how, has done what experts deemed impossible—he struck water in a terrain long written off for its unforgiving rocky foundation.

For years, residents of Maddi-Tolop struggled with acute water scarcity. The land, true to its Konkani name — meaning “rocky patch” — posed layers of geological challenges: rock above, clay in the middle, and a bedrock of black stone beneath. Drilling for water seemed futile. But Aiya, driven by his deep-rooted concern for the community, refused to surrender to nature’s odds.

Studying the terrain himself, Aiya innovated a unique method to dig safely. He carved out a stairway down to the clay layer — an escape route for anyone working inside the narrow pit — before digging further into the rock. Eventually, his persistence paid off. He hit water, and instead of keeping it to himself, he laid pipelines connecting 25 households in the village.

Aiya’s efforts are far from a one-time wonder. Known as a quiet revolutionary, he is a former art teacher, a self-taught sculptor, broom-maker, and pandit. His creativity flows into every facet of his work — including crafting precision-designed brooms from palm fronds using a custom blade he forged himself. Selling for up to Rs 300 apiece, each broom is a product of both utility and artistry.

Despite winning accolades including the Kala Gaurav Puraskar and recognition from the Goa State Biodiversity Board, Aiya remains grounded. "What good is knowledge if it dies with you?" he asks earnestly, as he now works to pass on his skills to the youth of the village.

From sculpting idols to crafting brooms, and now bringing life-saving water to a community, Balakrishna Aiya proves that age is no barrier when the heart is willing. In Maddi-Tolop, he’s not just a man — he’s a movement.