Burnt paper, waste oil is his food!

Sullia: If thirsty he prefers water instead of oil and burnt paper is all the nutrition that he seeks. Kumar from Shimoga displayed his unique ability of consuming such weird products as food at Sullia autorickshaw stand and amazed the gathered onlookers.

The people were surprised to witness a middle aged Ayyappa devotee consuming oil and paper claiming it to be his food.

Apparently when he was kid, his parents abandoned him. Becoming a vagabond, he survived by doing odd jobs. Around 18 years ago, a person brought him to Karwar, made him work for 5 years and allegedly chased him away without paying any salary. As Kumar was penniless and famished, he resorted to oil and paper to control his pangs of hunger. Since it did not have any ill-effect on its health he made it his daily food!

Kumar mostly does plastering work but under inevitable circumstances he has done other work as well. If he consumes proper food, he feels nauseous. Hence, he tried various treatments from different doctors, but his condition persisted, informs Kumar.

Once-in-a-while, he consumes coffee or tea but oil and paper is his main source of nutrition. He has been conducting pilgrimage to Shabarimala since 9 years and work hard to earn money and maintain his pilgrimage. He does not accept monetary assistance and works if provided with ticket and some goods. He says that he will accept money only after finishing his work.

The autorickshaw drivers at Sullia auto stand have bought and given him some little goods. They have also given him a bus ticket to Kushalnagar.