Mangaluru: Most youngsters from the countryside in the State aspire to move to cities like Bengaluru soon after graduation in search of greener pastures.

However, Praveen Prabhu, his brother, and their cousins, from a small village Kadari in Karkala taluk, have shown that one can stay put in their native places and lead lives filled with content and quality.

Like every graduate, Praveen too moved to Bengaluru after his graduation in 2005 and worked in an IT firm as an accountant for eight years.

He married Ashwini Prabhu, who also was employed at a leading private bank in Bengaluru.

In 2013, the couple returned home for Ashwini’s delivery. Praveen realised he was missing his family, relatives, and the fresh air of his hometown.

It was when his father Manjunath Prabhu, 59, suggested that he come back and help run the family enterprise – Hotel Renuka abutting National Highway 169 (Mangaluru-Sholapur) – that he changed his plans.

Mr. Prabhu too used to live in Bengaluru. He had worked at Kamat’s for 25 years and returned home in 1994 to help his mother who was running Hotel Renuka for six decades. His younger son Prasad Prabhu too worked for an automobile dealer in Udupi for a couple of years but was unhappy and returned to join Praveen and run the hotel. Both siblings say they are enjoying their life now.

Mr. Prabhu’s four brothers also live in Kadari and are running other businesses. After Praveen, their sons too began their own enterprises – a hardware shop, tax consultation etc.. They are also engaged in agriculture activities.

Mr. Prabhu says his hotel, that has two six-seater tables, is frequented by foreigner visitors who drop in to savour local delicacies such as basale sambar, pathrode, etc. The five brothers have floated a fund each contributing ₹100 a week, used for family emergencies and charity.

Kadari is located between Bajagoli and Maala, at the foot of Kudremukh Ghat.