Karadi’s real name is Muniyaswami and he got involved in fishing when he was 21, after the small restaurant runby his father suffered losses . He was introduced to the dangerous method of fishing – Vedi Valla (blast fishing). It is the practice of using explosives to stun or kill schools of fish for easy collection. He was an untrained boy and didn't realize how dangerous it could be. An explosive device went off inhis hand and helost his hand and his eyesight. The blast left scars on his and gave him his new name- Karadi or bear.