Obituary
 

+ Dr Olivinho Gomes (1943-2009) Eminent Konkani scholar and former acting vice chancellor of the Goa University Dr Olivinho Gomes passed away in Goa on July 30, 2009. Click image to view tributes + Dr Olivinho Gomes (1943-2009) Based on posting of Frederick "FN" Noronha (fn@goa-india.org) on www.goanet.org Dr. Olivinho Gomes -Presented Paper: Aspects of the Goan Cultural Heritage INTERNATIONAL GOAN CONVENTION 1988 ~ TORONTO Eminent Konkani scholar and former acting vice chancellor of the Goa University Dr Olivinho Gomes passed away in Goa on July 29, 2009. Dr Gomes was a prolific author and a deep supporter of the Konkani language. His understanding and love for the language influenced Konkani writers for decades Olivinho, as everyone referred to him, was a senior Customs official, before he decided to make the shift to academe. Fred Noronha Notes: “I first encountered him as a contributor to the Herald with his articles, mostly on Konkani and related themes, in the 1980s. Me being curious to understand Goa, and him always having some story to narrate, we would have longish chats when we met up at conferences, or chatted away while some seminar was in progress.” Dr Gomes also wrote a detailed book on Chandor, called Village Goa as well as numerous other works. (see list below) He received the ANTONIO PEREIRA KONKNNI PUROSKAR Award in 2000 The following is a tribute to Dr. Gomes: EARLY END OF A CELEBRATED CHAPTER By Valmiki Faleiro | valmikif@gmail.com Published on: http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-July/180028.html Goa suffered a severe slam. When yesterday, death snatched a noble son of the soil, a stalwart of her native language, in his prime of life. Though retired, he had many productive years ahead of him. Prof. (Dr.) Olivinho J.F. Gomes, IRS, was as at home with Konknni as he was with Hindi and Marathi. He was facile with both the Roman and Devanagri scripts. Hailing from the picturesque isle of Santo Estevam, where he was born 20-Jan-1943, he scaled great heights of scholarship by sheer dint of hard work. Schooling at Panjim’s Don Bosco, he passed SSC with Hindi and Latin in 1959. Then completed Portuguese Lyceum in academic 1961-62. With a BA in English Literature and Sociology, and a Masters in Sociology, he did his Ph.D. under guidance of the eminent Prof. Vilas Sanghave, all from Bombay University. Management studies from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute, Bombay and the German Mewes Institute rounded off a notable academic career. He passed the 1969 Central Civil Services exam and was assigned to the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Customs & Central Excise, in the 1970 batch. Among the few Goans to date in India’s elite Class-I administrative cadre, he held many ranks, among them as head of an anti-smuggling outfit set up for the first time in Ratnagiri (1972-76.) In his multifarious roles with the Union Finance Ministry, he had a challenging job as Senior Analyst in the Tax Research Unit, the bones that work out the flesh for the annual Union Budget. He served there 1976-78. He was Addl. Commissioner of six Divisions in the Aurangabad Commissionerate (1984-87), when Konknni’s call knocked at his door on 18-June-1987. He quit IRS to become Prof. of Konknni language and literature at Goa University, under the rubric, “Outstanding scholar, with established reputation and significant contribution to knowledge.” He served Konknni as a mission, in research, literature, and teaching. At the nascent Goa University, he set up the new Department of Konkani Language and Literature at the post-graduation level, and structured an under-graduate course. He designed university syllabi, organized national seminars on Konkani literature with the Sahitya Akademi, presented papers and lectures at international seminars, many later published in the U.K., France, Portugal, Australia, Malaysia, China, Canada, Germany and Japan. He was Vice-Chancellor of Goa University in the interregnum of Feb-June, 2002. He served on many local and national public bodies, like the Goa Board of Higher Secondary Education, Central Institute of Indian Languages, Dept. of Education of the Union Ministry of HRD, National Council for Educational Research & Training, University Grants Commission, Union Public Service Commission, and the National Book Trust. On non-government fora, he was on KK Birla Foundation, Gyanpeeth Foundation, among myriad others. A linguist, he was. As Dean, Faculty of Languages, he supervised post-graduate academics in English, French, Portuguese, Konkani, Hindi and Marathi, and courses in Italian, languages he knew. But at heart was his Konknni. He worked closely with Konkani Bhasha Mandal, Goa Konkani Akademi and other fora from 1987 onwards. He successfully completed a major research project, “Reconstruction of Old Konkani Literature,” for the University Grants Commission (1994-97.) He served several Union Government ministries like Human Resource Development, External Affairs, at times in sensitive capacity. Prof. Olivinho Gomes’ academic record at the national and at world levels is too big to be enumerated here. As would be the awards, honours and decorations he was bestowed with. That he has more than two dozen papers at world conferences published, besides his 41 books (and one recently submitted for publication), in diverse scripts, languages and subjects speaks more than what anyone could write about him. Books by Dr. Olivinho Gomes Old Konkani language and literature by Olivinho Gomes Konkani Sorospot Prakashan, 1999 Konkaṇi saraspatico itihasa by Olivinho Gomes Konkaṇi Saraspata Prakaśana, 1989 Village Goa by Olivinho Gomes S. Chand, 1987 Ḍo. Phra. Lu. Gomiś by Olivinho Gomes Konkaṇi Saraspata Prakaśana, 1984 Dr. Francisco Luis Gomes, jivit ani vavr by Olivinho Gomes Konknni Sorospot Prokaxon, 1968 Mana voḍaṭavoḍana by Olivinho Gomes Konkaṇi Sahitya Prakaśana, 1981 Goa by Olivinho Gomes National Book Trust, India, 2004 Village Goa by Olivinho Gomes Chand (S.) & Co Ltd ,India, October 1996 Hardcover Eka Goenkarachi bhaili bhonvddi - by Olivinho Gomes Konknnni Sorospot Prakashan, 2007

+ Pedro Joachim Felix Alvares Pedro Joachim Felix Alvares-76 (formerly of Kenya Airways) sadly passed away in Nairobi. He was son of the late Crisologio Luis & Maria Augusta Alvares, Brother to the late Inacio Antonio Alvares, late Augustino Alvares, Olga Goes, James Alvares & George Alvares. He was Guardian to Steve Njagi Gitonga, Doreen Gitonga and Nathan Gitonga. Requiem mass will be held on Tuesday 4th of August 2009 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church - Adams Arcade at 10:00 a.m. followed thereafter by cremation at Langata cemetery. Condolence messages can be sent to: steve@adwest.net

Dr Neves Pereira and Jude Cordeiro ~ Fond Memories in Goan High School, Mombasa (1958) (by Marci Pereira ~ ex-Student) Click to Enlarge I for one, was rather saddened to learn of the passing of Dr Neves Pereira, my Maths teacher, and Jude Cordeiro, a classmate, of whom I still cherish warm memories. For a special reason, explained herein, I have always inter-connected the two memory-wise, as far as my own schooling experiences go. As fate would have it, it now turns out they have both passed away within 5 months of one another and in the same year. Neves Pereira was a respected and influential member of the Goan community who enriched the life, scholarly talents and excellence of the Goan High School. My early indelible memory of him is the creation of the school brass band that played so confidently on school sports days and at other key events in the school calendar. Thanks to him, so many of my contemporaries got an introduction into music for the very first time, regardless of their parents’ status or standing in the community. The music lessons and the expensive brass instruments that were the property of the school, were available to all who had an aptitude, including many who hailed from low income backgrounds. Neves Pereira had a huge impact on me personally, not in music but in maths. Upon his return to Mombasa in 1958, further to his scholarship in the UK, he was assigned to teach maths to my class (Form IV) preparing to take the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate in December that year. Until then, maths was never my strength and I clearly recall this was of particular concern to my Dad. A mixture of Neves Pereira’s excellence as a teacher together with his stimulating and motivating style, transformed all that for me. In the mocks, prior to the Cambridge Exams, I astounded not only myself, but the charismatic School Principal – Mr Ildefonse De Souza, who was our Maths Teacher in the previous year. I vividly remember that moment when Mr Ildefonse addressed the class and singled me out for special mention. It is hard to describe the elation and self satisfaction this engendered in me at the time. Without doubt, it is this illuminating teaching and encouragement from such inspirational staff that propelled me through university education in later years, for which I am immensely grateful. The humility of Neves Pereira is another quality that made this gifted and talented teacher very special. One particular classroom experience in 1958 encapsulates this particular virtue best for me. Whilst working out a fairly lengthy algebraic calculation on the blackboard, without the aid of any reference material during a Maths lesson, he hit a blind spot as is customary with us all, from time to time. Not knowing where he had gone wrong, he appealed to the class to ask if anyone could spot where he had erred. A solitary hand shot up in the hushed classroom. It was none other than the alert and bright Jude Cordeiro that had figured out where the calculation had gone astray. Neves Pereira was ever so thankful to Jude and even brought in a small gift for him the following day as a token of his appreciation. This is a mark of a truly humble, encouraging and hugely motivating teacher. Apart from the above, I have many other fond memories of Jude, especially in the earlier Standard VI/Standard VII years at the school. Jude had an older sister and I an elder brother, Lazarus, who were in the class above us and thus finished lessons later - a whole period after we did. As we waited anxiously for them, to walk home with, Jude and I would loiter around what seemed like totally evacuated school corridors and classrooms. We spent this time as close buddies often frequenting the ‘shiree dukas’ on Ganjoni Road for muhambris or strolling around familiar adjacent streets where the Viannas’ and Mustafa lived. Unlike most of our other schoolmates, who lived on the island of Mombasa itself, Jude lived in Mtongwe, across the water and had to take a ferry to and from school everyday. After school, his sister and he would disappear in the distance walking towards the Mtongwe Ferry using the shortcut via the railway line at the back of the school whilst Lazarus and I, trudged along home in the opposite direction to Makadara, sweating under the unrelenting sun. I was always curious to want to know how Jude and his family came to establish themselves in Mtongwe. Sadly, since 1958, as with Neves Pereira, our paths never crossed again. Neither did I have news of their whereabouts, accomplishments, families etc, until I read of their passing and related tributes in the Goan Voice. Their loss has left me bereft of two acquaintances that touched my life who I would have dearly loved to have met again, just one more time. How many times have we heard this sentiment echoed? As with the above, and now with news of Leo Noronha, I have a haunting realisation that life is too short to seek out old friends and acquaintances. Mounted on the wall of my study is a picture of the 1958 Class – staff and students. My eyes often gaze at that black & white photograph with my mind enquiring, whatever has happened to him or her? For some reason classmates/schoolmates/teachers generate a deeper curiosity and enquiry than do others in our lives, perhaps because of the number of formative years we share together. The sad losses this year will prompt me to take a more proactive stance in making the first contact I hope, especially with the formidable research and communication tool – the internet – at my fingertips, before it is too late. A worthy resolution in mid-year perhaps, for me? Marci Pereira e-mail: sixgladstone@tesco.net 26 July 2009