By Rajan Narayan

THE publication of the third edition of my biography of St Francis Xavier — “Goencho Saib” — is a minor miracle. The first edition of “Goencho Saib” was published in 1994 when I was recovering from a steroid-induced medical condition called Addison’s. I had just come back from a five-month steroid detox program in a hospital in Bengaluru. My weight had shrunk from 180 kg to 35 kg.
Back in Goa I was very weak, I needed something relaxing to heal my body as well as my broken spirit. The 1994 Exposition of the Relics of St Francis Xavier was around the corner. Fr Rego suggested to me that it would be appropriate if I write a biography of St Francis Xavier. By the grace of St Francis Xavier, the then chairman of the CMM group, Pascoal Menezes, was kind enough to sponsor the first edition of my book “Goencho Saib.” The second edition came out in 2004 soon after I had left the OHeraldo to launch the political weekly Goan Observer, it was Goa’s only independent political weekly which survives online now.
The third edition of “Goencho Saib” comes at a time when I am still recovering from contacting spinal tuberculosis which is a less common form of TB (compared to the common pulmonary TB) and takes longer to heal presumably. Over a year-and-a-half I have been battling this infection in my spinal column has been collapsing slowly because of earlier damage to it and now the TB bacteria hiding in nooks and corners of my already damaged spine.
Now I am confined to a wheelchair and have limited capacity to manage the publication of the third edition. I had appealed to both the government and the Church Exposition Committee for support to bring out the third edition of “Goencho Saib.” Neither of them responded. I had approached all the Catholic MLAs hoping they would help me meet the production cost.
Bringing out the third edition was an act of faith and not a commercial venture. Just when I thought that I would not be able to meet even the basic cost of bringing out the third edition, I received support from my old friends Dattaraj Salgaocar and Vinod Shirodkar. This is in the best tradition of Goa’s commitment to secularism.
I decided to appeal and persuade well-known Catholic friends of mine to buy bulk copies for the third edition in advance. This was my last desperate attempt to meet the cost of editing, designing and printing the new edition. I virtually shot an arrow into the air sending a WhatsApp message to several friends and acquaintances, requesting them to purchase a hundred copies of the third edition at a discounted price of Rs100 against the cover price of Rs200.
To my joy I immediately got a positive response from as many as six to seven of my friends. The first to respond were architect Dean D’Cruz, veteran hospitality stalwarts Ralph D’Souza and Varun Albuquerque, former SP Bosco George, the good Dr Lenny D’Costa of Margao and my friend of 40 years and more Dr Sydney Pinto Rosario and Elizabeth Rodrigues. Thanks to the help of all these old friends I have been able to come out with the third edition of the biography of St Francis Xavier, “Goencho Saib.”
Say it is a miracle that I have been able to publish an updated, revised edition of “Goencho Saib.” I have not relied upon the usual distribution channels as they have been demanding huge commissions. I would rather prefer to pass on the benefit of discounted prices directly to readers.
The third edition “Goencho Saib” is available at select outlets in Panaji and Margao. We would be happy to make copies available directly if interested readers and parties WhatsApp me on 9422386966. We hope to soon make the book available on Amazon.
I wish you all the best on the occasion of the Exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier from November 21, 2024 to January 5, 2025 and hope that St Francis Xavier will add richness to your life and maybe many more miracles.
What is a miracle? When something unexpected good happens to you, you must consider it as miracle. If you are lucky enough to get a good job, a good life partner and loving children, you must consider it as a miracle. The gift of a healthy life is a miracle. The gift of people who care for you in the winter years of you old age is a miracle.
But you have to work hard to make the miracle happen. Without effort on your part and those who work for you nothing will happen. Of course all your gods and saints will help you. But they only help those who help themselves. I was able to bring out the third edition only because I did not give up hope. Only because the doors appeared to bang shut did sunlight come through the windows. Cherish every drop of golden sun, my friends. Be grateful for what you have. Don’t grumble because you have no shoes. Because there are people out there who have no feet.