GONE BUT FONDLY REMEMBERED
LAST week two of Panaji’s former Municipal Councillors moved on to a better world. They should be looked upon as ideal role models by those serving the community. The veteran Ramesh Silimkhan, a teacher by profession, was a person of great integrity, honesty and commitment. He was elected four times as Councillor of Panaji Municipal Council and also the Mayor of Panaji for a full five-year term. He was very soft spoken and always remained accessible to the people at large.
Melita Fernandes, who was elected as councillor more recently for a term, was also a very lovely humble person and will be remembered for all her good work. Her untimely demise is so very unfortunate.
The two now departed councillors must have been anguished over the current despicable state of Panaji and with the reckless digging of roads that has been going on blatantly over the last few years.
Those belonging to a genre with qualities of head and heart cannot survive in today’s political turf as one has to now be thick skinned and a hypocrite to the core. Having to be always ready to breach and bend all the rules to survive. So very sad but truly the ground reality.
—Aires Rodrigues, London
BIRTH CENTENARY OF FR VASCO DO REGO, SJ (08.01.1925 – 08.01. 2025)
IF Fr Vasco do Rego, was alive, he would have celebrated his centenary of birth today. How shall I describe the personality of this genius? He was a member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), teacher, rector, retreat director, novice master, counselor, lyricist, composer of music, musician, writer, translator, poet, original thinker, theologian, friend of all, especially of the 3L (least, last, lost), founder of Ishaprema-Vinamra-Sevika (Humble Servants of God’s Love) in 1961, polyglot (one who knew many languages, Konknni, Portuguese, French, English, Latin, Spanish, Latin, Greek, Italian, and Marathi), preacher, orator, editor, administrator, in short man for all seasons and reasons.
In this brief note, it is not possible to enumerate his contribution. Those interested in knowing more about Fr Vasco do Rego may purchase a copy of Sôd: Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr (TSKK) Research Bulletin 24 which I edited in 2022. It is available at TSKK, Porvorim.
In the Konknni hymnal Gionancho Jhelo there are 511 Konknni hymns. Out of these Fr Vasco has written the lyrics for 332 hymns (64.97%). Out of his 332 hymns for 52 he has composed the music. He has written lyrics for 537 hymns and poems in Konknni, English, and Portuguese. Out of these for 63 he composed music.
For the Konknni liturgy, Konknni Missal, Konknni Lectionary, Konknni Bible, liturgy of the sacraments, he has a lion’s share. He was the hero who restored the sanctity of Bom Jesus Campus, by clearing all the commercial shops. He started to organize the novenas and Feast of St Francis Xavier in the open air pandal with well organized liturgy. He meticulously planned and executed the expositions of the relic of SFX.
Great men continue to live through their contribution. Though Fr Vasco left this planet on February 17, 2021 he continues to live in the hearts of his dear and near ones, friends, and countless admirers. May his dedicated life inspire us to contribute our mite in our respective fields.
—Pratapananda Naik, Goa