For a change - Something personal

I am envy of two things – those of my collogues who lead a life at natives happily and those have good hand writing. It was  to face an embarrassing situation when couple of well wishers, while on leave teased me, not surely sarcastic, ‘why I try my pen in English only’. My contemporaries aware of bare facts….Believe me I am more comfortable in my mother tongue Konkani, but who will read that, I mean, it is not to claim the depth of such scribbling but  ‘poor handwriting’ always a tumbling block in any effort... even otherwise, the ladder in my personal life.   Surely this provoked, to clarify my stand vis-à-vis, nothing wrong to acknowledge my shortcomings.

Thanks to the computers, they make no discrimination, whoever is using it. At the same time you can not deceive people by saying poor spellings or language. It reflects like a mirror what one is.

This handwriting of mine always been a liability, that too Kannada script. Who didn’t have a desire to write during School / College days, yes I too wanted to try in Konkani, but which editor entertain… or have patience to read… or if he adapts his own version of cutting and censuring….. why me to be held responsible! Now, few may feel I am the kind who don’t know dance, simply blame the music and stage!

This is about 25 years back; our youngsters formed an Association viz AYA Nagermutt – Pandeshwar, by virtue of its first President, I had to write a page. You know writing myself and then getting it copied surly put me in bad light, isn’t it? This fellow wants positions… but knows nothing? At last dared to write a page in English, sometime it irritates me to see the language and contents, while turning pages of that well preserved Memorandum / Articles booklet.

In life, may it be social or professional; opportunities often knock our doors, one have to grab them. One must remember, it was offered to X, not just X is the only fitting candidate, no X is only lucky candidate, Y or Z may have better capabilities, than the former, hence X must see that he does full justice to it, since he have dual obligations – one towards the position he got catapulted and latter towards his competitors, to bring best in him / her. In other words, experience is not what happens to X, it is what X does with what happens to him.

In whatever opportunities come on my way in social life, the post I preferred and enjoy working in social circles is that of Secretary. As you know, it demands lot of writing – may it be two terms of CYM or two years in SPCYA Bombay, or being the first Secretary of SPA Mumbai…… Am I beating my own drum…? No, it is just an effort to high light the importance of good hand writing, especially in those days the computers hardly heard of…….

Many a times, I had to depend upon few good friends to re-write…. or used to dictate….

These helpful friends both males and females, over the years… one must remain indebted. While writing these lines, good many occasions come to my mind and surely it is not possible to record even 10% of it…friends, keep me excused for not being elaborate….but just to substantiate the above, please have a look at these, just three little examples:

In May 1981, it was CYM’s 5^th Annual Day – we had to present the annual report to the public, moreover two of my College Professors, advocate Shirthadi. William Pinto and orator Richard Rebello were the guests for the public function. I had the report in my mind but not on papers till 4.30 p.m.  And it was Ms. Freeda Vaz,   I approached, ‘is it possible for you to join down few pages for me’. She volunteered and written almost 6 – 7 pages in a foolscap paper.  It took us almost one hour, but the outcome, once presented well received by the audience.

This is in Dec 1987, CYM was celebrating the Decennial Celebrations, Friday was the 10^th Annual day and following day it was Ex Members Day. Much publicized evening stage Program was chalked out in the morning after the Mass and Get-together. SPCYA President Lawrence Sequeira entrusted me the responsibility of MC for the evening public function. Now it was the 10 years Report, who will write and read out. No one is ready to take up the job. At last it too comes on my shoulders - first of all there is no time and whole set of records to be seen. For lunch, supposed to go home, when to come back and when to write, fine I can recollect some 3 – 4 years achievements while I was a Member, but later years who knows the dates and details…. One has to do justice for all… and skipping some important events and personalities will give rise to bitter feelings, isn’t it? At last thought of an idea – I asked Ivan Gonsalves the incumbent Secretary for two consecutive crucial years to get the records, and told my friend Eric Carvalho, I will have my lunch at your home! Now it’s my duty call back the services of Mrs. Cynthia Carvalho who painstakingly noted down what was told with her own additions being an office bearer of this CYM for record number of terms!

Another typical incident, always creep my mind is during the ICYM’s Silver Jubilee Celebrations time. Though it was three day function, but with intervals – starting on Parish Feast Day till Christmas day. In between on Sunday – it was Ex-Members Day. Morning there was a Get together well co-coordinated by Rev. Fr. Cyprian Henry D’Souza and many others, concluded with sumptuous lunch. All are waiting for the evening stage / cultural programme. Compeering the whole show was entrusted to the safe and able hands of Eric Soans. Now felicitation to our founder Director – Rev. Fr. Henry D’Souza. Memento, shawl, garlands all ready but my part of the job, given at the 11^th hour, to write a fitting Honor Speech not ready till that evening. Believe me, I just met Herald D’Souza, for a helping hand, to note down ….Now all those pretty CYM girls with equally good handwriting of my time, married and busy with children and husbands – and it was ever smiling girl, Sushma Lobo’s turn to do the job for us. She herself organized papers, folders etc and while standing for more than two long hours we finished the job.  To the best of the reliable feedback we got after the function – the document came out very well. Of course, major part of credit goes to this lady.

During CYM days in 80’s post of secretary involved lot of work, my predecessors like Jerry Buthello, Louis D’Costa, Joseph D’Souza, and Veera Montherio and (for a short term stop gap arrangement Ivan Rebello) were exceptionally intelligent, good organizers and well suited for the position. At times it was these secretaries, running the whole show. When there were best of the Directors in Rev. Fr. Henry D’Souza and Rev. Fr. Patrick Rodrigues who used to take the responsibilities, the role of President just that of President of Indian union! In public, though theirs was the ‘face of the unit’, a mere welcome speech or a vote of thanks, is their privilege, during public functions. To that extent, let me admit, those who took reins after me also are of great quality and ability – John F. Gonsalves, Vincent D’Almeida, John Picardo, Ivan R. Gonsalves….. are much more talented and also had a worthy asset of very beautiful handwriting. We have many others too, like them and lot many good things involved around them, let’s see if find time will come back, sometime later.

Thereafter and now…. the scenario may be different, or the same…. I don’t know?

‘Archie, history will remember only Presidents not Secretaries’, one of my friends always says…. May he be right…. or the opinion is worthy of a debate… but history is created in union and recorded by Secretaries over the years in most of the organizations and social institutions. Personally no repents, if at all there, it was my poor handwriting, many a times writer himself not able to read!

One of our teacher repeatedly used to tell us ‘you will get minimum 10% marks more if improve the writing…. ’ - to many like me.

Now my children started their schooling, my son, Arnold, fine he inherits his mother’s legible and fairly beautiful hand, but my little daughter, Anusha, oh God, exactly like her father! Now she studies Kannada too, it’s horrible, kage-kalu, crow’s legs, still a consolation better than me, it looks. Am I boring you friends, but these are some realities.

Some so called astrologers read the future based on one’s signature, hand writing etc. so far my past was good, and so is present… let me improve my handwriting to have an improved future!

In this computer age, writing by hand becomes minimum and rare, fingers are not used but only finger tips!  Copy writing in slates is still there in Schools, I doubt!

Fine friends, I appreciate you for your patience to have a look at this….. and big thanks once again to all my friends and well wishers.

On behalf of Barkur-online and ICYM Barkur Ex-Member’s Association,

P. Archibald Furtado, Muscat – 05/03/2006.