A STREET NAMED GOA COURT THAT I CAME ACROSS IN WEST TORONTO ON GOA'S LIBERATION DAY

        Fourteen years ago to the day, my short stories and poems from my book ‘Goa - Memories of my Homeland’ were selected to be added to the curriculum of Lakeshore Collegiate Institute in West Toronto. Hence, I was invited to read selected poetry and articles to the 'World Literature' Class of Grade 9 students at the school. December 19th was the date set by the class teacher which happened to be the anniversary when the India took over Goa, ending Portuguese rule. My presentation to the students, in the presence of their class teacher, included a short personal introduction to the class, reading of poems and stories. I later took questions from students, discussed past culture and traditions and how Goa fits into the modern world. The entire presentation lasted for 1 hour and 20 minutes - i.e. a duration of one full school period. Copies of 2 poems and 2 short stories were distributed to the class as homework prior to this date. So, they were prepared with many questions. At the conclusion of the presentation, Lakeshore Collegiate Institute, while acknowledging me as a visiting writer, presented me with a pen and a gift card from Chapters/Indigo/Coles as a token of appreciation. In acceptance I thanked them for the honour and privilege.

          For me personally it was an absolute great moment - and a long way – as a student of St. Anthony’s High School, Monte de Guirim, Goa, to Lakeshore Collegiate, West Toronto, Canada. Also,it so happened that while  I was driving around the block to the L.C.I. Campus, as a result of a diversion in the main road due to construction work, I unexpectedly came across a street that ends into a 'cul de sac' of a residential area, that is called "GOA Court'.   It was absolutely remarkable that it happened on my way to speak about Goa, and thirdly, even more so that it was on the anniversary of an auspicious, significant and historic day - 19th December 1961 - Goa Liberation Day when my article “One cold winter morning – a childhood memoir” was simultaneously published worldwide on the 'Goanet' forum on the occasion of this significant day.