My Father the Simple and Humble Man - Senior of Cumbiem Morod

My Father

~ the simple and humble man ~

(Seniors of Cumbiem Morod)

Guirim, Bardez, Goa

             The fourth in line of seniority was my father, Dionizio (Dennis) Fernandes. His first venture for employment in Bombay was in the 1920’s when he was in his early twenties. He worked hard and put aside savings to build a new home in the same spot where his grandfather’s house stood in our village. He then got married. We would have been 4 brothers had we not lost 2 due to sickness when young. My older brother and I were born in Bombay. After bringing me to Goa at the age of 6 for schooling, my father came home on leave every year to be with us, and also to repair the house and take care of other matters. Like what most sons would say, my father knew everything about everything, from history to politics, and science to geography. He acquired knowledge from reading newspapers and magazines endlessly, keeping himself abreast of international events and happenings. His World War 2 episodes were worth listening to, and one did not have to refer to an encyclopedia to write an essay in school.

              He spent his retired life in Goa. He persuaded labourers in the village to put aside savings and taught them how to open bank accounts, accompanying them to banks in Mapusa to have accounts opened for them in their name. People often came to ask him for advice when they were in difficult situations.

              My father was an active member in the Village Panchayat. He was also instrumental, along with other people of village community, to draft and send the very first application to the government for the urgent need of a road through our village and pursue its outcome with the authorities till he sadly passed away.

The Boys & Girls of Cumbiem Morod

               I thought the attached picture might be interesting in the fact that's is a treasure for Cumbiem Morod, which I have treasured for many years. It was among the few pictures given to me by Aunt Flory - my loving godmother and my most favourite person in our Vaddo of Cumbiem Morod - a few years before she passed away, as she thought, for some reason, the picture would be best carried forward to the next generation if it was kept in my possession.

               Now, here's some light on the fading picture, so to say:

The photograph, I was told by Aunty Flory, that it was taken in Bombay (now Mumbai) at the famous Back Bay Reclamation, Churchgate, circa 1948. That makes the photograph nearly 66 years old.

In the now fading priceless photograph from left to right, standing on the ledge are:

Uncle Miki, Uncle Assis and Uncle Cosme. Look at how proudly they are standing. The seem to be the caring leaders of the the group of other youngsters of their generation.

From left to right, standing on the footpath are:

Peter, Mary's son  & Abdon Titi's nephew who is carrying Joseph  (Martha's husband), Johnnie (standing, and perhaps shielding himself from the bright sun), and Jack (my brother) carrying me.

Foreground: Aunty Irene (God bless her). 

Further, details as described by Aunty Flory: We are all taken on a day's outing to the scenic and popular Bay, one year after India's Independence. Irene has just recovered from a bout of crying because the big boys did not let her stand on the ledge! And as for myself, I just simply seem to have refused to look at the camera because I wanted a side pose and simply refused to look at the camera.  Funny though, ironically, the camera eventually turned out to be my life's best possession.

My guess is that the picture was taken by Michael (Grand-aunt Sabina's husband from Candolim) or by Custodio Piedade (and Virginia) who were my older brother's godparents. My Mum and Dad were Uncle Assis's godparents.

Incidentally, Uncle Joseph and myself were born in the same year in Bombay - 1947 - myself on 7 January, Joseph on 7th March. Uncle Assis was very fond of photography - it was probably his camera that was used for this picture that has stood the test of time. He had the largest collection of photographs of almost everyone from the village in a thick album that we enjoyed browsing through from time to time on sunny afternoons or on rainy days when time on many occasions seemed to have simply stood still. I believe the album is now with Uncle Miki. A real pictorial treasure of our simple past.

THE FIRST SONY PORTABLE RADIO AT CUMBIEM MOROD

THE SONY PORTABLE TRANSISTOR RADIO

The first portable transistor radio at our small village at Cumbiem Morod in Guirim, Bardez, Goa, was similar to the one in the picture above. It belonged to the household of Paul Monteiro, the well-known photographer and one of the seniorsat Cumbiem Morod in the late 1950's. His son Gabriel Monteiro took extremely good care of it. It even had its own especially tailored cloth case to protect it from collecting dust!

Every Sunday morning after the Mass, some folks and neighbours gathered to listen to a very popular Konkani Program called 'Honibaili Vasri', broadcast by Emisora de Goa, Panjim. Sometimes, we went to their house in the evenings to listen to the Konkani Song Request Program and English Program of Radio Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). 

This Sony portable radio had a special and dedicated place reserved for it in the corner of the 'sopo' (Konkani: bench or seat) of their 'balcao' where it was tuned and it's aerial adjusted in the right orientation for optimum reception. It provided entertainment during  my childhood, and pastime during the rainy monsoon evenings. Those were the days. Memories that I still cherish.