JOHN AGUIAR: AGENT OF CHANGE

Article to celebrate 60th birthday on June 4, 2020.

ByRemedina Rodrigues

“I believe I’m unique, “he says. You could easily be led to assume John Aguiar is being uncharacteristically boastful. I use the term  ‘uncharacteristically’ because there is nothing about his demeanour to suggest he even possesses a smidgeon of arrogance. On the contrary, he is soft spoken, unassuming and an entirely easy person to converse with says Remediana Dias.

Given this it makes perfect sense that  his stand on a person’s uniqueness in not confined to himself alone. In fact, he believes alol human being are unique. “Ï consider myself merely as an agent of change. Each human being is moulded by the lives or actions of others who influence him/her. But even that influence take on a unique path with their personal interpretation and that’s what makes all of us unique.”

John Aguiar completes 60 years of professional service and retiring at the end of this month. John Aguiar has been with the Department of Information & publicity for past 30 years having joined the Department in April 1990. I am truly humbled to write about the man who inspired, whoshapedthe thinking and helped many to realize the potential of the profession to truly make a difference. Those who know him are aware of his passion for this profession and his addiction to work. He understood and enjoyed his vocation, and with sheer confidence, the next several years of work passed with lightning speed with notable achievements that are listed below. I want to express my personal appreciation for your achievement of this milestone. We take pride in your accomplishment and your commitment to excellence and in your hardwork and talent. Your achievements and success aren’t by accident. But they are a result of  spending what seem like hours of hard work and trying new ideas. During this incredible journey John Aguiar mentions that he learnt three key points: Accepting responsibility, embracing change, and respecting humanity.With your work, you have set the example for many to share in your dedication and commitment and to follow in your footsteps.



Starting from the “Best all-round student” and the “best NCC Cadet”awards in Chowgule college, Margao he has represent3ed Goa at the National Shooting Championship at Chennai, received award from Ponda Journalist Association for dedication in Journalism field, Chief Minister’s Gold Medal for Meritorious services in Home Guards, Presidents Home Guards medal for meritorious services,  Director General Civil Defence, MHA commendation and disc, Deputy Director General of NCC, Karnataka and Goa Commendation, Presidents Medal  for distinguished Services in Home Guards,  Konkani Bhasha Mandal’s literary award,  Gulab writer of the year award. He is a well known poet and lyrics writer who  has written several popular songs which are played on All India Radio and videos are uploaded on you tube. He has produced and presented several programmes including interviews, playlets and panel discussion on All India Radio and Doordarshan. Shri Aguiar’s Journalistic stints include Herald, West Coast Times, Goencho Avaz and Gomantak (Marathi). He also worked as Assistant Private Secretary to Union Minister in the Ministries of Fiance, External Affairs and Chemicals & Fertilizers. He has published books like Paulam, Gulmohar, Sanz, Offisde(Englsih), Olyo Yadi and Mandovichea dege voilen(Essays in Roman Konkani script).

“I don’t believe in shortcuts to achieve goals. I am of the view that each person makes his own destiny. I have tried to inculcate this value in my kids. I also believe hard work should be combined with fun. You have to make sure you enjoy every moment of your life while giving your best to work. I am passionate about life. I get up in the morning with a smile because every day is a new day and you cannot take it for granted.”

What are your strengths?

I am a person with a varied interests, my biggest strength, since I learn and grow all the time. I do every activity with the same intensity. My insatiable hunger for knowledge is my driving force.

I’m often asked how i manage to find time for everything. My answer is, when you like doing something, you make time for it. I believe time management is an extremely important skill in leading a fulfilling life. 

What inspires you?

My parents are my primary inspiration, more so my mother, I come from a middle class family, a self made man. Being only child in the family, I  have worked very hard and heeded my mother’s advise to aim high and make a difference with my life. From her, I learnt the most important tenant of life: the need to give. Reading biographies of famous people inspires me. My favourite book is Gitanjali by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. I believe it’s not just the financially underprivileged who need help, but also the emotionally deprived. You can be a rich man and have nobody to care for you. My father was loved and respected in the locality. He thought me life’s realities and to defend myself from external forces when time comes.

What is the secret of your success?

I think it is important to forgive, forget and move on. You should not dwell unnecessarily on the past. I am uncomplicated in my dealings with people. I refuse to hold grudges against anyone, because I strongly believe it is important to keep our minds clean in  order to sustain creativity.

In a word, what is the quality that defines you?

Authenticity. People know when you are genuine. They will also pick up when you are being false, no matter hom many illusion you wrap it with. I want to inspire people to make changes for the better through my stories and examples, rather than tell them to change.

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Here is a list of the different roles John Aguiar undertook in his professional career.

·         INFORMATION OFFICER OF DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY, GOVT. OF GOA.



·         SERVED AS PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER OF GOA POLICE FOR FROM JUNE 13, 2011 TILL DECEMBER 8, 2017.



·         SERVING AS PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER FOR GOA BHARAT SCOUTS AND GUIDES ORGANISATION.



·         HONORARY COMPANY COMMANDER, HOME GUARDS ORGANISATION FOR PANAJI DIVISION.



·         ASSISTANT PRIVATE SECRETARY TO UNION MINISTER IN THE MINISTRIES OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS.



·         ASSISTANT PRIVATE SECRETARY MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS IN NEW DELHI.



·         IIND P.A. UNIION MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE, GOVT. OF INDIA , NEW DELHI.



John Aguiar is the recipient of many awards. Listed below are the most important ones.   

·         AWARDED PRESIDENTS HOME GUARD AND CIVIL DEFENCE MEDAL FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICES IN THE HOME GUARDS ORGANISATION. (ANNOUNCED ON JANUARY 25, 2020)





·         AWARDED GOA CHIEF MINISTER'S  GOLD MEDAL FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICES IN THE HOME GUARDS ORGANISATION WHICH WAS PRESENTED TO HIM ON DECEMBER 19, 2007.





·         AWARDED PRESIDENTS HOME GUARD AND CIVIL DEFENCE MEDAL FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICES IN THE HOME GUARDS ORGANISATION ON  WHICH WAS PRESENTED TO HIM ON AUGUST 15, 2012.





·         AWARDED DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVIL DEFENCE, MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS,GOVT. OF INDIA COMMENDATION FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICES IN THE HOME GUARDS ORGANISATION ON  WHICH WAS PRESENTED TO HIM ON APRIL 25, 2015.



·         AWARDED DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL OF NCC COMMENDATION CERTIFICATE FOR ASSISTANCE TO NCC ORGANISATION  ON JUNE 3, 2016.



·         AWARDEDSARVA  DHARMA BHAKTI PURASKAR 2011( April 2, 2011) SHRI SHRI SADGURI PAWADESHWAR MAHARAJ JI   ASHND SHRI SADGURI  BHAU MAHARAJ JI AT GAYATRI PEETH, TALEWADA, BETORA, PONDA GOA.



·         ACHIEVMENT AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF VALUABLE SERVICES IN THE FIELD OF MEDIA BY THE SOUTH GOA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION ON AUGUST 1, 2015..





·         AWARDED SAMAJ GAURAV PURASKAR BY KENDRIYA MANAVADHIKAR SANGATHANN, NEW DELHI DDURING  THEIR NATINAL CONFERENCE IN PANAJI ON MARCH 8, 2020 ON THE OCCASION OF WOMEN’S DAY.





·         AWARDED “MRS. HIRA WAGH BEST ALL ROUND STUDENT” IN SMT PARVATIBAI CHOWGULE COLLEGE, MARGAO - 1984. DURING HIS B.A. DEGREE COURSE.



·         NOMINATED FOR THE BEST LYRICS AWARD AT THE KALANGAN, WORLD KONKANI MUSIC AWARDS AT MANGALORE IN 2010.



·         AWARDED “GULAB” WRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN  2011





·         AWARDED THE NAVHIND TIMES EX-NCC ACHIEVER AWARD FOR LITERATURE ON JUNE 30, 2012.



·         SHRI AGUIAR BAGGED KONKANI BHJASHA MANDAL’S ROCK BARRETO LITERARY AWARD IN THE YEAR 2017 FOR HIS BOOK  “OLYO YADI”.



·         AWARDED VOCATIONAL AWARD OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF PANJIM.

     



·         REPRESENTED GOA STATE AT THE MAULANKAR NATIONAL SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP AT CHENNAI-2003.



·         HIS  SONG , “VIVA CARNIVAL” COMPOSED AND SUNG  BY SHRI MUKESH GHATWAL WAS CHOSEN AS CARNIVAL ANTHEM IN THE YEAR 2012.



·         PATRAKAR MITRA AWARD BY SANGUEM-QUEPEM BY PATRAKAR SANGH IN 2009.



·         SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD BY THE ELECTION COMMISSION FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO CONDUCT ELECTIONS ON THE OCCASION ON NATIONAL VOTERS DAY, JANUARY 25, 2020.

His other achievements include:



·         WELL KNOWN POET IN GOA.  LYRICIST. HAS PENED SEVERAL VERY POPUPAR  KONKANI SONGS IN GOA WHICH ARE ON ALL INDIA RADIO AND CD’S.



·         HIS KONKANI POETRY HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR IXTH STD. KONKANI TEXT BOOKS FROM THIS ACADEMIC YEAR -2020-21.



·         HAS WRITTEN SIX BOOKS.  FOUR ON KONKANI POEMS AND ONE ENGLISH ESSAY BOOK AND ANOTHER ESSAY BOOK IN ROMAN KONKANI. ONE MORE BOOK ON SHORT PLAY IN KONKANI ROMAN SCRIPT IS TO BE PRINTED AND PUBLISHED SHORTLY.



·          HAS ALSO WRITTEN SEVERAL ARTICLES ON SOCIAL THEMES ON LOCAL NEWSPAPERS.





·         SHRI AGUIAR  WROTE BHAKTI GEET ON LORD GANESHA WHICH WAS AGAIN COMPOSED AND MUSIC ARRANGED AND SUNG BY MUKESH GHATWAL. THE VIDEO OF THIS SONG WAS RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2018, FIRST OF ITS KIND IN KONKANI LANGUAGE.



·         APART FROM ALL INDIA RADIO HIS SONGS ARE IN POPULAR CDS LIKE  “VALLEY OF COLORZ”, “EK NATEM”, “BUYAO ROCKS” SO ALSO  DEVOTIONAL CDS LIKE “GRATEFUL TO JESUS” AND “HEY DAMODARA” BY WELL KNOWN MUSIC COMPOSER SHRI SIDDHNATH BUYAO.



·         HIS ONE MORE SONG ON LORD DAMODARA SINGLE SOLO WAS COMPOSED BY SHRI DILIP VAZE AND SUNG BY SAMIKSHA BHOBE.



·         PRESENTLY WORKING ON ANOTHER BOOK IN KONKANI ROMAN SCRIPT.



·         FOUNDED EX-NCC CADETS ASSOCIATION-GOA TO MOTIVATE YOUNG GOANS TO JOIN THE NCC AND EVENTUALLY INDIAN ARMED FORCES. HE WAS ITS PRESIDENT FOR SIX YEARS.



·         HAS BEEN CONDUCTING CAREER GUIDANCE WORKSHOPS ON THE INDIAN ARMED FORCES.



·         HAS WORKED IN THE FIELD OF ANTI DRUGS CAMPAIGN BY ORGANISING CYCLE RALLIES, STREET PLAYS AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS ON THE SUBJECT ON DOORDARSHAN.