SWEARING IN OF CHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARJA'S CABINET

by John Aguiar

FRIEND PRADIP RUNS a studio in Ponda.. The other day, he presented me with a photograph of Sai Baba. He told me the photograph was an original and exposed during the times when Sai Baba was living. I was surprised and wondered whether one could go into our past - in a time machine - with a camera, and get treasures of glimpses of our rich legendary past, the events described in the epics Mahabharata and Ramayana, and the Puranas.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj would have posed for a group photograph with his  asthpradhan mandal just as our Prime Minister  and our Chief the ministers do after their swearing in ceremonies of the cabinet.. A photograph of Chatrapati  Shivaji Maharaj and Sambajiwould have appeared on  front page of all the newspapers with headibg" Dhivaji  escapes fom Agra"..

 With photographers around, the war of Kurukshetra would get wide publicity  both in the Hastinapur Times and the Inraprasta Samachar like we have seen the photographs of Kargil appearing almost every day on the front pages..

 The pandavas would have their memories of vanvas (exile) in an album. The most interesting events to be photographed would be the Draupadi Swayamvar (public choice of hand from amongst many suitors), Sita Swayamvar, the war between Lord Krishna and Kans mama, Lord Rama and Ravana, Bhim and Duryodhan. It would be interesting to keep a original photograph of Hanuman carrying Dronagiri on his palm. The photographs of Maneka, Ramba and Urvashi would turn the Miss World and Miss Universe of today green with envy.

. Today it is the artistes who concoct the faces of gods as per their imagination. All gods look alike. Round faces, fair complexion. The only way one can recognise them is by their dress, their vehicle on which they sit and the weapons they carry with them. In the case of Lord Vishnu, he would have the Sudarshan Chakra on his finger and he would be resting on Shesh Naga. Lord Kirshna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, will also have the Sudarshan Chakra, which was his favourite weapon, and a trademark peacock feather on his head..

Lord Shankar would be with the trishul(trident), damru (drum), a snake around his neck and the moon above  his head,  The moment a paining with a tanned face is shown, one will at once recognise it to be of Ravana.. Three heads would immediately identify Bhramha, the creator. A beard, long hairown, one will at would immediis and flowing amera had come of gods and the beautiful gold or Ich of Lord Shankar would be with the trishul (tridenas (drum), a snake around his neck and the moon above The moment a painting with a tanned face is shown, on once recognise it to be that of Ravan. Three heads would immediately identify Brahma, the creator. A beard, long hair and white robes would suggest the form of Jesus. 

How nice it would be if the invention of the camera had at that time! We would have all the photographs of gods, heroes of history and epics in the original. All gods and goddesses are depicted with beautiful gold ornaments. The artistes who made those ornaments would been experts in their field during those times. A photograph of all the artistes with their work would be the greatest inspiration to our goldsmiths of today. Vishwakarma was the chief architect of the gods. But nobody knows what he looked like. If photographs were possible at that time, Vishwakarma's photograph would have preserved by every modern architect. When he created the universe, god must have purposely not created this character called the photographer who would go around clicking photographs with hiscamera and flashgun and disturb the heavenly peace. The photographer would have not spared even god himself and would have made him sit and pose for a portrait of a lifetime. (The Navhind Times, November 13, 2001.)

WHEN I SPOKE TO GOD'S SECRETARIAT

By John Aguiar

Inspired by Adnan Sami's song, "Teri unchi shaan hai maula, tu hai sab kuch jaanewala", I tried to call God's office but the line remained continually engaged. Finally , I somehow managed to get through.

The clerk at God's office was very polite.  He asked me the reason for the call. I told him that I needed to talk to God about an urgent matter. The clerk replied that it was not possible to talk to God directly and that he would have to connect me to the personal assistant to God.

He also wanted to know which God I wanted to contact- Hindu,  Catholic, Muslim or any other. Oh, uh! I was taken aback.  But in a moment, I said, " I want to consult that one and only omnipotent God.".

 The clerk then explained to me that there are different sections up there, each representing every religion and the respective God of each religion. He therefore wanted me to tell him my religion so that he could connect me to the right section.

I said, I am not selfish like Adnan Sami asking only for himself. I dont want to speak to God on a particular mattter concerning religion but on General topics which concern everybody, and in fact, humanity as a whole.

"Actually, I don't believe in all those religious affiiations", I explained to the clerk..

My name is John which indicates I am catholic. I am born to a hindu mother, my wife again is hindu. Under these circumstances, what should  I say my religion is? I asked the clerk to suggest the apt section to which I should be connected. The clerk was himself confused, but finally agreed to connect me to the Public Relations Officer in the PR Department in God's office.

The Officer in PR was again confussed and wanted to know from where I was calling.  I told him I was calling from Goa, the land of Golden beaches, land of fish and feni and where songs  are sung and people have fun.

"Oh Goa!" he exclaimed. "Goa, I know, "  he said with palpable glee.  "Okay", he continued, "how is that you are catholic and your wife is a hindu?"

I explained that mixed marriages are now as much in vogue as love marriages

"You people put us in trouble, the whole set up here gets disturbed."  The officer said that there are actually a few heavens and hells each representing different religions. In case of mixed marriages (If not converted ) both  husband and wife would have to be accomodated seperately after their death.

"How do you keep records about conversions and such other matters?" I asked the officer.

He informed me that they have super computers the kind the word will never see.

"I see, "  I said. The case of gods having gone hi-tech, I thought.

The person at the other end kept silent for a while. He then wondered how i could manage to get connected in God's Secretariat in the first place.

"In fact, we don't entertain  calls from the world outside. And who gave you this number?" He had fired a missile. I could not, this time, duck.

I replied that i got these numbers written on a wall in Panaji market and then I made some exercise and found out this number. I could sense that he was upset.

I pleaded that my request be recorded since I am already on the line. "You may put it before the appropriate God later," 

The officer agreed and pressing a button asked me to start speaking after the beep as the message was being recorded, "Oh God we are your children, give us peace, happiness and keep us protected from any kind of diseases. Then I repeated the appeal of Colonial Cousins: " Come back as Rama, come back as Allah, come back as Krishna,Come back as Jesus  ," was what I recorded into the machine.

The officer who heard the message assured that he would out up the message before the God. He said, God helps those who help themselves and advised us to keep cleanliness and take appropriate precautions. (Herald, November 17, 2002)

MY STINT IN THE NCC

By John Aguiar

I had a very good stint in the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in college. The NCC is an organisation that trains the youth to face challenging situatios and instills the  sense of discipline and responsibility.

Every Sunday we used to have our weekly parades. I loved to be in the NCC uniform, and perhaps  to be seen in one. Sunday was a good day for me, for it gave occasion to proudly flaunt my uniforn as  I travelled by bus from Ponda to Chowgule college in Margao.

For New cadets, though it must have been a different story. I remember most would shiver at the thundering word of command of the parade leader. The same had happened to me when I first joined the NCC. Slowly, we got accustomed to the new environment and then, we began to actually enjoy it. Because rightly, the NCC provides a whole amout of activities no other youth organisation in India can match.

I learnt to assume leadership right from the starting point of Lance Nk. Then I worked my way up to Corporal, Sergeant and Senior Under Officer.

I remember vividly a blood donation camp organised by the NCC infantry wing of the college. The team from Goa Medical College blood bank had arrived. My Coy Commander Capt. J.S. Budkuley had motivated me. In turn, I had to motivate others in donating blood. Though my Under Officer was one Mr Bhat at that time, I was enthrusted the overall responsibility. There was a very good response not only from the NCC cadets but from other students as well.

A  cadet from Infantry wing was the first one to donate blood. He was cheerful and happy. While the needle was pricked, he looked at the other side all the time. Later he insisted that he should be shown the bottle of blood which he has donated (Those days itcwas bottle). As the bottle was being shown to him, he fainted and collapsed. While the volunteers rused with soda and coffee for him, someone from the crowd suggested that the same blood should be put back  to him. Other cadets in the que to donate panicked. Many backed out. We had a hard time convincing them and reversing the tide.

As part of our NCC activities, I led two cycle expeditions, one from Goa to Pune and back while other from Goa to Mantralaya (Karnataka) and back.. While on out tour to Mantralaya, we undertook halt at the Hongund Police station. That evening we went around to get a feel of the place.  Later we visited a dhaba and ordered for mutton. After eating, we realised something fishy in it and demanded to know from the counter what it was. The person at counter said "Bade" ka suggesting that it was fresh beef which was served to us. My collegues started putting fingers in their mouth to vomit it out. Though I am christian by birth, I too stay away from Pork and beef.

Returning to our accomdation at the Police station after that horrible experience, I suggested to my mates that we should drink the feni that we were carrying with us. The idea was accepted, immediately and unanimously. The feni cleansed the system.

NCC activities include playing volleyball. I once had accompanied my college volleyball team to the group headquarters Belgaum. As the match began, the refree whistled and as the scorer said, "luve all" over the mike. A voice from the spectator stands loudly added, "But marry one".

At the weekly parades every Sunday morning, As the Company Senior Under Officer I used to take cadets for jogging warm-up upto Gogol old college and back..

One such Sunday, we were jogging with our old time ankle shoes that came fitted with horseshoes. The cadets  jogging in such shoes made it sound like horses galloping. On the road, a little ahead of us, was a farmer possibly taking his buffaoes out to graze. We overtook the herd and continued jogging.

But soon,to our horror, discovered that the buffaloes too had begun jogging behind us. We quickly realised that they were actually chasing us. I was initially happy that the buffaloes had taken a lesson from us to remain fit and fine. But before I could plum what was happening behind, my cadets had fallen out of line and begun running helter shelter. Some jumped into the roadside nullah, some climbed atop adjoining compound walls, yet others even clambered up trees.

The biggest funks of the lot not only climbed  on the top of roadside compound walls but, perhaps still feeling not safe enough from the pursing buffaloes on rampage jumped inside the compounds.

For some who did that, it turned out to be the proverbial jumping from frying pan into the fire.. they were attacked by .dogs loose in the compound. By the time I could gather the entire group of cadets into ranks and file again, decided to turn back to the college parade ground, not jogging, Given the mood, but plain marching.

It was the first and the only Sunday parade in my NCC life that ended before completing less than half the way of the preliminary warm up. ( The Navhind Times, January 19, 2002 )

Courtesy: Book titled "Offside" authored by John Aguiar

Published by:: Goa 1556

Ilustrations: Rohit Chari

THE FUN OF HANGING FROM A TREE

By John Aguiar

I was known to be the naughtiest boy in our locality in Ponda. During my childhood, that is. I was popularly known as "Baba" to the people. My paternal cousins called me "Nanu". Since I was only child, my parents were fond of me and always took extra care of me. 

However sometimes they too got exasperated with my mischief.

I am a mixture of  two cultures and two very different religions. While my father was a Roman Catholic, my mother  was a hindu GSB.

As I grew, my parents found me less at home and more outdoors. I was sometimes found hanging from the guava tree behind our house.

At times, they discovered me on the roof of the house. I would climb with the help of ladder. Even with their best efforts they were unable to hide the ladder from me. I could easily smell the house ladder from a distance, like a dog sniffs its way to a bone.

Coming home with wounds was a daily affair. My parents were worried about me..

Then one day, my mother took me on her lap. I wondered what advise she would give me this time round. She took a louse pressed it between her finger nails, and explained. " See", She said, "what is the fate of the louse if its blood comes out? We also will become empty in the same way." She counselled that I should take proper care while playing.

The thought of becoming empty if my blood came out from my body kept worrying me. Since then, I  learnt to protect myself from stepping on broken glass pieces or jumping on stones. All my mischievious activities, thus were controlled.

But then, I was still a child and bound to commit mistakes. Sometimes, my mother would get annoyed and would tell me in konkani, "Tum masti kelear have tond gheun vatli ( I will depart with my face intact, without shame, if you don't behave). And every time she said this, I promptly but innocently replied, "Tond ghevn vachunaka, tondd dovrun voch" (Don't go away with your face, leave your face and go.)

Then there was a lady teacher who was  pregnant. She overwhelmed us toddlers with her big belly. One day the teacher pointing to her big belly told us that she would put the naughtiest student of the class in there. This frightened us so much that I kept away from school for a week.

The  most effective of all was the beating I got from my father. He always tried to develop in me good habbits and pleasent manners. He advised me to always keep good company. He not only brought sweets for me every evening while returning home, but took me for a ride on his bicycle in the evenings every alternate day. However, when I was found doing somethibg wrong, He would not spare me from spanking..

Once my father was very angry with me. Though I dont exactly recall the mistake I had committed, I certainly  remember my father going to the guava tree and break a stick of the tree. He rushed towards me and started beating me with it. My mother who was in the kitchen rushed out on hearing my screems. As i did not have my shirt on, marks of the stick showed on my tender skin. Slender the stick, more durable the evidence of its use. Mine looked as if they were made by blade.

My father himself was disturbed seeing this. He vowed not to beat me in future. I too vowed to be a good boy. (The Navhiind Times, July 30, 2001)

Courtesy: Book titled "Offside" authored by John Aguiar

Published by:: Goa 1556

Illustrations: Rohit Chari

NCC BUILDS CHARACTER

 

By John Aguiar

In this modern world every good or bad step influences country’s progress. Hence the need for national unity integration is of urgent and utmost importance. Today discipline in  every field is necessary. The NCC is a national organisation, a national movement which plays an important role in the country’s unity and strength. Its role is unmatched. It is the only means through which we can shape our nation’s future. Today’s children are tomorrows foundation. It is extremely important to develop within them a spirit of nationality.

We have to mould and shape our new generation to face the challenges. We can accomplish this through NCC as its training includes every facet valuable for national progress. Its discipline teaches humility wherever the circumstances or wherever the person might be. Its training teaches you to be active and fit in every aspect of life. Its main moral role is “Never accept defeat till the last breath and raise very step for the good of the nation”, Nation building is possible only through the process of all round development of the versatile wealth of its youth to an effort to organise and initiate young minds.  

NOSTALGIC MEMORIES

I remember my days as a NCC cadet and the camps that I have attended. Among them are  two Army Attachment camps with regular army units. We were attached with the Maratha Light Infantry  at Belgaum where are I got the opportunity to train with my course mates  Shri Arvind Gawas and Adv. Atmaram Nadkarni. Four Annual training camps, Two cycle expeditions, one from Goa to Pune and back and other  from Goa to Mantralaya (Karnataka) and back.  i am lucky to get the guidance of officers like my ANO Dr. Jayant Budkuley. Apart from all these activities the   “Advanced Leadership Course with Rock climbing” at Pachmari, Madhya Pradesh has a special  place in my heart.

When I was selected for the Pachmari camp, I was given only a tour plan and had to travel alone since there was only one seat for Goa and that I was the only cadet from Goa.  It was on May 13, 1982 that I boarded the Miraj bound Gomantak Express. Those days, there were no direct trains and there was meter gauge  railway line from Goa to Miraj and we had to change the train at Miraj junction for our onward destination. I met other cadets bound for Piparia  on the onward journey. We reached the Piparia Railway station on May 15. From Piparia Railway station we were taken in a army truck to Pachmari hill station at our camp site.  As we got down from the truck we saw rows and rows of tents, all laid horizontally pegged in perfect order. Very apprehensive, but with much curiosity and many expectations, about what the camp would be like, settling down that night, I looked forward to the beginning of the camp life. There were various competitions such as shooting, boxing, treasure, observation dekhbal and others. The cadets were drawn from all over India and selected from their respective battalions showed that they were the “Cream of our youth” and represented perhaps the best of their generation. Every morning at 6.00 am, we had to be ready for PT parade which kept us fit and active. Thereafter we were taken for drill and later lectures on the techniques of rock climbing. The techniques taught were eally effective in making the task easy. In the beginning we were takn to small rocks of about 25-30 ft. At first this appeared difficult. But after we were shown the scientific and techniques, we realised how easy it could be.

THE CLIMB MADE EASY

On May 29, we were taken to a giant rock that was about 100 ft. high. We doubted for a moment, whether we would  be able to climb it. But we climbed it so easily that when we reached the top we could not believe that we had made it. It was thrilling experience as there was a risk at every  step and one wrong step would have made a great difference. One particular rock was as steep as a wall, there were no step like cuts, only two three inches deep cuts and  some cracks which we used as pinch hold and foot hold to climb. The duration of the camp was 21 days. 14 days for Advance leadership and 7 days for rock climbing. But the experience gained was of  life time.  The actual setting of the camp was on open ground. Here I realized the national character of the NCC. We used to have route marches 15 to 20 kms and we had to cook food on the way. We visited tribsl tamia ganv and also scaled mountain peaks Dhupgarh and Chauragarh. Our Rock climbing training officer Major Chaturvedi of Para regiment took special efforts to train us.

Our Camp Commandant Lieutenant Colonel B.S. Chahal from the Sikh Light Infantry was a senior army officer. He performed all the exercises with us right from the running at the PT parade in the morning. He performed all the obstacles with ease and motivated us. Our Camp second in Command was Major A. K. Kolhatkar from the Artillery regiment. In the evenings the camp was colourful for it provided us an exhibition of the inherent cultural talents for the individual. The fellow cadets learnt from the “Hundir mama ailo song” while I learnt Bengali, Kerala folk songs and the very popular Kannada song “Chinnapa Chin kauda…”.

NATIOANAL INTEGRATION

On June 5, the camp wounded up and everyone was preparing to return with a tint of cheer in their faces this time, for now we were heading for departure after a combined stay under a uniformed environment.

So are the memories of my  Army attachment cap and the annual training camps which I attended as a NCC Cadet. As Cadet Senior Under Officer,  I was camp senior at the Assonora Annual Training Camp. The NCC makes full use of the potential  for community living among the youth and brings them together as fellow citizens of our great country. This encourages a great deal of understanding among the youth who learn to respect and appreciate our vast cultural diversity be it in food we eat, the clothes we wear and in the language we speak.

What better example of national integration can be there. A cadet from Punjab leaning to speaking in Tamil from a cadet from that region, A cadet from Delhi and Mumbai appreciating the tribal customs of Andamans. A few years back it was a pleasant surprise to meet a very dear NCC cadet at this camp on Facebook Col. Nandkishor Kulkarni. We had spent some very good moments at the camp. The NCC fosters a national friendship while many other young people do not go beyond making friends within their own school, college or neighbourhood.

The zeal of living with other cadets, eating and working together and many other moments are unforgettable. The ncc organisation made me self-dependent, more confident and responsible.

 

Manguirish Pai Raiker -A man with many feathers

By John Aguiar

Smile on his face, empathy in his heart, sharing knowledge, providing education to the deserving under privileged and passion for work is the hallmark of this person. Even in the most critical moments of his life, he would come out to lend a hand to the needy. His association with school for disabled and MBD children, old age homes or spastics is well known. He started the first school of Agriculture and then a community college, which provided opportunity for the goan youths to gain knowledge of Agriculture in the state of Goa.

 He is associated with almost all the associations in Goa ,many of which he has led with great success. His way of taking all along and treating each with respect and dignity is the mark of his leadership quality. He was the President of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chairman of Goa Management Association; Green Triangle Society, Ex-NCC Cadets Association, Bharat Scouts and Guides and many more. He had the privilege of being nominated as the vice chairman of MSSIDC in Maharashtra and endeared himself to the business fraternity there also.  There is hardly anyone who does not know him and will vouch for his selfless work and helpful nature.

A first generation entrepreneur who committed himself to hard work and with disciplined life style made a mark for himself in the manufacturing sector. He rose to the national level being today a senior managing committee member of ASSOCHAM a prestigious industry and trade association and also chairing its National MSME Council and the Goa State Council. He is also representing on the several central committees including National Board for MSME. He was awarded National Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship in 1988 and Manager of the year Award in 2002 besides hosts of awards from various other organisations.

 He has served as member of State Sales Tax Advisory Committee, State Labour Advisory Committee, Labour Welfare Board, Sports Authority of Goa, Entertainment Society of Goa and various other boards. He is also associated with sports, educational and cultural organizations and is one of the main promoters of Indian Spastic Society, Goa Chapter and also on the Vice Chairman of India Red Cross Society, Goa Chapter. He is an acclaimed Trainer and has unique distinction of being an Indian to conduct training for SAARC academy in Sri Lanka.

An entrepreneur, Faculty in management, Mentor to several budding entrepreneurs and students, Academician, philanthropist ,Author , Column writer, Director and Actor on stage and screen and a social worker associated with organisations like disabled children, old age care home, Palliative care centre and Entrepreneurs development and training centre Manguirish Pai Raiker   celebrated his 66th birthday on June 17. Wishing him many more years of good health, peace  and creativity and in the service of mankind.