There is a saying in Konkani “Baint Poddlem Khuim Koblem ani Voir Sorlem Khuim Soblem”. This is what has happened when I wrote two articles on the late Santana Carvalho following his death on 18th of January this year; one article on 20th of January 2013 and the other on the day of his Month’s Mind. Both these articles especially the second one on 18th of February 2013 awakened the conscience of some Goans to know the history of Goa and especially of English education in Goa in general and Arpora School in particular. Many Goans especially the young intellectuals have asked me about Arpora School and the visiting German soccer team that I indicated in my second article. For their benefit and for the benefit of others who are interested in Goa’s past I give them some information that I know on both these topics. First topic is the establishment of St. Joseph ’s High School Arpora and the second topic the friendly soccer match played between Arpora School
One view of the school
It was said during those early days that among Goans, Bardezkars are more civilised, more decent, more cultured, more knowledgeable and more educated. This development according to some elders, Bardezkars achieved because of the educational facilities especially of English education they got in their area due to the establishment of the first two English Schools of Goa there; one was the Sacred Heart of Jesus – Parra which was the first English school of Goa while St. Joseph’s High School – Arpora was the first English High School of Goa which was founded and started by one non-Goan Deacon named Fr. Lyon. He was not a full-fledged priest but as a Deacon he was wearing priestly Cassock since he loved priesthood but unfortunately due the affliction of incurable contagious skin desease he was thrown out of the Seminary where he was doing his priestly studies. Thus he remained as Deacon only.
Statue of School Patron Saint - St. Joseph
In search of right medicine to cure his skin desease he travelled many parts of India till somebody told him in Madras to visit a holy place called Goa where you will find blessed Springs flowing with blessed water and this water has curative effects which surely will cure your skin desease however deadly and incurable it may be. When he reached Goa after moving from one place to another in search of the right spot, somebody told him to go to Sinquerim Bardez where there is a Spring and if you have bath from the water of that Spring you are bound to be ok.
With high hope Fr. Lyon came to Sinquerim, spotted the right Spring, had bath there and soon was cured of his otherwise incurable skin desease. With this miracle he praised the God and said Eureka – Eureka and moved on to Candolim and from Candolim he moved on to Calangute trying to locate a suitable place to do something good for Goa that gave him cure for his incurable skin desease. He had education in his mind and as a mark of gratitude for Goa he decided to establish an English high school. Failing to find a suitable spot at Calangute he shifted to calm and cool place at Arpora where he established the first English High School of Goa where facilities were provided not only for day scholars but also for boarders to study and excel in sports.
Since this was the first English High School of Goa preparing the Goan students for the Matriculation, all the top ranking and smart students of Goa became the students of this school. Not only in studies but also in sports all the top sportsmen of Goa during those days were the students of this school. In one of his historically beautiful songs, the great Alfred Rose sings praises for this school and to its founder Fr. Lyon. This song though not recorded but he kept it written in his Cantarancho Jhelo No.1.
Another view of the School. Top floor was the boarding
Fr. Phillip Neri Mendonca from Aldona was the Third Principal of this school who developed this school tremendously. For about 35 years he ruled this school as its renowned Principal and very strict disciplinarian who for any misdeed by the student will cane that student like “Zotkar” caning the “Zotacho Reddo”. It was said during those days that if you want to discipline your rowdy son then enrol him at Arpora school under Fr. Mendonca who by using harsh corporal punishment sometime in inhuman manner would correct the rowdy students. All those students who faced his inhuman punishment were the victims of that harsh era that believed only in ruthless corporal punishment to correct the erring students. I was also a victim of his caning on my palms not for rowdism, not for any mischief but for not doing my Confession for receiving Holy Communion on one First Friday. It was compulsory for us Catholic students to attend the Mass in School Chapel on every First Friday and receive Holy Communion. Not performing religious duties was one of the worst crimes a student can commit at Arpora School.
Justifying his harsh method of using stick to discipline indisciplined students he once cited Biblical version where it said to use stick. The book of Proverbs authored by King Solomon is a part of Bible which allows the parents to use stick to correct their naughty children but not to punish the erring children with revenge as Fr. Mendonca was doing and as a sadist he used to take pleasure in seeing the students in agony while receiving his ruthless beatings. He was smart in everything except knowing that mischief and youth go together.
Primary Section seen in above picture
As a mark of respect for Fr. Lyon's great gift for Goa in the field of English education, after his death a Bust has been erected at the entrance of this school facing the school playground.
Seen above is the Bust of Fr. Lyon
During those days till his death in 1965 Fr. Mendonca was a name and fame in Goa in educational and sports fields. He was the first Goan after India annexed Goa to receive the National Award from Indian government as the best educationist of Goa from the hands of Indian President Dr. Radakrishnan who was so impressed of his knowledge that Dr. Radakrishnan invited him again to Delhi to ask his advice on certain matters related to Goa and Portugal relationship.
Fr. Mendonca was renowned for organising school sports day function with much pomp and extravaganza. People used to come to watch this annual event from all over Goa and main attraction of this event was the “Drill” and Tableaux conducted by the students under his supervision where he used to show even the election of the Pope and other world renowned events happened during that year. Once in 1959 he showed the hijacking of Portuguese Ship Santa Maria off the coast of Azores by the Portuguese terrorist Galvao Pinto. The Drills and Tableaux was like opening ceremony of the Olympic Games and in fact some people used to dub Arpora Sports day festival as Goan Olympics. Such attractive events are not taking place anywhere in Goa now, they are interred with the bones of Fr. Mendonca at the Cemetry of Nagoa Bardez where he was buried with the attendance of such a massive crowd that never in the past such a multitude attended any funeral of any person in Goa.
TO BE CONCLUDED.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
