Yesterday in the
evening I had a nice opportunity to attend the Meet at Xaviers Research Center,
Porvorim, starting at 6.00 PM. This Meet was also attended by a class of
intellectuals. This Meet was organized
to mark the 100th birthday of the late Prof. Lucio Rodrigues who was known as an authority on Goan Folk
Songs being an expert in Folkloric aspects of Goa.
Isabela seen speaking, seated Prof. Rabin, Dr. Couto & Ramona.
Prof. Lucio Rodrigues
was the Professor at Dempe College heading the English department having taught
English there for about a decade till his sudden and untimely death in
1973. Though he was not my professor
since I was studying at Xaviers Mapusa yet thru my innumerable friends at Dempes,
I was kept abreast of the beauty and greatness of his lectures because of which
he was loved by the students as well as by the College management. Even though he was majestic in his subject
gaining accolades from all sides yet he was very humble and kind towards his
students whom he treated with highest love and respect ever ready to assist
them in their studies. A very stylish gentleman, he was also admired by his
students for his elegant dress code.
Author of books written
on Goan Folklore, he was very proud of Konkani and even in the class he used to
utter some words and statements in Konkani. He had great love for singing
Manddos and even in Bombay before coming to Goa he promoted Manddo culture
there by being in the company of other such great Bombay Goans of whose type
are very difficult to find now. It is a
pity that once the citadel of Goan cultural activities, Bombay is now facing the draught of great
Goans to promote our culture. Present
day Goan generation regretfully is shying away from everything Goan. His love
for poetry and music was extremely high.
The persons seated at
the dais were closely linked with him either as his students or colleagues in
teaching fraternity who in their respective speeches highly eulogized their
mentor and “guru” for the excellence in him.
They were Isabela, Prof. Rabin, Dr. Couto and Ramona. It was my pleasure to listen to such great orators speaking out their hearts in love of their guru.
It is a pity that
greats are not born in Goa now. Goans
like Prof. Lucio Rodrigues are born once in centuries. Will we get another like him on our soil? I doubt. May his soul Rest In peace.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
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