########################################################################## # Don't just read the news...discuss it. Learn more about Goa via Goanet # # Goanet was setup in 1994 and has spent the last decade building a # # lasting Goan non-profit, volunteer-driven network in cyberspace. # # Visit the archives http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/ # # To join, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and ask to join Goanet. # ########################################################################## BACK TO SCHOOL: THE DAYS I'D LOVE TO RELIVE: JEFFREY CHAGAS PEREIRA
---------------------------- Although it is almost 35 years since Jeffrey Chagas Pereira completed his schooling , his memories of his days spent at Don Bosco High School, Panjim still remain fresh and clear as if it all happened just yesterday. Here is what he has to say. ---------------------------- It was the year 1963. I can still vividly remember my first day at Don Bosco as a small III Standard student. However, being bold and carefree, I was enthusiastic and eager to enter the portals of this reputed school. The principal at that time was Fr. Joseph Casti. Over the years at Don Bosco I came across different teachers, some of whom I remember with love, affection and gratitude, such as Alina Dias and Mary Sequeira, while there were others whom I would like to forget. Alina Dias would appear like a friend at times and often as a mother, as much of her instruction to us was indirect -- by model rather than by explicit statement. Yet, of all the teachers there existed, there are a few whom I will never forget. We had a Sir Pai, whom we nicknamed Sir Poi. He would teach us Hindi and his peculiar gait would remind us of a jack in the box. Our class had a number of mischief mongers and on innumerable occasions he would come up to us with a small ruler and keep tapping us repeatedly on our heads saying, "You Dunkeys, when will you ever learn!" Recently, I met Fr Michael D'Costa, one of my classmates and we laughed our heads out reminiscing of our Sir Poi. Fr. Ernest Saldanha was another dedicated teacher who took all the trouble to teach us French, and told us to regard the Dondo (French Grammar Book) almost as dear as a Bible. Then there was our Principal Fr Joseph Casti himself, who had a novel legal method of punishing the boys. He would not beat any boy, but instead call him to the sports room. There he would provide the offender with boxing gloves, don a pair himself and engage in a battle of boxing. Rarely would one come out victorious as Fr Casti was well known for his boxing skills. Fr Casti was also known to have a penchant for soccer and he would be seen running swiftly and energetically on the football ground. And who can forget Fr Pamparell, a priest who was known by different names, yet one feared his punishments and looked upon him with fear and respect. The priests at our time were all simple and humble, yet were amiable and were of high thinking. And finally I can recall Sir Dominic, our sports sir whose solid presence, endearing smile and shrill whistle are all difficult to forget. I always admired the Don Bosco system of education which was not only confined to academic excellence but also focused on the overall development of the students. I took active part in athletics, especially in the 4 x 100 m relay which I considered to be a real team sport. With other sports such as football and hockey being reserved for the boarders, we were relegated to being the cheer team. March Past practices at Campal for Republic Day were more of an outing wherein we got the opportunity to meet the girls of Mary Immaculate and play games with them after the practice. Most of these girls were from Bombay and used to stay as boarders in their school. Yet there were some excellent footballers and hockey players at our time at school, which included the quartet of the D'Cunha brothers, Godfrey, Finian, Jumbo and Basil, the last who was also my classmate. All of them were Bandra boys and in those days a lot of Bombay boys would come to study in Goa on account of the well developed boarding system. I recall with nostalgia the trips back to Bombay by steamer with them, cracking jokes and laughing all through those eventful journeys. However, what really excited us and we would look forward to would be the music shows and programs as the top singers and performers were indeed our seniors. They included the likes of Remo Fernandes, Fernando Faria and Alexander Rosario. The first brass band of Don Bosco apparently also came about in the year 1968. It is said that boys will be boys, however until now when I look back I carry a sense of guilt on account of the prank I played on one of my classmates. It being April Fool's Day I went to my classmate's house and told his parents that their son had met with an accident. Anxious and with tears streaming down their cheeks, they rushed to GMC (Goa Medical College), which was adjacent to our school. Not finding him there they proceeded to the Police Station. With no news of him there too, they made their way to school. Imagine their surprise when they saw him calmly watching a football match in progress. Later, fearing the consequences, I would try to avoid one and all for over a week. But through good times and bad times our friends stuck with us and some of my real true friends whom I discovered were Glen Dantas, Agnel Diniz, Christopher Coelho, Ashok Saldanha and Eurico Noronha. Today, Don Bosco in every conceivable way is a far cry from those days. Yet, the memories of friends and teachers have formed so deep a crease in my mind that time can never erase it. Given a chance to turn back time, I would gladly do so. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Today Jeffrey, a Structural Engineer, is well settled and married to Anysia. They have two children Jarryd, presently doing his second year mechanical engineering, and Jason, who is in 11th Science. (As told to Cedric Silveira) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Reproduced on Goanet courtesy Panjim Plus [EMAIL PROTECTED] phone 2464687 or 9422058131. Contact Ilidio de Noronha