Sad to learn about Ervell's death. First met him at the editorial desk at Indian Express (Mumbai) when I started doing freelance sports reporting for the paper. Then often met him at many events. Used to meet him on Girgaum Road when he would go home at Cavel, near the Barreto High School, after work. I think i met him once some years ago when I was visiting Goa. Once we talked about his native place, Bastora, on it being a happening place during the 60s. Astute writer on films, he served on some panels of the National Film Awards. Read his column for Goa Today, and found him to be forceful in what he wrote. The last chapter of his book is titled, The Last Hurrah. Yes, a good journalist and also a fine gentleman has said his last goodbye to his family and friends. I knew his brother Darryl (I think that's his name). A confirmed bachelor, His opinion on the changing media landscape, especially the print media, is very much true. He said, "Today, greed has replaced need and the newspaper has become a commodity to be sold to the highest bidder. 'If salt loses its savour, wherewith shall it be salted,' goes the Biblical quote." He said that when he started his career he heard that journalists don't live "above their mid-50s." He said he "relished" quitting Indian Express and went on doing freelancing. He was "able to write what I want, which even resident editors find it difficult with the many constraints they have to work with." Let me end with what he held true to his heart, "At the end of the day a journalist must be able to hold his head up with pride or else his entire career will add up to nothing." Truly, he lived his life as a true journalist. His life could be an example to aspiring young journalists. RIP, Ervell.
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