Hello Anish, Very graciously written. Thank you. -Venantius J Pinto On Wed, Jun 30, 2021 at 3:14 AM Anish Esteves <[email protected]> wrote:
> A Tribute to Lambert Mascarenhas: Journalist par Excellence > > Today, at a time when journalism is passing through turbulent times, > when media houses are facing huge losses, journalists are being laid off > and when governments are stifling dissent, the death of Lambert Mascarenhas > is a huge blow to journalism. Lambert symbolised an era of journalism that > was intellectual, and in which journalists fearlessly spoke truth to power. > Born to an illustrious doctor in the quaint sleepy village of Colva in > Salcete, Goa, Lambert began his early education in Poona. Later, he > graduated from the prestigious St. Xavier's College, Mumbai in English > Literature. He began his career reporting for Bombay Standard, after which > he joined 'Bombay Sentinel' and 'Onlooker'. All hell broke loose in the > year 1948, when on a visit to Goa, he wrote columns on the political > situation in Portuguese Goa. Soon, the government took notice of his > writings and he was sentenced and put in prison. > One of the crowning moments of his career came in 1956, when he became > editor of the 'Goan Tribune', succeeding Prof. Aloysius Soares. The Goan > Tribune espoused the cause of Goa's freedom and Lambert was very passionate > about this cause. In fact, he vowed not to get married until Goa was > liberated! Later after Goa's Liberation, Lambert co- founded the 'Navhind > Times'. As Editor, he was very accommodative and listened to the views of > his colleagues. In 1966, he founded the monthly magazine 'Goa Today' and > became its first editor. > An author of numerous publications, Lambert's most famous work is > 'Sorrowing Lies my Land'. In this work, he wrote about the so- called > 'Exodus' of people from Goa, due to unbearable curbs on people's rights and > of course the > availability of better life. Ironically, Goa faces an almost similar > situation even today- migration of people abroad, the defections of elected > representatives, corruption, false promises, neglect et cetera. Overall, > his articles revealed a deep understanding of issues that plagued Goa and > provided for good insights. > A recipient of myriad awards, Lambert was awarded the Laxmidas Borkar > Memorial Award for journalism in 2004. He has also been awarded Goa's > highest civilian award, the Gomant Vibhushan, besides, the Padma Shri, the > fourth highest civilian award of India, in the year 2015. > Mascarenhas leaves behind a rich legacy of journalism that very few > people can match. May his soul rest in peace! > > Anish Esteves >
