*Remembering Valmiki, a window to South Goa*
This slim book (130 pages) can be read in multiple ways. Most obviously,
it is a tribute to a journalist-politician and former builder whose active
life in Goa spanned five decades, starting in the 1970s. At another level,
it is an insightful peek into life in South Goa, particularly Salcete and
its capital Margão, once regarded as the Athens of Goa. Read between the
lines, it's about a Goa in transition, a land we still struggle to
adequately understand.
'Valmiki Faleiro: A Tapestry of Memories' is a book comprising 23
reminiscences about the author who passed away, untimely at 67, in 2023.
It was released in late 2024. Valmiki first drew notice for his work due
to his insightful articles on often untouched themes emerging out of South
Goa in the 1970, when still a college student.
At the time of his death, he was drawing accolades for his third, and
most-noticed book 'Goa 1961'. That book was reviewed in these columns on
Oct 29, 2023, under the title 'An Unofficial History of 1961'.
Those who knew Valmiki (as this reviewer did) would find him difficult to
describe in words. You could describe parts of him, but not the whole
person. He played diverse roles; could be different things to different
persons; and was as much of an extrovert willing to generously help
upcoming writers as he was an introvert-recluse unwilling to venture out of
his home during the pandemic or take the vaccination which then promised
safety against it.
(On supporting and mentoring writers track out new and uncharted areas, the
tributes by journalist-author Melvyn Misquita and nurse-artist Clarice Vaz
are detailed and give an insight into Valmiki's forms of support. This can
be crucial in a Goa where we are still struggling to unearth many hidden
facts even about our recent past itself, and get to know the right people
who hold a clue to completing the story we're working on.)
In this columnist's case, Valmiki (full name: Socrates Valmiki Faleiro) was
part of the team that employed him (the columnist) for his first job way
back in 1983, then vanished from the scene, and emerged two decades later.
Some of our connections are described in a book where journalists outline
their journalistic experiences on Goa ('In Black and White: Insiders'
Stories about the Press in Goa', 2008, available as an ebook on archive.org)
and, in some indirect manner, in his first couple of books. So one need
not go into that again....
* * *
On the other hand, reading between the lines of this book (Rs400), takes
you to a time we have mostly forgotten. Its the Margão of the 1970s.
The Damodar College is just being set up by the Vidya Vikas Mandal. Its
founders included Prof Ganesh M Daivajna and Prof H.M. Gaunekar, both
chartered accountants, and teaching staff such as Prof G G Kondli, Prof
Joan Rebello, Principal SV Deshpande, Diogo Silveira (of Divar, who also
passed on early at 59), and BG (Biji George) Koshy, who pens one of the
chapters here.
Unfortunately, alumni reminiscences mostly remain among those who shared
the experiences, and who sat on the same desks and benches. It's harder to
explain to wider audiences the importance or relevance of institutions in
shaping the history of a town or a State, especially a small one like Goa.
Yet, institutions shape people. You get a hint of this from some stories
in the book.
Satish Menon features on p.82 as the "son of our News Editor P.R. Menon"
who, according to his dad "had a bit of a wild streak and so he requested
Valmiki to keep a watchful eye on him." On p.126, we recognise the same
Satish Menon having matured to being "associated with Onlooker, The Week,
Times of India and CEO of Zee News and Zee Sports, then with CNBC TV 18 as
CEO of Sports18, Mid Day at its peak as Publishing Director, and the last
seven years with IPL team Punjab Kings as its CEO."
Others grew in position too. The Aleixo mentioned on some pages is the
politician and ex-minister. Some in the Goa media would recognise names
like Baljeet Parmar.
We have a hint of how reading made the young man (and woman) in the Goa of
the 1970s, when there were few distractions around, besides cinema.
Cyberspace and the Internet were not even a distant dream then. Leslie St
Anne, freelance journo and retired banker, writes: "We shared the same
interests and authors like Ayn Rand, George Orwell, William Golding,
Shakespeare, George Bernard Shaw and a host of others."
Paris' cafes act as a social hub. Philosopher Jürgen Habermas spoke about
the public sphere, the space where citizens can openly discuss matters of
public interest, forming public opinion. Sociologist Ray Oldenburg created
the idea of the 'third place' -- beyond home ('first place') and work
('second place'), where people of different backgrounds can socialise and
interact.
Likewise Margão had its own 'public sphere', though tiny and mostly
unrecognised. In this case, there was Jack's Corner (owned by the late
tiatrist Jack Souza Ferrao of Raia) and David & Co where "our close knit
circle of friends converged in the late evening hours", as lawyer Radharao
writes.
There is the story of the newspapers of those times -- The Navhind Times,
where Valmiki Faleiro first cut his teeth with writing, and The West Coast
Times. Names like KSK Memon keep popping up.
One can also sense the difficulties in 1970s Goa struggling to shift from
the old world Portuguese press to the more competitive English-language
world. Skills were needed from out-of-State then. MJ Bailur was Editor,
and PR Menon, news editor, at The West Coast Times.
Local talent grew too, like Manikrao Shirodkar and Lloyd Coutinho as
photographers, with 'action photographer' Lui Godinho chipping in too.
Valmiki was a Chief Reporter (whose writing drew attention), Dionizio aka
Dennis Mendis as copy editor, St Anne as a trainee, and even the
politician-advocate Radharao Gracias had a role there.
Advocate Vishwanath (Yogesh) Gaitonde takes the story to the Canacona -- of
the 1980s or 1990s, presumably. Others visit the office of the chairperson
of the Margão municipality, when the old elite still had some say and
political expediency might not have been the basis for every decision.
Tributes from his family and friends show us the human side of the person;
including Valmiki's naughtyness till part of his teens. Then, this runs
into his prominent friends, who knew him as a responsible author and writer.
We get a peep into Goa's then vigorous student movement, of the mid to late
1970s. Desmond D'Costa, featured as a young, volatile student leader,
ended up being a part of the judiciary. With all these pointers, and more
about the man it is devoted to , the book, compiled by Daisy Faleiro, is
available at DogEars Bookshop in Margão, among other outlets.
