Today is two years since my favourite muse,
Dr Manoharrai L Sardessai passed away.
His simple verse continues to carry
deep meaning and inspiration to all of us.
Here are two of the few Monday Muse articles inspired by him
In fond remembrance
Pravin
MONDAY MUSE – 26 (26 June 2006)
THE MEASURE OF LOVE
On 23 June, poignant newspaper headlines announced the passing away of Goa’s
most celebrated poet, Dr Manoharrai Sardessai. He was called “Lok-kavi” or
people’s poet for the emotions and predicament of the common man resonated in
his verse. A multi-linguist bard, he was awarded the prestigious Sahitya
Akademi award. Despite getting his PHD at theSorbonne University in France and
receiving the highest recognition there, he chose to live in Goa. He was at the
vanguard of the Konkani movement for the last six decades and played a
prominent role in the historic Opinion Poll of 1967.
However, Manoharbab’s greatness was not in his unending list of recorded
achievements… it lay in his simple yet hugely significant philosophy which he
would express in his distinct style of instinctive assonance. (His intuitively
created couplets were immensely popular among young and old.) He believed that
the Konkani identity lay in its culture and culture lay in our behaviour
towards other human beings. A committed humanist, Baba was a messiah of love.
His life philosophy is aptly described in one of his favourite quotes, “The
measure of love is to love without measure!”
Too often, we see love as a reciprocal emotion. If we receive (or hope to
receive), we give! Look back and review what were our close relationships, once
upon a time… isn’t it true that we put the responsibility (of the distance
created) on the other person? But is the emotion of love and the action of
sharing meant to be a comparative barter? Is love a reactionary emotion that
exists as a reciprocal action? Is love a commodity available for barter? Love
is all about personal initiative and attitude. The onus of love is on us, not
on anyone else. Forget about measuring and evaluating other people’s love for
us, we should never ever indulge in the folly of measuring our own love or the
actions borne of it.
The problems arise because of the expectations attached with our actions. We
need to change our outlook and transform our actions. Let our love be unbridled
and proactive… like the simply great persona of Dr Manaharrai Sardessai whose
love for his people, for his land, for his nation and for his world was beyond
any measure. The era of the Lok-Kavi may have ended, but his inspiration shall
endure the vagaries of time!!!
Love is not the barter of a reciprocal emotion
Love is when we “speak through action”!
Regards
Pravinda
26 June 2006, Goa.
MONDAY MUSE (25 June '07)
“SANGODD”
In 2001, at the International Goans Convention, the poet with the silver mane
enthralled the audience with yet another golden speech. Manoharrai Sardessai
was always an inspirational muse to scores of the loyal fans of his poetry,
prose and philosophy. On that day, he was speaking about the Konkani quotation
“Don Voddeani paim…” (feet in two canoes) which highlighted the futility of
doing so. However, Manoharrai was unveiling a new dimension… the ancient Goan
tradition of combining two boats to create a larger platform called “sangodd”.
Last Friday, recorded a full year since the demise of Goa’s most adored poets.
But his take on things, both, Goan and global, continues to hold immortal
inspiration. Manoharrai Sardessai’s poems and songs, speeches and talks,
writings and musings continue to be a guiding light as we stand at the
crossroads pondering over looming questions. Whether to go global with English
in primary education or embrace the mother tongue, Konkani? Whether to stick to
the Devanagri script or patronise the Romi script? Whether to pursue
development or bother about the environment?
Sardessai’s message of the harmonizing dimension of “sangodd” assumes greater
relevance in today’s times when every question arouses diametrically extreme
viewpoints that spark off bitterness and hostility. His own life reflected the
“sangodd”. Sardessai wrote mature political ballads as well as delightful songs
for children. While he wrote extensively in Konkani, Marathi, Hindi and other
Indian languages, he also indulged in the mastery of French, English,
Portuguese and other international languages. He was a fine teacher who never
gave up on studying. He would write about rationalism and socialism and
simultaneously pen prayers to Shantadurga and Jesus. He initiated the
publishing of his books in both Devanagri and Romi scripts.
Every fight is essentially started over a difference in perceptions. Many such
perceptions are based on prejudices. An open mind is one that can combine
diverse opinions to create a “sangodd” and develop new dimensions that will
foster unity amidst hearts….
With a “sangodd”, it is possible to ride two boats
“Develop new dimensions” to cross every moat…
Regards
Pravin
25 June 2007, Goa.
---- Pravin K. Sabnis
www.poems-pravinsabnis.blogspot.com
www.monday-muse.blogspot.com
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