1) Death Comes in Threes Around New year some of the tidings were not so pleasant. In villages they say that death comes in threes. That's so even in a 'modern' one like Moira, when one death occurs people begin to have the apprehension that more will follow, for the departed one is likely to feel lonely wherever she or he happens to take residence. So when the death of Arun Prabhu occured and when two more followed they began to say 'Arun'nan tankam vhe'llam'. Incidentally the other two persons to expire were Venancio N J De Souza of Sataporio (see Herald Dec 30 2011)and Mariano Fernandes (Olavo) of Povoacaohttp://www.epaperoheraldo.in/epapermain.aspx?queryed=9&eddate=1%2f3%2f2012
I didn't know him personally but apparently Arun Prabhu was quite a character and was a fairly popular person. He actually came from a bhat family from Dongri at Agacaim, but worked in the Courts in Panjim and lived in Bambordem in 'Guruchya Mollyent' (or 'Mouyent' - I hope the spelling is OK. Mollyo was the high land which used to be cultivated. Nowadays I think that houses have sprouted in the fields, thanks to the enterprising Guru) He had a rather tragic death. I think he was going towards Mapusa, down the slope after the club on a two wheeler, came to the turn before Sudan's posro, tried to overtake a truck and collided into the oncoming vehicle and died shortly after. A photograph of him on the day of his Baravo (12th day remembrance) is on the Marathi Gomantak. Anyway I came to know about him from my colleague Pravin Gaonkar who is one of the most reputed Indian classical music singers and impresarios of Goa. He too did not know Arun by name but by face and recognized him from the obit. It seems that whenever he performed at or organized or even attended any classical music program Arun would inevitably and religiously be present at every performance in Goa and some beyond. And not only that he would make it a point to come and congratulate the performers who impressed him. One incident particularly stuck in Pravin's mind. It seems that a few days after the death of the ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh, Pravin was organising a performance of another ghazal great Ghulam Ali http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghulam_Ali_%28Ghazal_singer%29 It seems that after the performance Arun came backstage and shook the singer's hand and exclaimed,"Jagjit Singh gaya, par aap to rahe!" (Jagjit Singh is gone but you are still there) and he left. Soon he was to leave this world forever. 2) Wish Elections Came Every Year The people of Moira among other places got a 'New Year's Gift' from the Congress MLA Dayanand Narvekar who will be contesting from the redrawn Aldona constituency where Moira has now been included. See http://www.epapernavhind.in/epaperhome.aspx?issue=03012012 Nobody wants to comment upon the quality of the roads: why look a gift horse in the mouth? Yesterday another gift came our way: the streetlights were replaced with new modern CFL streetlamps. Wonder who paid for it. Wish elections came every year. 3) Jose Marie Caterers Fast-food Cart On 1 January a new fast food cart opened in the space outside the Panchayat. It serves chicken xacuti, chicken curry bread, rasa omelet, batatawadas, bhaji, tea and some more items. I tried the chicken xacuti and rasa omelet and they were very reasonably priced and tasty. It's run by Vinci and his wife. He is the son of Josemarie who was a carpenter from Povoacao. I hope their enterprise is a success or people will say I cast an evil eye upon them. Cheers Augusto -- Augusto Pinto 40, Novo Portugal, Moira, Bardez, Goa, India E [email protected] or [email protected] P 0832-2470336 M 9881126350 -- Augusto Pinto 40, Novo Portugal, Moira, Bardez, Goa, India E [email protected] or [email protected] P 0832-2470336 M 9881126350 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
