It was October-November of 1999 when a group of librarians from Rachol Seminary, Central Library and Historical Archive of Goa from Panjim, under Senhora Ines Isabel Simoes de Abreu dos Santos Correia of Torre de Tombo Portugal took part in a course of preservation and conservation of the historical documents existing at Rachol Seminary as well as the Menezes Bragança House at Chandor. For 15 days the group was given the task of cleaning, cataloguing and preparing descriptions of the documents assigned to each member. I was one of the group members, representing Rachol.

At Chandor I was given the personal library of Luis de Menezes Bragança to clean and catalogue. While going over the material, I came across the following description of the well-known journalist Leopoldo Cipriano da Gama from Cotula in Saligao. So as to preserve Menezes Brangança’s words as they were, I reproduce here the piece he wrote in Portuguese following Leopoldo’s death in Penha de França, Bardez, on 28 April 1929:

“Jornalista, na lidima acepçao da palavra. Rapidez de elaboraçao mental, arranque de lutador, solido e variada cultura e maneira incisiva de dizer. Conhecia como poucos as literatures classicas. Da literatura francesa e da inglesa, sabia o que havia de mais representativo e culminante. Os seus artigos denunciavam, a cada passo, a sua educaçao humanista. E a historia! Como ele a sabia evocar, nas suas luminosas e sugestivas cronicas internacionais, em adequado parralelo, nao na indigesta mole de factos, mas no seu alcance profundo, nas suas largas repercursoes. Na polemica, era um lutador audaz e de temer. Era o argument que convence, o sarcasmo que arrasa, a gargalhada que desnorteia. O contendor, as vezes, ficava na lica a escorrer em sangue.”

Leopoldo Cipriano da Gama is the son of Luis Antonio da Gama of Cotula, Saligao, and Carlota Joaquina Gonçalves of Penha de França. He was born in Assagao. At a very young age he dedicated himself to journalism, writing to various newspapers and journals. Subsequently he collaborated with journals such as Goa Panch, A Patria, O Futuro and Boletim Indiano. From 1887 to 1894 he edited A Convicçao and later Gazeta da India from 1893 to 1894. He was also Editor of A Evoluçao in 1895 and of A Patria too. In Bombay Leopoldo was the founder editor of the weeklies Horas Vagas (1890-91) and Colonia Goana (1891-92).

I have related earlier the amusing story of how Leopoldo once evaded arrest by hiding beneath his mother’s skirt. Portuguese government officials were incensed by a column Leopoldo had written, titled “A Call to Arms”, exhorting the readers to revolt against the oppressive Portuguese rule. While Leopoldo succeeded in escaping detection by the police — who searched high and low for him all over the house, expect of course under Dona Carlota’s skirt – he was forced to flee Goa, walking all the way to Bombay where he then spent most of his remaining days before finally returning to Penha de França in Goa after many years.

Leopoldo da Gama was the most complete Goan journalist of his time and his writings reflected high-quality thinking and accurate facts that never betrayed truth. He feared nobody and his arguments convinced everyone. He is the author of Perfil Biografico do Sr. Jose de Sa Coutinho (A Biographical Profile of Mr. Jose de Sa Coutinho); Luis Xavier Correa da Graca (Biographical Notes); Sombras e Luzes (Shadows and Lights); O Socialismo (Socialism). All these writings made him rather famous. May his tribe prosper in the village of Saligao and wherever else in the world they have chosen to settle down.

The villagers of Saligao have always revered any of their sons and daughters who either excel academically or achieve success in their chosen careers – generally in the white collar field. And this remains a sure-shot way of obtaining “famous” status, at least in the eyes of the village.

In the early and middle twentieth century, an era when matriculating from high school was looked upon as a passport to a relatively secure career as a clerk, anyone with a college degree was deemed to be a noteworthy cut above the rest… and even more so if the individual held a prominent position in the then British Colonial Civil service.

Being of an impressionable age as a pre-teenager, I held these individuals in high esteem… until I graduated from high school, got myself a job, and began to quantify their achievements. And what I discovered was that most of them did very well for themselves and their families, but contributed very little to the village community at large. Among the few exceptions was Anacleto Lobo who was generally referred to as “Principal Lobo”

Anacleto Lobo did not have his roots in Saligao. He was born in the village of Tivim, but his family had originally settled in Poona, India, where they were known to have made significant contributions in the community.

Anacleto Lobo was a learned man and an educationist who wanted to impart the benefits of learning and the richness of diverse cultures to as many Goans as possible. So he built a co-ed school in Saligao in 1909 just inside the boundary line that separates Saligao from the village of Calangute, and he named it Mater Dei Institution. It catered to the children of Saligao and the surrounding villages of Calangute, Candolim, and Pilerne. In the ensuing years, its high standards gained it a reputation that began to attract students from all over Goa.

Principal Lobo had travelled to China, England and Europe, and he incorporated the best of these foreign cultures as part of the curriculum, albeit with subtlety. And I happened to be one of the fortunate beneficiaries of his life’s pursuit.

Principal Lobo. Sketch by Mel D'Souza.

Principal Lobo was an impressive man. He was always impeccably dressed – polished shoes, razor-sharp creased trousers, a pressed ‘bush shirt’, a well-trimmed goatee, and not a hair out of place on his head. To add to his stature, he strode the halls of the school at a brisk pace and always had a cane in his right hand. The cane was used sparingly, but those that were on the receiving end were an exclusive group – of which I was one. I earned this distinction at the end of a typical school day when the class was being dismissed.

It all happened during a short prayer the class would recite after the final bell. As a monitor (a student appointed as a role model and keeper of the peace in the classroom), it was my duty to lead the prayer. That particular day, Principal Lobo was standing in for our regular teacher when I mumbled the last words of the prayer and started shuffling towards the door before crossing myself. Now, that was a sign of disrespect as far as Principal Lobo was concerned, and he reacted swiftly; a sharp whack across the back of my pants that froze me in my tracks just short of the door. “Don’t you ever leave before finishing your prayers!” he bellowed, leaving me so stunned that I uttered neither “Ouch!” nor “I’m sorry, Sir”. But it sure did teach me a lasting lesson in the importance of respecting authority.

This incident, however, was not a true reflection of Principal Lobo. He was a disciplinarian for sure, but under that stern appearance was a compassionate man who was not widely known for his charitable deeds because he performed them very discreetly. I only came to know about his acts of charity from my dad a few years after I had graduated from Mater Dei.

As an educationist with a mission to equip his students with the foundation for a better future, he waived the fees of many a poor student to enable them to graduate from high school so that they could get a job abroad and, in turn, support their other siblings in school, not to mention their financially strapped parents.

Anacleto Lobo was married to Inez Nazare a trained teacher educated in Bangalore and Secunderabad, and they had three children, Cleta, Edna and Yvette. Mrs. Lobo was very efficient, and she helped her husband in the administration of the school. Cleta is the current Principal, and Edna is Vice-Principal. And they have maintained Mater Dei’s proud tradition to this day.

Principal Lobo was rarely talked about as a prominent villager of Saligao, perhaps because he didn’t flaunt his academic credentials and didn’t get involved in petty politics. But he was, indeed, an impressive man who I have always regarded as the greatest benefactor of Saligao.

Edna Lobo. Vice-Principal of Mater Dei Institution. Tragically, Edna passed away suddenly on 21 April 2010

Foxes from the cane fields they might have been, going by village nickname the enterprising sons of Saligao earned for taking up large-scale sugarcane cultivation in their village. But, “Foxes of the Desert” (with due apologies to Gen. Erwin Rommel) several of them sure were. Let us, briefly, take a peek at some of the valorous sons that Saligao gave to the nation as officers in the defence services.

Thanks either to the Mutiny of 1857 or to racism, it was not easy for Indians (and more so for Goans hailing from Portuguese India!) to get into the officer ranks of the armed forces during the British era. Indians could get in only via the Auxiliary Force, whose membership was open only to Anglo-Indians. Among the first known Goans commissioned as officers in the Indian Army was Quitla-Aldona’s Brig Edward (“Jimmy”) Rodrigues and his two younger siblings, Maj Joe Rodrigues and Brig Arnold Rodrigues. But then, their father was an influential businessman based in Yavatmal, now in Maharashtra – he was Mayor, MLA, and was bestowed by the British with the title of “Sardar Bahadur.”

Ingenious Entry

Less privileged Goans had to devise more ingenious methods of gaining entry. Among the first sons of Saligao to get into the army was Brig George F D’Souza, brother of Archbishop Eugene D’Souza of Nagpur, later of Bhopal. It is said that young George tweaked his Lusitanised “Jorge Francisco de Sousa” name to the anglicized George Francis D’Souza – and got into the army as an Anglo-Indian! His peers describe both George and his wife as very positive people who spread cheer and encouragement wherever they went … until, after retiring from service and settling in Bangalore, their only son Charles – a Squadron Leader (helicopter pilot) with the Indian Air Force – died young of cancer leaving behind his widow and a 2-year old son in 1981. The gregarious parents never really recovered from the shock.

Another brother of Brig DSouza was Maj Valentine (“Vally”) D’Souza, while two of his sons-in-law are Maj H B D’Souza from Mapusa and Cmde John Carneiro from Porvorim. Quite a defence-oriented family, but not the only one from Saligao.

Maj Albert Francis Winington da Costa-Joshi, FRCS, was both in military and civil medical services. Of his sons, one is Brig Ian da Costa, another is Cmde Emile da Costa-Joshi. (The third son is Fr. Albert da Costa-Joshi, SJ.) Brig da Costa was awarded a VSM for counter insurgency operations in the North East between 1983-85. Not once, but twice before, he was recommended for gallantry awards, both in the 1965 and 1971 wars.

The son of Saligao to rise to the highest post in the Indian Army short of chief of staff was Lt Gen Eric Alexander Vaz. He commanded an operational brigade in Punjab in the 1965 war and held several other key operational and service posts in the army thereafter until retirement.

Let us now briefly look through Saligao’s Hall of Fame, service-wise, then rank-wise:

ARMY

• Lt Gen Eric Alexander Vaz
• Brig George Francis DSouza
• Brig Ian D’Costa
• Col Edwin D’Souza was with the Army Dental Corps
• Lt Col Ivo Pinto Lobo
• Maj Albert Francis Winington da Costa-Joshi, FRCS
• Maj Valentine (“Vally”) D’Souza
• Maj Vincent Fernandes

NAVY

• Cmde Emile da Costa Joshi
• Cdr C J D’Souza
• Cdr Joel Cordeiro (IMS, Dental)
• Lt Cdr Angua RG D’Melo
• Lt Jose Figueiredo D’Melo

AIR FORCE

• Sqn Ldr Charles D’Souza
• Avertano P. Fernandes was a Bomber Navigator (rank at retirement not known)
• Tereza Sequeira was a medico in the IMS (rank at retirement not known)

Author’s Note: The above list is sourced from a database, still under construction, on Goan officer ranks in the three wings of India’s defence services. It is, therefore, by no means complete. There would be far more Saligaokars who helped defend the nation’s borders and honour… readers who can add to this list, please do get in touch (valmikif on Gmail)

The day was 27th January, 2002. It was 5 o’clock in the evening. I decided to visit my friends Joe and Jean D’Mello at their residence in Barro-vaddo, Sangolda, as I had not seen them for some time, and also wanted to meet their children Joanne-Marie and Jovito. The young Joanne, a mezzo-soprano singer, had recently been profusely praised for her performance at the Kala Academy in Panjim.

It took me just about 15 minutes to walk from Tabravaddo-Mollebhatt in Saligao, Goa, to the D’Mello residence. I rang the bell. There was no reply. I knocked at the door and called out loudly, “Gharant konn asa?” Anyone at home? I waited for a moment or two and then, on hearing no reply, turned around and decided to return home. But opposite the house I spotted Joe D’Mello’s father Dominick, who was enjoying the evening breeze. I asked him where his son was. Just then Dominick’s wife Mary arrived on the scene. In her typical Sangoldonean way she said, “Jean ani Joanne Igorjent geleant”. I told her I would visit my cousin Natty Mascarenhas e Pinto in the neighborhood and would drop by again to meet Joe and his family on my way back.

About half an hour later, Joe and his daughter Joanne-Marie were at Natty’s residence, greeting me with radiating smiles. I congratulated Joe for being inducted as a member of the newly formed Parish Council of Guirim-Sangolda Church that morning. Joanne enthusiastically chipped in: “Father, I am going to receive Confirmation on the 10th of February.” I was happy with the news. Then both of them led me to their home. There I met Jean and Jovito too, along with their neighbour Gia Kulkarni.

Jean said, “Father, you have come on a very auspicious day. Fifteen years ago on this very day our Joanne was baptised, and your visit has made us very happy.” I congratulated the highly-rated singer Joanne. Joe asked me what I would like to have and I replied that a cup of tea would be just perfect. Jovito offered to make it, and soon returned from the kitchen with a steaming cup of tea, which was absolutely refreshing.

Starting young

I was keen to hear about Joanne’s musical career and her achievements as a child. With an enchanting smile, Joanne began telling me about herself: “I was born on 27th October 1986. At three, my mother introduced me to my first song, Take a Spade and Dig,” Joanne said.

Her father interrupted: “I think it was when you were four, dear.”

Joanne continued, “I loved the angel singing at the Salves in our chapel and I was wondering when I would be chosen as one of the angels. I got the opportunity to dress as an angel when I was five years old and I was thrilled. That was the first time I sang in public; our music teacher Anita had trained us.”

Joanne-Marie D’Mello performs at Mae de Deus Church, Saligao, Goa, on 30 July 2009 [Uploaded by tambdimati]

“At this time Miss Prisca from Monte-Ville of the pop group Imaginations began teaching me the guitar,” Joanne remembered. “I was tiny and the guitar was huge – I could hardly hold it. I learned to play chords. Later I attended guitar classes at Guirim. Mr Rodney Dias was my tutor, and I progressed a little more. When I was six I took part in the All-Goa Singing Competition organised by the Past Pupil’s Association of Monte de Guirim High School. The song chosen was Somewhere Over the Rainbow, which my mother taught me.”

“My singing was getting noticed,” Joanne continued shyly. “The parish priests chose me to sing the Veronica Chant at the Sixth Passo in Lent for three years in succession. My teacher Anita from Sangolda began giving me violin lessons now. I was then in the sixth standard at school, eleven years old.”

Joe interrupted, “Joanne did all her schooling at Lourdes Convent in Saligao and through her school she participated in the singing competition at Mapuca where she secured the second prize.”

Other details of Joanne-Marie’s training and singing successes have been extensively documented by my friend Daniel D’Souza in Goan dailies and on the Internet, so I will not repeat them here.

Trophies galore

Joanne’s mother proudly showed me a trophy that was recently presented to her daughter by Lourdes Convent. Inscribed on the trophy was the following tribute: “From Lourdes Convent, presented to Joanne D’Mello, for outstanding achievements throughout her school career, by the Management, Headmistress & Staff of Lourdes Convent High School, Saligao, 15th December 2001.” The school had also presented her with a diya (traditional lamp) shaped like a peacock and a shawl, on the same occasion.

Joanne mentioned that she was a great admirer of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, the New Zealand soprano, who sang Handel’s “Let the Bright Seraphim” at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Meanwhile, Joanne’s mother, beaming, continued to show me the various certificates and trophies her daughter had won, and also all the photos and write-ups that had appeared in the press.

Joanne Marie D’Mello is the daughter of Joseph (Joe) D’Mello and Jean Mendonca e D’Mello. Joe works for MPT in Mormugao while Jean is a teacher in Siolim. Jean said, “I am a pucca Sangoddkarn but Joe is a ganvkar of Serula. His forefathers came from Serula in 1897 and settled in Sangolda’s Barro-vaddo.”

Joanne’s paternal grandparents are Dominick D’Mello and Mary D’Mello. They are nicknamed “Goro”, and the nickname is inscribed for posterity on a slab fixed to the pillar of the gate outside their residence. On the maternal side, Joanne is the granddaughter of Antoninho Mendonca and Elizabeth Mendonca, from Bela Vista, Sangolda.

Saligao connection

Her paternal aunt Eliza D’Mello married Carlos Fernandes from Mudd’davaddi in Saligao and his maternal aunt Pamela (Pammie) has married David Fernandes, from Donvaddo in Saligao, whereas Lawrie, the youngest brother of Joe, married Melina Dias from Mudd’davaddi, Saligao.

Joanne’s great-great-grandmother, Eleziana Coutinho, is also from Mudd’davaddi, Saligao. So Joanne has a lot of connections with Saligao too. Joanne’s brother Jovito studies at Monte de Guirim High School and plays the piano.

My visit to the D’Mello residence was a very rewarding experience, and I left wishing Joanne every success in her future undertakings.

As a priest on staff at the Holy Spirit Church in Margao, one of my duties is to visit the parishioners. A few days ago my visits took me to the famous Rua Abade Faria (named for Jose de Custodio de Faria, the colourful and enigmatic son of Goa – a hypnotist, priest and revolutionary). A few minutes of wandering along this street presents a kaleidoscope of some of the oldest, most notable town houses in Goa, typifying Goan domestic architecture of the 18th and 19th centuries and demonstrating a whole range of styles.

Along the length of the street, no two houses are alike. In one of these houses on Rua Abade Faria lives the 94-year-old Lucas Pascoal Joao Fernandes (nicknamed Lozcar), originally from Donvaddo in Saligao. He was born on 18 October 1915. He lives with his wife Leandra Marta D’Souza e Fernandes. She is from Pirazona, Moira. Lucas and Leandra have four daughters: Lafira Edith Fernandes, Loreta Filomena Perpetua Fernandes, Lidia Carlota Fernandes and Leandra Severina Fernandes. Their daughter Loreta lives with them in Margao.

Lucas Pascoal and his family happily welcomed me into the splendid Lourenco House and all of us were nostalgic of our Saligao connections. Lucas asked me if I knew the Casa Lozcar back in Saligao. My affirmative reply triggered a sparkle in his eye and he was then eager to talk with me. I took the opportunity to ask him why his ancestral family had been nicknamed Lozcar.

He nodded and began by unfolding the genealogy of the Fernandes clan. “My grandfather,” he said, “was Lourenco Caetano Fernandes. He had two sons, Lazaro Joao Fernandes and Pedro Xavier Fernandes.  My grandfather owned a shop on Rua Jose Falcao, in Panjim, vending various types of wine. He also bought four houses in Panjim. Two he gave to his eldest son Lazaro, who married Maria Filomena Lobo. The two houses are still standing and Alba Fernandes, who is a spinster, takes care of them. Pedro Xavier Fernandes, my father, sold his two other houses.”

Lucas Pascoal then explained the origin of the nickname: “The loja or shop which grandfather Lourenco Caetano owned at Rua Jose Falcao, close to Panjim Church, was the first one ever owned by a villager from Saligao in the capital city, and it became famous because of a special wine which had a label printed by him and fixed on the bottle and sold as “Vinho Especial do Santo Sacrificio de Missa” (Special Wine of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass). This wine was bought by various churches and chapels to be used for their religious services. His shop in Panjim was known as Lourenco Caetano Fernandes e Filho. His customers nicknamed it “Lozcar” (from loja meaning shop and car meaning possessor; he wrote it as old Konkani, nowadays we would say LOZKAR). He obviously liked the name and imprinted it on the fence of his ancestral house in Donvaddo, Saligao, almost two centuries ago.”

Lucas Pascoal continued telling me about his ancestors: “My grandfather’s son Pedro Xavier Fernandes married Maria Isabel Filomena Lobo from Aldona. They had the following children: Ida Berta Fernandes, Tome Caetano Climaco Mae de Deus Fernandes, Santana Francisco (Frank) Fernandes, myself [Lucas Pascoal], Georgina Laura Fernandes and Maria Carlota Fernandes (who lives in Aldona).”

Though in his nineties, Lucas Pascoal remembers the people of Saligao and facts about the village very well. I was happy to meet him and thanked him for all the information he shared with me. In fact, when I was based at the Panjim church, I had known his brother Frank quite well. Frank and his wife Alcina owned two shops, one in Panjim and the other in Margao, both specialising in selling spectacles. The Panjim shop was known as Frank and Co. and was a partnership, located very near the church. The one in Margao was sold and is now known as Optica.    

Both Lucas as well as Frank would came to Saligao for the feasts of Mae de Deus and Saint Anne and took the opportunity to visit their relatives such as Martinho Cordeiro, Dolly and others at Arrarim and also their cousin Carlotina, who used to live in the ancestral Casa Lozcar in Donvaddo. Today the Lozcar house in Saligao has Italian residents, but they have kept the name Casa Lozcar intact on the fence, as it always has been all these years.

Tabravaddo, a ward in Saligao located in the north eastern portion of the village, was known in the pre-Portuguese era as Oddleam Maddachem Bhatt or Lamb Maddachem Bhatt. The name was changed to Tavoravaddo, some time in the early 18th century, because it was home to the growing clan of the family that used the name Tavora. There is a good possibility that the first Hindu member of the family—probably Sinai Salgaokar—converted to Christianity and was baptised during the reign of viceroy Rui Lourenco Tavora (1609-12). The surname of the viceroy, Tavora, must have been given to that first member of the clan during baptism, as was the custom prevailing at that time. The name Tavoravaddo in all likelihood got corrupted to the current Tabravaddo over time.

In the souvenir of the centenary celebrations of Mae de Deus Church in 1973, the noted and meticulous church historian Monsenhor Canon Francisco Xavier Gomes Catao wrote: “When D. Francisco de Tavora, third Marquis of Tavora (Portugal) and sixth Count of Sao Joao, who was Viceroy of India (1750-1754), and his wife Dona Leonor da Tavora were accused of having been promoters of the conspiracy against the life of D.Jose 1, King of Portugal, they were sentenced to be executed and all their belongings confiscated. The sentence was published on January 12, 1759. This sentence further declared that no one of whatever rank or condition may be henceforth allowed to use his surname TAVORA under the penalty of losing all his properties to the Exchequer and Royal Camara, and expulsion from the kingdoms and dominions of Portugal and loss of all the privileges which they enjoy as their natives .Consequently the Tavoras of Saligao changed their surname into Remedios and perhaps into other surnames. Hence I am of the opinion that the ward Tabravaddo must be Tavora-vaddo.”

The Tavora families in Saligao, belonging to the fourth vangodd (clan) of the Saligao Communidade, who had registered under the surname Tavora in the 1757 triennial, changed their surname, on 6 November 1759, to Remedios. This was apparently more out of fear than anything else. They then registered as Remedios in the 1760 triennial. [See “What’s in the Tavora name?”]

In the Chronological Record of the Diocesan Clergy of Saligao, a name of a lady from Saligao as Elena de Tavora, wife of Aleixo Pinto and mother of Fr. Francisco Pinto, a priest of the first half of the 18th century (1725) is recorded. This proves that the Tavoras already existed in Saligao, in the 18th century (if not before), in the ward Tavoravaddo.

Tabravaddo and Mollembhatt, including the present Aquem-Mollembhatt, go as one ward when it comes to religious and social functions. In days gone by, when farming combined with animal husbandry was the main occupation of the people of the ward, they used to sow paddy during the monsoons, and grow sweet potatoes, okra, tomatoes, snake gourds, onions, chilies, beans (ossande), etc, during the rest of the year. The produce was sold at weekly markets in Siolim, Mapusa and Calangute, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays respectively.

Sugarcane was also grown in some of the fields in Tabravaddo, i.e. Pattean, Palvan, Costa-Bhatt and Valkean. For the sake of cultivation, sugarcane was first brought from Sadashivgad, Kharepattan and Shivgad across the ghats. However, the sugarcane crop left the soil in an impoverished condition and hence the villagers resorted to rotation of the crops; they generally did not allow the land to lie fallow, yet enabled it to recoup its fertility. Cereals were planted alternately, as the nitrate formed at the roots of the plants helped in enriching the soil. The farmers worked in groups, helping one another in their agricultural operations.

Fondeacho Patto or Congotte or Vitolacho Patto, Addulem Bhatt, Dakhtem Bhatt, Odlem Batta, Palmar Tabravaddo or Oile (Oddle) Madd, Collinchem Bhatt, Tembrem, Gottonga and Paloum are some of the properties in Tabravaddo.

Idinha Remedios from Tabravaddo remembers the ruins of an arch which was known as Bhottangelem Arch (arch of Hindu priests) which was situated opposite the house of Fr. Marcelino Remedios, former editor of the now defunct Udentichem Noketr in Mumbai. The bhotts or Hindu priests lived here and most of the houses belonged to them before the arrival of Tavoras. The well situated near the Tabravaddo Cross was earlier known as Bhottangeli baim, which exists till date, and is a meeting place where villagers ofhen gather in the evenings for a tête-à-tête.

The Tabravaddo Cross was commonly known as “Remedincho Khuris”. There was a membership fee and an annual subscription, open not only to Remedios families but to others too. The annual fee was discontinued some years ago and the maintenance and funds for the cross upkeep were ably handled by Joaquim Vaz and Paul Remedios. The present committee under the leadership of Eulalia Remedios is doing a good job of maintaining the cross and conducting religious activities. The cross feast is preceded by daily recitation of the rosary near the cross during the month of May. A mass is offered for the souls of the departed members. Teodolina Pinto has constructed an enclosure with a tin canopy for the cross. Chairs and other paraphernalia donated by benefactors are used during various religious meetings held periodically in the ward.

Some of the prominent personalities from the ward include Prof Jose Patrocinio de Souza, historian and co-author of the book “Saligao: Focus on a Picturesque Goan Village”; Prof C D Pinto, eminent educationist; Dr Noel de Souza, former Deputy Head of Hoechst Research Centre in Mumbai; Dr Otto Remedios, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Lorna Cordeiro, renowned singer; and, Shembu Bandekar, MLA, former Dy-Speaker of Goa Assembly  

Tabravaddo has contributed its share to the priestly and religious vocation. The priests and nuns from the ward are: Fr Andre dos Remedios, Fr Benedito Matias dos Remedios, Fr Caetano Luis dos Remedios, Fr Jose Avelino dos Remedios, Fr Jose Francisco dos Remedios (he was Dean of Damao Grande and Vice-Rector of Seminario de Damao and also Chaplain of St. Anne from 1908 to 1932), Fr Naziazeno Jose Avelino dos Remedios (Padre Victor), Fr Jose Marcelino dos Remedios, Fr Nascimento Mascarenhas, Sr Angeline (nee Maria Angelica Machado), former Provincial of the Congregation of the Holy Cross Sisters, Amravati.

Musicians from Tabravaddo-Mollembhatt:

• Caetano Rosario Remedios – Violinist
• Tito Remedios – Violinist
• Jose Cordeiro – Violinist
• Salvador Cordeiro – Violinist
• Master Lawrence de Souza – Violinist
• Caetano Trindade – Clarinet
• Cassiano Cordeiro – Pianist
• Anselmo Mascarenhas – Violinist and music teacher
• Avelino Remedios – Vocalist
• Inacinho Remedios – Violinist
• Francisco Xavier Remedios – Pianist
• Ronnie Cordeiro – Pianist
• Dr. Otto Remedios – Pianist
• Francisco Xavier Remedios – Double Bass
• Imira Remedios – Violinist and composer
• Fr. Nascimento Mascarenhas – Vocalist and composer

During our younger days local lads such as Joao Remedios, Alex Mascarenhas,  Porfirio Remedios, Michael Mascarenhas, Americo Remedios, Philip Remedios, backed by elders, put up ‘tiatrs’ in the wards, which drew quite a large crowd. Plays in Konkani, such as Kaitanacho Dis, Mortikarak Suttka Nam, etc, were all pretty good. The band under the leadership of George D’Gama (Cotula) provided accompaniment for the many songs.

Other personalities from the ward are: Sarpanch – Joaquim Vaz and Mary Fernandes; Panch – Ermin Mascarenhas, Lucas Remedios and Bola; Mario & Muriel Mascarenhas (journalists and social activists); Tony Remedios – President of Saligao Sporting Club; Presidents of Saligao Union Bombay – Peter C de Souza (1953-54), P P Remedios (1971-73) and Cajetan F Matias (1980-81); Presidents of the Saligao Civic Forum – Americo Remedios and Lawrence Nazareth.

SOCCER: Dominick Soares (Cotula/Tabravaddo), Francis de Souza (Arrarim/Tabravaddo), Romeo Remedios, Edvin de Melo, Joe Remedios, Damiao Remedios, Jimmy Remedios, Jimmy Machado, Tony Remedios, John Machado, Luis Cordeiro, Afonso D’Souza, Angelo Remedios, Mericio Remedios, Bernardo Cunha, Ut’tom, Porfirio Remedios, Seby Mascarenhas, and Melvyn D’Souza (international referee).

CRICKET & HOCKEY: Philip & Americo Remedios, Benny Cordeiro

TABLE TENNIS: Antonio Jose Cordeiro

BOXING: Johnny Cordeiro and Vicente D’Souza

N.B. By oversight, we might have omitted some names. Kindly help us to make this list as complete as possible.

Before the Gomes’ house at Mapuça was demolished, I was fortunate to visit it. A relative of the family whom I knew as a youngster once took me there on a visit. We were ushered into the dining hall, the seat of Goan hospitality, and served coffee and dos. In such families, close friends are greeted with a kiss on each cheek, Latin style. The stranger is greeted with a warm handclasp. A flow of Portuguese, the old court language, follows.

The compact Gomes’ house at Mapuça is the ancestral house of Monsenhor Francisco Xavier Gomes Catão, a noted and meticulous Goan church historian. It was constructed from stones taken from the fortresses of Tivim and Colvale. As the first Goan commandant of Mapuça, Captain Gomes (Monsignor Catão’s forefather) apparently had ready access to such building material.

I recollect that when I was a student at the Seminary of Our Lady, Saligao-Pilerne, Monsenhor Francisco, who was our Professor, summoned me one fine evening in 1957. He inquired if I knew his niece who was married to a gentleman from Donvaddo in Saligao. I replied that I did indeed know the Fernandes family she had married into, and informed him that the family was known by the nickname Razamger. Then Mons. Catão related how he came by his curious surname (the original one being Gomes). His father was nicknamed fatão (the shrewd one) by the Portuguese, and thought it worth his while to retain this appellation. But he took the odium out of it by changing the first letter F to C.

In the 1950s the Noronha family from Neura came to settle down temporarily in Donvaddo. Fernando Noronha, a member of that revered family, sought admission at Mater Dei Institution. He was my brother’s classmate, and I too knew him then. Here is little story about the Noronhas:

“Perched on a rock in the rich farmland of Neura is Abelio Noronha’s stately mansion. The verandah provides the visitor with a breathtaking view of the lush green paddy fields stretching to the distant hills. Carved doors lead to the salon. The ivory-coloured ceiling has a rectangular floral border carved out of ebony—a symphony in white and black. Two lovely brass lamps hang from the ceiling. Of the rosewood furniture one sofa alone had been valued at Rs 18,000 in 1980. Blue china plates adorn the walls. The Noronhas trace their ancestry to the Kamat brothers of Kashmir, early converts to Christianity.”

Mons. Canon Castilho de Noronha was a member of the Portuguese parliament in Lisbon for three consecutive terms. The road from Neura to Old Goa is named after this priest-politician. Another ancestor, Romulo Salvador Noronha, was the famous lawyer of his day and a Mayor of Panjim. Once on a visit to the Noronha’s house in Donvaddo I had a chance to meet Monsenhor Canon Castilho de Noronha, Professor of Rachol Seminary, journalist and ‘Deputado da Nação’ or Parliamentarian at Lisbon. He was an erudite personality but was of short stature.

The Lozkar house at Donvaddo is now the prized possession of an Italian gentleman named Alexandro. He has kept the outer part of the old house and the nickname fixed to the fence as it was before, but has made changes to the internal structure and added some small rooms and a vast sitting room to entertain his friends. Alexandro is a keen reader of anything on Goa. Once I was invited by him to give an informal talk on the history of Saligao and its wards, its folklore and culture. He called a few of his friends to listen to me.   As I knew the Lozkar family from Donvaddo quite well I explained to them why the family of Carlotina and Frank Fernandes (he sold spectacles in Panjim and his shop was known as Frank Opticians, a joint enterprise) called their household “Lozkar”.  Many families in Saligao are known by their nicknames in addition to their names and surnames.  One of the guests asked me what my nickname was. I told them it was “Moskon”.

My friend Salvador Mascarenhas and I were now on the last leg of our walk through the vaddo (ward) of Cotula in Saligao. Close to the former house of the Gama rose family that I wrote about earlier, is the house of Dr Raimundo da Gama and Camila Mariana Tereza da Gama. Dr Raimundo da Gama had a sizable clientele in Coimbra, Portugal. Nearby is the residence of Celly and  Gil Coelho’s large mansion. He was headmaster of various English high schools in Goa. In its proximity is the house of Annie Pinto whose daughter, Sr. Mary Jane, née Rita Pinto, was twice Mother General of Holy Family of Nazareth Congregation of Sancoale, Salcete.

Behind her house is the Krist Raj Bhavan (home for male senior citizens) established in September and run by FMCK nuns. Adjacent to it lies the stately house of the world-famous ophthalmologist Dr. Cláudio Raimundo da Gama Pinto, who has to his credit an Institute of Ophthalmology named after him in Lisbon, Portugal. At his birth centenary, the Portuguese Government brought out two stamps, one light brown and green in colour of 2 reis and another black and white of 3 reis entitled Republica Portuguesa 1853-1953 Gama Pinto, Correios, Estado da India. A road was named after him in Panjim and there is also an avenue named Avenida Professor Gama Pinto in Lisbon.

In 1978, on the 31^st of August, a tribute to Dr Gama Pinto was organized by ophthalmologists from Portugal and Goa at the Saligao Institute in Arrarim. After the session the eminent ophthalmologists went to Dr Gama Pinto’s ancestral house in Cotula, and at the hands of Prof. Dr J Ribeiro da Silva from Lisbon, a commemorative tablet inscribed in Portuguese was placed therein.  Its English translation is “The Great Ophthalmologist Prof. Cláudio Caetano António Júlio Raimundo de Gama Pinto was born here on 30^th April 1853.  Where a group of eminent Ophthalmologists from Portugal have gathered to pay their homage to the great Master who so honoured Portugal as well as his birth place Goa with the extraordinary contribution to the eye surgery placing a tablet offered by the Association of Ophthalmologists of India represented by its branch in Goa to commemorate the homage”.

I have written a book on Dr Gama Pinto, published in November 2002 and titled “A Paean to an Ophthalmologist: Prof. Dr. Gama Pinto”. Dr. Cláudio da Gama Pinto was born in Saligao (Cotula) on 30^th April 1853 and died in Lisbon on 26^th July, 1945 aged 92 years.  His parents were Francisco Salvador Pinto, leader of the old Progressive Party of the Council of Bardez and the first President of the Bardez Municipality and of Camila Mariàna Tereza da Gama.

Affectionately called Salu Pinto, Dr Claudio’s father was undoubtedly the greatest single benefactor of our village of Saligao.  It was he, practically single handedly, who gave us our beautiful church, of which every son and daughter of Saligao may be justly proud.

Next to the house of Gama Pinto is the house of Vitinho Mendonça. His son Lino Mendonça lives there along with his wife. Opposite their house, across the internal road, is Lynn (Ismael) da Gama’s house, who rose to be the President of the Central Council of Goa of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, as well as the Chairman of the Confraternity (now Association) of Our Lady of Victory in Saligao Church. For several years he ran the affairs of this Association with great responsibility. Dominic Soares from Cotula married Tereza da Gama, Lynn’s sister. Dominic Soares is one of the talented footballers of Goa, and represented Vasco Club. He now resides with his family at Tabravaddo on St. Anne’s Road running from Aula to Sangolda. 

Then there is the house of Sr. Celine Coelho. She too had been the Mother General of FMCK nuns. Her brother Cyril Coelho is also a dedicated social worker. Next comes the house of Napolean Vaz, who was for a long time in charge of the Church Committee and who freely shared his knowledge about church affairs with all.

Finally, a word on Mae de Deus House for senior lady citizens in Cotula. Mr & Mrs Luis Mendonça, to comply with the last request of their dear departed youngest daughter Dr. Lila Mendonça, herself a Holy Cross nun, bequeathed their ancestral home to the Holy Cross Society. It so happened that Holy Cross Society, due to unforeseen circumstances, were unable to undertake the task of caring for the aged.  They requested the FMCK Regional Superior to consider the matter and offered her the house together with a handsome donation.  In November 1973 the Home was opened, inaugurated and blessed by an illustrious grandson of Saligao, Archbishop Eugene D’Souza. A dream had been translated into reality and three Franciscans Missionaries of Christ the King took charge of the House with 19 women on the roll. This Home came into existence due to the tireless efforts put in by the late Fr. Albert Saldanha (Arrarim), President of the Committee of the Centenary Celebrations of Saligao Church (1873-1973).

In this walk through Cotula we may have missed some prominent personalities. We ask for their forgiveness, but would appreciate if their details are inserted here by someone (via comments) to make this walk a truly memorable event for anyone else embarking on it.

As my friend Salvador Mascarenhas and I continued to walk through the vaddo (ward) of Cotula in Saligao, we found ourselves at the house of the late Sebastian Pinto. He was an Africander, a social worker, and always smiling. Opposite is Amanda Lopes e Souza’s residence—she is now in Portugal. She was a good pianist and a very amiable character. She was senior to us at Mater Dei, and we were also acquainted with her brother Jerry, and Gloria.

At this point is the road that leads to Saligao church and beyond. Being tired, we took a break under the shelter of the house of our friend Dominic Andrade. I informed them that besides Lourdes Convent, Cotula had several schools teaching Latin and Portuguese in olden times. The first school to be set up in this ward was that of Padre Mesre André Soares from Salém, Salvador do Mundo.  He was authorized to teach by a provision dated 26-08-1751. He was a master in Latin. There was a boys’ school, teaching Portuguese and ‘latinidade’ conducted by Fr. Lazaro de Souza. It was fondly known as Pe. Ladru’s school. It was one of the four Government Public Schools. It owed its existence to Mr. José da Gama, who generously offered free plots on which a large building was erected in Cotula. This building has since been demolished and private houses have come up on the premises. In an annexe, primary classes in Portuguese used to be conducted by Antoninho Cordeiro, around the beginning of the twentieth century. Another Latin and Portuguese school in this ward was that of Father Caetano Maria Anacleto Rodrigues.

There was also a Music School where José Luis Rodrigues conducted music classes. Another school in Cotula was the Anglo-Portuguese School founded in 1894 by Francisco Xavier de Mendonça and Diogo Miguel de Sousa, assisted by Leopoldina Pinto. Saligao had some other schools in other wards too. The present Lourdes Convent High School was started in Cotula in 1946 by the Franciscan Sisters of Christ the King (FMCK). Mother Bridget Sequeira, who founded the FMCK Order in Karachi was a native of Sonarbhatt in Saligao. She sailed from Karachi with three sisters at the request of a gentleman from Saligao and arrived in Goa on 13 May 1946. They arrived at a house in Cotula which would be called the Lourdes Convent in future. It was in the residence of an elderly lady and her two daughters where they started an English school with 30 pupils. It was a large private mansion from where later on the school was shifted to other private residences in Arrarim. The nuns now have their own modern one-storied imposing structure amidst pleasant surroundings on a hillock of Donvaddo in the proximity of Sonarbhatt. This convent cum school was built in three stages and finally completed in 1968.

 While resting outside Dominic Andrade’s house we glanced at the western side of the ward and noticed a school conducting classes in English by the “Believers”. Nearby, there was the house of Servulo whom we affectionately called Sevo and who is no more.

 Earlier, there was a “domestic arts” school at this spot. Girls so inclined could learn needlework, embroidery, dressmaking, dancing and music. Gender roles were obviously very well-defined in those days! In these schools, elements of reading and writing were also taught, but the emphasis was on domestic arts.   Eslinda de Souza, who conducted combined classes for dress-making and painting, lived in this part of Cotula.

 Next we saw the house of Archibald Serrao. He was our Maths teacher at Mater Dei Institute. Later on he taught the same subjects at Lourdes Convent.   He was also famous for arranging football matches in the village as well as at Mater Dei. He took utmost care of the football players, and always encouraged them.

 At the far end of this part of Cotula is the house of late Damasceno Dantas, who used to conduct the daily rosary in the church, and always seemed to be cheerful and happy. His brother, Pascoal João (Paul) Dantas, was a leader at Mater Dei School.  He now lives in the US, but does visit Saligao – I remember that Pascoal and his wife were once presidents of the Saligao feast.

 The former house of the Gama Rose family is also in Cotula. The famous journalist of yesteryear, Leopoldo da Gama was born in that house. He received his first education in one of the Portuguese schools in Cotula. He contributed his writings in Portuguese to a number of journals and newspapers in Goa and was the editor of some of them. Here is an interesting incident in his life:

“Provocation came on a sweltering day in May. Under a blazing noonday sun, a young man was stripped to the waist and publicly flogged half to death for ‘raising his hand’ at a Portuguese official. On the following Sunday, Leopoldo da Gama’s column was titled ‘A Call to Arms’.  It was an impassioned plea for violent revolution. The same night four of the most powerful men in Goa met in the imposing palace on the cliffs of Dona Paula: the Governor, the Public Prosecutor, the Chief of Constabulary and the Commander of the Panjim garrison. The Governor sought the legal view.  ‘Treason’ said the Public Prosecutor succinctly.  Leopoldo da Gama is to be arrested tomorrow. A mundkar brought the news early in the morning to Dona Carlota da Gama that her son Leopoldo would be arrested that morning.  Leopoldo da Gama saved himself from a fate worse than death by hiding beneath his mother’s skirt. The Captain arrived at Dona Carlota’s house and gave her the message ‘I have a warrant for the arrest of Leopoldo da Gama, on a charge of high treason with written permission from the Chief of Constables to search your house. ‘My son’ Dona Carlota said, lying with great conviction, ‘left yesterday morning for Margao,’ and remained unfazed in the porch without moving. The Captain and the rest of his men began to hunt for Leopoldo.  They peered into cupboards, looked under beds and tables, went up to the loft, in frustration attacked the haystack with unnecessary violence.  They searched even the chapel and also the well and the wash-room. But they did not find Leopoldo anywhere. They left the house, the mundkars rushed to announce that the troops had already reached the Porvorim hill. ‘You can come out now…’  Leopoldo emerged.  His expression made it clear that he had begun to appreciate the hazards of crusading journalism. They made Leopoldo strip, smeared him from top to toe with coconut oil, over which they rubbed in black kitchen soot. Unrecognizable, he was given trousers and shirts, a blanket, a staff and a packet of food and some money. There were tearful farewells. He could never return to Goa. Then, living off the land he walked all the way to Bombay, four hundred miles to the north, there to become the popular General Manager of the very British Royal Yacht Club.” 

After many years he did return to Goa at Penha de França where he died on 28 April, 1929 and his mortal remains lay buried in the parish cemetery. He was the son of Luis António da Gama from Saligao, a top judge, and of Carlota Joaquina Gonsalves (Penha de França). Their house in Saligao has since been bought by some rich gentleman.

As my friend Salvador Mascarenhas and I continued walking through the Cotula ward of Saligao, we noticed the Bank of India branch, which has been serving the industrious people of Saligao since the sixties. Moving further we noticed a hair-cutting saloon. In days gone by Madulo the barber used to operate from this small house. In addition to giving his customers a haircut, Madulo, who seemed to know more than the TV news channels of today, would update anyone who cared to listen on current events and day-to-day happenings in the village and other parts of Goa. This saloon is now run by a different person, whereas Madulo’s son, who is working overseas, has his saloon in the supermarket building at Mudd’davaddi, near Marque’s private chapel of St. Jerome.

As we proceeded ahead we noticed the old Patrocinio Vaz e Irmãos bar.  Patrocinio, who was commonly known as Patru, had two brothers, João and José Vaz. Next to this bar, there used to be the Casa Tipri shop selling various household articles, but this has shifted to the locality of the new tinto (market). In its proximity there was the old tinto. In fact at that time, prior to Casa Tipri, the premises was known as Pakleachi Garage, which was later on converted into the shop run by Ornelas Souza Tipri. He was also correspondent and local reporter for The Navhind Times.

We then passed the house of late Dr Avelino Carvalho, a household name in the Saligao of our times. His father, Teodomiro Carvalho also was a doctor.  Dr Avelino practised out of his spacious house and also rode his bicycle to make house calls. He always wore a bush-shirt and later on moved around in his car. He was our family doctor.  For a while he was the regedor of Saligao during the Portuguese regime and resolved some minor cases and problems of the villagers. He had a brother named Aires Emericano Neves Carvalho, who was a pharmacist.

Nearby we spotted the large mansion of Victor da Gama, the famous vocalist and violinist. In the souvenir published after the Mãe de Deus Church Centenary Celebrations, he has written a detailed account on the music and musicians of Saligao until 1973, including a ward-wise list of musicians. His son Vasco da Gama is known to all.  Events and people he meets and speaks to are reported by him to all as he walks the roads and narrow lanes of Saligao. At this point there is a historical lane which begins from Nagoa and passes through Grande Morod, Cotula, Mudd’davaddi, Tabra-vaddo, and, after going through Aquem Mollebhatt, ends at the Aquem spring. This fountain was famous for its medicinal properties, especially for ailments of the eyes. However, this lane at present is blocked by compound walls and the spring is in ruins and not used by people and almost forgotten. Nevertheless, the lane divides the interior of Cotula into two. This spot was known as Pompar, where the caminhão (bus) would stop to pick up passengers while other alighted after their journeys to Mapuça or Calangute. There also used to be a tavern known as Irmanvlem dukhon or brother’s liquor shop. I knew the sons of this house, Philip and Jack Fernandes. Philip was an ace footballer. Jack and his wife Angela have three children, two of whom are nuns – Sr Mary Antoinette and Sr Marina – while the third, Mathias, works with a newspaper in Mumbai. 

Continuing our walk we noticed the house of one of the Freedom Fighters of Saligao – Mr. Coelho. We then saw the house of Celine and Milena. Both of us remembered Celine, a devout, helpful and loving person, who had prepared both Salvador and me for first holy communion. We noticed the house of Ramiro Rodrigues who had a Grundig Radio, a very rare commodity in the 1950s. Then we came across the house of Armando de Souza, Managing Director of Evans Electric Pvt Ltd, independent India’s very first electrical repair company, based in Mumbai. He did celebrate the feast of Mãe de Deus some time ago, and I had the pleasure of raising the toast on that occasion.  When Saligao Union, Mumbai, celebrated its Golden Jubilee (1936-1986), Armando wrote an exhaustive article entitled “Men, Matters and Memories” in the booklet “Saligao” brought out on that occasion.

He has handed over his property to the FMCK Sisters of Mãe de Deus Home, Saligao, who take care of the senior citizen lady inmates, which is a memorial of the Centenary Celebrations of Saligao Church, 1973. A little further the same Congregation has also a senior citizens home, Krist Raj Bhavan for men.  The sisters also run a dispensary catering to the sick of Saligao, maintained by Saligao Union Mumbai. It is financed by the members of the Saligao Union in Mumbai. The sisters nurse the patients and also take care of the administration of the dispensary.

We came across the house of our schoolmates at Mater Dei, Bosco and Adolph Mendonca. Bosco had an aunt, Sister Jessie Mendonca FDCC, a Canossian nun, daughter of Crispino and Vilhelmina Mendonca.  On returning to Goa Sister Jessie opened a new Convent of her Congregation in Arpora in 1971-72 and became its first Superior. At the time of my open-heart surgery in Belgaum in 2003, I met Sr. Jessie who was then superior of the Canossa Convent in Belgaum. Sr. Jessie informed me that there were three more Canossian sisters from Saligao: one was Mother Amelia Menezes from Pequeno Morod, the other Mother Adeline Cordeiro from Arrarim and the third was the young nun Sr. J Mendonca, daughter of Bosco and Candy Mendonca.

In the vicinity of the senior citizens’ home is the house of the famous Saldanha family. Gracias Saldanha founded Glenmark Pharmaceuticals in 1977. Today Glenmark is one of the leading pharma companies in India, and his son Glenn Saldanha serves as its Managing Director & CEO. Here a new tarred road runs through the interior of the ward and connects to another road which leads to the Saligao church. We debated whether we should explore the interiors of Kotula further, but we decided to turn back.

We spotted the house of Dr Wilfred D’Souza, the former MLA of Saligao and also one-time Chief Minister of Goa. On the way back I mentioned to Salvador about the e-mail post of Dr. Nandakumar Kamat regarding our village. He had written: “Saligao falls on the ancient horse trade route linking Chapora-Anjuna ancient port area to Mapuca where Dr. Gune had discovered a Roman amphora indicating Roman trade contacts with the then deep and navigable Mapuca river.” In no time we landed back at the spot known as Pompar and a lane going inwards into beautiful Kotula. Having passed the lane we came to the house of lambu (tall) Lourenco Monteiro and his sisters Flory, Afra and Hilda.  They had twin brothers. We remembered only one, Silvester Monteiro, affectionately called Silu. Opposite we found Lenny and Austin D’Gama’s house. Lenny D’Gama is involved with boxing, training and managing the All Goa Boxing Association. Austin D’Gama is a civil contractor.

Beside Lambu Monteiro’s house lies Rofino Moniz’s residence – his eldest sister was a freedom fighter. Rofino Moniz founded in 1965 a pharmaceutical establishment for the sale of drugs and medicines for both allopathic and ayurvedic treatment of disease.  He was the representative and sole distributor in Goa for Laboratories Richelet, France, Vibro Pharma Pvt. Ltd. and Indian Health Laboratory Institute. He was also President of the Saligao Communidade. I remembered that Rofino informed us about the Dantas zonkars of Kotula who used to come from Sawantwadi in Sindhudurg and other places in this district to the Saligao Communidade to collect their zon, the yearly dividend.

We then met with our Fonddekar colleague, Luis Domingos Dias, who had his house here. Luis was one of the best choir singers if our church. He still sings in the choir. His house was purchased by Santana Monserrate, who was in the Royal British Navy.  Then we noticed Bostu Randpin’s residence.  She was a very good cook and mother of late Francisco who used to play football with us.

Then we came across a vau (small stream). In its proximity lies the house of Jacob, whose sons are just two, Luis and Savio, unlike the Biblical Jacob’s 12 sons. Then comes Feliciano da Gama’s house, a fine double-bass player. One of his sons, George D’Gama, still plays for the Saligao church choir. George learnt the violin from Anselmo Mascarenhas, my paternal uncle from Tabro-vaddo Mollebhatt. George also plays the organ and trains youngsters of Saligao to read music and play various musical instruments.

Talking about musicians, Cotula has had many well-known musicians in the past, such as Cincinacio Cordeiro – violinist; Nicholas Mendonca – violinist; António João da Gama – pianist; Ligório de Souza – pianist; Sebastião José Mendonca – pianist; Pascoal Saldanha – clarinetist; Caetano Saldanha – trumpeter; Gabriel Saldanha – violinist; António Saldanha – trombonist, and Manuel José Coelho – trumpeter.

At this point there is a house belonging to another Monteiro family. Next is the residence of our friend Geraldo D’Costa. Then comes the residence of Fr João António Jacinto da Costa. He is the son of Peregrino Aleixo da Costa and Maria Candida Fernandes.  They daughter, named Dr Rosa Maria Laurencia da Costa, is a nun known as Sr. Margarita of Mission Sisters of Ajmer.  Fr João da Costa is the oldest living priest from Saligao. He is the author of a book titled ‘A History of Goa’, printed by Ramakant Printers in Mapuca in 1982. There are quite a number of priests from Cotula. We shall speak of them at some other time, in another place.