The scholar priest kept such a low profile and was so unassuming that when he was awarded the Padma Shri in 2012 by the Indian Government, it almost went unnoticed, at first. The accolades, when they later came, poured in for the man who can be described as a genius.
Goa was still a Portuguese colony when Dr Pereira, who hails from Curtorim, was born in 1931 and went on to study Sanskrit in Bombay and obtain a PhD in Ancient Indian History and Culture. From there he went on to New York and was professor of theology at the Fordham University, New York. Dr Pereira was a polyglot and knew over 13 languages.
He has written extensively and authored 14 books and various research papers. His works include Hindu Theology (New York 1976), Monolithic Jinas (New Delhi, 1977), Konkani Mandakini (an anthology of writings), Golden Goa’s Art (Marg Publications, Bombay) etc. His contribution to the scholarly understanding of Konkani as an independent language which has descended from Sanskrit is valuable.
The news of Dr Pereira’s death reached Goa and by mid afternoon tributes were being uploaded on Goan fora and discussion platforms.
“He can be described with many epithets: researcher, author of books on art and architecture, musicologist, linguist. But in his heart, the greatest passion has always been his painting. The themes on his canvasses range from the crucified Christ, to a self-portrait, to classical themes of Hindu art,” is how Prof Isabel Santa Rita Vas described him in a profile written some years ago.
Among Dr Pereira’s many friends and admirers were Dr Maria Aurora and the late Alban Couto. Speaking to Herald Dr Maria Aurora Couto said, “I treasure the memory of Jose’s sensitive, deep affection and loyalty, his phenomenal memory, his passion and love of family and Goa and above all his uncompromising genius. I smile when I remember his wicked sense of humour and utter disregard of all that matters in the pursuit of life of the mind. I have been blessed by his friendship and the many illuminating conversations I have had. Alban and he connected intellectually and emotionally since they were students. It was a special relationship sustained and deepened to the end of their lives.”
Another admirer of Dr Pereira was Dr Francisco Colaco. “What I most admired in him was that he was a real ‘savant’ with encyclopedic knowledge. But I was even more fascinated with his knowledge of various religions and the respect in which he held them all. Especially, as far as the Hindu religion was concerned, his knowledge was deep, broad and well-substantiated.”
During his last visit to Goa, Dr Pereira exhibited some of his works, at the Xavier Centre of Historical Research, entitled “Epiphanies of the Hindu Gods”. The exhibition attracted some controversy as some groups objected to the depiction of gods in the nude form. Though he defended his art by quoting from the scriptures, the exhibition closed down early.
Some of his best work as an artist can be seen at the Chapel of St Joaquim, in Borda, Margao, where he painted frescoes in the 1990s during his holidays in Goa.
“The level of sheer scholarship is unusual, especially in our times. The amazing polymathic curiosity – spanning languages, cultures, religions – is inimitable. His published works are so many that a simple listing fills six dense pages. Their breadth is enough to encompass 16 separate categories, ranging from Theology & Philosophy: Buddhist to Language and Literature: Sanskrit. In between is a lifetime that has included lots of serious art,” wrote art critic Vivek Menezes about Dr Pereira.
Dr Pereira’s last published work was on the Mando – ‘Song of Goa, Crown of Mandos’ at the release of which Colaco had spoken. “Whenever we met we used to argue a lot about the Mando. I would proudly tell him that in recent times there has been a true revival of Mando in Goa. He contradicted politely but firmly, asserting that the Mando was a ‘thing of the past’, the product of a certain era that had gone by, never to return. There could be no ‘revivência’ (revival), he would vouch,” said Dr Colaco.
In his death, Goa has lost one of its most brilliant minds, a man who towered over his contemporaries, yet was humble enough to always remain in the shadows.
