Back in 2008, a peace concert was visualised by the Pilar Seminary in Nagpur. The seminarians and the priests decided to write original songs related to peace and harmony for the concert. Unfortunately, just two months before the concert, Goan priest, Fr Elvis Fernandes, suffered a rupture of the Achilles tendon of his left leg, confining him to the bed. It was at the time and place that Fr Elvis wrote and composed a heart-touching Hindi-English song with just two verses and a chorus, ‘Give Peace a Chance’, a song that remained with him for almost a decade and half.
Back in Goa, Fr Elvis Hilton Fernandes is a member of the Society of Pilar, an indigenous religious congregation, founded in Goa. He is the convenor of Sadbhav, an endeavour for fostering interfaith relations and communal harmony, and has been involved in interfaith education in schools and colleges. He has been a seminary educator for over a decade and has been focusing on human formation of the seminarians. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Hindustani Music and a Master’s degree in Clinical psychology from the Nagpur University. He was awarded a PhD in Counselling Psychology (Clinical) by De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines, for his research on Signature Strengths and Well-being. He conducts psycho-educational programmes and provides counselling and psychotherapy services to foster mental health and wellbeing. He is actively engaged in the print and electronic media and is the editor of ‘Fr Agnel’s Call’, a monthly mission and youth magazine of the Society of Pilar.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Fr Elvis explains the origins of the song, “I was already a priest and serving as a seminary educator in Nagpur. Here I had the opportunity to complete my BA in Hindustani Music (vocals). As a seminarian I completed my Bachelors in Arts degree from Allahabad University where I had Hindi Literature as one of my subjects. The Hindustani Music and studies in Hindi literature influenced and led me in writing and composing this song in Hindi.”
During the pandemic, when the world was going through a turmoil, Fr Elvis thought of making a video of this song so that it could reach a wider audience through the visuals. “There were several conflicts and wars going on among nations and I was also involved in interfaith education in schools and colleges. I felt that a video of this song, on the theme of peace and harmony, had to be made and the message sent across the globe,” says Fr Elvis.
Speaking about getting the song ready for a video, Fr Elvis had to get more creative minds together. “I communicated this idea to Joe Fernandes (JSF), who is based in London, he was excited about this project. He enthusiastically arranged the additional music and we got the project going. Mukesh Ghatwal, a well-known singer and musician; Naisa Lotlekar an actress, singer and songwriter; and I sang the song. The video was shot at Sinquerim, Carambolim Lake, St Estevam and Jesus and Mary Sarvajanik High School, Carambolim.”
The vocalists include Mukesh Ghatwal, Naisa Lotlekar and Fr Elvis Fernandes, lyrics and music is by Fr Elvis Fernandes, additional music arranging, mixing and mastering is by Joe Fernandes (JSF, London), vocals are recorded by Mukesh Ghatwal, the tin whistle recorder concert flute bass is played by Marwino DaCosta, Boney Alex (Band Ambassadors) is on guitar, Frazer Fernandes has done the drone videography and cinematography and editing is by Olwin Fernandes.
“The video had very scenic places in Goa but most importantly, it has students of Jesus and Mary Sarvajanik High School, Carambolim who showcase their artistic talent by doing art projects on peace and harmony. They also form the symbol of peace by standing in the open grounds of the campus, which is beautifully captured with the drone,” says Fr Elvis.
The song, ‘Give Peace a Chance’ will be released at the second edition of the annual Sadbhav Mahotsav at Pilar Pilgrim Centre, Pilar, today at 3 pm followed by its premiere on Society of Pilar, India YouTube channel.
