Dr R G Wiseman Pinto
The author joined the MBBS course at Goa Medical College in 1977. The batch was known as GOMECO 77. That year, the students of GOMECO 77 celebrated their first Christmas as medical students on 25 December 1977. At that time, there were no Ayurveda, Homeopathy or AYUSH institutions in Goa. Goa Medical College, the only allopathic medical college in the state till date, had been established in 1963.
Late Professor Dr V J Monteiro, Professor and Head of the Anatomy Department, later became the Dean of Goa Medical College. He was a soft spoken, intelligent man and an excellent teacher who interacted with MBBS students in a very friendly manner. A Goan by origin, Prof Dr Monteiro was already serving as a faculty member at Bombay’s Municipal Medical College before joining Goa Medical College.
The establishment of Goa Medical College in 1963 was made possible due to the efforts of late Alban Couto, IAS, who was the Development Commissioner of Goa, Daman and Diu in 1963, and Dr Joao Manuel Pacheco Figueiredo, Director of Escola Medica e Cirurgica de Goa and later the first Dean of Goa Medical College. It was through their initiative that Dr V J Monteiro and other luminaries from Bombay University and medical colleges in Bombay were brought to the newly established institution. Notable among them were Prof Dr Duarte Monteiro, Prof Dr Kenkre, Prof Dr V J Monteiro, Dr Jolly Mascarenhas and others. The credit for the launch of Goa Medical College must rightly be given to Alban Couto and Dr Joao Manuel Pacheco Figueiredo.
The Government Ministry of Goa, Daman and Diu assumed office only in December 1963 under the leadership of Dayanand B Bandodkar, whereas Goa Medical College had already started functioning in June 1963 with its first batch, GOMECO 1963. Despite several announcements over the years, Goa has not yet succeeded in starting a second allopathic medical college. This institution remains the alma mater of its students and a source of great pride.
On 26 December 1977, the GOMECO 77 batch attended a lecture by Prof Dr V J Monteiro at 9 am. He began the lecture by stating that the day was Boxing Day. For many students, including the author, this was the first time they heard of Boxing Day. Prof Dr Monteiro delivered his lecture in his characteristic style, asking questions, calling students by their first names and engaging warmly with the class. He taught several batches at Goa Medical College and later served as Dean of Goa Medical College, Dean of Goa Dental College and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Goa University. He was also a member of the Goa Public Service Commission.
The author interacted with Prof Dr Monteiro many times over the years and found him calm and composed even while holding senior administrative positions. Decades later, the author performed a liver FNAC on him. Even then, Prof Dr Monteiro remained jovial and light-hearted. Shortly thereafter, while the author was travelling overseas for an international conference, he received a call from Prof Dr Monteiro at Dabolim Airport expressing pride in having taught him. The slides were sent to Dr Arun Chitale in Mumbai for a second opinion and both reports were identical. The author was deeply humbled to receive such appreciation from a revered teacher during his final days.
Boxing Day, observed on 26 December in many Commonwealth countries, is associated with compassion, sharing and charity. It is also celebrated as Saint Stephen’s Feast. The tradition includes giving Christmas boxes, gifts and money to the needy and to employees. The custom dates back to Roman times and later spread through Europe. In several countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore
and the United Kingdom, the day is observed as a public or bank holiday. For the author and his classmates,
Boxing Day remains forever associated with the memory of Prof Dr V J Monteiro, a noble teacher and a good human
being.
Boxing Day and the Origin of Goa Medical College
