MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2024
Annalie Rodrigues
Although it is not an official holiday, Brother’s Day is celebrated every year on May 24 and its spirit resonates deeply among Goans. It is a day to recognise the unique bond that exists between brothers, a bond that can be a source of constant support, playful rivalry, and unwavering loyalty. The exact origin of National Brother's Day is unknown, but it is believed to have been started by a woman named C Daniel Rhodes from Alabama in 2005 and has carried on in different parts of the world, including Asian countries like India. It is speculated to have originated from the similar tradition of celebrating Father’s Day and Mother’s Day in order to have a special day to honour and celebrate the bond between brothers. Regardless of biological or legal ties, the day has therefore evolved into a chance to appreciate these relationships.
Brothers all over the world and in India have often gained success while working together in their fields. Some popular names that are well heard of are the Wright brothers, the Jonas brothers, and in India, Irfan and Yusuf Pathan. In Goa, as well, there are several companies, artists, sportsmen, chefs and small business owners that work together as brothers in order to make a name for themselves and to earn a living. Goa's rich tapestry is woven with stories of strong familial ties. The Goan lifestyle often revolves around family gatherings, where brothers forge deep connections over shared meals, lively discussions, and maybe even a friendly sport.
Twin brothers, Andre Bragança works with Allan, to display the ‘Bragança House’ as a museum in Chandor to tourists and visitors, says, “We coordinate well with one another. I can always count on him and we make a great team. We are able to work much faster and better as we communicate our problems, so none of us feels overburdened. We usually divide the work so it can be done smoothly and we understand each other’s goals and expectations. When we collaborate on projects or research related to our family, it also helps us uncover stories, knowledge and traditions that have been passed down through the generations, which makes us relate more to each other. Working together has definitely helped us strengthen our bond.”
Allan says, “When we work together, we learn about each other’s strengths, weaknesses and skills. Spending time together has created shared experiences and memories that strengthen our bond. It is like a teamwork adventure for us that improves our coordination and communication. We care a lot about each other and are happy for each other’s success. It is a pure bond that we share with only love for one another.”
Thomas and Alfred Fernandes, twin brothers from Ribandar, are artists who do beautiful traditional and digital artwork together. Thomas says, “It is always fun for me to work with my brother, as he is my inspiration and we learn a lot from each other. Since we are twins, when we work on our art, we both know exactly what the other has in mind, so the result tends to be satisfying to both of us. While working together, the understanding and bond of brotherhood between us is strengthened.”
Alfred adds, “We share feedback with each other when working, which helps us to improve and we truly enjoy the process. Although we usually work on separate pieces, we enjoy sharing and creating new content together. Thomas always pushes me to live up to my potential and we are able to easily take constructive criticism from each other. Our thoughts always match and we rarely have creative differences, which make the entire process much smoother and more enjoyable.”
Lerrick and Lineker Coelho, Goan pastry chefs that participated in Britain's ‘Bake Off’ show, have helped Goa gain global recognition. Lerrick says, “Baking has been a common interest and passion that we share and we are both pastry chefs. We have never had a problem with communication while baking together. Although we are usually on board with each other’s ideas, we also challenge the ideas as and when required.”
When asked about the experience of working along with his elder brother, Lineker says, “We sometimes have very different ideas, but we merge both to come up with unique dishes that are much better than what we could have done alone. Although we had worked with other chefs in the past, we decided to participate in the competition together as we are more comfortable and used to each other and work much better as a team. We made a lot of great memories during the competition and I look forward to continue to make more such fond memories.”
These inspiring stories of Goan brothers serve as an encouragement to all about the wonders that can take place when working hard, in a well-coordinated manner and the joy of working with one’s own brothers. Although brothers usually share a close friendship in their younger days, they sometimes grow apart as time goes by and they have their own families. This day can therefore be used to build and strengthen relationships between brothers through various activities. One can share a meal and spend quality time together by going down memory lane and reminiscing about the memories close to one’s heart. If one is living away from one’s brother, one can call him up or pay him a surprise visit to have a good conversation and spend the day enjoying each other's company. All in all, brothers are a priceless treasure and the relationship between brothers should always be valued and strengthened.
