SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Joseph Lewis D’Silva
Travelling through the passage of time, during my college days in Poona, now Pune, brings to mind fond memories of heroes; the then Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru and the Defence Minister, VK Krishna Menon who took the decision to take over Goa, Daman and Diu under The Indian Army Chief of Staff, PN Thapar who supervised ‘Operation Vijay; a joint armed forces acting under commanding officer Major General KP Candeth.
We, Goans looked up with excitement when Afonso da Albuquerque, the only major Portuguese battleship located in Goa, anchored at the Mormugao Harbour was mortally hit in its hull; after a sea battle with the Indian Navy. We hunted for news here and there and came to know that Quepem Bridge was dynamited along with the bridges at Khandepar and others.
We imagined about jubilant Goans gathered in thousands at the Panjim Adil Shah Palace, after being liberated by the Indian Armed forces, raised the Indian Flag. We fantasised, in our mind the joy of Goans in Goa and wished we were there on that liberation day on the soil of Goa. We were also worried to get the news about the safety of our near and dear ones in Goa; when we came to know about their safety, we were eager to rush to our land of birth. Today, things have changed. Nothing ever remains the same. Goa is no exception. Slowly, the memory of history faded in my reverie.
Mind is never idle. It has a tendency to run in multiple directions with thoughts about my children, family, working days and other things.
My mind flies back to those days when all our daughters, reached their marriage age and flew away to good homes; to start families of their own. We are proud of them; but when we see their old bedrooms are silent and empty; when we no longer hear their young voices echoing through the house, we begin experiencing a certain longing to be around them again. I remember how I sometimes managed to sing tuneless lullaby to put them to sleep on my shoulder which they grudgingly accepted as a poor substitute for their mother’s crooning. We look for them in all the rooms where they played and slept. Sure enough, when they had gone after marriage, our house lacks the magic of bygone days.
Times have changed. We, as old birds, have now reached this helpless creeping age in our old home. We are now senior citizens, fixedly with tablets, capsules, ointments, balm, lotion and so forth.
The other day, coming back from a good walk in the neighbouring streets, we saw new faces peeping through fluttering curtains through old homes; we realised that they are the heirs of our old familiar faces who have gone to better places in the other world. Yes, our cemeteries are filled with tombs of those who have expired of old age and others with different diseases especially, with the deadly march of Covid-19.
Yes, someday we also have to leave everything behind and go. All that is born grows old and dies after our “March of Life” ends, never to roam on this Earth again. Our life on this Earth is very short where time is very precious. So, we need to use time properly before the curtain of our life comes down.
