Fr. Milagres
Dias’s poetry album in Konkani, “PittkollamKovita” was released recently on the occasion of the
feast of Our Lady of Health at Saude Chapel, Chorao by his mother Mrs. Maria
Benedita Gomes. Climbing up the hill situated behind his house in the peaceful
and lush green island of “Chorao” which was luring more local and migratory
birds than tourists was a daily and important task for Fr. Milagres. In his
poetry album “Pittkollam Kovita”, Poet Fr. Milagres Dias recalls that how he
would return back home only after tasting the tinysweet red fruits “Pittkollam”
which was a pleasurable experience. Poet Fr. Milagres Dias says that even today
the unparalleled sweetnessof the little red fruits “Pittkollam” have formed a
layer of love on his heart. In order to protect Goa of our childhood days for
the future generations, the poet has baptized his poetry album as “Pittkollam
Kovita”.
“Pittkollam Kovita”is
a spiritual pill which will encourage the reader to turn to God in prayer
during the ups and downs of life. While reading “Pittkollam Kovita”, I looked
back at my own life and I realised that God really did have my life in thy
hands and that I needed to trust him even when I thought that it was all over
as I had lost everything in life. “Pittkollam Kovita” will encourage the reader
to master the beautiful art of trusting God even when life gets hard. It will
remind us that it is important for us to remember that God has our life in thy
hands and that our loving God is with us in our most difficult times.The
parishioners of The Holy Trinity Church, Benaulim are blessed to have Fr.
Milagres Dias as their pastor as Father Milagreshas been making use of music,
song, theatre and poetry the language of the heart to sow the seeds of the
teachings of Jesus Christ in the hearts of the faithful.
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Daily while
travelling to Margao for work by the shuttle service, the poem “ZOMIN” from
Father’s poetry album “Pittkollam Kovita” brings tears to my eyes. Yes our
“Mother Goa” is worth more than Gold. When we sell our land, fields and houses,
we may get lots of money from the land sharks but we are cheating ourselves.
Our forefathers handed to us a Goa which was beautifully decorated with green
hills and fields and flowers like Sheivti, Mogrie, Abolie and Rosai. We all
enjoyed our childhood eating the sweet and delicious fruits like Kandai,
Chunna, Asale, our delicious “Mancurad Ambo” and the tiny red fruits
“PITTKOLLAM”. But what is the type of Goa which will be handing over to our
grand children and great grand children. I am sure we will have to face tough
questions for which we will have no answers. Those were the days when people
from all over the world came to Goa to immerse themselves with the God gifted
scenic beauty of Goa. I am sorry to say tomorrow we will have nothing but only
huge concrete flyovers and iconic bridges to showcase. In “ZOMIN” our Mother
Goa is crying with great pain and sadly says “Visorlim mhaka poram”. My
children have forgotten me. “PittkollamKovita” appeals to the children of Goa
to save whatever remains of Goa for the future generations. Our freedom
fighters gave their life to free Goa. Like Fr. Bismarque Dias let us be ready
to even sacrifice our life to save Mother Goa for our future generations. I am
sure only then Mother Goa will forgive us and welcome us like the father who
welcomed the prodigal son when he came back after realising that he had sinned
against God and his own father.
The poems “BEBO ANI
BEBKI”, “RONG”, “ MON MOHJEM”, “DISLEM MHAKA”, “ ZOMAT ZONAVORACHI” and “PAUS”
in “Pitkollam Kovita” will take us back to our beautiful childhood days.
“KRISTANVPONN”, “BHALE”, “JIVITACHO KONNSO” and “JIVIT SASNNACHEM” will ensure
our spiritual growth as followers of Jesus Christ.
Royson Cunha through
his pictorial contribution has added an appealing flavour to the poetry album
“Pittkollam Kovita”. Jovila Crasto has increased thesweetness of “Pittkollam
Kovita” by typesetting and designing the album. The album “Pittkollam Kovita”
has been published by Suresh Azgaonkar and is available at St. Paul’s Panjim
and Light House, Margao, Goa. I would like to invite our readers to buy a copy
of “Pittkollam Kovita”. We the people of Goa will certainly awake from the deep
sound sleep and rise up to the occasion and ensure that we live our life to the
fullest.
(The
writer of this article Tennyson Xavier Fernandes is a teacher, trainer, theatre
artist and the author of an upcoming book.)
