The
quaint St Tome street in
Panjim is echoing in
celebration as its resident, Alfredo Lobato de Faria, turns 100 today. Don’t be fooled by this big
number, Alfredo is a lively man who greets visitors with warmth, recognises
people he’s met before and lucidly recollects his childhood memories. Living
in this part of Panjim right from the 1920s, he has
witnessed how the city has transformed. What makes his stories more
interesting is that it takes you back to a time when things were simpler. The manner in which he relates his life’s story
is compelling and mesmerising; something every youngster should experience.
Alfredo lives in a Portuguese styled house that showcases his art in a beautiful manner, right
from the paintings in the
hall and vases on the
stairs to the ‘Last
Supper’ aptly displayed in the dining room. Observing his talent and eye for detail, it is hard to believe
that Alfredo never attended any art classes because he could simply never afford them.
Alfredo,
the son of late Miguel
Joaquim Jose Lobato de Faria and late Maria Eurica Garcez Jorge de Menezes was married to Luiza who passed away in
1997. He now lives with his daughters, Fatima and Filomena, and has four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Alfredo had a difficult
childhood as he lost his father at a young age and was brought up by his mother
and maternal uncle in Ribandar. “I lost my father at the age of eight and
within the next two years,
I lost my elder sister and my younger brother. After completing my Class VII in Goa Lyceum in Panjim, which was the first public
secondary school in the state, I choose to pursue Science for higher education,
joining Santa Casa de Misericordia in Ribandar. I then worked as a storekeeper. When a
pharmacist retired, I
started studying Pharmacy to take up the post. I completed pharmacy studies in
Escola Medica de Goa as the timings didn’t clash with my work as storekeeper. I
worked at Santa Casa de Misericordia for 13 years,” says Alfredo.
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Alfredo is the great-grandson of the third son of Carlos
Manuel Lobato de Faria, a knight of the Royal House who is said to be the first Portuguese
to settle in Goa. Alfredo was also a chronicler for the Portuguese edition of O
Heraldo. He retired from the post of Administrative Head Officer in 1972.
Besides a full time job, Alfredo used to be very active in the literary
circle. He used to write poems in Portuguese and his first poems were published
during his high school period. He published his work in 1935 in the weekly ‘Pagina da
Mocidade’ and was part of the O Heraldo edition of which he
was one of the founders. In 1947, he released a book of Portuguese poems titled
‘Sombras’. Unfortunately, the book is not in print and has not been translated into English for the fear that it would lose its
poetic nuances. As a student at the Medical School of Goa, he was part of the
editorial body of the scientific journal ‘O Escuplapio’, directed by Dr
Wolfango Da Silva. He collaborated more, in verse and prose, in publications such as The Academician, Vida Nova and
Herald.
As an artist, Alfredo didn’t attend any art classes as he
had to make ends meet with his profession. Even with no free time at hand, it was his dream to be an
artist. “I hand carved a wooden rocking horse for my grandson,” says Alfredo,
who also does sculpting, carpentry, composes music and has conducted a musical
concert in his young days.
‘The Last Supper’ is Alfredo’s last piece of art. He now
finds it difficult to hold the paintbrush as his hand is not steady. ‘The Last
Supper’ is a detailed
creation; he first
modelled clay figures for Jesus Christ and the 12 Apostles and stitched their
clothes and made the table and the wares out of thermocol.
Alfredo
stays active by strolling though the house and loves spending time with the
younger members of his family. “I love my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Some of them
are very funny and they try to imitate my walk and behaviour to make me laugh,”
concludes the 100-year-old.
