In Goa, we often
live in a cocoon – one that protects us from the ‘horrors that only happen in
the metros’. However, when a crime takes place at our doorstep, when it happens
to a person that we know and love, then that same ‘distant horror’ is no longer
that far away. That is the reality that many awoke to on the morning of Friday,
October 7, 2016.
Renowned perfumer
and researcher Monika Ghurde’s life came to an untimely and grisly end, when she
was recently murdered at her apartment in Sangolda, where it is suspected that
she was raped and subsequently killed. Those who knew her always found her
wonderful yet mysterious. She had the charisma to leave people in awe of her.
Full of life and with a very approachable attitude, hardly anyone knew that her
life would come to an abrupt end.
Looking back at her
life, one remembers a time when Monika Ghurde was once asked, in the capacity
of her infinite knowledge of all things olfactory, the benefits of enhancing
one’s sense of smell. Her quick response was, “It’s like asking what the
benefits of understanding colours or sounds are. Each day, we breathe about
23,040 times and move around 438 cubic feet of air.” Nobody knew that Monika would
breathe her last so soon, but her memory is one that will be cherished in Goa,
as many of the people from the local community attest to.
“Monika had many
good friends in Goa, and honestly, I wasn’t one of them. I was just a casual
friend of hers. She was a gorgeous person from inside out and had a unique
personality. She was someone who was happy to think differently. She was
terrific at her work. Whatever she did, she tried to do it creatively. A very
lovely person, I would say,” says Steve
Gutkin, the editor of Goa Streets.
Kornelia Santoro, a noted author, last saw Monika at a book discussion
at Literati Bookshop, Calangute just three days ago. She didn’t get a chance to
talk to Monika because she left before the session could end. “She was a wonderful
person and I wanted to have a chat with her after the session. I still remember
how we had a fun conversation about a set of mother of pearls which we both
were wearing at a food festival at Grand Hyatt, Bambolim. She had a wonderful
style and knew the value of quality. She was very friendly and polished and had
a great taste in jewellery and shoes,” says Kornelia, who also lives in
Sangolda and feels that unsavoury elements are entering the village as it
diversifies.
Fashion designer Monty Sally lives just a few houses
away from Monika’s Porvorim home and remembers her fondly. His morning started
with the shocking news when Monika’s friend rushed into his house sobbing,
‘Moni is no more!’. “She was my friend first and then client. She lived just
two houses away at Defence Colony in Porvorim and I can still picture her in my
mind. She was gorgeous, extremely confident and simple. She had this different
energy and aura about her. Every time she used to come over, we had upbeat
conversations. When she was starting out in Goa, I advised her to create
signature perfumes for celebrities and she went to Mumbai for meetings. I just
finished designing a dress for her and I was going to call her for the trial in
two days,” says Monty.
John Pollard, who conducts rafting excursions in collaboration with
GTDC, was taken aback when the news was broken to him.He says, “I am shocked to
hear about the news because Monika was a completely gentle person and
unoffensive. I have known her for a few years and we had a mutual circle of
friends. I met her three weeks ago at a friend’s birthday party. She was
extremely sweet.”
Shobhit Shawney, General Manager, Park Hyatt Resort and Spa Goa,
Arossim, says, “We are shocked with this news. Monika was such a wonderful
person, full of energy and positivity. We had the privilege of getting to know
her owing to the event we did together recently where we were amazed by her
creativity and knowledge. May her soul rest in peace.”
Nightlife
entrepreneur Nandan Kudchadkar, much
like Kornelia, met Monika shortly before her demise. However, he points out
that people like Monika strive to make Goa all it is, and that her memory
should live on untarnished. “I met Monika two days back while I was sitting at
Café Coffee Day. She parked the car around and when she entered, she greeted me
enthusiastically. She told me that she was making perfumes. She was such a fun-loving
and creative girl. It’s people like her that make Goa what it is. I ask the
authorities to use all the resources to find the killer.”
Another publication
once summed up her life’s work in a headline, ‘Fragrance can evoke memories’.
While the community is still reeling from the tragedy, there can be no doubt
that Monika’s memory will live on in the hearts of all that she touched, in many
ways epitomising what she stood for in life – the ability to linger on beyond
just what was visible, but yet always remain on one’s mind.