In November came the sad news of the demise of Fr Joseph Velinkar in Bombay. Legacy is passed down the generations by scholars. History scholars play a bigger role. They are not players in the game, but their role as chroniclers is bigger than the players for the next generation. Researchers in history lean on the shoulders of great historians of the past y ears. The last generation were ably supported by S S Pisurlencar, V T Gune, B D Satoskar, George Moraes to name a few. My generation had the privilege to be mentored and supported by Fr John Correia Afonso, Dr Teotonio R de Souza, Dr Joseph Barros, Luis Assis Correia and Fr Joseph Velinkar. The first two, to a large extent had their due through their publications as well as the fact that they administered important institutions like Fr Correia Afonso as the Principal of St Xavier’s College, Mumbai for two tenures and Dr de Souza as the Director of the Xavier Centre of Historical Research, Porvorim. Fr Corriea Afonso took us to visit places of historical importance to Bassien and Vasai, as young students of St Xavier’s College. I recall with fondness that I was student treasurer of the Heras Institute of Historical Research, so I had the money for the train tickets and I reached VT station after the train left. I took the next train and when I met my friends and Fr John, he was amazed that I travelled to an unknown place alone and was so proud of me instead of shouting at me. This is what makes great teachers! As a teacher, I have also taken my students on study tours to bring interest and life into the subject. Dr Teotonio de Souza began his academic career as a Jesuit priest and a PhD guide in history. Around 34 years ago, he edited the book, “Essays in Goan History” and he dedicated it to the ‘pioneers of Goan Historiography’. I had no research background except a post-graduate degree in History. He taught me the basics and it all began from there. I once asked Dr Teotonio, how he wrote so many articles and authored so many books on the history of Goa. His reply was, “become a Jesuit Priest”. This training of discipline and dedication helped him in good stead even after he left the Jesuits and Goa for Portugal. Dr Joseph Barros was the Secretary of Institute Menezes Braganza and a PhD guide. I was his student but unfortunately he passed away when in Lisbon for a conference and my thesis passed away with him. Luis de Assis Correia was an accomplished writer much before I met him in person. He was my fellow villager from Velim – much more important than a filial bond for a person who was always abroad and spent his sunset years in Goa. His books, ‘Goa: Through the mists of History from 10000 BC- AD 1958; Portuguese India, Mumbai-Chaul-Vasai 1498- 1739; Francisco Luis Gomes 1829-1869; A select Reader; Winds of Change across Africa 1958-1969 were acclaimed writings. He said he began writing to teach his children about Goa and did not find any appropriate books. He had a British spouse and they had three children, who were at his bedside when the end came in Goa. The long chats I had with him in his Benaulim residence taught me more than I ever learned in classrooms. It was my pleasure when he asked me to speak at his book release function in hotel Mandovi, along with the internationally reputed fashion designer Wendell Rodricks. The book was on Portuguese and Mughal relations 1510-1735. This was in March 2017. He passed away in February 2018. The least I could do is visit him often in hospital. Even with his eyes closed and in intense pain, he could still recognize my voice. One by one they went. The latest to join these stalwarts in the next world world was Fr Joseph Velinkar. He substituted his Catholic surname and took on the name of his village. That became the link between us for life, fellow Velkars! He passed away unsung and unknown! He taught at the Holy Family College (Andheri), St Pius College (Goregaon), St Xavier’s College (Mumbai) and St Gonsalo Garcia College (Vasai). He was Director of Heras Institute (Mumbai) and Principal of Gonsalo Garcia College. ‘The Contribution of Valerian Cardinal Gracias to Society and Church’ was co-authored by him. ‘India and the West: The First Encounters’ was another of his books. His last book, ‘On the Spice Trail: Europe discovers India in Goa’ was released at the Xavier centre of Historical Research, in June 2016. Unfortunately he fell sick a few hours before the release. There was a large audience including the Portuguese Consul in Goa. Fr. Savio Abreau, the Director of XCHR requested me to speak ten minutes before the function, when the audience was already seated. Picture memories of a lifetime as a 16-year-old student, whom Fr Velinkar taught a subject called ‘Personality Human Values’ to 55 years when I was an Associate Professor of history in a college passed my mind like a colourful kaleidoscope and I knew I could not let my teacher down. It as my general reading of Goan history that saved me. Having doctorate in the subject I had read every published book on Goan history, either related or unrelated to my area of research. Frederick Noronha, the publisher was the first to say, “It was incredible how you can speak so well without getting time to read the book”. It was my moment of paying back! I have his autograph on this book, his hand was not steady but his mind knew it all. Fr Velinkar loved to walk long distances. On a hot Goan afternoon after almost a decade as his student, I opened the door to a knock and found Fr outside in my maternal home in Olizaino, Velim. He had walked all the way in search of my house through the hot sandy fields and found me to renew our acquaintanceship. He wrote a bite when my book was published after talking and catching up with my life in a Panjim restaurant. He seemed pleased with the fact that I had a past of being a student activist. He visited my college in Quepem under the ‘Meet the author programme’. He expressed the desire to see his ancestral house in Velim. There was no house, just wild grass. As a Jesuit priest, he owned nothing! He visited Velim once again with Leonard Fernandes of Cinnamon Teal and me in later years. Once he wished to see Ilha de Rachol. When we reached there, he said he wanted to witness the development done by the Jesuits on the island. He came to the Goa University as a paper presenter for every Local History seminar and always travelled by trains, saying humbly St Xavier’s College is walking distance from VT station. This was a generation that believed in being supportive pillars and mentors to others. Life stops when it has to, Fr Velinkar was in his 90’s and Luis Assis Correia was in his late 80’s, but for a young girl who lost her father in middle school, they exhibited a sense of ‘belonging’. Fr John, Dr Teotonio, Luis Correia and Fr Velinkar, you must have touched the lives of thousands of students like me but my subject would never have forgiven me if they passed away unsung and unknown to those outside the domain of history but who would appreciate their work done for Goan History. My life was both blessed and enriched knowing them, learning from them and trying to emulate them.
(The writer is an author and researcher in the history of Goa)
