It was saddening to know about the death of Dr Bicaji with whom I associated for about 50 years. He was one person who always had a smiling face and sweet words for everyone he met.
Our friendship began when I first met Dr Bicaji in Herald’s office near Municipal garden, in the year 1971. At that time though the paper was published in Portuguese, it had dedicated a page to the English section. We both contributed poems to this section, he in Konkani and I in English. Sometimes he would translate my poems into Konkani and I would translate his work in English and get it published. Our joy to see our work in print was such that we would go every evening and proof read our poems for any printing errors.
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One sad morning the Editor of Herald, Amadeu Prazeres de Costa died. Dr Bicaji was already in Herald office and told me that we should compose poems to pay tribute to the editor. We both sat in the office and wrote the poems and they were published with Dr Bicaji’s poem on front page.
Later he requested me to join the Goa Cultural and Social Centre and participate in its activities, which included yearly Poetry Festivals to encourage budding poets from all over Goa. On such occasions, we were able to showcase our work before the doyens of Poetry Dr Manoharai Sardessai and Dr Ravi Pandit who were favourites to be invitees as chief guests. Every participant was given a merit certificate.
He was a die-hard Konkani protagonist and worked hard against merger, during the Opinion poll, even though as a Government servant there were restrictions on such activities.
We could regularly hear his talks on health issues as well his poems in the Yuva Vani programme on All India Radio. He suggested to me to send my poems too for the English programme, our youth. I did but was never called for audition. When I told him that, he asked me to go and meet Ms Imelda Tavora who was a senior announcer and well known figure on All India Radio. Ms Tavora took me to the office of Station Director who immediately accepted my work and I was able to give my first broadcast in the Our Youth programme within 15 days.
Our association continued when he suggested my name to co-compere with him for the Mando festivals for over 10 years organised by the Goa Cultural and Social Centre. He gave me instructions on what not to say, such as never say I am telling a joke, but a story. We also co-compered for other functions organised by other groups in Margao and Ponda as well as other institutions.
I would phone him every six months during Covid times and he told me not to move out as far as possible. When I checked about his health he said he had little problems with high blood pressure. It was unbelievable for a humorous fun loving doctor with regular dietary habits, to have pressure problems.
I pay my humble tributes to him and for the wonderful memories he has left behind. Farewell Dotor.
