SIOLIM: In an era of rapid mechanisation that has transformed countless aspects of life, one man stands resolutely apart, embracing a practice that has been his lifelong passion. Meet Pascoal Domingos Coelho, an octogenarian from Igrezvaddo, Siolim, affectionately known as Phillip, who has devoted a remarkable seventy years of his life to manual ploughing.
Hailing from an economically backward family deeply rooted in agriculture, Phillip’s early years were dedicated to assisting his parents and relatives in the fields. While others pursued education, Phillip found solace and wisdom in the nurturing embrace of Mother Earth. “I never went to school, but the land taught me invaluable lessons. God has blessed me with the strength to toil even at almost 80,” candidly admits Phillip.
At the tender age of 10, Phillip independently started ploughing, providing financial aid to his family. As the fourth among nine siblings, he took on the responsibility of caring for his younger brothers and sisters. His commitment and dedication to his craft earned him a reputation that transcended his village of Siolim, says his only daughter Marcelina Coelho, who also learnt to plough the land and take care of their cows and bulls at an early age.
“From as far back as I remember, my father has been a VIP. As there are lines of people to meet a doctor or a minister, there were lines of people at our house early in the morning, pleading with my father to plough their fields. June and July were busy months for us. I had to note all bookings in a diary to keep track,” she says. Being an only child, Marcelina was both son and daughter to her father. While he himself was not educated, he ensured his daughter received an education and also took part in sports. “I had to juggle between studies and ploughing. Many a times I used to wake up at 3 am, have breakfast at 4 am and go walking with my father and the bulls to distant places, for ploughing. It was a unique experience, walking with bulls in the moonlight. We used to hardly feel any harsh weather,” she reminisces, her eyes moist. “The fields were like his second home, through rain or shine, heat or cold. Though his toil may not have made him monetarily rich, it has earned him tons of goodwill and happiness,” she says, adding that when she was young, the family survived on his meagre earnings of Rs 100 to 150, based on the kudo (local measurement).
Even with the advent of mechanisation and tractors, Phillip remains steadfast in his belief that manual ploughing is unmatched in its efficacy. He treats his three animals, a pair of bulls and a cow, as cherished companions, even conversing with them as he tends to their needs. Phillip has till date maintained all the implements that form the manual plough and he is also very particular about how they are being used. Although he has now slowed down slightly due having a pacemaker fitted, Phillip’s unwavering spirit keeps him going. Beyond farming, Phillip has another passion that complements his dedication to the land – football. A ‘crazy’ football fan, he ensures to catch local tournaments, eagerly finishing his work to make it to the matches.
Now, after Marcelina’s marriage, Phillip has passed on his knowledge and skills to his son-in-law, Steven, with the hope that the tradition of manual ploughing will endure in their own fields.
