‘My grandfather was a man of integrity and honesty’

I cannot believe that my grandfather, Dr Jack de Sequeira, who we grandchildren referred to as ‘Papi’ would have been 100 years this month. It seems like yesterday that I carried his coffin on October 17, 1989, 26 years ago, when we mourned his passing away but also celebrated his life.

My memories of my grandfather are enmeshed with the movies in my mind of the memories of my father, the late Erasmo de Sequeira, who most people fondly referred to as Baba. My father and grandfather were only 21 years apart and were close friends and confidantes in addition to sharing a unique and close father-son relationship.

I am indeed gratified that there has been an acknowledgement of my grandfather’s fight to maintain Goa’s identity and uniqueness. I learnt recently that the history books were going to recognise my grandfather, Dr Jack de Sequeira as the Father of the Opinion Poll, which he rightly deserves.

On a personal note, my grandfather enjoyed a plate of Tato’s bhaji puri. I have fond memories of joining him, my father, my mother, my sisters Amita and Aisha and my grandmother for a plate of this bhaji puri at my grandparents home in Campal. My grandmother took pride in laying a very good table. She was a strong, loving and committed wife, mother and grandmother who lived for her family. Along with my grandfather she instilled the importance of family in all of us.

My grandfather was also a very keen supporter of tiatr. I remember attending several tiatrs with him, my grandmother and my younger sister Aisha. It is indeed fitting that one of the Dr Jack de Sequeira Memorial Awards, is presented to tiatrists to felicitate and honour those who excelled in this field.

Many prominent people in Goa are fondly referred to as dotor but my grandfather was indeed a Doctor of Medicine. He was a brilliant student who later became a Medico Cirugião at the Escola Medica de Goa and at the age of 21. As he was preparing to specialize, taking up blood research, his father passed away, thus forcing him to shelve his medical profession in order to run the family business, Agencia E Sequeira, which was a leading business house, at that time in Goa.

He was very proud of my sister Amita. He would also have been very proud of my sister Aisha for all her achievements in the world of business and finance.

During World War II, when there was a shortage of the most essential commodities, my grandfather ensured that the family firm, Agencia E Sequeira, sold precious kerosene and scarce matchboxes at a fixed and affordable price.

After Goa was liberated, as a number of agencies that Agencia E Sequeira represented were European, the firm had to form new alliances with Indian businesses. My father and grandfather worked tirelessly to build new alliances with companies such as Ashok Leyland, Beechams and Atlas Copco. My father joined my grandfather in business at the tender age of 17 and helped him run the family business until my grandfather’s death in 1989. My father continued to run the family business until his untimely death in 1997.

My grandfather was also a meticulous administrator. I remember him handing my father a file containing a guest list and menu from his 25th wedding anniversary celebrations, when my father was organising the celebration for my grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary, an event which was held at the Mandovi hotel and one which I remember fondly.

My grandfather was a man of great integrity and honesty both in politics and business. He lived for his family and was very proud of his children and grandchildren. I remember the very strong bond and friendship he had with my father and how very proud he was of him. I can picture them both having a glass of Chivas Regal together on my grandfather’s 100th birthday.