by Nascimento Caldeira
nascy.caldeira@gmail.com
Well, how should I start? I was born in the village of Cavelossim, Goa. A Shastikar? Yes, very much so. I was delivered into the world in the front bedroom of my home, with the assistance of only a midwife, back in those days when the Doutor came on horseback! I was the ‘last drop’ to come to fruition! The only son, so my sisters and parents were happy. And here I am, decades later, reminiscing about my past.
I lived in Goa up until the age of six, with only my mother, whilst my father and sisters lived in the big city of Bombay. This kind of divided family life was quite common to Goan families endeavoring to make it in life. I remember my folks coming to Goa for the holidays with huge tins of biscuits and dry fruit for me and Mai, just like people used to stock up provisions for the monsoon season. I remember going to the beach and playing ‘slippery slides’ on the high sand dunes! Of course, travelling to Margao by ‘carreiras’ the petrol buses from FIAT, was quite a treat.
In Bombay, I was admitted to St Sebastian’s Goan High School. Two tram stops away, and we used to alternate from front coach to rear, to escape paying our fare to the tram conductor; or hitchhike a ride in the back of the ghoda gaddi!
Here I finished my 11-year matriculation at the age of 15 years, with flying colours. I scored distinctions in Algebra, Geometry, Physics, Chemistry, and French, ably assisted by my teachers - Mr. Keni (Maths and Science) and Mr. Kamat (middle school), both Goans, and one Mr. Burde. The latter was so obsessed with English Literature that sometimes he would take two whole periods of tuition to expound on one line of ‘Wordsworth’. Keni and Burde helped mould me, and instilled in all the pupils the need to learn and excel, not just pass! We also had one Mr. Siddique, a Goan, as Drawing and Sports master. To them, I am very grateful.
Festival times like Christmas and Easter, in Goa and Bombay, were nostalgic with the making of traditional sweets, like neureos, cornbollam, dodol, mandare, pinagre, chakli, cake, etc. Neureos stuffed with salt were specially kept for the unsuspecting, friendly (?) visitor. The females usually helped each other with preparation of sweets from house to house; and the males did likewise with decorations and running errands! Remembering Christmas caroling, serenading and singing of mandos and dulpods from house to house with a little help from donated feni or urrak, brings back sweet memories of my innocent youth! The Catholic Gymkhana was a central point for sports and social activity, for my friends and me. Life in Bandra brought about more enjoyable activities, interacting also with my East Indian Catholic friends at the Bandra Feast and the Bandra Gymkhana.
India’s Independence, with all its woes, came about during my schooldays; as also my Papa breathing his last quite prematurely. I could not afford university, and had to rely on an Engineering Apprenticeship to achieve my ambitious goals! With a seafaring career, I was happy and prosperous, though not fully satisfied.
My career exposed me to a variety of cultures, for a good 25 years in all, and thus earned me the name of ‘old sea dog’! I went all out to imbibe the best in other cultures and observances through sightseeing. I became ‘international’, and I loved it and still do!
After Princess Street and Bandra in Bombay, I lived for 17 years in Goa before migrating. My large stylish house and home, that I modernized throughout to a very high standard, enabled us to live the ‘Good Life’, and my mother was happy to see her grandchildren grow up in front of her, in comparative affluence. My mother died before I could buy a car and for this I feel bad. The car made it possible for me to travel within Goa and socialize; so I made a lot of friends with the elite as well. I discovered the sheer beauty of Goa’s culture and its scenic splendor. Most of all I loved the khell tiatro, and I made a beeline to wherever one was being performed. I cannot forget the spontaneous ‘Carnival Mischief’ and the ‘Fancy Dress’ competitions.
In true Goan style, partying, entertaining and dancing have
always been a part of my life; and something in which I excelled. My wife was
the essential ‘ingredient’ to our chosen lifestyle in Goa, but she
is no more! My kids and I always cherish memories of the good times in Goa.
However when I made a return visit to my Goa in 2004 and 2005; I found it ‘unlivable’
so to say! I will stop reminiscing now, lest I erase the good memories, but
not without saying, “Viva Goa! Viva re Viva! Viva Goan Culture!”
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Nascimento Caldeira, known to his friends and family as
'Nascy', considers himself very “Goa-centric” saying that he “truly
loves all things Goan.” He adds, “Even though somewhat removed in
far away Australia, I love to live the true Christian Goan culture I was born
into and very much cherish the 'Cultural Heights' that are unique to India.”