|
PEOPLE
SUNIL KORAJKAR 
SOME people are seen but not heard. The specific nature of their calling conditions them to a rigid and rigourous training which even reflects in their every day dealings in society. Young Sunil Korajkar, a young fine arts student, works silently, almost effortlessly. While he should have been dabbling with paints, he is found grappling with wild animals and reptiles stray in human surroundings when their habitats are disturbed. He has developed a penchant for handling snakes, which make us shudder. Sunil caught a snake for the first time while he was seven, while studying in Std 1. He felt sorry for the reptile and tried to feed it with bread and ice-cream, unaware then of the eating habits of the creature, which we consider slimy and dangerous. His mother ran after Sunil with a stick because he had caught a deadly sand boa, thinking that it was a python. Once a person touches a snake, all fear and apprehensions about reptiles gradually melt away. The long creature becomes a desirable plaything as happened to Sunil, who has gone on to catch 1060 snakes in North Goa, 387 of them being cobras. Sunil's curiosity led him to delve into scientific material on different varieties of snakes. The knowledge cleaned from books aided him and honed his skill for handling the creatures. Today he is one of the founders of the Green Cross, a fearless and dedicated comanisation of young persons committed to protect Goa's fast diminishing wild life. Sunil Korajkar and Nirmal Kulkarni lead a dynamic and fearless band of around 40 young boys and girls, who have taken upon themselves the tought task of preserving wild life and spread their knowledge on the subject to other young people at several camps they conduct. The gutsy young guys have rescued four phythons from wells, including one running as deep as 20 metres in Anjuna. Sunil has set a record of catching the longest, 3 mt-long python in Panjim last year. Call Sunil or the Green Cross almost at any time of the day or night if you are frightened of a snake when it strays in your house. Of course, the Green Cross volunteers will never touch a snake, which is out in the open. In fact, they believe that snakes stray from their habitats only when their home is disturbed and not to avenge and bite humans. They would not allow anyone to take advantage of snakes, even if they be snake-charmers, whom they have raided fearlessly.
Gilermino Oliveira was elected unanimously as the new sarpanch of Rachol on January 24. The Goa Hindu Association (Kala Vibhag), Mumbai, and the Kala Academy, have comanised a joint function to release "Goa: An Economic Update", a book by renowned Goan economist Prabhakar S Angle, on January 27 at 6 pm at the KA's Black Box.
US-based Pulitzer winner Jhumpa Lahiri, who tied the nuptial knot with Alberto Vourvoulias in Kolkatta, is likely to spend her honeymoon in Goa. There was an attempt by unknown persons to kill Ms Caitani Hilario from Guirdolim in Chandor on January 13 night with a pick-axe. Police has detained her husband in this connection. Dr R Sakardande of the Bicholim Urban Health Centre has been suspended for not informing the Directorate of Health Services about his arrest, following a complaint by a female patient alleging molestation. Hilario Monteiro has been elected the President of the Bambolim Comunidade, with Alvito D'Souza and Carmona D'Souza as the Treasurer and Attorney respectively. Ms Patricia Rozario, a prominent vocalist of Goan origin, received the Order of the British Empire in the New Year's Honours in the UK, for her services to the opera. Jerry Edgar Lopez alias Joeboy of Merces was trapped by the Panjim town police on January 2, on a complaint from Jeremio Correia that Joeboy waz allegedly extorting money from him at gunpoint. Jim Barreto, lecturer at Rosary College of Commerce and Arts, Navelim, has been awarded a Master of Philosophy degree in Commerce by the Goa University, for his thesis on "Trade Unionism in Goa-A Case Study of Goa Shipyard Ltd and Zuari Industries Ltd". Velancine Gomes (3) who had climbed up the safety raillings of a well to recover her toy, fell in the well at Curchorem when the rusty raillings gave way. Joan Cabral was crowned "Miss Charming" at the traditional Crystal Ball New Year Eve Dance comanised by Leonoras and Multidimensions at the Fatorda stadium. Dr Theodore Abraham, who graduated from the Goa Medical College and is a fellow of the American College of cardiology, has been conferred the prestigious "American College of Cardiology award for Career Development for the Year 2000, in recognition of his research in Cardio-Vascular disease. Early-age recognition, proper talent scouting, sustained training, perseverance, societal back-up and right incentives, parental encouragement and proper motivation, proper diet and rest, financial and moral support and above all a burning desire to reach the goal, play a key role in making a super athlete or a champion, according to Cologne-based Dr (Ms) Otilia Mascarenhas Brunst, Socorro-born Goa's first woman Arjuna award winner who captained India's women's hockey team in Auckland in 1971. Sanjay Fernandes along with singers H Briton, Lulu and Sharon have released an album "Songs from Goa" comprising of Konkani songs from the films "Amchem Noxib" and "Nirmon" besides some Portuguese hits. Disillusioned with the lack of development in the village, Clifford Fernandes resigned from the post of the Deputy Sarpanch of Carmona. Fernandes blamed the Navelim MLA for sabotaging the development in the area. Eddy Albuquerque of Borda in Margao has been arrested on a charge by his wife that he tied her limbs, cut her hair and set her on fire after pouring kerosene on her. Police feel that Eddy doubted his wife's fidelity. Ms Pramila Karagutkar, who was voted out of office through a no-confidence motion recently, was re-elected on January 16 as the sarpanch of the Kalay village in Sanguem. One has to learn from the cops the basics of dramatising. Seby Pereira from Chicalim was arrested at the reception of his wedding in Vasco on January 16, for the illegal possession of a .12 bore shot gun. Matilda Martin of Baga in Velim has complained to the police that some unknown, masked culprits entered her house from the rear and snatched her gold chain worth Rs.11,000. Goa's Pratima Gaonkar (clocking 58.7 seconds) bagged a bronze in the under-20 400m race at the 16th National Junior Athletics meet in Bangalore. Vincent Colaco, a third-year law student of Sanvordem, who obstructed Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's motorcade at Navelim, was fined Rs.2,000 and one-day imprisonment. The Chief Minister was proceeding to attend the 21st birthday celebration of Valanka Alemao, daughter of former Chief Minister Churchill Alemao. Clark David Benajamin, a tourist from England, was found dead in his house at Dabolwaddo in Chapora, on January 18. Unknown culprits broke into the house of Ramesh Ainkar, who teaches at SFX School in Siolim, at Cana Bandh in Mapusa and decamped with cash and gold (totally valued at Rs.95,000). The house of Amaral Vaz at Gogol in Margao was ransacked by unidentified thieves on January 19 and gold ornaments worth Rs.76,000 stollen. On the 75th birthday of one of Goa's foremost artists and former principal of the Goa College of Art Laxman Pai on January 2, Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo has issued a pressnote congratulating him on the occasion. Mauzo has also eulogised Pai for his immense contribution to the world of art over the last 53 years. The Konkani Bhasha Mandal has condoled the death of the renowned radio artist and writer Krishna Laximan Moye, who excelled as the loveable Harimam in children's programme Kallar-Mallar, which used to be broadcast by All India Radio, Panjim. Rajesh Kumar Shivanand Sahoo of Bihar, who was wanted by the Mumbai police for eloping with a 23-year-old woman, was arrested by the Margao police at Majorda, along with his lover. Cinderella Menezes of the Damodar HSS of Science in Margao bagged the best orator contest held at the DCT's Higher Secondary School at Miramar. Deepa Rodrigues of DMCC HSS in Assagao and Clarissa Fernandes of O L R High School in Dona Paula, won the second and the third prizes respectively. Trevor Fernandes, Manager of State Bank of India was the chief guest on the occasion. Bernadita Gomes of Murda-Grande has been elected unopposed as the deputy sarpanch of Nuvem. Anthony Rodrigues of Dramapur was a State witness in the Guru Pujari murder case. But Anthony has now been charged for the illegal possession of guns and for operating a clandestine gun repair unit from his residence. Moreover, he had sold a gun to Srikar Kurade, one of the quartet arrested in the Pujari case. Xavier Gonsalves Patricio and Ms Nandan Dhume, BE (Civil) students of the Goa College of Engineering, Farmagudi, have bagged the first prize at 'Nirmitee', an all India paper presentation contest held at the Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune. Charming Zenia Figueredo of Panjim was crowned the MPI Queen by MPT Chairman Jose Paul at the Republic Eve Ball comanised by the Mormugao Port Trust Institute in Vasco da Gama. Sabrina Sharma from Vasco and Eulit D'Souza from Candolim were the first and second runners-up. While the "queen" pocketted a prize of Rs.10,000 besides gold ornaments, the first runner-up got Rs.7500 and the second runner-up Rs.5000. All the three got free air tickets. There were prizes after virtually every item at the well comanised event, which also had a colourful fireworks display. Krishna Datta Naik, dy superintendent of police (wireless) was awarded the President's police medal. Lisa and Conni, a Goan couple who are members of the dance troupe of the Goa tableau for the Republic Day parade, will celebrate their honeymoon in New Delhi, where they have been continuously visiting as members of the troupe, which lifted the first prize last year and hope to repeat the feat this year too. Jcome de Abreu Noronha wrote from the UK on the Goanet that Fr Anil Couto, hailing from Pomburpa, who studied at the Rachol Seminary, in the Archdiocese of Delhi, has been appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Delhi and that he will be consecrated next month at the Delhi Cathedral. Chief Minister Parrikar, on behalf of his Cabinet colleagues and the people of Goa, expressed overwhelming pride and happiness on the melody queen Lata Mangueshwar being awarded the Bharat Ratna award. James Albuquerque was
unanimously elected as the president of the Anjuna Comunidade at a
general body meeting held
recently. |
Cameraman Ajay Noronha
(31) with roots in Assagao, Chicalim and Colvale, has shot a
40-minute video film BHAILE, exposing vividly how phaedophilia
progresses in Goa, with the apathy of the people. The film (showing
an interview with notorious Freddy Peat) was screened at the Caritas
Hall at Sant Inez in Panjim on January 19 at 6.30 pm. The hall was
thronged with people who came and witnessed the picture, and went
home satisfied that at least one young man thought that something
had to be done to stop the menace which is spreading its tentacles
in Goa. There was a brief discussion after the screening, with
several participants voicing their suggestions as to what the public
can do to help in the matter.
The Super School Complex comprising Siolim's
five high schools held their function at the Siolim Ground, hosted
by the Holy cross Convent. "India is going through a real test of
fire where the unity of the country is concerned, with the enemies
raising their heads all over the country. However, there is a silver
lining to the dark cloud, there is hope through you, the students,
in the new millennium. You should aim to become honest, hardworking
and responsible citizens, and the process has to start at the school
level," said Alister Miranda, the
chief guest and former student of Holy Cross, while addressing the
large school gathering at Siolim.