MATHARPACADY VILLAGE

Category: Good 2 Know

  • Matharpacady Rising…

    Matharpacady Rising…

    (A guide to the Guides.  And!!!!!!!  We’ve got a Nostalgia Quizzz! coming up on Saturday, June 27, 2020.  All the clues are hidden here)

    It is a mark of a living organism that it continues to grow and evolve in multiple ways.  Matharpacady is no exception.  Old traditions continue and new ones are being created.  A once East Indian Village continues to accept and integrate brothers and sisters from other communities who over time begin to appreciate its virtues of love and togetherness and peace and quiet.  As well as its seasonal joys…

              

    Heart and Soul

    A sentinel of faith, the Cross of Jesus Christ stands as the ultimate “buckler impenetrable” and refuge in times of trouble. Saved from the Plague with not a single death in the Village the Holy Cross Oratory was built by grateful Villagers in 1875.  It’s undoubtedly one of the most beautiful spots and the emotional centre of the Village.

              

    A Home for the Holy Eucharist

    Peter Miranda. There’s a whole generation of St. Isabel schoolgirls who remember this beloved Principal with great affection.  Nicknamed Pop, Peter was a great patron of the arts.  An avid pianist, Chopin, Mozart, Liszt could be heard pouring out of this house.  His parties were legendary feasts of singing and music.  Many a prize-winning play staged by Matharpacady talent was born in this house. 

              

    The late Abe Samson, Joan D’Souza and Roydon in Day of Atonement at the Rosary Parish Interzonals (Director: Peter Miranda)

    It didn’t take much to convince Peter to stump up for lights, sets and production costs that the impoverished but talented youth couldn’t afford. Noble and generous as the Miranda brothers were, they left the house to serve the community by gifting it to the Blessed Sacrament Fathers.

              

    It’s now renamed Eymard Cottage, and is the Provincialate (HQ) of the SSS Order, a Blessed Sacrament Chapel and offers a daily Mass for the senior citizens of the village. Matharpacady has been twice blessed:  The Holy Cross Oratory, a living symbol of faith in Jesus Christ and the Blessed Sacrament Chapel where the Lord God Almighty has become a Village Resident and a member of our community.

                        

    As East Indian as Bottle Masala

    Aunty Esme was famous for two things:  her gifts of mangoes to her friends from the tree that still stands outside Militia Apartments (great for kasaundi pickle or chutney) and her bottle masala.  Her khudi parties for the members of the Club were affairs to remember.  Bottle masala is the East Indian’s secret ingredient in the perfect khudi, sarpatal (note the spelling which differs from the Goan version), balchao and many other specialties. BTW, Aunty Esme’s mango tree is also heritage – more than a hundred years old now. 

    Aunty Esme’s Bottle Masala is now available along with other East Indian goodies from her grandson Chef Ray Henriques.

              

    Mary Lodge

    A name never used for it. Commonly referred to as the ever-helpful David and Stanny’s house.  Fond memories of Aunty Maud:  A houseful – five boys, a girl and sundry friends, all creating mayhem. Enough to drive any parent mad.  By the way, who knows that the ground floor of the bungalow still has vestiges of classroom numbers from the time it was borrowed to start a school to promote female education: now in its own location, the prestigious St. Isabel’s? Check it out…

              

    Today, not only is St. Isabel’s a prestigious school but Maud’s children continue to serve the School and the Community in multiple ways.

                        

    One Community

    Originally an East Indian Village, Matharpacady became home to Goans and Mangaloreans looking for opportunities in the growing metropolis.  As time went by the RCs were joined by the Parsis and as time passed Jains and Bohris and people of other communities settled in.  As time passes newcomers get integrated into the community.  The Festival of lights has universal appeal with many windows sporting diyas.  Adults and children play with firecrackers keeping within today’s conservation ethos.  At Eid and Christmas sheer korma and Christmas sweets respectively are exchanged. 

    But life is not all about fun and games. In emergencies neighbours rush to provide medical aid or to comfort the bereaved.   When it comes down to it, in Matharpacady, we are all united in the brotherhood of man.

                              

                

    Merry Christmas

    Christmas is a magical time in Matharpacady. Its indescribable and worth a visit.  Enough said.

    Explore these links and soak in the flavour.

    http://www.matharpacadyvillage.com/christmas-festivities-christmas-tree-part-two/

    http://www.matharpacadyvillage.com/christmas-festivities-matharpacady-thanksgiving-service/

    http://www.matharpacadyvillage.com/christmas-party-boxing-day-26th-december-2019/

              

    Whilst one admires the decorations and occasionally a large star or lantern that emerges out of the Village boys’ creativity Christmas is incomplete without our Christmas trees.  This one in Nitin and Brenda’s compound is invariably lit up to make that end of the street particularly festive.

    The Cross Feast  

    The Highlight of Village Life.  A lot has been written but suffice it to say that this year, the Coronavirus Pandemic afforded us the opportunity to take the Feast international via the World Wide Web.

                      

                      

    From the hundred odd people who would typically participate the online prayers and feast day mass reached expatriates, people of other faiths as well as interested devotees from all over the world, an audience far exceeding the original congregation. 

    A serendipitous discovery that holds out an opportunity to take the faith of Matharpacady and share different aspects with the world on different occasions. While in the future, post the Coronavirus crisis we would be free to congregate for the Novena and the Cross Feast, we also intend to continue reaching an extended community via the internet.

    Click through below for a retrospective of Cross Feasts past.

    Links to Cross Feasts of years past:

    May 2020 –

    http://www.matharpacadyvillage.com/holy-cross-feast-mass-1st-may-2020/

    http://www.matharpacadyvillage.com/cross-feast-day-memory-lane/

    May 2018

    http://www.matharpacadyvillage.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=12817&action=edit

    May 2015

    http://www.matharpacadyvillage.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=6272&action=edit

    And click these links to join Matharpacady Village in prayer. 

    http://www.matharpacadyvillage.com/daily-rosary-may-monday-saturday/

    Faith in the Cross of Jesus Christ will bring you and your family much grace and peace.  For it is said in John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. 18Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.…”

                 

    Mumbai’s #1 Must-visit Destination

    You visit Shanghai, New York, Hong Kong — any teeming metropolis and you expect to see glass and steel clad skyscrapers, metro stations, flyovers and crowds. Mumbai will increasingly not disappoint you there.  But like London, with its old-world tinge of history in its stately buildings in the Fort area and a few other neighbourhoods, you get the flavour of another age – that of the British Raj. 

         

    Portuguese rule of Bombay?

    Tourists are increasingly discovering right in the heart of the city within ten to fifteen minutes of the Fort area, over the JJ Flyover, a well-hidden secret.  The Village of Matharpacady with its graceful Portuguese styled houses and residents with Portuguese sounding surnames. The shock you’ll get is that you enter from cacophonous traffic noise into an area so quiet that the dominant sound is bird-song from the trees or a piano or guitar playing somewhere in the background.  

    https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Matharpacady+Holy+Cross+Oratory/@18.9713303,72.8396773,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x3be7ce48c5aa0685:0x2a69b7ddb45d3324!8m2!3d18.9713303!4d72.841866?hl=en&authuser=0

    It’s a fascinating story: the original inhabitants are called East Indians recalling their employee relationship with the East India Company but their Catholic faith, family names and culture bear a distinct Portuguese heritage. It has the all the stuff a great tour memory is made from.

    Click these links to view some earlier explorations and get your tour organiser to put Matharpacady into your itinerary.

    http://www.matharpacadyvillage.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=7232&action=edit

                     

    Cruise Ship Diaries  

    http://www.matharpacadyvillage.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=9145&action=edit

     

     

    This is the third in our series of nostalgic picture tours of the Village.  You are recommended to study it carefully because there’s a bonus … The exciting Nostalgia Quizzz is on Saturday. June 27, 2020 and the clues are hidden here…

                                                                                       by Roydon G, the Galllivanter

  • Yesterday Once More….

    Yesterday Once More….

    (A guide to the Guides.  And!!!!!!!  We’ve got a Nostalgia Quizzz this Saturday, June 27, 2020.  All the clues are hidden here)

    I once heard it said that a building represents a “store of energy”.  In my view when we tear it down for “redevelopment” it’s not just physics that stands negated. It’s the expectations, desires and spiritual energies that get consigned to the graveyard of hope.  In the Village some lovely houses have gone…  But here, for your pleasure, it’s “yesterday once more”:

              

    Antonio Restless?

    This was once the prettiest house in the Village.  Antonio Rest.  No more. Torn down to make way for a modern monstrosity. In this house late Audrey Concescio would create the loveliest decorated marzipan eggs for Easter. She and her late sister, Dilys Remedios would prepare baskets of delicate flowers to decorate the streets for the Cross Feast. In yesteryear pink bougainvillea covered its roof and asparagus fern trailed along one side of the entrance.  Pretty as a picture, as they say. Here’s an interview of one of its last residents, the late Tyronne Concescio done by Vincent Mascarenhas:

    https://viewvin.net/2017/09/15/down-memory-lane-with-tyronne/comment-page-1/

              

    Militia and the Second World War

    Where this building stands, once stood a sprawling bungalow, Militia House whose verandah was bigger than most people’s sitting rooms.  In those days, “militia” symbolized the boys who were fighting against Hitler, Nazis and fascism. The property housed the Militia Club which included a full-sized badminton clay court. A place where matches were made and hearts were won.

               

    Mazagon Pier

    Matharpacady Village’s most popular evening attraction.  It was an easy stroll even for elderly members from the Village down Ganga Bawdi, past Ciba’s across the road past the Church through the bazaar and straight to the Pier. No steep hill to climb. The added attraction especially for the ladies, were the handsome cadets that the motor launch from the M.V. Dufferin landed.  T.S. Rajendra later replaced the Dufferin.  Mazagon Pier has now been swallowed up by Mazagon Dock.

               

    The Age of the Beatles and Beat Groups

    Once upon a time the ground floor of Marian Villa was packed with teenagers, friends of the Stevens’ children.  It was the age of the Beatles, and here, duly inspired, the Caravelles, Matharpacady’s own beat group was born:  late Ozzie Stevens (piano), late Alan Valentine (lead guitar), Stanley Francis (Australia), Desmond Rego (London), Stuart Do Remedios (guitar, USA) and Bonnie (Drums). 

    Matharpacady may be a small village but some residents have played on the national stage. The landlord of Marian Villa was one of them: Dr Mafaldo Ubaldo Mascarenhas.

    In fact, Dr. Mascarenhas Road bounding Matharpacady on one side, was named after him. He was the 19th Mayor and the first Indian Mayor of free Bombay (1948-49. Mayoral inaugration was held on November 22, 1948).

              

         Dr Ubaldo Mascarenhas with Pandit Nehru

    Dr. Gerald Mascarehnas and Dr. Allwyn Mascarenhas (Dr. Ubaldo’s grand nephews) continue to serve the sick and ailing in Byculla and Mazagon while Vincent Mascarenhas is the current President of our Matharpacady Holy Cross Committee. 

    It is said that Dr. Ubaldo was an Indian Freedom Fighter and fought for the return of Goa from Portugal. He was therefore blacklisted by the Portuguese government and his landed properties were confiscated.

    It’s rare to find people like him these days where all netas have an agenda.

           

    The Cottage before “Village Villa”

    The D’Mellos treated all their neighbours as family. Aunty Louie cooked the most delectable salt tongue, pan rolls and potato chops as well as an assortment of Christmas sweets and goodies. Neighbours got to taste, invited or not!  No limit to generosity here. 

    Uncle Wency would pick a lucky boy to accompany him to the Port Trust office in the docks, from where the lad got a much-prized view of the ships in the docks.  The mission was to pick up ship’s flags for the Cross Feast Vespers.  These decorations were suspended along house walls, starting from the Cross, on both sides, all the way up to Maud Baptista’s house. Seen above are old style tiles in partial exterior views of the Village’s oldest cottage. 

               

    Winifred House – gone with the wind

    Theo Turner’s legacy and named after Winifred (Winnie), his eldest child.  The Matharpacady Club was where people from Mazagon and Byculla as well as all over Mumbai got together:  Billiards, Snookers, cards, a Christmas Tree and Sunday Housie. Every worthy Billiards great has played on its table. The Sunday Housie was more of a social event where gents and ladies – RCs, Parsis and others belonging to a variety of communities, from as far away as Colaba, at one end and Bandra at the other turned up perfumed and in their Sunday best. Now a ghost of Matharpacady Past.

              

    The Busy Bees

    This terrace above the Exide Battery Service Station in Rear Helal Building was once one of the most sought-after spots:  the place where the Busy Bees used to rehearse. Fender Stratocaster guitars and high-powered amps, as well as great musicians, drew throngs on the terrace and windows opposite. The Busybee Band was Allan Valentine on lead, Mario on drums,  Bridgenell -bass. The guy on rhythm was from lower level & Nelson Vaz’s elder brother sang vocals. 

    Ah Norman! Norman Rosario, a tall well known figure in the Village was one of their biggest fans.  He’d catch hold of anyone whom he came across to extoll the musical prowess of Allan and the impressive array of Fender equipment that the band possessed. That’s to say, by the Busy Bees, was Norman completely possessed…

              

    Steps to the Sea?

    The Portuguese and following them Goan Brahmins prided themselves on living on the altinhos of Goa’s cities.  Well Matharpacady is an altinho as these steps above indicate, an extension of one of Mazagon Island’s ranges.

              

    Mazagon (Bhandarwada) Hill (Joseph Baptista Garden) is the other.  That’s not the most exciting fact.  Way before P D’mello was a living person and later a road name, the steep slope that extends from these steps down Champsi Bhimji Road past Mazagon Tower and Hatimi Mohalla to the main road, took you straight to the sea long before where the main road now begins.  At that time it was probably a rocky and muddy path.  And, as if to remind you that Bombay (now Mumbai) was reclaimed from the sea on full moon nights when the tide is up you can smell the sea in Matharpacady and if you’re familiar with it, you get the whiff of the coal tar on the dock walls as the waves lash them. 

    Don’t believe me? Study these maps: 

    One of these shows original land v/s reclamations. The first, though shows the original island and its hills. See the hills on Mazagon Island:  Mazagon Hill to the South (now Joseph Baptista Gardens) and the hill range on which Mariah Hill currently stands, incorporating the gunpowder works and the Matharpacady altinho. Hill slopes descended straight to the sea. When the harbour branch was built, two bridges, it appears from the map, were necessary: span between Mazagon and Mariah Hills and another to span the road before the Reay Road Station.  Given that the intervening land has subsequently been flattened and leveled to create roads and seeing that the original hills descended all the way to the sea, but for a narrow promontory makes us believe that the slope starting at the Matharpacady steps ended up in the sea. So exciting!

                                                  

    This is the second in our series of nostalgic picture tours of the Village.  You are recommended to study it carefully because there’s a bonus … the exciting Nostalgia Quizzz slated for Saturday, June 27, 2020, is getting ready and the clues are hidden here…

                                              by Roydon G, the Galllivanter

  • Meet the Ghosts of Matharpacady Past….

    Meet the Ghosts of Matharpacady Past….

    (A guide to the Guides.  And!!!!!!!  We’ve got a Nostalgia Quizzz coming up on Sat., June 27, 2020.  All the clues are hidden here)

    There’s often a right way and a wrong way to enter a place. When it comes to the Village, there are many ways.  Right or wrong, depends on what you want and where you want to end up.  A bit like Alice in Wonderland or Through the Looking Glass. You might happen upon a beauty or you might meet a ghost.  Depends upon you.  No white rabbit here though, but check this out:

         

    Lions’ Den

    Home of the Leao family: Daniel, Alma, Fred, John.  And their descendants.

    And Sammy, former President of the Cross Committee.

    The Bible relates how the Israelite prophet Daniel, a prominent official in the Babylonian King’s court was thrown into the Lions’ Den because he stayed true to the one true God and refused to worship the mortal king.  God shut the lions’ mouths. Daniel was awarded greater honours while his accusers were thrown to the lions instead.  Now figure out who inspired this house’s name.  If you get it wrong the two stone lions on the gate will chew your head off when they come alive …

         

    The lost chord?

    Once upon a time when you entered the Village sounds of the piano or other musical instruments greeted your ear.  23 D Matharpacady, known just by a number, the HQ of the Lopes family. Sundays saw Lt Cdr. Eric Lopes and his daughter Dagmar playing classical Western music on the musical saw (an instrument that looks much like an ordinary carpenter’s saw, played with a bow drawn across the non-toothed side. Tension on the blade and degree of bend gave the desired note) accompanied by his brother Ian Lopes on the guitar. And, a hall full of rapt listeners. Want to see them in action dig up the two episodes of Surabhi (ex Doordarshan) that feature them.  There might still be a saw or two left in Matharpacady but the players are gone… 

              

    The late Dagmar Lopes plays the musical saw at a First Communion party

             

    All’s Well with the Village Well

    No one’s dropped a coin in here to make a wish. No lovers’ suicide.  No ghost stories, so far. Stocked with fish now, but a trifle overgrown, no village maid has ever offered a lad a drink from it, out of her bucket. Brides and grooms do make a trip to it for their “paani” ceremony. I, for one, wouldn’t draw a bucket to bathe, much less take a swig, but the fire brigade has certainly suctioned its lifesaving liquid more than once to fight local fires.  If you’re scared of ghosts, I wouldn’t count on not meeting a shade here between midnight and 3.00 AM.

                                                     

    The Park

    Previously called Tank Square.  Once an open play area bordered by the Bharat Vyayam Shala a low-cost gymnasium where many lads went to acquire their muscles, Tank Square has seen many changes.  In its present avatar there’s a jungle gym and some kiddie playthings and by that token, its grandly called The Park. 

                  

                                                  

    Barcelona, Spain or Lisbon, Portugal or Fontainhas, Panjim?

    A touch of Azulejo tiling, a bit of street art, shady arbours, mysterious windows, a door of enchantment. Roam the streets of Matharpacady and find yourself in a different world, a living culture of taste and refinement that reflects the cultures that shaped this city.

    (Matharpacady was a warren of service lanes and secret short cuts: invaluable to hide in when playing rough games like dabba doobie and seven tiles and you broke someone’s window pane.  Kites were flown from several terraces and dheels or contests were entered into with sharp manja. Marbles, tops, cycling were all popular pastimes before smartphones arrived)

                     

    Behind the Cross

    No tour of the Village is complete unless you go behind the Cross and view the location where one of India’s greatest freedom fighters stayed.  There’s, now a big building called Monarch, a take on the name of the original sprawling Raja Bungalow, that it replaced.  The residence of the Village’s most famous son:  Joseph (Kaka) Baptista.

                      

    Kaka Baptista, (born March 17, 1864) was a close associate and friend of Bal Gangadhar Tilak.    

    Kaka Baptista was Bombay’s Mayor (1925-26).  He developed ideas for local home rule , deeply influencing Tilak. Together with Annie Besant they formed the Home Rule Movement.  However, his ideas for independence didn’t go down too well with the Brits and there’s an apocryphal story told to me by a now deceased elderly resident.  It seems his mayoralty was snatched away in a year and without batting an eyelid, barrister that he was, he declared “the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away” obviously taking a dig at the Brits.

    Kaka Baptista defended Tilak in court. Tilak also liked and adopted Baptista’s slogan “Swaraj Is my Birthright” which soon became Tilak’s rallying cry.

    There are some ironies to his story.  Firstly, despite being a fervent Christian, he played an important role in popularising the Ganeshotsav festival in the late 19th century, using the community gatherings to mobilise support for the independence movement.  The other irony is that he defended Hindutva ideologue, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, one of his most high-profile clients.

    While sundry netas have signed away mill land to house the rich and famous, it was this freedom fighter and barrister who took up the cause of the mill worker and in 1920, founded the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).

                   

    Keepsake

    Once bustling with many well-known residents:  John Martin (Jamtin a corruption of the Portuguese contraction of his name, J’mtine), a prominent voice in the singing of the Litany,  St John Valladares (Sinjin) who led the Matharpacady Club for ages as Secretary, Carole Viegas the late President of the Cross Committee.  Bonnie Michael D’souza (Bonnie) whose band “The Bonaventures” was top of the charts for ages in Aamchi Mumbai.  At one point, Bonaventures featured golden-voiced Walter Pereira who lived behind the Cross.

                   

    Canon Villa                 

    Once called The Rosary but more fondly remembered colloquially as the “lozenger school”.  The former owners, the Ferreira sisters ran a nursery school for tots on their terrace.  At departure time each kid was given a boiled sweet lozenge as an incentive to come in the next day, earning the school its name.

    It was renamed Canon Villa by the current landlords, respecting their association with Wilson College and its Church of North India Legacy. A curious shift from a Marian to Biblical nomenclature.

    Talking of music, Frank Gonsalves formed an orchestra, of his old students, which met every Sunday in his hall.  This is the same orchestra that played every year for the Cross Feast Vespers which were celebrated on the 2nd of May, the day before the actual feast which used to be on the 3rd of May. It was a grand affair with the singing of the Litany in Latin by the Village’s best voices.

                   

    Trilby Cottage

    Situated behind the Lopes’ bungalow is the quaint Trilby cottage named after the late Trilby Lopes (nee Azavedo), the late musical saw player Lt Cdr. Eric’s wife.  By the way, once upon a time, the Trilby was a fashionable hat as was the bowler, fedora and homburg. The hat’s name derives from the stage adaptation of George du Maurier’s 1894 novel Trilby. A hat of this style was worn in the first London production of the play, and promptly came to be called “a Trilby hat”. Frank Sinatra was identified with trilby hats, and there is a signature design trilby bearing his name.

                   

    Harbour View  

    Situated next to Lions’ Den this used to be the height of high-rise in the days when Matharpacady was a Village of quaint and sprawling bungalows. As the name suggests, the higher floors afforded a view of the famed Bombay Harbour to which cargo ships called (before JNPT drew the cream of shipping away). Isn’t it curious that the former building opposite Harbour View was called the Anchorage, another gracious building that has given way to a boxy Kishant?

                   

    The Wayside Cross

    Fifty yards away from Harbour View you’ll find this Cross on private land. The home of the Nazareths.  The day after the Cross Feast it is traditional to celebrate the feast at this Cross.  As children of yesteryear will remember, there was a kind of decorative cherry tree that grew next to it.  Kids never failed to pluck its wild cherries. They were sweetish but full of chik and inedible. The other botanical specimen of interest, hard by the cherry tree, was a drumstick tree often decorated by an abundance of drumsticks dangling from the branches.  Legend has it that a drumstick tree was home to a drumstick like green snake that camouflaged itself and then dropped down onto the head of a victim.  If that happened to you, you were a sure goner.

                                                        

    Bongo Lane

    How this very picturesque part of Matharpacady with its old-world houses and narrow mysterious paths got this name is a mystery.  Maybe the settling down of many music loving Goans with their upbeat Konkani mandos had something to do with it; the Latin flavour, supposedly.  One legend has it that the late Joe Pereira, a music-loving chap with a great sense of rhythm had adopted the bongos as his instrument, which he produced on every social occasion.  From Joe’s bongos to Bongo Lane was a short transition.  Who knows?  It still hosts an annual happening jump ‘n jive party.  Find favour and you might get invited…

     

    This is the first in our series of nostalgic picture tours of the Village.  You are recommended to study it carefully because there’s a bonus … the exciting Nostalgia Quizzz is in the works and the clues are hidden here…

    Credits – Roydon Gonsalves

     

  • RIP Tyronne Concescio

    RIP Tyronne Concescio

          

    John Bunyan in his book The Pilgrim’s Progress presents the allegory of Christian, an everyman journeying from his hometown City of Destruction to the “Celestial City” atop Mount Zion.  On the way he labours under a heavy burden, in his case, the weight of his sin that he came upon after reading the book in his hand.  Tyronne’s life too was much the same, a constant pilgrimage.  However, in his case his burden was his troubled eyesight.  A major handicap it made him undertake several pilgrimages from the “city of destruction” that lost eyesight is.   It’s tragic that his eyesight stood in the way of his studying further despite having a keen intellect.  But then it compelled him to undertake a journey to North India to seek treatment.  Travelling in the blackout during one of India’s wars, he gained fresh perspectives.

    A burden often opens up new vistas and coopts various Simons of Cyrene. Seeking out Fr Dickey his priest relative, Tyronne developed friendships with many priests. In the process he found not the proverbial Simon but the Master, Jesus, Himself. Those who were fortunate to know Tyronne closely will recall that his life too was struggle, persevere, fall, rise, but keep on walking.  All the while like his Master, he reached out his hand to bring happiness to people. I’ve been a witness to the love many of his office colleagues had for him.  At various critical moments Tyronne gave someone a hand. Feast times, Christmas, in particular he was often the first to pop in very briefly to wish the family before taking himself off to the next house and the next, spreading cheer as he went.  And, often his visits were not empty handed.  Working for Britannia he often bought packets of biscuits which he distributed to all those he loved and the list was long.

    It is not as if Tyronne didn’t have his balmy days!  Cross Feasts, the polishing of brass under the eagle eye of Aunty Daisy followed by tasty rewards.  Especially chilled kalinga juice on the day itself after a morning of hard work.  One shouldn’t forget the days when Gorai was a virgin beach lined by hedges of mangroves and palm trees recalling the best Honolulu dream.  A versatile writer, Tyronne romanced Aunty Girlie (Marie D’Silva) with his poetic prose describing the place where she owned an ambawadi, much beloved by us children.  Encouraged by his words she literally gave us children the keys to her kingdom and the most magical times in Gorai followed, with swims, sing song and great food.  Yes, Tyronne was a versatile writer, winning over metaphorically priest and prelate alike.  Very selfishly we capitalized on this strength making him General Secretary of every Village based organization.  MRWA and the Cross Committee notably.

    After the untimely death of the multi-talented Peter Miranda who was both Headmaster and Managing Trustee of St Isabel’s the mantle of Managership fell on Tyronne’s shoulders.  I always wondered how a person who spent his working life as a secretary hampered by a physical limitation would rise to the challenges a CEO would find daunting.  There is no doubt in my mind His Lord and Cross bearer was behind his rising to the challenge.  With perfect serenity he took charge.  It’s a pleasure to recall the times he proudly related how the school got cent per cent results in the SSC. There were other trustees but in his own quiet way Tyronne forged bonds with all constituencies – students, teachers, office staff and ex-students.

    I must confess I pulled a sneaky one on him. After addressing a gathering on careers at the Bandra Gym the East Indian committee backstage tried to rope me in as a trustee of the Bombay Institute for Deaf & Mutes on Nesbit Road, one of the premier institutions for the hearing impaired.  Not as large hearted as Tyronne, I side stepped the issue by suggesting his name.  Next thing I heard, he had become a Trustee of this august East Indian initiative at the service of a specific segment of “non-people” who would otherwise never get a chance in society.

    However, Tyronne’s greatest love was for the village.  He leveraged his trusteeship to extend facilities to bond inhabitants together.  Villagers were always welcome.  As were the poor service providers, like the dhobi. In this country it’s the tendency to misuse position to get ahead. Tyronne never hesitated to use position to help others.  Not only that I’ve seen him give time to lonely people, the elderly, the sick and hospitalized.  Never empty handed: patties, samosas, cake, biscuits or even a bag of apples. I’ve caught him sneaking into the Blessed Sacrament Provincialate House at dusk bearing bags of goodies.  A brief popping in, dropping off of and quick exit.  Many a priest or bishop had his lonely life lifted a bit by Tyronne’s graciousness.

    It would be an incomplete narrative to forget that Tyronne was all about family.  I recall his tears of sorrow at his sister Audrey’s passing.  Cliffy his brother, was easily his best friend.  His sister Dilys’ children Linda, Astrid, Trudy and Faye were his life and joy.  His cousins and many relatives were clearly dear to him.  It is pretty evident that the love was reciprocated.

    Tyronne had a way with words and what he lacked in eyesight, he made up for in memory.  For anyone who’d like to relive life in the old Village nostalgically, here’s a link to a piece that Vincent Mascarenhas did on Tyronne taking us all Down Memory Lane. It’s a journey worth taking for more reasons than one; a life that’s not vanished, but in a way, transformed.

    https://viewvin.net/2017/09/15/down-memory-lane-with-tyronne/

    Farewell Tyronne. May angels bear you to Abraham’s side.

    From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,

    Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,

    And soonest our best men with thee do go,

    Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.

    ….

    One short sleep past, (Tyronne, thou shall) wake eternally

    And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

    Credits – Roydon Gonsalves and Vincent Mascarenhas

    [Show slideshow]

  • PDDM Holistic Health Centre

    PDDM Holistic Health Centre

     

    The Sisters are presently in Mumbai upto 2nd February 2018. Kindly register for appointments on telephone number 022-26422437, at Prathanalaya, 113, B.J. Road, Bandra West, Mumbai 400050. The timings are from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm and from 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm.

  • Cyril’s Surprises

    Cyril’s Surprises

    When you meet Cyril Alphonso, you will be surprised. He is more tech savvy  than an average youth, inspite of his age ( 82 years). He started off as a radio operator, but also held many posts at different times, when sailing with Wallem’s shipping Company.

    My earliest memories as a young boy, was to see him at his verandah, giving us a wave of his hand in greeting. One vivid moment was, when he caught a kite that drifted into his balcony; he called out to me and handed over that precious piece of flying paper, which gave me great joy.

    He was at that time one of the few ham radio operators in India. He still operates under the code name VU2AY. Before satellites existed, the ham radio operation was a sure way of communication in times of disaster or wars. Even today, the ham radio  community of operators exists and are in touch with one another.

    His knowledge has since increased to computer stuff, which consists of hardware and software.

    He has been of great help to the nearby St. Isabel’s School, where he helped start the Computer department. Subsequently he provides assistance to any person in need of old computer equipment for which he is adept at upgrading or providing solutions.

    The miracle of Cyril, is that he now lives a second life. He was seriously sick and hospitalized. We wondered how he would come through after major stomach operations. But he has rebounded back to normalcy with a bang. After spending a lot of time being bed-ridden, he now walks around the neighbourhood. His faith in God, has given him this new lease of life.

    Cyril is gifted with a knowledge of multiple languages i.e  English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Japanese, Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam, and Gujarati, and has the desire to learn even more of the local languages in India.

    He has a compilation of spiritual music, and teaching modules which he has saved over the years.

    But today, he is keen on passing on this treasury of knowledge in diverse stream , to his family and friends, rather than seeing it all going to waste. I am one of his beneficiaries.

    Cyril has updated knowledge of all matters of the village specially in regard to the Leased land.  He has made it a point to study old documents which provides relevant information when needed.

    I got to know Cyril better during my visits with Holy Communion to his home. But with improved mobility, he made it a point to attend the Eucharist daily, in the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers, at Matharpacady.

    I was in the midst of this article , and had not completed it for some weeks. Suddenly one day I got to know that Cyril had a heart attack, and was admitted to hospital for immediate surgery.

    I was away from home, during this time, on a retreat;  I prayed that I may see Cyril well again, on my return. And yes, this wish was granted.  I was overjoyed to see him back home. He is slowly recovering, and his family is around him to shower him with their love and care. Cyril’s wife Sydil  is a devout lady, and they have been happily married. A few years ago they celebrated their golden wedding. They have two sons and a daughter, who have all started families of their own.

    A walk with Cyril, would be a slow walk , but with a lot of talk!

    We wish Cyril many more fruitful years in the quaint environment of Matharpacady.

     

    PS:  Subsequent to this article, Cyril had a slump in health which involved hospitalisation twice during the last fortnight. He says that his time spent there helped him to share with Jesus a memorable Holy Week; and on Easter Monday he was back home. He has a bright and cheerful look. But now he  will walk less, maybe talk less, and listen more! 

    Courtesy : Vincent Mascarenhas

  • Our Mochi

    His father was the first  mochi in the village.

    He is one of our  icons. None other than Atmaram our lean and  talkative mochi ( hindi word for cobbler) We pass him by daily and he will always have a smile and a brief look at your footwear.

    How is it today. Does it require a stitch or two? Or is it so dull and requires a shine like the brilliant sunshine.

    He hails from a  family of traditional cobblers. He started in a big way, by stitching handmade shoes. …which were well made and quite well priced too!!

    His father continued with usual repairs and shoe shines, in a different location of the village adjacent to a big bungalow. Atmaram was given pride of place in a makeshift workplace under a staircase of a house, which serves has his ‘Operation Theatre’.

    Now you will wonder why? He loves to call the shoes he receives for repair as his ‘patients’.

    One of his immediate concerns is to ensure that “ Patient’s cha operation zala, thari, gari la , patnar “ ( The moment the patient’s surgery is done, he has to be sent home) so he says i.e He requires the finished shoes to be handed over, as he has limited place.

    I was stunned to see him one day at the nearby Dockyard Road Railway Station. He had changed to his civies (normal attire) unlike his work clothes, which is a loose fitting pyjama, and top.

    I enquired, after a brief struggle to recognize Atmaram in  his changed appearance “ Kai, Atmaram,  tumcha office sutli kai? Ani gari chalale? “   He then replied “ Ho,office sutli, pan, tumchi patient ajun gari nahi geli.” ( What Atmaram, you finished for the day? He replied” Yes, but your patient is still not gone home.”  In other words, ‘ you better ensure that you take your finished shoes home’.

    In today’s world, where there is a throwaway culture, Atmaram belongs to a slowly disappearing breed of cobblers, who still plays an important role in the village of Matharpacady. His place also serves as a meeting point for a little chat for some of the passersby.

    Matharpacady itself is one of   a few preserved villages of quaint bungalows in the heart of Múmbai,  struggling to retain its stature and resilience of old.  However Atamaram gives us a  message that come what may  we can still retain oúr ‘ identity’ in a fast changing world.

    These shoes were made for walking…….and when you need to look after them:

    Just contact Atmaram, and he has  a solution for all ailments that affect ‘ leather shoes’, laced with some humour if you have time for a chat.

     

    ( Interesting characters of Matharpacady village, with names changed….to showcase the traditions of more than 150 years old Heritage precinct…..now a tourist attraction , specially for the passengers of the Cruise liners)

    Courtesy : Vincent Mascarenhas

  • Mumbai takes a bow as Goa-born violinist celebrates 100th birthday

    Jun 30 2015 : The Times of India (Mumbai)

    Mumbai : TNN

    Alphonso

    “Now tell me, do I look that old?“ asked Mauro Alphonso, grinning as he posed for photographs, his violin in tow. He certainly did not.

    As he laughed and chatted with family members on Monday evening, and recollected anecdotes from years ago, it was hard to believe the Mazgaon resident was celebrating his 100th birthday . The occasion marked not only a century of an adventure-filled life, but also several decades of old Bombay’s musical heritage, of which the garrulous gentleman had been a vital part.

    Alphonso was 12 years old when he left his home in Goa’s Taleigaon village and moved to Mumbai to pursue his love for music. Soon, he specialized in playing the violin.

    The early days of his career saw Alphonso playing with the Mehli Mehta Orchestra, and then leading several other orchestras in Bombay .During the 1940s, Alphonso was popular on the city’s music circuit. He performed with artistes like Dominic Pereira and Gopi Krishna, and was a familiar face at gigs hosted by venues like the Taj Mahal hotel, at Parsi weddings and even on All India Radio.

    At a special party on Sunday , the family plans to ensure the celebration does full justice to grandpa Alphonso, who ensured future generations didn’t fall out of tune. His three sons inherited his love for music and played at the Taj, when they were as young as 6, 9 and 12 years old respectively . Alphonso also formed the Alph Brothers group (it was later called Alph Tzigane Trio) with them. TNN

    Source : The Times of India, 30th June 2015, Page 3.

  • 140th Anniversary Celebrations

    140th Anniversary Celebrations

    P1120420

    The Holy Cross Oratory is a Religious Landmark in the heart of Matharpacady Heritage Village in Mazagaon, Mumbai.  A kind lady, late Mrs. Buthello, donated the land.  Our ancestors donated generously to construct the Oratory, Their families gathered at the Oratory to pray and worship together.  When Mumbai was ravaged by the scourge of the Great Plague in the 1896, our forefathers and their families assembled at the Holy Cross Oratory and prayed.  They  beseeched Jesus and Mother Mary to save them from this deadly pestilence that had led to the deaths of scores of people all over the city.  Our forefathers most gratefully recorded that not a single life was lost to plague in Matharpacady Village as their fervent prayers to the Lord, His Blessed Mother and St. Roque – patron saint for pestilence,  had protected and saved the lives of all  resident families.

    Generations of families in Matharpacady Village, down the decades of time,  have sustained and continued the traditions of praying and worshipping at the Cross Oratory. Traditionally, every year, the Managing Committee of the Holy Cross Oratory organizes the nine days Novena Services which are held in the late evening from 22nd April to 30th April.  The Cross Feast Mass  is celebrated at 7.00 P.M. on 1st May, followed by Veneration and  Kissing of the Relic of the True Cross at the Oratory. The helpful volunteers then serve boiled gram and light refreshments to the large gathering of around 300 people.  An entertainment program follows with skits, song and dance.
    We shall celebrate the 140th Novena Services and Feast Day this year.  The Novena Services will start at 7.30 P.M.  on Wednesday, 22nd April 2015 to Thursday, 30th April 2015. On Friday, 1st May 2015 at 7.00 P.M., His Lordship Bishop John Rodrigues, Rector of St. Pius College, Goregaon,  will celebrate the Eucharistic Sacrifice.  Our Parish Priest – Rev. Father Frank Fernandes and his Assistants are invited to concelebrate. The Provincial of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers, Rev. Fr. Jegaraj [based at Eymard Cottage, 22 Matharpacady Village] and his Assistants are also invited to concelebrate.  Catholic resident families, their relatives settled in other parts of Mumbai, India and abroad,  and well wishers are invited to  attend the Feast Mass and festive celebrations.  The Managing Committee will organize kissing of the Relic of the True Cross after Holy Mass, refreshments and an entertainment program.

    We are posting our humble and earnest appeal to you on our website www.Matharpacadyvillage.com to assist our Managing Committee by donating generously towards the major repairs and renovation of the Holy Cross Oratory prior to the 140th Anniversary Celebrations on 1st May 2015.  Your monetary donation may be sent in cash or cheque in the name of our Treasurer,  Mr. Stanislaus Baptista or our President – Mrs. Carole Viegas, stating behind the cheque the purpose of the donation towards the 140th Anniversary Celebrations.   We cordially invite all of you to visit Matharpacady Village and participate in our 140th Anniversary Feast Day Celebrations.  Your generosity and participative prayers in sustaining the Catholic faith and devotion at the Holy Cross Oratory will surely be rewarded by showers of divine blessings from God.
    { Tyronne Concescio ]                                                 [ Stanislaus Baptista ]

    SECRETARY                                                                  TREASURER

     Note : Some photographs of last years Cross Feast celebrations have also been uploaded

    [Show slideshow]

  • Reap benefits of redevelopment without redeveloping

    Reap benefits of redevelopment without redeveloping

    Reap benefits of redevelopment without redeveloping

    The owners of heritage properties will now be able to enjoy the fruits of redevelopment without messing around with the history and architecture of their buildings.

    In a shift from regulation to rewards, the new Heritage Regulation Policy proposes to allow the owners of such properties to not only sell the extra FSI available to them as Transfer Development Rights (TDR), but also sell it at market rates.

    The move could boost the preservation of over 900 heritage structures in the city.

    The earlier policy only provided some petty tax benefits to owners of heritage properties and allowed only plain vanilla transfer of extra FSI – that is 1000 sq ft of extra of FSI in Colaba would earn the owner 1000 sq ft of FSI in, say, Dahisar.

    This obviously was not very attractive because 1000 sq ft of FSI in Colaba does not have the same value as 1000 sq ft of FSI in Dahisar.

    According to civic rules, no TDR can be used in the island city. So, all the additional FSI available to the owners of heritage properties must be utilized in the suburbs.

    The new policy changes this by linking the sale of extra FSI to its worth as per the government’s ready-reckoner rates. Simply put, if the owner of a heritage building in Colaba has 1000 sq ft of extra FSI, which he cannot utilize because he is not allowed to redevelop the building, he will get TDR rights worth the ready-reckoner value of the additional FSI he holds.

    The ready reckoner rate in Colaba is Rs 19,000 per sq ft, which makes the value of 1000 sq ft of TDR Rs 1.9 crore.

    The owner can thus use FSI worth Rs 1.9 crore in Dahisar. The ready reckoner rate in Dahisar is roughly Rs 8000 per sq ft. This means, the owner will get an FSI of nearly 2,300 sq ft in Dahisar.

    The owner would then have a choice of either using this FSI in a property he may develop in the suburbs, or simply sell to it to a builder.

    The Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee, whose brainchild the new policy is, had recently written to the state government’s Urban Development department, making it clear that unless an incentive-based policy was brought in, it would be difficult to save Mumbai’s heritage.

    The new policy also makes provision for repairs and maintenance since owners of heritage buildings find it difficult to maintain old, doddering heritage structures. Many of the buildings are owned by landlords who hardly have funds to undertake routine repairs.

    If an owner spends Rs 10 lakh on repairing his heritage building, then TDR worth Rs 10 lakh would be available to him for use in any building or project in the suburbs.

    However, all such repairs will have to be carried out as per the sanctions of the MHCC. A heritage committee member, who did not wish to be identified, said the new policy will make sure that the owners of heritage properties do not suffer any loss. “The TDR incentive offered today is not enough as the loss of development opportunity is not adequately compensated.

    Once it is linked to the ready-reckoner rates, the owner will have an incentive to maintain his building,” he said.

    Pointing out that preservation of heritage is a collective responsibility of the city, the policy says: “It is strongly felt that heritage conservation is not getting due consideration from the owners of heritage properties because of the reliance on a regulatory mechanism rather than incentivization.”

    Source: http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/cover-story/New-heritage-rules-to-improve-conservation-by-rewarding-owners/articleshow/19978006.cms