A Tribute to Anjediv Island's ex-boss Poristhar

  
  Billows and Breeze, Islands and Seas
  Mountains of Rain and Sun
  All that was Good, all that was Fair
  All that was me is Gone.
  

The lines from Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem Sing Me A Song came flashing to my mind when I learnt of the sad demise of Antonio Francisco Dias aka Poristhar aka Chepekar, the granddaddy of Galgibaga on 29th March 2006.

But he was too much of a contented man to echo Stevenson in so many words. In a chat just a few months before his death when asked about his health, he had replied with a tinge of irony creeping in his voice. “At 94 can I complaint? I can only say I am grateful to God for all those wonderful years.”

Say Anjediv and the frail body would perk up, dim eyes would light with a glint and his entire being would get animated like a school kid watching the thrills of an exciting animation movie. “I was a commander at the Island for 16 years. There were 13 families and some 44 people including some Africans - on the Island in 1954.”

Born on 4 October 1912, Poristhar completed his Segundo Grau and started a career in the military. His next posting was as Commander on Anjediv for 16 years and new the place like the back of his hand. “I spent the best years of my life on the Anjediv Island. Life was full of excitement,” he would add nostalgically. Even at 75+ he served as a supervisor for the PWD. 

Poristhar’s affluence in those days could be seen from the fact that he was the only one to have a radio. There was a party at his place almost every second day. But if he treasures a place in people’s heart it is not for his extravagant lifestyle but for his compassion.  

True to Rudyard Kipling’s concept of an ideal man, he walked with the Kings but never lost the common touch and was ever ready to help anybody in need.

He will be remembered as a man of great compassion, a good violinist and a great human being. An elderly village lady remarked on learning about his death, a great man with a big heart has passed away. And no one in the village is likely to ever contend that.


Anthony M Barreto (Tony Martin)
Freelance Writer and Author
Primrose
Galgibaga, Canacona, Goa -- 403728
April 1, 2006

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