When Barkur.com was opened in December 2001, we introduced this site using one of this following line: " This is just a beginning towards a larger objective, to include Barkurians in all walks of life, culture, and faith in this mainstream…."  We did a fairly good job in presenting a few living ones in our 'Personality of the Month', POM column.  While continuing this POM column, now, we want to depict the Barkurians who are no more with us physically, but mere memories to some or unwritten history to many others.

"Famous ones need not be Great and Great ones may not be Famous. Scores of such 'great ones' lived in our Barkur - few left relics and legacies behind, like the Educational Institutions, Hospitals, Roads, Bridges, Dams, and Houses of God, etc.  These people lived a saintly life in the service of society, not craving for fame, name, or fortune for themselves," observes Archibald Furtado of Nagarmut.

"We, the beneficiaries, have an obligation to express gratitude and show respect to all those personalities, posthumously of course, for their sacrifices in helping to shape the present Barkur, and for improving the lifestyles of Barkurians," says James Fernandes, of Moodahadu Kudru.

With these views in mind, and in response to many of our readers' desire to know and learn from such personalities, for the benefit and knowledge of the present and future generations, Barkuronline is delighted to open a new column named, "Hall of Famers of Yester Barkur," to present and honor a few personalities and their praiseworthy contribution to Barkur.

Folks, please share your candid memories, comments, or kudos.  These will be presented in our widely read popular Sandesh column.  Feel free to recommend your worthy choices, along with some bio-data including the legacy they left behind, and we will accommodate them in this new column to the our best of ability.  Who knows, these might wind up in a book form, Gods-willing! Thank you for your continued support.

-Barkuronline.com team, January, 2004.

Archives

J. P Sequeira

P.N.Bhojarao

Fr. Alfred Roche

Yajna Narayana Rao

Jerome R. Picardo

KTN Raman Nambiar

Dr.Sreenivasa Hebbar

Dr. Krishna Bayiri

Head Master Victor Dias and his times – A Reminiscence…

‘In the teaching of English, the beginning period is all important. It is then that the foundation for the whole edifice of English learning is laid. So it is essential that the ablest teachers with a good command of the language are allotted this work. It would be ideal if trained graduate teachers who have a special ability in the teaching of English handle the subject during the beginning stages. But the realization of this ideal may be far off.’

- P. N. Bhoja Rao, Founder Head master, NJC Barkur, in his National Award winning Essay – The teaching of English in Indian Schools – 1964.

It is my crude guess today, that about four decades back, the writer of the above quoted famous article, must have had some personality in his mind, to fit in to be an ideal English Teacher, as he himself being a master of the language, who taught and trained the students from a dozen Primary Schools around Barkur of yesterday, had the acumen to differentiate and evaluate the English level of students coming from each such School, may be better than anyone else.

Understand he always had special praise for fruits, I mean students coming from Maryknoll Higher Primary School, and the credit goes to the Tree – the well educated Head Master Late Mr. Joachim Victor Dias of Bennekudru, Barkur.

As we are aware in Kannada Medium Schools at our native, English is introduced in Class 5 and of course we will not ignore the special teaching skills of Mrs. Elsie Carvalho, who taught a,b,c,d......... but it was our beloved Head Master, a man with sound views with strength of spotless character, an able administrator, and a teacher of English par excellence - taught us for two years in Class 6 and 7, in the English atmosphere at least for those 45 minutes everyday. His knowledge on the subject was total and why he gave that special importance to handwriting, pronunciations and grammar is realized not then, but now! 

There is no exaggeration, if state here, today, the language English gained such an important status in the world, as well as in our day today life, to communicate, interact and to gain knowledge, it will further be needed to be learned thoroughly and the teacher’s have that all important role in the beginning of its studies not only to inculcate interest but also, lay the proper foundation for its study. Today one agree in public or not, but admit privately, that a person who speaks better English have an edge over others in society. As in the case of most of us, it is a matter ‘repenting in leisure’, for not making the best use of ‘learning time’ of our career.

Early Life and Education:

Born on 15^th July, 1916, as the proud son of Mr. John Dias and Mrs. Marcine Dias brought up in Benne kudru, together with one brother and a sister. He had his preliminary education at Cosmopolitan Higher Elementary School, Brahmmavar i.e. up to 8^th Standard.

Since there was no High school around the area other than one at distant Udupi in the South and the Coondapoor, in the North, with very poor transport / communication systems it was an expensive affair to live and study, far away places, for a common man.

But the youngsters thirst for knowledge not stopped here, he has passed the following milestones in learning privately, only because of determination and sheer hard work: 

1. SSLC (Secondary School Leaving Certificate Public Examination)
2. Trained Teacher’s Certificate from Madras Educational Department.
3. Technical Teacher’s Certificate – Freehand Outline and Model Drawing at Mangalore – Govt. of Madras.
4. B.A. (Bachelor of Arts – University of Madras)

Career as a Teacher and then as Head Master of MHPS:

A man, who realized the value of Education in Life, embraced the royal career as a teacher and joined Bennekudru Elementary School, as an Assistant Teacher on 01.04.1940. Almost after 13 long years, over here, he was aptly offered the post of Head Master. On 10^th June 1953, he took the reins of Maryknoll Higher Elementary School Hosala, Barkur, managed by St. Peter’s Church, Barkur, till he retired officially on 14^th July, 1974 and the Management and Catholic Board of Education asked him to continue for another two years i.e. up to 31^st March, 1976. An illustrious career of 23 years, a full generation, thus comes to end, as the Head of a well known Educational Institution, of the time, at and around our Barkur, and full 36 years in the noble profession!!

A man who was the link between students, parents and teachers – played his role to near perfection – admired by all and sundry. The School made enormous progress with new building extension, and other infra-structural facilities to be seen as a model ‘temple of learning’ which dispelled the darkness in many households. The students taught by him remember him with reverence and the knowledge gained by hundreds, rather galaxy of thousands shine all over the World.

Involvement in Church activities:

He was known for integrity in personal and public life. An active and permanent ex-officio, member and office bearer of Church Parish Council, for a record time, served in different capacities as an Auditor, Secretary etc. Moreover, he was involved more actively in social organizations such as St. Vincent DePaul’s Society, as its Secretary, Catholic Sabha, St. Peter’s Church Barkur etc.

As a social human being:

In the social circle Itti Master was a popular, attractive and authoritative personality, he used to mingle with people at ease, occasionally we have seen him enjoying a Cigarette only during party time, especially weddings etc. but never in  the School campus. We were very scared of him during School days, but he was all together a different person on duty, off duty!!

A few words about his family:

Married to Celina Pinto, a mild spoken housewife, who always stood by her husband, had a distinct role in the success of the family. They were blessed with two children – daughter – Feliciana Apoline Lewis who married to Mr. Archibald John Lewis of Kallianpur who is no more but their two children are well placed and educated.

The only son Augustine Arunraj, the Founder ICYM President, now serving in Milagres College Kallianpur as Physical Director. He with wife Diana Dias and Four children inheriting and settled in the home just behind the Maryknoll School, Barkur. (You can read more about him, very soon in this web site)

Conclusion:

As we mentioned earlier, after a life dedicated to the service of humanity and noble cause of education, Mr. Jacky Victor Dias breathed his last on 24^th January, 1994, at the age of 78. The Barkurian’s in general and Catholic Community, in particular who looked upon him as their friend, philosopher and guide over the years, thus paid their last respects to a genuine representative of common men. His life, learning and living, manifold contributions to the society at large, fittingly suit to be honored on the wall of famous portraits of our Barkur.

On behalf of Barkuronline Team and ICYM Barkur Ex-Member’s Association,

P.Archibald Furtado, Muscat, 14^th February, 2005.