BRIEF LIFE SKETCH OF POST MASTER – Jerome John Fernandes.
‘A superior man is slow in his words and earnest in his conduct’ –
Confucius.
Year 2005, two great landmarks in the life of a man – as an
employee of the Indian Post & Telegraphs Department celebrating
150 years of service to the nation and as the Director of Adarsh
Youth Association Nagermutt – Pandeshwar, celebrating purposeful
existence of 25 years in the service of community and youth of
these twin wards of Barkur, The ‘Barkuronline team’ rightly chosen
the person associated with both these organizations for almost
lifetime is Shri Jerome John Fernandez, the person popularly known
in the locality as Post Master, as Personality of the Month.
Born on 8th October1949, in a devout middle class family as the
second son, third child of Late Evangelist and Regina Fernandez,
had his early education in the Mary knoll
Higher Primary School, Hosala Barkur, and High school studies in
National
Higher Secondary School, Barkur i.e. SSLC in 1966.
A very clever and intelligent student, always stood at the top in
the class ranks, naturally had a great desire to go for
professional higher studies. As we said earlier, among other
things, economical conditions of an average Barkurian was not good
in those days and to educate themselves in distant professional
Institutions a distant dream.
Mr. Jerome was fortunate to qualify for Government Student
Scholarship, only because of his excellent academic record and
secured a seat for B.Sc. in the then prestigious MGM (Mahatma
Gandhi Memorial) College, Udupi. Graduated in the year 1970, with
flying colors, decided to give back to the Government in
multifolds by joining the Postal Department very next year i.e. in
1971 at Manipal Post Office as Clerk.
One like Jerome, would have easily got remunerative assignments in
any Private enterprises in
Bombay… or even successfully landed in the then attractive Gulf…….
even continued family business as a Copper / Steel merchant in
Ghat…. but decided to serve the nation in the natives… that too
in a orthodox Central Government Post and Telegraph Department.
Now he has given best of his lifetime almost 30 – 35 years and we
never heard a word of repentance from his mouth.
He is grown and promoted over the years from a simple Clerk to Sub
Post Master. He has won the hearts of poor and less fortunate
one’s on the one hand and commands a respectable position among
the elite.
Over the passage of time Mr. Jerome actively involved in the
formation, promotion and continuation of the following platforms
well known in the social circles.
Ø As a Member of Parish Council: One of the permanent
members of the Council for record number of tenures.
Ø As a Member of St. Peter’s Association Barkur: the young
blood in late 60’s and early 70’s one of the active members of
this organization.
Ø In St. Vincent DePaul’s Society: A true forum to serve
the needy in the parish. Jerome occupies the prestigious
Treasurer’s post at the moment.
Ø As the Director of Adarsh Youth Association: We find no
proper words to express our feelings……being an inspiration to
unite the youngsters in the ward Mr. Jerome John Fernandes shown
us the way not by words as many does but by living a life useful
to the community.
Few words about the family:
Married on
12th February 1983,
with the person of his choice, an attractive hardworking lady in
the neighborhood - Zita D’Souza, Jerome’s is an ideal, happy
family of two children. The eldest, pretty daughter Nisha, with
nightingale voice, after her B.Sc. studies from Milagres College
Kallianpur, perusing her M.C.A. studies in St. Aloysius College
Mangalore and Son Joylus, a talented up-coming youth, is in the
Second year of B.Com. in
Milagres College, Kallianpur.
It is said that ‘behind every successful man there is a woman’ and
let me add it is true with vice versa too. Today his better half
Mrs. Zita Fernandez, has created history in our Parish by becoming
first ever Woman Gurkarn of the Nagermutt - Pandeswar ward in the
year 2003. One can visibly see the supportive hand of Mr. Jerome
in her fulfillment of obligations.
Though had his early life in a rare but unique joint family of
modern times, highly respected in our locality even today, Jerome
shouldered the responsibility to establish all his sisters in good
family life.
A special observation:
A spotless character and a man of integrity Jerome never craved
for recognition or fame. Though he had all the pre-requisites to
be in the limelight, in the natives, where youngsters even now
scared to settle down, Jerome always preferred to play the smaller
roles in the Church hierarchy and contented to be so, but whatever
the responsibility given, he has done full justice with sincerity
and dedication.
Always helpful to the illiterate public who visit the Post
Offices, we have seen him writing letters on their behalf. When
many of his contemporaries canvassing and earning by way of
promoting deposits or few involving in parallel money making
business Mr. Jerome chosen to be 100% faithful to the profession /
organization. Service with a smile, truly every time he smiles,
and more when he laughs, it adds something to his fragment of
life.
A Career of Thirty five long years:
Jerome started his career at the age 22 and now almost 35 years
service! Yes, he started from Manipal as a simple Clerk and then
transferred to Udupi Divisional Office. Barkur was fortunate to
have him for few years at its main Office in Kalchapra. As a
senior Clerk he served in Brahmmavar Post Office too. Here he got
promoted as Sub-Master normally known as Post Master and shifted
to Mandharthi, in the same position in continued EPO Udupi,
Bannanje, then to Sasthan. Now he is the Sub-Post Master of
Ambalpady Post Office, in Udupi.
In other words his services spread over to the whole of District.
It is said God always has an angle of help for those who willing
to do their duty, and Jerome humbly admits it. Soft spoken Jerome
is true believer of value in life not in the place he occupies but
how or the way he occupies it.
Friends, let me take this opportunity on behalf of Barkur on line
to thank him for his yeoman services……….. and wish him and family
all the very best in their life, Let Almighty bless him with good
health to serve more in coming years…. though his retiring years
from P&T approaching nearer, we expect an active social and family
life of many more years, in our Barkur.
On behalf of Barkur on line Team and ICYM Barkur Ex-Members
Association,
P. Archibald Furtado,
Muscat, 23rd October, 2005. |