Congratulations

Gratian D'Silva, Hanehalli, UK

Hearty congratulations dear Gratian

Being elected as the Vice President of the UK Konkans association. We are proud of you. Keep up the good works.

Anirudh, Marina and Kishoo, Barkur, 19/03/2006

Congratulations Mr.Gratian

We know you were instrumental in forming Karaval Milan, Dubai and now actively involved in UK Konkans. Keep flying the Barkur Flag wherever you go. Wishing you all the success in everything that you do. With regards,

The Expressions,19/03/2006

New Bridge was built within  three years, and just repair work..!.?

It is said history repeat itself. Yes, the then Chief Minister of Karnataka State, Shri S. Nijalingappa was there at Barkur some 40 years ago on 20 the November 1964, to inaugurate the newly built Hall, at the National High School premises, now popularly known as Kala Bhuvan.

It was on that day, responding to the appeal and experiencing himself the hardship to cross the river Sita to land in Barkur, he declared a Bridge will be built and he kept the promise as the new bridge was ready with in 3 years and his protégé Shri Veerendra Patil, who took over the reins of the State as Chief Minister, drove all the way to open the same for public in 1967. That was the quality of politics of yesterday.

Now the bridge got collapsed and almost two long years, no positive signs that it will be ready before Monsoon. Barkurians habituated to promises after promises by various leaders and patiently looking for its repair….. As I said history repeats – today Hon. Chief Minister of the State, Shri H.D.Kumara Swamy, was in Barkur, to inaugurate the new College Building, Main Gate and Dr. Gabriel Fernandes Auditorium of the Govt. First Grade College, in the same campus. We are yet have the elaborate report of the same, but very sure the local public must have drawn the attention of the half of the State Cabinet present during this function, including the CM, of the fate of this Gate way of Barkur – the Bridge.

It is still a mystery, when a New Bridge can be built within 3 years, that too 40 years back, when the Engineering skills not progressed as that of today, a mere repair work take such a long time?

P. Archibald Furtado, Muscat,18/03/ 2006.

Dr. Gabriel Fernandes Auditorium at Barkur First Grade College.

On Saturday, 18th March, 2006, new Barkur College Building will be inaugurated by the Honorable Chief Minister of Karnataka State, Mr. H.D. Kumara Swami at 2.00 p.m.

It is a proud privilege to Barkur on line Team as one of the Great brain behind the web site, DR. GABRIEL FERNANDES, USA; name is given to the New College Hall, which too will be inaugurated by Sri D.H. Shankara Murthy, Hon. Minister for Higher Education, on the same day.

While wishing this historical function a great grand success, Barkur on line Team congratulate Dr. Fernandes and thank him for his yeoman service. A person always first to respond to the cause of education and generous to donate his valuable time and resources, thereby rightly recognized by the College Management, fittingly christening the Auditorium as ‘DR. Gabriel Fernandes Hall’.

P. Archibald Furtado, Muscat, 18/03/2006

Many thanks for the kind Invitation for the Inauguration of Smt. Rukmini Shedthi Memorial Govt. First grade College as well as for Dr. Gabriel Fernades auditorium at Barkur. All the best for the celebrations !

With kind regards,

Fr. Charlie Lobo, 18/03/2006

The Principal,

Congratulations and good wishes on the Grand  Inauguration, May it continue its journey  providing  excellent education to thousands if not millions not just from Historical Barkur but also from neighbour hood towns too. May it shine bright  year after year. Regards,

Francis Martis , 527 Grove Street, Rahway, New Jersey, USA , (201)243-2517 / Tel  (201)243-9224 / Fax, 18/03/2006

A) Nice to read about Fr Lobo's life and his achievements. Its simply great Mr. Fernandes,  you have done a good work on POM . You have unearthed  one more diamond of Barkur .Excellent  job , thank you.

B) Good article from Eisen Picardo. Good advise in "Don't look for quick money". Keep it up,  looking forward for  some more good articles on finance.

C) Nice to read Fr Tony's articles,   and I am thanking you for  writing about Mr. Gregory Fernandes in HOF. A good job .

D) Congratulation and best wishes on the  inauguration function of college building and Welcome gate. I would like to  wish all the best to the function .

E) Best wishes to Barkuronline team. We are looking forward for more good articles from you . Thank you Kishoo and your team.

Rahul D'Souza, Kazakhistan. 18/03/2006

I am of the firm opinion that, one must not mix messages and opinions as one. Most of the sites though intermix them, I strongly recommend to Barkuronline team to take steps to separate them. In the recent opinion Mr Pinto and others said it in different tones but the point is same. If one is so keen to utilize the space to talk or write about a particular family, let him use messages, not opinions section.  Messages to congratulate, introduce, call out the achievements, and opinions is the live wire of the web. All are reading it by chance not by choice, as one do in the case of other columns. Overdosing of same people, by friends like Fr.Tony, over these pages slowly, but surely tarnish the image of the otherwise a beautiful site of Barkur. Please put this in messages.

Rudolph S. Picardo, 18/03/2006

The site is really well maintained. I liked the history inputs about Barkur. Well done, keep it up!

Dobin, 17/03/2006

A) Today I am extremely happy to read about Fr. Lobo, a greatest priest of Salesian order  of St Don Bosco, wonderful career of service, many would be priests to follow. Congratulations barkuronline to give these details to public.

B) Fr Tony being a learned priest himself doing his best, thanks to him too. Moreover may he be aware out of 10 lepers cured, only one turned out to say a word of thanks to Jesus. After all we are little human beings, known to receive but slow to give as Mr. Vincent observed. Of course some are doing it out of the way. Let’s do our Karma, don’t expect Phala right now.

C) Coming to Ms.Felciana and Mr. Pinto’s observation - they are 100% right, as a third person I too feel Barkur is a much bigger community. One of the articles or in message Archie or somebody claimed only 5% originals are living in Barkur balance 95% elsewhere, so nothing to worry, if natives recognize, they are beneficiaries if not looser!

D) To contribute money for cemetery or church, school or hospital, it is purely personal, no one can insist, it his wish and will. Many does charity silently, fame and name follow them or not – best e.g. Fr. Lobo the POM.

Philiph Richard P., 17/03/2006

Wonderful personality, beautifully presented. Congratulations and thanks. After all, each one in the elite list, special and incredible.

MM ALVARES, alvaresmm@hotmail.com , 17/03/2006

Fr.Lobo, you are simply great. A priest with difference. We pray for your good health. Superb write-up by Mr. Fernandes. Present more POMs more frequently, a informative column. Thanks Barkuronline team.

Felciana D'Silva, Kuwait. 17/03/2006

Welcome on board dear Eisen Picardo. Barkuronline.com is truly blessed to have you as one  of the valuable contributor of your articles on the matters of managing the finance. Your latest article on "Don't look for quick money" is very good. Wish all the viewers of the web site read the article. Please continue to share your God given beautiful talents for the good of the community. God bless you my fellow Barkurgar.

Fr. Tony Andrade De Barkur. , Church of St.Thomas The Apostle, 2119 Stillwater Ave, St. Paul MN 55119, USA, 17/03/2006

Yes, Vincent, the people at the native place do not care or may not even know what we are talking about.

In fact, I came to know from a reliable source that the Parish Priest is aware of our discussion about the cemetery, and especially about the Rs. One Lakh!  He must be chuckling saying "All talk, no Action!" Barkur St. Peter's Church is like an elephant. When the elephant takes a walk, lot of dogs bark at it. Does the elephant care? May be when 100 dogs decide to donate to St. Peter, then the elephant may care! Hence, any discussion on this forum is futile to some extent, unless there is a majority, and unity, otherwise mere recreation.

Felciana: In any organization every one is important, especially each member! Which reminded me of the major organs in the human body arguing about whether the heart, kidney, or brain is important. It was concluded that the rectum is most important, because, if it goes on strike, the whole human body can collapse. It still marvels me, how our ancestors built this church building, and especially those mighty and majestic temples, and water tanks! With all our financial success, we still struggle to help the church hall or the shopping complex!

James Fernandes, USA, 15/03/2006

Yes Mr. Pinto, I do share your observation - its few people and their relatives focused too much, that is specially in these days.

Let me add a word or too to Mr. Alvares -  Archie has focused services of Secretaries, what about others like treasurers....all are important. Its President focused to the outside world and secretary is the Boss inside the organisation. I also expect someone to write on our days in Barkur in early 70's and late 60's. I too envy of ICYM and feel it would have envisaged in 60's so today we would have been a member of this set up and friends circle more precisely. Are we less fortunate Barkurians!!??

Felciana D'Silva, Kuwait. 13/03/2006

Austin Deepak Pinto, Pandeshwar, Sasthan (Muscat) shared his opinion saying "same personalities are exposed again and again" I do agree with his opinion but  Barkuronline.com website is open for all to send their articles, stories, life experiences, that can be written in English, Kannada, Konkanni etc. But if  no one is willing to send anything but sit at the back pew and grumble, I don't think that will be a big help to anyone.

Same person wrote appreciating the "HALL OF FAME" about his uncle Mr. Gregory Fernandes of Barkur( 23-2-2006) but fail to say a thank you to the person who wrote that article collecting all the data of his wonderful life he lived as a servant of God. Sometimes a word of THANK YOU makes a big difference for those of us who take time to write article to keep the web site alive and active.

Austin D. Pinto, along with sharing your personal opinions on the web site this is a thought for you to ponder.

Fr. Tony Andrade of Barkur. 13/03/2006

Good point, Austin Deepak Pinto. Same personalities are highlighted when ever they come up with new highlights! We have asked several times to name and give details on new personalities and their accomplishments, besides their eating three meals a day.

Do you know one Mr. Hubert Pinto of Bennekudru? All I know is he was a teacher or headmaster in St. Antony's School in Sasthan. Can you find some of his deeds, you and I can complete an article on him. Will you help me? Or any others, Austin? Please name them at least.

James Fernandes, USA, 13/03/2006

Mr. Fernandes, it's general thing to make the best use of best things free of cost! We read articles, news etc regularly over here but shy away to contribute back in any means, not only money, appreciation or prayers. I have no complaints on team, as it does good job but the people at natives, least bothered of the opinions discussion and suggestions that hurt me and those think like me.

Yesterday Mr.Alvares pointed a strange statistic in Archie’s article - 30 names, yes its a fact but anyone is kind to come back to the host to acknowledge it. I don't know! I haven’t seen!! About cemetery, revered Parish Priest need to be consulted, hope he has seen Mr. Fernandes' point.

Vincent D’Souza.13/03/2006

Handwriting lost its heydays. Now everything Computers, PC, browsing, Key pad, CD .... and these like others. Lately I heard a discussion in Mangalore Devanagari - Hindi script to be used to write Konkani. My feeling is to continue whichever language one like. Surely most of our present day writers will not be comfortable in Hindi.

In the latest in Archie's column, I noted one point he is extremely generous to praise and acknowledge the talents in others. By the way my wife counted as many as 30 names in his article!! This is a rare quality and so his articles though strange and vivid in topics, interesting to read!!!! I understand, the bridge over Sitha river will only be ready by September 06 for public use, not before monsoon. A ray of hope is the new BJP Govt. may put pressure to earn goodwill and garner public appreciation. Dr VS Aacharya the new Minister wants to speed up the work, let's wait and see.

MM ALVARES, alvaresmm@hotmail.com 10/03/2006

It's good that we can be in touch with our native place, people, relatives, friends through this website but I noticed one thing in this website. And that, in my opinion , is focused on a group of people only. Same personalities are being exposed again and again. Please do something for this and give all Barkurians a fair chance.

Austin Deepak Pinto, Muscat, Sasthan, 10/03/2006

Happy First Birthday

Keith Walter Menezes
S/O Herbert and Maria Menezes, Barkur

Dear Baba Keith,

Many Many happy returns of the Day. Wishes From

Dulcine Fernandes (Great Grand Ma), Jessy Menezes, (Granny) Herbert (Dad), Maria (Mom), Eulet, Pramod, Priyal. Anthony Almeida (Grand Pa) Elizabeth Almeida (Gand Ma) Santhosh, Reema.09/03/2006

Wishing baba Keith Walter Menezes

Many many happy returns of the day and many more to come. God bless you today and always. Love,

Gerald, Jyothi and Jonathan, Dubai. 09/03/2006

Hi Vincent:

Old wine in new Bottle! Yes Vincent, you have the literary fluency, and yet you hide the new bottle. It appears you want to drink all by yourself? All I need is just one drink, my friend. Usually the sixth one!' Thanks young man, for your honest encouraging observations!  

On this forum, some fellows 'chadaaved' me to spell about on the issue of naming the hall. Since I did not contribute to this hall, I had no right to talk about it anyway.

'However, when I wrote, that it does not matter what name the hall gets, let us keep up the reputation the named while running the hall. Lo and behold, the discussion on this subject went silent! And that's Barkurian spirit! When teacher questions who stole the mangoes, silence is great! Is this a boring subject Vincent?

About a week ago, I announced that a Barkurian is prepared to shell out One Lakh Rupees towards a new Cemetery. Since no one responded nor promised to add any money for a new cemetery, the person now says "forget it!"  I asked him to give the money to beautify the present cemetery. 50 years ago there used to be ‘Touch me not' thorny plants thriving on the ones graves! Yes, folks, we lack "Team work!" We are able to rise up individually, but collectively, do we do well?

Well, I am a Pre-ICYM old wine! Hence, I do not know whether Barkur ICYM teaches or has taught 'Team Work'.

James Fernandes, USA, 09/03/2006

My hearty greetings to Mr. Ronnie Andrade & my cousin Sharmila Andrade on their Wedding Annvrsry and at the same time I remember my college mate in Dr. T.M.A. Pai Polytechnic Mr. Praveen Carvallho on his wedding anniversary and wish him happiness in his married life. May almighty God give him all success.

Austin Deepak Pinto, Muscat, Sasthan, 09/03/2006