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Barkuronline.com had featured the family of Mrs. Benedicta Andrade, mother of our renowned contributor to 'Spiritual Corner', Fr. Tony Andrade.  During this time we had solicited information to feature more families.  Thus we are proud to present, Mr. Boniface Picardo, resident of Moodahadu Kudru, and his family.  (Please note, that unless information arrives, Barkuronline.com cannot display any family information here.)

Boniface Picardo, popularly known as Bhona Pikadth, was born on 5th of June  1918.  He is just 85 years young today, healthy and attending to his personal needs by himself. He is the fifth child of late Kasmir Picardo and late Angeline Picardo of Pandeshwar belonging to Barkur parish.  He was born in his ancestral house of his grand father Pedru Picardo in Moodahadu Kudru. He is married to Elizabeth Crasta (from Kannada Kudru) on April 21 1942.  Elizabeth is only 80 years young.  I could be wrong, however, he and his wife are believed to be the oldest living married couple in Barkur parish.

He had four brothers and two sisters. All of them have attained the eternal bliss. The eldest was the sister; Mary Picardo married to Ermel Lewis of Thonse Udupi Taluk. Next was Albert Picardo married to Machu Picardo.  They lived in Uganda for many decades and Albert died even before Idi Amin came to power. Next in line was Raymond Picardo who married to Marie Picardo. He settled in Poona, lived in Poona & died in Poona. Next was the sister Stella Picardo who remained a spinster and put in full meritorious service in the Military Nursing Service of Indian Army. She received AVSM (Athi Vishista Seva Medal) award from Indian President for exemplary service during the Indo-Pak war of 1965. Next was the brother, Alex Picardo married to Juliana Crasta was in Poona in a reputed firm, but died at an young age. The youngest brother is Mark Picardo married to Linnet  Lewis who expired lately.  He too served in the defense and retired as Warrant Officer from the Indian Air Force.

Presently Mr. Bhona Pikadth affectionately called as Bhonaba or Bhon Naykru, is residing in the Picardo's ancestral home in Moodahadu Kudru. Thanks to his strong conviction in preserving the ancestral property.  In the year 1960; it so happened that one of his brothers for some inevitable reasons and without getting this gentleman into confidence disposed off the revered ancestral property to a third person. But this man, when it came to his notice, swung into action and took legal measure to prevent the purchaser to set his foot in the above property. In the meantime he managed to raise the funds and repurchased the ancestral property for a premium!!! That is the extent of love he had for the above property and even today he does not want to live in any of the posh places where his children are settled. He has the desire to start his last journey from the same Kudru ancestral home, from where he began.

Well, this great Kudru is a picturesque place. The house is close to the river bank and in the midst of coconut orchard. The river in front of the house is also connected to a huge back water lake where fishing can be done day & night. For folks, who do not know what kudru means:  Kudru is a patch of land/island/islet surrounded by river, (not by sea or ocean).  This kudru, being so very close to the Arabian Sea, about 2-3 miles from the estuary, is subject to high and low tides daily. Thus, during the summer months the water in the river is salty, because, it's nothing but tidal sea water.  Because of this salt water, all the drinking water wells in Kudru produce saline water, which is not potable at all. These people have to bring drinking water from the main land, such as Pandeshwar or Barkur.  You may be wondering why I am narrating this a well known monotonous daily routine.  Folks, this Bhoniface Picardo, donated part of his land in Pandeshwar to the village Panchayat (Government), where the Panchayat dug a huge fresh water well, and built a water storage tank to provide drinking water to folks in Moodahadu and Pandeshwar villages.  But the beauty of this deal is, that this man, managed to draw a water pipe line to his great Kudru too.  Obviously, now all the Kudru people, (about 25 families or so) have access to drinking water today.  I can imagine the line of pots and buckets early in the morning! He deserves, a big hand, my friends for this meritorious service to fellow villagers.  He is an example, how local people can and do help themselves.  He did not go to college nor completed high school. He is a drop-out from the III standard of primary school. He did not leave his birth place for any gainful employment, but he made a living by working 18 hours a day, in the rice and coconut fields, producing 2-3 crops a year, producing the work equivalent to four hired heads (eight hands!)  There is no profit, or it could be just break even if you hire workforce, unless when necessary. He could do three-hours of work in an hour!  (He needed just an hour to watch '60 Minutes' not more, not less!) 

He is a hard, very hard worker indeed. In the field of procreation also he has not lagged behind!!! He and Eliza gave eleven productive children to this world.  They have 18 grand children, and two great grand children.  Two of his daughters are nuns.  A son and a daughter's daughter are settled in the USA. Their eldest son is a doctor, and three of his grand children are doctors too.

Brief profiles of his children are as under:

Sr. Wilma (Mercy) Picardo, Sisters of Charity. presently serving in K R Pete Karnatataka. She was the School Principal, managing and teaching at the Holy Family Higher Elementary School, Brahmavar, for many a years. Though retired is a fine teacher, she is still actively involved in the administration of various schools of the community. Her sixtieth Birthday was celebrated at  K R Pete on 14th June 2003 in a grand manner. 

Richard Picardo, MBBS is an out-standing sportsman. Apart from playing Basket ball & Tennis for the Mysore Medical College, he was the Champion swimmer of Mysore University during his entire stay in the college.  Immediately after his Medical course, he joined the Indian Army as Short Service Commissioned Officer in the Army Medical Corps and served for five years. He is married to Kusum, who too is a doctor whom he met in the same Mysore Medical College. They are now owning and running a well established highly reputed hospital named R. K. NURSING HOME in Chamarajanagar Mysore. They have two children: daughter Madhu and son Kishan.  Believe it or not both are Doctors! Former is a Dental Surgeon and the latter an MBBS. 

Rita is a Stenographer. Proprietor/Principal of the 'Jeevan School of Commerce', located in Barkur.  In Barkur, no one knew Rita's real name, because everyone knew her as "Typing Teacher!" She is married to John Crasta, who did work in the Middle East for quite some time. They are presently settled at Kannada Kudru, Kundapur, from where they run their commerce school.  Rita and John have 3 children. Premila, M.Sc., M. Phil. Lecturer, married to Norbert Mascarenhas (M.A. Lecturer), who are blessed with a son Navil.  They are settled in Puttur.  Latha (B.E.) married to Rock D'Silva (B.E.), settled in New Jersey, USA, with their lovely daughter Liora.  Jeevan, who too is a doctor, is working in a rural hospital in Coorg, Karnataka.

Arthur Picardo, though an electrical Diploma holder, has opted to take care of the ancestral property. He is married to Victoria, who have 4 children; Jeshma (Studying Final MBBS), Sharon, Smeeli,  and Glen, studying/staying with parents and grand parents at Moodahadu Kudru.

Thomas Picardo, a true sporting breed; has excelled in athletics, Kabbaddi and also swimming. He is very good in Shikar (hunting) and fishing. He is a Mechanical Diploma holder, married to Rosaline (nee Lewis from Matpady) who are settled in New York, USA, with children Terrance, Tracy and Thelma, enjoying the American dream. 

Alben Picardo,  (M.A. Lecturer), married to Amanda (a Lecturer as well) are settled in Chempi with children Kenneth and Gweneth.  Alben is teaching at SMS College in Brahmavar. He plays organ and leads the choir in the church.

Sr. Shanthi Picardo (M.Sc.), was teaching as a lecturer in Kallianpur. However, she decided to join the religious order known as 'The Daughters of the Cross', who at present is performing the 'works of mercy', quietly, in Kolkata.  To the parents to give up a girl after making efforts to teach up to M.Sc., and then just let go to God's work, indeed a big sacrifice.  Well, God has paid them back in different ways!  Longevity is a blessing indeed.

Maria, (B.Sc., B.Ed.) married to Felix Crasta, is settled in Mahad with Children Fruma, Floyd, and Fermi.  She was teaching in a school in Mumbai, but now assists her husband in his electrical engineering works. 

Joyce, (B.A., B.Ed.), married to Dr. Alwyn Pais, settled in Mangalore along with daughter Janice. She is teaching in a High school in Mangalore and Dr. Pais is working for Fr. Muller's Homeopathy Hospital, also in Mangalore. 

Gladys and Anita expired in their early age, presently serving God in heaven. 

Well, by looking at the educational qualification of each of his wards, one can imagine the importance he showed for the cause of education. Despite being a school drop-out and an ordinary farmer, he managed to give right education to each child, depending on the potential of each one of them. Looking at this amazing success in the field of education, anybody would envy!  (Believe me, envy is different from jealousy!) 

Bhona Pikadth, enjoyed fishing.  If Bhona Picardth, fished in a pond, then, nobody would try to fish there, because, nothing was left in the pond!  He and his father were known to catch 'Ghur', the kingfish in Thirthabailu river gundi (deep spot).   He loved 'Shikari', hunting.  His gun kept the wild flock of pigeons and other seasonal migrating birds off the about to harvest rice or grain crops, however, some of them ended up in his kitchen.  He enjoyed boating too, even though these were non-motorized.  He is a very good swimmer.  If he had to cross the river, he would not wait for any ferry boat.  He would wrap his shirt around his head, and wade or swim like a sea lion. He was always in a  hurry, worked fast, and never wasted any time.  Folks, he did not take any "Time Management Courses." He planned his work.  If he had to cross the river, he took a shower/bath at the same time, thus capturing two birds at one shot. 

Such 'chalaki' is gained by experience, or is 'trained on the job' and not taught in schools!  He used to take part in 'Kambala' buffalo races, for many years in his younger years.  He even won a 'shield' medal for placing the rest of the buffaloes way behind his pair.  It was a great sight 'home coming' with the shield in hand while the band and 'dhol' played all the way.

It has been a family tradition to celebrate "Monti Fest" by sharing the meal on this day with the neighborhood people, especially the poor.  The Koraga Dhol group, played, danced and ate in their house on this day celebrating the harvest feast. 

This has been the family tradition, from his grand father.  They believe, 'It is in  giving that we receive".  [Normally some rich folks share, but only with the other  rich or friends or in-laws!] 

He is also a musician, used to sing, and play Violin.  He taught his, children,  even his grand children, "Do Re Me Fa Sol La Ti Do", the 'Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Da Ni Sa' equivalent, thus how to read modern music.  He was a lead singer of "Laudate" at any public functions.  The rumor had it that he sang 'Laudate' practically every Sunday, in his home, after the midday meal prior to the customary siesta,  while enjoying with his grand children, and perhaps after a good shot 'watis.'

In his younger days, a teacher from Goa used to come and stay in his father's house  for some months in a year, who taught music, violin, and also religion, and to also to read and write.  There were no local schools then, not in the day-time vicinity. His brothers and sisters went to Kallianpur for initial/early schooling.   He even taught his grand children to swim or row a boat, properly, or efficiently. 

He is no rabbit, when it comes to partying!!! He can eat, drink, cut jokes with any king of company; be they young or old, poor or rich, powerful or powerless;he would have fun with every body.  He is capable of drinking any drink; from best Scotch to local brands and it is difficult to challenge him in quantity wise also!!! Even today he enjoys a peg every day in the night.  Let him have it, he has earned it. 

He has a great inherent capability in him to tide over any crisis. Couple of years  back he was in a critical condition. In fact he went walking to the hospital and on physicians' advise got admitted only for routine medical check-up; but landed up in serious complication on account of the blunder of the attending physician. He was unconscious and bed-ridden for couple months in the hospital. Nobody ever believed that he would ever open his eyes again. But the Will of God and the Grit of this Great Man are different. He not only survived the ordeal but also recently got rid of the catheter, which was placed for passing urine for solid two years. His mental faculty and special senses are also so very good; even now he can remember and narrate the historical events including Ramayana & Mahabharata of Hinduism in India. His sight is so perfect that he can spot easily the mosquito flying in his vicinity. He can hear even if a pin is dropped. 

This article is incomplete if I do not give credit to the woman behind this accomplished man.  Eliza was in charge of the home.  Everything had to be in dozens or in Baker's dozen. Just imagine the labor involved in cooking for this large family!  Yes, one had to cook three times a day, for lack of refrigerators, those days.  Besides timely regular meals, she was an expert in preparing delicious sweets like 'athtras, nevrio, Chakkuli, laddu, portha pole, etc,' which she shared during Christmas time with neighbors.  Other chores like, preparing kids to school,  stitching clothes, questioning about school home work, reciting the angelus and rosary, and also working in the fields as necessary, etc. etc.  (Folks, how our mothers slogged!)    She used to cook at weddings, parties, etc.  She is a great 'randpin' indeed.  She used to be a lead singer at weddings too.  She used to visit the sick, for she believed in "Pidesthank Bhujavan Divnk". 

I do admire this family for their success story.  Hard work has its rewards.  Yes, folks, God provides, however, until God provides, we all have to work for it!   As I have said before, there is plenty of fish (riches) in Barkur, it all depends on how good you are in fishing!    Bhona Pikadth made it, earned it, worked hard for it, the 'Old Fashioned Way', and that too without leaving Barkur!

Barkuronline.com wishes them a healthy, wealthy, and happy retired life. Compiled by James Fernandes.

Blessings this Thanksgiving

Congratulation on your 68th B'day.

Benedicta Andrade (better known as Benny Teacher) 26-11-2003.

WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY B'DAY AND MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY. MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH GOOD HEALTH AND JOY IN YOUR HEART.

From:- Family, friends and the parishioners of St. Thomas the Apostle church St. Paul, MN (USA), 26/11/2003