Thank you Ison for your input. When I read the word 'roots' the first thought occurred to me was 'fruits'.  Instead of going deeper into the roots, we must also go forward, upward, sideways, higher, and higher than the highest, just as the branches and the fruits.

The fruits, or seeds of Barkur are scattered all over the world.  Hence, it's time to give the microphone to these fruits of ours!  Hence, I call upon the "fruits" begotten from the roots/loins of Barkur, to write to this site on 'day to day', contemporary, and modern issues, the problems or joys of the youth, their suggestions, their successes, etc.  Elder Barkurians, it is our turn to hear from the youngsters!  [They have heard enough (ad nauseam) how we (some of us) walked barefoot six miles to school or how we studied without books/paper or pencil!] 

There are plenty of BBBs (Bombay/Bangalore/Bharain/Barkur Born and Brought ups), please write on any USEFUL subject like, teenage issues, depression, sports, music, art, programming, TV programs, "or how to add and subtract in Binary or Hexadecimal system", modern luxury or lack thereof, how to get money from parents without bullying them and then opening saving bank accounts, how to use credit cards, etc, how to decorate the house, or how to make a fish cutlet, rather than curry! (Forget about fishing, it's cheaper to buy!)  Some one will benefit from your writings!  Let it not be said, 'no one pays attention to teenagers or youngsters!'  Kishoo too has been keen on giving this opportunity to youngsters.  Please take advantage, young men!  The ball is in your court! 

Thank you.

James Fernandes, USA, 31/03/2004

Election fever, Public Examinations and Hot summer may be few causes for less inputs from Barkur! Web-site managers still uploading something or the other everyday!! Month end approaching.... who is next POM or HOF.. is the interesting point, deserve patient wait????

Philiph Richard. 31/03/2004

Hi everybody,

 Well, I couldn't resist myself to put in a word of thanks to the creators of this website. Its a wonderful platform for like minded Barkurians to share thier views. In an era when we are trying to ape the west this site goes far beyond to bring us back to the roots. While I was born and bred in Mumbai, my father (Deceased) Harry Picardo was a well known personality in the Barkur community. As for me, My introduction with Barkurians still goes as Harry Picardo's son. Thanks to Kishoo and the team once again for bonding the people of Barkur through a common platform. Anyone who wishes to be in touch with Harry Picardo's( Hosala Village ) Family can write in to me. Regards,

Ison Picardo , Schlumberger Overseas S.A., WH No 18, KSB, Kemaman, Malaysia

Fond Remebrance

Peter Lewis (Aged 56 years)
S/O Late Bonthu Lewis

7th Day mass is offered on 30th March at 07.30 a.m . at St.Peter's Church, Barkur.

Inserted by Sorrowing wife Violet Lewis and children Preetham and Priyanka , relatives and friends. Moodahadu, Barkur 29/03/2004

It is heartening to have the rare glimpse at our Head Master Kalkur in this site. A rare breed of multiple talents possessed in one man, the yakshagana superstar, rightly chosento be Personality of the Month. Congrtulations!

Bhaskar L. Poojary. Mumbai, 29/03/2004

Best wishes to Master Kurady Kalkur on being honored as POM - March-04.

Barkurgar. 29/03/2004

Dear fellow Barkurians,

It is since long time I had an opportunity to send some message to you all. I feel the Barkur.com has gone or become inactive especially regarding the happenings around Barkur. We do get a chance to read the lovely profiles of some great people. I was really touched to read the profiles of late Mr Bhoj Rao who was first head master of our national junior college, mentor and I would say pathfinder for Barkur’s education. Though I am unfortunate not to have studied in that glorious era, I have heard a lot about him from my brothers and sisters who had the privilege of learning and studying under his tutelage.  All credit to Mr James Fernandes for collecting the facts and writing those facts succinctly and in a concise way and bringing out a best article. All praise to him and to Mr Bhoj Rao’s children for sharing their fond memories of their doting father. He was truly a great teacher and a man who revolutionised the education in Barkur and who had sown the seeds and we all got the fruit from his unflappable courage and relentless hard work. We are eternally indebted to this man who was a genius in many ways.

I was an ardent admirer of our other personality that is our dear late Fr Alfred Roche. He richly deserves a place in Barkur history and in its vicinity. He was a simple, God fearing priest who devoted all his years in serving the people and I would say a true missionary.

My hats are off to Mr James Fernandes for portraying his character and his virtues in such an impressive manner. I had many encounters with him. I was an altar boy with him for masses and when ever he visited Barkur in my childhood. He used to visit Barkur very often when he was serving in Brahmmaver. He was great orator. What impressed me was his love for children, his down-to-earth nature and his smile. No time I have seen the tiredness or fatigue in his eyes. I have met him many times later in marriages and other social occasions. He was the inspiration to his nephew Rev. Fr Patrick Crasta who is now the towering figure in Kengeri seminary. Every one knows what Rev. Fr Patrick Crasta is today and his amazing retreats and his teaching abilities in the seminary. Fr Patrick was heading the theology teaching in Bangalore Kengeri. When I was doing my postgraduate studies in St John’s medical college he was operated for his prostate and I was involved in his medical care. Incidentally Rev. Fr Patrick Crasto is my mother’s first cousin and related to me. I am very proud of Rev. Fr Patrick Crasto and I am sure our Fr Peety (what we used to call) inspired Fr Patrick.  Rev. Fr Patrick did his PhD in Rome and returned to teach at the OFM seminary at Kengeri.

Let me recapitulate one incident which I even today treasure in my heart. I had a fall in 1981 and a freak accident and fractured my right wrist. As usual my mother had taken me to Dr Sheshagiri Rao. After having a look and realising the grievous injury he advised my mother to take me to either to Manipal or to Fr Muller’s hospital. As my sister was working as staff nurse in Fr Muller's that time, we have opted to go to Fr Muller's hospital in Mangalore. There the orthopaedic doctor mended my broken wrist. No sooner Fr Alfred Roche heard that we were admitted there he came to pay a visit. He was an inpatient there then. He was very fond of my mother and gave his encouraging words. We did not take enough money to pay the hefty bills but Fr Roche even volunteered to pay the bill. We did not seek his help but he had predicted our predicament. Such was his love for his fellow country people and he was like a Good Samaritan for us and saved the day for us. He saved us from that embarrassing moment. After that I kept a constant touch with him. He was very proud to know that later I become a doctor and a specialist in medicine. He took a special interest in me. I met him few times after that also when he visited his sister Anju bai (our tall Wilfred' s mother) at Kudru. He was the hope for people in despair, comforter of the afflicted with disease and injuries. I really admire that Barkur.com has brought out a great personality who has done his mite to the Barkur people and in vicinity of Barkur

Last, but not the least, please bring some outstanding priests from Barkur as a personality of the month. One name comes to my mind and he deserves every bit of that is our Rev. Fr George Andrede. There will be many who have done so much for Barkur and the parishes they have served. Please do continue the question and answers. I am sorry that my articles about health and medicine have dried up lately. If I get time I will continue to contribute some time later. Till then, please pour your feelings and messages and keep our great Kishoo busy. Take care and we need your support to keep our website vibrant, active and kicking.

With best regards,

Dr Derick D’Souza, London, 26/03/2004

At last Indian Cricket Team defeated Pakistan, today, in the great Final, in their backyard! A historical win at Lahore will be a Great moment of Proud feelings!! Now Political Parties and politicians take credit for it by issuing compliments and cashing in emotions!! A matter to be condemned by all Cricket loving people!!!

M.M. Alvares, 25/03/2004

The battlelines through ballot box are drawn - in Brahmmavar once again Mr Jaya Prakash Hegde will be contesting as independent and BJP chosen Mr Srinivasa Poojary. Congress party yet to announce its candidate.Under the given circumstances, many feel Mr Hegde have better chances to win - a man of words who tried his best to keep whatever promises for the development,and all round progress - made to the electorate and instrumental to keep the area less effected by fanatic thoughts to remain peaceful,in-elastic to passions and communal devide - well deserve to be supported by far-sighted educated majority. In all measures this election will make history in our Assembly segment if Hegde gets a third term.

Bhaskara L. Poojari, 25/03/2004

Thank you readers for your encouragement to barkuronline.com, for its articles in different columns, by different contributors.   I, (James Fernandes) got little emotional when I wrote about Fr. Roche, because, he did make a difference in my personal life.  This reminds of the age-old African saying, "It takes a village to raise a child."  The parents, grandparents, relatives, neighbors, teachers, pastors, temple priests, village patels, pandiths, or gurkars, the fishermen, the farmers and farm workers, the boatmen, especially the koragas who knitted the baskets, or fashioned the red-mud pots, etc., and some ‘rich but never satisfied’ miser ones, are the ones who represent the village in raising a child, perhaps even today.  

In the fifties, everyone who was poor knows, there is nobody who is more generous than another poor person. So people helped each other out. Not only with the physical necessities of life -- such as food (sharing grains, coconut, fish or water), clothing and shelter (when kudru gets flooded, people stayed with other people who had houses above the flood level, along with cattle, cats, chicken, and dogs!) -- but also with the spiritual and emotional necessities. “Community, like charity, begins at home.”  Oh, Yes, Fr. Alfred was a great example of utmost, selfless charity.

Now, each of us wants to ‘make a difference’, we are all for it, by all means, but the problem is, we have no time for such things, today, Do we?

-James Fernandes, USA,24/03/2004

Hall of Fame wall once again got yet another portrait - Fr. Roche!! I am delighted to go through the article and the person who lived a saintly life around this place, already captured the hearts of thousands, who changed their lives and spread the good news by living by it by letter and spirit. Thank you and May his soul rest in eternal peace!

Philiph Richard.23/03/2004

Rev. Fr. Alfred Roche a devout, honest and down to earth Priest has lived a life of simplicity, humbleness and poverty but to be beatified to be a Holyman. Some 20 - 25 years back he gave a sermon during the Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee of Fr. J.M.Gonsalves flashed in my mind while going through Mr. Fernandes in his Hall of Fame, 'how to play the dual role to be a man in the service of man and God'. A great man, great life and a great legacy left for us.....!

Barkurgar,23/03/2004

It was after a break some beautiful updates in this site. Q' n A's is a good section keep it going. So are masalas, but POM and HOF are the two to glorify living and yesterdays legends of Barkur are class quality folders. It is truly a sensible job, you're doing to highlight the socio-economical services of such people of this area. Fr Tony is regular - short and to the point. Why Archie's Corner got cornered for so long?

M.M.Alvares, alvaresmm@hotmail.com ,23/03/2004

A well worded obituary to a holyman to refresh one's memory! Mr James Fernandes you will be specially blessed by heavenly Father and Fr Alfred Roche, for doing this great job in the interest of our community at large.

One admiror, Barkur. 23/03/2004

Yes, the popular and worthy schemes of S.M.Krishna the Chief Minister, such as Stree-shakthi, Akshara Dasoha will catapult Congress Party to power again, in Karnataka. It is a distance dream of BJP to garner required number, to form next Govt. in our State though it rides high after Advani's Yatra and Vajpayee's feel good factor. Hope popular Congressman Vinaykumar Sorake, will win again from Udupi Lok Sabha Seat!!

Bhaskar L. Poojary, Mumbai, 23/03/2004.

A young girl was walking along a beach.   To her amazement, she came upon thousands of starfish.  Washed ashore by a storm, they were dying in the hot sun.  The girl began to toss starfish into the sea, one by one.  After a while, a man approached her. "Little girl," he asked, "There are thousands of starfish on the beach.  You cannot possibly hope to make a difference!"  The girl was discouraged and dropped the starfish in her hand.  But a moment later, she bent down, picked up the starfish again, and tossed it as far as she could in to the sea.  She turned back to the man. Smiling brightly, she said, "I made a difference to that one!"  Inspired he joined her. A crowd had gathered, and soon others joined in. Before long, there were hundreds of people tossing starfish back into the sea and calling out, "I made a difference to that one!"  After a while their calls subsided. The girl looked up.  To her amazement, she saw no starfish on the beach. Each one had been tossed into the sea.  

Each one of us has the power to make a difference, and collectively, we can do wonders.  We cannot root out poverty, we cannot root out ignorance, nor can we eliminate hunger and disease.  Can we?  We can help each of our neighbors though.  Yes, I am still waiting for my neighbor!

James Fernandes, USA, 19/03/2004