Happy 35th Wedding Anniversary 29/04/2004

Through thick and thin...together
Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Agnes Carvalho
Rayara Thota. Kachur, Barkur

Dearest Papa and Mummy,

Wishing you a very very happy wedding anniversary and many many happy returns... 

Elections are the platforms to get power, in turn this power to be utilised to serve poor, unfortunately many, once possesing this power, concentrate to retain it forever, at any cost, instead of this, if one use his position neither for self-pleasure nor for fame, but for needy and soceity at large is surely a Good leader! Our next door neighbour, ex- CYM activist, Oswald Fernandes now plunged into this Politics, we all wish him success, surely a long way to go, if he cultivate perseverence and patience in this field, better results he can expect, if not today, but in future. With Best Wishes, On behalf of ICYM Barkur, Ex-Members Association

Ivan M. Rebello, President. 26/04/2004

This time it is truely a tri-angular fight for prestigious Brahmavar MLA seat. Srinivas Poojary may end up as surprise winner with consolidated Billava support and committed BJP/RSS Votes. An up-hill task for Hegde to retain this seat, this time, as other secular JD leaders done, he would have joined Congress and easily won from here. One have to salute his courage to seek election as independent! One have to see whether Bunts vote whom? Promod is young and if fishermen community comes to his rescue and if all traditional Congress votes of minorities polled in his favour, he too have a chance!! They have to choose between Hegde and Promod.

'YARU HITAVANU E MOVAROLAGE' AS ALL THREE ARE STANDING AT PAR WITH EACH OTHER!!! 13th May to be an anxious day, is'nt it readers???

Bhaskar L. Poojary, Mumbai 25/04/2004

Friends, any news on pedruchi chavi Easter issue? Because I did'nt get mine!

Barkurgaar, 25/04/2004

Dear Barkurians,

It was heartening to know that the last one month we had heard about so much about people whom I knew and they were featured in Barkur web-site for their excellence. It could be dance artist, poetry, politics, drama, singing or sports. You name any fields and Barkur people are there who have excelled in those fields. I was very happy that my friend Mr James Pius D’souza has become a poet and still going strong in Konkani literary world. I knew he had that inherent talent then while knowing him in school days and then in CYM. Well done Mr Pius James D’souza. We are very proud of you. You are a symbol of humbleness, modesty and simplicity. I hope you groom your talents to the hilt and will entertain our Konkani readers and will continue to shine in this field. It was fantastic to hear that we have another singer in the form of Mr Nelson Lewis in our vicinity and your album “mechavalaam” has been released. I hope and wish your album would be roaring success as that of our Honourable Mr Wilson Olivera. You songs will soon reign supreme on lips of on every Konkani loving people. I am sure Mr Olivera will give you more support in honing your skills and in singing.  We all are waiting to hear your voice soon in bated breath.

We are hearing a lot about Mr Arun Dais and his abilities as an outstanding physical training teacher. Well done Arun, we are proud of you. I know you are a tough taskmaster with training but you have brought the best from your students in sports. It is high time we recognise your talents and abilities.  It was delight to read the Raul the great dancer and your origins. Well done and please bring glory, name and fame to Barkur and to Bombay.

Then, Ozzy, I am delighted to hear that you have entered in to politics. Welcome to the world of politics. Soon you will come in the grips and nuances of politics. It is great that you have taken a giant step in entering politics and I hope you will do well in your party Kannada Nadu. This is one way of serving people.Yes Oswald Fernandez may not be great shake or may not give run for their money to people like Mr V. Sorake or Mr: Madhwaraj. But it will be a great learning curve to Oswald and he will have a big role in next election. Oswald, I thought you were good in football in school days as we played together for NJC Barkur but now I am happy that you are a politician. I wish you every success in the fray. By the time this comes out the results of the election is forgone conclusion. I plead all people to exercise their franchise and vote the worthy candidate who is willing to do more things for you and your area. It is very interesting to hear the results of the famous Brammavar constituency and Udipi both at parliament and assembly level.

 Last, I was pleased to hear the results of the just concluded Indo-Pak series. Though lot of hype was made in the media and members of the fourth estate about the security for the players, the series went peacefully. In this one has commend the efforts of Mr Vajapai, our Prime Minister in taking the bold step of going ahead with the series. Finally Cricket is the winner and I am sure the fans on both borders enjoyed the series to the hilt and both teams played the games with true spirit of sports. One can not forget the sight with the fans sitting side by side and cheering every run scored or a wicket taken. It shows that sports know no religion, cast, creed or race and it transcends between borders, race and religion. In brief India played very well and now  we have outstanding performers in the form of Pathans, Balaaj’s, Laxman. Dravid and Kumble. We do not need to rely only on great Tendulkar. When it comes to the crunch it is people like Dravid and Laxman who delivers for the country. We are very proud of you Ganguly and boys for your first series win in Pakistan in 50 years and achieved what others could not do. You have done what Wadekar, Gavaskar, Pataud’s,Kapil’s or Vishwanath could not achieve. We have seen in this cricket team that “team spirit” and Mr Wright has instilled that feeling of togetherness which was lacking in the teams earlier.

We may soon see an Akram in the form of Pathan. It is too early to compare Pathan with great Akram who is all time great left arm bowler and whose name is there among the pantheons of all time great left arm fast bowlers. I can not wait to see India becoming best cricketing side and displace Ponting’s Aussi’s from the top slot. It is easier said than done. It is like the old adage goes like this” It is very easy to reach the top but difficult to stay there at the top”. I hope Indian cricket team will pick a leaf out from Aussie's books in this regard. They are consistent, well balanced team in my opinion one of the best all time cricketing side in the world. Indian strong batting line op made a cannon fodder of famed Pakistan bowling of Shaoib, Sammy and others. I am happy we are able to silence that maverick Miandad and humbled him once and at last for once he is in the receiving end. While Pakistani’s did not use their head and depended on pace and speed, Indians bowlers swinging the ball and made ball to talk in the air. We all will relish this victory in our memories.

In Hockey, I hope Dhanaraj, will be fit with his knee and I hope they will take this mercurial man, With out him we have no hope in Athens Olympiad. We need his experience to get some top place in Hockey. Other wise it will be shame to a nation who ruled hockey for 60 years and slowly receiving ignominious defeats. In Tennis one should have the guts and courage Leander has shown after his illness. He is a lion-hearted athlete. Few months back he was battling with life with cysticercosis (tapeworm larva) in brain. It is good news for Indian Tennis. I hope our athletes will excel in sports, boxing, hockey, and weight lifting. I wish the contingent very best who are leaving Indian shores for Athens soon. Then, please write and pour your feelings in this site and help in the mission of Kishoos, James Fernandez and other people.

A well Wisher,

D. Nagarkar, Barkur 25/04/2004

Thank you Deeya for your cute story on 'Needs versus Wants'! We NEED more articles from you, and we WANT from others' too! Thank you.

James Fernandes, USA, 24/04/2004

In short, a good site, better articles and best presentation, all the best and carry on..........

Robert S. Barnes, 24/04/2004

Why suddenly Fr Tony changed the track leaving his pet socio-religious subjects to introduce some social figures, is a good move, but that is the pet field of veteren Mr James Fernandes wherein his latest MR. MICHAEL is a verygood article to read. Why Mr archie restricted the scope of his article to Brahmmavar only, an analysis on Lok sabha would have been added more weight. Today only understood this Oswald Fernandes from Barkur! Best of luck!

Vincent D'Souza, 23/04/2004

We would like to take this opporunity to wish our own Mr. Oswald Fernandes, (Dharmsala, Barkur) a successful win contesting on Kannada Nadu Party at the Udupi district Loka Saba Election. Our support, prayers and wishes always with you:

Manoj Sequeira & Family. (Barkur) Johannesburg. 22/04/2004

It seems Vijay Sankeshwar of Kannada Nadu chosen Oswald Fernandes of Barkur as Party candidate, just his name resembles with Oscar Fernandes!! If he manages even 1% of total votes polled I will be surprised!! Though Manorama is expected to give a fight, it is Vinay kumar Sorake, man expected to retain Udupi Seat. As between the lines in Archi's latest says, the chioce for Brahmmavar is Hegde and young Promod Madwaraj(Congress). But the sharing of votes, between these two, may help S.Poojary (BJP)to be a surprise winner?

M.M.Alvares - alvaresmm@hotmail.com 22/04/2004

Normally, Doctors and teachers comprise the majority of your choice as pom, now for a change a sports personality! Good choice. Hope some day Arun Dias and Michaeal Sequeira too will be honoured here!! Good analysis on BVR assembly, in a way it convinced us to vote to Mr. Hegde for a record third term. More from Archie's Corner, so is Tony's, are expected? James is best in his own trademark in hof, keep it up.

Philiph Richard.  22/04/2004

Personality of the month Mr.Sadashiva Kalkura is the most suitable person to be featured in this column. Thanks a lot. I am proud to say I am his pupil in board shale Santhegudde. I still remember the way he explained Chandrahasa story when I was in 6th standard. I couldn't control my tears when I saw tears in his face. This was his intensity and involvement. Also I remember the Drona's make-up he put to me. I wish my sir very happy, healthy life ahead.

Venugopal Adiga, 18/04/2004

From roots to fruits:

It's very encouraging to read about some of the 'fruits'/talents of Barkur, namely, James Pius D'Souza the Poet, Harry William Fernandes the Actor, Raul D'Souza the Dancer, Shastry the Artist, Mike the sportsman, to name a few.   These are sharing their light. 

These people are shining therefore Barkur shines.  Unless the people shine, a country cannot shine.   And these budding stars will be the sources of inspiration to some little kids of today, like a Nike commercial "I want to be like Mike!"  "I want to be like Pius, Raul, Harry, Shastry, Mike, Archie, or Kishoo!"   Oh, yes, 20 or 30 years from today, some one will mention some of you as their heroes for inspiration. You guys are the feathers in Barkur's cap!  We want to hear more of your achievements.  Keep up the good work.

None of you have reached these heights on a helicopter. You guys have practiced for hours, days, months and years.  Talent is God given, but not without practice, that too perfect practice!

There are quite many more of you out there, with laurels to your credit, but if you want to hide your candles under the bushels, it's your choice.  People of Barkur are spread like the feathers of chicken caught in the wind while cleaning.  Who can gather the flown out chicken feathers?  Even the very featherless chicken cannot recognize its own feathers.  Reminds me of a Latin phrase, "Verba Volant, Scipta Manet." Spoken words fly away, but the written word stays. 

Just as feathers or spoken words cannot be retrieved, we cannot find our Barkurians, unless you tell us about yourself.  Can Barkur's cap be filled with more feathers?

James Fernandes, USA, 18/04/2004

Congratulations To Mr.Nelson Lewis On releasing the Konkanni Album. May you shine among the singers of Konkanni, wish you every success in your future adventures.

Henry Lewis, Kuwait, 16/04/2004

Thanks to Kishoo and the team... Really it is very nice to collect all the happening from Barkur, by sitting away from there. Also work on the site is good one.

Arun Barkur, S.B Road, Hosala ,Barkur 16/04/2004

A Kindergarten teacher decided to let her class play a game. The teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few potatoes.  Each potato will be given a name of a person that the child hates, so the number of potatoes that a child will put in his/her plastic bag will depend on the number of people he/she hates.  So when the day came, every child brought some potatoes with the name of the people he/she hated. Some had 2 potatoes, some 3 while some up to 5 potatoes. The teacher then told the children to carry with them the potatoes in the plastic bag wherever they went (even to the toilet) for 1 week.  Days after days passed by, and the children started to complain due to the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten potatoes, and the weight involved. Besides, those having more potatoes had to carry heavier bags!

After one week, the children were relieved because the game had finally ended.  The teacher asked: "How did you feel while carrying the potatoes with you for 1 week?" The children let out their frustrations and started complaining of the trouble that they had to go through having to carry the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they went. Then the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game. The teacher said: "This is exactly the situation when you carry your hatred for somebody inside your heart. The stench of hatred will contaminate your heart and you will carry it with you wherever you go. The weight slows you down and brings you way low! If you cannot tolerate the smell and weight of the rotten potatoes for just 1 week, can you imagine what is it like to have the stench of hatred in your heart for your lifetime???"

Moral of the story: Throw away any hatred for anyone from your heart so that you will  not carry sins for a lifetime. Forgiving others is the best attitude to take! Life is to be fortified by many friendships. To love & to be loved is the greatest happiness.  Fate determines who comes into our lives. The heart determines who stays.

P.S.: The teacher instructed the children to throw away the potatoes in the garbage bin.   A little girl raised her hand and asked, "And, can I throw away those boys too?"

Vincent Fernandes, Borivali, Mumbai, 16/04/2004