Chapter 10
Summer 2011, I was invited to judge a art competition organized by United Christian fellowship of Kanpur .This event also proved to be my first painting exhibition .Three paintings were displayed on the wall of the auditorium .I paint on the biblical themes , the first was on psalm 23 the Lord is my Sheperd , the second Jesus calls Peter the fisherman to follow him and the third painting about angel visits Mother Mary .I got the inspiration to paint on biblical themes after I visited Goa with my parents.
If on earth be a haven of bliss ,it is this it is this –pictureque Goa , nestling in the lap of nature on the west coast of India ,today presents a happy blend of portugese and Indian culture My long lasting memories of Goa are miles and miles of golden hued beaches fringed with palms trees ,endless groves of supari ,cashew and mango trees intterpersed with paddy fields ,slumbering villages with houses built in portugese style with slanting roofs ,porticos ,garden seats and alters with huge stone crosses
The whole countryside in all its natural loveliness and serenity ,seems to me like a grand mosaic of green wooded hills dotted with numerous churches ,chapels ,graveyards full of graying crosses. Europeans started sailing to the Indian subcontinent in search of spices and silk and jewels. Christopher Columbus in search of the route to India , found the West Indies and the continent of America Panaji is the state's capital, while The historic city of Margao still exhibits the cultural influence of the Portuguese, Vasco De Gama who first landed in the early 16th century as merchant, established the sea route to India.; and conquered it as the Portuguese overseas territory of Portuguese India ,the colony existed for about 450 years until it was annexed by India in 1961. Vasco da Gama is the largest city. is named after him where the railway route connects Goa to Bombay/ Mumbai Many portugese sailors settled here and married the local women.
We visited this beautiful place at Christmas , in 1987 boarding the train from Bombay , unfortunately there was ethnic problem and the train was cancelled at londa . We were directed to the bus station, where few buses were plying, in the miling crowd of tourists we somehow managed to get into a bus which again dumped us at ponda .luckily we carried a letter to Mrs Mathew ‘sister of Laila wife of Mr Abraham who worked and lived on the Indian institute of Technology campus a colleague of my mother.
She welcome us in her home since Panaji was inaccessible that night.We celebrated Christmas with her and two little sons by going to midnight mass in a nearby church.
Next day went to Panjim, which is on the banks of the Mandovi, has a minor port, which used to handle passenger steamers between Goa and Mumbai . earlier the bridge across the river had fallen , a ferry would take people , motorbikes ,cars across. We visited Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, Panjim, Goa. Several beautiful beaches like Calancute and Dona Paula.
One whole day we spent in old Goa , we first visited the Se’ Cathederal with an ancient cross.The Basilica of Bom Jesus church is located inhere Old Goa, former capital of Goa in the early days of Portuguese rule.This is one of the oldest churches of baroque architecturein Goa, as well as in India. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is more than 408 years old and is open to the public everyday. The body of St. Francis Xavier is kept in a well-decorated silver casket .The floor is of marble inlaid with precious stones. Apart from the elaborate gilded altars, the interior of the church is simple. The church also holds paintings of scenes taken from the life of St. Francis Xavier. The mausoleum, on the top of which is placed the with the body of St. Francis Xavier (1696), was the gift of the last of the Medicis, Cosimo III, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Italy .The mausoleum was designed by the 17th-century Florentine sculptor Giovanni Battista Foggini. The holy relics of the saint are displayed every ten years during the anniversary of the saint's death.
The spell of Goa is indeed very deep, I left it benid with a sense of regret so much so driven by nostagia have been compelled to write about this sunny land where colourful customs and traditions keep pace with modern life.
Summer of 2011 , we again visited California as we both had 10 years visitors visa multiple entry. My fathers friend Dr Sam Mahtab an alumini of Allahabad Agriculture College , lives in Fresno we had already visited him in past years but this was his 75 birthday . He took us to a resort called Chukchansi on the way to Yosemite national Park. Interesting place with a huge casino ,entry and food was free for senior citizens .
Uncle Sam has two miniature dogs Mr Mrs Chips they look like toys but are so well trained , live and play in his garden where he has a swimming pool . Uncle happens to be my mothers senior too.