Anthony Gomes, MD, FACC, FAHA
anthony.go...@mountsinai.org
I was informed through your pages, and just yesterday by a
mutual friend, the poet Ralph Nazareth, of the recent passing
away of João da Veiga Coutinho at the age of 97 years.
Undoubtedly, the death of a friend, a relative, a
parent, a husband or wife is saddening and
overwhelming; however, in João’s case, in his death
we can amply celebrate his long, productive life
full of humanity.
João, of Margão, Goa, wore many hats in his lifetime, more
than anyone I have known. He was a priest, a World War II POW
camp translator, foreign correspondent, aid worker,
professor, philosopher, theologian, a great
conversationalist, a published author, husband and father,
and a cook who could create Goan dishes with authenticity. He
is survived by his wife, Barbara W. Weber, and his son Ravi.
I first met João in the early 1970's in the company of his
late brother, Fr. Lucio da Veiga Coutinho -- a friend of mine
and my late wife Marina Flores -- who was then visiting New
York, and who often consulted me regarding his heart
problems. We kept in touch sporadically, and met again when
Fr. Lucio had his coronary bypass surgery in the US.
Many years later, I was contacted by his publisher,
the poet Ralph Nazareth, professor of literature,
and President of Yuganta Press, Stamford,
Connecticut, who had also been the publisher of my
first poetry collection, *Visions from Grymes
Hill*. He kindly requested me to arrange a book
reading for João's debut non-fiction book entitled
*A Kind of Absence: Life in the Shadow of History*,
at my home in Staten Island, New York. I was
thoroughly pleased and excited to host such a
celebration for João’s book. It was a wonderful
affair on a spring afternoon in early June with the
azaleas, rhododendrons, and roses in full bloom.
The reading was attended by a host of prominent writers, of
Goan and Manglorean origin, including, Dr. Jose Pereira, Dr.
George Coelho, Victor Rangel Ribeiro, the poet and publisher
Ralph Nazareth, and Richard Crasta, to mention but a few.
Although many aspects of João’s book were controversial,
particularly regarding Goan culture, the book was written in
an essay style and highly provocative, reflective and
meditative, inciting a lively discussion and a sense of
curiosity. Some years later, a Portuguese translation of the
book was published in Portugal by the Fundacão Oriente.
Perhaps the best elements in the book included the theme of
Absence exemplified in the loss of vital connection with the
ancestral land, a recurring theme in today's globalized
world, and importantly, the lack of history of one's own,
since in his view it was the Portuguese who wrote their own
history in the land of Goa: the Colonizer over the Colonized.
In his final essay, Genesis, João writes realistically about
the evolution of Goan culture: "A sense of Goanness appeared.
There emerged a new interest in things Goan, Goan political
and social history as distinct from the exploits of
Portuguese heroes and rulers, in ancient local institutions,
their evolution or erosion, family histories, and biographies
of significant men... a new style of Goan architecture... a
new authentically Goan cuisine, ballroom dancing and the
mandó, an art song and dance which created its own
choreography as well as its lyrics and music." Undoubtedly,
these very elements of Goannness, or culture, outlined above
are at risk of dilution and perhaps even extinction over
time, and should be preserved at all costs.
João lived with his family in Pennsylvania where I once spend
a day with him discussing my novel, and American power and
its effects on the world. Soon thereafter, João, together
with his family settled in the warm and dry climate of New
Mexico, when sometimes we communicated by phone. I personally
owe a debt of gratitude to João since after reading just two
chapters of my novel, *The Sting of Peppercorns*, he brimmed
with excitement encouraging me to complete the book; he was
my first reader. --Anthony Gomes, MD, FACC, FAHA
