Lambert Mascarenhas: Still sorrowing for his land
Navhind Times Panorama October 7, 2012
There is something impish about the smile. He isn’t tired yet or willing to
give up, even though he just crossed the 98 year landmark. Mr Lambert
Mascarenhas has been a journalist all his life, written books and
participated in the liberation struggle. He spoke to Derek Almeida about
life then and now.
What do you ask a man who has witnessed nearly a century of change? Where do
you start? At 98, Mr Lambert Mascarenhas has probably, seen it all. Defined
by the struggle for liberation and goaded by the burning desire to make Goa
a better place, it appears he has returned to where he started – sorrowing
for his land.
At his residence at Dona Paula, the man, who celebrated his 98th birthday on
September 17, walks down three flights of stairs, steady as a rock. "He does
is it many times a day," said his wife Dr Jolly Mascarenhas.
Although age had taken its toll on his eyesight and hearing, which have
dimmed, the mind is still razor sharp and Mr Mascarenhas can recall events
from the deep past’ like the first Assembly elections in 1963.
"We all thought that since the Congress was responsible for the liberation
of Goa, it would win," he recalled. "But they did not get a single seat."
"Five doctors won from the South," he said. "They used to travel by bus or
share a taxi to come to Panaji. That was a time when people who cared for
the state got elected."
Mr Mascarenhas returned to Goa to take up his appointment as editor of
Navhind Times. Those were the days of letter presses and linotype. "It was
very difficult," he explained, "because most of the workers, who had
undertaken their education in Portuguese, did not know English."
1963 was a very uncertain time. Liberation had come, but the cloud of merger
hung heavily over the state and business houses as well as people were
unsure of what the future held. "The Dempos always supported Goa," he
asserted, even though he quit the ‘Navhind Times’ ahead of the Opinion Poll.
Soon after leaving the Navhind Times, he started ‘The Goa Today’ which he
successfully edited for 19 years.
Talk about the media and he wants to know more. Although all the newspapers
arrive at his door step in the morning, his reading is curtailed due to
sight problems. "I can only read the headlines," he said and continued to
probe about which newspaper is doing well.
"When we started Navhind Times there were hardly any advertisements," he
said, "People did not understand the value of advertisements."
Attempting to make comparison between being an editor then and now he asked,
"What time do editors go home these days?" When told that they don’t leave
before eight in the evening, he quipped, "Ours was a nine to five job. We
never stayed later than that."
Mr Mascarenhas never chased money. His style of journalism was principled
and driven by his passion and love for Goa. This prompted him to take up a
job in the ‘Goa Tribune’ in Mumbai for a paltry salary of Rs 250 a month
only because it espoused the cause of liberation.
"When I joined Navhind Times they gave me a jeep with a driver," he
recalled, in which he toured constituencies in the north during the first
elections. "The MGP was very strong in the north and the support for Marathi
and Maharashtra deep."
"Although my friends were of the opinion that the people would eventually
vote for merger, I knew we would win," he said with a smile that betrayed
great satisfaction.
So what were the big news stories of his time. Mr Mascarenhas was quick to
reply, "There were no big stories in those days, because there were no
crooks."
It is with a sense of nostalgia and pride that he looks back on the days
gone by. He returned to Goa at a time when a man was measured by his bearing
and demeanour and it was honourable to fight the good fight. Talk about
today and he gets bitter with the way things have turned out. He expressed
his anger in one sentence, "Write that Lambert Mascarenhas has said that he
preferred the Goa of the Portuguese days."
It’s a strong and telling statement by the author of ‘Sorrowing Lies My Land’
a book which focused on the conditions in Goa during the struggle for
liberation and was published in 1955.
During his employment in Navhind Times, Mr Mascarenhas took up residence at
one of the quaint houses in Portais. Panaji, then was a lot more spacious
with less traffic and buildings.
There is more than a hint of anger in the author when he compares it with
the capital city of today. He shares the opinion of several city architects
who think that vehicles will eventually kill the city. "Certain roads must
be made vehicle free," he emphasized and suggested that the busy ‘19th June
Road’ would be better off without vehicles.
The journalist in him continues to search for explanations for the present
state of affairs and solutions to the problems afflicting in the state. But
Mr Mascarenhas still pines for the Goa of the past. "Goa used to be a
peaceful place where people were content. That is not the case today," he
lamented.
"Just look at the price of fish and vegetables," he points out. "They are
unaffordable. In my days one rupee had value, not today."
Time has neither dimmed his intellect nor his desire to change things.
Eternal optimist that he is, Mr Mascarenhas will continue to hope…and
perhaps, write. (ENDS)
Source:
http://www.navhindtimes.in/panorama/lambert-mascarenhas-still-sorrowing-his-land
Goanet News Service
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