Instant Chemistry Cynthia Gomes-James jadoo...@hotmail.com
I had set my sights on St Xavier’s College ever since I was in the ninth standard at St Isabel’s High School in Mazagon. My older brother was a Xavierite and he'd tell me fascinating stories about the college library's stock of *Mad* magazine, which you could even read on campus. Now that was really hep, as we'd say back then. My first day at St Xavier's was like a pilgrimage to a sacred shrine. I was in total awe of the hallways, cavernous classrooms, massive library and bustling canteen agog with clanging pots and pans, laughter and aroma. It sent my adrenaline racing like a Bandra Fast. Then came the ultimate demonstration of instant chemistry. "Hello, I am Prof Melky Alvares," he said. "I hope you all have a sense of humour. You will be using it a lot while I teach you inorganic chemistry." Prof Melky's classes were always a full house, and seats were reserved in advance even though attendance did not count for promotion. He entered with a shuffling gait and an affable smile, before leading us into the world of inorganic chemistry, recounting struggles and achievements of alchemists and chemists. To demonstrate Newland's Law of Octaves, he sang do re mi. To help us memorise the inner lanthanide series of the Periodic Table -- Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu -- he invented a mnemonic: Certain Praiseworthy Nudist Prime Ministers Sample European Garbage Tidbits. Disgusting Horrible Erotic Tomboys! Why Be Lusty? "It's elementary, my dear Watson," was his famous quip to questions about the Periodic Table. He playfully used the boy-girl romance to explain Bohr's atomic theory, and proton-electron bonding. He connected chemistry with history, mathematics and linguistics. And not one to stop at chalk-and-talk, he was among the first in college to teach with overhead projectors, charts, models and films. He urged us to do our own research, and was very pleased when we came back with a tidbit or two. The Khandala seminar for final year students was Prof Melky's brainchild. We bonded in the hill station’s cool breezes, tinged with a haze of mist and spirits of ancient holy men, namely Old Monk. After hours, we were free to play music on two-in-ones brought from home. On the trip with us were Anthony Monteiro (Monty) and Ronald Lobo (Lobo), both brilliant teachers. Melky, Monty and Lobo were the holy trinity of the Chemistry department. For a brief spell, Prof Melky moved to the world of pills and potions, as lab assistant at Merck Sharp & Dohme (Merind). He produced key formulations in four hours -- bringing it down from twelve -- but turned down a handsome 400-rupees-a-month salary and returned to St Xavier's for much less. But he was not one to be deterred, even when short of cash. When he took his family to the movies, it was always the upper stall. One Christmas, he and his wife Lumen bought their three boys a shiny red scooter with socks to match. Melky met Lumen through a common relative, Chiko Lopez. At first sight itself, the pair sizzled like a nugget of sodium dropped into a bowl of water. The chemistry was instant and the bond, covalent. The reaction was exothermic and sparks flew. But their wedding on December 26, 1965, at St Michael's Church in Mahim, was an austere chips-and-cold-drinks affair in the church's auditorium, as the the Indo-Pak war had prompted restrictions on food and celebration. Sundays at the Alvares household began with Mass, and rarely ended without a jam session. Alvares Senior was in his element on the violin and harmonica, despite his struggle with asthma. The family spent summer vacations in Goa, and Prof Melky was at ease in his wife's ancestral house in Velsao. He'd joke about the classic opening line -- "How thin you have become men!" -- that greeted a Bomoicar arriving in Goa. While returning from Goa in the summer of 1967, Prof Melky had to beg the captain of Konkan Sevak to sail back a bit, as his baby Shayne had got left behind in the arms of grandparents who couldn't stop kissing him. The captain agreed, and Shayne was squeezed in through a port hole. At elocution competitions in school, Shayne and his brothers, Lyndon and Duane, recited humorous speeches written by daddy dearest, who when not teaching Chemistry was a lector, cantor and toastmaster. Once when Prof Melky was asked at short notice to chair a debate about whether or not God made junk, he promptly came up with this gem: Oh God, I have to make a speech!Dear God, what am I going to speak about? My God, I’m already speaking! Thank God, I’ve finished! On June 1, 1991, Prof Melky hung up his lab coat and put away his flasks, vials, audio-visuals, chalk and duster after 34 years at St Xavier's. He devoted his retirement years to family, students and writing. I still cherish his beautiful letters. "I don't know anything about emails, I only know about females," he joked when I asked him to consider the speedier option. In the midst of a rich and eventful retirement life, Prof Melky was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer on March 28, 2006. But all through the pain and spirit-crushing aggression of the illness, he soldiered on with a placid smile, determined to enjoy his time. Death stole him at around 4 am on September 9, 2009, at Shanti Avedhna Hospice, across the road from Mount Mary's Church in Bandra. It was a day after the birthday of the Blessed Mother, for whom he'd nurtured a humble devotion. Prof Melky's funeral at St Michael's Church that had welcomed him into the fold as a baby was packed with over a thousand mourners. The Mass was celebrated by Oswald Cardinal Gracias and 10 other priests. The epitaph on his tombstone read: "We inscribe on stone. He inscribed on hearts." God bless your soul, Prof Melky. You have, indeed, written on hearts and the writing is indelible. I can picture you in heaven above, leading the angels in a slightly naughty song, sharing a cup of good cheer with Monty and Lobo, and teaching good souls a catchy mnemonic to help them remember the names of all the saints. -- Cynthia Gomes-James is a poetess, writer, composer and playwright. She lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and two children. This is an extract from the recently-published *Bomoicar: Stories of Bombay Goans 1920-1980*, available from Golden Heart Emporium, Margao or via mail-order from goa1...@gmail.com