To mark his 80thbirthday, 23rd of this month, Joao de Deus Cardozo, the elder and the only brother of renown Goan personality, a multi talented man Tomazinho Cardozo, organized a get together of his relatives, friends, colleagues and well wishers. Since I received his invitation card thru the crawling Postal System, I could not attend it. But after receiving his invitation card 4 days late, I wished him though belatedly, all the best and again I am wishing him now thru this forum all the best. “Wishing you a very happy 80thBirthday, Cardoso. May God bless you with good health”.
First of all we must thank the Almighty God for giving an opportunity for our friend to celebrate his 80thbirthday while for so many of other friends and colleagues and relatives God has not given this opportunity, not only to celebrate their 80thbirthday but not even 80 months; why 80 months, in fact not even 80 days. Thank God for showing benevolence to my friend. To mark this great and auspicious day Joao de Deus released a book written beautifully by his younger brother Tomazinho Cardozo – Ex Sarpanch of Candolim and Ex Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly. It was originally written by Tomazinho in Konkani and translated excellently into English by Irene Cardozo – wife of Tomazinho. Both the versions are in one book only. Both the versions are beautifully scripted indicating the mastery over both the languages.
Also released an Audio CD of his songs. He was an ace Tiatrist once but now only occasionally he participates due to ill health.
In this book Tomazinho Cardozo detailed the calamities his brother and their whole family faced from the time Joao attained the age of 10 whence their father died. It reminded me of the somewhat miserable life young Fantine faces in that great epic “Les Miserables” by French writer Victor Hugo. What a pitiable and hard life Joao faces to be the bread winner for him, for his brother and mother from the age of 10 when miserable circumstances forced him to act like a man of 20 years !! These and other details very beautifully indicated by Tomazinho Cardozo in this book where you also see the rise of Joao as a successful businessman as he is now.
I feel more and more people coming from financially weaker segment should read this book and learn how to come up in life.
My interaction with both of them was very early though with Tomazinho earlier because the age difference between two of us is only 2, he was senior. We were colleagues on soccer field and in other activities too in our village. I always found both the brothers calm and cool, never using bad words, both were disciplined and God fearing. He was longest serving Sarpanch of our village but never I heard anybody saying he was involved in doing corruption to make money.
The Audio CD “DEVAK ARGAM” consists of 12 songs such as solos, duets, trios and quartets, all are Joao’s compositions but rendered by Joao himself, his children, his brother, his sister-in-law and others. All songs are well composed and well rendered but the title song is most beautiful which should be if possible introduced into the Church as was done in the past. Musical score was provided by Mukesh Ghatwal.
A.Veronica Fernandes.