Fr. Nicolau Pereira.

By Carmo D’Souza

“Carmo”, he would call me dragging my name a little, with a heavy Portuguese accent. It was known in the college that he knew by name, each and every individual that passed the Xavier’s portals. That was his working strategy as Principal of the college.

He was nicknamed as “Pop”. That itself spoke volumes. He had a fatherly attitude towards the students, and was kind and considerate to all. Whatever be the occasion, he always carried a benign smile on his round face. Meet him in Panjim , and after a few inquiries ,he was sure to offer a lift. Fortunately, his Standard car like a tortoise , just managed to climb the Xavier hill.

Fr. Pereira together with his team of staff members glued the Xavieriete spirit. Truly the students were proud of the label of Xavierites from Mapusa. It is to Fr Pereira’s credit, that throughout his tenure , the college flag fluttered higher and higher.

With a doctorate in Physical chemistry from USA, he was known to help the bright Chemistry students in pursuing their higher studies. That was the reputation in the college. Physical Chemistry was a specialty in Xaviers. And now and then somebody left for America, and then returned to recount his stories.

In spite of his Chemistry forte, Fr. Pereira was an all rounder. He enjoyed for instance writing short stories in Konkani on the college magazine. Innovation, creative was his hallmark. He encouraged others to pursue such activities along with their jobs. When I met him occasionally, he would give a short advice on teaching and question me on my writing skills. “ Write more”, would be his parting advice, as he tried to get me focused on my jumbled goals.

He was an educationists par excellence .I remembered when he once remarked that examination connected work with Board and University was a hallmark of a teacher. He believed in attendance in college as it leads to interactive learning between the students themselves. When I once spoke in favor of correspondence courses for employed students, he remarked that there should be interactive courses in the University, which would permit the working students to complete their studies at their own leisure.

Fr. Pereira was a gentleman to the core, with a high degree of sportsman spirit. I still remember that football game at Campal, in which Xaviers were locked with their traditional Panjim rivals. Suddenly tempers flayed, and the crowd invaded the ground. Fr. Pereira suddenly appeared on the scene and in his white cassock sauntered around the field, persuading the players to take their position. Victory did not matter to him. The game had to be played in the best of the spirits. Xaviers lost a game, but had kept high the gamesmanship tradition.

“You have won the race, take your crown “, says the Good Lord as Fr. Pereira touches the finishing line. I am sure every Xavierite, stands up and applauds in appreciation for the glorious victory. In Fr, Pereia , Goa has lost one of its eminent educationists of the second half of twentieth century.

First written on death of Fr. Nicolau Pereira