Udupi: ‘Old Man’s Club’ – A collection of 25 selected hilarious articles by Joe Quadros released

By P. Archibald Furtado
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 19 Sep 2021: Catholic Sabah General body Meeting was held in the Parish Hall of Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi on 19th September, 2021, which commenced at 11.30 am. To begin with the program, the Founder President Oscar Fernandes was fondly remembered for his great contribution to Catholic Sabha, our Catholic community and society at large…. and as a mark of respect offered floral tributes to his portrait…….as Alphonse DCosta called back Oscar’s 60 years of his rich, versatile and diversified - human, political and social relevance in the past and contemporary world, especially in the national political scene with clean hand, sincere heart, true Christian values and service oriented mind….…..!!

 

 

Catholic Sabah had its regular and scheduled agenda and discussions, about the same our readers can browse for details elsewhere in this site… However it deservedly utilised the occasion to have three different events, closely linked to encourage both Kannada and Konkani literary world, art and its culture….

 

The distribution of Prizes and Trophies – to the winners of Francis Danty Memorial Kannada Literary Award to Fr Chetan Lobo, OFM Cap for his ‘Chetana Chintana’ and recently held Denis DSilva Memorial Essay Competitions held in 2021, at the Udupi Pradesh Level in two categories viz High School and Youth of the Diocese in Konkani.

 

One of the main attractions of the colourful event was the formal release of the Konkani Book ‘Old Mans Club’, a collection of 25 selected hilarious articles flown from the pen of Joseph Quadrus, Mount Rosary Church, Santhekatte – Kallianpur, originally from Mudubelle….. It was published by Uzwaad Konkani fortnightly, through Deepa Trust, Diocese of Udupi.

 

 

Most of the articles were first published in Uzwad during the past 4–5 years and rightly it must have been a difficult task to make a choice from above 75 such write-ups, for the Editor Fr Royston Fernandes, who briefly introduced the writer JoQa, his wife teacher Rosy Quadrus to the audience and his literary contribution to Konkani…

 

After the formal release of the Book, the Founder Editor of Uzwad Rev Fr Chetan Lobo said “JoQa, an ace and popular writer in neat and gentlemen’s Konkani, rightly have his own fan-following, first to turn the pages to search for his name once he had the Uzwad issue in his hand…. and over the years he has mastered the art of stitching a simple incident to be interesting narrative and in the end startling or unexpected turn of events…” and elders at times may be reminded of legendary Pidvaz Kunadapur for his Pati natli railan of 60’s to 80’s…Fr Chetan also written a fitting preface to this rare anthology in his own style and script…!

 

Most of the conversation remind well known Kannada writer ‘Muddana- Manorame Sallapa’ and at times burst into well placed laughter bombs. Normally, they are good pastime and lighter moments to cherish…..! One can relate these incidents or illustrations to his own experiences in day today life, can witness in the middle aged neighbour or routine affair in an elderly couple…..and that is the magic of his vocabulary, life philosophy in a simplified version…!!

 

The couple was honoured with traditional shawl, garlands and mementos on this occasion and in his crispy reply JoQa, remembered the pat from CJ Sequeira, Takkode, encouragement from former and present editors of Uzwad, Fr. Chetan Lobo and Fr Royson Fernandes, guidance of Jerry Niddodi and of course his family and well-wishers….

 

Both the writer JoQa and the Team Uzwad deserve appreciations to make them available at one place in a book format.