Mr Leo John D’Souza – Mangalorean Star
“One writes to make a home for oneself, on paper, in time and in others’ minds” quoted Alfred Kazin, an American philosopher. Leo John Dsouza, Mangalorean. Com’s Mangalorean Star, seems to beautifully fit into this mould. He has been involved in Konkani literature and journalism for the last 54 years, and has made a home for himself in the minds of readers of Konkani literature. Liyab, as he is affectionately known to most people, is a teacher by profession. So what does he consider himself to be? A teacher or a writer? According to Liyab, teaching remains his first love.
Leo John Souza, the son of Marian and Dulcine Dsouza was born in Mangalore on May 6, 1934. He is among fifteen children, eight of whom passed away early in their lives. Of the others, four passed away in recent years and at present they are three siblings– his elder brother Bishop Patrick D’Souza of Varanasi, his youngest sister Margaret Tauro and himself.
Teaching is a noble profession. What made you take up teaching?
Fr. William Gonsalves, Headmaster of Padua High School where I was working as a clerk, who encouraged me to do my B. Ed. I had a special desire to be a teacher because as a student, I had come up the hard way. We were poor and there was no one to help us. I had to even stop my education after SSLC. Eventually I continued my studies and graduated with Bachelor of Arts from Karnataka University privately. I completed my B.Ed from Mysore University in 1974.
You say that teaching is your first love. What made you give up the job and the family you loved and go to Bahrain?
It was the future of my children that made me leave Mangalore. The income I had from my job was very little and we were feeling the pinch. My children were growing and they were finding themselves hopelessly backward, compared to others, in their way of living and life style. I did not wish my children to suffer from inferiority complex and though it was difficult to go away from the family, I decided to seek greener pastures for the betterment of my family and children. I have not regretted my decision, though it was very hard to be away from my family and dear Mangalore.
Now that you have retired from an active professional life how do you keep yourself busy?
I work as the Manager of Sandesha, a centre for music, dance, art and media, where I can put my God-given talents for the betterment of the community. I am working as the diocesan correspondent for SAR News, an All India Catholic News Agency, which is my way of being of service to the Church and the community. I am a member of several social and charitable associations and have been rendering whatever help possible. I also continue to help those in need to write articles, to translate and act as a resource person in journalism and public speaking courses.
How did you get interested in Konkani literature?
My parents were poor and could barely read and write. Yet that did not deter my father from getting Konkani papers and booklets available in those days and making us read them. We regularly sang hymns after our evening prayers. This developed my interest in songs and hymns, poems and stories. I have now been involved in Konkani literature and journalism since 1951.
Whom do you think have supported and motivated you in your career as a writer?
My school teachers recognized and encouraged my talent for writing. I am never tired of telling about the encouragement given by Msgr Sylvester Menezes, the then Editor of Raknno, in my poems and articles. It was under him that I started writing in Konkani. My penname Liyab and Kavyadas were given by him. Then I have Msgr Alexander D’Souza, late Mr Felix Noronha, late Mr V J P Saldanha, late Mr J. S. Alvares, Fr Vincent Lobo Capuchin who encouraged me in my writing. My brother Bishop Patrick D’Souza of Varanasi insisted that I should not be satisfied by just writing stories and articles for newspapers and magazines but put them in book form, so that they may remain for posterity.
Could you please share something about your family life with our readers?
I am happily married to Mary, my dear wife, whom I consider my best gift in life. Our 42 years of married life have seen hardships and difficulties, joys and happiness. In spite of the poverty and difficulties in our home, our family life was great. What I am today is entire because of her unstinted support, encouragement and companionship.
God has blessed us with four children. Our first-born daughter Judy is married to Joy Fernandes, an Electronic Engineer from Bangalore and they have two children Jovita and Joel. Judy and Joy are running a Granite Factory in Tumkur. Joyce Sunitha, our second daughter, works as an Administrative Secretary in a branch campus of a NY based Medical College in Qatar. She is married to Vinay Alvares who is employed with Qatar Petrochemical Company. They have two daughters, Richa and Rhea. Claude Sandeep, our third child, is a Cabin Crew with the Emirates Airlines in Dubai. He is married to Joanne Verzosa who is from the Philippines and is employed with the Marhaba Airport Services. Our youngest son, Sudhir has followed the footsteps of his paternal and maternal uncles and is a priest. He was ordained on April 19, 2005 and is working for the diocese of Varanasi.
Our children have always been supportive and have given us immense joy. God bless them.
What are your views on the future of our mother tongue Konkani?
Parents have to make every effort to teach their children their mother tongue – by teaching them the language and using it in their homes. Konkani can survive only when it has books, magazines and newspapers to propagate and popularize it. Every Mangalorean family should patronize and support Konkani books, magazines and newspapers. Publishers of Konkani books and magazines should have a standardized form of language, because different ways of writing Konkani may confuse people and keep them away from it. There should be competition among the newspapers and magazines in improving the quality and standard of their publications and they should not work against each other. Those who have talent for writing should utilize it to enrich the Konkani literature. There should be competitions in writing stories, poems and articles and efforts should be made to send some dedicated youngsters to take to journalism so that they work for the Konkani language.
Mr. Leo D’Souza loves reading, writing and listening to music during his spare time.
Mr. Leo D’Souza’s message to Mangalorean.com readers:
It is a matter of great joy that Mangalorean community is getting more opportunities to know each other and efforts are on to keep them united. The Mangalorean.Com and its team deserve all praise for the laudable work they are doing in this regard. Mangalorean.Com has made a name by its speed and manner of presentation of news and also the care and clarity it gives to it. Recognizing and honoring those who have done their mite for the community encourages people to contribute their bit to the task of building up the community. I wish Mangalorean.Com all the best in the days ahead.
Mr Leo’s Career Profile:
• Written more than 3000 poems, stories, articles including political analysis and social themes in Konkani and Kannada in leading publications.
• Was the assistant editor of Raknno, the diocesan weekly for several years.
• Was the editor of the club bulletin of Karnataka Social Club of Bahrain, the parish bulletin of Bendur parish, Bendurso Thaalo, is the Editor of bulletin of Sandesha, the Sodality of the Immaculate Conception and the organ of Catholic Sabha.
• Written a novel “Putha Paati Yeh”(Son, Come Back), an anthology of poems in Konkani “Dev Haslo”( God Smiled) and an anthology of poems in English “And God Smiled”.
• Translated more than 15 books – among them Saitaan kedinch nidaanaa ( Satan Never Sleeps by Pearl Buck), Rogtaalem Rotn (Blood on the Mountain), Marcellino (Marcellino), Raaju aani Raay Kuvor (Prince and the Pauper), Limaacho Bhurgo (Lad of Lima -Martin de Porres ), Winkalaachi Kotha (Rip Van Winkle), 80 disaamni (Around the world in 80 days), Galivaraachi Kothaa (The Travels of Gulliver), Apaayaache Vaater (Sinister Signpost), Somshyaachi Saavli ( The Crisscross Shadow ), Jakobaachi Kotha (Jacob the Faithful) – all these serialised in Raknno and other papers; Mogaacho uzo( Fire of Love), Sadaachaarada Niyamagalu (Good Manners), Devachyaa Mogaachi lhan vaat (Little Way of Loving God ) devarannu pritisuva kiriya daari (Little Way of Loving God), Kaarmelith melaachyo ruli regro (Rule book of the Carmelite Order).
• Written several playlets in Kannada, English and Konkani for school functions and festive occasions, has read his poems, stories and conducted interviews for Akaashvaani, Mangalore.
• Attended the South East Asian Catholic Editors Conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1981 as one of the two delegates from India.
• Was the diocesan liaison officer for the CBCI Commission of Social Communications, diocesan correspondent of the Catholic News of India and presently the South Asia Religious News (SAR News).
• Conferred the Journalism Award 2002 by the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy.
• Honoured by Raknno, Bendur Parish, Catholic Action League, Catholic Sabha, Daijidubai, MCC – Qatar and other organizations.
Mangalorean.com wishes Mr Leo D’Souza all the very best in his future endeavors!
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Comments:
IAN BARNES, India:
LEO DSOUZA IS A PRIDE OF MANGLORE AND IS AN INSPIRATION TO ONE AND ALL
aparna WALTER DSOUZA, India:
I ALSO WISH MY GRAND UNCLE ALL THE BEST IN HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HIM
violetdsouza@yahoo.co.in
