Porvorim-Goa: Many people may wonder Lucio… who? Was he a famous tiatrist or a musician or a footballer? Prof. Lucio Rodrigues was an accomplished musician, but his fame to glory lay in his academic & writing career. Lucio, who had studied at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, began his teaching career in English Literature at various city colleges. Later, he moved to Goa where he helped in setting up the new Department of English at Dhempe College, Panaji, and taught there until his death in 1973. He was also Professor of American Literature at the Centre of Postgraduate Studies and Research (CPIR) at Panaji. Prof Rodrigues was also an outstanding Konkani essayist and Goan folklorist.
Xavier Centre of Historical Research (XCHR), Porvorim was proud to honour the memory of this illustrious Goan academic on the occasion of his birth centenary, 1915-2015. A panel of distinguished speakers consisting of Padma Shree Dr. Maria Aurora Couto, Prof. Ramola Antao, Prof. Rabin Pinto and Prof. Isabel Santa Rita Vas recalled warmly and personally the significant academic and musical contributions of Prof. Rodrigues, making him come alive more than 40 years after his death. Two of his important contributions mentioned by the speakers that stood out were his seminal work on compiling in one volume all the folk tales of Goa and his role of mentoring young academics in the field of English studies. His love for Goa and his contribution to the freedom struggle were also highlighted.
His out-of-print book, “Soil and Soul and Konkani Folk Tales” (1974) has been freshly revised by Goa 1556 Publishing House and was formally released at this function by his sister Margaret under the title, “Abolim”. A brief extract from Abolim was also read out by Ms. Annamarie Remedios, a student from St. Xavier’s college, much to the appreciation of the crowded audience. Two musical interludes on Konkani mandos & dulpodds by Chico Fonseca and Lawrence paid a stirring tribute to the memory of this centenarian Goan. The large and enthusiastic audience of Lucio’s family members, his students and many well-wishers enjoyed the delightful evening and carried home copies of Abolim to relish and re-live the many memories of this illustrious Goan.
The entire evening function was ably choreographed by Mr. Frederick Noronha, proprietor of Goa 1556, in collaboration with Fr. Savio Abreu SJ, Director of XCHR and his Staff. In his concluding vote of thanks, Fr. Anthony da Silva SJ, Administrator of XCHR stressed the need to remember and pay tribute to eminent Goan scholars and academicians in diverse fields of studies so that their examples form a prominent part of public memory and enthuse the younger generation to venture into academics and serious research.