From the editor’s desk :-

Once again a hearty welcome to you dear browzer for a melodious music column of this esteemed web portal daijiworld.com.  Your great encouragement and support keeps me moving in my marathon mission in presenting to you great music legends, who made our Konkan soil proud.

“Great people never die, they live in the hearts and minds of people for eternity”. Yes, indeed! In this episode I’m presenting to you such a great legend, though he is no more with us, yet lives in the heart and the minds of people.  According to God’s plan and after completing his mission on this earth successfully, at the ripe age of 83, he passed away for his eternal award on 4th July 2002. 

As I travel down the memory lane, I recall my childhood days when I heard this legend’s name through people from all corners and through news periodicals.  I was stunned to realize his capacity as a renowned orator on the dais during the public functions. In the year 1984 when I was in my early twenties, I was really fortunate to establish a close-knit relationship with this great personality during the ‘Passion Play’, a religious Konkanni play staged by the Konkanni Natak Sabha, Mangalore which has broken all time record in the history of Konkanni dramas in Mangalore. In this drama I had a great and unforgettable privilege in my life to play the main role of ‘Jesus’.  I will ever remain indebted to this gentleman, inspite of the lack of my exposure to diocesan level dramas, he being the main director, took a risk in selecting me for this important role. 

This great personality whom I’m going to present to you today, is none other than late Shri J.B.Rasquinha fondly known as J.B.R. 

Late John Basil Rasquinha lead his life in an exemplary way.  For his dedicated & service-oriented life, God blessed his family in a generous way.  All his eight children and grand children have prospered and are a great blessing to our society.  I wish to make a special mention of one of his grand-daughters Miss Astrid D’Cunha D/o Ronnie & Aboline D’Cunha, who is a highly talented teenager, editing a youth column ‘Young World’ on this esteemed web portal in a very efficient manner.

As we commemorate J.B.R.’s second death anniversary on 4th July 2004, let us emulate his example and make use of our God given talents for the greater glory of God and to enrich Konkanni art, music and language.  Nevertheless, thank you dear Do..Re..Me..Fa.. browzers for taking your precious time out to browse this Konkanni music column. 

See you next month for the enjoyment of another sweet musical chord.  Until then, bye!

Yours in Do..Re..Me..Fa..,

Gerry D’Mello

AMAR SHRI J. B. RASQUINHA
THE LEGEND & AN ARDENT LOVER OF
MUSIC, DRAMA AND “AMCHI MAAI BHAAS” KONKANNI

The life of (late) Shri John Basil Rasquinha (J.B.R.) was very simple, at the same time it was sublime.  “Simple living and high thinking” seemed to be the guiding principle of his life.  A gentle, family-loving person, he can be best described as a “Little Flower” of Angelore.  He had aptly named his residence at Angelore, Mangalore as “Lhaanful Bidar”; and his wife and daughters bore the names of various flowers!  J.B.R. was a versatile genius – Vocalist, instrumentalist, composer of music, writer, actor, director, successful businessman; all these characteristics gracefully rolled into one in the gentle personality of Shri J.B.Rasquinha.

Childhood & Education :-

J.B.Rasquinha was born in Bendur parish of Mangalore on 26th February 1919.  His