By H R Alva

Mangaluru, Mar 27: Oscar Fernandes is known as a politician throughout India. People know him as a former Member of Udupi Muncipality, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Union Minister, currently a member of Parliament and Congress party national leader.

But his other attributes are lesser known. Oscar is a social worker, a farmer, interested in animal husbandry, etc. At the same time he can sing, dance, perform yoga, can play musical instruments and the list continues.

Early life:

Oscar was born on March 27, 1941 to Roque Fernandes (Famous headmaster of Board high school, Udupi) and Leonissa Fernandes (First Lady Bench Magistrate of undivided South Kanara district). Oscar had his education at St Cecily’s Convent School, at Board High school and in MGM College, Udupi. He served in LIC for a very short period and tried his luck by running an enterprise at Manipal. He was involved in agriculture at their family land and in the land taken on lease (Geni) in Ambalpady, closer to his house. He ploughed the fields, grew rice and bagged ‘Best Rice Grower Award’ from Syndicate Agricultural Foundation of Manipal.

Simultaneously he was involved in social work too. He founded ‘Jolly Club’ and arranged reading room facility to cultivate reading habit among youth. Services he rendered include - the Honorary President of Udupi Auto Rickshaw Union, leader of volunteers during ‘Udupi Mutt Paryayas’, involved in Udupi Church administration and in its activities and in other areas. He served in the needs and involved himself in the joys and sorrows of people of Udupi without caste, creed and language barriers. He joined as a member of the local unit of Indian National Congress and climbed the success ladder step by step.

My acquaintance of 4 decades with Oscar:

Being born and brought up at Pangala in Udupi Taluk I had heard of Oscar during my school days at SVH High School, Innanje (run by Sode Mutt of Udupi). In June 1976 I joined Poornaprajna College Udupi for PUC studies. In July itself I met Oscar at his residence. Since then I am an admirer of Oscar, and our association is of 4 decades. As Oscar turns 75 on March 17, 2016, this write-up is not a biographic account but contains my views about this great personality.

Home Office:

‘Doris Rest Haven’ is the name of Fernandes’ House situated at Brahmagiri near National Highway 17 (now 66). During 1970s and 80s (may be even before and after) people would start coming to this house in the early hours. By 8 am the ‘Vakil’ benches in the portico would be full. People were coming with various reasons. One requires assistance to get his work done at the government office at the earliest, another wants solution to his unemployment. One requires assistance for getting treatment for his ill-health, the other seeks help to educate his/her son/daughter. One wants help to solve turbulence at home, the other requires assistance to settle land dispute. Moreover among the crowds there were leaders and members of Congress party and from various associations. Altogether there were people in the portico, verandah and even outside. Manjunath Udyavar was Oscar’s personal assistant since late 70s until he passed away. There were other volunteers too.

During those days he used to travel in public transport, mostly buses. As his house is close to NH 17 he sometimes traveled in trucks and other available vehicles. He used his pick up vehicle which he owned for going to remote places. I still have memories of traveling with him and even having tea, idlies and golibajes in a small hotel near his house at Ambalpady junction.

A helping hand:

Those days Oscar was deeply involved in social work. During 70s the undivided South Kanara district had experienced floods. During late 70s there was huge fire break out in the boat yard of Malpe and many stationed boats were gutted in that fire. At that hour of need Oscar had reached out to the people.

Until 1980s (even a few years afterwards) attestation from the Member of Parliament was needed to obtain a passport, telephone or gas connection. As Oscar was very close to the then MPs of Udupi, people were coming to him for getting their work done. There were instances of Oscar reaching the applications to the respective persons after the attestation from the MP. In 1980 Oscar himself got elected as Lok Sabha Member from Udupi and remained till 1998.Therafter till date he is a MP (Rajya Sabha).

Swimming Competitions at Kattikere Natural pond at Pangala:

During 1980s we the youth of Moodbettu - Pangala were conducting district level swimming competitions. For this we had formed ‘Kattikere Jalakreedabhivrddhi Samithi’ (Water sports development committee). Pangala Vittal Shenoy, the retired headmaster of Innanje High School was the president and myself the secretary. Oscar helped us for many years as the patron for the competitions. His motive was to encourage the youth and renovating the historical Kattikere pond. Vasanth V Salian, the MLA of Kaup constituency too had helped us in this task.

Shankerpura Telephone excahange got C-Dot facility:

During 1980s ‘Nagarika Samithi’ (Citizens Council) was formed at Shankerpura by the initiative of Dr Edward Lobo, the local physician. When Dr Lobo was President of the committee, I was the secretary and after Dr Lobo’s term I became the President. We were striving to get rid of the problems faced by the local people like roads, electricity and telephones. We were arranging meetings with officials of the concerned departments and inviting local MP Oscar and MLA Salian.

During those days K Rama was the General Manager of DK Telecom District. He was an efficient officer and progressive thinker. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had initiated steps in the telecom sector. Oscar was responsible in installing C-Dot facility at Shankerpura exchange which then had about 150 connections. Such facility was not available even at some of the district head quarters during those days. At the same time Udupi telephone exchange was upgraded with superior technology, which was not available at Kohima, the capital of Nagaland during those days.

Boiled Rice meal to KPT students at Delhi:

We, the 18 boys of Chemical and Mechanical Engineering sections of Karnataka Polytechnic, Mangalore had gone on an All India study tour for 31 days in the months of November-December 1980. On the 20th day of our tour we reached Delhi. Oscar had arranged boiled rice meals for all of us at his residence. He also arranged for our visit to the on going Lok Sabha session and gave a treat at the Parliament canteen.

Here I would like to give my own experience about getting my first and the last employment. I was a rank holder in Chemical Engineering Diploma Examinations of 1981. I wished to remain at the native. During those days MCF (Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd) at Panambur was the only big company in South Kanara. It was under the management of State Government then. On an evening in April 1982 there was a meeting of the top executives of big industries of SK including MCF at Summer Sands Beach Resort, Ullal. MP Oscar too was a participant. He took me to Ullal to introduce me to the officials of MCF. Unfortunately no body from MCF had attended. When we reached Udupi, it was about midnight. Oscar asked me to stay at his residence that night. The next morning Oscar phoned up to a top official of MCF and sent me to his residence. In July 1982 I was appointed by MCF after regular written test and interview. I worked there for 12 years and quit in May 1994 to start ‘Maria Advertisers’. During that time I completed BA and MA (Political Science) through correspondence course and LLB by attending morning classes at Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara (SDM) Law College, Mangaluru.

Solved problems by inviting delegations to Delhi:

New Delhi is the power centre of India. There it is easier to get a nod for any developmental work or to solve a problem. Oscar had invited many delegations to Delhi and by arranging visits, audience with the concerned officials he had got the work done. During his tenure as Statistics and Programme Implementation Minister, the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Mangalore had organized an interactive session with him. There I had requested Oscar for initiating a project of scent extraction from Shankerpura Jasmines. Oscar had asked me to come over to Delhi with a delegation. Later it was understood that such project was not viable.

I had opportunities to meet Oscar in Delhi. One such visit was in Oct 1985 with one of my relatives working in Railways in Mumbai. Oscar was the Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Oscar’s office was in the South Block. He received us cordially and got the work done.

In Udupi or in Delhi – working till late night:

Oscar’s work starts early morning and continues even after midnight. I know this before his elevation as MP and later in Delhi. I had called him in many occasions on his office land line around midnight. I had an opportunity to witness his ‘night shift’ in Delhi.

It was October 23, 2012. I was with my family on a tour to Srinagar via Delhi. We met Oscar couple at the airport who were heading for Delhi. He informed me that he would be at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) head quarters after 7.30 p.m. and invited us there at our convenience. We started at 12.50 pm from Mangalore by Air India flight via Mumbai. Our 5.30 pm flight from Mumbai reached Delhi at 7.30 pm. In Delhi we had been to Vasanthkunj to the residence of Basti Dinesh Shenoy (Son of veteran Konkani leader Basti Vaman Shenoy). There we had dinner with Dinesh - Shobha and their son Anand. After dinner Dinesh drove us to AICC headquarters.

‘Hamesha Saab ka yehi ruteen hai’

We reached AICC at 24, Akbar Road around 11pm. We could not believe our own eyes. Many people especially youth from various states were assembled there to talk to Oscar. In that late night too Oscar was speaking patiently with his inimitable sense of humour. He spent some time with us too. Next day our flight to Srinagar was at 1 pm. Oscar learnt from our children that they had not toured Delhi city before. He arranged for Delhi city tour covering important locations in his car next morning. During that tour I asked Oscar’s driver Ramkishore ‘Kal raath saab kitne baje tak AICC me the?’ He answered ‘Dhaayee baje thak’ and then continued ‘Hamesha Saab ka ye hi ruteen hai’

‘In the service of the people’ – A tradition of Roque – Leonissa Fernandes family:

It is true that Oscar has been bestowed with his parents’ qualities. The biography of Roque Fernandes ‘Udupiya Rocky Mastru’ (Adarsha Mukhyopaadya Rocky Fernandesara Jeevana mattu Maulyagallu) written by Dr Srikanth Rao Siddapura contains beautiful narrations about how Fernandes family had been in the service of people without caste, creed or language barriers.

A model couple : Oscar – Blossom:

Oscar tied knot with Blossom Mathias Prabhu on 26th Aug. 1981. This couple is truly a model to all couples. Our society speaks volumes about the betterment of women folk. But many husbands are not caring for their wives. Having Blossom by his side in many a programme, Oscar is a role model to all husbands. He has shown the society that respect to women should be by deeds and not just by talk. The couple have 2 children (a son and a daughter) and both are married.

Oscar's talents:

Oscar is a talented person. He was passionate about sports like kabaddi, volley-ball, swimming and arts like yakshagana . He practised Yoga and has performed in many places. He is a ‘Kuchipudi’ dancer which he learnt in Delhi. He plays mouth organ from his childhood. Oscar was playing Harmonium, Keyboard, Tabla and compose poems before actively involving in politics. He is a singer too. Now also whenever time permits he sings in the Church Choirs.

"Was my Konkani alright?"

Konkani being his mother tongue Oscar can speak in Konkani fluently. But normally he speaks in Kannada. On May 4, 2014 a felicitation programme was organized by the Mangalorean Catholic Community of Udupi and Mangalore Dioceses residing in Mumbai at Xavier Engineering College at Mahim in honour of Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, first Bishop of Udupi Diocese. The Chairman of the programme, Albert W D’Souza, entrepreneur and my good friend had requested me to escort the Bishop, since the Bishop is known to me since decades. Oscar was the Chief Guest of the programme. He spoke fluently in Konkani for about 12 minutes. As he had to rush to Delhi he left the programme half way. While descending from the dais he asked me (seated at the front row) ‘HR, was my Konkani good?’ No doubt Oscar spoke well.

A wish that 'Oscaranna' beat a Century:

When I saw Oscar in 1976 and I am seeing him now in 2016, he is the same person with a smiling face and cordiality. He has fans everywhere. He has been attracted by people especially youth everywhere without caste, creed and language barriers. In the coastal districts he is known as ‘Oscaranna’. Among those youth who were by his side, M. A. Gafoor, who is familiar for his prolific speeches since his young age stands tall. With mass fan following, Oscar’s fraternity continues since decades.

While seeing Oscar one may find it hard to believe that he has attained the age 75. With his life style, food habits, exercise, activities and emotional composure he still looks like a youngster and even shame them with brisk activities. I pray to God Almighty to grant him good health and energy to serve the people for many more years to come. On his Platinum Birthday I wish ‘may Platinum turn into Centenary’.