by Richie Lasrado
Resident Editor
Daijiworld.com, Mangalore
Pics Praveen Tauro Kulshekar
Mangalore, Feb 10: Very touching tributes were paid at a public condolence meeting held in the Cordel Hall on Saturday, February 10 evening, to the late Flight Lieutenant Ronald Kevin Serrao, who died in service in a Jaguar fighter crash in the Rajasthan deserts on January 18 last.
The departed pilot's portrait
The sentiments expressed by various dignitaries on the occassion may have to some extent served the purpose of giving some solace to the grieving Serrao family which is yet to come to terms with the irreparable loss.
The public meeting was organized by the Kulshekar chapter of the Catholic Sabha, on behalf of the community. Earlier Bishop Aloysius D'Souza along with a host of concelebrants offered a prayer service in the church. The condolence meeting was presided over by the Bishop. Deputy commissioner M Maheshwar Rao, city mayor Vijaya Arun, KUIDFC deputy director J R Lobo, Wing Commander Vikram Pereira, the pilot's parents Lt Col John Serrao and Dr Jessica Serrao and others were on the dais.
Parish priest Fr Lawrence D'Souza made the opening presentation saying how meaningful it was to remember a brave son of the nation.
Floral tributes
Floral tributes were offered to the deceased pilot's portrait by the dignitaries on the dais. A soul-stirring Kannada song of tribute to Flt Lt Serrao, composed by Vijaya Karanth, was sung by the students of St Joseph's Schools, Kulshekar.
A song of tribute from children
The lyrics, loosely rendered into English, ran like this, which may have made tears roll down many cheeks in the audience.
"Here's a tribute of tears
to a valiant fighter of our land
Apple of everyone's eye, brave and extraordinary
You came to attain heaven befitting the brave
Like a blooming bud having wilted
You wound up your life's journey in a hurry
Having gone to the land beyond never to return
How can we forget you, oh darling of our land
While doing your duty on a fighter plane
You've attained immortality by your sacrifice
Your sojourn in this world was brief though
Like the Sun you'll remain forever
Your sweet memory shall be our strength
Your deeds be our beacon light
You were the pride of your parents and family
but you lived a life of accomplishment"
J R Lobo said that though the loss to the parents and family was difficult to recoup with mere words of comfort, it should be a comforting thought that such a big gathering had assembled in the hall to assure the grieving family of their solidarity with them. Death is not an end, as even great persons like Swami Vivekananda and Jesus Christ, in spite of having died in the thirties, had made great impact on this world. He said pilot Serrao had proved his loyalty and service to the nation by his sacrifice.
J R Lobo and DC Maheshwar Rao
Deputy commissioner M Maheshwar Rao, spoke on a personal note with a family member of his serving in the Air Force and said the IAF had the motto of taking its personnel to skies of glory. Serrao had reached the apex of his career with his several achievements in such a brief period and concluded saying on behalf of the district administration that everyone was part of the Serrao family's sorrow.
On behalf of the community, Sushil Noronha read out a memorandum to mayor Vijaya Arun requesting that the circle joining Kulshekar, Maroli and Bikarnakatta roads be named as Flt Lt Ronald Kevin Circle and the Kalpane-Kuchikad road as Flt Lt Ronald Kevin Serrao Road. Fr Lawrence D'Souza formally handed over the memorandum to the mayor.
Memorandum to the mayor
Mayor Vijaya Arun, who spoke next, recalled the many achievements of the late pilot and assured in response to the memorandum that the council meeting would be held on February 27, where the proposal would be placed.
Wing Commander Vikram Pereira and Lt Col John Serrao
On behalf of the servicemen, Wing Commander Vikram Pereira said although he did not know Serrao in person, he was sure of his dreams and aspirations as a brother officer and pilot. Here was a man who chose to serve the nation rather than become a commercial pilot with cushy comforts and perks, and also took the tortuous route of becoming a fighter pilot. He commended the late pilot for his hard work, dedication and professionalism. Pilots take risks for the nation, so that the people of the country can sleep peacefully, he pointed out, and concluded quoting the motto of the air force and said Serrao had indeed touched the sky with glory.
The Bishop too gave an inspiring speech recalling his visit to a graveyard in Kohima, Nagaland which was the most-visited graveyard. That was the place where 1,421 personnel in uniform, including a female nurse, out of the total 2,500 persons who had perished in a thirteen-day battle in April 1944 in World War II against Japan, were buried. The message inscribed there reading "When you go home, tell them for your tomorrow, we gave our today" was most relevant to the Serrao family. 'The Bishop also narrated a metaphor of a gardener tending a garden and choosing and plucking flowers at his will and of his choice, about which the plant did not have any say.
Lt Col John Serrao, at the end, spoke on behalf of himself, his wife, Flt Lt Deepika Dadlani-Serrao and Kenneth Serrao and thanked everyone who stood by them in their moment of crisis. He touched the chords of everyone's hearts and instilled thoughts of patriotism when he said that while he was proud that his son had died in service, he would have much prouder, were he to die in a war.
Lt Col Serrao displayed remarkable grace in spite of the grief in conveying his special thanks to daijiworld.com for making the world know of the tragedy so rapidly and the later proceedings with instant pictures at every step.
Richard Alvares compered the programme and proposed a vote of thanks.
Click here to read the complete coverage of the tragedy until the final journey