Pascoal De Mello M.B.E. A Life Well Spent

When Joe de Mello requested me to write the biography of his father, Mr Pascoal de Mello, I readily agreed because I regard both his parents with the highest esteem. Mr. de Mello particularly endeared himself to our family by his kind concern for my mother-in-law whom he assisted in her correspondence to produce her dues under the enhanced Pension Scheme for widows of those who had served under the British Administration in Kenya.

This biography courses through eight decades - a period covering two World Wars! It spans more than two continents. The data initially came from the memoirs of Mr Pascoal de Mello himself and promptings from his wife. Later their four sons also furnished me with their personal reminiscences. Piecing all these together and using my knowledge of Goan life and culture plus my research for a forthcoming book entitled, "Goans of Kenya", I have tried to set the event in the proper perspective.

This is the story of a man of boundless optimism founded on Faith, a man with a definite purpose motivated by strong family ties.

It is a tribute of love from the four sons to their father; and I hope the story that unfolds will be an inspiration, particularly, to the younger members of the de Mello clan helping them to appreciate their roots and stand up to the challenge of life.

- Teresa Albuquerque

Chapter I ANJUNA Anjuna at the turn of the century - Fortress - Other celebrities St. Michael's Church - Schools - Vaddos - Transport     Chapter II DE MELLO VADDO     Chapter III EMIGRATION Karachi     Chapter IV THE CHILD PASCOAL Red-letter days: Christmas - Santa Cruz - Cashew seed Contests Sam Joao - Old Goa     Chapter V KARACHI     Chapter VI EARLY DAYS IN KENYA The Goans - Frontier postings     Chapter VII FIRST HOME LEAVE Return of the native - For the better     Chapter VIII THE BIG STEP Finding a match - In anticipation - Wedding bells - Reception - Tornaboda     Chapter IX KENYA AGAIN Assumption     Chapter X RAMURUTI Family Life     Chapter XI MOMBASA The Goan Institute - Promotion - Long home leave     Chapter XII NAIROBI     Chapter XIII FORGING AHEAD Presented to Royalty - First car - Their own bungalow     Chapter XIV MORE TRIPS TO GOA Political agitation - Down memory lane - To Goa again - After Liberation - Local leave     Chapter XV THE 'GOAN FACTOR'     Chapter XVI THE BOYS' PROGRESS     Chapter XVII RETIREMENT Most Excellent Member of the British Empire (MBE)     Chapter XVIII GOODBYE KENYA     Chapter XIX HOME SWEET HOME Canada - Grandparents - Golden Jubilee - Social Service - Twilight

Dedicated to their dear parents, Pascoal and Esmeralda by Joe, Tim, Bijoo, Stan and their families

Chapter I ANJUNA Anjuna at the turn of the century - Fortress - Other celebrities St. Michael's Church - Schools - Vaddos - Transport     Chapter II DE MELLO VADDO     Chapter III EMIGRATION Karachi     Chapter IV THE CHILD PASCOAL Red-letter days: Christmas - Santa Cruz - Cashew seed Contests Sam Joao - Old Goa     Chapter V KARACHI     Chapter VI EARLY DAYS IN KENYA The Goans - Frontier postings     Chapter VII FIRST HOME LEAVE Return of the native - For the better     Chapter VIII THE BIG STEP Finding a match - In anticipation - Wedding bells - Reception - Tornaboda     Chapter IX KENYA AGAIN Assumption     Chapter X RAMURUTI Family Life     Chapter XI MOMBASA The Goan Institute - Promotion - Long home leave     Chapter XII NAIROBI     Chapter XIII FORGING AHEAD Presented to Royalty - First car - Their own bungalow     Chapter XIV MORE TRIPS TO GOA Political agitation - Down memory lane - To Goa again - After Liberation - Local leave     Chapter XV THE 'GOAN FACTOR'     Chapter XVI THE BOYS' PROGRESS     Chapter XVII RETIREMENT Most Excellent Member of the British Empire (MBE)     Chapter XVIII GOODBYE KENYA     Chapter XIX HOME SWEET HOME Canada - Grandparents - Golden Jubilee - Social Service - Twilight

 

Dr. (Mrs.) Teresa Albuquerque is a Fellow of the Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture, St. Xavier's College, Bombay and an active member of the Bombay Local Society. A regular contributor to historical journals, art magazines and newspapers, she has to her credit three books on Bombay: SANTA CRUZ THAT WAS (Bombay, 1981), URBS PRIMA IN INDIS: An epoch in the History of Bombay (Promilla & Co., Publishers, New Delhi, 1985) and TO LOVE IS TO SERVE: Catholics of Bombay (Heras Institute, Bombay, 1986.)