Gerald D'Cunha

  “A wonderful gift may not be wrapped as you expect.” Jonathan Lockwood Hule   I don’t wear any gold, not even my engagement and wedding rings. It doesn’t make me less-committed to my marriage and my life-partner. However, I admire others who wear gold and precious stones… Need I feel less-decorated? Likewise, I do not wear a watch. It doesn’t make me less-respectful for time or my appointments. Again, I admire others wearing beautiful watches… Need I feel less-modern? Ditto about pens. So often, some of my well-wishers have gifted me fine, expensive pens. I have never used any of them… My shirt- pocket either doesn’t carry any pen, or carries a 5-rupee ball pen! Need I feel inferior as a writer or teacher or whatever? The finest pens, which I, often, receive from some of my well-wishers, go around to the those who, I think, deserve them… When I see them using those pens, I feel extremely happy… Yes, I know, that it would break my well-wishers’ hearts if th...

Pic.: Fr. Reginald Pinto “You have a unique personality and an unbelievable potentiality in you. Success lies in exploring this hidden wealth in you… In unleashing the hidden power of your personality.” N o one can explain the mystery of your uniqueness. Billions of people have come on this earth and gone and they will come and go… But, God will produce each one of us, here, in a special mould. There is no duplication in His factory… He sends each one of us with a unique stamp on us… He gives you a unique finger-print… He gives you a unique voice… He gives you your own unique gifts and talents… He gives you your own special feelings and sensitivities… Your own very special aspirations and dreams… Yes, He sends you fully-loaded with wealth and power… But, dear, it is like you inheriting those proverbial ‘acres of diamond’… Imagine, spending your lifetime without knowing the value ...

Coming year, my students Nikhil will be going to twelfth standard and Mohit to T.Y. B’Com. Incidentally, their parents had come to see me, yesterday. They had the same question to ask me: “Sir, what do you think, our son should do?” After twelfth, Nikhil has many options… and, the same is for Mohit, after T.Y. B’Com. I have no answer to these parents. Options are always there before you… and in plenty. But, to choose what you want to do - is for you.  When I chose Commerce after my tenth, I chose it by default. My tenth marks were very poor, my awareness level was pathetic… and the state of my confidence… The lesser I talk about it, the better! So, like the rest of the ‘herd’, I found myself in this milieu called ‘Commerce’!  Needless to say, I was doing a bad job there!  But, even the ‘default’ choices are the ‘dots of our destiny’… They are all connected. I remember, in my twelfth standard, our English teacher, a Jesuit Priest, tau...

"One dollar and eighty-seven cents." This is how O. Henry's short story - 'THE GIFT OF MAGI' - begins. I am yet to come across a Christmas tale, as moving as this one. It's simply an ageless classic. Simply immortal! It is a story about the true spirit of gifting and sacrifice. It is about the silent strength of true love ... It is about trust, faith, simplicity and, above all, the true spirit of Christmas: the imitation of the Christ! It is, a true challenge ... for any one. Yes, whether you are a Christ's follower or not! This story can not be retold, here, the way the great author had done. Any attempt to do so - is like desecration of the Sacrament! So precious it is. Suffice this much: Only one day to go. Tomorrow would be Christmas. In a small apartment, Della counts her savings. It is one dollar and eighty-seven cents! All those pennies saved over the months, with small little sacrifices, with love, with the sole objective of making a Christmas pres...

"Look at these people; they are shameless, cunning," the middle-aged man remarked to me referring to a family which was busy relishing the 'maha prasad'(a grand dinner)sponsored by a big-hearted man in our Society. "Why?" I asked. "We have held three functions in our family during the last two years; they haven't attended a single," he told me. "So? They must've had some genuine reasons for not attending. Don't you think so?" I reasoned. "Yes, I know that reason," he reacted, visibly annoyed. "What's that reason?" I pushed. "Look, I know these 'characters' pretty well by now. The only reason is: money. This is free, you see; whereas for our functions, they had to put something in the envelope," his face showed the disgust. "They are not alone; there are thousands of people around, with such 'mentality'. You announce a 'free lunch', they are the first ones to show u...

This is an interesting story -- with some strange co-incidents -- and, they had to unfold, mysteriously, on the same day. The day was today. I said 'mysteriously'-- because, *Salim and *Pravin (*not the real names), both my ex-students, had come to see me today. Consider this: -- Both graduated from my institute about five years ago; -- Both had finacial difficulties at home. -- Salim was not comfortable with any fee-concession or a waiver; he was very dignified, had high self-esteem. Thus, he would meet me privately, those days, explain to me his home-situation, take a few weeks or months more to clear off his dues. But, clear off he would, like a gentleman. Moreover, he would express his gratitude, profusely, and do it quite often. After he passed out, he kept referring my institute to his friends and, also, would speak very highly about me to them. That was his way of repaying his debt to his teacher. -- On the other hand, Pravin and his parents, woul...