[Update: Motilal Parrikar passed away on July 10, 2013. Dr. Vamona Sinari passed away on October 10, 2013.]
This evening I had the rare fortune of photographing not one but two nonagenarians, both of them in my immediate family: my father Motilal Parrikar and maternal uncle Dr. Vamona Sinari. We went up the hill in Panjim to the old Liceu (Lyceum) buildings where my uncle did his pre-medical schooling. The complex today serves as the High Court.
(L-R): My father Motilal Parrikar and maternal uncle Dr. Vamona Sinari
5D Mark II, TS-E 24L II
Dr. Vamona Sinari took his undergraduate medical degree at Escola Médico-Cirúrgica de Goa (Goa Medical College) in Panjim. Established by the Portuguese in 1842, the institution is said to be the oldest medical school in Asia. He left for Lisboa in 1947 to pursue graduate studies and settled there after completion of his degree. In 1961 he returned to Escola Médico-Cirúrgica de Goa as a professor but his tenure was cut short. Following Indian military action in December 1961, he packed his bags and reverted to Lisboa.
Doutor Sinari along with Xencora (Priti) Camotim are the oldest living Goans in Portugal, and a link to Goa‘s 20th C history. They embody a type that is sadly extinct today – a quaint synthesis of the Goan temperament and the European manner. A brief account of the pre-1961 times in Lisboa has been put down in a recent book, Short Takes, Long Memories by Prabhakar Kamat.
Doutor Sinari and his (Portuguese) wife Violante have been coming to Goa virtually every year for decades now. For Goa, and Goa alone, is home. It is a feeling every Goan can relate to.
Doutor Vamona Sinari
5D Mark II, Zeiss ZE 50 f/2 MP
Dr. Sinari teaches a class at Escola Médico-Cirúrgica de Goa (1961)
Dr. Sinari with his students and staff at Escola Médico-Cirúrgica de Goa (1961)
Sad to know about dr. Vamona, my condolences to the family.
I was assisted by him as a child in his clinic in Odivelas.
I keep very good memories of his care and human approach to his patients.
Hello Rajan, i was sad to hear of the passinho away of Prof. Sinari. I’m on his left in the picture and knew him well as a student and later in Lisbon.
Let me tell you that I really admire your blogs and pictures.
Thanks.
Dear Mr Parrikar,
First of all my condolences on the death of Dr Sinari my ex Professor in Escola Medico Cirrurgica de Goa in the year 1961 when I was doing the first year.
Thank you for the above photo of my colleagues of the first year of the Medical School.
This photo brings me memories of 52 years back when Goa was a wonderful place and looking at this picture I can now recollect all my colleagues who are spread around the world and peace to the souls of those who have left us.
I am one of those who is out of Goa for the last 45 years and I visit my homeland every year.
Thank you once again and may God Bless soul of our dear Dr Sinari who had been a wonderful professor of Microbiology.
Dr Joao Carlos Filipe DeMello
Love the archival photos, but also the more recent portraits of stylish Dr. Sinari. Thanks for sharing. VM
1) Condolences on the passing on of your uncle.
2) Am glad you have found these pictures and put them on an electronic format for all to view.
Best wishes to them, and hope in a decade you have the rare privilege of photographing two centenarians!