Valentine day in 1988 was special for many of us in Goa as it was the day Gomatnatk Times , the third English daily was launched. Mohan Rao was the man at the helm – the first Editor of the paper and myself the first Sports Editor appointed by a newspaper in Goa.
Mohan had assembled a group of journalists ,some having experience in Mumbai and a few from Goa, along with a team of designers from Mumbai . Also invited was Ron Hendricks , former Sports Editor of Indian Express , my mentor at the newspaper in Mumbai.
Going back 32 years could have been tedious if the sound of the bubbles created then were not loud when they burst. The memories of the first night when the first edition was being prepared are vivid as the staff of Gomantak Times prepared to produce the last edition of the paper on Sunday , May 31,2020.
I am not sure whether the paper was launched on the day the Arlem Trophy – the then premier cricket tournament of Goa sponsored by Chowgules , owners first owners of the paper – was a coincidence or not . However, what I do remember was that when the lead story – of the Arlem Trophy – was filed, Ron asked to see the photos and this is what he said:
“What are these ants? Get me a better picture where the players can be seen and recognised.” When informed there was nothing better was available he shot back: “there will be no sports page on the first edition.”
The late Prashant Elekar was the first photographer appointed and it happened to be his first assignment as photographer. He had never clicked pictures professionally. That he went on to later learn and was good at what he did, is another story.
“Go to a rival paper and get me a picture. It does not matter how you get it . Get it,” Ron yelled. There were only two papers in 1988 and The Navhind Times still used to do blocks for their pictures whilst Herald used the advanced technology used by GT.
So, going to Herald was the only solution. Getting a picture from the staff of Herald was impossible. But, getting a positive of the picture from the dark room of Herlad was not that difficult. It cost us Rs 500 with an assurance to the bromide maker he would be employed by GT had he been caught and dismissed. Ron gave the money and promised to fulfill the assurance.
A few days after the lauch , the bromide maker from Herald walked in to tell his tale. Ron kept his word.
The sports pages- I had two pages assigned to me- were ready by 9.30 pm, approved by the designers in terms of lay out. Moha Rao came in at around 9.30 – spirits all cheered and was content. However, my joy was interrupted by a loud thud.
Mohan had banged his head against the glass pane of the layout table assigned for the Front Page after seeing what Elston Soares had produced for the front page of the first edition. “Change this”, he yelled, tearing the page created and asking the designers from Mumbai to do a new page altogether.
Elston Soares was known as Paku in those days and had joined from a English daily from Belgaum. He was the chief sub editor along with Bosco Eremita Sousa who correspondent of some national newspapers/weekly in those days.
Pal was the news editor from Mumbai and Pramod Khandeparker was the Assistant Editor poached from The Navhind Times where he was then the chief reporter. GK Mohan was the senior sub from Mumbai along with Francis Ribeiro who had been with the Herald before. Ramnath Raikar was a novice reporter.
After the first edition was ready we entered the bar near the office to celebrate and as was the case every day later on we were the ones to leave the place just before the first bell of the St Inez church tolled.
It was always the case of ‘the best (food and booze- this part imaginary) in the world being served to the best journalists in Goa. The bar closed down many years ago. GT never had a good life after it’s early days of glory.
Hence , it was euthanised during a pandemic .
