After serving in Indian Navy, Goan mentors students in Canada

TORONTO

When I first met Socrates Furtado at a Goan function in Scarborough, I wondered who was this gentleman with a genuine and perpetual smile and a ramrod straight posture, two features that are rarely found together. I was intrigued enough that I lost no time in making his acquaintance.

Born in Panaji formerly Panjim and with ancestral roots in Deussua, Chinchinim, Socrates studied in a local Portuguese medium school and went on after to Dempo College to engineering studies in the Technical Polytechnic in the city. This Regional Engineering College offered a diploma and after Goa’s integration with India, it was upgraded to a degree college and affiliated with Matunga’s VJTI of Bombay University. Socrates enrolled in the first batch of this institution. It was his boyhood wish to sail the seas and his first job was with the Salgaocar Shipbuilding Yard in Cortalim. While there, the Indian Navy created a Short Service Commission pilot program initiative and offered fresh engineering graduates a chance for a Navy Officer career. Grabbing the opportunity Socrates joined the naval force in 1972.

His father Pascualinho Furtado was Chief of Mocidade Portuguesa, Portugal’s paramilitary youth cadet training force in Goa and he was called for service in Angola during the armed struggle against the colonial regime for a short period. After Portuguese departure following their first defeat in the colonies, he was absorbed into the new Goa Government as a Planning Officer in the Directorate of Mines.

To return to Socrates, on completion of his officer training at INS Shivaji in Pune and short onboard acquaintance on flagship aircraft carrier Vikrant, he was posted during his 27-year career, on different missile boats, oil tankers and frigates sailing all the seas and oceans. He was by now, well into his childhood ambition. Heading the engineering department of major naval ship repair establishment in the Western Naval Command, Assistant Director of Marine Engineering in the Naval HQ Delhi and Command Engineering Officer in Easter Naval Command, his assignments included a deputation to the USSR to take training and acceptance Russian missile boats acquired by the Indian Navy. It was there that he learned Russian to add to his existing fluency in Portuguese, English, Hindi, and Konkani. It was a long and interesting naval journey from an Ensign to the rank of a Naval Commodore (equivalent to an Army Brigadier or Air Force Air Commodore) and Socrates enjoyed it all the way. He then opted for voluntary discharge (retirement). After service he chose to domicile in Bandra, Bombay with his lovely wife Patricia and his two by now grownup daughters. There he might have remained with an adequate pension were it not for his family who expressed a desire to emigrate. Socrates set about applying for Canada.

Starting a virtually new life without the benefit of young age would have been a challenge, but to a personality like Socrates who was forged in hotter fires, it was just another obstacle to overcome. He just slipped without much fuss, into what Canada had to offer.

Despite his qualifications in Mechanical and Marine engineering and his naval background, he saw at once during initial job interviews that he needed local qualifications and set about doing 23 exams to get his TSSA (Technical Safety & Standards Authority) First Class Stationary Engineer’s License. The TSSA is a regulatory body that certifies all major equipment and plants and getting their license was a prerequisite to any high-level engineering position. He was immediately head hunted, worked for several companies and then for the giant SNC Lavalin who placed him as Chief Operating Engineer at Toronto’s Pearson Airport. It’s a tough task to oversee the smooth running of a major airport’s equipment but he excelled, and it led to Ontario’s appreciation by honoring him with the Province Safety Award, a singular acknowledgement of technical excellence. After a long span of service there, he chose to retire, after the Navy, a second time, The hallmark feature of both his careers was always encouraging the people who worked for him, being kind to them and treating them with dignity while unhesitatingly sharing his own knowledge and experience. When he once expressed his reservations about a new responsibility, a former employee told him “If you ever have a problem at work, know Sir that you bear no fault for it.” A fitting tribute to Socrates’ professionalism, competence, and fairness.

A staunch Catholic, these days you will find Socrates helping at the Church’s Knights of Columbus as a Faithful Navigator, organizing annual Remembrance Day celebrations for fallen soldiers and when called by the TSSA, mentoring students of Power Engineering programs at city colleges. Occasionally he will take a temporary gig to manage a large plant when he fancies doing it and he and Patricia can be often found actively involved with social activities and supporting parish and community needs.

The ramrod straight posture yields smoothly when the music strikes a lively chord at the Goan Seniors dancing set on a Toronto East Friday event and the smile when you meet him, has not faded one bit.

When I ask him for advice for Goans newly arrived, he urges them to come with an open mind and determination to commit themselves to whatever they wish and love to do.

Opportunities abound, as long as you are willing to start anew no matter what positions you have held before coming here. Hard work and humility always go a long way when you show confidence in yourself, no matter the challenges. Coming from a man who has walked that talk, that is solid advice.

[The writer resides in Toronto and likes to observe and write about happy and fun loving Goans that inspire]