BHARATI PAWASKAR
He is a fighter. It’s his fighting spirit that brought him out of a prolonged illness that would have led an ordinary person into depression. But this retired bank employee from Saligao - Amrose Vaz emerged a hero. An agriculture enthusiast, Amrose has earned respect in his village due to his resilient, optimistic and cheerful nature. Those who surround him are also infected with his smiling positivity.
As the festival of lights is approaching, the will to conquer the demons in our mind gets strengthened further, spreading the light of joy and knowledge. Overwhelmed, Amrose is experiencing just the same. He is now busy making handcrafted gifts for his friends, neighbours and well-wishers who will be celebrating the festival of life while Amrose will take pride in displaying his beautiful work of creative art - center pieces, coasters, candle stands, earings, bracelets and even curtains “ all made out of cotton rope at ‘Made in Saligaon’ programme.
The programme that will kick-start on November 12 will continue every Tuesday thereafter between 10 am to 7 pm at Saligao Institute - one of the oldest institutions of its kind in Goa that celebrated its 90th anniversary in August this year. Opened in 1929, it is still active, vibrant with activities that not only entertain, but also educate people, the institute is now being revived by the current committee that wishes to share motivating stories like that of Amrose.
With his debilitating illness that continued for months Amrose never thought he would ever find his purpose in life. But it turned out that he was only beginning his next journey. Amrose had undergone a knee replacement surgery on his left knee in 2010. He was happy with the results. When his right knee began troubling, he decided to undergo similar surgery. Amrose recalls, “I underwent a surgery on my right knee. Unfortunately it developed complications post-surgery. It was dreaded infection and my journey to recovery was painful and long.” Sometimes things go wrong and one has to suffer. He endured the pain, never giving up.
While his body was healing, his mind that kept playing tricks. Feeling low and in pain he managed each day with prayer. He had to take added treatment to get chemical and biological reactions to respond day and night towards recovery. His white blood cells “neutrophils were overworked, the monocytes were full. The bone cells tired of repairing the bone tissue. He lost his appetite in between but his faith grew stronger as days passed. He waited to get through with the treatment which by now had gone on for months. He saw himself only eating and sleeping in hospital, doing really nothing. Indeed, this wasn’t really what he wanted.
Life takes a turn here for Amrose who loved crafting and experimenting. He searched on the internet what he could create as he lay in his hospital bed. Ordering stuff from Amazon, Amrose began his creations right from his hospital bed. Around him he saw an open market - the nurses who took care of him, the medical staff and couple of others “ all of who were only too happy to receive his creative gifts. Thankful to these people, he gave away his creations for free.
Soon Amrose became a busy man. The pain became easier to bear. The healing was progressing well. As days, weeks and months passed his self-esteem grew, and he accepted his new normal world. He began to plan, to think and his past experience of working at a boutique was put to good use. He began to make center pieces, coasters, candle stands and even curtains out of cotton rope. He found a reason to make a fresh start.
Today, Amrose has healed. The people around him respect him and appreciate his willpower. His skills amaze them. And their smiles bring hope to his future, adding new energy to his still not-fully-pain-free leg. Living a day at a time, he carries on with life with zeal and zest. “Once I have enough stock, I plan to commence business. I am sure there will be enough takers,” he spells and sounds optimistic.
It is his inspiring story that the Saligaon Institute wants to share with other villagers. “Let’s celebrate his success, his victory over his illness and his will to get healed, so that others can take an inspiration,” says Clarise Vaz, a nurse by profession and a self-trained contemporary abstract artist from Saligao who have had eight exhibitions of her work. Feeling that Amrose is an ideal example of grit and determination, Clarise has uploaded about Amrose on social media, inviting people to attend the November 12 event.
Surrounded by love and prayers from all he began to connect to something greater than himself. He is a witness to a miracle. His artwork is astonishing. Let there be more people like him, who do not give up, who take life head on and greet the challenges on face. Not looking up to someone, not looking down upon someone, but looking at life “
eye to eye.
