August 18, 2006
by Hemacharya

The untimely death and departure of our friend Johny Suratkal is yet another blow to the shattered Konkani world. But this statement should not in any way undermine the loss his family has encountered. The loss for his dear mother, Rita and Ryan is, above all, beyond any comparison. The entire Daiji fraternity - now world wide - gets together in praying for the restraint and strength to pull them through this most challenging time of their life.

What a great relief and smiles I saw on their large lit face when I along with my wife visited Johnny in the hospital a month ago in Mangalore. For a while we were given to believe that the worst has passed and the destiny had granted him a new lease of life, perhaps for him to plan a scheme of affairs all over again. But it was not to be. Just a matter of time since we had seen him taking long walks outside his ward  – slow, sober, yet full of life - and today he is gone into the wilderness.

One more loving son, a doting husband, a loving father and brother, a benevolent friend, has marched past us towards an eternal life. Yet another dedicated son of Mother Konkani, a great actor/artiste, a social activist has chosen the ultimate path one has to walk through after leaving  the loved ones behind to join the others up above. Hitherto, Daiji has lost  yet another fragile friend and supporter.

It was not long ago we saw his photographs while in Kuwait singing praises of Daiji Dubai and Daijiworld and bestowing awards on us from Konkan Talents, the association he was wedded to. Although we were quite aware that Johny was behind this award, our colleagues Dayan and Walter D’Souza who represented us, may not have sensed the fact that the hospitality and warmth showered on them would be for the last time.

They spent hours together exchanging pleasantries and enjoying the company of each other. Perhaps they had their last supper in full camaraderie. During this meeting, according to Dayan and Walter, Johny also volunteered to be a panel member from Kuwait on Daiji Foundation, which was just then set up to work for the welfare of Konkani artistes worldwide.  It reflects his selflessness and concern for a fellow artiste as the foundation was formed to reach out to the family of great artiste Mick Max whom Johny held in high esteem.

Prior to this, not long ago we saw him in Dubai, in all his grace and dignity at the Daiji Anniversary. He was entrusted with the task, as the guest of honour, to bestow the prestigious 6th Daiji Sahitya Puroskar on eminent Konkani poet and litterateur J B Moraes. Perhaps everyone was taken aback when a much junior artiste was given the honour to felicitate a much senior literary giant of Bab Moraes’ stature, but no one was even aware of the fact then that Johny had little time left in his journey in this world and that he was not going to be available again.

It was his last trip to Dubai, during which he captured the attention of those gathered in the Indian Consulate hall that evening. For the next couple of days Daijis were recounting his thunderous yet heartfelt speech. Perhaps it was his farewell visit.

During the function, when rich tributes were paid to the memory of the late Umesh Nanthur who had passed away a few months earlier,  he was standing close to Umesh’s widow, consoling her over a biggest catastrophe in her life. But it was such an irony that had to follow; Johny was to depart his world on the same day and month of the year that Umesh left us two years ago, on Wednesday, August 16, to be precise.

Certainly, it is not an age to go. But he had a call from above - to respect and to respond. The call that Bennett, Mick Max, besides Umesh followed while being at the prime of their careers. And it is a fact we the ones left behind are destined to submit to the same call sooner or later, in our respective lives, however frightening and harsh that call might sound to us.

And this call reminds us of the fact that the final journey brings us at par with all human beings on earth, whether rich or poor, powerful or week, famous or insignificant. This call binds us together in the court of our Master the merciful, the creator of heaven and earth. 

Goodbye, Johny, till we meet again up there and see you smiling in the company of all of our loved ones, ages beyond from now.

Om Namah Shivaya.

Mangalore: Johny Suratkal, Great Supporter of Konkani, Passes away