Mangalore: Loy Fernandes (24) - who Answered God's Call Far too Soon
by Anisa Fathima - Daijiworld.com, Mangalore
Mangalore, Aug 19: It is often said that people who die young are the ones closest to God.
All those who knew Loy here in the city were in for a major shock to learn that he lost his life while swimming at a Chennai beach on August 18. When a Christian takes up a holy vocation to serve in any religious order, it is commonly referred to as a 'Call from God'. Loy, who had joined the Jesuit order to serve God, got another call from God, at far too early a stage.
Loy Manohar Fernandes (24 years) was a person who you couldn't help but like. Few people born on this earth lead such a virtuous life as he did, and now when he is in his Heavenly abode, all those who knew him, his friends and relatives, feel the void created by the departure of this kind soul.
I have known Loy for four years - we were classmates in our college days. Last night when I heard the news from a friend of mine about his sad demise, the feeling was such that no words could suffice to describe it. It was hard to believe and even now as I write this I fervently hope and pray that it was all a dream, that Loy is still alive somewhere in this world, smiling and laughing as he always did.
When I joined St Aloysius College in the year 2002, I hardly knew anything about the college. I was surprised at Loy's confidence in taking the lead where others shrank and shrugged. In the first year of graduation, he stood for the election for class representative of the Debating Society and won it too. In the final year, he was the secretary of the Debating Society.
Loy was a fantastic orator, and the way he spoke left everyone thoughtful and mesmerized. It was not only during elocutions that one could feel his extraordinary skills at oration, but even during little things like when he took seminars in our journalism classes or if he just addressed the class on some minor issue.
As a friend, Loy was 'fun'tastic. The times that my friends and I shared with him are unforgettable. He was fun-loving, jovial, yet disciplined. He would help you out with anything, anytime. Once when a friend of mine needed blood for a relative of hers, it was Loy who stepped forward to donate. He would enjoy doing everything he did, and his enthusiasm and zeal was so infectious that it would get to you.
The one thing that all his friends would ever remember about him would be his broad, evergreen, heartening smile that could light up the gloomiest of days. He never minded friendly leg-pulling, which was a part and parcel of our friendship. We even had nicknames for him which he would graciously laugh off. He had the great ability to laugh at himself, and made college life beautiful.
There have been several unforgettable times with him - whenever there was an intercollegiate meet, he would lead the team from the front. Unlike other friends, I had only one chance to participate with him, and I regret that on the appointed day I couldn’t make it owing to fever. There's no end to his achievement in college - he was in every activity and emerged winner in most of them. So committed a person I have never met.
A favourite with classmates and teachers alike, Loy was dear to all. When it came to academics too, he was always among the toppers. Like everything else, he took his studies very seriously. Whatever be the notes, chapters or texts - Loy would have them, and would generously share them with the rest of the class. At one point of time, I remember, before our internal exams, he was working extra hard, and when I asked him the reason for it, all he said was, "I have a point to prove." When we got our results, he had indeed proved himself, by getting the highest marks in the batch.
He was one of the very few who kept in touch through e-mails. Everyday each one of us who knew him would get at least 5 mails from him, most of them forwards, but many times he would just send a short e-mail to say he's fine and sometimes, as if to prove it, would even send his photographs or a short video saying hi. Each mail would carry the message that he was praying for me, and asking me to pray for him. To open the mailbox and not find a single mail from him ever again is a terrible and haunting feeling.
I would like to share with the readers one other thing that strikes to me as such a sad irony. Loy had a peculiar handwriting, and we used to tease him that his handwriting was like sea-waves. Now, when Loy lies engulfed by the sea-waves on the Coromandel shores, I do not know whether to call it coincidence or whether his handwriting was a declaration to the world as to how he was going to bid the final farewell.
We Miss You Loy. I pray to God that He keeps you happy and smiling even in the other world.