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Historical Barkur, has a unique place in the

history of South India in general and it was
the epicenter of commercial, religious,
cultural and more specically political life of
Coastal Karnataka for centuries. Early
Christian era, even much before, the ancient
Barkur was known to the then world, and at
its peak of fame and recognition as the capital
of long reigning Alupa Kings, a royal dynasty
and even continued during the rule of famous and extended till the rule of Keladi kings,
Vijaya Nagara, as their gateway to the West almost the end of 18th Century. River Seeta
Barkur
and its tributaries on one hand and Swarna on
the other, embracing the Arabian Sea as one at
Hungarkatte – Harady was an all season
maritime port. Learned and holy men from
both West and East visited the place and
many of them settled over here and made
Barkur famous. There is no such place in
India, like Barkur, which is holy and sacred
for people of all major faiths and religions… In
other words, the soil of Barkur is not just
fertile but also holy. Every now and then great
people are born, grown and brought laurels to
the place they took birth in… It's a perennial,
continuous process… One such great person is
a well-known 'Research Scientist: Dr. Gabriel
Fernandes'.
Moodahadu still more or less a Village, yes
a modern village, is surrounded with river
Seeta and its tributaries, which was once
inhabited by agrarian families. There lived
a devout household of 'Fernandes clan', as
most of us, probably immigrants from Goa,

An Overview 3
for more than ve to six
generations. Hardworking
community, engaged in farming,
mostly tenants with small and
fragmented land holdings and
few were daily wage earners,
slowly laying foothold, once there
was a Church established in the
year, 1861, dedicated to the patron
Apostle St. Peter, in Barkur…
There were no formal Schools, and the one
existing was, an English medium (New
English School) up to Grade VIII, near the
Church. Thanks to various priests and kind
hearted men, as the beginning of 20th
century saw few primary Schools coming
up – St Anthony Primary School in
Moodahadu, Maryknoll Hr. Primary
School, Hosala Barkur…!
Earlier families were large but houses were
small, most of them had mud walls,
covered by thatched roof which has to be
re-stitched every year prior to the arrival of
Monsoon rain. Jerome Diego and Assumpta
Fernandes too were a part of one such, large
joint family. Jerome was
fortunate to have some basic
education, in those days of no
schools, (only gurukula's
reserved for Hindu priestly
class) also familiar with
coppersmith work… and more
than that he and his wife,
understood well the value of
education in life… Small land
holdings provided rice and
grams and the Seeta was
owing with plenty of sh and
crabs… Every household had a pair of
buffalos, couple of cows, a wooden boat,
some raw shing tools, like net, shing He was sent to St Anthony's Primary
rods… Though the days were tough, people School at Pandeshwar, Grade 1st to 5th
w e r e c o u r a g e o u s , c o o p e r a t i v e a n d followed by the Parish School, at Airody
4 An Overview
contented with what they had… In such a
cordial atmosphere Gabriel was born on
that blessed day of 25th March, 1936.
Parents life and living was a live example
which taught him to be honest,
hardworking and learn from the nature…
He was a practical learner had curiosity in
every living creature at tender age… His
mother was an excellent cook, familiar
with basics of Chemistry, she was most
sought after person to lead and guide, lunch
and dinner for big events in the village and
most parts of then Barkur town… About 50
years ago and earlier, there was no catering
culture, for any community celebrations,
food was cooked at home collectively by
villagers, with the supervision of experts like
Assumpta's skill, caliber and
experience… There was no
great menu but, few dishes
which were cooked and
offered, acceptable, tasty and
enjoyed by all and sundries…
One naturally inherits from
parents and this basic
chemistry, usage of right
dosage of variety of
spices/masala powder... and of
course balancing with nature,
seasons and climate was well inbuilt in
young Gabriel.
Sastan for his Grade 6th and 7th as parents
preferred it, though little more away from
Barkur, but there were no rivers to cross…
He was the third child in the family and
then Grade 7th was the highest qualication
for middle class people… It so happened,
some farsighted visionaries in Barkur were
successful to start a High School in Barkur,
in 1946. There were just a couple of High
schools in Udupi District, one in Kallianpur,
Milagres High School 1936 and one each
run by the Govt. at Udupi and Kundapur…
One of the greatest event in the history of
modern Barkur, that inuenced, rather
Holy Family Church, Brahmavar
radically changed the socio-economic
status and opened the doors of education to
common men and rightly uplifted the life
and living of average and lower middle
class Barkurians and neighboring villages…
Gabriel was rst in the family to climb the
steps of National High School and come
out with Matriculation, the then highest
qualication enough to fetch a decent job…
Just imagine, where is Moodahadu and the
An Overview
High School located at the outskirts of the
town at distant hill near fort… Practically
one has to start by 8.30 am to walk almost 5.00
kms bare foot, cross the river, dare oods…
and return in the evening. One has to carry
some left overs of previous day in tifn or a
bit of rice, chutney / pappad and pickle to
satiate hunger at noon. But hunger for
knowledge was the motivation to encounter
all these hardships… Gabriel proudly
recollects… The care and concern of his
then teachers, in NHSS, discipline of HM
Shri PN Bhoja Rao, encouragement to
excel in studies, in this temple of learning…
yes the whole peaceful and serene surrounding
was just made for concentration and
thorough learning… What was taught in
the class rooms and learned in School was
retained not only for exams, but also for
lifetime…!
The young and charming Matriculate
Gabriel was a bright student, wanted to go
for higher studies in St. Aloysius College,
in distant Mangalore and he got a seat with
an offer of scholarship too…. Alas, his
father had different plans for the rst
Matriculate in the family, to send him to
Bombay to nd a job, earn and support the
younger siblings in the family… With a
heavy heart he meets the then devout Vicar
of Brahmmavar Holy Family Church, a
Capuchin Rev. Fr. Alfred Roche, a
5
 Research Centre' at Tata Memorial
Hospital… As mentioned above, Gabriel's
practical and natural home science, rearing
domestic animals, mini poultry at home,
helped him to handle the job assignment,
that is to look after, feed and raising
chicken…which was amazing to be
observed by his superiors... Consequently
this prompted to send young Gabriel for
poultry training course in Govt. farm at
Pimpri, Poona. At the end of the training
that lasted for three months, there held an
Exam for all the 30 odd trainees and our
Gabriel stood rst and honored with a prize
Barkurian, and well known to the too…Probably this rst recognition, as a
Fernandes family, as their ancestral house budding professional was the rst
located in Ballal Kudru, just across the motivation to aspire for something unique,
river…. and seeks his advice and blessings special and always something new in his
at the altar of God and in the consecrated life…!
hands of this priest, a disappointed Gabriel
receives great strength and solace to
proceed, in search of a job in Bombay…. a
blessing made his worries light, joy be great
and his cup always overow…. and also
cautioned him that the desires for success
should be greater than his fear of failures…!
Journey to Dream city Bombay in
1954:
This great city of Bombay is a place, full of
hopes and opportunities for hardworking
people and young Gabriel was fortunate to
have his elder brothers already there, so
that, just 18 years teenage boy not felt
alone…! If one doesn't leave his past in the
past, it will going to destroy his future,
learning to live in what present going to
offer, but certainly not what yesterday has
taken away, in his life, must be the
philosophy Gabriel imbibed, once he
landed in Bombay…. After couple of
months brisk search, got his rst job as
Laboratory Assistant in 'Indian Cancer

6 An Overview
(To prove my above point, our readers can read on 07 February, 2008 James a toxicologist
elaborate explanation and the brief of his rstserved in Abbot Chicago USA, and the
research work given by Dr. Gabriel Fernandes, youngest brother is Vincent a Junior
in his own words, in this book) Engineer serving in Mumbai. Almost all
are well settled and extended Fernandes
Personal life – Marriage in the year family rejoices jointly and get together and
1966: cooperate for family celebrations and
To the best of my understanding Gabriel cohesiveness is a unique unity feature one
and his wife Clara's was a gifted relation, a can observe…
bond between two persons who may not be Graduation i.e. B.Sc. after a break of
equal in qualications, talent, money or
18 long years in 1973:
age. But equal in their commitment to
understand each other, love, encourage and It's with the inuence and guidance of Dr.
share the life together… Her parents Edmond J.Younis, a visiting Professor
hailing from Shirva, she was born and from US to Tata Institute, Bombay, who
brought up in Bombay and had her
education here, by then MS in Social work
from Nirmal Niketan, met each other (it's
worth a mention a commitment by Gabriel
given to Clara's father on his death bed, to
love and to take care of his daughter who
was just 16 years at that time, for life time,
rightly honored it by letter and spirit) and
entered into the blessed sacrament of
matrimony on 23rd January, 1966….The
couple was blessed with a son Ashu who
now serves as Regional Manager in a large
Pharmaceutical Company, in Chicago and
a daughter Anjali a Speech Pathologist in observed the interest, passion and
St. Antonio, also look after aging parents, dedication in the laboratory work pleased
residing nearby. In our efforts to collect and thought that Gabriel must be a
data required for this biography, she was qualied Scientist and on enquiry
very cooperative and resourceful….! informed he was just a Matriculate…! Dr.
Gabriel's two elder brothers, Benedict was Younis rightly handpicked a diamond and
in Bombay, helped and guided Gabriel in foreseen a researcher looking for an
his early days and Romalth, who was in exposure, in Gabriel and was encouraged
native Moodahadu, looked after the aging and facilitated to land in USA for further
parents and the family land and property, studies on 15th January, 1968. For almost
only sister Sr. Dr. Concilia Helen Fernandes, two years he served there in Minnesota in a
a famous Obstetrician and Gynecologist prestigious laboratory.
served in Hyderabad, till her unfortunate A sincere self-evaluation and understanding
and premature departure from this world the strengths within self is very important,

An Overview 7
 research works published in Science
Journals and Gabriel was offered a Scientist
job in one of the well-known 'Sloan
Kettering Cancer Centre in New York,
USA', and allowed him to enroll for Ph. D
studies in University of Bombay… under
his onetime superior Dr. (Mrs.) Ranadive…
It must be the red letter day in the life of
Gabriel, as on 31st March 1980, the
prestigious University of Bombay confers
on him 'Doctor of Philosophy, Ph. D.' in
Science... Probably rst Catholic hailing
to climb the ladder of success and Gabriel from a remote village Barkur - Moodahadu…
exactly did this… there was a researcher With this feather in his cap, all his research
hidden in him, a dedicated scientist looking work got the ofcial stamp and deserved
for right opportunity to strike… whatever publicity. Rightly an inspiration to all, as
experiments he already done appreciated he proved there is no end for learning.
and helped him to earn his livelihood but
Dr. Gabriel Fernandes joined as Assistant
the true recognition, in elite world of
Professor in 'Sloan Kettering Institute in
scholars was somewhere missing… Yes to
Cornell University'. He was able to obtain
sit in the rows of distinguished class, he
grant support from the NIH to continue his
needed degrees… and a determined Gabriel,
own research activities in nutrition, cancer
by now serving in USA, make up his mind at
and aging… All his work started getting
the age of 34, he enrolls for three years B.Sc.
known in the Scientists world and
studies in University of Minnesota, USA,
deservedly he was offered an independent
and in May, 1973 obtained B.Sc. He hardly
job as Professor of Medicine (Microbiology
stops there but continues his post-graduation
and Physiology) in University of Texas
and completes M.Sc. in the year 1975.
Health Science Centre, at St. Antonio and
This is where, Gabriel stands tall, his moved here in the year 1981.
missionary zeal in learning, not hesitating
or shy away in sitting with students
younger to him by 10 – 15 years, a father of
two children, other commitments,
studying and coming out with ying
colours…!! In these interim years, he also
completed additional studies like, Certied
Laboratory Animal Technologist & Board
Certied Nutrition Specialist.
Back to India to complete the
Doctoral studies in Science:
On completion of his M.Sc., many of his

8 An Overview
Dr. Gabriel published more than 200
research articles, around 100 Reviews, near
about 250 abstracts. He has delivered
lectures in various Universities, national
and International conventions. He was a
recipient of various awards and honors
such as Distinguished Scientist from
Association of Scientist of Indian origin in
America (ASIOA) as well as International
Nutritional Immunology Group Award…
It is also a great honor for him as well as us scholars, and renowned personalities may
Barkurians to see him to serve ASIOA rightly be referred, by our readers at the end of
President for a couple of terms.
public utility works, art and culture….. .
His heart beat for less privileged, poor,
downtrodden and needy... His innovative
idea to support and encourage aspiring
intelligent students through 'Village to
College programme' widely recognized and
hundreds are benetted and benetting
from it, monetarily…
Setting aside a big portion of his savings
and donating the same for public utility
projects like, constructing much needed
roads, helping poor families to construct
houses, initiating to create Health Fund in
the Church of St. Peter, Barkur, as a
permanent donor to Kavita Trust, The
Expressions, ICYM Barkur, one just
cannot record them in one place. The Govt.
First Grade College (SRSMNFGC) where
Dr. Gabriel once studied has an
Auditorium in his name.
(The messages and short articles by various
this Biography)

(A brief summary of Dr. Gabriel's Research

work, service to various organizations and
Science associations is included in this
Biography)
The other side of a scholar's personality:
Today octogenarian Dr. Gabriel Fernandes
at his ripe age of 83. In fact, if he was just a
research Scientist, his life and living would
have been known to limited learned men. It
is because of his simplicity, hard work,
dedication and love for the native place
Barkur made him very special. As he is a
man of class for his achievements and
experiments, he also a man of masses, for
his philanthropic works, spreading to all
walks of life, that is educational, social,

9
Concluding words on this Biography:
It's with this intention, we just tried to
record his life story in a book form and the
struggle and success must be a motivation
to less privileged to aspire for great things.
There is no substitute for success than
handworks is the philosophy, of Dr.
Gabriel's life… One can learn from his life,
that problems are not reasons to give
up…but a challenge to improve… not an
excuse to back out, rather an inspiration to
move forward… As a lone ower still
blossoms for its purpose…not looking
around for admirers… Gabriel stayed true
to his purpose and we his admirers nd our
way in him…!
Dr. Gabriel Fernandes, such a down to
earth, humble person, reluctantly agreed
and allowed us to venture this small project
and thereafter happily shared vital
information, data and records with us… He
also took pain to collect, write, tabulate and
rewinds his memories to narrate signicant
events in his life. A proud son of Barkurian
soil, Dr. Gabriel Fernandes a man rose
from rags to be a successful to contribute
for the betterment of the health of
P. Archibald Furtado
MA, MCom, MBA,
‘There is only one difference between Dream and Aim.
Dream requires effortless sleep and Aim requires sleepless efforts.
Sleep for Dreams and wake up for Aims...’
10
mankind, tested and improved various
medicines for deadly decease cancer,
through his research, a teacher encouraged,
educated and guided many young scientists
to be hardworking and successful, edice a
towering personality…
Today, he is elevated to the honor of
'Professor Emeritus' in the 'University of
Texas', rightly in recognition of his long
and distinguished service to medical
Science, academic world, even in these
days he has been invited to give lectures by
reputed Universities in USA and around
the world. At this age of 84, he kept himself
occupied with many things, at times
challenging health conditions, a voracious
reader always updated with what new
inventions are taking place in scientic
world… May we have to add few more
chapters in this book, after couple of
years…With this aspirations, we invite
you go through this Biography, most part it
written by Dr. Gabriel Fernandes himself…
and welcome with your feelings by way of
feedback to us… Long live our proud
Barkurian, who spread the fragrance of our
soil and soul in USA.