Presidents Of CASK

The Lay Vice – Presidents under Prelate – Presidents :

Rao Sahib A.J. Lobo (1914 – 1917) :He was the Founder Vice-President. He held this position for three years. Alphonsus Joseph Lobo (1869 – 1935) was the eldest grandson in the male line of Lawrence Lobo Prabhu (1805 – 1883), one of the most eminent Mangaloreans of his time. Lawrence Lobo Prabhu was one of the first members of the community to hold the position of Munsiff – about the highest judicial position that a native Indian could hope to attain in the 19^th century. In the course of his career, he acquired vast areas of land in central Mangalore, including almost the whole of Ediyah Hill (now better known as Lighthouse Hill), a portion of which he donated to the Jesuits (newly arrived from Europe) for the foundation of a college. Lawrence Lobo Prabhu is now best remembered as the donor of the site of St Aloysius College.

A.J. Lobo obtained his B.A. degree at the recently founded St Aloysius College and then proceeded to Madras for further studies in Law. On his return to his home town, he very quickly made a name as a lawyer especially for the defence. For 19 years (1906 – 25), he held the position of Public Prosecutor. He also held various other honorary positions, e.g. Secretary, Milagres Church Board, in which capacity he read the Milagres address to Bishop Cavadini on his consecration. He was Vice-Chairman, Municipal Council, a position he held for several terms unopposed. He founded the Jubilee Club (1897) in honour of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Also, as a social worker, he is said to have personally visited a large number of victims of the Great Plague – along with the then Collector A.P.C. Rice, ICS. He was awarded the title Rao Sahib in 1925. His wife Magdalene was the first President of the Ladies’ Club, and had several other distinctions.

Joachim Lawrence Saldanha (1918 – 1920) : Joachim Lawrence Saldanha (1843 – 1920) was a grandson of Captain Antonio Saldanha, a captive of Tippu Sultan at Seringapatam who married the daughter of a French clock-maker.

Joachim Lawrence Saldanha joined government service, becoming Tahsildar at the age of 36 in 1879, a position he held for the next 16 years and during which he made a name as a just arbiter in land disputes. In 1896, he was appointed Deputy Collector and was posted at Mangalore, Coimbatore and Calicut, retiring in 1901. Following retirement, he was Secretary of the Milagres Church Board, Municipal Councillor (from 1902 till his death in 1920), Chairman of the Municipal Council (1903-05) and President, Catholic Co-operative Society. He also carried on small business, e.g. contracts for the supply of rice to the Amindivi Islands.

Rai Sahib E.C.M. Mascarenhas (1920 – 28) : Emmanuel Cajetan Martin Mascarenhas (1865-1942) was a member of the prominent Falnir Mascarenhas family. He had a distinguished career in the Forest Department attaining the position of Deputy Conservator of Forests – possibly the first Mangalorean to hold this position. On his retirement in 1919, he was awarded the title of Rai Sahib. He then settled in Mangalore and took up social work. He was elected Member of the Madras Legislative Council in 1920, and was also president or vice-president of various Catholic organizations including the CASK.

It was during E.C.M. Mascarenhas’ 8-year tenure as Vice-President that CASK launched its monthly organ “Mangalore” in July 1927, and he was its Founder – Editor – assisted by Dr. D.R. Colaco, Secretary of the Association. He held this post for just one year.

Dr. L. P. Fernandes (1928 – 1942) : Dr. L. P. Fernandes held the position of Vice-President and Chief Executive of CASK for 14 years – a record that is still unbroken. Lawrence Patrick Fernandes (1870-1946) belonged to one of the best-documented families of Mangalore, his ancestor Diego Fernandes Prabhu having emigrated from Divarde, Goa, to Thonse, Kallianpur in 1740.

Dr. L. P. Fernandes is most closely associated with Fr. Muller’s Hospital, one of the historic institutions of Mangalore. The hospital was founded in the 1890s by Fr Augustus Muller; and Lawrence, who had just obtained the B.A. degree at St Aloysius College, was his personal assistant. After a few years, he went to Bombay where he completed the L.M. & S. degree at Grant Medical College, and returned to Fr.Muller’s as Chief Medical Officer in 1902, a position he held till his death in 1946. Fr Muller himself died in 1909 and Dr. L.P. Fernandes worked with several other directors of the hospital including Fr. Reginald Pinto. The 45 years in which he served the hospital saw it expand into a major institution.

Dr. L. P. Fernandes was the recipient of several awards including the Kaiser-I-Hind Medal, the Pro-Ecclesia et Pontifice and the Silver Jubilee & Coronation Medals. Apart from being Vice-President of CASK, he was also the President of the Catholic Bank and the Catholic Cooperative Society, and Vice-Chairman of Mangalore Municipality. As Vice-President of CASK, he was also Editor of its organ, “Mangalore” for his entire 14-year tenure.

Rao Sahib A. L. Pinto(1942 – 1945) : Albert Leo Pinto (1876-1935) was son of Aleixo Pinto, the first Mangalorean to be awarded the title of Dewan Bahadur. Aleixo Pinto, who was in the Madras government service, was accorded the title in recognition of his masterly work during the famine of 1891, the recommendation being made by Lord Wenlock, Governor of Madras. Albert Leo Pinto graduated from Presidency College, Madras, in 1894, securing the Innes Gold Medal in English and the Arni Gold Medal in Science. He later joined Government service, becoming Manager of the Surgeon-General’s Office, Madras, in 1909. Promoted as Deputy Collector in 1915, he served for 16 years in various districts of the Madras Presidency. He was awarded the title of Rao Sahib on retirement in 1931. He then returned to Mangalore and, for the next ten years, was Honourary Secretary of CASK and Assistant Editor (with Dr. L.P. Fernandes) of the Mangalore. He was awarded the Papal Gold Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice in 1956. His wife Helen was the daughter of Joachim Lawrence Saldanha, the second Vice-President of CASK.

Mr. M. S. Sreshta (1945 – 1948) : He was the first Lay-President of CASK (1951-1952). Maurice Salvadore Sreshta (1872 – 1952) was another son of Dewan Bahadur Aleixo Pinto and elder brother of Albert Leo Pinto. He adopted the surname Sreshta from a Nepalese word meaning great. Educated at St. Joseph’s College, Trichinopoly, and thereafter at Presidency College, Madras, he proceeded to England and successfully competed for the Colonial Civil Service, opting to work in Ceylon. Positions held include: Commissioner of Requests, Colombo (1907); Acting District Judge, Jaffna (1911); District Judge, Kurunegala (1920) and Registrar General.

In 1923, Mr. Sreshta culminated his career with his appointment as Postmaster General, Ceylon, the first non-European to attain this position. During his office (1923-28), he reorganized the postal system, established the first rural telephone exchange, and motorized the mail services thereby expediting the conveyance of mail all over the country. Following retirement, he returned to Mangalore, where he was elected Vice-Chairman of the Mangalore Municipality (1929) and Member of the Legislative Council, Madras (1932). He was an active member of various Catholic organisations. As Vice-President of CASK from 1945-48, he was also editor of its organ Mangalore. At his death in 1952, he was one year into his office as the first lay president of CASK. He is the second chief executive of CASK to have died while holding office, the first having been J. L. Saldanha.

His wife Lucy is best remembered as the Co-Founder of the Ladies Club, Mangalore, in 1918. She was its first secretary, a position she held for about the next 40 years.

Mr. J. C. Coelho (1948 – 1951) : Joseph Cyril Coelho (1883-1952) was a nephew of his two predecessors. He was the eldest of 14 children of Antony Francis Coelho and Flora nee Pinto. Nine of these 14 children entered the church. Four sons became Jesuit priests; five daughters became nuns, one being a Cloistered nun, one a Sister of Charity, and three Apostolic Carmelites. For this reason, the family was referred to as the “Holy Family of Codialbail”.

J.C. Coelho was a Superintendent in the Madras and South Maratha Railways, and lived at Perambur, Madras, where he was also President of the Vincent de Paul Society. After his retirement in 1938, he returned to Mangalore and was Secretary of the Catholic Club for many years; also a Director of the Catholic Bank. He died just a year after expiry of his three-year tenure as Vice-President of CASK.

Dewan Bahadur S. L. Mathias, K.S.G. : “Saturnine Louis Mathias (1868-1940) popularly known as S.L.Mathias was the First Lay Founder Member of CASK. The Founder Members were designated as Founder (Rs.500) or Benefactor (Rs.250) based on their contribution. Bishop Paul Perini and S.L.Mathias contributed Rs.500 each. Thus S.L. Mathias was the first and only lay Founder of CASK.

In 1914, Rs.500 was a very substantial sum and S.L.Mathias deserves much credit for setting CASK on a firm footing with his generous contribution. After graduating from St Aloysius College in 1889, he joined his father at Kelagur Coffee estate and in due course acquired many more estates and later acquired 500 acres of forest and planted tea. He continued to be one of the pillars and active members of CASK throughout his life”.

The Lay Presidents of CASK :

Mr. M. S. Sreshta – First Lay – President (1951 – 1952) : Maurice Salvadore Sreshta (1872 – 1952) was another son of Dewan Bahadur Aleixo Pinto and elder brother of Albert Leo Pinto. He adopted the surname Sreshta from a Nepalese word meaning great. Educated at St. Joseph’s College, Trichinopoly, and thereafter at Presidency College, Madras, he proceeded to England and successfully competed for the Colonial Civil Service, opting to work in Ceylon. Positions held include: Commissioner of Requests, Colombo (1907); Acting District Judge, Jaffna (1911); District Judge, Kurunegala (1920) and Registrar General.

His wife Lucy is best remembered as the Co-Founder of the Ladies Club, Mangalore, in 1918. She was its first secretary, a position she held for about the next 40 years.

Chevalier Aloysius U. Kannappa (1952 – 1954) : In 1908, Uchil Kannappa, a 21-year-old lecturer at St Aloysius College was converted to Catholicism taking the name Aloysius (he was baptized at the College Chapel). Twelve years after conversion, he married into an Old Catholic family of Mangalore.

He went on to become a prominent member of the Catholic community. An M.A., L.T., he worked in the Education Dept of Madras Presidency retiring as District Educational Officer. With A.I. Mascarenhas, he was a joint founder of the Konkani Dirven in 1912. Also a prominent social worker, he was awarded a papal knighthood in 1955. He died in 1968, his wife Maria having pre-deceased him. Their children have adopted the surname Aloysius.

Chevalier L. C. Pais (1954 – 1961) : Louis Cyprian Pais (1891-1974) was a nephew of Saturnine Louis Mathias, the Principal Founder of CASK. Accordingly, he had his early education in Karkal, where his maternal grandfather was then based. As a B.A. student at St. Aloysius College, Mangalore, he was awarded a medal for manliness and strength of character. Following graduation, he opted for a career in law and, for over fifty years, was one of the best-known names in this field. He was legal advisor to the Diocese of Mangalore, to the Catholic Bank and to several other institutions. His law office (Pais & Pais) is continued by his son and grandsons.

As his stature grew, he ventured into politics. A municipal councillor from the early 1930s, he was Vice-Chairman in the early 1940s and Chairman (1947-52), in which capacity he headed the welcome party for Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru during his 1952 visit to Mangalore. He was twice elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly and was Parliamentary Secretary to Daniel Thomas, Minister for Local Self-Government, Madras Presidency.

Apart from being President of CASK, he was also the director of various banks and institutions. He was awarded a knighthood of St Gregory in 1952, and in 1960 the main road of Bijai was re-named in his honour.

Chevalier F. X. D. Pinto (1961 – 1967) : Francis Xavier Denis Pinto (1906-74), popularly known as Denis Pinto, was one of the most successful tile magnates of the mid-20^th century. The factory had been founded by his father, Andrew Benjamin Pinto, but F.X.D. Pinto expanded it into a vast empire. He was the first Mangalorean to export tiles to Australia. He also ventured into other fields – e.g. pharmaceuticals, gasolene and banking. More generally a prominent personality, he was a Member of the Municipality, Vice-President of the District Board, President of the Kanara Catholic Co-operative Education Society, and also Leader of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce, a distinction that few Catholics have attained. Also a politician, he represented the Kaup constituency in the State Assembly. He was a benefactor of Harijan colonies at Moodbidri and Narol. He was awarded a Bene Merenti in 1957 and a knighthood of St Gregory in 1964.

J. M. Lobo Prabhu (I.C.S., M.P.) (1967 – 1977) : Joseph Mathias Lobo Prabhu (1906-99) was undoubtedly one of the outstanding Mangaloreans of the 20^thcentury. A great-grandson of Lawrence Lobo Prabhu, donor of the site of St Aloysius College, and a n, J.M. Lobo Prabhu lost his father when he was but a small child and, being the only son, had to assume responsibility at a very young age. In 1927, he qualified for the prestigious I.C.S. – the first Mangalorean to do so in 35 years. He was posted mainly in the United Provinces (now called Uttar Pradesh) and was appointed Collector & District Magistrate, Rae Bareilly in 1936. In 1944, he was appointed Joint Secretary, Food Department of the Government of India, New Delhi – the first Indian Catholic to be appointed a Joint Secretary to the Central Government. He later moved South and was Collector of various districts and held various Secretarial positions (notably Education) in the Madras Presidency. Following retirement, he entered politics and successfully contested for parliament as a member of the Swatantra Party. He is the author of a book New Thinking and founder of the political weekly Insight.

He married Louella Castelino – a multi-talented personality – musician, writer, poet, dramatist, essayist and journalist. J. M. Lobo Prabhu and Dr. Mme. Louella were also editors of Mangalore.

Edmund Gonsalves (1977 – 1983) : Edmund Gonsalves (1913-90) was the eldest son of A.C.Gonsalves (1883-1944), a leading Mangalorean lawyer of his time. He joined his father in Law Practice, then entered the judicial service and was a District Munsiff in Andhra Pradesh, Udipi and Puttur, and a subjudge in Mangalore. Later, in Tamil Nadu, he served as a District and Sessions Judge of Madras in 1968, and returned to Mangalore to his residence on K.S. Rao Road and involved himself in many social activities. He was Secretary and President of the Kanara Catholic Educational Society for 10 years, and director for 23 years. In this capacity, he rendered yeomen service to the youth of the community by financing their higher education. He also rendered free legal aid to all the Catholic institutions of the diocese. Eddie and his brother Cyril were, for several years, editors of Mangalore.

Mrs. Octavia Albuquerque (1983 – 1986) : Mrs. Octavia Albuquerque (nee Lobo) has the distinction of being the first Lady President of CASK. Ever since its foundation in 1914, CASK has been run essentially by the ‘spear’ half of the community, the ‘distaff’ half focussing their attention on the Ladies’ Club. The two organizations are of similar vintage, the founder-presidents being a couple: Rao Sahib & Mrs A.J. Lobo.

Octavia was a daughter of Rao Sahib Francis Lobo (not of the same family as Rao Sahib A.J. Lobo) who retired as Deputy Collector, and who compiled painstaking notes on the genealogy of leading Mangalorean families. Her mother Lily (nee Pais) was a first cousin of Chevalier L.C. Pais.

In 1944, Octavia married Cyril Albuquerque, heir to the tile empire of A. Albuquerque & Sons, founded by his grandfather Alex Albuquerque in 1868. Four years later, she assumed the office of President of the Ladies’ Social Service League – an office she still holds, 56 years later!.

Apart from social service, Mrs. Albuquerque also made a name as a Politician. She has served terms as Vice-President of the Mangalore Municipal Council, and Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Closely associated with the Girl Guide movement, she culminated this facet of her activities by being appointed All-India Commissioner, Girl Guides, in 1980. She has also been chairperson of several social and cultural organizations – too numerous to mention.

In 1967, Cyril and Octavia were jointly awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice. Cyril, an active member of CASK, may have been elected president after J.M. Lobo Prabhu but, in 1974, death intervened. Mrs. Octavia Albuquerque is currently the senior-most of the surviving Past Presidents of CASK.

Prof. Mrs. Leena Fernandes (1986 – 1989) : After seven decades of male domination of CASK, it is noteworthy that two women were elected in succession to the presidency. Mrs. Leena Fernandes, an academic by profession, holds an Advanced Diploma in Management from the Indira Gandhi National Open University, and has the unique distinction of being the first Lay Principal of St. Aloysius Evening College for ten years from 1984-94. Apart from her profession, she has been an active member of various organizations – and is often called upon to speak at their functions. She is married to Richard Fernandes and they reside at Rayville, Bendore Well.

Mr. F. M. Menezes (1989 – 1995) : Felix Martin Menezes (1913-96) belonged to a family that originated from Bondel, settling first at Kadri and later near the Jail, Codialbail. F.M. Menezes joined Govt service – initially as Administrative Officer, Madras Civil Pioneer Force, and retired as Asst. Commissioner, Karnataka Revenue Dept. After retirement, he took up coffee planting, and started the Mangalore Shipping Co. He was a Director of banks, co-operative and educational societies. Also a social worker, he helped establish a church and high school near his estate at Javali. As President, CASK, he organized the platinum jubilee celebrations and brought to Mangalore Mother Teresa’s order, the Missionaries of Charity.

Clarence Pais (1995 – 1998) : Chev. Clarence Pais has followed in the footsteps of his illustrious father, Chevalier L.C. Pais, President of CASK from 1954-61. His law firm has been covered as a Surviving Centurion elsewhere in this book.

Fr. Bernard D’Souza (1998 – 2001) : Fr. Bernard D’Souza was a dynamic and popular parish priest of Bejai. He had earned a reputation as a go-getter and a man of action, having erected the Bijai parish hall in record time.

Clarence Pais (2001 – 2004) : Chev. Clarence Pais was re-elected for a second term and during this term he filed a case in the Supreme Court to exempt from the requirement of probating the will of Indian Christians under the Indian Succession Act as Ultra Vires of the Constitution and even though in a strange judgement he lost the case in the Supreme Court, he won the war in Parliament with the help of his childhood friend and the then Law Minister, George Fernandes. The Indian Succession Act was amended as Act 26/2002 and thereby two and a half crores of Indian Christians are saved from the scourge of probate. For this service, His Holiness John Paul II conferred on him the Knighthood of St Gregory the Great.

Justice Michael F. Saldanha (Retd.) (2004 – 2010) : Justice Michael Saldanha is a grandson of Joachim Lawrence Saldanha, the second Vice-President of CASK. He graduated from St. Aloysius College, Mangalore (winning numerous prizes in elocution and sports) and Government Law College, Bombay (winning the President’s Gold Medal). An Advocate in Bombay from 1964, he specialized in criminal law. In 1990, he was elevated to the High Court Bench in Bombay. In 1994, he was transferred to the Karnataka High Court.

Dr. Derek Lobo (2010 – 2014) : Dr Derek Lobo, retired from the United Nations – World Health Organisation (WHO) in April 2007, as Regional Adviser for Leprosy & other diseases targeted for elimination/eradication, WHO, South East Asia Region, after 13 years of service. Prior to that, he worked with two International NGOs – Leprosy Relief Work-Emmaus-Switzerland and German TB/Leprosy Association for 24 years.

Post retirement, he was appointed as a member of the WHO South East Asia Regional Programme Review Group for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis for a 3-year term. He worked as a Visiting Faculty at the Department of Community Medicine at K.S. Hegde Medical Academy for two years and from November 2009 to date, works as a Visiting Faculty at the Department of Public Health, Manipal University.

He did his post-graduation in Tropical Medicine at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine-UK, where he secured the First Rank and was awarded the Worrington Yorke Gold Medal in International Community Health.

He started his professional career in the Leprosy Unit of Fr Muller Institutions in February 1970. He has authored, co-authored and published/presented over fifty scientific papers. He is the recipient of the following awards: Aloysian Eminent Alumni Award 2007 and RACHANA Professional of the Year Award 2008.

He is married to Patricia (Patsy) Lobo who is an educationist with over 42 years of teaching experience in India and abroad.