This is in May 2017. I was scheduled to travel to Lisbon for a conference. The invite came almost at the last moment and I had to organize my travel within two weeks before departure. I was scheduled to appear for a visa appointment at the Portuguese Consulate in Altinho. But due to heavy rains on the scheduled day, I could not reach the consulate in time and came back and postponed my interview for the next day. But for some reason, my appointment letter retained the original date. I still went thinking that it is how perhaps the system works. When it was my turn to get in, the consul general saw that I had the previous date printed on my appointment letter and didn’t let me inside. I kept telling him that I have a fresh appointment but he didn’t pay any heed. He asked me to get a fresh appointment for the next day which seemed like a doable option, except that I was already scheduled to appear for my JNU entrance exam on that day. I had a bad anxiety attack. It almost came to a point where I would have to make a choice between appearing for the JNU entrance or going to Lisbon.
A week before that, I had met Jivi at Cafe Sunaparanta and shared with him that I am travelling to Lisbon. He casually happened to mention that Rui Baceira, the then Portuguese Consul, was his dear friend. I just needed someone who knew Mr Rui personally so I, very anxiously, called up Jivi to explain my situation. Though he patiently heard my situation, he scolded me for not acting swiftly. He even said I’ve never sought personal favors from the Consul General despite their friendship. I explained him the situation that this was a last minute invite and putting my travel papers took some time. He said let me see what can be done. It almost seemed like I would have to cancel my Lisbon trip.
When I reached back home, Jivi called and told me that he had spoken to Mr Baceira and that Mr Baceira realized it was an error on their behalf to have turned me away. He asked me to write an email to the Consul General explaining my situation and see if anything can be done. I did and to my surprise, instantly received a reply from the consul himself asking me to appear for the visa process that very evening or the next day, once I am done answering my JNU entrance exam. I wasted no time and drove from Ponda to Panjim on my scooter (in 25 mins) and completed all the required formalities for the Portuguese visa. The next day I went and answered my JNU entrance exam too. And that is the story of how I went to both Lisbon, and to JNU thanks to Jivi. He risked his personal relation with Mr Baceira and helped me, who he hardly knew beyond couple of meetings, to get the visa.
On my recent trip to New York, I sent him a postcard recollecting the incident and how much I was dreading the US visa process but it went smoothly. I guess the postcard never reached him and now it never will for he won’t be found at the intended address, even if they ever deliver it. Rest in peace, my friend. You will be greatly missed!
