In an era dominated by digital communication, over 90 senior citizens from across Goa came together at Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias in Miramar to celebrate the timeless art of handwriting as part of the club’s centenary celebrations.
The unique competition brought together participants aged between 60 and 93, including 93-year-old Romda De Souza, the oldest registered participant. The event stood as a tribute to the enduring relevance of handwritten expression, even as modern communication increasingly shifts towards screens and keyboards.
Participants shared their personal reflections and memories through pen and paper, highlighting how handwriting has shaped communication across generations. Adolf Fernandes from Campal emphasised the emotional depth of handwritten communication, noting that it carries a sense of warmth and connection often missing from digital platforms.
The contest was judged by artist Suhas Shilker, architect Prita Sardesai, and emcee Allan Pinto. Many participants expressed joy and enthusiasm in revisiting handwriting, with Marie Azavedo, in her early 90s, describing the experience as exciting and meaningful, adding that handwriting reveals much about an individual’s character.
Special recognition was given to the oldest participants, Sebastiao Fernandes (90) and Romda De Souza (93), while Yeshwant Kapdi and Sheela Kadam were awarded for the quality of their written content. A special jury award was presented to Caetano Francisco Colaco.
In the competition categories, Cecilia Pinto and Satish Shetye emerged as winners in the super senior Roman script category, while Frederick Noronha and Maureen D’Souza secured top honours in the senior Roman script category. Asha Nayak won in the super senior Devanagari category, while Maya Prabhudesai and Deepak Gad claimed prizes in the senior Devanagari category.
Chairman of the centenary celebration committee Sanjeev Sardessai described the event as a fitting tribute to the club’s 100-year milestone, highlighting the vibrant spirit and enthusiasm of the participants.
The competition also featured categories across Roman and Devanagari scripts, with participants judged on both handwriting and content, making it a comprehensive celebration of expression, creativity, and memory.
The event concluded on a high note, reinforcing the importance of preserving traditional forms of communication while celebrating the stories and experiences of Goa’s senior citizens.
Discover more from Allycaral
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
