Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
London, May 21 : After the successful release of his book,`` Echoes of Footprints” in Bangalore, Bangalore-based author Claudius Pereira took London by storm when Denver Dias, Principal of William Chartered Accounts, launched it at the Lambourne Room of London Town Hall on Friday.
The fascinating saga, the trials, tribulations, the ordeal and success of the seven children of Clarence Pereira enthralled the readers in London.
Dias, who grew up in Karnataka’s Kolar Gold Fields and moved to London, described his association with the Pereira family after his meeting with Claudius Pereira at his ranch `Whispering Meadows’ and said he developed a deep and lasting bond with the entire family.
Pointing out that his bond with the Pereira family strengthened after realising the strong family ties emitted by the seven children of Clarence Pereira, whose struggles, travails and triumphs in single-handedly bringing up his motherless children narrated in the book, Dias said the favourite part of his visit to Whispering Meadows was ``getting a chance to see the museum dedicated to Clarence Pereira by his seven children.”
``The museum brings back memories to Kolar Gold Fields where I grew up. I cannot help but thank the teachers who helped instill strong virtues into him during his childhood in Kolar Gold Fields,” Dias said adding: ``The Pereiras and the Ranch are symbols of giving, for all the revenue of the farm goes back to the people. The same giving virtue is also mirrored by the seven Pereira children in the book.”
Director in the Ministry of Justice in Her Majesty Court, London, Lincoln, in his address, spoke about the journey of the Pereira family and said the book was like a ``Lifebuoy for drowning families” at a time when societies and families were fragmenting and falling apart.
``This is an amazing book of a family that got saved from devastation because of a courageous father. Every human being comes from a family and then proceeds to form a further. He said `Echoes of Footprints’ will set out to do the work it has been ordained for. If the book helps struggling families to hold on for just a little longer and those who already have fairly good family life seek to make it better by reading the encouraging story of the seven children who triumphed against all odds, it would be a great success,” he said.
Dias said Clarence Pereira would be extremely proud of his seven children and all the success achieved by them in life.
``No matter what walk of life we come from, we all have been shaped by the education we have had and value the education we give to our children. This is exactly what Clarence gave to his children and is evident in everything his children have achieved,” he said pointing out that all the children of Clarence Pereira left the mines of Kolar Gold Fields, except Patricia, the mines of Kolar Gold Fields still remain in front of them, never behind.
The former District Station Master of London Underground Robin, a London-based relative of Pereiras, in his curtain-raise gave an wonderful insight into the lives, the struggles, trials, ordeals and successes that the family encountered and said the courage and determination of Clarence Pereira turned the tide in their lives.
He said the story of Philip, who lost his mother at the young and impressionable age of 15, was inspiring. ``Unable to see his dad struggle, Philip quits his studies and travels 4000 kms away from home to help the family financially,” he said.
``Patricia, the daughter at 13, takes the role of a mother and quips My dad’s dream became mine,” he said while Donald, the other son, had no money to pay his school fees. The platform was set to excel or perish. He gets a distinction in his academics.
The other daughter, Lucy, at the peak of her career with a lucrative job in Singapore, quits to take care of her ageing father and ailing grandmother. James, the other son, goes to work in the mines 4200 feet below and meets with an accident. The bone chilling story on how James, who was nearly killed and yet saved many lives, is equally compelling and inspiring, says Robin.
Bernie, the daughter, gets support from the Christian Children’s Fund. Though comfortably settled in Detroit, USA, still remembers her humble beginnings, Robin explains and says: The last sibling, Claudius Pereira, is an entrepreneur, who comes up in life after 34 unsuccessful attempts in job interviews. Claudius plunges into business, tastes success and courts failure and yet rises like phoenix, explained Robin and said the book, ``Echoes of Footprints,” is a book for every family, the youth , a son, a daughter, mother or a father.
``A book for whatever profession you are in. A book for an entrepreneur. A gift for yourself or someone you love .The biggest take away from the book is about family values, he said.
Distribution Outlets:
Online: Outside India:
www.alphamedia.co,
www.alibris.com
www.amazon.com
Within India
www.atcbooks.in
www.Flipkart.com