Clement Pais
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jul 29: Frank D'Souza, a Mangalurean based in Bengaluru, is a man of indomitable spirit. Author of two books, he has roots in Bendore in the city, and started writing after he met with a tragic accident that confined him to his home.
Born on November 13, 1948 to William and Alvira D'Souza in Chikkamagaluru, Frank rendered service in marine and shipping fields and later in aviation. His varied experiences have enriched his books.
He is the author of two books, 'A Victor of Circumstance' and 'The Anonymous Birthright', both narrating stories during the time of Tipu Sultan. He lives with his wife Flossy in Bengaluru. The couple has three daughters and a son.
"I started to write the book six years ago. I met with an accident in 2003, and as I could not work anymore I started to write as a passtime and it kept me occupied," he says.
Asked why he chose to write books based on Tipu Sultan's time, he said, "Since my school days I was interested in Tipu Sultan, and after my accident I did a lot of research on his administration. I really admire his courage and bravery as he stood out alone even though he was surrounded by many enemies. The books are based on historical facts and figures.
"My research made me understand Tipu Sultan better. I had a different opinion of him which changed after writing the books," he added.
"I have not followed any author, I have written the books in my own style and made them as interesting as possible so that readers do not get bored," he said.
He says his family supported him all through especially after his accident. "My wife's support was exceptional, and I have mentioned it my books too," he added.
His message to budding writers is simple and straightfoward: "Do not stop writing once you start, there will be many things which will divert your attention from writing, but just carry on."
Frank D'Souza plans to write more books in the coming years, chiefly based on facts and historical figures.
A gist of the book 'A Victor of Circumstance'
In the late eighteenth century, Pittoo Fernandes and his immediate family, together with about 70,000 other Catholic Christians are taken prisoner from their native Mangaluru and surrounding areas by the armies of Tipu Sultan, and transported to the capital Srirangapatna, with almost a third of these prisoners dying en route due to illness, hunger, gross ill-treatment and torture. It was the Ruler’s intention that the whole community be exterminated, for what he considered high treason committed by members of the community, and the whole community was to be punished for it.
Pittoo, an ex-seminarian, escapes from captivity after about six years’ incarceration, and though meek and very timid by nature, having had led a sheltered life till then, has to face the unforgiving and demanding realities of the savage and real world.
Pittoo, being the last of his immediate family in captivity and after his escape, with the threat hanging over him of his feet and one hand being amputated if caught and brought back, has to use every bit of ingenuity, innovating and improvising to stay free and not be taken back into bondage. Dogged determination and his basic survival instincts, coupled with absolutely raw courage, which he did not even know that he possessed, are all what he can fall back on to take him further away from certain torture and death, and onward to freedom.
'The Anonymous Birthright'
This epic traces the bloodline of Shankar Gowda's family through 4 generations and nearly a century as they battle ill-fortunes and terrible hardships within the social fiber of southern India during the British Raj.
At the turn of the 18th century, Shankar Gowda, a Hindu soldier in Tipu Sultan's army in South India, loses his wife during childbirth. He buries his personal wealth in a secret spot to be unearthed again when he returns from war. But as fate would have it, he is killed. His aged parents are unable to care for his new-born daughter, and abandon her at the door of a Catholic convent. Seventy years later, her grandson Stanley Pinto, employed by an English owned coffee plantation, attempts to drag his family out of the shackles of poverty and finds out how unexpectedly cruel and selfish the world can really be guts, determination and an odd twist of fate are Stanley's only allies.