Mrs. Olga D’silva, a resident of Bandra, recently celebrated her 100th birthday and as we all know, turning 100 is an extraordinary feat in itself. She had a special birthday celebration at her home on 10th October.
Born on 10th October, 1918; Olga D’silva and her six siblings have many fond memories of their beautiful bungalow at Pali junction where they stayed with their parents.
Olga passed her metric examination from St. Joseph’s Convent in Bandra; she then graduated from St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai, where she majored in French Literature with Honours. She felt that her education was incomplete, so she secured a B.Ed degree from St. Xavier’s College. With a feeling of unsatisfaction and a genuine yearning for more knowledge, she went on to further achieve her Master’s degree in English Literature.
This was a rare achievement for Indian women of her time and she was proud of it.
During World War II, Olga worked for the Censor Board in the war office located in Mumbai, where she learnt Italian and censored the letters of the Italian prisoners of war who were accommodated in a camp at Marol. She taught French to the girls who studied at St. Andrew’s School (which was then known as Bosco House in St. Andrew’s Church). Later she taught French, English and Geography at the St. Theresa’s Boys School in Bandra.
Olga got married in 1948 and was blessed with three beautiful daughters. She began teaching at National College in 1958, where she lectured in French; continuing, till she retired from her teaching career at National College.
Thereafter, she stayed at home to look after her five grandchildren.
Education is the key to success; this was a phrase she stood by. Olga had one motto, ‘Pursue your goal with dogged tenacity and singleness of purpose’. She made sure that each of her daughters received a good education and supervised them with a firm hand. Her grandchildren owe much of their success to her as she helped them with their studies, too.
Academic success was not the only highlight in Olga’s life. A woman with many talents, she played badminton at Bandra Gymkhana, wrote poetry and loved to play the mandolin and harmonica; later on she learnt to play the piano. She loved baking and baked delicious cakes for everyone’s birthdays.
Being an avid cyclist, she was often spotted on her bicycle; the boy’s of St. Theresa’s called her ‘cycle wali teacher’. She used to cycle right up to the age of 55 years.
As an active member of the ladies sodality at St. Peter’s Church; she enthusiastically took part in all the religious, social and cultural activities.
Olga has now completed 100 years, feeling very proud of her achievements and being extremely happy to be able to see her seven great-grandchildren. She often quoted William Shakespeare, with a chuckle, saying, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them”.
Reminiscing about Bandra during her time; a few vivid images of cottages, lonely mud roads, a large number of trees and absolutely no traffic are some of the distant memories she has. Horse carriages were used for transport and people had to cook on kerosene stoves.
She believed in God and never worried. Olga always trusted in God and knew that hurdles could be overcome by praying and working hard.
If mind could move matter, Olga’s would move mountains; everyone who knows her says that she is a woman with an iron will, resilient and undaunted by adversities.
As age caught up with her she often said “The mind is willing but the body is unable”.
Here’s wishing Olga D’silva a very happy birthday. A woman that led by example.
Nayan Sreenivasan
