The Director Mr Khaire was not in, but the Assistant Director Mr Rajan Shirke was aware of my visit and assured my father that once Mr Khaire arrived he would make arrangements for my food and stay.

Rajan Narayan failed to rise to the occasion and offer a credible alternative.

EVEN AS HE ANNOUNCED recently his decision to quit the Herald and launch his own weekend paper, Rajan is back to donning his role as a 'protector of the minorities'.

In July 1987, Rajan told his staff, this writer then being one of them: "Our basic constituency are the Catholics, whether we like it or not.

" Rajan was however quick to understand unlike most of the other editors brought into Goa to head papers here, who sometimes take years just to understand that this small state doesn't need a scaled-down version of a national newspaper that local news was of vital importance.

Rajan was quick to argue that a new paper in Goa should address those segments which are significant in size.

But Rajan's ability to convince the reader still holds.

In September 2003, some Goan expats across cyberspace were carefully watching the unfolding drama as Rajan hurriedly launched his http://www.rajannarayan.com site.

But, since 1995, when one went into full-time freelancing, never did one feel welcome to write for the Herald, whenever Rajan Narayan was around.

The only reporter we had was Rajesh Singh who was very good at chess and devoted a great deal of his time playing Rajan Narayan, the editor.

It said: 'To Rajan Narayan, behind the post office; From Alexyz, behind the bars.'

Rajan had a bigger cabin.

It was was positioned between Rajan's and Norman's cabins and under the altar.

My first encounter with Rajan Narayan was not awe-inspiring.

Rajan was never a dresser and, on the few occasions when he managed to get into a long sleeved shirt and ironed trousers, he looked quite smart.

Rajan had two indulgencies smoking and chewing `Halls' sweets.

I was in the office that day when a couple arrived to see Rajan.

It didn't take long for Rajan to realize that his trouser pocket was smouldering.

Rajan never believed in moderation.

I don't know how his pocket caught fire, but I think Rajan absent mindedly shoved the match in his pocket instead of the ashtray.

Ironically, on the few occasions, the editor, Rajan Narayan he was not yet the super-man of the Herald then; he acquired almost that status during and after the language agitation entered the composing room, we were just logs of dead wood for him.

Meanwhile, just as Gomantak Times was about to be launched, Rajan Narayan in his inimitable style launched a broadside against the to-be-launched newspaper.

Under the chief ministership of Manohar Parrikar, the issue has hit the headlines especially after Rajan Narayan announced his resignation from the Herald (in September 2003).

On the editorial front, Rajan Narayan had become almost defunct due to his deteriorating health.

Devika Sequeira and Pamela D'Mello had just quit and Julio D'Silva (who, in the ever-so-political world of newspaper politics, was perceived as being close to Rajan Narayan) was brought into Panaji as the Chief Reporter, on shifting Alaric Gomes to Margao.