Biography

- Manohar Malgaonkar

At the time itself, in 1957, Habiba’s main concern was to complete her course at Sir J.J. School of Art so that she could make a career for herself.

The irony was that two years later she took a job as Air Hostess with BOAC as British Airways was then called. Wherever she went she took with her two photographs in a leather frame, which she used to keep on her bedside table. One was of her own family, the other of Mario Miranda.

Mario for his part was on the point of saying goodbye to his career in the Times Group. He was going to sneak off to Lisbon and from there, see if he could make a new life for himself in Europe. This was a reckless gamble.

Many things contributed to force Mario to take that decision. It was getting increasingly apparent that India would resort to military action to take Goa. And in that case what would happen to his beloved house in Loutolim and its priceless possessions which so many generations of his family had assembled?

Then again since coming to Bombay, his horizons had widened. He was now familiar with the work of the stars of his profession; household names such as Schultz, Oliphant, Peter Arno, Herblock, Fougasse and someone he especially admired, Ronald Searle. Each one had his own distinct style; you merely saw a picture and said: ‘Ah Oliphant!’ or ‘Ah Searle!’ He felt confident that there would come a day when people who saw a drawing he had done, would automatically ascribe it to him and say: ‘Ah! Mario!’

But for that he would have to go abroad to refine his art. He had relatives there, and he knew the language. From the secure base of Lisbon, he would go off to London or Paris and try and make a name for himself. He kept his plans to himself. If he succeeded he had no intention of returning to India in a hurry. He sought three weeks leave of absence which his employers readily granted.

In the event it was three years before he returned to The Times office to find out whether they would take him back. They, for their part, were delighted to accommodate him. This was because his desperate gamble had paid off handsomely. When he reported back, he had made a name for himself in London, and had become a personage in the profession.