G O A

In 1961 in the month of December a few days prior to 19^th, when it was confirmed that on 17^thof that month Indian Millitary has already crossed into Goa, some anti-Christian, anti-Brahmin and anti-Bhattkar elements with the excuse that they are pro-Bharat came to attack with Guns, Revolvers and Sticks, some prominent Christian Brahmin Bhattkars saying that they were the “Chamchas” of Portuguese government in Goa. In my village these so called anti-Portuguese and pro-Bharat goondas and criminals some of whom were shamelessly supplying their wives to the “Aguadche Pakle” as commercial commodity, in the name of pro-Bharat and anti-Portuguese, attacked the residence of Dr. Gustavo Monteiro when they fired innumerable gun shots at the door of Dr. Monteiro’s house in dark evening. Luckily, with the miraculous power of our Lady of “Remed Saibinn” whose Chapel dedicated to Her is situated in the compound of Dr. Monteiro, at that very particular moment Dr. Monteiro closed the Door and thus the fired shots hit the door. His elder son Dr. Jose Monteiro still kept the door intact indicating the mark of the bullets hitting the door. Who were these goons?? They were all locals who earlier enjoyed Dr. Monteiro’s largesse and help even to earn their daily bread.

Then on the next day in the broad day light, again some of the local goons headed by one local driver came to the then famous school of Goa, St. Joseph’s High School Arpora- the first English High School of Goa, to shoot dead its Principal Monsg. Philipe Neri Menondonca popularly known as Fr. Mendonca with the excuse that he was the pro-Portuguese who in fact used his clout with the Portuguese government of Goa to help Goan education system linked to Indian system thru Poona SSC Board. When the driver of Fr. Mendonca sensed the tragedy falling on his boss, he without anybody noticing him made Fr. Mendonca to slip thru the back door where he put him in the car and drove him to an undisclosed location which according to one source was the Bastora Convent. And thus the most faithful driver of Fr. Mendonca saved the life of the great educationist of Goa. Such servants are rarity nowadays, in fact they are examples of past century since in this century there is no sincerity nor faithfulness. Because of his pro-Portuguese leaning some of the fanatic Hindus who were thinking that they will be kings in Goa now and who were wrongly under the impression that Hind means Hindu as religious entity, they linked Hindu as religion with the word Hind which has nothing to do with the Hindu as a religion and thus wanted to kill Fr. Mendonca. In fact the word Hind comes from the word Indus the name of the great Indian River “Indus” and those people living on the banks of this river were called Hindus.

Coming back to Fr. Mendonaca, incidentally Fr. Mendonca much to the chagrin of his Hindu fanatic opponenets a few of them came to kill him, was selected by the government of India to be the first recipient of President Gold Medal for being the best educationist of Goa. Not only this, when he met the great president of India, the great intellectual Dr. Radakrishnan who was so deeply impressed upon Fr. Mendonca that to quench his thirst of the important information on Goa, the President kept Fr. Mendonca as his especial guest for 4 more extra days in Delhi to discuss with Fr. Mendonca certain matters on Goa during the Portuguese rule. Moreover, Dr. Radskridhnan also invited Fr. Mendonca back to Delhi after 3 months for a few days for discussing again on Goa but details of the same were not divulged to us. This is the greatness of this principal of my Alma Mater where I studied my school education till I finished my SSC by spending best of my life there where I blossomed not only as a good student and smart human being but also as the king of athletics in Goa being the fastest runner of Goa, Individual Champion of Goa, one of the best all time athletes of Goa, one of the best foot-ballers of Goa and the best all round student of my school.

That the goons whose plan was to liquidate the Bhattkarshahi in Goa was intriguing to me especially when they started attacking the Bhattkarshai only from the Christian community as if there was no Bamon Bhattkarshai among Hindus and as if they were totally innocent from committing breach against the Mundkarshai. That many of the Bhattkars were responsible for committing the worst type of harassment against the Mundkars and in some cases treating their Munddkars as slaves is a true fact. In fact according to “Xemaincheo Kannio” during those old days, when the daughter of the Munddkar was getting married, it was imperative for her to go to sleep with the Bhattkar on the eve of her marriage. And for this the Munddkars should not hold the Portuguese government responsible. Munddkarshai was a Goan community and not the Portuguese and as such being Goans they should be treated well by their own Goan community members, the Bhattkarshai. Instead of releasing their anger and reprimanding the culprit Bhattkars the lower strata of the Goans mainly the Munddkars and the low grade Hindus who were eager to make Goa a Hindu Raj, they started to show their anger on Christians as a whole and Portuguese government for propagating Christian religion. Because of the closeness of Bamon Bhsttkarshai with the Portuguese in Goa, the Portuguese received bad name for them in Goa and many times the Bamon Bhattkarshai used their closeness with Portuguese government as an excuse to suppress and harass their Munddkars, though Portuguese were innocent. The good image of Portuguese got corroded because of the many Goan Bamonn Bhattkars mainly the Christians who treated very cruelly their Munddkars and hence the Munddkars and lower strata of the Goans started going against the Portuguese.

That the Portuguese had to leave from Goa was the sure fact but they should have left Goa gracefully by handing over the CUSTODY of Goa into the hands of Goans only instead of allowing Nehru’s India to invade Goa and merge it with the most corrupt country India ruled by the worst corrupt leaders in the whole world. If it was not for the maltreatment of the Munddkars by many of the disgraceful Bamon Bhattkars the entire Goan community would defend the Portuguese rule in Goa from the approximate 38 thousands military personnel sent by the Bharat Serkar to grab Goa and convert the Goans as slaves of Bharat.

Many of the Bamonn Bhattkars were responsible to dehumanize the great part of Goans from the lower strata of the society including the poor Munddkars was the true fact and from the athmosphere appearing all around Goa then was looking like the Munddkar class of Goans will revolt against the Bhattkar class thereby to maime them physically and own their land and property for them. It looked like Bolshevik type of revolution is coming to Goa where Czarits were butchered by the commoners. But instead my beloved Goa was splitted between Hindus and Christians with the wrong notion that all Christians were the Chamchas of Portugal. In fact I was not, not my family members though we are strong Christians and being so we never enjoyed any special benefits from the Portuguese regime in Goa, so too our other innumerable Christians like us who belonged to the Mundkarial class. After the ouster of Portuguese from Goa some sort of revolution was expected to raise the standard of lower class of Goans but instead hatred has been spread against Christians which is still persisting and will not simply die down.

In fact I never thought some of our Hindu brothers who were so close to us had so much of revenge against Christians even though we both together suffered the persecution of Bhattkars. In my village ours was the only house and family having strong bond between us and Hindus but even here we noticed some sort of disparity. Instead of joining together to create an ideological confrontation with the Bhattkars these Hindu brothers of ours deserted us saying “you were pro-Portugues”. These were the same third grade Hindus who were mocking at St. Francis Xavier by saying “Khuim assa re tumcho Forsulo atam” and to St. Anton by saying “Atam tumcho Antulo khuim nidlo re?”.

From 20^th of that December till one full week some hoi polloi Hindus brain washed by their communal mentors who were responsible for fomenting anti-Christian feelings among the lower strata of Hindus saying their financial and social standards were kept low by the Christians, in big open Lorries with heavy musical instruments were sent all over Bardez to spread the hatred against Christians and to give an impression that Goa is now belonged to Hindus and Christians will have to live as second class citizens of Goa otherwise “get out from Goa and go to Portugal” as if we are the products of Pakle. These Lorries were passing thru our roads near my house and our neighbour Shivram Chopddenkar whose ancestral house is in Chopddem was the leader of this tamasha in one Lorry. Being so close to us and working for us in our fields as a Zotkar and taking loan from my mother when he needed money, even he indicated his communal bias to us. These hoi-polloi Hindus including Shivram were promised financial remuneration for doing this job of shouting slogans against Portugal, Christians, Bamonn Bhattkars and in support of Bharat. In this way the lower class of Hindus were filled with anger and revenge against Christians.

As far as I know the anti-Bhattkar revolution came only in Siolim Guddem where the big Bhattkar Lube was threatened by his Munddkars saying if you enter in Guddem we will break your legs. Fearing them Lube abstained from entering Guddem leaving his properties into the hands of Munddkars who enjoyed this facility for some time till reconciliation took place.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

On 26^th of this month, in Candolim at Araddy Vaddo, the Catholics of that Place numbering about 100, in the evening in front of the local Chapel gathered there to mark the “Natalanchi Porob” by conducting prayers and singing X’Mas songs. Araddy is a small Vaddo in Candolim and till a few years back it was very thinly inhabited. The gathered people took active part in the programme where finally they were served with dinner.

Next to the small Chapel the local young boys under the supervision of young man Mr. Desmond enthusiastically prepared the Crib indicating the birth of infant Jesus CHRIST, the CRIB drew heavy attention of passers-by on the road touching the Chapel. Some of the pictures are shown below.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

It was a shocking news today of the sudden and unexpected death of my friend and a great lover of Goa, Goan culture and Goan tradition, the late Tiaatrist Young Chico. He shot into limelight somewhere in mid sixties by participating in the local Tiatros staged by the amateur Tiatrist Directors mostly in Bardez. When he started his singing prowess he emitted the similarities of Alfred Rose in many respects. His voice was really very tasty and charming especially in the romantic songs, one of the songs was “Milena – Milena” & “Nouro” and “Jivi Santin” was a highly philosophical referring to Mother Theresa. Even behind the curtain before taking his entry to sing his song he was imitating Alfred Rose and on the Stage his pose, his dress code, his style of singing especially swinging his knees and his charismatic smile used to mesmerize the audience. Even the legendary melody king Alfred Rose praised him in one of his songs by saying “a man with the golden voice”. Just as in the professional segment without Mr. Boyer’s participation there was no crowd similarly in the amateur segment without Young Chico’s participation during his hey days mainly in the Brdez side crowd would not fill the Hall or Mattou. He was in one word the real Darling of the Tiatro goers. Later on when he dipped himself with the professionals, he teamed up with another great and melodious singer F.X. Pereira from Cortalim and started singing beautiful Duos.

About 15 years back, we took him to Kuwait to participate in our Show there in Kuwait where he gained a lot of goodwill and also name and fame especially from the audience who saw him after a long gap and who were eagerly waiting to see their hero. During that period he stayed at my place in Kuwait City where I had an opportunity to know him not only as a thorough Tiatrist but also a thorough human being with simplicity attached even to his soul. He loved Goa so much that he would discuss with me many topics concerning Goa and Goan politics. So much so, when he was engrossed in this type of talk, he even used to forget his food. Very rare you can see such Tiatrists among us whose patriotism towards Goa was high.

I have no words to describe my regret and sorrows over his sudden demise. Surely in his death one more strong pillar of Konkani Stage has been collapsed and from the current available ones I don’t think there is anyone who can fill the void created by his death. It is a pity that day by day we lose great Tiatrists and worst still they are not replaced thus stripping Konkani Stage of its best members.

May his soul rest in peace and may the heavenly God give courage to his children and other family members to bear this colossal loss.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

The greater number of Seats the Goan voters gave to Congress in the last Goa Legislative Assembly election was definitely not for the love of Congress but it was surely for the dislike of the BJP. However, inspite of this fact, the Congress Party failed us in forming the government thereby defeating our purpose of giving them on silver platter the highest number of Seats. In fact because of their Sins they deserved not even 25% of what they received. Now, what guarantee is there that they will not repeat the similar types of occurrences in the coming election if they get the greater number of Seats again? For this reason much in advance I suggest to the Congress party first only to put its house into order and declare its Chief Ministerial candidate in advance.

The Congress party in Goa is in the hands “Chors” otherwise let them all headed by my locality “bhav” who is the master crook of extorting bribe from the people and instill fear into their hearts by taking personal revenge against them, disclose their source of income to build their business empires. Congress Party is currently in the hands of “Rostad” who got no love for the party nor for its principles but in the name of Congress Party they want power in their hands. And on top of it, our cunning “bhav” who is the most corrupt politician of Goa, when he was in power he was acting like a member of Czarist clan dealing with his opponents in his locality ruthlessly even with his relatives and neighbours. He refused to accept the dissent from anyone in his locality preferring whatever he wants it must be done. When he was in power local people were living in fear because this rascal was harassing the locals especially his adversaries, demanding bribe heavily for any work in the local Panchayat that made him super hero of the type of Hitler. According to his command, all the files should be sent to his house and when he finished his job of obtaining from the owners of those files his bribe, then only he used to release the files of course by distributing the “quota” of all the Beggars ruling the Panchayat. In fact his Panchayat administrative power he usurped in such a manner that he was acting as “de facto” Panchayat that means no file could move forward without his approval. This is the class of very many Congressmen. In fact during his hey days mothers from his locality used to put their children to sleep by taking his name, saying “baby, go – go to sleep, he is coming, go to sleep quickly otherwise he will take you in his sack and put you in the jungle because he is the king of jungle raj”. For this reason he got a royal kick on his back in the last election.

According to the news in circulation in my locality he is clamouring to contest the next election though he knows his chances are very bleak because of which he was for the last election uprooted from his own constituency and implanted elsewhere where he suffered the most humiliating defeat from his opponent. Earlier in the previous election from his own constituency he also suffered the most resounding defeat because people have realized how corrupt he is and because of this he was voted out and even in the coming election if at all he ventures to contest, all the locals with whom he acted like Hitler must join together to unify their efforts to give him a very nasty defeat. Such rascals are not meant to become the MLA’s nor Sarpanches neither Panch Members because they are revengeful, traitors, bribe extortionist and sex maniacs. They don’t possess any virtue to impress upon the voters. In one word they are worse than Barberians. Election is the right time for the common men especially to those who were earlier treated badly by their elected representatives, to show the power of their votes. That he will receive the defeat is a sure fact even if he contests from the most safest constituency because people from all over Goa recognized his modus operandi of “once got his work done then discard the person from whom he received the benefits”. I hereby caution Mr. Girish the Congress President as I warned last time Luizinho Faleiro that beware of this Saddam Hussein, in his mind there is nothing but “Kande & Bottatte” which helps him to be aggressive and revengeful. Let all who faced his persecution join together and throw him out of the reach of Ccongress Ticket in the coming election. Now if gets thru then like a wounded Lion he would do nothing but act as a revengeful man by going after his adversaries to quench the thirst of his anger. This type of job these people are good to do because they belonged to the “Gharanne” of hoi-polloi parents who are not intellectually advanced nor educationally good. Those children coming from the hoi-polloi domestic parents, what good they will normally acquire even though there are very many cases where children of such “Gharanne” and Parentage acquired much higher laurels because of their good character.

Then there are many oldies there in the Congress party who are so dead physically and mentally yet they are still aspiring to become the CM once again when their one leg is already in the grave. The craze of Prataphsing Rauzi Rane to become the CM of Goa again is so strong that he as per one source, even refused his son’s coaxing him to join the BJP. Many times luck favours him as it happened when he became the CM of Goa for the first time by bypassing Dr. Wilfred D’Souza who otherwise deserved to be the CM of Goa but Narshinva Naik (Babu) being anti-Christian suddenly proposed the name of Rane who was anti-Goan, anti-Konkani, anti-Christian and anti-everything that is pro-Goa and pro-Goans. Goa and Goans suffered more during his CMinistership. People must campaign hard to deny him any portfolio if Congress forms the next ministry. Physically he looks to be in Congress but soully he is with his son in BJP for this reason he keeps his silence over all the ills bjp creates in Goa.

Then there is Ravi Naik whose son has brought such a disgrace on him that he even not feeling shy to own him as his son. If he was Mahatma Gandhi, he would disown Roy instructing the authorities concerned to deal with him as per the law. I cannot understand why Ravi Naik is so ambitious to become the CM again when he lost his capacity to do any constructive work. His silence over the nonsense BJP is creating in Goa is very disturbing.

Then comes our Luizinho Faleiro who is only praising Sonia Gandhi calling her Madam Sonia Gandhi told me this and that. What is that Sonia Gandhi? What extraordinary she an Italian waitress in England is capable of doing? Just because she got married to Rajiv Ghandi she came into limelight otherwise she is a just house wife good for taking care of their children and daily chores in the house. She is not meant to rule the country but the shameless Indians without who are good to give hero worship to the white skinners and with the blind allegiance to the Nehru Family raised her to the pedestal. It is intriguing that he and Digamar Kamat another aspirant of CM’s Chair are not raising their voices against the mess BJP is making in Goa.

These unfit oldies from Congress Party could be told clearly and loudly that they are a big liability on the party because of their greed for the Chief Minister’s “Kodel”. They must now only decide whom they will prefer to be their CM but one thing they must know that we will not accept from their mouth the statement that “we have put this matter into the hands of High Command in Delhi”. Just as we are responsible to elect them so also these elected representatives should be made responsible to select their leader and not those pigheaded Delhi Babus who know nothing of Goa. The Congress Party must shed its wings of feudal lords. The Congressmen loves to act as feudal lords which they imitated from British Monarchy and because of this they want to be as Monarchs in India. The British at the time of handing over the political power into their hands headed by their Indian King/Monarch Jawarhalal Nehru thought that Congressmen will be suitable to keep the image of British Monarchy going in India because these Congressmen love to act as Monarchs as long as they hold power in India.

Secondly, Congress lost many of its sure seats in the last election only because of the tickets given to the earlier defeated candidates most of them were corrupt, acquirers of disproportionate wealth thru illicit means, arrogant and proud as I have one below my nose having all the bad attributes and who love to act as Czar. Most of the Congress personnel sitting in their headquarters in Delhi and Panjim are unaware of the realities that we grassroots level supporters of Congress are aware. In fact people in their constituencies hate these types of candidates and as such in the coming election they should be told to stay out. Otherwise, all the supporters of Congress must oppose the candidates imposed on the voters by their headquarters.

It is time now for all the Congress supporters and workers to be assertive of their rights to put the house of Congress into order by taking law into their own hands while dealing with the Congressmen. The Congressmen will have to do what we want them to do, they cannot treat us as “GHANTTA BOIL”.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

In the Times of India dated 09.01.19, there appeared a news item saying “Name 3^rd Bridge after Bandodcar” and further elaborating that “Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party’s Mapusa block committee has written to PWD and Transport minister Ramakrishna Dhavalikar stating that the third Mandovi bridge be named Bhausab Bandodcar Bridge. The MGP block committee has passed a resolution to this effect”.

I, on behalf of all the like minded Goans strongly oppose this naming business of third Mandovi Bridge after the most disgraceful anti-Goan and Maharastra/Marathi inclined Dayananda Bandodcar. This man was nothing but a curse on Goa and today we are suffering the disease of “bhaile” dominating in Goa it is mainly because of this originally “bhailo” Bandodcar who or whose elders settled in the village of Bandodda from where they derived their Surname for them. The ”bhaile” who are settled in greater number in the north Goa created a vote Bank for MGP because they inclined towards their ancestry originating in the neighbouring parts of Maharastra. For this reason Bandodcar counted on them vowing to reunite them with their ancestral land and they too were happy about it because they were interested in robbing the Goans of their genuine culture, tradition, language, folklore and everything that is Goan and imposing on Goa everything “bhailem”.

During the Portuguese regime Bandodocar was living as a slave of Portuguese saying every time “Sim Senhor” to the Portuguese personnel and even giving in writing as per one source, his total allegiance to Portugal but once Portuguese were ousted from Goa he indicated his hidden anger not only on genuine Goans but more on Goan Christians by forming MGP to merge Goa with Maharastra and thereby to strip Goan Christians of their culture, tradition, history, language (Konkani in Roman Script), their folk songs, folk plays, folk tales and everything Goans that was protected so tightly by the Goan Christians. He wanted to make Goan Christian as second class citizens in Goa. He created an impression that Goan Christians have enjoyed better life in Goa during Portuguese regime and they had better rapport with the Portuguese. This thought of Bandodcar was wrong. In fact it is the Hindu community in Goa including Bandodcar himself that enjoyed better facilities and better life in Goa because it is they who held full control of the Trade and Commerce in Goa. Who were the Chowgules, Dempos, Salgaocars, Shantilals, Caculos, Timblos and so many others? No doubt a good percentage of the lower strata of Hindus have faced lot of difficulties but the Christians were not responsible for this plight of theirs, along with them even the lower strata of the Christians also suffered. However, Christians always took care of them when charitable food items were distributed to them along with poor Christians at regular intervals in the Church. These items were sent from abroad by the Christian organizations for the poor in Goa. Now, to improve the quality of these poor Hindus what have all the top millionaire businessmen have done? To alleviate their financial and social standing all these top businessmen could have done so much but they were crook, they were selfish, instead they on the contrary, at least many of them, told the lower segment of Hindus that their prevailing financial and social plight was due to the step-motherly treatment given to you by the Portuguese affording preferential treatment to the Christians.

Goaan Christians from the lower segment have not received any preferential or special treatment from the Portuguese. In fact they put in extra effort to develop themselves by taking risks and going abroad, first to Bombay, then to Karachi and then to “Tarvar”, Gulf and many other places in the world. By journeying to the outside world for the sake of their livelihood they made lot of sacrifices facing lot of risks. Their Church supported this move of theirs and not opposed them in the name of their Gods and Goddesses. By being Christians means to bind oneself by his religious belief to help others, to co-operate with others and to live in harmony and peace with his fellow being and above all to love his fellow human beings. Because of their iconic principle of Love, Christians are acceptable by anyone, Christians are not much known to own the houses of Bhattkars and of others, Chritstians are not much known to usurp the land of others for them, Christians are not known much for duping those from whom they received loans to purchase Buses, Cars, Bikes and to construct houses and to do the business. Christians in the greater sense were accepted by anybody because by virtue of being Christians and the followers of Christ, to a much greater extent they are sincere, faithful, truthfull and not crook.

The name for the 3^rdMandovi Bridge should be given from anyone Goan from any community who has done great service for Goa by being a perfect secular, perfect lover of Konkani, promoter of Goan Culture, tradition, history and other aspects of Goan life. Dayananda Bandodcar was not a true Goan, he was a fake Goan, he worked against the interest of genuine Goans. He worked for the destruction of Goan language Konkani and instead tried to impose a foreign language Marathi on Goa from nowhere. This was the game of lying and cheating which he played well but ultimately failed to win because of our victory in the historic Opinion Poll. He made open distinction between Hindus and Christians by leaning towards Hindus mainly the lower segment of Goan society, in fact he believed and acknowledged only the “Bahujan samaz” from the Hindus as if among the Christians there was no Bahujan Samaz. His hatred and disliked for the Goan Christians was open and clear. And for such person to bring him to the pedestal by naming the Third Mandovi Bridge after him will be doing injustice to Goa and Goans.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

Cibaria – Necessaria – Sumite – Et – Abite when translated from Latin it becomes: Take the necessary food and depart.

Seen at right seated is the Chief Guest Raymond D'Sa

That was the motto of the school then when it was established by Fr. Lyons a non Goan who got himself cured of his dreaded skin desease bcause of which he was thrown out of the Seminary where he was doing his priestly studies. When somebody told him to go to Goa where there are Springs whose curative water will cure you, he came to Goa and went to Sinquerim where after doing the needful he was cured.

Welcoming the Chief Guest with a Flower Bouquet.

Almost after quarter of a century I got an opportunity to witness the Sports Day of Arpora St. Joseph’s High School, where I studied up to my SSC and won laurels for me during the School Meets by winning 100, 200, 400 & 800 mtres races and thereby winning individual Championship. Later on representing my School in the All Goa Inter-School Athletics Meets also winning individual Championship and even declaring as the fastest runner of Goa. I am grateful to my Alma Mater for giving me so many opportunities in my life as a student to develop myself not only in sports but also in many other segments of my life.

Seen addressing the gathering is Fr. Urbano Menezes - Principal of the School.

If today what I am it is only because of the excellent discipline, coaching and guidance I got from my school. All my teachers were not only teachers for me but they were also fatherly figures to me, they were Gurus to me and above all they were true friends to me. I salute them all because they were sincere, devoted and genuine teachers. For this reason I still remember them. Of course those were the days of Fr. Mendonsa and Fr. Peter.

Seen above seated are 4 ladies - 2 at the right, one wearing the red dress, both compeered the proceedings beautifully with their charming mellifluent voices.

Who was Fr. Mendonca? He was the great educationist interested in the development of Goan youth. Annual Sports Day of the school at Arpora was the greatest day for him and to make it successful he was devoting his more time. He would print Invitations and send to all his friends, ex-students, government officials and important personalities not only to those residing in the vicinity of the school but all over Goa. Separately he would make announcements thru the local media. The greatness of the Meet during Fr. Mendonca’s time surrounded on the Tableau of which type you don’t see anywhere in Goa now, leave aside at Arpora. He used to display latest incidents and events taken place not only in Goa but all around the globe, the election of the Pope somewhere in 1959 was the most striking display. The other was this: Somewhere in 1959 the renowned Portuguez terrorist Galvao Pinto hijacked in the deep sea, off the Azores Coast, the Portuguez Ship Santa Maria killing its Captain and creating havoc with the passengers. This was very beautifully displayed by Fr. Mendonca.

Seen is one section of the huge crowd attending the Meet.

The Chief Guest was none other than the ex-student of this great school, Raymond D’Sa who finished his Matriculation thru this school in mid-fifties. Raymond D’Sa was one of the best students of this school during his school days excelling not only in studies but also in extracurricular activities and sports being his forte and even representing his school soccer team. Then he went to Kuwait where he joined the prestigious Bank – The National Bank of Kuwait where he worked for about half a century and retired recently. A father of 3 children all are based in USA and he settling down in Goa at Nagoa-Bardez in the absence of his beloved wife who expired a few years back in Kuwait, Raymond D’Sa’s love for Goa, Goan language Konkani, Goan culture, tradition, history, folk songs and folk tales is supreme.

Seen above is the School building.

In Kuwait not only among Goans but even among Indians and other nationalities he earned name and fame for himself as a promoter of sports in Kuwait among the expatriates and promoting soccer was his unique especiality. He was the founding president of one of the renowned Goan organisations the “GOAN OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION” that has created more ripples among Goans than anyother G.O.A. established by the overseas Goans. Under his dynamic leadership which was based on his understanding carefully of the prevailing situation, patience and logic, he worked successfully as president for about 40 years. G.O.A. Maroons was the renowned soccer team of G.O.A. among the expatriates in Kuwait that was the force to reckon with for many years and this Goan team had a unique distinction of winning the “Forest of Dean RA” Throphy. This team at that time played in the difficult conditions and time even at midnight and defeated all the hard opponents even from the Westerners.

Starting point of Hundred Metres race for boys.

As a president Raymond D’Sa whose craze and extreme love for soccer did everything within his capacity to help his boys to overcome all the hurdles to reach to the top and spent lot of money from his own pocket. He was the most clean president among all the Goan presidents of Goan teams and associaitons. Besides, he was the unscandalised person among all the prominent Goans always preferring to be a simple, decent and unpompous. He was even after shouldering the presidency of G.O.A. for such a lengthy period, never found committing a goof in his lengthy public life in Kuwait since the formation of G.O.A.Maroons by amalgamating two existing teams, one headed by Peter D’Souza and the other by Domnick Correia.

Starting point for 100 metres race for Girls.

This man has got vast potentials to do something for Goa in different fields and he is still having his youthfulness, someone must avail of his talent and experience. He worked as a high profile executive in the Bank holding the top managerial position of which type none of the Goans in Kuwait held. He brought great honour for Goa and Goans.

One of the Drill items based on Yoga - all girls displaying their talent .

In his scholarly speech during the sports Meet, with his beautiful eloquence, appropriate vocabulary and perfect clarity he expressed the greatness of this school, his memory of those days’ Sports at Arpora and of course not forgetting Fr. Mendonca who brought honour, respect and dignity for this school. Will we ever get another Fr. Mendonca again? I doubt, because such personalities comes in our society only once in centuries.

Seen above is Relay Race for girls in progress, 4 x 100 mtrs.

No doubt the level of sports was not as good as it was during my days but during my days we were different type of boys while currently they are like tiny tots dotted with innumerable Allappas, Chalappas, Bassappas. The meet was well attended by a huge crowd of spectators. At the dais one could see occupying the strategic chairs by the Chief Guest, Principal of the School and Manager of the Meet Fr. Urbano Menezes, Head Master of the school Rodney Pereira and others.

Seen above is my teacher Lino D'Souza.

My nostalgic feelings aroused when I stepped on the ground and especially when I met some of my old school colleagues and teachers especially Mr. Lino D’Souza from Guirim who was my teacher and the best friend, best guide and best tutor.

Seen above is one of the Drill items

If I succeeded in finishing my SSC then it was partly because of him who was constantly after my studies knowing well that being the topmost athlete of Goa and one of the best foot-ballers of Goa representing the then mighty SESA GOA, I am having lot of obstacles. Sir Lino, I am grateful to you for all what you have done to me.

The most dangerous item performed by the most courageous young boys.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

Recently, one person brought to my attention the ongoing fight between the two catholic neighbours because of some property matter, this fight is now going on since last 11 years. During this long period of court battle, both the parties have undergone lot of expenses totaling to lakhs of rupees, major portion of the money gone into the pockets of the advocates who being non-Christians are enjoying the fun between the two Catholics. Both the advocates of both the warring parties are not prepared to bring the case to the final conclusion because the first aim of these advocates is to see both the fighting parties disgrace the name of their religion thereby indicating to everyone that Catholics are the destructive people where they are ready to do any nonsense to satisfy their personal ego to gain materially even by destroying their own co-religionists and secondly to make their clients exhaust their financial resources and finally fall on the road.

My immediate response to this topic was this: “Go and tell the village Pe. Vigar who is doing nothing good for the Catholic community”. These Pe. Viiagrs are fit to serve God only but not their fellow human beings. This is not correct. The purpose of the priest is to stop the souls from going to the Hell by preventing the Catholics from committing the sins. The fight between the two neighbours indicated above is surely leading them to Hell and hence Pe. Vigar will surely help them in this matter.

Further I said Pe. Vigar is duty bound as the fatherly figure by virtue of being Pe. Vigar not only pleading with them in the name of Christ as a spokesman for the Christ but also speak to them sternly to settle their property dispute amicably because Christian doctrine does not permit them to be belligerent. The priests got lot of ideas to settle such disputes but many of them are not taking any pain to solve such problems.

I remember having read about 30 years back in Kuwait Times the living story in Brazil where in one particular area with the dynamic leadership of the local Pe. Vigar, all the locals joined together and agreed to withdraw all the court cases filed against one another and never in future to go to the court to settle their disputes, their disputes must be solved by their Pe. Vigar who enjoyed the allegiance of the locals being all Catholics. They openly said it is not right for one Catholic to fight against another catholic, it is even against their own religion.

I think we catholics are so shameless that we take pleasure in fighting amongst us only thru the Court. And many of our local Pe.Vigars and Pe. Curs are more shameless for being silent spectators to see these fights between Catholics and Catholics instead of directly stopping the warring parties, the priests are in place of Christ and as such they wield lot of spiritual power to educate the warring persons. It is time now for us to involve our local Pe. Vigars in our disputes and thru his goodwill we solve our problems. No doubt many of our Pe. Vigars will be reluctant to involve themselves in such matters not because they are incapable to solve such problems but they want to lead a cozy life and doing things which are better suited to others.

For example, is it the job of the Pe. Vigar to devote his time in the school as Principal of the local Church School of Diocesan Society? If he spends his major part of the day in the School then when he will do the work of the Pe. Vigar?

The problem with our Pe. Vigars and Pe. Curs is that many of them are become worldly leading them to be money conscious. I know one Pe. Vigar was involved in buying and selling property and ready made Flats. Is this the job of the priests? When one’s mind goes on money and sex then one act selfish. Priestly robes are not meant for selfish people.

Secondly, I don’t know what our Samudai members are doing, They are dubbed as gossipers and useless people. They should have found out where are erring Catholics, where are the suffering catholics and who are the catholics who deserve top attention. And accordingly they should do something to eradicate the problems and disputes existing among the Catholics.

In my village only one Pe. Vigar, Pe. Nicholau Noronha in llate fifties and early sixties used to directly go to those Catholics fighting fighting court cases against eeach other and get their problems sorted out amicably in the name of Jesus Christ.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

Candolim in the Church School Compound I saw the new Tiatro as titled above, written and directed by the well–known director Menino de Bandar who is also known as King of centuries whose record of staging more number of Shows still remained unsurpassed. Though the attendance was not to the capacity yet the Tiatro was good depicting the current events on family life where the director indicated how the modern day daughters-in-law due to their lust for extramarital life and a share in the family property bring destruction on their married life. The roles of the two daughters-in-law namely Shamila and Lavina who are responsible to create a rift and discord in their family were excellent but among all the role played by the veteran and seasoned artiste Annie Quadros of Grand Mother was superb, in fact she shouldered the major responsibility of the entire story with her appropriate vocabulary, perfect clarity of her expressions and her actions.

One of the scenes

Menino de Bandar on his solo

I doubt there is anyone on Konkani Stage currently who can act the way she acted. However, the only flaw to a bit extent was her dress code that is wearing of her luxurious Sarees in the first part that gave her more youthful looks when she should be just the opposite being the grand mother. As it is her looks and structure are youthful and by decorating her physique with these Sarees she looked more youthful. However, she deserved highest compliments for giving a strong booster to this Tiatro to raise its level to the pedestal.

Inacio Verdes on his solo

Another scene

The others who really brought laurels to this Tiatro was Maxy especially in the last scene when while concluding his delivery which was so beautiful and so well worded with so much of perfection, meaningful and flawless that the ending part becomes very interesting. Satyawan Tari also played his role well.

Yet another scene

In the comedy role all the tree comedians led by Humbert played their roles well but at one particular point while delivering his expression one of the comedians because of stammering looks giving different meaning of his expression which was not palatable. Not to give a distorted meaning of the words it is better not to introduce such scenes in the Tiaatros. However, after the Tiatro I met many persons who attended this Tiatro and all of them confessed that they have enjoyed this Tiatro very much. Since this Tiatro is in progress all over Goa, I don’t give the real story but leave it to the audience to go for this Tiatro and see for themselves and enjoy the story written so well by Menino de Bandar and so well enacted by all the artistes.

Ashton on his solo

Annie Quadros

A duet by Jose & his partner

Special praises should be showered on the young girl Skyla who played her role of the grand daughter so beautifully at this so young age. The director surely deserved a word of praise for training her so well. Her title song was also well rendered.

One more scene

In the Side Show songs, the songs rendered by the director Menino de Bandar with his majestic personality, Ashton, Saby de Divar, Ron (all three on local politics) and Lavina on Vailankani were excellent deserving more compliments.

Menino de Bandar presenting the Housie Prize to Vincente

The lone local artiste Inacio Verdes rendered a beautiful song on the late Fr. Victor who served the Parish of Candolim for a few years. It was very interesting song liked by the audience.

Saby de Divar on his solo

While concluding I congratulate Menino de Bandar for this nice Tiatro and also his entire troupe including the musicians.

Lovely Lavina seen singing her solo Vailankani

A word of appreciation to all those who tirelessly worked so hard to stage this Tiatro in Candolim because of whom the locals got a very good opportunity to see this Tiatro. I hope they will continue on with showing more and more Tiatros for the Candoicars who are traditionally great lovers of Tiatros. And I also hope the local Church leaders the Pe. Vigar and Pe. Cur will give all their normal co-operation in this matter.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

The elections may be announced in Goa at any moment for the by-elections or the Parliamentary or for the Goa Legislative Assembly in the aftermath of the dissolution of Assembly which looks to be a certainty. However, the voting power of the Migrants will be powerful this time due to their numerical strength. In almost every Goan village there are settlements of migrants who are hoisted on Goa by the crook politicians as their vote bank thus ignoring the voice of genuine Goans.

These settlements are protected by our politicians whose backbone are these non - Goan voters who are least bothered to analyse the intricacies of the needs of Goans. Hence, the migrant voters are tools in the hands of candidates contesting the elections in their constituencies. These candidates distribute them currency notes in small denominations only which the migrants receive it as if it is the big gifts.

In my locality in the last election I noticed how the Marie Antoinette from Panchayat was distributing ill-gotten cash money to the people in and around my area on behalf of the top candidate. This lady a regular Church goer and recipient of the Holy Communion is not even ashamed to commit such corrupt practices to satisfy her boss who poured money like water. The same boss will be ready this time too to spend bigger amount in bribing the migrant voters.

The Marie Antoinette and her boss may have an excuse saying the money they have distributed are for the charity purpose but if it is so, then why was it distributed during the election time only and why not at some other time? During the other time is it prohibited to do charity? This indicates the ulterior motive of the distribution of this money which really looked to woo the voters to the election contesting candidates and thus gain the votes by the candidates.

Many of these migrant voters are not permanent residents in Goa though they have voting cards in Goa as well as in their own States. During the Goa elections, their Goan candidates bring these voters to Goa by special buses to vote for them and return them back immediately after they vote.

In view of this, is there any way to stop this business of bringing hired electorates to Goa and also to delete their names from the election roll in Goa? By doing this chicanery these bloody rascal “Bhaile” voters are doing a great injustice and harm to Goa and Goans and as such they should be disfranchised by the election commission. Dual voting rights are given for dual citizens and since India does not allow dual citizenship, Indians are not allowed to vote for two places. Hence, the mockery of the voting rights India gives to its citizens should be properly taken care of. Because of these rascal candidates and their stooges who vote for them, the whole exercise of democratic process of voting is become a farce allowing the idiots Altu – Faltu persons to gain the victory in the election while they are fit for nothing, not even cleaning the tables in the elected houses namely Panchayats and Legislative Assmebies or in the Parliament.

Goa was known to have electoral democracy much before this Ghanttiachem Raj came into Goa and converted Goa into a “Bhaileanchem” raj who are the worst enemies of Goa and Goans, of course with the exception of a few. By all means we the genuine Goans should not allow these bloody Bhaile to take a foothold in Goa by getting elected in our system becaue by being Bhaile they will always oppose the good of genuine Goans. They must be treated as “Bhaile are Bhaile only”, they will always work against the interest of genuine Goans, of course with the exception of few, the Bhaile will always be selfish using Goan resources legally or illegally to gain benefit for them. Hence, we must be repulsive towards Bhaile either in our Panchayats or Legislative Assembly or in any other associations. They will enter Goa like slaves but gradually become masters of Goa and Goans by using dirty tricks and satanic actions which they learnt in their dirty land outside Goa where they were born and developed otherwise they will never be able to build their business empires in Goa whch they built not from their hard earned money but thru cheating the people and extorting bribe from the public. When we deal with the Bhaile we must always keep in our minds that we are dealing with the “Rostad Bamtte” who will oppose the Goans for speaking the truth and exposing the crooks. Our enemy in Goa is none other than the “Bhaile” holding some sort of political power which they will use against us Goans. Hence, do not support “BHAILE”

A.Veronica Fernandes.

THE RENOWNED GOAN MUSICIAN PETER RODRIGUES FROM CANDOLIM.

Seen above is Peter Rodrigues with his Saxophone

The village Candolim was known to produce some of the finest musicians in Goa, they learnt this skill of playing music from the Parochial (Church) school starting from the Church Choir Master Agostinho D’Souza who was the Professor of my father, Alexinho de Candolim, Dioginho Vaz, Gonsales Bostiao and many more of that era. In one of his songs in praise of his Professor Agostinho D’Souza, his renowned student Alexinho de Candolim sings thus:

Konnuch volkonastana aschenant bhavani hangasor

Agostinho de Souza Candolim igorjecho Professor

Mistirpon tanne choloilem vorsam Cheallis bhor

Bharkaen tachem jivit ami niallun pollet tor

Bharikuch aslo khoro pun xinkop tachem chodd vhodd

Tachea hathan kitle xinkon zalet Band Mastor

Kantorist sadoitat Stage ani Igorzanche Kor

Derrepent melo babddo Saiba Sorg taka favo khor.

That was the great eulogy the great Tiatrist Alexinho de Candolim made of his Teacher. The words are so measured and so appropriate that I, doubt any other Tiatrist could compose such a beautiful song. That was the greatness of Alexinho de Candolim on whom the great educationist of Goa and also the great Principal of St. Joseph’s High School Arpora, Fr. Philiph Neri Mendonca passed a remark thus: “Oh my goodness ! What Alexinho de Candolim !! If this man had a little more educational background he would be a genius”.

Peter is seen above playing his Saxophone

Overwhelming majority of Candolim Musicians were the products of local Parochial School which was closed somewhere in mid Sixties and thus came the end of producing Solfist Musicians from Candolim Church School and thus losing the earlier beauty and grandeur the Church Choir had under the Choir Masters. Now there is no Church Mestiri to teach how to sing in the Church nor to teach Solfas thus among Candoikars producing NO SOLFIST MUSICIANS. Some of the beautiful musical works of the Church recorded with Solfas are no more in existence now for our current and future generations. This is how the beautiful Motets are gone into extinction from our Churches. I hope our Church authority at Altinho, Panjim will do something to revive the old system in our local Churches. This should be done with the employment of a Mistiri for every Church in Goa and with the help of his knowledge of Solfas he will surely give a bright look for our Church Choir. Money should not be a problem, every Sunday every village Church is collecting so many thousands of rupees from where a portion can be allocated as salary for the Mistiri.

The last topmost Solfist Musician Trumpeter of Candolim was the late Andre Cursino a powerful member of the “Merry Makers” Band while the late Maestro Isidore the father of Tiatrist Young Menezes rattled Goa with his top efficiency in playing music on Solfas. His favourite instrument was Doublebass.

Peter is seen at extreme left

However, in Candolim now the lone top solfist musician who carry forward the tradition of Candoicars as the best musician is none other than Peter Rodrigues from Pintos Vaddo, who by being a member of Chris Perry’s troupe playing the important instrument Saxophone for the Musical Show (Tiatro) “Nouro Mhozo Devchar” written, composed and directed by Chris Perry, created a strong impact of his musical prowess when Chris Perry with Lorna and others staged the said Tiatro in Bombay and in Goa in April, 1971. Our Candoicar musician was the strong member of Chris’ troupe playing with Chris the most important instrument Saxophone. However, much before this Tiatro, Peter Rodrigues was already a member of Chris Perry’s Band playing at various occasions at various places in Bombay.

Peter Rodrigues learnt to play music at an early age under the guidance of his musician father who was during those days one of the best musicians in Bombay. Peter Rodrigues attained the perfection in playing Violin at the age of 10 in Bombay where he developed his musical skill under his father who took lot of care to train his son appropriately well. Some of the members in the family of Peter Rodrigues were very good musicians including his father the late Joaquim Luis Rodrigues who got great distinction of playing in the Orchestra of Zubin Mehta and in Bollywood Films. Being a humble man, his father never aspired for self glory and pompousness of his profession. Being a strict disciplinarian, his father never touched the Drinks but unlike many in the profession remained Teetotaler throughout his life.

Peter is seen playing Saxophone for IFFI in 2009

Though music was his first love yet Peter took it as a hobby and never survived on music to earn his daily bread. This daily bread he earned thru his permanent job elsewhere as a professional in Bombay. After a few years in Bombay he was recruited to Bahrain and returned to Bombay in 1975 and till 1976 continued playing with various groups in Bombay. Later he left Bombay on 20^th Nov. 1976 with Chris’ Band for Jumairah Hotel, Dubai. He came to Goa for good in 1977. In Goa he never remained idle but joined groups that played for Hotels – Resorts – 5 Star Hotels including the Taj at Sinquerim and earned laurels for him. In 2015 he started training the youngsters in music with Solfas and thus he trained so many students who with their knowledge of playing music with Solfas are happy. This knowledge of music with Solfas is like the knowledge of international language which can be used anywhere in the world. Where Esperanto failed – the language of Solfas succeeded.

Having considerable knowledge of three instruments, namely Saxophone – Violin – Organ he still maintains the mastery over Saxophone which according to him fetched him monetarily as well as social gains.

When questioned him, why we Goans now mainly the Catholics and especially the Candoicars inspite of having a great tradition of music are become orphans and so poor in this field, replied he “because our current generation is not ready to take pains to do the hard work and learn Solfas. The present music trend is not Solfas but sequencing (including miming and noise). Music without Solfas is like a man without eyes”.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

WELL SCRIPTED TIATRO BY A YOUNG GIRL VALENCY D'SOUZA FROM CALANGUTE AND VERY WELL DIRECTED BY MICHAEL JUDE GRACIAS, WITH ALL THE SIDE SHOW SONGS AND CANTOS TOO

Script writer Valency sings her solo

Seen on front raw with the audience areTiATRISTS Josephine and Martha

Seen on the Stage from left: Prince Jacob - Fr. Raymond Godinho - local Pe. Vigae Fr. Alexandre Pereira - writer of the drama Valency D'souza & Direcotr of the Tiatro Michael Jude Gracias.

Seen in this scene are Jacinto - Diana & Meena

Seen above in yet another scene are M.Jude Gracia & Prince Jacob

Seen above in yet another scene are Wenesley & Jose

Seen singing a duo by Lucian and Jose

Seen singin a duet by Meena & Francis Rebello

Seen above scene is Fr. Eusico doing the role of Jesus Christ.

Beautiful lady Lourdes sings a beautiful song, a solo

Jude Gracias & Fr. Eusico sings a duo.

Singing a duet by Lourdes and Fr. Eusico

Seen in one of the scenes are Valency & Prince Jacob

Seen above in one more scene are comedian Raymond

This is in response to the news item in the local daily Herald on 23.01.19, “Is Dr. Jack Sequeira discriminated because of his religion?” Yes, I feel so. On 19.12.61 constitutionally Secularism was born in Goa but practically communalism came forcefully in which both the major communities indulged in, one openly with more ferocity while the other silently being at receiving end having no other choice.

On 17.12.61 in the evening one Mr. Esso from Orda Candolim when came to know Indian Millitary is already entered Goa, near the Candolim Church he jumped in the air shouting loudly and running home saying, “atam amchem raj zatelem, tumkam ami kitem tem dakoitele etc” that means now it will be Esso's community that will rule Goa and then we will show you - meaning my community, what we can do to you. While on the next day one Goldsmith near Candolim Tinto asked the Catholics mockingly “where is your Forsulo gone now while his relative asked where is your Antulo now?” For St. Francis Xavier he made an ordinary Forsulo while for St. Anton he madeAntulo without any due respect to both these Saints. Gradually, the big family of that Goldsmith disappeared from this earth like ether while the Goldsmith died a miserable death. There is no family member even to stay in his house, so much so, even cats and rats too deserted that house.

The one who was mocking at St. Anton by saying Antulo was shamelessly going to Siolim Church every Tuesday to pray and ask from St. Anton, what? forgiveness? I don’t know but one of his close relatives was found selling “Kaddio – Boddio” during the Novenas for the feast of St. Francis Xavier at Old Goa. These traitors want St. Francis and St. Anton to make money by selling Kaddio-Boddio otherwise these Saints are mocked at. But they forget that the power of God is more powerful than everything else on this planet.

The MGP was born mainly out of revenge against Christians and to diminish their influence in Goa by marginalizing them. When they came to power in the first election even government jobs mainly on important places were clandestinely denied to Christians. In Portuguese School in my village some non-Christian colleagues of mine started looking at us as if we are second class citizens because of our religion. This impression was inculcated in their young and raw minds by their elders at their home places. Those who were very close to us during the Portuguese regime from the majority community suddenly remained far from us as if we were Jews in Naziland. Externally everybody claimed to be a secular but internally a big NO.

To cite one more justification to my answer, the denial of Chief Ministership to Francis D’Souza (Mapusa MLA) is a concrete proof of how BJP practiced religious discrimination.

Though there were many Hindus who worked hard to win the Opinion Poll for Goans yet Dr. Sequeira was the tallest among all of them in all respects making him the “de facto” leader. In fact there was not a single leader among the Hindus at that time with the stature of Dr. Jack Sequeira. As a matter of fact all the Hindu leaders who helped the victory of Opinion Poll were “kichddi” leaders, they were just regional and parochial having no acceptance all over Goa but Dr. Jack Sequeira was accepted as the leader by all over Goa, if not then at least by more than all others.

Those who try vociferously to deny major credit to Dr. Jack Sequeira for the victory of Opinion Poll, from the language and the tone of their language, it looks that they are not against Dr. Jack Sequeira but they are against the religion of Dr. Jack Sequeira. These people are very good in vomiting their anger without any shame, not only on Dr. Jack Sequeira and his religion now only but it started in December, on 19^th, in 1961. Their ambition is to liquidate the religious community of Dr. Jack Sequeira because they are jealous. Otherwise, they know within themselves that Dr. Jack Sequiera was the major architecht of the victory of Opinion Poll though officially he was not elected nor selected nor voted as the leader of anti-mergerists. But people knew that he had that charisma and qualities to become the leader of anti-mergerists and besides him no other person. For this reason overwhelming majority of Goans especially the antimergerists including those so called "kichddi" leaders who are now trying to belittle Dr.Jack Sequiera's importance had given their allegiance to Dr. Jack Sequeira if not externally then at least internally. With communal mind set up they are roaring now like Tigers against Dr. Jack Sequeira but during the time of Opinion Poll they were like cockroaches in front of Dr. Sequeira.

When the Opinion Poll result was known, a huge crowd of anti-mergerists gathered at Dr. Sequeira's place and more were coming to congratulate him. Then and there only they accepted and agreed to declare that Dr. Jack Sequeira was the FATHER OF OPINION POLL and at that moment only they took a procession around Panjim with Dr. Sequeira leading the procession. Some of the fake Lions who are now raising their voices against Dr. Sequeira's contribution were also a part of this procession.

Finally, let me make a firm statement thru this forum in this article that "THESE ANTI DR. JACK SEQUEIRA CAMPAIGNERS WILL NEVER GIVE US PEACE OF MIND. THIS IS NOT AN END BUT MANY SUCH CAMPAIGNS WILL COME UP AND WE SHOULD BE BOLDLY AND TRUTHFULLY FACE AND COUNTER THEM".

A.Veronica Fernandes.

JOE ROSE – THE WELL KNOWN

TIATRIST.

One of the best intellectual Tiatrists that I came across on Konkani Stage is none other than Joe Rose as he goes by his Stage name otherwise his real name is Jose Maria Mathias Ignatius Thomas D’Souza born on 31^st July, in 1946 in Bombay and brought up also in Bombay only. I am sure many of the readers of this column will know the beautiful and glamorous lady, a Konkani Stage artiste in late sixties and in seventies, Carmen ROSE who dazzled the Konkani Stage in Bombay and in Goa and mesmerized the audience by her sheer beautiful looks, superb acting and melodious voice, is his sister. This relationship with his sister Joe Rose disclosed when he staged his Tiatro "Guneaum Konnacho" directed by Carmen Rose which was her maiden name and after her marriage "Lobo" was added to her maiden name. Earlier the stage name of Joe Rose was Master Joe because of his young age. According to elders, Master Vaz was the youngest Tiatrist to step in on Konkani Stage and precisely because of this he was called MASTER Vaz and after him came Bab Lipo in Airestedes Dias' DOIA Tiatro.

I saw Joe Rose first time on Konkani Stage somewhere in late sixties in the Tiatro at Narvenkar “Mattou”, Mapusa, he was then accompanying one of the Bombay troupes encompassing in its fold some of the topmost professionals when he as a handsome young man with his powerful voice rendered one of the beautiful songs on the great Goan Parliamentarian Dr. Francis Luis Gomes who represented South Goa in the Portuguese Parliament where he created a name and a fame for him. In fact when Dr. Gomes went to Europe he demanded from the Europeans not only the liberation for Goa but also for the whole of India and that too much before the Ghandis and Nehrus were born. For this song the Editor of UZVADD, the Konkani daily in Goa, Evagrio Jorge presented Joe Rose with one book "Eminent Goans" written by Mr. Evagrio Jorge only.

Then I started thinking how this young man became an apostle of Dr. Gomes? In fact I said to myself that he must be a real intellectual man in the midst of intellectually bankrupt class of Tiatrists many of whom lowered the Konkani Stage by washing their dirty linen publicly using cheap topics for their songs when the audience is least bothered on these topics and using vulgarity mainly by the third grade comedians. Then when I went deep into this matter, I came to know that this young man, this young dazzling Tiatrist, a songster, a composer and a playwright was the Student of St. Xavier’s High School, Dhobitalao in Bombay and also of St Xaviers College, Bombay from where he completed his graduation in English Literature – a great achievement indeed and then went on acquiring one more feather in his glittering Cap of educational background, that is B.ed and immersed himself in the dignified profession of a Teacher at Our Lady of Dolours, Marine Lines. While talking to him, I could recognize the power of his language and knowledge where he indicated that he was very well read in Shakesphere’s Dramas, French literature mainly Victor Hugo and many other world renown authors. At. St. Xaviers College he revived the dormant Konkani Mandal and was its elected Secretary for 2 years. Such an intellectual man should have been the president of TAG but I don’t know why he was not elevated to the presidency last time when he was already its vice-President. Only an educated and intellectual giant with his clean image and decent character can give dignified picture of TAG. This position is not meant for any Ladru – Pedru type of Tiatrist, especially a morally corrupt and intellectually bankrupt even though some of our corrupt politicians, it seems, are pushing unworthy candidates to the post of its presidency. According to my information, political pressure is working very hard to install unworthy candidates to occupy the chair of TAGpresidency. The Tiatro fraternity must in unison raise its voice to put an end to this "chamchagiri" done by the cheap Tiatrists to occupy the top position in TAG. According to me some of the Tiatrists enjoying a little respect only because they are Tiatrists otherwise they are fit for nothing. It is time now for the Tiatrists to elect somebody from among them, the one who is really capable of doing this job well and not to escape from attending important meetings with the excuse "I am having my Tiatro today and hence I will not come for today's meeting". If you have your Tiatro and other functions then you be there only and not get involved in TAG. Those who got no time to devote for TAG then they have no right to be in TAG.

Thru his educational and intellectual achievements Joe Rose gave a booster to Konkani Stage then because in the absence of such intellectual giants the grandeur of Konkani Stage suffered thereby giving a low image of our Tiatros. Precisely, because of this, Tiatrists during those days were considered as low grade people lacking not only in good family background but also lacking in educational, social, moral and intellectual background and thus lacking in good character and good discipline. See how some of the current comedians exposing all their dirty characteristics because of the vulgar terminology they use on the Stage. By doing this they indicate first and foremost their hoi-polloi family background where they lacked good home discipline because of the defective parents. I have seen Joe Rose so many times on the Stage playing different roles including that of the comedian but never he used foul and vulgar language as few of our third class comedians use now to entertain the third class audience.

Coming from an affluent family background Joe Rose’s father was wielding lot of influence during those days in Bombay since he was owning in partnership with his friend a big Restaurant and a Bakery and many of the renowned Tiatrists were frequenting there as his customers. Hence, the Tiatro circle was not strange to Joe Rose because he was also mixing up with them. Besides this his father was the sole owner of Hotel Olympia situated close to Race Course Matheran. His father loved him too much and on one occasion for his birthday presented him as a birthday gift a lovely Pony.

“Tiatristpon” is the natural gift of God to Joe Rose and making good use of it he entered first time on the Konkani Stage when he was barely 7 years - that was a very tender age, in the Drama “Fatima Saibinn” and then followed by “Bernadette of Lourdes” staged both by Dr. Simon C. Fernandes, the Editor of Konkani Weekly "The Goa Times". By the time he reached to 15, he acquired name and fame and offers started pouring in for him to play different roles in different Tiatros from different directorts. While still a student in School and College, he came in contact with his colleagues namely Jalal Agha, Anup Kumar Gangoly (Asokh Kumar’s son) and Vijay Sippy - the son of the director & producer of the Film "Sholay", later on Vijay Sippy became renowned Bollywood artiste. Joe Rose also during his scholastic career participated in extra curricular activities such as elocution, debates and dramatic competitions and won prizes.

After serving as a teacher for 8 years in Bombay, he migrated to Dubai where he worked as a Night Auditor at Oasis Hotel and as a part timer he taught at St. Mary’s School, in Dubai. He could do any type of role with perfection namely of a hero, villain, landlord and comedian and compose any type of songs. This is the rare quality a Tiatirst can possess.

Joe Rose is also a very good Playwright, director and lyricist in which capacity he wrote and staged his so many Tiatros, about a dozen, in many parts of the Konkani world, the most popular of them were “Imtteache Bhognar”, “Sukh ani Dukh”, “Dussreak Lagon” , "Arbi desh Amcho desh" and “Ekuch Rogot”.

As a songster, he composed innumerable songs in different categories such as solos, duos, duets, trios, quarters and rendered the same in Tiatros, Audio/Video Cassettes and All India Radio. Incidentally, after Alfred Rose, Joe Rose happened to be the second Tiatrist to record a Konkani Cassette, these Cassettes were marketed by India Book House and were put up for sale for standard price @ Rs. 35/- a piece. As a matter of interest, his Cassettes were even kept for sale in Soviet Russia. Besides, Joe Rose also produced his own Konkani Albums and rendered his voice for the Albums produced by other producers as well.

Joe Rose had unique distinction of acting with some of the great Tiatrists of yesteryears not only in Goa and Bombay but even in other parts of the world such as Gulf & London.

Being an excellent performer, he received accolades and honours from different organizations and institutions, eg: Cine Times Award for best character actor in 1990 and Kala Mogui Candolim, in 1993 for the services he rendered to Tiatros and GRAF for being the best lyricist.

Joe Rose is also a social worker having done yeomen services for the cause of Goans in Bombay in particular and for the society in general. In this direction, in Bombay at Dhobitalao he was instrumental in doing the campaign successfully to name one garden after the topmost Goan sportsman Walter D'Souza who as a member of the Indian Field Hockey Team took the Gold Medal at the 1948 Olympic competition. Incidentally, both Joe Rose and Walter D'Souza are the proud sons of Aldona that produced so many great stalwarts of Goa in different fields.

In spiritual aspects, Joe Rose did not lag behind when in fact he helped in the promotion of our religious activities, for example he served for two terms as the Confraternity Secretary at Our Lady of Seven Dolours, Marine Lines and also as Secretary of the Parish Council.

His greatest ambition is to immerse himself in Goan politics by first entering into local politics in his constituency, Aldona so that he can serve his own constituents better. However, he may plunge into any type of activity but his dramatic activities will continue.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

Never to talk ill of the dead, goes the Roman saying. My friend at St. Xavier’s College Mapsa, ex-Minister Francis D’Souza and current MLA from Mapsa constituency was totally exploited by the BJP led by Parrikar and after foot-balling him the way they wanted, BJP dumped him into waste paper basket. It is sad to know how Francis failed to realize the chicanery of Parrikar in particular and that of BJP is a big question mark. Francis may say anything but BJP and Parrikar used him as a mirror of Christian community in general and Catholic community in particular. BJP used Francis only to woo and get the goodwill of the Catholic community in Goa whom Francis treated as nothing.

He was my fan and admirer at soccer ground especially at St. Xavier’s College and Mapsa Duler when I was playing for Sesa Goa also on athletics field where I excelled in running. Though he was junior to me in College yet he admired me. During my meeting him any time he used to wish me very respectfully with his normal humility which he derived from his father Mr. Pedro a popular and helpful figure at Camara Municipal Bardez. It was because of his father Pedro, Francis gained name and fame and good respect in Mapsa and other villages in his constituency.

During my last 5 years in Goa after returning from Kuwait, he invited me at his place along with my wife for Dinner thrice during special occasions and he discussed with me many of the subjects touching our younger days. He had very good memory which I came to know when he cited some incidents created by me while playing soccer. It is surprising he still remembered the minute incidents that occurred on the soccer ground 50 years back, one of them was at Duler ground during our encounter between Sesa Goa and Vasco. We were leading by one goal to nil, when the atmosphere inside and outside the ground was heavily charged, I shoulder dashed the most robust forward of Goa, Bernado of Vasco who felled down on the ground and rolled in agony for about 10 metres. Referee did not point out any fault but spectators who were mainly the supporters of Vasco entered the ground in thousands demanding infringement. Nobody touched me though at moment it looked they wanted to kill me. When spectators refused to leave the ground, referee from Agacaim nicknamed as “Cheuris” blew the long whistle and abandoned the game.

He did what he felt the best by by getting embedded to BJP thinking they would stand by him when need arises but true to their anti-Christian principle and pro-Hindu doctrine they dropped Francis like a potato in the Kitchen. To please the Goa command and Delhi high command of BJP he even went to so far as to call himself as Christian Hindu. By totally surrendering himself to the doctrine of BJP he even forgot to raise his voice against BJP’s anti-Christian decisions thus proving to Christians that there is no one in BJP to support Christians. Mathanay Saldanha also did the same. Similar tactic was used by the recently died George Fernandes when he was a cabinet minister at the Centre. When our own elected representatives refuse to side with us then who will support us? Then God play Ḥis role by implanting in our bodies incurable illneses like Cancer or Kidney failure etc. that take control of our bodies.

It is a pity that within 48 hours 2 stalwarts of Goa disappeared like an Ether and how many more are there in line? It is not good to hurt the sentiments of the weak. Where are all the then great stalwarts of MGP gone now? Fear God my brothers and sisters. There may not be any one on this planet to check your moves but there is somebody above to put a full stop to all your moves. Respect God – Fear God because as it is said in Konkani “DEVACHEA MARANK AVAZ NA”.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

I have nothing against him neither I have anything common with him but as mentioned in Julius Caesar by Sakesphere, “the good that man doth often interred with the bones, the evil always remaineth after him”. May God forgive him of all his sins and may his soul rest in peace. During his last speech in the Assembly session of his last term, Vishnu Vhag was very angry on Diocesan Society when he said like a “Rhagist Ranatlo Vagh”, somewhat like this ‘’what Diocesan Society think, just because they built their schools they feel they can do anything? We can also build our own schools and show to them what we can do and we will build”. Poor thing. He never survived to challenge the Diocesan Society. But the anger against Diocesan Society he released from the advantageous platform of Goa Legislative Assembly hurt the feelings and sentiments of the overwhelming majority of Catholics in Goa.

In Goa, the Catholic Church and Diocesan Society is not a hindrance to any particular person or any organization or any particular community. Catholic community as a whole is peace loving community not bent on creating problems for others and according to its doctrine it cannot do any problem to anyone. Because of it’s peace loving doctrine there is peace and peaceful atmosphere prevailing in Goa since the advent of Christianity in Goa. Because of its non-belligerent attitude, Catholics do not fight with others as we see elsewhere in India where you see Hindu-Muslims riots. There is no Hindu-Catholics riots in Goa and will never happen as long as the ancestral and traditional bond built centuries ago by Catholics and Hindus/Muslimsremains intact. However, the only fear now is that of influx of migrants overwhelming majority of whom are non-Christians, who may sow the seed of discord between original Catholics and original non-Cathoilics because these migrants are carrying in their veins communalism.

In the Diocesan Schools not only Catholics study and work but others too without any discrimination and these schools are built by the donations mostly of Catholics. I don’t see any non-Catholic giving donations to the construction of Church Schools in our localities. In my village in Candolim when Fr. Alvito Vaz fell short of money in the beginning itself when he as the principal of under construction St. Theresa’s High School, approached with the begging bowl one local Hindu millionaire, in early sixties, that millionaire never gave a single paisa even though Fr. Alvito Vaz told him that in this school even your Hindu community students study. But he never cared however, we the locals especially the financially small people never neglected our responsibility and somehow or the other collected the required amount including from my Mocambique based sister and her husband, they gave 75 thousand rupees to overcome the financial calamity. In this way we the local Catholics shouldered our responsibility to erect that monument of learning where besides Catholics, others like Hindus, Muslims and now a great number of migrants as well study. Leave aside non-Catholics study there but so many non-Catholics males and females work in these schools not only as teachers but also in the administrative jobs and thus they earn their sustenance.

After the invasion of Goa on December 19th, in 1961, Church in Goa took the very good lead in spreading the education in Goa for all Goan children and because of this appropriate initiative the standard of education and manpower in Goa has gone high. Unfortunately, many of the critics of Diocesan Schools are those who do not belong to the Catholic community nor give any donation, even if you beg with them but they will come sprinting to register the enrolment of their children in the Diocesan Schools. Yet Diocesan Society does not harbor any revenge

During the Portuguese era in Goa, Portuguese Governador Vassalo e Silva initiated the compulsory free Portuguese schooling for all Goan children attaining the age of 6, somewhere in 1958. The implementation of this compulsory schooling was put forward so vigorously that failure to follow this rule would make the erring students/their parents pay the fine of around Rupees 250/-. From here it is to be noted that Portuguese Governador was the pioneer in spreading education in Goa who was the pure Catholic just like Fr. Lyon who established first English High School of Goa at Arpora where not only the Catholoic studied but also a huge number of Hindus studied too.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

I strongly condemn the cold blooded attack carried out at Pulwama in Kasmir by, as alleged, Pakistan thru remote control, a few days back. This will not be an end and I am sure it will be carried forward more vigorously if it is the genuine work of Pakistan. Even though Pakistan denies its hand directly in such attacks yet everyone knows how it works. Normally, without Islamabad’s direction nothing works there. Pakistan has already realized its inability to weaken India by fighting a war militarily and hence Pakistan is using these tactics of terrorism to weaken India where they look gaining.

Ealier in Mumbai attack about 10 years back how the Pakistani terrorists made mockery of the mighty military power, India. Those terrorists finally made fools of all the protectors of India’s sea routes. God knows if these protectors of our ocean were heavily bribed by the Pakistani agents to close their eyes during the journey of the terrorists to Mumbai. Indians are known to be very good bribeable commodity and this can be easily ascertained thru many of those working for Customs who shamelessly demand bribe for them to release the goods the passengers bring along with them when they, our foreign based Indians return back on vacation.

Killing our Jawans so many in number at a time means an indication that our enemies are stronger in this segment of fighting with India. Otherwise, was it the work of indigenous Indian terrorists who are also trying to destabilize India because of their internal political differences? This can easily happen by the suppor of our high ranking politicians who are ready to do anything for the sake of money. These politicians are like the curse on India and the way they are looting India with the help of their power, they are capable of doing anything in India even if India suffers.

During my long period in Kuwait very few Goans must have moved and mixed up with different segments of Pakistani community as I did and I came to know that even an ordinary Pakistani is anti-India, as a whole Pakistanis hate India, they want to take their revenge of the defeat Pakistan suffered against India in the then East Pakistan resulting in the birth of Bangladesh. In Pakistan according to my information, there is one Military College whose graduates at the time of receiving their degrees/diplomas they have to swear upon God that they will take their revenge against India for the defeat India inflicted on Pakistan. This was the most horrible, most humiliating and most disgraceful defeat that Pakistan suffered. When the 90 thousand Pakistani POW’s returned back home to Pakistan, they were, at least some of them, were openly humiliated by the Pakistanis by showering insults on them and even spitting on them.

Even on Pakistan’s embarking on Atomic device is not only to frighten India but if possible to use it against India however in the bargain they will be the bigger losers that does not bother them. What bothers them is how to weaken and destroy India. This is their Goal. And in this direction, they will do anything to harm India. They want to humiliate India as much as they can and in anyway they can. In Kuwait I saw so many Pakistanis from the lowest category to the highest, they kept for them Indian ladies even oldies, many of them Goans as their concubines and as told to me by some of these Pakistanis, they kept them as their concubines because they feel psychologically superior to Indians and they like to keep these ladies as their subjects and treat them as slaves thus getting false feelings that they make Indians as their slaves.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

Seen above is the late Dr. Tiotonio D'Souza

It is with deep regret and chagrin I write these lines to express my grief and that of all the like minded Goans, over the sad and unexpected death of our friend and Goa lover Dr. Tiotonio D’Souza in Portugal, on 18th of this month. He was in Goa a few months back along with his wife Elvira and during his stay at Hotel Goan Heritage, Calangute, for a few days where he was treated so well by the staff of the Hotel as per his own statement. He was extremely happy to know that Hotel Goan Heritage is the very good venture of the combined efforts of the few patriotic Kuwait Goans under the skippership of the late Vincente D’Souza for whom and for all the Goans who came forward to start this venture, Dr. D’Souza lauded vociferously. In this context, he asked, “why cannot the Goans from other parts of the Gulf and elsewhere initiate such ventures when they organize big cultural events and football tournaments collecting hundreds of Goans per event?”

Let me be frank, to start a business venture you have to require courage because in business you must be ready to take risk. Besides, you must possess some finance to start with your venture, the remaining you can borrow as loans from the financial institutions, just as the management of Hotel Goan Heritage did. Any Ladru – Pedru type of a person who is surviving on bare minimum income and whose condition is like that of “haddli podd ani khalli podd”, cannot go ahead with starting of this type of ventures.

Veronica seen wearing the Hat of Dr. Tiotonio

Secondly, the best of qualitative and dynamic Goans burning with love for Goa and Goan causes, among the Gulf Goans, were located in Kuwait, Mr. Vincente D’Souza was one of them. Thirdly, organizing of foot-ball tournaments and Goan socials is not an extra ordinary deed, any Ladru-Pedru can venture into the activities they do. Besides, from what activities they do, you can know they are nothing and precisely they are nothing they are become unknown entities in Goa after they are come back to Goa for good.

During Dr. Tiotonio D’Souza’s last visit to Goa somewhere in September we both of us exchanged views on Goa, Konkani and other aspects of now corroding Goan life. He was highly appreciative of my writings in Digital Blogs even requesting me to compile all my important writings on Tiatros in the book form. He was happy to read my book, ”from coconut threes to oil wells” where he said he got lot of information on Goans’ life in Kuwait. He was well conversant with Kuwait since his father was working in Kuwait from early fifties.

Veronica seen with Dr. Tiotonio

He was eagerly waiting to return to Goa in a few months’ time as an adviser to the script of the new Konkani movie to be produced by one Goan business house. He loved Tiatros and when Tausif de Navelim staged his Tiatro some years back “Akantwadi Amkam Naka” in Panjim, he and me too saw this Tiatro at Kala Academy Hall. Recently, during his last visit to Goa, we saw together along with our wives the Tiatro “Pedro Portuguez” staged at Kala Academy, Panjim.

When he came to Goa last time and before leaving for Portugal he said to keep his memory alive in me, he removed his Hat from his head and put it on my head which I wear very often now, as it is shown in the second photo here.

In him Goa lost a great literary figure whose expertise concentrated on Historical research.

My his soul rest in peace.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

On 19^th of this month at Kala Academy in Panjim, I saw the Tiatro “DOGUI BODMAS” written and directed by Samuel Carvalho (Ex-Kuwait), starting exactly at scheduled time 7.30 PM. I congratulate the director for adhering to the time very rigidly otherwise some others are so rubbish that they have no responsibility towards the attendees who cannot afford to waste their time by just sitting in the hall for the curtain to open. I hope that those other directors who commit this type of goof by ignoring their responsibility will maintain their time schedule very strictly.

This Tiatro was watched approximately by about 75% of the capacity of the Hall and according to my observation I found them satisfied. As for me, I liked the story which created suspense for every step and thus kept the audience on their toes. Since this Tiatro is still going strong, I feel I should desist from giving the contents of the play. Bai Roma plays her role well so also Mario Menezes who seems to be vastly improved in his delivery which is having very good clarity. Roseferns also plays his role well but he belied the expectations of the audience by not singing any solo as usually he does. In fact I was waiting to listen to his solo. Anil Pednekar’s performance was superb as he did his role very well of a son-in-law and equally matching was the role played by the seasoned and perfectionist Rosy Alvares, of the mother-in-law.

The comedy part was good but some instances of vulgarity was still performed. Secondly the dress code of Antonette de Maina was not appropriate and such short dresses are not used in our Tiatros. If the great directors like Alexinho de Candolim, J.P Souzalin, Saib Rocha, Manuel de Lima, Prem Kumar and some others had to see any “pozddem” artiste wearing vulgar dresses they would either tell that artiste to throw out that indecent dress or they will throw out the said artiste from their Tiatro.

Tiatro is not the monopoly of the directors and artistes, public also has got a role to play, they have all the rights to criticize, correct and if necessary to reprimand the vulgar Tiatrist who indicates vulgarity not only in terminology, in dress code but also in action. When Lucazinho Ribeiro staged the first Tiatro his motive was very clear that is to show decency because according to our history, culture, tradition and custom we Goans are very decent.

In the Side Show songs, all the singers sang good songs but especial mention must be made of the songs rendered by Olga, Reagan, Saby de Divar and Anil – Olga.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

Seen above is the newly wedded couple

On 23^rd of this month, the beautiful daughter of the beautiful and renowned Tiatrist Annie Quadros, Bai Keisha got married to the handsome boy Bab Deron at the St. Francis Xavier Church, in Velim.

Besides bridal couple, seen above are Annie & her husband

And in the evening at 8.45 at Raia Arlem, White House Venue, the reception was held which was attended by a huge number of attendees dotted with a number of prominent Tiatrists, to name a few: Wilmix & Sharon, Premanand Lotlekar & his wife Priti, Chitra & her lovely daughter Nimoshka, Anicieto & his wife, Rosy Alvares and her attractive daughter, Jerry Cal, Mario Menezes, Anthony San, Coney M, Anil Pednekar & his young daughter, Benny de Aldona and Agostinho Temudo.

Seen above are A.Veronica, Chitra & her daughter Ninoshka

Mr. Lourencio Miranda raised the toast and said a few words advising the married couple to respect each other and live a good life together. And according to me they should also be a very good example for others too to imitate them in their living a good married life.

A.Veronica & Jerry Cal

MC Mr. Niraj Aguiar with his mellifluent tongue and with wisdomatic statements brought an extra colour to this highly reputed reception.

Seen above are Mr. & Mrs. Premananda Lottlekar

The guests looked very disciplined and decent too and the entire proceeding went well till the end which came after serving the Buffet. Earlier, Annie Quadros rendered a beautiful song in praise of her daughter advising her of her obligations as a married person. She further said in her song very philosophically and wisdomatically how her father worked so hard abroad doing so much of sacrifices for their love.

I wish the newly wedded couple a very successful married life.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

Within the last 3 days, 2 ex-Kuwait Goans died in Goa, both were living their retired life in Goa, both were well known foot-ballers in Goa as well as in Kuwait, one of them the ace defender representing Salgaocar Sports Club in sixties and early seventies that is Alcantro Barreto and the other Cajetan Godinho who was much younger than the former.

Playing with them since the time of the inception of our competitive soccer tournament in 1979 at Sour grounds in Kuwait, I enjoyed their friendship and companionship on the soccer ground in Kuwait and with Alcantro Barreto as a player of Sesa Goa I played against his team Salgaocar in Goa as well, both the teams then were mighty teams and having extremely good players in their folds. Alcantro was extremely good defender who even played for Goa XI a number of times and a year before coming to Kuwait, if I am not mistaken in 1974 he even captained Goa’s team for the National Santosh Trophy.

After landing in Kuwait, next to the Kuwait City Church there was a foot-ball ground where he was always on every Friday morning playing soccer, this ground was accessible to him because he was staying there only.

Then in 1979 he joined United Goans popularly known as UG whom he represented as a top defender while Cajetan Godinho represented the then mighty team Goan Sporting having in its rank some of the best Goan players who were new comers to Kuwait then but earlier in Goa and Bombay they represented some of the top teams from Goa and Bombay. During the first two years, i.e.1979/80 both the teams UG and Goan Sporting reached to the finals and Goan Sporting carrying home the winners trophies under the skippership Cajetan Godinho.

Cajetan Goodinho was like an aristocrat captain on the field having very good distribution power and also powerful long range shots. He was very decent and clean on the field never inflicting injuries on his opponents neither creating confusion on the ground. Alcantro Barreto also the same and both were the pillars of their respective teams. Spectators were coming to see them playing even from Ahmadi and Fahaheel early in the mornings on Fridays. They were partly responsible to popularize our Kuwait City Sour Ground soccer tournaments. They not only played foot-ball but they also enjoyed football and they served the game of soccer. They brought dignity to the foot-ball game also. In their deaths, foot-ball game lost two great apostles.

May their souls rest in peace.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

MISUSE OF SO CALLED LIBERATION OF GOA.

X'MAS CELEBRATION IN CANDOLIM ARADDY.

THE LATE YOUNG CHICO.

WARNING TO CONGRESS PARTY IN GOA.

I OPPOSE THE NAMING OF 3RD MANDOVI BRIDGE AFTER BANDODCAR.

ARPORA SCHOOL SPORTS MEET.

IT IS FOR YOU PE. VIGARS.

TIATRO "UZVADD TUCA DIUN" by MENINO DE BANDAR.

STOP CHEAT MIGRANT/BHAILE VOTERS FROM VOTING IN GOA.

THE WELL-KNOWN GOAN MUSICIAN PETER RODRIGUES.

NEW TIATRO "TANNE MHAKA OBHIXEK KELO" BY VALENCY D'SOUZA.

HARD CORE GOAN COMMUNALISTS ANTI-DR.JACK SEQUEIRA

THE INTELLECTUAL TIATRIST JOE ROSE

THE LATE FRANCIS D"SOUZA AND HIS BJP.

THE LATE VISHNU VHAG & HIS HATRED TOWARDS CHURCH SCHOOLS.

I CONDEMN THE TERRORISTS' ATTACK ON INDIAN SOLDIERS IN KASHMIR.

THE LATE HISTORIAN DE. TIOTONIO D:SOUZA.

TIATRO "DOGUI BODMAS" BY SAMUEL CARVALHO.

GRAND WEDDING OF THE DAUGHTER OF ANNIE QUADROS (STAGE ARTISTE).

THE LATE ALCANTRA BARRETO & CAJETAN GODINHO.