It is with deep regret and sorrow I write this piece to express my sorrow over the death of one of my friends and colleagues, Agnelo Fernandes who also was a great lover of Goa and popularly known as Royal Agnelo as they were known in the name of ROYAL in their in his village Agacaim. The death came on him on the 10th of this monyh at 5.25 PM at Apollo Hospital, Margao, he was undergoing Dialysis and during the last days he was almost in Coma from where he never recovered.
A father of 4 children – 2 boys and 2 girls, he was very popular in Kuwait among the expatriate Goans because of his social work and sporting activities he used to organized, so too the Goan cultural. He has helped many Goans who were afflicted with many difficulties financial being on the top where he helped so many. Those who we were not having proper residence permit facilities he helped them in overcoming this difficulty even by keeping at his foown reaidential place.
His love for Goa and Konkani was infinite as it was proved by his patronage, involvement in Konkani promotion associations especially in Kuwait Konknni Kendr, Konkan Heritage and in the activities done for promotion Konkani cause. He was one of the Agxikars who was instrumental in going ahead with the project of the erection of Konkani Martyrs headed by Florian Vaz and the remaining all from Agacaim and surrounding areas. He never felt shy to render financial assistance for the Konkani cause.
To help support and promote our Cultural items, he organised Tiatros in Kuwait by bringing especial troop of Tiatro fromGoa, eg. Felcy’s. His continued financial support to the Tiatros and Mando Festivals was the right step in the promotion of our Cultural items. When Mangalorean Konkani promote Eric Ozario came to Kuwait with his Bosni which means Eric Ozario with his musical troop of musicians would occupy their seats on the ground while audience would also remain seated in front of him and he would give speeches on variety of subjects pertaining to Konkani. After finishing his speech on each he would render a cultural and tradional song with the accompaniment of the Misical score provided by his own musical troop,
His biggest activity was the formation in Kuwait of his foot-ball team named as Royal XI which had wonderful players that created a very good team of Royal Agnelo that won number of Trophies in soccer, as winners as well as rnners-up. Thru this team Royal Agnelo gained lot of goodwill and prominence in Kuwait among Goans. Because they were playing for his team, he was helping some of his players in obtaining Residence Permits for them, jobs and many other amenities.
His worst misery was on 2nd August 1990 when in the early morning while going to work driving his own car and wearing the Boiler Suit, was caught by the Bastardised Iraqi Millitary personnel headed by the polluted Muslim leadership based in Baghdad, then they took him along with others to Bashra where they kept him for about a month and about this whereabout of him was not known to his family members who were in Kuwait and desperately waiting for his news whether he is alive or dead, then they lost all their hopes of seeing alive. For one month in Iraqi Prison as Prisoner of War his life the Muslim soldiers made miserable, they did not allow him even to change his Boiler Suit which was smelling filthy, no water to have bath and no food properly and sleeping on the floor. What was his and of his likes mistake? These Bastards Muslim Iraqis made disgrace of our Brother Royal Agnelo and proved to the Jews, Christians and others how filthy their Islam is. Iraq was functioning on the basis of Islamic principles, then is this Iraqi Islam to harass the innocent people? If this is the Islam then I dislike it, instead I would rather embrace Judaism where they would treat the innocent people humanely.
The funeral of the late Agnelo Fernandes will take place on Saturday 15thof this month at 4.00 PM at the Sada Christian Cemetry. The body will will be taken for the burial from his residence at Keserwal – Cortalim at 3.00 PM.
May his soul Rest In Peace and may the Heavenly father give courage to all his family members to bear this colossal loss.
A.Veronica Fernandes