This year on 26th February I sent a congratulatory message to Kuwait on the occasion of its Liberation day. Kuwait was invaded by Iraq on 2nd Aug. 1990 and was liberated on 26th Feb. 1991. In this connection I sent the congratulatory message thru this forum. Immediately following this message Mr. Francis D’Souza from Canada sent the following response.
“ REMEMBERING GOAN MOVEMENT FOR KUWAIT'S LIBERATION.
FRANCO DSOUZA
6:19 AM (2 hours ago)
Hi Veronica,
You never forget to remind us of the invasion of Kuwait, your contribution to oppose the invasion also will always be remembered, we all peace loving Goans at that time took some crucial steps that had a great bearing on world opinion, we may be spread all around the world since then, but can never ever forget those dark invasion days.
Francis Dsouza
Canada.”
The response refers to the movement we Goans organised in Goa under the banner of GOA-KUWAIT SOLIDARITY CENTER during the invasion of Kuwait. Our movement initiated by myself started in October 1990 and lasted till March 1991. During this period we in Goa organised 2 big public meetings at Azad Maidan, Panaji and 2 big public rallies on the streets of Panjim. Both these events – Meetings & Rallies - were covered by the national and international news agencies including CNN. Besides, we also organised at lower level other activities in support of the liberation of Kuwait. The effect of our movement felt immediately in Delhi alerting government of India and Kuwait Embassy as well making Kuwait Embassy in Delhi to communicate with us in Goa thanking us for supporting Kuwait so openly, so boldly and so forcefully. Letters and Faxes we received from Kuwaiti Ambassador in Delhi in this connection are in the custody of this writer.
I was one of the earlier Goans to be recalled for re-employment by my company in Kuwait, it was in April 1991. My recall by my company has got nothing to do with our movement. Since my company management felt that my services are required, they recalled me. After coming to Kuwait I saw many of our Goans were not recalled by their respective companies and very few Kuwaitis were aware of what movement we did in Goa for the cause of Kuwait. And to tell you the truth many in Kuwait were annoyed at India’s stand of being bias towards Kuwait. India’s foreign minister Gujral’s embrace to Saddam Hussein in Iraq during the early days of invasion of Kuwait was looked upon with hatred in Kuwait thereby acquiring some sort of hatred for India.
I was very much concerned of our people still not recalled to Kuwait. In order to impress upon Kuwaitis of what we did for their country’s sake and to gain their goodwill, I spending money from my own pocket made copies of the Video Cassette of our movement, approximately around 500 copies and circulated with Kuwaitis to make them aware of what we did for the cause of their country Kuwait. Simultaneously, I made photographic big Albums with all the photos and other relevant details and correspondence done in regards to our movement and these Albums I circulated with Kuwaitis to impress upon them of what movement we did for the cause of Kuwait. The total number of Albums was 100. Both the activities of Albums and Video Cassette preparing cost me around 1000/- Kuwaiti Dinars which I spent from my own pocket without anybody’s help. Neither anybody asked me whether I needed any financial help for this great and important job.
Within a very short time the news of our movement with the help of the publicity done thru Video Cassettes and photographic Albums, spread everywhere in Kuwait mainly in Kuwaiti circle including Kuwait TV whose anchor and News Reader Adeeb Shuoibar showed the pictures of our movement twice in KTV2 programme with nice commentary, once on 15th September 1991 during the interview conducted by KTV of visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Mrs. Sharma. From this publicity the name of Goans among Kuwaitis reached to the pedestal which also helped many Goans stranded in Goa to get recall on their previous employment. Because of the name and fame Goans acquired among Kuwaitis, many of the other Indians became jealous towards Goans. It must also be noted that by showing our Video Cassettes and Albums to Kuwaitis many of our people brought their nearest and dearest to Kuwait.
Then under the banner of GKSC, we in Kuwait at Plaza Hotel Ballroom started organising public meetings in support of the release of Kuwait’s POW’s. These meetings were organised on 26th of every February till the fall of Saddam Hussein. These meetings were considered of very high profile and highly important for the release of Kuwait’s POWS and for the relationship between Kuwait and India in general and between Kuwait and Goa in particular. Such high profile meetings were never organised in Kuwait by any expatriates community. These meetings were attended and addressed by the top diplomats, Indian Ambassadors, high ranking expatriates in Kuwait from different nationalities and high profile Kuwaitis including members of the Royal family. Thru these meetings we indicated to everyone how great we Goans are. Very many Non-Goans who were dubbing us as the community of Domestics now came to know how great intellectually we Goans are. In one word the rating of Goans reached to the zenith, thanks to all who involved in making our movement a force to reckon with. Because of this movement Kuwaitis of all ranks started not only interacting with Goans but also integrating with Goans.
As a step forward, in this connection, I on my own initiative and expenses on behalf of GKSC went to Delhi and with the cooperation of one MP Mr. Khan from Hyderabad who was the Chairman of Indo-Arab Friendship Society met with the top Indian leaders, world diplomats stationed in India including chiefs of Arab League and OIC based in Delhi requesting them thru Memoranda submitted by me to them, to work speedily for the release of Kuwait’s POW’s. This news flashed thru media like wild fire making Kuwaitis at all levels impress upon Goans very highly.
What we Goans have done for the cause of Kuwait during its critical time no other individual community has done and in this exercise what role I personally played none among the expatriates played, leave aside Goans and other Indians. What I did it was done on ideological ground and not to get personal benefit and I expected nothing and expect nothing either. In fact by doing so much I have not gained any personal benefit, neither have I sought any personal benefit. As long as there is peace in Kuwait and as long as our people get opportunities to work in Kuwait, it is enough for me. This is my wish and happiness.
Finally to reach our movement still to more people, recently I have made one more DVD of our movement as latest edition but with commentary in English. Very shortly I will release it for circulation. Let this DVD circulate more and more especially with Kuwaitis and thru this medium let the bridge built between Goans and Kuwaitis remain strengthened forever. I may not be here in Kuwait for long but let our Goans working in Kuwait be proud of what their elders have done for the cause of Kuwait. Let the Kuwaitis say anything but let them also know that we Goans have stood by them when some of their own brothers in race, religion and language deserted them. Also the new generation of Kuwaitis should know of our contribution for the cause of Kuwait by seeing this DVD which will be easy for them to understand since the commentary is in English. Thru this DVD let every Kuwaiti know that we Goans are not just “Hindi Muskin” but a community with rich heart, rich intellectual power, rich gratitude and rich love and affection for Kuwait having supported Kuwait during its critical time as none among Indians did. Our support for Kuwait was not a purchasable commodity because it was priceless.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.