It is with deep regret, thru FB and Gasper Almeida, I got the sad news of the sad death of Louis Rodrigues on 7th of this month in Kuwait and interred on 9th in Kuwait only. May his soul rest in peace.
A dynamic man and a great Konkani promoter thru Konkani cultural programmes, I first came in contact with him somewhere in 1982 when he first time organized at Salmiya a mega event including a grand Manddo singing and Manddo dancing item enacted by all his Mangalorean colleagues, I was reuested to give Press coverage for this event. That was the first time I saw Manddo on Kuwait Konkani Stage. It was full of life and beauties, one of them Luis’ wife Rita.
For Konkani cause he would do anything and it was he who was in the beginning brought Goan and Mangalorean communities together thru Konkani. Though he was a Mangalorean yet with his integration with Goans thru Tiatros and other cultural programmes, he was more a Goan than many Goans. He was one of the pioneers in establishing Konkani Heritage Kuwait, the association that brought all Konkani communities in Kuwait together under one banner.
For any Konkani function he would help and make his presence felt along with his wife Rita who is also a very good promoter of Konkani.
Very few people in Kuwait worked so hard for the cause of Konkani as he did. I bow my head down to him for the excellent work he did in the promotion of Konkani in Kuwait.
He was also deeply involved in the Church circle doing lot of social work for the cause of our religion.
May his soul rest in peace and may God give courage for his wife and children to bear this great loss.
A.Veronica Fernandes.