This is in reference to the war now going on with regards to erecting of Monuments by the Goa government like that of Dayananda Bandodcar who was the first Chief Minister of Goa. First of all it was wrong to admit that Bandodcar was the leader of masses in Goa. To say correctly, Bandodcar was an unknown entity before entering into politics thru the back door. Because of his deslike for Goan Christians he jumped into the Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party to punish Goan Christians by merging Goa with Maharastra and thru it to diminish the influence of Goan Christians in Goa and making their life hard thru the Marathi language which Goan Christians will find it difficult to imbibe. Revenge against Christians was his ambition.
It is a hard fact that he worked hard for the victory of MGP in the first election in Goa but likewise others too did, may be a bit less but surely he was not the most popular man of the masses in the initial stages. Because he was not so popular I think he was not given the ticket to contest the first election. But unfortunately for the Goa lover Goans he was brought into Goan politics thru the back door and Chief Ministership of Goa was imposed on him when he was not even the elected member of Goa Legislative Assembly but within the stipulated time limit he got elected from Maddkai constituency from where the elected MLA resigned to make a way for Bandodcar.
The race for erecting of Monuments is gaining political and communal turn where the monument for Dr. Jack de Sequeira is become the focal point of debate. As per my information, when it became known, just before the official declaration of the victory of Two Leaves – the symbol of anti-mergerists – that anti-mergerists will surely win, some people from Campal the neighbours of Dr. Sequeira joined together and along with Dr. Sequeira took a procession like a victory march hailing Dr. Sequeira as the father of Opinion Poll.
Dr.Sequeira was the leader of United Goans Party which was the major constituent of the anti-mergerist group comprising others too including Congress Party whose following was miniscule compared to that of UGP. Though there was not a single official leader heading the anti-mergerists yet Dr.Sequeira was considered as one such and other parties and groups and even independent leaders gave their allegiance to Dr. Sequeira since he was the most charismatic leader among all in the anti-mergerists group. It was Dr. Sequeira’s oratory of Himalayan magnitude that attracted the people towards anti-mergerists who in big number voted for 2 Leaves and because of this development the 2 strong citadels of MGP namely Siolim and Mapusa were captured by the anti-mergerists. It was a huge defeat for the mergerists under the leadership of D. Bandodcar. I attended some meetings of the anti-mergerists in Siolim, Mapusa and other constituencies in the North where I saw how even in the darkness after 7.00 pm the attendees used to wait for the speech of Dr. Sequeira who being the great crowd puller was always spoke the last. This was done also in the South and all over Goa.
It is very hurting that since the invasion of Goa by Bharat the contribution of Goan Chritians is downgraded to such an extent that they are even called as anti-national, pro-Portugues and beneficiaries of Portugues rule in Goa. In what way they are pro-Portugues? The first great revolt against the Portuguese rule in Goa was done by the Goan Christians who were the Catholic priests known as Pintos from Pintos Vaddo in Candolim and this revolt is called Pintos Revolution.
In what way the Goan Christians are anti-national? The first person who raised the voice for the liberation not only for Goa but also for the entire India and that too from the soil of our colonialists was none other than our Goan Pparliamentarian in Portguese Parliament Dr. Francis Luis Gomes from Navelim much before the birth of Nehrus and Ghandis. Cardinal Gracias from Bombay worked so hard to see the end of Portuguese rule in Goa and even Nehru hailed him as great patriot.
In what way the Goan Christians were the beneficiaries of Portugues rule in Goa? The entire Commerce of Goa was in the hands of Hindus namely like Chowogules, Salgaokars, Dempes, Bandekars, Bandodcars, Caculos and others. Where were Christians then? Nowhere seen among those named above.
By erecting the Monument of Dr. Sequeira it will not lead him to Heaven but by rejecting his monument we are only indicating our dislike for Christians by simply downgrading his monumental contribution for the victory of Opinion Poll. Not a single individual leader worked so hard as he did for the victory of 2 leaves among the leaders in the anti-mergerists camp. He was the only leader in that camp that wielded more influence than any other leader. He was the only leader then having strong base all over Goa and who was also known all over Goa. Thoso who belittle his tremendous contribution are jealous of him.
Those who are shouting at the top of their voices against the erection of Dr. Seequeira’s monument, they must in equal ferocity declare that it was also wrong to build the monument of Bandodcar because he was a traitor of Goa interested in selling Goa and Goa’s interests to Maharastra. A true Goan will always hate D. Bandodcar for his decision to dole Goa to Maharastra. He was the greatest enemy of Goa and true Goans.
A.Veronica fernandes.