With deep regret and chagrin I write this piece to express my sorrow over the untimely death of our friend and colleague Evaristo Fernandes on 19th of this month in Goa.
The late Evaristo became my friend when I first met him at St. Xaviers College Mapsa strating our college education. He finished hs SSC thru Monte de Guirim and me tru St. Jseph’s High Schol Arpora .
At his residence
Then in 1975 when we both migrated to Kuwait, we fortified our friendship further. A few months earlier than me he came to Kuwait and started his social and spiritual work and after I landed in Kuwait he inducted me in one of the church organized groups “Legion o Mary”.
His son-wife-daughter
Then when I started my first movement in kuwait for the cause of Konkani, starting first the Novem Goem fund collection, he was my close colleague in this movement himself being one of the members of the executive committee. He has later on helped me to establish Kuwait Konknni Kendr being its founder member.
First row family members in the Church at Pomburba
Then every activity of mine he was with me both in supporting financially and lending his intellectual advices as he was highly intellectual and literate man. Men of his intellectual caliber are very rare in Kuwait and I was fortunate to be blessed by God with the companionship of our late Evaristo Fernandes.
People seen in the Church
We stayed together in Kuwait city for about 15 years in the same Flat of 2 independent rooms from where I organized so many activities. Because of this house I managed to keep at my place so many visitors coming to Kuwait, most of them the visiting Tiatrists, males and females as well.
Choir singers in the Church
During the period of invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein of Iraq, especially during the first 4 days when the invading troops were in Kuwait, we both suffered a lot of harassment, both mental and physical. My suffering was beyond imagination because of my journalism since Saddam Hussein’s regime do not tolerate intellectual class of people. They tortured me more especially mentally to get some information of Kuwait and India too.
Bro. Cajetan Fernandes doing the reading
Then we came to Goa thru repatriation and as decision was taken by me in Kuwait on the very first day of the invasion of Kuwait to organize a movement in Goa in support of Kuwait and against Iraq, with his strong support for my decision, Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center was formed. Evaristo was an integral part of this organization both as an adviser and also as a participant.
His son Aristotle on funeral oration
Tough he was not much vocal yet many times in the public meetings he raised the issues of Goan interest. When in early 1975 Dr. Vaidya came to Kuwait from Goa to collect funds for the establishment of Goa Cancer Hospital Society, Evaristo asked Dr.Vaidha the following question:
Parish Priest Fr. Diogo D'souza
When Bandodcar was alive, he gave full patronage to Asilo Hospital situated at Mapusa Bardez because Bardez was the strong citadel of MGP while Hospicio Hospital in MARGAO Salcette, being in the UGP citadel refused to give even the the bare minimum. In view of this what role this Hospital will play when this Hospital put into operation?
Band in attendance
Among the Goans in Kuwait he was highly read Goan and he could quote best of quotes of many of the world’s renowned authors either from Renaicence period, ancient period or mediavel period or from any period. Philosphy was his very favourite subject and when he was in Kuwait he was thinking to go to France to join Sorbonne.
Cemetry
As a human being he is a very good man with very good character and very helpful for any person in trouble. As a Goan, he was the genuine Goan patriot having great love for Goa, Konkani, Goan Culture, tradition and folklore. Personally he was a great help to me in furthering my activities for the goan causes. In his death I lost a great friend and a colleague. May his soul rest in peace and may the Heavenly father give courage to his wife and three children (2 daughters and a son) to bear this colossal loss.
A.Veronica Fernandes.