It was exactly on 17thof this month in 1961 at about 7.00 in the evening the last trip of the Caminhao of Kekapai from Candolim was coming from Betim stopping in front of the Candolim Church alighting a few passengers there among whom was my late brother Cheddo who for 3 days was sent to the borders by Goa Police management to work on the break-down since he was working as a technician for Goa Police. When he got down from the Caminhao he saw our Church Pe. Cur – Pe. Marcus Menezes and told him “Pe. Cur, te bhitor sorlet ahm!!” At that moment with Pe. Cur, myself and one Dhobi from Orda, Esso by name were also standing. Esso came with the laundry of Pe. Cur and after sometime Esso will receive from Pe. Cur 1 Rupee as payment for the laundry and stopping at Orda Tinto he will buy rice, fish and Fenni for him and finish that one rupee.
But the moment he heard my brother saying “te bhitor sorlet” that moment Esso understood that Indian military entered Goa and leaving everything there even his one rupee, Esso started running screaming loudly “Jai Hind, Jai Swaraj, Jai Maharaj, atam amchem raj, Hinduchem raj zatelem, ami tumkam atam martelet, tumcheo igorjo ani kopelam ami moddtelet”. At that moment Esso was fuming with anger against Christians and gradually Goa created innumberable Essos who were earlier hiding with their anger.
A.Veronica Fernandes.