OBITUARY -- JOE REGO

JOSEPH (JOE) AUGUSTINE REGO
Born: 15/03/1939 Died: 27/04/08

Husband of Magdalena Rego, Father/Father in law of Shirley/Sydney, Abraham/Charmeline, Loving Grandfather of Shayne expired at Sabah Hospital - Kuwait on 27th April '08

There will be a Requiem Mass for the soul of departed Joseph (Joe) Rego at St.Therese Church,( Hall )Salmiya offered by his sorrowful family on Thursday May 1st, 2008 at 7.30 p.m.

Preparations are being made for the remains of Joe to be flown to Goa for final rites.

New Book "Niyallunk" to be released in Goa.

Vasco, 26th April 2008.

Pressnote:

‘Niyallunk’ a collection of couplets and poems in konknni by konknni writer Daniel F. de Souza in Roman and Devnagri scripts will be released on 1st May 2008 at Hotel La Paz Gardens, Vasco da Gama at the hands of the Chief Guest Shri Jose Philip D’Souza Hon’ble Minister for Revenue & Civil Supplies.

Shri Elvis Gomes, Director for Tourism, Government of Goa will be the Guest of Honour at the book release function.

Shri Cosma Fernandes, Lecturer in Konknni, at the M.E.S. College Zuarinagar, Vasco will speak on the book.

The book contains 25 poems on different topics on Goa and Goans, love, environment, language etc besides around 70 couplets which emphasize on various aspects of human life and the society at large.

Tomazinho Cardozo, noted Konknni writer, columnist and playwright has written the Foreword for the book.

The book is published by Talia Prokaxon and printed at the Sahyadri Offset Systems, Corlim, Ilhas, Goa.

It is pertinent to note that Daniel F. de Souza a well known Konknni Writer and bi-lingual journalist and columnist was the recipient of the prestigious Konknni Martir Floriano Vaz Puroskar 2007 instituted by the Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr Porvorim for his first book in Roman Konknni entitled ‘Koslich Malis Nastana’ published in March 2007.

(DANIEL F. de SOUZA)

IN RESPONSE TO GOAN FOOTBALLERS.

IN RESPONSE TO "NEGLECT OF GOAN FOOTBALLERS".


I surely agree that the Goan teams must encourage Goan football talent otherwise the passion that our youngsters have for football will disappear shortly. And as you said in one of your write up where you compared Goa which might turn into Singapore, likewise..the GOAN FOOTBALL TEAM ...with no orginal Goans playing for Goa !!!

Sobitia Fernandes.
sobitia@yahoo.com

NEGLECT OF GOAN FOOT-BALLERS.

NEGLECT OF GOAN FOOT-BALLERS.

Two weeks before, on that Friday, our soccer activities under Kuwait Indian Foot-ball Federation where Goans playing a dominant role being the initiators of same, suddenly came to an abrupt halt. That was the Friday in this season that there was no foot-ball played at Salmiya where currently our games are played. Earlier since 1979 in Kuwait City, at Sour Ground our soccer activities were flourishing and only this season it was shifted to Salmiya when some construction work started taking roots at Sour Ground. We do not have a permanent venue exclusively for us only to play our soccer. Because of this we have to face many difficulties. Sour Ground was to a certain extent appropriate place, yet in the past we had to surrender our rights to others who were more powerful than us. It was somewhere in 1983 we fixed the final of one of our tournaments at Sour Ground at 3.30 p.m. That time we used to have our matches in the afternoons only. The ground was nicely decorated with technicolour buntings. Dr. Jerry the then Principal of New Indian School, Jabriya, Kuwait, as a chief guest was seated on his chair along with other artificially made Goan dignitaries. Players too entered the ground and while referee was preparing to start the game, suddenly some non-local Arabs came and said “you cannot have your game here today because at 4.00 p.m. we have fixed our match which we cannot postpone”. There were some heated arguments between Goans and Arabs but finally they overpowered us and like cowards having no choice we surrendered to them and left the field. Chief Guest totally embarrassed, quietly took his car and left.

Earlier due to busy schedule of soccer matches at Sour Grounds where besides us some non-local Arabs were also playing, we shifted our base in 1981 to somewhere near Gulf Road, close to Hilton Hotel and next to Amiri Palace. There was a nice soccer ground which was idle in the mornings. Our boys did the markings on the ground and everything was set and in fact as schedule the match was started, one of the playing teams was G.O.A. White, the second fiddle of G.O.A. Maroons. Ten minutes were passed; suddenly military personnel in his open jeep came straight on to the ground and halted the match asking “who gave you the permission to play here?” Nobody had any answer and in view of this we had to stop our match from playing further and later on returned back to Sour Grounds by doing some adjustment and begging with others to give us an adjustable slot.

Now, two weeks earlier on Friday again we were made to surrender the ground to the people who occupied it for their own needs. Our problem here in Kuwait is this that we don’t have a powerful lobby to fight for the ground either thru payment or thru goodwill. The late Avertano Furtado once tried to push his powerful Sponsor Al Othman to provide us a permanent ground and he was very serious when he told me about this but it was too far distance wise from Kuwait City. Since nobody took any interest in this proposal, the initiative died in its infancy only. I don’t know how long the recently acquired ground at Salmiya will last for us and as the way things are moving I don’t think it will last for long. To acquire a permanent solution for this ground we need strong persons to run our soccer organization. In the current KIFF I don’t see any powerful personality. It is the weakest body amongst all the past KIFF bodies.

Our soccer activities are not recognized by any local authorities and what we do it is purely concentrated around our own eyes and ears even though local English press is giving lot of coverage because very many of our people are involved in it. Though local English press gives coverage yet it is done thru the pens of the organizers of the respective tournaments. The major benefits of our tournaments goes to the organizers of the tournaments and teams by way of publicity for them which they otherwise never dream to get back at home and in fact they love it very much. Many of the organizers thru these activities are converted into heroes from zeroes though back at home they are not even fit to organize a soccer match in “Xetan” next to their “Ghoram”, between “Ankvar” and “Kazari”.

Why in Kuwait only? Even in Goa some of the top clubs run their soccer teams not to promote Goan footballers but to promote their business and political activities. Sylvio Berlusconi the owner of Italian AC Milan is running his team to promote and popularize himself in Italy for the ultimate aim of getting elected as the head of the Italian Government. In Goa like Italy soccer is very popular. Some of the top soccer teams of Goa are instead of promoting Goan talent is killing Goan talent by acquiring footballers from outside Goa and outside India. By doing this the local talent is suppressed. Nigerian, Brazilian, Kenyans and others will never give chances for our Goan boys to shine and to develop. By acquiring foreign talents for our teams we may elevate the standard of Goan soccer but never will we elevate the standard of Goan footballers. Innumerable footballers are even recruited from Manipur and other places India by our top teams as if there is no indigenous talent in Goa which is if not better than at least equal to non-Goan Indians. Goan spectators must boycott the teams which do injustice to Goan footballers. During my time when I was playing for Sesa Goa, only the local talent was preferred by the Sesa management even though the management of Sesa was into the hands of Germans and Italians. Inspite of being foreigners Seas’s management did justice to Goans but those who are shouting at the top of their voices in support of Goa for getting Goan votes are doing grave injustice to Goans. Goa conscious Goans must think over this again and again and work for solution.

After 1982 world cup victory, Italy acquired services in their top clubs in Serie A all the topmost players from all around the world. Thru this they managed to produce the richest and the biggest soccer in the world in Italy but they failed to produce the biggest and the richest footballers from Italy. For this reason Italian soccer standard amongst the locals suffered. Because of this Italian pundits changed their thinking in favour of the promotion of local talents with top priority and only then and that too almost after a quarter of a century Italy won the world cup again 2 years back.

Our top Goan clubs are not interested in promoting Goan talent; they want everything readymade from outside Goa. Our top Goan Clubs are killing Goan talent in its infancy only by not providing the necessary infrastructure and support for the youngsters and youth. There are no youth teams at third and fourth rungs with any of our top teams. Top Clubs in the world in Europe and South America are having “B”, “C” and even “D” teams and from these segments they promote the players for their “A” team. How we will produce top players when not a single top Goan Club is having its own stadium? How we will produce top class footballers when in Goa not a single top club is having its own Swimming Pool for its players to practice because swimming is the best form of exercise? How we will produce top class footballers when in Goa not a single top club is having its own Gymnasium which is very essential for the fitness of the footballers?

Before he was inducted into its team, the great Brazilian Zico was sent for the kindergarten lesson in the club’s Gymnasium and then only he was allowed to kick the ball for the club. Our footballers’ eating and drinking habits nobody monitors because no team is having its own dieticians. Besides our top Goan clubs lack so many facilities for the players to develop. Unless the whole thing is restructured, our Goan soccer will remain where it is. A war infested country like Lebanon lacking in so many facilities is defeating our Goan Champion team, and that too on our own soil at Fatorda by 3 goals means misery of Goan soccer. After the great soccer genius, Neville D’Souza, Goa has not produced another genius of his type. And if we go on bringing foreign players more and more, mainly from Africa and Manipur in India by suppressing our Goan talent, we will never produce another Neville D’Souza. A few of our top Goan clubs are having their teams only to promote their names only and not to promote Goan footballers. Such teams should be boycotted by the real sons and real daughter of Goa.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

GOA RE-CONQUERED.

GOA RE-CONQUERED.

In continuation with my yesterday’s article on “Politicians & Non Goans”, let me today put some more light on the PDF Government’s dadageri during the time of invasion of Kuwait. Kuwait is our bread, this fact nobody can deny. It is not Kuwait that needs us but it is we who need Kuwait for our sustenance. If it is not for Kuwait then many of us would not have attained in life what we have already attained. When Kuwait was invaded in 1990, PDF Government was ruling in Goa. PDF Government was the main cause for prostituting Goan politics. The alliance between MGP and Congress defectors was like a sexual intercourse between a married man and a prostitute from Baina. Defection was the curse on Indian politics. The first defection in Goan democratic politics was initiated in early seventies when 5 MGP MLA’s revolted against Bandodkar’s rule and to counter them Bandodkar thru his political ingenuity bastardized Goan politics further by initiating defection into UG Party whence Abdul Razzak, Elu Miranda, Valente Sequeira, Orlando Sequeira Lobo left UGP and embraced MGP. This was the beginning of the curse of defections in Goa which was later on carried forward by a few elected Congressmen who broke rank with Rane and like prostitutes hugged MGP against all the civilized and their religious tenets. By joining MGP these Congress MLA’s committed a crime against their voters who got them elected as Congressmen to fight for the causes of Goa. However, one thing must be made clear that the voters who got these defectors elected on Congress tickets not because they loved Congress but to oppose MGP which was anti-Goans and anti-Konkani. But there is a saying in Konkani, “Sunneachi Xempddi Vankddi Ti Vankddich, Ti Novien Ghatlear Koxich Ubhi Zavpachi Na”. In the same way those who are born as traitors will never change their stand, they will remain as traitors only throughout their life no matter how many ways they bluff their voters at the time of election by giving them fake promises. And this we can see for ourselves during the last two decades how the system of “Aya Ram and Gaya Ram” is flourishing in Goa.

When PD Government was in its infancy, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. We went to Goa and formed our movement in support of the liberation of Kuwait under Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center. During this movement we organized big rallies on the streets of Panjim and held big public meetings at Azad Maidan, Panjim. The news of these meetings and rallies flashed not only in Goa, Delhi and other parts of India but all over the world thru CNN and other Networks. To our regret none of the MLA's or any Minister from PDF Government supported us openly. None of them associated with us in our Rallies and Meetings though we announced in the media for everyone to join us. On the contrary some of the PDF ministers mainly Chief Minister Dr. Proto Barbosa and J.B. Gonsalves started sending me threatening messages for organizing this movement without consulting them as if they were my “Bhattkars” and I am their “Munddkar”. One of the prominent ministers also used rough language against me saying “To Eronic kit somzot-re! Kuwait thaun eun aiz to Kuwaitchea lokank rostear haddta Kuwaitchea passot tor faleam to amcho serkarui sokol uddoupak lokank rostear haddtolo?”. Then he went further saying “Eronic mozo best friend, makam tanne fattim kitlem borem kelam ani makam sangonastana to he porim eddo vhodd morcha kaddta?”.

The success of our movement that time was only because we kept the politicians out from taking active role in our movement. If they had been involved they would use our forum to fire their salvos against their own local enemies because they don’t have much knowledge of international politics. One of our ex State Ministers of Foreign Affairs told me at Panjim during that time that Kuwait will not be liberated, Kuwait’s case will remain like that of Palestinian case for another 25 to 50 years. I laughed at him because a foreign affairs minister of India talked like an idiot of foreign affairs. Any way, we challenged the dadageri of PDF Government and succeeded in organizing successfully our movement in support of Kuwait and because of which we received kudos, appreciation and gratitude from the Kuwaitis and Government of Kuwait. The very people who were opposing me and talking ill of me are now shamelessly coming to Kuwait when during the invasion of Kuwait they were taunting us as if Kuwait is gone forever. Kuwait never went and will never go, Kuwait will remain as Kuwait forever and Kuwait will feed not only us but also Kuwait will feed our children, our soans and daughters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, other relatives and also Kuwait will feed shameless visiting tiatrists and shameless politicians. For this reason, we must wish Kuwait peace and prosperity.

According to the landmark judgment of Indian Supreme Court, on 19th December 1961 Goa was not liberated by Bharat but Goa was conquered. This was the first conquest of Goa. After this conquest, Goa is conquered by our corrupt politicians and enslaved common citizens of Goa to them. Thru this conquest, these current politicians put Goa on sale, jobs on sale, seats in professional colleges on sale, Government services on sale and everything on sale. Only AIR is freely available in Goa and recently that too become polluted by the prostituted acts of our politicians. The political affairs in Goa are gone into the hands of rascals who at the cost of tax payers’ money are living like Maharajas. They want posh Bunglows to live at Altinho Panjim and yet they call themselves as socialists. Most of the elected representatives spend their time not to serve the interest of the people but to fight their personal battles against their own enemies and to bring down the prevailing Governments. They want fleet of Government vehicles not only for them but even for their servants and dogs. They want battalions of Police security to guard them. Guard from whom? Who wants them? When Luizinho Faleiro was Chief Minister he had according to one source one dozen of Policemen to guard him, not only him but also for his servants, his dogs and cats too. Without this security he was not moving out. But where is this security gone now? Where is his “polki Mijeas” gone now? These montris are good to fritter away public money for their pompous life because all of them are suffering from anchestral inferiority complex.

In this Re-Conquest of Goa by our corrupt politicians, our MLAs and Mostris are hell bent to maximize their commissions and profits by being in their posts. Within a short time of becoming ministers they become Crorepotis. When they become Crorepotis thru ill gotten money by sucking the blood of the common Goans thru bribes for the jobs done they go for high profile concubines and prostitutes. For this reason, many of the current ministers are having private residential places to enjoy sex away from their wives. I have a list of montris who are involved in this game. Narvenkarism is rampantly practiced by our Montris and sex is become a very good gift for montris to give their official services to the people. One Montri openly tells the girls that “I will surely do your job tomorrow but you will have to do my job tonight”. This is the quality of some of our montris in the second conquest of Goa which we call as RE-CONQUEST OF GOA. The protectors of morality must do something on this subject otherwise these corrupt montris will turn Goa into a brothel. Though they are doing so worst deeds against the interests of their voters yet they want public to remain silent over their dirty habbits. They expect us to accept blindly everything what they do. People must revolt against their wrong deeds and applaud them for their good deeds. Then only they will change.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

GOAN POLITICIANS AND NON GOANS.

GOAN POLITICIANS AND NON GOANS.

In his recent statement Ramakant Khalaph of former Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party said “MASSIVE INFLUX OF MIGRANTS INTO GOA WILL SOON TURN IT INTO ANOTHER SINGAPORE WHERE ONE HARDLY GETS TO SEE AN INDEGENOUS SINGAPOREAN, THE SAME COULD HAPPEN HERE (in Goa).”. Further Khalap said “WE CANNOT ALLOW MIGRANTS WHO ARE COMING IN ALARMING PROPORTIONS, TO CONVERT GOA INTO A SLUM”.

Shame on you Ramakant Khalap. You and your party always worked hard to give our beloved Goa on silver platter to Maharastrians to usurp it the way they want. If Goa is getting de-Goanised today it is only because of Khalap’s former party MGP that supported uprooting of Goans from their motherland and giving Goa to Maharastrians. It is the MGP of Khalap that inculcated a sense of inferiority into genuine Goans and superiority into migrants and non-Goans who are becoming landlords of Goa and converting Goans into their Mundkars. The early non-Goan migrants who started flooding into Goa as if Goa is their father’s property were the third class and rootless Maharastrians with the help and blessing of MGP of Khalap which he supported and nurtured so well. Today’s disgrace on Goa from migrants and non-Goans stemmed from the anti-Goan policies of Khalap’s MGP. Shamelessly Khalap is now shedding crocodile’s tears. He is anxious to get back into public life by all means once again. He got no principle, an unprincipled politician like all other politicians. He embraced MGP under Shashikala and Pankar, supported MPG’s anti-Goan and anti-Konkani policies blindly against the interest of Goans and as per information colluded with anti-Konkani forces to let lose terror during the language agitation when Konkani martyrs were killed at Mandur and Margao. Then for his selfish ends after suffering political setbacks joined Congress of “CHORS & BAMTTES” where again he faced the similar fate. Now, he wants to regain the lost grounds by aligning himself with pro-Goan forces. Besides, he also knows that if Goans are not becoming assertive of their birth rights then along with them he too will surely lose his foothold in his own constituency Mandrem. As per information, Mopa Airport is coming and I dont think there is any power on earth to stop it, however much I may like it to be stopped. When it comes it will flood non-Goans around his constituency and then he will get himself submerged into a big ocean of non-Goans, like a fly.

It is a pity that Goan politics is flooded with all Khalaps only who for their selfish greed will even mortgage their souls to Lucifer for Him to enjoy. The rot in Goan political life started deeply only after the formation of PDF Government 18 years back where Khalap played a pivotal role by being its deputy chief in the Legislative Assembly. The sale of Goa by our montris directly and indirectly started with the advent of PDF Government where again Khalap played a major role. The sale of jobs in Goa in greater fury with heavy bribes by our montris started with the formation of PDF Government where Khalap once again played a major role. The influx of non-Goans and migrants was vigorously entertained with open arms by giving them lot of benefits and facilities for a price with the formation of PDF Government. The PDF Government was formed by investing millions to purchase the purchasable MLS’s like goats from non-MGP factions and to recover this huge investment, PDF Government put Goa, Goans and Goan interest on sale. Those who were responsible for the formation of PDF Government were the destroyers of Goa and Goan interest. The greater culprits were those who inspite of being pro-Konkani and pro-Goa joined hands with Goa traitors MGP like Ramakant Khalap. PDF Government came into being not for the benefits of Goa but to loot and rob Goa. It was a curse on Goa and history will record it thus.

My regret is this that Goa is destroyed and still in the process of further destruction by those who stood by me and I with them earlier to fight for Konkani, for Goa and Goan causes. The very people who once supported Goan causes and later on turned traitors for the greed of 30 Coins are the real Judases. At least Khalap and his MGP are known enemies of Goa and Konkani but those who act like Dr. Jackeyl and Mr. Hyde when the matter of Goan and Konkani causes arise, are the worst enemies of Goa, Goans and Konkani.

It is a pity that from the time of the formation of MGP Government in Goa under Bandodkar Goa is kept for dole royally for migrants and non-Goans by every successive Governments. It is a pity that since the inception of MGP we in Goa are not getting any party nor any leader to protect Goa and its soul Konkani though politicians concerned are talking with mellifluent tones in support of Goa, Goans and Romi Konkani. Romi Konkani is betrayed by the very persons who got elected in its name. It is a pity that during the last 50 years there is no womb in any Goan mother to give birth to a child that has turned him into a real Goan patriot. Goa is now become a fertile land for “Chor” and “Bamtte” politicians.

After 19th December 1961 all the deputionists were brought to Goa by Khalap’s MGP Government and those deputationists who came to Goa at that time finally became the naturalized citizens of Goa with the blessings of MGP of Khalap. Now, to stop the unchecked flow of migrants and non-Goans into Goa, if Goan politicians will not do anything then the time will come for one Goan to search for another Goan in Goa with a Lantern in his hand of the type Friar Lawrence carried in Shakesphere’s Romeo & Juliet, during the day time only when the sun is directly overhead. And that time, according to the policies of the current corrupt Goan politicians and corrupt Goa Government is not too far because we in Goa are having all Ramakant Khalaps only who are in the spree of selling Goa to non-Goans and migrants.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

UNITY OF INDIA-PAKISTAN-BANGLADESH.

UNITY OF INDIA-PAKISTAN-BANGLADESH.

Since 1947 when India was portioned into two, there was lot of hatred between the two nations surrounding around two major communities, Hindus and Muslims, both blaming each other for their hatred. Because of this hatred India and Pakistan fought three wars one of which finally slashed Pakistan and brought about one more nation, Bangladesh into existence. India played a major role militarily to help Bangladesh to come into existence. Though without India’s involvement Bangladesh would never come into existence yet last month when Bangaldesh marked its 37th independence and liberation day, not a single mention was made of India and its enormous sacrifices made in the liberation of Bangladesh. I still remember how we in Goa were taxed to raise funds for the support of East Pakistani refugees infiltrated into India and to support this war, by way of paying extra stamp fees for every financial transaction done.

Instead of original two nations from one root now we have three nations – India, Pakistan & Bangladesh. Even though the history, traditions and cultures of all these three nations spring from the same roots yet there are many barriers created by the leaders of these three nations on them. Most of these barriers are creating psychological hatred and dislikes for one another. Thank God, due do saner counsel prevailed, the current leaders of all the three nations are trying to get rid of many of these man made barriers to integrate and assimilate peoples and goods of all these three nations thereby creating a sense of unity amongst them. The recent re-starting of “The Maitree Express” Railway service after a gap of 4 decades between India and Bangladesh is a right step in right direction not only to bring the two nations together but also the two peoples closer to each other. Thru this closeness of peoples lot of goodwill shall surely develop and thru this goodwill lot of benefits will be accrued by both the countries and both the peoples.

Earlier two deadliest enemies in the subcontinent India and Pakistan tried to bury their bitter past by creating a new chapter of goodwill and friendship between two of them. Nawaz Sahrif Government in Pakistan and BJP Government under Vajpayee in India did lot of spadework to link the two countries thru Bus Service between them, besides other links. The Rail service between India and Pakistan thru Samjhauta Express and Thar Express augurs well for the friendly relationship not only between India and Pakistan as two nations but more than that between the two friendly peoples of both these two countries. Creating of air link between the two countries is a further booster for the better assimilation of both the peoples. Because of these links lot of people to people contacts have been developed, better goodwill has been prevailed between the two countries and ancestral relationships have re-developed and blossomed. Let this increase further. Because of these man to man contacts earlier hatred has been diminished and better relationship developed. Because of these improved friendly relations visas issuance for peoples from both the countries has been eased while earlier even a letter could not be exchanged.

Sports are one factor that unites people beautifully. In the just started Cricket League in India under Indian Premier League, the national barriers created between India and Pakistan has been further demolished when Pakistan allowed its top Cricketers to integrate with Indian cricketers on Indian soil and play alongwith Indian cricketers for Indian clubs without any discriminations and differences. When they play, they play as if they are from the same country with a strong feeling of oneness. Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are devided into three categories by the harsh stroke of circumstances but these circumstances can be easily eradicated by the current leaders by uniting all these three nations either by seceding their current sovereignty into one nation which is not very easy to implement or by creating a CONFEDERATION of all these three friendly nations so that lot of interaction is created not only amongst the three countries but more than that amongst the peoples of these THREE SOVEREIGN NATIONS. Thru this process I am sure we will have a peaceful atmosphere free of wars and hatred in the subcontinent which will surely create a peaceful future for our future generations. In this CONFEDERATION we can even have a common currency and free flow of the peoples without even any need of visas.

There are very many instances in the history where it shows how single countries splitted into two later on reunited into one because of the strong and centuries old historical, linguistic, cultural and traditional bonds existed amongst them. Defeated Austria in the last world war and splitted into 4 parts with very clever and deft diplomacy reunited into one. Inspite of fighting deadly wars against each other, Capitalist North Yemen and Communist South buried their past and joined into one. Inspite of 40 years of separation between them, East and West Germany by breaking the Berlin wall rejoined together into one sovereign Germany. Many of us have even seen on TV the breaking of Berlin Wall by the Germans. In Asia, close to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, we saw how Korea is still under separation between North and South. But winds of change are blowing very strongly there and at any moment we will get the news of their reunification. The current trend is that two peoples with the same ancestry do not want to remain two, they want to be one. Earlier they become one the better it is for them to lead a peaceful life and also better for the world peace. Let that peace prevail first in the subcontinent where lot of resources was wasted in fighting unwanted wars.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS

FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS

Goa's flying circus will never let you down because they don't suffer from jet lag. They just keep flying. The Commissioner for NRI Affairs Eduardo Faleiro spent Rs 86,691 on trips on Kuwait and Qatar in November 2007. The Director, NRI Affairs U D Kamat spent Rs 66,930 on the same junket and Rs 58,805 in June 2007 to fly to Lisbon.

The Chief Secretary J P Singh, who tirelessly globe trots on behalf of Goa, spent Rs 2,47,719. The Chairman, Overseas Employment Agency of Goa Vice Adm John D'Silva spent Rs 66,930 on the Kuwait, Doha and Qatar junket. Evidently not satisfied with their efforts aboard, they looked towards the homeland too, with Faleiro spending Rs 3,64,565 to travel within India, while D'Silva spent Rs 78,566 and Kamat spent Rs 1,03,933.

LOW COST SUPPORT

Eliciting this information under RTI cost me only Rs 20 officially, apart from petrol money, but it gave me an insight into the life of the under-priviledged under-secretaries and clerical staff.

There is no working copier in the two floors where several under-secretaries sit. The copier of the Development Commissioner was taken away during the PM's visit and damaged. Even a joint secretary in the Finance Department whom I asked to help was embarassed to say he did not have a copier.

The door of the under secretary, Home Department, Maria Pires, designated as the public information officer under the RTI Act because strangely no PIO was appointed in the office of the Commissioner for NRI Affairs, does not shut and needs repairs.

It took all of one hour to get ten pages copied eventually. Some weeks earlier, when I went to the cabin of N.V. Prabhu Dessai, the under secretary, law, we had to talk over the jarring noise of a ceiling fan. Naturally, the story is different within the centrally air-conditioned buildings where Goa's new monarchs work. There is definitely a caste system practiced in the Secretariat.

HIGH COST LIVING

The NRI Commissioner's office spent Rs 4,64,011 to fly in seven non-resident Goans, who wouldn't care a fig if Goa disappeared from the face of the earth, except to moan over the loss of their ancestral homes and properties which they abandoned for greener pastures, to attend the Global Goans Convention, 2007.

Rs 1,39,380 was spent to fly in Wolfango Dourado and his wife from Zanzibar in Tanzania.Dourado had a sterling legal career there. In their time, all these worthies may have been brilliant, but what is the point of inviting them now?

Likewise, for Dr Damodar Sardessai of California, who cost the taxpayer Rs 87,615, who as a successful educationist ought to have offered to pay his fare. The same would apply to Dr Narana Sinao Coissoro of Lisbon (expenditure incurred Rs 76,480); Neville Roach, Sydney (Rs 67,656), Fitz Remedias Santana De Souza, Nairobi (Rs 45,920); Leslie De Melo, Vienna, (Rs 56,480) and Patricia Rozario, OBE, Kent, UK (Rs 60,480).

What was the point really? Fritz De Souza, a Goan luminary in all of Africa, retired in the 70s! Coissoro left Goa for Portugal in 1949. So, should the government has its own airline? I vote yes because then Mopa airport will have a better claim for coming up. Besides the airline would come in handy every time there is a coup (and we know that's frequent in Goa) and our MLAs have to escape to Delhi or some resort in Rajasthan.

REACH FOR THE SKY

The air fare reimbursed to the seven recipients of Global Goans Achievement Awards was Rs 5,34,011. Compare that with the miserly Rs 1.50 lakh cash the government gave to Mando Festival winners this year, up from Rs 1 lakh.

Here is more hair-raising information about the convention.Rs 5,13,000 spent on hotel accommodation for the recipients, heads of diplomatic missions in India and officers of the Ministry of External Affairs. Rs 7,04,275 spent on lunches and dinners hosted by the Commissioner for NRI Affairs. Rs 1,47,892 spent on transport. Rs 5,44,907 spent on cultural entertainment.

Rs 1,12,410 spent on trophies for the award winners. Rs 6,67,480 spent on souvenirs. Rs 1,36,300 spent to exhibit Goan art and paintings, Rs 31,893 on printing and stationery and Rs 3,62,502 on advertising and publicity. Did they miss out on something? Noticeably, it was achieving nothing after spending Rs 37,54,670.

Apart from that, the expenditure was on cue. Everyone got a free ride, dined, wined and departed with an expensive souvenir or trophy. What else did you expect?

EXTRAVAGANT SOCIETY OF GOA (ESG)

The Entertainment Society of Goa once again lived up to its name. Sealed quotations were invited ingeniously from five-star hotels close to Kala Academy, though the ESG didn't cut down on the transportation costs to make its bluff look real.

Naturally, only two hotels tendered. Cidade de Goa and Goa Marriott Resort. And guess which got the contract. Cidade further away. The hotel had 825 room nights booked against 164 for the Marriott. The hotel quoted Rs 10,120, Rs 10,670 and Rs 14,300 for three classes of rooms. The Marriott quoted Rs 10,750, but did the lowest bid win?

PROTECTING MONARCHS

A CISF company consisting of 111 men protect Raj Bhavan including 24 personnel of the Goa Police lead by a PSI. Thirty-seven policemen include a PSI and ASI each protect Digambar Kamat, 33 policemen protect Pratap Singh Rane including a PSI, 12 police protect Ravi Naik, 24 police including two ASIs protect Vishwajit Rane who in short time that he became an MLA was elevated to the status of 'Y' category.

That means 57 police alone protect the Ranes. Wasn't it Vishwajit who said on Thursday that he resigned because the government did not deliver? As taxpayers you even bankroll Luizinho Faleiro police posse because Rs 1.52 lakh was spent till December 2007. During this period, Rs 1.52 lakh was spent protecting Advocate General Subodh Kantak whom if you have been reading this column should know gets paid only in crores. Now you know why you can never get to your montris? It's because of the thick layers of khaki that hide them.

LIONEL MESSIAS
lionroars.goa@gmail.com

MORE ON NRI AWARDS.

Dear veronica,

''BRAVO'' on your excellent writings on NRI awards. I appreciate that you kept the name of Goan culture still alive as it is till today in Kuwait.

I thank you for remembering Goan brothers who work in UAE for this cause. I think you should be on the panel of judges to select people who deserve this gulf NRI awardees.

Through this episode we came to know the real worth of your works in Kuwait for the good of Goa and Goans. All your writings on NRI awards in kranti threw strong light on the rubbish NRI forum did in awarding this years awards. Your mention of Jerry Cal and Young Fernandes (Remy Fernandes) from UAE - one from Abu Dhabi and the other from Dubai is an excellent tribute for their good deeds for Goa and a direct kick on those who were given these awards not deservingly. Because of this, these awards will be henceforth known as "CHAMCHA AWARDS".
Only those who received them will take pleasure in them.

Veronica, I have read minutely all the articles you wrote in goa.kranti on NRI awardees from the Gulf and from your writings and from what I have heard, I dont think there is anybody on Goan orbit who has done so much as you have done for the cause of Goa & Goans. In particular I dont think there is any Goan who has done more than what you did for the promotion of Konkani which is the heart of Goa and Goans. All the NRI awardees should feel small in front of your contribution for the cause of Konkani. If any of them has got any shame and guts too then he will surrender his NRI award in favour of you. But I am sure, none will do this because they are all shameless and greedy for such fake honours since they never received any honour in their lifetime.

About kranti, yes, I must give full credit to kranti blog for highlighting your views very beautifully. Before kranti could come into existence, I was reading your articles elsewhere but since kranti came into being, all other blogs and websites are gone into secondary rung. People talk of kranti only these days and its popularity is gone very high much because of your articles. I dont think in Goan diaspora there is nobody who can compete with you in writings. Your writings are genuine and not cut and paste. Your writings are not borrowed from different sources. Your knowledge on different subjects regarding Goa and Goans is excellent. Very few Goans are as knowledgable as you are. You belong to the class of Goans existed in the last century with full of knowledge and wisdom. Currently, Goa and Goan world is dried of persons like you.

Keep up the good work.

In future people like Eduardo Faleiro does not deserve to be involved in public life. It is time for him to be ashamed of himself and not to select his ''CHAMCHAS AS GULF NRI AWARDEES''.
So,onceagain I thank you for all that you have done for the Goan culture and Goans in Kuwait.

Keep up the good work.

Thanks
Joaquim D'souza
UAE
dudejacky1981@yahoo.com

Re: NRI Awards

Congratulations to A. Veronica for coming out hammer and tongs against the scam regarding the NRI awards which has been in news on a global level. Relating to the NRI awards is an investigative article which I am attaching herewith which was written by a well-known Goan writer. This article will help you Veronica to expose the NRI commissioner and his cronies in a convincing fashion. So Veronica as the saying goes: Strike while the IRON IS HOT. I read your blogs very regularly.

Each and every true Goan should come out in support of a bold writer like Veronica who is fighting the AWARDS war on behalf of NRIs. I strongly implore the great Goan writer to continue to highlight this issue. This is all about investigative journalism and Veronica has risen to the occasion many a times.

Presently, he is focusing on a issue that is threatening to expose some people who have been trying to plunder NRIs in general and Goa in particular in the name of progress. Veronica should devote more time to the blogoshphere and make the articles a daily feature. I think the NRI issue has catapulted KRANTI on the global level.

I hope KRANTI will help to bring a KRANTI in the attitude of Goans, who on most occasions arrive at a party when it is on its last legs. I want this article to posted as soon as possible so that it will give the required thrust to your campaign aganist the undeserving people. The issue of sex having been used as a tool to influence certain people is an interesting angle to further investigate on. And only a writer of Vernonica's calibre can do it.

Finally, I fully agree with Vernoica that the Awardees should return their awards. What a Shame!!!

Yours Sincerely

Santan Fernandes
santan4u@hotmail.com

SHAMELESS NRI AWARDEES.

SHAMELESS NRI AWARDEES.

At an outset, let me answer my own question lest it is misunderstood and misinterpreted. Who are these “Shameless Awardees”? Yes, they are the ones who undeservingly received these NRI awards recently in Goa. I am referring to them. Those who deservingly accepted these awards I congratulate them and feel proud that their efforts in the service of the community cause have been rightly recognized even though there is nothing extra ordinary in these awards because these awards giving organization headed by Eduardo Faleiro is the most shameless organization among all the organizations in Goa. This organization is simply frittering away the tax payers’ money by organizing such useless functions in doling undeserving awards to some stupid NRI’s. Last year this organization spent lakhs of rupees in doling these awards to unworthy Goykars whose contribution in the service of Goa and Goans was known only to Eduardo Faleiro. As per my information, this year’s selection was done on the basis of the “chamchageri” done by some of the recipients during the last visit of NRI forum’s personnel in the Gulf. Some of those who sprinted to welcome Eduardo Faleiro and his delegation with bouquets of flowers were the ones who got selected first without scrutinizing their work in the community cause. Some of the others who were selected were on the basis of the expensive gifts doled to NRI forum personnel; this is what people are talking here.

The other opinion of the people here is this that even sex was exchanged to please the awarders and this I believe because I know some of our people very well what is their character. Overwhelming majority of our people is from lower strata of Goan society who were deprived of prominence in life in Goa. Only in the Gulf most of them got identity and prominence. Because of ancestral inferiority and deficiency these people craved for honour. Once in late seventies when I was regularly contributing reviews of our soccer in Kuwait to both the local English Dailies, one person told me directly, “Veronica, I can leave my wife with you, for you, if you publish my photo as a main organizer of the soccer team”. When I asked him “will your wife agree?” He retorted, “don’t worry, by all means she loves to see her husband’s photo in the newspaper as somebody”. I felt shy and silently withdrew from him. Why this type of servility? It is only because of fake and empty and of course undeserving honours our people are craving for.

A few years back I was chosen by the prestigious Writers Guild to receive the award of best writer/orator/promoter of the Guild. But immediately I went to the Chairman and declined this award saying “I don’t deserve this honour because in our Guild there are much better members than myself for this award”. In fact there were gigantic persons in our Guild, males and females, Europeans, Americans, Pakistanis, Indians, South East Asians and other nationalities. I was the only Goan and was playing the second fiddle role in the Guild assisting the Chairman in the organizational field. The Chairman was reluctant to accept my version but I insisted because I did not want to take away for me which belonged to somebody and of course “deservingly to somebody” and not deservingly to me. Accepting this honour undeservingly would put me into the category of robbers, cheats and cheap persons. I don’t care for awards and honours. Receiving awards I have been accustomed from the very early age of course thru the medium of sports namely soccer and athletics. However, later on Writers Guild deservingly conferred on me an award of Best Organiser.

A few months back I was honoured and awarded by Konkani Kullvar Kuwait – a Mangalorean Konkani organization, for my outstanding work in Konkani field from Kuwait for the cause of Konkani. When its Chairman Lancy Pinto Nayak first told me of my selection, I outrightly declined to accept it on the grounds that there may be better persons than me and asked Lancy to check first whether I really qualify for this honour. He answered saying that there is nobody in Kuwait whose contribution in the promotion of Konkani is better than that of mine. Only after long deliberations I condescended and that too only when Lancy a great Konkani literary figure and Konkani Academy Award winner convinced me that I am the right choice, I accepted this honour.

Coming back to NRI awards, most of the awardees in the Gulf are undeserving as per the peoples reaction. In Abu Dhabi Mr. Jerry Call from Calangute has done wonderful job for the promotion of Goan causes from the time of fund collection for Goa Cancer Hospital. He was instrumental in gaining awakening for Konkani movement, Konkani Martyrs Fund, spreading the Tiatro in UAE, providing employment for many Goans and many such activities. In mid eighties I toured UAE on my own for campaigning for the cause of Konkani. He along with his wife Theresa from The British Bank of the Middle East made excellent arrangement for the big meeting held at India Social Centre in Abu Dhabi. Why Jerry was not selected when he did so much for the cause of Konkani and Goa from Abu Dhabi? If Konkani movement got success, it is mainly because of the Gulf Goans like me, Jerry Call, Young Fernandes in Dubai and many more in other parts of the Gulf. And because of the success of the Konkani movement, Goa got statehood and was saved from the clutches of Maharasta. Those who worked for Konkani have worked for the real cause of Goa and they are the real patriots of Goa. They have liberated Goa from the invasion of Maharastra that invaded Goa thru MGP of Bandodkar. It is they who deserve all the instituted awards for the greater cause and greater glory of Goa and not those shameless undeserving awardees who have prostituted the credibility of these awards.

According to one source, Eduardo Faleiro selected Goans for this year’s awards mostly whom he encountered only recently, mainly during his last visit to the Gulf. Some of them used their “Muska Polish” to get them in better books with Faleiro because he is totally ignorant of the real standings of the people in the Gulf, especially in Kuwait otherwise he would not give these awards to undeserving Goans. One of the Kuwait awardees was a member of Kuwait Goan Evacuees Society. This Society printed huge quantity of big posters for the election campaign of Eduardo Faleiro in Goa during the invasion of Kuwait. This Society collected huge funds from Kuwait Evacuees with the promise to send them back to Kuwait after the liberation of Kuwait. But, instead, this huge amount was used to print the posters of Eduardo Faleiro. Hence, possibly, in order to please him, Eduardo Faleiro doled him one of the Kuwait’s awards?

Otherwise how can a person involved in asking Sex from young girls in exchange of job qualify for this NRI award? Otherwise how can a person taking almost a crore of Indian rupees from the community organization and deposit it in his name in partnership with two other colleagues of his? There is totally a foul play in selecting these awardees. Moreover, these awardees have no shame even to accept these awards when they don’t deserve the same. Just to give this award to any Altu-Faltu person whose contributions for the community cause is much lower than that of others is a crime. Just to give this award to any “kalcho porcho potto” in Kuwait is like making a joke of this award and only jokers can give such awards to such Goans and only jokers can accept them selfishly and shamelessly as some of them have accepted. And as far as Kuwait is concerned, none of them deserve these awards. If at all they got them, they should know that this is a charity Eduado Faleiro has done for them or as Bokxis given to them by Eduardo Faleiro.

Everybody knows recently how Goan singer Remo Fernandes rejected the prestigious Goa State Award. Remo Fernandes refused to accept this award from the corrupt Goa Government. By doing so Remo Fernandes proved to be the real son of his real father. You require courage to do this and high principle. NRI Forum in Goa headed by Eduardo Faleiro is a corrupt forum wasting crores of rupees from Goan tax payers on this frivolous extravaganza. NRI Forum according to my information is created by Goa Congress Government to feed and provide public platform for Eduardo Faleiro. Can any of our awardees like Remo Fernandes reject these awards from the corrupt NRI Forum? From last year itself we came to know that this NRI Forum is a corrupt organization when it doled these awards to unworthy Goans. This is enough proof to qualify this NRI Forum into a corrupt organization.

NRI awards is a good concept and it should be encouraged but its should be done in a right way. How can by sleeping in Goa Eduardo Faleiro and his team knows who is deserving and who is not? Many of the things Eduardo Faleiro does not know from his own village Raia and how he will know what is actually happening in Kuwait and other parts of the Gulf? This NRI forum in Goa and its activities are financed by the Goa Government. Goa Government runs its activities from the tax payers’ money. This money should not be unnecessarily wasted foolishly by making ill use of it. As tax payers the public got all the rights to question Eduardo Faleiro and the activities of NRI Forum. I don’t know why opposition parties and its leaders are keeping their silence over this in Goa. In a separate mail, I have written to Sonia Gandhi and to other top officials in Delhi to make them aware how Congress Government in Goa is doing nonsense thru Eduardo Faleiro whose capacity to deliver goods in right direction has already been exhausted. It is time for him to retire from public life. If he does this earlier the better it is.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

CYNTHIA - HELPING OTHERS.

CYNTHIA - HELPING OTHERS.

Cynthia Fernandes
Fri, Apr 11, 2008 at 5:51 PM
To: goa.kranti@gmail.com
How Cynthia turned her life around to help others in need


Seven years ago, Cynthia Fernandes' husband abandoned her, leaving her with a mountain of debt and two young children to look after. A few weeks later, she lost her job.
Broke, jobless and emotionally bruised, she turned to friends and family for help. HELPING HANDS For months, she and her two children lived on charity collected by friends through church donations, while her two brothers helped her clear her financial dues.
The 48-year-old says those were the darkest days of her life. 'My cross was really heavy to bear,' she says.

'But I promised my brothers I would pay them all back to the last cent.' It took her two long, difficult years but she did repay all her debts. Cynthia also set out to fulfil a promise she made to herself while putting her life back together – that she would do all she can to help others in need.
'I was so grateful. I know what it is like to be helped when you need it the most,' she says. 'And I wanted to reach out to people who were in similar circumstances.' In no time, Cynthia had built a network of people, some offering help, some needing help, solely through word-of-mouth. From financial appeals to prayer requests, she was soon sorting out and matching appeals to offers.
'In a short time, I had a database of more than 1,900 e-mails,' she says. 'Every day, when I come home, I begin sending out these e-mails. I know there is always someone who will be able to help one way or the other.'

Binaifer, whose has chosen not to reveal her family name, counts her blessings for getting acquainted with Cynthia earlier this year. The 45-year-old says she was devastated when her husband suffered a massive stroke in 2005 and fought for his life in ICU for five months. What was even more upsetting, she says, was being deserted by her immediate family in her hour of need. For three long years, Binaifer, then a housewife, struggled alone to pay growing hospital and medical bills. All their savings were running out, while her husband was still recovering and unable to get back to work.

'I met Cynthia through a friend and she volunteered to do whatever she could to help,' she says.
'After she sent out her emails, people started calling in and offering help. Some visited us and gave us whatever they could.' The mum-of-two from India says Cynthia is a hero in many ways.
'We were deserted by family and friends when we needed them the most. Nobody wants to be burdened with a sick person,' she says. 'But because of Cynthia, so many people have come together to reach out to people in need.' Emirates Today reader Chantelle De Souza wrote in to nominate Cynthia as this week's Unsung Hero.

'In a city like this where many people are self-centred, here is a woman who goes out of her way to help people,' she says. 'We need more people like her.' Cynthia, who hails from Goa in India, says her e-mail database contains a mix of people and help is requested for anyone in need, regardless of race or nationality. From someone wanting to give away furniture to someone looking for some, or someone in search of a tailor or even how to get homemade food delivered, the network is growing.

But one of the most endearing attributes of her e-mailing network is the constant stream of requests for prayers, says Cynthia. HUGE REQUESTS 'We get all sorts of requests. If someone is going for a job interview or someone is sick or even going to get a licence, they e-mail me and I send their prayers out,' she says. 'And it is always such a good feeling to know when prayers are answered.

'There was a lady who had an autistic child who liked to play with musical keyboards and balloons. After I sent out a request, someone donated a Casio keyboard and a big box of balloons.' Blood donor requests are regular appeals as well, says Cynthia. And it helps when there is a rare blood type urgently needed to save lives.

Cynthia, who works as a site secretary with a Dubai-based architectural firm, says her two years spent repaying debts and living on others' kindness made her resolve to spend all her spare time in assisting those in need. 'I do this because it gives me the greatest pleasure of my life to see a smile on their face especially when they say 'you will be blessed abundantly for what you have done',' she says. 'I want it to be low-profile because it is not right to make a big show of yourself.' The intrepid helper says she personally checks all appeals and requests for help before sending them out to her contacts. 'I need to know whether the help requested for is real because all the people in my list trust me,' she says. 'I want to reach out to more people. As long as I can help them, I will help them and will go to any extent.

' If you would like to be added to Cynthia's database, please email to me on cynthia.fernandes5@gmail.com-- Cynthia"If you want to be excluded from this mailing list, please reply back on email with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject".

Quick Reply

To: Cynthia Fernandes

WHAT WILL I TELL THEM NOW?

Tony Fernandes tonferns@hotmail.com

Fri, Apr 11, 2008 at 1:32 AM

To: goa.kranti@gmail.com

WHAT WILL I TELL THEM NOW?

On my journeys the world over
I meet and speak to people about my Goa,
At the slightest chance I sing praises
About our traditions and culture;
About our mando and durpod,
Zothi and grandma’s stories,
Endlessly I chatter;
Have they now heard about Scarlett? I wonder,
If so what will I tell them now?

On my travels I show pictures of Goa to people I meet
Of our sun-drenched beaches, white-washed churches,
And way-side crosses, mosques, temples and green fields,
About how Shigmo and Carnival floats provide an exciting treat;
Incessantly I rant about our bazaars and feasts;
Have they now seen the pictures of faeces
Along the rivers and beaches? I wonder
Then what will I tell them now?

On my voyages to various distant shores,
In our ancestral proverbs I relate about the wit;
I harp about dedicated warmth in our pleasant welcome;
Proudly I insist that peace is our emblem;
That in harmony we dwell with no problem;
Have they heard about the priest being beaten? I wonder,
Tell me then what will I tell them now?

Often some are held spellbound and awestruck,
“Sounds like a fascinating place” they often say,
Declares another: “I must go there on a holiday”,
“I am sure you will love it, you will surely enjoy your stay” I firmly say,
“I was there some years ago” asserts another,
But what will I tell them now?

Performing like an ambassador at the slightest option,
My friends to rapt attention I hold with a history lesson;
Boasting about our land I depict a picture of the lone farmer
In the fields with his plough,
Of fishermen braving rough seas, hoping for an ample catch
And along the unspoiled seashore pulling in the nets at dusk;
Have they seen the brazen, belligerent, paunchy Russians
That roam the beaches now? I wonder,
Perhaps not, but will I tell them now?

Latest events have inflicted on her a huge blow,
Left a scar on her brow,
White sands are now stained red,
My land once perfect and pure,
Unblemished and untouched;
Has now been tainted and corrupted,
My heart is torn, my pride is worn,
What will I tell my friends now?

Tony Felix Fernandes
Author of : Goa – Memories of My Homeland

More on NRI Awardees

Re: WE MUST LEARN FROM YOU‏

From:

Cynthia Fernandes (cynthia.fernandes@gmail.com)

Tuesday, April 08, 2008 5:18:58 PM

To: averonicaf806@hotmail.com
Cc: tonyfernandes1945@gmail.com; andrew_mario@hotmail.com

Dear Veronica,

Congratulations on your outstanding performance - just a small note on my self - if i can help you from this part of the world in any way - please do not hesitate to write to me. tks and God belss.
cynthia


On 4/8/08, mario rodrigues <andrew_mario@hotmail.com> wrote:

Dear Veronica,

I read your post on your active role in Kuwait for Goans brothers and sisters. While I congratulate you and ask you to keep up the good work, I am totally ashamed of not being able to do even few % from what you did/are doing/will do in the future. In UAE also , there are many people who do not know what these guys who got the awards did. As u say are they worth or as other say did they buy? or is it plain bokshis.

Well its a shame for the leadership of goans.(It speaks of partial/ favourtism leadership). The recent other issue here in uae is cancellation of Flight sharjah-calicut-goa and I dont know how and whom to approach, while others(cynthia, Antony have promptly informed/pushing those who can, but see no light yet.

Regards
MarioDubai

Connect to the next generation of MSN Messenger Get it now! --
Cynthia

In response to NRI Awardees from Kuwait.

Sandy Trinidade
Wed, Apr 9, 2008 at 10:23 PM
Reply-To: sandygraceful@yahoo.co.in
To: goa.kranti@gmail.com
Reply Reply to all Forward Print Delete Show original

TO
The Editor
Kranti

I am a regular reader of A. Veronica's articles and I find them splendid. Though I sometimes find his views conflicting, I still appreciate them because he is a true blue journalist who calls a spade a spade.

I was particularly touched with his two part article regarding the NRI Awardees. I think every Goan should come forward and endorse his views as they are very upstanding and he has brought to light an issue that can be described as a scam. There are rumors doing rounds that these awards were bought out by the awardees and this theory is gaining currency with each passing day.

How do you explain the logic behind honoring Doctor Chodonkar, who has by no means worked for the welfare of the community except for giving some lectures and organizing camps for the community.

Such activities certainly do not deserve any awards. As a doctor, he is duty bound to do this. Look at his achievements beyond the medical sphere and one will see it is hollow as a rockster.

Take the case of Veronia, who has worked selflessly for the cause of Konkani and has been pivotal in organizing events for the welfare of the community. He is right when he says "these rascal doctors did nothing during the invasion."

Doctor Chodankar has been trying to justify his award by posting an article on Kranti highlighting his achievements. A first look at his profile makes it amply clear that he is in no way deserves the NRI award.

He came to Kuwait in 2001 while there are some Goans who have been working in Kuwait since the early 70s and have contributed immensely be it in the sphere of culture, art or sport. Another gentleman who deserves a mention is Alexander who along with Veronica exerted tremendous efforts in highlighting the cause of Kuwait during the invasion.

Coming back to the rest of the awardees, I also feel that their achievements fall far short of winning the awards. I blame the NRI Commissioner for this whole mess as I think a few people have misguided him.

Some have suggested that these awards were bought out by these three people and we have every reason to believe this theory. Finally, I call upon Veronica to continue to highlight such unscrupulous activities. It is a crying shame that the rightful people were denied of the awards.

Yours Sincerely

Sandy Trinidade.


Veronica's Note: Alexandre M. Fernandes never associated with me in our movement in support of Kuwait's liberation during the invasion of Kuwait.

Sandy, it would have been nice on your part to cite one single example where you found my views conflicting.

Thanks.

TIATRO "MAIM TUZO UPKARI HANV"

TIATRO “MAIM TUZO UPKARI HANV”.

Voilea navancho Tiatro Shri Roseferns hanne boroilolo and tannenuch direct kelolo anvem 4ter hea mhoineache Hawally A/C Hallan pollelo. Zorui ho tiatro 3.30 horar survat zatolo mhonn kharbareani gomoilolem pun xekim ho tiatro survat zalo 4.30 horar. Survatak Salan zobor so lokh naslo pun soukas-soukas korun lokh maguir illo choddlo pun zaiteo kodeli khali asleot zantun dakoitalem ki sal bhor lokh thuim tea dissa naslo mhonn. Hantun aniek pavtt gomon eta ki Kuwaitcho lokh tiatrancher ani tiatristancher atam vazela karann tiatrist hanga aplim dongam ani politic subeij kortat mhonn. Hi politik hanga konne survat keli? Tis vorsam fattim hanga Alexinho de Maxem mhonn fankivont tiatrist also ani to he porim politics korpak poilo also. 1975 vorsant hanga Agostachea mhonean poilech pavtt Alfred ani Rita Rose ailolim tedna ekdom politics zaloli Alexinho de Maxem hachea fuddariponna khal. To hangasorlo vetoch amche modem zaiti sovostkai asli. Pun uprant sumar 5 – 6 vorsam fattim Jose Rod hanga etoch porot politics korpak survat zali. Jose Rodan aplea tiatristponnache kopxechea forsan ek commandment ghatlo tiatro dakoitoleank ki “To tumchea tiatran aslear aum nachona”. Jose Rodak hangacheam enddeam tiatristam modem illem subeiz vozon assa ani hea voznacho faido gheun tanne apli dadageri korpak survat keli zache vorvim nhoich tiatristam modem pun amchea samaza modem passun futt poddli. Lokh takach nhoi pun tiatristank ani tiatrank passun vittelo ani te vittecho nikal mhontlear aiz amcheam tiatrank hanga adle porim lokh eina. Ho zaun assa lokancho nixedh tiatristanche suberbaecher.

"Taka" Konkani palkavelo nattak korpak Jose Rodan fuddakar ghetlo ani Sonvstha ghoddli, thoddim vorsam hero kosso zalo ani atam zala zero karann tannenuch ghoddlele sonvsthentlo toch atam bhair poddla. Kelem tukam ani zalem makam. Apleamchim tema sufoll korunk zai mhonn nhoich tiatristam modem pun Goykaram modem passun futt ghatli, bhav-bhavam ani ghanv-bhavam modem duspott keli, sezaream – sezaream modem uzo ghatlo, ghov-bhalam modem haddambo ghatlo ani tanchea sakramentan vikh votoilem ani he porim sogleak duspott keli. Hem ek vhodd mha-patok ani oslea patkak bhogsonne na. Ani zanni konnem taka oslim patkam adharunk tenko dila te tachea poros dobradan patki. Ani oslea futti ani duspotti tiatristak zo konn aplea tiatrani bhag gheunk soeg dita to ki vhoddlo devchar nhoich don singacho pun 4 singacho.

Sukurrin aslear aum na oxo denkor ghalpi tiatrist aiz khuinchea estadar assa? Hem chintlaim re Kuwaitkar tiatrist mojea bhava? Rogtachea fustar un’na martai, nisron poddxi zalear porot ukol zanvchona. Gorbhan cholonakai karann ghorbak ani sorgak khuim bhett na. Minguel Rod aplea eka philosophical ghitan oxem ghaita "Ghorban cholteleachem, ghor khuim aslem okondd fatranchem, pun dukrache xempddek hadon dhurik moddlem babddeachem". Devachea marank avaz na. Lornak anink palkar eunk ou ghitam ghavunk aum kossoch divchona oxem mhonnpi navadik songitkar Chris Perry atam khonddan nidla pun Devachea navan Lorna azunui zogzogta. Korta tea mapan bhogta. Aiz makam tor faleam tukam. Zo kon peleache articher hadd veta to Devak okman korta karann kola zaun assa ek dhennem Devachem, tacher konnenuch hadd vochonk zaina ani hadd veta to Devachea denneacher onit korta. Oniticher xikxa mhonnchem kuddepon, tonttepon, bherepon, ghorabean duspottpon, bhail-burgeanche disgras aiz nhoi tor faleam pun jerul. Zannarani ani xekddeani show dakoilolea unchlea senior tiatirstani taka soirannan haddcho na tor peleachi art kobar korunk vetana xekim Devachi khast lagon apununch kobar zatolo. Oxem zalolem makam naka karann Konknni palkavelem aniek noketr itle lhanuch piraer nattak zalolem makam nakam. Konknni palkak ani Konknni bhaxek uxear tiatristanchi ghoroz ani to ek uxear tiatrist zalolean to amchea palkar subeij kall urcho mhonn hem boroup kortam.

Roseferns orxim ek boro Tiatro boroupi ani digdorspi oxem somzon aum hea tiatrak ghelolom. Hea tiatracho zaito prochar anvem goa.kranticher kelolo. Pun xekim aum ghelom axen ani sermaum sanglom firngi bhaxen, he porim makam ghoddelm. Nhoich makam pun sabar zannak. Tiatrachi istor kaim kamanchi nasli, directoran aplo kaido sarko kelona. Nimnnea poddeak illo abru favta zorui moddem ghoran kaxavan astana chorcha zata ti sobe sarki nhoi. C. Alvares, Prem Kumar, Alexinho de Candolim ani M. Boyer hanche sarkele kormole director oxleo chuki kedinch korche nasle. Har nachta mhontlear ghannoi nachlear zaina. Hea tiatran chaum-meaum subeij dista. Rosroxit poleachem ani rupest disnneachem torne piraechem Roshan materichi bhumika korta ti sarki “fail”. Roshanachem bhurgem rup zantte ostoreche “fremin” ghatlear taka zanttepon dina. Filomena Braz tea kallar zantte ostorechi part kortalem tacho ugddas konnak tori also zalear borem zatem. Comedy babtin tiatro porot “fail”. Aum nokom koxe porim hea tiatrache 99 show Goyant zalet te ani lokani koxe porim itle show zait passun ho tiatro pollelo to.

Aiz century marop zalam fokann. Lokui zala sovai he porim century korunk. 1958 vorsa Airestedes Dias hanne aplo "Doia" Tiatro dakoilolo tedna kheddea ghanvani passun to tiatro don-don pavtt zalolo. Tea kallar ek tiatro kheddea ghanvani don-don pavtt dakoup mhonnchem aizchea kallar nhoich xembor pun paimxim show zavop. Te tiatrist melet ani tanche borobor tanchi unchli tiatro kala khonddan gheli. Aizche kaim tiatristui sovai ani zaito lokui tea poros sovai. Tea kallaili tiatro kala fuddem vorpi aslet umdiche tiatrist, zannvaen piklole ani soimbik dhenneani buddlole pun aiz tiatro kala uklun dhorlea poixeanche axen karann aiz tiatr kala zaun gelea ek dhondo. Kalche oznadik tiatrist unch tiatr kala dakoun passun bhikari melet tor aizche tiatrist pochpochit tiatro dakoun lakpoti zaun bosleat. Tanchea modleam zaiteam zannachem sintid fokot CD, VCD ani DVD vikun poixe korpachem ani nhoi aplem mon tiatrancher ghalun lokank dadoxi korpachem. Voznadik Tiatrist ani director adlea tempaile “Pornekar” koxe potio gheun Kuwait Citin apleo CD-VCD-DVD viktalet tem polloun atvench distalem. Adlea kallaile pornekar ghanv-ghanvani bovon nare ghaltalet mhonnon "pornem assam pornem" tor aizche kaim navadik tiatrist Maliya Kuwait Citin ani Igorje laguim oxem mhonttalet "VCD zai - VCD??"
Fokot ek Dinar.

Hea tiatran ekui ghit voznadik oxem naslem, ekai ghitak “intellectual touch” naslo zorui Tarichem ghit lokank borem avoddlem karann to ek Hindu assunui Christi dhormanchi tanne vakanni keli mhonn. Hea ghitan tann apleak khup “sympathy” ghetli kiteak hallantlo 99% lokh Christaum also mhonn. Lhan bhurgean ghitam ghaun lokancho khup abru zoddlo. 4 vorsanche piraer he porim itli uxear dakoup hem ek nazukuch koxem. Tanne uxearki dakoili ti khori pun lhan bhurgo zalolean lokani taka apli khup apurbai dili. Tiatristanche ithiasin Master Vaz khuim tea kallar ekdom bhurge piraer palkar choddlolo ani heach passot taka Master Vaz mhonn naum poddlem. Tea upran 1958 vorsa Bab Lipo ekdom lhan piraecher palkar dislo Airestedes Dias hachea Doia tiatran. Amchea ghavan Aguadche unch dhorjeache pakle fokot taka pollounk tea tiatrak hazir aslolet ani xeboi marun taka abru ditalet. Pun Roseferns hachea tiatran Baba Maythan hanne ek record korun dovorlo. Taka ani tachea bapaik abru favo.

British cheddum 15 vorsanchem, Scarlet navanchem haka Anjuna praecher jivem marlem tache voir kon tori ek ghit ghaitolo oxem distalem pun Roseferns hachea ekai tiatristan apli kopxi dakoilina "latest topic" hacher ghit ghaun. Heach passot M. Boyerachi amchea palkak ghoroz asli.

Songitache baptin boroitolo mhontlear musical feelings kanank kanheor kortalem zache vorvim partintlim utram aikonk augodd zatalem. Mike system titli bori cholonasli.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

Dr. Jaganath Chodankar - Leadership Award Winner

:::Goans from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, UAE receive Leadership Awards:::
-by gasper crasto / Kuwait

In a brief function 'CONFERENCE ON INDIAN EXPATRIATES IN THE GULF COUNTRIES' held at the Convention Hall, Hotel Mandovi, Panaji on 29th March 2008, the NRI Affairs Directorate of Goa Government presented Leadership Awards for community service to well known Goans from the Gulf for recognition of their social activities towards the Indian community.

Dr. Jaganath R. Chodankar from Kuwait is one of the award winners among 11 individuals in the Gulf.

:::Congratulations Dr. Jaganath R. Chodankar:::

(Photo: Dr. Jaganath R. Chodankar (Right) receiving the award)
____________________________

Born on August 18th 1970 to Mr. Ramnath and Mrs. Sharmila Chodankar, in the State of Kuwait to a Goan family who shared their roots in Parra and Moira respectively in Bardez Taluka, Jaganath was raised in Kuwait till his High school. After school completion, he pursued his Medical Career in J.N. Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka, till Master’s degree in Urology. In 2001, he came to Kuwait and have been working here since.

During his tenure in Belgaum, Dr. Jaganath was bestowed upon the responsibility to look after many Goan patients who came to the K.L.E.S. Hospital and Medical research Centre, for specialized surgical operations. This is when he had his first interaction with our fellow Goans on a personal level which was a tremendous boost to his relations with his roots. Although it was a tedious task, it was indeed rewarding in the form of warm wishes and blessings, which Dr. Jaganath always desired for, but unfortunately short lived for two years only as he had to proceed to Kuwait for his next assignment.

Once again back in Kuwait, Dr. Jaganath ventured out for various opportunities to serving Goans in the most humane way and ultimately joined the NRI CLUB 9 in the year 2004. CLUB 9, by then was an established organization - one amongst the many Goan associations which purely served charitable causes only with no vested interests whatsoever. Here he discovered a wonderful and dedicated team with great team spirit, where each and every member treated the organization like its own baby. Eventually Dr. Jaganath was designated as its President in the year 2006 as per the request of the Club members.

"We, as in CLUB 9, have had till date, conducted five annual Goan shows with two mid year Goan Food Festivals and have managed to collect sufficient funds, all of which we use to support Daddy’s Home, a home for the mentally and physically handicapped children based in Gogol, Margao, Goa, which is looked after by Fr. Valmiki Dias", Dr. Jaganath proudly mentions. "Till date, we are proud to say we have 88 children under the roof of Daddy’s Home who are well looked after in the most special way just because these children are very special", he remarked.

Here in Kuwait, Dr. Jaganath also happens to be one of the founder members of the Indian Doctors Forum (IDF), which is an organization of 500 Indian doctors working in Kuwait. IDF have successfully conducted more than 15 free health check up camps for various sections of the Indian community with the target patient population mainly being the low socio-economic group of the Indian Community.

"All said and done, there is no turning back and now we are in the process of setting up a Medical Tourism company in Kuwait . Through this we wish to route patients from Kuwait to India seeking medical treatment with the prime intention of supporting and helping the deprived and financially burdened Goan population. Hoping and praying for a successful outcome of the same", Dr. Jaganath confides to this writer.

Awards and Honors

• First rank to the Dharwad University in the final year of M.B.B.S. Examinations held in 1994 at Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College , Belgaum , Karnataka , India.
• Best outgoing student of J.N. Medical College for the year 1994.
• Awarded the title of Mr. JNMC in the year 1993.
• American Medical Association Physician’s Recognition Award January 2003,
Camp Doha , Kuwait

Leading Posts Held:

• Organizing Secretary of Workshop “Ultrasound guided Urological Procedures “held at K.L.E.S. Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Belgaum , Karnataka , India in February 2000.
• Organizing Secretary of Karnataka Urology Association Conference (K.U.A.C.O.N.) held in 1998, conducted by the Department of Urology, K.L.E.S. Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Belgaum , Karnataka , India in October 1998.
• Organizing Secretary of Continued Medical Education (C.M.E.) and Post-
Graduate course conducted by the department of Surgery, J.N. Medical College ,
Belgaum , Karnataka , India in January 1998
• Cultural Secretary at the J.N. Medical College, Belgaum during the year 1994-1995
• Website Administrator for the Indian Doctors Forum (IDF), Kuwait form the
period 2004 – 2006, during which it was officially launched.
• President of CLUB 9 (Care & Love for Underprivileged Born) from July 2006 onwards.

Social & Community Welfare Activities

• Participating Surgeon in the Free Medical Consulting Camp held on 18th October 2002 at the Gulf Indian School , Fahaheel , Kuwait , organized by the Islam Presentation Committee.

• Delivered a lecture on “SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES” to the teenagers participating at the Summer Camp conducted by the Holy Chapel, Salmiya , Kuwait in July 2004.

• Free Surgical services rendered at the Medical Camp held on 8th October 2004 at the Indian Central School in association with the Kuwait Heart Foundation and Muslim Education Society, Kuwait.

• Lecture presentation with interactive session on Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (C.P.R.) to the participating teenagers at the Summer Camp conducted by the Holy Chapel, Salmiya , Kuwait in July 2005.

• Participated in the Medical Screening and Consultation Camp held on 15th December 2006 at the Indian International School in organized by the SHANTHI Association.

• Participating Surgeon in the Free Medical Consulting Camp held on 24th March 2006 at the Carmel School , Fahaheel , Kuwait , organized by the Telugu Kala Samithi, Kuwait .

Memberships

• Member of the Kuwait Medical Association (K.M.A.) since 2001.
• Member of the Kuwait Urology Association (K.U.A.) since 2003.

ABOUT CLUB 9 - A small brief :

The word CLUB is an abbreviation which stands for Care and Love for Underprivileged Born and was created on the 17th of January 2003, when nine like minded people got together and decided to use their leisure time for something constructive and charitable. They went on and identified Daddy’s home, which was already an established institute formed in 1989 and looked after 50 mentally and physically challenged children like Down’s syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy etc in a very special and caring way, though painstakingly difficult, however deeply rewarding. Having identified Daddy’s Home they decided to adopt it and support it in every possible way towards its progress and development.

Since then, there has been no stopping. Club 9 have successfully conducted four annual functions which go by the popular title of Goan Heritage Nite and two Goan food festivals till date, through which they have managed to raise sufficient funds to last at least half a decade.

In fact, CLUB 9 takes pride in saying that TODAY Daddy’s Home is a place for 88 children with newer facilities introduced like in house dormitory, computers, physiotherapy, speech therapists etc with the ultimate aim of making these children into independent adults who can perform their day to day routines freely without any assistance and thus enjoy the beauty of this world as well as survive the difficult part of this world. CLUB 9 has come a long way in promoting care and love for the underprivileged and stands as a testimony for people who believe good thoughts when converted to deeds yields a much greater pleasure and satisfaction to one’s heart.

Presently, the Club 9 committee comprises of:
Dr. Jaganath Chodankar - President,
Aldrin Meneses - Vice-President,
Roshann Lorena - General Secretary,
Delphi Fernandes - Treasurer
Sunny Nazareth - Legal Advisor,
Raymond Pereira - Executive Member,
Albano Pinto - Executive Member.

Dr. Jaganath can be contacted via email jaganathrc@hotmail.com or Mobile: 6613512.

For upcoming events of Club 9, contact Aldrin Meneses (email aldrinm@hotmail.com or Mobile: 9550125).

Also read:
Here they are: The NRI Leadership Award Winners
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/18654

Click for photos:http://picasaweb. google.com/ rafacrasto/ LeadershipAwards /photo#s51843355 99600671378

NRI AWARDS FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS - PART II

In late eighties, when there was Konkani movement in Goa in full swing,I went to Goa especially to participate in this movement, took activepart in the rallies and public meetings, received lathis from "Ghantti"Police hired by Rane Government and even participated in Hunger Strikeat Azad Maidan, Panjim. However, to my total dismay none of the currentNRI awardees came to Goa and participated in this move to protect thesoul of Goa.

During the invasion of Kuwait, thru my own initiative, we in Goa formed"Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Centre (G.K.S.C)" movement in support of theliberation of Kuwait. This was the biggest and very important movementthat Kuwait Goans have done. Even the Ambassador of Kuwait in New Delhiappreciated our support for Kuwait and on behalf of the Government ofKuwait in exile, the Kuwaiti Ambassador in Delhi sent especial letter tome thanking Goans for their support. The noise that we made on thestreets of Panjim thru this movement was heard everywhere in Goa, Delhiand other parts of India. And its echo was felt all around the globethru CNN and other news media thereby strengthening the bonds of Goanswith Kuwait, other Gulf countries and with the entire freedom lovingcountries and people in the world.

After the liberation of Kuwait, because of this movement, Kuwaitis andthe Kuwait Government showed much of affection for Goans. Even KuwaitTV showed our movement activities twice in its programmes in 1991. Thruthis movement Goans have created for them a special niche into thehearts of Kuwait. None of the NRI awardees took leadership nor"tail-ship" in this movement though one of them was not in Goa at thattime, he stayed in Kuwait during the whole invasion period while Dr.Chodonkar was invisible like all other Goan doctors working in Kuwait.The greatest "Beiman" to Kuwait were the doctors who were working inKuwait during the invasion of Kuwait. None of these rascal doctors havesupported us in our movement for the cause of Kuwait, under G-K.S.C.inspite of earning so much in Kuwait.

Then came the movement for the cause of Kuwait Prisoners of War. Iagain gave the lead to campaign for their release by organising bigmeetings in 5 star hotel in Kuwait City where top Kuwaitis came, joinedand addressed these meetings. Even the members of the ruling familyattended these meetings. Thru these meetings we internationalized thecause of Kuwait's POW's in a different way. Again none of the NRIawardees joined us in lending leadership for this movement nor inhelping us to move ahead for the sake of Kuwait from where we gain oursustenance. These NRI awardees were nowhere near us. Moreover, to makethis move powerful, on behalf of Goans, I personally, by spending moneyfrom my own pocket went to Delhi, with the help of one Rajya Sabahmember from Hyderabad, Mr. Khan who was the Chairman of Indo-GulfFriendship Society, contacted top world, Arab and Islamic leadersstationed in Delhi to put pressure on the Saddam Hussein Government torelease Kuwait's POW's. While I was doing so much on behalf of Goans togain goodwill for Goans in Kuwait and outside, none of the NRI awardeestook part with me in any capacity.

After the liberation of Kuwait, when I noticed too much of harassmentgiven to our maids, myself and Fr. Gabriel joined together and formedKonkani Heritage Kuwait (KHK) first to unite all the Konkani people inKuwait and secondly to help our suffering maids who were given shelterat Indian Embassy Safe House. In order to repatriate them back home, weraised funds by organizing different types of activities and with thehelp of this fund we purchased air tickets for them to go back home. Inthis way, we repatriated innumerable maids to Goa and Bombay and as anevidence of this concrete work, Indian Ambassador himself and other topEmbassy officials openly lauded our efforts. In this move againunfortunately none of the NRI awardees took leadership nor they playedany worthy role.

Since the last two years these NRI awards are given to Goans scatteredacross the globe. Some say these awards are gifted or doled to thechamchas of Eduardo Faleiro. Others say these awards are purchased bysome of the awardees. It is sad to note that lot of controversies aregenerated when these awards are given in Panjim. Goans in the Gulf areprotesting over the selection of these awardees, some are deserving,while others not.

After reading what I wrote above, people must judge whether the awardeesfrom Kuwait are really deserving these awards. First of all, all thethree must ask themselves whether they deserve these awards, if not thenthey should put their head down in shame for accepting unworthy awards.Accepting undeserving awards is like a robbery which is a sin and suchsins are not ordinary sins but sacrileges. It is not an honour inaccepting undeserving awards. Also, these awards are not Knighthoods nor not Padma Shrees or Bharat Ratnas to take pleasureand pride. These awards are like bokxis given to Kuwaitkars by EduardoFaleiro without judging the real worth of the recipients in the serviceof the community. One of the awardees was involved in sex scandalbesides denying GWS of its funds, so also misappropriation of KuwaitGoan Evacuees Society's fund in Goa during the invasion of Kuwait. Canany organization give any award to such a person who is known to havecommitted un-Goan acts? Yes, only the association headed by EduardoFaleiro can dole its awards to unworthy recipients.

On the advice of Gandhiji, Rabindranath Tagore surrendered his Knighthood to British Monarchy because British were damaging India'sinterest. In the same manner, don't you think it is advisable forrecipients of these NRI awards in other Gulf States to surrender theirawards as a mark of protest against chamchageri done by Eduardo Faleiroand his team in awarding these awards to some of the unworthy persons?As it is, because of the wrong selection in many cases, the value ofthese Community Leadership awards has been debased.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

NRI AWARDS FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS - PART I

Photos - Global Goans Community Service Leadership Award Winners and the Kuwait Awardees

It was somewhere in 1988. Eduardo Faleiro came to Kuwait as an MP on his way back home from his South American official visit. We paid from our pockets his boarding and lodging at Sahara Hotel behind American Embassy. During that time I had just initiated a major Konkani movement in Kuwait, first of its kind in the expatriate Goan world, the Novem Goem daily move was my priority. Along with my colleague John Felix Desouza from Anjuna Bardez, I went to meet Eduardo Faleiro in his Hotel Room, introduced myself, briefed him of my move for Konkani cause and gave him some cuttings of my articles published in the local English dailies, Goan monthly “Goa Today” and Konkani weekly “Goycho Mog”.

Eduardo was deeply impressed by my work and with that mood on the same day in the evening on Sunday, in the big Church hall, we organized a public meeting. He in his entire speech in Konkani, said “KITLI-I TI DUBBLI ZAUM, TI AMCHI MAIM BHAS KONKANI, TIKA AMI SAMBALLUNK ZAI, VOIR KADDUNK ZAI ANI FULOUNK ZAI. TICHI SEVA KOROP ANI TICHEA PASSOT VAVROP ZAUN ASA VHODD VAVR ANI OSLEA VAVRA POROS ANINK DUSRO VHODD VAVR NA. JE KON KONKANI PASSOT VAVURTAT TE KHI KHORE LEADERS”.

These words he spoke in front of Indian Ambassador, Mr. Chatwall, Kuwait’s Bishop Monsg. Victor Saminguel and other elite audience who didn’t even know what he spoke because they were not conversant with Konkani. There was lot of Goans for this meet who later on complained that to please Veronica, Faleiro spoke in Konkani. Vincente D’Souza took the lead in hosting Faleiro’s reception in the Church hall followed by a grand Dinner at Hotel Sheraton. Myself and Alexander M. Fernandes were closely linked with Vincente D’Souza to organize these events but none of the current NRI awardees from Kuwait were there as leaders, helpers associates or volunteers with us though minus Dr. Jaganath Chodankar, the other two were very much present in Kuwait at that time. Even if Dr. Chodankar was existing in Kuwait at that time, nobody knew his existence.

Earlier in 1975, on the pattern of Indian Arts Circle, Vincente D’Souza formed Goan Arts Circle where again Alexandre M. Fernandes and Assumption D’Sa were closely linked with the promotion of this organization which collected huge funds for the establishment of Cancer Hospital in Goa. As per the information, the total amount donated to this hospital from Kuwait itself was around 20 lakhs at that time plus sophisticated machinery. Though I was not involved in its initiative but I fully supported this organization for fund raising campaign thru Tiatro organizing at Keefan Hall and also in writings. Here again none of the current NRI awardees were involved in giving leadership nor even a little push to this great move though like earlier, minus Dr. Chodankar the other two were very much present in Kuwait at that time. Nobody knew if Dr. Chodankar was existing in Kuwait at that time.

In 1979 I formed, thru my initiative, Novem Goem Pratisthan Kuwait Somiti to campaign for and to raise funds for people’s Konkani Daily Newspaper “Novem Goem” for which finally we from Kuwait itself donated around 5 lakhs of rupees. Thru this move Konkani got booster and thru Konkani Goa was saved. Again Alexander M. Fernandes was closely linked with me since we both were Jnt. Secretaries of this organization under the chairmanship of A. B. Fernandes (Al-Bahar General Manager). This committee was formed with the membership of best of leadership and charactership of Goan talent in Kuwait. Some of the leaders were Estanislaus Alemao (Principal of New Indian English School, Jabriya), Mr. Raymond D’Sa, Mr. Assumption D’Sa, Mr. John Felix D’Souza, Adv. Bosco Lobo, Mr. Vincente D’Souza, Mr. Diogo A. D’souza, Mr. Evaristo Fernandes, Mr. Jose Faleiro and others. Such a high grade and intellectually advanced committee having best of Goan qualities in it for the cause of Goa had never came into being earlier and will never come again. Though the current NRI awardees were very much present in Kuwait at that time yet, if Dr. Chodankar was existing in Kuwait at that time, nobody knew his existence.

Then came the big event in the history of Goans in Kuwait and that was the initiative of our soccer activities at Sour grounds under the leadership of United Goans Football Center (UG Center). UG surely carry the credit but my contribution in the promotion of this soccer was second to none, as a player, organizer, founder of soccer teams, writer and coordinator. Again the current NRI awardees were nowhere in the picture with us, neither in promoting, helping nor in lending any push to the leadership. When we started our soccer activities, they were unknown entities amongst us. Again, Dr. Chodonkar’s whereabouts was a mystery that time.

Then came the initiative of the formation of Gulf Goans Hotels Company for the construction of Goan Heritage Hotel at Calangute. Though Mr. Vincente D’Souza was instrumental in starting this move ably supported by Assumption D’Sa, I too played my positive role in promoting the sale of Shares when people were reluctant to purchase them. Though one of the current NRI awardees Wilson Coelho from the beginning is a part of this project and who later on played a good role in helping this project, he was not the whole and sole as many times it was given to understand wrongly. I also played my role along with others to raise this project and played a very crucial role during certain time.

Then came the initiative of Direct Flight from Kuwait – Goa – Kuwait. It was Vincente D’souza again who started this move. When he and his association “Kuwait Goans” found it difficult to carry the burden, he requested my help and I joined him, another strong Goan Avertano Furtado supported. To raise funds to do expenses to attain this flight, under my leadership a Tiatro written and directed by Vincy was staged in the Church Hall. All the Tiatrists for my word acted free of charge and a good amount was collected. In this move again none of the NRI awardees took the leadership nor participated actively.

Then came another big event in the history of expatriate Goans when about 25 years back I initiated and formed Kuwait Konknni Kendr for the promotion of Konkani cause. Best of available Kuwait Goans were involved in this organization as members but never the current NRI awardees because they did not rise up to the expectation of fulfilling the aspirations of Konkani activities. Konkani is the soul of Goa and those who support Konkani, in the words of Faleiro support the real cause of Goa.

Then again thru the initiative of Vincente D’Souza Goan Welfare Society was formed where again I gave him a strong support and thru this strong support Goan Welfare Society GWS was stabilized in Kuwait. Here again none of the current NRI awardees came forward to give leadership to form this organization nor even a helping hand though one of them was with his gang of destructive elements trying to sabotage Vincente D’Souza’s move in forming this organization. This gang, in one of the meetings at Ramada Hotel showed to the public how destructive Goans they were. If it was not for my involvement, there would have been free for all, in which case, the ring leader would have been assaulted as he was once assaulted by his own student when he was working as PT Master in the school at Assolna.

To be concluded in Part - II

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.