Goan Cultural Centre goanculturalcentrekuwait@gmail.com
Sun, Aug 31, 2008 at 1:07 PM
To: goa.kranti@gmail.com
To:
The Editor,
Kindly disregard the following email and announcement.
We will get in touch with you at a later date when the event is finalized in detail.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Carmo Santos.
On Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 1:21 PM, Goan Cultural Centre <goanculturalcentrekuwait@gmail.com> wrote:
GOAN FIESTA DAY Goa is a State wherein people from all corners of the world make it a point to enjoy the lush beaches and the vacation spots, the food the hospitality and culture. One of the main events that the state hosts is the food and cultural festival, Goa. The locals as well as the tourists in Goa enjoy this festival to the core due to the multi diversity of the regional people from all over India present in Goa. In replicating this festival to some extent since 2005 the Goan Cultural Centre-Kuwait plans in a way that expat Goans and their Indian friends can relish the actual Goan taste in the food stalls that are set up and the Konkani cultural programme that goes with it. The scheduled date is Friday, November 7th, 2008.
Watch out for more details for the uniquely created venue as well as the programme which will have well known personalities and musicians.
Contact us at goanculturalcentrekuwait@gmail.com to know more about how you can participate in the event.
Free entry to participating stalls as well as to the guests.
August 31, 2008
August 30, 2008
KUWAIT K. KENDR REMEMBERS PAI TIATRIST.
KUWAIT KONKNNI KENDR REMEMBERS PAI TIATRIST.
To mark the 61st death anniversary of the father of Konkani Tiatro, Joao Agostinho Fernandes who is called "Pai Tiatrist", Kuwait Konknni Kendr on Friday 29th of this month held a meeting in Kuwait city and paid homage to the Pai Tiatrist. KKK's members namely the president Elvino Rodrigues, Entertainment Secretary Rosary Ferns and A. Veronica praised the Pai Tiatrist for burning the light of Tiatro amongst us. That light is still giving bright light and will go on giving more and more light in future too.
It was also discussed in this meeting about the poor condition of the house of Pai Tiatrist in MArgao, Goa. In this regard KKK feels instead of relying on Government doles at this juncture, it is better that all Tiatrists join together and organise some shows of their Tiatros in Goa to raise funds for the renovation of the house of Pai Tiatrist and to preserve it for posterity. Let charity begins at home. Because of Joa Agostinho Fernandes' tireless endeavours today Tiatro is progressed and Tiatrists are surviving and enjoying the benefits of the seed sowed by Pai Tiatrist. Can any Director/Tiatrist take an initiative in this direction?
It is also suggested in the meeting to renovate the house of Pai Tiatrist, preserve all his items he used during his lifetime and convert it all into a centre for visitors and tourists to make them aware of this great Goan personality. In UK, the Easy Chair where William Shakesphere was sitting is still preserved for posterity to see. Visitors are coming there to see the great Easy Chair of Shakesphere. Let Joao Agostinho's house be somewhat like Shakespher's Easy Chair. Tourism departmnet of Goa should take note of this.
Goa based Tiatrists has done a wonderful job in awakening the Goa Government to honour Pai Tiatrist. KKK in its meeting lauded their efforts.
KUWAIT KONKNNI KENDR,
KUWAIT.
To mark the 61st death anniversary of the father of Konkani Tiatro, Joao Agostinho Fernandes who is called "Pai Tiatrist", Kuwait Konknni Kendr on Friday 29th of this month held a meeting in Kuwait city and paid homage to the Pai Tiatrist. KKK's members namely the president Elvino Rodrigues, Entertainment Secretary Rosary Ferns and A. Veronica praised the Pai Tiatrist for burning the light of Tiatro amongst us. That light is still giving bright light and will go on giving more and more light in future too.
It was also discussed in this meeting about the poor condition of the house of Pai Tiatrist in MArgao, Goa. In this regard KKK feels instead of relying on Government doles at this juncture, it is better that all Tiatrists join together and organise some shows of their Tiatros in Goa to raise funds for the renovation of the house of Pai Tiatrist and to preserve it for posterity. Let charity begins at home. Because of Joa Agostinho Fernandes' tireless endeavours today Tiatro is progressed and Tiatrists are surviving and enjoying the benefits of the seed sowed by Pai Tiatrist. Can any Director/Tiatrist take an initiative in this direction?
It is also suggested in the meeting to renovate the house of Pai Tiatrist, preserve all his items he used during his lifetime and convert it all into a centre for visitors and tourists to make them aware of this great Goan personality. In UK, the Easy Chair where William Shakesphere was sitting is still preserved for posterity to see. Visitors are coming there to see the great Easy Chair of Shakesphere. Let Joao Agostinho's house be somewhat like Shakespher's Easy Chair. Tourism departmnet of Goa should take note of this.
Goa based Tiatrists has done a wonderful job in awakening the Goa Government to honour Pai Tiatrist. KKK in its meeting lauded their efforts.
KUWAIT KONKNNI KENDR,
KUWAIT.
GOAN FIESTA DAY.
Goan Fiesta Day
From: Goan Cultural Centre goanculturalcentrekuwait@gmail.com
Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 1:21 PM
To: goa.kranti@gmail.com
Sub: GOAN FIESTA DAY.
Goa is a State wherein people from all corners of the world make it a point to enjoy the lush beaches and the vacation spots, the food the hospitality and culture. One of the main events that the state hosts is the food and cultural festival, Goa. The locals as well as the tourists in Goa enjoy this festival to the core due to the multi diversity of the regional people from all over India present in Goa. In replicating this festival to some extent since 2005 the Goan Cultural Centre-Kuwait plans in a way that expat Goans and their Indian friends can relish the actual Goan taste in the food stalls that are set up and the Konkani cultural programme that goes with it. The scheduled date is Friday, November 7th, 2008.
Watch out for more details for the uniquely created venue as well as the programme which will have well known personalities and musicians.
Contact us at goanculturalcentrekuwait@gmail.com to know more about how you can participate in the event. Free entry to participating stalls as well as to the guests.
From: Goan Cultural Centre goanculturalcentrekuwait@gmail.com
Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 1:21 PM
To: goa.kranti@gmail.com
Sub: GOAN FIESTA DAY.
Goa is a State wherein people from all corners of the world make it a point to enjoy the lush beaches and the vacation spots, the food the hospitality and culture. One of the main events that the state hosts is the food and cultural festival, Goa. The locals as well as the tourists in Goa enjoy this festival to the core due to the multi diversity of the regional people from all over India present in Goa. In replicating this festival to some extent since 2005 the Goan Cultural Centre-Kuwait plans in a way that expat Goans and their Indian friends can relish the actual Goan taste in the food stalls that are set up and the Konkani cultural programme that goes with it. The scheduled date is Friday, November 7th, 2008.
Watch out for more details for the uniquely created venue as well as the programme which will have well known personalities and musicians.
Contact us at goanculturalcentrekuwait@gmail.com to know more about how you can participate in the event. Free entry to participating stalls as well as to the guests.
August 27, 2008
BEIJING OLYMPICS.
BEIJING OLYMPICS.
Well done communist China in successfully organizing the just concluded Olympic Games at Beijing. The massive sporting show on earth was well organized by the massive size country with massive population whose expertise and labour power was used massively by the communist regime. According to experts and organizers, never in the history such a massive show with meticulous precision was put on display as Beijing has done. Communist China deserves compliments not only in organizing so beautifully this Olympics but also in winning massive haul of Medals, Gold Medals being highest in number amongst all the medal winning countries. In this way Communist China has overpowered its rivals USA, Russia, Germany and other top medal winning nations. The myth that was ingrained in our minds that only the rich industrialised nations can win more Medals was shattered beyond recognition by Chinese competence. Their methods of training should be emulated and put into use by other nations that are still struggling to win a single gold medal.
In the initial stages before the start of the Beijing games it looked Beijing Olympiad would turn into a total fiasco because of the Tibetan protests, Islamic insurgency and protests from Human Rights activists. With the exception of minor skirmishes, the host country encountered no confrontation during the entire sporting show from anybody that warranted major tackling. Kudos to Dalai Lama for standing by his promise that “Beijing Olympics must go peacefully” and in fact as per the wishes of His Holiness, Beijing Olympics went peacefully. His contribution in this aspect should be appreciated. He is a real peace loving man. His followers should also receive credit for not creating any problems in Beijing during this greatest sporting festival. Now it is the turn of Communist China to reciprocate goodwill to Dalai Lam and his wishes for his people to give them some sort of autonomy that helps them to protect their identity as Tibetans.
Though China gained in Medal haul and organizing successfully this Olympics yet it lost at Tibet level in the sense that because of hosting of Beijing Olympics thru their demonstrations and protests all over the world the cause of Tibet and Tibetans was exposed with greater fury and greater exposure. Those who did not know the sufferings of Tibetans and snatching away of Tibet through force by China they came to know clearly the whole history of Tibet. The world is now more equipped with perfect knowledge of the question of Tibet, its people and the exile of Dalai Lama. Thanks to hosting of Beijing Olympics, Communist China lost miserably over the Tibet issue. Posterity will hold Communist China responsible for liquidating Tibet, its culture, tradition, history and everything related to Tibet thereby disowning communism and sending it into eternal limbo. .
Every Olympics create sporting genius in one genius or number of genii and Beijing Olympics is not an exception. In earlier Olympics we saw Owens creating sensation in Berlin Olympics even by humiliating Hitler thru his sheer excellence in track events; so also Emile Zatopeck in middle distance, Vera and Nadia Comaneci in Gymnasium, Mark Spitz in swimming, Carl Lewis and many others. Similarly and with greater glory at Beijing Olympics we saw Phelps in swimming and sprinter Usain Bolt creating new world records. These two athletes are really super humans because what they achieved was normally not achievable. But thru their achievements one can easily conclude that with the latest scientific and sophisticated training methods one can bring one’s body to any level. With the more advanced methods of training one can bring ones body to the Robotic condition without uprooting human attributes from human body.
Another important factor that came to the fore at Beijing Olympics was the dominance of black power especially in field and track events. So also the athletics power of smaller nations some of which were not even known outside their arena. It is now confirmed that sporting success is not based on the power of the nations possessing Atom and Hydrogen Bombs only, it is also now confirmed that the sporting success is not based on the huge size, huge population and huge industrialization of the nations.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait."
Well done communist China in successfully organizing the just concluded Olympic Games at Beijing. The massive sporting show on earth was well organized by the massive size country with massive population whose expertise and labour power was used massively by the communist regime. According to experts and organizers, never in the history such a massive show with meticulous precision was put on display as Beijing has done. Communist China deserves compliments not only in organizing so beautifully this Olympics but also in winning massive haul of Medals, Gold Medals being highest in number amongst all the medal winning countries. In this way Communist China has overpowered its rivals USA, Russia, Germany and other top medal winning nations. The myth that was ingrained in our minds that only the rich industrialised nations can win more Medals was shattered beyond recognition by Chinese competence. Their methods of training should be emulated and put into use by other nations that are still struggling to win a single gold medal.
In the initial stages before the start of the Beijing games it looked Beijing Olympiad would turn into a total fiasco because of the Tibetan protests, Islamic insurgency and protests from Human Rights activists. With the exception of minor skirmishes, the host country encountered no confrontation during the entire sporting show from anybody that warranted major tackling. Kudos to Dalai Lama for standing by his promise that “Beijing Olympics must go peacefully” and in fact as per the wishes of His Holiness, Beijing Olympics went peacefully. His contribution in this aspect should be appreciated. He is a real peace loving man. His followers should also receive credit for not creating any problems in Beijing during this greatest sporting festival. Now it is the turn of Communist China to reciprocate goodwill to Dalai Lam and his wishes for his people to give them some sort of autonomy that helps them to protect their identity as Tibetans.
Though China gained in Medal haul and organizing successfully this Olympics yet it lost at Tibet level in the sense that because of hosting of Beijing Olympics thru their demonstrations and protests all over the world the cause of Tibet and Tibetans was exposed with greater fury and greater exposure. Those who did not know the sufferings of Tibetans and snatching away of Tibet through force by China they came to know clearly the whole history of Tibet. The world is now more equipped with perfect knowledge of the question of Tibet, its people and the exile of Dalai Lama. Thanks to hosting of Beijing Olympics, Communist China lost miserably over the Tibet issue. Posterity will hold Communist China responsible for liquidating Tibet, its culture, tradition, history and everything related to Tibet thereby disowning communism and sending it into eternal limbo. .
Every Olympics create sporting genius in one genius or number of genii and Beijing Olympics is not an exception. In earlier Olympics we saw Owens creating sensation in Berlin Olympics even by humiliating Hitler thru his sheer excellence in track events; so also Emile Zatopeck in middle distance, Vera and Nadia Comaneci in Gymnasium, Mark Spitz in swimming, Carl Lewis and many others. Similarly and with greater glory at Beijing Olympics we saw Phelps in swimming and sprinter Usain Bolt creating new world records. These two athletes are really super humans because what they achieved was normally not achievable. But thru their achievements one can easily conclude that with the latest scientific and sophisticated training methods one can bring one’s body to any level. With the more advanced methods of training one can bring ones body to the Robotic condition without uprooting human attributes from human body.
Another important factor that came to the fore at Beijing Olympics was the dominance of black power especially in field and track events. So also the athletics power of smaller nations some of which were not even known outside their arena. It is now confirmed that sporting success is not based on the power of the nations possessing Atom and Hydrogen Bombs only, it is also now confirmed that the sporting success is not based on the huge size, huge population and huge industrialization of the nations.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait."
August 26, 2008
KKK - KUWAIT SUPPORT ROMI SCRIPT KONKANI
KKK - KUWAIT SUPPORT ROMI SCRIPT KONKANI.
KUWAIT KONKNNI KENDR from Kuwait fully endorse the initiative taken in Goa Legislative Assembly to discuss the issue of giving due recognition to Romi Konkani. Everyone involved in this matter to raise this topic in the Goa Legislative Assembly, KKK compliment him/her. Their efforts to be lauded. We in Kuwait hope during the next discussion on this subject the remaining MLA’s especially those who promised to support Romi Konkani in Goa will take part in the deliberations and support this move.
Romi Konkani supporters in their respective constituencies must now put pressure on their MLA’s to work for giving equal status to Romi Konkani as well on par with Devanagri. The Nagrivadis especially the Saraswats few who are dominating Konkani in all fields should not be allowed to reap the fruits of our hard work. We in Kuwait and from Kuwait who have done so much for the cause of Konkani are in unison support the cause of Romi Konkani and its elevation to the level of Devanagri Konknni script.
Moi Mogan
KUWAIT KONKNNI KENDR,
Kuwait.
KUWAIT KONKNNI KENDR from Kuwait fully endorse the initiative taken in Goa Legislative Assembly to discuss the issue of giving due recognition to Romi Konkani. Everyone involved in this matter to raise this topic in the Goa Legislative Assembly, KKK compliment him/her. Their efforts to be lauded. We in Kuwait hope during the next discussion on this subject the remaining MLA’s especially those who promised to support Romi Konkani in Goa will take part in the deliberations and support this move.
Romi Konkani supporters in their respective constituencies must now put pressure on their MLA’s to work for giving equal status to Romi Konkani as well on par with Devanagri. The Nagrivadis especially the Saraswats few who are dominating Konkani in all fields should not be allowed to reap the fruits of our hard work. We in Kuwait and from Kuwait who have done so much for the cause of Konkani are in unison support the cause of Romi Konkani and its elevation to the level of Devanagri Konknni script.
Moi Mogan
KUWAIT KONKNNI KENDR,
Kuwait.
August 24, 2008
ADEUS MARY JOSEPHINE D'SA.
ADEUS MARY JOSEPHINE D’SA.
It is with deep sorrow I wish you Mary adeus not only to Kuwait forever but also to this world. Tuesday 26th August your mortal remains will be flown to Goa via direct flight from Kuwait to Dabolim. To start this direct flight facility for Kuwait Goans your devoted and faithful husband has also spent his time, energy and resources. To get this direct flight materialised you too patronized our activities done to raise funds for this cause. Along with your husband you always supported and patronized Konkani which is the soul of Goa and Goans. You were an avid reader of my writings in Konkani. In the beginning when I came to Kuwait I was Konkani writer writing regularly in Goa’s famed Weekly “Goycho Mog”. In order to read my column you and your husband subscribed to Goycho Mog direct from Goa. This shows your love for the soul of Goa, Konkani.
Whenever we organized Konkani functions you always associated with us and patronized our activities along with your husband. When Kuwait Konknni Kendr first time organized a Konkani function in a 5 Star Hotel, in Kuwait at Meridien, KKK was proud to have you both as guests. It was about 25 years back and that was the most memorable and most important Konkani function ever held in Kuwait though it was only for especial invitees and you were KKK’s especial invitees along with others in the hall packed audience. You were always bold enough to converse with me in Konkani and you always gave due respect to Konkani. By this attitude of yours you made us Konkani promoters and Konkani lovers proud because rarely in Kuwait ladies like you exhibited their love for Konkani as you have done. In your death Konkani lost one of its strong lovers and supporters.
You come from Arpora Bardez which produced the first English High School of Goa for boys where your beloved and faithful husband completed his education. As a young school going boy, I saw you in Arpora as one of the most immaculate girls of your time. You were during those days a beautiful girl in your locality, so also decent and disciplined with superlative character. This was your family tradition since you inherited all round discipline from your home. Your younger and late brother Assumption D’Costa was my colleague at Arpora where we spent many years together not only studying but also in sports fields.
Yesterday for the Mass in the Church while preaching his homily, Fr. Domnick Santamaria praised your husband very appropriately by saying that as a devoted and faithful husband he has fulfilled his marriage vows to stand by you in good time and bad time, in sickness and otherwise and openly congratulated him for fulfilling his marriage vows. Such attitude is rarity nowadays but in your husband it was a reality. I too admire him in this respect. Your devoted and faithful husband Raymond D’Sa took so much of care of you almost during the last 2 years when you were bed ridden, till your death, of course patiently and most importantly, LOVINGLY. Yours was the perfect match and perfect pair always elegant, morally upright, dignified, disciplined and pious. I observed you that in a pure Goan tradition you always revered your devoted and faithful husband.
In your death Raymond your devoted and faithful husband lost his equally devoted and faithful wife; your all 3 lovely children lost their equally lovely and caring mother. And Konkani lost a supporter among females in Kuwait.
May Your Soul Rest In Peace and may Heavenly God give courage to Raymond and your children to bear this colossal loss.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
It is with deep sorrow I wish you Mary adeus not only to Kuwait forever but also to this world. Tuesday 26th August your mortal remains will be flown to Goa via direct flight from Kuwait to Dabolim. To start this direct flight facility for Kuwait Goans your devoted and faithful husband has also spent his time, energy and resources. To get this direct flight materialised you too patronized our activities done to raise funds for this cause. Along with your husband you always supported and patronized Konkani which is the soul of Goa and Goans. You were an avid reader of my writings in Konkani. In the beginning when I came to Kuwait I was Konkani writer writing regularly in Goa’s famed Weekly “Goycho Mog”. In order to read my column you and your husband subscribed to Goycho Mog direct from Goa. This shows your love for the soul of Goa, Konkani.
Whenever we organized Konkani functions you always associated with us and patronized our activities along with your husband. When Kuwait Konknni Kendr first time organized a Konkani function in a 5 Star Hotel, in Kuwait at Meridien, KKK was proud to have you both as guests. It was about 25 years back and that was the most memorable and most important Konkani function ever held in Kuwait though it was only for especial invitees and you were KKK’s especial invitees along with others in the hall packed audience. You were always bold enough to converse with me in Konkani and you always gave due respect to Konkani. By this attitude of yours you made us Konkani promoters and Konkani lovers proud because rarely in Kuwait ladies like you exhibited their love for Konkani as you have done. In your death Konkani lost one of its strong lovers and supporters.
You come from Arpora Bardez which produced the first English High School of Goa for boys where your beloved and faithful husband completed his education. As a young school going boy, I saw you in Arpora as one of the most immaculate girls of your time. You were during those days a beautiful girl in your locality, so also decent and disciplined with superlative character. This was your family tradition since you inherited all round discipline from your home. Your younger and late brother Assumption D’Costa was my colleague at Arpora where we spent many years together not only studying but also in sports fields.
Yesterday for the Mass in the Church while preaching his homily, Fr. Domnick Santamaria praised your husband very appropriately by saying that as a devoted and faithful husband he has fulfilled his marriage vows to stand by you in good time and bad time, in sickness and otherwise and openly congratulated him for fulfilling his marriage vows. Such attitude is rarity nowadays but in your husband it was a reality. I too admire him in this respect. Your devoted and faithful husband Raymond D’Sa took so much of care of you almost during the last 2 years when you were bed ridden, till your death, of course patiently and most importantly, LOVINGLY. Yours was the perfect match and perfect pair always elegant, morally upright, dignified, disciplined and pious. I observed you that in a pure Goan tradition you always revered your devoted and faithful husband.
In your death Raymond your devoted and faithful husband lost his equally devoted and faithful wife; your all 3 lovely children lost their equally lovely and caring mother. And Konkani lost a supporter among females in Kuwait.
May Your Soul Rest In Peace and may Heavenly God give courage to Raymond and your children to bear this colossal loss.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
PAKISTAN & MUSHARRAF'S RESIGNATION.
PAKISTAN & MUSHARRAF'S RESIGNATION.
“Power comes thru the barrel of the gun”, said Mao Tse Tung and thru this power he got Communist China for him and his people. But in the recent political development in Pakistan I came to know that power can also come thru the ballot that brought peaceful transition of power into the hands of the democratically elected people. I salute Gen. Pervez Musharraf in peacefully resigning like Richard Nixon in USA and handing over political power to the duly elected people. By resigning voluntarily, surely Gen. Musharraf has avoided bloodbath in Pakistan. He was accused of lot of malpractices including gaining of power in 1999 thru the coup thereby overthrowing Nawaz Sharif. In fact, according to his biography "In The Line Of Fire" the coup that was organized was done in the absence of Gen. Musharraf and he was not the real maker of that coup because during the process of the coup he was neither in Pakistan nor in Sri Lanka from where he was returning but in the air when his aircraft was prevented to land in Pakistan by Nawaz Sharif who in fact in reality plotted the coup against Gen. Musharraf by sacking him while his plane was still in the air and even appointing a replacement for Gen. Musharraf in Jr. staff. The actual coup was masterminded by the military stalwarts in Pakistan without any notice of Gen. Musharraf who himself was surprised when he was appraised of this while he was still airborne with few minutes of fuel remaining in the petrol tank of his aircraft.
By reading his autobiography “In the Line of Fire”, I found him sincere in many respects and not a power crazy like many of such people even though he did things unconstitutionally which was not right. Coming from medium family background with high family character and discipline, he always showed his sympathy towards the weaker segments of the people. In this direction he tried to bring about so many changes in Pakistan including emancipation of women, improvement in educational system especially in IT sector, building of new seaport in Baluchistan, eradication of barbaric corporal punishment in tribal format for the wrong doers etc. And above all he tried to give a very good image of Islam to the world in general and to the West in particular where it is having a much distorted image. For this mishap, he accused his own Muslim people who followed the path of radicalism and extremism. Coming from Christian educational institutions background he always praised his Alma Mater St. Patrick School in Karachi, Foreman Christian College, Lahore and his Christian missionary teachers who moulded him to become a great man. His love for his parents was ingrained in his heart very deeply especially his loving mother who being a teacher used to walk few kilometers to save money for her children needs. It was great on Gen. Musharraf's part to shower on his parents such deserving praises in appreciation of their hardships to raise their children.
As promised to bring about democracy back to Pakistan, he did the right thing in fulfilling the given promise though he believed, in his own words, that "if democracy is to be functional and sustaianble, it has to be tailored to local conditions". Then he furthers stressed saying "democracy in illiterate, feudal, tribal and parochial societies has serious downside. People are not elected on pure merit. They rise in the political hierarchy because of family connections and financial resources". Inspite of this he even went one step further and brought back his worst opponent Nawaz Sharif and gave political foothold to his rival and once convicted Zardari in Pakistani politics. Though he was born in Delhi, India, yet his love for his new country Pakistan was supreme. Though he sided with separatists elements in Kashmir yet he sympathized with Kashmiri Hindu pundits who were uprooted from their ancestral habitats due to Islamic uprising there.
Strong Indians support strong Pakistan and during his tenure he tried his best to create a good rapport with India. His admiration for Vajpayee was excellent and even when the Agra Summit failed at the last minute, though he was disappointed yet he told Vajpayee bluntly that "there seemed to be someone above the two of us who had the power to overule us" and sincerely concluded saying that "today both of us had been humiliated". Though he was accused as an architect of Kargil war fiasco by Nawaz Sharif yet he refuted it saying that Sharif as premier was consulted and was a party to it though at the last minute from the pressure of US President Clinton, Sharif did what he was forced to do by Clinton.
History may judge Musharraf differently but his contribution for the eradication of extremism from Pakistan implanted by external and internal forces should be given top credit. In the fight against Al Qaeda and Taleban it was he who faced the brunt of the US and West and to clear the misconception created against Pakistan because of sheltering Al Qaeda elements, he and his country suffered a lot. No country in the world has done as much as Pakistan has done under Gen. Musharraf for the eradication of Al Qaeda elements and in the bargain Pakistan suffered a lot. This valiant sacrifice of Pakistan under Gen. Musharraf leadership should be appreciated otherwise as threatened, USA would “bomb Pakistan to stone age” and Americans would do that because to protect their interest they will do anything. The dropping of Atom Bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki gives ample evidence of Americans intent when they are hell-bent to fulfill their purpose.
It is a few days now since he resigned but still there is no clear sign of replacement for him. I don’t think Sharif and Zardari will come to terms to rule the country as per the wishes of the Pakistani people who are hungry for good governance and development of their country. I am sure both these politicians will fight forcing Gen. Kyani to take over the reins of the country. If this happens, then the very people who came on to the streets with slogan like “Go Musharraf Go”, they will return to the same streets with more ferocity and greater number with another slogan saying “Come back Musharraf come back”.
Like Sonia Gandhi in India, Zardari in Pakistan is grooming his son Belawal who is a kid as far as state administration and politics are concerned. Rahul Gandhi in India and Belawal in Pakistan are foisted on the people by their parents to promote their family dynasty. These political kids know nothing of politics in their respective countries. Their only qualificiation is that they are the sons of their political fathers and mothers. No country will come up when its administrative rudder is given into the hands of immature and political novices. Will these kids be able to deliver the goods? If not why people in their respective countries accept them? Running of state administration is not like running a cricket or hockey team. America developed because it was always ruled by the stalwarts and not by the kids because of their family background. Gen. Musharraf rightly said in his autobiography about the fallacy of giving the reins of the nation into the hands of persos whose parents once ruled their countries.
When Musharraf came to power, people welcomed him with superlative praises saying he was the saviour of Pakistan. But gradually they started to oppose him as if he was a liability. In the words of Lebanese poet-philosopher Khalil Gibran, let me conclude "Pity the nation that welcomes its new ruler with trumpetings, and farewells him with hootings, only to welcome another with trumpetings again".
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
“Power comes thru the barrel of the gun”, said Mao Tse Tung and thru this power he got Communist China for him and his people. But in the recent political development in Pakistan I came to know that power can also come thru the ballot that brought peaceful transition of power into the hands of the democratically elected people. I salute Gen. Pervez Musharraf in peacefully resigning like Richard Nixon in USA and handing over political power to the duly elected people. By resigning voluntarily, surely Gen. Musharraf has avoided bloodbath in Pakistan. He was accused of lot of malpractices including gaining of power in 1999 thru the coup thereby overthrowing Nawaz Sharif. In fact, according to his biography "In The Line Of Fire" the coup that was organized was done in the absence of Gen. Musharraf and he was not the real maker of that coup because during the process of the coup he was neither in Pakistan nor in Sri Lanka from where he was returning but in the air when his aircraft was prevented to land in Pakistan by Nawaz Sharif who in fact in reality plotted the coup against Gen. Musharraf by sacking him while his plane was still in the air and even appointing a replacement for Gen. Musharraf in Jr. staff. The actual coup was masterminded by the military stalwarts in Pakistan without any notice of Gen. Musharraf who himself was surprised when he was appraised of this while he was still airborne with few minutes of fuel remaining in the petrol tank of his aircraft.
By reading his autobiography “In the Line of Fire”, I found him sincere in many respects and not a power crazy like many of such people even though he did things unconstitutionally which was not right. Coming from medium family background with high family character and discipline, he always showed his sympathy towards the weaker segments of the people. In this direction he tried to bring about so many changes in Pakistan including emancipation of women, improvement in educational system especially in IT sector, building of new seaport in Baluchistan, eradication of barbaric corporal punishment in tribal format for the wrong doers etc. And above all he tried to give a very good image of Islam to the world in general and to the West in particular where it is having a much distorted image. For this mishap, he accused his own Muslim people who followed the path of radicalism and extremism. Coming from Christian educational institutions background he always praised his Alma Mater St. Patrick School in Karachi, Foreman Christian College, Lahore and his Christian missionary teachers who moulded him to become a great man. His love for his parents was ingrained in his heart very deeply especially his loving mother who being a teacher used to walk few kilometers to save money for her children needs. It was great on Gen. Musharraf's part to shower on his parents such deserving praises in appreciation of their hardships to raise their children.
As promised to bring about democracy back to Pakistan, he did the right thing in fulfilling the given promise though he believed, in his own words, that "if democracy is to be functional and sustaianble, it has to be tailored to local conditions". Then he furthers stressed saying "democracy in illiterate, feudal, tribal and parochial societies has serious downside. People are not elected on pure merit. They rise in the political hierarchy because of family connections and financial resources". Inspite of this he even went one step further and brought back his worst opponent Nawaz Sharif and gave political foothold to his rival and once convicted Zardari in Pakistani politics. Though he was born in Delhi, India, yet his love for his new country Pakistan was supreme. Though he sided with separatists elements in Kashmir yet he sympathized with Kashmiri Hindu pundits who were uprooted from their ancestral habitats due to Islamic uprising there.
Strong Indians support strong Pakistan and during his tenure he tried his best to create a good rapport with India. His admiration for Vajpayee was excellent and even when the Agra Summit failed at the last minute, though he was disappointed yet he told Vajpayee bluntly that "there seemed to be someone above the two of us who had the power to overule us" and sincerely concluded saying that "today both of us had been humiliated". Though he was accused as an architect of Kargil war fiasco by Nawaz Sharif yet he refuted it saying that Sharif as premier was consulted and was a party to it though at the last minute from the pressure of US President Clinton, Sharif did what he was forced to do by Clinton.
History may judge Musharraf differently but his contribution for the eradication of extremism from Pakistan implanted by external and internal forces should be given top credit. In the fight against Al Qaeda and Taleban it was he who faced the brunt of the US and West and to clear the misconception created against Pakistan because of sheltering Al Qaeda elements, he and his country suffered a lot. No country in the world has done as much as Pakistan has done under Gen. Musharraf for the eradication of Al Qaeda elements and in the bargain Pakistan suffered a lot. This valiant sacrifice of Pakistan under Gen. Musharraf leadership should be appreciated otherwise as threatened, USA would “bomb Pakistan to stone age” and Americans would do that because to protect their interest they will do anything. The dropping of Atom Bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki gives ample evidence of Americans intent when they are hell-bent to fulfill their purpose.
It is a few days now since he resigned but still there is no clear sign of replacement for him. I don’t think Sharif and Zardari will come to terms to rule the country as per the wishes of the Pakistani people who are hungry for good governance and development of their country. I am sure both these politicians will fight forcing Gen. Kyani to take over the reins of the country. If this happens, then the very people who came on to the streets with slogan like “Go Musharraf Go”, they will return to the same streets with more ferocity and greater number with another slogan saying “Come back Musharraf come back”.
Like Sonia Gandhi in India, Zardari in Pakistan is grooming his son Belawal who is a kid as far as state administration and politics are concerned. Rahul Gandhi in India and Belawal in Pakistan are foisted on the people by their parents to promote their family dynasty. These political kids know nothing of politics in their respective countries. Their only qualificiation is that they are the sons of their political fathers and mothers. No country will come up when its administrative rudder is given into the hands of immature and political novices. Will these kids be able to deliver the goods? If not why people in their respective countries accept them? Running of state administration is not like running a cricket or hockey team. America developed because it was always ruled by the stalwarts and not by the kids because of their family background. Gen. Musharraf rightly said in his autobiography about the fallacy of giving the reins of the nation into the hands of persos whose parents once ruled their countries.
When Musharraf came to power, people welcomed him with superlative praises saying he was the saviour of Pakistan. But gradually they started to oppose him as if he was a liability. In the words of Lebanese poet-philosopher Khalil Gibran, let me conclude "Pity the nation that welcomes its new ruler with trumpetings, and farewells him with hootings, only to welcome another with trumpetings again".
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
August 22, 2008
CONDOLENCE FROM AVC - KUWAIT.
CONDOLENCE FROM AVC.
From: Francis Furtado.
Sent: 21 August 2008 09:28.
Subject: Condolences
The Management of AVC – Kuwait deeply mourn the sad demise of Mary Josephine D'Sa, beloved wife of Mr. Raymond D'Sa. May the Lord Almighty give courage and strength to Mr. Raymond and the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss. May her Soul Rest in Peace.
Xavier Furtado
AVC- Kuwait
From: Francis Furtado.
Sent: 21 August 2008 09:28.
Subject: Condolences
The Management of AVC – Kuwait deeply mourn the sad demise of Mary Josephine D'Sa, beloved wife of Mr. Raymond D'Sa. May the Lord Almighty give courage and strength to Mr. Raymond and the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss. May her Soul Rest in Peace.
Xavier Furtado
AVC- Kuwait
August 21, 2008
CONDOLENCE - The Late Mrs. D'sa..
CONDOLENCE - The late Mrs. D'Sa.
KONKANI HERITAGE KUWAIT, deeply mourn the sad demise of Mrs. Mary Josephine D'Sa wife of our supporter and Konkani promoter Mr. Raymond D'Sa.
May her soul rest in peace.
KONKANI HERITAGE KUWAIT,
Kuwait.
KONKANI HERITAGE KUWAIT, deeply mourn the sad demise of Mrs. Mary Josephine D'Sa wife of our supporter and Konkani promoter Mr. Raymond D'Sa.
May her soul rest in peace.
KONKANI HERITAGE KUWAIT,
Kuwait.
CONDOLENCE-THE LATE MARY JOSEPHINE D'SA.
CONDOLENCE - THE LATE MARY JOSEPHINE D'SA.
Kuwait Konknni Kendr, Kuwait, deeply mourn the sad demise of Mrs. Mary Josephine D'Sa, beloved wife of Konkani supporter and promoter of Konkani cause Mr. Raymond D'Sa.
May the soul of Mrs. D'Sa Rest in Peace.
May the Heavenly God give courage to Mr. Raymond D'Sa, his children and grand children courage to bear this loss.
KUWAIT KONKNNI KENDR,
Kuwait.
Kuwait Konknni Kendr, Kuwait, deeply mourn the sad demise of Mrs. Mary Josephine D'Sa, beloved wife of Konkani supporter and promoter of Konkani cause Mr. Raymond D'Sa.
May the soul of Mrs. D'Sa Rest in Peace.
May the Heavenly God give courage to Mr. Raymond D'Sa, his children and grand children courage to bear this loss.
KUWAIT KONKNNI KENDR,
Kuwait.
August 20, 2008
OBITUARY - THE LATE MRS. RAYMOND D'SA.
OBITUARY - THE LATE MRS. RAYMOND D'SA.
On behalf of myself, my wife and my children, I deeply mourn the sad death of Mary D'Sa - beloved wife of Mr. Raymond D'Sa, the President of Goan Overseas Association and an Executive Body Member of the then Novem Goem Pratishthan Kuwait Somiti - today in the morning at her residence in Kuwait.
May Her Soul Rest In Peace and may the Heavenly God give courage to Raymond D'Sa and his children to bear this colossal loss.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
On behalf of myself, my wife and my children, I deeply mourn the sad death of Mary D'Sa - beloved wife of Mr. Raymond D'Sa, the President of Goan Overseas Association and an Executive Body Member of the then Novem Goem Pratishthan Kuwait Somiti - today in the morning at her residence in Kuwait.
May Her Soul Rest In Peace and may the Heavenly God give courage to Raymond D'Sa and his children to bear this colossal loss.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
August 19, 2008
EXCELLENT JAMAICANS IN OLYMPICS.
EXCELLENT JAMAICANS IN LYMPICS.
Excellent performance by Jamaican Usain Bolt in 100 metres in the current Olympics at Beijing. With the advantage of perfect start and with horse’s stamina, he easily cruised to the finishing line in the most memorable race in the history of Olympics. His long strides with quick succession gave an added advantage to his already victory confident self. His age 21 is an appropriate time to attain the required climax in such a great race. At this young age to rule the world in sprint is a marvelous achievement for this young man coming from also a young country. It is really an admirable feat for a small nation to produce such a big athlete.
I have seen on TV and movies yesteryear athletes especially sprinters but never I saw a sprinter cruising to the final line in 100 metres with such an ease and confidence as Bolt has done. Normally 100 metres race result looks like photo finish but defeating all his rivals with more than 5 metres lead is an excellent achievement. Such leads you don’t see in sprints but Bolt made it happen because of his superlative sprinting qualities. I saw the former great sprinters like Owens, Heines, Johnson, Powell and Lewis running to the victory with great finish but Bolt was unique in the sense that inspite of winning he still had reserve, I mean abundant reserve power and energy in his body to complete another 100 metres even without going to the podium to receive his gold medal for the already won race.
If Bolt maintains the same level of practice and body conditioning then I don’t think this 100 metres gold medal will escape from his strides in the next Olympics at London. One of the reasons for his great achievement was that he graduated into running 100 metres from 200 metres. By acclimatizing into running a bigger race in the beginning one can easily accumulate his energy and burst it into victory in the smaller race. This is what has happened to Bolt though lot of other factors especially his genes, methods of practice, diet and body conditioning had to be taken into consideration. 100 meters in any Olympics is considered as the most valuable and prized victory since this race creates fastest human being on this planet. I am happy that during my lifetime I saw such a fantastic runner and sprinter. And with the passing of time and with improved and more scientific methods of training, I am sure the now clocked timing 9.67 seconds of Bolt could be still lowered, possibly by Bolt himself because a few metres from finishing line he slowed down taking victory for granted. Otherwise, the clicked timing of 9.67 seconds would have been still lowered by him only and in this race only.
At the time of his starting the race my tense mood took me back to my younger days in Goa when I too was the champion 100 metres runner of Goa being individual athletics champion, 100 metres was my forte in addition to 200 and 400. At the age of 16 at All Goa Interschool Athletics Meet I ran 100 metres in 11 seconds without any assistance of qualified and professional coach and ruled Goa in this item. Originally my forte was 400 metres but gradually I shifted to 100 metres which I found more palatable. During those days the facilities were few and rewards were not commercial. In today’s world athletics victories give you not only name and fame but more than that lifelong commercial benefits. Jamaica though not a thickly populated country with one billion people like India yet within the available manpower resources by providing them best of facilities it created world champions. Jamaica though not an atomic nor an industrial giant yet in sporting field it produced more power than some of the atomic and industrial powers. I applaud this nation for nurturing the physical wealth of its youth. It is a good lesson for huge countries in size and population like India to learn some lessons from Jamaica. Jamaica may be just like any of the States in India in size and population but yet it overpowered India in every department of the Olympics. Countries like India lagging in this area must send it experts and trainees to Jamaica to learn the methods and system used by them and get benefits from them.
In women sprints too Jamaica conquered the world by producing not only one fastest woman in the world but three since all the first three places were captured by them. What a marvellou achievement. Out of 8 finalists, 4 were from Jamaica. It is unbelievable feat. Kudos to them.
What is the use of having such a big population in India if it cannot produce world class athletes and world beaters? By fully concetrating on Maharajas' game Cricket we will never be able to achieve anything in the globalised sports. Our training methods are faulty and not advanced. Our training methods and equipments do not create base for us to reach to the top of the world. And our officials overseeing this area are fully corrupt. Politics of regionalism, casteism, communalism and secterianism are taking precedence over everything. At Beijing Olympics India sent only 57 athlethes but to take care of this small number India sent 42 officials. What a mockery of exchequer money?
Indian sports will never develop to compete at world level and India will never be able to rule the world in sports though India is having all potentials in its manpower. Only our politicians should desist from interering in sports. Sport is totally a different field and once a politician integrates into this field, there is bound to be cracks in the sporting arena. Involvement in running Indian Cricket by Sharad Pawar from Bombay and Narvenkar from Goa both most corrupt politicians in India will surely degrade the greatness of Cricket in India. They have both corrupted the politics in their areas. Active politicians should not be allowed to participate in running the sports in India as it is happening in India today and because of them India is not going up. Politicians have their own ulterior motives to fulfill and everything comes secondary for them. If first time India failed to participate in Hockey in Olympics this time at Beijing then it was only because of too much politicalisation of Hockey on and off the field by the administrators due to their petty politcs. It is a shame for a country having one billion people and not being able to create a dent in Olympics. As an Indian I am ashamed but our Sports administrators and the political rulers of our country are not and they will never either because they are shameless.
.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
Excellent performance by Jamaican Usain Bolt in 100 metres in the current Olympics at Beijing. With the advantage of perfect start and with horse’s stamina, he easily cruised to the finishing line in the most memorable race in the history of Olympics. His long strides with quick succession gave an added advantage to his already victory confident self. His age 21 is an appropriate time to attain the required climax in such a great race. At this young age to rule the world in sprint is a marvelous achievement for this young man coming from also a young country. It is really an admirable feat for a small nation to produce such a big athlete.
I have seen on TV and movies yesteryear athletes especially sprinters but never I saw a sprinter cruising to the final line in 100 metres with such an ease and confidence as Bolt has done. Normally 100 metres race result looks like photo finish but defeating all his rivals with more than 5 metres lead is an excellent achievement. Such leads you don’t see in sprints but Bolt made it happen because of his superlative sprinting qualities. I saw the former great sprinters like Owens, Heines, Johnson, Powell and Lewis running to the victory with great finish but Bolt was unique in the sense that inspite of winning he still had reserve, I mean abundant reserve power and energy in his body to complete another 100 metres even without going to the podium to receive his gold medal for the already won race.
If Bolt maintains the same level of practice and body conditioning then I don’t think this 100 metres gold medal will escape from his strides in the next Olympics at London. One of the reasons for his great achievement was that he graduated into running 100 metres from 200 metres. By acclimatizing into running a bigger race in the beginning one can easily accumulate his energy and burst it into victory in the smaller race. This is what has happened to Bolt though lot of other factors especially his genes, methods of practice, diet and body conditioning had to be taken into consideration. 100 meters in any Olympics is considered as the most valuable and prized victory since this race creates fastest human being on this planet. I am happy that during my lifetime I saw such a fantastic runner and sprinter. And with the passing of time and with improved and more scientific methods of training, I am sure the now clocked timing 9.67 seconds of Bolt could be still lowered, possibly by Bolt himself because a few metres from finishing line he slowed down taking victory for granted. Otherwise, the clicked timing of 9.67 seconds would have been still lowered by him only and in this race only.
At the time of his starting the race my tense mood took me back to my younger days in Goa when I too was the champion 100 metres runner of Goa being individual athletics champion, 100 metres was my forte in addition to 200 and 400. At the age of 16 at All Goa Interschool Athletics Meet I ran 100 metres in 11 seconds without any assistance of qualified and professional coach and ruled Goa in this item. Originally my forte was 400 metres but gradually I shifted to 100 metres which I found more palatable. During those days the facilities were few and rewards were not commercial. In today’s world athletics victories give you not only name and fame but more than that lifelong commercial benefits. Jamaica though not a thickly populated country with one billion people like India yet within the available manpower resources by providing them best of facilities it created world champions. Jamaica though not an atomic nor an industrial giant yet in sporting field it produced more power than some of the atomic and industrial powers. I applaud this nation for nurturing the physical wealth of its youth. It is a good lesson for huge countries in size and population like India to learn some lessons from Jamaica. Jamaica may be just like any of the States in India in size and population but yet it overpowered India in every department of the Olympics. Countries like India lagging in this area must send it experts and trainees to Jamaica to learn the methods and system used by them and get benefits from them.
In women sprints too Jamaica conquered the world by producing not only one fastest woman in the world but three since all the first three places were captured by them. What a marvellou achievement. Out of 8 finalists, 4 were from Jamaica. It is unbelievable feat. Kudos to them.
What is the use of having such a big population in India if it cannot produce world class athletes and world beaters? By fully concetrating on Maharajas' game Cricket we will never be able to achieve anything in the globalised sports. Our training methods are faulty and not advanced. Our training methods and equipments do not create base for us to reach to the top of the world. And our officials overseeing this area are fully corrupt. Politics of regionalism, casteism, communalism and secterianism are taking precedence over everything. At Beijing Olympics India sent only 57 athlethes but to take care of this small number India sent 42 officials. What a mockery of exchequer money?
Indian sports will never develop to compete at world level and India will never be able to rule the world in sports though India is having all potentials in its manpower. Only our politicians should desist from interering in sports. Sport is totally a different field and once a politician integrates into this field, there is bound to be cracks in the sporting arena. Involvement in running Indian Cricket by Sharad Pawar from Bombay and Narvenkar from Goa both most corrupt politicians in India will surely degrade the greatness of Cricket in India. They have both corrupted the politics in their areas. Active politicians should not be allowed to participate in running the sports in India as it is happening in India today and because of them India is not going up. Politicians have their own ulterior motives to fulfill and everything comes secondary for them. If first time India failed to participate in Hockey in Olympics this time at Beijing then it was only because of too much politicalisation of Hockey on and off the field by the administrators due to their petty politcs. It is a shame for a country having one billion people and not being able to create a dent in Olympics. As an Indian I am ashamed but our Sports administrators and the political rulers of our country are not and they will never either because they are shameless.
.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
August 17, 2008
LABOUR UNREST IN KUWAIT.
LABOUR UNREST IN KUWAIT.
The following write-up of mine appeared in the local Kuwait Times yesterday dated 16.08.08. I am now reproducing the same in this forum.
AVF.
"During these days and since last month’s problem of expatriate Bangladeshi Cleaners in Kuwait, lot of stories are in circulation saying that even innocent Bangladeshis were unnecessarily arrested and without any justification were deported. One of the innocent deportees as per information was a Bangladeshi Bakala owner having no link with any striking Cleaners. For his bad luck just because he was watching from close angle the striking demonstrators, he was arrested. Worst part of the whole scenario was that he was not even allowed to call his family in Kuwait to make them aware of his arrest.
This reminds me of the incident taken place exactly 18 years back in Kuwait. Early in the morning in Kuwait City on 2nd August when expatriates were going to work they were suddenly stopped at gun point by the Iraqi military soldiers, got them arrested and put them in the garden as prisoners opposite to Kuwait Sheraton Hotel. All who were thus arrested were kept there in the hot sun and later on many of them were taken to Basrah where they were kept a few days in a very horrible condition. Some of these arrestees were just in their boiler suits. While in detention they were not even allowed to call their family members in Kuwait to inform them of their unwarranted arrest. From Basrah they were taken to Baghdad and from there they were sent back to their countries in their dirty, torn and miserable clothes as if they were criminals.
Performing of this type of inhuman attitude was okay for inhuman personnel from Iraq under Saddam Hussein’s regime but definitely not for Kuwaiti personnel. I resent this type of uncultured attitude in any human beings. It brings bad name to the human species which was created by God with highest degree of pleasure. 18 years back when Iraqi personnel treated Kuwaitis badly in inhuman ways we condemned them in highest terms. How can we accept similar attitude from Kuwaiti personnel who were not like Iraqi brute invaders? Something basically has gone wrong somewhere which brings bad name to the security personnel and also to the security apparatus of Kuwait. What image these poor Bangladeshi Cleaners and other expatriates will carry home when they bid adieu to this country from where they earn their sustenance? Will they talk of gratitude for earning their sustenance in Kuwait or will they talk of hatred for Kuwaitis for treating them inhumanly by some inhuman Kuwaitis who are responsible for damaging the reputation of Kuwait?
The recent strikes and demonstrations by Bangladeshi Cleaners were not the first in Kuwait. The early expatriates in Kuwait from my home place in India were telling so many stories of mid fifties of how they were witnessing Strikes at KOC Centre under the British when the Asian manpower were victimized on the basis of the colour of their skin. These Asians especially Indians and Pakistanis were discriminated by the top British management in the matter of salaries and other facilities including poor food facilities provided to the non-whites. Even integration between whites and non-whites by decree was forbidden thereby giving an apartheid colour to the whole system. And on certain occasions when the victimized staff of KOC protested, the very next day they were sacked from their jobs and deported back home to their countries without any proper investigation.
The first major labour strike and demonstration in Kuwait took place in mid seventies, somewhere in 1978. One Indian construction company was awarded the major contracts to build Seif Palace and other works at Ardiya. It was a big project and when the management found wanting in many respects, the Indian contractual manpower started demonstration and strike against their management leading into all round chaos including stoppage of work. This resulted in the local authorities to reprimand the top management of the Indian construction firm. During the demonstration some Indian workers trying to act aggressive were not only sacked from their jobs but were also deported. Hence, to cool down the situation, Indian Government of Janata Party deputed it’s the then Industries Minister George Fernades who after preliminary discussion with the concerned parties local as well as Indian, rushed to the Amiri Palace and met with the late Amir of Kuwait and melted the whole boiling situation to the satisfaction of the concerned parties.
Where Indian diplomacy then succeeded the Bangladeshi diplomacy now failed. It is a pity to see now Bangladeshis in general are looked down with suspicion from all angles. Even the law abiding and innocent Bangladeshis are looked with suspicion. Is it the result of their revolt against the injustice meted out to them by the hard core management of Cleaning companies? While they were made to suffer, can others with right frames of mind remain as silent spectators? Is it not right to raise one’s voice against the injustice committed on the innocents? Is it not our religious duty to fight against the injustice done on poor people? When Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) was once asked when there will be justice in this world, came the reply within a split of a second saying “when everyone of us will gather courage to fight against the injustice committed on to others as if that injustice is committed on to us only, then only there will be justice in this world”.
Many segments of expatriates are suffering in Kuwait. They are made victims of injustice either by the defective prevailing system or by their own expatriate superiors who think they can do anything with the backing of the prevailing law. The lust for Dinar is creating monster in many of us. We have to raise our voice against the injustice the way we raised our voice in unison when Iraq committed injustice against Kuwait 18 years back.
A.Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait. "
The following write-up of mine appeared in the local Kuwait Times yesterday dated 16.08.08. I am now reproducing the same in this forum.
AVF.
"During these days and since last month’s problem of expatriate Bangladeshi Cleaners in Kuwait, lot of stories are in circulation saying that even innocent Bangladeshis were unnecessarily arrested and without any justification were deported. One of the innocent deportees as per information was a Bangladeshi Bakala owner having no link with any striking Cleaners. For his bad luck just because he was watching from close angle the striking demonstrators, he was arrested. Worst part of the whole scenario was that he was not even allowed to call his family in Kuwait to make them aware of his arrest.
This reminds me of the incident taken place exactly 18 years back in Kuwait. Early in the morning in Kuwait City on 2nd August when expatriates were going to work they were suddenly stopped at gun point by the Iraqi military soldiers, got them arrested and put them in the garden as prisoners opposite to Kuwait Sheraton Hotel. All who were thus arrested were kept there in the hot sun and later on many of them were taken to Basrah where they were kept a few days in a very horrible condition. Some of these arrestees were just in their boiler suits. While in detention they were not even allowed to call their family members in Kuwait to inform them of their unwarranted arrest. From Basrah they were taken to Baghdad and from there they were sent back to their countries in their dirty, torn and miserable clothes as if they were criminals.
Performing of this type of inhuman attitude was okay for inhuman personnel from Iraq under Saddam Hussein’s regime but definitely not for Kuwaiti personnel. I resent this type of uncultured attitude in any human beings. It brings bad name to the human species which was created by God with highest degree of pleasure. 18 years back when Iraqi personnel treated Kuwaitis badly in inhuman ways we condemned them in highest terms. How can we accept similar attitude from Kuwaiti personnel who were not like Iraqi brute invaders? Something basically has gone wrong somewhere which brings bad name to the security personnel and also to the security apparatus of Kuwait. What image these poor Bangladeshi Cleaners and other expatriates will carry home when they bid adieu to this country from where they earn their sustenance? Will they talk of gratitude for earning their sustenance in Kuwait or will they talk of hatred for Kuwaitis for treating them inhumanly by some inhuman Kuwaitis who are responsible for damaging the reputation of Kuwait?
The recent strikes and demonstrations by Bangladeshi Cleaners were not the first in Kuwait. The early expatriates in Kuwait from my home place in India were telling so many stories of mid fifties of how they were witnessing Strikes at KOC Centre under the British when the Asian manpower were victimized on the basis of the colour of their skin. These Asians especially Indians and Pakistanis were discriminated by the top British management in the matter of salaries and other facilities including poor food facilities provided to the non-whites. Even integration between whites and non-whites by decree was forbidden thereby giving an apartheid colour to the whole system. And on certain occasions when the victimized staff of KOC protested, the very next day they were sacked from their jobs and deported back home to their countries without any proper investigation.
The first major labour strike and demonstration in Kuwait took place in mid seventies, somewhere in 1978. One Indian construction company was awarded the major contracts to build Seif Palace and other works at Ardiya. It was a big project and when the management found wanting in many respects, the Indian contractual manpower started demonstration and strike against their management leading into all round chaos including stoppage of work. This resulted in the local authorities to reprimand the top management of the Indian construction firm. During the demonstration some Indian workers trying to act aggressive were not only sacked from their jobs but were also deported. Hence, to cool down the situation, Indian Government of Janata Party deputed it’s the then Industries Minister George Fernades who after preliminary discussion with the concerned parties local as well as Indian, rushed to the Amiri Palace and met with the late Amir of Kuwait and melted the whole boiling situation to the satisfaction of the concerned parties.
Where Indian diplomacy then succeeded the Bangladeshi diplomacy now failed. It is a pity to see now Bangladeshis in general are looked down with suspicion from all angles. Even the law abiding and innocent Bangladeshis are looked with suspicion. Is it the result of their revolt against the injustice meted out to them by the hard core management of Cleaning companies? While they were made to suffer, can others with right frames of mind remain as silent spectators? Is it not right to raise one’s voice against the injustice committed on the innocents? Is it not our religious duty to fight against the injustice done on poor people? When Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) was once asked when there will be justice in this world, came the reply within a split of a second saying “when everyone of us will gather courage to fight against the injustice committed on to others as if that injustice is committed on to us only, then only there will be justice in this world”.
Many segments of expatriates are suffering in Kuwait. They are made victims of injustice either by the defective prevailing system or by their own expatriate superiors who think they can do anything with the backing of the prevailing law. The lust for Dinar is creating monster in many of us. We have to raise our voice against the injustice the way we raised our voice in unison when Iraq committed injustice against Kuwait 18 years back.
A.Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait. "
August 15, 2008
15TH AUGUST.
15TH AUGUST.
Today 15th August 2008, India celebrates its 61st Independence Day. In 1961 on this date, at our Candolim Tinto there was heavy security conducted by the Portuguese Military soldiers from Aguada. Though they were soldiers yet they were very humane and friendly. Many times when I was going to Portuguese school on foot, they used to pick me up in their military jeep and drop me to my school. This was not for me alone; they used to do this type of help even to other students. Being closer to Aguada since it falls in the same locality as that of my village, I became very friendly to them. And since one of my brothers was employed at Goa Police Headquarters and also playing soccer for Goa Police Team consisting of Portuguese Whites and Portuguese Negroes, many of the Portuguese Police and soldiers were very friendly to us as they were regularly coming to our place with my brother. One of the Aguada soldiers who was very friendly to me named Mario was roaming at our Tinto along with other soldiers with Machine Guns in their hands as if they were ready for the war in Candolim. Around fisher women who were selling their fish at our Tinto the Portuguese Military personnel were moving with suspicious look. Even we the locals used to feel some difference in the total outlook around the whole Tinto. It looked fearful to see otherwise unarmed Portuguese Military soldiers in their full military kit. Then I asked Portuguese soldier Mario why you are carrying Machine Gun today as if you are going for war? Then Mario replied thus: Antonio, don’t you know today “QUINZE DE AGOSTO?” Then I asked casually, so what Mario? He was Sub – Chef in military rank. Mario said today being 15th August India may attack Goa and Indian terrorists may create murders in Goa and in Candolim itself. To protect Candolim and Goa from Indian terrorists we carry Machine Guns. Then he said “Indian Government of Nehru is trying to rob Goa, we have to protect it for the good of Goans”.
This was on 15th August in 1961. Was in December 1961 Goa robbed by Indian Government of Nehru? 15th August we celebrate as Indian independence day but to participate in this great event 61 years back the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi was absent not because of any accident or sickness but he refused to participate in this event as a mark of his protest for the luxurious life Nehru and his Congress colleagues wanted to lead. Ghandiji wanted simple ceremony without any pomp in tune with the poor status of Indians and India but Congressmen under Nehru were all crooks, led by the biggest crook Nehru who against the wishes of Gandhiji robbed our Goa by sending military to evict Portuguese from Goa. We did not want Portuguese to remain in Goa that was certain but neither have we wanted Indian chors in Goa who in the name of freedom are looting Goa and deGoanising Goa. The “chors, bamttes and crimidors” are enjoying the fruits of freedom in Goa. Sincere, truthful and law abiding Goans are totally neglected and from that time till now Gongressmen are robbing Goa.
Gandiji wanted every Indian to be self sufficient but the major portion of the Indian wealth is devoured and robbed by the ruling party personnel like MLAs, MP’s and Ministers. They are living the life of Maharajas. They act like British Viceroys and Monarchs. Gandhiji opposed to this life style. The wealth meant for the upliftment of poor Indians is pocketed by the few Indians namely the MLA’s, MP’s and Ministers of the ruling parties. Gandhiji hated this loot of Congressmen under Nehru. Gandhiji knew very well the psychology of Congressmen and feudal persons like Nehrus for this reason he wanted to disband Congress party but Nehru the great crook refused. The Congressmen wanted to use party flag and symbol to get them votes not only to rule India but also to loot India. For this reason Gandhiji refused to take part in the ceremony in New Delhi 61 years back. And as matter of fact, none of the Congressmen felt hurt or ashamed to go ahead with the hoisting of tri-colour flag minus Gandhiji under whose dedicated and sincere leadership India attained freedom for India. These Congressmen would even kill Gandhiji to get them pound of flesh. They never cared for Gandhiji and his advice once India got independence. They later on put Gandhiji on the secondary level and precisely because of this Gandhiji once remarked thus “this old man now has no value”.
India is a rich country but inhabited by poor people who are intentionally kept poor by chor Indian leaders. India is an atomic power and industrial giant but still we cannot create enough jobs for our people in our own country because crook people are ruling India. Because of this many Indians like beggars are migrating to foreign countries where many of them at many times are treated like slaves. To face and bear this type of humiliation did we attain independence for us? Who benefit from independence? In our own independent India many of us are still not independent, we are still under the bondage of our own Indian Brits who are acting more British than British themselves. Our elders fought for our independence to make us happy but are we happy in our independent India? No and will never be because India is ruled by Chors, Criminals, Crooks and people of worst category. Congressmen and also BJP men are having their own hidden agendas to promote their own ideologies though they harp on socialism and upliftment of the poor. They are liars. They are creating apartheid in India for this reason they don’t want to integrate with the poor by identifying themselves with the downtrodden. By living in posh luxurious Government bungalows, by using luxurious limousine cars, by living high profile life all at the cost of taxpayers money they will never improve the well being of poor and middle class Indians. They drove Gandhiji away because Gandhiji was opposing their feudal life style. They have no right even to utter the name of Gandhiji who was immaculate and perfect in his character. By uttering the name of Gandhiji and garlanding his statue todays politicians and especially Congressmen are disgracing the fair image of Gandhiji.
During the foreign rule, Indians were bowing down their heads in front of white skin foreigners but after the independence Indians not only bowing down in front of White Dhoti and White Topi but also prostrate before the feet of Indian Ministers who are generally “Chors” and they few are robbing Indian wealth meant for the betterment of all Indians. And unfortunately, we Goans are become victims of this Chors who nicely taught our Goans Chors to rob Goa and sincere Goans. Goan politicians have mastered the art of robbing public wealth so perfectly well that they surely surpass any other worst politician from anywhere in India. I feel pity because my Goa is in the hands of such Chors. In the words of Portuguese Sub-Chef Mario on this date in 1961, “ India is trying to rob Goa, we have to protect it”. My good friend Sub-Chef Mario, I don’t know whether you are alive or not in Portugal, but your prophetic words are come to reality. Goa was already robbed and you were taken as Prisoner of War by the Indian Military in December 1961. You were too weak to face the mighty military power of India that landed at Aguada to capture you and your colleagues alive though you tried to fire from your citadel to prevent Indian Army from approaching Aguada headquarters. Goa is robbed and India too is robbed and still our politicians are robbing India to make ordinary Indians poorer. Indira Gandhi’s Congress uprooted Indian Maharajas and their places are filled by the Congressmen and Montris. These Indian Montris are become new Maharajas. This is the result of Indian Independence. I don’t want such independence and I don’t want to participate in such functions. Like Gandhiji I want to be away from the functions organized to celebrate this day. Before 15th August 1947 Indians were kept under the bondage of Europeans but after 15th August 1947, poor and sincere Indians are kept under the bondage of Chor Politicians. This is not the true independence Gandhiji and other elders fought for.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
Today 15th August 2008, India celebrates its 61st Independence Day. In 1961 on this date, at our Candolim Tinto there was heavy security conducted by the Portuguese Military soldiers from Aguada. Though they were soldiers yet they were very humane and friendly. Many times when I was going to Portuguese school on foot, they used to pick me up in their military jeep and drop me to my school. This was not for me alone; they used to do this type of help even to other students. Being closer to Aguada since it falls in the same locality as that of my village, I became very friendly to them. And since one of my brothers was employed at Goa Police Headquarters and also playing soccer for Goa Police Team consisting of Portuguese Whites and Portuguese Negroes, many of the Portuguese Police and soldiers were very friendly to us as they were regularly coming to our place with my brother. One of the Aguada soldiers who was very friendly to me named Mario was roaming at our Tinto along with other soldiers with Machine Guns in their hands as if they were ready for the war in Candolim. Around fisher women who were selling their fish at our Tinto the Portuguese Military personnel were moving with suspicious look. Even we the locals used to feel some difference in the total outlook around the whole Tinto. It looked fearful to see otherwise unarmed Portuguese Military soldiers in their full military kit. Then I asked Portuguese soldier Mario why you are carrying Machine Gun today as if you are going for war? Then Mario replied thus: Antonio, don’t you know today “QUINZE DE AGOSTO?” Then I asked casually, so what Mario? He was Sub – Chef in military rank. Mario said today being 15th August India may attack Goa and Indian terrorists may create murders in Goa and in Candolim itself. To protect Candolim and Goa from Indian terrorists we carry Machine Guns. Then he said “Indian Government of Nehru is trying to rob Goa, we have to protect it for the good of Goans”.
This was on 15th August in 1961. Was in December 1961 Goa robbed by Indian Government of Nehru? 15th August we celebrate as Indian independence day but to participate in this great event 61 years back the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi was absent not because of any accident or sickness but he refused to participate in this event as a mark of his protest for the luxurious life Nehru and his Congress colleagues wanted to lead. Ghandiji wanted simple ceremony without any pomp in tune with the poor status of Indians and India but Congressmen under Nehru were all crooks, led by the biggest crook Nehru who against the wishes of Gandhiji robbed our Goa by sending military to evict Portuguese from Goa. We did not want Portuguese to remain in Goa that was certain but neither have we wanted Indian chors in Goa who in the name of freedom are looting Goa and deGoanising Goa. The “chors, bamttes and crimidors” are enjoying the fruits of freedom in Goa. Sincere, truthful and law abiding Goans are totally neglected and from that time till now Gongressmen are robbing Goa.
Gandiji wanted every Indian to be self sufficient but the major portion of the Indian wealth is devoured and robbed by the ruling party personnel like MLAs, MP’s and Ministers. They are living the life of Maharajas. They act like British Viceroys and Monarchs. Gandhiji opposed to this life style. The wealth meant for the upliftment of poor Indians is pocketed by the few Indians namely the MLA’s, MP’s and Ministers of the ruling parties. Gandhiji hated this loot of Congressmen under Nehru. Gandhiji knew very well the psychology of Congressmen and feudal persons like Nehrus for this reason he wanted to disband Congress party but Nehru the great crook refused. The Congressmen wanted to use party flag and symbol to get them votes not only to rule India but also to loot India. For this reason Gandhiji refused to take part in the ceremony in New Delhi 61 years back. And as matter of fact, none of the Congressmen felt hurt or ashamed to go ahead with the hoisting of tri-colour flag minus Gandhiji under whose dedicated and sincere leadership India attained freedom for India. These Congressmen would even kill Gandhiji to get them pound of flesh. They never cared for Gandhiji and his advice once India got independence. They later on put Gandhiji on the secondary level and precisely because of this Gandhiji once remarked thus “this old man now has no value”.
India is a rich country but inhabited by poor people who are intentionally kept poor by chor Indian leaders. India is an atomic power and industrial giant but still we cannot create enough jobs for our people in our own country because crook people are ruling India. Because of this many Indians like beggars are migrating to foreign countries where many of them at many times are treated like slaves. To face and bear this type of humiliation did we attain independence for us? Who benefit from independence? In our own independent India many of us are still not independent, we are still under the bondage of our own Indian Brits who are acting more British than British themselves. Our elders fought for our independence to make us happy but are we happy in our independent India? No and will never be because India is ruled by Chors, Criminals, Crooks and people of worst category. Congressmen and also BJP men are having their own hidden agendas to promote their own ideologies though they harp on socialism and upliftment of the poor. They are liars. They are creating apartheid in India for this reason they don’t want to integrate with the poor by identifying themselves with the downtrodden. By living in posh luxurious Government bungalows, by using luxurious limousine cars, by living high profile life all at the cost of taxpayers money they will never improve the well being of poor and middle class Indians. They drove Gandhiji away because Gandhiji was opposing their feudal life style. They have no right even to utter the name of Gandhiji who was immaculate and perfect in his character. By uttering the name of Gandhiji and garlanding his statue todays politicians and especially Congressmen are disgracing the fair image of Gandhiji.
During the foreign rule, Indians were bowing down their heads in front of white skin foreigners but after the independence Indians not only bowing down in front of White Dhoti and White Topi but also prostrate before the feet of Indian Ministers who are generally “Chors” and they few are robbing Indian wealth meant for the betterment of all Indians. And unfortunately, we Goans are become victims of this Chors who nicely taught our Goans Chors to rob Goa and sincere Goans. Goan politicians have mastered the art of robbing public wealth so perfectly well that they surely surpass any other worst politician from anywhere in India. I feel pity because my Goa is in the hands of such Chors. In the words of Portuguese Sub-Chef Mario on this date in 1961, “ India is trying to rob Goa, we have to protect it”. My good friend Sub-Chef Mario, I don’t know whether you are alive or not in Portugal, but your prophetic words are come to reality. Goa was already robbed and you were taken as Prisoner of War by the Indian Military in December 1961. You were too weak to face the mighty military power of India that landed at Aguada to capture you and your colleagues alive though you tried to fire from your citadel to prevent Indian Army from approaching Aguada headquarters. Goa is robbed and India too is robbed and still our politicians are robbing India to make ordinary Indians poorer. Indira Gandhi’s Congress uprooted Indian Maharajas and their places are filled by the Congressmen and Montris. These Indian Montris are become new Maharajas. This is the result of Indian Independence. I don’t want such independence and I don’t want to participate in such functions. Like Gandhiji I want to be away from the functions organized to celebrate this day. Before 15th August 1947 Indians were kept under the bondage of Europeans but after 15th August 1947, poor and sincere Indians are kept under the bondage of Chor Politicians. This is not the true independence Gandhiji and other elders fought for.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
August 12, 2008
TIATRISTS AND THEIR CONCUBINES.
TIATRISTS AND THEIR CONCUBINES.
Recently I came across the June Issue of Roman script Monthly Konkani Magazine “JIVIT”. Many articles are written by lot of writers, John Gomes Kokoy, Margao was one of them who wrote a nice article on “TRIO KING: ANTHONY SOUZA”. Kokoy is a good Konkani writer, writing on Tiatros and yesteryears Tiatrists is his forte. In that article, Kokoy describes Anthony’s full history as a tiatrist where Anthony boldly and very sincerely declares that it was “Alexinho de Candolim” who introduced him to the professional Konkani Stage at Mapusa in his tiatro “Sonvsarant Konn Konnacho”. According to elders in Candolim this tiatro Alexinho de Candolim wrote on the basis of his own personal experience. Not only this, Anthony further states that his share from Rs. 5/- changed to Rs. 50/- by Alexinho de Candolim only by showing very preferential treatment to Anthony because of his tiatro competence.
When Alexinho de Candolim died, somewhere in 1964, Anthony was a part of Trio Kings comprising Conception-Nelson-Anthony. While as a member of this trio Anthony was always singing in the trio and not solos or duets as he used to do earlier before joining in this trio. But to break from the tradition and as a mark of respect for the departed soul, Anthony rendered an especially composed solo on the death of tiatro wizard Alexinho de Candolim and received tremendous goodwill from the audience. Some of the lines of that historical and magnificent song run like this:
Poilo, Minguel Rod Devan tukam velo,
Uprant, Julinui sangat tuzo kelo,
Effie ani Almeidai kobar zalo,
Xekim Alexinho de Candolim kallzak tuvem toploi bhalo.
Cheallis ani Nou vorsam idad tuji,
Bhurgech ponnir uxearki dakoili vegglli,
Lhan actorank hath diun voir kaddunk sodhi,
Kednanch dhinasloi fals budi.
Khorench, penank tujea pavor also,
Dusreachem, tem aplem mhunnpi nhoi tum toslo,
Derrepent, kallzak tuvem amchea toploi bhalo,
Ugdasak dourun gheloi tiatro tuzo “To Bhavtto Dhormancho”
And concluded saying thus:
"Tuvem tor voir kaddunk nasloi zalear aum aiz palkar pavcho naslom”.
Very few tiatrists in todays era openly discloses the gratitude of their “gurus” and of those who give them helping hand. Anthony Souza was one of the rare tiatrists in many respects. Like Alexinho de Candolim , Anthony Souza was known for leading a decent and clean life as a tiatrist and also as a family man taking care of his wife and children. Nobody has heard any vulgarity and immorality in the lives of Anthony Souza and his guru Alexinho de Candolim who not only remained faithful to his wife but also took care of his wife and children till his death maintaining the holy vow he took in the Church at the time of his wedding. Because of his high morality and family life discipline he was respected in the locality and society too. Married men who jump from one tree to another like Monkeys by discarding their wives, children and family obligations are always treated with disdain by the society, if not externally then at least internally. And those who break the marriage vow and neglect their own wives and children the punishment for them from God is very harsh, if not today then tomorrow but surely it will come (Ravon na pavon). It is said marriages are made in Heaven and no power on earth can break them. Alexinho de Candolim preached this doctrine from the stage and used his stage talent to reprimand and correct those who are going astray from their married vows. His two songs “Dadlea, Adhartai Tum Vhoddli Chuk” is a very good lesson for those husbands who desert their wives and “Aik Moje Kazari Bhoinni” is a cautious warning to wives who desert their husbands too and live as concubines to satisfy the sexual lust of their illegal partners. And concludes saying that those ladies who destroy the family life of married men are bound to receive highest punishment from God – and this punishment in this world only. Such golden songs nobody in the current era can compose.
For this reason, the great Goan intellectual the late Fr. Mendonca, the then principal of Arpora School, once commented thus: Oh my God!! What Alexinho de Candolim is!! If this man had little educational background (meaning University Education), he would be a genius”. Normally, many of the top tiatrists are known to live a vulgar and illicit life not befitting their stage status thereby bringing bad name not only for them but also for the Tiatro. For this reason during earlier days tiatrists were considered as of low moral standard and elite class of Goans never used to patronise tiatro. Saib Rocha was the first known tiatrist to lead a vulgar and illicit life in the history of tiatro. He was the first Tiatrist in the history of Tiatro to have a concubine thereby breaking the natural law of discipline. Those who break the law of nature and lead an illicit life, finally they suffer. Saib Rocha finally inspite of being revered as “Saib” of Konkani stage died a miserable death in the Asilo run by Provedoria at Santa Inez, unwanted – uncared - unsung – unadored & unattended. When he died in seventies, somebody passed a remark saying “Kunkod melem funkott gelem. Jieta tosso morta”. Then as we know many of the top directors followed the bad example set by Saib Rocha. Now-a-days we see many of the directors and leaders of the troupes are having one of their actresses as their permanent mistresses who play major roles in framing the working of the troupe leaders. In fact they act more than legal wives of the troupe leaders and because of this many a time we noticed the disorders in the family life of the troupe leaders who even maltreat their own wives in a sadistic manner and thus receive curses from God. In Kuwait there is one well known actress who told me once that because of so and so mistress of the so and so director and troupe leader “I was kicked out of that particular troupe because the mistress of the troupe leader was jealous of my superlative performance which she could not digest”.
Anthony Souza has done enormous services for the cause of Konkani, Goa, its culture, tradition and history from the stage His trio composition was surely wonderful. He has devoted fully and wholeheartedly for the cause of Goa and not for the cause of money as most of the current tiatrists do. During Bandodkar’s time he made havoc of MGP rule, what UGP could not do in the Legislative Assembly, Anthony did thru his trios. Compared to many of the today’s bribe prone tiatrists, Anthony was different. Bandodkar tried to induce this trio into silencing them and when everything failed to work in Bandodkar’s favour then Bandodkar introduced Salazarist censorship and entertainment tax on tiatros only to punish the trio kings. Like his guru Alexinho de Candolim, Anthony too had challenging nature. Alexinho de Candolim during those strict Portuguese days challenged Portuguese Government of Goa and rendered a beautiful song on the murder of the son of his own Professor in Candolim. Because of Portuguese censorship he was denied permission to sing this song in Goa. Hence he fled to Bombay with this song. It was on his colleague who was brutally murdered in Candolim by the Portuguese military Negroes. It was beautifully composed and beautifully rhymed. Some of the lines of that golden and highly politically challenging song, I give herebelow:
Konnuch vollkonastana aschenant bhavani hangasor,
Agostinho de Souza Candolim Igorjecho Professor,
Mistirpon tanne choloilem vorsam cheallis bhor,
Bharkaen tachem jivit ami niallun pollen tor,
Bharikuch also khoro pun xinkop tachem chodd vhodd,
Tachea hathan kitle xinkon zalet bandmastor,
Kantorist sadoitat stage ani Igorzanche kor,
Derrepent melo babddo saiba sorg taka favokor.
Ch.
Burgo Felix Put tacho ekloch apurbaecho,
Pai moron adhar na zaun hanga thuim zaito boumlo,
Akrekh Augadchea Comenadiche Choriek sampoddlo,
Decembrache tin tarker ratcho taka dhorlo,
Justis kornastana hath paem bandun Aguad haddlo,
Kotta team zonglli khapreani taka vatter jivoch marlo,
Xekim moddem passun dhi nastana kotta Sinquerech purlo .
Zori tor hi ghoddni anink khuincheai ganvan ghoddti,
Ghanv ekttaim zaun suru zateleo asleo morti
Pun Candoikaranchea rogtak bhavani aiz aili sukti, etc.
The beauty of this song lies not only in the wordings but more than that in the ryminc. In the history of Tiatro and tiatrists it is said only two tiatrists were excellent in composing songs with perfect ryminc and they were from the same village Candolim - Alexinho de Candolim and Young Menezes.
In order to sing this song, Alexinho de Candolim had to flee from Goa to Bombay where he sang this song of course to the anger of Portuguese administrators of Goa. Portuguese chamchas of Candolim even tried to put a blockade to his returning back to Goa. About his Professor Agostinho Desouza, during those days he stood first amongst all the Parochail Mestiris in Goa in their examination of writing and reading solfas. According to my father Mestiri Agostinho Desouza was writing Solfas like writing Shorthand. I have seen Anthony Desouza from Siolim, the former music director of Emissora de Goa also writing Solfas similarly. They were genii in their own ways.
Alexinho de Candolim in fact gave push to many tiatrists even in his own village Candolim. He was the first director to introduce Hindu artistes on the Konkani stage. Some of his songs were recorded at Emisora de Goa and they are worth listening. Such songs are not composed by anyone now and nobody will ever do in future too. He was not only a very good composer but a very good singer as well with very sweet and melodious voice. He was my father’s colleague in Parochial school where he was a very good choir singer. As a small Choir boy in my village I once sang along with him Motets in our Church during the Lent season and also a Latin song “Laudate – Laudate – Laudate Maria”, he was lending his beautiful higher second voice while me as “primeiro”. It was not very easy to sing along with him. He was a perfect singer. When he first time came to Bombay to sing on the stage, the then The Goa Times Editor commented thus “Konkani palkar ek novo kunvor udela”.
His songs from All India Radio Panjim should be collected and converted into a special CD for posterity because they are golden songs, as done for Minguel Rod’s songs by his son Julie. There are so many Konkani activists and organizations in Goa. They should come forward to do the needful before the remix “Chor” would destroy the original beauty of his golden songs. The popular “chor” “remixvale” are now prowling on beautiful old songs of yesteryears great tiatrists and by altering the originality destroy the greatness of the original songs. This has to be stopped otherwise the remix “chor” will destroy everything best in those beautiful songs. The remix “chor” are shameless, they take law into their own hands and do as they want. The immediate family members of Alexinho de Candolim if they can afford must do something to preserve the treasures of Alexinho de Candolim. His songs are priceless.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
Recently I came across the June Issue of Roman script Monthly Konkani Magazine “JIVIT”. Many articles are written by lot of writers, John Gomes Kokoy, Margao was one of them who wrote a nice article on “TRIO KING: ANTHONY SOUZA”. Kokoy is a good Konkani writer, writing on Tiatros and yesteryears Tiatrists is his forte. In that article, Kokoy describes Anthony’s full history as a tiatrist where Anthony boldly and very sincerely declares that it was “Alexinho de Candolim” who introduced him to the professional Konkani Stage at Mapusa in his tiatro “Sonvsarant Konn Konnacho”. According to elders in Candolim this tiatro Alexinho de Candolim wrote on the basis of his own personal experience. Not only this, Anthony further states that his share from Rs. 5/- changed to Rs. 50/- by Alexinho de Candolim only by showing very preferential treatment to Anthony because of his tiatro competence.
When Alexinho de Candolim died, somewhere in 1964, Anthony was a part of Trio Kings comprising Conception-Nelson-Anthony. While as a member of this trio Anthony was always singing in the trio and not solos or duets as he used to do earlier before joining in this trio. But to break from the tradition and as a mark of respect for the departed soul, Anthony rendered an especially composed solo on the death of tiatro wizard Alexinho de Candolim and received tremendous goodwill from the audience. Some of the lines of that historical and magnificent song run like this:
Poilo, Minguel Rod Devan tukam velo,
Uprant, Julinui sangat tuzo kelo,
Effie ani Almeidai kobar zalo,
Xekim Alexinho de Candolim kallzak tuvem toploi bhalo.
Cheallis ani Nou vorsam idad tuji,
Bhurgech ponnir uxearki dakoili vegglli,
Lhan actorank hath diun voir kaddunk sodhi,
Kednanch dhinasloi fals budi.
Khorench, penank tujea pavor also,
Dusreachem, tem aplem mhunnpi nhoi tum toslo,
Derrepent, kallzak tuvem amchea toploi bhalo,
Ugdasak dourun gheloi tiatro tuzo “To Bhavtto Dhormancho”
And concluded saying thus:
"Tuvem tor voir kaddunk nasloi zalear aum aiz palkar pavcho naslom”.
Very few tiatrists in todays era openly discloses the gratitude of their “gurus” and of those who give them helping hand. Anthony Souza was one of the rare tiatrists in many respects. Like Alexinho de Candolim , Anthony Souza was known for leading a decent and clean life as a tiatrist and also as a family man taking care of his wife and children. Nobody has heard any vulgarity and immorality in the lives of Anthony Souza and his guru Alexinho de Candolim who not only remained faithful to his wife but also took care of his wife and children till his death maintaining the holy vow he took in the Church at the time of his wedding. Because of his high morality and family life discipline he was respected in the locality and society too. Married men who jump from one tree to another like Monkeys by discarding their wives, children and family obligations are always treated with disdain by the society, if not externally then at least internally. And those who break the marriage vow and neglect their own wives and children the punishment for them from God is very harsh, if not today then tomorrow but surely it will come (Ravon na pavon). It is said marriages are made in Heaven and no power on earth can break them. Alexinho de Candolim preached this doctrine from the stage and used his stage talent to reprimand and correct those who are going astray from their married vows. His two songs “Dadlea, Adhartai Tum Vhoddli Chuk” is a very good lesson for those husbands who desert their wives and “Aik Moje Kazari Bhoinni” is a cautious warning to wives who desert their husbands too and live as concubines to satisfy the sexual lust of their illegal partners. And concludes saying that those ladies who destroy the family life of married men are bound to receive highest punishment from God – and this punishment in this world only. Such golden songs nobody in the current era can compose.
For this reason, the great Goan intellectual the late Fr. Mendonca, the then principal of Arpora School, once commented thus: Oh my God!! What Alexinho de Candolim is!! If this man had little educational background (meaning University Education), he would be a genius”. Normally, many of the top tiatrists are known to live a vulgar and illicit life not befitting their stage status thereby bringing bad name not only for them but also for the Tiatro. For this reason during earlier days tiatrists were considered as of low moral standard and elite class of Goans never used to patronise tiatro. Saib Rocha was the first known tiatrist to lead a vulgar and illicit life in the history of tiatro. He was the first Tiatrist in the history of Tiatro to have a concubine thereby breaking the natural law of discipline. Those who break the law of nature and lead an illicit life, finally they suffer. Saib Rocha finally inspite of being revered as “Saib” of Konkani stage died a miserable death in the Asilo run by Provedoria at Santa Inez, unwanted – uncared - unsung – unadored & unattended. When he died in seventies, somebody passed a remark saying “Kunkod melem funkott gelem. Jieta tosso morta”. Then as we know many of the top directors followed the bad example set by Saib Rocha. Now-a-days we see many of the directors and leaders of the troupes are having one of their actresses as their permanent mistresses who play major roles in framing the working of the troupe leaders. In fact they act more than legal wives of the troupe leaders and because of this many a time we noticed the disorders in the family life of the troupe leaders who even maltreat their own wives in a sadistic manner and thus receive curses from God. In Kuwait there is one well known actress who told me once that because of so and so mistress of the so and so director and troupe leader “I was kicked out of that particular troupe because the mistress of the troupe leader was jealous of my superlative performance which she could not digest”.
Anthony Souza has done enormous services for the cause of Konkani, Goa, its culture, tradition and history from the stage His trio composition was surely wonderful. He has devoted fully and wholeheartedly for the cause of Goa and not for the cause of money as most of the current tiatrists do. During Bandodkar’s time he made havoc of MGP rule, what UGP could not do in the Legislative Assembly, Anthony did thru his trios. Compared to many of the today’s bribe prone tiatrists, Anthony was different. Bandodkar tried to induce this trio into silencing them and when everything failed to work in Bandodkar’s favour then Bandodkar introduced Salazarist censorship and entertainment tax on tiatros only to punish the trio kings. Like his guru Alexinho de Candolim, Anthony too had challenging nature. Alexinho de Candolim during those strict Portuguese days challenged Portuguese Government of Goa and rendered a beautiful song on the murder of the son of his own Professor in Candolim. Because of Portuguese censorship he was denied permission to sing this song in Goa. Hence he fled to Bombay with this song. It was on his colleague who was brutally murdered in Candolim by the Portuguese military Negroes. It was beautifully composed and beautifully rhymed. Some of the lines of that golden and highly politically challenging song, I give herebelow:
Konnuch vollkonastana aschenant bhavani hangasor,
Agostinho de Souza Candolim Igorjecho Professor,
Mistirpon tanne choloilem vorsam cheallis bhor,
Bharkaen tachem jivit ami niallun pollen tor,
Bharikuch also khoro pun xinkop tachem chodd vhodd,
Tachea hathan kitle xinkon zalet bandmastor,
Kantorist sadoitat stage ani Igorzanche kor,
Derrepent melo babddo saiba sorg taka favokor.
Ch.
Burgo Felix Put tacho ekloch apurbaecho,
Pai moron adhar na zaun hanga thuim zaito boumlo,
Akrekh Augadchea Comenadiche Choriek sampoddlo,
Decembrache tin tarker ratcho taka dhorlo,
Justis kornastana hath paem bandun Aguad haddlo,
Kotta team zonglli khapreani taka vatter jivoch marlo,
Xekim moddem passun dhi nastana kotta Sinquerech purlo .
Zori tor hi ghoddni anink khuincheai ganvan ghoddti,
Ghanv ekttaim zaun suru zateleo asleo morti
Pun Candoikaranchea rogtak bhavani aiz aili sukti, etc.
The beauty of this song lies not only in the wordings but more than that in the ryminc. In the history of Tiatro and tiatrists it is said only two tiatrists were excellent in composing songs with perfect ryminc and they were from the same village Candolim - Alexinho de Candolim and Young Menezes.
In order to sing this song, Alexinho de Candolim had to flee from Goa to Bombay where he sang this song of course to the anger of Portuguese administrators of Goa. Portuguese chamchas of Candolim even tried to put a blockade to his returning back to Goa. About his Professor Agostinho Desouza, during those days he stood first amongst all the Parochail Mestiris in Goa in their examination of writing and reading solfas. According to my father Mestiri Agostinho Desouza was writing Solfas like writing Shorthand. I have seen Anthony Desouza from Siolim, the former music director of Emissora de Goa also writing Solfas similarly. They were genii in their own ways.
Alexinho de Candolim in fact gave push to many tiatrists even in his own village Candolim. He was the first director to introduce Hindu artistes on the Konkani stage. Some of his songs were recorded at Emisora de Goa and they are worth listening. Such songs are not composed by anyone now and nobody will ever do in future too. He was not only a very good composer but a very good singer as well with very sweet and melodious voice. He was my father’s colleague in Parochial school where he was a very good choir singer. As a small Choir boy in my village I once sang along with him Motets in our Church during the Lent season and also a Latin song “Laudate – Laudate – Laudate Maria”, he was lending his beautiful higher second voice while me as “primeiro”. It was not very easy to sing along with him. He was a perfect singer. When he first time came to Bombay to sing on the stage, the then The Goa Times Editor commented thus “Konkani palkar ek novo kunvor udela”.
His songs from All India Radio Panjim should be collected and converted into a special CD for posterity because they are golden songs, as done for Minguel Rod’s songs by his son Julie. There are so many Konkani activists and organizations in Goa. They should come forward to do the needful before the remix “Chor” would destroy the original beauty of his golden songs. The popular “chor” “remixvale” are now prowling on beautiful old songs of yesteryears great tiatrists and by altering the originality destroy the greatness of the original songs. This has to be stopped otherwise the remix “chor” will destroy everything best in those beautiful songs. The remix “chor” are shameless, they take law into their own hands and do as they want. The immediate family members of Alexinho de Candolim if they can afford must do something to preserve the treasures of Alexinho de Candolim. His songs are priceless.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
Is Indian football on its road to professionalism?
By Armstrong Vaz
ASIAN FOOTBALL has set itself on a road towards professionalism and one step in that direction has been the revamping of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League next year. India features among one of the eleven countries who will be eligible to field their teams in the new AFC Champions League next year, a list which have been cleared by the AFC Pro-League Ad-Hoc Committee Executive Committee, the first list which was released in May this year.
Japan, Korea Republic, Australia, China, Indonesia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab emirates (UAE), Iran and India have been confirmed as participants, after a thorough assessment of their eligibility in the 2009 AFC Champions League as of now. But the list of countries eligible to send teams will increase as other countries who have not been able to meet the criteria will do in the coming months before the October 1 deadline.
Chairman of the committee, Captain Saburo Kawabuchi said : "The recommendations of this committee are based on inspections and long, fruitful discussions and our goal is to create an attractive competition which will take Asian football to new heights."
The AFC Pro-League Ad-Hoc Committee employed four grades ‘A’ (meet all criteria), ‘B’ (assured to meet criteria by October 1, 2008), ‘C’ (not assured to meet criteria by October 1, 2008) and ‘D’ (do not meet the criteria) to assess the suitability of 21 Member Associations for next year’s AFC Champions League.
Only Japan met all the criteria and bagged a straight ‘A’ in all the fields. Ten Member Associations were rated as ‘B’, which means the committee is confident of them meeting the criteria by October 1, 2008. Six Member Associations received a ‘C’, which makes them doubtful of meeting the deadline, while four Member Associations were rated ‘D’.
But former players based outside India are skeptical of the advent of professionalism in Indian football, which the Asian football wants to introduce in a gradual manner till the 2011 deadline.
Gasper Crasto, a former footballer from Goa now based in Kuwait said; "I’ve been keenly following the Indian I-League. Not to hide my emotions, I am deeply hurt at the position of my favourite team Salgaocars in the League (they were relegated to second division). I feel that clubs with big budget rule the league – worldwide. And Salgaocars have suffered due to this. But is it really worth to invest big money into the Indian League?" he questioned.
And he set out a list of questions, for which he is seeking answers.
What has the All India Football Federation (AIFF) achieved with the Professional I-League?
What has been the difference of the professional league from the semi-professional league (National League Football) of the previous years?
What has the AIFF inducted into the league to make it professional?
What has been the effect of live telecast of matches in terms of spectator turn-out at the venues and people watching at home?
What have the clubs achieved from the professional league?
Professional clubs usually have their own stadiums. Do our clubs have that? Can they dream of that?
How much marketing have the clubs done in terms of membership, ticket sales and endorsements?
Domestic leagues the world over are a source of grand entertainment. Week in, week out, enthusiasts populate stadiums to watch the action they provide. Has the I-League drawn that attention?
What league in the world can we compare the I-League to?
What have our Indian players gained from the league?
As we have been watching, the foreign recruits have dominated in the league. What effect have the foreign players have on our players?
Can the second division clubs afford to climb on to the I-League?
Elsewhere former Mahindra United player Saby Antao said: "What about creating an awareness programme for the people of India, telling them about the bureaucracy of the AIFF? Do you think the clubs are structured properly, the infrastructure, the youth programme, the wasted foreign trips to play third division teams? I personally feel there is nothing that is done correctly to promote the growth of football in the country.
What about having city clubs sponsored by corporations rather than corporate clubs sponsoring themselves? Nowhere in the world do they have corporate clubs except in India. What can be done to change that? What about clubs that do not build the necessary infrastructure? If it is a city club then the city and the state will provide land for the club because the city and the state can make money on the taxes that are collected from the revenue generated by the club. Why don’t the clubs have a scouting department, medical department, marketing and sales department, financial department, coaching department linked?"
Indeed some food for thought!
ASIAN FOOTBALL has set itself on a road towards professionalism and one step in that direction has been the revamping of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League next year. India features among one of the eleven countries who will be eligible to field their teams in the new AFC Champions League next year, a list which have been cleared by the AFC Pro-League Ad-Hoc Committee Executive Committee, the first list which was released in May this year.
Japan, Korea Republic, Australia, China, Indonesia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab emirates (UAE), Iran and India have been confirmed as participants, after a thorough assessment of their eligibility in the 2009 AFC Champions League as of now. But the list of countries eligible to send teams will increase as other countries who have not been able to meet the criteria will do in the coming months before the October 1 deadline.
Chairman of the committee, Captain Saburo Kawabuchi said : "The recommendations of this committee are based on inspections and long, fruitful discussions and our goal is to create an attractive competition which will take Asian football to new heights."
The AFC Pro-League Ad-Hoc Committee employed four grades ‘A’ (meet all criteria), ‘B’ (assured to meet criteria by October 1, 2008), ‘C’ (not assured to meet criteria by October 1, 2008) and ‘D’ (do not meet the criteria) to assess the suitability of 21 Member Associations for next year’s AFC Champions League.
Only Japan met all the criteria and bagged a straight ‘A’ in all the fields. Ten Member Associations were rated as ‘B’, which means the committee is confident of them meeting the criteria by October 1, 2008. Six Member Associations received a ‘C’, which makes them doubtful of meeting the deadline, while four Member Associations were rated ‘D’.
But former players based outside India are skeptical of the advent of professionalism in Indian football, which the Asian football wants to introduce in a gradual manner till the 2011 deadline.
Gasper Crasto, a former footballer from Goa now based in Kuwait said; "I’ve been keenly following the Indian I-League. Not to hide my emotions, I am deeply hurt at the position of my favourite team Salgaocars in the League (they were relegated to second division). I feel that clubs with big budget rule the league – worldwide. And Salgaocars have suffered due to this. But is it really worth to invest big money into the Indian League?" he questioned.
And he set out a list of questions, for which he is seeking answers.
What has the All India Football Federation (AIFF) achieved with the Professional I-League?
What has been the difference of the professional league from the semi-professional league (National League Football) of the previous years?
What has the AIFF inducted into the league to make it professional?
What has been the effect of live telecast of matches in terms of spectator turn-out at the venues and people watching at home?
What have the clubs achieved from the professional league?
Professional clubs usually have their own stadiums. Do our clubs have that? Can they dream of that?
How much marketing have the clubs done in terms of membership, ticket sales and endorsements?
Domestic leagues the world over are a source of grand entertainment. Week in, week out, enthusiasts populate stadiums to watch the action they provide. Has the I-League drawn that attention?
What league in the world can we compare the I-League to?
What have our Indian players gained from the league?
As we have been watching, the foreign recruits have dominated in the league. What effect have the foreign players have on our players?
Can the second division clubs afford to climb on to the I-League?
Elsewhere former Mahindra United player Saby Antao said: "What about creating an awareness programme for the people of India, telling them about the bureaucracy of the AIFF? Do you think the clubs are structured properly, the infrastructure, the youth programme, the wasted foreign trips to play third division teams? I personally feel there is nothing that is done correctly to promote the growth of football in the country.
What about having city clubs sponsored by corporations rather than corporate clubs sponsoring themselves? Nowhere in the world do they have corporate clubs except in India. What can be done to change that? What about clubs that do not build the necessary infrastructure? If it is a city club then the city and the state will provide land for the club because the city and the state can make money on the taxes that are collected from the revenue generated by the club. Why don’t the clubs have a scouting department, medical department, marketing and sales department, financial department, coaching department linked?"
Indeed some food for thought!
August 11, 2008
OBITUARY - DEATH OF FRANCO.
DEATH OF JOAQUIM MARIANO FRANCO.
On behalf of myself, my wife and my children I convey my condolences to Mrs. Franco, their children, son in law, daughter in law and grand children on the sudden death of Mr. Joaquim Mariano Franco on 9th of this month in Bombay.
May his soul rest in peace and may the heavenly God give courage to all the family members of Mr. Franco to bear this loss.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
On behalf of myself, my wife and my children I convey my condolences to Mrs. Franco, their children, son in law, daughter in law and grand children on the sudden death of Mr. Joaquim Mariano Franco on 9th of this month in Bombay.
May his soul rest in peace and may the heavenly God give courage to all the family members of Mr. Franco to bear this loss.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
August 10, 2008
KUWAITCHE GOENKAR - Jerry Cal's song.
After my last write-up on Jerry Cal and his excellent song he rendered in Goa on invasion of Kuwait 18 years back, many readers of goa.kranti requested me to reproduce that full song in this forum. Upon my request, composer and singer Jerry Cal from Abu Dhabi sent this song to me which I indicated here below. Jerry Cal in this song shows his regret on people especially on those who enjoyed our benefits and criticised us. In view of this, even after 18 years of invasion of Kuwait we the real lovers of Kuwait from where we earn our sustenance must reject and oppose all and everyone who deserted us after enjoying our benefits. If we are real sons and real daughters of our real fathers then we will reject everyone who showed his deslike for us during the time of our sufferings. Kuwait is our bread and we must be grateful for this country. Because of Kuwait many of us got identity in life and respect in society. Let us show our solidarity with Kuwait by rejecting everyone who kept a distance from us during the time of invasion of Kuwait and also every project of those who showed their deslike for us during the invasion of Kuwait.
A. Veronica Fernandes.
KUWAITCHE GOENCAR
(1)
Korench kalliz dhukan roddlem, Kuwait Goencarank kitem ghoddlem
Auchitt noxibant tanchea, poieat kotta, Zoglaunem marlem voddlem
Kuwait kitlem tanche asson, ritea hatanim, ieunchem poddlem
Kiteak dhonia tuvem, noxibeant tanchea boroilelem oslem
(Chorus)
Ponchvis tis vorsam, Kuwait kam corun, goencar Goeam ieunk chintale
Zaitench kam korun, kitem mevta tem gheun, kuxal jieunk sodtale
Auchit chitnam tanchim varear uboun ghelim, dhonia ukodd tuje dolle
Kitem vait tanchem dislem, konnak nirminakaim oslem, magtam tuje kodde
(2)
Auchit Kuwait ghodbod zaun, sabar zannache halawal zalet
Kitleam chedvam bailanche, tea Irakheanim "rape" passun kelet
Korench te kalliz naslole, lokancheo vostu passun gheun ghelet
Poieat kitle bhau amche, soglench Kuwait soddun, xekhim goeam paulet
(Chorus)
Kuwaitcheam geancarin cancer hospitalak, zaite dudu dadlele
Konknichea velar,tosench martyrranchea fundak, lakhani dudu patoile
Kuwaitkaranchea adharan, zaite bav amche, montri passun zalole
Pun amche bhav Kuwait, trassant aslele tedna, rostear mat heunk visorle
(3)
Kuwaitche goencar munon lokh, Goeam tenkam bottam dakoitat
Tanchem jevlem khal'lole munis poieat aiz tenkam varear uboitat
Korench the Goeam etalet mun, goemcar dhonde choloitat
Anik te Kuwait vechenam, tanche lagim dudu meunchena,
osseo tancheo khobro kortat.
(Chorus)
Goencar don paut fottoule, tisre pautt fottouna zaunk aum magtam,
Ekdam Arikache dadlele, atam Kuwaitche ailet, kalzant taun aum khountoutam
Tumchea ghamache dudu, Goa xarant daddat, pordeshant dori nakat
Tumchea koxtanchem ek ghor, Goeam xarant bhandunk, tumi visronakat
Kuwait xanti zaun tumi porte vochounk, haunv deva lagim magtam.
Composed on 10th August 1990 by:
JERRY CAL,
EXECUTIVE CHEF,
Al Mazel Hotel,
Abu Dhabi,
UAE.
A. Veronica Fernandes.
KUWAITCHE GOENCAR
(1)
Korench kalliz dhukan roddlem, Kuwait Goencarank kitem ghoddlem
Auchitt noxibant tanchea, poieat kotta, Zoglaunem marlem voddlem
Kuwait kitlem tanche asson, ritea hatanim, ieunchem poddlem
Kiteak dhonia tuvem, noxibeant tanchea boroilelem oslem
(Chorus)
Ponchvis tis vorsam, Kuwait kam corun, goencar Goeam ieunk chintale
Zaitench kam korun, kitem mevta tem gheun, kuxal jieunk sodtale
Auchit chitnam tanchim varear uboun ghelim, dhonia ukodd tuje dolle
Kitem vait tanchem dislem, konnak nirminakaim oslem, magtam tuje kodde
(2)
Auchit Kuwait ghodbod zaun, sabar zannache halawal zalet
Kitleam chedvam bailanche, tea Irakheanim "rape" passun kelet
Korench te kalliz naslole, lokancheo vostu passun gheun ghelet
Poieat kitle bhau amche, soglench Kuwait soddun, xekhim goeam paulet
(Chorus)
Kuwaitcheam geancarin cancer hospitalak, zaite dudu dadlele
Konknichea velar,tosench martyrranchea fundak, lakhani dudu patoile
Kuwaitkaranchea adharan, zaite bav amche, montri passun zalole
Pun amche bhav Kuwait, trassant aslele tedna, rostear mat heunk visorle
(3)
Kuwaitche goencar munon lokh, Goeam tenkam bottam dakoitat
Tanchem jevlem khal'lole munis poieat aiz tenkam varear uboitat
Korench the Goeam etalet mun, goemcar dhonde choloitat
Anik te Kuwait vechenam, tanche lagim dudu meunchena,
osseo tancheo khobro kortat.
(Chorus)
Goencar don paut fottoule, tisre pautt fottouna zaunk aum magtam,
Ekdam Arikache dadlele, atam Kuwaitche ailet, kalzant taun aum khountoutam
Tumchea ghamache dudu, Goa xarant daddat, pordeshant dori nakat
Tumchea koxtanchem ek ghor, Goeam xarant bhandunk, tumi visronakat
Kuwait xanti zaun tumi porte vochounk, haunv deva lagim magtam.
Composed on 10th August 1990 by:
JERRY CAL,
EXECUTIVE CHEF,
Al Mazel Hotel,
Abu Dhabi,
UAE.
OBITUATY - THE LATE MR. FRANCO.
To: The Family of Mr. Joaquim Mariano Franco
It was with a great sense of loss when we heard of Mr. Franco's death.
May God give you strength.
Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with you.
May his soul rest in peace.
With our deepest sympathy,
Carmo Santos, Chairman
& President and Managing Committee & Members
of Goan Cultural Centre - Kuwait
It was with a great sense of loss when we heard of Mr. Franco's death.
May God give you strength.
Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with you.
May his soul rest in peace.
With our deepest sympathy,
Carmo Santos, Chairman
& President and Managing Committee & Members
of Goan Cultural Centre - Kuwait
Goan footballers dejected at being ignored for Arjuna awards
Climax Lawrence
Indian footballers were disappointed after being ignored for the fifth consecutive time for the prestigious Arjuna awards.
This year four footballers - Mahesh Gawli, Deepak Mondal, Climax Lawrence and Renedy Singh - were nominated by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) but none was selected despite the Indian team's winning run in the last one year.
AIFF secretary general Alberto Colaco, sounding helpless, said: "if the selection committee does not select any footballer what can we do".
I.M. Vijayan was the last footballer to receive the Arjuna Award in 2003.
This year four footballers - Mahesh Gawli, Deepak Mondal, Climax Lawrence and Renedy Singh - were nominated by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) but none was selected despite the Indian team's winning run in the last one year.
AIFF secretary general Alberto Colaco, sounding helpless, said: "if the selection committee does not select any footballer what can we do".
I.M. Vijayan was the last footballer to receive the Arjuna Award in 2003.
"I think they don't consider football as a sport. We just had two losses over a period of one year. Can you show me one reason why we don't deserve it? The awards are given to undeserving candidates and it has always happened like that," Gawli told IANS.
The Dempo defender also spoke for his club coach Armando Colaco, whose name was recommended for the Dronacharya Award.
"I think he is one of the best coaches in the country. He even helped Dempo qualify for the AFC Champions League. Do you have any coach in any discipline with Armando's credentials?" asked Gawli.
India captain Bhaichung Bhutia, who received the Arjuna exactly a decade back, also wore a disappointed look after learning that none of his teammates was selected.
"Obviously it is very disappointing when the efforts are not recognised. Having received the Arjuna, I know the importance of it," said Bhutia, who is a member of the committee that decides the Arjuna awards.
Bhutia though was unable to attend the meeting of the committee as he was doing national duty.
Asked whether the AIFF is doing enough to back its players for the award, Bhutia said: "The federation at best can recommend the names of the players and it depends on the committee to decide who are the deserving players. And if the efforts of the footballers are not recognised, what can the federation do?"
Defender Mondal said that it was demoralising for the players to be treeated in this manner.
(Forwarded by gaspersWorld)
August 8, 2008
LABOUR UNREST IN KUWAIT.
LABOUR UNREST IN KUWAIT.
These days in Kuwait lot of problems are going on between Bangladeshi Cleaners and their employers who accuse their employers of giving them poor salaries and that also not in time. The Cleaners have organised Strikes and created law and order situation. Many of them were arrested and deported to Bangladesh. These deportees were in hundreds of hundreds.
On this topic earlier I wrote in the local Kuwait Times and its copy reproduced in this forum. Again on third of this month I wrote in Kuwait Times as reproduced herebelow:
Where are all the human rights activities gone now leaving the onus on Kuwait Times to fight so forefully against those who are trampling under their feet human rights of poor expatriates? It is sad that many of the Cleaners were deported for crossing the permissible line of control but even then they stand to lose nothing much because they were earning nothing much either.
During my last so many years of stay in Kuwait I have been a witness to many of the tragedies happening in Kuwait. First was the collapse of Soukh Mannakh in eighties, the second was the most tragic event, that is, the vicious invasion of Kuwait and the third is the recent problem of Cleaners. The problem of the staff of cleaning companies was expected because they were over exploited, at home by the recruiting agents and again in Kuwait by their employers. Their Embassy should also accept a small percentage of the blame for not educating their manpower properly back at home on the genuine happenings in Kuwait.
When nothing worked in their favour, the proletarians who were hungry for food and thirsty for water finally took to the streets in accordance with Karl Marx in Das Kapital which tells the exploited farmers to “take up your Sickles and start your fight for your rights. In this fight you stand to lose nothing. However, if at all you lose, you will lose only your Sickles but if you win, you will win your full rights”.
The striking Cleaners must have never known who is Karl Marx and what is Das Kapital but thru their own ingenuity they followed Karl Marx in some way or the other. In their recent awakening in support of their rights they lost nothing in losing their jobs and facing the deportation but only their meager monthly income of 18 Kuwaiti Dinars (about 3 thousand Indian Rupees) which is as good as nothing in this rich country. However, by creating their awakening they made their colleagues to gain more income, as per reports KD 40/- per month which though peanuts in the present living standard of Kuwait but the difference between 18 and 40 KD is very big. It is a real victory for them in their fight for their rights.
Kudos to Kuwait Times for solidly standing behind the heavily exploited expatriate Cleaners in getting them some justice though it was not a full fledged justice. Kuwait Times has created history in late seventies, somewhere in 1977 when it stood by the poor expatriate tenants when they were exorbitantly taxed by the sudden heavy increase in Flats Rent in Kuwait by the greedy Kuwaiti buildings owners. The pictorial front page reports appearing in Kuwait Times at that time created chills in the spine of the authorities leading even to suspend Kuwait Times for one full week to prevent further exposure. But Kuwait Times never cared though it faced suspension. In the end victory came for the tenants thru legal way. This is the power of the Press and power of the Pen which is said “mightier than sword”. The power of the Pen created not only havoc but even revolutions. The trend that is set in motion now by Kuwait Times should be carried forward till full victory is gained by the proletarians and all other exploited expatriates.
Though I support proletarians in their battle for their rights but I disagree with the methods of using violence by the Cleaners in their recent strike. They could have easily got what they already got by following peaceful methods and not by burning Tyres, stoning houses and overturning cars. They must know to obey the laws of the country they are working and accordingly they should follow the peaceful methods. It is not necessary to follow only Karl Marx methods to gain their rights. They could easily follow the methods Mahatma Gandhi used against the mighty British colonial power. By following peaceful methods Gandhiji gained full freedom for India. He never used nor advocated violent methods in his campaign to get his rights and demands.
While concluding, I implore upon Kuwait Times to educate the locals to create a good image of them by not exploiting the weaker segments of the expatriate labour force. Kuwait needs more support and goodwill from all the communities and nationalities. During the invasion of Kuwait and also after its liberation Bangladesh Government and its people firmly stood by Kuwait. To prevent this region from further falling into the tyrant Saddam Hussein’s hands, Gen. Ershad of Bangladesh sent special military troops to Saudi Arabia to guard and to protect the holy places in Saudi Arabia. Many of the relatives of the exploited and deported Cleaners must have lost their precious lives while protecting this region and also while defusing the Mines in Kuwait put by the retreating defeated Iraqi troops. Their sacrifices in protecting this region and particularly this country should be appreciated and rewarded by being considerate to their Cleaning staff. The way they work in Kuwait for keeping this country clean nobody else will work. By not renewing their Iqamas(Residence Permits) they will not be much sufferers because they are accustomed to “living under poverty line” back home. But will Kuwait manage with substitute manpower from some other countries with the pittance of salaries like the current Cleaners are getting? Is there any country in the world ready to send its manpower for KD 18/- salary per month and with innumerable restrictions? I doubt.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Safat, Kuwait.
These days in Kuwait lot of problems are going on between Bangladeshi Cleaners and their employers who accuse their employers of giving them poor salaries and that also not in time. The Cleaners have organised Strikes and created law and order situation. Many of them were arrested and deported to Bangladesh. These deportees were in hundreds of hundreds.
On this topic earlier I wrote in the local Kuwait Times and its copy reproduced in this forum. Again on third of this month I wrote in Kuwait Times as reproduced herebelow:
Where are all the human rights activities gone now leaving the onus on Kuwait Times to fight so forefully against those who are trampling under their feet human rights of poor expatriates? It is sad that many of the Cleaners were deported for crossing the permissible line of control but even then they stand to lose nothing much because they were earning nothing much either.
During my last so many years of stay in Kuwait I have been a witness to many of the tragedies happening in Kuwait. First was the collapse of Soukh Mannakh in eighties, the second was the most tragic event, that is, the vicious invasion of Kuwait and the third is the recent problem of Cleaners. The problem of the staff of cleaning companies was expected because they were over exploited, at home by the recruiting agents and again in Kuwait by their employers. Their Embassy should also accept a small percentage of the blame for not educating their manpower properly back at home on the genuine happenings in Kuwait.
When nothing worked in their favour, the proletarians who were hungry for food and thirsty for water finally took to the streets in accordance with Karl Marx in Das Kapital which tells the exploited farmers to “take up your Sickles and start your fight for your rights. In this fight you stand to lose nothing. However, if at all you lose, you will lose only your Sickles but if you win, you will win your full rights”.
The striking Cleaners must have never known who is Karl Marx and what is Das Kapital but thru their own ingenuity they followed Karl Marx in some way or the other. In their recent awakening in support of their rights they lost nothing in losing their jobs and facing the deportation but only their meager monthly income of 18 Kuwaiti Dinars (about 3 thousand Indian Rupees) which is as good as nothing in this rich country. However, by creating their awakening they made their colleagues to gain more income, as per reports KD 40/- per month which though peanuts in the present living standard of Kuwait but the difference between 18 and 40 KD is very big. It is a real victory for them in their fight for their rights.
Kudos to Kuwait Times for solidly standing behind the heavily exploited expatriate Cleaners in getting them some justice though it was not a full fledged justice. Kuwait Times has created history in late seventies, somewhere in 1977 when it stood by the poor expatriate tenants when they were exorbitantly taxed by the sudden heavy increase in Flats Rent in Kuwait by the greedy Kuwaiti buildings owners. The pictorial front page reports appearing in Kuwait Times at that time created chills in the spine of the authorities leading even to suspend Kuwait Times for one full week to prevent further exposure. But Kuwait Times never cared though it faced suspension. In the end victory came for the tenants thru legal way. This is the power of the Press and power of the Pen which is said “mightier than sword”. The power of the Pen created not only havoc but even revolutions. The trend that is set in motion now by Kuwait Times should be carried forward till full victory is gained by the proletarians and all other exploited expatriates.
Though I support proletarians in their battle for their rights but I disagree with the methods of using violence by the Cleaners in their recent strike. They could have easily got what they already got by following peaceful methods and not by burning Tyres, stoning houses and overturning cars. They must know to obey the laws of the country they are working and accordingly they should follow the peaceful methods. It is not necessary to follow only Karl Marx methods to gain their rights. They could easily follow the methods Mahatma Gandhi used against the mighty British colonial power. By following peaceful methods Gandhiji gained full freedom for India. He never used nor advocated violent methods in his campaign to get his rights and demands.
While concluding, I implore upon Kuwait Times to educate the locals to create a good image of them by not exploiting the weaker segments of the expatriate labour force. Kuwait needs more support and goodwill from all the communities and nationalities. During the invasion of Kuwait and also after its liberation Bangladesh Government and its people firmly stood by Kuwait. To prevent this region from further falling into the tyrant Saddam Hussein’s hands, Gen. Ershad of Bangladesh sent special military troops to Saudi Arabia to guard and to protect the holy places in Saudi Arabia. Many of the relatives of the exploited and deported Cleaners must have lost their precious lives while protecting this region and also while defusing the Mines in Kuwait put by the retreating defeated Iraqi troops. Their sacrifices in protecting this region and particularly this country should be appreciated and rewarded by being considerate to their Cleaning staff. The way they work in Kuwait for keeping this country clean nobody else will work. By not renewing their Iqamas(Residence Permits) they will not be much sufferers because they are accustomed to “living under poverty line” back home. But will Kuwait manage with substitute manpower from some other countries with the pittance of salaries like the current Cleaners are getting? Is there any country in the world ready to send its manpower for KD 18/- salary per month and with innumerable restrictions? I doubt.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Safat, Kuwait.
August 6, 2008
JERRY CAL & HIS LOVE FOR KUWAIT.
Dear Jerry Cal,
Thanks for the nice email in this forum in goa.kranti on 5.8.08 in response to my article “SECOND AUGUST”. You were on vacation in Goa during the time of the invasion of Kuwait. I was busy in organizing our movement in support of Kuwait under GOA-KUWAIT SOLIDARITY CENTER in Goa at Panjim. Amongst the tiatrists you were the only person who highlighted boldly and more openly our plight at that time from the Stage. Some tiatrists in spite of being our beneficiaries in so many ways mocked at us at our plight from the stage. It was during that particular time I realized how in tiatr fraternity some tiatrists could stoop to such a low level. Instead of supporting and sympathizing with us during our difficult time they used the stage to mock at us and to criticize us. It was not the right time for them to hurt us when we were already hurt and got hurt terribly. Amongst the tiatrists Jerry Cal you were the only person who solidly stood by us from the stage even though you were on vacation in Goa from Abu Dhabi at that time. Besides, you were not the beneficiary of our help like many of the “Beiman” tiatrists and "Beiman Padris" and "Beiman Madris" who after receiving so much of donations from us showed not only their "Konko" to us but also shamelessly their "Bonko".
Tiatrists and priest from Goa were the biggest beneficiaries of us from Kuwait but during that time both turned against us by criticizing us. Though some did this mischief but rest of them kept their silence thereby giving an impression that they are the silent acceptors of the criticism leveled against us. You Jerry Cal were the only tiatrist stood by us solidly. Your song in support of Kuwait and Kuwaitkars put every other person in Tiatro fraternity into shame especially those who enjoyed our benefits. I heard your song twice once in Remy Colaco’s Tiatro at Calangute and once at Rosary Ferns Tiatro at Benaulim and at both the places you were applauded most fabulously. You were the only tiatrist among all other so called gigantic tiatrists who rendered such a wonderful song during that time which was a big consolation for the Kuwait evacuees’ hurt feelings. Some of the lines of your songs I still remember and note these lines herebelow:
Kuwaitche Goykar mhonn, aiz tankam bhottam dakoitat,
Tanchem jevlem khallolem, poiyat koxe te tankam varear uboitat,
Khorench te Goyam etalet mhonn, Goyenkar dhonde choloitat,
Pun tech Goykar aiz tankam varear uboitat.
Kuwaitchea Goykarani Goa Cancer hospitalak zaitench dilolem,
Konknnichea vellar, toxench martirancheai fundak, lakahni duddu daddlolet,
Thodde amche bhau, Kuwaitkaranchea adharan, montri passun zalole,
Pun Kuwait amche bhau, trassan aslet tedna, rostear mat evunk vissorlet.
When this song Jerry Cal rendered at Benaulim, Churchill Alemao as Minister was the chief guest who listening to this song was totally stunned and made especial mention of this song and Jerry Cal with full of admiration. In Calangute and Mapusa and Panjim when this song was rendered everyone applauded the singer very fabulously. Such was the power and matter of that song Jerry Cal composed and rendered. Of course to the admiration of the audience. No tiatrist in Goa rendered such a powerful and intelligent song in support of Kuwait and Kuwaitkars during that time.
Jerry Cal was my school and classmate at Arpora. He was a good student and very good sportsman, champion in Table Tennis and Cycle Race. He was my classmate at Arpora till our SSC. He was well known in his locality at Calangute. After finishing his SSC he went to Bombay for further studies in Cateering at Taj and from there he went to Abu Dhabi. From there he was sent to Germany, Holland and other European States for further studies in Cateering. Currently he is working in Abu Dhabi since long time and involved in the promotion of Goan and Konkani causes. He is very active in Goan affairs in UAE. He helped many Goans in getting jobs in Abu Dhabi and also in their recruitment. Married to a nice girl from his own village Calangute, Bai Thresa who worked for many years in the Bank (Hongkong Sanghai Bank Corp) also at Abu Dhabi and now a father of four lovely children, 3 girls one of them studying in London and one son. In Abu Dhabi he helped Goa based Goan Triatro troupes to come to UAE. Helped many tiatrists in promoting them. Helped Fr. Freddy J. D. Costa in raising funds for "Gulab" Magazine by helping in organising "Utt Goykara" Tiatro. Brought many needy Goans to Abu Dhabi and got them employed there. During the invasion of Kuwait, he along with others helped some Kuwait evacuees who landed in Abu Dhabi and even helped them to return to Goa and for others got them jobs.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
Thanks for the nice email in this forum in goa.kranti on 5.8.08 in response to my article “SECOND AUGUST”. You were on vacation in Goa during the time of the invasion of Kuwait. I was busy in organizing our movement in support of Kuwait under GOA-KUWAIT SOLIDARITY CENTER in Goa at Panjim. Amongst the tiatrists you were the only person who highlighted boldly and more openly our plight at that time from the Stage. Some tiatrists in spite of being our beneficiaries in so many ways mocked at us at our plight from the stage. It was during that particular time I realized how in tiatr fraternity some tiatrists could stoop to such a low level. Instead of supporting and sympathizing with us during our difficult time they used the stage to mock at us and to criticize us. It was not the right time for them to hurt us when we were already hurt and got hurt terribly. Amongst the tiatrists Jerry Cal you were the only person who solidly stood by us from the stage even though you were on vacation in Goa from Abu Dhabi at that time. Besides, you were not the beneficiary of our help like many of the “Beiman” tiatrists and "Beiman Padris" and "Beiman Madris" who after receiving so much of donations from us showed not only their "Konko" to us but also shamelessly their "Bonko".
Tiatrists and priest from Goa were the biggest beneficiaries of us from Kuwait but during that time both turned against us by criticizing us. Though some did this mischief but rest of them kept their silence thereby giving an impression that they are the silent acceptors of the criticism leveled against us. You Jerry Cal were the only tiatrist stood by us solidly. Your song in support of Kuwait and Kuwaitkars put every other person in Tiatro fraternity into shame especially those who enjoyed our benefits. I heard your song twice once in Remy Colaco’s Tiatro at Calangute and once at Rosary Ferns Tiatro at Benaulim and at both the places you were applauded most fabulously. You were the only tiatrist among all other so called gigantic tiatrists who rendered such a wonderful song during that time which was a big consolation for the Kuwait evacuees’ hurt feelings. Some of the lines of your songs I still remember and note these lines herebelow:
Kuwaitche Goykar mhonn, aiz tankam bhottam dakoitat,
Tanchem jevlem khallolem, poiyat koxe te tankam varear uboitat,
Khorench te Goyam etalet mhonn, Goyenkar dhonde choloitat,
Pun tech Goykar aiz tankam varear uboitat.
Kuwaitchea Goykarani Goa Cancer hospitalak zaitench dilolem,
Konknnichea vellar, toxench martirancheai fundak, lakahni duddu daddlolet,
Thodde amche bhau, Kuwaitkaranchea adharan, montri passun zalole,
Pun Kuwait amche bhau, trassan aslet tedna, rostear mat evunk vissorlet.
When this song Jerry Cal rendered at Benaulim, Churchill Alemao as Minister was the chief guest who listening to this song was totally stunned and made especial mention of this song and Jerry Cal with full of admiration. In Calangute and Mapusa and Panjim when this song was rendered everyone applauded the singer very fabulously. Such was the power and matter of that song Jerry Cal composed and rendered. Of course to the admiration of the audience. No tiatrist in Goa rendered such a powerful and intelligent song in support of Kuwait and Kuwaitkars during that time.
Jerry Cal was my school and classmate at Arpora. He was a good student and very good sportsman, champion in Table Tennis and Cycle Race. He was my classmate at Arpora till our SSC. He was well known in his locality at Calangute. After finishing his SSC he went to Bombay for further studies in Cateering at Taj and from there he went to Abu Dhabi. From there he was sent to Germany, Holland and other European States for further studies in Cateering. Currently he is working in Abu Dhabi since long time and involved in the promotion of Goan and Konkani causes. He is very active in Goan affairs in UAE. He helped many Goans in getting jobs in Abu Dhabi and also in their recruitment. Married to a nice girl from his own village Calangute, Bai Thresa who worked for many years in the Bank (Hongkong Sanghai Bank Corp) also at Abu Dhabi and now a father of four lovely children, 3 girls one of them studying in London and one son. In Abu Dhabi he helped Goa based Goan Triatro troupes to come to UAE. Helped many tiatrists in promoting them. Helped Fr. Freddy J. D. Costa in raising funds for "Gulab" Magazine by helping in organising "Utt Goykara" Tiatro. Brought many needy Goans to Abu Dhabi and got them employed there. During the invasion of Kuwait, he along with others helped some Kuwait evacuees who landed in Abu Dhabi and even helped them to return to Goa and for others got them jobs.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
August 5, 2008
In reply to SECOND AUGUST
Dear Anthony Veronica.
Nice for reminding of the sad n black day in kuwait, 2nd AUGUST 1990. When i heard this news my first thougth came in my mind that is, you ANTHONY VERONICA may be in problem in kuwait. Then immediately i tried to call you but there was no reply from your side. Really veronica i was so upset about the news n even i called Goa to find out about you n other my friends, what they are suffering in kuwait. I know you all suffered a lot but after seven months you n others returned to work in kuwait. I know during the invasion you Kuwait evacuees were mocked by many and especially by those who received your donations and help financial but God was with you and with Kuwait. Never forget Kuwait and its leadership. Because of Kuwait and Gulf we Goans made lot of developments. Pray for Kuwait's security.
You must be remembering veronica i composed a nice song on invasion, your donations to Goa and how you Kuwait Goans helped so many people and how they stabbed you when Iraq invaded Kuwait. This song I sang in Remmie J. Colaco's Tiatro in many parts of Goa and also in Rosary Ferns Tiatro and how people liked it. The title of the song KUWAITCHE GOENKAR. Even M. Boyer and Remmie hugged me tightly for this song while the rest of the artistes congratulated me.
Once again Veronica Bravo for your Socond Augaust article and keep on writing like this so that memory of this date is not erased.
Your writings have made goa.Kranti a force to reckon with.
Mog assundhi.
Jerry Call,
Abu Dhabi/Calangute.
Nice for reminding of the sad n black day in kuwait, 2nd AUGUST 1990. When i heard this news my first thougth came in my mind that is, you ANTHONY VERONICA may be in problem in kuwait. Then immediately i tried to call you but there was no reply from your side. Really veronica i was so upset about the news n even i called Goa to find out about you n other my friends, what they are suffering in kuwait. I know you all suffered a lot but after seven months you n others returned to work in kuwait. I know during the invasion you Kuwait evacuees were mocked by many and especially by those who received your donations and help financial but God was with you and with Kuwait. Never forget Kuwait and its leadership. Because of Kuwait and Gulf we Goans made lot of developments. Pray for Kuwait's security.
You must be remembering veronica i composed a nice song on invasion, your donations to Goa and how you Kuwait Goans helped so many people and how they stabbed you when Iraq invaded Kuwait. This song I sang in Remmie J. Colaco's Tiatro in many parts of Goa and also in Rosary Ferns Tiatro and how people liked it. The title of the song KUWAITCHE GOENKAR. Even M. Boyer and Remmie hugged me tightly for this song while the rest of the artistes congratulated me.
Once again Veronica Bravo for your Socond Augaust article and keep on writing like this so that memory of this date is not erased.
Your writings have made goa.Kranti a force to reckon with.
Mog assundhi.
Jerry Call,
Abu Dhabi/Calangute.
August 3, 2008
Nightmare of the 1990 Invasion
Photo: Remains of a Iraqi convoy on the Jahra Highway, Kuwait, during the Gulf War 1990 Nightmare of the 1990 Invasion
-By Esparansa Crasto, Kuwait
August 2nd, 1990 was not like any other day.
It was a day Iraq invaded Kuwait. Iraq's leader, Saddam Hussein ordered the invasion and occupation of Kuwait with the apparent aim of acquiring Kuwait’s large oil reserves.
The most horrible part was to experience the invasion.
I was a happy little girl living in Kuwait with my parents and brother. Not in our wildest dreams did we think that we would have to face a traumatic Invasion.
2nd August 1990
We were woken up by a bomb explosion at around 5 o’clock in the morning. Our flat was on the 4th floor, the building just opposite His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah's palace (Sharq). The explosion shook our building. We dashed to the windows to look if we could see anything outside. There were jet planes flying all around at low heights. We wondered for a moment what it was all about and discarded it to be a rehearsal by the Kuwaiti soldiers.
The next moment, our telephone rang. It was my aunt who lived in another area. I answered it and came to know what had happened. I informed my family that Iraqis had entered Kuwait.
“What’s so great about that!” My brother exclaimed, “They always come and go out of Kuwait.”
We laughed not realizing the intensity of the situation or what was to happen next.
None of us took the news seriously and hence dad left for work as usual. Later, we realized what my aunt said was true. The Iraqis were not just visiting Kuwait, they had captured Kuwait. There were shootings everywhere.
We looked further down the road towards the Sheikh’s palace. There were explosions there and part of the palace was in smoke. We came to know later that Sheikh Jaber’s life was saved as he had escaped the attack earlier that morning.
My mother, brother and I watched scenes of frightful shooting going on just outside our building. Our windows were quite large, so we could watch everything clearly. Hundreds of Kuwaiti soldiers were captured and made to sit with hands over their heads on the open ground in front of our building. A number of helicopters flew overhead like shoals of fish in the sea.
It was a day Iraq invaded Kuwait. Iraq's leader, Saddam Hussein ordered the invasion and occupation of Kuwait with the apparent aim of acquiring Kuwait’s large oil reserves.
The most horrible part was to experience the invasion.
I was a happy little girl living in Kuwait with my parents and brother. Not in our wildest dreams did we think that we would have to face a traumatic Invasion.
2nd August 1990
We were woken up by a bomb explosion at around 5 o’clock in the morning. Our flat was on the 4th floor, the building just opposite His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah's palace (Sharq). The explosion shook our building. We dashed to the windows to look if we could see anything outside. There were jet planes flying all around at low heights. We wondered for a moment what it was all about and discarded it to be a rehearsal by the Kuwaiti soldiers.
The next moment, our telephone rang. It was my aunt who lived in another area. I answered it and came to know what had happened. I informed my family that Iraqis had entered Kuwait.
“What’s so great about that!” My brother exclaimed, “They always come and go out of Kuwait.”
We laughed not realizing the intensity of the situation or what was to happen next.
None of us took the news seriously and hence dad left for work as usual. Later, we realized what my aunt said was true. The Iraqis were not just visiting Kuwait, they had captured Kuwait. There were shootings everywhere.
We looked further down the road towards the Sheikh’s palace. There were explosions there and part of the palace was in smoke. We came to know later that Sheikh Jaber’s life was saved as he had escaped the attack earlier that morning.
My mother, brother and I watched scenes of frightful shooting going on just outside our building. Our windows were quite large, so we could watch everything clearly. Hundreds of Kuwaiti soldiers were captured and made to sit with hands over their heads on the open ground in front of our building. A number of helicopters flew overhead like shoals of fish in the sea.
Iraqi army tanks were everywhere while a helicopter hovered just a few feet above our building. One of the soldiers in the helicopter saw us watching from the window and screamed from the skies. My mother immediately pulled us away from the window as another soldier pointed his rifle at us. Next moment, the window pane was a sound of splintered glass. It was a gunshot. We were shocked, and stunned by such a narrow escape. If my mother hadn't pulled us away, any one of us could have been shot. Later, we found the bullet had ripped through a booklet of Mother Mary.The telephone rang again.
We were relieved to hear dad’s voice. He confirmed that Iraq had indeed invaded Kuwait but failed in their main mission of killing the Sheikh. Dad also said that he was trying to return home inspite of the Iraqi soldiers blocking the roads, and unnecessarily killing and beating up innocent people.
At about 10.00 am an armed battalion of Iraqi soldiers entered our building. Their guns had shining, sharp knives at the top of the barrels. Some of the soldiers were badly wounded. They ordered all the people in the building to be assembled together. Everyone obeyed as the shooting continued across the street.
One Egyptian man in our building communicated with the Iraqis and served them snacks and cold drinks. We were told that everyone could leave the building if we wanted to. Just then, we saw a Kuwaiti being shot dead right next to the building. His body lied there covered with white cloth. It was a terrible sight...
Watching these horror incidents, almost everybody in the building decided to stay back inside instead of risking their lives in the open. When the Iraqis were told this, they loaded the building elevator with bombs which would be detonated if the ‘Lift’ was used.
It was noon and our building was still detained. My mother requested the officers to allow her to telephone dad so she could inform him to avoid coming to the building or using the 'Lift'. Two soldiers pointed their guns at her head while she spoke over the phone.
Finally, the soldiers left the building at around 4 pm.
The whole night we neither ate nor slept. We were frightened, thinking we would be either captured or killed. We just kept praying, too scared even to talk loudly or look out through the windows.
Dad was stuck up at his work place for 3 continuous days. We spoke to him over the phone and kept assuring him that all was well at our end. He was back with us safely on the 4th day. We hugged him, happy to see him with us again.
From that day onwards, not a day passed without the shooting. Every night was full of fears and the days full of unexpected happenings. There was a curfew imposed by the Iraqis in the locality; anyone seen on the streets after 7.30 pm would be shot dead.
We stayed this way for 2 months, thinking the Iraqis would leave and life would be peaceful again. We kept one traveller's bag with just our passports and a set of clothes ready to flee at first opportunity.
Local newspapers and media had come to an absolute end. Iraqi channels were telecast on Kuwait TV. There was no communication with our granny and all our dear ones back home in Goa. We came to understand through the Indian Embassy announcement that Indians were asked to leave as there were signs of further escalation to the situation and an approaching war.We finally set out to leave Kuwait. We reached our homeland after 9 long days of staying in camps in our journey from Kuwait through Iraq to Jordan from where we boarded a flight to India.
There were heavy showers as our plane landed Bombay. My brother was ecstatic as he yelled with joy for everyone on board to hear, “Look! Our motherland is crying happy tears today for we are back to our country safe and alive.”
==========================================
(The above article was first published in a college magazine)
About the writer: Esparansa Crasto
==========================================
==========================================
August 2, 2008
SECOND AUGUST.
SECOND AUGUST.
Second of August will go down in the history of mankind not only as the date of brutal invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq but also the date of betrayal. On this date in 1990 one Arab country Iraq betrayed another Arab country Kuwait, one Muslim country Iraq betrayed another Muslim country Kuwait, with a Judas kiss. Incidentally both countries are members of OIC which forbids settlement of bilateral disputes thru the military force. Inspite of helping Iraq in diverse ways, how the Bathist regime of Saddam Hussein dared to invade Kuwait was beyond my comprehension. Though Iraq invaded Kuwait and made its citizens miserable yet I admired them for facing this invasion so boldly and keeping full trust in their leadership in regaining their motherland. In this invasion there was not only the betrayal of one country by another country but in this invasion the human tendency of Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus Christ was surfaced openly. In this invasion, to put it figuratively, I also saw my own brother, my own sister, my own parents and other family members deserting me with a shock of betrayal which I was never expecting. In this invasion the real human character was exposed when almost everyone deserted us. The invasion of Kuwait will remain in the history as Synonym with Betrayal.
I am from Goa and during the period prior to the invasion of Kuwait, many of us used all our energies and resources to help financially the needy in Goa. The major beneficiaries of our aid were priests and nuns. But when we were caught in the invasion and many of us were turned pauper our evaluation was done very cheaply by all those who received so much of financial aid from us. The very priests and nuns and the very people who received so much of donations from us started taunting us the moment Kuwait went into the hands of Iraq. We from Kuwait financed Konkani movement, built Hospitals, Schools, Church Projects, Community Halls and aided many other projects for the cause of community. The enormous donation for the establishment of monthly magazine “Gulab” and its Printing Press was raised by us from Kuwait. But unfortunately, none of the recipients of our donations openly sided with us in Goa. During the invasion of Kuwait for so many months in Goa we were involved actively in organizing our movement to raise Goan voice in support of the liberation of Kuwait by putting pressure on the Government of India to openly condemn Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and to support loudly the process of liberation of Kuwait.
While we were actively campaigning so hard by organizing our public meetings and rallies none of the recipients of our donations associated with us. The then editor of “Gulab” who not only not associated with us inspite of coming so many times to Kuwait to collect huge funds for his Press but he also taunted us for our plight and used Gulab to belittle the donors. My biggest regret goes on Goa Church and its priests who were keeping a distance from us when we were organizing our movement though in other movements, public rallies and public meetings they were the first to come on to the streets of Goa in huge number. There is a campaign now, in our midst, going on to collect funds for “Gulab” who’s the then editor never supported us openly. Some of the people involved in this fund collection campaign were equally guilty of not supporting openly and publicly our cause for the sake of Kuwait from where they earned and still earning their sustenance. By acting thus they showed their true unGoan colours towards Kuwait. Goans in Kuwait who got love and gratitude for Kuwait must reject them. In one way at least I have already rejected them by saying NO to their request for an interview for Gulab because I cannot be cheap with cheap people having traitors mentality. It is a shame for a true lover and supporter of Kuwait to accede to the wishes of the traitors.
Another betrayal that I noticed was from our own family members in the aftermath of invasion of Kuwait. It was during this period that I noticed how parents deserted sons who earlier helped them so much financially; wives deserting husbands and husbands to wives, girlfriends leaving boyfriends and vice versa, sisters rejected brothers and brothers rejected sisters, friends disowning friends and recipients of donations repelling the donors. All for the sake of money because with the invasion of Kuwait many of us have lost our financial power and hence we were rejected. Good that Kuwait was liberated in 7 months only otherwise the fate of many of us would have been terrible. As it is with our own eyes I have seen how so many people suffered because they were not recalled back to Kuwait.
Kuwait is like an Oasis for many of us who are thirsty for money. This is the country that made Heroes of many of our Zeroes. This is the country that elevated social and financial status of many of us. To work here and come up in life one does not need the same requirements as they are required back at home. The biggest beneficiary of employment in Kuwait was the person coming from financially backward segment. The financially weak person receives strength when he comes to Kuwait. I was also weak and like me innumerable people working in Kuwait though however much they may show their false pride in their high status back at home. I am grateful to Kuwait for giving me what I could not get back at home though like others I am working hard to gain my sustenance under very difficult conditions. For this reason as a sign of gratitude, with the help of our colleagues and friends we showed our open solidarity with Kuwait by organizing a movement under “GOA–KUWAIT SOLIDARITY CENTER” which was never supported by any of the recipients of our donations including the then editor of Gulab nor those who are on forefront now to collect this fund.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
Second of August will go down in the history of mankind not only as the date of brutal invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq but also the date of betrayal. On this date in 1990 one Arab country Iraq betrayed another Arab country Kuwait, one Muslim country Iraq betrayed another Muslim country Kuwait, with a Judas kiss. Incidentally both countries are members of OIC which forbids settlement of bilateral disputes thru the military force. Inspite of helping Iraq in diverse ways, how the Bathist regime of Saddam Hussein dared to invade Kuwait was beyond my comprehension. Though Iraq invaded Kuwait and made its citizens miserable yet I admired them for facing this invasion so boldly and keeping full trust in their leadership in regaining their motherland. In this invasion there was not only the betrayal of one country by another country but in this invasion the human tendency of Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus Christ was surfaced openly. In this invasion, to put it figuratively, I also saw my own brother, my own sister, my own parents and other family members deserting me with a shock of betrayal which I was never expecting. In this invasion the real human character was exposed when almost everyone deserted us. The invasion of Kuwait will remain in the history as Synonym with Betrayal.
I am from Goa and during the period prior to the invasion of Kuwait, many of us used all our energies and resources to help financially the needy in Goa. The major beneficiaries of our aid were priests and nuns. But when we were caught in the invasion and many of us were turned pauper our evaluation was done very cheaply by all those who received so much of financial aid from us. The very priests and nuns and the very people who received so much of donations from us started taunting us the moment Kuwait went into the hands of Iraq. We from Kuwait financed Konkani movement, built Hospitals, Schools, Church Projects, Community Halls and aided many other projects for the cause of community. The enormous donation for the establishment of monthly magazine “Gulab” and its Printing Press was raised by us from Kuwait. But unfortunately, none of the recipients of our donations openly sided with us in Goa. During the invasion of Kuwait for so many months in Goa we were involved actively in organizing our movement to raise Goan voice in support of the liberation of Kuwait by putting pressure on the Government of India to openly condemn Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and to support loudly the process of liberation of Kuwait.
While we were actively campaigning so hard by organizing our public meetings and rallies none of the recipients of our donations associated with us. The then editor of “Gulab” who not only not associated with us inspite of coming so many times to Kuwait to collect huge funds for his Press but he also taunted us for our plight and used Gulab to belittle the donors. My biggest regret goes on Goa Church and its priests who were keeping a distance from us when we were organizing our movement though in other movements, public rallies and public meetings they were the first to come on to the streets of Goa in huge number. There is a campaign now, in our midst, going on to collect funds for “Gulab” who’s the then editor never supported us openly. Some of the people involved in this fund collection campaign were equally guilty of not supporting openly and publicly our cause for the sake of Kuwait from where they earned and still earning their sustenance. By acting thus they showed their true unGoan colours towards Kuwait. Goans in Kuwait who got love and gratitude for Kuwait must reject them. In one way at least I have already rejected them by saying NO to their request for an interview for Gulab because I cannot be cheap with cheap people having traitors mentality. It is a shame for a true lover and supporter of Kuwait to accede to the wishes of the traitors.
Another betrayal that I noticed was from our own family members in the aftermath of invasion of Kuwait. It was during this period that I noticed how parents deserted sons who earlier helped them so much financially; wives deserting husbands and husbands to wives, girlfriends leaving boyfriends and vice versa, sisters rejected brothers and brothers rejected sisters, friends disowning friends and recipients of donations repelling the donors. All for the sake of money because with the invasion of Kuwait many of us have lost our financial power and hence we were rejected. Good that Kuwait was liberated in 7 months only otherwise the fate of many of us would have been terrible. As it is with our own eyes I have seen how so many people suffered because they were not recalled back to Kuwait.
Kuwait is like an Oasis for many of us who are thirsty for money. This is the country that made Heroes of many of our Zeroes. This is the country that elevated social and financial status of many of us. To work here and come up in life one does not need the same requirements as they are required back at home. The biggest beneficiary of employment in Kuwait was the person coming from financially backward segment. The financially weak person receives strength when he comes to Kuwait. I was also weak and like me innumerable people working in Kuwait though however much they may show their false pride in their high status back at home. I am grateful to Kuwait for giving me what I could not get back at home though like others I am working hard to gain my sustenance under very difficult conditions. For this reason as a sign of gratitude, with the help of our colleagues and friends we showed our open solidarity with Kuwait by organizing a movement under “GOA–KUWAIT SOLIDARITY CENTER” which was never supported by any of the recipients of our donations including the then editor of Gulab nor those who are on forefront now to collect this fund.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
August 1, 2008
NRI Santano Afonso airs his views on UIEL - Panjim.
From: santana afonso
Fri, Aug 1, 2008 at 12:18 AM
To: goa.kranti@gmail.com
English institute not fake: faculty. What a tajurba? Without knowing the existence of the Universal Institute of English Language (UIEL) in Panjim Goa, which has been religiously offering good services to its students since its inception 2004, our Goa NRI Cell Chairman, Mr. John de Silva clarified that the institute is a faked and do not exist in Panjim Goa at all, said Ms. Sampada Pai. Even it had appeared in the Goan newspaper ‘O Herald’ on 26^th July 2008 “Bid to con Arab student foiled; Goa Institute turns fake”.
When I read the news on 26^th July 2008 on Herald, that a Qatari student enrolled at the institute was denied a visa by the Indian Embassy in Qatar due to the suspicious of the credentials of the institute.The Indian Embassy referred the case to the President of Qatar’s Goan Welfare Association, Mr. Simon D’silva to enquire about the institute’s existence in Goa. After checking with NRI Cell Goa as said, Mr. John de Silva, who informed him by email that the building given in the institute’s address do not exist and no contact could be made by telephone. On that day, I said to myself; in Goa, it cannot be…..and how come our goans would do the fake things to the Gulf Arabs? 90% of Goans are always grateful to all the Gulf Arabs because we earn our livings from these gulf oil countries.
As Ms. Sampada Pai who runs the institute clarified that their institute is not faked as claimed by the chairman of NRI Cell Goa, Mr. John de Silva who was quoted in the news item. Whereas Ms. Sampada said; our institute is registered with the authorities concerned and is operating from Flat No. 5 D, 5^th Floor, Neelkamal Arcade, near Rajdhani Hotel, Panjim – Goa. All our instructors are available in the institute office from 8 am to 8 pm on all working days. Ms. Sampada said that she suspected that some elements may be involved in tarnishing the image of the institute. The phones all are working and even the building exists in Panjim-Goa and we never received any phone call from Mr. John de Silva.
Jealousy is always in the blood of every goans either in Goa and worldwide. We never like to have the unity that’s why we have many organizations and associations between ourselves. Sometimes back in Kuwait a GOA NRI Cell’s delegation had visited and promised many things that they will adopt after listens the pleas of the overseas goans, such as Voting rights, Voting Cards, Less Airfares and many others, etc. NRI Cell fails to their promises and moreover they promised to their loyal friends who treat them while they were in the Gulf, Middle East, Europe and America with RRI Awards who do not deserve at all without consulting the NRI goans and nominations. Atlas, many NRI goans would be happy if the current chairman resigns from the post for the better.
Santana Piedade Afonso,
Kuwait/Goa.
Fri, Aug 1, 2008 at 12:18 AM
To: goa.kranti@gmail.com
English institute not fake: faculty. What a tajurba? Without knowing the existence of the Universal Institute of English Language (UIEL) in Panjim Goa, which has been religiously offering good services to its students since its inception 2004, our Goa NRI Cell Chairman, Mr. John de Silva clarified that the institute is a faked and do not exist in Panjim Goa at all, said Ms. Sampada Pai. Even it had appeared in the Goan newspaper ‘O Herald’ on 26^th July 2008 “Bid to con Arab student foiled; Goa Institute turns fake”.
When I read the news on 26^th July 2008 on Herald, that a Qatari student enrolled at the institute was denied a visa by the Indian Embassy in Qatar due to the suspicious of the credentials of the institute.The Indian Embassy referred the case to the President of Qatar’s Goan Welfare Association, Mr. Simon D’silva to enquire about the institute’s existence in Goa. After checking with NRI Cell Goa as said, Mr. John de Silva, who informed him by email that the building given in the institute’s address do not exist and no contact could be made by telephone. On that day, I said to myself; in Goa, it cannot be…..and how come our goans would do the fake things to the Gulf Arabs? 90% of Goans are always grateful to all the Gulf Arabs because we earn our livings from these gulf oil countries.
As Ms. Sampada Pai who runs the institute clarified that their institute is not faked as claimed by the chairman of NRI Cell Goa, Mr. John de Silva who was quoted in the news item. Whereas Ms. Sampada said; our institute is registered with the authorities concerned and is operating from Flat No. 5 D, 5^th Floor, Neelkamal Arcade, near Rajdhani Hotel, Panjim – Goa. All our instructors are available in the institute office from 8 am to 8 pm on all working days. Ms. Sampada said that she suspected that some elements may be involved in tarnishing the image of the institute. The phones all are working and even the building exists in Panjim-Goa and we never received any phone call from Mr. John de Silva.
Jealousy is always in the blood of every goans either in Goa and worldwide. We never like to have the unity that’s why we have many organizations and associations between ourselves. Sometimes back in Kuwait a GOA NRI Cell’s delegation had visited and promised many things that they will adopt after listens the pleas of the overseas goans, such as Voting rights, Voting Cards, Less Airfares and many others, etc. NRI Cell fails to their promises and moreover they promised to their loyal friends who treat them while they were in the Gulf, Middle East, Europe and America with RRI Awards who do not deserve at all without consulting the NRI goans and nominations. Atlas, many NRI goans would be happy if the current chairman resigns from the post for the better.
Santana Piedade Afonso,
Kuwait/Goa.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)