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.