New Konkani CD/VCD Reviews for KRANTI - by Daniel F. de Souza.

‘Don Rupam’ a well made VCD film.

I recently had the opportunity to watch the VCD film ‘Don Rupam’ written, directed and produced by Rose Ferns. The VCD film has an appealing storyline and a message worth taking at the end. Roseferns well known as a playwright and director once again excels with this VCD film, for its sheer quality.

‘Don Rupam’ is the story of a blind girl (Priya) and her sister who are both orphaned with the death of their parents in an road accident. Priya loses her sight on account of the accident. She is looked after and cared for by her sister. Joy a typical village youth travels to the big city to make his fortune and fate brings Priya and him together in a touching situation. Joy is a simpleton and is in the habit of asking silly and irritable questions to the annoyance of all who come in contact with him. At first sight he blindly falls for pretty Priya despite knowing the fact that she is blind.

He follows her everywhere and lends his morale support as she treads the path of life in total darkness. Priya too reciprocates his kindness and the two get along very well. Priya’s sister is happy for both of them. Joy is very loving and concerned despite his simplicity and Priya is comfortable in his company. But, then there is Nikhil a High Court advocate who has a soft corner for Priya too, but is spurned by her sister.

Priya needs to undergo an operation to restore her eyesight. The cost of the operation is 5 lakhs, and they have fifteen days time to arrange the money. A U.S. returned doctor Oscar is to conduct the surgery. The manner in which the money is raised for the operation and the subsequent result of the operation take the story forward to a very interesting end. There is a significant dose of suspense, which is the turning point of the film.

The operation conducted by Dr. Oscar is hundred percent successful, and Priya’s sight is fully restored. But the manner in which she reacts soon after getting back her sight is what brings one to the reality of how humans act and how their perception differs in changing situations. This in short is the central idea of ‘Don Rupam’ which brings to focus the underlying double nature of mortal humans.

The story is excellent and a equally good cinematography makes the film a very good presentation. Joywin Fernandes has done excellent job behind the camera and the editing too is good. A couple of songs in the film are not only well picturised but also have meaningful lyrics. The music by Lenoy Gomendes is befitting as also the playback singing for the songs. A fair amount of comedy is cleverly interspersed in the film at appropriate slots without interfering with the free flow of the main plot. Comedian Selvy is in great form as the harassed bus driver and combines well with Joy in humorous situations.

The film is shot at some beautiful outdoor locations as well as indoors with good light effects. Actors Roseferns, Ulhas Tari as Joy, Ageema, Kiran, Dezzy as blind Priya, Sydney, and comedians Sally & Comedian Selvy have all given natural performances in their respective roles making the film really a treat to watch. ‘Don Rupam’ is recommended to all Konkani VCD film lovers. Go for it!
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Manfa’s Golden Hits Vol 2 - hits the stands.

The spells of intermittent heavy showers lashing the State may have dampened the spirit of an average Goan so to say, but, at the same time it has been a good time for producers of audio and video CD Albums. During the last two months it has been raining audio and video CDs at regular intervals bringing cheers to the konkani music lovers. Of’course Manfa Music, Margao, in all probability, is surely the leader ruling the music scenario with new albums hitting the stands at regular intervals one after the other.

The latest audio album to leave the production line of Manfa Music is ‘Golden Hits’ Vol.2, besides a telefilm ‘Gantth’ of Mario Menezes, and a video music album of songs and jokes ‘Dev ani Dhorm’ of Lawry Travasso which have all been released on the trot in the market during the last few weeks.

Having heard the audio Music album ‘Golden Hits’ Vol.2 comprising of 15 selected hits of yester years sung by some big names of the Konkani stage I can safely vouch that Manfa Music has once again scored an Ace. ‘Golden Hits vol 2’ is put together with solos, duets and one Trio by the irresistible Trio Kings. The compilation of the songs is really good and can be termed as a ‘rare collection’ all in a single album. The repertoire of music too is wide.

Apart from a hard hitting hit trio ‘Churchill Alemao’ by the Trio Kings Joaquim-Jr. Rod-Anthony highlighting the burning language issue which sets a racy tempo for the album, M.Boyer’s ‘Malaria’, Lorna’s ‘712233’, Jacinto Vaz’s all time immortal hit ‘ Bombay Dekho’, Bab Peter & Ophelia’s romantic duet ‘Jurament’, H. Britons’ solo ‘Double Cross’, Sharon’s ‘Nirmoll Mog’, Alfred Rose’s meaningful and exceptionally likeable solo ‘Ostori’, Betty Naaz’s witty solo ‘Air Hostess’, Jr. Rod’s thought provoking ‘Dev Borem Korum’, C. Alvares and Ophelia’s all time super hit duet ‘ Ghoracho Vantto’, Osvi Viegas’ solo ‘Bolatkar’, Antonette and Romeo’s humourous duet ‘Dotor Nouro Naka’, Nephie Rod’s ‘Sweet sixteen’ and finally yet another thought provoking solo ‘Ghat’ by Jose Rod find a place on this audio album.

The choice of picking the most acceptable tracks of renowned singers for this special album by the producer is surely appreciable considering there are a vast number of good Konkani songs presently available on CD albums and audio cassettes. The producer has utilized digital technology to re-master the audio CD at Magic touch studios Margao and Chris Correia (Rhythm), Sergie Godinho (Bass Guitar) , and Jack Rebello (Drums) has lent their professional expertise to enhance the music wherever necessary on all the tracks with additional music inputs. The infusing of Bass guitar and drums back-up as well as rhythm is evident to the discerning ear of a good listener.

The audio album cover jacket features mug shots of all the singers on the front panel and looks very attractive. The album is available at all the leading music stores in the State and is nominally priced at Rs. 150/-. Please ensure you buy an original and look out for the ‘Manfa Music’ Hologram on the original copy to avoid buying duplicates or pirated copies from the market .
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‘Dev ani Dhorm’

Lawry Travasso’s 4th Songs and jokes VCD album ‘Dev ani Dhorm’ with 8 songs and two jokes is presently doing well in the market. All the songs are picturised at appealing outdoor locations. The videography by Nevile Pereira is really good with some creative shots that enhance the overall quality of the video.

The ‘God’s Gift, Xikop, Goa, Dev ani Dhorm, Maria, Ulhas Buyao, and Poilo Mog’ are the video tracks on the album. The locations selected for the different songs is eye catching and gives an indication that several places in every nook and corner of Goa have been explored to capture prominent locations and several scenic spots, including some night shots. The video track Goa is well complimented with visual shots appropriate to the lyrics.

Besides the title track ‘Dev ani Dhorm’ the solo track ‘Ulhas Buyao’ dedicated to the late Goan legendary singer is simply excellent and an appropriate tribute to someone who had his heart and soul in his motherland Goa. The touching lyrics are well balanced with videography that captures some nice locales in and around Goa.

The Quality of the video is good and thus overrides the few technical flaws such as inaccurate lip synch in a few places. The videography by Neville is good, the mixing of images too is flawless, however the few ready made clips used in the video irrelevant to the lyrics or the song could have been well avoided. The appear a little too artificially in an otherwise well produced album.

Lawry Travasso’s songs on the video are no doubt good as far as the lyrics and subject is concerned, but it would have been better if the singer had to incorporate a few new songs.

The two jokes on the video by comedians Selvy, Sally and Tony de Ribandar are fairly good and enjoyable. The musical score for the songs is by Anthony de Velim and Chris Correia. The video album produced by Cat Video is priced at Rs. 150/- and is available all over Goa. To ensure you pick up an original VCD album, and not a pirated one, look for the ‘Manfa Music’ Monogram which is prominent on the top right corner of the cover jacket.

IN REPLY TO POLITICIANS 'DADAGERI' IN GOA.

DR. BERNADO'S COMMENT FROM PORTUGAL.

Posted by: "Bernado Colaco" ole_xac@yahoo.co.uk ole_xac

Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:15 am (PDT).


"The sayings of Veronica in Concani makes him the Camoes of amchi bhas.

BC ".

Holy Mass for Fr. Savio

CALLED TO ETERNAL REWARD

We will remember our most beloved guide Fr Savio Gama on his 13th Death Anniversary by offering a holy mass at the Holy Family Cathedral – Kuwait, on Wednesday 29th October 2008 at 6.30 p.m.


A tribute of love from :

Brazil Diniz
(Navelim/Kuwait)

POLITICIANS "DADAGERI" IN GOA.

POLITICIANS "DADAGERI" IN GOA.

Though I am deeply hurt by the physical assault carried by the masked men on my friend Adv. Aires Rodrigues and his colleague in Panjim recently but in the bargain I am happy that public opinion has been created strongly against the “goonda raj” currently prevailing in Goa. Goan public has now been aroused and awakened to fight for justice. It is extremely gratifying to note that every right thinking Goan in Goa is demanding justice to this case. Though belatedly I too not only on my behalf but also on behalf of all my like minded Goan brothers and sisters in Kuwait demand thorough justice in this matter. If today Adv. Aires and his colleague, tomorrow it may be any of us. By attacking Adv. Aires and his colleague, the masked attackers and their godfather directing this attack from behind the scene have given birth to innumerable Aires Rodrigueses. Thru this beastly attack, Goa will produce more and more Aireses. By suppressing the voice of Aires the attackers thought they would eradicate the activist from Goa but no, instead thru this dastardly attack the attackers and their godfather succeeded in creating innumerable Aireses whose force in due course of time will be uncontrollable for cowards to control.

By the way what ails the sons of our ministers in Goa? Our politicians, especially the Ministers, to fool the people adore Gandhiji in public but in reality do disservice to the principles of Bapuji. When Bapuji’s erratic son Hiralal started acting in an indisciplined manner, his father Mahatma Gandhi “disowned him” and told the authorities to take action against his son as per the law of the land. Mrs. Indira Gandhi who cashed in on Gandhiji’s name by virtue of being the wife of Parsi husband who got no relation with Ghandiji, against the teachings of Bapuji pampered her younger son Sanjay Gandhi so much that he finally became a monster of India. Because his mother was the Premier of India he started acting like a Hitler and this bloody Indira Gandhi allowed him to do anything anywhere in India. There is a saying in Konkani “Raza Podon mhontler mort marunk zaina” but Sanjay Gandhi committed murders on the strength of his premier mother Indira Gandhi who did anything and everything to please her rowdy son. Good that he died in toy Plane crash otherwise he would come out with greater fury to destroy India and weaker section of Indians. Indira Gandhi even agreed to introduce the draconian Emergency Rule in India against all civilized and constitutional norms only on the advice and pushing of Sanjay Gandhi and to please him. Kuldip Nayar in his book “The Judgement” published soon after the Janata Party came to power, brought out all the facts how Indira Gandhi was made slave of herself to her own son Sanjay Gandhi while Rajiv Gandhi and his Italian Catholic wife Sonia were having their own honeymoon as if the world around them was dead. Is this the correct way to pamper our sons to allow them to do what they want against the nation and society?

Now see what is happening in Goa. Babush Monsurate’s son is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage German girl. It is so many days now since he is hiding and not coming out openly thereby giving an impression that he is guilty. There is a saying in Konkani “Pap Na Taka Bhirant Na”. If Babush’s son is not guilty then why he had to fear and remain in hiding? By hiding himself he is making the case against him more strong and making his opponents to have greater doubt on his sincerity.

Following this incident, another incident came to light saying that the nephew of Churchill Alemao was also involved in assaulting sexually the same German girl. He denied it and openly did so and not hidingly. Whether this allegation is really genuine or not will be proved in due course of time since investigation is going on but we must also give precedence to yet another Konkani saying which states “Uzo Nastana Dunvor Eina”. Was there any “Uzo” in this case inspite of the denials? Time alone will tell, either openly or silently but truth will surely surface. Meantime, the name of Alemao clan is gone rotten. History will judge Alemao clan with suspicion and children of Alemaos will be treated with more suspicion by the decent children coming from decent family background.

While these two sons of Goan political families are exposed yet there is one more such ugly and still worst incident came to light when it was recently alleged that Ravi Naik’s son was also involved in sexual abuse of British murdered girl in Anjuna. Though Ravi Naik is denying his son’s involvement in any wrong doing yet he is not filing a defamation case against those who alleged that his son was involved in this gruesome case and thereby giving more credibility to the allegations.

I cannot understand what these sons of our politicians are thinking of themselves. They are creating nuisance not only of themselves but also of their politician fathers who allow their sons to do anything and everything with immunity. There was a time when we erred or even seemed to be erred, our fathers not only reprimanded us but also allowed the concerned authorities to reprimand us to the extent of having curative effects. But today's politician fathers of our nasty sons not only sheltered their sons and nephews from punishments but also sheltered them from the law enforcing authorities thereby creating more nasty of their sons. Today’s politician fathers do not like to correct their erring sons because they themselves are committing the same if not worst type of crimes against poor females. Most of the top politicians are having private bungalows and hidden private residential places to use for sex, I mean illicit sex. I am sure the erring sons of the politicians are fully aware of what their fathers are doing away from the eyes of their mothers. Hence, they do exactly what their fathers are doing. There is one more saying in Konkani which says “Chattea laguim khuim batto xinkta”. “Pai laguim put xinkta”. We have seen in the past how the greed for illicit sex forced Narvenkar to assault Sunita. The brute political power is the worst mode of “dadagiri” which has to be curtailed by all means.

Public opinion must be created against the dadagiri of the sons of politicians who get everything on silver platter from their politician fathers who spend money on the luxuries of their sons at tax payers’ cost. The campaign against this latest ill happenings in Goa must be done forcefully so that every politician whose son is implicated must be thrown out from the next husting. In this campaign our Church leaders and priests must also take active part. Many times in the past during the crucial time our Church deserted us saying “our work is only spiritual”. Martin Luther King in America made use of the Church forum to destroy the dadageri of the Whites. Cardinal Sin in Manila used Pulpit to educate the public to eradicate ugly rule of president Ferdinand Marcus. In South America, Fr. Torres even took arms to fight against those who were responsible to mete out injustice to the weaker segment of the society. Church can do a lot. The priests during their sermons in the Church must educate the congregation about the ills of the society perpetrated by the mask men thru the blessing of their godfathers. The Church of Goa and its priests must educate the congregation on the ill deeds of our politicians and their sons. Political education from the Pulpit is imperative now in Goa as was done in Philippines under the leadership of Cardinal Sin. Otherwise, political corruption will lead to spiritual corruption in which case no soul will go to heaven. The major role of the Church is to save souls from going into the Hell. Hence, the need of political education from the Church.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

Valmiki Faleiro's Weekly Column.

GOAN MUTATIONS.

By Valmiki Faleiro.

In law, it is a simple administrative process. In practice, it is far from it. Symptomatic of the malaise that afflicts governance in India’s smallest – and most corrupt – state, a simple thing like mutation (getting a land ownership change reflected in revenue records) has evolved into a fine art, where the ‘Aam Aadmi’ is roundly harassed for bribes every step of the way. So much that a few days after the current Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, assumed office last June, he extracted a “promise” from Mamlatdars that mutations would be done within an outer limit of one month. It may interest Kamat to know that mutation applications filed by me on 27-Aug-2007 before the Quepem Mamlatdar were decided only this month!

Beginning this Sunday, let us look at this bewildering world of Goan mutations(something I said I would do, on Feb 12, 2006.) Let us first look at how the process is meant to work under law and then how it actually works in practice. When the ownership of land changes by way of a registered deed – like sale, gift, extra-judicial partition, relinquishment, etc. – the Sub-Registrar after registering the deed is enjoined by law to notify the concerned Mamlatdar in a form* prescribed for the purpose. Upon receipt of that form with a copy of the registered document, the Mamlatdar must effect the mutation in the relevant Forms I & XIV (F. I&XIV.) This issupposed to be an automatic process where the transferee of land rights need do nothing. In practice, nothing of the sort happens. Not a single revenue minister from the time the Record of Rights in F. I&XIV was promulgated around the mid-1970s – fromPratapsing Rane as a MGP minister then, to Jose Fillip D’Souza today – has bothered to find out why the procedure stipulated under law has not been followed.

Let’s check out what happens instead. Where the status of land ownership changes by ways other than a registered deed –e.g. by a judicially decreed partition, ‘Inventario,’ will/bequest, etc. – the law provides that the transferee will report the change to the Mamlatdar, who in turn will carry out the mutation through his concerned Talathi. In reality, though, all ownership changes – including by registered documents – are unlawfully routed through the latter channel, forcing bulk of people to approach the revenue officials and submit themselves to harassment and extortion.

Let’s see how the odyssey of woes of the ‘aam aadmi’ begins. I shall dwell even on ludicrous details, to give you an idea of what goes on in Goa, the much-touted “No. 1 State” – an orphan child really, where those in power are obsessed solely with their agenda of looting the exchequer in the quickest possible time. You report the acquisition of rights in writing to the Mamlatdar or his Talathi. You must, understandably, annex a certified copy of the document (deed, will, courtdecree, etc.) in proof of how the rights have been acquired. But there are three other“requirements” that defy logic (none of them prescribed/stipulated under the law orrules.)

The first is providing postal address of people whose names appear in F. I&XIV. This is easy where there is/are only one/few names (from whom you acquired the rights) –their addresses will show in the cause title of the document by which the rights were acquired. What when one buys say a plot in a colony of 100 plots, where the names of 99 previous purchasers already appear in F. I&XIV? How are you to collect these 99 addresses? And why should you? When the same Mamlatdar or Talathi carried out these 99 mutations and has all the addresses in his records? But, no, either produce all the addresses (for service of notices) … or shell out more money on newspaper advertisements for substituted service. (Newspapers, of course, won’t complain!).

The second requirement is that you must also provide the latest F. I&XIV – to the same authority that is its custodian! Which means, pay the Mamlatdar to issue you the relevant F. I&XIV and then give it back to him with your mutation application. Lastly, put all your papers in a proper file – or the Mamlatdar’s office won’t accept them! Whatever happened to the good old government paper files that had notingsheets on the left side and correspondence to the right, held together with a red filestring, and secured in the notorious “red-tape” cardboard docket? How can note sheets be handled in commercial files? No questions if you want your mutation done! Once your application is accepted after all these obstacles, congrats, you’ve just got past Round One.

Now brace for the ensuing rounds! (To continue.)

* Form-XIII, vide proviso (2) of Sec.96 of Land Revenue Code, 1968 and Rule 15 ofRecord of Rights & Register of Cultivators Rules, 1969. (ENDS.)

The Valmiki Faleiro weekly column at:

FLORIAN LOBO WRITES ON GOA GOVERNOR.

From: floriano (floriano.lobo@gmail.com)

Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2008 1:50:36 PM

To: A. Veronica Fernandes (averonicaf806@hotmail.com)

Yesterday, 24th. October, 2008 was the day fixed for the first appeal by the office of the Governor of Goa at Raj Bhavan. It is because I refused to accept the explanation given to me for the application I made through the Directorate of Accounts that the expenditure of the Governor's office be given to me under the 'Right to Information Act'. And my application asked for past 10 year's expenditures on all heads whether it be flights in and out of Goa or the entertainment bill of the Raj Bhavan. The refusal was that the Governor's office is exempted from RTI Act, 2005 vide Section 8 (1)(c) which states as under:

" information, the disclosure of which would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or the State Legislature"

The refusal also stated the Governor's office being exempted by the provisions of the Constitution of India. Under which provisions of the Constitution of India this exemption was being referred to was not mentioned.

[ The RTI application along with the refusal from the Governor's office may be referred to in the 'comments on news reports' section of www.goasu-raj.org ]

The officer hearing the appeal was Shri. Nikhil Kumar, Secretary to the Governor [Ex-Collector, North Goa]. The PIO, Governor's Office: Dr. Radhakrishnan.

When asked by the chair to put forth my arguments, I argued as follows:-

1. That I challenge the exemption cited under RTI on the specious ground that I am not asking any information other than the information relating to how my money money, as a tax-paying citizen of Goa, is being spent. That the Governor, being the public servant, is accountable.

2. That I would like to know under which provisions of the India Constitution the Governor's office is exempted.

Dr. Radhakrishnan deposed as under:-

That the matter whether the Governor's office is covered under the RTI Act is presently being taken up by the High Court of Bombay at Goa. That there are more than one petitions in this regards pending with the HC. That the HC has stayed the proceedings and is likely to issue an order shortly. Therefore, this matter be kept pending until such time that the HC issues the order.


Dr. Radhakrishnan cited Constitutional articles 202 (3) (a) and article 203 under which the office of the Governor is said to be exempted.

I also displayed to the chair the load of information on the respective expenses incurred by various governmental departments received by me following the directive of the Directorate of Accounts to the departments and argued that if the government is accountable, then surely the office of the governor is accountable. I also argued that it is accepted that the head of the state is due certain privileges. But if the Head of the state goes on a spending binge at the cost of the gullible tax-payers, then this is unconstitutional for a democracy and that this must be thoroughly investigated and the abuse thereof checked.

The proceeding ended in a most cordial manner. I had asked Dr. N.S. Dumo to be present with me as a witness to the proceedings, which he obliged.

The meeting ended with me congratulating Shri. Nikhil Kumar for doing a thorough job of submitting the accurate report on the violations of the CRZ norms by the three hotels i.e. Estrela do mar, Par Fragrance and La Calyso, whereby the La Calypso has been already shed of the extra weight within the 200 meters and the other two are awaiting the treatment.

He laughed it off as a job in line with his duties.

floriano
goasuraj
www.goasu-raj.org
9890470896

PS: Because of the above engagement, we could not be present at the felicitation function of Matanhy Saldanha at Cansaulim, which is regretted.

CONDOLENCE MEET IN KUWAIT FOR MAGICIAN LEO

CONDOLENCE MEET IN KUWAIT FOR MAGICIAN LEO.

On Tuesday, 21st of this month, in Kuwait City, some of the relatives, friends and well wishers of the late Magician Leo Fernandes gathered together to condole the death of Magician Leo who died on 7th of this month in Bombay. Magician Leo Fernandes was a long timer in Kuwait working over two decades for the prestigious organization M/s Yousuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons where till his voluntary riterement 5 years back enjoyed highest respect not only from his immediate management but also of all his colleagues. A very humble man by nature, before coming to Kuwait, Leo also worked for a short period in Bombay and then migrated to Saudi Arabia from where finally he landed in Kuwait. The greatness of Magician Leo concentrated mainly on his kindness, softness and high moral discipline. He never knew to fight with others nor argue aggressively with his colleagues. Always at receiving end he would do Bom Samaritan’s job silently without making a big show of himself.

My real contact with him started about 24 years back when we at Kuwait Konknni Kendr organized our Cultural Show at Hotel Meridien free of charge for all the invitees. This was the first time in our history that Konkani Show/Programme was organized in the 5 Star Hotel in Kuwait. During this programme Leo performed his Magic Show without charging us any fils, because he was deeply convinced that whatever activities we are doing we do it for the good cause. Leo loved Goa and Goan causes, As a supporter of Goan causes, he loved Goan Mandos and Goan Tiatros and always patronized these programmes. When visiting Tiatrists stayed with me he always supported them and showered love and affection on them since Leo also stayed with me for some time. He was so loving towards visiting tiatrists that he even gifted some of them with gold pins and coins as souvenirs and once even shared with Felcy and Prince Jacob some of his Magic secrets.

During the period of post liberation of Kuwait till the fall of Saddam Hussein, we under Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Centre were organsing meetings at Hotel Plaza every 26th of February in support of the freedom of Kuwait’s POW’s. During these meetings and prior to the start of these meetings he was always assisting me in overseeing the Hall arrangements and even in the Hall he was very helpful to me. He had lot of acquaintances in the Kuwaiti families including Royal family because of his magic show skills where he used to perform. He used to perform in top Kuwaiti houses and top 5 Star Hotels. Besides locals, he had good contacts with all the nationalities amongst whom he used to perform his magic shows.

He was a good sportsman during his scholastic years in Bombay at School as well as College levels. He was regularly attending our soccer games at Sour Grounds on every Friday. A regular Church goer, he was very faithful to his religion Christianity and denomination Catholicism. He loved reading and used to read a lot thru books and newspapers. A highly respected man in our society, he was a very sociable person.

During the condolence meeting, all the speakers, namely Elvino Rodrigues who was his colleague at Alghanims, Mario Rebello who is his relative and knows him personally from close angles showered abundant praises on Leo the Magician. The others who spoke during the meet were Agnelo and Evaristo also close relatives of Leo and with tears in their eyes they made all the attendees also to shed tears. Trevis Rodrigues also spoke and expressed his personal experience he had with Leo when he was young. In fact Leo loved children too much and he always had soft corner for children.

Mario Rebello conducted a small prayer before the start of the meeting and while concluding everybody sang a religous song “Moje Mae Taim Vetolom”. A. Veronica Fernandes, compeered the proceedings and while doing so he described Leo and his good work in its totality.

Before the end of the meet, Mario Rebello and A. Veronica Fernandes in a telephone conversation to Bernie, Leo’s wife, on behalf of those who attended this meet conveyed deepest sympathies to her and both the daughters of Leo. May God Give Eternal Rest To the Soul of Magician Leo.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

ON LEO MAGICIAN.

From: Danny Rocha

Thu, Oct 23, 2008 at 4:18 AM

To: goa.kranti@gmail.com

"Ex Kuwait Goan Leo Magician.":

Well, what can one say? Of all the people it is one's privilege to have known, Leo certainly ranks right up there. Who can forget the "hypnotism" sessions with Franco, Frankie, Eugene, Mark, Steven, Vincent and the gang, in the little "gully" below Shilpalaya? Or the trips to Panjim and Verna, Goa (Rebellos) to see his sister get married and the many other good times at Holy Family School and church? Certainly Mahakali and Kuwait will not ever be the same.

Our prayers and condolences go out to Bernie, Leona and Linda. Bernie, I will always remember Leo as the kindest of them all from 9th standard and after, when we (Steven, Queenie and I) were new to the school.

We have offered a mass on Nov 25 at our local church here in Sarnia. I'm sure Leo will be learning new tricks up there, where he belongs.

Christine, Norman, Vanessa, Mark and Brian Sarnia,
Ontario, Canada.

FOR "MANDO-DULPOD" LOVERS.

FOR "MANDO - DULPOD" LOVERS.

Tomorrow Thursday, 23rd October 2008, Colva United Centre Kuwait is organsing their annual festival of "Colva Fama" with a function at Fakher Al-Deen Palace, Kuwait City. The function will start at 8.30 pm. It will consist of variety of items and one of them is an original Mando followed by Dulpods. This item according to information will be the major attraction.

Today in the evening I had the previllege to witness the last rehearsal of this Mando - Dulpod and I was deeply impressed by the performers i.e., the singers and musician. The title of the Mando is "Colva Famank Mog Zalo" and it was composed by the well-known Colvakar and Singer Rosary Ferns. Besides Rosary Ferns, the other singers are Maria Rodrigues, Xavier Lobo, Debora Lobo, Bab Agnelo and Clara Rodrigues.

When I watched them today practicing, I found the female singers exceptionally talented, they beautify the Mando with their melifluent voices. It reminds me of the talented singers once performing at Mando Festivals in late sixties and early seventies in Goa. I was impressed to know that such a rich talent is available amongst us in Kuwait. The musical score provided by Richard Rodrigues is worth admiring.

Thru these few lines I advise all the Mando lovers like me in Kuwait, if they want to listen to good Mando, both in lyrics as well as in music, singing and dress code, they should not miss this opportunity tomorrow for Colva United Centre function to watch this Mando folllowed by Dulpods. This my advise goes only to the real Mando lovers and Mando admirers.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

ON DEATH OF MAGICIAN LEO.

Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 5:30 PM

From: Danny Rocha

To: goa.kranti@gmail.com

Subject: "Ex Kuwait Goan Leo Magician expired today.":

I was shocked to hear this news, Leo was my good friend and college (Bhavans/MVLU) mate as well as the college hockey team mate, we had many a good times together when in Bombay, used to meet him in Kuwait when I used to go there as an AI Crew member.

As we moved to New Zealand our contact got a bit less, last met him in Mumbai in 2005.

We convey our deepest condolences to his wife Bernie, daughters Leona and Linda also to his sister Trinidade and family.

May his soul rest in peace.

Danny and Cynthia Rocha,
Auckland NZ.

A PROUD INDIAN.

A PROUD INDIAN.

By Valmiki Faleiro.

Serializing a topic in a newspaper column bears a major handicap. It does not provide the writer the liberty to comment on a contemporary subject until the serialization is complete. I had to wait until the ‘Goan music’ series was done – and depart from the Goa/Goan thread this Sunday – to dwell on something I strongly felt about… I’ve always been a proud Indian. Perhaps because my father, a doc in the Indian Army Medical Corps, christened me with a great Indian name. Later, and more convincingly,when I learnt of our ancient civilization’s great traditions. I look and talk like an Indian alright. Yet, I was at times asked, in India and the few times abroad, which country I hailed from. I remember this happened in New Delhi in March-1977. I was selected for an ‘AsianWriters Workshop’ organized by India International Centre, UNESCO (Asia Centre forBook Development), Union Ministry of Education and the Authors’ Guild of India. In agroup of 30 – twenty Indians and ten other Asians – I was asked at cocktails following book launches, “Which country do you hail from?” “I am Indian, from Goa,” I’d proudly say. I’m not sure I’d do that today. Not after Babri Masjid. Not after the religious pogrom in Modi’s Gujarat of 2002, when fetuses were yanked out from expectant mothers and both set alight. Not when tribals are chased into forests, their homes and lives torn asunder, as presently in Orissa, Karnataka and elsewhere.

In the name of god and against ‘forced conversions’ (to Christianity, a faith that, since the arrival of St. Thomas the Apostle inyear 52 AD, still accounts for a mere 2% of India.) I was born into a Catholic family. Even if I cannot honestly call myself religious. I hold no brief for obscurant Christian sects alluring people to change faiths with money or other inducements – a fact sufficiently documented by third-party observers from the western(largely Christian) world. I could never for a moment brook forcible conversion of a human being – whether offaith, culture, or whatever the victim would otherwise like to follow. Informed Goans, inparticular, will be aware of human misery of such mindless acts. After the Pope divided the world into two spheres – Africa and Asia to Portugal and the Americas to Spain for spreading Christianity, we know the results. Mercifully, five centuries have elapsed since that happened, and our views would at best be academic. Even if superfluous, the current madness in parts of India begets the question: why target Catholics and other long-established Indian churches? Will the VHP/Bajrang Dal cite a single instance of Catholic/Indian churches having forced, coerced, allured orinduced conversions? If at all one hand feels the itch, why scratch the other? Are elections so omnipotent that dividing one’s own home country with the politics of hate is greater than the gods one pretends to protect?

The issue is not ‘forcible conversions’ (or, for that matter, forcible ‘re-conversions.’)Whatever their weaknesses in the run up to August 15, 1947, our leaders gave the nation – ravaged by the sands of time and military history – a fitting Constitution on Jan 26, 1950. We have laws to deal with forcible conversions. Did the VHP/Bajrang Dal take recourse to these? Unfortunately, no one seems to realise – from LK Advani down to the cretins of the Bajrang Dal on the street – that maiming or killing one person, or tearing apart one family, will produce ten terrorists of tomorrow. Few kids who’ve survived seeing his/her parent or sibling being raped, killed or tossed alive into flames would forget – or forgive –the perpetrators. We’re still paying the price for Ayodhya and Gujarat. Pay back time will come from Orissa and Karnataka much after Advani and current VHP leaders have completed their life’s journey. How many Hindus does the BJP/VHP fancy to represent when orchestrating such hate?As vain a question as it would be to ask the sick minds that went about defiling isles of peace and prayer – like the ‘Rakkondar’ shrine in Cuncolim, the Mahavir statue inMolem, and dozens of temples, crosses and masjids in Goa.

I am against bans of any kind. Banning the Bajrang Dal is no answer. As much as violence will not stop forcible conversions. The answer lies elsewhere. BJP/VHP leadersmust know it, and perhaps pretend that they do not. One of course cannot be sure. Of one thing I am certain about. If asked again, “Which country do you hail from?” I will probably say Costa Rica, Cabo Verde, or Caracas! A once proud Indian, I’m now deeply ashamed.

PS: It is the same convoluted logic. Earlier this week, someone tried silencing social activist Aires Rodrigues and the heritage conservation champion Prajal Sakhardande by getting them bloodied black and blue. Where has our sanity flown? (ENDS)

MONTH’S MIND IN LOVING MEMORY OF REGINALD B. VAZ

In Loving Memory of

REGINALD B. VAZ
10.10.1954 – 21.09.2008
(Raia-Goa/Kuwait)

The measure of your life in years, was exceeded only by your deeds.

A Requiem Mass for the soul of
Our Dearest Regi will be held on
Tuesday, 21st October 2008 at 7:15 pm
at the Holy Family Cathedral (Kuwait City)

Time and days slip gently by, but love and memories never die.
In our hearts you will always stay, loved and remembered every day.
We have lost, heaven has gained, one of the best, this world contained.

Offered by:

His Sorrowful Mother Anna Santana Vaz
Bereaved Wife Sheela, Children Royston & Samantha
Brothers & Sisters
Joe, Candida, Louisa, Rosario, Michael

May His Soul Rest In Peace

POWER OF CHRISTIANS.

POWER OF CHRISTIANS.

If Hinduism is hurt, only India and Nepal will be hurt. If Judaism is hurt, only Israel will be hurt. If Islam is hurt, many parts of the world will be hurt. And, if Christianity is hurt, the entire world will be hurt and its effect will be seen everywhere in the world. Since the persecution for Christians started in India aggressively 2 months back by the Hindu fanatics, the entire world stood by Indian Christians in unison. This unity made not only the Government of India under Manmohan Sing and Sonia Gandhi eat a humble pie but worst still the State Governments where worst persecution done, bowed down before the tremendous pressure from all around. In Orissa, its Government finally accepted the fact that all round persecution for Christians have been done even to the extent of raping the nun while earlier it was denied. Where are the gods and goddesses of Hindu fanatics gone? Do their gods and goddesses allow to kill innocent people, rape nuns, destroy the houses and properties of others? If it is yes, then I refuse to acknowledge such a religion and their gods and goddesses. The religion that gives liberty to its followers to destroy and kill people of other religions is not a religion, it is a satanic cult and as such it should be rejected by everyone.

It took almost half a month for Orissa Government to acknowledge the truth. Are Orissa, Karnataka, Madya Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and other States where minority Christian community is harassed, tortured and displaced governed by the rule of law? Are the administrations of these States in the hands of persons who respect the rule of law? It looks to me these States are ruled by parallel Governments like what we have in tribal areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan where village lords are the rulers and the legal de Jure Governments are just bystanders. After a careful study of the hatred against minorities in India, it looks to me that India is hijacked by the Hindu fanatics and Hindu terrorists. It is because of such fanatics and such terrorists that India was splitted in 1947, Jinnah was just an excuse. If these anti-Indian Hindu fanatics and anti-Indian Hindu terrorists do not stop their hatred for minorities in India, then there is every possibility for India to further split. As it is in the quasi federal set up of India, there is lot of room for secessionists. Kashmiris are one example while Nagas and other northerners are doing their best to secede from India and yesterday we already saw how Khalistanis did such a huge damage for the fake Indian unity. If India is today united it is not because all Indians want this unity but all Indians are coerced into submission to this artificial unity. This type of forced unity will never last for long. It is not my wish to see India further splitted but nature will take its own course. The fury of nature will come like a calamity when unnatural acts are committed. We the people on this earth are all children of same God. Persecuting some children of God by other children is an unnatural act and it is a sin against God which is punishable and this punishment from God will surely come, it may be during my lifetime or over my dead body.

The anti-Indian Hindu fanatics and terrorists think that they are more Indian and Christians and other minorities are less Indian. They make a big mistake by thinking thus. To liberate India and to protect India, Indian Christians have done yeomen services. Much before Ghandis and Nehrus it was Christian Goan Indian Dr. Francis Luis Gomes who raised the voice for the freedom of India from European soil. The contribution of Christians for the cause of India and Indians was second to none. India does not belong to Hindus only and more so Hindu fanatics only. They are cowards to get afraid of miniscule minority of Christians. This tiny minority is not capable of overpowering numerically powerful Hindu India. Conversion is just a fake excuse. If Christians and especially Catholics were that much of interested in forced conversion in India, under the Christian colonial rule the entire India could have been converted into Christian. Indian Hindu fanatics are crooks towards their own fellow Hindus whom they want to be always downtrodden and live a subhuman life under subjugation on the basis of caste system. Christianity opposes this system because Christianity is the religion of equality. Christianity makes a human being as full fledged person. Christianity does not preach cruelty. The way Hindu fanatics acted with Christians recently it looks their cruelty is worst than that of terrorists who plant bombs in India. The mode of killing innocent people instantly by the terrorists in bombing is far better than the mode of killing used by Hindu fanatics thru torturing, raping, cutting of the limbs, parading naked on the streets and such other humiliation. This does not mean that I accept the killing by the terrorist thru bombings in India. .

In his recent statement, BJP premier in waiting Advani condemned the raping and killing of the nun in Orissa and said it is a shame on humanity. Mr. Advani, it is a shame on all Hindus like you who support fanatic Hindus. Your Hinduism has brought disgrace on Hindus as a whole and acquired bad name for Hinduism. All Hindus do not subscribe to the views of fanatics Hindus who created problems for Christians but unfortunately Hindus like you silently subscribe to the views of fanatic Hindus. Now those who were guilty of killing Hindu Swami in Orissa were apprehended. Hence, it was acknowledged that Christians were not responsible for the killing of Hindu Swami. In this case it is proved beyond any doubt that Christians were not at all involved in killing Hindu Swami and his colleagues. So what is your view on the destruction of Christians, their properties, their places of worship and so many other crimes against them? How can you and Hindu fanatics retrieve the damages done already to Christians in India in the wake of killing of Hindu Swami? Can anybody in your own community compensate for the losses of lives, maiming of innocent Christians, raping of nuns, assaulting mercilessly of priests and destruction of Christian properties and places of their worship? Above all, can any one repair the enormous damage done to Indian socialism by the Hindu fanatics thru their dastardly and bestial acts? By persecuting Christians, Hindu fanatics have bastardized their brand of Hinduism.

During the whole turmoil created by Hindu fanatics against Christians, there was no retaliatory move from Christians. If it was Muslim community or Sikh community instead of Christians at the receiving end, there would be chaos all over India. But true to its teachings, Christians remained silent, unretaliatory and non violent. This does not mean Christians are always and everywhere mild and unretaliatory. If Christians decide to become violent then there is no power on earth to stop them from doing what they want to do. Some of the deadliest and cruelest acts in the history of mankind were committed by the Christians. Who fought the religious wars so forcefully in Europe known as Crusades? Not Christians? Who dropped the deadliest and foulest Atom Bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Not Christians? Who were the deadliest terrorists who performed deadliest operations for the cause of Palestinians? Not Christian Arabs? Who were the fighters who fought ferociously for the cause of Konkani in Goa? Not 7 Christian martyrs? Who committed the foulest crimes in Goa? Not Christians? Who are the top gangsters in Goa? Not Christians? Who are the most corrupt politicians in Goa? Not Christians? Who are the Goan women in Kuwait who practice concubinage by deserting their legal husbands back at home against the Christian doctrine? Not Christians? If Christians decide to act in an un-Christian way by taking law into their own hands then there is no stoppage for them. The deadliest goonda in Bombay during those days at Dhobitalao was none other than Christian Agostinho from Anjuna. He was the terror for all though he was a Christian.

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait.

GOAN MUSICALITY: GENESIS & NEMESIS.

GOAN MUSICALITY: GENESIS & NEMESIS.

By Valmiki Faleiro.

I have done some “mini-series” in this column. On road carnage (March to May, 2006), Goa’s flora (June-Aug, 2006) and politics from the first polls of 1963 (Jan-June, 2007.) But I never received the kind of reader response as the nine pieces on ‘Goan music’ did. I’ll respond to some of those e-mails...

The Portuguese Governor who said, “There is no money for those who cry, where is the money for those who sing?” was Jose Silvestre Ferreira Bossa (1945-47), the fourth-lastGovernor. Bossa, an agnostic, was famous for caustic retorts. During those depressing post World War-II years, when petitioned for a gasoline subsidy to ferry pilgrims for the Old Goa feast, Bossa wrote back, “Quem tem fe, vai de pe” (whose of faith, must walk.) Portuguese troops utilised post-dinner recreation time for procreation grime. Goa’s then particularly puritan Portuguese Patriarch-Archbishop complained to Bossa, who rejoined, “They are long away from family, this is an evil necessity!” Music bred out of Goa’s soil and language. The earliest settlers, Mhars, played a variety of horns and drums – for purposes as diverse as entertainment, to keeping evil spirits at bay! As ‘pedhos’ (sextons) in a later era, they pealed and tolled not just church bells, butplayed bugles and trumpets. Dravidian tribes that centuries later followed the Mhars (and subjugated them) enriched Goa’s music with their ‘ghumot’ and such.

Then came the Sanskrit-speaking Indo-Aryans. Enchanted with the sing song native language, they dubbed Konknni as the “song language of ancient India.” Together with lands, ganvkaris and gods, Aryans conquered Goa’s inbred music-song. Aryans (Brahmins/Kshatriyas/Vaishyas), the new masters, imbibing the local ethos, added to Goa’s music traditions. But, surprisingly, though post-Aryan Goa was largely under South Indian kings, Hindu Goa’s music evolvement did not go the Carnatic way, the purer form in Raga (melodious) and Tala (rhythmic.) It embraced Hindustani music, which was much influenced by 12th/13th century Muslim conquests. One reason,perhaps, was the concubines (and their musically inclined consorts) of Goan Aryans were attracted by the more powerful and patronizing kings of north India.

Converted Aryans during the Portuguese era added a new dimension to Goan music, when restrictions on local language and song were relaxed – with forms like the Mando. Nothing remains static forever. Like Goa itself, currently undergoing another unremitting metamorphosis, from which, slowly but surely, will emerge a new Goa without ‘Goans’and ‘Goemkarponn’ that we once knew, so with her music. Tribal music is almost dead. Folk songs like ‘vovios’ were killed a long time ago. Gone are the ‘Mandds’ and ‘Zagors.’ Sacred and profane (non-religious) music survives only in pocket boroughs. As does latter day folk music like mandos, dulpods and deknis. Like the ‘Tazana Mandals’ of our Hindu temples of yore, church-run music schools, ‘Mestris,’ and maestros, like AntonioFigueredo, Fr. Lourdino Barreto and Fr. Camilo Xavier are now only a fond memory. A rarity today is those who can handle brass and string instruments. This is the age of electronic instruments, of pre-programmable organs and synthesizers, played by the ear. Of DJs and RJs. Of genres of music that would sound only a noisy cacophony to those born before the 1960s.

This ‘mini-series’ idea emerged from some recent orchestral concerts. Inspiration came from the performance of the Goa State Symphony Orchestra “confluenced” with an ensemble from Nuremberg, Germany, that performed in Panjim on March 4, 2008. Its recording was so kindly provided by senior journalist-friend, Frederick Noronha. I was glad to see embers of traditional music still alight. Particularly heartening was Sania Cotta. Inshallah, like the tennis racket Sania, this Sania and her violin shall go places! I shall end with an e-mail forward, “The Concert.”

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat to find her little boy missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive and shiny Steinway on stage. To her horror, the mother saw her child sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment, the great piano master entered, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered into the boy's ear, "Don't quit … keep playing." Then, leaning over, the maestro reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obbligato.

Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played... except the classic "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." In today’s music world, we’d call that a ‘remix!’ (ENDS.)

GOAN LITANY IN KUWAIT.

On Tuesday 7th of this month, in the compound of Holy Family Cathedral (Church) in Kuwait City, in front of the Statue of our Lady Mother Mary, under the skippership of Albino Fernandes, a Bombay settled Goan but originally hailing from Agacaim, Ilhas, Goa, the Legion of Mary group organized at 7.00 pm a Rosary in English followed by Goan style Litany in Latin which was attended by a good number of faithfuls from different regions and nationalities. The singing of Litany and Hymns was provided with musical accompaniment by young musicians under the leadership of Choir Leader and a well-known musician and music teacher in Kuwait Francis Machado from Taleigao, Ilhas, Goa. It was lovely scene to watch the young and budding boys and girls playing so beautifully Goan Craze Instrument “Violin” and also Organ.


At the end of the Litany, all the faithfuls were served with traditional Goan “ Ukoddlole Chonne” (boiled Grams), snacks and cold drinks. In the name of such Litanies, lot of goodwill is generated which is very essential in this part of the world. Such activities in Kuwait create lot of interactions among people of diverse cultures, traditions, regions and nationalities. For organizing such events Albino should not only be applauded but he should be also encouraged and supported. But unfortunately inspite of doing so much of for the cause of our Religion, Society in general and community in particular especially for Christians, according to information he is showered with abundant jealousies by some of the people in the same area, from top to bottom. Why this is happening? Because many people in his area are incapable of doing what Albino is doing. He is spotless as far as his Christian faith and Catholic affiliation is concerned. He was not involved in bootlegging and selling illegally distilled liquour to his colleagues. By associating with Church activities he was never involved in vulgarity and other such scandals. He never made use of his Church association to do personal business and make money in the name of promotion of religion. In fact, he used his association in the Church only to serve God and to serve human beings. He has been serving the Kuwait Church since the last quarter of a century. He was the founder of Holy Family Choir in Kuwait. When he landed in Kuwait for the first time, he was not a novice in Church activities. He was well experienced in this area in Bombay where his activities as a young boy was even appreciated by the late Cardinal Gracias. Unfortunately, many times such talented persons are not very much liked by the top, middle and bottom classes of people not only from the Laity but also from the Clergy because they are suffering from cancerous and anti-Christian, anti-Catholic desease called “Jealousy”. The vice of Jealousy is an antitheses of Christianity. And yet they say they are serving the God. By discriminating one’s fellow beings on the basis of regionality and nationality one will never serve God.

This year Legion of Mary congregation in Kuwait completes 35 years. It was formed by Fr. Domnick Santamaria a Goan priest from Cunchelim Bardez, Goa, serving Kuwait Church almost during the last 40 years. This congregation is the oldest one in Kuwait. I joined it in 1975 and from that group I see none now in Kuwait. Fr. Domnick was our spiritual director as he is still now and that time he was full of youth, vigour and wisdom, a very knowledgeable priest. Knowledge is the most essential part of priesthood otherwise a person of my caliber will never listen any preaching from any “Ladru – Pedru’ type of priest. Knowledge is the source of strength of religious leaders. Any “Sankistao”, “Kuzner” and “Bottler” cannot acquire knowledge as priests can do to impart it to others. For this reason, our Catholics are leaving Catholicsm in good number and joining other Christian congregations because the preaching there is done by the highly literate and highly knowledgeable pastors. Secondly in these groups there is lot of transparency especially in financial affairs. In Goa and in our community because of financial jugglery done in an organized manner lot of discontent is created leading to the splits in our religious congregation.

Talking about Fr. Domnick Santamaria’s wisdom, let me cite one example during one of our Legion of Mary meetings in 1975. One of our activities as Legionaries was to visit the sick in the hospitals and to their homes. One young girl complained to Fr. Domnick that she was insulted by the sick lady in her house for visiting her and that young Legionary girl cried in front of everyone in the meeting. Immediately Fr. Domnick retorted saying – “My dear young girl, if you are not ready to accept humiliation and insult then you cannot serve Christ because Christ Himself suffered humiliation and insults”. What a wonderful answer!! Can any Sankistao or illiterate Deacon gives such a reply within a split of a second?

When I joined Legion of Mary, I was young, full of youth and exceedingly attractive, well dressed capturing lot of attention from lot of girls in our circle, well educated and well social mannered. In our Legion of Mary group I was attracting more attention of girls and tempting them to woo me because of my charismatic attitude and abundant knowledge on diverse topics. Bible and its quotations were on the tip of my tongue because 8 years I was Bible student in School at Arpora under the secular priest Fr. Peter D’Souza besides 4 years in College at St. Xaviers – Goa, under the strict disciplinarian Jesuit priest Fr. Pallitanam. But inspite of my strong charismatic influence on this group, I had to leave it for two reasons. Reason One: There is a saying “In order to avoid sin, you must avoid the occasion of sin”. I had my beautiful and lovely girlfriend in Goa whom I promised to marry. But when I felt Legion of Mary like most of the Church groups are filled with opportunities for illicit relationship or hunger to find life partner legally, I said I must decide seriously whether to stay or quit. Hence, I opted for the latter. I was afraid to control the weakness in my flesh. After all I am a human being. When Adam who was created by God himself was the victim of weakness in his flesh then who and what am I to resist the flesh temptation which was abundant in such activities? Don’t we know so many males and females involved in Church activities are having illicit relationship and yet they move in Church area shamelessly? Why lay persons only? Even priests are involved in this illicit relationship. For this reasons, many of the sensible parents are restricting their young daughters from mixing up with the priests in Church activities. Many of the splits in marriages in our communities are the creations of some of our priests who are become devils in the robes of Christ.

Reason Two: There was one sick Pakistani Muslim lady in old Amiri Hospital. When I and my other colleagues went there to see her, she recounted her pitiable story and desired to return to Pakistan but had no money to buy the ticket. It was coming to around KD 45/- one way. Based on the dictum that “charity begins at home” I told my colleagues that we all contribute from our pockets and buy her the ticket but my proposal was rejected outright. Then I said if we cannot do this then we have no right to involve ourselves in visiting such people. These sick people need concrete help and not just abstract consolation like “we will pray for you”. Only praying without concrete help when required is a big “tamasha” of hypocrites. Then somebody suggested “why not we utilize money coming into the Church coffers from weekly collections? There was no answer from anyone because nobody knew where and in whose kitty it goes. Having no choice, disgusted, I quit Legion of Mary the very year of my joining. But after so many years, on 7th of this month I realized this group is still existing under the same spiritual director who unfortunately was not visible during the Litany.

May God Bless Legion of Mary congregation in Kuwait and all those who are involved openly and from behind the curtain to make this Litany a big success.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

BUSTING A MONOPOLY

BUSTING A MONOPOLY.

By Valmiki Faleiro

(Published: HERALD, October 10, 2008)

It was the early Eighties. Happy days were here again for Goa's first English-language
daily, The Navhind Times (NT). After a brief challenge of being the only English-
language daily, from Goa Monitor in the late Sixties, the NT had just staved off another.
West Coast Times (WCT), launched in July 1978, blazed a luminous trail in quality
journalism, but, like a comet, after a brief showing, vanished into oblivion. NT was once
more a smug monopoly.

A slave of the economic thought of Adam Smith, David Ricardo and John Stuart Mill, or
our very own Nani Palkhivala, JRD Tata and MR Pai, I have been a votary of free
enterprise and competition; and allergic to monopolies. A monopoly is bad for any
consumer. And infinitely worse if it’s a crucial commodity that helps mould a society's
opinion.

I had been speaking to some wealthier Goans, sharing my idea of launching a
broadsheet weekly, that would, over a period, be converted to a full-fledged daily. But,
not many Goan businessmen I was in touch with were willing to risk any substantial
venture capital.

It was around this time, June 1983, if I recall the month correctly, that a mutual friend in
the printing business in Mumbai and Goa, told me that AC Fernandes, Patrao of the
Panjim stationer Casa JD Fernandes, was toying with the idea of an English-language
daily. He suggested I discuss my ideas with Mr Fernandes.

AC Fernandes wasn't a mineowner; but he was a shrewd businessman. He had
purchased Goa's only existing Portuguese-language daily, O Heraldo. Moreover,
the Patrao had his priorities right. His love Goa and her way of life, his concern
about increasing corruption in Goa's polity, and his aspirations for rightful honour to our
mother tongue, Konknni, were transparently genuine.

Over lunch at the AC Fernandes residence at Santa Cruz one rainy Sunday, the Patrao,
his demure wife and sons, John, Raul and Oswald, with the mutual friend and I sat
across a carefully laid table. I spoke about WCT and why it failed, my ideas for a
successful daily and my business plan for the venture. AC Fernandes, I think, was
impressed. Thus began a relationship where I did my best to midwife a second English-
language daily for Goa -- or almost.

The search began for an Editor.

Ads were placed in major national dailies. Surprisingly, only about a dozen pros were
willing to come to Goa! But the biggest names between them were out of reckoning; they
expected salaries that just did not exist in the Goa of those days.

Ervell Menezes was our best bet. When I covered Goa for the Indian Express (IE) a
couple of years earlier, Ervell was Chief Sub Editor at IE’s Mumbai edition. He was
promoted to News Editor, and was in that position at this point of time.

I had hoped that Ervell it would be, to launch the new English language Herald as its
founding editor. A professional and a Goan, he was a suitable choice. I never met or
spoke to Ervell, but Raul did, and Ervell was interested. He had even come to Goa to
check things out. Ervell, of course, is around, and it would be for him to say why he
finally declined. Then, he said it had something to do with his mother's illness.

There was just one last application left in Raul's file. I had not urged its consideration
earlier, because the applicant lacked experience with a daily newspaper. His only
exposure to a daily was a brief stint at the Financial Express – a business daily, not a
mainstream newspaper. His c.v. listed his experience at Mirror, but magazine journalism
is not quite the same as a daily newspaper. Besides, for some time, he was into
advertising and public relations, at one of Mumbai's lesser-known firms.

I convinced AC Fernandes that we should invite the man and take a closer look at his
credentials. Rajan was lodged at Panjim's Hotel Mandovi. The parleys went on so long
that there was no restaurant open for lunch. Rajan and I had to make do with puri bhaji
at Cafe Real. Rajan seemed clever and crafty. But what the heck; the NT too had a
clever and resourceful skipper at its helm.

I had known Bikram Vohra from my IE days. When posted in Ahmedabad as Resident
Editor to take on the formidable Times of India, Bikram came up with off-beat ideas and
the slogan: “Keep ahead of the Times, read the Express!”

We would need an equally crafty mind, and Rajan fitted the bill. The next morning, we
met with the Fernandes’ again, to work out a blueprint for the newspaper's editorial
requirements, right down to a list of furniture!

In time, Rajan returned to Goa -- bag and baggage. His Mumbai team was to follow once
we were staffed and ready to run dummies. At the wooden-floored first storey Herald
office opposite Panjim's Municipal Garden, work was on at a feverish pace.

Rajan and I conducted interviews for 'subs', reporters and correspondents. We bagged
some gifted hands. There was Frederick Noronha and Bosco Souza Eremita. On the
field, Devika Sequeira was to assist me, with Mumbai's Sushil Silvano on the local crime
beat, together with school chum Nelson Dias to cover sports and Lui Godinho on the
camera. I roped in some old field hands from my WCT days, down to Nandu
Zambaulikar, who was to ferry newspaper bundles south of the Zuari.

Ticker lines were installed, typewriters and telephones put in place, and the Mumbai
team arrived (I recall only S. Vaidyanathan on the newsdesk, though). The machine,
finally, began to crank. It was decided we give readers a preview.

One Sunday (or was it a public holiday like August 15?), a few weeks ahead of the
formal launch on October 10, 1983, a special edition was given out gratis to
English-language newspaper readers in Goa. The edition was packed with features, and
news of the day. I wrote something on bus transport woes of the Goan commuter,
if I recall right.

Dummies began rolling. The rumble and stumble continued without interruption. We
were close to D-day. But, it seems, Rajan did not want me around. So on that very
unpleasant note, ended my brief association with a newspaper that, over the last 25
years, has tottered, steadied and then thrived.

Without a doubt, Herald marked a new chapter in English-language journalism in Goa.
A lot of latent young talent found expression. Investigative journalism got its fair image.

Above all, the average Goan reader now had a choice, and the inherent benefits of
competition. Happily for Goa, the combination at the right time of the proprietors and of
Rajan Narayan and some excellent members in the editorial team, clicked. Despite
shoe-string budgets and lack of official advertising patronage in the initial years, the
newspaper survived, cracked a monopoly in a vital area, and has now completed 25
years of publication.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Valmiki Faleiro, a Goa-based working journalist between 1975-83,
was one of the most promising of the time. He covered Goa for national publications like
The Current Weekly, the Free Press Journal group and the Indian Express. He was Staff
Reporter with the West Coast Times and as a freelancer, contributed to various journals
like The Navhind Times, Goa Today, The Sun Weekly, Newstrek, Detective Digest,
Mirror, Newsmag.) (ENDS.)==============================================================================The above article appeared in the October 10, 2008 edition of the Herald, Goa

In Response to Ex Kuwait Goan Leo Magician.

From: Mario Rebello, Kuwait.

Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 3:02 PM

To: goa.kranti@gmail.com


Sub: "Ex Kuwait Goan Leo Magician expired today.":

We are deeply shocked and saddened to hear the sad news of Leo's untimely demise. Truly he has left us all shocked and makes it very difficult for us to believe that Leo has left us.

Leo who is related to us was a wonderful person in the family, very polite, loving, caring and a very respectful human being. His association with us as a relative was very warm and friendly.

He was a well know personality in Kuwait, very friendly and supported us well in our activities and just causes. Individuals with whom he associated will remember Leo always.

We convey our deepest heartfelt condolences to his beloved wife Bernie, their two daughters and rest of the family members and pray for God’s strength to be bestowed upon them in these trying moments.

We also pray that God Almighty grant eternal rest to the departed soul of Leo into His Kingdom of Heaven.

Mario Rebello & Family,
Kuwait

Ex Kuwait Goan Leo Magician expired today.

SAD NEWS‏

From: Elvino Rodriques (ElvinoR@Alghanim.com)

Sent:Tuesday, October 07, 2008 2:12:00 PM

To: A. Veronica Fernandes (averonicaf806@hotmail.com)

Re: Ex Kuwait Goan - Leo the Magician - Expired in Bombay.

Most of us have known Leo Fernandes as Leo the Magician and others knew him as a very good friend, humble and very soft spoken and a very friendly person always in his appeasing smile. Well, the sad news about Leo is he is no more. He had been operated since last 4-5 days for some intestinal problem. As per source it was successful but in a day or two he became serious and went into coma. He was not responding to medication it seems. He breathed his last early this morning leaving his family, relatives and friends shocked.

May God grant his soul Eternal Peace.


Elvino.

NB: Goa.Kranti sends its condolences to Mrs. Leo, his two daughters and all other family members. May Leo's soul rest in peace.

Veronica Fernandes - a walking encyclopaedia on Konknni songsters

By Valmiki Faleiro

Shankar Bhandari (1928-87), of the landed gentry of Cumbarjua, was a rare personage.

A creative writer with unambiguous opinions, great wit and genuine Goan values, he crafted programmes for All India Radio. I longed to be in his presence, even if only for a few moments, when, as a casual artiste in my college days, I often went for ‘YuvaVani’ talk recordings – no, I can only croak, not sing! – at AIR’s Panjim studios.

Pearls flowed from his fertile mind! One reason, perhaps, I was more impressed was that he hailed from the same village as that of my maternal grandfather – an exotic little “Republic” of my childhood images.

Shankar Bhandari was a man of cool courage, and conviction. And one who defied the adage, ‘When the wine is in, the wit is out.’ True (not Dutch) courage it would take when,some years after 1961, he penned a verse on India’s ‘Ganarajya’ (Republic.) In that era, India was the only nation besides the Soviet Union to define “sedition” amongst the gravest offences under the penal law.

‘Ganarajya’ was a parody on India. Goa had been integrated into the Indian Union on March 27, 1962. Shankar Bhandari daringly asked: “Gonachem Ailam Raj / Khuincho Gana Konn Zanna?”

The governance of ‘Gana’ has arrived (upon Goa), but who knows this ‘Gana’ or wherefrom (it comes)? In the name of ‘Gana,’ Andhra and Telangana fight each other. Maharashtra and Vidarbha tussle over the (waters of) Godavari. Who knows this ‘Gana’?

If you’re still wondering which ‘Gana’ (no, not another song) he was on, think of the national anthem … “Jana, Gana, Mana.” That was Shankar Bhandari. Like him or lampoon him. No Goan freedom fighter dared report him “anti-national.”

He could come up with rare ones like “Goenkar: ratche torrad, sokallche honrrad!” Or his riddle, “Why does Bandodkar always face the river Mandovi?” (When CM, mineowner Bandodkar’s chamber faced the river, after demise, his statue by the old Secretariat also faced the river.) His answer: “To count his barges carrying ore, he doesn’t trust his daughters!”

The ‘Trio Kings,’ Conception-Nelson-Anthony, were notorious for stage songs chopping Bandodkar’s policies to pieces. They thwarted his moves to woo the Catholic vote bank.

Their songs ruffled the CM’s feathers more than Opposition MLAs ever did. When all his offers to rein in the Trio failed, Bandodkar imposed a Tiatr tax!

Tiatrists faced tough days, but none suffered as Kid Boxer did.

Sometime in 1958, Siolim-born Kid Boxer (Caetano Manuel Pereira, 1917-1991) sang an “anti-India” song in Bombay. Goan freedom fighters there got him jailed. Kid was then deported to Goa. The Portuguese immediately employed him at the Goa Radio. As an artiste, he worked with the likes of Jacinto Vaz, Allen Costa and Georgina Jacques. According to my Candolim friend in Kuwait, Anthony Veronica Fernandes, a walking encyclopaedia on Konknni songsters, Kid was the highest paid Konknni artiste.

The songs he recorded at Goa Radio were runaway hits, like:

Divo pettounk guineanacher / Uzvadd ieunk chintnacher / Zo kon zanna konnem ghoram
bandleant tim pongeranchea zaddancher.

Suskar soddlet maeyani / Dolle bhortat dukhani / Aiz putancheo maeyom duddu na zaun, rodtat zorinnim.

The true meaning of his riddlesome lyrics was known only to close friends. Yet, listeners lapped up his songs. The one above was scripted in the wake of a Govt. of India ban on both money transfers and travel by Bombay-Goans to Goa.

After liberation, Kid Boxer was arrested again when singing on stage at Mapusa. The song that earned official ire went as follows:

Tum bhitor sorlai chukon, mortoloi sukon, dusreacho desh pochona;
Tum nestai fokot valo, ani khatai fokot palo, hem matui hanga sobona;
Tum panpotti khatai, ani poch'chu korun thuktai, lozui kaim dissona…

After things cooled down, Kid returned to Bombay and began stage acting again. During a Tiatr, as he sang one of his by now famous ‘zupattis’ (tongue-lashings), freedom fighter Evagrio George in the audience raised a ruckus over Kid’s “anti-national” song.

“Audience was with Kid but the law was not,” says Veronica. Kid was arrested yet again, incarcerated at Nasik jail for six months, where he was physically – and mercilessly – tortured. His spirit didn’t break. In jail, Kid wrote another Tiatr, "Somzonnem Zali Chuk."

He sang a hit in it, "Sov mhoine Nasik conventan kaddle, torui converter zaunk na." (Despite six months at the Nasik “convent,” I was not converted.)

Kid Boxer was incomparable, especially when delivering melodious ‘zupattis,’ like:

“Nesson dusreachem kapodd, hath paiem kamrun bosleat makodd.” Obviously alluding
to his conviction that Goa was invaded and illegally occupied by India.

Lucky that Kid Boxer was not charged with sedition! (Concludes.)

Pics courtesy: Kid Boxer (Fausto da Costa, ‘Tiatr ani Tiatrist’, Vol-I, The Goan Review publication, 1994), TrioKings Conception-Nelson-Anthony (JoeGoaUK, www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk12 ) and Shankar Bhandari (Goa Konkani Academy.) (ENDS)

The Valmiki Faleiro weekly column at:

http://www.goanet.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=330

Entrance Free - Konkani Show on 9th Oct

Konkani Variety Show will be held by Kala Mogui Kuwait (Gulab Vavutpi Somiti) on 9th Oct 2008 at Carmel School Auditorium, Kheitan.

Forwarded by: gulabq8@gmail.com

Crowne Plaza set ablaze by BLACKSLADE

Kuwait: High-energy pulsating dance beats, exploding vocals by lead singer Ronald, and great showmanship by New Delhi’s BLACKSLADE set the Andalous Ballroom ablaze at the Navelim Youth Centre (NYC) organized NITE O’ROSES dance celebration at Crowne Plaza on Thursday 2nd October 2008.

Kuwait’s ace musician Shahu Almeida, Clevie Fernandes, etc, were equally best with 2..S#arp.

The Nite was attended by a capacity crowd, a rarity in recent years. Invitees for the event included some of the top Goan leaders from the Gulf such as Francis Correia, President – Young Goans Club, Bahrain; Simon D’Silva, President Goan Welfare Society, Doha Qatar; Bartholomeo Silveira, a social activist from Abu Dhabi; Celso Fernandes, a famous personality among Goans in Muscat; and Gabriel Crasto, Chairman – Goan Football League, Bahrain; etc.

A Jive dance contest was one of the highlights of the celebration that described Goan virtuosity and culture. Commenting on the competition Navelim President Agnello later said, “The focus of the competition is very much on contemporary forms of the conventional dance and aims to showcase the art of some of the most talented Goan dancers in Kuwait.”

Thanking everyone attending the show Mr. Agnello said, “In spite of requests to bring film stars for the dance, we considered to give priority to each one present... You are my film-stars and more worthy than anyone else...”

The event was hosted by famous North Goa Master Compere Xavier Fernandes.

The theme of the dance, a 50 year old tradition continued by Navelim was: “Inspiring you to love Unconditionally.”

Detailed News and Images of the NITE O’ROSES will be published in the media soon.

FOOTBALLERS FEES IN KUWAIT.

FOOTBALLERS FEES IN KUWAIT.

The late Mr. Diogo A. D’Souza from Tivim was the man who got me a job at Behbehanis. Before meeting him I tried with many known people at many places holding top positions but failed. For this important favour, I always remained grateful to Mr. Diogo till his death because I know the person who provides you with a job in Kuwait is the great person in your life, without a proper job in Kuwait you are like a fish out of water. In 1979 when we Goans established competitive soccer, many jobless players were given employment opportunities by their club stalwarts thru their personal influence. Mr. Peter D’Souza working as General Manager for Bosch and who was running his team “Salmiya Youth” which was captained by me used his personal influence to get employment for many of the players playing for his team. In the history of our soccer in Kuwait, Peter D’Souza my ex colleague at Arpora School was the only Goan who provided more jobs for our footballers and other boys, mainly the jobless, for this reason I associated with him because he was not selfish. If you support a selfish person then you are helping to create a selfish leadership which is a threat to the development of the society.

From my personal experience I knew how difficult it is to get a suitable job without any influential God Father. For this reason I encouraged and promoted our soccer relentlessly to create opportunities for many of our footballers most of whom were lacking in influence to get the jobs though they were good footballers. Here in Kuwait, jobs especially in certain lucrative sectors are monopolised by few families and few persons from particular villages in Goa. Opportunity permitting, I will disclose who they are and their modus operandi so that their children and grandchildren know how cunning their parents and grand parents were once upon a time in Kuwait inspite of undergoing terrible pangs in life before coming to Kuwait. Externally they look saintly, regularly Church goers, recipients of Holy Communion but against Christian doctrine they lacked the principle of sharing. They are a disgrace on Christianity.

Besides requests by the foot-ballers for jobs in the initial stages, later on another requirement of players developed in the form of demands and requests for money, loans and visas for their wives or for their other dependents or for their other family members. Wherever possible many times these demands and requests were met with. In the initial stages when we started our soccer, greed and craze for money and other material benefits were not much. Love for soccer and “umed” for playing was the craze during those days. But gradually this craze for “umed” degenerated into demand for fees in hundreds of Kuwaiti Dinars per season, demand for arranging four wheeler license, demand for better jobs, demand for expenses for organising one’s wedding, demand for money to go for Honey Moon abroad for the newly wedded players, demand for return Air Tickets yearly once, demand for Whiskey bottle occasionally and if possible even a demand for a concubine.

The above demands and requests were many times fulfilled in many cases by the Clubs because the presidents and heads of some of the clubs were crazy to hold on to their positions in their clubs because they were and still are crazy for cheap publicity. Engaging in football clubs and soccer teams as office bearers from the point of presidents to down the line is an access to cheap popularity for many because there is no other way for such cheap publicity seekers to get prominence in life. For this reason even after having disbanded their teams some cheap publicity seekers have shamelessly re-engaged in the soccer teams. When I first came to Kuwait I approached one Mr. X for a job knowing he is in a position to help me but instead he started harping on his high post where he was working; he was holding that high post not because he was qualified and talented but because he was then a “one eyed man among the blinds”. Though he was doing extremely well on the job front yet in the community and in public life he was a non entity. In fact he was the “Monarch of what he surveyed within the four walls of his office”. Beyond that he was nobody. Hence, to become somebody in the eyes of cheap public he infiltrated into a soccer club which gave him the required cheap prominence. There are two places amongst us where thru your involvement there you can gain cheap popularity very easily and these two places are our soccer arena and Church circle. Intellectual giants and people with big hearts and big minds are not craving for cheap prominence. This prominence was denied to these cheap people back at their home places because there they are nothing.

Recently in the election for the presidency of one tin-pot village club, the elected president had to play so many dirty tricks and chicanery to overthrow his rival and the existing president. It looked he was fighting the election for American presidency. Idiot does not know how to wish people and he wants to become the leader not only of his village club in Kuwait but of Goan community in Kuwait by claiming to be a “well-known Goan personality in Kuwait” when he is only a one eyed man among the blinds in his village club. We don’t want such idiots as the leaders of Goan community. When he goes back to his native place for good, he will be an addition to corrupt more the already corrupted political system in Goa. Hence, it is better to caution him now only so that he changes his behaviour. Incidentally it is surprising how good people in his club are supporting him and his corrupt practices. It is a sin to support corrupt people. As it is we are suffering from one cancerous sickness from one self appointed leader in Goan Society who has robbed the society of KD 30 thousand and known to be a rapist demanding sexual favours from young girls in return for jobs. What a shame it is for the community to have such leaders and what a shame for all members of the community who support such shameless persons. The supporters must be equally shameless, “chors” and rapists.

When we organized public rallies, public meetings and other activities in Goa during the invasion of Kuwait, this bloody so called well-known Goan personality was hiding under the petticoat of his wife while his innumerable villagers thronged at Azad Maidan Panjim in solidarity with Kuwait from where he and we all earn our sustenance. Inspite of his pompous show of educational gold medal attached to his pocket he was begging for a decent job in Goa but succeeded in life only after coming to Kuwait. At least on this count he should have been grateful to Kuwait. I hope somebody should pass this message to his Kuwaiti bosses to make them aware of the ungrateful people working around them. Such ungratefuls and idiots are many amongst us and they want to be the recipients of next NRI awards which are become a big joke after the last conferment on Kuwait NRI’s by equally joker and insane Eduardo Faleiro. Good that it is only an NRI award and not a Nobel Prize. On 12th November this year, I, under the banner of Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center, in the midst of invitees will release the DVD of our Public Rallies and Public Meetings we Goans organized in Panjim, Goa, 18 years back, in support of the liberation of Kuwait. This is to mark the 18th anniversary of our first public Meeting and Rally in support of the country – Kuwait – from where we earn our livelihood. This is also to remind and to show what we, the few, then did in difficult situation for the cause of Kuwait that gave us so much in life.

Coming back to the demands of our players, earlier I was under the impression that these demands were unwarranted. But after doing thorough examination of this subject, I feel these demands are justified because the physical contribution of the players keep the image of the club/team management stalwarts floating high thereby giving a sense of identity and importance to them in the community. Many presidents and other office bearers of our clubs gain limelight only by organizing soccer teams which are promoted by the players who deserve better dividends. If the organizers, presidents and other office bearers are gaining so much by having clubs and teams then why not players? These players should not remain at this level only but must go one step ahead and also demand insurance cover for any injury while playing, as they are having in Dubai. Insurance cover is become imperative now especially after the incident of a KGA player brutally injured by DHL in the last season. Players must have security for their limbs. Those who are going to provide this insurance will be doing justice to their players and those who don’t will be robbing the players of their rights and making the life of the players risky. Those clubs and teams cannot fulfill this duty towards their players then they will have no right to run their clubs and teams. They should better disband their teams and soccer clubs. In this connection my advice to all the players: Never rely for any help from your team managements though there are good team managements but side by side there are also worst who are on record to neglect their own injured players in the past. And yet shamelessly they are running their show.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

In Praise of Gandhi Jayanti Irrelevant.

TO,

A.Veronica Fernandes.

Thanks for the Article on the subject of GANDHI JAYANTI IRRELEVANT.

The article does make sense looking to the escalating violence on our christian brothers and sisters in many states of India and not much action yet taken by the government to restore the situations.

I would suggest instead, Mother Teresa should be honoured for her good deeds and message of peace on her death anniversary 5th 0f September and declare as holiday too.

Regards,
B.Lopes,
UK.

GANDHI JAYANTI IRRELEVANT. RESPONE.

GANDHI JAYANTI IRRELEVANT.

Veronica need praises for the above article. We are in dire need of the leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, an apostle of non-voilence and preacher of truth to bring the country out of the shamble. The present lot lack pragmatism and do not practise what they preach. People in India have been facing frequent bomb blasts, fierce fighting in the name of religion and atrocities of power-hungry politicians. Minorities and common man constantly lives on the edge.

IGNATIUS DIAS
Agassaim/UAE

Gandhi Jayanti Irrelevant - Response.

Re: Gandhi Jayanti Irrelevant.


Hey Anthony,

Well written and infact the truth....

Wish you would publish it in the Mumbai newspapers too and make the people aware.....

I wonder even if you want to write in the Mumbai newspapers, will they publish?


Love

vero

In Response to "Gandhi Jayanti Irrelevant".

IN RESPONSE TO GANDHI JAYANTI IRRELEVANT.

Dear Veronica,

I appreciate your thoughts and concern and writing the message so firmly.
It only takes 1 good leader to understand. I hope that we will find one.

Best Regards,

Mario,
Dubai.

COMMENTS ON "Ghandi Jayanti Irrelevant"

Date:01.10.08.

Subject: Gandhi Jayanti Irrelevant.


GANDHI JAYANTI IRRELEVANT.


COMMENTS

We fully agree with the sentiments portrayed by the author, Veronica Fernandes above.

Gandhi Jayanti has indeed become irrelevant.

Today, it is widely reported that Dr. Manmohan Singh and Prathibha Devisingh Patil, India's Premier and the President respectively have been shocked by the Temple stampede deaths at Jodhpur in Rajasthan. We all are, when such unnecessary deaths occur. But the height of the hypocrisy is that no such shock has been displayed or forthcoming when innocent people (Christians) have been butchered, burnt, raped and and burried alive with thousands rendered homeless with their houses and property vandalised and destroyed, along with their places of worship by the Bajrang Dal fanatics of the BJP.

This same shamless duo who will be waxing eloquent tomorrow extolling the virtues and martyrdom of Gandhiji.

Shame on you Dr. Manmohan Singh. Double shame on you Pratibha Patil. Tomorrow, both your hypocritical faces should be blackened with sooth of the darkest order.

I fervently hope that Gandhiji comes to life tomorrow for just a moment to land a sound trashing to the backs of these two through his almighty cane.


floriano
goasuraj