POWER OF SPORTS & TIBET.

POWER OF SPORTS & TIBET.

If not today then tomorrow, if not tomorrow then the day after tomorrow but surely it will come and as predicted, somewhere in 1917 October it came. What was it? It was the victory for proletariats. It was communism propounded by Karl Marx in his masterpiece manifesto Das Kapital. In the same manner I tell here now that freedom for Tibet under its spiritual leader Dalai Lama will surely come, if not today then tomorrow, if not tomorrow then the day after tomorrow but definitely it will come. And that it will come to reality was confirmed just now when it was announced that communist China’s leadership has agreed to meet with and talk to Dalai Lama, no doubt with certain conditions which are negligible. Till yesterday Communist China was reluctant even to utter the name of Dalai Lama and his free Tibet movement but today communist China is ready not only to acknowledge the reality of Dalai Lama but also its freedom movement, thanks to the power and influence of sports.

Sports have done wonders in this world. The diplomatic rapport between communist China and capitalist USA was brought thru the medium of sports, i.e. the game of Ping-Pong. The fire of apartheid from South Africa and Rhodesia was extinguished largely thru the fire-extinguisher of sports. The ills of American involvement in Vietnam were exposed to the world more forcefully thru the sporting power of the great sportsman, Boxer Mohammed Ali whose single handedly campaign against this dirty war finally forced US to retreat gracefully. The hunt for democracy in Brazil was propagated better thru the head band wore by the Brazilian World Cup skipper Dr. Socrates and because of his campaign Brazil was awakened for democracy. In this way, there are innumerable instances to prove how sports have helped the incurable political diseases of the world.

Beijing Olympics in a few months time will surely cure the chronic disease communist China is suffering from, by denying Tibetans not only of full independence but also autonomy. It is good that the world powers have started mounting pressure on communist China to surrender to Tibetans’ aspiration. France has already hinted that it will boycott the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics and if communist China still remains adamant then there is every possibility not only for many democratic countries to join France that gave to the world great democrat in Voltaire and slogans like Democracy, Equality & Fraternity but also to boycott the Beijing Olympics altogether. To happen this is not very difficult. The wave of democracy and of freedom is spreading all around the globe with a robust speed, including in Tibet. And it is this wave that demolished the mighty atomic and hydrogen power, communist Soviet Russia in 1991 thereby extinguishing the flame of communism not only in USSR but also in the communist countries under the satellite of USSR.

The era of autocratic communism is coming to an end and it should come to an end because human beings now cannot remain under the bondage of harsh political system. The purpose of communism for which it came into existence is coming to an end and it should come to an end not only in Tibet but also in communist China. In the name of communism the political system in communist China is suppressing human rights and human thirst for human freedom. Human being is created by God as free and let him remain free not only in Tibet and China but everywhere in the world.

In many parts of India, common people, the lovers of democracy and freedom are campaigning very hard in support of freedom for Tibet. In Delhi one can see so many demonstrations in solidarity with Dalai Lama and his Tibet. Baichung Bhutia the skipper of Indian soccer team has already shown in opposition to carry the Olympic Torch as a mark of protest against the suppression of Tibetan by communist China. The power of sportsman Baichung has created lot of awakening in support of Tibet. This is just the beginning and as per the current events lot of support will come for the boycot of Olympics in Beiging. May be another disaster in store for the forthcoming Olympics as it happened for Moscow Olympics to punish Soviet Russia for its involvement in Afghanistan.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

Here they are: The NRI Leadership Award Winners

-by gasper crasto / Kuwait

Supposed to be one of the most prestigious awards given to Goan NRIs, reading views on the net about the credibility of the winners (especially by Dubaikars) is a bit baffling. It’s always a shame when a prize becomes a popularity contest.

Just because one is unaware of or do not like the contributions of certain people do not mean that they have not done ‘outstanding’ things.

It should be comparatively unimportant who agrees and who does not that the recipient is the best; but the aim should be that most people accept him/her as a good, inspiring model. To better know the awardees I have uploaded photos of all the winners with a brief profile. They do fully seem deserving of the recognition on paper – but ofcourse different individuals in the rest of the countries have a different view. A complete summary on the individuals is being covered by Gulf Goans e-Newsletters of www.goa-world.com/

Many of us could be wrong in judging, as the saying goes: A prophet is not recognized in his own land. This can be true of Kuwait as well, for, none have openly hailed the winners from Kuwait. Or, is it alright for us to applaud when someone wins an award which they themselves claim not to have been invented?

One of the theories of the Community Service Leadership Awards (as it looks) is that these awards generate publicity about merit. This insight will help to boost the winners to do something extraordinary in future than what they have done so far for in their community. But certainly, if there are no suitable nominations, it is better not to give any award at all than to give it to undeserving people. The prize will become more relevant if the prize committee changes its ‘suspected’ prejudiced behavior.

Once again, those who comment on the net (the Goa Net in general, of which I count myself a member) put their myopia, narrow-mindedness, bitterness and irrelevancy on open display. No need to even reference previous posts; just read back and praise the ones who have been lucky enough to have been awarded.

You could argue in the same way that the Nobel Prize in economics is sometimes won by non-economics people.

:::Here’s a list of the Winners with photos:::

The awards were presented on March 29 at Hotel Mandovi, Panaji, Goa during the Conference on ‘Indian expatriates in the Gulf countries’. Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi presented the awards. The function was presided by Commissioner of NRI Affairs Shri Eduardo Faleiro while Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Digambar Kamat was the chief guest.

The honored recipients:

Click for photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rafacrasto/LeadershipAwards/photo#s5184335599600671378

BAHRAIN:
1. Mr. Francis Correia
President, Young Goans Club, Bahrain

2. Gabriel R. Crasto
Chairman, Bahrain Goans Football League, Bahrain

3. Mr. Alfred D’Souza
Honorary Vice Chairman, Migrant Workers Protection Society, Bahrain

KUWAIT:
4. Dr Jaganath Ramnath Chodankar
President, NRI Club 9, Kuwait

5. Mr Alex Wilson Coelho
President, Goan Welfare Society, Kuwait

6. Mr. Carmo Santos
Chairman, Goan Cultural Centre, Kuwait

OMAN:
7. Dr Mario Carmo de Souza
Secretary, Goan Community of Oman

8. Mr Celso Fernandes
Vice President, Goan Community of Oman

QATAR:
9. Mr Simon D'Silva
President, Goan Welfare Association, Doha, Qatar

UAE:
ABU DHABI
10. Mr. Ramnath Arjuna Mavlingcar
President, Abu Dhabi Goan Association

DUBAI
11. Mr Rockson Rufus Rodrigues
Coordinator, The Marriage Encounter of UAE, Dubai

DELHI:
12. Ms Suman Anand Kurade
President, Goenkarancho Ekvott, Delhi
"Photo courtesy Atish Naik - Gomantak Times"
Special arrangements: Cecil Pinto cecilpinto@gmail.com


Brought to you by
www.goa-world.com

Leadership Award Winner - Carmo Santos / Kuwait

-by gasper crasto / Kuwait

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

The honorable recipients:

Bahrain: Mr. Francis Correia, Mr. Gabriel R. Crasto, and Mr. Alfred D’Souza.

Kuwait: Dr Jaganath Ramnath Chodankar, Mr Alex Wilson Coelho, and Mr. Carmo Santos

Oman: Dr Mario Carmo de Souza , and Mr Celso Vincent Andre Fernandes

Qatar: Mr Simon D'Silva

UAE: Mr. Ramnath Arjuna Mavlingcar
Dubai: Mr Rockson Rufus Rodrigues

(Delhi): Ms Suman Anand Kurade

The Conference was inaugurated by Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi. The function was presided over by Commissioner of NRI Affairs Shri Eduardo Faleiro while Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Digambar Kamat was the Chief Guest.

Carmo Santos

Carmo was born in Goa in the year 1957 to Army General (Late) Armando Viegas Dos Santos and Luiza Bertalina Fernandes. After completing his education in Goa / Mumbai he landed in Kuwait in 1979 and joined one of the reputed companies M/s. Mohammed Abdulrahman Al-Bahar and is now having his own business

Carmo is compassionate and always aimed to help and assist the poor and the needy in Kuwait over the past two and half decades. He always confronts every type of exploitation, especially labour and community related ones without discrimination of gender, race, religion and nationality. Numerous cases of passengers’ injustices, liaison with local sponsors of Goan maids, houseboys and drivers as well as on behalf of those working in offices and resolving disputes and safe return of many Goans using his established contacts and operatives. His support and monetary assistance towards Goan causes have been focused by the church authorities as well as Indian embassy officials and diplomatic corps, NGOs in Kuwait and Indian organizations – both prior to invasion as well as post-invasion period. Scores of Goans have secured their jobs and positions for his timely and untiring efforts following the invasion of Kuwait. His personal efforts and intervention in convincing local employees to reinstate and organize their visas and travel arrangements soon after liberation when Goans in large numbers approached him.

In 2004, Carmo Santos was unanimously elected as president of the Goan apex organization, Goan Welfare Society and successfully organized the Goa Day 2004 and a record of 4000 plus Goans attended.He contributed to several awards being instituted in support of young Goan students in Kuwait, and has always supported Goan small businesses including florists, travel agencies, Konkani writers and authors in Goa and in Kuwait, Goan websites and Goan organisations’ souvenirs. He is a very good linguist and expresses deep love for his mother-tongue Konkani. A regular and an active member of the Goan community and a generous one both in good and bad times.

At present Carmo is the chairman of Goan Cultural Centre-Kuwait.