Photos - Global Goans Community Service Leadership Award Winners and the Kuwait AwardeesIt was somewhere in 1988. Eduardo Faleiro came to Kuwait as an MP on his way back home from his South American official visit. We paid from our pockets his boarding and lodging at Sahara Hotel behind American Embassy. During that time I had just initiated a major Konkani movement in Kuwait, first of its kind in the expatriate Goan world, the Novem Goem daily move was my priority. Along with my colleague John Felix Desouza from Anjuna Bardez, I went to meet Eduardo Faleiro in his Hotel Room, introduced myself, briefed him of my move for Konkani cause and gave him some cuttings of my articles published in the local English dailies, Goan monthly “Goa Today” and Konkani weekly “Goycho Mog”.
Eduardo was deeply impressed by my work and with that mood on the same day in the evening on Sunday, in the big Church hall, we organized a public meeting. He in his entire speech in Konkani, said “KITLI-I TI DUBBLI ZAUM, TI AMCHI MAIM BHAS KONKANI, TIKA AMI SAMBALLUNK ZAI, VOIR KADDUNK ZAI ANI FULOUNK ZAI. TICHI SEVA KOROP ANI TICHEA PASSOT VAVROP ZAUN ASA VHODD VAVR ANI OSLEA VAVRA POROS ANINK DUSRO VHODD VAVR NA. JE KON KONKANI PASSOT VAVURTAT TE KHI KHORE LEADERS”.
These words he spoke in front of Indian Ambassador, Mr. Chatwall, Kuwait’s Bishop Monsg. Victor Saminguel and other elite audience who didn’t even know what he spoke because they were not conversant with Konkani. There was lot of Goans for this meet who later on complained that to please Veronica, Faleiro spoke in Konkani. Vincente D’Souza took the lead in hosting Faleiro’s reception in the Church hall followed by a grand Dinner at Hotel Sheraton. Myself and Alexander M. Fernandes were closely linked with Vincente D’Souza to organize these events but none of the current NRI awardees from Kuwait were there as leaders, helpers associates or volunteers with us though minus Dr. Jaganath Chodankar, the other two were very much present in Kuwait at that time. Even if Dr. Chodankar was existing in Kuwait at that time, nobody knew his existence.
Earlier in 1975, on the pattern of Indian Arts Circle, Vincente D’Souza formed Goan Arts Circle where again Alexandre M. Fernandes and Assumption D’Sa were closely linked with the promotion of this organization which collected huge funds for the establishment of Cancer Hospital in Goa. As per the information, the total amount donated to this hospital from Kuwait itself was around 20 lakhs at that time plus sophisticated machinery. Though I was not involved in its initiative but I fully supported this organization for fund raising campaign thru Tiatro organizing at Keefan Hall and also in writings. Here again none of the current NRI awardees were involved in giving leadership nor even a little push to this great move though like earlier, minus Dr. Chodankar the other two were very much present in Kuwait at that time. Nobody knew if Dr. Chodankar was existing in Kuwait at that time.
In 1979 I formed, thru my initiative, Novem Goem Pratisthan Kuwait Somiti to campaign for and to raise funds for people’s Konkani Daily Newspaper “Novem Goem” for which finally we from Kuwait itself donated around 5 lakhs of rupees. Thru this move Konkani got booster and thru Konkani Goa was saved. Again Alexander M. Fernandes was closely linked with me since we both were Jnt. Secretaries of this organization under the chairmanship of A. B. Fernandes (Al-Bahar General Manager). This committee was formed with the membership of best of leadership and charactership of Goan talent in Kuwait. Some of the leaders were Estanislaus Alemao (Principal of New Indian English School, Jabriya), Mr. Raymond D’Sa, Mr. Assumption D’Sa, Mr. John Felix D’Souza, Adv. Bosco Lobo, Mr. Vincente D’Souza, Mr. Diogo A. D’souza, Mr. Evaristo Fernandes, Mr. Jose Faleiro and others. Such a high grade and intellectually advanced committee having best of Goan qualities in it for the cause of Goa had never came into being earlier and will never come again. Though the current NRI awardees were very much present in Kuwait at that time yet, if Dr. Chodankar was existing in Kuwait at that time, nobody knew his existence.
Then came the big event in the history of Goans in Kuwait and that was the initiative of our soccer activities at Sour grounds under the leadership of United Goans Football Center (UG Center). UG surely carry the credit but my contribution in the promotion of this soccer was second to none, as a player, organizer, founder of soccer teams, writer and coordinator. Again the current NRI awardees were nowhere in the picture with us, neither in promoting, helping nor in lending any push to the leadership. When we started our soccer activities, they were unknown entities amongst us. Again, Dr. Chodonkar’s whereabouts was a mystery that time.
Then came the initiative of the formation of Gulf Goans Hotels Company for the construction of Goan Heritage Hotel at Calangute. Though Mr. Vincente D’Souza was instrumental in starting this move ably supported by Assumption D’Sa, I too played my positive role in promoting the sale of Shares when people were reluctant to purchase them. Though one of the current NRI awardees Wilson Coelho from the beginning is a part of this project and who later on played a good role in helping this project, he was not the whole and sole as many times it was given to understand wrongly. I also played my role along with others to raise this project and played a very crucial role during certain time.
Then came the initiative of Direct Flight from Kuwait – Goa – Kuwait. It was Vincente D’souza again who started this move. When he and his association “Kuwait Goans” found it difficult to carry the burden, he requested my help and I joined him, another strong Goan Avertano Furtado supported. To raise funds to do expenses to attain this flight, under my leadership a Tiatro written and directed by Vincy was staged in the Church Hall. All the Tiatrists for my word acted free of charge and a good amount was collected. In this move again none of the NRI awardees took the leadership nor participated actively.
Then came another big event in the history of expatriate Goans when about 25 years back I initiated and formed Kuwait Konknni Kendr for the promotion of Konkani cause. Best of available Kuwait Goans were involved in this organization as members but never the current NRI awardees because they did not rise up to the expectation of fulfilling the aspirations of Konkani activities. Konkani is the soul of Goa and those who support Konkani, in the words of Faleiro support the real cause of Goa.
Then again thru the initiative of Vincente D’Souza Goan Welfare Society was formed where again I gave him a strong support and thru this strong support Goan Welfare Society GWS was stabilized in Kuwait. Here again none of the current NRI awardees came forward to give leadership to form this organization nor even a helping hand though one of them was with his gang of destructive elements trying to sabotage Vincente D’Souza’s move in forming this organization. This gang, in one of the meetings at Ramada Hotel showed to the public how destructive Goans they were. If it was not for my involvement, there would have been free for all, in which case, the ring leader would have been assaulted as he was once assaulted by his own student when he was working as PT Master in the school at Assolna.
To be concluded in Part - II
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
