ADEUS IXTTA THOMAS.
Almost after 40 years of working in Kuwait, my friend and once colleague Thomas Martinho Fernades finally bade adieu to Kuwait last week. A very active member of Goan community hailing from Navelim the village that gave two great sons to Goa and India, namely Portuguese Parliamentarian who represented Goa in Portuguese Parliament Dr. Francis Luis Gomes and Cardinal Gracias – the first Goan Cardinal. I first met Thomas in 1975 when I joined Behbehani Motors Company where he was already working successfully. When he came to know of my credentials in Goa in sporting fields in athletics and in soccer thru mouth to mouth propaganda and also thru media, he hugged me with admiration saying “Are you the same Anthony Veronica the champion athlete of Goa, fastest runner of Goa and defender of Sesa Goa soccer team?” When I replied affirmatively, he became very good friend of mine guiding and helping me on the job. He was good in his job and liked by our superiors. Because of his smartness on the job, he was seconded to company’s Bahrain branch for one year to help develop Bahrain branch. He was very young and youthful then and still he looks youthful.
Being a member of yesteryears Goan community, he showed great love for all Goan causes and truly supported every Goan cause that we initiated from Kuwait for the cause of Goa and community. When Goans initiated competitive soccer activities for Indians, he was on forefront with United Goans Football Center to promote our soccer. Day and night one could see him at Sour Grounds during those hectic days. In 1980 -81 season when UGFC vindictively suspended G.O.A. Maroons from the League tourney and thereby created foul athmosphere all around, Thomas opposed this suspension and tried as a peace maker to bring reconciliation between the two warring clubs but in vain. He loved peace and friendship.
When I took the initiative to form KUWAIT KONKNNI KENDR with the help of another prominent Navelkar, Mr. Elvino Rodrigues, Thomas was one of the first to support me with his active participation but due to his difficult job schedule he failed to become active Executive Body Member. Otherwise he helped all our activities since he was a great lover of Konkani.
When I formed Novem Goem Pratishthan Kuwait Somithi with Alexandre M. Fernandes and others for the starting of people’s Daily “NOVEM GOEM” in Goa, though Thomas was not our Kuwait committee member yet he supported this move very strongly. During those days he was the only Navelkar displaying prominently the flag of Navelim in support of Goa, Goan culture and tradition.
As a lover of Tiatro, he always supported me in organising Tiatros for the cause of Konkani and to raise funds for the cause of Direct Flight from Kuwait to Goa. It always gave him pleasure to work for the cause of Goa and community. He was not a sectarian Navelkar confining his activities for the cause of Navelim only and looking around Navelim only but he was also a metropolitan Goan looking beyond Navelim and as a matter of fact, he had acceptance from Goan community beyond Navelim residents in Kuwait. Even though he was so popular in Goan community yet he never allowed to make publicity of his social work thru Press writings. He did not like cheap publicity to gain cheap prominence, neither in the Goan community nor among Navelkars. He was not a cheap Navelkar,he was a thorough humble gentleman and was very much responsible for creating a good image of Navelim Youth Center.
His greatest contribution for the cause of Goan community was his strong support for the promotion of GOA-KUWAIT SOLIDARITY CENTER activities during the invasion of Kuwait. Along with Elvino Rodrigues, Thomas made heavy awakening in Navelim to mobilize strong force of Kuwait evacuee Navelkars to join in our Rallies at Panjim in support of the liberation of Kuwait. Kuwait evacuee Navelkars came in special Buses with big banners displayed on the hood of the Buses. Unfortunately those who claim to be the leaders of Navelim abstained from participating in this movement thereby showing their opposition to the liberation movement of Kuwait. Such people should be thrown out not only from the Club circle but also from Kuwait.
Thomas Martinho Fernades made Navelim proud. Thomas was great for dishing out great efforts for the cause of Goa. I salute him and wish him best of retired life in Goa and hope, if possible, given a chance he would take active part in the local affairs of Navelim. Under the current corrupt political bigwigs, Navlim lost its pristine greatness. Parliamentarian Francis Luis Gomes brought political honour for Navelim while the current Navelim politicians brought corruption in all fields. This trend has to be arrested. I hope our Thomas will play his role well to bring political discipline in his locality.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
