I am a long timer in Kuwait. When I first landed in Kuwait, members of our community were hungry to do anything for the cause of Goa, Goans and Konkani. The early Goans academically were less educated but more wisdomatic. They were matured enough to think of Goa though there were plenty among them who were crooks and selfish. Many of them are no more in Kuwait but a few of them are still rotting in Kuwait thereby burdening the woes of the community. Being hungry for doing something for Goans and unifying Goans in Kuwait in one way or the other, in late fifties Goans working at Oil Sector Ahmadi, mainly at Kuwait Oil Company, formed the first Goan association known as “GOAN ASSOCIATION” Ahmadi.
The membership in this association was drawn mainly from Goans working in Ahmadi especially at KOC. The purpose of this association is just for merry making like organising dances on certain occasions like X’Mas – New Year and Easter. Actually other than this, Goan Association, Ahmadi did nothing for Goa and Goans though they managed at least to bring some Goans under one umbrella. In the name of socializing, Goans gathered together in some form under Goan Association, Ahmadi.
In mid sixties, under the leadership of Armando Carvalho, a Kuwaiti city resident with the cooperation of Vincente D’Souza formed another Goan association known as KUWAIT GOAN ASSOCIATION to organize social functions on the pattern of Goan Association, Ahmadi. KGA involved in its fold Goans residing in Kuwait city and also in surrounding areas. While KGA under Vincente D’Souza flourished especially after Armando Carvalho’s exit, GA, Ahmadi slowly died an automatic death due to the absence of former heavyweight Goans who were retired from KOC due to the Kuwaitisation process. Again this KGA united Goans every year at least twice by organising socials in Shuwaikh Modern Restaurant and in 5 Star Hotels. During those days joining in socials organized by KGA means big thing because ordinary person was getting an opportunity to step in elite hotels. Vincente D’Dousa was using his brain to woo the people for such occasions by capturing their psychological deformity because of their ancestral inferiority complex. For an ordinary Kuwait Goan of Ladru Pedru type in Goa entering in a five star hotel means entering White House.
Kuwait Goan Association and especially thru its president Vincente D’Souza, Goan community was made known to the outside world in Kuwait. In fact Vincente D’Souza was the first Kuwait Goan to intenrationalise Goans from Kuwait. Being a free-lance journalist and also an accredited, thru his writings he raised many issues of the community and found solutions for same. His immense contribution for the cause of Goans, in Kuwait especially, should be applauded.
Then in early seventies under the leadership of Vincente D’Souza again, another Goan association was formed known as GOAN ARTS CIRCLE, Alexander M. Fernandes was one of the pillars of this association. This association was formed to raise funds for the cause of Goa Cancer Hospital and one Tiatro was also organized under this association to raise funds for Cancer Hospital. This Tiatro was of Alexinho de Maxem and it was held at Keefan Hall in 1976. Though it lasted for a short period and died a slow but natural death yet it served the cause of Goa in one way or the other.
TO BE CONCLUDED.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
