Genuine freedom fighters never blew their own trumpets. They did not hanker after tamrapatras and state largesse. The dubious variety that did brought a bad name to all freedom fighters (FFs). Fakes would probably outnumber the authentic ones in the state list of registered FFs. Many of the former would barely be in their early teens in 1961. One recalls the attempt to swell the already contaminated list with 'FFs' from North India earlier this decade. Yet, there were some genuine FFs who were barely even known. Some died before 1961. Let's recall one, who died at Silvassa this day precisely 52 years ago, 25 Aug1958, 51 years of age.
Carlos Luis Martinho Nazario da Cruz, born 28 July 1907, was the eldest of 13 children from a middle-class Chandor family. He rebelled early in life. At 11,appearing for the Primary exam, together with his younger sister, he scored the highest but was denied the first rank by 'chivalrous' examiners. They gifted it to his sister, who scored second-highest in the class. Carlos is reported to have caused considerable commotion. In that early incident, perhaps, lay the seed of rebellion against fallacious Portuguese principles and morality - and the colonialists themselves.
Stymied midway in as tormy secondary education at the Panjim Lyceum, he qualified as a school teacher and legal consultant but with limited powers to practice law. While yet a student, he bravely wielded his pen, contributing articles to local journals. When blacked out in a leading publication, he co-founded the 'Oriente,' the first illustrated periodical published in Goa. His first posting was to a school in remote Arambol, where colonial masters thought his voice would be muted in the rest of Goa. He started with a bang, opening the first free night school for the labour class. Arambol instantly became a pilgrim point for Goan educationists!
Governor Craveiro Lopes sent his son (later President of the Portuguese Republic) to cajole Carlos, by now a member of TB da Cunha's Goa Congress Committee. Failed diplomacy. Yet, with hope in heart, the Governor 'gifted' Carlos a transfer to Silvassa in Dadra & Nagar Haveli - a plum posting where all kinds of civil service functionaries minted fortunes, looting the native tribal 'Warlis' (Adivasis), their natural resources, and their women.
The Portuguese had committed a blunder. Carlos took charge, started a periodical 'Sandalcalo' (published from Vapi in British India), exposed corruption at all levels, and braced the tribals for a fight. He was soon dismissed from service. He stayed on, a 'Bapuji' and 'Vakilsaheb' to the Warlis, hitherto a wild tribe. He provided largely free services and often spent his own money on court fees for the poor.
Carlos was deprived of civic rights. He was repeatedly arrested and released, only tobe rearrested a while later, altogether about 12 times. He was kept in long periods of isolation, but it did not break his spirit. He refused orders to remove portraits of Tagore, Gandhi and Nehru from his house. When asked why he had named his eldest daughter after the Rani of Jhansi, he named his next child after Nehru. When questioned again, he named the next one after Lenin!
Aware that his life was in danger, he sought refuge in British India. His first act in Bombay was to address the press and denounce the repressive 'Acto Colonial.' In Bombay, he edited 'The Anglo-Lusitano.' Via a common friend, he ensured his writing reached the eyes of Salazar. Carlos dared the lion in his own lair. He then returned to Silvassa and continued the campaign against corruption.
After Dadra &Nagar Haveli was freed 02 Aug 1954, the Government of India appointed him Public Prosecutor of Nagar Haveli. A debilitating disease struck Carlos. Though he spent 30 of his 51 years in a place where most civil servants amassed much wealth, he died a pauper, this day, 52 years ago. Silvassa shut in mourning. The government accorded him a state funeral. A handful of earth from his native Chandor he had carried decades before was, per his last wish, put in his grave.
His epitaph at Silvassa reads,
Life for him, a mission
His daily lot, a martyrdom
Honours and wealth, he sought not
But for the oppressed, freedom
As we recall the memory of one little-known patriot on his death anniversary today, let us also remember other genuine freedom fighters, several of them mercifully still alive, who sacrificed much to unshackle us from a repressive colonial regime.
August 25, 2010
CANSAULIM UNDER SEIZE. NEED SUPPORT FROM ALL GOANS.
Gram sabha at Cansaulim disrupted by Aboobakr's rowdies and anti social elements; Dr Marconi Correia roughed up and manhandled It’s shocking to see how the Builders-Politicians-Government Machinery nexus are getting blatantly virulent, anti-people and openly collusive in their strategy to push their agenda through even of it means attacking our villagers openly at Gram Sabha meetings. The latest reports in newspapers of what transpired at yesterday’s Gram Sabha meeting in Cansaulim is an indication of what lengths this evil nexus will go through to push their nefarious scheming trough.
Sunday’s gram sabha of the village panchayat of Cansaulim Arrossim Cuelim was abrubtly adjourned after a mob of unruly supporters of a builder and some elected panches including Martha Saldanha disrupted the meeting by attacking and intimidating the villagers.
The brave villagers of Cansaulim who have been dealing with this evil nexus have over the last year been dealing with threats, intimidation and immense hardships as Aboobakr Shaikh has literally unleashed a reign of terror with the political patronage that he enjoys from MLA Mauvin Godinho. Mauvin Godinho’s cousin Builder Aggie Alcacoas of Queeny Realty Estate is actually the one promoting the Gonsalves-Dias Gate and the Queeny Meadows project in Cansaulim. No one is being spared includuing the old and the helpless like InacXavier Fernandes or Father Randall Barretto and now even The Gram Sabha members including Dr. Marconi Correia are being targeted openly!
How can the Government machinery, funds and backing so openly be used by Mauvin Godinho who at a meeting held earlier this year warned the villagers of Cansaulim that Aboobakr Shaikh was his friend and the villagers should not oppose the development that Abbobakr has planned for the village of Cansaulim? In order to circumvent the High Court’s recent declaration that no licences be granted for new construction without proper infrastructure for treating garbage, MLA Godinho has shamelessly demanded that 100,000 square metres of scarce land be made available to him in his Constituency to treat garbage from 6 villages including Cansaulim! It only exposes the lengths that he will go to benefit his builder friends and cousins.
The so-called builder Aboobakr Shaikh alias Babloo has unleashed terror on the villagers of Cansaulim. At the recent July 30th meeting that the Cansaulim villagers held along with the GBA, Dr Marconi Corriea, Sheela Gracias (daughter of the ex-SP) and others exposed this evil nexus and the Cansaulim Villagers Committee was formed to thwart these destructive forces from going about their nefarious plans to destroy the village. This has resulted in this evil nexus that is operating ready to go to any lengths to push their mega-projects through.
Please voice your support for these brave villagers in Cansaulim who have stood up to oppose this evil Builders-Politicians-Government Machinery nexus that seeks to destroy their beautiful village. The MLA of Cortalim Constituency under whose backing Aboobakr Shaikh has unleashed a reign of terror and not stopping at anything even using goons to attack the Villagers at the Gram Sabha needs to give an explanation for his actions in this whole affair.
Villagers of Cansaulim are simply shocked at the face of the mob and goondasim which has infiltrated their peaceful village. They were heard commenting that the new faces at the Gram sabha were hired goons brought in by the builder and the elected panchayat members to thwart the democratic process in the village by stifling the sane voice of the people by the sheer use of brute muscle power. This is unlawful and a murder of democracy! The authorities in charge of Panchayat affairs in Goa need to probe into this unlawful act and put a stop to it. Day after day we see the same story unfolding in all our villages of Goa where the politicians working with the Builders are all out to destroy our villages! Does the Government of Goa care to heed the voices of it’s people? We need to stand united to flight this evil nexus and expse it for what it is.
To the brave villagers of Cansaulim we are with you in your struggle.
Please voice your support for the Cansaulikars and condemn the builder-politician-Government Machinery nexus!
Roger D'Souza.
Sunday’s gram sabha of the village panchayat of Cansaulim Arrossim Cuelim was abrubtly adjourned after a mob of unruly supporters of a builder and some elected panches including Martha Saldanha disrupted the meeting by attacking and intimidating the villagers.
The brave villagers of Cansaulim who have been dealing with this evil nexus have over the last year been dealing with threats, intimidation and immense hardships as Aboobakr Shaikh has literally unleashed a reign of terror with the political patronage that he enjoys from MLA Mauvin Godinho. Mauvin Godinho’s cousin Builder Aggie Alcacoas of Queeny Realty Estate is actually the one promoting the Gonsalves-Dias Gate and the Queeny Meadows project in Cansaulim. No one is being spared includuing the old and the helpless like InacXavier Fernandes or Father Randall Barretto and now even The Gram Sabha members including Dr. Marconi Correia are being targeted openly!
How can the Government machinery, funds and backing so openly be used by Mauvin Godinho who at a meeting held earlier this year warned the villagers of Cansaulim that Aboobakr Shaikh was his friend and the villagers should not oppose the development that Abbobakr has planned for the village of Cansaulim? In order to circumvent the High Court’s recent declaration that no licences be granted for new construction without proper infrastructure for treating garbage, MLA Godinho has shamelessly demanded that 100,000 square metres of scarce land be made available to him in his Constituency to treat garbage from 6 villages including Cansaulim! It only exposes the lengths that he will go to benefit his builder friends and cousins.
The so-called builder Aboobakr Shaikh alias Babloo has unleashed terror on the villagers of Cansaulim. At the recent July 30th meeting that the Cansaulim villagers held along with the GBA, Dr Marconi Corriea, Sheela Gracias (daughter of the ex-SP) and others exposed this evil nexus and the Cansaulim Villagers Committee was formed to thwart these destructive forces from going about their nefarious plans to destroy the village. This has resulted in this evil nexus that is operating ready to go to any lengths to push their mega-projects through.
Please voice your support for these brave villagers in Cansaulim who have stood up to oppose this evil Builders-Politicians-Government Machinery nexus that seeks to destroy their beautiful village. The MLA of Cortalim Constituency under whose backing Aboobakr Shaikh has unleashed a reign of terror and not stopping at anything even using goons to attack the Villagers at the Gram Sabha needs to give an explanation for his actions in this whole affair.
Villagers of Cansaulim are simply shocked at the face of the mob and goondasim which has infiltrated their peaceful village. They were heard commenting that the new faces at the Gram sabha were hired goons brought in by the builder and the elected panchayat members to thwart the democratic process in the village by stifling the sane voice of the people by the sheer use of brute muscle power. This is unlawful and a murder of democracy! The authorities in charge of Panchayat affairs in Goa need to probe into this unlawful act and put a stop to it. Day after day we see the same story unfolding in all our villages of Goa where the politicians working with the Builders are all out to destroy our villages! Does the Government of Goa care to heed the voices of it’s people? We need to stand united to flight this evil nexus and expse it for what it is.
To the brave villagers of Cansaulim we are with you in your struggle.
Please voice your support for the Cansaulikars and condemn the builder-politician-Government Machinery nexus!
Roger D'Souza.
A.Veronica thanked for supporting Goan unity.
Dear Mr. Veronica,
I on behalf of others in IFF-K would like to thank you for showing your unconditional support. For nearly a year we kept quiet for the sake of unity and finally yesterday KIFF has issued a letter to us which I feel the real Goan community will be the best to judge it once it is publicly published soon.
Very shortly we will call for a Goan public forum to take the case up where only real Goans will be invited and not Goans who are impotent and eunuchs.
More to follow.
Xavier Furtado.
I on behalf of others in IFF-K would like to thank you for showing your unconditional support. For nearly a year we kept quiet for the sake of unity and finally yesterday KIFF has issued a letter to us which I feel the real Goan community will be the best to judge it once it is publicly published soon.
Very shortly we will call for a Goan public forum to take the case up where only real Goans will be invited and not Goans who are impotent and eunuchs.
More to follow.
Xavier Furtado.
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