ROYAL WEDDING OF PRINCE WILLIAM & KATE.

2 Christian persons male and female joined together yesterday 29th of April, 2011 in the holy sacrament of matrimony and their marriage ceremony was witnessed from close angle by 2 thousand people besides 2 billion people from all around the globe viewed this ceremony thru innumerable TV channels. Oh my goodness!! What a majestic show of pomp and publicity Her Majesty’s Government has done!! Thru this show of dsplay Christianty and Christian Rites were also very well promoted and publicised especially in the non-Christian world. Nowhere else such a majestic show is put on display except in UK for Royal couple. And the Bishop who conducted the marriage ceremony declared saying "I pronounce you both as husband and wife". I fervently pray to God to keep the bridal couple to remain as husband and wife forever so that they become a symbol of unity between husband and wife for others to emulate. They both promised to remain faithful to each other in good time and in bad time, in sickness and in good health and never to separate from each other till death separates them. It is my sincere prayer to God to keep them together firmly till one of them dies otherwise they will be making a mockery of their solemn pledge they took to remain together forever. The parents of Prince William are already on record to break this solemn pledge they took 3 decades ago in a similar manner and later on formalised their divorce. By destroying their married life they made mockery of the sacrament of matrimony and also of Monarchy which should give good example to others.


It is said, marriages are made in Heaven and what is bound in Heaven, no power on earth can break. This doctrine it looks not applicable to the Royal couple. Prince Charles and Lady Diana the sinful parents of Prince William were both guilty of committing adulatory leading to their legal separation from each other. By doing this they both brought disgrace not only on the Monarchy but more than that on their religion Christianity they practiced. Rich people are known to make mockery of their religions. Religion is the staple diet of the poor and in the words of Karl Marx; religion is the opium of the masses.


I admire the young Prince William for sticking up to the same girl from the time he took liking for Kate while they were doing their studies together. By doing this he proved to be the real son of his real father. No doubt Kate looked attractive yet she lacked the beauty, elegance and gracefulness of her late mother-in-law Lady Diana who was really extra ordinary as far as her looks were concerned. Kate’s make up was showing that she was wearing an artificial face making her extra beautiful which even surprised her man Prince William forcing him to state that “you look beautiful”. While walking to the Alter Lady Diana then looked like an Angel maintaining courtly discipline while her daughter-in-law Kate looked real commoner. Lady Diana’s born unfaithful husband Prince Charles yesterday looked as cunning as he was 3 decades ago flirting then without any guilt with his girlfriend Camilla whose presence yesterday spoiled the good mood of many inside the Church and outside. She is a criminal who murdered the smooth married life of Lady Diana by infiltrating into her happily married life. During the marriage ceremony while watching minutely the facial appearance of Prince William it gave me an impression that there was no another female in his mind to think of and he gave an impression that he loves Kate more. However, if I can recollect the marriage ceremony of Prince Charles, his thoughts looked engrossed in Camilla the bitchy woman who destroyed the peace of Lady Diana and entered as Lucifer in the Monarchy thereby bringing bad name to the Monarchy.


The young Prince yesterday received lot of sympathy for being an orphan in the absence of his dearest mother for whom both her Princes means everything. Poor lady had lot of ambitions to bring them up in a different manner than in the Royal mould but all her dreams turned into hell and who was responsible for this hell? Surely Camilla who should have stayed out of Prince Charles’ domain after his marriage with Diana. This does not mean that I absolve Charless of the mischief he committed. He took Diana for granted till Diana revolted not only against his unfaithfulness but also against the entire Monarchy. In fact British Monarchy was lucky that Lady Diana was killed in a car accident otherwise she would tear the Monarchy into pieces of course with the support of Muslim millionaire Dodi Al Fayaz. Luck favoured Monarchy which looked like unwanted now.


The earlier 2 marriages from British Royal family turned into disaster. Will this marriage too see the same fate as that of Prince Charles and his younger brother Prince Andrew? When Prince Adrew was having his honeymoon in the luxurious Yacht off the coast Azores, away on the land people were dancing like mad. Today the newly wedded couple in a Helicopter gone to undisclosed place for a change and not for honeymoon which is scheduled in the next month. Will British people dance from distance during the honeymoon of the newly wedded couple? British people will do anything to keep their Monarchs happy for this reason British Monarchy is still kept alive by the British tax payers' money.


A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwat.

DANIEL F. D'SOUZA RELEASES HIS KONKANI BOOK "GODDKAM".

Seen in the picture is book releasing ceremony. Standing extreme left are Mrs. Daniel and Danel F. D'Souza.


Konkani Book ‘Goddkam’ Released

‘Goddkam’ a book in Roman script Konkani written by Vasco based Konkani writer and Freelance journalist Daniel F de Souza was released at the hands of Rev. Fr. Jose Antonio da Costa Parish Priest of St. Andrew’s Church, Vasco da Gama on Easter Sunday after the midnight Mass service. Rev. Fr. Da Costa while congratulating the author also complemented him for his contribution to the language and Konkani literature. The book received a good response at the launch from the large congregation present for the Easter celebration. The book is dedicated to Blessed Joseph Vaz Patron saint of Goa to commemorate his 300th death anniversary.

The book contains 25 selected essays on various topics concerning the youth, students, environment, and Goa in general, etc. With the exception of one essay, the remaining 24 selected essays were earlier published on Konkani periodicals and magazines. The book is published by Talia Prokaxon and supported by the Dalgado Konknni Akademi under its ‘Pikavoll’ scheme meant for Roman script Konkani writers who have earlier published their books in Konkani.

The book has a foreword by Shri Jose Salvador Fernandes, Secretary of the Dalgado Konknni Akademi and Rev. Fr. Nascimento Mascarenhas, historian and author, has penned the authors’ profile. This is the fourth book of the Vasco based author. The author is a recipient of two literary awards for his first book ‘Koslich Malis Nastana’. ‘Goddkam’ will be available soon at all the leading book stalls in all the major towns of Goa as well as at the book stall at Pilar.


*************************************************
Daniel F. de Souza
Konknni Writer,Columnist & Freelance Journalist

C/3, IInd Floor, Elvira Apts.
Near St. Andrew's Church
Vasco da Gama - Goa 403 802
INDIA. Tel: + 91-832-2510714
Mob: 9822163329 & 9420818059

e-mail :dannyboy04@rediffmail.com

My Blog:http://www.danieldeblog.wordpress.com

NKP WELCOME LINO'S FAMILY TO KUWAIT.

We, The Nuvem Kuwait Parishioners (NKP) take this opportunity to wellcome Mrs.Nisha and Master Peter (wife/son) of our General Secretary, Mr.Lino G.Fernandes and wish them a plasant stay in KUWAIT.

NUVEM KUWAIT PARISHONERS,
KUWAIT.

SPORTS AUTHORITY OF GOA IS MORE INTERESTED IN GENERATING REVENUE THAN BOSTING SPORTSMEN.

By Nisser Dias
28th April 2011

Sports Authority of Goa is more interested in generating revenue than boosting sportsmen.

At the recently concluded assembly session Congress legislators in the absence of the BJP MLAs (boycotted - demanding dropping of Education minister Babush Monserrate from cabinet on charges of currency smuggling) made a fervent plea to either develop or construct play grounds to give a boost to sports in the state. It is indeed an excellent thought even though the elected representatives received a rare spark of ingenuity after the victory of Indian cricket team at the World Cup after 28 long years and that too on homeland. Of course every single Indian is proud of the achievement and our unsporting legislators did their bit by moving a congratulatory motion in the assembly.

However their plea to develop more playgrounds in the state is not honorary because their main intention is not development of sports or sportsmen but the commissions and the cuts they receive for undertaking such projects. There cannot be a more classic example then the Common Wealth Games where crores of rupees were siphoned off by various members of the organising committee and just this week, its chairman Suresh Kalmadi was arrested by the CBI for his involvement in the scam.

And surely Goa legislators especially the lot that is governing the state are no saints. They take up projects only when they are assured of their commissions. Our elected representatives have also struck a cord with equally greedy personnel staffed in the sports authorities like the SAG, GCA, Youth Affairs and various other units involved in sports.

First and foremost let me discuss village playgrounds which have been taken over by the Sports Authority of Goa. It started during the first tenure of Mickky Pacheco as sports ministers, however the concept of take-over could have been mooted before Pacheco even became an MLA. But he went along with the tide maybe due to inexperience. The idea of handing-over village playgrounds to SAG was to develop them and equip them with proper facilities for the local youth to use. However the moment SAG took possession of few grounds they refused to let youth from the locality to even play on it in the evening. That was not the end of it, SAG went a step ahead and fenced the ground, erected a gate and maintained a security guard to deter youth from using it. Can sports be developed by denying youth to use the village grounds?

Refusing local youth from playing or using the ground did not go well with the villagers who resorted to hooliganism to mark their protest. SAG authorities failed to realize that these grounds were developed over the decades because of village folks used these spaces to dry fish, chillies and other provisions in the morning sun and in the evening the youth would use it to play. Restraining youth from using the grounds to play which they had been doing so for decades raised heckles and protests from villagers. To rub salt into the would, SAG then decided to levy a fee of Rs 500 a day for youth to use the grounds and also charge village clubs organizing annual inter-ward and inter-village tournaments. As it is village clubs used to have a hard time to bring in sponsors to organize tournaments and now they had the burden to pay SAG. I am of the opinion that the first nail in coffin in discouraging youth from playing football in villages was hammered in by the SAG for their greed of generating revenue.

As of today a ground in Benaulim which was taken over by SAG has been leased out to Churchill Brothers for thirty three years for mere Rs.20,000 a year. If one does simple arithmetics the villagers or local youth using the ground at a fee of Rs. 500 would end up paying Rs. 15,000 a month, whereas a professional club is made to pay just Rs. 20,000 for a year. Under such circumstances how can the sports minister and his ministry and other sports bodies under him develop and groom young talent.

While on the topic of Churchill Brothers club, Joaquim Alemao has been the president of the Varca sports club for times in memorial. The village boasts of a good football ground which was earlier used by the local youth to play. Under Joaquim presidency the ground was enclosed with a boundary wall with seating arrangements. However local youth are denied permission to use the ground like earlier times on daily basis but professional players are allowed to practice. Even organizers of ward tournaments of the village itself are charged a fee to use the grounds. If this is the attitude of ministers and Sports Authority of Goa how can we think of picking up young talents. We should realize that talents are not picked up in camps or coaching classes, young talents are picked up from village football grounds.
Then Sports and Youth Affairs wanted to acquire cultivable land in Nuvem admeasuring almost 30,000 sq meters to build a stadium for the Government primary school. Handful of students studying in the primary government school were below the age of 7 years. Church ground situated just opposite the school was available to these toddlers, but the director of Sports and Youth Affairs Dr. Susanna D’souza was determined to acquire the land and thus in bid to convince the farmers is alleged to have told the villagers that she is going to build a, ‘sexy’ stadium there and villagers should not object to it. This is classic case of those in-charge of sports are not interested in applying their mind to improvement of sports but are more interested in building structures and generating revenue.

I am of the opinion that government has to provide infrastructure for every sports being played in Goa and all the facilities should be made available to young budding children. At the same time the government should not take over local play grounds and deny the villagers from using it just because SAG or government has constructed a boundary wall. Yet another example of mis-use or rather abuse of sports equipments. For four long years sports equipment like cricket , football, volley ball kits are sparingly provided to village clubs. However in the election year all the MLAs take tons of sports equipment and distribute it like confetti to any tom, dick and harry just to attract votes and the sports bodies like SAG and Sports and Youth Affairs are party to this practice.

In conclusion to develop sports in Goa we need not flatten hills or destroy forests and fields to set up infrastructure where local youth will not be permitted to use. We need to improvise village grounds, provide facilities and incentives and more importantly urge and encourage the youth to use it on daily basis without restrictions.

Send your comments/reactions to nisserdias@gmail.com Or SMS 9422437029)
(Nisser Dias writes a regular column in GT every Thursday).

TUKAM KITEAK PODDLAM?? - Part: III.

KUWAIT INDIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION (KIFF).

Kuwait Indian Football Federation was formed for the smooth running of our soccer in Kuwait where overwhelming majority are Goans and who also play the major role. Since last two years there is a split in this KIFF and parallel organisation under Indian Football Federation Kuwait was born. There was no reason for KIFF break-up but on minor reason KIFF became adamant leading to the split which served nobody’s purpose. On the contrary lot of enmity is created and worst sufferers became footballers and Goans only. This matter even went to the Indian Ambassador who requested KIFF to reconcile for the sake of Indian unity. But KIFF is still adamant as if it is manned by Hitlers and Saddam Husseins. I openly told the KIFF president either reconcile and bring peace or withdraw from KIFF, if you cannot do good for the cause of our community then you are going to fail. I am all for the community and not for Mangaloreans, Punjabis and other non-Goans who all are hell bent to destroy our unity. Then I wrote a few articles which even went to the notice of the Embassy, in support of the unity and against those Goans in KIFF who are reluctant to bring about unity and since then things are improving. Many Goans again started asking me ‘Tukam Kiteak Poddlam Re Tem? Leave those rowdies there only. They will never change because their culture is thus”. For those who are questioning me, I answer them thus: “Makam Poddlam Tem” because nobody has worked as much as I for the establishment of our competitive soccer activities and also for KIFF. Secondly, I am interested in the unity of Goans and only thru Goan unity we will be able to fight for Goan causes. Unfortunately there is not a single Goan in KIFF who has done anything extra ordinary for the cause of Goa and Goans. For such people Goan unity means nothing.


KUWAIT TIATRISTANCHI SONVSTHA.

A few years back an organisation of Tiatrists was formed in Kuwait. The main motto of the initiator of this organisation in the name of Tatro promotion was to keep out one prominent Tiatrist and thus finish him from the Konkani Stage. I sensed a foul play in the formation of this organisation and openly started opposing this discriminatory attitude of the founder of this association. When everyone in this association found to be impotent to fight for the justice for the discriminated tiatrist, I stepped in and fought very forcefully vocally and thru my writings till some changes took place. Changes came about only thru devine punishment on the person who played foul game. It is not my happiness to see the sufferings of my fellow beings but the Law of Nature is there to take care of me and everyone committing injustice against innocent persons. We must all pay respect for this Law otherwise Sunami or Earthquake or Volcano will come to finish us.
.

KUWAIT COLVA FIGHT.

Colvakars in Kuwait had their soccer team in Kuwait playing among Indians at Sour Grond. For some reason there was discord between them and the organisers of the tournament. Because of this Colvakars gheraoed the football ground and prevented the organisers from organising matches. This matter took ugly turn, Colvakars even came with their womenfolk and stopped the soccer activities unless their problem was solved. Matter went to Indian Embassy, me and Fr. Gabriel Dias from the Catholic Church one day questioned by the top Indian diplomat Mr. Usmani on this issue. All over Kuwait the image of Indians in general and Goans in particular came into disrepute. I voiced my opinion very forcefully against this rowdism. While I was on vacation during that period, Fr. Dourado – the Pe. Vigar of Colva requested me to meet him to discuss this topic since he read what I wrote. On one Sunday in his preaching he spoke against this rowdism perpetrated by Colvakars in Kuwait and finally peace came. Again here too some Goans asked me “Tukam Kiteak Poddlam Colvakaranchem?” If I had not to interfere then peace would never dawn on Colvakars in Kuwait and they would go on disgracing the fair image of Goans and Menino Jesus of Colva as well.


To those who are advising me saying ‘Tukam Kiteak Poddlam’ and to others as well, please note that in my life in Kuwait I really sought and accepted the advice of only one person, his name is John Felix D’Souza from Anjuna and now retired from Kuwait. It was he who first supported and advised me in the right direction in my activities in public life. His advice I found always valuable. He was one of the reputed senior Kuwait Goans then. I had trust in him. He was highly upright, literate and intellectual Goan. After his retirement from Kuwait I receive nobody’s advice and those who are trying to advise me verbally or thru their writings will have no effect because there is nobody in Kuwait among us capable to advise me especially on public issues I take up. The issues I take up are not meant for Ladru-Pedru type of people. All my issues are big and to advise me on these issues is beyond the capacity of those who feel they can advise me, neither their shallow crticsm bothers me. Some of them may be aged persons like me but I still consider them as ‘Kalche Porche Potte’ as far as their wisdomatic and intellectual capacities are concerned. Those who are advising me angrily or politely and also criticise me are fit for nothing, they are capable of only earning Dinars and converting the same into rupees and take pleasure in their personal financial status. They are not meant for public life and unfit to give leaderships for the good of the community and society. Genuine and upright leadership is God’s gift which very few are blessed with. Artificial leadership makes you selfish and corrupt leader and for this reason we among us in Goa and in Kuwait are having corrupt leaders. Artificial leadership is like a purchasable commodity.


People who advise me have to be morally and character wise upright. I will never accept any advice from Drunkards, Rowdies, Selfish and those who are cheating their wives and having Concubines clandestnely. Concubinage is the worst vice prevalent among Goans in Kuwait. The so called respectable Kuwait Goans are fully immersed in this rot but act saintly. Many wives in Kuwait are suffering because their husbands are keeping concubines without their knowledge. When they have no excuse to point out their accusing fingers to me they talk of my family background as if I am a bastardasised son of my poor parents. However what they fail to realise is the fact that the worst lowliness is to cheat one’s wife and have a concubine. One of the worst detractors of mine who even questioned me ‘Tukam Kiteak Poddlam’ to organise the movement under Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center in support of Kuwait, himself is guilty of committing concubinage. Even his poor wife is on record to send me an email pleading for my help to track down his concubine. Will I ever accept any advice of such disgraceful persons who question me ‘TUKAM KITEAK PODDLAM’??

CONCLUDED.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

TUKAM KITEAK PODDLAM?? - PART: II.

The Goans who pose me the question “Tukam Kiteak Poddlam Re Tem” are impotent to do something high that requires high intellectual capacity and high public support. When they question me “Tukam Kiteak Poddlm Re Tem”, then my question to them is ‘Tukam Kiteak Poddonkna Re Tem? “Fokot Makam Vincharunk Poddlam?” If you have no interest in any issues that I raise then you should just shut your mouth and Pen and don’t bark like a dog. Among us there are people having very high jealousy of me when I do very high calibre activities. They are destructive people, neither will they do anything good nor will they allow me to do. On the contrary they will ask me “Tukam Kiteak Poddlam Re Tem?”. “Makaim Poddonkna ani Tukaim Poddonkna, Tor Konnank Poddlam Re Tem? Maechea Minnak??” Those who are opposing me without genuine reason are the real sons of their “Maechea Minnache and not Maechea Govache”.


CAMPAIGN AGAINST HARASSMENT OF MAIDS & DOWNTRODDEN.

In my writings in the local English media I very forcefully raised the issues of harassment in Kuwait of Maids and other downtrodden like Bangladeshi Cleaners working in Kuwait. I was very forceful in my support for Palestinian cause too. Some of my fellow Goans again asked me “Tukam Kiteak Poddlam Re Tem? What we have to do with the Palestinian issue?" In fact Palestinian issue and our issue are of similar nature, for this reason I highlight on this issue more to educate our Ladrus and Pedrus whose political knowledge is very thin. Because I took interest and campaigned hard on these issues the eyes of authorities concerned opened wide and lot of good appeared for the affected people.


KUWAIT GOAN “CHORANCHI” SOCIETY.

Among us in Kuwait lot of injustice is taking place because many of the leaders and other office bearers of our organisations are idiots of first grade. Before the invasion of Kuwait, we formed one Society to help the needy Goans. We created a huge fund for this Society but when this Society was restarted after the liberation of Kuwait some of the very founders of this Society were kept out of it and some of those who were opposing the formation of this Society gained upper hand. Then the major portion of the fund of this society about a crore of Indian rupees is kept in the personal account of the three members all from the same locality in Salcette, Goa. One of them was involved in the misuse of the fund of Kuwait Goan Evacuees Society in Goa during the invasion of Kuwait. This same man was accused of demanding sexual favour from young Goan girls in exchange of jobs. During his stewardship of this Society the image of Goans in Kuwait suffered terribly. While all these ills are happening none of the members especially those who claim to be erect and dignified confronted these ill deeds of the few in this Society.

When I raise my voice against those committing mischief in this Society, many are asking me “Tukam Kiteak Poddlam Re Tem?” “Let this money go to the election campaign of Eduardo Faleiro again as it happened earlier when the huge fund of Kuwait Goan Evcuees Society was spent in printing costly election Posters of Eduardo Faleiro in 1991 for his election for the Parliamentary Seat". My counter question to them is “Tumkam Kiteak Poddonk Na Re Tem? You know only to question my right to fight for the justice?" There is not a single active member in this Society to question why the founder members are kept out? There is not a single member in this society to demand forcefully the transfer of the fund from the three mosquitoes to the Society’s account? This is injustice and all the members are party to this injustice. It is a sin to support the wrong doers and such sins go against our religion. Aren’t we ashamed to call ourselves regular Church goer Christians? I feel ashamed of such Goans because our history, culture and tradition, if we are genuine Goans and not illegitimates, tell us to fight for justice until justice is delivered or dissociate from unjust people if they are hardcore shameless and immoral demanding Sexual favours from young girls. Time will come the Sexologist will rape the wives and daughters of all the members, then all members will regret for their blind support to the Sexologist.

The mushrooming of corruption among us in Kuwait like what is happening in Goa is because we don’t have upright Goans, however much they may bark saying they are upright. Upright people are not associating with corrupt people. When you associate with corrupt person by closing your eyes for his corruption, then you also become a part of corruption. Otherwise good persons in this ‘Choranchi’ Society should withdraw from the corrupt and ‘Chor’ persons if they are impotent to fight for justice. The huge amount of money belonging to this Society should return to the account of the Society. Till such time this money will be treated as in the hands of thieves and all the active members of this Society supporting the thieves will be also considered as thieves and corrupt. And those who are asking me “Tukam Kiteak Poddlam Re Tem” are the worst corrupt people like night time sleeping with their wives and daytime with their concubines. What productive role will these Goans play when they return to Goa? They will be an addition to the already corrupt politicians in Goa. I don’t expect any productive role from any of these Kuwait Goans once they retire from Kuwait.

TO BE CONCLUDED.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

TUKAM KITEAK PODDLAM?? - PART: I.

During my lifetime on this planet of God I have organised, given lead to many movements and raised my voice for the cause of justice and fought against injustice in Goa and in Kuwait. Some of the subjects I raised from Kuwait in support of justice for the cause of humanity even created impact around the globe giving me recognition that I am a fighter for the cause of justice and for the support of the downtrodden. Kuwait gave me a nice platform for my campaign to fight for justice and in return to receive accolades from global community for my work in support of justice.


KONKANI MOVEMENT.

Three decades back when I initiated the movement from Kuwait for the cause of Konkani in general and Novem Goem in particular, many of our Goans in Kuwait especially the seniors holding senior positions on job front in the absence of competition and earning senior salary were questioning me why I am interested to create an awakening and movement for the cause of Konkani. They were directly and indirectly questioning me thus ‘TUKAM KITEAK PODDLAM RE TEM?” Without giving heed to their question I went ahead even though I had to suffer a lot in different forms mainly on financial segment. Those days many senior Kuwait Goans were very proud of their positions on the jobs and the undeserved money that they earned otherwise they were totally uncultured, socially filthy, intellectually bankrupt and educationally very backward. Some of them were passing remarks saying to fight for Konkani is the job of an illiterate butler or son of the butler or grandson of the domestics. Incidentally none of them came closer to me educationally, culturally, intellectually, morally, character and dignity wise and because I had these qualities, with the help of all my like minded Goans in Kuwait I succeeded in successfully creating Konkani movement in Kuwait, first among expatriate Goans. If Konkani yesterday gained success in Goa and thru its success Goa attained Statehood, major share of this success goes to Kuwait Goans. The so called Konkani Pundits and Konknni “Potrakars” during those days due to their all round backwardness normally seen in this class, were ashamed to show their faces to us because this movement was handled by the intellectually high calibre Goans who all were close to me ideologically. Finally by organising this movement, who gained? Goa and Goans. If I had to listen to the question ‘Tukam Kiteak Poddlam Re Tem”, then nothing would come.


GULF GOANS HOTELS COMPANY.

Then came the movement of Gulf Goans Hotels Company to start hotel industry in Goa. This was the brainchild of the then Kuwait Goan stalwart Vincent D’Souza. When I got involved myself first as a Share holder and later on as Director of the company many people asked me ‘why you are involving yourself in it?’ “Tukam Kiteak Poddlam Re Tem?” My answer to them was this, it was NOT “tukam kiteak poddlam re tem”, but by involving myself deeply and with the very productive role played by another director Wilson Coelho and also with the combined efforts of all my colleagues in the Board, we managed to build a huge hotel at Calangute Gauravaddo, next to the beach, known as “Hotel Goan Heritage” costing now crores of rupees and where so many Goans are employed. What would be the outcome of this company if I had to listen to the negative comment like “Tukam Kiteam Poddlam Re Tem?” In that case nothing would develop. Though I suffered in many counts but finally gained victory and it is victory for Goan cause.


DIRECT FLIGHT FROM KUWAIT-GOA-KUWAIT.

Then came the movement for the direct flight from Kuwait to Goa, again initiated by Vincente D’Souza but when things found difficult to cope up for him, I was requested to assist and when I got involved and with the backing of the entire Kuwait Goan community, we worked tirelessly and attained the success. In this movement also some enemies of Vincente D’Souza were dissuading me to stay away from him asking me “Tukam Kiteak Poddlam Re Tem? Let Vincente go to hell” but I told them this is not for Vincente alone but for the entire Kuwait Goan community. Their question here also “Tukam kiteak poddlam re tem” had no relevance.


GOAN/INDIAN COMPETITIVE SOCCER.

Then came the movement of starting and promoting our competitive soccer among Indians in Kuwait. Though it was started by United Goans Football Center in 1979 yet I played my major role in promoting it as a prominent footballer attracting lot of attention from lot of spectators, as an organiser and media promoter as a journalist. Many people were asking me why I am so forcefully promoting it saying “Tukam Kiteak Poddlam Re Tem?” Because “Makam Poddlam Tem”, our soccer activities in Kuwait became an instant success putting a very strong base for it and because of which for many Goans to gain many benefits. If I had to withdraw from playing my role then, surely things would not have been as productive as they were proved to be. It did not help Kuwait Goans and other Indians only in Kuwait but it is now helping even the Goa based Goan politicians to promote them and their family members.


GOA-KUWAIT SOLIDARITY.

Then came the invasion of Kuwait on 2nd August 1990 by Iraq and we were evacuated to Goa, many of us as paupers. In order to raise our voice against this invasion and to demand liberation for Kuwait, when no one from the so called evacuated Kuwait Goan stalwarts came forward to initiate a Goan movement by Goans for the cause of Kuwait from where we earn our sustenance, I came forward and with the assistance of my colleagues and like minded Kuwait Goan evacuees, I formed GOA KUWAIT SOLIDARITY CENTER. The then Kuwait Goan gigantic personalities like Vincente D’Souza, Avertano Furtado, A.B. Fernandes, Joe Monty, Sam Alphonso, all the presidents of Goan Associations & Clubs and others were totally went hiding because they had no public support nor intellectual capacity to initiate international movement. GKSC was a movement to raise our voice against invasion of Kuwait and to force the Government of India to toe its line in support of Kuwait at regional and international fora. Thru this movement in Goa lasting 6 months we organised public rallies and public meetings and the echo of this movement was felt all over the world. None of the Goan politicians either from the ruling coalition under PDF or from the Opposition joined us in supporting our movement openly. None from the current politicians from the Goa Legislative Assembly publicly associated with us in our movement. On the contrary many of them even those whom I supported to promote them spoke ill of me, of our movement and of Kuwait. Because of this movement, Kuwait’s Ambassador in Delhi highly applauded our efforts in publicly supporting Kuwait. The Kuwaitis were very happy for us and started loving Goans with reverence showing their gratitude. Even GCC countries started showing more liking for Goans. But here again anti-Kwait Goans started asking me “Tukam kiteak poddlam re tem?” Was it right on my part to initiate this movement or not? Lot of Goans received lot of benefits from this movement and if I had to succumb to the dictates of those destructive Goans by following their statement “Tukam Kiteak Poddlam Re Tem”, we would not gain what we gained.


FREE KUWAIT’S PRISONERS OF WAR (POW’s)

Then I started Goan movement from Kuwait for the release of Kuwait’s Prisoners of War and here too I was asked the same question – “Tukam Kiteak Poddlam Re Tem?” In my campaign for this cause I personally went to Delhi spending my own money to meet the world leaders stationed there to impress upon them to work for the speedy release of all the Kuwait’s POW’s held by Iraq. The news of this Goan movement went far and wide and Goan ratings in Kuwait and globally went high which benefited us as a whole and gained us lot of goodwill from Kuwait and other GCC countries. Because of this movement no Goan suffered, on the contrary our image was brightened giving an impression that we are a very matured community politically among Indians. All those who were asking me saying “Tukam Kiteak Poddlam Re Tem” had to eat a humble pie.

TO BE CONCLUDED.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

FORC-IS IT HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?

By Nisser Dias
21st April 2011
FORCE – Is it headed in the right direction?

Last week the frustration over inaction by the members of the FORCE to compel the government to commit - including English as medium of instruction spilled over with villagers from the coastal belt of Salcete organising themselves as a parallel outfit. At their very first meeting they fired salvos at Benaulim MLA Mickky Pacheco and PWD minister Churchill Alemao, something which members of FORCE were avoiding so far.

From the beginning the movement to demand inclusion of English as medium of instruction alongside Konkani and Marathi was ‘fear based’, simply because the insistence would given communal colour to the issue. However I am of the opinion that this concept is mis-founded as a language cannot have colour or religion. However if some thought that Christians were demanding English, then the percentage of the majority community studying in convents and schools run by Archdiocese Board of Education or the Diocese Society of Goa is more than 50 percent, thereby putting to rest the sentiment. However those appointed on these boards cannot digest this simple fact even when they themselves have the statistics. This is our irony of fate.

Two decade ago church had solidly supported the movement against the government’s lop-sided policy of refusing to extend grant-in-aid to schools instructing in English, but at the eleventh hour backed out. One cannot deny the fact that the church has the influence to draw people for public meetings to take a movement forward at the same time it also has the knack to crush the movement and 20 years back it had happened.

This time round the parents have come together again to demand that English be made as medium of instruction but the movement seems to be controlled by a handful of parents who are in turn controlled by handlers in-charge of Archdiocese Board of Education and the Diocese Society of Goa. In fact these handlers are holding the gun on the parents’ shoulders with the trigger in their hand. The chosen members of the adhoc committee of FORCE are all ‘Yes Sir’ type, who carry out the dictum of the blindly.

The strategies if at all are planned are made known to select few in the adhoc committee while thousands of parents attending the public meetings are treated as cattle. They are fed only with speeches repeated at other venues but future plan of action is not disclosed till date. Just saying that MLAs and ministers are going to be ghearoed if their demand is not met by 6th May 2011 is not sufficient because atleast the ruling MLAs from Salcete will simply pacify the parents by saying they are supporting the cause. Congress ministers and MLAs made their presence felt at Azad Maidan on 21st March 2011 and showed solidarity with the parents and that too when assembly was in session. However these same bunch of self centred politicians refused to support the Education minister Babush Monserrate when he wanted to introduce the Bill extending grant-in-aid to English during the Assembly session. However when the assembly session ended, PWD minister Churchill Alemao was the first politician to sing the chorus that he was with the parents. This is hypocrisy because he too had refused to support the Education minister during assembly session. Secondly Alemao had threatened to overthrow the government on two occasions (induction of Mickky Pacheco and likely dropping of Babush Monseratte for his alleged involvement in smuggling of Foreign currency) but in the case of parent’s demand he is only giving lip service.

The parents have seen through the designs of these politicians – that they just want to drag the issue till next assembly elections and they just cannot win without the votes of the parents. The frustration of the parents over inaction came to the fore at the Varca meeting of the FORCE on 4th April 2011, wherein some parents demanded to know the future course of action. Without mincing words some parents questioned members of FORCE about the 25th March deadline set for the government’s to include English as medium of instruction. Nobody from the FORCE could spell out further course of action as either there was no action plan or they too were kept in the dark about it by the very people who are using parents shoulders to carry forward the movement.

These same personalities went a step ahead to rub the salt into the wounds of the parents. Margao meeting was called at Lohia Maidan. None of the speakers were parents of schools based in the commercial capital of Goa. Even national awardee and social activist Dinar Barros who first planted the seeds for this movement and is a parent of Margao school was not requested to address the gathering by FORCE. This has not gone down very well with a large section of the parents.

For the select few that are allowed speak at meetings it seems that even their speeches are screened and some of the select few among the repeated speakers have developed a notion to contest the forth coming elections as parent’s candidate. Furthermore the movement began with a self imposed restriction and a wrong concept of keeping politicians at bay but all the time members of FORCE and their handlers rub shoulders with politicians. The same people who are leading the movement have failed to realize that some politicos are also parents and also want English as medium of instruction. The people who are using the parents as their shield and also using their shoulders to fire the gun have nothing to lose but the parents and students do, and therefore the handlers of the movement and members of the FORCE have to mend their ways to carry forward the movement, which is already losing steam.
All the parents of school going children have a right to know the future course of action being chalked out. The demand of the parents is genuine and there is nothing to hide. If at all the handlers of the movement want to remain anonymous then they have to step down as 20 years back this same movement was aborted in a similar manner. We cannot let history repeat itself. Otherwise before more splinter groups are formed and the movement goes awry, future course of action should be spelt out with an aim to make the government give in to the demand immediately.

Send your comments/reactions to nisserdias@gmail.com Or SMS 9422437029)

(Nisser Dias writes a regular column in GT on Thursday).

ROSARY FERNS HACHEA MORNACHI SOBHA.

16ver Febrerache hea vorsa, KUWAIT KONKNNI KENDRA – hachea asrea khal Kuwaitant ek Condolence Meeting zali Rosary Ferns hachea mornachi dukh porgottpak. He sobha Kuwaitchea Village Inn hea hotelan zali. Sabar ani namnechea lokhani zaum te Goykar ou Munglurkar ou Karwarkar ou Bombaykar hanni he sobhek hazir zaun tanni sogleani Rosary sovem aplo mog ani moipas dakoilo. Hi sobha itli khoddgantt zali ki he porim hanga hea adim osli sobha kednanch zaunk na. Rosaryn apli kola vaprun khup ithiasik ghoddneo ghoddleat ani ek vhodd ithias tanne kela to mhontlear Konkani CD poilich tane kelea ani ho ithias thanne kela Kwaitak ravon. Ho ithias konacheanuch moddunk zaunchona. Tech porim pordesant ravon tanne poilich Audio Cassette kelea, he porim khuincheach dusrea Tiatrstan korunk na. KKK-en hangachea 5 Star hotelani Mando Festival ghoddun hadlolet tantun Rosarycho bhorpur vavr also. Rosary zaun assa ekloch Tiatrist Konknni mollar Konkani Oeretta palkar dakoupak.

Rosarychi vakanni korun tea dissa Bab Raymond D’Sa mukhel soiro tea dissacho ani President Goan Overseas Associationacho, Lawry Pinto President Youth Recreation Center – hacho, Tony Gonsalves President United Goans Center – hacho, Salvador Dias President Kuwait Goans Assciation – hacho, Fidelis Fernandes President Konkani Heritage and khaxea vhoddlo bhau Rosarycho, Gasper Almeida Moderator Goa World – hacho, Gasper Crasto Freelance Journalist Kuwaitcho, Bai Ida Munglurchea Konknni Kullvar - hachi ani Fr. Melwyn D’Cunha Kuwaitche Igorjecho he sogott uloilet Rosarychi vakanni korun. A. Veronican Rosyrychea gostachi ek Motet ghaili ani Aggie Diasan ti ghaitana Apli Clarinet vazoun Motetik sobitai haddli. Hi Motet Rosary Veronicaguer ruchin ghaitalo. Aggie Diasan apli Clarinet gheun Rosarycho ek Mando vazoilo ani lokancho bhorpur abru zoddlo. Rosarychem ek chodd fanki zalolem ghit “Mhatarponn” lokank aikonk vazoilem toxench "Dinaracho Valor” heim ghit.

Survatak KKKcho Mario Rebello hanem Rosyrychea othmeank Rozar kelem. A. Veronica Fernandes hanne he sobhechem “Compeering” kelem.

Rosary Ferns nhoich ek munis pun to ek Knknni Palkacho Himalaya porvot ani vorixt somdir. Anglottin to lhan ani bharik khoro pun zannvaen khup motto. Dis ani rath tachea monan fokot vanvtaleot songitacheo, ghitancheo ani Tiatrancheo zori. To sodhea tiatrachea vavran sarko piklolo zalolo ani hi pikh lokani khaunchea vellar to somplo mhon sangunk dukh bhogta. Devan taka itle veiguim aplea rajant voronk favo naslo, “second life” Devan taka diunk zai aslem, pun toxem zalena tem ani toxem zaina zavpak kitem karann tem fokot Devuch zanna ani he Devache khoxek aum moji mhan bhagoitam. Rosarychea mornan Konkani Palk ani songit kala ekdom ghorib zatoli, tanne hi kala khub unch kaddloli ani anikui unch kaddpacho pun mornan hi tachi choddti val katrun uddoili. Tachea hea mornan Konknni palkachi guirestkai nattak zalea ti kedna ani konnalagchean bhorun khaddunk zait hench ek vhodd umannem. To konnakuch devid na, tanne konnank kaim dinvchena voilean khup zann taka devid assat. Duddu korpak tanne Tiatristpon kelena voilean aplea bolsantle duddu khorchun tanne tiatristpon fuddem velem. Tiatristponnachi taka umed asli ani hech umedin tanne Tiatro kala fuloili. Mojem taka sodanch ekuch sangnne aslem ki “tum vhodd tiatrist za pun tiatristponnache ogun mas apnainakai” ani hench tanne moro passun kelem. To ek vhodd respedacho tiatrist zaun ghelo, tanne borem xist rakhlem ani borem jivit jielo moro passun. Aple familicho taka khup mog also ani familin to sogleanchea mogacho aslo.

Tachea mornan mojea jivitacho ek bhag koxllon poddlolea porim makam dista. Tachea mornan nhoich maka mozo ekloch ixtt also to na zalo pun moje chollvollicho ek okhondd khambo umttun poddlo. To zaun alo ekloch mojo ixtt nhoich mojea sukhan pun mojea dhukhan passun vantto gheupi ani akantachea velar makam pavpi. Tache porim anink dusro makam konn ixtt uronkna, hich moji ek vhodd khont. Devan tachea othmeank sorginchem raj dinvchem mhonn mojem magnem.

NOMAN TUKAM KONKANI PALKACHEA RAZA ANI ROSARY FERNS MOJEA IXTTA.



Tony Gonsalves


Mario Rebello


Ida D'Silva


Raymond D'Sa


Fidelis Fernandes


Aggie Dias


Gasper Crasto


Ek minute ogiponn


Fr. Melwyn DCunha


Ek dhekavo ekttoulolea lokancho


Aniek dhekavo lokancho


A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kwait.

PRIMARY EDUCATION SCENARIO IN GOA.

Primary Education Scenario in Goa

Dr. Pratap Naik, S.J.
Director
Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr
B.B.Borkar Road
Alto Porvorim, Goa – 403 521
Cell:09850658565
e-mail:pratapnaiksj@gmail.com

According to the statistics published in the book List of Recognised Educational Institutions in Goa 2009-2010 of Directorate of Education, Panaji there is not a single Government Konknni medium primary school in Pernem, Bicholim, Sattari and Ponda talukas! 67 Government Konknni primary schools are found in the following talukas. 4 in Bardes, 8 in Tiswadi, 1 in Sanguem, 5 in Quepem, 2 in Canacona, 41 in Salcete and 6 in Mormugao. Out of the 67 Konknni medium schools run by the Government the highest number 41 are in Salcete Taluka and the least, namely only 1 is found in Sanguem Taluka. The highest number of Government Marathi medium schools 143 are found in Ponda Taluka. The least number of Government Marathi medium schools 17 are in Mormugao Taluka. In Goa there are 27 Urdu medium, 15 Kannada medium, one Telugu medium and 4 Hindi medium primary schools are found. Of these 3 Urdu medium schools are run by the private management and the rest of the Urdu medium and other language medium schools are run by the Goa government.

130 Non-government (Private) English medium schools are spread out in 11 talukas of Goa as follows: Pernem 6, Bardes 30, Bicholim 5, sattari 3, Tiswadi 24, Ponda 9, Sanguem 1, Quepem 1, Canacona 2, salcete 35 and Mormugao 14.

The highest number of non-government Konknni medium schools are found in Salcete Taluka with 43 schools. Sattari Taluka has only 1 Non-government Konknni medium primary school.

As per the data published by the Directorate of Education, Panaji, in the academic year 1991-1992 there were 135 English medium schools run by the government agencies like various village Panchayats and Municipalities. In the same year there were 1011 Marathi and 113 Konknni medium schools were run by the government. Non–government managements were running 179 English, 1036 Marathi and 236 Konknni medium primary schools. At that point of time the present day “pseudo educationalists and mother tongue propagandists” did not find anything wrong in the educational system. Then why are they raising objection to extend grants to English medium schools. The answer is crystal clear. They want to continue their hegemony over the minority community and common people. They are afraid that their Marathicized Konknni in Devanagari script will be pushed to periphery and eventually will die a natural death at least in education and in literary fields.

From the data published by the Directorate of Education one could definitely conclude that parents do not prefer Konknni medium schools. They prefer either Marathi or English medium schools. Those parents who want to send their children to Konknni medium schools are deprived because in their locality there are no Konknni medium schools and they are forced to send their children to Marathi medium schools. Devanagari protagonists do not want to run Konknni medium schools! They run either Marathi or English medium primary schools! Year by year the number of Konknni medium and Marathi medium schools are reducing. Managements who run Konknni medium schools are not too serious about the Konknni medium. If they get grants they will switch over to English medium. In this education scenario, “Primary education in mother tongue” is a fallacy in Goa. Irrespective of the medium of instruction people have excelled in Goa in their lives. Excelling in future life does not depend merely on medium of instruction. Many other factors play their roles. Taking into consideration the quality of Konknni textbooks, competence of teachers, teaching and evaluation methods, it is highly advisable not to admit the children to most of the Konknni medium primary schools. Moreover, it is advisable that students opt for any other language except Konknni in Devanagari script as a third language from fifth standard onwards. It is better not to learn a language rather than learning it wrongly. In Goa, in the twenty-first century there is no future for children except quality of English medium education from the primary school itself. Hence parents and those who are concerned with the future of children and Goa should unite and defeat the forces of pseudo culturists and educationists who have double standard policies, one for themselves and one for the common people.

"ROSTAD" VISITING GOAN POLITICIANS & THEIR ROSTAD GULF GOAN HOSTS.

Mr. X is the president of one of the Goan soccer clubs in Kuwait. During his recent visit to Goa he came in contact with one of the top Goan Catholic politicians who requested Mr. X to organise one Goan soccer tournament in Kuwait and himself volunteered to sponsor it by giving Five Lakhs of Indian Rupees which he agreed to pay in Indian currency in Kuwait during his next regular visit to Kuwait probably during the final of this tournament. During his visits to Kuwait and to other Gulf countries he always carry with him huge amount of Indian currency, somewhat similar to Babush Monsurate but was never caught. This tournament is to be organised for the Rolling Trophy named after his Grand Mother who expired half a century back and who did not do anything for the promotion of football nor know anything of Football. Third class Kuwait Goans of third class quality are already on record to glorify in Kuwait the corrupt Goan politicians and their nearest and dearest, even the Cats and Dogs of these corrupt Goan politicians. As a matter of fact, the soccer we organise in Kuwait is not of any grandeur nor it is recognised by the local authorities. Our football clubs are tin pots in front of Goan cubs in Goa. Our football is “Friday” football meant to kill our time with big show in the media. It is projected as big only by the small people who like to feel themselves as big since this is the only cheap mode for these cheap people to gain some importance in the community.

Recently we got the news that Babush Monsurate, The Education Minister of Goa was caught at Bombay Airport by the Customs Officials for illegally carrying a huge amount of Indian and other currencies. It was very scandalous news and also sacrilegious since Babush is a Christian and smuggling of currency is an anti-Christian act. In the light of this incident it is very easy for the corrupt Goan politicians during their regular visits to the Gulf countries to carry illegally along with them not only Indian currency against rules and regulations but also other banned items from Goa to the Gulf countries. In this way, God only knows that they may be involved in bringing Drugs also to the Gulf countries. If this is true then these corrupt Goan politicians involving themselves in Drug business can easily hand over these Drugs into the hands of their relatives and those Gulf Goans who invite them for their football finals and Tiatros, for the retail customers. Such incidents can easily happen with our corrupt Goan politicians and to please them our cheap Gulf Goan hosts will do anything. In view of this the concerned authorities must keep their vigilant eyes not only on the accompanied luggage of the visiting corrupt Goan politicians but more than that on the host Goan presidents and other office bearers who are equally corrupt. Because they are corrupt they are promoting in the Gulf the corrupt Goan politicians.

In fact most of these visiting Goan politicians are robbers, robbing Goans in Goa through their political clout and bringing their loot to the Gulf to convert it into White Money and thus giving legal status to their Black money. Earlier Goan politicians were also brought to Kuwait by the Kuwait Goans but all their expenses were borne by the hosts. Now the entire expenditure for most of the visiting politicians and their family members including their friends and concubines are borne by them only because these corrupt politicians are having excess of money to spend after such trips. This excess money came thru looting, robbing and sucking the blood of the poor Goans in Goa. Jobs are on sale in Goa, Tenders are on sale in Goa, Licences are on sale in Goa, every service of the Government is on sale in Goa. Without bribing you cannot get done your work and this bribe goes to whom? Naturally for the Ministers and other politicians. There is no Minister in Goa who is clean and upright. Christians are the worst and yet they pretend to be saintly by displaying their crosses around their necks. Some of the most corrupt Ministers and other politicians in Goa are Chrsitian Catholics. It is a shame on Goa Church to have such corrupt followers. By the way, how much Church and clergy better??

Those Goans in the Gulf who are supporting rogue Goan politicians are also become the partners in this robbery and hence they should be dubbed as big Robbers. Those Kuwait Goans who promote “ROSTAD” Goan politicians in Kuwait are themselves “Rostad” and because they are Rostad they are supporting Rostad. These Rostad Kuwait Goans are “Chamchas” of corrupt Goan politicians and by acting like Pimps in Kuwait these Goans get their official work done in Goa while others simply waste their time and energy after their visiting guests. These Chamcha Kuwait Goans are undignified persons in Kuwait, they have no respect in Society because they don’t behave as respectable, many of them are like “Chor-Chor” type, they are not moving in organised society, they are isolated type of Goans afraid to integrate with upright Goans. For this reason they like to associate with Chor, Rapist, Goonda and Smuggler type of Goan politicians who are trying to build their vote bank in Kuwait in the next election, if everything goes well.

Overwhelming majority of Kuwait Goans who are involved in running the show of soccer and also of Tiatro are intellectually bankrupt, morally corrupt, coming from Hoi-Polloi background back at home in Goa. These Goans are suffering from ancestral inferiority complex because they and their elders in Goa were denied access to elite Goan circle and higher authorities. For this reason these tin pot Goans in Kuwait are sprinting to welcome the tainted Goan politicians. A few of them are so cheap that when they mix up with these visiting corrupt Goan politicians they feel they are meeting with top world leaders. And the next day when their photographs with the visiting corrupt Goan politicians appear in the local media and on internet, our FAL – NAL Goan hosts feel they have reached to the Moon. Their facial appearances from the published photos indicate their craze for cheap publicity and only cheap Goans opt for such cheap publicity. One such Kuwait Goan once told me, “where else on this planet will I get an opportunity to be photographed with the Goa Minister?” Then he added further saying “Not even my grandfather ever dreamt that his grandson will get an opportunity to talk to the Minister. To get such opportunities I will even dole my wife”, he concluded thus. This is the result of ancestral inferiority complex many of our Kuwait Goans are suffering here, especially those Kuwait Goans who welcome corrupt Goan politicians to Kuwait.

Most of the current Kuwait Goans involved in running the affairs of their Clubs and Associations are fit for nothing to acquire something big for the community. They are best suited to become “Chamchas” of ‘Chor’ Goan politicians. None of the current Goan stalwarts glorifying corrupt Goan politicians is on record to do something great for the community cause. It is a pity that our affairs and clubs are gone into the hands of ‘Bebdes’, “Chamchas”, “Chors” and intellectually and morally corrupt Goans. The Kuwait Indian Football Federation formed to unite people itself acted rudely and brought about divisions among Goans. Recent divisive action of KIFF devided Goans more than anything. KIFF arrogance was such that it even rejected the request of Indian Ambassador for reconciliation. The quality of most of the KIFF stalwarts is that of the room boy at the residence of our Ambassador who is retiring shortly for the new posting in Russia. While retiring from Kuwait he will carry a very bad impression of Kuwait Goans. The whereabouts of the huge fund of Chor Goan Society collected thru people’s efforts and to be utilised for the cause of the community is still hijacked illegally by the three persons instead of handing it over to the Society account and shamelessly supposed to be upright people are supporting the three who are guilty of hijacking this huge fund. This is the quality of Kuwait Goans who are acting as owners of the community. Upright Kuwait Goans must prevent our affairs from going into the hands of corrupt Goans otherwise like corrupt Goan politicians we in Kuwait will also produce corrupt leaders in our midst.

A.Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

ANNA HAZARE - THE ONLY WAY FORWARD.

By Nisser Dias
14th April 2011


Last few days of the week millions of Indians especially the youth were glued either to their television sets or taking hour to hour account of the biggest crusade undertaken by an elderly statesman to drastically reduce the meteoric rise in corruption (in every form like dishonesty, fraud, sleaze, nepotism, bribery, discrimination, scams and scandals) in every single department of the Union government as well in the state governments in this country.

We are proud of the fact that we have the most honest prime minister in Dr. Manmohan Singh. But then a 70 odd year old Gandhian – Anna Hazare had to resort to fast unto death to force the government to formulate the Jan Lokpal Bill with 50 percent of civilian participation on the committee. That the Bill has been pending with successive Union governments since 1972 is a shame, but to force the government to immediately prepare the bill by resorting to fast unto death is a bigger shame. However there was a silver lining in dark cloud, it showed that if the people of this country come together for the right cause no government of any colour can withstand the pressure. Sadly though, it happens too rarely.

In my opening para, I used the words ‘to drastically reduce the meteoric rise in corruption’. I have not said ‘to end corruption’ because we can be rest assured that the political class or the bureaucratic class or the government servants that indulge in corruption will hit upon innovative methods to amass wealth other than their source of income. But with 50 percent of members being from the civil society there’s bound to be lot of checks and balances incorporated in the bill to check corruption.

At the same time I am of the opinion that if the corruption has attained such proportion, the general public at large is also to be blamed as it largely contributes to corrupt practices prevailing in this country. If the public had not to extend bribe to officials to speed up or rather cut short procedures to get their work done in a jiffy the authorities would not have accepted the bribe. If candidates had not to pay huge amounts as bribe to secure government jobs. As of today it has become a sort of a right to demand and accept money. Over and above we cry foul that corruption is soaring in this country. We are a part and parcel of the system we ourselves have developed but time has come to break free from the shackles of this bondage and move towards a goal of making India corrupt free.

Till date our only avenue to fight corruption was through the courts, but in recent times our judiciary at the highest level too has come under the scanner for its propriety and functioning thereby muddling public opinion of the third pillar of the democracy. There are allegations flying thick and thin of former Chief Justice of India’s immediate family amassing huge wealth during his tenure. Thus Anna Hazare’s demand to immediately draft the Jan Lokpal Bill has come at the right time.

Union governments or state governments have always been slow to initiate punitive action against elected representatives mostly for exigencies reasons either to continue governing or not to antagonize coalition partners. For example Bofors scandal dragged on for more than 25 years and the end result is everybody goes scot free with the court only passing strictures against the country’s premier investigating body the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The courts are yet to conclude the hearing in the coffin scandal during the tenure of George Fernandes in the NDA government. Can we digest that our politicians and bureaucrats indulge in scandals even with the corpses of our soldiers. Then we have the Fodder scam involving Laloo Prasad Yadav. In every state of India without exception there are corruption charges against politicians. Take the recent cases in Mumbai and Karnataka, chief ministers of both the states are allegedly involved in land scandals. While the Congress party axed its chief minister in Mumbai, the BJP which prides itself to be a political party with a difference continued with their tainted chief minister in Karnataka. Can we forget the 2G spectrum scam where the Country lost lakhs of crores of revenue.

Coming to own state of Goa there are scandals and scams galore, if one scratches with a finger corruption charges will surface not only against all the ministers and chief minister and their families but also against their personal assistants. There are allegations that the chief minister Digambar Kamat’s PA had started leasing mines even when the CM was the Power minister in the BJP led coalition government. Another former minister’s PA was alleged to have purchased 10 shops in a row in Caranzalem. Now this same person was sentenced to imprisonment under Negotiable Instrument Act (cheque bouncing case). Recently another PA of a minister released a full page birthday advertisements on news dailies. How come these PAs have come across huge amounts of money suddenly?

Since the last more than 7 years of the Congress rule, Goa has been reeling under allegations of massive corruption, Goa Regional Plan 2011, illegal allotment of land for SEZs, huge amounts of exchequer’s money frivolously spent on garbage treatment plants, excise scam, High Security Registration Plate, Politician-Police-Drug Lords nexus, illegal mining, the recent distribution water tanks scam exposed during the last assembly session, then the infamous Education Minister being detained at the International airport in Mumbai with excessive Indian and Foreign currency. In fact in the Digambar Kamat led government there is a scam in each and every ministry.

Jan Lokpal legislation (Citizen’s Ombudsman Bill) seeks to curtail the corruption indulged by every person in public service be it the politician, judge or bureaucrat. It is rightfully demanding autonomous powers with man and machinery to investigate and prosecute any public servant alleged of corruption.

The bill should include that the moment prima facie evidence is made out against politicians, they should be stripped immediately from ministerial position and after the tenure is complete they should be barred from contesting anymore elections. As Anna Hazare said the union government giving in to his demand is just the beginning we got a long road ahead. Just like the people of this country made the RTI Act a weapon in their hands, Jan Lokpal Bill should be seen as a nuclear warhead in the hands of a common man.

Send your comments/reactions to nisserdias@gmail.com Or SMS 9422437029)
(Nisser Dias writes a regular column in GT on Thursday. This article was published in GT today)

MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION AT A GLANCE.

Medium of Instruction at a glance

Dr. Pratap Naik, S.J.

Director

Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr

B.B.Borkar Road

Alto Porvorim, Goa – 403 521

Cell:09850658565

e-mail:pratapnaiksj@gmail.com



Directorate of Education, Panaji has published two books, namely, List of Recognised Educational Institutions in Goa 2009-2010 and Educational Statistics at a Glance 2009-2010. In these two important and useful books one could get a lot of information regarding the medium of instruction, number of students and data related to the primary schools (Std I to IV) and high schools. In Goa there are 315 Non-Government (private) primary schools. Out of these 130 are English medium primary schools. Most of them are run by the Hindu community! In these English medium schools 50,272 students are studying. In 46 Non-Government Marathi medium schools 15,512 students are found. Most of these Marathi medium schools are owned by Hindus. Out of the 139 Non-Government Konknni medium schools 127 belong to Christian management, 6 to Hindu management, 1 to the Muslim Community and 5 belong to mixed management (owned by people of different religions). In these Konknni medium schools 61,256 students have enrolled. There are 3 Urdu medium private schools with students’ strength 644.



Out of the 937 Government primary schools in Goa, 887 schools offer Marathi as the medium of instruction! And 61,270 students are studying in these schools. In contrast to this there are only 67 government schools offer Konknni as the medium of instruction! 3,912 students only have enrolled in these schools. In 15 Kannada medium government schools 3,498 students are found. In 24 Urdu medium government schools 2,840 students are studying. There are 4 Hindi medium government schools with 690 students. There is only one Telugu medium Government school in Goa with 52 students. There are no State Government English medium primary schools in Goa. However there are 5 Central Government English medium primary schools with 3,060 students!



From the above statistics one could sum up as follows. There are 135 English medium primary schools in Goa with 80,332 students. In 933 Marathi medium primary schools 76,782 students have enrolled. There are 206 Konknni medium schools with 65,168 students.



Konknni is claimed to be the mother tongue of Goans. If this is true, the question arises why there are 933 Marathi medium primary schools compared to 206 Konknni medium schools. In Goa for the academic year 1994-1995 there were 238 Konknni, 1030 Marathi and 46 English medium primary schools. The highest numbers of Konknni medium primary schools 244 were in the academic year 1995-1996. Since then the number of Marathi and Konknni medium schools have considerably reduced and there is a sharp rise in English medium schools. The growth of reduction is far great for Konknni medium schools. Konknni medium schools so far have survived because of the support of the Church. Christian community was not in favour of Konknni as the medium of instruction. It was forced upon them by the school managements to avail grants to pay the government pay scale to their teachers. In a good number of these so called Konknni medium primary schools, English continues to be the medium of instruction! All the English medium primary schools in Goa are unaided.



In Goa Konknni is the official language of the State. Yet, there is not a single Konknni medium high school (Std V to X)! However, there are 16 Marathi, 6 Kannada and 4 Urdu medium high schools are found in Goa. From these one could conclude that in Goa parents do not prefer Konknni as the medium of instruction. Devanagari protagonists of Konknni have done nothing to promote Konknni as the medium of instruction in the government schools and in Hindu management schools. They want to continue their hegemony over the Christians and Bahujan Samaj of Hindu community by insisting “Mother tongue” as the medium of instruction, without defining what is the “Mother tongue” of Goans. In Goa, common places like bus stands and market places one hears more English, Hindi or Kannada languages compared to Marathi. Except the Bhat community and recent Maharashtrian settlers in Goa, native Goans have learnt Marathi through education. If Marathi could be considered as the regional language of Goa, then English has the greater right to claim as the important and popular regional language in Goa. Those who shout at the top of their voice “Mother tongue” should be the medium of primary education, run most of the Marathi and English medium primary schools and send their children and grand children to these schools! They themselves are the product of Marathi or English medium primary education. They preach to others what they do not practice! Parents and those who love and care for the children of Goa should unite and fight these forces of “Mother tongue” chauvinists and “patriotic” culturists.

INDIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION KUWAIT LEAGUE REPORT.

BIG BOYS WIN, DON BOSCO ORATORY DRUB INDIANS IN THE IFFK LEAGUE AT THE SALMIYA STADIUM

The perfect climatic conditions on Friday morning saw Indian expatriates enjoying the ongoing football league for the Indian Football Federation Rolling trophy organised by IFFK being held at the Salmiya Baladiya Football stadium on 8th April 2011.

In the first match experienced Veterans United took on the energetic Big Boys. Both the teams played cautious football with Big Boys being more incisive. Hardworking striker Zaheer put Big Boys in front in the first half of the match. Veterans United tried desperately to restore parity, but their forwards lacked the power and energy to find the net. The game ended in favour of Big Boys with the score being 1-0.

The second match saw title contenders Don Bosco Oratory (DBO) taking on Indians. DBO being the favourite to win the match started aggressively and were 2 goals up as early as in the first 5 minutes with Godfrey and Valenky scoring for DBO. Indians were stunned with their young goalkeeper fumbling at every ball collection in the initial stages. DBO never allowed Indians to come back in the match and scored two more through Godfrey and Savio making it 4-0 at half time. The second half was the repetition of the first with Indians being non existing in the match and DBO on the march and completed the mauling of Indians through Seby, Alex, Ratan and Godfrey completing his hattrick. The final score was 8-0 in favour of DBO.
The matches were officiated by Indian Football Federation (IFRA)

The schedule of matches to be held on 15th April 2011 to be held on Salmiya Baladiya ground is as follows.

At 7.00am Don Bosco Oratory v/s Fahaheel Bros Jr.
At 8.30am Big Boys v/s Real Betalbatim Sports Club

CORRUPTION AND THE LOK PAL BILL.

Corruption And The Lok Pal Bill

Corruption in Indian politics has been gaining momentum even since independence; to start with it was slow and even invisible but today it is flourishing to the extent that it is being flaunted in the open market, as more and more scams are being exposed, over the years it has certainly gained enormous horizontal as well as vertical mobility and momentum.

Indians and Goans too have been sharing the same bed with corruption; it is we who have allowed the mole to turn into a gigantic range of mountains, under whose weight we are being crushed today, if we were not passive or even accommodating, corruption would have not been an anomaly that it is today, we have remained reticent through all these years and now needed a seventy two years old Anna Hazare to rouse us from our sleep.

Are we blind, dumb and deaf not to have realized the ever rising graph of corruption ? Today everybody is eulogizing Anna all over India and he deserves to be but why did we need an old and frail Gandhian to rouse us up ? Is it not our responsibility ? Have we all lost our civic and civil sense ?

Anna Hazare has not dropped from haven, he is a common man like any of us in all respect except unlike us, he stood up for what he believed, we may believe in the same principles but unfortunately we have not stood by them that is the difference between men of action and men in hibernation.

A lot of people now say where was Anna all these years ? Corruption has certainly not magnified over night, yes we are all to be blamed, when we ourselves did not stand against corruption, what right have we to question Anna ? If we believed corruption was an evil and fought against it, we surely wouldn’t need a seventy two year old to lead a nation wide agitation against corruption, would we ?

We live in a democracy and each one of us has rights and it is our duty to exercise those rights, it is when we fail to exercise our rights that we become victims of our own making. It is when we become morbid and indifferent to our rights and the rights of others around that we allow aberrations to sprout, strive and flourish and finally these aberrations become monsters that threaten our very existence.

Anna Hazare has dedicated his life for the service and upliftment of the poor, he strives to improve the quality of life in villages, the very nucleus of the Indian Nation. His crusade against corruption could not have come at a better time, as we have witnessed with aghast and contempt, scams after scams coming in waves far larger and more ferocious than the tsunami we saw hitting Japan. Still India survives. In a situation like this Anna gives us a glimmer of hope that we still have a semblance of a chance to uproot corruption and the perpetrators of corruption once and for all.

Anna has shown us what can be done if we stand by our principles, we have lit candles and took part in mass movements to show our solidarity with Anna and support his fight against corruption, hope everyone realizes that this is not the end of our fight but the beginning of our war against corruption and fight to the end.

Anna has forced our selfish, corrupt politicians to see the light of truth even if they were blinded by it. Let’s not question his timing or his motives, let us not take away the credit that he deserves for his fight against corruption, we should be wise enough to give credit where it is due, our support should be issue based and not personality based. Let the light shown by Anna take care of the darkness and let our actions be the answer to inactions.

At this very moment we are at cross roads, we claim to be a super power; we are an economic giant, while the whole world has reeled under recession, India has not wilted even marginally. In a few years we might have the most billionaires and a good number among the richest in the world but has the divide between the poor and the rich diminished in any way ? We have seen big business giants and our politicians amassing unaccountable wealth at the cost of the nation, this is because of the opacity that is very much prevalent in our system and governance. Lok Pal Bill should not just provide us with the much needed transparency in Governance and it’s dealings but also accountability at all levels.

Promises have been made under duress that the Lok Pal bill will be as virgin as it can be, but knowing our politicians who will do anything and everything possible not shoot themselves in the foot or put a noose round their own stinking necks. The Lok Pal Bill should be indeed castigatory with enough reformative and preventive measures incorporated and atoned, anything less will not serve the purpose, so all we want is the Lok Pal Bill and not just a look in to any silly bill, pal ! Anna Jai Ho !

Freddy Agnelo Fernandes.

INDIA'S CRICKET VICTORY AND POSITIVE & NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SPORTS.

VICTORIOUS TEAM INDIA

A thousand congratulations to Team India for winning the most coveted prize in Cricket , The World Cup 2011. The myth that only the Western teams dominated by all the White Skinners can dictate terms to others in Cricket was destroyed beyond reparation. Also the other belief that Cricket is the sport of Lords and Maharajas turned out to be an illusion.

Cricket is no more the sport of the privileged Lords and Maharajas, now it is the sport of players coming from ordinary back ground also. After the dismissal of Nawab of Pataudi as Cricket captain of India in the late sixties the Maharaja influence on cricket in India was totally destroyed. In India Cricket was considered as the sport of the privileged Indians coming from elite background but this is now proved to be nothing but a big hoax since so many cricketers representing India in this edition were just commoners. Thanks to their skill in this sport, they became celebrities and demi gods in India. Within a night they became millionaires among them Dhoni the intelligent and lucky captain coming from ordinary family background becoming richer than the other players. In Bombay itself in particular and in Maharastra in general there are innumerable Tendulkars in waiting but they, unlike Tendulkar in the beginning, have no godfathers to push them higher due to lot of discriminatory factors existing in India.

As in other sports the Indian Cricket World Cup winning team gained on all fronts and deservingly they should because they all brought honour to their nation and nationals. The awards in cash and honours at official and non official levels were great indeed. When Brazil won the soccer World Cup for the third time in 1970, every player was gifted with one luxury house in appreciation of their achievement in acquiring highest honour for Brazil in World soccer. In 1976 when Kuwait won the Gulf Cup in soccer, each Kuwaiti player was given a luxury bungalow by Kuwait. Like this there are so many instances where the sports persons were given handsome prizes and awards for bringing sporting laurels to their respective countries.




ITALY V/S NORTH KOREA IN 1966 world cup


No doubt one has to admire the sports for creating positive outcome in the victories as it happened now in India following India’s victory but one has to condemn also the negative effects sports create in the defeats. When Italy lost miserably in the soccer World Cup in 1966 even losing in the preliminary round to the new comer and minnows North Korea, its players on their return to Rome Airport were pelted with rotten eggs and tomatoes. When the most magnificent Brazilian soccer team lost to Paulo Rossi’s Italy in the pre-quarter final in 1982 World Cup, its brilliant Manager Tele Santana was deeply hurt when his house back at home in Brazil was pelted with stones by the soccer crazy Brazilians thereby giving cardiac problems to Tele Santana. When Columbia lost a few years back in the World Cup against USA, after returning home one of their team members, defender Escobar who scored a self goal mistakenly against his own team was shot dead. In late sixties when Indian Cricket team under the captaincy of Ajit Wadekar suffered the most humiliating defeat in England in the Test series, Wadekar’s house in India was stoned by the Indian miscreants. Recently 4 years back Dhoni’s house was broken by Cricket crazy Indians when India lost in the World Cup tournament. But ironically, the same India is adoring Dhoni now like a God. It is nothing but Roses and Roses for Dhoni now but earlier 4 years back for the same defeated Dhoni it was nothing but Stones and pelting of stones on his under construction house.

Very few people in the world are ready to accept the defeat sportingly. Very few people in the world accept the defeat by accepting the reality, that is the superiority of the opponents and competitors. In 1970 Brazil under Pele had exceptionally talented and gifted players, experts say such a team never came before in this world nor will come again easily. In the final Brazil defeated the then mighty Italy led by their gigantic skipper Giovani Facheti. The score line too was not small but very big 4-1. However, when the defeated Italian team returned to Italy and landed at Rome Airport, they were greeted with flowers and garlands with big Banners and Posters saying ‘Welcome our heroes – the Football Champions of the world”. They were called Champions of the world because they admitted that after unbeatable Brazil, Italy is the best in the world. And the reality was that the Brazilian team of that tournament was really great and no football power on this planet could shake them.




DHONI'S HOUSE

In the just concluded Cricket World Cup, in the semi final, Pakistan under Afridi lost to India but when the Pakistani team landed in Pakistan they were welcomed as heroes and real Ambassadors of their country. Afridi even confessed the warmth he and his team received in India and finally shouting angrily to the Pakistani reporters posing anti-India questions said: “Why do you treat India and Indians as our enemies??” further adding that “we went there to play Cricket and we played sportingly and lost sportingly to the superior team”. In the preliminary match between Brazil and reigning Champions England in 1970 football World Cup which was considered the Match of the Tournament, English skipper Bobby Moore after losing the match by 0-1, said “Brazil were the deserving winners”. Bobby Moore was not only the great hearted captain of England but a great hearted human bing.




COLUMBIAN FOOTBALLER THE LATE ESCOBAR


Many people were surprised to see the two Prime Ministers of two countries India and Pakistan watching the Cricket semi-final in Mohali. I admire Pakistani Premier Gillani to be so broad minded in attending this encounter. Elsewhere such top dignitaries also attend great events and finals. The 1982 World Cup soccer final in Spain was attended by the heads of both the finalists, Germany and Italy; President Sandro Pertoni of Italy and Chancellor Smidth of Germany. And I still remember seeing how the Italian president jumping from his seat like a spring after every goal Italy scored while his German counterpart was silently watching the whole scene.

A. Veronica Fernands,
Kuwait.

End of a successful tenure: By Reaven D’Souza

Indian Ambassador Ajai Malhotra appointed India's next envoy to Russia
End of a successful tenure: By Reaven D'Souza

 

 

Indian ambassador to Kuwait Ajai Malhotra will be cutting short a vibrant posting here to take up his new ambassadorial assignment in Russia shortly. In a brief span of just two years Ambassador Malhotra has no doubt left an indelible mark in Kuwait beyond the realms of just international relations.
 
Kuwait has been an interesting and invigorating posting for Ambassador Ajai Malhotra, a career diplomat, who has won the hearts of both his large contingent of countrymen and the local Kuwaiti populace.
 
Displaying very strong diplomatic skills and efficiency in tackling issues facing the Indian community, he has never failed to use the excellent relations he had with the local authorities to resolve outstanding issues of the community.
 
Selflessly and tirelessly he has soldiered to further build and develop relations with the Kuwait government establishment while engaging with the Indian community. A sharp observer and keen listener, his insight and experience has played a pivotal role in identifying areas for improvement and change.
 
Barely a month after taking charge Ambassador Malhotra arranged the visit of the Vice-President of India, H E Hamid Ansari to Kuwait. Noting that such a high level visit last occurred more than 35 years ago, he realized that such visits took relations between friendly nations to new levels. Indeed, with practically the whole Kuwaiti cabinet turning up at the airport to receive the vice-president it was a diplomatic coup not witnessed by the Indian community for a long time.
 
The visit paved the way for renewed relations between the two nations with many MoU's signed to further strengthen the age old friendship. The visit also enabled the Ambassador to meet and develop a friendship with the leadership circle in the country. His warm and personable disposition was well received and he was instantly perceived as a dear friend.

 

 

His Excellency Ajai Malhotra with GCC Chairman Carmo Santos and its members 

These diplomatic "friendships" soon became the hallmark of his two years in office here. He had easy access to all the decision makers in the country and his advice was valued and welcomed at different levels. More so, Ambassador Malhotra strengthened the confidence of the community by always being available for either friendly advice or participating and supporting Indian community based activities.
 
During his tenure there were several visiting dignitaries such as Minister of External Affairs, Minister of State for Finance, business delegations, football teams, cultural troupes, journalists and politicians. The interaction between the two nations suddenly became more intense and prominent.
 
During the first year of his posting here the Indian community had grown to more than 600,000 and the demands of engaging with such a diverse and dynamic group was becoming an exercise that required patience, stamina, time and effort. On occasions the Indian Ambassadors presence was required at multiple locations. He gracefully managed these irrespective of their importance and showed a keen interest in the activities on all his visits.
 
"If the community feels honored and happy with my presence at their functions then I feel I am duty bound and happy to honor their requests," he always pointed out, downplaying his hectic schedule.
 
The Indian community has been heaped with praise by the Kuwaiti leadership for their hard work and sincere dedication. As law abiding citizens they have been preferred by their local hosts . Ambassador Malhotra's encouragement has always been a source of inspiration and motivation for the Indian community. He has frequently used his good offices to provide timely advice and guidance on several issues.
 
He has accomplished most of the tasks he had set out within the first year on taking office. Labour and welfare services were vastly improved while passport services were outsourced. The overcrowding at the embassy which had become the norm quickly thinned down. Two private centers were set up to service the needs of the vast Indian community.
 
Relief for labor and domestics was also one area Ambassador Malhotra took a keen and compassion interest in. Quickly reviewing recruitment procedures, making them more favorable to labor and also raising minimum wages, keeping in mind the rising cost of living. Clearly this has and will further reduce labor related issues for the community in the future.
 
Working closely with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, Ambassador Malhotra's has been instrumental in persuading the local government with labor friendly policies. Today, the Indian Embassy safe house for run-away maids serves as a role model for other embassies in the country and also for Indian embassies in the region.
 
It has not always been an easy task, given that he had to work within the limitations of Various  factors. Changing mindsets has never been easy, but his steely grit and determination to genuinely bring about a change made the difference. His calm perseverance has always kept him on course to achieve his objectives.
 
There were many instances, like during the Diwali celebrations last year, when only his personal intervention at the highest level, came to the rescue of Indian nationals. Similarly, when power shutdowns affected community members residing in Jleeb Al Shouk during the height of summer, he went out of his way to ensure their requirements were met. He never declined to support, participate or engage with the community at any instance. Ambassador Malhotra's earnest and sincere efforts always paid off when dealing with complicated issues.
 
Whether it was politics, business, culture or sports diplomacy Ambassador Malhotra handled these duties with an ease and comfort few can emulate. The Festival of India in Kuwait was among the crowning achievements of his tenure. The first ever one-week Festival of India in Kuwait was a masterpiece showcasing a culturally rich and diverse heritage by providing glimpses of performing arts and visual arts from all over India. For the very first time, residents of Kuwait a witnessed a cultural extravaganza on such a grand scale.
 
Ambassador Malhotra also went out of his way to organize a number of local journalist trips to India, which received wide media coverage in both English and Arabic press.
 
While he comes across as a serious and reserved diplomat, his amicable personality and exuberance is quickly reflected in all his interactions. People who had the opportunity to deal with him at closer levels are quick to point to his compassion and sensitive side and his sincere efforts to help those in need.
 
It is obvious that the support and encouragement of his charming wife Mrs Ira Malhotra has not gone unnoticed. Her strong presence alongside has made them among the most popular couples in diplomatic circles while in her own right she has patronized social activities in Indian and international women associations.
 
He will be fondly remembered as a friend and mentor of the community who did his best and made his country and countrymen proud of him having also raised India-Kuwait linkages to a qualitively new level. Kuwait's loss will surely be Russia's gain.