"It is not important how long you lived in this world but how you lived in this world is more important". My friend the late Assumption D'Sa who died in Goa on 19th of this month while on vacation from Kuwait lived a very good life by creating positive energy all around. He lived not only for himself and for his family but he also lived for the community and society by putting his inputs in the promotion of community affairs.
He was a very kind hearted and helpful person besides very sympathetic towards the suffering of others. He loved helping others especially those who were in need and in fact he helped many. Being a Goa lover Goan having been born and bred in Goa, he loved Goa and Goan causes very much. The third Goan association formed in Kuwait in the history of Kuwait Goans was known as "Goan Arts Circle" and it was formed under the initiative of Vincente D’Douza having our late Assumption D’Sa as the second in command of GAC. It was formed to raise funds for Goa Cancer Hospital and to conduct social and dramatic activities of Goans. It was formed in 1975 and Assumption D’Sa played a very good role in the promotion of this association. Though it failed to fulfil its required obligations yet in the initial stages it attracted lot of attention because of the integrity of Assumption D’Sa who was considered as dignified, upright and sincere man.
For any good cause of Goa and Goans he would immediately associate, that was his love for Goa. To work with him in any association was a pleasure because he was upright and a very systematic man.
By nature he was fanatic after sports and for soccer he would do anything. In late fifties and early sixties when soccer activities for expatriates were conducted at Ahmadi Oil Sector in Kuwait, he was a regular there by his presence not to play but to encourage the Goan players playing for different teams along with Europeans. With the initiative of UG when we started our competitive soccer in Kuwait City at Sour ground in 1979 I was playing for Salmiya Youth which was considered as one of the top teams in that inception year. From the audience seeing me playing the stellar role for our team, he came running to me during the interval showering abundant praises on me and since then he became my fan and friend.
Then immediately the next season with his strong backing we formed Goan Overseas Association with two soccer teams namely, G.O.A. Maroons and the other G.O.A. Whites.
To promote the soccer activities of G.O.A., Assumption D’Sa really played a Herculean role putting in Himalayan efforts to unite the players and others under G.O.A. banner and even taking care of the needs of the players. He enjoyed especial love and respect from all the players because of his relentless efforts to support G.O.A. teams. He was guiding and advising players even from the sidelines ignoring his health even. Soccer became his medicine even at his old age and soccer activities and involvement in soccer brought extra vigour to his advancing age. Because of the love of soccer and for the cause of G.O.A. Maroons he not only sacrificed a lot putting him into lot of inconveniences but he also inconvenienced his family as well since he kept them also ocuupied in this affairs.
When a few Kuwait Goans joined together and formed Gulf Goans Hotels Company in 1979 to construct Hotel Goan Heritege at Calangute, he played an iconic role to get Share Holders for this company. Because of his sincerity and integrity many Share Holders purchased Shares. If today we Kuwaitkars see this project with pride and honour we must salute the efforts during the initial stages of our late Assumption D’Sa in promoting this project.
In 1978 we in Kuwait established Novem Goem Pratishthan Kuwait Somiti, to prmotoe Novem Goem Daily in Goa, Assumption D’Sa was one of the persons to support our move by joining our committee. By joining us he gave his financial contribution and helped us to move ahead because he had great love for Konkani. He always supported me and others in our efforts to promote the Konkani cause.
During the invasion of Kuwait, when we organised our movement in Goa, he personally along with his Daughter came to Panjim for our Public Rally followed by the Public Meeting thereby showing his love for Kuwait. He was the great supporter of Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Centre that was formed to promote the cause of Kuwait.
During his over 5 decades in Kuwait, he lived a very decent and upright life. He was a very good husband to his very good wife, so too a very good father to his very god children and a very good ember of Goan community in Kuwait. In his death, Kuwait Goan community lost a great man of whose type very few are existing now.
May his soul rest in peace and may the Heavenly God give courage to his family to bear this colossal loss.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
