SHAMELESS TARUN TEJPAL.

What a shameless man Tarun Tejpal is! I was expecting him to commit suicide the moment he was exposed to the world for molesting and raping his subordinate journalist employee.  What a dirty man is he for going after a poor subordinate girl when with his mighty financial power he could purchase females of his choice instead of going for the forbidden fruit.   

I salute the young girl who rejected and repelled his sinful approaches and then taking courage to expose her filthy boss.  By doing what he did in the Lift, he acted like a dog without taking note of that busy spot frequented by the heavy human traffic. Even at moment dogs would feel ashamed to have sex in the Lift but not this human dog Tarun Tejpal. Hidden in his human self he exposed his wild animal self.

I am sure this was not the only such incident he committed, like this he must have committed hundreds of such acts which went unnoticed and unexposed for fear of losing the jobs by the poor females. Poor women because of job must have kept their silence and he took advantage of his position and power. He should be punished heavily for performing such dirty acts in my Goa.

I don’t know why his family members are tolerating his act.  I was expecting his family to condemn this act of Tarun Tejpal and offer some consolation and sympathy to the victim girl. By not doing so they also became party to the wrong doing of Tejpal.  

According to one press report, while enslaving the poor girl in his Claws he said “this is the right way for you to keep up your job intact”. What an arrogant statement is it!  It is an insult to all the working females in India and they all should jointly condemn Tarun Tejpal for degrading their dignity. Shamelessly he on top of it later on denying committing any wrong doing when in the beginning in his email he accepted what he was accused of. 

I don’t know why the battery of lawyers are come forward to defend him as if they have no morality.  Would they agree to defend Tarun Tejpal if he had to commit the same act with their wives and daughters? Some Indian Lawyers are also become shameless doing shameful things for the sake of money.

The high profile Meet organised by Tarun Tejpal under his Tehelka was attended and addressed by some high profile personalities like Amitabh Bacchan. In view of the seriousness of this act by Tarun Tejpal I feel Amitabh Baccha must issue an statement of offering his regret for being part of that Meet and must condemn Tarun Tejpal for acting so low. Persons like Tarun Tejpal should be considered as anti-National.  Would Amitabh Bacchan remain silent if Tarun Tejpal committed that sinful act against Aishwariya Rai or Jaya Bahaduri? It is a must now for Amitabh Bacchan to condemn Tarun Tejpal and dissociate from him.

A. Veronica Fernandes, 
Kuwait.

A. VERONICA ON HUNGER STRIKE FOR KONKANI CAUSE.

                       Seen in the middle with beard is A. Veronica on Hunger Strike.

Since my coming to Kuwait for employment over three and half decades back, I organised and initiated lot of movements in Kuwait for the cause of Goa and Goans.  One of these movements was Konkani movement including Novem Goem Daily Newspaper. This was my first movement in Kuwait started in 1976 soon after my coming to Kuwait. The most important among all the movements was Novem Goem.  Among all these movements I found Novem Goem movement a very difficult to do because Konkani during those days was wrongly considered as the language of low category people by third grade uneducated Kuwait Goans.

Most of the Goans having such a low opinion of Konkani  were coming from hoi-polloi category who were either sons and daughters of Buttlers or grand sons and grand daughter or decedents of illiterate domestics. Such Goans cannot attain intellectual capacity to rise to upper level intellectually; their minds are surrounded by Kitchen mentality befitting their background.   

However, because of my dynamism, vigorous campaigning in support of Konkani thru English and Konkani media, wisdom, knowledge of the subject, sincerity for the cause and excellent character, I changed this view ingrained into the blood of most of the Kuwait Goans and I succeeded in proceeding further. 

Besides,  I with the support of my colleagues, managed to put a strong base for Konkani amongst Kuwait Goans.  This base is enough for the new generation of Goans coming to Kuwait to carry forward Konkani activities.

In my drive for the promotion of Konkani movement I received strong support of my friends, colleagues and other supporters. Recognition of Konkani by the authorities concerned was the great step that facilitated granting of separate Statehood for Goa. The contribution of Kuwait Goans in the promotion of Konkani movement was a great step in the right direction and nobody can deny this fact.  

In order to further support Konkani movement, in Eighties I went to Goa and participated in the public meetings and public Rallies organised by KPA at Panaji Goa. No doubt I was on vacation in Goa but still I took active part in this movement throughout my stay in Goa during that short period.   

While participating in these Meetings and Rallies I received Lathis also of Rane’s Policemen who were preventing us from doing our movement. Rane the then Chief Minister of Goa was a strong opponent of Konkani and if it was not for Rajiv Gandhi, Rane would never move an inch forward in support of Konkani and Statehood.

During that particular period 3 Konkani supporters conducted 5 days of Hunger Strike at Azad Maidan, Panjim.  These 3 men were Dilip Borkar, Eng. Datta Naik  and Dioniz Diniz. When I was asked by them whether I too will join them, I willingly joined them on the third day for a daylong fast.as shown in the picture above. This was my greatest moment in my life for doing Hunger Strike for the cause of Konkani. 

When the above photo appeared in the local English Daily, the next day very many Kuwaitkars vacationing in Goa came to meet me at Azad Maidan but none opted to be by my side. On the contrary a few of them put me in the fools category for doing foolish thing by coming from Kuwait.

To do these activities and participate in this movement was the great opportunity for me and while pondering over this I feel I did the right thing.

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait.

   

THE MOST MEMORABLE PHOTOS IN MY LIFE. BY A. VERONICA FERNANDES.

My beloved wife Fatima on our wedding day at Kuwait City Church on 20th Sept.,1979. Most adorable woman in my life and the most intelligent woman that I came across in my life and who is responsible to make me what I am today.

                               With our daughter Aveshah on our Silver Wedding anniversary in Goa.

 On our 30th Wedding anniversary in Kuwait.

 

 On my graduation from Bombay University thru St. Xaviers College - Mapusa.

At 17, individual Athletic champion at All Goa Inter School Athletics Meet held at Anjuna - Bardez,Tembi ground where all the Goan Schools descended at Anjuna.  In this Meet I have created a new record for Goa by running fastest 100 metres in 11 seconds and thus becoming fastest runner of Goa.

Me and Fatima in a jovial mood at the dinner.

At age 15, as a youngest player, standing 4th from left, I played for the then mighty Candolim team along with my other two elder brothers - the late Jose Marie of Sesa Goa standing 2nd from left and Cheddo - Goa Police in the middle squating. Candolim Team was the winner of All Goa Inter-village soccer tournament conducted by Goa Football Association. The final was played at Duler ground Mapusa.

DVD OF GOAN SUPPOORT TO KUWAIT.

Further to my earlier article on the newly released DVD with English commentary on the movement Goans did in Goa during the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, in support of Kuwait’s liberation, I am glad to inform all concerned  that the response was overwhelming, beyond my expectation. As on now, 300 copies have been distributed, major portion of it on request while very few I personally delivered to some of my high profile Kuwaiti friends who showed closeness to our movement.

Since one lot of 300 pieces are already over and demand and requests are still pouring in for more copies, another lot of same number is under process and it will be ready very shortly.  Requests are coming from Goa also and from US, UK and Canada where many of our participants in this movement are settled after the liberation of Kuwait.

This DVD is going to be unique in the history of Kuwait Goans with regards to their relationship with Kuwait from where they earned their sustenance.  I am proud of the Kuwait Goan community that stood by Kuwait during the dark period of Kuwait and thereby showing their gratitude to the country that employed them.  This was the greatest opportunity Kuwait Goan community got to show its gratitude to Kuwait that provided opportunities to Goans to work in Kuwait and earn their livelihood. 

Those Kuwait Goans who participated in this movement were of great hearted Goans while those who refrained from participating in this movement can I call them ungrateful?  Because of Kuwait many of the Goans made lot of developments and improvements in their lives.  It was Kuwait that made many of them to be somebody in life. Kuwait proved to many of the Goans an Oasis while traveling in the Desert.

In this DVD you see two public rallies followed by 2 public meetings in Panjim.  For the first there were few participants compared to the second when everybody came to know of their going back to Kuwait.  For the first rally many Kuwait Goans remained at home thinking it was useless because Kuwait is already invaded and what was the use of shouting slogans against Saddam Hussein?  Many Kuwait Goans blamed me for organizing this rally when it was useless but these same people applauded me when Kuwait was liberated and in fact they remained in Queue first to enter in the liberated Kuwait and tell their Kuwaiti bosses that they were the Goans who came on to the streets of Goa demanding liberation for Kuwait.

It was very disappointing to note that many of the Kuwait Goan stalwarts of that time refused to support this movement in support of Kuwait.  Who were these Goans?  None of the millionaires participated even though they have made millions from Kuwait – No Alphonsos – No Furtados – No Monteiros. To organise such a massive movement spread over 6 months is not a joke.  It required lot of finance and at that particular time even a Rupee was important to me to spend for this movement. The millionaires who minted money in Kuwait thru their businesses have failed miserably to do their duty towards Kuwait. I am ashamed of their Goanness.

Most of the Goans involved in the Church activities boycotted this movement, so also most of the Kuwait Tiatrists, soccer clubs and their members, so also most of the high salary earning Kuwait Goans and doing lucrative jobs before the invasion of Kuwait.

Coming back to Goans in Goa, none from those who settled down in Goa after their retirement from Kuwait before the invasion joined us. None from the Goan Muslim community. None of the Priests or Nuns especially from among those who received our donations in lakhs of rupees, none of the Konknnivadis who received our donations in lakhs for the Konkani movement. It was nothing but very disheartening to see how we were deserted by our own people especially by those who enjoyed our benefits when we were earning in Kuwait before its invasion.

Some pictures from this DVD were aired to the viewers by Kuwait Television twice, one on 15^th September 1991 when Indian Foreign Secretary Ms Sharma visited Kuwait and interviewed by KTV Anchor Adeeb. Questioned her by Adeeb thus:“During the invasion period of Kuwait, in India some protests  march were organized.  Can you please tell us where?”  Replied Sharma saying thus: “ yes, it was in Delhi, Kerala and Hyderabad”.  Then Adeeb retorted asking her thus: “what about in Goa?” For this she had no answer because she was ignorant of what Goans have done.  

Then immediately Adeeb showed the pictures of our movement for about 3 minutes making Sharma very embarrassed of her ignorance of what Goans have done for the cause of Kuwait. What Goans have done for Kuwait none in India did but authorities concerned in India have been trying to put a shadow on what we did because they are biased against Goans or they thought Goans are not politically and intellectually advanced to rise to the occasion and organize such a movement.

According to my information, Delhi Babus are very jealous of Goans and they don’t give due credit to Goans.  They underestimate Goans.

Because of this movement Goans have received lot of goodwill in Kuwait among all the sections of Kuwaitis. We have done what we could do to raise the banner of Goa and Goans high and I did what I could do.  Now the new generation of Kuwait Goans must emulate our feat and do better to create a strong bond between Goans and Kuwaitis.  In this direction they must first try to spread this DVD among themselves and then to Kuwaitis so that Kuwaitis know how we stood by them during their dark days.

 A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait.

MUDDY ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

“My Dog Millie got better knowledge of foreign affairs than both these Bozoz”’ remarked Sr. Bush during his election campaign for the second term, referring to both his opponents – Bill Clinton the presidential candidate and Vice Presidential candidate Al Gore,. 

Never in the history of American presidential election campaign were more ugly and filthy statements used by the contestants as it was done during the second term of Sr. Bush and by Bush only even questioning Clinton’s parentage. Though it was very insulting yet Clinton never retaliated by using Tit for Tat policy. 

Clinton was the first American Scholar president having studied at Harward and at Oxford and as such he showed his intellectual wisdom to remain calm and cool. For this characteristic of his voters liked him and voted him and his partner to power while Bush went home with a resounding defeat. American voters by voting Clinton said that they did so because Clinton has cool temperament to face the difficult road ahead with calmness and coolness.

Sr. Bush fresh from the victory in the Gulf War thought he will easily defeat Clinton by attacking him personally but Clinton went on attacking Bush on issues especially on economic front.  This strategy of Clinton was well accepted by the Americans who ultimately opted for Clinton with his partner Al Gore.

When Valente Sequeira from Candolim and the then Calangute MLA along with his other 5 MLA colleagues in mid- sixties defected from UG and joined Bandodkar’s MG, UG under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Jack Sequeira immediately following this defection organised a public meeting at Calangute Soccer ground where during his speech of condemnation of Valente, asked the Calangute constituents gathered in thousands for this meeting thus:   

“Where is your Valente Sequeira gone now?  Why you keep your silence on his defection?  Go to his house and bring him out if he is hiding, by pulling his goatee beard”. This was very piercing and insulting statement made by Dr. Sequeira.  And when asked why he used such a harsh language, replied the great doctor saying, “Valente’s defection is a harsh action and harsh action deserves harsh rebuttal”.

It is very common now for the corrupt and third grade Indian politicians especially during the election time to criticise their opponents with piercing personal insults.  Instead of harping on Issues they harp on candidates’ personal affairs. This is what Narendra Modi is doing to Rahul Gandhi by calling him very mockingly and sarcastically in Hindi thus: “Are Rahul Babu, apku politics kya samazta?”

Another top politician of Samazwadi Party called Narendra Modi as “Tea Vendor” and as such he is not fit to be the Premier of India. Narendra Modi retaliated by telling the country’s poor that this is a personal insult to them as well and asked them to show their solidarity by being with Modi.

I disapprove of the statement of Samazwadi Party leader but coming from the poor background I will never support Narendra Modi and will never show my solidarity with him in the coming election.  Narendra Modi’s communalism in Gujarat was an insult to the poor who did not approve of his communal politics. I coming from poor background and millions like me condemn the “Tea Vendor” statement but still oppose Modi because like a “goonda” he created crimes against Muslims in Gujarat. 

Such a criminal politician will never make a good Premier of India and as such he and his BJP party should be punished in the hustings especially by the voters coming from poor background because Modi brought bad name to the poor in India by acting communal. Overwhelming majority of the Muslims killed in Gujarat were poor. I show my solidarity with them and not with criminal Narendra Modi.

As a matter of fact to become somebody big in life one need not necessarily come from elite family background and doing elite work Abraham Lincoln the then president of USA was coming from low family background doing the family work of Wood Cutting and finally where he reached?  He attained the highest peak in USA.

Narendra Modi’s low family background and the work of a “Tea Vendor” should not be a hindrance for him to reach to the post of premiership but his “goondagiri”, roughness and rudeness associated with thick communalism should deny him the attaining of premiership of India. India’s image in the world will suffer if such a man is elevated to the post of premiership. He is not a decent man nor an intellectual giant enjoying dignified respect from the world leaders.

He is very arrogant and still keeping his silence on the killings of Muslims in Gujarat. Still he is not repenting for what he has done for Muslims in Gujarat and as such he is proving himself that he was not changed in his attitude towards communalism, neither he is apologetic for what he did. Indian voters must demand an apology from him and a promise that he will never raise the issue of Ayodya again and will never do anything that hurts the sentiments of Muslims in particular and other minorities in general.

According to what I noticed till now, the coming election will be fought not on Issue basis but on personal attack basis.  Congress ruled India but refrained from enacting good laws to change the corrupt system when power was with them for about 4 decades uninterrupted. Even to enact Anti-defection law Indira Gandhi had to be assassinated to replace young progressive Rajiv Gandhi to make him a way to enact this law though it was not a complete one but something is better than nothing otherwise "Aya Ram and Gaya Ram" system would be still existing in India as it was happening earlier. Congress Party was one of the beneficiaries of this system "Aya Ram and Gaya Ram".

Nehru’s Congress government since independence in 1947 followed many of the Soviet Russia’s laws except one, that is “Right to Work” which was the fundamental right there but to do the same in India Nehru and his Congress party had no wisdom. Indian leaders have no knowledge and wisdom to create avenues for employment for this reason best of manpower in India remain unemployed and simply rotting or working as slaves in other countries.

There are no laws still banning tainted persons from contesting election for this reason corrupt people are entering parliament and robbing the nation’s wealth for themselves and for their families while major portion of Indian populace suffer. The whole problem in India is that Indian system is corrupt thereby encouraging corruption and this has to be changed by enacting good laws without keeping any loopholes. Which party can promise to do this? And which person will question the national leaders about this when the leaders come for campaigning at the door step of the voters?

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait.