This is in reference to
the war now going on with regards to erecting of Monuments by the Goa
government like that of Dayananda Bandodcar who was the first Chief Minister of Goa. First of all
it was wrong to admit that Bandodcar was the leader of masses in Goa. To say correctly, Bandodcar was an unknown
entity before entering into politics thru the back door. Because of his deslike
for Goan Christians he jumped into the Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party to punish
Goan Christians by merging Goa with Maharastra and thru it to diminish the
influence of Goan Christians in Goa and making their life hard thru the Marathi
language which Goan Christians will find it difficult to imbibe. Revenge
against Christians was his ambition.
It is a hard fact that
he worked hard for the victory of MGP in the first election in Goa but likewise
others too did, may be a bit less but surely he was not the most popular man of the masses in the initial stages. Because he was not so popular I think he was
not given the ticket to contest the first election. But unfortunately for the Goa lover Goans he was brought into
Goan politics thru the back door and Chief Ministership of Goa was imposed on
him when he was not even the elected member of Goa Legislative Assembly but
within the stipulated time limit he got elected from Maddkai constituency from
where the elected MLA resigned to make a way for Bandodcar.
The race for erecting
of Monuments is gaining political and communal turn where the monument for Dr.
Jack de Sequeira is become the focal point of debate. As per my information, when it became known,
just before the official declaration of the victory of Two Leaves – the symbol
of anti-mergerists – that anti-mergerists will surely win, some people from
Campal the neighbours of Dr. Sequeira joined together and along with Dr. Sequeira
took a procession like a victory march hailing Dr. Sequeira as the father of
Opinion Poll.
Dr.Sequeira was the
leader of United Goans Party which was the major constituent of the
anti-mergerist group comprising others too
including Congress Party whose following was miniscule compared to that
of UGP. Though there was not a single
official leader heading the anti-mergerists yet Dr.Sequeira was considered as
one such and other parties and groups and even independent leaders gave their
allegiance to Dr. Sequeira since he was the most charismatic leader among all
in the anti-mergerists group. It was Dr.
Sequeira’s oratory of Himalayan magnitude that attracted the people towards
anti-mergerists who in big number voted for 2 Leaves and because of this
development the 2 strong citadels of MGP namely Siolim and Mapusa were captured
by the anti-mergerists. It was a huge
defeat for the mergerists under the leadership of D. Bandodcar. I attended some meetings of the
anti-mergerists in Siolim, Mapusa and other constituencies in the North where I
saw how even in the darkness after 7.00 pm the attendees used to wait for the
speech of Dr. Sequeira who being the great crowd puller was always spoke the
last. This was done also in the South
and all over Goa.
It is very hurting that
since the invasion of Goa by Bharat the contribution of Goan Chritians is
downgraded to such an extent that they are even called as anti-national,
pro-Portugues and beneficiaries of Portugues rule in Goa. In what way they are pro-Portugues? The first
great revolt against the Portuguese rule in Goa was done by the Goan Christians
who were the Catholic priests known as Pintos from Pintos Vaddo in Candolim and
this revolt is called Pintos Revolution.
In what way the Goan
Christians are anti-national? The first person who raised the voice for the
liberation not only for Goa but also for the entire India and that too from the
soil of our colonialists was none other than our Goan Pparliamentarian in
Portguese Parliament Dr. Francis Luis Gomes from Navelim much before the birth
of Nehrus and Ghandis. Cardinal Gracias from Bombay worked so hard to see the
end of Portuguese rule in Goa and even Nehru hailed him as great patriot.
In what way the Goan
Christians were the beneficiaries of Portugues rule in Goa? The entire Commerce of Goa was in the hands
of Hindus namely like Chowogules, Salgaokars, Dempes, Bandekars, Bandodcars,
Caculos and others. Where were
Christians then? Nowhere seen among those named above.
By erecting the
Monument of Dr. Sequeira it will not lead him to Heaven but by rejecting his
monument we are only indicating our dislike for Christians by simply downgrading
his monumental contribution for the victory of Opinion Poll. Not a single individual leader worked so hard
as he did for the victory of 2 leaves among the leaders in the anti-mergerists
camp. He was the only leader in that camp that wielded more influence than any
other leader. He was the only leader
then having strong base all over Goa and who was also known all over Goa. Thoso who belittle his tremendous
contribution are jealous of him.
Those who are shouting
at the top of their voices against the erection of Dr. Seequeira’s monument,
they must in equal ferocity declare that it was also wrong to build the
monument of Bandodcar because he was a traitor of Goa interested in selling Goa
and Goa’s interests to Maharastra. A true Goan will always hate D. Bandodcar
for his decision to dole Goa to Maharastra. He was the greatest enemy of Goa
and true Goans.
A.Veronica fernandes.
