It was exactly on 17th
of this month in 1961 at about 7.00 in the evening the last trip of the
Caminhao of Kekapai from Candolim was coming from Betim stopping in front of
the Candolim Church alighting a few passengers there among whom was my late
brother Cheddo who for 3 days was sent to the borders by Goa Police management
to work on the break-down since he was working as a technician for Goa Police.
When he got down from the Caminhao he saw our Church Pe. Cur – Pe. Marcus
Menezes and told him “Pe. Cur, te bhitor sorlet ahm!!” At that moment with Pe.
Cur, myself and one Dhobi from Orda, Esso by name were also standing. Esso came
with the laundry of Pe. Cur and after sometime Esso will receive from Pe. Cur 1
Rupee as payment for the laundry and
stopping at Orda Tinto he will buy rice, fish and Fenni for him and finish that
one rupee.
But the moment he heard
my brother saying “te bhitor sorlet” that moment Esso understood that Indian
military entered Goa and leaving everything there even his one rupee, Esso
started running screaming loudly “Jai
Hind, Jai Swaraj, Jai Maharaj, atam amchem raj, Hinduchem raj zatelem, ami
tumkam atam martelet, tumcheo igorjo ani kopelam ami moddtelet”. At that
moment Esso was fuming with anger
against Christians and gradually Goa created innumberable Essos who were
earlier hiding with their anger.
A.Veronica Fernandes.
