It is with deep regret and sorrow I write this piece to express my
sorrow over the death of one of my
friends and colleagues, Agnelo Fernandes who also was a great lover of Goa and popularly known as Royal Agnelo
as they were known in the name of
ROYAL in their in his village Agacaim. The death came on him on the 10th of
this monyh at 5.25 PM at Apollo Hospital, Margao, he was undergoing Dialysis and during the last
days he was almost in Coma from where he never recovered.
A father of 4 children – 2
boys and 2 girls, he was very popular in Kuwait among the expatriate Goans
because of his social work and sporting activities he used to organized, so too
the Goan cultural. He has helped many Goans who were afflicted with many
difficulties financial being on the top where he helped so many. Those who
we were not having proper
residence permit facilities he helped them in overcoming this difficulty even
by keeping at his foown reaidential place.
His love for Goa and
Konkani was infinite as it was proved by his patronage, involvement in Konkani
promotion associations especially in Kuwait Konknni Kendr, Konkan Heritage and
in the activities done for promotion Konkani cause. He was one of the Agxikars who was
instrumental in going ahead with the project of the erection of Konkani Martyrs
headed by Florian Vaz and the remaining all from Agacaim and surrounding areas.
He never felt shy to render financial assistance for the Konkani cause.
To help support and promote our Cultural items, he organised Tiatros in
Kuwait by bringing especial troop of Tiatro fromGoa, eg. Felcy’s. His continued financial support to the Tiatros and Mando Festivals was the right
step in the promotion of our Cultural items. When Mangalorean Konkani promote
Eric Ozario came to Kuwait with his Bosni which means Eric Ozario with his
musical troop of musicians would occupy their seats on the ground while
audience would also remain seated in front of him and he would give speeches on variety of
subjects pertaining to Konkani. After
finishing his speech on each he would render a cultural and tradional song
with the accompaniment of the Misical
score provided by his own musical troop,
His biggest activity was the formation in Kuwait of his foot-ball team named as
Royal XI which had wonderful players
that created a very good team of Royal
Agnelo that won number of Trophies in soccer, as winners as well as rnners-up.
Thru this team Royal Agnelo gained lot of goodwill and prominence in Kuwait among
Goans. Because they were playing for his
team, he was helping some of his players
in obtaining Residence Permits for them, jobs and many other amenities.
His worst misery was on 2nd August 1990 when in the early
morning while going to work driving his own car and wearing the Boiler
Suit, was caught by the Bastardised
Iraqi Millitary personnel headed by the polluted Muslim leadership based in
Baghdad, then they took him along with others to Bashra where they kept him for
about a month and about this whereabout of him was not known to his family
members who were in Kuwait and desperately waiting for his news whether he is
alive or dead, then they lost all their hopes of seeing alive. For one month in Iraqi Prison as Prisoner of
War his life the Muslim soldiers made miserable, they did not allow him even to
change his Boiler Suit which was smelling filthy, no water to have bath and no
food properly and sleeping on the floor. What was his and of his
likes mistake? These Bastards Iraqis made disgrace of our Brother Royal Agnelo and proved to the Jews,
Christians and others how filthy their Iraq is. Iraq was functioning on the basis of its principles, then is
this Iraqi principle to harass the innocent people? If this is their then I dislike it,
instead I would rather embrace Judaism where they would treat the innocent
people humanely.
The funeral of the late Agnelo Fernandes will take place on Saturday 15th
of this month at 4.00 PM at the Sada Christian Cemetry. The body will will be taken for the burial
from his residence at Keserwal – Cortalim at 3.00 PM.
May his soul Rest In Peace and may the Heavenly father give courage to
all his family members to bear this colossal loss.
A.Veronica
Fernandes
