Dr. Jaganath Chodankar - Leadership Award Winner

:::Goans from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, UAE receive Leadership Awards:::
-by gasper crasto / Kuwait

In a brief function 'CONFERENCE ON INDIAN EXPATRIATES IN THE GULF COUNTRIES' held at the Convention Hall, Hotel Mandovi, Panaji on 29th March 2008, the NRI Affairs Directorate of Goa Government presented Leadership Awards for community service to well known Goans from the Gulf for recognition of their social activities towards the Indian community.

Dr. Jaganath R. Chodankar from Kuwait is one of the award winners among 11 individuals in the Gulf.

:::Congratulations Dr. Jaganath R. Chodankar:::

(Photo: Dr. Jaganath R. Chodankar (Right) receiving the award)
____________________________

Born on August 18th 1970 to Mr. Ramnath and Mrs. Sharmila Chodankar, in the State of Kuwait to a Goan family who shared their roots in Parra and Moira respectively in Bardez Taluka, Jaganath was raised in Kuwait till his High school. After school completion, he pursued his Medical Career in J.N. Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka, till Master’s degree in Urology. In 2001, he came to Kuwait and have been working here since.

During his tenure in Belgaum, Dr. Jaganath was bestowed upon the responsibility to look after many Goan patients who came to the K.L.E.S. Hospital and Medical research Centre, for specialized surgical operations. This is when he had his first interaction with our fellow Goans on a personal level which was a tremendous boost to his relations with his roots. Although it was a tedious task, it was indeed rewarding in the form of warm wishes and blessings, which Dr. Jaganath always desired for, but unfortunately short lived for two years only as he had to proceed to Kuwait for his next assignment.

Once again back in Kuwait, Dr. Jaganath ventured out for various opportunities to serving Goans in the most humane way and ultimately joined the NRI CLUB 9 in the year 2004. CLUB 9, by then was an established organization - one amongst the many Goan associations which purely served charitable causes only with no vested interests whatsoever. Here he discovered a wonderful and dedicated team with great team spirit, where each and every member treated the organization like its own baby. Eventually Dr. Jaganath was designated as its President in the year 2006 as per the request of the Club members.

"We, as in CLUB 9, have had till date, conducted five annual Goan shows with two mid year Goan Food Festivals and have managed to collect sufficient funds, all of which we use to support Daddy’s Home, a home for the mentally and physically handicapped children based in Gogol, Margao, Goa, which is looked after by Fr. Valmiki Dias", Dr. Jaganath proudly mentions. "Till date, we are proud to say we have 88 children under the roof of Daddy’s Home who are well looked after in the most special way just because these children are very special", he remarked.

Here in Kuwait, Dr. Jaganath also happens to be one of the founder members of the Indian Doctors Forum (IDF), which is an organization of 500 Indian doctors working in Kuwait. IDF have successfully conducted more than 15 free health check up camps for various sections of the Indian community with the target patient population mainly being the low socio-economic group of the Indian Community.

"All said and done, there is no turning back and now we are in the process of setting up a Medical Tourism company in Kuwait . Through this we wish to route patients from Kuwait to India seeking medical treatment with the prime intention of supporting and helping the deprived and financially burdened Goan population. Hoping and praying for a successful outcome of the same", Dr. Jaganath confides to this writer.

Awards and Honors

• First rank to the Dharwad University in the final year of M.B.B.S. Examinations held in 1994 at Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College , Belgaum , Karnataka , India.
• Best outgoing student of J.N. Medical College for the year 1994.
• Awarded the title of Mr. JNMC in the year 1993.
• American Medical Association Physician’s Recognition Award January 2003,
Camp Doha , Kuwait

Leading Posts Held:

• Organizing Secretary of Workshop “Ultrasound guided Urological Procedures “held at K.L.E.S. Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Belgaum , Karnataka , India in February 2000.
• Organizing Secretary of Karnataka Urology Association Conference (K.U.A.C.O.N.) held in 1998, conducted by the Department of Urology, K.L.E.S. Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Belgaum , Karnataka , India in October 1998.
• Organizing Secretary of Continued Medical Education (C.M.E.) and Post-
Graduate course conducted by the department of Surgery, J.N. Medical College ,
Belgaum , Karnataka , India in January 1998
• Cultural Secretary at the J.N. Medical College, Belgaum during the year 1994-1995
• Website Administrator for the Indian Doctors Forum (IDF), Kuwait form the
period 2004 – 2006, during which it was officially launched.
• President of CLUB 9 (Care & Love for Underprivileged Born) from July 2006 onwards.

Social & Community Welfare Activities

• Participating Surgeon in the Free Medical Consulting Camp held on 18th October 2002 at the Gulf Indian School , Fahaheel , Kuwait , organized by the Islam Presentation Committee.

• Delivered a lecture on “SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES” to the teenagers participating at the Summer Camp conducted by the Holy Chapel, Salmiya , Kuwait in July 2004.

• Free Surgical services rendered at the Medical Camp held on 8th October 2004 at the Indian Central School in association with the Kuwait Heart Foundation and Muslim Education Society, Kuwait.

• Lecture presentation with interactive session on Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (C.P.R.) to the participating teenagers at the Summer Camp conducted by the Holy Chapel, Salmiya , Kuwait in July 2005.

• Participated in the Medical Screening and Consultation Camp held on 15th December 2006 at the Indian International School in organized by the SHANTHI Association.

• Participating Surgeon in the Free Medical Consulting Camp held on 24th March 2006 at the Carmel School , Fahaheel , Kuwait , organized by the Telugu Kala Samithi, Kuwait .

Memberships

• Member of the Kuwait Medical Association (K.M.A.) since 2001.
• Member of the Kuwait Urology Association (K.U.A.) since 2003.

ABOUT CLUB 9 - A small brief :

The word CLUB is an abbreviation which stands for Care and Love for Underprivileged Born and was created on the 17th of January 2003, when nine like minded people got together and decided to use their leisure time for something constructive and charitable. They went on and identified Daddy’s home, which was already an established institute formed in 1989 and looked after 50 mentally and physically challenged children like Down’s syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy etc in a very special and caring way, though painstakingly difficult, however deeply rewarding. Having identified Daddy’s Home they decided to adopt it and support it in every possible way towards its progress and development.

Since then, there has been no stopping. Club 9 have successfully conducted four annual functions which go by the popular title of Goan Heritage Nite and two Goan food festivals till date, through which they have managed to raise sufficient funds to last at least half a decade.

In fact, CLUB 9 takes pride in saying that TODAY Daddy’s Home is a place for 88 children with newer facilities introduced like in house dormitory, computers, physiotherapy, speech therapists etc with the ultimate aim of making these children into independent adults who can perform their day to day routines freely without any assistance and thus enjoy the beauty of this world as well as survive the difficult part of this world. CLUB 9 has come a long way in promoting care and love for the underprivileged and stands as a testimony for people who believe good thoughts when converted to deeds yields a much greater pleasure and satisfaction to one’s heart.

Presently, the Club 9 committee comprises of:
Dr. Jaganath Chodankar - President,
Aldrin Meneses - Vice-President,
Roshann Lorena - General Secretary,
Delphi Fernandes - Treasurer
Sunny Nazareth - Legal Advisor,
Raymond Pereira - Executive Member,
Albano Pinto - Executive Member.

Dr. Jaganath can be contacted via email jaganathrc@hotmail.com or Mobile: 6613512.

For upcoming events of Club 9, contact Aldrin Meneses (email aldrinm@hotmail.com or Mobile: 9550125).

Also read:
Here they are: The NRI Leadership Award Winners
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/18654

Click for photos:http://picasaweb. google.com/ rafacrasto/ LeadershipAwards /photo#s51843355 99600671378

NRI AWARDS FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS - PART II

In late eighties, when there was Konkani movement in Goa in full swing,I went to Goa especially to participate in this movement, took activepart in the rallies and public meetings, received lathis from "Ghantti"Police hired by Rane Government and even participated in Hunger Strikeat Azad Maidan, Panjim. However, to my total dismay none of the currentNRI awardees came to Goa and participated in this move to protect thesoul of Goa.

During the invasion of Kuwait, thru my own initiative, we in Goa formed"Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Centre (G.K.S.C)" movement in support of theliberation of Kuwait. This was the biggest and very important movementthat Kuwait Goans have done. Even the Ambassador of Kuwait in New Delhiappreciated our support for Kuwait and on behalf of the Government ofKuwait in exile, the Kuwaiti Ambassador in Delhi sent especial letter tome thanking Goans for their support. The noise that we made on thestreets of Panjim thru this movement was heard everywhere in Goa, Delhiand other parts of India. And its echo was felt all around the globethru CNN and other news media thereby strengthening the bonds of Goanswith Kuwait, other Gulf countries and with the entire freedom lovingcountries and people in the world.

After the liberation of Kuwait, because of this movement, Kuwaitis andthe Kuwait Government showed much of affection for Goans. Even KuwaitTV showed our movement activities twice in its programmes in 1991. Thruthis movement Goans have created for them a special niche into thehearts of Kuwait. None of the NRI awardees took leadership nor"tail-ship" in this movement though one of them was not in Goa at thattime, he stayed in Kuwait during the whole invasion period while Dr.Chodonkar was invisible like all other Goan doctors working in Kuwait.The greatest "Beiman" to Kuwait were the doctors who were working inKuwait during the invasion of Kuwait. None of these rascal doctors havesupported us in our movement for the cause of Kuwait, under G-K.S.C.inspite of earning so much in Kuwait.

Then came the movement for the cause of Kuwait Prisoners of War. Iagain gave the lead to campaign for their release by organising bigmeetings in 5 star hotel in Kuwait City where top Kuwaitis came, joinedand addressed these meetings. Even the members of the ruling familyattended these meetings. Thru these meetings we internationalized thecause of Kuwait's POW's in a different way. Again none of the NRIawardees joined us in lending leadership for this movement nor inhelping us to move ahead for the sake of Kuwait from where we gain oursustenance. These NRI awardees were nowhere near us. Moreover, to makethis move powerful, on behalf of Goans, I personally, by spending moneyfrom my own pocket went to Delhi, with the help of one Rajya Sabahmember from Hyderabad, Mr. Khan who was the Chairman of Indo-GulfFriendship Society, contacted top world, Arab and Islamic leadersstationed in Delhi to put pressure on the Saddam Hussein Government torelease Kuwait's POW's. While I was doing so much on behalf of Goans togain goodwill for Goans in Kuwait and outside, none of the NRI awardeestook part with me in any capacity.

After the liberation of Kuwait, when I noticed too much of harassmentgiven to our maids, myself and Fr. Gabriel joined together and formedKonkani Heritage Kuwait (KHK) first to unite all the Konkani people inKuwait and secondly to help our suffering maids who were given shelterat Indian Embassy Safe House. In order to repatriate them back home, weraised funds by organizing different types of activities and with thehelp of this fund we purchased air tickets for them to go back home. Inthis way, we repatriated innumerable maids to Goa and Bombay and as anevidence of this concrete work, Indian Ambassador himself and other topEmbassy officials openly lauded our efforts. In this move againunfortunately none of the NRI awardees took leadership nor they playedany worthy role.

Since the last two years these NRI awards are given to Goans scatteredacross the globe. Some say these awards are gifted or doled to thechamchas of Eduardo Faleiro. Others say these awards are purchased bysome of the awardees. It is sad to note that lot of controversies aregenerated when these awards are given in Panjim. Goans in the Gulf areprotesting over the selection of these awardees, some are deserving,while others not.

After reading what I wrote above, people must judge whether the awardeesfrom Kuwait are really deserving these awards. First of all, all thethree must ask themselves whether they deserve these awards, if not thenthey should put their head down in shame for accepting unworthy awards.Accepting undeserving awards is like a robbery which is a sin and suchsins are not ordinary sins but sacrileges. It is not an honour inaccepting undeserving awards. Also, these awards are not Knighthoods nor not Padma Shrees or Bharat Ratnas to take pleasureand pride. These awards are like bokxis given to Kuwaitkars by EduardoFaleiro without judging the real worth of the recipients in the serviceof the community. One of the awardees was involved in sex scandalbesides denying GWS of its funds, so also misappropriation of KuwaitGoan Evacuees Society's fund in Goa during the invasion of Kuwait. Canany organization give any award to such a person who is known to havecommitted un-Goan acts? Yes, only the association headed by EduardoFaleiro can dole its awards to unworthy recipients.

On the advice of Gandhiji, Rabindranath Tagore surrendered his Knighthood to British Monarchy because British were damaging India'sinterest. In the same manner, don't you think it is advisable forrecipients of these NRI awards in other Gulf States to surrender theirawards as a mark of protest against chamchageri done by Eduardo Faleiroand his team in awarding these awards to some of the unworthy persons?As it is, because of the wrong selection in many cases, the value ofthese Community Leadership awards has been debased.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

NRI AWARDS FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS - PART I

Photos - Global Goans Community Service Leadership Award Winners and the Kuwait Awardees

It was somewhere in 1988. Eduardo Faleiro came to Kuwait as an MP on his way back home from his South American official visit. We paid from our pockets his boarding and lodging at Sahara Hotel behind American Embassy. During that time I had just initiated a major Konkani movement in Kuwait, first of its kind in the expatriate Goan world, the Novem Goem daily move was my priority. Along with my colleague John Felix Desouza from Anjuna Bardez, I went to meet Eduardo Faleiro in his Hotel Room, introduced myself, briefed him of my move for Konkani cause and gave him some cuttings of my articles published in the local English dailies, Goan monthly “Goa Today” and Konkani weekly “Goycho Mog”.

Eduardo was deeply impressed by my work and with that mood on the same day in the evening on Sunday, in the big Church hall, we organized a public meeting. He in his entire speech in Konkani, said “KITLI-I TI DUBBLI ZAUM, TI AMCHI MAIM BHAS KONKANI, TIKA AMI SAMBALLUNK ZAI, VOIR KADDUNK ZAI ANI FULOUNK ZAI. TICHI SEVA KOROP ANI TICHEA PASSOT VAVROP ZAUN ASA VHODD VAVR ANI OSLEA VAVRA POROS ANINK DUSRO VHODD VAVR NA. JE KON KONKANI PASSOT VAVURTAT TE KHI KHORE LEADERS”.

These words he spoke in front of Indian Ambassador, Mr. Chatwall, Kuwait’s Bishop Monsg. Victor Saminguel and other elite audience who didn’t even know what he spoke because they were not conversant with Konkani. There was lot of Goans for this meet who later on complained that to please Veronica, Faleiro spoke in Konkani. Vincente D’Souza took the lead in hosting Faleiro’s reception in the Church hall followed by a grand Dinner at Hotel Sheraton. Myself and Alexander M. Fernandes were closely linked with Vincente D’Souza to organize these events but none of the current NRI awardees from Kuwait were there as leaders, helpers associates or volunteers with us though minus Dr. Jaganath Chodankar, the other two were very much present in Kuwait at that time. Even if Dr. Chodankar was existing in Kuwait at that time, nobody knew his existence.

Earlier in 1975, on the pattern of Indian Arts Circle, Vincente D’Souza formed Goan Arts Circle where again Alexandre M. Fernandes and Assumption D’Sa were closely linked with the promotion of this organization which collected huge funds for the establishment of Cancer Hospital in Goa. As per the information, the total amount donated to this hospital from Kuwait itself was around 20 lakhs at that time plus sophisticated machinery. Though I was not involved in its initiative but I fully supported this organization for fund raising campaign thru Tiatro organizing at Keefan Hall and also in writings. Here again none of the current NRI awardees were involved in giving leadership nor even a little push to this great move though like earlier, minus Dr. Chodankar the other two were very much present in Kuwait at that time. Nobody knew if Dr. Chodankar was existing in Kuwait at that time.

In 1979 I formed, thru my initiative, Novem Goem Pratisthan Kuwait Somiti to campaign for and to raise funds for people’s Konkani Daily Newspaper “Novem Goem” for which finally we from Kuwait itself donated around 5 lakhs of rupees. Thru this move Konkani got booster and thru Konkani Goa was saved. Again Alexander M. Fernandes was closely linked with me since we both were Jnt. Secretaries of this organization under the chairmanship of A. B. Fernandes (Al-Bahar General Manager). This committee was formed with the membership of best of leadership and charactership of Goan talent in Kuwait. Some of the leaders were Estanislaus Alemao (Principal of New Indian English School, Jabriya), Mr. Raymond D’Sa, Mr. Assumption D’Sa, Mr. John Felix D’Souza, Adv. Bosco Lobo, Mr. Vincente D’Souza, Mr. Diogo A. D’souza, Mr. Evaristo Fernandes, Mr. Jose Faleiro and others. Such a high grade and intellectually advanced committee having best of Goan qualities in it for the cause of Goa had never came into being earlier and will never come again. Though the current NRI awardees were very much present in Kuwait at that time yet, if Dr. Chodankar was existing in Kuwait at that time, nobody knew his existence.

Then came the big event in the history of Goans in Kuwait and that was the initiative of our soccer activities at Sour grounds under the leadership of United Goans Football Center (UG Center). UG surely carry the credit but my contribution in the promotion of this soccer was second to none, as a player, organizer, founder of soccer teams, writer and coordinator. Again the current NRI awardees were nowhere in the picture with us, neither in promoting, helping nor in lending any push to the leadership. When we started our soccer activities, they were unknown entities amongst us. Again, Dr. Chodonkar’s whereabouts was a mystery that time.

Then came the initiative of the formation of Gulf Goans Hotels Company for the construction of Goan Heritage Hotel at Calangute. Though Mr. Vincente D’Souza was instrumental in starting this move ably supported by Assumption D’Sa, I too played my positive role in promoting the sale of Shares when people were reluctant to purchase them. Though one of the current NRI awardees Wilson Coelho from the beginning is a part of this project and who later on played a good role in helping this project, he was not the whole and sole as many times it was given to understand wrongly. I also played my role along with others to raise this project and played a very crucial role during certain time.

Then came the initiative of Direct Flight from Kuwait – Goa – Kuwait. It was Vincente D’souza again who started this move. When he and his association “Kuwait Goans” found it difficult to carry the burden, he requested my help and I joined him, another strong Goan Avertano Furtado supported. To raise funds to do expenses to attain this flight, under my leadership a Tiatro written and directed by Vincy was staged in the Church Hall. All the Tiatrists for my word acted free of charge and a good amount was collected. In this move again none of the NRI awardees took the leadership nor participated actively.

Then came another big event in the history of expatriate Goans when about 25 years back I initiated and formed Kuwait Konknni Kendr for the promotion of Konkani cause. Best of available Kuwait Goans were involved in this organization as members but never the current NRI awardees because they did not rise up to the expectation of fulfilling the aspirations of Konkani activities. Konkani is the soul of Goa and those who support Konkani, in the words of Faleiro support the real cause of Goa.

Then again thru the initiative of Vincente D’Souza Goan Welfare Society was formed where again I gave him a strong support and thru this strong support Goan Welfare Society GWS was stabilized in Kuwait. Here again none of the current NRI awardees came forward to give leadership to form this organization nor even a helping hand though one of them was with his gang of destructive elements trying to sabotage Vincente D’Souza’s move in forming this organization. This gang, in one of the meetings at Ramada Hotel showed to the public how destructive Goans they were. If it was not for my involvement, there would have been free for all, in which case, the ring leader would have been assaulted as he was once assaulted by his own student when he was working as PT Master in the school at Assolna.

To be concluded in Part - II

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.