The newly installed Abe Faria's Statue in Candolim
Where every past
Calangute Constituency MLA failed the current MLA Michael Lobo succeeded in
installing the Statue of Abade de Faria in his birth place Candolim. Kudos to
Michael Lobo for making efforts to get this job done and shame on all his predecessors
for being impotent in doing this job
even though some of them were in the ruling party. However, if it was installed
in Pintos Vaddo itself where Faria was born 260 years ago, it would be nice. I don’t
know who selected the present site and why the locals were not consulted. However, inspite
of this goof, I also say kudos to the local Panchayat headed by the current
Sarpanch Sandra who has woken up to help this job done while all her
predecessors remained dormant, of course shamelessly.
The local Pe. Vigar Colaco is seen blessing the tatue
If I am not mistaken,
it was Goa Governor Nakul Sen in mid sixties who while inaugurating the Candolim
Panchayat Ghar, exclaimed in a surprise tone thus: “Oh my goodness, on what
soil I am standing now! The soil that gave birth to one of the greatest human beings of this planet, Abe Faria. I feel honoured to be present in Faria’s
birth place, Candolim. I congratulate you who gathered here to be the citizens
of this village of Abe Faria”. This was the surprise expression of a
Bengali Sen when he came to know at the
last minute that this village gave birth to Abe Faria.
A section of the attendees seen attending the Meet
In Kuwait while I was
addressing the international gathering comprising elite background, I was asked
where I come from by a western member of the audience. I replied saying “I come
from the place and the village that gave birth to the world renowned Hypnotist
Abe Faria”. Hearing this some in the audience got up and applauded me for being
a Goan from Abe Faria’s village.
Michael Lobo is seen unveiling the Picture
Abe Faria though
revered outside Goa yet remained a forgotten hero in his own place and village
where there are Ladru-Pedru type of people handling the local affairs. Otherwise this Statue would come out long time back. To do this type of great job you need intellectual people in your local administration and not those having the background of domestics Ladru -Pedru. Thanks to the efforts of Michael Lobo otherwise
this Statue would remain a distant dream. The “Chors” who looted the village of
Abe Faria never thought of keeping his memory alive.
Tomazinho Cardoso seen addressing the Meet.
The Statue was
inaugurated thru the hands of Tomazinho Cardoso in the presence of Michael
Lobo, local Pe. Vigar and others.
Police Band is in attendance
During this function,
one picture depicting three Candolim Tiatrists namely the late Alexinho de Candolim,
Tomazinho Cardoso & the late Young Menezes was also unveiled. Goa is yet to produce the likes of Alexinho de Candolim and Young Menezes though they died a long time back. According to my view, Goa is unlikely to produce again such a duo.
Director General of Police seen addressing the Meet
Excellent speeches on
Abe Faria were delivered by the intellectually giant speakers namely Isabela
Santa Rita Vaz, Dr. Hegde and Director General of Police who researched Abe
Faria’s life so well. Their speeches were very appropriately focused on the subject of the function based only on Abe
Faria without diverting cheaply elsewhere. It was their great speeches that brought the level of the function to the pedestal befitting the grandeur of Abe Faria.
Isabela Santa Rita Vas seen above
In my recently published book “From Coconut Trees
to Oil Wells” I made a great deal of mention of Abe Faria. I am sure those who read my book must have noticed this. Additionally, I
wrote a few articles earlier requesting the concerned people to erect the Statue of Abe
Faria in Candolim. I am finally happy that the statue has been installed.
Seen above is Dr. Hegde
Michael Lobo addressing the gathering
Local Sarpanch Sandra seen above
A. Veronica Fernandes.
