MY BROTHER'S CONTRIBUTION IN THE VILLAGE.

Not even a week is finished since my brother expired but the few crooks especially those politicians involved in the running of the village affairs have started applauding his death because they felt the road to their goal is clear now. What goal is that?  It is the goal of looting the village. My brother being a product of yesteryear Goan culture and tradition having best of qualities in public life was an obstacle for these political rascals who are all out to destroy our beautiful village.  The main rascal is the one who is leading the team of robbers and crooks and who is using the political platform given by the public to do good for the villagers but this bloody rascal using the same public office to take his personal revenge against those who are opposing him. This bloody Ghantti who is a settler in our village is using even threatening language saying he is capable of using ‘SUPARI” force to liquidate anyone opposing him.  His Padri brother must bring him to his senses because he is still a kid. After using Supari force where he will go?  In the jungle for good?  This bloody “kalcho porcho potto” who got root in Ghanttar is preaching us the original locals must be very careful. I am meantime informing to the authorities concerned that if anything untoward happens to any of the locals he should be blamed first. 

This Ghantti leader of our village is on record to coax my brother begging with him with folded hands “not to come for the village meetings and whatever questions my brother has he will solve”.  This begging he was doing because my brother was working for the cause of village  and villagers whereas this bloody adopted villager and naturalized citizen of our village is not interested in the village and villagers but only in himself.  It must be probed how he built his such a mighty business empire within a short time.  What is his income per month?  He is a big shame on his Padri brother. He was once even offering a blank cheque to my brother to keep his mouth shut in the public meet because otherwise he would get exposed.  My brother is not a man who will shake with these type of lollipops. He is the real son of his real father and not a Bastard like those who are acting as crooks.

In our Village there is a “Mandd” that pays its dead member Rupees 50,000/- (fifty thousand).  When my brother died, the officials of the Mandd came to my brother’s place with this money but both his children son and daughter refused to accept sayng their father told them not to accept this money instead give this 50,000 rupees either to the poor people or to any organization looking after the needs of the poor.  This is the first time in the history of Mandd which is in existence since a century back that such an incident has occurred. He was not a rich man but would not bow down before money. He had an unique distinction of stopping one local Panch member from extorting one Shop costing lakhs of rupees from the owners of that building in exchange of giving license for the building.  These are the ways for these bloody Panchas and Sarpanchas to mint money by extorting bribe from the people when they are not supposed to do this. And this Panch who was demanding one Shop is also not from our village, his roots are outside our village.

It is my request to all who are involved in corruption please change your mind and for God sake do not go for personal revenge.  Please note that revenge beget Revenge.  You our local leaders have still to grow.  Becoming a Sarpanch, Panch, MLA or Club President will not be something extra ordinary.  During my days I have rejected these positions because I found nothing supreme in them. These positions are good to loot and they are cheap pleasures and assets of the cheap and intellectually bankrupt people. Also, of many of the poverty stricken persons fpr  them to make fast money.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

DEATH OF MY BROTHER KNOWN AS CHEDDO.

Thursday 24th of this month was the very horrible day for  me because at J M J Hospital Porvorim, at 2.00 PM my eldest brother popularly known as Cheddo got a massive heart attack when undergoing treatment for some other ailment in that hospital. He was 83 and retired from Goa Police – Panjim, in a Technical Division.  

At his residence

He was a public figure in my village and had a great wish to fight for the downtrodden and weak.  He was very active in the local affairs namely in Panchayat during the Gram Saba Meetings, at Mandd, in the Church and elsewhere. Fighting for justice and right is his forte. Some of the local politicians were even trying to bribe him to prevent him from raising important issues but he was adamant and never submitted because in such matters he was most upright.  He helped so many people to get their work done but never accepted anything in return.   He fought vigorously against injustice in our village. In the last Assembly Election, he totally supported Michael Lobo even going with him house to house for canvassing as he was a firm supporter of Lobo. Many of those who enjoyed his support did not even see him in the hospital when he was sick there,of course unfortunately.

Local Pe. Vigar

He was an ace footballer playing for Goa Police since 1958 gaining name and fame when the word Cheddo means terror for opponents’ defenders and goalie as well. He could use his both the legs with equal ease but his right foot had better power and inspite of this fact, he had an unique distinction of scoring a goal from his left foot against the then mighty team Academica, from the Centre line on Candolim ground.  When he joined Goa Police he was a rare Goan player to get an opportunity to play along with the then mighty Pakle and Khapri players but because of his high calibre he succeeded and went on playing for longest period. Candolim is yet to produce another Cheddo.

His grand daughter on funeral oration

His other plus point is this that he was always a decent player not hurting nor playing rough, he was a speedy centre forward.  For one mighty team of Candolim in late sixties we all three brothers played together, the other brother of mine was the late Josemarie of Sesa.

Abut  15 days before the Opinion Poll he went to Bhopal along with the Goa Polce team to participate in the all India Police tournament held at Bhopal.  While playing against Maharastra he scored two beautiful goals and played very well. Immdiately after the final whistle, the Team manager of Maharastra a ranking Police Oficer  told my brother now not to go back to Goa but come with them to Bombay as they want to induct him in their team since after 2 weeks Goa will be surely merged officially with Mharastra, as per the intelligence report. When my brother said no, the Maharastrian Officer laughed at my brother saying even if you refuse now we will legally bring you to Maharastra after 15 days when Goa surely will be a part of Maharastra.  

May his soul rest in peace AND may the Heavenly God give courage for his both the children Conny and Muller,  grand children, brothers and sisters and all other family members to bear this loss.

A.Veronica Fernandes.