Apa-lipa Gõychem Rajkaronn - by Fr. Teodosio Fernandes

Aile re aile,
Bikhari amchea
dharant aile
Kott’tti gheun
bhikek lagle
Kott’ttent tanchea
motam ghalun
lokhani amchea
amkanch naddle...

Aile re aile,
Nivddun aile
Donuch disanim
Kele tannim hole
Lokhani dil’lim
votam visorle
Apa-lipa khell
Khellunk lagle...

Kelem re kelem
Rajkaronn Gõychem
Kelem girgirem
Rajkarnant bhorlam
Bhirem choranchem
Montreak laglam
Pixem chorpachem
Gõy amchem
Chorun pavlam
Ordhe vattechem...

Uttat Gõykara
Nidentle uttat
Vot ghatloleank
Korinakat fatt
Ho vell zaun asa
Dokounk tankam vatt
Nodor tancher marat
Tanchi fatt zalea datt
Gorom udok ghalun
Kaddat tanchi kat..

-Fr. Teodosio Fernandes
Kuwait

Note:
Fr. Teodosio Fernandes is a Goan Carmelite priest based at Our Lady of Arabia Church, Ahmadi, Kuwait. He did his priestly studies at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore.


This is his first poem and he has written it on the sorry state of Goan politics.

Forwarded by gaspercrasto@hotmail.com

GREATNESS OF BIBLE.

Today being the 17th anniversary of the Invasion of Kuwait, the local Arab Times published the following I wrote to mark the invasion day of Kuwait. I am reproducing it for the Kranti readers.


GREATNESS OF BIBLE.

2nd August is the most memorable date in my life, it will never erase from my sane memory. It was on this date 17 years back, in 1990 on that fateful Thursday, Kuwait was invaded by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. I was caught in Kuwait City, at Maliya, next to the Police Station at 6.30 AM by the military personnel who had craggy faces, looked hungry for blood and used rough language. Though they looked foreign yet I could not believe that they were from Iraq and they have already occupied Kuwait. But unbelievable has finally became believable. Saddam Hussein’s Iraq has betrayed Kuwait by discarding all the norms of the civilized world and invaded Kuwait. Saddam Hussein’s Iraq by invading Kuwait went against the principles of UN, NAM, ARAB LEAGUE & OIC. All these organizations prohibit the use of force to settle bilateral disputes but Saddam Hussein did not care and took law into his own hands and did what in reality happened on 2nd August 1990. Kudos to Margaret Thatcher for awakening USA on the folly of this invasion and double kudos to USA under Baba Bush who got around him the entire world with the exception of few tin pot nations to fight against this invasion. The rest is history.

The residents residing in the heart of Kuwait City were the worst hit by the Iraqi soldiers' atrocities in one way or the other. Within 48 hours of the invasion poor Phillipinas went underground from Kuwait City. The invasion troop was stationed in Kuwait City for the first 4 days and during this period these soldiers armed with guns were forcibly coming to the flats of residents, not once a day but a number of times. And checking what? Nothing except ogling for females with lusty eyes. At my residence they were coming 6 times a day, thrice in the mornings and thrice in the afternoons, in threes, all equipped with guns. During these visits they were creating chills in my marrow especially when they were pulling me by my beard and making me stand in the Seating Room guarded by one soldier and the remaining two soldiers inside my bedroom checking all my books and other reading materials and sometimes asking some silly questions. Only once they showed softness when they came across on my table the latest issue of World Soccer Magazine from where they started seeing the latest pictures of the recently completed World Cup Italia 90, a month before the invasion.

Having no choice of averting this unwarranted mental torture, I tried to flee from my Flat but was afraid to leave because down on the ground floor of our building the Iraqi soldiers converted the area into a fortress. Hence, I surrendered to my fate. On 3rd Day in the afternoon, instead of me opening the door for their regular entry in my house, my colleague opened and I remained on the bed covering my face with a towel pretending to be fast asleep. When they entered, one of the three came straight in my room as if he knew my presence on the bed and also as if I am a sort of culprit, put the barrel of his gun towards my eyes and softly removed the towel. Seeing the barrel of the gun touching my eyes, I lost my sanity but at that particular moment before something worst could happen, next to my bed on the small table the same Iraqi soldier saw my Bible which I kept there and hid all other books under the bed in a box. Seeing this Bible the Iraqi soldier suddenly became pale and quietly withdrew back and along with him his other two colleagues left my residence and never returned back even on the remaining 4th day giving me the much needed peace.

Holy Book is the Holy Book. Bible is one of the Holy Books in which all the people of the Books believe and admit Its genuinness. It is a miraculous Book and it describes all the miracles and miraculous persons. In it not just written pages exist but in it the words of God exist. For this reason Bible and all other Holy Books help you in right direction and protect you from all evils. It protected me from the evil of Iraqi soldier. What would have been my fate if my Bible did not attract the attention of Iraqi soldier and prevented him from harming me bodily?

The greatness of Bible is so high that I have no words to express it yet I must confess that this is the only Book that is kept in the Moon. Bible is the only Book that is sold in bigger number than any other book in the world. Great French writer Voltaire tried his best to diminish the importance of Bible from this planet and he even went to the extent of issuing a statement saying that “one year after my death, nobody will read Bible turning it into dead stock”. Incidentally, and miraculously in 6 months only after the death of Voltaire the sale of Bible increased to such an extent, to such an extent, that to fulfill the needs of the increased Bible readers, Voltaire’s own house had to be converted into a Bible Printing and selling shop. This is the miracle of the Bible.

What was the most important lesson I learnt from the invasion of Kuwait? The first was to trust in God and He will guide and protect you. Rely on spiritualism. The second was never to rely on your brother though there may be some isolated incidents where one brother helped another but in most cases one brother after killing another brother replied to God "am I by brother's keeper?" During the invasion period I realised who is mine and who is not mine. During this period I also realised the real worth of Kuwait when almost all the expatriates left Kuwait saying "who wants Kuwait now?" During this period some of the very brothers of Kuwait who enjoyed benevolence of Kuwait instead of supporting Kuwait like Judas rejected Kuwait.It is during this time that Kuwait realised who was with Kuwait and who not. It was a lesson for all of us to know our brothers, sisters, husbands, friends and relatives.

Was invasion of Kuwait a punishment for our sins, arrogance and pride? Some accepted it openly while others silently. Why it had to happen to Kuwait only? Was there a God's hand into this? If yes, why did God punish Kuwait in this way? Was it because some of them treat expatriates rudely and badly in an inhuman way? Example: Powerless maids. Was it because many of the Kuwaitis boast of their money power without caring for God's commandments? In the invasion of Kuwait we expatriates lost materially while the loss of Kuwaitis was like the loss of a soul from human body. God forbid such incidents again. May God help Kuwait to keep its borders fortified from its enemies advances.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Safat, Kuwait

LIQUIDATE THE DEFECTORS.

LIQUIDATE THE DEFECTORS.

The first defection in Goa came during the second term of Dayananda Bandodkar ministry when 5 members of his ruling party MGP withdrew their support to Bandodkar Ministry. The revolt in MGP was initiated under the leadership of their stalwart Naik. As an opposition leader, Dr. Jack Sequeira immediately put his claim for the formation of his Ministry under UG. But Bandodkar was very sirud person, he already tasted power and would not lose it easily. To neutralize the rebel group under Naik, Bandodkar went with the begging bowl like a slave even thru his faithful MLA’s including Punaji Achrekar from Saligao with the promises of some benefits and facilities in their constituencies to some UG MLA’s and finally succeeded in acquiring to his side 5 UG MLA’s – 4 of them were Valente Sequeira from Calangute Constituency, Orlando Lobo Sequeira from Aldona, Elu Miranda from Benaulim and Abdul Razak from Vasco. At that time for defectors the bribe money was not in crores nor in lakhs but in thousands only plus development in their constituencies. Valente Sequeira though from Calangute constituency yet he got some developmental projects in his home village Candolim namely Electricity in the Village and also a Government Health Centre in Candolim. This Health Center was originally scheduled in Siolim but because of the defection of Valente Sequeira, Bandodkar gifted this Health Center to Candolim. Thru this defection, Bandodkar survived the vote of confidence in the Legislative Assembly.

The moment these five UG MLA’s defected to MGP, Dr. Jack Sequiera along with his other MLA’s organized public meetings in every constituency of the defectors of UG MLA’s to condemn and to explain to the voters the disgracefulness of their MLA’s. In Calangute while delivering his speech, Dr. Jack Sequeira even called the constituents to go to Valente’s house and catch him by his gotee beard and bring him out on the road and ask him why he defected to MG without people’s mandate. Here are the exact words of Dr. Sequeira in Konkani “ Kitem poitat re! Kiteak oguich assat re! Cholat re, Vochat re Valente hachea ghora and dhorat re tachea bokddeachea khaddak and haddat re taka bhair voddun ani vincharat taka konnache hukumen to MG partiek defect zalo tem”. While he was delivering his speech, Dr. Sequeira was constantly cheered by the huge crowd attending this meet at Calangute foot-ball ground. While this campaign was going on Valente Sequeira for the time being remained hiding out of fear for his life from the voters who voted him to power on UG symbol.

Now in Goa what we see is nothing but betrayal of voters trust by Churchill Alemao, Babush Monsurate, Reginald and others. Voters from Navelim, Taleigao and Curtorim must come on to the streets and hold public meetings to condemn openly the decision of Churchill, Reginaldo, Babush of joining hands with communal and anti-Christian party BJP. Churchill has no right to rob Navelim voters of their trust they reposed in him. Taking unilateral decision of supporting BJP is a political crime committed by Churchill and for this crime Navelim constituents must raise their voice very loudly and forcefully. Luizin Faleiro and Sardinha must now not see the things lying down. They must support the like minded voters and expose Churchill. Churchill is a restless man, to grab power he will do anything without any shame. He must not have the feelings that he is the godfather general of Goa to do what he wants. He is not fit to think what is good and what is bad for Goa and Goans. He may have gigantic physique and gigantic money power but surely he is having a mind of a pigmy. We cannot put the affairs of Goa into the hands of such cheap politicians. Navelkars and Curtorkars must come out openly and condemn the attitude of their MLA’s. Let Churchill, Reginaldo, Babush and others not think that we Goans are goats silently surrendering to the knives of the butchers. We Goans are capable of thinking what is good and what is bad for us. I am surprised how both Luizin and Sardinha are keeping their silence. It is their duty now to capitalize on the defects of Churchill and Reginaldo and make the constituents aware of the mischief their MLA’s are doing. Both these MLA’s were elected not to support communal and anti-Christian BJP. Earlier they were opposing Babush & Parrikar but now both are flirting with Babush and Parrikar without any shame. They must know that the mandate the people gave them is not to flirt with BJP and Babush to reintroduce the old Regional Plan.

I met a few Navelkars in Kuwait and discussed this topic with them. If they really love the greatness of their village and integrity of their constituency then they must call a meeting in Kuwait and condemn Churchill’s attitude. Navelim is a place of great parliamentarian Dr. Francis Luis Gomes who played clean political game and fought for the cause not only of Goa but also of India even from European soil. Churchill is a shame on Navelim and Dr. Gomes political integrity. Navelkars must know this. Because of Churchill’s greed for illicit power the entire Goa will go to dogs and Navelkars will be held responsible for this disaster of Goa. To save Goa from disaster, Navelkars must strongly condemn Churchill for duping the voters from Navelim. It is not enough to organize dance and soccer team in Kuwait on behalf of Navelim. I know many residents of Navelim in Kuwait are politically smart and because they are so they supported Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center movement in support of Kuwait so nicely in 1990 except few who are fit for nothing in life. Now they must come forward and condemn Churchill’s attitude of betraying their constituency with a Judas kiss.

I also urge the global Goans to take note of what is happening in Goa and raise their protests over the nasty happenings in Goa. I also call upon the organisers of Goa Day to voice their protest over the ugly happenings in Goa, otherwise Goa Day "ghalat dobean". If we do not take interest in our Goa and Goan affairs then what is the use of organising Goa Day? For show or for Tamasha? While Goa is burning we the expatriate Goans cannot remain as silent spectators. When Goa is burning with political fire put in by Parrikar – Churchill – Babush and others we cannot keep on fiddling with our Sitar like Emperor Nero. We as genuine Goans must rise to the occasion and express our views loudly and forcefully against the dirty game our Goan politicians are playing in Goa of course to the detriment of Goas. In a separate mail, I am writing to the BJP High Command asking them to stop Parrikar to play the game of a prostitute. I always had a very good opinion of Parrikar that he is a man of principle. But now I realized that for his benefits he will even mortgage his marbles. This is the quality of these dirty Bamonn and corrupt anti-Christian communal BJP men.

While concluding I call upon the Church leaders in their constituencies in Navelim, Curtorim, Taleigao and elsewhere to openly educate the Catholics in the Churches in their preachings the follies of their elected representatives. The defections and aligning with communal parties will lead to moral degradation and sins. Church leaders’ duty is to show the right path to the faithful and not the path of sins which our above mentioned politicians are prmoting. At this moment Church leaders must be bold enough to raise this issue in their sermons in the Church and not to silently accept immorality and sinful attitudes of our elected representatives. Church leaders cannot say that they cannot involve in political cleansing. In fact Church leaders are duty bound to correct the politically erring MLA’s. Cardinal Sin used Church Pulpit to change the whole political system in Philippine by destroying Ferdinand Marcus. Will our Church leaders use their Pulpit and Church power to liquidate the sinful and immoral politicians before they convert Goa into a sinful and immoral place? Do our Church leaders want our golden Goa known as “Udentichem Roma” converted into a "Udentichem" Brothel for committing sinful acts by the Catholic MLA’s and Christian politicians? Goa Church must ponder over this without delay.

Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.