THE DEATH AND FUNERAL OF EX-KUWAIT GOAN - MR. EVARISTO FERNANDES.

With deep regret and  chagrin I write this piece to express my sorrow over the untimely death of our friend  and colleague Evaristo Fernandes on 19th of this month in Goa.  

The late Evaristo became my friend when I first met him at St. Xaviers College Mapsa strating our college education.  He finished hs SSC thru Monte de Guirim and me tru St. Jseph’s High Schol Arpora .

At his residence

Then in 1975 when we both migrated to Kuwait, we fortified our friendship further. A few months earlier than me he came to Kuwait and started his social and spiritual work and after I landed in Kuwait he inducted me in one of the church organized groups “Legion o Mary”.    

His son-wife-daughter

Then when I started my first movement in kuwait for the cause of Konkani, starting first the Novem Goem fund collection, he was my close colleague in this movement himself being one of the members of the executive committee. He has later on helped me to establish Kuwait Konknni Kendr  being its founder member.

First row family members in the Church at Pomburba

Then every activity of mine he was with me both in supporting financially and lending his intellectual advices as he was highly intellectual and literate man.  Men of his intellectual caliber are very rare in Kuwait and I was fortunate to be blessed by God with the companionship of our late Evaristo Fernandes.  

People seen in the Church

We stayed together in Kuwait city for about 15 years in the same Flat of 2 independent rooms from where I organized so many activities.  Because of this house I managed to keep at my place so many visitors coming to Kuwait, most of them the visiting Tiatrists, males and females as well.

Choir singers in the Church

 During the period of invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein of Iraq, especially during the first 4 days when the invading troops were in Kuwait, we both suffered a lot of harassment,  both mental and physical.  My suffering was beyond imagination because of my journalism since Saddam Hussein’s regime do not tolerate intellectual class of people. They tortured me more especially mentally to get some information of Kuwait and India too. 

Bro. Cajetan Fernandes doing the reading

Then we came to Goa thru repatriation and as decision was taken by me in Kuwait on the very first day of the invasion of Kuwait to organize a movement in Goa in support of Kuwait and against Iraq, with his strong support for my decision, Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center was formed.  Evaristo  was an integral part of this organization both as an adviser and also as a participant.

His son Aristotle on funeral oration

Tough he was not much vocal yet many times in the public meetings he raised the issues of Goan interest. When in early 1975 Dr. Vaidya came to Kuwait from Goa to collect funds for the establishment of Goa Cancer Hospital Society, Evaristo asked Dr.Vaidha the following question: 

Parish Priest Fr. Diogo D'souza

When Bandodcar was alive, he gave full patronage to Asilo Hospital situated at Mapusa Bardez because Bardez was the strong citadel of MGP while  Hospicio Hospital in MARGAO Salcette, being in the UGP citadel refused to give even the  the bare minimum. In view of this what role this Hospital  will play when this Hospital put into operation?

Band in attendance

Among the Goans in Kuwait he was highly read Goan and he could quote best of quotes of many of the world’s renowned authors either from Renaicence period, ancient period or mediavel period or from any period.  Philosphy was his very favourite subject and when he was in Kuwait he was  thinking to go to France to join Sorbonne.   

Cemetry

As a human being he is a very good man with very good character and very helpful for any person in trouble. As a Goan, he was the genuine Goan patriot having great love for Goa, Konkani, Goan Culture, tradition and folklore. Personally he was a great help to me in furthering my activities for the goan causes.  In his death I lost a great friend and a colleague.  May his soul rest in peace and may the Heavenly father give courage to his wife and three children (2 daughters and  a son) to bear this colossal loss. 

                         HIS COLLEAGUES IN kkk:Xavier-Elvino-Veronica-Marcus-Mario


A.Veronica Fernandes.

NEW TIATRO "FOREVER YOURS" BY MILAGRES DE CHANDOR.

On Saturday, the 19^th of this month,  I saw the new Tiatro “FOREVER YOURS”, written and directed by the well known director Milagres de Chandor starting at 3.20 PM at Kala Academy Hall, Panjim, attended by a good number of attendees. The cast most of them was new but very encouraging and  good in their acting and singing too.   Many of them were youthful both males and females.

The main story of the play was beautiful where it indicates the power of the love of a young girl who for the  sake of her love to her boyfriend she does great sacrifices till her death. How she does this one has to see by watching this tiatro Forever Yours.

Though the songs in the Side-Show were  good yet some more push was needed to create excitement in the hall among the audience.

The scenes were very beautiful especially the Helicopter, Boat and vehicle.  It shows the artistic mind of the director.

The comedy part was much below the normal level where too much vulgarity was shown even forcing some attendees to leave the hall in between. I hope the director and even some senior artistes will act fast to change the vulgarity part of the comedy.

A.Veronica Fernanndes.

CONGRESS NEEDS STRONG LEADERSHIP.

Referring to the latest results of the Election in Kanataka, I admire the BJP for winning the greater number of seats in this election over the Congress. Though it was a hard fact that BJP won more seats yet BJP must not feel that everywhere in India it will be a BJP wave.  Karnataka is not India though Congress is not flawless.  If today and yesterday BJP gained the foothold in some parts of India including in the otherwise citadels of Congress, it was not because of the plus points of BJP but because of the extremely minus points of Congress.  And if this trend is not stopped by Congress and take the corrective steps to revive its prospects in the coming elections, I am sure Congress will be totally wiped out of India.

The major defect of the Congress is its weak leadership. Rahul Gandhi is not Nehru nor Indira, he cannot withstand the fury of Modi on the public platform. The Congressmen if they still feel that the name of Gandhi should be a prefix or suffix to the Congress leadership then they are sadly mistaken.  Without the prefix and suffix of Gandhi, the Janata Party ruled India and BJP is still ruling since last so many years.  The myth of Nehru and Gandhi names has lost its value, Congress ruled India for so many years after the independence but never eradicated poverty, caste system and communalism.

In Goa under the new leadership, Congress must now only take the stock of their situation and be ready to face the coming election even by preparing the likely election contestants. Otherwise posterity will hold Congress responsible for giving Goa on silver platter to Communal and corrupt forces to destroy Goa totally. As it is the current politicians especially from the ruling faction are on hunt to use maximum benefits for them to loot and rob Goa, they have no shame because they are shameless, they have no self respect nor dignity, some of them are so stupid that they will come to you only once before the election to beg for your vote or to purchase your vote because they have ample of money which they accumulated thru unfair means.

It is a long time now since Goa’s administration is run by ghosts without the regular Chief Minister. He is treated like Pele the Brazilian soccer wizard that is, during his hey days it was said that Pele has no replacement because Pele was the genius which could not be replaced by any other player. It looks Parricar is also reached to that stage of a genius but in reality Parricar is a fake genius. 

      

A.Veronica Fernandes.