THE DEATH OF GREAT KONKANI MOGUI GURUNATH KELEKAR.-

 

        The death on one of the greatest Konkani Promoters  Shri Gurunath Kelekar on Tuesday midnight at 3.30 am, was a terrible blow on Konkani because he was also a great movement maker for the cause of Konkani.  His greatest movement single handedly by collecting   about 10 Goans in the name of Konkani and formed a Trust and floated a movement called NOVEM GOEM PRSTISHTHAN, this was his great achievement.   Thru this movement NGP and other Konkani lovers about 42 years ago,  walked all over Goa for  almost a month covering every part of  Goa  organising public meetings and collecting funds for the establishment of One Konkani Daily Newspaper in 2 Scripts.

 

               According to the Constitution of NGP which was framed by all the Trustees whose knowledge with the exception of Gurunath Kelekar, of handling the work of Printing and Press was not much,  they said Roman Script Daily will be released first once the collection reaches to one lakh of Rupees  and the Nagri Script will be released  later when the collection reaches to 5 lakhs of Rupees.

 

               In Kuwait I took the responsibility to organise this movement  and for this purpose we joined together and formed a Committee under NGP Kuwait Somiti under the Chairmanship of one highly influential Konkani lover and a senior member of Goan community in Kuwait Mr. A.B. Fernandes.  We organised two Tiatros and from individuals we alone collected a little less than 5 Lakhs of Rupees which as per our decision we sent it to NGP-Goa which was headed by Mrs. Sara Machado with the assistance of  Dr. F.M. Rebello, Gurunath Kelekar and others. Besides, money came from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, from Goa itself and elsewhere in the other parts of Gulf and very little from the West.  The highest donation came from Kuwait Goans making the position of NGP  very comfortable to fulfil its obligation.  The Roman script daily came out and after a few years collapsed while Nagri script appeared sporadically.  People held Kelekar and Dr. Rebello main culprits for this great calamity but Kkelekar said he  was not responsible for the disaster of NGP.  Then who was responsible?

With this  experiment we came to know how unreliable our Konkani Mogui in Goa acted.  Even when we provided them all what they wanted they failed us and more than that  they failed the Konkani movement.

Gurunath Kelekar as I knew him by closely associating with him, he was  a man of knowledge and wisdom, his study of public feelings and mood was mostly right and as an editor and writer his writings are worth admiring.  I was his Kuwait correspondent for the weekly Goencho  Mog and learnt a lot from him.  Though I was deeply hurt when NGP  failed us yet I am grateful to him.  May his soul rest in peace and may God give courage to his children to bear this great loss.

A.Veronica Fernandes. 

HOW TO FIGHT BJP IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

 ·         Besides BJP is there any other political party  capable to create its  impact in the coming election in Goa?  I am sure even the most stupid  man will say No political party is capable, only the BJP will rule Goa if BJP is not confronted in the next general election in Goa with the mighty power entrusted into the hands of all the non-BJP political parties and groups who are all in favour of dethroning the BJP from the political power by swaying their votes away from them.     

 

Every political party is issuing statements in favour of wresting political power from the BJP Government because every political  party  has realised that BJP is misusing its authority and creating ways and means to foment disorder in Goa.  The Police force is become so corrupt under BJP that it has acquired not Salazarian cruelty but worse than that of Hitlerian and as an evidence of the brutalities the dastardliest Policemen of Goa under the BJP has trampled with their heavy Boots on the stomachs and breasts of the women.  What   a disgrace it is !!  These Policemen must not think that the mischief that they have done against the females especially, will go unpunished, those women and those men who were harassed by the Policemen will be taught a very good lesson at an appropriate time and Viswajeet Rane being the local MLA surprisingly was not even taken into confidence before  taking such nasty actions.

 

When Viswajeet  Rane was sidestepped then why he as a shameless man still remained in  the Cabinet of Sawant?  If he was proud to be the son of that dignified Satari’s Rane clan and who challenged the Portuguese Government and besides if Viswajeet Rane Is the real son of his real father Pratsphsing Raoji Rane then he will fly his resignation on the face of CM of Goa, Sawant and with dignity withdraw. But this excuse should not absolve him from taking responsibility of all the ill happenings there.  He should bear the major responsibility of all  the  problems happened.  His insistence not to bow down before the people pleas turned him a Salazar.  During the Salazar regime the top officials had lot of discipline but surely not all the policemen. He is afraid now that the consequences of  what has happened  there was his responsibility. He would never relent in favour of locals’ demands but he did so because he got the feelings that his chances of regaining his  Seat in the next election are very slim. And if the people of Melauli are the real sons and daughters of their real fathers then they will surely vote out Viswajeet Rane.  So also, if the sons of those mothers who were trampled under their Boots by the Policemen are really the sons of those mothers then they will surely teach those Policemen a very good lesson at an appropriate time.

 

                                                                        However, now every one wants including all the non-BJP parties to defeat the BJP.  This is possible and POSSIBLE ONLY if all the non-BJP Political Parties join together under one Umbrella and field only one candidate in each constituency representing all the combined parties like what Jayprakash Narain did in 1977 when the Janata Party was formed to defeat the Indira Gandhi’s Congress and thru this process Janata got victory. 

 

                                                                            Otherwise, the second option is for all the non-BJP Political Parties and groups to come under one understanding and sharing all the 40  Candidate for one Constituency one candidate.  In this way the contest will be one against the other, that is one BJP contestant will fight against one common candidate from the combined opposition. In this way there is no room for splitting of votes of the Opposition. Other modalities can be worked out later. This should be our criteria to fight the next election to dethrone BJP otherwise no power on earth can shake BJP from capturing power.

 

                                                                                      In view of what I wrote above, I request all the BJP   Opposition parties that is non-BJP political parties to sacrifice something in order to defeat the BJP.  Don’t come out with your big-big theories with rosy logic  saying that you have your own identity which should be maintained and you also have your Delhi based Central High Command.  For this I say “go to hell with  your individuality and High Command in Delhi or in the Hell, it is not your High Command that elects you but we the people of Goa and whatever is our wish it has to be done.  What is good for us in Goa we know better and not your High Command.  We must warn the Congress, AAP and other partis who got High Command beyond the borders of Goa to toe the path we are choosing in Goa and by following this path alone BJP could be defeated.  Otherwise it will be proved  beyond doubt that those who are going ahead on their own they will be “B” Teams of BJP and they will field their own candidates only to bring BJP back to power.  For such parties and their candidates we must not allow to get any votes.  They will be treated as enemies of the people of Goans.

                                    

                                                                                      Since this is going to be an important election for us the Goa lover Goans we as true Goans must work to bring about fusion of all Non-BJP parties and we must not  support any Independente Candidate whose job will be to split the anti-BJP Votes.

 

A.Veronica Fernandes

NEW UTUBE SONG OF EDWIN D'COSTA.

 

Edwin D’Costa a very well known singer in Konkani since recently is creating waves by composing songs on the very fresh topics.  His latest song “Sancoale Kitem chollam” on U-Tube, on the recent incident occurred in Sancoale when some deeply communal minded locals whose roots I am sure are in our  neighbouring areas where lot of communal violence is known to have happened.  These communal minded people from beyond our Goa border cannot bear to see the existence of centuries old communal harmony existing in Goa because of the 451 years of Portuguese rule where residents were disciplined to live amicably and peacefully,  Besides almost equal number OF years  of Christianity existing in Goa and both these Portuguese rule and Christianity going parallel to each other there created a strong peaceful fusion between Christians and Hindus and going a bit further even with Muslims.  This closeness of these communities especially of Hindus and Christians of which type nowhere else is seen now in any other part of India, this closeness has  created  an envy into the minds of some rascals who are enemies of Bharat and as such I dub them  as anti-Indians.  In fact these type of hard core communal elements pose a  big  danger for India and its sovereignty, these are the people who are more dangerous  for India, they will go even to the extent of splitting India still further in the name of religious fanaticism.  The real danger for India is not China and Pakistan but  these hard core communal Indians who think Bharat that is India is their fathers’ property and they alone and their co-religionists meaning Hindus must enjoy the benefits and privileges of India.  

 

      Soon after the invasion of Goa by the Chor Nehru’s Government on 19.12.61 who robbed our Goa in front of our own eyes, that is within a few hours of Indian Military took the possession of Portuguese citadel of Aguada, some of the hard core communal minded Hindus took to the streets in our side gathering at our village Tinto and shouting slogans not only against Portugal  but also shouted slogans against Christians and Christianity saying “we will send all the Christians who are pro-Portugal,  back to Portugal and further saying Goa belongs only to Hindus as it was indicated in the name called India which means the land for Hindus where others should not have any place and as such all the Christians must be sent back to Portugal.  See these bloody illiterate Hindus whose knowledge of Marathi language in Marathi Xalla was only upto V standard but with this limited knowledge they tried to do their research which was totally fallacious.   One of them a Xeth – Goldsmith Shamba was asking me directly  “ Tumcho Forsulo khuim ghelo re atam?” He was referring to St. Francis Xavier asking me why he could not stop Indian invasion of Goa now and even calling him in  such a derogatory manner as “Forsulo” for such a Saintly Spanish Jesuit Priest who was called the patron Saint of Goa and who is not even from Portugal ?  However,  all  the Xambas  were under the impression that St. Francis Xavier was a Portuguese.  Then after some time another fanatic Hindu Balkrishnan by name similarly asked me “Tumcho Antulo khuim nidlo re atam, tachean kainch korunk zalena mure Portuguesank rakhpak hangache’.  They indicated their total hatred for Portugal and in the bargain for Goan Christians too. In fact there were innumerable Christian Freedom Fighters whose contribution for the Goa’s freedom was much-much higher than our enemies think.  Goan Parliamentarian in Portuguese Parliament from Salcette Constituency and hailing from Navelim had the unique distinction of asking from the Portuguese Parliament forcefully independence for Goa and from there moving a bit further he asked other colonialists to surrender from India and hand over our land into our hands, he demanded independence for INDIA much before the Nehrus and Gandhis were born. Goan Christians were more patriotic to their  land and they fought for this cause only because they were more patriotic and not to spread communalism and not to make Goa a fanatic Hindu citadel. And by the way what about the Hindu “Cheddio” from Candolim who were serving the sex life of the PORTUGUESE PAKLES from Aguada and who were all CHRISTIANS?  And to those who are still thinking of sending back to Portugal the Christian Goans, they must better talk something sensible.  Nobody can send the Christian back to Portugal, to use the word as “back” is the most stupid thing because Goan Christians are not come from Portugal to send them back.  Goan Christians are as original and genuine as any other Goan and furthermore, according to the “Xamaecheo Kannio” they are the true sons and the true daughters of Goa because they preferred to suffer the persecution of Portugal and conversion of St. Francis Xavier but never opted to  leave Goa for anywhere either in India or out of India in the name of their religion. Goan Christians were the real sons and dughters of their real fathers and because they are so, they preferred to accept the conversion that was  in many cases imposed on them but would remain attached to their land, Goan Christian  preferred to leave their original religion but never preferred to leave their original land.  We know who were the Goans who left Goa and settled  elsewhere in order to protect their religion. The greatness of Goan Christians since time immemorial lies in their faithfulness to their land.   Even by residing and settling down in other countries because of jobs they always supported the good causes in the land of their fathers and forefathers.

 

           Coming back to the topic of Sancoale which is the hot topic in Goa drawing lot of interest among Goans and because it is so, as usual one of the topmost Goan singers who is based at UAE in the Gulf released on U-Tube his song “Sancoale Kitem chollam” regarding which the singer and composer  said “My fastest composed song on Sancoale Pooja”. Yes it is fastest composed song for which Edwinbab carry compliments but he must know one thing that it is Not THE fastest composed song.  When one judges the greatness of this song one sees its quality, grandeur of composition, quality of the words and their suitability, its rimings and its musical score but nowhere its speed of composition comes.

 

As a matter of interest I noticed in my life a few singers are gifted with the GOD’s gift of composing songs in the fastest time. M.BOYER was known to have composed fast songs and his one of the all time best songs on the Alitalia Plane crash in mid sixties coming from Bangkok to St. Cruz Bombay for landing within 4 minutes but before that only it crashed making M. Boyer to sing one penultimate  line as “Cotta Bombay denvpachem Plane dongraruch denvlem konnakuch zalena favo”.  The Plane crashed during the midnight flight  the detailed news of it was brought  by the Times of India Bombay  edition and after reading it early in the morning, M. Boyer composed that song immediately and rendered it at 7.30 pm at Bangwaddi Hall on the same day surprising every one attending the Tiatro there.  Regarding  Young Menezes I already wrote last time how fast he composed that most admirable and very rich in contents song on the death of Miguel Rod.  These composers namely M. Boyer and Young Menezes did not take  pleasure fighting against the timing but instead they put more stress on the quality of the songs and because it was so, their songs remained immortal. 

 

                       However, the fastest composer of Konkani songs was the late Rex de Bardez who could compose at the spur of the moment any song on any topic given to him by any member of the audience.

                       

                        Besides, there are many more but if I fail to mention the names of two great stalwarts, two great songsters  both with melodious voice namely the Dubai based my Calangute friend Remy (young) Fernandes and the Kuwait based the late Rosary Ferns from Colva.  Both of them were not only fast composers but also very beautiful songs composers and having very good  voices both were beautiful singers. Besides, they are both very good Playwrights writing many Tiatros on different topics.  If they had not been to the Gulf, in Goa they would be both number one.  Rosary Ferns details many times appeared in print media and Remy being my long time friend was very close to me having been my neighbour from Calangute.  As a young Tiatrist I saw his development from the beginning who was very popular in his locality where some of the local artistes males and females got opportunities to act in his Tiatros.

 

                                    While concluding, I must say congratulations to Bab Edwin D’Costa for his song  on “Sancoale Kitem Chollam” which appeared right in time and I am sure it will create a strong support for our community.  Let thru this song our opponents think that we are not going to be the silent specctators to the persecution that we are facing.

 

A.Veronica Fernandes.