Mr. Cincinatus Fabian D’ Abreu (1862-1929) Anyone who has been to Karachi, Pakistan must have seen the township called Cincinatus Town. Cincinatus was born in Goa on 24th September 1862. His father Manuel D’Abreu from Abreu-vaddo, Saligao probably has been the first Saligaokar to migrate to Sind in 1846, three years after the conquest of that province by the British.
Cincinatus was educated at St. Patrick’s High School, Karachi. However he had to discontinue his studies at the age of 16 and seek a job to earn his living on account of the unfortunate death of his father. At that early age he was first employed by the Civil and Military Gazette Press as a Clerk and after two years joined the well known English business establishment of Messr. Forbes, Forbes and Campbell, dabbling in the Import-Exchange business. In 1889 at the age of 27 he joined the Sind Commissioner’s office as an ordinary clerk. In 1895 he was promoted to the high position of Assistant Collector of Sukur and finally was elected President of the Municipality. In 1897 he came to Karachi where he occupied various posts such as Assistant Collector of Customs and Salt and Shipping Master. He had a brilliant record of service so much so he was appointed Acting Collector of Customs on two occasions. In 1917 he retired from service and devoted himself to various activities. He had helped the community in founding a colony which have been named after him in recognition of his services. He was instrumental in starting the Karachi Goan Association whose stately building shall ever stand as a monument of his patriotic zeal. He was one of those who started the Indian Flour Mills, the Union Press and above all Indian Life Assurance Co. Ltd., of which he was the Secretary for many years. He was also one of the directors of the Karachi Building and Development Co. Ltd. He was a Councilor of Karachi Municipality for many years and made a remarkable contribution to the civic life of Karachi. He was held with great respect not only by his own countrymen but also by the people of Karachi who chose him among the 12 leading citizens of Sind. Thus honoured by all he breathed his last on 25th January 1929. As reported by London Times, the members of his community paid grateful homage to him, by carrying his coffin in relays from the Church to the Cemetery. Owing to Cincinatus D’Abreu, a number of people from Saligao subsequently migrated to Sind which was then a part of Bombay Province and settled in Karachi and have done well in life for themselves in that country like the Vazes from Donvaddo, De Mellos and Sequeiras of Sonarbhatt and Sequeira-vaddo and the Saldanhas of D’Mello-vaddo. His portrait depicts him as bald headed, with enquiring and penetrative eyes in a round faced frame with a black flowing beard and attentive ears. Finally a person of serious nature and upright character. Fr. Nascimento Mascarenhas. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--W-E-B--S-I-T-E--=-=-=-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from Saligaonet | http://www.goacom.com/saligao_tinto/ ============================================================================ * Send e=mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] (NOT [EMAIL PROTECTED]) * Leave SUBJECT blank <--- Commom Mistake !! * On first line of the BODY of your message, type: subscribe saligaonet YOUR.EMAIL OR unsubscribe saligaonet YOUR.EMAIL Questions/Problems? Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
