CHURCHIL ALEMAO AND KUWAITKARS.
16th of this month in Goa our South Goa Member of Parliament Churchill
Alemao celebrated his 57th birthday with pomp, all wishing him A Happy
Birthday. Though belatedly yet rightly on behalf of all my like minded
Goans in Kuwait I wish Churchill Alemao all the best. Kuwait Goans and
Churchill Alemao has got especial bond since the time of language agitation.
Much before Churchill Alemao came into limelight, Kuwait Goans initiated
and promoted the Konkani Language movement which finally culminated into the
recognition of Konkani Language and grant of Statehood for Goa otherwise if
Goa was not made a state that time thanks to Rajiv Ghandis initiative
Goa would be still under the threat of merger with Maharastra and with the
current increase in non-Goans in Goa this issue of statehood for Goa would
be more distant. Churchill Alemao played a very stellar role in the
promotion of language issue, we Kuwaitkars did what we could do within our
own capacity but our brothers and sisters in Goa did much more than what we
did from Kuwait and they along with Churchill Alemao deserve many
compliments. During the language agitation there was warrant on Churchill
Alemao and there was also an order to shoot him if he is found visible, as
per the news leaked then. In view of this, poor Chuchill Alemao had to
spend about a month hiding underground. Rane was anxiously wanted to arrest
him or to kill him because of his heavy push that he was giving for the
struggle towards Konkani cause in the agitation that was spearheaded by
Churchill from his side. The Nagrivadis like Bhembres and Ximbres, Kelekars
and Kolekars, Shivdades and Judases, Borkars and Chorkars and Naiks and
others did only the talking job and issuing press releases but Churchill and
his Roman script Konkani colleagues practically took active part in the
agitation leading to the martyrdom of Romi Konknnivadis and thereby forcing
the Goa and Central Governments giving recognition to Konkani. Though that
recognition for Konkani was not to our full satisfaction yet we accepted it
that time since something was better than nothing and without this
recognition there would not have been granting of Statehood for Goa.
In recognition of his services for the cause of Konkani we Kuwaitkars under
Goa Cultural Association brought Churchill Alemao to Kuwait as guest of
honour for the Tiatro of late Rex de Bardez two years before the invasion of
Kuwait. Earlier as a Tarvotti Churchill Alemao landed in Kuwait and hence
Kuwait was not new to him. During this visit to Kuwait we introduced
Churchill Alemao to different segments of Goan communities and those who did
not know who this mighty man was they also came to know of him. His
speeches at Sour Ground, at Tiatro Hall and in another public meeting next
to the Church in Kuwait City were highly applauded by the people. Local
English Newspapers also highlighted his visit with bold capital letters and
he gained lot of recognition and prominence in Kuwait amongst the Goan
community in particular and expatriates in general. He was considered as
hero of downtrodden Goans working for Avertano Furtados Cateering business
when, he, in a public meeting fired Furtado and his Manager Oscar. When
Churchill came to know during his visit that Avertano Furtado as boss and
his Manager Oscar were harassing the Goan employees working under Furtado,
during his speech in the public meeting Churchill Alemao threatened Furtado
thus let me go back to Goa, I will show him, his upcoming Hotel project in
Cavelosim Beach I know how to deal with, this project of 10 crores I will
reach it to 20 crores. He is harassing our poor Goan boys? Avertano?? He
questioned. Referring to Oscar, Churchill asked sarcastically who is this
Oscar? Such Oscars came and gone so many, I dont care for this man.
Oscar boslo Foskar and thus concluded his fiery speech. At Sour Ground
he applauded Goans for organizing soccer games and tournaments but lamented
the construction of Fatorda Stadium within such a short time under the
supervision of the then sports minister and Churchills foe Monte Cruz.
Churchill even doubted the durability of this stadium but in reality till
this date the said stadium is still strong. During his speech for Rex
Tiatro, he urged the Goans not to send donations and financial assistance to
Goa for Konkani cause because he knew in the name of Konkani chor and
Bamtte developed in Goa who pocket a portion of our donations for their
personal benefits.
Most interesting incident that took place during his trip to Kuwait was just
before the starting of public meeting scheduled in the Church Hall (small).
We took the permission from the then Maltese Bishop of Kuwait Monsg. Frances
Mechallef. Hall, chairs and table arranged for the meeting. It was
scheduled after the Thursday 6.30 P.M. Mass. People after the mass in good
number started entering the meeting hall, I was leading Churchill to the
Hall from the main front gate. Suddenly from nowhere like a mad man Bishop
Frances Mechallef comes and tells that NO MEETING. I dont allow to hold
this meeting of a terrorist. When questioned to prove Churchill a
terrorist, like an idiot of Roman Catholic Church, Bishop remained silent by
putting us out of the track and turning our programme into a fiasco. Then I
said to my colleagues to hell with this Bishop and immediately arranged a
sufficient place at one Goan couples residence next to the Church where in
their compound we could accommodate around 50 60 people however, with
about 100 people we finally organized the scheduled meeting very
successfully.
Next day, Churchill called me from my office and requested me to stay away
from my office during the whole afternoon shift to write a full review of
his visit to Kuwait. Since I liked him very much for his enormous
contribution in the promotion and recognition of Konkani language, I did
what he needed from me and on the strength of this review which was
published in Goa, Churchill truly gained a very good limelight which really
enhanced his reputation in public life and promoted his political career.
This was the need of the hour then for him. It was like a gift of Kuwaitkars
to Churchill Alemao then.
About cancelling his meeting in the Church hall and calling him a terrorist
by the Bishop of Kuwait Monsg. Mechallef, after my investigation I came to
know that Bishop had some Goan chamchas to feed him of any information.
These chamchas were and are fit for nothing in society, their empire is only
the Church and by involving in the church affairs they destroy good
reputation of the community. It is this group of people who are tarnishing
the fair image of our Church, their motive is not to serve God but at Church
cost derive ulterior benefits for them. Many of them are sinful Catholics
and rejected in society and since Church venue is good for such people to
gain limelight, they involve in Church affairs. During the period of former
Bishop, Frances Mechallef, the prestige and dignity of our Church gone down.
Because of his sancristianisation of the Church many of the fervent
Catholics left Catholicsm and embraced other denominations. Bishop
Mechallef was a very weak administrator and because I associated thickly
with Churchill Alemao during his the then visit to Kuwait, Bishop Mechallef
looked at me with disdain and somehow or the other he disliked my writings
especially what I wrote in this forum. Even the residence and visiting
priest were reprimanded and harassed and punished by him if they came in
contact with me. So much so even the Chief of Carmelites in Mangalore was
told ill of me. When I think of all these events, I say to hell with these
Carmelites and Bishop Mechallef. He did not solve my question when I asked
where the money of the Church collection going? Why it was not declared
openly in the Church as it is done everywhere?" The most disgraceful and
satanic stance of Bishop Mechallef was this: Since I was non-stopable in my
writings which were reaching even to Vatican and hurting his misdeeds,
somebody from his chamcha politburo, a Mangalorean guy as informed to me,
suggested to physically assault me. But surprisingly Bishop did not utter a
single word to stop such a threat. As a holy man he should have spoken
against such threats but he did not. This is the quality of many of the
Bishops and Priests in the Catholic Church.
Happy Birthday to you Churchill Alemao.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
_________________________________________________________________
FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar - get it now!
http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/
_____________________________________________
Do not post admin requests to the list.
Goanet mailing list ([email protected])
