JOHNY SURATKAL HUMILIATED.
On 22nd of this month, in Kuwait City, at Holy Family Cathedral, a Memorial
Service was held for the soul of the late John Mesquita Suratkal. The
Cathedral was filled with capacity faithfuls mainly the Mangaloreans dotted
with Goans. It was a rear respect for Johny Suratkals soul. That Johny
Suratkal deserve this respect and adoration is a sure fact because he has
done a lot in the service of Konkani community. He was a great Journalist,
Poet and an excellent Orator. His oratory had a great touch which no other
Mangalorean can emulate. His contribution for the cause of Konkani is
supreme and his involvement in the community development was excellent. A
man without anger, one could find on his face nothing but evergreen smile.
My contact with him came only after the invasion and liberation of Kuwait
though he knew me very well earlier. Though I was the first Goan from Kuwait
to highlight the activities of Mangaloreans in the Goan Press with bold
capital letters yet he always felt awkward to talk to me. Though he admired
all my writings in support of the unity of Goan and Mangalorean Konkanis yet
he was dumb to express his happiness over my decision in bringing both the
Konkani communities together. The first known person for me to come into
contact to bring about fusion of both the communities was Luis Rodrigues but
the first person who gave me strong support with high respect and dignity
was the late Johny Suratkal. We both together expressed our views in the
Press and in public meetings in support of unification of Konkani people. It
was great to associate with him because he was a clean, straight and sincere
person. He addressed almost all our public meetings where he proved to Goans
how Mangaloreans are closer to them though geographically they are
separated. He even acted in our dramas and proved to everyone how greatly
he was in love with Goans. He always supported Goan cause because he always
considered himself a part of Goan community. For me he was as much a
Mangalorean as a Goan. By mixing with us he inculcated lot of friendships
and closeness with Goans. He always felt at ease in our midst. He always
supported our cause of Konkani in Romi script and he even addressed one of
our meetings in support of recognition of Roman script Konkani. He always
patted us for supporting Konkani cause from Kuwait and was bold enough to
admit that because of the efforts of Goans Konkani was finally recognized by
the Sahitya Academy of India. Though he was writing Konkani in Kannada
script yet he was all out for the Romi Konkani and because of this script
division he said we should not be sectarian. For the cause of Konkani he
neglected many of his priorities including family needs. Normally when a
person fights an ideological battle with high principles and full of
dedication to the cause he happens to neglect his personal and family needs.
Lal Bahadur Shastri when he died, only a few hundred rupees were there in
his Bank account though he was the Premier of India and in which capacity he
could have minted money for him and his family. But Shastri did not do that
because he was a clean man devoted for the cause of Bharat. Mahatma Gandhi
gave his life for the cause of Bharat but in the bargain neglected his own
family especially childrens welfare. Great men sometimes found wanting in
taking care of the financial securities of their families.
Johny Suratkal was a dignified man within little avenues at his disposal.
He did not have greed for big money but liked to lead a simple life within
his capacity. Even in his business he was very open hearted man and gave
doles to many people when they needed his help. In the bargain he became a
victim. That his financial strength was not very sound came to be known
only after his death. Hence during the Memorial Service Mr. Pascal Pinto in
his speech stated that fund collection drive for his family will be
conducted and for this he solicited everyones help. There is a saying in
Konkani Moddvollachem Moddem Bhair Kaddlea Xivai Kaim Gomona. This is
exactly what has happened to Johny Suratkal. It is now time for all the
Konkani people in Kuwait to rise to the occasion and help his family
financially and thus give a confidence to all other Konkani promoters that
in their critical times Konkani people will not neglect them and their
families. But is it necessary for going to the people with the begging bowl
to raise funds for Johny Suratkals family? I dont think so. If Johny was
alive now I am sure he would not approve of this type of alms collection.
According to my latest information before dying he even told not to collect
money from people for his sake in the event of his death. He was a
dignified man and as such he should be treated thus. And how? He was one
of the founders of Kuwait Canara Welfare Association. This Association is
having in its Kitty over a Crore of Rupees and that this fund should swell
to this height Johny Suratkal worked very hard. In view of this and in
order not to lower the high dignity of Johny Suratkal, KCWA should take a
firm decision and donate at least Five Lakhs of Rupees to the family of
Johny Suratkal because KCWA is in able position to do so. Giving 5 Lakhs
will not disturb the Kitty of KCWA but it will surely enhance the economic
condition of Johny Suratkals family in a dignified manner. He got one
school going son besides his young wife and aged mother. Another Five Lakhs
more can be easily collected by organizing any function jointly by Goans and
Mangaloreans and other Konkanis. We Goans are eveready to support such a
venture with our open heart. Let KCWA and other Mangalorean Associations
come forward and we will join them and jointly we will shoulder this
responsibility with dignity befitting Johny Suratkals dignified status. He
was poor financially as it was given to understand but definitely he was not
a beggar and would never want to be one asking alms from the people. This
is going to be a hard decision for my friends who are thinking to collect
funds for Johny Suratkals family. We know for the aged and retired
sportsmen benefit matches are organized and the proceeds of same are given
as gifts to the concerned sportsmen or their families. Cant we do something
like this for our Johny Suratkal? A prominent figure in the Mangalorean
community Mr. Lawry Pinto and others too must think hard over it and act
accordingly with due respect for the dignity of Johny Suratkal..
During the Memorial Service, a small booklet was distributed to the
faithfuls in the Cathedral but unfortunately it was like another humiliation
to Johny Suratkal because it was printed only in Kannada Script Konkani.
Why not simultaneously in Roman script too? Did Johny Suratkal not like and
support Romi Konkani? If he was alive he would surely reject the booklet in
one script only because he fully integrated himself with Romi Konkani and
Goans also. By doing thus the organizers turned Johny Suratkal status as
that of a parochial Konknaivadi. Johny Suratkal was not a parochial as he
was depicted. He was a metropolitan. He was not a narrow minded but a broad
minded. He would not agree to see Goans attending the Memorial Service like
blind and dumb. Secondly while delivering his speech the speaker should
have made a mention in detail of the life of Johny Suratkal and his literary
achievements in Konkani movement. This was not done and for this reason
something was found missing there on Johny Suratkals life. A knowledgeable
person having intellectual maturity would have done better justice for this
job.
During the Mass, Fr. Melwin preached the homily but here too very little was
said of Johny Suratkals life. Johny Suratkal had a great life with great
achievements. He was an intellectual giant and to describe such a gigantic
figure one really has to be intellectual pillar. In our Church in Kuwait I
dont find intellectual giants. They are mostly mediocre preachers. In our
Church since Pe. Vigarisation of Fr. Melwyn Romi Konkani is slashed. This
should be stopped and equal treatment should be accorded to both the scripts
Kannada and Romi. Those who are giving step motherly treatment to Romi
Konkani are the murderers of Konkani language. Johny Suratkal as a true
lover of Konkani would feel humiliated if proper treatment is not given to
Konkani in our Church for both the scripts.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
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