Two foolish people whose actions have now led to the death of Goa in front of their eyes.
BC A few days ago, the freedom fighter Gurudas Kunde returned to Reis Magos after more than 55 years. The spectacularly situated historical monument has been sensitively restored by architect Gerard da Cunha, with the support of Intach and the UK-based Helen Hamlyn Trust. It is now a must-see tourist attraction, but Kunde knew it as a prison, where he spent four years incarcerated along with other Goans of every background who joined him in resisting the Portuguese regime. Kunde was a prisoner of conscience. His only crime was shouting 'Jai Hind' in the streets of Margao, then refusing to apologize no matter what the consequences. For this, he lost years of his life and suffered the further indignity of being disinherited by his pro-Portuguese father. They never reconciled, and he never received a share of the family property. The sprightly septuagenarian was accompanied in his return to Reis Magos by his inseparable friend of more than 50 years, the freedom fighter Alvaro Pereira. Nearly 90, Pereira moves more slowly than he used to, but with the support of a cane he too delighted in a full tour of the restored fortress, marvelling at stunning vantages over the River Mandovi. Together they paused for a long look across to Fort Aguada, where Pereira spent five years incarcerated for distributing anti-colonial pamphlets, and?despite being singled out for sadistic beatings by the notorious Agente Monteiro?similarly refusing to recant. ************************
