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Symposium on Pre-Primary & Primary School Education &
Primary School Students Chess Tournament
More information at:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-January/068222.html
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At a function held today at the Lohia Maidan at Margao Chief Minister Digamber
Kamat unveiled (as promised when he became a Chief Minister of the State and
visited the Lohia Maidan ) the life size bronze statue of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia
a socialite from the North Indian State of UP (and a friend and classmate of
Dr Juliao Menezes both who studied in Germany) who gave a clarion call to the
Goans on 18th June 1946 to revolt against the oppressive and dictatorial rule
of the Portuguese rule in Goa Daman & Diu.
It was on 18th June, 1946 in the evening that Dr Lohia addressed a meeting in
Margao and this day marks the beginning of the revolution which eventually
culminated in the Liberation of Goa on 19th December, 1961, from 451 years of
Portuguese rule.
While various speakers eulogised the role of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia who
eventually died in 1967 -- one memomorable speech of Dr Lohia ... is oft quoted
"Goans look not to Delhi nor the UNO for your deliverance. Your freedom lies in
you. Five lac of full democrats can shake Portuguese into submision. Get
arrested, get beaten, suffer bullets, but take out your marches and
demonstrations and refuse to pay taxes. Goa was the first gate for Europe into
Asia. We shall smash un Goa the supremacy of Europe over Asia ...unquote
However it was Shivanand (Nanda ) Gaitonde (his brother Dr Pundalik Gaitonde )
a mettalurgist ex Ford Motors UK both freedom fighters hailing from Palolem,
who revealed certain facets of Dr Lohia. He was according to him a man who
rejected both capitalism and communism. He stated that Dr Lohia often asked
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru "how could you justify spending Rs. 25,000 per day on
a PM when the "aam aadmi" has to do with three annas (Indian currency coins )
a day. The reply given by the Government of India was that GDP was fifteen
anna as of that day. This debate is known as " 3 anna 15 anna " debate.
Because according to Dr Lohia the GDP as even today were hiked to hefty figures
only by the contribution of wealthy persons.
Yet another strong belief of Dr Lohia was that where casteist bias prevails
opportunities and ability are restricting and narrowing circles. Dr Lohia was
active underground with his newspaper "Inquilab" and with Usha Mehta he ran
the clandestine radio. He was arrested in 1944 by the British intelligence
police force as a result of betryal for money over his head and sent to the
infamous Lahore Jail where he was tortured after this it is on 12 June 1946 he
came to Assolna in Goa to recuperate little knowing that he would send the
Goans on a tizzy over a revolt.
In yet another shocking disclosure Mr Gaitonde revealed that in Peniche Jail in
Portugal during his visit three years ago, now converted into a Museum
depicting the fight against the oppresive dictator Dr Antonio Salazar despite
several rows of names of brave men who were interned died or vanished from the
then Jail not a single Goan name appears. Interestingly its Curator when
quizzed stated that the secret police PIDE had burnt all files when the
Revolution of April swept away the old order.
She was however grateful to have such names listed thereon provided the
Government of Goa ferrets out its own records and submits the list to them.
Interestingly the earlier CM had not responded and Mr Gaitonde now appealed to
the Chief Minister Mr Digamber Kamat to have these names sent to Portugal
Peniche Jail Museum.
Several freedom fighters their family members and nine women prominent among
them Libia Lobo Sardessai and others were present. Many school and college
going children were roped into for this ocassion. There were patriotic songs
sung and a booklet in Konkani Devnagari English and Marathi printed and
published by Lohia Stature Installation Committee Margao was distributed.
Others present were Chairperson of Margao Municipal Counicl Mr Johnson
Fernandes, ex CM Mr Luisinho Faleiro and councillors and MLA Aleixo Reginald
Lourenco.
On this ocassion a member of the South Goa Public Interest Action Group
presented on stage a well documented memorandum to the Chief Minister Mr
Digmaber Kamat demanding in public interest the immediate demolition of the
illegal encroachment by Hotel Kamat on the sacred precincts of the Lohia Maidan.
After unveiling the bronze statue CM laid wreaths at both the Memorial and the
statue followed by other freedom fighters and public.
Mr Luizinho Faleiro made an impassioned plea to the CM to visit the Ministry of
Finance at New Delhi to open the office of the Superintendent of Customs and
Excise and make available the room for the Goa Freedom Fighters in addition to
the present premise.
The staff of the Collectorate along with the District Collector Mr G P Naik
made the function a grand success which was appreciated by all.
Sidelights of the event:
a) though Salcete is the bedrock of Goan politics presence of elected
representatives was dismal;
b) mention of freedom fighter late Anastasio Almeida from Velim who in fact
gave semblance to the Maidan was made but nowhere is his plaque or statue
displayed;
c) a plaque just alongside (east end) of the Bronze statue mentions that Dr
Lohia visited a "friends house in Goa" why is the name of Dr Julio Menezes the
friend of Dr Lohia not mentioned ?. Is this not a systametic clandestine effort
to eliminate all the Catholics mainly Chardos and others who were in the fore
front to spearhead any movement even till this day asked some senior citizens
who graced the ocassion.
d) according to one freedom fighter, even the Vice Chairman Mr Gurunath Kelekar
was not present during the historic visit of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia yet several
others who were present on that historic day and should have been prominently
seated were sidelined.
e) several citizens expressed rage over the illegal extension of the Hotel
Kamat and remarked it was an eye sore to beautification of the Maidan
j) the toilets specially constructed were not upto expectations according to
some users.
k) eye brows were raised in some quarters when the CM pledged to have all
translations of laws in force in the State in Konkani (nagri script)
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,
BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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