K R A N T I
--No plans in this revolution are written for retreat--
April 7, 2008
NRI AWARDS FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS - PART II
In late eighties, when there was Konkani movement in Goa in full swing,I went
to Goa especially to participate in this movement, took activepart in the
rallies and public meetings, received lathis from "Ghantti"Police hired by Rane
Government and even participated in Hunger Strikeat Azad Maidan, Panjim.
However, to my total dismay none of the currentNRI awardees came to Goa and
participated in this move to protect thesoul of Goa.During the invasion of
Kuwait, thru my own initiative, we in Goa formed"Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Centre
(G.K.S.C)" movement in support of theliberation of Kuwait. This was the biggest
and very important movementthat Kuwait Goans have done. Even the Ambassador of
Kuwait in New Delhiappreciated our support for Kuwait and on behalf of the
Government ofKuwait in exile, the Kuwaiti Ambassador in Delhi sent especial
letter tome thanking Goans for their support. The noise that we made on
thestreets of Panjim thru this movement was heard everywhere in Goa, Delhi
and other parts of India. And its echo was felt all around the globethru CNN
and other news media thereby strengthening the bonds of Goanswith Kuwait, other
Gulf countries and with the entire freedom lovingcountries and people in the
world.After the liberation of Kuwait, because of this movement, Kuwaitis andthe
Kuwait Government showed much of affection for Goans. Even KuwaitTV showed our
movement activities twice in its programmes in 1991. Thruthis movement Goans
have created for them a special niche into thehearts of Kuwait. None of the NRI
awardees took leadership nor"tail-ship" in this movement though one of them was
not in Goa at thattime, he stayed in Kuwait during the whole invasion period
while Dr.Chodonkar was invisible like all other Goan doctors working in
Kuwait.The greatest "Beiman" to Kuwait were the doctors who were working
inKuwait during the invasion of Kuwait. None of these rascal doctors
havesupported us in our movement for the cause of Kuwait, under G-K.
S.C.inspite of earning so much in Kuwait.Then came the movement for the cause
of Kuwait Prisoners of War. Iagain gave the lead to campaign for their release
by organising bigmeetings in 5 star hotel in Kuwait City where top Kuwaitis
came, joinedand addressed these meetings. Even the members of the ruling
familyattended these meetings. Thru these meetings we internationalized
thecause of Kuwait's POW's in a different way. Again none of the NRIawardees
joined us in lending leadership for this movement nor inhelping us to move
ahead for the sake of Kuwait from where we gain oursustenance. These NRI
awardees were nowhere near us. Moreover, to makethis move powerful, on behalf
of Goans, I personally, by spending moneyfrom my own pocket went to Delhi, with
the help of one Rajya Sabahmember from Hyderabad, Mr. Khan who was the Chairman
of Indo-GulfFriendship Society, contacted top world, Arab and Islamic
leadersstationed in Delhi to put pressure on the Saddam Hussein Government tor
elease Kuwait's POW's. While I was doing so much on behalf of Goans togain
goodwill for Goans in Kuwait and outside, none of the NRI awardeestook part
with me in any capacity.After the liberation of Kuwait, when I noticed too much
of harassmentgiven to our maids, myself and Fr. Gabriel joined together and
formedKonkani Heritage Kuwait (KHK) first to unite all the Konkani people
inKuwait and secondly to help our suffering maids who were given shelterat
Indian Embassy Safe House. In order to repatriate them back home, weraised
funds by organizing different types of activities and with thehelp of this fund
we purchased air tickets for them to go back home. Inthis way, we repatriated
innumerable maids to Goa and Bombay and as anevidence of this concrete work,
Indian Ambassador himself and other topEmbassy officials openly lauded our
efforts. In this move againunfortunately none of the NRI awardees took
leadership nor they playedany worthy role.Since the last two years these NRI
awards are given to Goans scatteredacross the globe. Some say these awards are
gifted or doled to thechamchas of Eduardo Faleiro. Others say these awards are
purchased bysome of the awardees. It is sad to note that lot of controversies
aregenerated when these awards are given in Panjim. Goans in the Gulf
areprotesting over the selection of these awardees, some are deserving,while
others not.After reading what I wrote above, people must judge whether the
awardeesfrom Kuwait are really deserving these awards. First of all, all
thethree must ask themselves whether they deserve these awards, if not thenthey
should put their head down in shame for accepting unworthy awards.Accepting
undeserving awards is like a robbery which is a sin and suchsins are not
ordinary sins but sacrileges. It is not an honour inaccepting undeserving
awards. Also, these awards are not Knighthoods nor not Padma Shrees or Bharat
Ratnas to take pleasureand pride. These awards are like bokxis given to Kuwai
tkars by EduardoFaleiro without judging the real worth of the recipients in
the serviceof the community. One of the awardees was involved in sex
scandalbesides denying GWS of its funds, so also misappropriation of KuwaitGoan
Evacuees Society's fund in Goa during the invasion of Kuwait. Canany
organization give any award to such a person who is known to havecommitted
un-Goan acts? Yes, only the association headed by EduardoFaleiro can dole its
awards to unworthy recipients.On the advice of Gandhiji, Rabindranath Tagore
surrendered his Knighthood to British Monarchy because British were damaging
India'sinterest. In the same manner, don't you think it is advisable
forrecipients of these NRI awards in other Gulf States to surrender theirawards
as a mark of protest against chamchageri done by Eduardo Faleiroand his team in
awarding these awards to some of the unworthy persons?As it is, because of the
wrong selection in many cases, the value ofthese Community Leadership awards has
been debased.A. Veronica Fernandes,Kuwait.
Posted by KRANTI at
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