http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOI&BaseHref=TOIGO/2008/06/18&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00401&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T
Fighting Nazis and industry leadership
Alexandre Moniz Barbosa establishes contact with Alfredo de Melo, a
WWII veteran from Goa now resident of Montevideo, Uruguay
As a kid he teamed up with siblings and friends to play war games,
fighting a 'friendly' war that ended up in bruises on the slopes of
Altinho, Panaji in the 1930s.
Just a few years later he was parachuting on to the battle fields
of Europe to fight the Nazis in World War II. The war over he set off
for Uruguay, to establish a business in the South American country and
even serve as vice president of the Uruguayan Chamber of Industries.
Life has not only taken Alfredo Froilano de Melo half way across the
globe but wound him up to.
Now 84 and despite having left Goan shores in his early teens,
Alfredo hasn't forget the Goa of his childhood.
His book, 'From Goa to Patagonia' released last year, recounts in
fond detail the years he spent in Portuguese Goa. But travelling to
Goa is no longer a possibility.
"I am afraid it is highly unlikely that I shall travel to India
again. My cardiologist does not allow me to travel on economy class
and only two weeks ago, I could walk just two blocks without being out
of breath," says Alfredo.
But he remembers Goa a lot, keeping in touch with his birth place
through email, exchanging messages with friends made in cyber space.
"I only keep in touch with Fernando do Rego, as I don't know
anybody else. I don't even know Fernando personally," says Alfredo.
His love for Goa tugs at his heart and he laments, "I have not
done anything for Goa, except offering to give half my royalties to an
orphanage, recommended by Fernando's brother Fr Vasco do Rego."
Alfredo has two books to his name, 'Columbus' and 'From Goa to
Patagonia' one on Christopher Columbus, the other his memoirs.
For young Alfredo who spent his early years in a sprawling mansion
at Altinho, life was easy. His was a privileged lifestyle, with tutors
coming to the house, his father being the reputed doctor Froilano de
Melo who went on to represent Goa in the Portuguese parliament. Early
home schooling took Alfredo to Bishop Cotton Boys School, Bangalore
and then to Madras Christian College, attempting to study medicine at
the Madras Medical College.
But he was soon off to Portugal seeking a degree at the Oporto
Medical College, where his father was a visiting professor.
But Lisbon had other distractions to offer. Outings to the theater
and socializing abundantly brought Alfredo in contact with various
people, including one Phillip Newman, who turned out to be the Chief
of British counter espionage in Portugal. Still a teenager, Alfredo
found himself involved in counter espionage activities and halfway
through med school found that there was a serious threat to his life.
Hoping to find safety elsewhere, he opted for the battle fields of
Europe volunteering to fight in the ongoing war for Britain and
following a quick preparatory course, Alfredo teamed up with a
commando unit which dropped by parachute into occupied Holland.
Caught in the battle of the Bulge, Alfredo and his colleagues were
captured by the Nazis and taken prisoner-of-war by the Nazis on
December 17th, 1944. It was four month's before the American forces
led by General Patton would liberate Alfredo and his fellow soldiers.
Having had enough of Europe it was to Argentina that Alfredo went,
before making Uruguay his home, where he established his own plastic
industry and served as vice-president of the Uruguayan Chamber of
Industries.
A socialist, Alfredo could, but stayed away from politics.
"Although by conviction, I am a socialist, and have voted for the
socialist party here, I have never sought public office nor got
involved in politics."
Now living a life of retirement Alfredo has turned to writing and
travelling, the latter bringing him to an excursion of India too. That
was enough to make him savour the flavour of the dishes that are
rustled up in the Goan kitchens. "The one thing that I would do if I
go to Goa, would be to taste the spicy food, which I don't get here."
His little contact with Goa has been enough for him to gauge the
way the State is progressing.
Says he, "The politics of Goa seem outrageous. There is too much
corruption. In fact I only glean these from the mails that Fernando
sends around the world. Anyhow, each country has the government it
deserves."
