A Great Goan: Dr Francisco Luis Gomes (1829-1869)
by Prajal Sakhardande
http://goagroove.com/details.php?sid=3&aid=141
Yes! Indeed he was the abode of a genius. Till date Goa is yet to produce
another Franciso Luis Gomes. The ship sailed through the waters of the
Mediterranean and suddenly gloomy clouds hovered over the ship as Dr Francisco
Luis Gomes suddenly breathed his last. The man could not return to his beloved
homeland Goa he yearned for. At Bombay his wellwishers awaited his return. The
ship reached Bombay empty. They could not see him as his body was consigned to
the high seas. The date of his death was 30th September, 1869. When the ship in
which he last travelled reached India at
Porbander in Gujarat on 2nd October 1869 another great man, Mahatma Gandhi
was born. These dates in history are not mere coincidences. 31st May is the
date when Dr Francisco Luis Gomes and Abbe Faria were born. 31st May is also
the date when Dr Bhau Daji Lad, a Great Goan died.
A great Goan parliamentarian on the floor of the Lisbon parliament elected
by the Goans Dr F L Gomes left an indelible mark wherever he went in Europe. In
the Lisbon parliament he demanded that the tax imposed on the toddy-tappers
should be withdrawn. He demanded that the ridiculous marriage-tax should be
withdrawn. In a lighter vein he said “I have not married. I am a bachelor so
the marriage-tax is not applicable to me. But when I think of my married
brothers I feel this is
an unjust tax.” Another crude tax was the death tax which Dr Gomes
vehemently opposed. All these taxes were abolished (Dr Francisco Luis Gomes by
Dr Olivinho Gomes). He was a human rights social activist, an economist,
orator, writer, biographer who wrote the history of Pombal, a doctor, a
conscientious politician, a rarity in present day, a thinker, a philosopher,
truly a versatile genius.
A committee for the preservation of Statues and memorials of Goan and
national personalities of public significance of consequence has been formed by
the government under the dynamic leadership of Mr Gurunath Kelekar, noted
freedom fighter and the crusader of MARG. We begin with the statue of Dr F L
Gomes in the Campal F L Gomes Garden on the occasion of the 137th death
anniversary of Dr F L Gomes on 30th September 2006 at 5.30 p.m. All are
cordially invited. Let us salute Dr Francisco Luis Gomes. He is our heritage.
Shrikant Vinayak Barve
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