Dear Valmiki, This is from *Profiles of Eminent People of Saligao* by C. Hubert de Souza, published sometimes int he 1970s. -- FN
Cincinatus Fabian D’Abreu (An Administrator of Outstanding Ability of Sind) THE life of Cincinatus Fabian D’Abreu of Abreuwaddo, Arrarim reads like a romance in its wonderful achievements, in the province of Sind – now a province of Pakistan. He was born in Goa in 1862, the son of Manuel D’Abreu who had first set foot in Sind in 1846, three years after the conquest of that province by the British. The famous British General Sir Charles Napier who conquered Sind, sent the following terse telegram to the Viceroy “Peccavi” – I have sinned. Cincinatus started his education at St. Patrick’s High School, Karachi, the nursery of many famous Goans, who earned both Indian and International fame in civil and ecclesciastic administration, including India’s first Cardinal, Valerian Gracias. He had however to discontinue his education at the age of 16, and seek for employment to earn his livelihood due to the unfortunate death of his father. He was first employed by the Civil and Military Gazette Press as a clerk and later joined the well known English business establishment of Messrs. Forbes, Forbes and Campbell, dabbling in the Import-Exchange business. It was here that Cincinatus acquired extensive knowledge of business practice, which was to serve him in good stead in later life. In 1889 at the age of 27 he joined the Sind Commissioner’s office as an ordinary clerk and by his intelligence and high ability which was recognized by his superiors, received quick promotion. In 1895 he was promoted to the exalted position of Assistant Commissioner of Sind and soon after that to the Collector of Sukkur at which post he was responsible for the design of a waterworks system for Karachi. In 1897 he was Asst. Collector of Customs of Salt and Excise - a post of great responsibility – and in quick succession held the post of Deputy Shipping Master of Karachi and then Collector of Customs, Karachi, an important post in those days for the growing port of Karachi. He retired from service from that post in 1917, after a brilliant service of 28 years, but not to a life of ease and comfort which he richly deserved, but to work in other spheres of life. He then found the progressive India Flour Mill Ltd. And the Indian Life Assurance Co. and himself mastered the intricate actuarial science to promote these companies on the right lines. He was at this age elected as a Councillor to the Karachi Muncipality and in 1926 he became the Vice President. For his outstanding ability he was elected by popular vote as one of the 12 Leaders of Sind and did yeoman service for the Sind Province in the Sind League of Progress. Mr. Cincinatus Abreu then became a director of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation and one of the creators of the then modern Karachi. He was simultaneously the Vice President of the Sind Land Owner’s Association and during this period helped to acquire land and founded the famous “Cincinatus Township” where a number of our Goans have their own houses and properties to-day, In order to knit the Goans together he helped also to found the Karachi Goan Association. He died young in 1929, worn out by his labours for the people of Goa and Sind. He was loved and respected by the people of all communities of Sind and as reported by the London Times, the members of his community paid grateful homage to him, by carrying his coffin in relays from the Church to the Cemetary. Owing to Cincinatus Abreu, a number of people from Saligao subsequently migrated to Sind which was then a part of Bombay Province and settled at Karachi and have done well in life for themselves in that country like the Vazes of Donvaddo, DeMellos and Sequeiras of Sonarbatt and Sequeiravaddo and the Saldanhas of De Mello Vaddo etc. Cincinatus' father Manuel D’Abreu could be considered one of the Saligao pioneers of Sind who opened that country for later batches of our village people as well as the people of other villages. [There seem to be quite a few other links to Cincinatus Township via Google too. --FN] * * * In every way, the Goans of Bombay were part of the great melee that was this metropolis, distinct perhaps in the way communities often are, holding on to their own traditions but merging slowly nonetheless and forming the thin thread of nationhood that would eventually become India. -- Selma Carvalho, in *Into the Goan Diaspora Wilderness*. Available at Broadways Book Centre, Panjim [Ph +91-9822488564] Price (in Goa only) Rs 295. http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/ * * *
