THE LITTLE-KNOWN PATRIOT
By Valmiki Faleiro
Genuine freedom fighters never blew their own trumpets. They did not hanker
after
tamrapatras and state largesse. The dubious variety that did brought a bad name
to
all freedom fighters (FFs).
Fakes would probably outnumber the authentic ones in the state list of
registered
FFs. Many of the former would barely be in their early teens in 1961. One
recalls the
attempt to swell the already contaminated list with 'FFs' from North India
earlier this
decade.
Yet, there were some genuine FFs who were barely even known. Some died before
1961. Let's recall one, who died at Silvassa this day precisely 52 years ago,
25 Aug
1958, 51 years of age.
Carlos Luis Martinho Nazario da Cruz, born 28 July 1907, was the eldest of 13
children from a middle-class Chandor family. He rebelled early in life. At 11,
appearing for the Primary exam, together with his younger sister, he scored the
highest but was denied the first rank by 'chivalrous' examiners. They gifted it
to his
sister, who scored second-highest in the class. Carlos is reported to have
caused
considerable commotion.
In that early incident, perhaps, lay the seed of rebellion against fallacious
Portuguese
principles and morality - and the colonialists themselves. Stymied midway in a
stormy secondary education at the Panjim Lyceum, he qualified as a schoolteacher
and legal consultant but with limited powers to practice law.
While yet a student, he bravely wielded his pen, contributing articles to local
journals.
When blacked out in a leading publication, he co-founded the 'Oriente,' the
first
illustrated periodical published in Goa.
His first posting was to a school in remote Arambol, where colonial masters
thought
his voice would be muted in the rest of Goa. He started with a bang, opening
the first
free night school for the labour class. Arambol instantly became a pilgrim
point for
Goan educationists!
Governor Craveiro Lopes sent his son (later President of the Portuguese
Republic) to
cajole Carlos, by now a member of TB da Cunha's Goa Congress Committee. Failed
diplomacy. Yet, with hope in heart, the Governor 'gifted' Carlos a transfer to
Silvassa
in Dadra & Nagar Haveli - a plum posting where all kinds of civil service
functionaries
minted fortunes, looting the native tribal 'Warlis' (Adivasis), their natural
resources,
and their women.
The Portuguese had committed a blunder. Carlos took charge, started a periodical
'Sandalcalo' (published from Vapi in British India), exposed corruption at all
levels,
and braced the tribals for a fight. He was soon dismissed from service. He
stayed on,
a 'Bapuji' and 'Vakilsaheb' to the Warlis, hitherto a wild tribe. He provided
largely free
services and often spent his own money on court fees for the poor.
Carlos was deprived of civic rights. He was repeatedly arrested and released,
only to
be rearrested a while later, altogether about 12 times. He was kept in long
periods of
isolation, but it did not break his spirit. He refused orders to remove
portraits of
Tagore, Gandhi and Nehru from his house. When asked why he had named his
eldest daughter after the Rani of Jhansi, he named his next child after Nehru.
When
questioned again, he named the next one after Lenin!
Aware that his life was in danger, he sought refuge in British India. His first
act in
Bombay was to address the press and denounce the repressive 'Acto Colonial.'
In Bombay, he edited 'The Anglo-Lusitano.' Via a common friend, he ensured his
writing reached the eyes of Salazar. Carlos dared the lion in his own lair. He
then
returned to Silvassa and continued the campaign against corruption. After Dadra
&
Nagar Haveli was freed 02 Aug 1954, the Government of India appointed him
Public Prosecutor of Nagar Haveli.
A debilitating disease struck Carlos. Though he spent 30 of his 51 years in a
place
where most civil servants amassed much wealth, he died a pauper, this day, 52
years ago. Silvassa shut in mourning. The government accorded him a state
funeral.
A handful of earth from his native Chandor he had carried decades before was,
per
his last wish, put in his grave. His epitaph at Silvassa reads,
Life for him, a mission
His daily lot, a martyrdom
Honours and wealth, he sought not
But for the oppressed, freedom
As we recall the memory of one little-known patriot on his death anniversary
today,
let us also remember other genuine freedom fighters, several of them mercifully
still
alive, who sacrificed much to unshackle us from a repressive colonial regime.
==========================================================
The above article was published in the HERALD(Goa) of 25 Aug 2010
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Goa-launch of the well-received *Into The Diaspora
Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho on Aug 29, 2010 (Sunday) at 11
am at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Meet the author, buy a signed
copy (only Rs 295 in Goa till stock lasts).
http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
