It was in the mid-seventies that a classmate of mine in St. Xavier's
College, Bastora (1965-1968), who had qualified as an independent advocate
hinted to me that I must meet Matanhy Saldanha. I was, at that time, sailing
the high seas and was not involved in local affairs like my friend Adv.
Antonio Lobo of Mapusa who was involved with the Konkani agitation, the
Ramponkarancho movement, Gomant Lokh Poxh ... et al and where Matanhy was an
integral part in these movements. I had, expectedly brushed this offer off,
saying to him that I was not interested as I was not around, while
appreciating what was happening for GOA.
It was the Meta Strips fight on-going in Goa when I self-retired in late
90's, and destiny brought me and Matanhy Saldanha together for the first
time at the Ferry Wharf, Panjim, where he was on an indefinite fast there
against the all polluting Meta Strips Ltd. I have written extensively about
that first meet since, and what I have said in those writings stands.
There was no looking back from then on. In my own way, I was the veteran of
the fight against Loud Music Noise Pollution, and any environmental issue
was a piece of my cake too. Therefore Meta Strips fitted well into the
agenda of senseless, tasteless DIOXIN pollution which was the by-product of
Meta Strips limited at that time. After that, came the CRZ issue, the SEZ
issue, and Matanhy and I had a chance to agree to disagree on a lot of
aspects regarding Goa's well being. The last of the issues was the Special
Status where our horns were locked at the INTERNATIONAL CENTRE-GOA.
This morning, my first caller broke the shocking news that Matanhy was no
more. Could I believe my ears? I have been seeing nothing but Matanhy this,
Matanhy that all these days, starting from the day he had enrolled himself
into the saffron brigade. We knew he had always but always nursed a soft
corner for the 'Komal', but his decision to embrace it had taken us back
with utter surprise. 'Matanhy knows what is best for Goa and for himself'
was all that we could muster and we were all happy that he had cracked the
impossible by winning the Cortalim seat against all odds.
When the results of the elections filtered in, and when I saw that the BJP
had the magic 21 after a long while in Goa, my immediate outburst was " THE
SINGLE MOST PRIORITY BEFORE THE BJP GOVERNMENT 2012 IS THE PASSING OF THE
RESOLUTION TO DEMAND SPECIAL STATUS FOR GOA from the Centre." Why? We now
had an insider in the BJP Camp in Matanhy Saldanha who was a vociferous
votary of the same.
With his passing away, as against all the nice things that have been said of
him, his lifetime, it would not be proper if his close ally did a little
introspection as to why this gloom had to descend on Goa's most promising
son.
In the days after his having taken the oath, I personally feel that he had
to agree with things that he would normally want to stay away from.
One: He had to sit next to Shashikala Kakodkar and participate in the
function where otherwise he would want to be miles away from.
Two: The Governor's address had nothing to say about the MOI burning issue
though he should have been well prepared for the out come when he had
embraced the
BJP and where the BJP had vetoed English as MOI.
Three: As the Forest Minister, he was expected to make certain statements
which could go against the BJP's mining dictates.
Four: A crack-pot like me, might have whispered into his ears, something
that was too much for him to digest and make light of...at the Canacona
Shigmo Festival which could have been playing heavily on his mind.
Heart Attacks: I have gone thro' cardiac arrest some time ago. Being one
year older to Matanhy and having been a chain smoker for 20 odd years, the
predictions that have been made of the cause to his massive heart attack is
wasted on me. Even having been off the smoke for 24 year my cardiac arrest
was attributed to 'once upon a time' heavy smoking. But I know what was the
cause of that Cardiac arrest. It was whole and sole CAPITAL D N ... read
DAYANAND NARVEKAR. Because of this animal, I couldn't give the Occupancy of
my building to my clients for two and half years. A question in the
Legislative Assembly, A Writ Petition in the High Court had played heavy on
my nerves to the point that it broke a toughie, almost, but not quite. If
this is not nerve breaking tension, then I don't know what tension is all
about.
Something was bugging Matanhy, and we could see it, him seated at the
Assembly in full view where he was not like himself. Now, we shall never
know what killed him.
But our best bet will be that he suffered a massive heart attack.
And we shall have to console ourselves that it was the killer.
But we shall never truly know.
Hopefully, dear friend, you will rest in eternal peace, all said and done.
For, you have been a genuine son of mother GOA, all your life, and you have
proved it amply.
So long FRIEND , Good bye.
This coming from one of your activist colleagues, who incidentally has
followed in your foot-steps to be a POLITICIAN.
AND WHEREAS God had given you a patient, pacifying and a sweet tongue, but
other-way-round at this end.
But then sweetness has always but always attracted worst enemies, the biting
ants which will ultimately eat the soul, like they did yours.
And whereas, I shall be able to go to sleep in blissful peace, night after
night, after the cutting edge has done its work.
floriano
goasuraj
9890470896
www.goasu-raj.org
www.gragoa.com
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