A large number of Goans, and well wishers of different nationalities packed the Multipurpose Hall of the Sacred Heart Church, Bahrain to pay their final tributes to the most illustrious artist of the Konkani stage Bab Peter.
Bab Peter died on Saturday, following a heart attack. The body was brought to the church in a open casket, which was later sealed for transportation to Mumbai. The prayer service started at 3.00 p.m. led by Fr. Raphy Ouseph.
Soon after the prayer service, a well organized condolence meeting held in the same hall brought tears to many of the people present.
GR Crasto while introducing every speaker, highlighted on the life of Bab Peter with clippings of news that appeared in various media in the last few days.
Valanka Rodrigues, a close friend and who has a few songs with Bab Peter was seen almost choking while reciting the specially composed poem in his honour.
Andrew (Bobby) Fernandes, a very senior member of the Goan community here rendered a solo expressing deep sorrows on the loss of a composer and singer of the konkani stage.
The President of Young Goans Club, Cassius Pereira, in his speech described Bab Peter as an ever smiling and courageous tiatrist.
Konkani writer Pio Fernandes recalled the rich contribution of Bab Peter to the Konkani culture and said that Konknni world has lost a talented artiste.
The highly acclaimed social worker among Goans in Bahrain, Francis Correia, also paid glowing tributes to Bab Peter.
Others who spoke were the Managing Director of Alpha Fire Services Frank Ryde, the sponsor of Alpha Fire Services Nijad Al Atassi and Maria Fernandes, a family friend.
Bab Peter's daughter, Babli, who was not in a frame of mind to speak earlier, came up the stage towards the end and thanked everyone present for the prayer service and for the meeting. She said, she was deeply touched by the speaches of so many persons and opted to sing a song which Bab Peter taught her at a very young age. This was the song Bab Peter, Ophelia and she would sing together many a times, she recounted. And when she sang "Hatak Dhorun Bhonvchim Morosor" with a repressive voice, almost everyone present in the hall wept silently.
The meeting was arranged and conducted by GR Crasto.
Soon after the meeting, the body was transferred to the airport to be flown to Mumbai, where the funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday (23.02.2005) evening at the Victoria Church, Mahim.
Accompanying the body are Babli and her husband Sameer; and the family of Mr. Felix Rodrigues whom Bab Peter always considered as his guardians in Bahrain.
22.02.2005 - Special report by goa-world.com team
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