|
THE SALIGAO UNION, BOMBAY---V.
The Jubilee. The Union having been founded on June 7, 1936, it entered the Golden Jubilee Year in June 1985. But even in 1982, the then Managing Committee attempted to start a drive for funds with a view to setting up a Jubilee memorial in due course but the response was poor; another attempt in 1983 too was not successful. It then seemed that an indifference towards the Union and its affairs were creeping in and the Committee members even threatened to step down en bloc in March 1984. Still there were no candidates for a new Committee at the annual general meeting that month; so to save the situation the Committee agreed to continue on a caretaker basis till a fresh meeting was held. Such was the plight of the Union that immediate measures became necessary to whip up the required enthusiasm among the members. A few members well-inclined towards the Union worked behind the scenes, contacted people and held a couple of meetings to find ways and means of instilling interest in the Union’s affairs. Press Coverage. The Times of India carried an interesting note on December 3, 1984, under th feature " City lights" giving wide publicity to the forthcoming Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Saligao Union. The news item interestingly related how the emblem depicting a fox amidst the sugarcane plantations came to be adopted by the Union. This is how it ran:- " Centuries ago the ancient village was beehive of the sugarcane industry and foxes from the surrounding hills were often seen prowling among the plantations. The villagers were therefore named "foxes". A Saligaocar could accordingly claim that he is being called a ‘ fox’ only in good humour. Be that as it may, further interest was injected in the affairs of the Union by the measures taken which were backed up by an appeal addressed by four senior members, headed by Dr. Peter C. de Souza, to all members of the Union. When the fresh meting and elections were held in December 1984, a new Managing Committee was duly elected and thus the stalemate ended. The new Committee set to work immediately. An organising Committee with Baptist D’ Souza as Chairman, was constituted to help organise the Golden Jubilee celebrations and to raise funds for a memorial. Baptist de Souza’s stewardship of the organizing Committee has been of timely help and marked by enthusiastic endeavour which is producing fruitful results. Saligao Newsletter. A quarterly publication entitled " Saligao Newsletter’ containing news and articles was decided upon. The news-letter has by all accounts been well received and hailed as a praiseworthy venture of a village Union in Bombay. Thanks to our enthusiastic, active members, the Union has been restored to its pristine vigour thus proving that Saligaocars can rise to the occasion and meet an emerging challenge. What of the future? By a happy coincidence, the greater part of the Golden Jubilee Year has fallen in the International Year of the Youth which has Participation as its first theme. So our youth might ask themselves whether they should not volunteer to manage the affairs of their own village Union. By active participation and involvement, they could help in decision-making which would answer to the needs of the future. Since Saligaocars have distinguished themselves in various fields, their Union, it is hoped, will not be allowed to languish. And there are Unions or Associations of Saligaocars in other places in this country and abroad with whom the Union here could forge links. At the end of the next decade, the Saligao Union will have reached its diamond Jubilee year which will be almost in the shadow of the 21st century. If our youth respond, we may confidently hope the Saligao Union to be a modern and progressive organisation at the turn of the century. And to that end, may respectful love of their own roots remain enkindled in the hearts of our youth where ever they may be, so that it may well be said of them: " Type of the wise, who soar but never roam True to the kindred points of Heaven and Home"( end) jy. Mr. Alfred J. D’Souza. ( Alfred J. D’ Souza was the President of the Saligao Union-Bombay . A latin scholar, he was the Commissioner of Income-tax, Bombay, and retired as Special Commissioner in the rank of Joint Secretary to th Government of India, Ministry of Finance. He died on 22nd June, 2003 in Mumbai.). Compiled by Fr. Nascimento Mascarenhas.
|
