I had promised friends that I would come clear on the captioned controversy after the dust settles down. Here is what actually happened:
Dr. Francisco Colaco (Fanshicote to friends) and I are neighbours. We live three houses apart. More than neighbours, we have been friends. I have always been grateful for the medical help he has provided my family, always free of cost. He has also always been lavish in thanking me for the little that I could do for him. It is important to state this relationship, to better understand the course of events. Copies of my printed book arrived from Bangalore on 2/3 April, 2015. The first copies went to the Parish Priest, his two assistants, and Fr. Jose Antonio Almeida and Fr. Nascimento Mascarenhas based at the Holy Spirit Church. The sixth copy went to Fanshicote whose house is on the way between the church and my house. As usually happens at book launches of common interest, Fanshicote was due to attend with Fr. Nascimento and me, the launch of Dr. Themistocles DSilvas *Unravelling History* at Cansaulim on Sunday, 12 April 2015. A day or two prior, Fanshicote informed me that he would not come as he had to attend a picnic organised by his friend. Fr. Nascimento and I proceeded to Cansaulim, where, per practice, I got a copy signed by Themistocles for Fanshicote. (Where I cannot attend, Fanshicote similarly buys a copy for me.) The following morning (Monday, 13 April), I sent the copy of Themistocles book to Fanshicote. He immediately telephoned to thank and when I asked him how the picnic went, he said he did not go and instead, spent the Sunday reading my book cover to cover. He lavishly praised the book. The following night (Tuesday, April 14, 22:39 pm), Fanshicote posted as follows on his Facebook wall (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005074639340): (quote) VALMIKI FALEIRO WILL SOON RELEASE HIS SECOND BOOK: SOARING SPIRIT His first landmark book was entitled, Patriotism in Action. On the eighteenth of this month at the Black Box, Ravindra Bhavan, at 5 pm, he will release his second book: Soaring Spirit . I feel so elated and proud of Valmiki. To me he has not only been a good friend and neighbour, he has been a guru, a philosopher and a guide. He was the first one to recognize some writing talent in me (though its very modest, I confess). From that time he has been fine-tuning my skills and egging me on. He is a rare friend, a bosom friend whose help is ready at hand, both in good times as well as bad times. He is a gentleman who will extend a helping hand to all expecting nothing in return . The books launch is to commemorate 450 years of Margãos Espirito Santo Church. The book offers facts, solves puzzles and throws up colourful details of an institution that shaped Margaos life for centuries. It walks us through the times of our ancestors, many generations removed. It is the fruit of much labour, toil, patient study and research gleaned from the work of historians and scholars. With facts he is all set to challenge legend and assumption. The book also provides an insightful introduction to the Largo da Igreja de Margão. As a journalist Valmiki has built a reputation of his own and is an inspiration to younger mediapersons with his eye for detail and determination to get out the story. As a writer he has a unique flair and writes with finesse and elegance, laced with humour. He is a master of the pen with exceptional skill at writing. Heartiest congratulations Valmiki for this labour of love. It will be another gem and an invaluable gift to posterity. (Unquote) The post was liked by 31 people. It has since been removed, but I have its print-screen shots, with its likes and comments. Two weeks after he had the book with him and a week after he said he had read it, Fanshicote attended the book launch at Ravindra Bhavan-Margao on 18 April 2015. Three days later, he posted on his Facebook wall under the title, "SOARING SPIRIT" MAKES THE SPIRIT SINK TO ABYSMAL LEVELS (April 21, 22:39 pm). The post is still available at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005074639340, hence not reproduced). The post was liked by 14 people. The unexplained diatribe came as a bolt from the blue. Finally, after some prodding at his Facebook wall, emerged the reason, *(You) take glee in highlighting that one of my uncles was mad and was taken to d mental hospital n was brought back only in a coffin* (April 22 at 21:09 pm). Fanshicote reposted the above under the title, A DECEPTIVE BOOK at Goanet (https://www.mail-archive.com/goanet@lists.goanet.org/msg109929.html). The Goanet post was reposted by Augusto Pinto at Goa Book Club (goa-book-c...@googlegroups.com). There were several third party comments at both places, such as: https://www.mail-archive.com/goanet@lists.goanet.org/msg110055.html https://www.mail-archive.com/goanet@lists.goanet.org/msg109963.html https://www.mail-archive.com/goanet@lists.goanet.org/msg110067.html https://www.mail-archive.com/goanet@lists.goanet.org/msg109970.html https://www.mail-archive.com/goanet@lists.goanet.org/msg109977.html Anyone who has read the Chapter titled CHURCH SQUARE of my book would know that where available, I have briefly mentioned the families of the houses in the church square. In the case of Fanshicotes grandparents, had I mentioned only one son (out of three) and kept mum about the other two, wouldnt the reader find that odd? The truthfulness of what I wrote was not disputed. Never would I have thought that the mere mention of an unfortunate medical condition would have attracted such a completely out-of-proportion denouncement in the age and time we live in. The point is: did I intentionally want to malign Fanshicote and his family? Why and for what gain? My family, even in the generations gone by, was never in inimical terms with his, indeed to the contrary. Cordial and friendly relations have continued in the present. For what gain would I want to upset that? Did Fanshicote ponder over this for even a moment? If my intent was to malign, why should I have chosen an ineffective medical condition? Was there no other material? Let us assume that Fanshicote had valid reason/s for feeling hurt. A hurt caused by me. Wouldnt anyone go after the man who caused the hurt? I was a perfect subject for attack. My life has been far from any resemblance to the life of a saint. But no, he went after my father, that too with downright lies on how my father died and that he (Fanshicote) was present when he died. I was 16 then. I know how my father died. In the bargain of lies, Fanshicote defames the revered Dr. Bento Egipsy, the first cardio-thoracic surgeon on the west coast of India outside Bombay, who stayed on almost one hour that early morning of 04 June 1972 when my father died, and who issued his death certificate and who Fanshicote describes as, *Bentu (Bento), the local carpenter, who was also an ace-swimmer*. When Fanshicote was nowhere in sight that day! He then goes after my poor aunts. Persons who slogged most of their lives to make an honest living without hurting anyone and without having inherited stinking wealth minted by questionable means. He certifies that one aunt had *pepper-powder flung in her eye after which she became forever blind*, when the truth is she lost one eye in a cataract surgery done by a Margao-based ophthalmologist who is still alive. This is not even a policy of an eye for an eye. It is countering fact with sheer falsehood. Not that such falsehood affects me one bit. If at all, it is Fanshicote himself who will have to answer for his canards when his day is done. Not content, Fanshicote went on to drag others in the neighbourhood. In his post at Goanet on 26 April 2015 (https://www.mail-archive.com/goanet@lists.goanet.org/msg110052.html), he alleged: 1. (QUOTE) He soils the good name of revered Fenelon Rebelo who lifted "Italab" to the greatest heights through sheer dint of hard work (UNQUOTE). The fact is I have referred to the late Fenelon Rebelo twice in the book, at Page 162 [*The son, Fenelon, was the only 20th century male descendant of the Rebelo family. He purchased a Colaço house at Adeudato Barreto Road (No. 32 below) and built in its place the first modern bungalow in the church square in the 1960s*] and at Page 191 [*The last Colaço, Abel, sold the house to Fenelon Rebelo (from the house at No. 18a above) who reconstructed it into a modern bungalow in the 1960s*]. Is this soiling? 2. (QUOTE) He arms himself against Mr.Damodar (Mohandas) Naik (now 82-year-old) to talk about his sexual escapades more than 50 years ago. I am told that his nephew has already threatened him with legal proceedings (UNQUOTE). The truth is, I have not cited the named person anywhere in the book. As in all unsubstantiated allegations (save the only one of his uncle), Fanshicote does not cite the relevant text or the page number. I have not been threatened with any legal proceedings by anyone. I have only received an anonymous letter (widely circulated in the neighbourhood) whose tell-tale marks leave no doubt about its origin. 3. (QUOTE) Finally, I talked with historian-friend Fr. Nascimento Soares and he spoke like this: How can a historical book be written in three months? Where are his sources and bibliography? If historians like Fr. Velingkar are seized with the contents they will cut the book into pieces. He lamented that Valmiki's purported historical book sadly degenerates from a book of history into a book of khobrô (UNQUOTE). Fact is the local daily Herald (in the article titled *The story teller of Mathgram to Margao* on 20 April 2015, http://www.epaperoheraldo.in/epapermain.aspx?queryed=9&eddate=04%2f20%2f2015 ) prominently quotes Fr. Nascimento as saying, *I collaborated with Valmiki Faleiro and worked so closely with him in writing this book. We shared notes, pictures, details and I read this as he documented it. This book is a storehouse of information on Margao, the priests, the church and its landmarks. This book will throw deep insight on Mathgram*. So who is telling the truth, Fanshicote or the Herald? My only regret is not having paid heed to the childhood advice of my aunts yes, the same ones who Fanshicote now defames. They would say, if you dont have anything good to say of someone, dont say it. There are many things, I admit, I should have left unsaid in the book. But then, would I not be producing what a Goa University professor once described as a *wedding video*? I leave the reader to decide.