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* G * O * A * N * E * T **** C * L * A * S * S * I * F * I * E * D * S *
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A Great Goan: Dr Francisco Luis Gomes (1829-1869)
By Prajal Sakhardande
On tomorrows date 25th September in the year 1869,
the great son of Goa Dr Francisco Luis Gomes sailed
from Portugal to return to his homeland Goa. His
health had failed him. He was crumbling, suffering
from TB. The renowned Portuguese novelist, Julio
Diniz, wrote referring to Francisco Luis Gomes:
Clothes hung on him as if on a peg and further it
is difficult to believe that this skeleton is the
abode of a genius. (Profiles of eminent Goans by Dr J
Clement Vaz).
Yes! Indeed he was the abode of a genius. Till date
Goa is yet to produce another Franciso Luis Gomes. The
ship sailed through the waters of the Mediterranean
and suddenly gloomy clouds hovered over the ship as Dr
Francisco Luis Gomes suddenly breathed his last. The
man could not return to his beloved homeland Goa he
yearned for. At Bombay his wellwishers awaited his
return. The ship reached Bombay empty. They could not
see him as his body was consigned to the high seas.
The date of his death was 30th September, 1869. When
the ship in which he last travelled reached India at
Porbander in Gujarat on 2nd October 1869 another great
man, Mahatma Gandhi was born. These dates in history
are not mere coincidences. 31st May is the date when
Dr Francisco Luis Gomes and Abbe Faria were born. 31st
May is also the date when Dr Bhau Daji Lad, a Great
Goan died.
A great Goan parliamentarian on the floor of the
Lisbon parliament elected by the Goans Dr F L Gomes
left an indelible mark wherever he went in Europe. In
the Lisbon parliament he demanded that the tax imposed
on the toddy-tappers should be withdrawn. He demanded
that the ridiculous marriage-tax should be withdrawn.
In a lighter vein he said I have not married. I am a
bachelor so the marriage-tax is not applicable to me.
But when I think of my married brothers I feel this is
an unjust tax. Another crude tax was the death tax
which Dr Gomes vehemently opposed. All these taxes
were abolished (Dr Francisco Luis Gomes by Dr Olivinho
Gomes). He was a human rights social activist, an
economist, orator, writer, biographer who wrote the
history of Pombal, a doctor, a conscientious
politician, a rarity in present day, a thinker, a
philosopher, truly a versatile genius.
A committee for the preservation of Statues and
memorials of Goan and national personalities of public
significance of consequence has been formed by the
government under the dynamic leadership of Mr Gurunath
Kelekar, noted freedom fighter and the crusader of
MARG. We begin with the statue of Dr F L Gomes in the
Campal F L Gomes Garden on the occasion of the 137th
death anniversary of Dr F L Gomes on 30th September
2006 at 5.30 p.m. All are cordially invited. Let us
salute Dr Francisco Luis Gomes. He is our heritage.
(The Navhind Times)
ABOUT GULF-GOANS e-NEWSLETTER This first of its kind Gulf-Goans e-newsletter
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