------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * 2006 ANNUAL GOANETTERS MEET - GOA * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHERE: Foodland Cafe - Miramar Residency - Miramar, Goa
WHEN: December 21, 2006 @ 4:00pm
More info:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2006-December/051747.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the 20th December, 2006 is the 20th death
aniversary of late Master Floriano Vaz. When tragedy
struck the impoverished Vaz family little did they
realize that in the small dingy kutcha hut that the
family and their relations live in even to this day
their family would be contributing Goas first martyr
post liberation for the Konkani language and mind
you it was Konkani NOT in devanagari as the Goans were
betrayed to accept on 4th February, 1987 but in
Roman script which has been denied to over 29.6%
Catholic community till date though supported by
Hindus Bahujan Samaj (non Brahmin community) and now
a sprinkling of Hindu Brahmins, are getting
reconciled to the logical corollary to accept the
Roman script alongside Devanagari script to keep Goa
and the Goans united.
Narrating the incident with a tone of anger that
occurred on that fateful day in the post lunch
session -- a close relative of late Mr Vaz told this
writer when he visited their house this evening at
Aquem enroute the Housing Board Gogal just behind the
Old Chowgule College barracks ---that it was shocking
that some one had shown concern over his death atleast
on his 20th death anniversary.
Where were all those who shed tears for his death in
the last 20 years she asked of this writer?
Apparently she was referring to the political noises
being made in some quarters to have his statue erected
at the entrance of the city. What did we get? she
continues -- The entire criminal case was a futile
exercise, she said, but shying away to divulge her
name. Her family she claimed spent all the resources
to pursue the case but were not compensated
adequately. Even till this date there was not a
single effort of the State Government or others to
commemorate his memory she sighed in utter disgust.
Pointing out to a cross erected in the memory of late
Master Vaz in front of the house a grim reminder of
the martyr which reveals the date of his birth as 8th
September, 1963 (he was just 23 years and had just
taken employment) ---she said. Late Floriano was one
of the three siblings the others Mr Antonio and Mr
Remedios were away. Unfortunately one of them has gone
to Chennai for his childs treatment a few days ago
and was not available for comment. Others around the
house were some children nephews and nieces of late
Floriano. They were in the midst of making a star for
the oncoming Christmas festivties.
At the entrance of a dimly lit hut is the photo of
Master Floriano and now his late mother Ms Luisa Vaz
who expired on 29.06.2003 Aparently she could never
reconcile to the tragedy of witnessing her son shot
just a little away from the house.
It was then alleged that it was owing to a
prominent industrialist from Comba Margao proprietor
of a fish net supplier that provoked the then ASI Mr
Narayan Yetle to fire on the lad, a cold blooded
murder. The news was first flashed at 1730 hrs that
same evening by Mr Mark Tully the ex BBC correspondent
in India. It was even rumoured then that the white
FIAT car belonging to the son of the industrialist
involved had its number plate number mysteriously
camouflaged with another number as they feared the
wrath of the Vaz clan who belong to the Scheduled
Tribe community.
Ironically the Government till this date has not
bestowed any benevolence to the family though the
ruling Indian National Congress Party legislators have
sung hosanas of praise to the young martyr.
As a matter of coincident the following Ministers who
were in the Goa Cabinet during the term from
January 1985 to September 1987 viz Mr Pratapsing
Raoji Rane, (who was and till date holds the Chief
Ministerial portfolio ) Mr Shaikh Hassan Haroon, Mr
Francisco Sardinha, Mr Harish Narayan Prabhu Zantye Dr
Luis Proto Barboso Shri Voikunth Dessai, Shri
Francisco Monte Cruz, Mr Subhash Shirodkar only for
Mr Haroon, Dr Barboso , Mr Dessai and Mr Cruz are
not in office, have not taken cognizance of this great
sacrifice even to this date.
The other 6 martyrs at Agacaim, have similarly been
neglected a look at the memorial in front of the
Church of St Lawrence inidcates this neglect.
Her face lit up with excitement when she was shown an
annual report of the Thomas Stephen Konknni Kendr
Porvorim Tiswadi Goa which had instituted a cash
prize of Rs. 5000/- from this year onwards for the
best book published in Konkani Roman script.
She was also informed that they would be invited to
grace the occasion on 4th February, 2007 (incidentally
the date Konknni was conferred the official language
status ) at a venue to be decided later.
Meanwhile it is understood that the memorial will be
installed at the Old Market traffic island by the
Government or at the island at Fatorda facing the
upcoming Ravindra Bhavan or Pai tiatrist auditorium
though there was an earlier demand for the statue of
the Father of the Opinion Poll late Dr Jack de
Sequeira at Old Market ---for it was Salcete that
truly provided the ground swell support for the
antimergerists on 16th January, 1967.
In a related development there are strong rumours that
following yesterdays Save Goa movement against the Goa
Regional Plan 2011 New Delhi has taken note of the
demands for official recognition to Konkani in the
Roman script.
Photos are attached herewith.
>From the Gogol end
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,
BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Send free SMS to your Friends on Mobile from your Yahoo! Messenger. Download
Now! http://messenger.yahoo.com/download.php
