Once again I write from memory and tidbits from some notes, so corrections are
welcome. I would like to add to the debate but not necessarily take up Dr.
Colaco's points. However, I must concede that some fnoted reedom fighters
suddenly saw that things were not rosy for them and hence they ran away. I am
not sure if some living freedom fighters are disillusioned by the current state
of Goa or they have taken it in their strides. Sometimes the price of freedom
is too high to pay.
Dr. Colaco has mentioned his neighbour "Jose Inacio de Loyola", one of the
fredom fighters who left India and settled down in Portugal. Another notable
freedom fightere who left India was Pundalik Gaitonde who went from Portugal to
England
In both cases, their wives were away from them. To give Loyola's full name,
Francisco Xavier Candido Jose Ignacio de Loyola (popularly called Fanchu), his
wife Amelia Caesar Loyola stayed back in Bombay.
In Gaitonde's case, his wife Edila Giatonde lived in Madeira.
The most interesting sage of Goan freedom fighters relates to Dr. Telo
Mascarenhas. It is believed that Telo and wife, Dr. Elsa, wanted to settle down
in Brazil and also to make a movie of his book, Rama e Sita, and that he was
betrayed by his friend, General Paulo Bernardo Guedes, a Portuguese. He fooled
Telo by saying that he would be provided a plane by the Portuguese government
to fly to Brazil. He flew and as they say rest is history. Telo spent at least
ten years in Portuguese jail.
According to some, General Guedes was fed the idea by Castilho Serpa do Rosario
Noronha of Neura. Noronha had no good feeling for Telo.
Telo and wife returned to India, I think, along with Ranade, later on through
an agreement between India and Portugal.
Eugene
