4th October is the Feast of St Francis de Assisi. This feast was invariably celebrated on the Anjediva Island off Canacona, until the Chapel roof top fell off partially and the Feast could not be held. (the photograph of the same with this writer in situ is now available on the www.colaco.net website )
But who is responsible for this situation. As per the Goa Government, Department of Revenue order 1989, while permitting the use of the Island shown as a part of Canacona Taluka (kindly note that the island has not been CEDED to either the Karnataka Government or the Ministry of Defence as this would require an Act of Parliament hence it continues to be shown on the Revenue records of the Govt of Goa, till this date) the Navy is required to maintain all the immovable and movable assets on the island at their costs and also permit the customary celebration of the two feasts viz that of St Francis de Assisi on 4 October and Nossa Senhora de Brotas 2nd February. The Archdiocese of Goa & Daman, then Archbishop-Patriach, His Grace Dr Raul Niclau Gonsalves should also share a part of the blame for the neglect of this Chapel when the roof collapsed as they niether lodged a protest with the Goa Government nor did they pull up the Navy for dereliction of duties. Infact the same fate would have befallen the Church of Our Lady of Brotas if this writer with the support of the Parish Priest of Binaga overseeing the activities of this Church on behalf of the Archdiocese of Goa & Daman had not to take pains to ensure that this Church was repaired and the donation of Rs 25,000/ the then Chief Minister Mr Manohar Parrikar gave for the same and also put the onus on the Navy to repair the same which they did on 18 May 2004 at their costs. Thanks to then Station Commander Commodore S S Karnik Seabird Binaga Karwar. This writer sent an email on 20th September, 2005 requesting the Sea Bird authorities to permit the undersigned for a personal visit on 4th October 2005 to assess the state of affairs on the Island. Since no reply was forthcoming as is the case with the (bureaucracy who seem to have an allergy to reply to emails ) this writer spoke to the Naval Officer In Charge (Karnataka) Commodore K P Ramachandran this afternoon Tel No: 08382-263454 (who is now in command since June 2005 )on the issue of permission to visit the Island but was told that the matter was referred to higher authorities in New Delhi and they have turned down the request on purely security considerations. Infact Commodore Ramchandran was kind enough to regret the inconvenience and also mentioned that the Church precints is declared out of bound not only to civilians but even to officers and ratings. This writer however informed him that the conditions of the Goa Government for use of the island needs to be honoured and he agreed that the matter should be pursued at the Ministry of Defence level for it is they who need to accord sanction. This writer also checked up with the Director of Archives, Mr Manohar L Dicholkar 0832 2435321 as to the steps taken to collect the 44 cannons and other objects which were in neglect (Chapel of St Francis de Assisi) and the non grant of permission to celebrate the customary feast; Mr Dicholkar informed that the matter was examined and file forwarded to the Revenue department dealing with the subject. Upon enquiry with Mr V S N Gaunekar Under Secretary (REVENUE) 0832 2419446 the Under Secretary stated that the Collector of South Goa District was sent a letter dated 22.7.2004 and subsequent reminders dated 2.9.2004 and 14.2.2005 but no reply was forthcoming. However he sent a MOST IMMEDIATE REMINDER II (??) letter today itself at the instance of this writer to the Collector Mr J B Singh and the reply is awaited. Upon enquiries with the Diocesan Centre for Social Action, Fr Joaquim Loila Pereira, he stated that the matter is being pursued with the Ministry of Defence through Mr.Oscar Fernandes MP. However, one cannot trust the genuinity of the Church efforts as even though the Archbishop of Goa & Daman His Grace Most Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao told this writer at a function to celebrate the 125th celebrations of Msgr Sebastiao Dalgado on 8 May 2005 at the Caritas Hall St Inez Panaji that a meeting would be held in June 2005 to deliberate on the entire issue of Anjediv and that this writer would be invited to share views in the matter no such meeting is believed to have taken place. In fact the Archdiocese intentions from past efforts appear clear that they do not like to take any interest in the Anjediv issue but they have been prompt to take credit for whatever has been done by others, including this writer merely by issuing press notes. Surprisingly non of the present higher ups of the Church has visited the Island nor had a tete-tete with the Sea Bird officials to date. Even the documents which their representative Prof Newman took to Delhi was those made available by Fr Britto D Silva of St Annes Church Binaga. The Archdiocese of Goa and Daman is perhaps afraid of the threat of a section of Hindu fundamentalists who had threatened to stop the customary feast on 2nd February 2005 after they passed a resolution on 21st October, 2004 on Dussehra eve to march into the Island , Incidentally on the same day there was a fire at the Bom Jesus Basilica at Old Goa. The other threat was the removal of a linga in the precincts of the Paco Patriacal which the Archdiocese failed to file a police complaint. Fr Loila Pereira was not even aware that the Prime Minister of India would be visiting Goa on 14th October 2005 though this news was prominently featured on the local dailies. Infact Fr Pereira was advised to prepare a note on the subject and request the Archbishop to seek an audience with the PM and discuss the issue thread bare and ensure that the customary feasts are celebrated as per the Goa Government agreement. This he promised to do. However this writer has decided to pursue the matter with the PM directly during his visit and seek the assistance of the Govt of Goa on this issue of religious sentiments. This writer is convinced that the Navy ought to respect and honour the agreement with the Govt of Goa on the issue. GODFREY J I GONSALVES Borda Margao Goa [EMAIL PROTECTED] 9822158584