Yes, Jena, you’re not wrong. Thankfully, there were others as well, like Sardesai and Sarmalkar; but surely, Singbal’s was foremost in everybody’s mind!

Those old days of our beautiful Panjim City are meaningful to me as well, we can only cherish those memories. Antonio Fonseca, you have to excuse me to use this space to express my thoughts about Goa and Goans. Here is my take: That was an excellent “Recordações das memorias” by Oscar de Noronha. Just to make my note short I would bluntly say Goa is lost forever. Here’s my story. I am from Taleigao which is a backyard of Panjim. Born in 1953 and lived in Goa until year 1996(43 years). I was lucky enough to escape my life and threats to my family from fellow Gaonkars for not taking sides with their political decisions from 1978 until 1996 after the fall of Dr Sequeira from politics in 1978, what followed was political ambitions. Dr Jack Sequeira represented Taleigao, St Cruz and Merces. I was active since 1978 in educating people in my village about importance of selecting respectful candidates to represent my village and always failed. I participated from year 1978 until 1996 which sums to 18 years. Finally had to put my hands in the Air and was lucky to land in Toronto, thanks to my brother-in-law David Paes who was already in Canada.

My activities in short: Always supported Dr Jack Sequeira from 1962 until 1978. Initially it was the Congress wave that got rid of Dr Sequeira in 1978, after that it was a roller coaster with incumbents changing every 5 years. This period from 1978 until 1996 was a very tense period for me personally since I worked for loosing candidates, always challenging the people’s choices. During 1978 elections, I called all contestants for a meeting including Dr Sequeira at Casa do Povo in Taleigao to understand their purpose of contesting especially against Dr Sequeira and I must admit, I was blunt in calling them useless rogues, I had no diplomacy then, fresh from University at age 25. Anyone reading this can always confirm about my activities.

It was a no brainer to realize that moral architecture of Goans was eroding since 1978. I happened to refresh my memory of Panjim Dockyard, opposite Custom House when I arrived into the port of “Prince George in the Bahamas” I thought I reached Goa Docks in Panjim. Google it for a feel and given an opportunity do visit “Prince George Docks in the Bahamas” to refresh your memories of Panjim Jetty. My salute to Oscar Noronha for penning those memories.

Those were the days we all enjoyed in Goa. We will never get them back again however much we try with all the efforts. I was only 14 years old when Portuguese finally bowed to the pressure just to save Goa and goans under the orders of General Vassalo Silva the then Governador de Goa and in common understanding with the then Arcebispo Dom Jose Alvernaz.
May God give them eternal rest in heavenly abode. I had completed my studies till segundo grau and was in Pilar seminary and had watched the full episode of the war as the seminary was on the hillock which gave good view of Dabolim Airport, Marmagoa harbour and Bambolim Emissora de Goa, how the last plane flew out of Goa, how the only ship fought and how the indian airforce jets were bombarding the radio station sending chill within us as the jets were encircling our seminary while our community mass was on. This was te first time we saw what war like. The memory will never fade from my mind until death.

I wish I was born during that period, to experience Panjim the way it was.
Lovely memories.

It’s sad, how the City planners have no clue to save our beautiful heritage. We’re left at the mercy of these unapologetic and unsympathetic administrators who choose to do nothing constructive.

Oscar thank you for sharing your vivid experiences for our former glory.