TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Historians and local citizens joined hands on Thursday to seek the intervention of the Goa government to preserve the house of great Goan Nationalist Dr Francis Luis Gomes, which is lying in ruins at Colmorod-Navelim.
At a meeting held near the house of Dr Gomes, people resolved to install a plaque near the house to indicate the historical importance of the house. “The movement to preserve the house of Dr Gomes will continue. As a first step, we will install a plaque to show that the house belonged to this nationalist and a multi-faceted personality”, remarked historian Prajal Sakhardande, who had way back in 2009 called for the restoration of the house for posterity. “Dr Gomes was a Goan Parliamentarian who had fought for the rights of Goans in Lisbon Parliament. He was a novelist, writer, human rights activist, historian, economist and had fought for the rights of toddy tappers and against marriage tax”, Prajal said
“Since most Goans, including the present generation do not remember him, we have taken the task of reviving the memories of this great leader. We want his house to be declared as a site of historical importance”, he added.
Former Margao Municipal Chairperson Savio Coutinho said the house of Dr Gomes is a priceless treasure and expressed hope that the government will step in and acquire the house for posterity. “We do not demand dispossession of the house from the present owners. They can be suitably compensated, but the government should protect the house for posterity”, he demanded.
