CANACONA, SEPT 10
Freedom fighter and ex-MLA Gajanan Raikar said freedom fighters fought for freedom from British and Portuguese rules for the sake of present generation so that they can freely think and act to bring prosperity to their lives.
Raikar was speaking at a specially organized function at Chaudi to mark the 24th death anniversary of Terekhol Vir Alfred Alfonso on Friday evening.
Terekhol Vir Alfred Alfonso with his brave acts had for the first time in Goa’s history unfurled tricolour at Terekhol Fort on August 15, 1954, conquering the fort for a day.
“I have been closely associated with Alfonso and we shared friendship and goodwill in interacting with each other and acting accordingly on nationalism,” said Raikar.
Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) Chairperson Shyamsunder Dessai, journalist and writer Ajit Painginkar, social worker Soccoro Fernandes also spoke on the occasion.
Nazareth Fernandes (Nazu), a footballer from Canacona taluka, and presently a football coach was felicitated by Raikar.
Earlier, Terekol Veer’s portrait was garlanded and revered before the function commenced in the presence of Alfonso’s family, which included his son Walter Alphonso.
Alponso, who is remembered as Terekhol veer, for his matchless achievement was born in Galgibaga-Canacona on March 11, 1924, and died on September 11, 1986.
Loliem-Polem Panchcyat has named the panchayat building as Terekhol Veer Alfred Alfonso Complex, Poinguinim panchayat has named Galgibaga-Sadolxem road as Terekhol Veer Alfred Alfonso Road and erected a beautiful memorial at the village market.
Besides, his lively and touching account of his momentous achievement in Goa’s freedom struggle is provided in Std III Konkani textbook under the caption ‘Terekhol Veer Alfred Alfonso’, while the State government has constructed a memorial in front of the Terekhol fort in his memory.
Few social workers from the taluka often claimed that the memorial at Terekhol Fort at Pernem is in dilapidated condition.
