Goans in general including the institution fostering and promoting the Portuguese language and culture like ‘Centro de Língua Portuguesa-Instituto Camões’, Indo Portuguese Friendship Society and the Civil society with the Confederation of Indian Industry played host to the Honorable Prime Minister of the Republic of Portugal, His Excellency Dr António Costa. Being of Goan origin the visit of His Excellency to Goa was more on an emotional note, as Vivek Menezes, the anchor at the function organised by the CII at the premises of the vivacious Adil Shah Palace in Panjim rightly said in his welcome address that the visit of the Dr António Costa is a home coming. Yes, it was “o regresso” not only to the land of his ancestors but to the house of his parents at the Rua Abade Faria in Margão.

I was witness to the inauguration by the Honorable Prime Minster of Portugal of the new spacious premises of the “Instituto Camões-Centro da Lingua Portuguesa”, an institution for fostering the Portuguese language and culture now housed in a typical Portuguese architectural edifice and located strategically at Rua de Ormuz opposite the Ferry Wharf, overlooking the River Mandovi.

Both, the dynamic Director of the Institute, Prof Delfim Correia Silva and the Prime Minister Dr António Costa were unanimous in saying that the Institute could well serve as a beacon that could hopefully provide the impetus needed for the language to thrive in the state. 

Dr. Antonio Costa after the inauguration went walking up to the Institute Menezes Bragança located at a distance of around 100 meters greeted on the way by the anxious crowd waiting to have a glimpse at His Excellency with whom he shook hands warmly and interacted with them too. He felt so much at home.

At the Central Hall of the Adil Shah Palace thereafter the function was emotional both for the organisers and also for the visiting Prime Minister who was offered the English translation of the book written by his father Orlando Costa. The Prime Minister was nostalgic about his childhood days. Driven by emotions the Prime Minister said that though his father left Goa to live in Portugal, Goa never left him.