THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024
VIJAY KHOPRE
Cuncolim: The house in which great historian and author George Mark Moraes was born and spent his childhood collapsed on Friday July 17, due to incessant rains.
The house at Bencleanwado, Cuncolim was in a dilapidated condition for many years and was crumbling down in phases. The ceiling of the house had collapsed in last rains due while the remainder of the house crumbled today.
Sources told media that some distant relatives of the late George Moraes were claiming their right on the property and sell it. Locals had made an appeal to Cuncolim Municipal Council to acquire the said house and property to construct a children park on the name of George Moraes.
Locals have questioned why the state administration and local civic body has not initiated action to preserve the house as a historical heritage site.
George Moraes was born in 1905 and died in the year 1994. He was a great historian and Professor of History at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. There are 29 historical and research works to his credit published in 74 publications and 542 library holdings.
His book title The Kadamba Kula is the research on the Kadamba Dynasty. According to Google books, his work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.
He has also authored books like History of Christians in India, Historiography of Indian Languages, and other books published in many editions.
He also worked in Indian Historical Research Commission and premier institutions like Royal Asiatic Society.
Some locals were trying to set up a library in his name. Locals are demanding that the newly Constructed GSUDA building be named after this great historian.
As his house is in ruins, with the likelihood of perhaps no one in the Council of Ministers having knowledge about this great Goan intellectual and son of the soil, it is a reminder that those who do not respect our greats or our past are doomed to a future which is dark.
