16 May 2021  |   06:00am IST

A soldier retires

The death of Julio Aguiar has cast a pall of gloom over everyone who worked with him in various campaigns to protect the environmental eco system of the state.
A soldier retires

He came out of the blue so to speak and did so much. And now he is gone. Julio Cedric Aguiar who was present involved in the fight against the Mollem project passed away due to complications caused by the Covid virus. His untimely death has caused much shock and sadness.

Gabriella D Cruz Founder Ocean of Change said Julio put everything in the campaign. She said “I am devastated; Julio was present every time in the background. He would be doing some filing or printing t shirts or something that was vital. I am happy he saw the CDC report a month ago. He was one of the most important people who helped out in the campaign. We had tremendous respect for what he has done. Goa has lost an important man”.

Nandini Velho a biologist said it was an abiding loss. She said very few people so much of work and did not make a noise about it. She said “I am still reeling from the shock. He was a force to be reckoned with during the Mollem campaign. Multiple people will have to get involved to do what he did individually.”

 Noted environmentalist Claude Alvarez had much to say. Claude said “I have no idea how to describe him. He was a godsend and no one knows how he came on the scene. I did not know a year ago but he was so interested in fighting for environmental causes in the state despite not having children of his own. After months with him I thought I knew him for years. In the last 35 year I have not seen someone as good an activist as he was”. He went on to say that at meetings he would look water, posters, postcards and generally anything that needed to be handled. He also drove Claude around for all the meetings and then drop him home and not once did he ask for money. Claude concluded by saying he felt half the man because he was such an anchor. He did not know who would replace him. Claude said he would remember him for the rest of his life.   

 Captain Viriato Fernandes said he was shattered. Julio he said was a trusted soldier who was brutally honest, dedicated and selfless. He expected nothing in return except a safe and secure Goa.

 Francesca Cotta said “Julio came into many of our lives in an unassuming way, but left a lasting impression. He called me out of the blue some months ago and shared his plans to conduct a state wide drawing and writing contest for Goa's youth. I was dubious about him single handedly pulling this off, but in the months that followed, I learned just how much he could do, how tireless he was in his efforts. I wish I had half his determination, courage and spirit. Once, in response to my usual cribbing about some fresh sorry piece of news, he texted back "well, we shall overcome" and it made me instantly glad we were on the same team. I wish I had more chances to meet him in person. Thank you for being unapologetically yourself, Julio. May you rest in peace”. 

 Norma Alvares environmental activist said “Julio was a jewel of a person. I knew him only since the past few months during the Mollem campaign and often used to say to Claude how come we missed meeting this gem of a person earlier. He was like a foot soldier for the environment - ready to do any work, any time. Just make the request and he was immediately ready to execute - whether it was compiling documents for the case in the high court or xeroxing work or arranging a team of students to make a documentary on Mollem or even driving me home from the office when I had no driver”.

 Mithila  Prabhudesai said he was a big inspiration and a source of motivation. His fierce love for Goa and its forests would always be remembered. Sentiments echoed by Kabir Naik.

 Trisha said nothing and nobody could stop Julio from doing the best for Goa and its forests. She said “This past year he has done innumerable contributions day in and out. Even after registering his complaints with me and vice versa, the doubting eyes could never keep up with the speed at which he got things done. There wasn’t a hill he wouldn’t climb to give us the strength we needed. Julio has surprised me and inspired me to have confidence and be unbiased when it’s time to do good for the collective. He was a true comfort, like family”.

 Orville Dourado Rodrigues - Founder, Goencho Ekvott had much to say about his late Vice Chairman. He said “Through his selfless dedicated work to save Goa from irreversible destruction, as Vice Chairman of Goencho Ekvott he spearheaded the ‘Save Mollem’ movement and played a stellar role behind the scenes in the successful conduct of 74 Awareness Campaign Meetings against Coal & Double Tracking across the length and breadth of Goa. He also played a huge role in the draft CZMP movement. In his passing away Goa has lost a dedicated environment warrior for whom there were no fixed working hours”.

 Fr Bolmax Pereira reminisced about the help provided by Julio. He said “Julio is no more going to be there in our fight to save Goa? I can't digest it yet that we will miss the 'fighter to the core'. He fought without making noise of words and sound of weapons. The flash mob, the protest rallies, the awareness sessions, the memorandums and meeting the dignitaries in authority all looked to go smooth when Julio took charge. For him it was Goa First, the rest was al secondary. We will keep the Warrior alive in our fight to preserve the future full of forests. Save Mollem”.

 The good ones always seem to leave ahead of time, leaving friends and family struggling to deal with these developments. One can only hope spirits are not crushed and the desire to fight the good fight remains.       


IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar