SS Rohna a merchant navy ship plying in the Indian Ocean was drafted as a troop carrier by the British Navy and rechristened HMT Rohna during the Second World War. On November 26, 1943 the first ever glider bomb dropped, rammed into the side of the ship, full of troops. It sank within a few hours, in the Mediterranean Sea. Three days later seamen Luis Alex Viegas and Romano Fernandes were found in the sea floating on a plank of wood. The brave seamen returned home, got married and resumed duties, even as the war raged.
Luis Alex had a daughter and two sons, before his wife died in their childhood. The sons ended up as boarders at St Stanislaus High School, Bombay. The elder son emerged as a top hockey player and captained his team to the Bombay schools hockey championships. He then proceeded to wear the colours of the Lusitanians hockey team. He returned to Goa to graduate through Chowgule College Margao where he also served as General Secretary of the Students Union. After securing a law degree in Bombay he came back to Goa and has been a leading lawyer ever since.
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As I too joined the legal profession in the late 1970s I would see him hurrying up the stairs usually late. At the time the Advocates Association was monopolised by a coterie of lawyers owing allegiance to a Panjim-based advocate. The monopoly was challenged under his leadership and in a hotly contested election Anacleto Viegas emerged as the President.
As the language agitation flared up in 1986 Anacleto and I found ourselves in the thick of it, moving from village to village motivating the activists and later moving the court for bail for the arrested. The roads were blocked and all movement proscribed but we two had the freedom of the highway. On one trip we were stopped by the lady sarpanch of Dramapur-Sirlim at Jakniband where a huge unruly crowd had gathered outside the residence of former MLA Manu Fernandes. On her pleading we marched up the stairs to find the MLA cornered by a mob with one tall young man threatening him with a broken glass. The police later filed a charge sheet against 30 or so persons with the sarpanch and the two of us as the main accused!
It was sometime, also in the 80’s Anacleto invited me for lunch. The door was opened by Anacleto’s wife, whom I had never met before. “This is Radharao. He is come for lunch” was said Anacleto. His wife smiled as she said “nothing special today, just the regular stuff”. And with all the mischief at my command, I responded, “oh is it? I am coming for the first time and I expected something special. I can get regular stuff anytime, anywhere!”
Days later, Anacleto with his gurgling laugh tells me his wife’s reaction. “Your prank cost me dear. My wife was furious after you left. What sort of friends do you have? You should have at informed me in advance.” She berated her husband.
Anacleto completes 75 years today. Co-incidentally Anacleto shares his birthday with his sister-in-law and the celebration is usually on him. And that relieves me of a great responsibility and expense. Anacleto’s sister-in -law is my wife! Now, though I can go to his house anytime and get a good meal. His wife, no more insists on prior notice!
