Jose Maria Miranda
The passing of Sergio Carvalho, on Sunday 27th , removes from our midst an ardent and intrepid fighter for many causes, affecting Goa. Though he had settled in Mapusa, he hailed from an important family in the village of Betalbatim, which he chose to be his final resting place.
I had known Sergio from early 60s, when he and I were studying at Chowgule College in Margao. Sergio was an intellectual with a good academic record, he participated in various activities especially in debates, which were a regular feature then in the College. Alongwith many of us, he was over-active during the Opinion Poll campaign, although some of us had not attained majority and were not entitled to vote. I also recall that the youth of the college and some other citizens had promoted a protest in Margao Municipal garden against a remark made by a MGP Minister calling us “second class citizens”. Some participants were also detained for a while.
Sergio’s love for Goa and his tenacious activism led him to take up very forcefully the opposition to Government’s tourism policy and unplanned development, which he felt would sound the death knell to Goa. He fought shoulder to shoulder alongwith Mathany Saldanha in defence of the rights of the fishermen. There was no agitation in Goa, which was alien to Sergio. He was passionate about environment and was always vocal on the damage being caused to it, promoted or supported by our rulers.
Another facet of his activity was his devotion to teaching. It was really heartening to read the testimonies of many of his past students at Nirmala College of Education, who spoke warmly of Prof Sergio’s amiable nature and style of teaching, which endeared him to his colleagues and pupils alike
Sergio, like many of us, felt very strongly about the denial of special rights and privileges to Goans, to which they were entitled, after Goa’s merger with India in 1961. Very rightly, he felt that many of the problems Goa faced wouldn’t have existed, had safeguards been provided. Sadly, some physical disabilities kept him away from vigorous activism, which deprived us from his wise counsel and tenacity, which he earlier displayed in abundance.
Sergio and I shared the same views and ideas about Goa and his regular visits to me, some years back, whenever he was on his trips to Salcete, were always a pleasure and I will cherish them for many years to come. Talking to me about a prominent late lawyer from Margao, who had serious differences with the Portuguese Government in Goa and later about Goa’s occupation, and whom we both had known well, Sergio once lamented: I don’t know why God made Antonio Bruto da Costa blind and me deaf, depriving us from our genuine pursuits. Sergio wrote a book, which he told me would be titled “ Cry beloved Goa, cry”. We hope that though posthumously, the book will soon come to light.
In the death of Sergio Carvalho, Goa loses a valiant fighter for all good causes, a passionate lover of Goa and a dedicated pioneer in activism, who, though disabled for some years, was still an inspiration to many of us who feel that Goa deserves better.
Rest in peace, dear friend.