Daniel F De Souza
PANJIM: The passing away of Anthony Veronica Fernandes on Thursday afternoon sent shock waves across the Konkani speaking world from Goa to Kuwait and beyond. He was 76.
A true son of the soil and die-hard protagonist of the mother tongue Konkani, Anthony Veronica Fernandes in Kuwait for several decades and on retirement in 2013 returned back to his homeland Goa where he settled down with his family at Arrady in Candolim. A prolific bilingual writer and orator, Anthony Veronica was a voice for the voiceless and a beacon of hope for the expat Goan community serving in the oil rich Kuwait. He continued writing on his blogspot and awakened the conscience of Goans living in Goa and across the globe. He minced no words in expressing his view point on any topic that concerned Goa and Goans, as well as the international community in general. During his younger days Anthony Veronica was an outstanding athlete and a footballer of repute, who shone during his stint with Sesa Goa. His knowledge of tiatr, football and Goan culture was second to none. He has enlightened the readers with his intellectual features on these topics on his ‘Goa Kranti’ blog for several years till his indifferent health restricted him.
In his passing away Goa has lost a priceless gem and a stalwart who immensely contributed to the welfare of Goa and Goans in Kuwait and back home in Goa and stood strongly in support of Goan culture and mother tongue. Anthony Veronica has authored an English book ‘From Coconut Trees to Oil Wells’ soon after the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. He will be laid to rest on Friday, September 13, after a Eucharistic Celebration at Our Lady of Hope Church, Candolim, at 3.45 pm. Anthony Veronica leaves behind his wife Fatima, his son Ashton and daughter Aveshah.