Organisations asso ciated with environmental cam paigns, community causes and civil society movements across Goa on Tuesday paid tribute to Rev Dr Fr Bolmax Pereira, recall ing his role in mobilising youth, supporting grassroots initiatives and lending a moral voice to sev eral public movements. Orville Dourado Rodrigues, founder of Goencho Ekvott (GE), described Fr Bolmax as ‘a driv ing force’ behind several peo ple’s movements in Goa, particu larly the anti-coal, anti-double tracking and Amchem Mollem campaigns. “Rev Dr Fr Bolmax Pereira has left behind a huge legacy for all of us to emulate, especially the youth, who somehow appear disconnected from mainstream efforts for a sustainable Goa,” Rodrigues said. He recalled that during the peak of the Covid-19 pandem ic, activists, under Fr Bolmax’s mentorship, conducted 83 pub lic awareness meetings across Goa, highlighting the importance of protecting the environment for future generations.
Rodrigues said Fr Bolmax played a major role in energis ing youth participation in envi ronmental causes and helped inspire several grassroots in itiatives, including mangrove plantation drives, the Chicalim Youth Farmers Club (CYFC), and farmers’ clubs established in places such as Sanguem and Candolim. “He may no longer be with us in person, but his work will live on through the legacies he so selflessly helped build and nur ture,” Rodrigues added while expressing condolences to Fr Bolmax’s family, fellow clergy, admirers and supporters. The Amchem Mollem Citizens’ Campaign described Fr Bolmax as “one of Goa’s most beloved and tireless environmental de fenders” and “a voice for forests and people”, whose courage inspired a generation of young environmental activists. In a detailed tribute, the movement recalled Fr Bol max’s active involvement in the campaign to pro tect the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and the Western Ghats from rail way double-tracking, high way expansion and power infrastructure projects. Activists remembered how he consistently used church platforms, public meetings, awareness drives and youth outreach initiatives to mo bilise support for environ mental causes. The group also recalled Fr Bolmax’s participation in the widely attended “Fu ture Full of Forests” gather ing held in Panjim during the height of the Mollem movement, describing him as someone who always stood alongside ordinary people during moments of peaceful resistance.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Dr Nandini Velho of the Amchem Mollem cam paign said the movement and Goa’s youth had lost “a friend who brought every one together irrespective of caste, creed or religion; a patient mentor who nev er gave up despite the odds and pressures placed upon him.” Another activist, Sherry Fernandes, said Fr Bolmax was among the few people who “still made hope feel possible” at a time when many environmental cam paigners felt disheartened about the future of Goa’s forests. In emotional tributes shared publicly and on so cial media, Save Mollem (Amchem Mollem) activists described Fr Bolmax as “a guardian” whose passing would be mourned not just by people, but also by “the forests, the farmlands and the mangroves he fought so fiercely to protect.” The movement said Fr Bolmax inspired many young people to under stand that “to love Goa is to defend her soil, her songs and her people,” while pledging to continue pro tecting the land and causes he championed. The Catholic Associ ation of Goa (CAG) also expressed deep sorrow over Fr Bolmax’s pass ing.
In a statement issued by its president, Cyril A Fernandes, a resident of Chicalim, the association described Fr Bolmax as a “fearless champion of social and environmental justice” who combined his pasto ral responsibilities with an unwavering commitment to protecting Goa’s land, rivers and people. The association said Fr Bolmax’s voice was “forth right, compassionate and rooted in Gospel values” and had inspired people to defend the environment and uphold human dignity. Remembering his close connection with ordinary people, the association said Fr Bolmax was deeply loved by fishermen, farmers, stu dents and parishioners, and recalled how he con sistently stood “shoulder to shoulder with those in need.” Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Goa, also expressed grief over Fr Bolmax’s pass ing, describing it as “a loss that transcends communi ties”. In a statement issued by state president Asif Hus sain, the organisation said Fr Bolmax would be re membered for his service, compassion and commit ment to human values. “At a time when society needs bridges of under standing and unity, individ uals like him stood as sym bols of hope and fraternity,” the statement said, while extending condolences to his family, fellow clergy, pa rishioners and admirers.
Albert Pinheiro, chair man of the Loutolim Ten ants Association, which is currently leading opposi tion to the proposed new Borim bridge project, de scribed Fr Bolmax’s death as “a dark day for Goa”. “Goa has lost a precious son who gave his last breath for Goa, its environment and its agriculture. The void he leaves behind can never be filled,” Pinheiro said, re calling his association with the priest spanning more than two decades. Pinheiro said Fr Bolmax had remained closely con nected with community and environmental caus es until his final days and had visited Loutolim just a month ago for the village’s Korgut Utsav. “He was my friend and my pillar. There are no words — only grief,” he added. Members and well-wish ers associated with the Chi calim Youth Farmers Club (CYFC), founded under Fr Bolmax’s guidance, also expressed shock and grief over his passing, recalling his efforts to reconnect young people with agricul ture, ecology and communi ty service.
