Team Herald
MARGAO: Despite all the fanfare and assurances given in recent years, not only was the famous son of Goa, Dr. Francis Luis Gomes, forgotten on his birth anniversary, his ancestral house in Colmorod, Navelim continues to remain in ruins.
The great Indian nationalist, Dr. F L Gomes, represented Portuguese India in the Portuguese Parliament from 1861 to 1869, was also a distinguished orator, physician, writer, historian, economist, and political scientist, and he is acclaimed for his outstanding contribution to the field of liberal philosophy and economics.
While there are memorials erected and roads in Goa named after him, there was no special mention in his honor on Tuesday, his birth anniversary, and historians and local residents have lamented that the State has failed to give due respect to his dilapidated house.
Incidentally, 14 years ago, the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) had prepared the estimates for the proposed acquisition of the house admeasuring 1,143 sq mts.
“We still feel that the preservation of his ancestral house, and setting up of a museum would go a long way in not only giving due respect to his contributions but could also be a tourist attraction notified as a heritage place. We hope that the government takes necessary steps in this direction,” said Savio Coutinho, former MMC Chairperson.
