Goans worldwide are shocked over the tragic death of priest-turned-activist, Fr Bismarque Dias, but the major jolt on account of his death was felt by the fishing community at Khariwado. For the residents of Khariwado, Bismarque was the first social activist who came like an angel and united them and became their idol. He also fought tirelessly, taking all the people onboard holding their hands during the time of their biggest trouble – the Khariwado demolition.
“We don’t even know when he won our hearts as if he was one amongst us facing demolition. Fr Bismarque not only came to our rescue in the most difficult phase of our life but got us united to realize the strength of people’s power. We still remember how MPT was all out to ensure that the structures at Khariwado be removed. We had no one to guide us until Fr Bismarque came like an angel and supported us wholeheartedly,” said a Khariwado fisherman with tears in his eyes.
Although Fr Bismarque is no more, everyone at Khariwado has some or the other memory still alive in their heart with the thought that if Fr Bismarque was not at the forefront of the demolished Khariwado scene, then things would have been different today. It was only because of Fr Bismarque who fought a month’s long battle using no political power and only people’s power during the Khariwado demolition.
“I still remember when we saw a wiry, balding, highly vocal activist with his trademark bag slung across his chest, wearing jeans and a t-shirt at Khariwado. At that time we all were fighting to save our buildings as the Mormugao Municipal council, using state administration machinery intended to demolish our structures to pave the way for MPT expansion plans. 63 out of 365 structures at Khariwado were already demolished while others managed to obtain a stay order from the Administrative Tribunal under section 184. But the sword of demolition was still lying and at that time, the members of Old Cross Fishing Canoes Owners Cooperative society met Fr Bismarque who rushed to our rescue within no time along with Swati Kerkar and took our protest to a different sphere. He was at the forefront of the demolished Khariwado scene. He was leading from the front. It was his efforts which saved our structures then,” said General Secretary of Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association, Simon Pereira.
According to the residents of Khariwado, Fr Bismarque Dias, along with Swati Kerkar did not bother about the scorching heat and even skipped lunch and dinner on many occasions only to meet people and get them all united. Aggravated KAP members planned strategies, blocked the MPT effectively on the seaward side by sailing hundreds of trawlers and small crafts at the entrance to the sea channel to MPT. The agitation went on to the second level when the members of KAP blocked the landward entrance to MPT using trucks carrying mineral ore. Locally, the women did not sell fish. Besides that, the residents of Khariwado sat on a hunger strike before the Mormugao Municipality.
“On that day we were about 400 people – men, women and children and we wanted to meet the Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat at his residence at Altinho. However, police stopped us at the Church square and did not allow us to proceed meet the CM. Fr Bismarque asked us about our opinion and we said we will go ahead with his decision and finally we decided to stay back in Panjim. We spent the whole night on the road leading to Altonho. The whole night he was talking about Goa and how politicians and land sharks are all out to sell Goa. He even removed his laptop and showed us some short films about types of birds, insects found in Goa and other beautiful places getting destroyed due to the mushrooming of mega projects. That night we slept at about 4 am and were woken up by police at 7 am who then threatened us to leave or else they would arrest all of us,” said Simon Pereira.
At that time, people in Goa who were reading about the KAP agitation, Fr Bismarque was like a new star rising on the activism front in Goa. Under his leadership, KAP decided to block the channel in order to paralyse the port activities. They protested at Azad Maidan in Panjim, besides several protests and rallies held in Vasco with the demand that the state government should stop demolition of their traditional dwellings to make way for the expansion of the port. “The strike that had paralysed life in the port town of Vasco was later called off by us after a high level meeting chaired by Digambar Kamat conceded to a majority of our demands. It was not possible to think of such protests which would be always remembered in history if Fr Bismarque and Swati Kerkar had not supported us,” said Gracious Coutinho, a local fishermen form Vasco.
Fr Bismarque is no more today but his thoughts still lie in the minds of the people from Khariwado. KAP which was formed under his leadership still exists and the members vows to carry forward his legacy. The fight saved their structures on which the sword of demolition still lies and would continue even in the future.
