Fr Bismarque, for those uninitiated, was a kindred spirit, a fighter, a man of the masses, and therefore, a person of god. His sudden and shocking, and as many are saying, murderous death is something that needs to be investigated. As we’ve been hearing from people from across the world, very little is known about Fr Bismarque as a person.
Sudeep Dalvi, who was a pioneer in forming this amazing protest movement called Musical Warriors, which has spearheaded the Save Goa Save Tiracol, Carmona and other movement and a close ally of Father Bismarque and will tell us more about him.
Herald: For our readers, many of whom are young and may have not met him, just give us a slight glimpse into the man Fr Bismarque was.
Sudeep Dalvi: (plays the ‘damaru’) The ‘damaru’ was played by Fr Bismarque. It is the instrument of Lord Shiva, and when it is played, it signifies thunder; the dance of destruction. Destruction to initiate the begining of a new construction, to initiate a new era. This was Fr Bismarque. He was not a candle, because a candle melts and gives away whatever it has. A lamp is lit and it keeps on giving light to the world till it has oil. Fr Bismarque was an oil rig on fire. He was a man of tremendous energy, who was struggling with all he had and all he didn’t have, to bring all the issues that were stinging Goa to a culmination. This is Fr Bismarque. (pointing to a guitar he brought for the interview)
Herald: So when did his journey start in Goa. He moved here from Bombay.
Dalvi: When Fr Bismarque came to Goa he got himself associated with the various churches and parishes and performed very well. He was the hearthrob of the people who used to listen to him. One day, in the island of Vanxim, a lady taunted him that she feels ashamed to call him a priest. He was quite surprised that the lady was talking so rudely to him. He inquired and found out that she was one of the villagers whose house had been taken over by a group called Ozone Group. When he dug still deeper, he came to know that Vanxim island, traditionally and ancestrally, belonged to the Church. One fine day, the Church decided to sell its property to one Mahendra P Gaunekar. Gaunekar, without wasting any time, sold it to Ozone Group which wants to build a huge golf course-cum-resort in Vanxim. That was the first time he raised his voice against this injustice. He protested against the Gera issue and many land grab issues that are going on in St Estevem.
Herald: Coming to when he went missing on the night of November 5. Why is there this belief that he was done to death. Why are people refusing to accept the fact that it could have been a terrible, terrible accident without any malafide intention?
Dalvi: There is every reason for that belief to exist. Fr Bismarque, throughout his social career, had made enemies every day of his life; enemies who wanted to ruin Goa. He had made enemies with the land mafia, the government, and the politicians. Fr Bismarque was not a person of forgive and forget. He was a person of terrible anger. He used to tell me that we had to set them right and bring them on the path through RTIs, court cases, civil protests, and public movements. All across Goa he had friends and enemies. In St Estevem, the number of his enemies was far greater than the number of his friends.
Herald: Can you tell me what are your suspicions, and why is it not plausible that Fr Bismarque went on a massive drinking binge and drowned?
Dalvi: Fr Bismarque used to drink socially. He used to drink with me many times. I know how much he could drink. He could not consume more than two pints of beer. He was a person of responsibility and was aware of who he was and what he was doing. No chance of going three-and-a-half kilometres inside a jungle and binge drinking, that too along with two kids who nobody in village knows about.
The stories that are being talked about behind his back – I consider it as his second assassination. The state government, the police, a section of media, is hell bent on proving that Fr Bismarque was responsible for his own death. It’s rubbish. I believe that Fr Bismarque was deceived and brought to where he was found. This is the angle that the police are not probing. That gives me a strong reason to believe that the State government and police want to dump this case.
Herald: We feel that the police investigation has been completely botched up even from the forensic investigation point of view. Can you just elaborate on it?
Dalvi: When the police inquest was being conducted at GMC, I was present; I am one of the signatories. I have seen a deep gash just above the right eye. I have a paramedical background, so I know what it means. He was said to have had many bottles of beer. His bladder should have been swollen. There was only 50 cc of unrine found in his bladder. Where has the rest of it gone?
Herald: His death has also brought out the gap between people and government. Why do the people need to take to the streets so often?
Dalvi: There is no connection between the people and the government. This government is in the form of a swindler who comes to you, wins your confidence and then does whatever it wants. The government has only respect for violence. It has no respect for non-violence or peace or humility or humanity. Today, the life of every activist in Goa is in danger. I myself have applied for police protection. Not just me, but every member of my troupe and their families. This is not democracy in its truest form. Every man has his hand in another man’s pocket. All evidence and witnesses point towards murder, but still the State government is moving ahead with the theory that he drank alcohol, went mad, jumped into the river at midnight when there was high tide and drowned because of his own foolishness.
Herald: What is the solution? There has to be dialogue and an understanding on the part of the government. There has to be a huge change in the way Goa is governed or the people who govern us. What are the solutions that will help us avoid that final violent path?
Dalvi: Fr Bismarque has already shown us the path. An ordinary Goan will never pick up a stone and throw it on a police vehicle, will never burn things, will never break bridges, will never believe in destruction. It is never going to happen in Goa. But, we have a legitimate right to destroy our own lives. The social activists of Goa will keep on burning themselves the way Fr Bismarque burnt himself. (Figuratively speaking. He meant that every activist will make personal sacrifices for the sake of Goa). Long live Fr Bismarque, long live Goa.
