MARGAO
Asserting that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was instrumental in introducing the 1583 Cuncolim revolt in the school history books, Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai on Monday proposed to make a documentary film on the historic revolt, Asia’s first revolt against colonial powers.
The Minister offered his help and assistance to come out with a documentary film on the 1583 Cuncolim revolt even though the government may not support the initiative due to reservations expressed in many quarters.
The Social Welfare Minister paid his tributes to the Cuncolim Chieftains who were killed by the Portuguese at Assolna after inviting them for a peace meeting against the backdrop of the killings of five Jesuit Priests at Cuncolim.
“This is a day of immense importance in the history of Goa and that of the country. The 1583 revolt in Cuncolim against the Portuguese was the first-ever revolt against colonial powers in entire Asia when the Gaunkars of Cuncolim attacked the Portuguese when the latter destroyed their religion and culture,” he said at the Chieftains Uprising Commemoration Day.
He added: “The Portuguese had planned to rule over Goa for a long period of time. That is the reason why they went about destroying the temples and the culture of the local population and tried to convert the locals inhabiting the villages.”
The Minister thanked the Pramod Sawant government for giving due honour to the sacrifices made by the Cuncolim Chieftains to protect their religion and freedom. “Not only the history of the Cuncolim revolt is now introduced in the school history books, the Chieftains Day is commemorated on July 15 at the national war memorial in New Delhi. This has taken place due to the initiative of the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant,” he added.
On the occasion, a number of personalities and students were honoured at the hands of the Minister and Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar. The personalities felicitated included retired Sessions judge Edward Fernandes, retired headmaster Tulsidas Desai, electronic media journalist Ramesh Raut Fernandes and retired banker Dahlia Pereira.
The official function was attended by South Goa District Collector, Asvin Chandru, district police chief, SP Sunita Sawant, freedom fighters, citizens and students.
Yuri slams programme protocol as move to ‘silence’ him
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, who represents Cuncolim Constituency in the Legislative Assembly, paid his tributes along with Cuncolim Municipal Chairperson Landry Mascarenhas and ruling councillors before the official Chieftains Uprising Commemoration programme.
Yuri later lamented that though he represents the people of Cuncolim, the government had sought to silence his voice with the invitation card stating that the Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai was to be the lone speaker at the programme as per protocol.
The Opposition leader said he has been fighting for the last two years with the government to renovate the Cuncolim Chieftains Memorial befitting the historic revolt and sacrifices made by the Chieftains.
“Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is only handing out assurances to take up the renovation work, but the time has come for him to walk the talk. I will again raise the issue in the Assembly in the current session,” Yuri told the media after paying tributes to the Chieftains at the memorial.
