NT NETWORK
MARGAO: On May 26, Margao’s Ravindra Bhavan saw the release of a compact disc of freedom fighter, the late Carlos da Cruz from Chandor.

Carlos, who was imprisoned by the Portuguese on numerous occasions, struggled for the rights of the down trodden Adivasis tribals of Silvassa.
The release of the CD was preceded by an entertainment programme. Surprisingly the programme was given a miss by a majority of the members of the freedom fighters association executive committee members.
Also, unfortunately Member of Parliament, South Goa, Mr Francisco Sardinha had to leave for the national capital and the honours were left up to the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat who came but after a lengthy delay as he was supposedly attending a meeting of the Freedom Fighters Association at Porvorim.
Dr Damodar Bal Krishna Bounsulo, spoke and detailed the strategies adopted by Carlos da Cruz to alleviate the oppressed and suppressed tribal’s right from 1929 when he had authored the text Book on ‘Pedagogia’, the study for Portuguese Schools. Thereafter Dr Francisco Colaco, Cardiologist from Margao appealed to the Chief Minister of Goa to recognise Mr Carlos da Cruz as a genuine freedom fighter.
The son of the late Prof da Cruz, Mr Lenin Alias Antonio da Cruz spoke on how the tribal’s extolled the virtues of his father who was fondly called Vakil Carlos da Cruz.
The sarpanch of Cavorim-Chandor, Mr Derick Braganza Pereira and the film production manager of Manfil, Agnelo Fernandes was also present. A memorandum to that effect requesting the Chief Minister to declare him a freedom fighter was also presented.