Udupi: Martyrs of Goa, Bangladesh Liberation Wars Remembered, Veterans Honoured
By Dr Eugene D'Souza, Moodubelle
Udupi, Dec 20: The Lions Club of Moodubelle under the leadership of the founder president, MJF Ln Commodore Jerome Castelino organized a memorial function recently to commemorate the 50th and 40th anniversaries of the Wars of Liberation of Goa and Bangladesh, respectively.
The War Memorial built by Commodore Castelino in his courtyard was inaugurated by the district governor MJF Ln Jayakar Shetty Indrali on the occasion.
Later, during the stage function held at the Lions Seva Bhavan, Moodubelle, 34 Ex-servicemen from the Udupi district who had actively participated in Goa Liberation War (1961) and Bangladesh War (1971) were honoured.
As the district governor arrived at ‘Vanasowrabha’, residence of Commodore Jerome Castelino, he was welcomed by Commodore Jerome Castelino and his wife Rose Castelino and was presented the guard of honour by the girl students of St Lawrence English Medium High School. Thereafter the national flag was hoisted as the guard gave general salute while the band from St Lawrence English Medium High School played the National Anthem.
Proceeding to the courtyard, the district governor inaugurated the War Memorial built by Commodore Jerome Castelino. At this time army bigulars sounded the last post and the guard fired three rounds in the air as a mark of respect to those officers and soldiers who had laid down their lives during the Goa Liberation and Bangladesh Wars. Fr Joswey Fernandes, parish priest of St Lawrence Church, Moodubelle recited prayers for the souls of those soldiers died during both the wars.
As a mark of respect to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the Goa Liberation and Bangladesh wars, wreathes were placed at the War Memorial by the dignitaries starting with district governor followed by Prasad-Commissioner of Income tax, Mangalore, Col Ramachandra Rao on behalf of the Army, Commodore Jerome Castelino on behalf of the Navy, Air Vice Marshal Ramesh Karnik on behalf of the Air force, Ln Rajendra, president of the Lions Club of Moodubelle and Ln Gilbert Braganza, president of the Ex-Servicemen’s Association. Floral homage was also paid to the soldiers by those who were present during the inauguration of the War memorial.
The stage function was held in the Lions Seva Bhavan, Moodubelle from 7 pm to 9 pm. Following the preliminaries associated with the Lions Club meetings and welcome address by the president Ln Rajendra Shetty, Commodore Jerome Castelino, in his introductory address narrated in brief the circumstances that led to both Goa Liberation and Bangladesh liberation wars in which he had taken part. He said that exactly 50 years ago on Tuesday, December 16, 1961, the mighty naval armada and land forces of longest ruled Portuguese Dictator Salazar were defeated and crushed just within 36 hours of Indian armed forces launching attack on Portuguese occupied Goa. Goa, Diu and Daman were liberated and Lt. General KP Kendeth was appointed as military governor. In the Goa Liberation War, 21 soldiers and 7 sailors laid down their lives.
Exactly after ten years, again on December 16, 1971 in a fiercely fought battle against the Pakistani forces, just in a matter of 13 days, the Pakistani army was defeated and 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered which led to the birth of the new nation f Bangladesh. During the Bangladesh Liberation War against Pakistan, 3921 Indian soldiers, sailors and airmen gave their lives just within a matter of 13 days and 9850 soldiers were severely wounded.
Further, commodore Jerome Castelino said that 34 soldiers hailing from Udupi district who had actively participated in these two wars would be honoured during the programme.
Following the introductory address by Commodore Jerome Castelino, all the 34 soldiers who were present for the function were felicitated by the district governor MJF Ln Jayakar Shetty Indrali by presenting them a shawl and a memento.
Speaking at this occasion, district governor Jayakar Shetty greatly appreciated the twin function organized by the Lions Club of Moodubelle under the leadership of Commodore Jerome Castelino - one, inauguration of the War Memorial in front of his house, and second, a programme to honour those soldiers from the Udupi district who had actively participated in the Goa and Bangladesh Liberation Wars. Later they posed for a group picture.
The entire programme was compeered by Lilly Lobo, member of the Lioness Club of Moodubelle and vote of thanks was proposed by Ln Vinod Castelino.