Daijiworld News Network - Dubai
Dubai, Jun 11: Following Mick-Max’ sudden death on April 25, his fans and well wishers who had immense admiration for him, held condolence meetings all around the world. The news of death of an evergreen Writer, Musician, Master compere, Dramatist, actor, was beyond anybody’s imagination. Words of sympathies flowed all around, but the inevitable had happened. Although Mick Max’ smiling face faded away from public memory the memories prevailed, for they are eternal.
No sooner Mick Max left this world leaving his mesmerizing 'Pen Name' behind, his friends and wishers alike decided to cash in on his name to launch a 'sustainable fund' to benefit his immediate family which is said to be in financial crisis due to the sudden and untimely death of their single bread earner.
It may be recalled here that 'Hemacharya', Mick Max’ long standing friend and a well wisher of his family, wrote a very touching tribute on this website the very next day of his death. Having known Mick Max very closely and the financial needs of his family he urged his friends to come forward to support his family in Mick Max absence.
Messages poured into his personal mail as well as on this website for days together. Michael D'Souza from Dubai, Austin D`Souza Prabhu from US, Brian Nazareth from Muscat, Merwyn Pinto from US, and Flavian Pinto from Canada were among the first who offered to help the family of Mick Max and personally urged 'Daiji Dubai' and Hemacharya in particular to take lead into forming an international fund.
Subsequently the ‘Daiji Foundation’ was launched and eminent personalities around the world were nominated on the panel of this foundation. Besides Hemacharya, Dayan D'Souza, the former convenor of Daiji Dubai and Walter D'Souza of Daijiworld, played very pivotal roles in launching this foundation.
To promote the concept of this foundation further, and to plan the ways and means to collect the required funds for the family, many like-minded community members met together on Friday, June 9, at Winnys Karama in Dubai.. Besides Daiji Dubai and Daiji Rang Mandir members, representatives from other local organizations such as Mangalore Konkans, Karavali Milan, Konkan Yuva, Udyavarites, Kanara Entrepreneurs were present.
Hemacharya, thanked everyone present and explained why Mick Max family needs a world wide financial support. He mentioned that all along his life Mick Max only spoke about uplifting the standard of our Konkani literature and did not even once spoke about his personal struggle and about uplifting his social status. “He was like a sage, a selfless person, he did not think of himself or the needs of his family. It is our duty now, to look after his siblings and we cannot run away from our greater sense of responsibility”
While disclosing the names of initial contributors he also announced that the foundation has already enrolled Karishma, the daughter of Mick Max to do her one-year Corporate Communications course at Sophia College, Mumbai under the joint sponsorship of Austin D’Souza Prabhu and Flavian Pinto. He thanked both of them for their generous and timely gesture.
The list of contributors as of June 10 is as follows:
1 Daiji Dubai members 1,00,000
2 Michael D’Souza, Dubai 50,000
3 Austin D’Souza, Chicago, US 25,000
4 Konkani Kutamb, Bahrain 25,000
5 Mangalore Konkans, Dubai 25,000
6 Flavian Pinto, Canada 20,000
7 Merwyn Pinto, Houston, US 11,000
8 Richard Moras, Bahrain 10,000
9 Alexander Menezes, Dubai 10,000
10 Joseph Mathias, Dubai 10,000
11 James Mendonca, Dubai 10,000
12 Felix Lobo, Doha, Qatar 10,000
13 Herman Lewis, Dubai 7,500
14 Karaval Milan, Dubai 5,000
15 Udyavarites, Dubai 5,000
16 Micky Castelin, Dubai 5,000
17 Harry Lobo, Dubai 5,000
18 Manohar Pais, Dubai 5,000
19 Thomas Saldanha, Dubai 5,000
20 Ozwald D’Souza, Abu Dhabi 3,500
21 Ronald F. D’Souza, Karavali Konkans, Bahrain 27,000
TOTAL -RS. 3,74,000 AS OF 10.06.2006
Dayan D`Souza, the treasurer of Daiji Foundation, urged the audience to contribute generously and also to spread awareness within the community so as to benefit a greater response. “Think of others and others will think of you, Help others and others will help you’ was his message to the community members. He clarified that the drive for collection of funds will be open till the end of June and all the funds received by then will be disbursed during the visit of Panel members to Mangalore. The list of contributors will be announced on this website from time to time.
Manohar Pais and Herman Lewis gave some valuable tips on building up a sustainable fund by involving the artistes’ worldwide and by investigating better options of high yielding returns. Many of the members contributed on the spot to Mick Max Memorial Fund and also promised to spread the word around.
By a majority opinion, it was decided that a fixed amount would be deposited in high interest-yielding financial institution or scheme and interest amount will be made available to Mick Max family every month till such time either of the children become capable of supporting the family. It was also agreed that till then the fixed amount would be held in the joint names of a member of Daiji Foundation and Mick Max family. At the end of such term, the principal amount will be transferred to the immediate member of the family.
Walter Nandalike, the founder member of Daiji Dubai and the Editor in Chief of Daijiworld, conducted the entire proceedings of the evening.
More contributions - please contact: 00971-50-6547235 or email: hemacharya2001@yahoo.co.uk
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