Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jan 29:  George Fernandes who passed away on Tuesday, January 29, was one of the greatest Mangalureans ever born on this soil.

Born in Bejai in the city, he had his education here. He always loved Mangaluru. Wherever he went, he remained true Mangalurean. He conversed with people in Tulu, Kannada and Konkani whenever he met people from this region. He carried Kannada and Konkani books with him. He had attended many cultural programmes in Mangaluru including a Wilfy Rebimbus nite late in his life after he became politician.

George with Wilfy and Meena Rebimbus

He was fond of Tulunadu food. Konkan railway became a reality sooner than anticipated because he wanted Mumbai to be connected with the Konkan region. He donated thousands of books to a college in the city. He donated lacs of rupees to a cancer cause in Mangaluru. He was so generous that he donated his own house for charity.

He never kept quiet whenever he learnt that Mangaluru region was ignored. People have witnessed him shouting at officials for ignoring Dakshina Kannada district.

George had slept at Nehru Maidan when he had left his house when he had some differences with his family. He always joked 'Nehru Maidan was my home whenever I fought with my family'. At the same ground, he addressed people later in life.

There is an incident when veteran socialist Ammembala Balappa called George aside and told him in Tulu when Konkan railway project was in the construction stage, “George Porbule, why you say Konkan railway will be a reality within next year when railway projects take longer in India? Are you not lying?”. George told Balappa, “Sir I am not lying. Within a year Konkan railway will be a reality," and George had kept his word. All know how fast Konkan railway project was executed.

Very few people know that George was a polyglot. No other politician knew so many languages in India. Out of ten languages George had known, he had forgotten all, due to Alzheimer’s decease, except Konkani and Kannada.

Only unfortunate thing is he could never stand for elections in the Dakshina Kannada district though he had plans to do so in the last decade. But he always loved this land and always helped people from here.