Moodubelle: Veterans of Goa and Bangladesh Liberation Wars honoured on Fiftieth and Fortieth Annive

By Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 17 December 2011: December 16, 2011  marks   the 50th and 40th   anniversaries of  the Wars of Liberation of Goa and Bangladesh respectively. In order to commemorate these two momentous historical events of great significance, the Lions Club of Moodubelle under the leadership of the Founder President, MJF Ln. Commodore  Jerome Castelino organized a memorial function on Friday, December 16, 2011 at 5.30 pm during which the War Memorial built by Commodore Castelino in his courtyard was inaugurated by the District Governor MJF Ln. Jayakar Shetty Indrali. Later, during the stage function held in  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.

 

Earlier, District Governor MJF Ln. Jayakar Shetty inaugurated the Bus Stand at Nellikatte  at 5 pm. The bus stand  was built by the Lions Club of Moodubelle. He also inaugurated the Traffic Visual at the Red Hill Junction. Mrs. Jacinta Aranha, President of the Belle Grama Panchayat, Devdas Hebbar, President of the Udupi Taluk Panchayat, Mrs. Ida Gibba D’Souza, member of the Udupi Zilla Panchayat and Ln. Rajendra Shetty, President of the Lions Club of Moodubelle along with other members were present during  the inauguration of both these facilities.

 

 

Thereafter, the District Governor arrived at ‘Vanasowrabha’, residence of Commodore Jerome Castelino where he was welcomed  and was presented the guard of honour by the well-trained 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 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 offered 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  Mr. 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.

 

As it was not possible to engrave the names of all those soldiers who had lost their lives in the Goa and Bangladesh Liberation Wars, Commodore Jerome Castelino has kept a book “Amar Jawan’ containing the names of over 21,000  Indian soldiers who had sacrificed their lives in all wars fought  from 1947 to 2001.

 

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, 34 soldiers who were present for the function were felicitated by the District Governor MJF Ln. Jayakar Shetty Indrali by presenting them a shawl, a certificate and a memento.  Among these four belonged to Moodubelle-Commodore Jerome Castelino, Hon. Subedar Major Alex D’Almeida, Hon. Subedar Major Vittal Nayak and Havaldar William Barboza.

 

 

Ln. Devdas Hebbar introduced the chief guest of the function, MJF Ln. Jayakar Shetty Indrali who was on official visit to the Lions Club of Moodubelle.

 

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.  He said that probably, Lions Club of Moodubelle is the only club to commemorate the 50th and 40th anniversaries of  the victory of India in two liberation wars-Goa and Bangladesh.

 

The function of the inauguration of the War Memorial at the residence of Commodore Jerome Castelino and the  programme of honouring the veterans who had participated in the Goa and Bangladesh liberation wars was compeered  by Mrs. Lilly Lobo, member of the Lioness Club of Moodubelle and vote of thanks was proposed by Ln. Vinod Castelino.

 

A poster exhibition of both the Goa and Bangladesh Liberation Wars was put up in the premises of the Lions Seva Bhavan.

 

Also Read : Commodore Jerome Castelino : Journey of a Sailor through the ocean of life