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Bismarque stood for justice: Hema Sardesai

Whatever happened to Bismarque Dias could have been averted if he had begun his new journey: Hema Sardesai

The Goan Network | NOVEMBER 23, 2015, 12:00 AM IST

head:

Whatever happened to Bismarque Dias could have been

averted if he had begun his new journey: Hema Sardesai

quote:

I can recall the events leading up to his renunciation of his priesthood. Bismarque made that decision because he wasn’t too happy with some of the things that he witnessed as a priest. He stood for justice and explained his predicament to me on numerous occasions

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I met Bismarque during the anti-SEZ Save Goa campaign in 2006. Our battle succeeded in driving away the SEZs from Goa and thus began developing our close association as comrades.

My speeches during the campaign touched Bismarque and ours was a bond based on the selfless care for Goa.

Soon after this, a small group comprising Matanhy Saldanha, Alina Saldanha, Bismarque Dias and myself began having consecutive meetings to seriously discuss the special status for Goa. Others such as Prof Prajal Sakhardande, Goretti, Jatin Naik and Amol Navelkar joined in soon after. Within a few days, we had some 50 eminent individuals from Goa offering insights into various issues concerning the State. I was the only public figure among them.

The same year, my father passed away and I slipped into depression, withdrawing from all the activities for a very long time. My absence led to a lull and soon, all the meetings of Save Goa stopped.

But me and my husband, we kept in touch with Bismarque.

In 2012, during the campaign for the last election campaign, I was supporting Manohar Parrikar and yet, when comrade Bismarque announced his independent candidature for Cumbarjua constituency, I was the only member of Save Goa who went to Zuvem to attend his public gathering.

He was undoubtedly touched by my gesture.

I can recall the events leading up to his renunciation of his priesthood. Bismarque made that decision because he wasn’t too happy with some of the things that he witnessed as a priest. He stood for justice and explained his predicament to me on numerous occasions.

That same year, Matanhy Saldanha passed away. However, on being sworn in as the new minister for environment and forest, Alina Saldanha had different plans for the special status campaign. This hurt Bismarque in the most inexplicable manner.

From thereon, Bismarque was kept out of the campaign for no concrete reason. Amol Navelkar and I voiced our displeasure at this and as a result, even began to be kept in the dark on many things. For my own reasons, I voluntarily chose to opt out of the campaign after that.

I brought the matter to the attention of the then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and he ensured that Navelkar and Bismarque were brought back at the final meeting on special status, much to the shock of the other comrades.

Bismarque was deeply grateful to me for this and lovingly, he began addressing me as ‘Hemulsha’.

In 2014, when I was performing at a Gospel music concert in Margao, I invited Bismarque and gave him the respect he deserved. I addressed him as ‘Father Bismarque’ before the audience and gave an account of his love for Goa and for Lord Jesus. After the event, he hugged me warmly and told me that I was the only one who had stood by him through thick and thin.

Prof Prajal, Bismarque and I met regularly even after that and discussed for long hours the issues that plagued Goa and they both probed into various manuscripts, seeking solutions to Goa’s problems.

At one such meeting this year, Bismarque came in shaken. He said his life was being threatened by a builder and that he was falsely implicated by some people. He was used by people to pursue their own agenda. I told him that I was ready to go to the press with proof of his innocence.

It was then that he told me that he had been on anti-depressants since he renounced his priesthood. I was shocked and worried because I had been on that path myself. Witnessing his inwardly struggle, I felt helpless. I have been to his house many times, trying my best to help him work his way out of this rough patch.

He continued to send me SMSes which revealed his inner turmoil.

A month and half ago when me and my husband met him, Bismarque looked frail and weak. He told us he felt lost and that he wished to get married and settle down. My husband offered to get him a house and a job. I asked him to stick to the Save Goa agenda. Having found a way out of depression myself, I assured him that I would do all I can to make sure he finds peace and love.

He was overjoyed and accepted our offer and told me that he will come back and meet me soon so that he could start a new journey. He held me and my husband close and said, “Hemulsha, I love you both so much and I will do as you say. I know that you truly care about me.”

But that was not to be.

I lost my mother a few weeks ago. Bismarque called me on the 12th day and promised to meet me. How I wish he had. Whatever happened to him could have been averted had he begun his new journey.

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