Jivitachim Ponnas Vorsam --- Fr. Freddy wrote .... "I say thank you GOD", it's a fairly long life

Konkani writers, Fr da Costa, Felicio killed in
accident
NT Staff Reporter

Panaji May 17: In a horrific tragedy, Fr Freddy J da
Costa (50) and Felicio Cardozo (71), two towering
pillars of the Konkani movement died on the spot when
their car collided head-on with a lorry at Haveri,
near Hubli, at 3 a.m, today morning. The
seriously-injured car driver, Francis Pires succumbed
to his injuries in Karnataka Medical College, Hubli
around 11 a.m.The tragic death of Fr da Costa,
founder-editor of Gulab, the Konkani magazine and
Felicio Cardozo, eminent Konkani writer, journalist
and freedom fighter, is a double body-blow to the
Konkani movement as both were strong proponents of
Roman-script Konkani. Gulab is popular not only in
Goa, but among Goans living abroad particularly in the
Gulf countries. Fr Freddy was longing to celebrate the
silver jubilee of Gulab, which is in its 22nd year of
publication.

The police officials in Haveri police station, when
contacted, said the accident occurred barely 50 metres
from the police station when the Tata Indica in which
Fr da Costa and Cardozo were travelling, attempted to
overtake another vehicle but collided head-on with an
oncoming lorry.

The Haveri police sources also confirmed that the
bodies of all the three deceased had been handed over
to their relatives from Goa around 4 p.m today
afternoon. The badly damaged car was still near the
site.

According to local sources, Fr da Costa and Cardozo
left Goa for Hubli at about 8.30 p.m on May 16. They
were proceeding to Hubli to work on a literary project
along with the driver, Francis from Siridao.

On the occasion of his 50th birthday on July 20, 2003,
Fr da Costa released a book in Roman-script Konkani
titled Jivitachim Pon’nas Vorsam (Fifty years of
Life). In his “final words” in the book, Fr da Costa
writes thus, “Fifty years in India at least, is a
fairly long life for a person. Hence first of all, I
thank God. Also to those who helped me get up and
proceed every time I stumbled and fell, I say thank
you.”

(courtesy: The Navhind Times www.navhindtimes.com )

- Forwarded by gasper almeida, associate,
www.goa-world.com




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