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