Assagao's DMello family dedicates their home to worthy causes

Departing from the luxury villa trend and high-stakes real estate speculation in Assagao, the newly established Victor DMello Community Centre (VDCC), a unique social initiative by the DMello family, native to the village, is turning heads.

Alison and Alan DMello, children of the late freedom fighter Victor Cajetan DMello, announced the opening of the community centre which will be housed in their 150-year-old ancestral home at Assagao's Bauto Vaddo.

It will focus on providing access to advanced education, cultural activities, and social cohesion for the local community.

This development comes amid rapid changes in demographics and topography of the picturesque North Goa village, driven by wild real estate activity which has adversely impacted local society.

"Assagao was a cohesive community until about a decade ago," said Alan at the dedication ceremony of the Centre.

"We have an abundance of villas, pools and restaurants, but no community centre. The VDCC is a step towards reclaiming our community and moving forward. We will include rather than exclude our new neighbours," he added.

Others present at the inaugural of the centre included Former Union Minister of State for Law Ramakant Khalap; Sarpanch of Assagao, Hanumant Naik; Member, Goa Education Board and Assagao Association, Ruildo D'Souza; Ward Member, Assagao VP, Walter Britto; and educator, Kavita Chawan.

The event also featured a special poetry recitation by Mamta Verlekar, assistant professor at Shenoi Goembab School of Languages and Literature, Goa University and published Konkani poet, from her forthcoming collection.

The VDCC, dedicated to the memory and life’s work of Victor Cajetan DMello, who fought both British and Portuguese colonials, represents a commitment to community spirit and historical continuity. The aim is to preserve and revitalise the village's rich cultural and social heritage.

The late Victor C DMello (1930 - 1996), advocated for quality universal education and community development.

He was also a senior member of the Assagao Association which celebrated its centenary on December 19, 2023 and briefly used the DMello family home as the village school, embodying his dedication to education.

“There are few people like Alan in Assagao. He is working for the betterment of Assagao. The village needs more people like Alan, who has taken a landmark decision to donate their ancestral house to start a community centre,” said Hanumant Naik, Sarpanch of Assagao village panchayat on the occasion.

“The VDCC’s primary focus will be education and community support,” Alan explained. “It will house a permanent library, serve as an education centre for underprivileged children, and offer scholarships. It will also be a venue for art, music, and activities enhancing the local cultural scene.”

Alan added that the centre’s 'Assagao Advanced Education Programme' will support Assagao youth pursuing careers in fields like medicine, law, and engineering.

"The 'Assa Re Gao' programme will foster traditions and host community events of global calibre," he noted.

Alan emphasised, “My father’s generation laid the foundation for this country. Community service was the norm then, not the exception it is now. Establishing the VDCC is our continuation of that work.”

Khalap went on to congratulate Alan and Alison DMello. “I congratulate Alan and Alison for not forgetting their roots. The spirit of their father's battle against the Portuguese and the British rulers is still in their heart. The Victor DMello Community Centre is a big gift given to Goans by late Victor DMello’s children. I thank them for being so committed to his land.”

Reflecting on their youth in Assagao, Alison reminisced, “Our home felt like a universe. The big hall was for football, the dining room for cricket. Foxes on the hills, bullock carts, the local baker, candlelit nights, and the smell of mango and jackfruit—these were the essence of home and happy summers. Months felt like nanoseconds.”

“We didn’t realise we were missing anything. Even with limited infrastructure, we spent our school summers in Assagao. Its red soil is part of our soul,” said Alison.

However, Assagao’s shift from a close-knit village to a luxury home hotspot has posed challenges. Alan noted that while early newcomers revived neglected homes, the recent surge of speculators have negatively altered the village’s identity.

“New neighbours are beneficial, especially if they are accomplished,” Alan acknowledged. “But the recent wave of speculators is attracting people who view Goa merely as a backdrop for Instagram at the cost of the local community.”

The VDCC aims to bridge the gap between old and new residents, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual respect.