Rajya Sabha MP Luizinho Faleiro has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to celebrate one of India's greatest sons, late Dr Francisco Luis Gomes, a man who went by the sobriquet of prince of intellectuals and is even today highly revered in Goa from where he hails.
This, Faleiro said, has to be done to remove the colonial mindset from the people and showcase before them a man who was among the first to propound the concept of freedom for India, much before the popular launch of the freedom movement in 1857.
September 30, 2022, is the 153rd death anniversary of Dr Francisco Luis Gomes. Giving a brief background, Faleiro wrote that Dr Gomes, who was born on May 30, 1829, was also a writer, philosopher, politician, historian and economics.
He said in the letter that long before socialism could make a mark in the world, Dr Gomes had been propounding the transfer of power from the classes to the masses, just as he had demanded freedom for India, years before the Indian National Congress could be formed and take up the cause.
In the letter Faleiro reminded the PM of Dr Gomes's words, "I was born in the East Indies, once the cradle of poetry, philosophy and history and now their tomb. I belong to the race which composed the Mahabharat and invented chess -- two works of sublimate eternity. But that nightingale which once rented the heavens is fluttering its wings against the cage which holds it captive. I ask for my country light and liberty."
The MP, in the letter, said he has funds in the MPLAD scheme for a museum complex in memory of Dr Gomes. Faleiro said since he represents West Bengal in the Rajya Sabha, the utilisation of the funds in Goa may require special permission.
If such permission is obtained, that would be my contribution to the project, he said and added, "I wish to discuss this with you (PM) on the project and I have asked for an appointment with you separately."