by Froilano Machado
machadogoa@machadogoa.com
At eighty-one, I have led life to the fullest, undergoing many exciting experiences, witnessing diverse events and indulging in a wide variety of activities.
Being the youngest child in a family of six, my parents devoted time and care to give me a unique informal education. My father was a very learned man – a freelance journalist, lawyer and member of the Council of Government elected in 1917. My mother initially studied Portuguese, French and music in Goa and later studied at the Good Shepherd’s Convent in Bangalore.
My father, except for his food habits, was Gandhian. He led a simple life, wore khadi and kept neither alcohol nor tobacco in the house. He stressed on events in India and on Mahatma Gandhi’s role in India’s independence through passive resistance (ahimsa). My mother supplemented this with stories of great Indian patriots, martyrs and the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre. In short, I was breast-fed on Nationalism, a vital influence in my life.
After my 3rd year Lyceum, I switched to English. My sisters and I chose Dharwar as our Matriculation centre, staying as guests with a Muslim family, close friends of ours. I called the lady of the house who had two sons and three daughters ‘Ama’. After my matriculation in 1940-41 at the age of fifteen, I joined the Bachelor of Arts course in Karnataka College, staying in the college hostel. Soon after I returned from my Christmas holidays, I fell ill. My roommate, a good chap, Linus Menzies, informed Ama’s younger son, who rushed me to their home. With the treatment of the efficient and popular Dr. Araujo (incidentally from my village, Verna) and Ama’s dedicated care, I was nursed back from a very serious attack of typhoid. My mother arrived to see me fully recovered, as the postcard to her reached 24 days late due to censorship.
The next year Ama told my family that she wanted me to stay with them and be escort and protector to her daughter, who after doing brilliantly at her matriculation had joined college. Ama treated me like her son, little realising that her daughter and I were becoming too fond of each other.
Then came 9th August 1942, when Mahatma Gandhi gave the “Quit India” call. All top leaders were immediately arrested. In Dharwar too, there were protest meetings, processions and non-attendance of college for nearly a week. I was a member of the Belgaum–Dharwar group led by Nath Pai who set fire to Amargol, a small station between Dharwar and Hubli. After sitting for my Inter Arts examination, I silently bade adieu to Dharwar as I did not want to betray the trust of my beloved Ama.
In April 1943 I went to Bombay with a close friend, the late Felix Sanches. With the help of an older friend, we got fairly good jobs in the Ordnance Depot. I also joined Jr. B.A. in Khalsa College. But my jubilation was short-lived as I suffered a severe emotional setback with the sudden death of my dear Muslim sister of meningitis. I realised how much I had loved her. The shock was so great that it took me a long time to recover. I got a new job, took to intensive reading and for at least eight to nine years, though I tried to fall in love with some of the girls who seemed fond of me, at the last moment “Twixt thy lips and mine there fell a shadow”.
In April 1945, I came home as I was suffering from some liver problem. After my recovery, my father insisted that I leave the job and join college full time. I chose Wadia College, Poona and studied hard, but though I did very well in my first 3 papers, I went blank for the fourth. Frustrated, I returned home deciding that I would go to Bombay for the second term and appear for the final exam. During the first term’s stay in Goa, I accepted an offer to teach English and History in St. Joseph’s Institute. I was introduced to Dattatyaya Deshpande from Kholapur, a teacher from the other English School. On 18th June 1946, Dr. Lohia launched a movement in Margao for Goa’s freedom. We attended and participated actively and along with thousands, were beaten, though not arrested. Two days later, Deshpande and I organised a complete hartal of students in both schools to protest against the brutal beating in Margao of our great Goan leader, Dr. T.B. de Cunha. Thereafter, we organised a procession which was broken up by the Police with the help of African troopers. Later we had a big meeting, without obstruction, in what we now call Tilak Maidan. A few days later, though, we were both sacked under pressure from the authorities. Thereafter, from 1st August till 20th October 1946, I worked underground under the late Purshottam Kakodkar and Dr. Mayenkar. Deshpande became, along with Lawande, the founder of the Azad Gomantak Dal.
In September, the late Adv. Joaquim Dias and Chandrakant Cacodkar held a Satyagraha. Mahatma Gandhi's directives were translated in Belgaum overnight and brought to my late sister Sara for distribution at the meeting. In Chandor I was beaten badly but not arrested. Thereafter, I left for Bombay and joined St. Xavier’s College. There I attended meetings of Goan nationalists like late Dr. Julian Menezes, George Vaz and Pio Gama. I lost my father on 31st December 1946. He was seventy-two and I was twenty-one. I was deeply grieved for we were good friends. I went back to Bombay, and passed my Final B.A. exams.
With my father gone, I was a bit confused about my future career. I started teaching in Bombay and, a year later, joined M.A. and L.L.B. classes. I then came home, as my sister was going to Kenya to be married. Our family had sizeable debts with very low income from properties. I had no choice but to stay back. With hard work and help from Providence, I helped stabilise our financial position. Whilst I had not totally cut off my underground political activities, I was more careful. But on 20th June 1953 my home was raided. I was arrested and jailed in Margao for nearly 2½ months. When released I tried to go to Bombay for my final L.L.B exam but was pulled out from the train at Collem. I was arrested again in 1955 and jailed in Panjim for another two months. Not wanting to remain idle, I accepted a job offered by a Goan Exporter. I specialised in Shipping (Stevedoring and Agency work). In the meantime, the most inspiring incident of my life took place. I fell very deeply in love with my cousin who was ten years younger. She had lost her mother when she was three, her father when fourteen, and had a brother two years younger. She had just one paternal aunt who treated her harshly. It was only my mother and my sisters who showered affection on both brother and sister. I tried to resist this love but in vain. She was responsive, although she denied when asked, until she was twenty-one when she came out into the open. We got married in 1959. She was twenty-three, and I, thirty-three. She was goodness itself in every way, a truly devoted companion.
After Liberation, with hard work and God’s help, I successfully
built up my own Shipping business. I remained active as a Congressman, particularly
with the Opinion Poll and our fight against merger with Maharashtra. When I
contested two Assembly elections, my beloved wife worked hard with me, resulting
in victory by a large margin. When I was elected Speaker of the House, she took
over the management of our company, proving to have good business acumen and
fine entrepreneurial qualities. She was also a dedicated and genuine social
worker. A pillar not only of the Machado Family but also of Machado & Sons
Pvt. Ltd. We had five children, all married, and eight grandchildren when on
19th January, 2000 she died unexpectedly – a victim of a car accident
- leaving me shattered.
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Founder of Machado & Sons Agents and Stevedores Pvt
Ltd., Froilano Machado is probably best known to the Goan public as a prominent
freedom fighter and ex-Speaker of the Goa Assembly. A graduate in History and
Economics, he earlier held important positions including that of Vice President
of the Federation of Stevedores, India, Director of the Goa Urban Cooperative
Bank, Member of the Indian Standards Institute, etc. Froilano loves Goa and
has been actively involved in protecting its ecology and environment. He has
written articles and poems in English, Portuguese and Konkani.