A SENIOR OF WHOM GOANS SHOULD BE PROUD

by Lenny Barretto
lbarretto@earthlink.net

Frank D'Souza was born and educated in Karachi. He was the first Indian to be appointed by the British as a member of the Railway Board of India. In those days, a small group of men controlled the mighty railways of India. It was the railways that kept the Indian Empire working efficiently and effectively, and it was important therefore, that membership of the Board was the preserve of the best. Frank D'Souza being one of the best, was appointed to the Railway Board of India.

After finishing school with a Matriculation, Frank D'Souza started to work as a Railway Guard in one of the Railways. He was a self-made man and educated himself over the years. At the time of Partition, Frank D'Souza opted for India and because of the Evacuee Property Law, which was established by both India and Pakistan, he lost his large property ‘Maryville’ in Karachi, Pakistan. At the time, Pakistan urgently needed the services of someone to set up the Railway system there. Pakistan decided the only man who could help in this direction was Frank D'Souza. Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Founder and the First Governor-General of Pakistan specifically requested Frank D'Souza to help in setting up the Railway system in Pakistan. Frank agreed, but on the condition that his home ‘Maryville’ be returned to him. Jinnah and the Government of Pakistan agreed.

Frank D'Souza always helped and supported Goans and often suggested that Goans should always try to support each other. He set an example. When he came to Pakistan, he stayed at a Goan-owned hotel ‘Braganza Hotel’ though he could have asked the Government of Pakistan to arrange for him to stay in the best hotels. Frank was known for his transparently honest Christian character. On completion of his job in Pakistan and before returning to India, Frank D'Souza gave his beautiful home ‘Maryville’ to an order of nuns. If he had wanted, he could have sold his home in foreign exchange for a good sum. The nuns turned ‘Maryville’ into a Senior Citizens Home. I had close aunts who lived in the Home and were well looked-after for the rest of their lives by the Sisters of Mercy. Incidentally, a few years ago Frank D'Souza's only son, Ronald - a Catholic Priest - lived the last few years of his life at the Home. He died at the ripe old age of 92.

Goans should be proud of this good man - Frank D'Souza.
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Born and educated in Karachi, Leonard (Lenny) Barretto also spent a few years in Bombay, returning to his homeland at the time of Partition. In Pakistan, Lenny enjoyed working with the Goan Community, organizing Goan Cricket and Hockey teams, which qualified to compete at the National level. Working for the US Government, he eventually emigrated to the US with his wife Lydia and their daughter and son. Now retired, he is presently compiling essays of his days in the sub-continent.