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Udupi : International Federation of Karnataka Christian Association (IFKCA) of Udupi district unit organized condolence meet to pay homage to son of the soil, former labour leader, Socialist leader, Union minister George Fernandes at St Francis Xavier Church Hall here on Thursday, January 31, 2019.

The meet began with invocation prayer by local convent students. Very Rev Fr. Stany B. Lobo, Chancellor of Udupi diocese and parish priest of St Francis Xavier Church Udyavara said in his tribute address that George Fernandes was the trade union leader for the benefit of the large workers in various organizations. He worked hard for industrial workers as well as other for better life having better wages. During his capacity as a Union Railway Minister his major achievement was establishing Konkan Railway route of between Bombay and Mangalore which was his dream project even though there was severe obstacles. Even though during emergency he was in jail, he won the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar with highest margin of votes.

Fr. Stany said that I am proud to say that he was belonging to our community and he always supported to us. On behalf of the Udupi diocese and my personal capacity, I offer my prayers for his soul.

Louis Lobo, founder president of IFKCA of Udupi district unit said that he had opportunity to visit George Fernandes at his residence at New Delhi for personal purposes. Even though he was then Union Minister I seen while he was washing his own clothes. After completing washing of clothes he came and held talk with me. Being a Union Minister I have not seen any such simple person in my life as a minister. His simplicity of life is an example for us all. I would compare him to Atal Bihari Vajpayee who both had moreover same qualities and also both had same sickness. He has all qualities to be conferred with Bharat Rathna award. I offer my prayer and may his soul rest in peace, he said.

Another leader and social worker Veronica Cornelio said that she admired his challenging quality and his ambition of helping others especially laborers’. His works for the society as a whole should be appreciated.

L. R. Dias former president of Railway passengers’ Association of Udupi pointed out some of his qualities during his childhood. He said that George was very bright student. His parents sent him to Seminary to become priest, but being a socialist mind, he left seminary where he joined in Bangalore. After return back from seminary to the house, his father not allowed him to enter the house; His father was very disciplinary and strict person. Then he went back and slept in central ground. However, he met a person from Ammembal near Mangalore and took him to his house. George along with Ammembal person fought for right of the workers in Bombay. He was the strong labour Union leader in Bombay as well as other cities of Maharastra.

Dias said that as far as Konkan Railway is concerned, he earlier appealed the then minister concerned to establish railway route from Bombay to Mangalore. But due to lack of majority in the house, he was suddenly not able to precede the project of the said railway route. He met one of great educationalist and administrator Sridharan of Kerala, as per him they planned to form Corporation and requested for loans from the public. Luckily people contributed for Konkan Railway Corporation and George Fernandes dream became fruitful and inaugurated Konkan Railway from Mumbai to Trivandrum, Kerala. He pointed out some of his life instances.

Dr. P. V. Bhandary, a psychiatrist, Director of Dr. A. V. Baliga Memorial Hospital, Doddanagudde, Udupi said that George Fernandes one of his favourite politician. I never met George Fernandes but have read lot about him. Fernandes command over 10 languages and could speak fluently of Kannada, Konkani, Tulu, Marathi, Hindu, English, Tamil, Urdu, Malayalam and Latin. He pointed out the political career of George. During his work as Defence Minister he did several surgical strikes but like current leaders he never opened his mouth and worked silently. The three leaders Ramakrishna Hegde, Vajpayee and George have same qualities who worked for the workers. All these three leaders suffered sickness in similar sickness. George fought against Coco Cola and other multinational products. He was a great writer and editor of several print media journals and dailies. He was a multi-faceted personality. I salute to him and pray for his soul. It would be great opportunity to give tribute for George Fernandes, a great leader and socialist, he said.

After speaking on George Fernandes by the guests on the dais, the lamp was lit to the portrait of George Fernandes and garlanded the photo of George Fernandes. All the leaders who gathered during the meet offered flower petals to the photo of departed George Fernandes.

Steevan Colaco Secretary of IFKCA, Udupi unit welcomed and compered the condolence meet and Dr. Nery Cornelio President of IFKCA, Udupi delivered vote of thanks.

William D’Mello friend and driver of George Fernandes present on the dais. Prashant Jathanna former president, Alphonse D’Costa and Walter Cyril Pinto former President’s of Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, Jeethendra Furtado President of Palimar Grama Panchayat, Congress leaders Robert D’Souza, Melwyn D’Souza and others were present.