Remembering an immortal Goan connection with Mozambique

Goa is remembering its sons and daughters. Not just those who contributed to the State and the country, but even those who have excelled elsewhere.

On Wednesday, October 30, Goa University celebrated the centenary of Aquino de Bragança, where a book of his wife, Silvia, was also released.

To a large segment of Goans, the two names may not sound familiar, but then, that would possibly be because Aquino has not been given his due, and this centenary celebration has hopefully made at least a section of the students of Goa University aware of the man and the role he played in .

Yes, Africa, for that is where Aquino, and so many other Goans like him, rose to fame through their deeds in varied fields, ranging from sports to politics, and in countries spanning the breadth of the continent, if not the length.

BREAK FREE: A Goan, Aquino de Bragança played a pivotal role in the independence of Mozambique.

, a journalist and professor, is known for the pivotal role he played in the independence of Mozambique donning, at one stage, the role of diplomat as he negotiated Mozambique’s independence from Portuguese rule in Lisbon.

He was dispatched to Lisbon as a special envoy of Samora Machel, who was independent Mozambique’s first president.

Incidentally, the Goa University function commemorating Aquino’s centenary screened the documentary Special Envoy that explores the role he played in the negotiations in .

Aquino and Machel were close, and though the former refused to serve in the latter’s government, preferring instead to stay on at the University, they both died tragically in a plane crash in 1986, bringing a premature end to the lives of men who had a lot more to contribute to the country and to the African continent.

Aquino, a journalist and professor, is known for the pivotal role he played in the independence of Mozambique donning, at one stage, the role of diplomat as he negotiated Mozambique’s independence from Portuguese rule in Lisbon.

Aquino, however, has not been forgotten in Mozambique, where a street in the capital Maputo bears his name, and where he was posthumously awarded a doctorate Honoris Causa by the University of Eduardo Mondlane.

While Aquino remained mostly forgotten in his Goa, it was Silvia, his widow who died just a few years ago, who strove hard to keep alive Aquino’s name and legacy.

Goa learnt more about Aquino through Silvia’s book, Battles Waged, Lasting Dreams, published in 2011 that brought to light the life of the Goan man who shone in Africa.

It was a book that led to filmmaker Elvino Souza falling in love with Aquino and taking her to Africa and Europe documenting the former’s life and what emerged was Special Envoy.

It was, to those who have an interest in such matters, an enlightening morning at Goa University, listening to Dr Colin Darch from South Africa, who worked alongside Aquino, speak on the man, and then, watch the documentary that traced Aquino’s life in India, Africa and Europe.

It was a book that led to filmmaker Nalini Elvino Souza falling in love with Aquino and taking her to Africa and Europe documenting the former’s life and what emerged was Special Envoy.

The documentary, too, was in the voice of another of Aquino’s contemporaries and brought to life Aquino to those of us who had only read about him.

But, when one talks of Aquino, one can’t ignore Silvia. She carried on the legacy of her husband and ensured that he would not be forgotten.

Having interacted with her on various occasions, I can truly say that she would indeed be glad that Aquino has received this little recognition, not just from an independent filmmaker, but from Goa University.

It was interesting also that a suggestion by Nalini, of setting up a chair at the university in the name of Aquino de Bragança, that was supported by an audience member. It would indeed by a fitting to the man and to his legacy.

Like Aquino, there are many other Goans who have played key roles in the independence movements of African countries. Pio Gama Pinto in Kenya, who was later shot dead, is perhaps the best known.

Joseph Murumbu, Fitz D’Souza are two others who rose to positions in Kenyan politics. Goa needs to remember these and so many others, from the various fields in which they shone.