Floriano Lobo kattors!

Goa is famous for four types of people. The mumbling grumbling sufferers, the forked tongued, the ignorant but devious revisionists, and the straight talkers. 

 The vast majority of Goans fall under the first category i.e. MGs aka Mumbling Grumbling Sufferers. From information provided to them,  they know that a storm is approaching,  from previous experience they know that they need to take appropriate action, Yet, they sit there, often criticizing those who advise them appropriately.  They sit there and continue doing whatever they were always accustomed to do. Then the storm strikes. It could be a severe weather storm or a political one. It produces devastation alright. What do these Goans do?  They say  " O rriya ". What do they do next? Nada Mais. They continue their previous existence of being masterly MGs.

Then there are the Forked Tongue artists aka FTAs.  These are the real survivors. They will say one thing to you and another to someone else; depends upon the season, place, audience and occasion. They are the ultimate pleasers who will pick your pocket with a smile and bankrupt you while making you feel that you are the king.

The third set are the revisionists aka as "Rauls". These set use convenient mechanisms to spread misinformation. When confronted with the facts, they sometimes (not always) hide under a cloak of secrecy. Nothing wrong with pseudonyms. Something definitely wrong with folks using pseudonyms to spread falsehoods. This smacks of total dishonesty. Rauls are best noted for keeping silent on some important issues while making incessant noises about irrelevant trivia.

There is a fourth set; rare in these days, and a one to be treasured. These are the sharp tongued ones who speak openly and directly. No hidden agenda, only an honest attempt to expose the hypocrites who abound in this world. They are known to Kattor ( Kattor or Kator is the Konkani word for 'to cut'.)  Floriano Lobo from Moira, the Goan village which has given us the brilliant and the eccentric, is one such person. Along with his family, he is among a few Goans who have taken on the corrupt establishment which continues to destroy the very fabric of Goa.

[Floriano Lobo was born  in  Pirazona , Moira, Bardez, Goa  on  August 2, 1947.  He received his education at St. Xavier’s High School, Moira (1954-1965), St. Xavier’s College, Bastora (1965-1968) and St. Xavier’s Technical Institute, Mahim-Bombay (1968-1970) before joining the merchant navy. After 24 years as a Radio Officer (17of them with the Italian owned Seaarland Shipping GmbH of Villach Austria) decided to return home for good in 1995, and start a small construction business in his birthplace, Moira.
 

From his office which reside in the basement of his house, Floriano conducts his business affairs and then deals with matters of conscience. In 1997, this unflinching conscientious objector, Floriano took up the fight against noise pollution. A passionate letter to the Justices of the Bombay High Court at Goa was converted into a Suo Moto writ petition.   He appeared in person and succeeded in getting an Order which started the fight against Noise Pollution in Goa in real earnest.

He formed the GOA ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION GROUP in 1998 of which he is the Hon. General Secretary, to date. He joined other NGOs to form the GOA ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION, which further took up the fight against noise pollution under writ petition No. 366/1999 - action still pending .

He was instrumental in bringing together a lot of conscious citizens for brain storming sessions concerning Goa’s political future to culminate in the formation of GOA SU-RAJ PARTY, becoming its founding President and presently continuing.

Goa Su-Raj Party made its maiden attempt at the Goa Legislative Assembly Elections of 30th. May, 2002 by fielding 8 candidates. In the politics of Money and Muscle power, it could hardly make a dent. Nevertheless, Goa Su-Raj Party forges ahead and is the only real alternative for Goa and Goans.

Married, with a son and a daughter, going strong at 55  "going on 25" .]

How are Goans, in general, receiving Floriano Lobo's words and thoughts?  That is a no-brainer question. Remember now, the vast majority of Goans are MGs (Mumbling Grumbling sufferers ). 

TGF is happy to present this page dedicated to Floriano Lobo. Quite interestingly, in the first post on this page, Floriano Lobo has to contend with Eugene Correia, an excellent Goan writer (formerly of the Free Press Journal) but recently converted to a Canada based  MGS who is more concerned about the "english" in the title of Floriano Lobo's message than the message itself. Ah Well !

1. Of Snakes, Ladders, Tits and Bits

back to TGF writers sketchpad

back to Front Page

October 12, 2002