PFIBan

by VincentAugustineD'Souza

Posted on October 5, 2022 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

On 28/9/2022 Government of India banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and eight of its associates for five years under Unlawful Activities (Prevention)Act. Itsassociateswere Campus Front of India (CFI), National Confederation of Human Rights Organisations (NCHRO), National Women’s Front (NWF), Rehab India Foundation (RIF), All Indian Imams Council (AIIC), Junior

Front (JF), Empower India Foundation (EIF) and Rehab Foundation,Kerala(RFK). Therewas no ban on its political associate Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).

The ban came after raids on offices andresidencesofPFIleaders. There were many arrests. In Kerala, PFI engaged in vandalism in protest against raids. On 29/9/2022 Kerala High Court ordered PFI to pay 5.20 crore rupees in damages.

Some Congress and Indian Union Muslim League leaders welcomed ban on PFI. Some demanded RSS also should be banned. CPI and CPI(M) said ban is not the way to tackle the problem. AIMIM did not support the ban.

PFI is accused of violent acts and murders of members of RSS, SFI, Bajrang Dal, BYJM, Hindu Munnani and PMK. It is also accused of attempt to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Professor T. J. Joseph whose hand wasseveredbyPFImemberssaidhe hadsoughtbanonPFIseveraltimes. He said, “There is no doubt that this is a terrorist organisation that kills, terrorises, that aims to establish an Islamic reign.”

CFI was behind hijab protests in Karnataka. Supreme Court has concluded hearings in hijab case and reserved judgment.

Some say Students Islamic Movement of India morphed into PFIafter its ban.

Wemustwaitandseehoweffective the ban will be. RSS thrived under ban. Maoists have survived under ban. Things are not normal in Jammu and Kashmir after making it a Union Territory in August 2019. Efforts to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits have failed.

MCACommitteefortheyears2023-2024

As we have announced the new MCACommitteefortheyears20232024, you might be eager to know more about them. Below is a brief bio and picture of the committee membersfor yourinformation:

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE PRESIDENT - TANYA CARDOZA

Tanya lives in Clarksburg, MD. She was born in Bahrain but grew up in Mumbai and has called the DMV area home for over 20 years. She completed her BCom from the UniversityofMumbaiandearnedan MBA from the University of Maryland. She currently works as a Senior Technical Director for the Program Management Office at SAP. Her parents are from Kirem, Mangalore and live here with her and her 5-year-old daughter, Hazel.

granddaughter. She has done her undergraduate studies at St. Agnes College, Mangalore, and master's in history from University of Bombay. By profession, she is an AMI trained Montessori Teacher and has been teaching for over 20 years. She is a foodie with cooking as her passion and tries different cuisines. She has been actively involved in the activities of the Mangalorean Association and helped in the successofvariouseventsduringthe Presidency of her husband. She believes that the association has helped her develop many friendshipsandsheisveryhappyto be a part of the association. She is looking forward to contributing to the success of the association by helpinginvarioussocialandcultural events.

Julia lives in Fairfax, VA. She hails fromthecoastalregionofKemman, Udupi and comes from a large family of 7 children and is the fifth inthe family. She iswife ofV James, the former President of the Mangalorean Association and has two daughters and a

RenitalivesinSilverSpring,MDwith her hubby Walter Biswas and daughter Tiffany. She is originally from Mumbai and has lived in Canada for a few years before moving to Maryland. She works for TAOSolutionsasaBusinessAnalyst. She has served as an MCA committee member in the past and isgladtobeapartofthecommittee again.

TREASURER – BRIAND’SOUZA

Brian is originally from Mangalore and spent time in Mumbai, Bangalore. Brian lives with his wife and daughter in Crofton, Maryland. He works as a Product Director for Inovalon. He has previously served as a committee member.

CO-TREASURER – ANNE ALBUQUERQUE

Anne has been involvedwith the

MangaloreanAssociationeversince she immigrated to the US in 2012 and has previously served as treasurer on the committee. Anne worksforPrinceWilliamCounty,VA. She and her husband Joe are from Bendur Parish where they raised their children Joanne and Daniel. Joanne is married to Angelus Fernandes in Burlington, Canada and is currently completing a bachelor’sdegreeinNursing.Daniel is an Engineer with Boeing in Seattle.

ITADMIN – REYNEL CASTELINO

Reynel lives in Baltimore, MD with his wife Elvina Moras and two kids Eben and Evonne. His family belongs to Bendur Parish in Mangalore.HeisaLeadArchitectat T. Rowe Price and a Principal at Silonos an IT management services company. Reynel has been involved with the association for several years and continues to assist the committee inmany ways.

Generalcommittee

MEMBER – CLINTALMEIDA

with his wife Malin and two kids, Joshua and Jaden. His family belongstoAjekar, Karkala Taluk. He grew up in Bangalore/Bengaluru before moving to the US(Michigan) to pursue his Masters. He currently works as a Lead Software Engineer at T.Rowe Price. Clement and Malin have been active members of the association since 2006. His wife Malin Mendonca was the vice presidentofMCAforthe2017-2019 term.

Clint lives in Woodstock, MD. Born inMumbai,India,happilymarriedto SonalJacinto. Theyare blessed with a boy, Ethan Almeida who is in Middle School. He currently works for Geico, MD. Clint previously served the Association as Vice President

MEMBER – CLEMENT NORONHA

Clement lives in Ellicott City, MD

MEMBER – PRASHWINI SEQUIERA

PrashwiniresidesinEllicottCityMD.

Shes lives with her hubby Santhosh Sequiera and her 3 kids. She is originally from Bangalore and movedtoMarylandin2004andhas beenliving here eversince

-"I'm glad to be a part of the Mangaloreancommitteeforthefirst time and looking forward to workingwithmyfellowcommittee members"

MEMBER – PREMAD’SOUZA

responsible to the organization to uphold the goals and objectives of the Organization. The initial Advisory council has 2 Presidentschosen from the past MCA-DMV Presidents willing to represent the interests of the Association along with the last President of the association. Their term would be ona rolling basis.

Esmie Wright

Prema is originally from Mangalore, moved to USA 4 years ago after living in TorontoandOttawainCanadafor6 years.Sheismarriedwith2children. She works for Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE/COUNCIL

The Association now has the AdvisoryCommittee/Council, thatis

"Esmie lives in Falls Church Va. She spent her formative years in Belgaum and then moved to Bangalore where she worked as an officer at the Vijaya Bank, HO. She emigratedtotheUSinthe80s.With a degree in law and an MS in Accounting, Esmie has been working in the Insurance Industry forseveralyears.Shewasassociated with the initial group that came together to form the Mangalorean

Association and proudly served as its 3rd President.

"My experience as President strengthened my leadership and public speaking skills but above all it forged new and lasting friendships. So excited that the association has made great strides due to the smart, enthusiastic, and hardworking Mangaloreans who have generously contributed their talents and time."-"Myexperience as President strengthened my leadershipandpublicspeakingskills but aboveall itforgednewand lastingfriendships.Soexcitedthat the association has made great strides with smart, capable and enthusiastic mangaloreans who havegenerouslycontributedtheir talentsandtime".

Juliet Vas

Juliet lives in South Riding, VA with her daughter Keira (15). She was raisedinFalnir,Mangaloreandthen moved to the U.S in 2002 with her husbandLate Lance Barboza. She completed her BDS in MangaloreandMHAintheU.S.She currently works for LCPS. Keira is a Sophomore in St. Paul VI High School. Juliet has been a past president of the MCA from 20152017. She has been in the advisory committee since 2022. In her free time, Juliet loves baking, gardening, listeningtomusicandplayingboard gameswith her daughter.

"Weourselvesfeelthatwhatweare doingisjustadropintheocean.But theoceanwouldbelessbecauseof thatmissingdrop"-SaintTeresaof Calcutta.

V JAMES DANTE

V James Dante is the former President of the Mangalorean Catholic Association, having served as the President of the Association from 2019 through 2022 and as the Committee member from 2017 through2019.HelivesinFairfax,VA, and hails from the coastal temple townofUdupi.HeismarriedtoJulia Dante and is blessed with 2 daughtersanda granddaughter.He has done his B.Tech in Engineering fromKREC/NITKSurathkalandMBA from University of Bombay. He has worked for a long time with large private organizations in India, Canada, and USA, before switching to US federal government consulting. Apart from regular job, he likes spending his time helping several community organizations. During his Presidency at the MangaloreanAssociation,heledhis committee to achieve several memorable feats, manyof those for the first time in the history of the Association. He successfully steered the efforts to get the Association registered and recognized as a Non-profit (501c3) organization to be able to carry out charitable events and receive donations. He believes in teamwork and has been successful in tapping talents from within the committee and the communitytoperform.Hesaysthat the association has helped him develop many friendships and is looking forward to guiding the future committees in their endeavors to be successful.

Youcanalsocheckoutthebiosand picturesofthenewMCACommittee onour website at https://www.mangaloreanassociati on.org/committee

In the next 2 weeks, we plan to complete the transition from our current committee to the new committee. On behalf of my outgoing committee, I request you all to pledge your support to the newcommitteeandhelpthemtobe successfulin theirendeavors.

Media Release

Mangaluru, Jan 20: Poetica Kavigosti-13washeldonJanuary14 at St Aloysius College. Poet and writer Hemacharya’s ‘Yeklo Eksuro’

Konkani book was also released on the occasion.

The Kkavigosti was inaugurated by the editor of Veez Konkani Emagazine, Lion Dr Austin D’Souza Prabhu, Chicago. Konkani Writer’s Association president Richard Moras was the guest of honor for the inaugural programme. Anil

Fermai, chairman MCC Bank, Daijiworld representative Hemacharya, Alwyn Pinto, Pingara

Konkani magazine editor Reymond

D’Cunha, Naveen Kulshekar. Anil

Pernal and Machcha Milar were present.

Lion Dr Austin D’Souza Prabhu called all the poetica poets to write poems which can enrich the society andalsotofillininsightofhumanity among people. He said that poets should discus and debate on the writingsandimprovethe qualityfor societal betterment. He also said thateveryweektheVeezKonkaniEmagazine supports the poets by publishing the poems and motivates them. Veez encourages the poets by itsassociation for the kavigostis.

The kavigosti was led by Konkani writer and poetess Lavi Ganjimata and well-known Konkani writer and poet Loyd Rego. Thirty-six poets and poetesses participated in the kavigosti. C V Loretto grabbed the best poem award of Poetica

Kavigosti-13forhispoemwhichwas conveying a beautiful message that says when the college has blessed us with highways, is it required to label a road in college’s name?

Poetess Dr Flavia Castelinos

‘Chinnada Uyyale’ Kannada video song was released by Fr Dr Praveen Martis,principalStAloysiusCollege.

Hemacharya’s ‘Yeklo Eksuro’

Konkani book (translation of Kannada short story book ‘Asanga’Raghavendra Prabhu) was released by Lion Dr Austin D’Souza Prabhu.

Poetica poets group felicitated

Konkani legend from Chicago, Lion Dr Austin D'Souza Prabhu who had come on vacation and spent quality time with the poets of Mangaluru, Mumbai and Goa. All the benefactors of Poetica Kavigosti (1 to 13) were honored by giving mementos.JanetVasBangalorewas the master of ceremony for the programme. Naveen Pereira, admin of Poetica poets’ group and the organizer of the kavigosti thanked everyone for the beautiful programme. All the poets and poetesses spoke on the recitations and also appreciated and encourage each other during the dinner whichfollowed.

Ph.D.awardedtoMrDenzilJasonSaldanha

Department of Mathematics, Mangalore University has been awardedPh.D.forhisthesistitled"A Study related to Metro domination inGraphs"byMangaloreUniversity, Mangalagangothri.

He was successfully guided by Dr Kishori P Narayankar, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics,MangaloreUniversity. He is the proud son of Late Joseph Saldanha and Juliet Saldanha.

The Jury has come out with the verdict. We are happy to announce The Annual Vimala V. Pai Vishwa KonkaniKavitaKrutiPuraskarforthe year 2022. Bhitarlo Kavi (भितरलो a collectionof Konkani poems by Shri Valley Quadros has been selected as the Best Konkani Book of the Year (Poetry)for Smt. Vimala V. Pai Vishwa Konkani Kavita Kruti

Puraskar2022.Wecongratulate the Author Shri Valley Quadros and thank all the referees and the members of the Jury for evaluation and selection. The Awards carry a Prize money of Rs. 1.00 Lakh each along with an award memento which will be bestowed on the recipient at the Annual Vishwa Konkani Puraskar Ceremony to be held on 9th February 2022 at 10.00 a.m. at the World Konkani Centre. The awards have been sponsored by Shri T.V.MohandasPaiinthenameofhis beloved mother Smt. Vimala V. Pai, and are awarded every year since 2010.