This concluding 20th column closes the chapter on the fundamental history of Goans in Karachi and how a minuscule group of people made a magnanimous impact on the lives of the people of the city and how their contributions made them worthy citizens of their adopted country – Pakistan. Thank you for reading my columns.
Plucked from the boroughs of Karachi below, are Goans who bloomed where they were planted by God Almighty. Theirs is a saga not to be forgotten, being the torchbearers of a small settler community that made a significant contribution to the mainland before the partition, and in great measure, a worthy and extraordinary role, after 1947.
Below are listed the achievements of Karachi-born/based Goans and/or Organisations whose contributions to India and Pakistan, are worthy to be inscribed in the history books for future generations. Omissions if any, are unintentional and/or unknown and therefore, regretted. Indicated years/titles/occurrences etc may vary.
1835: Traces of Goan presence in Karachi, before the British takeover (1839)
1858: Joseph Caetano Misquita opens ‘Misquita Bakery’ (still survives)
1861: Manoel Caldeira is the first Goan student enrolled in St Patrick’s School
1886: Goa-Portuguese Association (GPA) is established with 200+ members
1894: Founding of Indian Life Assurance Co (the largest in India)
1897: Cincinnatus F D’Abreo, is Asst Collector, Karachi Customs
1898: Joseph Anthony Vaz, is the first Goan to pass the Indian Civil Service
1905: Aloysius de Mello, Bar-at-law, first Goan appointed to the Colonial Civil Service
1916: Fred J de Souza, first Goan appointed to Imperial Service of Railways Engineers
1918: Edward Raymond, first Indian to be appointed Addl Judicial Commissioner
1928: Goans establish ‘Cincinnatus Town’ – the city’s first township
1928: Anthony Stanislaus D’Mello, founds Board of Control for Cricket in India
1930: Ignatius Sequeira is the city’s eminent photographer, captures historical events
1930: Luis John Mascarenhas, first Indian to be appointed Secy Karachi Port Trust
1931: Charles M Lobo composes ‘Rise India’ hymn dedicated to Christ the King
1932: Frank D’Souza, first Indian on the British India Railway Board
1932: Municipality names roads in Karachi after Goan pioneers
1933: Karachi Goan Association fetes the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)
1934: Anthony Stanislaus D’Mello, establishes Ranji Cricket tournament
1936: Peter Paul Fernandes, first Goan to represent British India at Berlin Olympics
1939: Mickey Correa’s ‘Optimists Band’ debuts at Taj Mahal Hotel (plays for 21 years!)
1940: Fourteen Karachi Goans form the crux of Gujrat Jesuits
1940: Bertie Gomes wins All-India Heavyweight Boxing Championships
1940: Hannibal D’Souza wins All-India Flyweight Boxing Championships
1945: Arthur Sequeira photographs Jinnah’s official portrait at I Sequeira Studios
1946: Jack Britto represents Sindh in the All-India Ranji Cricket Trophy
1946: Manuel Misquita, is the Mayor of Karachi
1947: Dr Orphino deSa is Chief Medical Officer of Karachi Municipality Corp
1947: PARTITION
1948: Oswald Nazareth, co-manages Pakistan Hockey Team at London Olympics
1948: Milton D’Mello, first Goan to represent Pakistan at London Olympics
1950: Fr Valerian Gracias of Karachi, appointed Archbishop of Bombay
1951: Tolentine Fonseca notates the National Anthem of Pakistan
1951: Anthony Stanislaus D’Mello, Chairman, First Asian Games New Delhi, India
1952: Jack Britto represents Pakistan at the Helsinki Olympics
1954: Mennen Soares represents Pakistan at Thomas Cup Badminton
1953: Valerian Gracias (Archbishop of Bombay) elevated to Cardinal (India’s first)
1958: Fr Joseph Cordeiro appointed first local Archbishop of Karachi
1958: Mathais Wallis is the first Goan to play Test cricket, represents Pakistan
1960: Michael Rodrigues (National Champion) represents Pakistan in Table Tennis
1961: Antao D’Souza is the second Goan to play Test cricket, represents Pakistan
1964: Leonard Raymond (Bishop) appointed Archbishop of Nagpur, India
1964: Herman Raymond (Justice) Judge of the High Court of West Pakistan
1964: Dominic Gonsalves is Music Director (35 years) at Radio Pakistan
1965: Xavier Sisters is the first all-women popular band in Pakistan
1966: Aloysius D’Mello is Deputy Secy Board of Revenue, Pakistan
1967: Angelo Fernandes (Bishop) appointed Archbishop of New Delhi, India
1970: Anthony Mascarenhas, is the Assistant Editor, Morning News
1973: Joseph Cordeiro (Archbishop) elevated to Cardinal of Pakistan (Pakistan’s first)
1973: Armando Trinidad (Bishop) appointed Archbishop of Lahore
1973: Sidney Pereira, appointed Chairman, Pakistan Atomic Commission
1974: Francis X Lobo, appointed Chairman, Pakistan Red Crescent Society
1974: Ben F D’Souza, appointed Asst Commissioner of Karachi
1975: Fr Derek Misquita, elected Member, National Assembly of Pakistan
1976: Joseph J D’Mello, appointed Chairman, Pakistan Railways
1978: Stephen Menezes, appointed Registrar, Trademarks Pakistan
1978: Bishop Anthony T Lobo, appointed Chairman, Pakistan Education Commission
1987: Lenny Dias (Billiards) represents Pakistan at Asian Championships Bombay
1993: Roland deSouza, Council Member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
1993: Anthony Sales represents Pakistan at World & Asian Stamps Championships
1993: Simeon Pereira (Bishop) appointed Archbishop of Karachi
1997: Evarist Pinto (Bishop) appointed Archbishop of Karachi
2008: Louis (Gumby) Pinto is Pakistan’s celebrity drummer/percussionist
2013: Cyril Almeida, prominent op-ed journalist, appointed Asst Editor Dawn
2018: Joseph Coutts (Archbishop) elevated to Cardinal of Pakistan
2021: Benny Travas (Bishop of Multan) appointed Archbishop of Karachi
Among tens of Christians who were decorated with national medals of recognition for their services to Pakistan, the Goans included, Blaise Mascarenhas (1965), Brig Mervyn Cardoza (1965), Aloysius D’Mello (1966), Stephen Menezes (1966), Dr Hermenegild Drago (2002), Brig Hilary Zuzarte (1977), Air Comm Charles Zuzarte (1977), Sr Mary Emily Gonsalves (2009), Norma Fernandes (2014), Journalist Cyril Almeida was awarded the ‘World Press Freedom Hero’ (2019) by the International Press Institute.
