Industrialist Auduth Timblo, Chairman of Fomento Group, was felicitated at a ceremony to mark his remarkable 75-year journey on Friday at Gomant Vidya Niketan, Margao.
PANAJI
“Nationalism has taken over patriotism, and whenever this happens, conflict is created. As citizens of India, we all must see that we rise above petty differences of opinions and keep patriotism above nationalism,” underlining this ‘takeaway’ thought in his heartwarming speech at the felicitation ceremony organised by Madgaonkars to mark his remarkable 75-year journey on Friday evening, noted Goan industrialist Auduth Timblo recalled old memories and took the audience down memory lane.
The Chairman of Fomento Group, who completed 75 years on March 1 this year, spoke his heart out replying to the warm felicitation ceremony held by the Auduth Timblo Felicitation Committee headed by industrialist and writer Datta Damodar Naik at Gomant Vidya Niketan, Margao.
Lauding the late PV Narasimha Rao’s contribution to giving momentum to India’s economy, Timblo said it is Rao who brought life to business by bringing in economic freedom. When India was on the verge of economic collapse, it was Rao who listened to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and, taking USD 500 million from the World Bank, pumped life into the Indian economy. To end the Licence Raj was a wise decision. It is not the business of any government to do business, and when businesses began to be freed from the clutches of red tape and bureaucracy, they flourished automatically, pointed out Timblo.
Stating the importance of law, Timblo said, “We have to make good laws. Man makes law, and law makes man. The British made laws to use them against those who opposed them. After being an engineer, I thought of learning law because knowledge of law is necessary in today’s times. India is changing, and good laws are being implemented. Goa has a Uniform Civil Code, and that’s why there is peace here. It brings clarity and equality. Hats off to this Prime Minister who got enlightened by good advice and understanding the importance of UCC in implementing it state by state.”
Timblo, who has travelled extensively across the globe, shared, “I have been to Japan more than 75 times, and not in a single visit did I come across a Japanese lawyer. I have yet to meet a Japanese lawyer. Japan has a very low crime rate, and the citizens hold humanity in highest regard there. To some extent, Scandinavia also has very little crime. We have to keep society away from legal pains.”
Stating that India is the fourth-largest economy, but there are still 40-50 crore poor people in the country, Timblo urged that these lower strata of society should be uplifted and brought into the mainstream if a country has to grow. “We need the rich with socialist hearts,” he said, adding, “We have to make our lives in such a way that the planet should take care of us, instead of us taking care of the planet. The world is facing wars, and we should move towards peace.”
Calling Margao a city close to his heart, Timblo said, “Margao is where my home and heart are. I have fond memories of my childhood in this commercial capital of Goa. And being felicitated in this town where I grew up makes me very emotional.”
Anju Timblo, in her address, stated that she must be the first wife who spoke on her husband’s felicitation. Calling their 50-year shared journey as destined, Anju Timblo recalled their first meeting in 1971 when Auduth Timblo had returned from the US as an engineering student and taken admission in a law college to assist his father in his business. “We became friends and continued our friendship. Our marriage was arranged by us, and I first came to Goa after marriage. Life in Goa was different but exciting. Our shared interests, music, movies, food continued as we balanced family, traditional business, education and social responsibilities, carrying out our individual and joint responsibilities,” she said.
Calling her husband a calm, grounded, generous, avid reader, researcher, visionary and caregiver, Anju Timblo mentioned that he is a serious team player and that if she were asked what she would prefer if she had to live her life again, she would say, ‘same’.
Datta Naik, in his introductory speech, mentioned the illustrious families in Margao that have contributed immensely to the financial, social, cultural and political fields in Goa. “Families like that of Timblo, Salgaocar, or Dempo have adopted fair business practices and contributed to the overall progress of the State,” said Naik.
Former chairman of MPT, Arvind Bhatikar, elaborated on the personality of Auduth Timblo and his family’s contribution to the economic, cultural, and social growth of Goa. Adv JF Coelho Pereira, who also spoke on the occasion, called Auduth Timblo the proud son of Goa.
Madhav Kamat, who presided over the function, remembered the contributions of the three Timblo brothers to Goa. “Before fair trade practices and CSR initiatives came into existence, Auduthbab implemented these in his business, believing that commerce should be built on moral values,” said Kamat.
The citation was read out by Dilip Prabhudesai.
