Maiden Biography of George Fernandes By Dr. Rahul Ramagundam released

Maiden Biography of George Fernandes By Dr. Rahul Ramagundam released

Mangalore Today News Network

By I J Saldanha Shet

Mangaluru, Aug 27, 2022: The maiden release of an important 700 page autobiography at the historically well known St. Aloysius College Mangaluru on August 26, 2022,  is indeed a red letter day.  The autobiography "The Life and Times of George Fernandes" By Dr.Rahul Ramagundam, for which thousands of admirers have been waiting for 12 years has finally resurrected a much loved Indian, hailing from an illustrious Konkani Catholic Family of Bijai, Mangalore. The book was released by bishop of Mangalore diocese Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha in Sanidhya hall at St Aloysius college, Dr. Rahul Ramagundam, the author of the book, Michael Fernandes, trade unionist and brother of George Fernandes and Fr Melwyn Joseph Pinto SJ, rector St Aloysius college were the guests of honour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The book has received tags as - comprehensive, evocative and fascinating, this first definitive biography of George Fernandes is an unputdownable tour de force.  Dr. Rahul Ramagundam is a historian and a professor at Jamia Millia Islamia University, who has a PhD in modern Indian history from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. His earlier works include a study of khadi as a political metaphor and histories of Adivasi land rights movements as well as the politics of inclusion.

It was a welcome scene to note Dr Rahul Ramagundam, Micheal Fernandes, and Collin D’Silva were felicitated on the occasion. Fr Melwin Joseph Pinto presented the review of the book. Rev Dr Praveen Martis, SJ, Principal of Aloysius welcomed. Dr. Alwyn D’Sa, Registrar of the Aloysius college, and others were present.  Dr Mona Mendonca, assistant professor of History, St Aloysius College was the dynamic facade of the organisers.

Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore speaking after releasing the book recalled his first glimpse of the adored George, as  a school boy in Kinnigoli and all the students went to the local bus stand where many gathered in the forenoon to see George and that too a Kodialgaar. Arriving after some delay, George vehemently exhorted all the young to  engage in making all backward areas and people to move forward, be courageous and create change in the country.  The Bishop went on to say, George Sir,  narrated about his personal life and the political developments taking place in the country; How he joined the socialist party at a young age of 19 years, he rose to a great position, as defence minister he encouraged our soldiers to new heights.  The Bishop added,  Goerge’s main focus was the people, marginalized and the depressed classes. Voice of the voiceless. He was well aware of the plight of poor workers as he in every way shared that life deeply.  A man of humility with world thinking and local acting.

The Youngest Brother of George Fernandes, Michael Fernandes in the short time allotted explained how the author,  Dr Rahul Ramagundam researched elaborately  to complete the book ,which took 12 years. The very basic idea of a Biography on George took birth in Mangalore on an early visit in 2009; later, visited various places.  His Father wanted George to go to college and do a law degree to help people. He was a rebel in the family and escaped , but not with selfish motives, he was always looking to help others to the maximum in bigger ways. Micheal, who still fills the void of Brother George in the Trade Unions left vacant by brother George, went on to state how the media portrayed George as a non-believer, Michael said that George was never an unbeliever and service of God was his priority in his own way.  He was too busy as a union minister for long and traveling to different parts of the country in a single day.  In the last days when the parents were in Mangalore only on one occasion all eight of them, both parents and 6 siblings met for just ten minutes maximum, though it was planned to spend the whole early evening at high tea. Such was the uncertainty of life.

The author, Dr.  Rahul Ramagundam gave an in depth expose post the event for a good while after autographing copies for guests at the Book release.  One impressive observation was that George Fernandes, the protagonist of this erudite book of 700 pages,  had really nothing to call his own and lived like a poor nomad. His bed in Bombay of those times was a hard wooden bench in a corner of the verandah of the trade union.  His expenses were met by the organisations and Govt where he held leading positions.  He never spent anything on himself per se. The many anecdotes/memories shared were at premium.  The question and answer session and interaction was an awesome part of the post release action.

India’s George Fernandes  (1930-2019): A dedicated admired firebrand trade union leader, socialist politician and incredibly powerful orator, labelled as "George the giant Killer",  from a young age his greatest enemy was injustice to the downtrodden.  Popularly known for leading the All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) in May 1974 and calling upon its approximately 1.7 million employees to strike, which brought India to a halt for twenty days. Often described as a rebel, he pursued every cause he took up with passionate devotion, heedless of the many ups and downs in his life. From the early years of fighting for the rights of dock and municipal workers of Bombay (now Mumbai) through the Emergency, which he resisted by going underground, to his last private decade as a bed-ridden Alzheimer’s patient, his fights were always persistent and single-handed. George could call Bombay to be shut down and rose from its streets to become India’s Defence Minister. He will remain one of the most admired statesmen and Parliamentarians in the country.

This book - "The Life and Times of George Fernandes" chronicles the story of George, who rose from the streets of Bombay to stride the corridors of power. All his life he had no home/house , property, money and did not acquire any.  His habits and needs were frugal and he depended on his own resources that never let him down.  He never used public money for himself and was a selfless person serving the have-nots at their own level.   In this extraordinary biography, Prof Rahul Ramagundam opens a window to George’s political evolution and traces the course of the Socialist Party in India from its inception in 1930s to its dissolution into the Janata Party in the late 1970s. In the process, this book explores the trail of India’s opposition parties. Since the time he left his coastal town of Mangalore and came to Bombay (now, Mumbai), more than seven decades ago, George Fernandes’ was a life lived with passion, but more importantly, of struggle as a "Voice of the voiceless" against all odds. From those early years of fighting for the rights of dock and municipal workers of Bombay to this last decade as a bed-ridden, afflicted with Alzheimer’s, but keenly watchful of his own slow bodily degeneration, his fights were always persistent and single-handed.  The Militant Trade Union Leader. The Dauntless Political Rebel. The Passionate Socialist Dreamer. A book not to be missed by the 21st century world wide Indian.