ERASMO DE SEQUEIRA
Erasmo de Sequeira (22nd Dec 1938 – 17th July 1997), the son of Jack and Lilia de Sequeira was born in Panaji, Goa. Following the legacy of his illustrious father, he ventured early into politics. Erasmo was instrumental in the formation of the United Goans Party in 1963, and served as its Joint Secretary. One of his key achievements was the success of the Opinion Poll, a landmark event in the history of Goa for which he worked tirelessly, alongwith his father and other members of the Party.
From Goa to Delhi was a landmark transition. He was elected to Parliament in 1967, at the age of 29, and was a member of the Lok Sabha for ten years. Erasmo firmly believed in the need for a strong Opposition for a successful democracy. He never deviated from his principles, which sometimes hindered his progress in politics. As a young MP, he was Secretary of the Club of Young Parliamentarians, and promoted and active interest in all aspects of parliamentary life. Goa was his life and he embodied it in his work in Delhi. He campaigned vociferously for Goa and especially for Statehood and Konkani. In 1971 Mrs. Indira Gandhi deputed him to Caracas as an observer at the “Parliamentao Latin Americano” at the height of the Indo-Pak was 1971 and he was successful in getting a resolution passed supporting India on the East Bengal situation. In Parliament, his speeches were always vigorous, topical and relevant.
This book of poems, some of which he wrote towards the very end of his life, and which his wife Maureen found after his sad and untimely demise in 1997. Through these poems he expresses his passion for Goa. Erasmo was never known to take the easy road and this inevitably resulted in him having to face numerous challenges both in his public and private life. He expresses these challenges admirably through poetry.