Tag: Human Interest

Goan Personalities

Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira and Wife Natasha Mark 31 Years of Marriage

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes ||Team Allycaral 

Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira marked his 31st wedding anniversary, sharing reflections on a journey that spans over three decades of companionship, family, and shared experiences across India and abroad.


Recalling the years since their wedding day, Ferreira reflected on the many milestones that shaped their journey together — from the early days of marriage to raising their two sons, Armando and Daniel, and building a life enriched by travel, faith, and family values. He described the bond as one that has grown stronger with time, likening it to wine that matures with age.

The occasion was also a moment of remembrance, as Ferreira acknowledged family members who are no longer present but remain close in spirit. He expressed gratitude for their blessings and prayers, which he said continue to guide the family.

Sharing words of appreciation, Ferreira thanked his wife, Natasha, for being a steadfast pillar of support through the years, and his sons for their constant encouragement. He also conveyed his appreciation to friends, well-wishers, and members of the community who have been part of the family’s journey and offered their prayers and good wishes on the occasion.

The milestone marked not just the closing of another chapter, but the beginning of a new one, as the family looks ahead to the years to come with faith and gratitude.

Human Interest

Saudi Arabia’s Oldest Man, Claimed to Be 142, Dies in Riyadh, Leaving Behind 134 Descendants from Multiple Marriages

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Intern Rency Gomes, Team Allycaral

Al Wadaei, widely regarded as Saudi Arabia’s oldest man, passed away in Riyadh on January 11, 2026, at a claimed age of 142, according to family members and local reports. His death marked the end of a life that, as relatives describe, spanned nearly every phase of the modern Saudi state.

Born around 1884 in the Dhahran Al Janub region of southern Saudi Arabia, Al Wadaei was believed to have witnessed the reign of all Saudi monarchs, from King Abdulaziz Al Saud, who unified the Kingdom in 1932, to the current ruler, King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Family members often referred to him as a living link to the country’s past, recalling stories of life before oil transformed the nation.

According to relatives, Al Wadaei performed the Hajj pilgrimage more than 40 times and remained active well into advanced age. He was known for regularly visiting mosques and for mediating disputes within his community, earning respect as an elder whose advice was valued.

He is survived by 134 children and grandchildren from multiple marriages, forming what his family described as a large and close-knit household. More than 7,000 people reportedly attended his funeral in Dhahran Al Janub, reflecting the esteem and recognition he commanded in the region.

Despite widespread belief in his extraordinary longevity, Al Wadaei’s age was never officially verified. Civil birth records in Saudi Arabia were introduced decades after his reported birth, and his claim was not recognised by Guinness World Records. Even so, for those who knew him, his long life, wisdom, and enduring presence remain a powerful legacy that transcends official documentation.

Human Interest

A Rakhi, a Gift of Life: Mumbai Teen Bonds with Donor’s Brother

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In a moving display of love, gratitude, and the deep connections organ donation can create, sixteen-year-old Anamta Ahmad from Mumbai celebrated Raksha Bandhan in an unforgettable way. She tied a rakhi to 14-year-old Shivam Mistry, the younger brother of her organ donor — using the very hand she had received from his late sister, Riya.

The emotional moment was not just a festival ritual but a powerful symbol of life, generosity, and enduring bonds. For Anamta, the transplant was more than a medical procedure — it was a second chance at living fully, gifted through Riya’s selflessness and her family’s decision to donate.

Shivam, touched by the gesture, expressed that his sister’s memory and kindness live on through Anamta. The rakhi, traditionally a thread of protection between siblings, took on a deeper meaning — a celebration of how one act of organ donation can weave together lives forever.

This extraordinary story stands as a reminder of the profound impact of organ donation and the hope it brings. It calls on us to recognise the legacy that donors leave behind and the connections that go beyond blood, geography, and circumstance.