"Who is a Goan?" as Anant Kakba (aka AK) Pirolkar went on to ask and then went on to define it in a way that would be convenient to him (and may or may not be for others):
In his 1967 book that was self-published out of Bombay and titled *Goa Re-Discovered*, Prof. Anant Kakba Priolkar titled the very first chapter of his book `Who is a Goan'. He contended that writing on Goans raised the challenge for him each time because “I cannot define a Goan to my own satisfaction” (Priolkar 2-3). He negotiates this discussion by pointing to the relatively lesser length of Portuguese rule in the `New Conquest' areas, and the fact that “until comparatively recent times” the Portuguese meant only the islands in Central Goa when they speak about `Goa'. He then concluded that, If we confine the term Goan to only those who have voting rights as Portuguese citizens, many of us who call ourselves Goans will lose all claims to that designation. Nor is it satisfactory to make birth within the boundaries of Goa the criterion, for in that event many of our children will have to be classed as non-Goans. It seems to me that the only reasonably practicable way out of the difficulties is to allow the use of the term Goan to anyone, whatever his present whereabouts, whose forefathers have been domiciled in Goa at any time in history and who is aware of this connection and cherishes and values it. (xii) FN On Saturday, 8 April 2023 at 07:54:54 UTC+5:30 fredericknoronha2 wrote: > I'd see Daizporean as obviously a more apt spelling.... > FN > > On Saturday, 8 April 2023 at 07:54:11 UTC+5:30 Cecil wrote: > >> Please define a Diasporan. >> >> ------ >> >> On Sat, 8 Apr 2023 at 00:42, Roland Francis <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> John Menezes is a lovely and knowledgeable man and whatever he writes is >>> eminently readable. >>> >>> The only problem is the prices of his hardcovers. For Diaspora readers >>> that price may not be the problem, but coupled with postage and the time >>> waiting for it, would be. >>> >>> Are his books (this is the second one I think) available in e-versions >>> or at least lesser weighing softcovers? >>> >>> On a related note, can anyone set up a system where a Diasporan buys a >>> book at full listed price and after reading can mail it as a donation to a >>> book bank in Goa (at no further cost)? That might mitigate the emotion of >>> the high cost by a thought that it involves gifting. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Apr 5, 2023, at 5:02 PM, Goanet Reader <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>> >>> [image: cover-the-portuguese-presence-hires.jpeg] >>> >>> Not the usual history of Goa >>> >>> Frederick Noronha >>> [email protected] >>> >>> Goa's past is a strongly contested one. Depending >>> on whom you are reading, or listening to, you could >>> easily believe that you are encountering very >>> different regions. Now, along comes a book which >>> offers yet another different take on Goan history >>> -- definitely not the one you're likely to learn in >>> the text books of our times. >>> >>> 'The Portuguese Presence in India' (Notion Press, 2020) by >>> Joao A. de Menezes has what appears like a cross-laden >>> caravela sailing into tropical waters on its cover. You >>> could mistake this work as containing the nostalgic >>> outpourings of a Daizporean Goan. But, actually, two things >>> stand out here. >>> >>> Firstly, the author offers a rather intense understanding of >>> a narrow band of Goa's history (mainly 1947-1967). >>> >>> Secondly, the Poona-born, ex-Aden, US-educated Bombay Port >>> Trust-(1963-1991) Chief Mechanical Engineer cites rather >>> detailed and lesser-noticed records to bolster his argument. >>> >>> In the polarised world of Goan historiography, it >>> might be tempting to dismiss these as >>> pro-Portuguese perspectives. But, before doing >>> that, what is written here perhaps deserves to be >>> given a fair hearing. Even if only to understand >>> the point it is trying to make. Or, how valid it >>> is. >>> >>> Agree with him or not, Menezes packs in details with >>> engineering precision. In between some personal details of >>> his life (in Aden and Poona early on in the book and >>> elsewhere later), João António Timotio Ligorio da Piedade >>> Menezes includes some interesting facts, details and even >>> official perspectives. >>> >>> Some of these are known facts of history, but which we often >>> overlook. For instance, of all the European powers that held >>> colonies and trading posts in India, the Portuguese came the >>> earliest and went the last (1505 to 1916). Other >>> influential powers didn't come early. After the Portuguese >>> were the Dutch (1605 to 1826), the Danish (1620 to 1869), the >>> French (1668 to 1954). Finally, though they were the most >>> impactful, came the British, from 1757 to 1947. (From 1612 >>> to 1756, it was the British East India Company that held >>> not-as-vast stretches of territory.) >>> >>> The section on Goan life in Poona, though a distraction from >>> the main topic of the book, is rather detailed. It gives an >>> insight that few other books on Goan migration, which one has >>> come across, tells about that one-time Maratha-ruled city, and >>> the unusual Maratha-Portuguese-Goa relationships. >>> >>> Some details focus on Goa too. >>> >>> Menezes argues that Portugal's equation with its >>> "colony" Goa was different from, say, Britain's >>> with India. In Goa, he says, the locals had "same >>> identical laws as Metropolitan Portugal". >>> Excepting the Governor General and the Chefe do >>> Gabinete, all officials and judiciary were locals, >>> even if the army and navy were not, though (p.45). >>> >>> This is a different way of looking at Goa's history, one >>> which today many might not agree with. But, Menezes offers >>> many original (and translated) documents and records from >>> those times. >>> >>> Among these are the 1940 Concordat between the Vatican and >>> Portugal. Then there's also the lengthy and interesting >>> official correspondence between India and Portugal, on >>> another largely unnoticed issue. Quite early on, after 1947, >>> questions had been raised about Portugal's right to decide on >>> Catholic Prelates in parts of what became Independent India. >>> >>> Menezes points out that the Diocese of Daman (including >>> Portuguese-built churches in Bassein, Bombay, Chaul and >>> elsewhere in the vicinity of former British India) were part >>> of the Goa archdiocese. Likewise, places like Cochin, >>> Mylapore, Quilon, Trinchinipoly, Mangalore and Bombay. All >>> these were till 1950 part of the Padroado, and linked to Goa. >>> >>> This was also the case with Dioceses of Belgaum, Poona. >>> Amidst the changing post-1947 power equations, India had a >>> lengthy and -- apparently little studied -- correspondence >>> with Lisbon over this. >>> >>> * * * >>> >>> Menezes inserts his own take on life in yesteryear Goa; this >>> contrasts strongly against some very fact-based, >>> document-citing writing on the place. It's hard to make up >>> one's mind on whether this slightly hinders the narration, or >>> helps to actually hold the writer's interest to all these >>> seldom-narrated facts. >>> >>> The story of the Exposition of 1952 reminds us that Hotel >>> Mandovi "became the newest and largest to have show up at the >>> Exposition, and was built by Purxotoma Quenim, who later was >>> elected one of the three Deputies representing Portuguese >>> India to the National Assembly, Lisbon." Unfortunately, that >>> era has recent come to a close, at least for now, with the >>> hotel currently not being in operation. >>> >>> We learn why the Archdiocese is named "Goa and Damao" >>> (p.117). Or, what was the history of Goa's airlines TAIP >>> (whose airhostesses wore saris), and the "Japanese method of >>> transplantation of rice" even in colonial times. Menezes >>> tells us of experiences at the Majali and Polem border check >>> posts. Then, there's some information about Portuguese >>> attempts to bring trawlers to Goa in the 1950s (which would >>> turn much controversial a decade or two later, when done on a >>> much wider scale). >>> >>> Chapter 4 contains Portuguese documents on Goa, covering >>> 1947 to 1967. These were declassified far before time, >>> apparently as Salazar wanted to make a political point >>> through his 'White Paper on Goa'. Menezes' view is that >>> Portuguese rule was different from British rule in India, >>> where the Empire kept the local as "subordinate British >>> subjects". In comparison, he writes, the small Portuguese >>> Settlements in India had offered single nationality from 1757 >>> (for Portuguese India), a single parliament from 1823, and a >>> single constitution too. >>> >>> There are names long forgotten that emerge in the story -- >>> like India's Consul General in Goa MRA Baig; AN Mehta, >>> son-in-law of Vijayalakshmi Pandit; Vincent Coelho assisted >>> by Vice Council G Prabhu, or PRS Mani. Some of those who >>> played a role in pre-1961 times would also go on to shape >>> Goa's destiny after 1961, he notes. >>> >>> Goa during its last phase of Portuguese rule also >>> comes in for scrutiny. The section on Dadra and >>> Nagar Haveli, now forgotten and one-time enclaves >>> of the Portuguese in India, is discussed in some >>> detail. The history of Pondicherry and how it came >>> to be assimilated into India is discussed with a >>> detail seldom encountered. >>> >>> If your interest is Goa, history or understanding our past, >>> this is surely a book worth perusing. It's price (Rs1970) is >>> a bit discouraging, but, to be fair, it is also hardbound and >>> lavishly illustrated with many colour images. Your call. >>> >>> [First published in The Navhind Times] >>> >>> -- >>> *** Please be polite and on-topic in your posts. *** >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "The Goa Book Club" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-book-club/CAE%3D_FsmZ-%2BTifjEPJhMLneFy71tRvmYi%3DbDhUr67f-RBk06uFA%40mail.gmail.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-book-club/CAE%3D_FsmZ-%2BTifjEPJhMLneFy71tRvmYi%3DbDhUr67f-RBk06uFA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >>> -- >>> *** Please be polite and on-topic in your posts. *** >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "The Goa Book Club" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> >> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-book-club/6E3B8B6E-7C3C-4952-B7D9-43CB53E3A04E%40gmail.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-book-club/6E3B8B6E-7C3C-4952-B7D9-43CB53E3A04E%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> -- *** Please be polite and on-topic in your posts. *** --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Goa Book Club" group. 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