Sorry for mistakes. Wrote on mobile with one finger typing. Now on laptop. WiFi is "iffi" in Goa, here now, gone a little later. Now to elaborate further on the "Becoming Goan" theme, I was dismissed as a "niz Goan" by a well-educated person. I asked him why and he replied because I was born in Bombay. He, however, said my dad was "Goan", through and through as he was born during the Portuguese regime. Erecting walls for no reason. Maybe vanity. When I first moved to Canada, I often heard the term "Afrikar', often said in a derogatory term. Some even asked if I migrated from Africa. I couldn't understand why this attitude on the part of many Goa-based or India-based Goans turned Canadians. There was a wave some years ago in Goa to dismiss outsiders as "bhailo", and earlier to this word, it was "bingtam" (seeds). Now these "baile" people can write another book (Fred, take note) on how they became "Goan", and what the land now means to them. The term "chediwalle" was also used against these outsiders. Re-reading Sorrowing Lies My Land, it seems the trend prevailed during Portuguese times. High-caste Goans proudly maintained that they are Portuguese and spoke the language with pride. Now the trend is to speak English, and pronounce words in Ingliesh fashion. Konkani is out of the doors in many Goan households. For the last few months of my stay in Goa, I have gone to many homes. I insist on talking in Konkani, and it gives me a "sense of belonging." I have bought some in Konkani, including a dictionary, though I am not sure if I will get to use it once I am back in Canada in a week or so. I am not trying to "fit in", and I feel I am more Goan in ways that those resident here. When I call someone the person breaks out in English, and I am taken aback to respond in Konkani. This dilemma will continue in Goa, as I see it. Change is good, but so is keep up the tradition of language and customs. Heritage matters more than just "fitting in". Eugene Correia
On Sun, May 26, 2024 at 4:16 PM Eugene Correia <[email protected]> wrote: > Once born a Goan, always a Goan. Rediscovering one's roots is another way > of firming up one's Goan. I don't think identity can be washed away > totally. A stain will remain, however invisible it may be. > Having read the book, Michelle's coming home and settling back in Siolim > isn't really a "rediscovery", as I feel so. World-weary may be one of the > reasons, aligned with raking possession of a house that holds growing-up > memories. > On the other hand, there is another book that explores the feelings of > being not just a Goan by birth, but finding oneself transplanted into Goan > soil. Ways of Belonging is another book in which writers explore and > reflect how best to fit in. > Eugene Correia > > On Sun, May 26, 2024, 11:09 a.m. 'Selma Carvalho' via The Goa Book Club < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Folks in London please do come for what promises to be a riveting event. >> Michelle >> Mendonca Bambawale >> <https://www.facebook.com/michelle.mendoncabambawale?__cft__[0]=AZVZ02PXnh4cGrtXBzkCCnkevM7ZUHEXiy314sOc1dul96pUVTQ7t39caefLB50ZiYG3eutj1JmHAqqfhBUU2miH_lPW72EiQK12eyRIx2uEqwbS2ddG8stcaNITMhhj_u1Eg2nLp99645Vbw7l_DWU-KLaFOWdEJ3grdMKS7ulqmdS3lMFLNfRvZi6yUsFmM5qQ9yrzdlk3c-zQCGXeHaiXRWRyGaTGTFaMbpCAP95JBQ&__tn__=-]K-R>, >> author of the book 'Becoming Goan' published by Penguin India, and I >> have both spent our lives in the Goan diaspora and have called several >> continents home. Between the two of us, we've inhabited Bangkok, Dubai, >> London and America, and have Goa as the bond that holds it all together. We >> will be discussing issues of Goan identity, how it is informed and >> conceptualised, the concept of outsiders vs insiders, and the challenges >> facing Goa today. Event to be held at Nehru Centre London, WIK IHF. Doors >> open at 6pm. Event starts at 6:45pm. >> >> All best wishes, >> Selma Carvalho >> >> -- >> *** 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/927362733.6305851.1716615121565%40mail.yahoo.com >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-book-club/927362733.6305851.1716615121565%40mail.yahoo.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/CAJhbo_7vKWRhQH665BO0Lh%2BqxyRe9fJPcJXPkitUbve%2BByCEhg%40mail.gmail.com.
