======================================================================== Goa's phone numbers change from Nov 10, 2002. Prefix old number with a 2. New numbers will be seven-digit 2XXXXXX (where XXXXXX is the old number). ========================================================================
Friends , Friends , I thought i d share this piece of information - with members of the many Goan forums I am a member of. I am sure it will make interesting reading ......to many. rene barreto Goan English Fiction Writers By Cecil Pinto Last month I decided to do a little research on Goan Fiction writers (in English only - no translations) who are featured somewhere on the Internet. An excellent place to start is at http://www.colaco.net/writers.htm. The menu reads like a Who's Who of contemporary Goan writers. Unfortunately most of the writers featured are 'unclickable' as the site is still in the construction stage. Also most of the writings archived are essays or viewpoints of an 'activist' nature, rather than the pure fiction I was searching for. I also stumbled on an interesting archive of short stories and 'time pass' writings at http://www.goa-world.net/magazine/. After many hours of searching and browsing I have narrowed down to these few writers Lino Leitao (born 1930) grew up and did his education in Goa before moving to Canada. His stories have been published both here ('Xemai' was serialised by Goa Today) and abroad, and his recent novel 'The Gift of the Holy Cross' was well received. Leitao's writings are characterised by his strong Goan roots and upbringing. An interview with Frederick Noronha is archived at http://www.goa-world.net/magazine/soulofgoans.htm (E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Ben Antao (born 1935) grew up in Goa and this is evident in his writings. Antao has been a journalist in Bombay and Goa before migrating to Canada in 1967, where till recently he taught and was also a financial planning consultant. Antao's self published book 'Images of Goa' is not easily available, but he is currently wrapping up another novel which will soon be published. A decent selection of Antao's writings are archived at http://www.colaco.net/1/ben.htm (E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Victor Rangel-Ribeiro (born 1925), currently living in New York, shot to fame when he received the Milkweed Prize for fiction for his first novel 'Tivolem', set in Portuguese Goa. Rangel-Ribeiro, in his varied career, has been the literary editor of The Illustrated Weekly and music director of the Beethoven Society, New York. Last year Rangel-Ribeiro conducted a Creative Fiction Writing workshop in Goa on behalf of The Navhind Times at the International Centre, Dona Paula. Lengthy extracts from 'Tivolem' are available at http://theliteraryreview.org/tlrsu-vr.htm (E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Margaret Mascarenhas (born 1960) is a consulting editor, columnist and novelist, and the author of the best-selling novel 'Skin'. Of Goan origin, Mascarenhas grew up in Venezuela, went to college in the US and currently divides her time between Goa and California. Till recently she used to write an well read newspaper column 'Wake up and smell the coffee'. Mascarenhas is the only Goan writer I have come across, who has a comprehensive website with her biography and samples of her writing at http://mmascgoa.tripod.com/. Mascarenhas is currently working on her second novel 'Passion Fruit'. (E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Heta Pandit (born 1954) is well known in Goa for her work as a heritage conservationist. Her book 'Houses of Goa' brought her to the attention of the international media as a writer. Pandit's recent book 'Dust and other short stories from Goa' has proven her forte as a splendid fiction writer too. An entire short story from 'Dust' is archived at http://www.goa-art.com/gallery/Heta/snakeman.htm (E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Peter Nazareth (born 1940) is of Goan origin and European, African and American domicile. Currently Nazareth is Professor in African American World Studies and the Department of English at the University of Iowa, USA. In addition to a vast anthology of work - primarily revolving around the African peoples' socio-economics and politics, Nazareth teaches a popular course 'Elvis as Anthology' which has been given a lot of media attention. An excellent biography of Nazareth can be found at http://www.goacom.com/culture/biographies/mprofile.html#4 (E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Lambert Mascarenhas (born 1914) strides the world of Goan fiction writers like a colossus. Founder editor of The Navhind Times, founder editor of Goa Today, author of the best selling 'Sorrowing Lies My Land' (in its fourth reprint) and 'In the Womb of Saudade' (a collection of short stories). Mascarenhas continues his excellent writing in the local Goan press on issues that effect us all. Mascarenhas resides in Dona Paula. An excellent essay by Mascarenhas 'The Enigma that is Goa' is available at http://www.goa-world.net/goatoday/aug2000/nostalgia.htm (E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Of course there are other greats like Mario Cabral e Sa, Eunice D'Souza, Carmo D'Souza, Remigio Bothelo, Leslie de Noronha, Danny Travasso... but I do have a limited space for this column. All in all it has been a learning experience researching all these great writers but, except for Margaret Mascarenhas, none of them have thought to have websites of their own where interested researchers can pick up bios, extracts etc. I have culled the information above from scattered websites and sometimes even by e-mailing the concerned writer and asking for more information. Another relevant aspect which comes to the fore is that there seems to be an absolute dearth of English Fiction Writers in Goa whereas the vernacular abounds with works of fiction - short stories, novels, plays etc. Perhaps the current generation of Goan writers will throw up some fresh talent to fill up this lacuna in fiction writing. ----------- end of column ------------ My new column WEBQUEST starts in the November 2002 issue of Goa Today which is already out on the stands. Each month I intend researching and reporting (in my WebQuest column) on Goa related people and issues on the Internet. Suggestions and feedback will be much appreciated. Grateful thanks to Gaspar Almeida, Ben Antao, Alexander Barbosa and Vinayak Naik for assistance in research for this particular article above. Please forward this to any Goan you think might be interested. And buy a printed copy of Goa Today if you want to see pictures too. Cecil Pinto ----------------------- Re-post -Possible duplication - not seen earlier posts - ---------------------------------------------------------- What's On In Goa (WOIG): Nov 06 Children's book exhibn opens, Walkabout, Anjuna... (all weekdays) Nov 06 ArtHouse, Calangute: Chaitali's acrylics on canvas till 19.11 Nov 07 Revision of electoral rolls (till Nov 30) See schedule. Nov 07 Creative science, for children, Goa Sc Centre (till 16.11) Nov 10 Corporate summit on IT and biotechnology, Intl Centre (till 11.11) Nov 17 Goan Engineers and Assoc meet, at Pickering, Canada. Nov 20 Fr Agnelo's 75th death anniversary, Pilar Dec 01 Two day conference, Goa Agenda. IT For Society. (Ends 2.12) Every Sunday: Music therapy sessions at Moira, 5 pm. 278, N.Portugal ----------------------------------------------------------
