Gabe, I think that the word breed is really inappropriate- especially in terms of modern usage of the term. It would make some people bristle with rage or simply be dismissive! Putting it kindly, I think I feel somewhat insulted and demeaned if I am categorised as belonging to a breed of any kind- and especially Goan as there is much that is Christian Goan which is pretty awful eg their powerful deeply underlying casteist/segregationist instincts which are totally indefensible intellectually or morally. I would have no problem if you said the Goans in East Africa proved to be talented, highly successful in many areas (excepting perhaps business) and were generally well thought of for their sagacity. Bear in mind that their adoption of the English language, by largely discarding their Konkani mothertongue gave them an initial scholastic edge over other Indian communities too. But to praise the Goan schools which avoided Konkani like the plague, does make those schools, which you seem to praise, seriously wanting in my view.
Re Serafino Antao, who was in school with me in Mombasa, and definitely a late and unexpected discovery in athletics, where I also trained/competed with him, he emerged as being supremely talented in sprinting. To say that he was a special breed is to be derogatory of his very special sprinting talent. Above all, it is important to note that humans cannot be categorised in terms of breeds or races in contemporary terms. As to the other community groups you mentioned, they were attracted to varied skills and 'callings' just as the Goans were, say to the priesthood and the nunery and especially toWestern music and to sport. If the Goans had many carpeners as you say, the Sikhs had even more and they were excellent construction workers too. To say however, that community groups considered themselves as special, was, to me, petty and narrow minded, but perhaps understandable in the the early years of the Colony -until such minds were broadened by education and experience. All in good spirits, Cornel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gabe Menezes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 9:15 AM Subject: [Goanet]Goans a special breed? > Are Goans a special breed? > > Having been born and brought up in Nairobi, Kenya I was made to feel we were > special. We had our own segregated Clubs, Goans ran the Administration > services in Government, Railways and Harbours, P.W.D. and so forth. Goans > were the best tailors by a mile - all the top class tailors in Nairobi were > Goans. Along with the Sikhs ( who also considered themselves to be special) > Goans were also wonderful carpenters - most hailed from Benaulim. We had a > Goan school and were predominant in the Catholic Parochial and St. Teresa's > schools (Boys and Girls). We excelled in sports and Seraphino Antao is a > testament to our being a special breed, He was a gold medallist in the > Commonwealth games. At one time the Kenya hockey team boasted 8 or 9 Goans > and only 4 Sikhs. > > I guess the Gujarat's also considered themselves special, their only > interest in life was to make money - this is probably why they had a rough > time in Uganda, warranted or not. The Sikhs on the other hand were good at > working on machines, the Muslim Pakistanis ran assorted businesses including > many butcher shops. > > So quite simply everyone thought they were a special breed in Kenya, this > was so even amongst the local natives - the Kikuyu tribe considered > themselves to be the inheritors of the land. > > Cheers, > > Gibe Menezes. > > > > ########################################################################## > # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # > # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # > # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # > # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # > ########################################################################## > ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################