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/ d8 Founded1994 e88~88e e88~-_ /~~~8e 888-~88e e88~~8e _d88__ by Herman 888 888 d888 i 88b 888 888 d888 88b 888 Carneiro "88_88" 8888 | e88~-888 888 888 8888__888 888 ------------- / Y888 ' C888 888 888 888 Y888 , 888 www.goanet.org Cb "88_-~ "88_-888 888 888 "88___/ "88_/ Y8""8D GOANET NEWS BYTES * Oct 27, 2005 * DATELINE GOA --------------------------------------------------------------------- Compiled by Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------------------------------------------- In this issue: some Goanetters plan an informal meet this weekend. Alumni initiatives -- Bastora, St Mary's and from Calangute. Happy birthday greetings, films being screened, and the latest on the plans for the Fontainhas Fest. Searching for old friends, radio from Portugal, a prize-winning short story, and great recipies from Daisy Rodrigues in North America. --------------------------------------------------------------- GOANETTERS MEETING INFORMALLY ----------------------------------------------------------------- MEETING UP WITH OTHER EXPATS: Cipriano 'Cip' Fernandes from the UK is down in Goa, and took on the initiative to meet up informally with other Goanetters and share ideas. AVF (Anthony Veronica Fernandes) of Kuwait is in town too, and will be there. On mobile, AVF is c/o 9822 489699. Venue: Clube Vasco da Gama, Panjim 4 pm Saturday October 29, 2005. Cip Fernandes earlier wrote, prior to coming down: "We could have a discussions on the current affairs i.e. Romi Konkani, garbage problems, water supply and other health related services. Would appreciate your reply please with a copy to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Looking forward for your reply." -------------------------------------------------------- A GROWING READERSHIP will enable Goanet News Bytes to serve you better. Recommend this newsletter to a friend or relative who wants to keep in touch with Goa. Free subscription. Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] with SUBSCRIBE GNB as your subject. -------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- ALUMNI: HOLY CROSS, BASTORA / ST MARY'S MAPUSA ----------------------------------------------------------------- BASTORA ALUMNI: Jeffrey D'Souza of Moira [EMAIL PROTECTED] and Joseph Menezes of Bastora, the Science and Maths teachers respectively of the Holy Cross High School in Bastora are keen to build an alumni network online. If you're alumni here, get in touch with Jeffrey (email above) or signup at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holycrossbastora/join ALUMNI ALERT-ST MARY'S MAPUSA: Calling all Ex-St. Mary's students who are scattered all over the globe, to help generously. The P.T.A. of St. Mary's Convent High School, Mapuca, is bringing out a calendar for the year 2006, which will include school photographs and advertisements. The profits will go to provide additional facilities for the students. The P.T.A. would be grateful, if you could sponsor an advertisement. From Rs 400 to Rs 5000. Cash/cheque can be send in favour of JYOTHI PRABHA SAMITI. For further details you can contact or call St. Mary's Convent, Principal Ms. Lira Rocha on 2262241. (Received via Arlette Azavedo) FROM A NUN IN ITALY: Sr Ethel Pereira <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> sends in a small note from Turin, saying she's back to teaching computers to the kids there, after her recent visit back home to Calangute Goa. She writes: "I just read an article of Rene from UK wanting to get all the Tanzanians of Goa together under one banner. I too am a Goan Tanzanian, born in Tanzania and did my primary education there. "I see that Lourdes Convent has a site of their school now. Am an ex alunni of Lourdes Convent just for a year though before shifting to Little Flower. Little Flower doesn't have a site yet. Wish someone could help them in that." [In keeping with Goanet's goal of making the Net more relevant to Goa, we have since set up an alumni network for Little Flower. Please sign-up at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/littlefloweralumni/join If any other schools would like help in launching online versions of their alumni networks, just drop a line.] --------------------------------------------------------------- HAPPY BIRTHDAY: DEBORAH KEEPS TRACK ----------------------------------------------------------------- HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ALL: Deborah Santamaria of Pakistan takes the trouble to meticuously keep this list of recent and upcoming Goanetters' birthdays: JoeGoaUK (Oct 10), Marilyn Santamaria (Karachi, Pakistan Oct 17), Lea (Vaz) Rangel-Ribeiro born in Assagao living in Monroe, New Jersey (Oct 17/18), Melissa D'Souza (Oct 18, Panchgani), Dilia Maria D'Souza (Oct 18, Mapusa/Muscat), Angela (greeted by Pearl, Daniel, Mario and Richard, Oct 22), Maria Carvalho (Delhi, Oct 23), Willard D'Silva (Delhi, Oct 28), Alexyz (Oct 24 Siolim, Goa), Frederick Menezes (Pune, Oct 24), Lucy Guiao Fernandes (Oct 25), Charlotte Noronha (Kuwait, Oct 26), Joseph Fernandes (Oct 27), Prem (Kuwait, Oct 28), Natelie Falcao (Brussels, Oct 28), Julie Castelino (Mumbai, Oct 31), Wilmarco Anthony Rosa (Margao, Oct 31), Francisco Xavier Gracias (Oct 31), Deborah Santamaria (Karachi, Pakistan Oct 31). Please send your (or loved ones) greetings details for those who haven't done so far to greetings at goanet.org with subject as "Greetings details" in the format: Birth/Anniversary/Wedding; Day/Month; Name; Birth/Current Place of Residence. Send it to Deborah, whom we at Goanet all wish a very special birthday for October 31. Thank you for all the volunteering amidst your busy work and family life! [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------------------------------------- FILMS ----------------------------------------------------------------- MOVING IMAGES screens the film Breaking the Waves. (UK, 1996, Director Lars von Trier, 156 minutes). Date: Friday, 28th October 2005 Time: 6:30 pm Venue:International Centre Goa, Dona Paula. Set in an unmercifully rugged, coastal village in Scotland in the 1970s, this extraordinary film by Lars von Trier stars British actress Emily Watson as a barely contained naive named Bess, who holds regular conversations with God and whose pure and intensely personal faith is hardly tolerated by the gruesome Calvinist elders of her church.... Screening restricted to members only due to limitations imposed by law. More info about Moving Images, membership at http://www.moviesgoa.org. Or email [EMAIL PROTECTED] or call 2464376 (8-10 am) --------------------------------------------------------------- HERITAGE INITIATIVES ----------------------------------------------------------------- Miguel Braganza <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes that the Goa Heritage Action Group had a meeting with the artists at Gitanjali, the old People's High School buiding renovated and made into a reading room-cum-art gallery by Jack Sukhija (grandson of the late Jack Sequeira), at Fontainhas on 25 October, 2005. Miguel continues: "Artist and art teacher Rajendra Usapkar has a big role to play in the coming days. Thomas Vaz, Alex Fernandes and Prasad Pankar will exhibit their fantastic photographs. Yolanda de Souza, Harshada Kerkar, Gauri Divan, Shirin Modi, Savio Peres and others will be exhibiting their paintings. Daniel D'Souza will be exhibiting his plants near Fundacao Oriente while there will be a poster exhibition in the Fundacao premises. We walked round the area from Tarcar's/3 1January Bakery (Rua de Natal) to the Antonio DeSouza house and stage. Join in if you can." More on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/goaheritage/ The Fontainhas Festival of the Arts 2005 will be held in the heritage precinct of Fontainhas-Mala between Nov 26 and Dec 3, in collaboration with the Entertainment Society of Goa, the Corporation of the City of Panjim and the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa as festival partners. This time around, organisers have added two competitions that we are certain: for street furniture and the other for overhanging street decorations. --------------------------------------------------------------- SEARCHING FOR ROOTS... AND OLD FRIENDS ----------------------------------------------------------------- SAHARANPUR-DEHRA DUN CONNECTIONS: Michael Ali <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote on the NewDiaspora <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> and Geanological Society <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> mailing lists recently: Are there Goans out there in cyberspace who have a Saharanpur-Dehra Dun connection. The reason I ask is that my wife, Goretti's, father, Gilbert D'Souza (who was in the Army) was in these place. Recently during a trip to Goa we came to learn that his father, Stanislaus Vincent D'Souza owned a saw mill in this area. What is known for sure is that his father (Stanlislaus), Ignatius Xavier D'Souza was born in Goa, where exactly is not know. My wife has not been able to trace any of her father's side relatives and is eager to do so. It is also believed that some of them might be somewhere in the UK. I would very greatly appreciate any information on the above. Also, here the Indian authorities only give Visas to Pakistanis for three cities in Bombay and we can only enter from Bombay or New Delhi by plane and Attari by rail. We wanted to go to Saharanpur/Dehra Dun but as we cannot furnish the names and addresses of anyone getting visas is out of the question. Goretti Ali <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: I have been reading your Newsletter for a couple of months now, and find it very interesting. I'm sure you have a wide spread subscription list. I would like to trace my father's relatives in India. I have an elder sister Marian Christian Techla. Our parents were Gilbert Anthony D'Souza and Leticia Josephine Rodrigues. My father was from Saharanpur and born in July 1903. His brothers and sisters were: Leonard Ignatius Xavier, George Gregory, Caroline, Cecelia Elizabeth, Maude Felicitaus (Girly) and Simon Patrick. They were educated at St. George's, Missoorie. My father served in the Army during WWII and in 1946 obtained employment with Volkart Brothers, Karachi. His mother and bro. Simon Patrick and sister Maude followed him to Karachi. The others had already passed away. He died in Karachi in November 1967. My grandparents were Stanislaus Vincent and Marclina Dias. My grandfather was P.W. Inspector of O&R Railways and I've recently learnt owned a sawmill in Saharanpur. His brothers and sisters were Cecelia Maria, Michael, Bridget, Alice Rose, William John, Clifford Mark, Francis Xavier, Paul Ignatius, Joseph Albin and Frederick Hillary. Their parents were Ignatius Xavier D'Souza and Mary Ann Elizabeth. My great grand father Ignatius Xavier D'Souza was born in Goa in February 1843. I do not know which Taluka. She adds: My father often spoke of his cousins staying back in Saharanpur or Dehra Dun. If there is anyone to whom this info, and the names make sense, please get in touch with me. I would very much like to re-establish contact with my father's branch of the family. My mother's family is from Margao and Raia. My maternal great grand mother, Josephine Calaco nee Noronha was from Margao and one of her houses is at Abade Faria Road where my cousin lives today. My maternal great grand father Manual Rodrigues' house is in Raia near Our Lady of Snows Church. My cousins live in Bombay and Margao. I recently visited them and was very happy to show my children their ancestral homes. Unfortunately, I don't have this contact with my father's family and would very much like to pass on some link to my children. GOANS, HOCKEY AND GOALKEEPING: Carmo D'Cruz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, former hockey player, says he plans to meet up with some other international goalies, including Leo Pinto ('40s), Abel DeSales ('50s), Jerome Caeiro ('60s), John Correia, Hilary Gomes, Olympio Fernandes ('70s), Cedric D'Souza, Mir Ranjan Negi ('80s), Adrian D'Souza ('90s to present) and get their opinions and compile them for you. He writes: "I am thinking of organizing a hockey goalkeeper conference with all these guys in Bandra, Bombay (near Leo Pinto's house or at St. Stanislaus High School) on Dec 22 or Dec 31." LOOKING OUT FOR...: Tony Braganza [EMAIL PROTECTED] is trying to locate an old friend, Joe Lobo. He writes: "He is originally from Saligao but lived most of his time in Dharwar and then in Bombay. I know he moved to England and worked there. Just as a reference he had a brother, Freddy Lobo who I think passed away. Is it possible for you to locate him? I currently live in New York and I would appreciate it if you could give his whereabouts." NOT FORGOTTEN, DISTANCE AND TIME NOTWITHSTANDING: Mohd Aman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> is looking out for Joseph Feliciano D'Souza of Parijat in Sant Inez. He writes: "Mr, D'Souza I am looking for you since you left Kanoo in Jeddah. You are the god father of my son Simon who is graduating from the most reputable University as an engineer. I want you to be present." --------------------------------------------------------------- RADIO, FROM PORTUGAL ----------------------------------------------------------------- Radio e Televisao de Portugal offers programs on shortwave, in the Portuguese language from Monday to Friday. Broadcasts to Europe on 9 755, 9 815, 11 660, 11 875, 15 140, 11 630 etc. Also broadcasts to the Middle East and India from 1400 to 1600 on 15 690 in the 19 metre band. Other broadcasts to Africa, US/Canada, etc. Satellite transmissions via HOT BIRD 4 (13º E) - Coverage of Europe, North Africa and Middle East. INTELSAT (Africa), ASIASAT (Asia and Oceania), INTELSAT (America), etc. ON THE INTERNET: At RDP home page, http://www.rtp.pt ANTENA 1, ANTENA 2, ANTENA 3, RDP Internacional, RDP Africa, RDP Madeira, RDP Açores, RDP Centro, RDP Norte and RDP Sul may be listened via the Windows Media Player Audio. The program ANTENA 3 may also be listened in real audio. --------------------------------------------------------------- FROM HERE AND THERE ----------------------------------------------------------------- "NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING": Valentine & Anna Coelho <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> announce Natural Family Planning classes for those who have difficulty in getting pregnant and also for those who want to space babies or limit the size of their family using a method that is "safe, healthy, effective and moral". Each series consists of four classes spaced one month apart. Each class is two hours long. They write: "Our next NFP course begins on Nov 6, 2005 from 4 to 6 pm at Be-Attitudes our new office at Porvorim opp Candelaria Chapel, diagonally opp Dr. Sydney's hospital. Ph: 2410565/2414628. Please inform your friends and relatives." LABOUR-UAE : 'Pay Foreign Workers or Be Named and Shamed' Meena S Janardhan writes for Inter-Press Service from Dubai: "Hundreds of foreign workers marching along the roads and blocking traffic, protesting against unpaid wages and poor living conditions, is a rare sight in any country and no less in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). But its increasing frequency has led the government to announce that it will 'name and shame' defaulting employers." http://www.ipsnews.net/login.asp?redir=news.asp?idnews=30718 [Password required to access the site.] MATRIMONIAL REMINDERS: Just a reminder to say that matrimonial adverts (reproduced free of charge) to be reproduced on Goanet need to be sent to Christina Pinto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> as she is currently in-charge of this section. WEB TECHNOLOGIES COURSES IN GOA: Sagar Gurav <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes in to say that the Khandola government college has already started its web technologies course (open to all, on a payment of a small fee) while the DMC College in Mapusa will start the same from November 17. Contact Sagar for details. MEETING ON DISABILITIES ISSUE: Avelino de Sa informs that there will be a meeting on Monday, Oct 31, at 4 pm at Caritas Holiday Home (Ground Floor), St. Inez, Panjim, Goa to discuss the programme for the World Disabled Day in December and also to review the happenings in the field of disability in Goa. All are invited to attend the same. Please confirm your participation latest by Saturday 29th October by return of mail or call me on 2427160 or Leslie on 2226509 during office hours only. Contact: DISABILITY RIGHTS ASSOCIATION OF GOA, C/o Star Investments, Opp. Head Post Office, Panjim, Goa - 403 001. Telefax: 0832 - 2427160. Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.disabilitygoa.com FOR WRITERS: Novelist Victor Rangel Ribeiro [EMAIL PROTECTED] has announced plans to conduct yet another workshop for writers during his forthcoming visit to Goa. Victor has inspired a number of youngsters and intending writers by his earlier workshops here. QUERY ABOUT A BRIDGE: Reginaldo Pinto Almeida <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> asks: Could anyone let me know when the bridge in Assolnã was built (starting and opening date) and what were the origin of the names Assolnã, Cuncolim and Carmonã?" COLOUR WORKSHOP FOR KIDS AT ALDONA: Savio Figueiredo of Rendeep Cyber Cafe <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> at Aldona announced recently that Gordon Lobo and his enthusiastic supporters planned a colour workshop for children at the Aldona Park on 26th October 2005 from 9.00 a.m. The aim is to get the children to express their creativity and decorate or paint the park in this festive season. All children are welcome. More the merrier. Please give your names at Synopsis Libarary at the Parish Centre so that necessary arrangements can be made, commented Savio via Aldona-Net. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aldona-net/ OFFICIAL LANGUAGE PANEL: Government of Goa recently reconstituted its Advisory Board for the "effective implementation" of the Goa, Daman and Diu Official Language Act, 1987 (Act 5 of 1987), GoaDesc <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> noted in a posting to Goanet. More such inputs from Goa Desc Resource Centre, 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 2252660 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.goadesc.org INSPIRING WORK ON THE READING FRONT: Ranjana Kakodkar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> says she was "amazed at the work Anthony D'Silva is doing (in spreading the reading habit in Salcete)". She writes: "I would like to get in touch with him. Can you help me? And thanks for keeping me informed." WORKING ON AUTISM: Jyot Society Of Parents with Autistic Children C/ o Elizabeth Kurian, 1788, Gopal Nagar, Alto Porvorim, Goa 403521 or c/o Varsha Desai, 117, 3 MES Military Camp Church, Rawalfond, Margao, Goa 403707 is organizing a two-day intensive and interactive workshop by Dr. Sundari on Structured Teaching Approach- Principles of TEACCH. On November 11, 12, 2005 at International Centre, Donapaula. TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped CHildren) is a well researched, life-skill training program that has been established by the University of North Carolina, USA after having worked with people with Autism for about 40 years. More details from Ms. Varsha Desai Ph. 91-832-2765097 [EMAIL PROTECTED] or Ms. Elizabeth Kurian-Joseph Ph. 91-832-2412318 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] WASTES, AT ASSAGAO: Goa Desc <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> informs that Assagao village land is to be acquired for the disposal of municipal solid wastes. 20,300 square metres of land is to be taken over for this purpose. WRITER IN GOA: Chicago-born Greg Acuna <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> grew up in Los Angeles. After a BA at the University of Southern California, he studied songwriting and has a Master's in playwriting. He has written/co-written three low-budget feature films that have been produced, and written one. He moved to Goa four years ago. His wife, Sonali, is a Bengali folksinger (her website: www.baulmusic.com) and, with their three year old daughter, they have a house in Anjuna. He ran into us via the www.LinkedIn.com network (he's moderator of the LinkedInIndia group) and is currently undertaking his creative writing work in Anjuna! See Greg's profile LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/e/fpf/3269664 Join the LinkedInIndia Forum: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Cornel DaCosta's review of Goanet on www.goanvoice.org.uk ----------------------------------------------------------------- Two substantial articles have appeared recently on Goanet. Both are fascinating and informative in distinct ways. Firstly, read Ramnath G. Naik's article about "Social damage done by Goa's language controversy and the conspiracy behind it." Secondly, read Domnic Fernandes's insightful article on the theme of how entertainment revolved around Mother Nature in the past. This is followed by a shorter article on the Munz (Girdle). As always, Domnic excels in generating interest in quite unusual topics. Have we heard about the Konkani plays and films by Prince Jacob? If not, an account of his work, and indeed, of other Goan celebrities in the world of entertainment are featured well on Goanet. More details can be found at the Goanet archives at http://www.goanet.org Or to subscribe to Goanet, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------------------------------------------- FEEDBACK... AND OUR READER'S VIEWS: ----------------------------------------------------------------- WHY CAN'T WE HELP OUR OWN: Nobert [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I am a fairly recent subscriber to your newsletter at Goanet and find it a very useful forum for our diaspora to touch base with their roots and vice versa. Of all the wonderful things that you can and are doing in this forum I'm sure you will be the first to admit that plenty more needs to be and can be done. It just occured to me that from all my years of existence I have seen a very healthy behaviour among some communities in our country where they tend to be strongly clannish and help their own people before others. Why can't our goans be the same way I ask? The Keralites, Madrasis and Punjabis are a few cases in question. There is so much unemployment in our own community and in Goa too. Our youth are blamed for being wasters and drunks and useless bums among a whole lot of more descriptive adjectives but do any of us ever lift a little finger to help them out? I would like to propose a service through your site where goans in top positions and even those in influential ones can afford openings to our boys and girls that would turn their lives around. I would strongly state here that there skilled and highly qualified people here that find their skills and qualifications are in excess of what is required - meaning, it is easier to get menial jobs than high-end positions which is why so many have to sacrifice friends and families to move out of the state and contribute to the prosperity of other states. It would be a great service if your readers could do their bit for their own people and their own state. Wouldn't it? ----------------------------------------------------------------- CREATIVE WRITING: Bina Nayak ----------------------------------------------------------------- Bina Nayak <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> says amidst all the advertising copy she writes, she recently did a short story and sent it to the NDTV.com Interactive Writing Room, "for kicks of course". It was "more like I was checking out if the link actually works". A few weeks later she got a lot of emails from strangers saying they loved her story. "And of course I didn't know what they were talking about," she comments. It became the Story of the Week. "They also have a story of the month section -- which I did not qualify for. So I guess I have a long long way to go," Bina comments. Here's the story she wrote: Photo frame There was a woman who was stuck in a photo frame. Stuck in the timeframe that existed in it. Trapped in time. Trapped by it. The chipped wooden frame had fenced her in. She could not break free. Tread softly with these words you read, for this is her story. My office was walking distance from the Bandra Railway station. Most people took a cab or a bus to avoid the mid morning sun. Not me, I preferred to walk. It also saved me a lot of money. Now, if you'd seen me walk, you would've agreed that I'm no ambler. I walk with a purpose, like I have somewhere definite to go -- which I had -- to work. The point I'm trying to make is -- I sometimes appear to be marching. Or then, I don't take my eyes off the ground. Bombay pavements are littered with human faeces and potholes. So I marched purposefully without taking my eyes off the ground. I didn't see much. There was the traffic of course, and the signals, which I saw. The rest I didn't feel the need to. I looked through people; I didn't notice new shops or restaurants that opened round the block. And yet she grabbed my eyeballs. She lived on the pavement, like any of those faceless pavement dwellers you never stop to look at. They lead their compact parallel lives under plastic sheet roofs or inside concrete pipes. You don't see them and they don't see you. They eat, sleep, and defecate in the open, certain that you will not see them. It's a mutual 'no eye contact' pact we make with each other. Sort of like -- "I'll mind my own business, you mind yours'. I can't seem to remember how or when I reneged on my agreement. She was in her mid fifties, with an unusual demeanour. Unusual for a pavement dweller, that is. If you've observed squatters, you'll agree there’s something very crass about their everyday gestures. They'll sit on their haunches and scratch their paunches -- to put it rather mildly. Not her. She sat regally like a queen, even if it was on a chattai -- and a tattered one too. I didn't notice all this in a single day but over a period of years. And she grew older and the chattai frayed even more at the edges. But it wasn't even this that grabbed my eyeballs -- it was something else. It was not the person I noticed but her image in a photo frame. She would sit leaning against a compound wall adjoining the pavement, and above her head was the photo frame. In it was the same woman, much younger, seated in the same leisurely manner on a studio sofa. A carved side table with a vase of artificial flowers stood beside. A wonderfully shot black-and-white studio portrait, the kind you don't see much nowadays. And this image has stayed on in my memory, not the woman. Whenever I think about it, I feel infinite sadness. I have a similar picture on my dresser, of my mother and her elder sister, taken in the Sixties. She was a teenager then, four years younger than her older, more mature looking sister. And like fashionable teenagers in Sixties' Bombay, they're both wearing salwaar kammezes, their hair tied neatly in a single well-oiled braid. I love this picture. My mother hates it. She hates her gawkiness and the ill-fitting salwaar she was forced to wear. My mother insists that she looks ugly in the picture, that her sister looks prettier. I don’t think so, and I’m living proof of it. You see, even my dad thought like me, which is why I happened in the first place! He chose her over the supposedly prettier sister. Actually he was expected to choose the elder sister -- that's what the 'match maker aunty' had intended. But Baba found something so arresting in the way Ma was glaring at the camera. It’s an almost impudent look. In comparison, my aunt looks docile like a cow, a very beautiful cow, but a cow nevertheless (forgive me maushi!). Everyone was aghast when he expressed his desire to marry the younger one -- Ma was only sixteen. So Dad waited for five years and the day Ma gave her last BA exam paper, they got married. By the time results were out -- I was a two-month-old foetus. My aunt meanwhile grew despondent with every passing day. Tired of being rejected in spite of being so beautiful. She was declared insane, eventually. But such is life; love can sweep you off your teenage feet or lead you to an asylum. I feel fortunate to have in my possession a moment in time that I was not a part of. But I’m straying from my point.... That photo frame filled me with infinite sadness because it made me stop and wonder how cruel fate can be. This woman on the street had probably seen a better life. And the only vestige of it was a picture taken long ago. It made me think about how important it is to periodically take pictures of oneself. Imagine if everything is taken away from you and all that remains is a picture, at least you’ll be able to live with your memories. Everything about this woman was sepia tinted -- not one-hour Instant Lazor Colour. Her slow and deliberate movements, her dragging drawl -- even her style of dressing -- a balloon sleeved, knee length salwar kameez, all harked back to a different time. It was as if she had been thawed into Two thousand, straight from the late Fifties. Or the Sixties. Her plastic shanty was just beside a traffic signal, so I could watch her while waiting for the light to change colour. Everyday I learnt something new, as she unknowingly let slip a clue about her previous life. For instance, one day a stray dog stepped inside her shanty to sniff at the food being cooked -- she actually barked, "Go away, you son-of a-bitch!" in a crisp, convent schoolgirl tone. You don’t normally get that from squatters. It whetted my curiosity even more. I also noticed that the cops left her alone. They had probably sensed her pedigree. Or maybe she had chastised them once too often in her impeccable English. I imagined her having studied in a convent school and later in a girl’s college, just like my mother. And then one day the shanty disappeared. The pavement was cleared. The woman was nowhere to be seen. I panicked and asked a traffic cop where she had gone. He informed me that she had passed away last night. Her heart just gave up. The cop was curious to know why I was interested. Was I a relative, he enquired? I almost said yes -- we shared a kinship after all, but it was one he would never understand. So I replied that I had watched her closely for six years, everyday while I waited for the light to turn green. He remarked that I looked fairly settled in life and since I was the only one in the whole city who was affected by her absence, would I spare a few hundreds so she could be given a decent cremation? I handed him a five hundred-rupee note. And then chastised myself for being so generous. He thanked me profusely, crossed the road and disappeared into one of the numerous bylanes near Lucky Biryani. That day I did something unusual -- for me that is. I stood on the pavement where she used to sit and god knows why -- I cried. The tears just wouldn't stop. And then I saw that photo frame carelessly thrown in a garbage pile along with the rest of her belongings. I picked it up and wiped it clean. I had always seen it from afar, never this close. The woman in it looked very familiar. It was my aunt. ----------------------------------------------------------------- GOA'S FOREIGN LINKS ----------------------------------------------------------------- DUTCH POINT OF VIEW: Patrice Riemens <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> asks: Is the Portuguese Television Channel (from Portugal) still on the menu of the cable TV? I noticed, but that was back in 1996, that Portuguese appeared to be much stronger in Damao (Daman) than in Goa (Mass was still said in PT there -- with Brazilian missals -- never seen that anywhere in Goa.) And responding to another issue of GNB he says: "Apologies for the fact that I usually skip it, but this morning I took time to read it, and found it truly intersting (not everything of course)....I wish I had more times and more lifes to enjoy all these things Goan." Meanwhile I ma going to China! (for a month mid Nov-mid Dec). Any Goans in Beijing/Shanghai? QUERY ABOUT THE ABBE... FROM FRANCE: La France pittoresque <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote some weeks back that they are "going to make a chronicle about Abbe Faria in our magazine 'La France pittoresque'." Following a link on Goanet, they would "like to know if you've got some contemporary portraits or caricatures of Faria." Please help if you can: Contact, Gwenael d'Avrey La France pittoresque http://www.france-pittoresque.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- GARBAGE, WHOEVER SAYS THERE'S NO SOLUTION? ----------------------------------------------------------------- GARBAGE, GOA AND GOVERNMENTS: Clinton Vaz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: I'm Clinton, 24/M/ Benaulim Goa and I've been working with Garbage and Waste Management issues for the past five years now. Thought I'm quite interested in the garbage issue in Goa, I've not had the time to read the voluminous posts on Goanet and elsewhere. In the meantime, as my inbox clogs with 'garbage' e-mails, (which I will read I promise!) I have a few viewpoints looking at the issue from afar. I see the government doing absolutely nothing (BJP as well as Congress) to solve the garbage issue. In the past and now in the present, they have been doing almost nothing but make huge promises and talk unrealistically. The municipalities and panchayats have little or no knowledge on waste management and their image of waste handling is poor among the general public. Panjim Municipality needs to be commended for the work it is doing single handedly with the help of a couple of engineers, a councilor and a commissioner that are committed to solving this issue. It is perhaps the only city in India which is trying to achieve a 90% reduction in waste going to the landfill. See pictures of our work at http://photos.yahoo.com/klintvaz (waste analysis in panjim) The press is biased and usually reports only one sided news. At times, even distorts truth to the tunes of their stories. I have seen this for myself a number of times. Ask me for examples. What Goa needs at the moment is simple solutions, cost effective solutions, not imported machines and factories from Japan or Germany. Komex in Margao is such an example of waste of resources. We have the manpower, and yes, we also have the solutions....in Goa! Changing people's attitude and mindset towards waste management. Educating them is the biggest challenge of them all. Students need to be educated. The recent mermaid garden meet and the clean Goa-Initiative is good, but let it be more than just talk, promises and dharnas. We don't need personalities and celebrities to give us big talks. We need action. Else this is just another opportunity to see yourself in a Page 3 newspaper. What can you do? Help those who are already working on this problem. My egroup, Green Goa, Goa Foundation perhaps, Panjim Municipality is already implemented a workable solution in certain areas of the city. Ask if you can help. I've been helping them for over a month now and I have my hands full. For now, if you would like to help, then do this.... Contact me whenever at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 98 600 36828 for what you could do for Goa's garbage problem. You need not be intimidated. You could even help us by helping us with a simple collection scheme. At the moment we are working on a solution to get the manufacturers of TetraPak and batteries to set a system in Goa to take back their waste products. So start collecting them for us, as we need huge quantities of their waste products to prove that Goa has a problem with tetrapak and batteries. Contact me and I'll let you know where you can drop it off for us. Clinton http://groups.yahoo.com/group/greengoa ----------------------------------------------------------------- EDUCATIONAL ISSUES ----------------------------------------------------------------- FREE SOFTWARE IN A PONDA COLLEGE: George Easaw <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> says the GVM College in Ponda has embarked on a unique one week workshop on GNU/Linux (free software and open source) for the BCA students. He says: "No other college in Goa has started this unique experimentation. Resource people were not at all scarce, were available just for the asking." He notes: "Today was the first day. Morn theory and AN prax. Not anything great. Started the session by logging onto the machines (neat 20 GNU/Linux dual boot machines..) and asking the students to play some games and fool around with the machine. Just do whatever they want to, click on whatever they want to, go wherever they want to, basically fooling around for half an hour. It was a real learning experience for the students, they started fiddling with their own desktop background. I found some of them exploring the screensavers. others were exploring gqview. That saved a lot of explaining what to do and how to do..." George says he will be telling the students about the GNU/Linux file systems, basic system admin and taking them through some of the simple apps like gimp, oo-impress, magicpoint etc. Mounting floppy, cdrom, usb drive will be the focus in the coming days. He was also able to give a demo on how to use a digicam in GNU/Linux, took some snaps and immediately they were made available to the crowd." Contacts: George Easaw, Mech Engg. Dept., College of Engg. Ponda, Goa, 403 401. Ph: (0832) - 2319185 ----------------------------------------------------------------- MUSIC... IN GOA AND OVERSEAS ----------------------------------------------------------------- CALCUTTA AND GOA, MUSICIANS AND MORE: L D'Souza <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> says: "This article by Naresh Fernandes took me back many years. My late father, a contemporary of Chic Chocolate, was a Goan musician too, and in his early and late years played for the film industry as well. I wonder if you or any of your readers could shed light on Sonny Lobo? I know he is from Saligao and believe he currently lives there. He lived in Calcutta for many years and then in Gopalpur. He would probably be in his 90s now. My father and he were in the same band for many years and I would love to meet him again during my next visit to Goa. Thanks in advance for any input on this." FROM PORTUGAL: Constantino Xavier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> reproduced this on Forum Portugal Goa -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- mailing list. The original report was by Jorge de Abreu Noronha on Goanet (apologies for the delay in getting the report through): GRAND MUSIc AND DANCE GALA IN LISBON: The Ekvat group of music and dance of the Goa-Daman-Diu association Casa de Goa, together with the Associacao dos Antigos Estudantes de Coimbra em Lisboa (Association of the Alumni of Coimbra in Lisbon), are putting up a Grand Gala on the night of October 22, 2005 (saturday) at the auditorium of the Aula Magna of the University of Lisbon. The show has been given the suggestive title De Goa a Coimbra (From Goa to Coimbra). Renowned flutist Rao Kyao could unfortunately not confirm his collaboration, and will be very aptly replaced by Paulo Curado. The whole show will be recorded for a DVD. The programme is as follows: EKVAT GROUP: Goyonn (Anthem of Casa de Goa). Music: Jeronimo Araujo Silva. Lyrics: Jorge de Abreu Noronha. Kazarachem Fest (Kunnbi dance). Music: Jeronimo Araujo Silva. Lyrics: Virginia Bras. Gomes Kantar Goa (song). Music: Angelo Soares. Lyrics: Virginia Bras Gomes Babu Amgelo (Lullaby). Music: Jeronimo Araujo Silva. Lyrics: Virginia Bras Gomes Ratchi Ranni (Instrumental). Music: Jeronimo Araujo Silva Doriache Deger (Instrumental - dance). Music: Jeronimo Araujo Silva Barra de Damao (Popular Rhapsody). Traditional. Musical arrangement: late Maestro Antonio de Figueiredo ASSOCIACAO DOS ANTIGOS ESTUDANTES DE COIMBRA EM LISBOA Poetry Moment: Catlos Carranca and Francisco Vasconcelos "Guitarrada": Jorge Tuna and Durval Moreirinhas I N T E R V A L EKVAT GROUP Saraswati (Dekhnni dance). Music: Jeronimo Araujo Silva. Lyrics: Virginia Bras Gomes Gonvllim (Traditional song). Music arrangement: Jeronimo Araujo Silva Barik Nachi (Dekhnni dance). Traditional. Music arrangement: Jeronimo Araujo Silva ASSOCIACAO DOS ANTIGOS ESTUDANTES DE COIMBRA EM LISBOA Serenata de Coimbra (Coimbra Serenade). Portuguese guitars: Carlos Couceiro and Teotonio Xavier. Guitars: Antonio Toscano and Durval Moreirinhas. Voices: Luiz Goes, Sutil Roque, Armenio Marques dos Santos, Mario Veiga and Ribeiro da Silva EKVAT GROUP Zaitim dukam re golloilim (Mando). Music and Lyrics: Arnaldo Menezes (1863-1917). Music arrangement: Jeronimo Araujo Silva Ixttancho Ugddas (Danced Mando & Dulpods). Music: Arvi Barbosa. Lyrics: Virginia Bras Gomes AAECL, Paulo Curado and EKVAT GROUP Balada de Despedida (Farewell Ballad). Music and Lyrics: Machado Soares Adeus Korcho vell Paulo (Farewell Mando). Music and Lyrics: Torquato de Figueiredo (1876-1948). Music arrangement: Noel Flores Musical Director: Jeronimo Araujo Silva Sponsorship: Fundacao Oriente, Municipal Corporation of Lisbon, Caixa Geral de Depositos [Check http://groups.yahoo.com/group/forum_portugal_goa/ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------- DIASPORA... FOLLOWING THE BURMA TRAIL ----------------------------------------------------------------- Aloysius D'Souza <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote this update of Goans in Burma, after an initiative by Yvonne Vaz Ezdani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> who's planning to write a book on the subject: He writes: "I am sure there are a lot more folks who have memories of Burma and know of persons related to person who lived in Burma in the years from 1890 to 1966. In his book "Glass Palace" Amitav Ghosh refers to someone with a Goan name -- this would suggest that Goans had migrated to Burma before King Thibaw was over-thrown by the British and Burma annexed into the British Empire.... "My Dad never lost an opportunity to praise Burma and the Burmans -- no caste system, very friendly, happy and totally oblivious of any sort of caste, creed or colour discrimination. Dad toured the length and breadth of Burma on his life insurance work and came in contact with all levels of Burmans from the poorest to the richest -- he always told me that when visiting a Burmese home you would immediately be invited to join in a meal and not to accept was considered an insult -- but looking to the economic status of the home you could excuse yourself by saying you had just eaten and request for a glass of water only. "Burma celebrates their water festival (Idapur) at the onset of spring and everyone is expected to join in -- since it usually coincides with Holy Week - Easter -- we would request our neighbours to let us go and return from Church dry -- and after that join in -- but they wet you with clean water and not highly coloured water and paint as at Holi. "It took Dad quite some time to get used to working in India after Burma shut its doors to foreign companies and Dad returned to work in India in 1949. "I left Burma in February 1942 when I was just seven years old -- my memories are not all that many -- but I am sure there are a number of Goans who can share with us the benefit of their personal and family memories." --------------------------------------------------------------- DEATHS (OVERSEAS) ----------------------------------------------------------------- 20 Oct: Wembley, Middlesex, UK. FRANCISCO DIONISIO FERNANDES (Aged 85, Ex Nairobi, Kenya, born in Benaulim, Goa). Husband of Carmelina Fernandes. Father of Berta/Mariano, Joaquim/Conceicão, Anthony/Rosy. Grandfather of Giuliano and Jarzinho, Baby Jussara, Antonia and Carla. Funeral Arrangements: Reception into Church: Thu. 27 Oct. at 7.00pm. Funeral Mass: Fri. 28th Oct at 12.00 noon. Reception into Church and Funeral Mass at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, 339 High Road, Wembley, Middlesex HA9 6AG. Burial at Alperton Cemetery, Clifford Road, Wembley, Middlesex HA0 1AF. Condolences to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [Source Eddie Fernandes, GoanVoice.org.uk] 26 Oct: Toronto, Canada: NELSON D'SOUZA (ex. Kuwait Airways, Kuwait) passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 26th, 2005 in Toronto, Canada. He will be dearly missed by his beloved wife Dolly, children - Glenn/Sharon, Derrick/Sandy, Audrey/late Vincent, Debbie/Hubert, Karyn/Chris, Bertrand and grandchildren. VIEWING: Friday, Oct 28th, 2005 between 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Simple Alternative Funeral Home Tel #: +1 (905) 686-5589 1057 Brock Road, Pickering (401 East / Brock Road South). Funeral MASS: Saturday Oct 29th, 2005 at 12:00 noon St. Dunstan's Parish, 3150 Danforth Avenue, Scarborough (Victoria Park/Danforth). RIP. [Source: Bosco D'Mello, Toronto] --------------------------------------------------------------- JOSE LOURENCO'S AMAZING GOA <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ----------------------------------------------------------------- * Which canal connects the Mandovi and Zuari rivers? Cumbarjua canal * What is the average alcohol content of cashew 'urrac' produced in Goa? 12-14% * What is the semi-solid mixture of drained rice-water and food waste used as pig-feed called locally? Dhonn * Who designed the Viceroy's Arch at Old Goa? Julio Simao, Portuguese architect of French origin (1565-1641) * Who founded the 'O Heraldo' newspaper? Aleixo Clemente Messias Gomes and others, in January 1900. [Amazing Goa is a set of 200 information cards published in Goa by Amazing Goa Publications. Price in Goa Rs 250. It is expected to be published in a book-form shortly.] ------------------------------------------------------------ VOLUNTEERING IS A THANKLESS JOB: Please spare a moment to write a thank-you note to those people, including Jose Lourenco, who are generously sharing the fruit of their labour with Goanet. This column almost got pulled off from GNB recently, because of the persistent controversies and criticism raked up by a couple of our readers! If you don't like what we do, send in your criticism to Goanet. We'll work to improve. Share your appreciation with our contributors (emails usually included) -FN ------------------------------------------------------------------- CULINARY CORNER: Friday special Chicken Cafrael.... ------------------------------------------------------------------- FRIDAY – a very casual day here in the States so I can think of nothing better then a warm casual main dish that will please your palate and your stomach. For this I would like to stay in my own Goa and present you with this very delicious warm chicken dish. Chicken Cafrael 8 Chicken thighs Oil 2 medium onions – finely chopped 2 inch piece ginger, shredded 1 large green chili, finely chopped 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder 1 cup coconut milk Masala Ingredients: 5-6 large green chilies, 5-6 black peppercorns, 2 inch piece fresh ginger root, 8-10 garlic cloves, 4-5 deep red dried chilies, 4 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander, 2 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, ! 2 teaspoon coriander seeds, salt. Make the masala. Grind all the ingredients except the salt to a thick paste in a blender, adding a little water. Add salt to taste. Pierce the chicken thighs with a fork and rub the masala liberally in to them. Cover and leave for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight, in the fridge. Heat the oil in a heavy based frying pan set over a medium heat. Place the chicken in it skin side down and allow to brown slowly, shaking the pan gently so it doesn't stick. When golden, turn over and continue cooking until the chicken is done. Transfer to a dish and keep warm in a low oven. Return the pan to the heat and add the onions, ginger, green chili, turmeric, cumin and coriander. Sauté until the onions are browned, then stir in the coconut milk and simmer for 10-12 minutes until the sauce has a pouring consistency. Pour on the chicken or serve separately. ------------------------------------------------------------------- ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ||g |||o |||a |||n |||e |||t || Issue compiled by ||__|||__|||__|||__|||__|||__|| Frederick Noronha |/__\|/__\|/__\|/__\|/__\|/__\| [EMAIL PROTECTED] Copyleft Goanet 2005 http://www.creativecommons.org You may reproduce this ezine in its entirety, with credits retained. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Goanet, the net-worker of all networks. Stay in touch. 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