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International Cuisine Conference on Traditional Asian Diet Panaji, Goa, September 2-5, 2007 - http://www.indologygoa.in Online Media Partner: http://www.goanet.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Two different views... --FN * * * * * THE BIG 60 AND a few stray thoughts on my reaching what at least is considered the official retirement age in government service. I turned 60 on Wednesday, July 4, 2007. The longest period of these 60 years has been spent in Goa. In contrast with Bangalore where I spent ten years and Bombay which is now Mumbai where I spent 15 years. Of the 24 years I have spent in Goa, 20 were spent as editor of the O Heraldo. A major source of satisfaction is that many journalists who worked for the Herald at varioius times during my 20 year tenure as the editor are now working as journalists if not all over the world at least all over the Asia Pacific region. Indeed most of the newspapers in the Gulf are manned by former staffers of the Herald. There are former sub-editors and reporters of the Herald who are working in Singapore and Australia. Interestingly a larger number of journalists working in the local newspapers in Goa have started their careers in the Herald. This includes Derrick Almeida who is now the executive editor of the Gomantak Times. E-BOOK I am painfully aware that people who worked with me or under me in Herald over the years have varying opinions about my contribution to journalism in Goa and indeed my contribution to Goa itself. There are those like Frederick Noronha, who belongs to the very first batch of sub-editors that I recruited in the Herald, who believes that I was a malignant banyan tree who hogged all the attention and took all the credit for the achievements of Herald. As against which there are probably or at least hopefully some journalists who believe that they benefited from whatever guidance I had to offer. I probably am one of the few journalists in Goa or perhaps the world on whom an entire e-book has been brought out. My personal perception is that I gave the various journalists who have worked under me at various stages scope for growth an dimproving their skills as journalists. My greatest regret is that I was never able to persuade the Herald management to adequately reward performance. But I do claim the credit for insulating to the extent I could my colleagues from the Herald from politically instigated interference in the working of the newspaper. The last five years of my tenure there were particularly bad when the Herald was not allowed to function as an independent, free and fearless newspaper that it was designed to be. SATISFACTION The greatest source of satisfaction in having started a new weekly and that to at the age of 56 when most journalists start thinking of retiring is the fact that I have been able to demonstrate that a media organisation can remain independent of both political and commercial pressures and still be viable. All through 37 years I have spent working for newspaper managements whether in Mumbai or in Goa, the greatest frustration inevitably arose from managements blacking out stories either due to political pressure or commercial considerations. It is therefore a great source of satisfaction that with the Gona Observer, where I occupy both the posts of editor and managing director, I can insulate the Goan Observer from both political and commercial pressures. This is principally because unlike the overwhelming majority of media organisations, profit is not the motive that drives the Goan Observer. PUBLIC INTEREST We are content if we can meet our production needs and our salaries. I am extremely grateful to our well-wishers and our advertisers who have supported us, particularly during the tenure of Manohar Parrikar's fascistic dictatorial and vindicative regime. It is your support that has allowed us to be independent. Before the Goan Observer was started and when I worked for media owners who were obsessed with profits, I very often had people coming up to me and threatening that if I went ahead with a report or sometimes even a letter in the letters to the editor column they would approach the management and have it blocked. Regrettably this has happened a number of times not only with the publications I was employed by in Goa but even the various publications I worked for in Mumbai. So much so it gives me immense satisfaction to tell arrogant busy bodies who object to some report or feature that the Goan Observer has carried that ufnrotunately for them the buck stops with me. It is not as though I am not accountable. I am accountable to a very distinguished Board of Directors who include Mr Aravind Bhatikar, th esenior retired IAS Officer and a former Chairman of the Mormugao Port Trust, the eminent social activist and cardiologist, Dr Francisco Colaco, and the Marketing wizard associated with the Royal Goan Beach Club chain, Leo D'Mello, not to mention my partner in life as also in the Goan Observer, Tara Narayan. But fortunately for me my Board of Directors have been very supportive and shared my perspective that the Goan Observer should be fiercely independent and should not succumb to either political or commercial pressures.... [Stray Thoughts, by Rajan Narayan, in Goan Observer, July 7-13, 2007] * * * * * http://penpricks.blogspot.com/ Sunday, 8 July 2007 CHIEF MINISTER DIGAMBER KAMAT LOOKS ON AS 'ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT' EDITOR RAJAN NARAYAN IS FELICITATED ON HIS BIRTHDAY AMIDST 5-STAR FANFARE Goan Observer editor Rajan Narayan turned 60 some days back. The bash to celebrate his longevity was held at the Timblo run Cidade-Goa resort. This report is written by one Joel D'Souza appeared in the Gomantak Times. Rajan, the man who gave teeth to journalism in Goa also has the distinction of turning it rabid. The anti-establishment image which Rajan managed to hammer onto the reader can be judged by going through the guest list at this party. The party was hosted at the Cidade, a resort owned by the Timblos. The only big indigenous mining group which does not control a newspaper. Guess 'who' latched on to them? On his 60th birthday celebration this 'anti-establishment' journalist had the chief minister on the dais and among others who attended it according to Joel's report were politicians, builders, industrialists, priests, doctors and professionals. Fine guest list. Strange Joel didn't mention Subba Row of the Zuari's, maybe the writer didn't recognise him. It was a sitting rule in the Herald during Rajan's while... No anti-story Zuari agro story. And why... We don't know... Only whenever the editor then, required a car Zuari's would send one over. And there's lots more to the fork tongued crusader. At the felicitation Rajan apparently went misty eyed. Rajan said he belonged to a "an integral part of the new breed of anti-establishment journalists of the 70s, inspired by Che Guevara and other progressive leaders." What they said was true then, some of Che's guerillas did go turkey. * * * * * -- FN: Frederick Noronha http://wikiwikiweb.de/MyContacts Phone 0091-832-2409490 Cell: 091-9822122436 or 9970157402 (after 1 pm) A film on copyright! GOOD COPY BAD COPY: a documentary about the current state of copyright and culture. http://www.goodcopybadcopy.net/ ------------------------------------------------------- Goanet recommends, and is proud to be associated with, 'Domnic's Goa' - A nostalgic romp through a bygone era. This book is the perfect gift for any Goan, or anyone wanting to understand Goa. Distributed locally by Broadway, near Caculo Island, Panjim & internationally by OtherIndiaBookStore.Com. For trade enquiries contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------------------------------------