Dear Miguel, I am not sure what the delineation of interest is towards Romi in the Saraswat community. Are the educators, scientists, doctors, and those of the highly logical spectrum, comfortable with giving it consideration, or do they not care a whit? Are the ones who got their jobs on account of their Nagari credentials still harboring antipathies towards Romi? Is there anyone of any significance who is comfortable with having Romi accorded any respect. Or is it kaam zalem voiz melo syndrome? Is there no one? I know it sounds like I am asking this question in a wind tunnel. But is there an abject paucity of witnesses here?
As a cohesive social group. the Saraswats through the centuries have striven towards attaining and obtaining the best, considering their pointed acumen and perseverance in all matters concerning opportunity, business and scholarship. However, quite often those who are successful and of acute intelligence, tend to leave their flanks uncovered; perhaps out of sheer confidence or an inability to imagine they could be surprised. In India, this is particularly striking among those who have taken their measures of modernity and its possibilities to their heads; seeing that it suits them rather well. So for the present, the script issue does not bother the movers and shakers, whereas the others who are not part of the elite among the same, are simply minding their business. As high achievers, they have divined, that the Antruzian folks have little on them beautiful people. Recent modernity in a nutshell, with a slice of good old feudalism. This is a prerogative of those who shape the corridors of feudal rectitude, turning them into labyrinths of power politics. Many Christians too are only happy to be accepted and garlanded as lost wayward siblings -- who have not culturally strayed too far; other than by eating of the abominable choris pau. And occasionally prattling the ta, tha, ti, thi, tu, thu, the, thai, tho, tau/thau, etc., while quizzically contemplating when to resort to the long or short u/uu. For those of us who know the Nagari in its specificifies, the Romi still contributes to making the Konkani firmament more complete. As a group they have great faculties for observation, and a phenomenal talent for collective dialectics. But anticipating change is a whole different matter. It is the weakest thinkers (usually the politicians) in terms of ideas, among any community who take the strongest, to the pastures that precipitately slope over linguistic cliffs. At some point in the bewitchment the view get clearer as one is in free fall. I do hope that behind the scenes the good ones among our brethern will broach this topic with the fearless leaders. If for no other reason than for resaons of self love as opposed to self hatred, to increase financial potential and as smart politics. Goa neds smart investments andfor those with capital Romi affords a host of possibilities.*** You also raised two pertinent thoughts -- the first one on knowing! Know thyself -- but what can be worse than someone else knowing your mind. That is pure nakedness of being. I lived in the midst of a Hindu family, for about five years. This was but one strand in a critical part of in my development, with the religion, social and cultural mores of my ancestors. Basically, I learnt a lot about people and the dynamics of protecting ones interests. Secondly, people have to understand that if an independent MLA could be so influential in 1987, it also means that other independent MLAs or those with some spine could up the ante. But I presume, its easier to stay as milquetoasts, or simply as nankatais. *** I came across this historical piece by Teotonio R. de Souza. It contains the kind of information that all should become familiar with. I mean all Goans -- Hindus, Christians. Muslims, Sikhs, and martians when they land in Goa. It is related to entrepreneurship, and has much relevance to us today. This piece is something that Hindus should see as extolling their positives -- in addition to their ability to thrive in any circumstance, and for Christians to consider future possibilities in growth by dropping their laissez-faire attitude. And pass the message on so all may share in what Goa can still be for all of us, and not just for the smooth skinned, beautiful people. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/1503/hindus_goa.htm venantius Miguel Braganza <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Their students know the mind of the Saraswat Hindu better. This will > be their undoing. > > He who sows the wind ...will reap a whirlwind. Can you hear it coming? > It will not matter to Adv. Uday Bhembre: he will have gone to seed by > the time the storm takes its toll.
