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* * * 2007 ANNUAL GOANETTERS MEET - GOA * * *
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WHERE: Foodland Cafe - Miramar Residency - Miramar, Goa
WHEN: December 27, 2007 @ 4:30pm
More info:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2007-December/066098.html
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Dear Vivian,
You must be indulging in a bit of humor.
But, does it really bother you, to possibly be, as you referred to
yourself -- from the
dregs of society. I am sure a lot of good has happened in your life, a
relationship (if that applies), and other existential graces. Most
name changes are for cosmetic reasons. Some do so to emotionally
disassociate from thoughts of the past. Others are either very aware
of the burden of the name, empathatic, shrewd, eagalitarian, going
through a life crisis, or reinventing themselves. I can imagine that
it serves a purpose -- to shield oneself from certain questions, by
certain individuals who are bent on disruption by using/usurping the
smallest piece of information. Unless my ancestors were assassins,
rapists, looters, or staggeringly unscrupulous; and there were people
seeking their rightful revenge -- I would not worry about name
changing.
Whatever your antecedents may be, think of what your contribution has
been to life; or at the very least to this forum. Also, if one at all
cares, then words like Soccoro should not continue to connote
Portuguese flagrance's.
Frankly Vivian, it is disingenuous that a number debaters on this
topic appear not to know what castes they were of; or still regard
themselves to be. In general, Christians are expected to leave this
behind, but it is not a State Secret to find out (if one has been
truly protected from this knowledge) if one wishes to. I mean just the
sake of knowing. Also, one can still say that, his/her caste
affiliation was of the Bamon, Chaddo, Mahar, Agri, etc., but one has
moved on hopefully. It is also ridiculous to say one does not know, if
one does. From what I know, we were Chaddo, and our ancestral surname
was Kamat. Hence, Camtiger (at Kamat's), and Camotim (Kamat). I do not
have the luxury of oral history, as others on this forum do. But I was
told that we built and repaired the khautem (bunds, earthen dams).
Presumably Kamats are almost often Brahman, but when I asked my dad
years ago, he said we could not have been Brahman. In almost exactly
the same language, and mind you, this is a guy who barely had a
primary education.
So if you believe you have lowly antecedents, do not agonize over it.
We like you at Goanet, at least I do, having encountered you on this
forum. Cheer up. But if you wrote all this in innocent mischief, then
its moot.
Venantius
> From: "Vivian A. DSouza" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: [Goanet] Caste blindness............
> Santosh's suggestion about changing one's name to hide one's caste got me
> thinking.
> I am a D'Souza. I wonder what Caste that is ? With every second Goan
> especially the
> drunken ones shown in Hindi movies named D'Souza, we must be the dregs of
> society.
> I guess my entecedents are either Mar or Chamar ?
>
> But wait now, the Portuguese missionaries cracking their whips converted
> my forebears to Catholicism and wiped out casteeism with one crack of the
> whip. Or did they ? Perhaps not, or else we would not have had this lenghty
> debate about Caste among Goan Catholics. How would I change my name to hide
> my lowly antecedents ? My E-Name is already Socorrokar. My mistake I
> should have called myself as Santosh has suggested, Soccorcho ! But
> Socorro is a Portuguese word - drat it !!!
> Perhaps I could call myself Chimbelcho or is that copyrighted ? Any
> suggestions folks ?
> I am trying to be caste neutral.
>
>
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