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Goanet joins Noel Rebello to raise money for Daddy's Home (Margao, Goa) Sponsor Noel as he climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,882m or 19,298 ft) Make a donation at www.Goanet.org, click on MAKE A DONATION, state "Daddy's Home" in the Donation comments For more information see: http://bit.ly/SupportDaddysHome --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Who killed Candolim? The River Princess and the Frogs By Cecil Pinto Who killed Cock Robin? I said the sparrow With my little arrow I killed Cock… “Stop Uncle. We’ve heard that one before. Tell us something new.” Who killed Candolim I, said Digambar Typical of my slumber I killed Candolim Who saw her die I, said Agnelo Despite what I know I saw her die Who caught her blood? I, said Dr. Willy Although it seems silly I caught her blood Who'll make the shroud? I, said the Rane It seems a little funny I'll make the shroud. Who'll dig her grave? I, said Churchill, Soon after the kill I'll dig her grave. Who'll be the parson? I, said Joaquim, Face looking grim, I'll be the parson. Who'll be the clerk? I, said Anil, If she left a will I'll be the clerk. Who'll carry the link? I, said Filipe, And I will weep I'll carry the link. Who'll be chief mourner? I, said Azgaonkar, Though it sounds bizarre I'll be chief mourner. Who'll carry the coffin? I, said Mauvin, Through thick and thin, I'll carry the coffin. Who'll bear the pall? I said Victoria, In a burst of euphoria I'll bear the pall. Who'll sing a psalm? I, said Ravi Naik, As loud as you like, I'll sing a psalm. Who'll toll the bell? I said Pandurang I’ll see it is rung I'll toll the bell. All the people of Goa Fell a-sighing and a-sobbing, When they heard the bell toll For poor Candolim Gather around me children. Let me tell you the actual story about how Candolim Beach died. Have you heard the story of the Princess and the Frog? “Yes Uncle!” Briefly now. A reluctant Princess kisses a frog who turns out to be a trapped Prince.” “Yes Uncle!” But this is not that story. Have you children heard the story of the Frog Princess? “Yes Uncle!” Briefly now. The youngest of three Princes wanted to marry a frog he befriended. The king sets the frog various tasks that she accomplishes using magic and then transforms herself into a Princess.” “Yes Uncle!” But that is not the story I am telling you today. This is the story of The River Princess and the Frogs. “Yes Uncle!” Once upon a time in a land not so far away was a beautiful beach named Candolim. People came from far and wide to enjoy her sands. They swam in the sea and tanned themselves on the beach. They purchased overpriced trinkets and received amateur massages from migrant vendors. They sipped on beer and cocktails in the beach shacks and ordered continental cuisine. Everyone was happy in the beautiful land of Candolim. Then one dark and stormy night it happened. “What happened Uncle?” “It was a dark and stormy night.” “You said that already Uncle!” Ok! Ok! From the pitch dark of the sea a River Princess appeared. “River Princess? You mean a mermaid” No! No! A River Princess. “What was a River Princess doing in the sea?” Good question. Better still what was a River Princess doing on Candolim beach? Anyway, this River Princess was huge and ugly. “How can that be Uncle? All princesses are beautiful. What do I know. This Princess was huge and ugly and threatened to destroy the beautiful Candolim beach. “How Uncle? By huffing and puffing and blowing like the Fox?” That is a different story. This Princess threatened to destroy the beach by just sitting there and refusing to move. “Wow! But Uncle you’re telling us about the Princess only. What about the frogs?” I’m getting there. Now the then Ruling Frog told Mining Frog, who was responsible, ‘Take your ugly River Princess off from our beautiful Candolim beach!’ Unfortunately Mining Frog was very stubborn. He refused to remove the River Princess from the beach and instead contested and won an election some years later. Anyway ruling frogs came and ruling frogs went, calling each other communal and calling each other corrupt, but the River Princess refused to budge. And the beautiful Candolim beach started dying thanks to the spineless ruling frogs. Slowly dying. One Opposition Frog even started this fantastic rumour that the River Princess was selling drugs. A Texan Frog was hired to remove the River Princess but failed. A Crosschem Frog was hired to remove the River Princess but failed. A Jaisu Frog was hired to remove the River Princess but failed. Some Aldonkars who had once helped shift the Moira Church were hired but the Moidekars objected. Ten years down the line when Candolim beach was almost dead a Titan Frog was hired to remove the River Princess but a Goan Salvage Frog objected. “Why Uncle?” Understand children that the River Princess is a very prized possession for frogs. ‘If I don’t have it nobody else will’, is the driving objective. But now by a strange twist in the story Mining Frog came forward very eager to remove the River Princess, and that too for free “What?” And the Ruling Frogs want to let him move it. And even Salvage Frog wants the Ruling Frogs to allow Mining Frog to move it. “What? But Uncle does Mining Frog know anything about moving River Princesses?” No he doesn’t. But Salvage Frog does, so go figure. Anyway Ruling Frogs are now going to allow Mining Frog to remove the River Princess. “But Uncle isn’t Mining Frog the one who created all this trouble in the first place by being irresponsible and then stubborn? How can he be trusted?” You are correct children but then Ruling Frogs are not too bothered about the fact that Candolim beach is dying and almost dead. They just want to get back to their politics and moneymaking and hope the River Princess will just disappear – as if by magic. “Will it disappear, Uncle?” We shall see children, we shall see. But when you grow up don’t forget who killed our once beautiful Candolim beach. ---------- The column above appeared in Gomantak Times dated 9th September 2010 =====