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NEW BOOK: 'PATRIOTISM IN ACTION: Goans in Indias Defence Services' With Foreword by Gen SF Rodrigues, PVSM, VSM, ADC (retd) former Chief of Indian Army Staff and Governor, Punjab & Administrator, Chandigarh UT Copies now available at: GOA: Literati (2277740), Other India (2263306), Broadway (6647038), Mandovi (2427904), Noel DSilva & Associates (9823120454 / 9096781714), Confidant / Golden Heart Emp (2732450), David & Co (2730326), Vardaan (9527463684) SERV / RETD Def Offrs in Goa: O/o Sainik Co-op Hse Bldg Sty, Def Col, Porvorim (2417288) MUMBAI: David & Co (22019010) PUNE: Manneys (26131683), Popular (25678327) BENGALURU: Narayan (22865800) DELHI: Ritana (24617278) ONLINE (worldwide delivery): http://www.ritanabooks.com, http://goa1556.goa-india.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Talking of Indians spitting on walls and in public places, Goans have a problem too. Just the other day Goanet moderator Bosco and I were briefly discussing about him getting Valmiki's book for distribution to a few interested people in Toronto. We were in accord with Goans not patronizing Goan authors of even well written books when that meant reaching into your pockets for a few dollars. Just a few days later, I experienced the following: A certain Goan had heard good reviews of Selma's book and in conversation with me was distinctly but indirectly fishing for my copy to be lent to him. When he saw that I was not forthcoming with it, he quietly stopped the hints. At a Christmas party, I happened to meet this individual and he was raving about the book and liberally quoting from it. He then said "They want to sell the book here for $20, but when I went to Goa I bought it for Rs 275. He did not mention about the inconvenience of carrying it in his baggage when he could have very well carried a pound of sausages in its place. Now I know this individual well. He is a person of means and otherwise not tight-fisted at all, but in the realm of buying a Goan author's book, he thought the world of saving some coin. Phew, what an attitude. If this were a rarity, I would have not have cared. But it is all too common in the Goan community and that I think is only a step above the Indian trait of spitting in public. Little consolation this. Roland. Toronto. 416-453-3371 .