Melvyn Fernandes wrote:
Then going back to the Global Goan Convention 2011 held in London, United
kingdom. I am reliably informed that the excellent, informative book "The Sixth
Night" by Silvano Barbosa was put "out of sight" by Selma (was this you?) from
the visiting dignitaries from Goa in favour of books by other authors. Yet
another cold water moment?
These two are, if you agree, examples of the sorpotel school of thought
(peasant thinking) which still exists in our worldwide community today. Like a
disease it is hereditary, definitely "hurts" the development and fabric of our
community and its a mystery why our so called "top people" have not found a
formula to cure it? Or has this been found and killed off by cold water moments
before being activated.
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RESPONSE:
Melvyn, I have no idea who you and your wife Rose are. I hear you nattering
away in the background and thus far I have not felt the need to respond to any
of your posts. I would have let this post pass too, except Silviano Barborosa
will have read it and maybe the odd hundred or so Goans from across the Globe.
A lie told often enough has the potential to become the truth in our community.
Now let me take the opportunity to present the facts to you. When the two day
convention followed by the one day Goan festival was announced, I wanted to
give Goan authors an international platform. I wanted to do something for Goan
authors and the fledgling publishing industry in Goa, which needs support from
each one of us. (that I am continually accused of not doing anything for Goa by
virtue of being a Non-Resident is another subject line which I shall leave
aside for now).
I had to negotiate with the Goan Association selling-space for three days. You
are probably aware that under normal circumstance this space does not come
free. I also had to negotiate a time-slot to launch the books of four Goan
authors. The second was harder than the first, as there were so many people who
wanted time-slots in a two-day convention. Nevertheless, it was given to me,
because it was agreed by all that promoting Goan authors was an important act
of supporting the community.
For three days, my husband (the one who obviously doesn't wear any pants in the
house according to Eugene, which his wife wears while looking for "romps" on
Goanet -but I digress) and I lugged around 300 books which must have weighed
about a ton. Eddie Fernandes, dear Eddie, arrived at my doorsteps the day
before the Convention and donated two solid suitcases to carry them around in.
Bear in mind Eddie lives an hour away from me.
My husband took the day off from work to help me - his work which keeps us fed
and clothed so that I may dedicate and devote my life to useless and thankless
ventures such as doing something for the community - he spent the next three
days baby-sitting my young daughter.
I spent long hours standing up, hawking books, collecting money and going
without lunch, hours which I could have spent mingling, socialising and
generally having a good time. The NRI Commissioner had invited me to dine at
his table. As it turned out, my misguided devotion kept me tethered to the
book-selling table. I got help from the young sons and daughter of Goan
Association directors to sell the books at times. There are a few dedicated
families in the UK who have devoted their lives to the community. They get no
thanks. Instead they are plagued by slander and insurrections by people like
you. (I have seen the email you've been sending to people for just such an
insurrection against the Goan Association President. Thank God for the internet
now. Goans can destroy reputations at the speed of light.)
On the third day, the day of the festival Eddie Fernandes and his wife Lira
helped me put up the tent. Lira took time off from her GoanVoice stall to sell
books by Goan authors. We conscripted other friends along the way to help us.
Several times, I went around on foot selling books. It was very, very hard
work. But when I believe in a cause I will see it to the end.
Silviano's book was delivered to me a few days before the Convention. I agreed.
It was placed on the table just as every else's books. I was not getting a
commission nor am I a book-seller to have some motive in pushing certain books
and "hiding" others from so-called important dignitaries. Just for your
information, the dignitaries were not buying books that day. They were busy
with their own work. If I did not want to showcase Silviano's books, I would
have refused to accept them when they were delivered to my house. It would have
saved my husband the burden of carrying a few more books. What motive then did
I have in "hiding" his book?
And here is the last question. If your so-called reliable witness was so sure I
hid Silviano's book for some reason, why didn't he come up to me and ask for
Sixth Night. Why didn't he volunteer to help me sell Sixth Night. Afterall, I
was constantly looking for volunteers to assist me, so that I may at least have
a meal.
The reason I have gone into such details is because this is an absolute low
point for me. People have no idea the amount of time and energy and dedication
it takes to do something for the community. How hard the organising committee
worked to put the Goan Convention together. Yet some people in our Goan
community can just cook up slanderous things like this and then put them out
for the general public. Since the time of the Convention, I have needlessly
been hounded on public forums, my reputation besmirched for no reason other
than the fact that I was part of the Goan Association (UK) organising
committee. How easy it is for people to destroy what took months to organise,
garnering the dedication of a group of people who worked into the wee hours of
morning and not one of us took a penny for our services. Just so that so-called
journalists, foreign correspondents who work from home, could then railroad
into us, with their detailed accounts of the
convention.
I am now utterly, utterly exhausted. To transliterate an old Goan saying, "I
have not eaten anything from anyone nor have I stolen anything," which roughly
translates to, I have done no one harm nor indulged of anyone's hospitality.
So fare thee well. I hope ruining my reputation at least gives you and your
gang some satisfaction.
Best,
Selma
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