STATEMENT OF SHRI EDUARDO FALEIRO AT HIS PRESS BRIEFING
(May 22, 2012)
Over the last two months, I along with Adv.Bernard d’Souza visited several
villages and towns in the districts of Kolhapur and Belgaum to meet the
people of Goan origin settled in those areas.
In the 16th and 17th centuries thousands of Goans, both Hindus and
Christians, left Goa to escape religious and cultural persecution, epidemics
and continuous wars and settled in the neighbouring areas of North Karnataka
and South Maharashtra. They speak Marathi or Kannada and also Konkani and
visit regularly their temples and churches in Goa.
Most of the people who migrated to the neighbouring areas of Maharashtra are
called ‘ Bardezkars’ since their ancestors migrated mostly from Bardez.
Their surnames in school records and revenue registers appear as ‘ Bardezkar’.
The descendants of those settled in Karnataka are called ‘ Konkanes’ because
they speak Konkani at home along with Kannada.
Hindus, Muslims and Christians in those areas participate in each other’s
religious festivals, weddings and other gatherings and there is no
difference in their social life and food habits.
- We have taken steps to write the history of Goans migration to the
neighbouring regions in those early centuries.
- Many of those persons are Christians and every year a large number of
them come walking for 3-4 days to attend the feast of St. Francis Xavier but
when they arrive at Old Goa they do not have a reasonable place to rest.
- We have formulated a Youth Exchange Programme for youth of Goan origin in
the neighbouring areas to visit Goa and get acquainted with their roots and
different facets of life here. Similarly Goan youth will visit the
neighbouring areas to acquaint themselves with the people of those areas.
This Youth Exchange Programme is intended for the young generation to
contribute to and promote understanding, goodwill and co-operation between
the three States involved. In the first Youth Exchange Programme, about 10
Goan youths in the age group of 18 to 30 years will visit villages and towns
in the districts of Kolhapur and Belgaum from June 23rd to June 30th next.
Similarly, youth of Goan origin in the neighbouring States will be invited
to visit Goa in the month of November.
I now request my colleagues Adv.Bernard d’Souza, Shri Devraj Bardezkar and
others to elaborate on the subjects I have just mentioned.
Eduardo Faleiro
loksevagoa at gmail.com
