[Goanet]REVIEW: A dramatic personality, Prince Jacob gets a biography

[GoanetReader]

A DRAMATIC PERSONALITY, PRINCE JACOB GETS A BIOGRAPHY
Review by Fermino D'Souza agnelosworld at yahoo.co.in
THIS IS a title about the life of Minguel Jacob Carmo Luis Fernandes, whom
everyone who follows the Konkani stage would know better as Prince Jacob,
the comedy king of tiatr -- as the most popular version of local drama in
this state is called.
Across its slim 58 pages printed on glossy paper, it narrates the entire
life of the 'kunnor' (prince) and beyound. The book in the still-popular
Romi script, takes the reader to the times of Jacob's father, Lawrence, who
migrated from Colva to settle in Fatorda.
It was at Fatorda, we're told, that lady luck smiled upon him and he secured
a job on a ship, the aspiration of so many migration-oriented youth in
coastal Goa. Thereafter, he married Virginia, but his wife died earlier
leaving behind six children.
Lawrence's life was shattered and he was left deep in thoughts. He was
helpless, and had to take care of his six children all alone. He decided to
re-marry, and wed Basilia, who could help bring up her step-children. The
couple went on to have three more children, one of whom turned into the
undisputed prince of the Konkani stage.
Jacob, as a child, had a harrowing time at the hands of his step-brothers
and sisters. We're told that he was almost lost to the wrong tracks of life
until the dramatic change in his life brought about in Don Bosco's and
through the agency of a guiding spirit in the form of a priest there. He was
by then known as a very mischevious and short-tempered person.
Author Tavares, who hails from Raia, has beautifully jotted down the story
of Larence's misery, the pains, love and sacrific of Basilia, and the
lonliness and the dramatic change that comes about in Jacob's life.
The trauma he lived and passed through can be very much felt, as one keeps
on reading. Yet the weak point in this book is the confusion -- or
unnecessary detail -- the presence of irrevelant history, geography and even
biology and chemistry, which in parts almost gives it the tenor of a high
school text book.
Even if science had to be brought into such a book, it is surely over-used.
Chapters 1 and 9, specifically, and some paragraphs elsewhere are simply not
justified in a book that ought to focus on being what it is -- a biography
of a tiatr personality.
Including confusing digits and numbers might add to the confusing.
On the other hand, the writer has carefully depicted, with sufficient depth, 
the personal and professional life on and offstage of Jacob. But after
reading it, one is still left guessing about some aspects of this intriguing
man from the world of culture -- who recently acted in two films that were
screened around the time of the IFFI in late 2004 and is now working on a
Konkani film of his own.

For instance, what inspired Jacob to name at least 25 of his tiatrs all with
words starting with the alphabet P? Anyone who has been following the world
of tiatr in Goa would surely like to know. Likewise, the sub-title of the
book could have been more attractive.
Yet, overall, the book remains a title worth reading. Go for it if your
interests are liked to Konkani, tiatr, or simply understanding Goa.
-
Konkanni Pallkaccho Kunvor
By Ives Tavares
June 2004
58 pp. Rs 50
-
RATINGS *** / 5

[Goanet]GoanetReader: From pots to people, just clay in Verodiana's hands

[GoanetReader]

FROM POTS TO PEOPLE, IT'S JUST CLAY IN VERODIANA'S SKILLED HANDS
By Roxanna Pinto
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
When you enter the Shrine of the Miraculous Cross at Bambolim, probably the
first icon to grab your attention is a huge statue of the risen lord with an
outstretched embrace, benevolently gazing at his children. If god can be
said to have brought clay to life, here's the work of a woman who has
captured life in clay.
Verodina Ferrao. A sculptor. It is her hands that transform an ordinary
block of clay into mermaids, children, old people, ornate vases and pots.
Besides, Bambolim, she has created a niche of the holy family at the
chapel-turned-church of the same name at Porvorim and made many statues and
sculpture to adorn shrines throughout Goa. Originally from Mapusa, Verodina
started off in fine arts at Goa's lone degree training institutions for
artists -- the Goa College of Art. It was then under the Bombay University.
She opted to switch to pottery. She also did a related course in Mumbai for
gaining the necessary technical skills.
Why she did she choose sculpture as a form to channelise her creativity over
other forms of art?
Sculpture is three dimensional, surging with life I relate more to figures,
relationships, with human beings not so much with material things. You can
express yourself -- you feelings, your emotions -- better. Besides, people
relate to people. As a sculptor you put something of yourself into the
clay. That is the beauty of sculpture, she explains when asked.
On a child's playground, true artists are born, it is said. Verodina still
laughs when she remembers those childhood days. We used to play in the mud
and make frog houses. We used to hope that the frogs would come and live in
them. They never did. We used to have a huge wooden floor and my mother, who
was a teacher, used to make us draw on it.
Her first creation was a pair of figurines, an old man and woman, sitting on
a bench, very expressive with a lot of wrinkles on their faces. There was a
lot of character in it.
But why does she enjoy sculpting? When I start off, I don't visualise
anything. It all comes spontaneously.  It's a feeling I try to express in
clay. I enjoy doing rural figures, women, people in conversation, and so
on.
Any other medium she looks forward to working with, as intimately? At
present she feels comfortable working just with clay, but in the near future
she wouldn't mind bronze sculptures. Bronze is easy to work with and has not
many limitations unlike clay. For example, you cannot make sculptures of
clay stand, you need support at the bottom.
Every artist has a muse and for Verodina it is people.
My feelings are towards people, moods. I like to capture the mood, or the
feeling of people sitting together, talking, she says, even while giving
the finishing touches to a pot close by. Her hands move with a life of their
own -- moulding, shaping, creating -- while we talk.
When not making earthenware and sculptures at her workshop in Mapusa,
Verodina supervises young mentally challenged children at Cooj (Cause of Our
Joy) Sahodaya halfway home for the mentally-disturbed in Mapusa. For an hour
a day, she helps the children to make pieces which are later sold. It was
very difficult, she admits frankly, but they have taught me patience and
understanding.
She has recently concluded an exhibition at the luxury hotel Cidade de Goa,
where her work and that of her husband Francis -- a famous painter himself
-- was spotlighted. Her other projects on hand include, an exhibition of her
sculpture currently underway at the Bilmat Zeramic Art Gallery in Bombay and
another exhibition to be held also in the same city in August 2005.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: The writer is part of the GoaJMentor network, that seeks to 
mentor young Goan students in journalism and writing skills. GoaJMentor is run 
through the offices of Ixtt, Pilar. Roxanna is also a student at St Xavier's 
College, Mapusa.

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[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Words of wisdom from the young... tiatr days

[GoanetReader]

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM THE YOUNG, CHILD ARTIST SHRUTI ON HER TIATR DAYS

Bai Shruti Naik (13) might still be a schoolgirl, but her's already is a
popular name among fans of Goa's folk-based and popular entertainment form
-- the 'tiatr'. Dikshak Naik interviews this child-artiste on her growth on
the stage, her plans and her dreams:

Q To begin, how did you get started? 

I was in sixth standard (at around the age of 11 or 12) when I got my first
break as a child artist in Inacio Xavier's tlatr 'Hanv Konn Kai', in which I
played a small role. But it was appreciated by everyone.

After that, I was given an offer by Succor  to work in his carnival khel
tiatr and we performed around 40 stages in three days which was quite good.
While performing in the Carnival khel tiatr, I was spotted by XXXxx who
gaved me a chance to work in Patrick Dourado's historysa-making mega Konkani
hit tiatr 'Ti Moji Maim Part I'. 

Thereafter there was no looking back for me. 

Q: How did it feel to work with some of the big names of the Konkani stage? 

It was amazing. I mean, they were very helpful and willing to help me in
improving every aspect of acting. And to work with Felcy, Sharon, Janet,
Ambe, Mario D, Vasco, Mario Menezes, Xavier and all other was very good
experience and helped me in my future.

Q. What was your experience in performing in Mumbai, or in centres of Goan
migration abroad such as Kuwait and Muscat? 

It was very thrilling touring the Gulf countries and Mumbai. The response we
got there was very good. The appreciated our effort. 

Q: You have performed every character on stage from daughter to mother, from
comedy to tragedy, but which is the character that you would like best to
perform on stage? 

The character as Pascoal acting as a retarded person, which she said was
very challenging.

Q. Beside the Konkani tiatr, you have also performed in the Konkani movie
'Papa'. So how different is it working in front of a camera and performing
on stage in front of large ardience?

There's a lot of a difference. With the camera, you get a chance for a
retake but on stage you don't have that, and you have to give you best at
one shot.  

Q: One undersands that beside tiatrs you are also learning  classical
singing too. So what are you interested in?

I have been learing classical singing for a while now and won many prizes
for singing, including once the first prize as the best singer at the all
Goa bhajan competition held at the Kala Academy.  

Q. Besides tiatrss and other cultural activities you've performed well in
your studies too. So what keeps you sharp and energetic inspite of so many
activities?

It's god's goft to me. I adjust my time for studies, for  me studies come
first and rest of the things next. I am very greatful to my school teachers
who are very helpful to me. Whenever I miss classes they are redy to help
me.

Q. You performed a mother's role in Tony Dias tiatr 'Kor Mhoje Tuje Sarke'. 
Tell as about that.

It was a brave step taken by Tony Dias and no one expected it to be
successful. But due to hard work of Tony Dias and all the actors it became
big and on stage we had lots of fun, as all the top child artists of Goa
were performing under one roof.

Q: What role have your parents played in budding you as child artist?

I have no word to thank them. They are the ones who helped me a lot. My mum
helped me in improving my acting and dad is always raedy for those sleepless
nights while he was the one who used to take me for those take night show. I
could neyer every forget their hard work which they have done.

==
The writer is a participant of the VAVRADEANCHO IXTT journalism e-mentorship
programme. If you appreciate the work behind this assignment, please send in
a note to the writer: Dikshak Naik c/o [EMAIL PROTECTED]

[Goanet News Bytes]GoanetReader -- An artist's journey: From Goa to Lisbon ...

[GoanetReader]

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AN ARTIST'S JOURNEY: FROM GOA TO LISBON AND BACK, VIA MOZAMBIQUE

By Anson Samuel
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

As a young lad he had dreams and visions while sitting at the porch of his
house. At the age of seven he got enchanted with the scenery, the barges
that passed through, floating upon the gleaming waters near Pomburpa. 

Today, Ganesh Vamona Navelkar, is a veteran Goan artist. Art in that time,
he says as he reminisces on his career, was considered to be a folly of the
lower class. But he's glad today that art has taken a twist for the better
as far as Goans go, and there are signs of hope for the artist from here. 

Says Navelkar, In the past there has been a sort of stagnation. Today,
however, Goa can produce excellent artists.

He remembers days when he had to draw on the reverse side of calendars and
hang them back again so that his parents' suspicious eyes did not notice it.

His teachers at St. Thomas, Aldona however recognised the artistic talent in
him. The place where I worked for the first time turned the pages of my
life to a better future. While working in the mines for the Chowgules, he
was asked to do a portrait for the mining firm's magnate Vishwasrao and the
then Governor Bernardo Guedes.

The Governor was so impressed by his painting that he began offering this
young artist an opportunity to study art in Portugal. Mr. Navelkar dropped
the idea. But after another round of persuasions from the authorities, he
was in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, some 21 days later.  But things were
not easy here. He was asked to answer the equivalent exam of his SSC and HSC
again, this time in Portuguese.

It wasn't easy, but I managed to do it. He soon earned his identity as an
artist and a teacher par excellence. So much so that his name was referred
to in the Encyclopaedia of Portuguese artists by Dr. Fernando Pamplona and
also in the dictionary on 20th century Portuguese artists by R. Tannuck,
London.

Navelkar narrates an incident in the pre-1961 era, when he was asked to sign
a petition against Nehru, since he was a Portuguese citizen and tension was
mounting between India and Portugal over Goa. But he refused to do so,
saying that as an artist he belong to all. This lead to some problems with
his scholarship, and he had to make other plans.

Once, his Portuguese mentor commented that while Navelkar paints, he gives
the impression of being hypnotised. 

During those days when the Portuguese still ruled over Mozambique, he was
sent as a teacher at the Lyceum in Mozambique. He says he helped the
Mozibicans as much as possible.

I was fortunate enough to see the liberation of the Mozambique from
Portuguese rule, he says as he nostalgically smiles. But life continued
with its ups and downs. After a few days, some locals entered the school and
took as captive eight teachers -- including Navelkar -- in addition 13 boys
and 9 girls to a remote forest called Imala. There they had to drink from
the pond and survive on mangoes, cashews, and such fruit in lieu of food.
Then, when armed men came and placed implements before them for work, Mr.
Navelkar flatly refused.

I don't know the reason for being brought here in this way, he said, and
very astonishingly the broad-chested soldier though carrying a machine gun
began pacing backward and disappeared in the jungle. The next day this same
soldier came and complimented him for being an intelligent person.

However they were soon rescued. And how!

One of the Africans who had met the true person of Mr. Navelkar, said that
he was a kind man with a readiness to help, and so he asked the others to
free him, to which they readily agreed. 

But Mr. Navelkar did not go. He demanded for the rescue of his students and
his co-teachers as well. After some deal of hassling, they agreed to free
them. Being bold and having a whole lot of courage helped him to tackle this
problem with much ease, he feels.

On his return to Portugal from Mozambique, he realised that he had not been
given one of his pieces of baggage which contained 90 prizes, photos, all
his diploma certificates and nearly 1300 paintings. He found himself
completely lost. To this day, he says, I haven't found it. It was
something that had him totally broken down; he lost his life's work and
almost his identity. That was when he adopted the name of Ganesh, offering
himself to Lord Ganesh.

But Navelkar took the situation as a challenge and recovered from it, that
too with the help of art.

Art is my salvation. It has provided me with complete peace of mind. It has
offered 

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Guitars get going, Goan guild gleans go-getters

[GoanetReader]

GUITARS GET GOING: GOAN GUILD GLEANS GO-GETTERS

By Frederick Noronha
http://www.dulpod.com

IMAGINE a dozen or more guitars, each complimenting and competing with the
other, to bring out the most melodious musical notes once a month in
Porvorim or Panjim? 

This is no dreams; it's a unique venture has been taking place, thanks to
the initiative of some music-crazy guitar enthusiasts in Goa who want to
promote all brands of their favourite instrument in the state.

Guitar Guild Goa is a rather low-profile, high-achieving voluntary network
formed by guitar-music fans across the state. It has brought together many
exponents of this flat-bodied melodious and popular Western stringed
instrument with a long fretted neck.

It is one of those networks that works out of Goa, plays an interesting role
in promoting something positive, but probably doesn't get any of the
deserved attention so badly needed to make a good venture grow.

Over the last few years, not only has networked new-found friends with
shared interests but it has also given a boost to guitar playing in this
small state. More importantly, it has shown that it's possible for
musician-led voluntary not-for-profit initiatives to function efficiently
and effectively. Even if the occasional misunderstanding is always a
possibility on the horizon.

GGG was launched in March 2000. It got hardly any attention when it was
launched. Much of the subsequent scant coverage in the local media was
largely based on press notes, or write-up by suitably-impressed new members
who happened to be also feature-writers or editors.

Initially, team-leaders' reports about the second-Sunday of the month
meetings were restricted to hardly three paras. Members had to be coaxed to
perform. But this soon changed. The minutes became pages in length.
Performers had to scramble for a slot. In no time, members were being told:
Please get your individual guitars (standard tuning) and music stands if
possible.

Initially, most members were happy to have a platform for meeting, learning
and performing. The Karnads from Vasco found the evening something to look
forward to. (Sadhana Karnad is trained in Hindustani music, and not being a
guitar player, at one meet, contributed with a soulful rendition of Hindi
songs in semi-classical fashion.) 

Others called it the beginning of a musical journey together. Slowly numbers
started growing. Antonio and Ligia Lobo's home at Altinho could no longer
accomodate the crowd, and the venue was shifted to the large hall of music
lover and music-store owner Albino Fernandes at Alto Betim.

Today, the guild sees itself as being made up of various streams -- Western
classical, pop and rock, jazz and rock, Indian classical and even Goan folk!

Co-ordinators Rui Lobo and Devang Metha kept the group going in its early
days. Commented Mehta then: It (the guitar) has been called the 'portable
piano' because it is easily transported. The sounds of the nylon guitar
epitomises the very concept of romance.

On being formed, GGG's aim was to include informal playing, the presentation
of 'topics of interest', just creating opportunities to meet people with
similar interest, merely listen (you don't have to play). It was also
aimed at playing duets or ensemble music or for members to try out a latest
piece.

The love of the guitar brings us together. And it is this love we want to
share with more and more people in Goa, said organisers, early after the
GGG's launch. They made it clear: anyone interested in the guitar, whether
classical or other styles, and who attended any of the GGG's meeting
automatically qualifies as a member.

In the past, the guild had to put up with Goa's poor infrastructure. For its
public performance, it found the available sound system to be woefully
iandequate. This meant it had to hire a better sound system from out, and
each performer had to pay to perform -- a sum of Rs 200! 

One member commented after the meet: We have learnt a lesson about getting
sponsors to cover eyerything, sound system first and foremost. So we will
not have performers pay to play (in future).

After each meeting, members come out with their own 'newsletter'. Two young
brothers -- Gary and Kirk Rodrigues -- have won wows for their talent.
They've even played a duet blindfolded!  At one meeting in the past, the
youngest was Andrea Rodrigues (6), who sang 'Words', 'Let It Be Me' and 'Top
of The World', to the accompaniment of her father, Emercio. Her clear
intonation and perfect sense of rhythm left the listeners wonderstruck,
commented guild member Joseph A. D'Souza.

Arjun Karnad is another youngster who has been putting up interesting
performances. Some of the GGG members are Goans based in Mumbai. A few are
foreigners based in Goa. There are even some from other parts of India,
based in Goa. Young Sanya Cotta, who has recently answered her Performer's
Certificate for the violin, from the Trinity College of Music in London, is
another one carving out a 

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- The Net-Worker, A Profile from Goa's Cyberspace

[GoanetReader]

THE NET-WORKER: A PROFILE FROM GOA'S CYBERSPACE

Surely, his name is more 
known than his face.  
His e-mails fill up the 
Inbox of Goans around 
the world. He is the 
father of 'World Goa Day'. 
He is the worldwide Goan 
net-worker. He is 
Rene Barreto, from London. 

BY CONSTANTINO H XAVIER
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

ORIGINALLY FROM Vasco, Rene Barreto was born in Dar es Salaam, in 1936. 
After his schooling in Belgaum he went back to East Africa in 1955 where he
worked for Standard Bank. He has been living in London since 1976, but he
well known for his propagation of the annual worldwide Goan community
celebration, World Goa Day. The chosen date for the commemorations, August
20, marks the day when Konkani was included in the 8th Schedule of the
Indian Constitution by the Indian Parliament, back in 1992.

How did everything start, I asked Rene Barreto when we met in London.  

Goa Day came about because there was a lack of unity among Goans. It is a
way of bringing Goans together. After I wrote to my friends all over the
world, some six organizations supported the idea in 2000, remembers Rene,
sitting alongside his wife Maria Godinho, originally from Majorda. He now
also runs the website www.goaday.com.

PHENOMENAL GROWTH

Today, Goan communities from all over the world participate in the event. 

We have grown from six to roughly 40 participating organizations,
he states proudly. Goans of the United States, Canada, United
Kingdom, Kenya, Tanzania, the Middle East and Australia were
initially the most active participants. But since 2001 Goans also
from Portugal, Spain, Pakistan, Germany and even Goans in India have
joined.

In Toronto the local celebrations brought 5000 people together. In Lisbon,
in August 2002, an alliance of Goan associations gathered together over a
thousand people.

Yet, it is also true that it has been precisely the Konkani language that
has been neglected by most part of the Goan Diaspora. World Goa Day seems to
have become only one more reason for Goans to gather and socialize by
eating, drinking and dancing, depicting what is an annual celebration for a
true Goan. 

Rene, as the overall coordinator and with the help of US-based NGO
'Goa Sudharop', tried to tie up the diverse celebrations with a
yearly theme, such as Goan Youth in 2003 and Jobs for Goans in
2004.

I believe that without the Goan youth there is no future for Goans. Goans
are loosing their identity and it's time the youth gets involved, he avers.

The phone rings. The meeting with UK Member of Parliament, Keith Vaz, of
Goan origin, is confirmed for the next day. As a true networker Rene has got
friends all over the world in all kind of positions. A good example of his
never-ending activity is perhaps the number of e-mails he sent in July 2004
to Goanet -- http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet -- mailing list: in
total, more than 60 messages!

GOAN IDENTITY

But the communities themselves generally seem to forget Goan identity. 

In 2004 the Goans of Los Angeles (USA) had a Portuguese dance performance
in their programme, the Karnataka Goan Association promised a Karaoke
night and the most widespread initiative with North American Goans seemed
to be a barbecue picnic. 

Goans from New South Wales (Australia) state on their website that many
Goans (in Goa) speak Konkani in addition to English.  

Confronted with this gap of ignorance by the Goan Diaspora, Rene Barreto
defends the same, saying we cannot put the blame on the community which of
course likes socializing and dancing more than everything. But we need to
make people aware that there has to be more than that. 

What, I ask.

The answer is partially given by two examples: Basilio Monteiro, a Goan from
Spain who composed the song for World Goa Day (titled 'Proud to be a Goan'),
states that we owe a debt to Mother Goa which we can give back only by
learning and speaking Konkani. And last year the Quebec Goan Association
had the original idea of a writing contest for the younger ones with themes
such as Why do I call myself Goan or How does it feel to be a Goan living
abroad. 

There have been many more interesting initiatives, such as discussions on
the role of Goa's Diaspora in developing Goa, fundraising initiatives for
health and education back home, literary meetings and Goan Food cooking
contests.

Truth is, Rene Barreto has contributed immensely to an awakening of Goa's 
Diaspora all over the world, serving as the essential element of contact 
between the various associations, communities, countries and continents. 

This has lead to a growing consciousness of Goans worldwide that they are
intimately linked to their homeland and that they can draw benefits by
interacting with other Goan communities.

GOMANT VISHWA SAMMELAN

What about the recent 2nd Gomant Vishwa Sammelan (as the expat conference is
called locally in Goa)? 

Rene was an active participant in the previous editions 

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Rewind... looking back to Goa's first film fest

[GoanetReader]

REWIND: A LOOK BACK AT GOA'S FIRST INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST, IFFI2004

By Joseph Zuzarte
jzuzarte at rediffmail.com

AFTER THE DUST settles on IFFI2004, the writer,
a journalist from Goa who spent long years in Mumbai,
takes a look back at the reason which everyone
came here for in the first place -- films.

The curtains have rung down on IFFI 2004. And, as everybody expected, the
Iranian 'Beautiful City' won the Golden Peacock for Best Film. It was one of
the films I decided to give a miss to; it maybe a cinematic masterpiece, but
it's not my kind of film. But I did see the Thai 'A Beautiful Boxer' and
half expected it to win the top prize, so powerful is the film. The full
impact of the movie hits you just after you leave the screening. It's a
masterful allegory on the ambivalence of our sexualities, our loves and our
lives. Who are we? It asks, and what is sex? The violence and love of the
sexual encounter are recreated in the most masterful fashion in, of all
places, the kick-boxing ring.

There was not really much to choose from in the Asian Competition section.
The Chinese 'The Endless Way' was, well, endlessly boring, though also
cinematically beautiful. It provides a glimpse into the life of a remote
mountain village in Hunan province in China, which has a water problem
(endless shots of women and men bringing up water from a deep cavern). Which
is finally solved by the 'workers'; it's all about how Communism helps
people. Definitely no 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'.

The Malayasian 'The Princess of Mount Sedang' was like a bad Hindi movie. It
starts with one of the heroes single-handedly thrashing 20 of the village
toughies, and so on. Even 'A Beautiful Boxer' was more like a typical Hindi
film, and had its moments of bad production and bad acting. Everybody of
course is familiar with the Hong Kong kug fu movies and their
brawl-a-minute. Viewing the Asian Competition, there would seem to be a lot
of similarities in the commercial film-making of India, Thailand, Malayasia,
China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, etc. But there's another kind of sensibility in
the other Asian countries west of India, like Iran, Israel, etc.

The most exciting section at the IFFI was the Cinema of the World,
which had some real gems like 'The Motorcycle Diaries' from the
U.S.A. the French 'The Butterfly' was a delicious tease of an old
butterfly collector and a pre-teen girl who go off butterfly hunting
for three days in the jungles.

Back home, the girl's mother, who had become pregnant with the girl when she
was 15, hunts for her child; the mother had not come home one night, which
was how the girl ended with the old man. Thus ensues a frantic police hunt
for the old man and the girl with fears of dirty old paedophiles and all
that. The screening of the movie was marked by a perceptible anticipation in
the audience, more so because Goa has become infamous for its own
paedophiles.

Another masterpiece was the Canadian French movie 'Book of Senses', which
probably also had the most explicit sex of all the movies shown at IFFI.
It's about an ageing writer with a writer's block and a young woman
literature student who has terminal lung cancer, and finally dies at the end
of the movie. The girl befriends the writer, and pretending to be a hooker,
seduces the writer with her titillating sex talk. But it's a doomed affair
in the end.

'The French Men', another movie from France, was a refreshing take on
infidelity -- this time by the wife, the nature of love and male bonding.

There were many other movies, from Portugal, Croatia (a particularly graphic
one on male homosexuality), Hungary, etc., which, like most European cinema,
took one everyday aspect of human relationships -- the most complex of all
things in the world -- under the cinematic microscope and tenderly examined
it in all its hues. But those kind of movies only make sense to people with
those kind of sensibilities. For others they~Rre just 'sex' movies; some
viewers were wondering how such 'xxx' movies got past the Indian censors,
bringing to the fore one of the 'main' attractions of the IFFI, which
screens uncensored foreign movies.

Indian movies were represented in strength. Apart from the Bollywood movies,
and the movies like 'Chai Paani' by the new, young brigade, there were a
number of Bengali, Assamese, Malayalam and movies from other parts, all
recognisably 'Indian' movies. There's a whole school of Indian film-makers
who swear by the technique of cinematic poetry and lyricism as pioneered by
Styajit Ray, which makes the depiction of the hard life in villages (also
known as poverty) bearable. 

There's also an overdose of tears in Indian cinema, and too much is
being made of broken families, broken relationships and unrequited
love. And we have a long way to go before we can deal with sex in
the realistic manner of European film-makers. This was very much

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Beauty pageants booming in Goa, but at a price

[GoanetReader]

qualities that one can hone that stays with you forever,  and beauty that is
seen from the outside is only temporary.

* Refrain from constantly making comments like you look so pretty in that
dress (although once in a way she needs to hear this as well) instead tell
her showing compassion for that injured butterfly was a beautiful thing to
do.

* When she says Aishwarya Rai is beautiful,  specify that we don't know
that. Yes she is beautiful physically but, since we don't know her, we
cannot say! (In other words, in your mind always equate beauty with inner
beauty not with physical beauty.)

* Refrain from putting your child in advertising commercials because it will
make her 'famous' --  a child does not have any idea that 'famous' is equal
to 'good'. Understand that you are projecting your dreams onto the child
when doing this.

* Please refrain from dressing up children in skimpy outfits like one sees
models or stars wearing on TV. Please get them to wear clothes that are
appropriate for her age.  Tell her that she can wear those clothes when she
is older. (Of course you can use your judgement and make an exception.)
---
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among thousands reading the Goanet/Goanet-news network of mailing lists. 

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---

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Panaji... looking back, looking ahead

[GoanetReader]

broad roads on an unique grid pattern. During my childhood, there
were still large patches of land with coconut trees, says Noronha.

Viceroy Dom Manuel de Portugal e Castro (1826-35) was rightly called the
father of the city as he carried out extensive works of reclamation and
levelling of sand dunes from the old Goa medical school and hospital complex
up to Campal and Gaspar Dias till Tonca.

He laid the canals and several bridges and worked out the drainage system of
the area. The massive constructions in the town of past days included the
Customs building, the police cum collectorate with the central library and
other establishments.

From here, we moved further along the road past the old Kala Academy
building to the intersection at the foot of Altinho at St Inez. Noronha
points to a small but exquisite house on the right, where a sub post office
is located. It belongs to the Rodrigues family. The area near the
intersection was being used as an open toilet. Only a narrow road inched up
the shoulder of the hill, where only a few structures were located up to
1950s.

We then passed by the Vales and Tamba houses, which were one of the first in
the area to land at the gate of the St Inez church, which was built in 1584
by Dom Francisco d'Eca.  Noronha is not happy with the extension of the
church, which mars its Baroque facade.

We move on to the military hospital, which was up to 1932 a prison. 
Near it, there is a little know commemorative monument to mark the
500 years of the Discovery Age by Prince Dom Henrique. Past the
conservation zone and pretty houses of Campal, we reach the site of
the Cannon of Banastari. The waters of the river Mandovi were
lapping the shore here, says Noronha. The area is covered by a
large sandy track.

Not very far, we stop at the old GMC Complex, which has undergone tremendous
change. The house of the Conde de Maquinezes, which housed the oldest
medical school in the East and the newer building (1928), which houses IFFI
offices stand in a new avatar.

Then we proceed along the river-front. Says the secretary of Indian Heritage
Society, The river is already silted at an alarming rate and dredging which
was being done annually during the Portuguese regime should be carried out.

We pass by the road leading to the Azad Maidan, which was earlier known as
Praca de Sete Janelas (Square of Seven Windows).

Further on at Adil Shah Palace, we halt at one of the city's
best-identified landmark, where the future of the territory was
decided for nearly 244 years. As we move on to the Church Square, we
pass the Republic Hotel, which was meant to be the palace of
Governors.
 
The newly painted comunidade building, which came up in 1903 catches our
attention.

From here, a broad road which is later known as 18 June Road leads to the
other side of the town. But it is very sad that in a short span of 30 years
or a little more, the city had to suffer the physically traumatic insertion
of large RCC blocks, which disfigured its romantic look. The high FAR
(floor-area ratio, a regulation which controls the height of any building in
a locality), without proper setback and parking space, was a disruption and
despoiling force with the haphazard and `organic' growth like any other
Indian town, he says.

Permitting the use of columns over the footpaths narrowed the perspective of
the imposing avenues. The folly committed by the Town and Country Planning
Department in allowing constructions over public footpaths is now exposed.

In some places, footpaths in the same street, take different widths and
heights. Interestingly, the height varies from 22 to 45 cms. May be this is
a new concept of the present planning machinery of the state, Noronha says
sardonically.

Finally, we move on to Mala, which was levelled and made into a coconut
garden by 'Mosmikar', Antonio Joao de Sequiera, who returned from Mozambique
in the 18th century.  The Phoenix spring below the Maruti temple and amidst
the quaint houses with unique Latin influence appears to be neglected.

This part of the city has not changed much but whatever little has been
done has scarred the face of the heritage precinct, Noronha says as we end
our trip. (ENDS)

Contact the writer Paul Fernandes at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
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reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
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written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at goanet@goanet.org

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Stamps from across the world, viewed with faith

[GoanetReader]

Stamps from across the world, viewed from a faith perspective

By Paul Fernandes   [Gomantak Times]

PILAR: A 40-year-old stamp from Iran depicts the Mother and Child. Another
rare one from Spain shows the circumcision ceremony of Jesus. And the Holy
Family's flight to Egypt is an artistic expression of the scene, released by
Katanga (now in Congo).

These are some of the eye-catching stamps at an exhibition organised by
Major Seminary, on Pilar hillock. Called `Faith Expression in Stamps', it
provides philatelists and others a rare opportunity to see and appreciate
the range of stamps depicting the life of Christ and some great religious
personalities under different sections.

`Baptism of Jesus'  is another touching scene captured in a stamp released
by Ethiopia. Some of our great religious personalities like Fr Jose Vaz find
a place in the section on `Tribute to Great Men'.

While most stamps on show had been released by Catholic nations, what is
equally interesting is that several Muslim nations have also released many
on various aspects of the life of Jesus and the Holy Family. It showed
their true spirit of secularism, says Fr Cosme J Costa, well known writer
and priest at Pilar.

The Republique du Burundi had brought out stamps on the 14 stations of the
Cross. A stamp released by Ethiopia has a scene showing Jesus after he is
brought down from the Cross after his crucifixion.

Ras-al-Khaima, one of the seven states of United Arab Emirates (UAE), had
released a stamp of the Crib and this can be seen in the section on `Cribs
of the World'. The stamps shown in this section range from 1964 to 2001.

St Francis Xaveir used to sign with a flourish and this finds place in a
stamp released by the Portuguese government in Goa in 1931.

The Major Semfinary had participated in a philatelic exhibition of 1962 and
had won the second prize. From then on, the collection has grown and is
worthy of appreciation by stamp lovers and others.

The exhibition will continue till early January, 2005, according to sources
at Pilar.

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Panaji ... looking back, looking ahead

[GoanetReader]

 and worked out the drainage system of
the area. The massive constructions in the town of past days included the
Customs building, the police cum collectorate with the central library and
other establishments.

From here, we moved further along the road past the old Kala Academy
building to the intersection at the foot of Altinho at St Inez. Noronha
points to a small but exquisite house on the right, where a sub post office
is located. It belongs to the Rodrigues family. The area near the
intersection was being used as an open toilet. Only a narrow road inched up
the shoulder of the hill, where only a few structures were located up to
1950s.

We then passed by the Vales and Tamba houses, which were one of the first in
the area to land at the gate of the St Inez church, which was built in 1584
by Dom Francisco d'Eca.  Noronha is not happy with the extension of the
church, which mars its Baroque facade.

We move on to the military hospital, which was up to 1932 a prison. 
Near it, there is a little know commemorative monument to mark the
500 years of the Discovery Age by Prince Dom Henrique. Past the
conservation zone and pretty houses of Campal, we reach the site of
the Cannon of Banastari. The waters of the river Mandovi were
lapping the shore here, says Noronha. The area is covered by a
large sandy track.

Not very far, we stop at the old GMC Complex, which has undergone tremendous
change. The house of the Conde de Maquinezes, which housed the oldest
medical school in the East and the newer building (1928), which houses IFFI
offices stand in a new avatar.

Then we proceed along the river-front. Says the secretary of Indian Heritage
Society, The river is already silted at an alarming rate and dredging which
was being done annually during the Portuguese regime should be carried out.

We pass by the road leading to the Azad Maidan, which was earlier known as
Praca de Sete Janelas (Square of Seven Windows).

Further on at Adil Shah Palace, we halt at one of the city's
best-identified landmark, where the future of the territory was
decided for nearly 244 years. As we move on to the Church Square, we
pass the Republic Hotel, which was meant to be the palace of
Governors.
 
The newly painted comunidade building, which came up in 1903 catches our
attention.

From here, a broad road which is later known as 18 June Road leads to the
other side of the town. But it is very sad that in a short span of 30 years
or a little more, the city had to suffer the physically traumatic insertion
of large RCC blocks, which disfigured its romantic look. The high FAR
(floor-area ratio, a regulation which controls the height of any building in
a locality), without proper setback and parking space, was a disruption and
despoiling force with the haphazard and `organic' growth like any other
Indian town, he says.

Permitting the use of columns over the footpaths narrowed the perspective of
the imposing avenues. The folly committed by the Town and Country Planning
Department in allowing constructions over public footpaths is now exposed.

In some places, footpaths in the same street, take different widths and
heights. Interestingly, the height varies from 22 to 45 cms. May be this is
a new concept of the present planning machinery of the state, Noronha says
sardonically.

Finally, we move on to Mala, which was levelled and made into a coconut
garden by 'Mosmikar', Antonio Joao de Sequiera, who returned from Mozambique
in the 18th century.  The Phoenix spring below the Maruti temple and amidst
the quaint houses with unique Latin influence appears to be neglected.

This part of the city has not changed much but whatever little has been
done has scarred the face of the heritage precinct, Noronha says as we end
our trip. (ENDS)

Contact the writer Paul Fernandes at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
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---

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- It began with an empty brass box from a Tivim ruin

[GoanetReader]

, doesn't speak Konkani (or Portuguese) and has only a very
rudimentary knowledge of the rest of Goan history, and is really trying to
reclaim some of that, and those links with Goa.

FN: So what's your suggestion? What do you see as the way out of this bind?

I would personally like to see more of the records available. I know many of
the 19th century records of the Church in Goa are available at the family
history centres, established by the Church of the Latter Day Saints
(sometimes known as the Mormons) and these are available at several places
around the world.

FN: How did they get them?

They have a religious purpose in recording the family records for their
reasons, and had a project recording just the 19th century Church records in
Goa.

FN: Would digitising records make sense?

Yes. Or having them available in a computerised form in Goa, but only to be
given to certain people who are interested in going that far back from their
own family background.

FN: Apart from the churches which are the other important places for
records?

If you have a Goan ancestor who was born in Bombay, for example, there are
some records in the Oriental and India Office Library in London. It's part
of the British Library.

There are also some records, if you had family members registered with the
British institutions in East Africa, at the Family History Centre in London.
But most of those are 20th century. 

Two other places which are quite useful: number one, the records held by the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission. These are available on the Internet and
would cover people that died in the First or Second World Wars. The other
would be the British Census records, from 1881 onwards, which include Goan
sailors on board British merchant or royal navy ships.

FN: Do you think Goans have a strong sense of history or simply lack it?

It's a hard question to answer diplomatically... (laughs). 

I think Goans have a strong sense of identity, in that they tend to identify
themselves in terms of the many cultures that exist in Goa, on a language,
on religious lines, or hereditary basis. But I don't think Goans are aware
of the wider implications of Goan history, in terms of world politics and
development. 

Some time back, (Goa-based journalist) Melvyn Misquita had been researching
the ship S.S.Britannia, which sunk in 1941 and included a number of Goans on
board. This was one of the ships covered in by me in my extraction of data
from the National Maritime Museum. I was therefore able to send him a list
of the Goan fatalities that included some names that he had not included in
his list. I am so glad that at last the Goans are beginning to take such a
pride in their history. Its time we set up a Goan (genealogical) research
website. (ENDS)

---
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---

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Goa's politicians have failed its people

[GoanetReader]

 to be shaped.

Goa needs to harness its history make the younger generation aware of the
past but do so in a manner that the future becomes a brighter place. As a
small state, Goa has the opportunity to become investment destination of the
future.

Goa needs to attract the investment without allowing it to overwhelm the
traditional Goan way of life. Goans need to take great pride in their
environment and culture without being afraid of the challenges of
globalization. The modern Goan identity must be global at one level but must
be routed in the soil.

To some extend I am a bad Goan because I don't know Konkani but I am proud
to be a Goan and I believe that the pride must come from being conscious of
my Goan identity.

[The writer can be contacted via email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha.
---
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---

   

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Cuncolim's persistence pays off... on the football ground

[GoanetReader]

 keepers Tevlon Furtado, Zico Fernandes -- all from the under 18
group -- have shown promise but they will need another one to two years to
drafted into the senior team adds coach Levino Dias.

Cuncolim Union officials attributed the growing interest in football in
Cuncolim to the competition for youth teams. The youth teams which are
imparted training through out the year by coach Levino Dias, on a voluntary
basis.

Incidentally, Dias has been coach of the Goa Junior, Sub-Junior Boys and
Girls teams for several years and had brought laurels for the state. Dias'
coaching career extending close to 30 years.

The club has their own ground not of international standards but
sufficient enough for nine-a-side competition in Culvaddo. The
ground which is a paddy field is not available during the rainy
season, as it serves as a pond for excess water.

In the last ten years the club have been having difficulties to use
the ground even in the non-rainy season. Cuncolim Union officials
pointed out that excess water which being rleased from the Selaulim
water supply for irrigation purpose finds its way to the field,
rendering it unfit for any sporting activity.

Earlier the ground use to play hosts to the Cuncolim athletic meet and also
the athletic meets of the five schools, two higher secondary and one college
from Cuncolim.

This club has been looking for a plot of land to build their own premises
for last 15 years. Several attempts to build an own club building have run
into trouble waters. The club is pinning their hopes of getting at least a
small club house at the new SAG ground in Cuncolim.

An earlier generation of footballers were inspired by the like of late
Basilio Menezes (Tata Sports Club, Mumbai). Menezes, old timers inform, was
a wizard with the football in the field, scoring goals at will. The best
striker Cuncolim has produced so far, they recall.

The current generation of footballers from Cuncolim draw inspiration from a
few professional footballers based from Cuncolim like Mahesh Gawali
(Mahindra United), Fredy Mascarenhas, Micky Fernades (Salgaocar) and Rovan
Colaco (MPT). Youngsters have them as role model and with a good training
and guidance at the young age at the village level, are set to make a mark
on the football scene in years to come. Mmore and more footballers from
Cuncolim are keen and eager to emulate their heroes, with football getting a
precedent over all other sports in historically-rich Cuncolim.

---
ROLL OF HONOUR
---

Referees: (FIFA grade) Alex Vaz, Late J.P Coutinho, Floriano Sanchez

National grade referees- Benis Coutinho, Late Salvador Moraes and
Julian Rego.

International footballers- Ashok Fadte, Mahesh Gawali, Anant Vaidya,
late Basilo Menezes.

Cuncolim players who played in the first division and professional
league in Goa and senior division league in Mumbai-

Rajkapoor Lotilkar, Siano Fernandes, Krishna Shirdokar, Donwin
Fernandes, Dayaanand Dabolkar, Fredy Mascarenhas, Micky Fernandes,
Daryl Gama, Santan Gomes, Levino Dias, Braz Dias, Lourdes Dias,
Irron Almeida, Wilson Coutinho, Peter Dias, Terzito Fernandes,
Anthony Fernandes, Pralhad Dessai, Savio Gama, Nazario Coutinho,
Philip Coutinho, Feliciano Fernandes, Bhicu Dessai, Prabhakar
Vaidya, Late Romeo Furtado, Julian Rego, Late Tito Coutinho, Mario
Faria, Plus Faria, Late Rego, Late Claude De Souza, Joaquim
Fernandes, Greniville Crasto, Dr Ires D~TSouza, James D~TSouza, Late
Luizinho Dias , Late Piety D~TSouza, Late Basilo Menezes, Late
Govind Angle, Late Asilipio Gama, , Manish Godekar.

---
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[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- TRIBUTE: Fr Olavo -- a wonderful priest, friend and guide

[GoanetReader]

 those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at goanet@goanet.org
---
Goanet, 1994-2004. Building community, creating social capital for a decade.
---

   

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Goa's politicians have failed its people

[GoanetReader]

 of the challenges of
globalization. The modern Goan identity must be global at one level but must
be routed in the soil.

To some extend I am a bad Goan because I don't know Konkani but I am proud
to be a Goan and I believe that the pride must come from being conscious of
my Goan identity.

[The writer can be contacted via email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha.
---
Goanet, ten years young. Building community, creating social capital.
---

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- TRIBUTE: Fr Olavo -- a wonderful priest, friend and guide

[GoanetReader]

 was launched by Archbishop Ferrao on
September 8, 2004.

While undergoing treatment, Fr Olavo was being looked after by nuns in a
convent at Old Goa and by November, the DCSCM office had been temporarily
shifted to Old Goa at the site adjacent to the pandal. Even though Fr Olavo
was unable to visit the DCSCM office on a daily basis, he was in constant
touch with his staff, Sr Celine and Rumald.

Fr Olavo's final press conference took place a few days prior to the
inauguration of the Exposition. I was seeing him after a gap of almost two
months and the changes in his physical appearance were noticeable. Fr Olavo
was quick to joke about the loss of his hair. I now look like Yul Brynner,
he told a journalist, who had enquired about his health. His generous
waistline had receded and despite the far menacing internal changes that
were threatening his existence, Fr Olavo bravely and professionally
conducted the press conference, answering all queries raised by the
reporters.

That was the last time I would meet Fr Olavo face to face. I did however see
Fr Olavo on November 21, but this was on television as he was being
interviewed on a television channel during the inaugural ceremony of the
Exposition.

Aware that he was in need of complete rest, I briefly spoke to him four
times over the next 30 days, largely pertaining to the news updates on the
diocesan website. As always, he was enthusiastic and dedicated in
discharging duties as DCSCM head.

My last conversation with Fr Olavo was to take place on December 18, when I
called on him in connection with the joint press note of the Diocesan
Commission for Social Action and the Diocesan Society for Education, which
was issued to denounce the controversial documentary on Goa's Liberation.
Later, to my query on the condition of his health, Fr Olavo admitted that
his health had deteriorated over the past few days. But I hope to get
better soon, were his last words before we greeted each other with the
customary Goodnight.

I woke up on the morning of December 23, a special day for my wife and I, as
we were celebrating our fourth wedding anniversary. My joyous mood was
shattered barely moments later, when my wife broke the news of Fr Olavo's
death on December 22, which was reported in the newspapers. I must have read
the report numerous times and yet, I simply couldn't accept the fact that Fr
Olavo was no more.

Equally painful was the realisation that I couldn't attend the funeral later
in the day, as I had to attend a crucial choir practice with catechism
children at Porvorim, in preparation of their tableau before the midnight
mass. I could barely focus on the practice, but I reassured myself that I
had made the right decision to be with the children, who were in need of the
practice. Somehow, I feel Fr Olavo, himself a gifted musician, would also
have wanted me to be with the young singers during that crucial hour.

Over the past two-and-half years, I have had the privilege of close
discussions with Fr Olavo on a number of issues pertaining to the DCSCM and
ways to improve the centre. On a few occasions, he did admit to me that his
responsibilities in other church bodies had deprived him the chance of
offering his wholehearted services to the DCSCM. But at the same time, he
always accepted the additional tasks with a cheerful smile and a positive
attitude.

But more than the professional manner in which he discharged his role as the
DCSCM director, I began to admire in Fr Olavo a person of exceptional inner
strength and positive outlook, who used his talents to the maximum and who
enjoyed excellent rapport with fellow priests, nuns and laity.

Meetings over the past two-and-half years may seem short a period to
appreciate a person. But in Fr Olavo's case, it was long enough for
me to realise that I was in the midst of a truely wonderful priest,
friend and guide. And I thank God for this special gift.

[The writer can be contacted on phone +91-9422064707 or via email
[EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED] ]

---
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reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
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in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
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[Goanet]GoanetReader-SciFi: That week in July 2004 (By Nandkumar Kamat)

[GoanetReader]

 in the Indian
Ocean. The surface temperature was now rising. The winds started blowing. It
was past 6 pm. One of the newly formed volcanos exploded with massive force.

All the seismographs in the world recorded the tremors. Relatively, the
magnitude was small. But it had catastrophic power. The real danger was from
the giant Tsunami waves created by the volcanic eruption. With every
explosion, a new Tsunami wave front, ending to reach a crest of 100 metres
was forming and then these raced towards the coastline. 

These waves had immense destructive power.  

Afternoon, June 27. Paroda. Sawant exclaimed, Lobo, look there!. Both of
them turned to watch the coastline of Goa with horror. From the southwest,
they saw giant waves towering to a height equaling more than the combined
length of ten coconut trees collapsing on Goa's coast and fully eroding it.

The Tsunamis did not spare the rest of the Konkan and the west coast. The
ocean had ultimately snatched back the land which was once called
`Parashuramkshetra', Gomantak' and Shurparaka'. 

It was the Konkan's day of apocalypse!

---
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GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at goanet@goanet.org
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---

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Book on Indian diaspora set in Saudi Arabia

[GoanetReader]

##
# Don't just read the news... discuss it. Learn more about Goa via Goanet#
# Goanet is a 10-year-old network launched by Herman Carneiro in 1994.   #
# See all archives http://news.gmane.org/gmane.culture.region.india.goa/ #
# To join, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and ask to join GoanetDigest. #
##

GOA WRITER'S BOOK, A STORY ABOUT THE INDIAN DIASPORA SET IN SAUDI ARABIA

By Nandkumar Kamat
nkamat at unigoa.ac.in

Vishram Gupte, originally from Nagpur, has settled in Goa for the past 20
years. He left a teaching job in Mapusa's V.N.S. Bandekar College to
accompany his gynaecologist wife and son to Tabuk, an oil township In Saudi
Arabia.

The Guptes were in Saudi Arabia for four years. Vishram is a powerful writer
in Marathi and an expert translator. He won the prestigious Tarkateerth
Laxmanshastri Joshi Award For Translation instituted by the Maharashtra
Government for translating Pavan Varma's book The Great Indian Middle
Class' into Marathi. 

He has also translated Architect K.A. Sadhales' Marathi book on the struggle
against the Thapar-DuPont's Nylon 6, 6 plant and Pune-based Dr. Anil
Awachat's 'Manasam' (Humans). 

But his most important contribution has been the Marathi novel, 'Al Tamir'
(Continental, Pune, 2003, Rs. 150) based on his experience in Saudi Arabia.

'Al Tamir' is set in a city on the Egytian border. It provides a deep
insights into the intrigues of the culture and life of migrant community
from the Indian subcontinent, on the background of the orthodox and closed
Saudi society.

This is claimed to be first such novel on the background of Saudi Arabia, in
any Indian language, so far. For sure, it is a pioneering work on the India
diaspora in that country.  The novel has already received Solapur's Bhairu
Ratan Damani Award in December 2004.

Its plot revolves around the protagonist, a male teacher in a co-ed Indian
school, who is hired to fill up a vacancy created by a lady teacher. Male
teachers cannot be hired in a school in Saudi Arabia where women teachers
work. The entry of the male teacher creates a variety of problems. 

The protagonist Vikram is ultimately punished by the Saudi court and the
family then leaves the place to return to India. In about 240 pages, the
narrative of 'Al Tamir' weaves a tapestry of Indian, Pakistani and Saudi
Arabian milieu as the plot to punish Vikram thickens. 

As the novel is based on the Gupte family's interaction with the several
segments of society in Tabuk, it has a touch of reality. Goans and other who
can read Marathi must read this novel, which is worth translating into
English and Hindi. 

This novel is not critical of Islam, the Koran or Muslims in general but
pities the orthodoxy of the resource-rich Saudi society and, at the end,
delivers a message that human rights, equity, equality are above religion
and no society in a globalized world can remain insular without reforms.

Moderate and liberal elements in the Arab world would certainly welcome 'Al
Tamir' if translated, although one can not guarantee such treatment from the
fundamentalists. 

Gupte is involved in the projects of the Mapusa-based environmental campaign
group, the Goa Foundation, and is a respectable literary and well read,
articulate and creative literary figure in Goa. His wife Dr. Sheela Gupte,
is employed at the Vrindavan Hospital, Mapusa. They have two sons. 

Gupte, through his literary output, has made Goa well known in Marathi
circles outside Goa. 'Al Tamir' is likely to attract more attention as time
passes, and it would be certainly controversial if translated in English.
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at goanet@goanet.org
---
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---

   

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Book on Indian diaspora and Saudi Arabia

[GoanetReader]

GOA WRITER'S BOOK, A STORY ABOUT THE INDIAN DIASPORA SET IN SAUDI ARABIA

By Nandkumar Kamat
nkamat at unigoa.ac.in

Vishram Gupte, originally from Nagpur, has settled in Goa for the past 20
years. He left a teaching job in Mapusa's V.N.S. Bandekar College to
accompany his gynaecologist wife and son to Tabuk, an oil township In Saudi
Arabia.

The Guptes were in Saudi Arabia for four years. Vishram is a powerful writer
in Marathi and an expert translator. He won the prestigious Tarkateerth
Laxmanshastri Joshi Award For Translation instituted by the Maharashtra
Government for translating Pavan Varma's book The Great Indian Middle
Class' into Marathi. 

He has also translated Architect K.A. Sadhales' Marathi book on the struggle
against the Thapar-DuPont's Nylon 6, 6 plant and Pune-based Dr. Anil
Awachat's 'Manasam' (Humans). 

But his most important contribution has been the Marathi novel, 'Al Tamir'
(Continental, Pune, 2003, Rs. 150) based on his experience in Saudi Arabia.

'Al Tamir' is set in a city on the Egytian border. It provides a deep
insights into the intrigues of the culture and life of migrant community
from the Indian subcontinent, on the background of the orthodox and closed
Saudi society.

This is claimed to be first such novel on the background of Saudi Arabia, in
any Indian language, so far. For sure, it is a pioneering work on the India
diaspora in that country.  The novel has already received Solapur's Bhairu
Ratan Damani Award in December 2004.

Its plot revolves around the protagonist, a male teacher in a co-ed Indian
school, who is hired to fill up a vacancy created by a lady teacher. Male
teachers cannot be hired in a school in Saudi Arabia where women teachers
work. The entry of the male teacher creates a variety of problems. 

The protagonist Vikram is ultimately punished by the Saudi court and the
family then leaves the place to return to India. In about 240 pages, the
narrative of 'Al Tamir' weaves a tapestry of Indian, Pakistani and Saudi
Arabian milieu as the plot to punish Vikram thickens. 

As the novel is based on the Gupte family's interaction with the several
segments of society in Tabuk, it has a touch of reality. Goans and other who
can read Marathi must read this novel, which is worth translating into
English and Hindi. 

This novel is not critical of Islam, the Koran or Muslims in general but
pities the orthodoxy of the resource-rich Saudi society and, at the end,
delivers a message that human rights, equity, equality are above religion
and no society in a globalized world can remain insular without reforms.

Moderate and liberal elements in the Arab world would certainly welcome 'Al
Tamir' if translated, although one can not guarantee such treatment from the
fundamentalists. 

Gupte is involved in the projects of the Mapusa-based environmental campaign
group, the Goa Foundation, and is a respectable literary and well read,
articulate and creative literary figure in Goa. His wife Dr. Sheela Gupte,
is employed at the Vrindavan Hospital, Mapusa. They have two sons. 

Gupte, through his literary output, has made Goa well known in Marathi
circles outside Goa. 'Al Tamir' is likely to attract more attention as time
passes, and it would be certainly controversial if translated in English.
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at goanet@goanet.org
---
Goanet, 1994-2004. Building community, creating social capital for a decade.
---

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Tsunami's echo felt in distant Pilar

[GoanetReader]

 is that it did not happen in the
night so that the loss of life has been cut down.

Seventy-six-year-old Pilar Father Mariano Dias, now on the staff of the
Pilar Seminary in Goa was the founder of all these churches 40 years ago. He
cannot imagine his work has all been washed away.

Thousands of people from all over the world and Goa, moved by the enormity
of the tragedy have been telephoning with sympathy and offering help. Even
countries abroad struck with relatively few deaths have kept their flags at
half-mast and the German chancellor has also urged people to cut down on the
New Year festivities.

While there have already been appeals for funds, I wish Goans were a
bit more sensitive and had cut out on parish dances and donated the
amount for the victims.

Even the popular NDTV channel noted post-Christmas celebrations and
commented that Goa danced while the world mourned!

Struck with such a great tragedy of human and property loss, any help is
welcome. It is heartening that newspapers and other agencies have opened
relief fund accounts for the broken hearted survivors.

(The writer, Professor of Theology, is Rector of Pilar Seminary, Goa)
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at goanet@goanet.org
---
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---

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Brian Mendonca's verse

[GoanetReader]

##
# Don't just read the news... discuss it. Learn more about Goa via Goanet#
# Goanet is a 10-year-old network launched by Herman Carneiro in 1994.   #
# See all archives http://news.gmane.org/gmane.culture.region.india.goa/ #
# To join, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and ask to join GoanetDigest. #
##

Mendonca, Brian: Indian English poet from Goa; a publishing professional,
currently working with Oxford Unveristy Press, YMCA Library Building, 1 Jai
Singh Road, New Delhi 110001. email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mobile:
9818432507

INDIAN DELIGHTS

Where palm leaves
Cradle 'idlis' and 'uttapams'
Where castle confronts bishop 
In fierce contention,
Where across the chowk
A young girl waits at dusk,
Red salwar preening lying eyes,
And a trumpet plays,
As 'rickshaas' idly stare
It's 'No tea saar
Only 'Kaphe'

('Indian Delights' restaurant Pondicherry, Sep.29,1998)


SLIPPERS IN THE SAND

Slippers in the sand
Like mackerals in a heap
Share the laughter 
Of children at play.
The setting sun
Enclapses them in his warm embrace
As through the grey drizzle
Of fleeting clouds
Close enough to touch,
A rainbow arcs through the twilight.

Along the seashore of tomorrow
One more chance is all it asks for.

(Baina beach, Vasco Goa Oct 11, 1998)


FREEDOM SONG

On ancient papers 
you spewed rebuke
From a father to a son
the words tumble forth
'We had hoped', 'We had wished'
tumble out in unison
To a bard of the fragments 
In a space that is now.

(Delhi, Jan 8, 1999)


NH 10

Evening shadows
lick the night
Of lovers,
drinking deep of Taliyar lake.
Through the 'chunedi' 
like the 'burkha'
the gaze of ages
speaks silently
As the asphalt road
Slithers into the past.

(Hissar, Feb 25,1999)


THANATOS

The body may arch
in pain
or in pleasure.
Both fictive mendicants
of the coin of life.

(Delhi, April 17,1999)


DELIRIUM TREMENS

The earth heaved 
in her sleep
Somewhere around 12.45 A.M.
As the pea-hen shrieked,
the bed swayed
As if to a snake-charmer's pipe
And a flowerpot pranced
before my eyes.
The Hindu priest thought it fit
to play devotional music
(advanced by 4 hours 
in this case).
The little white Pomeranian dog 
felt this was unusual,
to be called out to play
in an open street
where people huddled
and spoke of Khillari.

(Sheikh Sarai, New Delhi March 29,1999)

HARI-DWAR

The mongrelyelps
in a bylanein Vishnughat
Vassal to Yudhistir
This time a Pom.
The jackfruit sways
with the mango, the 'pipal' 
the 'neem' and 'Asoka'
As Marigolds and Mayflowers
weave a hymn to life.
ornat DHARAMSHALAS spew out grimpils
as sadhus in saffron cycle with certainity.
At Mansa Devi
PHOTOGRAPHY
OF PLANT
PROHIBITED
As matted locks survey the Ganga
On a cycle-rickshaw
trundling in the noonday sun
I read Krishnamurti on the pacific cow
'To be vulnerable is to live, to withdraw is to die.'

(Haridwar, May 4,1999)

---
WANT TO EXPRESS yourself in words? Goanet-Reader welcomes you to do so. We
share quality Goa-related writing among the 7000-strong discerning readers
of Goanet on almost a daily basis. Submit an article you wrote to
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Frederick Noronha). GoanetReader welcomes your
feedback on the above writing, to be sent to goanet@goanet.org
---
Goanet, founded in 1994 by Herman Carneiro. One decade of building social
capital for Goa and the Goan community across the globe. Free and
community-driven!
---

   

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Brian Mendonca's verse...

[GoanetReader]

Mendonca, Brian: Indian English poet from Goa; a publishing professional,
currently working with Oxford Unveristy Press, YMCA Library Building, 1 Jai
Singh Road, New Delhi 110001. email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mobile:
9818432507

INDIAN DELIGHTS

Where palm leaves
Cradle 'idlis' and 'uttapams'
Where castle confronts bishop 
In fierce contention,
Where across the chowk
A young girl waits at dusk,
Red salwar preening lying eyes,
And a trumpet plays,
As 'rickshaas' idly stare
It's 'No tea saar
Only 'Kaphe'

('Indian Delights' restaurant Pondicherry, Sep.29,1998)


SLIPPERS IN THE SAND

Slippers in the sand
Like mackerals in a heap
Share the laughter 
Of children at play.
The setting sun
Enclapses them in his warm embrace
As through the grey drizzle
Of fleeting clouds
Close enough to touch,
A rainbow arcs through the twilight.

Along the seashore of tomorrow
One more chance is all it asks for.

(Baina beach, Vasco Goa Oct 11, 1998)


FREEDOM SONG

On ancient papers 
you spewed rebuke
From a father to a son
the words tumble forth
'We had hoped', 'We had wished'
tumble out in unison
To a bard of the fragments 
In a space that is now.

(Delhi, Jan 8, 1999)


NH 10

Evening shadows
lick the night
Of lovers,
drinking deep of Taliyar lake.
Through the 'chunedi' 
like the 'burkha'
the gaze of ages
speaks silently
As the asphalt road
Slithers into the past.

(Hissar, Feb 25,1999)


THANATOS

The body may arch
in pain
or in pleasure.
Both fictive mendicants
of the coin of life.

(Delhi, April 17,1999)


DELIRIUM TREMENS

The earth heaved 
in her sleep
Somewhere around 12.45 A.M.
As the pea-hen shrieked,
the bed swayed
As if to a snake-charmer's pipe
And a flowerpot pranced
before my eyes.
The Hindu priest thought it fit
to play devotional music
(advanced by 4 hours 
in this case).
The little white Pomeranian dog 
felt this was unusual,
to be called out to play
in an open street
where people huddled
and spoke of Khillari.

(Sheikh Sarai, New Delhi March 29,1999)

HARI-DWAR

The mongrelyelps
in a bylanein Vishnughat
Vassal to Yudhistir
This time a Pom.
The jackfruit sways
with the mango, the 'pipal' 
the 'neem' and 'Asoka'
As Marigolds and Mayflowers
weave a hymn to life.
ornat DHARAMSHALAS spew out grimpils
as sadhus in saffron cycle with certainity.
At Mansa Devi
PHOTOGRAPHY
OF PLANT
PROHIBITED
As matted locks survey the Ganga
On a cycle-rickshaw
trundling in the noonday sun
I read Krishnamurti on the pacific cow
'To be vulnerable is to live, to withdraw is to die.'

(Haridwar, May 4,1999)

---
WANT TO EXPRESS yourself in words? Goanet-Reader welcomes you to do so. We
share quality Goa-related writing among the 7000-strong discerning readers
of Goanet on almost a daily basis. Submit an article you wrote to
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Frederick Noronha). GoanetReader welcomes your
feedback on the above writing, to be sent to goanet@goanet.org
---
Goanet, founded in 1994 by Herman Carneiro. One decade of building social
capital for Goa and the Goan community across the globe. Free and
community-driven!
---

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- REVIEW Frank Simoes got there first

[GoanetReader]

##
# Don't just read the news... discuss it. Learn more about Goa via Goanet#
# Goanet is a 10-year-old network launched by Herman Carneiro in 1994.   #
# See all archives http://news.gmane.org/gmane.culture.region.india.goa/ #
# To join, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and ask to join GoanetDigest. #
##

Mumbai's advertising pioneer, who simply got there first

Frank Simoes' Goa
2004, ISBN 81-7436-346-7
Pp 318. First published 1994.
Lotus Collection. Roli Books.

By VM
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

The West engaged with India longest and most intensely in Goa. 451 years of
direct rule from Lisbon made the resident Konkanis the first Asians to
assimilate and absorb European ideas, culture, literary traditions.

With that centuries-old background, it's consistently surprising that Goans
have not swarmed the bandwagon of Indo-Anglian writing. In fact, very little
of any note has been written on Goa in the decades since the territory was
conquered by independent India.

These circumstances make the re-issue of 'Frank Simoes' Goa' (originally
'Glad Seasons in Goa') particularly welcome. Ten years ago, the book might
have appeared slightly unclassifiable and it never saw wide release in
paperback. But the intervening decade has seen Goa become one of India's
best known brands. And best-seller lists everywhere are routinely topped by
books about finding the meaning of life by relocating to rural Tuscany or
Provence.

The Mumbai advertising pioneer got there first; he foreshadowed these trends
with this loving and lighthearted account built around the story of becoming
resident in a beachfront village in his homeland. Simoes may describe his
book as an account of a lifetime's odyssey but the journey begins and ends
and is throughout sustained by an unabashed passion for the people, the
contours and the rhythm of life in Goa.

Frank Simoes' Goa is packed with seductive hooks of imagery delivered with
the timing and style of a skilled advertising copywriter, and peopled by
outsize characters participating in outrageous Wodehousian adventures. Pigs
and wily priests are always lurking, many glasses of feni are drained, Frank
finances the purchase of an outboard motor for a fishing boat -- it is all
very entertaining.

But there is also real poetry in the book, when Simoes pauses to deliver
finely-crafted elegies to that which is closest to his heart. Among these
passages are some of the truest and most elegant evocations of Goa ever
written, revealing the hand of a genuinely gifted and original prose
stylist.

His writing always deserved a fresh look. In the current season of attention
to Goa, this re-release is very well-timed.
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is compiled and edited by Frederick Noronha. 
---
Goanet, 1994-2004. Building community, creating social capital for a decade.
---

   

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Frank Simoes got there first

[GoanetReader]

Mumbai's advertising pioneer, who simply got there first

Frank Simoes' Goa
2004, ISBN 81-7436-346-7
Pp 318. First published 1994.
Lotus Collection. Roli Books.

By VM
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

The West engaged with India longest and most intensely in Goa. 451 years of
direct rule from Lisbon made the resident Konkanis the first Asians to
assimilate and absorb European ideas, culture, literary traditions.

With that centuries-old background, it's consistently surprising that Goans
have not swarmed the bandwagon of Indo-Anglian writing. In fact, very little
of any note has been written on Goa in the decades since the territory was
conquered by independent India.

These circumstances make the re-issue of 'Frank Simoes' Goa' (originally
'Glad Seasons in Goa') particularly welcome. Ten years ago, the book might
have appeared slightly unclassifiable and it never saw wide release in
paperback. But the intervening decade has seen Goa become one of India's
best known brands. And best-seller lists everywhere are routinely topped by
books about finding the meaning of life by relocating to rural Tuscany or
Provence.

The Mumbai advertising pioneer got there first; he foreshadowed these trends
with this loving and lighthearted account built around the story of becoming
resident in a beachfront village in his homeland. Simoes may describe his
book as an account of a lifetime's odyssey but the journey begins and ends
and is throughout sustained by an unabashed passion for the people, the
contours and the rhythm of life in Goa.

Frank Simoes' Goa is packed with seductive hooks of imagery delivered with
the timing and style of a skilled advertising copywriter, and peopled by
outsize characters participating in outrageous Wodehousian adventures. Pigs
and wily priests are always lurking, many glasses of feni are drained, Frank
finances the purchase of an outboard motor for a fishing boat -- it is all
very entertaining.

But there is also real poetry in the book, when Simoes pauses to deliver
finely-crafted elegies to that which is closest to his heart. Among these
passages are some of the truest and most elegant evocations of Goa ever
written, revealing the hand of a genuinely gifted and original prose
stylist.

His writing always deserved a fresh look. In the current season of attention
to Goa, this re-release is very well-timed.
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is compiled and edited by Frederick Noronha. 
---
Goanet, 1994-2004. Building community, creating social capital for a decade.
---

[Goanet]GoanetReader-Diaspora -- Scram From Kenya

[GoanetReader]

 to be
signed and indicate if you would like additional wording. 

'Scram' is the sequel to 'Kenya -- the colonial years 1898-1946', which is
not in print but planned for publication in 2005. 
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at goanet@goanet.org
---
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---

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- When film-making gets a bigoted edge...

[GoanetReader]

 under fire.

There are many issues here; it's not just a question of a single
VCD. It's a whole question of how a State and its administration
behaves at the start of the 21st century. This is a film that every
Goan should watch, for us to understand the intent of the politics
of hate that try to snatch even greater control of Goa's educational
system, media and police force.

Clearly, such an endeavour attracts provisions of the law. What makes it
more unusual is that the state government is behind this VCD, which openly
acknowledges chief minister Manohar Parrikar as its inspiration. Perhaps
some lawyer would be better placed to explain how such a VCD would sit
against the provisions of the law -- including the Indian Penal Code's
Section 153A (for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of
religion...), Sec. 153B (for repeatedly making imputations, assertions
prejudicial to national integration), Sec. 295A (for injuring or defiling
place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class), Sec 298
(for uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious
feelings) and Sec 505 (for statements conducing to public mischief).
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at goanet@goanet.org
---
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---

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Tsunami impact felt at Vasco, Canacona

[GoanetReader]

##
# Don't just read the news... discuss it. Learn more about Goa via Goanet#
# Goanet is a 10-year-old network launched by Herman Carneiro in 1994.   #
# See all archives http://news.gmane.org/gmane.culture.region.india.goa/ #
# To join, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and ask to join GoanetDigest. #
##

AFTER EFFECTS OF THE TSUNAMI: SEEN FROM COASTAL VASCO

From Daniel F. de Souza
danielf at sancharnet.in

It's 00.00 hrs now and I have just returned back after a visit to the Baina
shores and its adjoining areas. The after effects of the
earthquake-triggered giant tsunami in Indonesia have also been felt in this
coastal region of Vasco.

The level of water along the Baina coast increased rapidly and gradually
subsided thereafter. Some boats lying on the shore were also were in the
danger of being washed away, and, fearing this, the fisherman were taking
precautions to secure them safely higher on the shore. 

The level of water has risen to such a level on the shore which otherwise is
normal only during the monsoons.

People living near to the coast behind the MPT hospital and the areas along
the Baina beach belt were running to safety in total panic along with their
children and whatever belongs they can manage. 

I noticed one family even moving out in a tempo with personal belongings. 
Several cars were parked out on the road along the Baina side facing towards
Vasco, presumably in readiness to flee in the event of any emergency.  

Most of the people living near to the coast are migrant workers and are
housed in small shanties. At the Baina beach there were hundreds of people
who had come out on the beach to watch the natural phenomenon.

The Vasco Police have stationed their personnel and a control van is around
to render any help on the Baina shore. Besides, an ambulance is also
stationed at the beach-side. 

People are seen grouping together with total anguish.

I was told that the people living in the huts around the masjid area were
moved to safety because the water had almost entered their dwelling place.

On visiting the Kharewada area, people were seen standing outside their
houses. The houses in this area are touching the coast, facing the MPT's
berth No. 10 and 11.

The activity at the Port is however normal with four vessels working at the
berth numbers. 8,9,10, and 11 respectively. Besides there are six fishing
trawlers and two trans-shipper vessels anchored inside of the breakwater (EOB)
and other vessels too are working at WOB.

The high-water timings are scheduled at 02.24 hrs today, and this is
precisely what is causing the residents of the coastal areas a little of
panic in this port town..

It is understood the level of water has also gone high in the coastal areas
of Agonda, Palolem and the adjoining coastal areas in the south.

00.23 hrs. 27-12-2004 Vasco

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

IN CANACONA, COASTAL DWELLERS SEEK REFUGE, INCLUDING AT THE NEW BUS-STAND

From Tony Martin
tonymartin66 at yahoo.com

December 27, 2004 - 12:20 AM: The after effects of the massive tidal waves
triggered by an Indonesian earthquake were felt in Canacona as the waters
continued to rise. 

Most villagers of the coastal Palolem, Polem, Maxem and Galgibaga vacated
their houses anticipating the worst. 

Over 3000 people are sheltered in the new bus stand at Canacona while many
others have gone to Quepem. The people in Babrem and Mashem have also
vacated their houses and moved to safer places. No casualties reported.

Police are watching the scene for any eventuality.


FOOTNOTE: Daniel F. de Souza is a Konkani writer and freelance journalist,
and is based at Elvira Apartments in Vasco da Gama, Goa. He can be contacted
via phone +91-832-2510714 mobile 9822163329 or email dannyboy04 at
rediffmail.com and danielf at sancharnet.in

Tony Martin is the pen name of Anthony Barreto, a writer and journalist who
has worked in Goa's major newspapers, and has also authored books, the latest
of which is his 'Naked Goa', a critical insight into the not-so-pleasant
sides of Goa.
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha. 
---
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[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Bishop Valerian D'Souza on the Church's mission

[GoanetReader]

##
# Don't just read the news... discuss it. Learn more about Goa via Goanet#
# Goanet is a 10-year-old network launched by Herman Carneiro in 1994.   #
# See all archives http://news.gmane.org/gmane.culture.region.india.goa/ #
# To join, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and ask to join GoanetDigest. #
##

The Mission Of The Church: To Humanize Society

By Bishop Valerian D'Souza

PUNE, Maharashtra (SAR NEWS) -- The German, Swiss and Austrian Jesuit
missionaries left behind a rich legacy in the fields of education and social
work. I have been a beneficiary of this experience as student, seminarian,
priest and bishop. I remember them with affection, aware of a sense of
challenge to live up to their expectations and to carry on their legacy.

What inspired them to leave the comfort and security of their country and
come and spend their lives in selfless service in the western region of
India? They came in 1854 at the invitation of Capuchin Bishop Anastasius
Hartmann. The Capuchins and Carmelites had worked for the community before
them. It was a period of the Padroado and Propaganda tussle.

These pioneers faced a long and dangerous voyage and many did not reach
India. While in India they had to look after a vast area from Quetta to
Hubli (Karnataka State). They travelled by bullock-cart and horseback. There
were scarcely any medical facilities on the whole, especially in the rural
areas. Quite a few young missionaries died before they could be taken to a
hospital miles and miles away.

Their accommodation was simple, sometimes primitive. The people, the culture
and the language were foreign to them. But they worked hard and persevered.
What was their driving motivation? It was Jesus and to continue his mission.
For this they were ready to sacrifice even their lives. The need to lift up
the Christian community impelled them to start schools. Within 20 years they
had started St. Patrick's School in Karachi, St.Mary's in Hubli, St.
Stanislaus and St. Mary's, St. Xavier's in Mumbai and also St. Xavier's
College in Mumbai.

St Patrick's School in Karachi had many political and religious luminaries
as students - Cardinal Valerian Gracias, Cardinal Joseph Cordeiro,
Archbishop Raymond, Bishop William Gomes et al. Gen. Musharaf and former
Deputy Prime Minister of India L K Advani were products of St. Patrick's.
Besides schools, the missionaries started social works and later inspired
other religious to start medical institutions.

What are the challenges we face looking over the last 150 years?

Like St Ignatius his sons must be gripped and fascinated by the Person of
Jesus. Their lives must be centered on Jesus. To proclaim the Kingdom
without proclaiming the King is meaningless. To be a Jesuit without deep
attachment to Jesus is to be a Jesuit in name only.

One of my earliest recollections as a young priest was in Harigaon mission
in Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra. A young Jesuit was about to leave on
his motorcycle. There was a bedroll and luggage on the carrier. He informed
me he would be out for a week visiting mission stations. He would spend each
night under a tree. Every evening he would sit with the villagers and listen
to them. This would go on week after week.

The jeep has saved time but have we preserved the custom of spending the
evening and even the night in a village, being with the people, listening to
them?

Pioneering Spirit

The first missionaries had to be pioneers. They needed to be creative. They
experimented and failed at times, but they persevered.  They tried to read
the signs of the times and act accordingly.

Parish work was not the main charism, but they took up parishes to be in
touch with the people. They started institutions in response to the needs of
the people. Several boardings were set up for poor boys and Dynanamata High
School was launched with agricultural bias, technical schools to provide
immediate jobs for the boys, Snehasadan, an inter-faith dialogue center and
the Social Centre for the development of farming community.

Today we need that creativity. The world is changing so fast that we can be
left behind. We cannot rest on our laurels. What are the new initiatives
that are being planned?

Challenges in Education

Speaking to the bishops of USA in June 2004 Pope John Paul II reaffirmed,
Her many religious, educational and charitable institutions exist for one
reason only: to proclaim the Gospel. It is utmost important, therefore, that
the Church's institutions be genuinely Catholic: Catholic in their self
understanding and Catholic in their identity.

According to the Roman document on The Mission of Catholic Schools Oct
2002 the Catholic School must enable the students to raise great questions
concerning the meaning of life, the significance of reality, and a
responsible commitment to transform it in the light of the Gospel 

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader wishes...

[GoanetReader]

##
# Don't just read the news... discuss it. Learn more about Goa via Goanet#
# Goanet is a 10-year-old network launched by Herman Carneiro in 1994.   #
# See all archives http://news.gmane.org/gmane.culture.region.india.goa/ #
# To join, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and ask to join GoanetDigest. #
##


  |   | .  , |_  . ,_   \_/ _,_, |__) _  _   _  _   /  \,_
  |_|_|_|_/_)| |_|_| |_\_|   | (_) |_|_  |  _(/_(_|_(__(/_  \__/| |_
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 (_/   (_/() \_) __/(_/|\();__\_)`\_)
 `  (_/\_)`-._);*

---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at goanet@goanet.org
---
Goanet, 1994-2004. Building community, creating social capital for a decade.
---

   

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- From Verna to glaciers and penguins...

[GoanetReader]

, what's
happening in the world around you, politics, science, art and literature.
Knowledge can lead you to places you never thought you could go. 

And remember, always speak up! Silence is not always golden!
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha fred at goanet.org
---
Goanet, 1994-2004. Building community, creating social capital for a decade.
---

[Goanet]GoanetReader wishes...

[GoanetReader]

  __ /\ __   __ /\ __   __ /\ __   __ /\ __
  \_`\/`_/ .\'/. \_`\/`_/ .\'/. \_`\/`_/ .\'/. \_`\/`_/
  _()_-=*=-_()_-=*=-_()_-=*=-_()_
  /_,/\,_\ '/.\' /_,/\,_\ '/.\' /_,/\,_\ '/.\' /_,/\,_\
 \/  _ _\/ _   ___  ___\/_ _  \/
.\/.+   | | | / \ |   \|   \| | | '  .\/.
   -==-   |   || ' || '_/| '_/\   /   -==-
'/\'|_|_||_|_||_|  |_|   |_| *   '/\'
  __ /\ __ _ _  ___  __  ___   _   _ _  __ __ /\ __
  \_`\/`_/| | |/   \| |  | ||   \ / \ | | |/ _/\_`\/`_/
  _()_|   || | || |_ | || | || ' |\   /\_ \_()_
  /_,/\,_\|_|_|\___/|___||_||___/|_|_| |_| /__//_,/\,_\
 \/   _{}_\/
.\/. *  .''. +   .\/.
   -==- '+   /_.._\  +-==-
'/\'  _ __ _ .``.  *   '/\'
  __ /\ __   |  |__\   __ /\ __
  \_`\/`_/   |; |_.-'oo`-._/   \_`\/`_/
  _()_   || |  V   |  '_()_
  /_,/\,_\   ||_ ,  |\  `''`  //_,/\,_\
 \/  '-.` .-';'---.--.--';*   \/
.\/.  * ||   | \  '.  \   *  .\/.
   -==-  _||_ /'-.\   `\ ;-==-
'/\'  /)|| |`\ + '/\'
  __ /\ __ '  | _.' \ \ \ \'   __ /\ __
  \_`\/`_/\ || ()\ \\\ \   \_`\/`_/
  _()_ \||\\  \ |  _()_
  /_,/\,_\  || () |_/  /_,/\,_\
 \/ *   ||;   *   \/
.\/.|| ()' '..\/.
   -==- '   .'|| '. -' '-.-==-
'/\'   .-'  || ` ``--. '/\'
  __ /\ __jgs__ /\ __   __ /\ __   __ /\ __
  \_`\/`_/ .\'/. \_`\/`_/ .\'/. \_`\/`_/ .\'/. \_`\/`_/
  _()_-=*=-_()_-=*=-_()_-=*=-_()_
  /_,/\,_\ '/.\' /_,/\,_\ '/.\' /_,/\,_\ '/.\' /_,/\,_\
 \/ \/ \/ \/

---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at goanet@goanet.org
---
Goanet, 1994-2004. Building community, creating social capital for a decade.
---

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Bishop Valerian D'Souza on the Church's mission

[GoanetReader]

The Mission Of The Church: To Humanize Society

By Bishop Valerian D'Souza

PUNE, Maharashtra (SAR NEWS) -- The German, Swiss and Austrian Jesuit
missionaries left behind a rich legacy in the fields of education and social
work. I have been a beneficiary of this experience as student, seminarian,
priest and bishop. I remember them with affection, aware of a sense of
challenge to live up to their expectations and to carry on their legacy.

What inspired them to leave the comfort and security of their country and
come and spend their lives in selfless service in the western region of
India? They came in 1854 at the invitation of Capuchin Bishop Anastasius
Hartmann. The Capuchins and Carmelites had worked for the community before
them. It was a period of the Padroado and Propaganda tussle.

These pioneers faced a long and dangerous voyage and many did not reach
India. While in India they had to look after a vast area from Quetta to
Hubli (Karnataka State). They travelled by bullock-cart and horseback. There
were scarcely any medical facilities on the whole, especially in the rural
areas. Quite a few young missionaries died before they could be taken to a
hospital miles and miles away.

Their accommodation was simple, sometimes primitive. The people, the culture
and the language were foreign to them. But they worked hard and persevered.
What was their driving motivation? It was Jesus and to continue his mission.
For this they were ready to sacrifice even their lives. The need to lift up
the Christian community impelled them to start schools. Within 20 years they
had started St. Patrick's School in Karachi, St.Mary's in Hubli, St.
Stanislaus and St. Mary's, St. Xavier's in Mumbai and also St. Xavier's
College in Mumbai.

St Patrick's School in Karachi had many political and religious luminaries
as students - Cardinal Valerian Gracias, Cardinal Joseph Cordeiro,
Archbishop Raymond, Bishop William Gomes et al. Gen. Musharaf and former
Deputy Prime Minister of India L K Advani were products of St. Patrick's.
Besides schools, the missionaries started social works and later inspired
other religious to start medical institutions.

What are the challenges we face looking over the last 150 years?

Like St Ignatius his sons must be gripped and fascinated by the Person of
Jesus. Their lives must be centered on Jesus. To proclaim the Kingdom
without proclaiming the King is meaningless. To be a Jesuit without deep
attachment to Jesus is to be a Jesuit in name only.

One of my earliest recollections as a young priest was in Harigaon mission
in Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra. A young Jesuit was about to leave on
his motorcycle. There was a bedroll and luggage on the carrier. He informed
me he would be out for a week visiting mission stations. He would spend each
night under a tree. Every evening he would sit with the villagers and listen
to them. This would go on week after week.

The jeep has saved time but have we preserved the custom of spending the
evening and even the night in a village, being with the people, listening to
them?

Pioneering Spirit

The first missionaries had to be pioneers. They needed to be creative. They
experimented and failed at times, but they persevered.  They tried to read
the signs of the times and act accordingly.

Parish work was not the main charism, but they took up parishes to be in
touch with the people. They started institutions in response to the needs of
the people. Several boardings were set up for poor boys and Dynanamata High
School was launched with agricultural bias, technical schools to provide
immediate jobs for the boys, Snehasadan, an inter-faith dialogue center and
the Social Centre for the development of farming community.

Today we need that creativity. The world is changing so fast that we can be
left behind. We cannot rest on our laurels. What are the new initiatives
that are being planned?

Challenges in Education

Speaking to the bishops of USA in June 2004 Pope John Paul II reaffirmed,
Her many religious, educational and charitable institutions exist for one
reason only: to proclaim the Gospel. It is utmost important, therefore, that
the Church's institutions be genuinely Catholic: Catholic in their self
understanding and Catholic in their identity.

According to the Roman document on The Mission of Catholic Schools Oct
2002 the Catholic School must enable the students to raise great questions
concerning the meaning of life, the significance of reality, and a
responsible commitment to transform it in the light of the Gospel values and
modern culture. The poor and the marginalized must have a central place in
our educational programmes...

According to St Ignatius education can become an effective agent of
transformation. Our institutions can be and should be agents of change in a
society riddled with discrimination, corruption, denial of human rights,
greed for money, power, position, ethnic riots.President Abdul Kalam has
words of high praise for the Jesuits.  The 

[Goanet]Goanet this week... Cornel DaCosta (www.goanvoice.org.uk)

[GoanetReader]

##
# Goanetters-2004 meet in Goa. Dec 21, Tuesday. 12 noon to 2 pm. #   
# Clube Vasco, Near Municipal Garden, Panjim. Pass the word around!  #  
##

GOANET: SOME HIGHLIGHTS By Cornel DaCosta

Frederick Noronha's re presented dense review of Goans and their
achievements all over the world, and over many decades, was timely to bring
2004 to a close. It should be particularly useful to younger Goans, many of
whom may not have been to Goa yet and developed an understanding of its
indomitable people.

Discussion on the reasons why a Sea Harrier jet crashed at the Naval Base in
Goa generated a range of interesting explanations.

An item referred to as 'chickens coming home to roost' about the recent
invasion of Iraq refuses to die down. It has probably generated more
responses than any other topic in recent months on Goanet.

For those unfamiliar with the story about the notorious Charles Sobraj while
in Goa, and elsewhere, have a chance to see the story rekindled on Goanet.

Lino Leitao's account of Ben Antao's book, 'Goa A Rediscovery' should
encourage Goan readers, and others, to explore the many literary
contributions from Ben Antao, currently resident in Canada.

A substantial account of banned drugs which are nevertheless widely
available from pharmacies in India provides valuable information to those
who would not normally double-check their prescribed medications.

Finally, much criss-crossing of seasonal greetings from Goanetters from all
over the world illustrates so much camaraderie among fellow Goans
world-wide.

Please visit the Goanet archives at http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/
To subscribe to Goanet Digest send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Goa Goana ... voices waiting to be heard

[GoanetReader]

 is a bit hyper-sensitive over this, but we Goans are great at
going to great lengths to 'prove' how superior our own visions of Goa, and
cultures, are as against others Goans. Is one all alone in reading this as
the sub-text of some essays in 'Amchem Goem'?

'Goa Portuguesa' isn't the currently-favoured flavour. 'Goa Indica' was a
substitute term from researchers like the anthropologist Dr Caroline Ifeka,
then with the Australian National University. Such concepts have been
enthusiastically picked up editor Arun Sinha as the thesis for his book.
(Sinha's work needs to be thrashed, as done by Uday Bhembre, not because it
offends the often-smug Goan world-view, but because it's so off-target and a
poor if not bigoted caricature of what makes Goa tick). 

Fordham University's professor emeritus in theology Dr Jose Pereira is a
great writer when it comes to explain aspects of Goa buried in its past; but
the essay chosen is simply too abstract to make sense to most of the
readers. Naresh Fernandes, currently editor of Mumbai's 'Time Out', has an
interesting essay on Goan musicians in Bollywood. Madhavi Sardesai's essay
titled 'Mother Tongue Blues' raises some important issues, even if there's
scope for debate over the same. 

Seminar last came out with an issue devoted to Goa sometime in the 'sixties,
when this small place was in the news globally because of Liberation (or
invasion, depending on one's point of view ... or, to put it more
factually, just the contentious end of Portuguese colonial rule here.) Maybe
we'll have to wait for another few decades before we can expect 'Goa Goana'
to emerge. Not as an excuse to justify bubbling Goan chauvinism, but as a
category with represents more adequately the voice of all sections of
opinion of her people. Including those kept voiceless for far too long.

Inspite of what might seem to be a harsh view of this issue, it's surely
worth buying a copy of your own -- available for just Rs 30 (100 pages,
large size) from outlets like Varsha Book Stall in Panjim. 
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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---

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Review, Frederika Menezes

[GoanetReader]

##
# If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]  #   
# Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/#  
# Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others  #
##

[EMAIL PROTECTED] 

This is a review of a book of Frederika Menezes.  She handed me the book in
Panjim after I had given a talk at Fundacao Oriente. You might know the
girl. Since I was sick after coming from India, I passed the book to
Rosemarry Leaver, she was Associate Editor of New Canadian Review, a journal
that I had started. She is a freelance editor now and works with a magazine
at McGill University. Regards, -- Lino Leitao 

The Pepperns and Wars of the Mind
Frederika Menezes, 2003
Third Millennium, Pamjim, Goa, India, pp 174
Rs 200

I reluctantly began reading this book at the urging of a friend who wanted
me to review it. After reading the blurb on the back of the book, I didn't
think this was the sort of book I would enjoy. Well, I was wrong.

It didn't take me long to become immersed in this fanciful tale that pits
good against evil in classic style. Evil is embodied in the person of
Urcelier, the Prince of doom who has conquered almost the entire world and
immersed it in gloom and surliness, where people don't smile and keep their
children locked away. Good is represented by the beautiful Perppern
princess, Ringolet. And the unlikely hero who is drafted into this struggle
is Pickpocket Pinky, whose sole weapon is a smile.

The characters are whimsically drawn beginning with their unique names and
vivid descriptions. All are strange and delightful, such as the Lantern
Goofs, tiny beings who glow various hues from their lantern-mouths and fly
about in bubblemobiles. There is also the mysterious Talking Form, whose
shape changes as he speaks and disappears and reappears. The Peppern in the
story are the survivors (few of them now existing) of an ancient benign race
that is trying to drive Urcelier and the gloom he has inflicted on the
world. Their place is a beautiful place of rainbows, swings to get from
floor to floor and fully cloud-like surfaces. The palace does not stay in
one place, but roams about the sky so as to stay out of reach of Urcelier.

The battle in this tale is for people's mind. And indeed there is a lot of
mind reading is going on. A moment of doubt or sadness, invites Urcelier to
corrupt one's thoughts and lead one away from the good side. This story
could be dubbed the Power of Positive Thinking.

It is a thoroughly imaginative and enjoyable fairy tale that grips you as
you follow Pickpocket on his quest. It is simply but well written with
vividly drawn characters and descriptions. Reminiscent of The Hobbit or The
Harry Potter books, it is a book that can be enjoyed by children and adults
alike. I am glad I decided to read it.

-- Rosemarry Leaver - Freelance editor ( Quebec- Canada) 

---
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reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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---

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Comment, QA Goa-style...

[GoanetReader]

##
# Don't just read the news... discuss it. Learn more about Goa via Goanet#
# Goanet is a 10-year-old network launched by Herman Carneiro in 1994.   #
# See all archives http://news.gmane.org/gmane.culture.region.india.goa/ #
# To join, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and ask to join GoanetDigest. #
##

COMMENT: QA, GOA-STYLE. WHEN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY COMES VISITING

From Frederick Noronha

THERE WERE films and stars and merchants of dreams at Goa's 35th IFFI. But
full marks for projection should go to Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar,
who had participants eating out of his hand at an 'open house' session held
on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of India Sunday.

Clearly impressed by the colour and glitter, clean and uncluttered roads
(even if restricted to just one section of Panjim) and an infrastructure on
which a phenomenal (and still unknown) amount has been spent, the delegates
at the session were already well-disposed in their attitude to the CM.

Parrikar's confidence -- critics might think of it as just bluster -- in
painting an all-is-fine-with-Goa image gave a further push to those ready
and waiting to lavish generous praise on the chief minister.

The chief minister had to struggle very hard to get the festival here.
People are only getting the cake, said the moderator of the function, a
film-society organiser, introducing Parrikar. (Is this really so? One
thought the IFFI was thrust on Goa following someone's fancy idea at Delhi
that Cannes needed to be replicated in Goa. Eating the cake? Fortunately,
the tax-payer is never adequately told all the figures on hand.)

Parrikar welcomed the delegates, and added: I didn't have much
problem in getting up the infrastructure here or getting it done in
time. But there is a small group of a frustrated opposition, of a
few people. One lady was blocking the route this evening and causing
an artificial roadblock. They went to the courts and lost their
battle. They tried to benefit from a change in government. They
failed on various front.

He went on to narrate how he was part of the larger group that had started
the Mood Indigo campus fest at the IIT-Bombay, and how he saw Goa being
built up as a state for art and culture, with cinema being one part of this.

Parrikar repeated his argument that 10 to 15% of India's musicians or
vocal singers in films and the other music industries are from Goa, a number
disproportionate to the state's size.

After 15 months in power (during the past term) I went in for a
by-elections. Sushma Swaraj asked me if I would win. It was a very bad time
for our party at the Centre. So, I asked if I win, what would she give in
return? She promised a film festival and a very good studio, he said.

His view was that the film festival came to Goa inspite of a lot of
competition for the same. He was optimistic that it would continue in Goa.

Nobody gave us a chance. In India, we are used to not completing projects
on time. But as an engineer, I was damn sure. Once you plan properly (it
falls in place). We had planned for contingencies too, he said.

Parrikar shared credit to his Cabinet -- which actually has such a
minimalist role to play in governance -- and to the team of officers who
worked till 12 or 1.30 am at night. He went on to add that his visibility
at this hour had been noticed, saying: Maybe the officers were not
recognised. For those have stopped at 6.30 (pm) it's not easy to get back.

This earned a loud round of applause, not just here, but at other points of
time too. 

Asked if he was a film-buff, Parrikar used the opportunity to make a
point he has made in the past. For the last ten years in Goa, I've
not seen a film in a theatre. That's not because I don't love films. 
It was an insurance risk going for one. There were cockroaches and
rats (in the theatre), he added. He narrated the incident of an
industrialist finding something sitting on his lap during a good
movie, and finding to his horror that it was a rat.

Of course, the delegates at IFFI couldn't be expected to unravel the
politics of cine theatres and offers to Zantye -- which didn't take off,
probably became politically superfluous, and now are being promised with a
revival. 

Parrikar conceded that it was a chicken-and-egg situation: low audiences
meant poor maintenance, and vice versa. He promised that the interest-free
loans, part of the last Goa budget and which failed to materialise in time
for the IFFI, would come soon. These loans would be for upto seven years,
and for an amount of Rs 3 crore (Rs 30 million) in the capital Panjim, he
said.

Before coming into politics, movies was my past-time. Indian movies take
you into a fantasy world. Where people are starving, they can 

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Comment, QA Goa-style...

[GoanetReader]

##
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##

COMMENT: QA, GOA-STYLE. WHEN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY COMES VISITING

From Frederick Noronha

THERE WERE films and stars and merchants of dreams at Goa's 35th IFFI. But
full marks for projection should go to Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar,
who had participants eating out of his hand at an 'open house' session held
on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of India Sunday.

Clearly impressed by the colour and glitter, clean and uncluttered roads
(even if restricted to just one section of Panjim) and an infrastructure on
which a phenomenal (and still unknown) amount has been spent, the delegates
at the session were already well-disposed in their attitude to the CM.

Parrikar's confidence -- critics might think of it as just bluster -- in
painting an all-is-fine-with-Goa image gave a further push to those ready
and waiting to lavish generous praise on the chief minister.

The chief minister had to struggle very hard to get the festival here.
People are only getting the cake, said the moderator of the function, a
film-society organiser, introducing Parrikar. (Is this really so? One
thought the IFFI was thrust on Goa following someone's fancy idea at Delhi
that Cannes needed to be replicated in Goa. Eating the cake? Fortunately,
the tax-payer is never adequately told all the figures on hand.)

Parrikar welcomed the delegates, and added: I didn't have much
problem in getting up the infrastructure here or getting it done in
time. But there is a small group of a frustrated opposition, of a
few people. One lady was blocking the route this evening and causing
an artificial roadblock. They went to the courts and lost their
battle. They tried to benefit from a change in government. They
failed on various front.

He went on to narrate how he was part of the larger group that had started
the Mood Indigo campus fest at the IIT-Bombay, and how he saw Goa being
built up as a state for art and culture, with cinema being one part of this.

Parrikar repeated his argument that 10 to 15% of India's musicians or
vocal singers in films and the other music industries are from Goa, a number
disproportionate to the state's size.

After 15 months in power (during the past term) I went in for a
by-elections. Sushma Swaraj asked me if I would win. It was a very bad time
for our party at the Centre. So, I asked if I win, what would she give in
return? She promised a film festival and a very good studio, he said.

His view was that the film festival came to Goa inspite of a lot of
competition for the same. He was optimistic that it would continue in Goa.

Nobody gave us a chance. In India, we are used to not completing projects
on time. But as an engineer, I was damn sure. Once you plan properly (it
falls in place). We had planned for contingencies too, he said.

Parrikar shared credit to his Cabinet -- which actually has such a
minimalist role to play in governance -- and to the team of officers who
worked till 12 or 1.30 am at night. He went on to add that his visibility
at this hour had been noticed, saying: Maybe the officers were not
recognised. For those have stopped at 6.30 (pm) it's not easy to get back.

This earned a loud round of applause, not just here, but at other points of
time too. 

Asked if he was a film-buff, Parrikar used the opportunity to make a
point he has made in the past. For the last ten years in Goa, I've
not seen a film in a theatre. That's not because I don't love films. 
It was an insurance risk going for one. There were cockroaches and
rats (in the theatre), he added. He narrated the incident of an
industrialist finding something sitting on his lap during a good
movie, and finding to his horror that it was a rat.

Of course, the delegates at IFFI couldn't be expected to unravel the
politics of cine theatres and offers to Zantye -- which didn't take off,
probably became politically superfluous, and now are being promised with a
revival. 

Parrikar conceded that it was a chicken-and-egg situation: low audiences
meant poor maintenance, and vice versa. He promised that the interest-free
loans, part of the last Goa budget and which failed to materialise in time
for the IFFI, would come soon. These loans would be for upto seven years,
and for an amount of Rs 3 crore (Rs 30 million) in the capital Panjim, he
said.

Before coming into politics, movies was my past-time. Indian movies take
you into a fantasy world. Where people are starving, they can enjoy a
five-star dinner in a movie by paying Rs 20 for a ticket, he 

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Lusophone communities... scattered across the globe

[GoanetReader]

. Some 250 families in
Batticaloa spoke Portuguese Creole as late as 1984 but its almost extinct
today.  

In Thailand there's still a very small Portuguese community in Bangkok that
descended down from the Ayuthaya period. Most of them changed their surnames
but some still use names like 'Na Silawan' (da Silva) or 'Yesu' (de Jesus).

In Malaysia there is the village of Malacca with a small Eurasian community
(mostly fishermen) which speaks a local Eurasian Creole language named Papia
Kristang (around 1000 people speak it, 95% of its vocabulary is derived from
Portuguese). 

In the Dutch-style St. Peter's church (1710) there is a bell dated 1608
manufactured in Goa.  We have been to the former Indonesian province of
Timor, but there are many other Lusophone communities and heritage in the
largest Muslim country of the world. 

In Bandaneira (Banda), one of the few Portuguese reminders is the metal
ceremonial hat. It is shaped like the Iberian soldier's helmet of the 16th
century, and is worn worn during the kora kora war canoe races. 

In Sikka (Flores), there is a dance named Taja Bobu. It was performed by
Portuguese settlers in the area 400 years and still performed today. On
Saturdays, the women of Larantuka say the rosary in a corrupt form of
Portuguese.  

Let's now move back to India. Along the Indian shores, there were
about 44 communities where Portuguese was spoken. But, besides the
better known Basaim (Vasai), Daman, Diu, Calicut, Cannanore (Kannur)
and Cochin (Kochi), there is Tarapur, with a Portuguese fort, and a
Coat of Arms and inscription dated 1593.

If many know that Mumbai was once Portuguese, not many will know that in
busy rail hub Thane there is a Portuguese St John Baptist church with a bell
(72 feet high), which is believed to be the largest amongst the remaining
Portuguese churches in India. 

In this metropolis, in 1906, there were still 5.000 people speaking
Portuguese Creole. There is also a Lusophone heritage in Chaul (Revdanda)
and in Korlai, where besides the fortress and a Portuguese church, there is
a small community (900) that has Portuguese Creole form of as their mother
tongue.  

There are many other places and communities like these on the Indian coastal
regions. Like most of the other small Lusophone communities scattered around
the world, they are stuck in-between the shadow of a distant past Empire and
the basic necessities to survive and keep their traditions alive. While
trying to promote this global heritage, we should avoid transforming them
into mere museum pieces or destroy their historical habitat with
mass-tourism.

---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
Goanet, 1994-2004. Building community, creating social capital for a decade.
---

##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Lusophone communities... scattered across the globe

[GoanetReader]

 but its almost extinct
today.  

In Thailand there's still a very small Portuguese community in Bangkok that
descended down from the Ayuthaya period. Most of them changed their surnames
but some still use names like 'Na Silawan' (da Silva) or 'Yesu' (de Jesus).

In Malaysia there is the village of Malacca with a small Eurasian community
(mostly fishermen) which speaks a local Eurasian Creole language named Papia
Kristang (around 1000 people speak it, 95% of its vocabulary is derived from
Portuguese). 

In the Dutch-style St. Peter's church (1710) there is a bell dated 1608
manufactured in Goa.  We have been to the former Indonesian province of
Timor, but there are many other Lusophone communities and heritage in the
largest Muslim country of the world. 

In Bandaneira (Banda), one of the few Portuguese reminders is the metal
ceremonial hat. It is shaped like the Iberian soldier's helmet of the 16th
century, and is worn worn during the kora kora war canoe races. 

In Sikka (Flores), there is a dance named Taja Bobu. It was performed by
Portuguese settlers in the area 400 years and still performed today. On
Saturdays, the women of Larantuka say the rosary in a corrupt form of
Portuguese.  

Let's now move back to India. Along the Indian shores, there were
about 44 communities where Portuguese was spoken. But, besides the
better known Basaim (Vasai), Daman, Diu, Calicut, Cannanore (Kannur)
and Cochin (Kochi), there is Tarapur, with a Portuguese fort, and a
Coat of Arms and inscription dated 1593.

If many know that Mumbai was once Portuguese, not many will know that in
busy rail hub Thane there is a Portuguese St John Baptist church with a bell
(72 feet high), which is believed to be the largest amongst the remaining
Portuguese churches in India. 

In this metropolis, in 1906, there were still 5.000 people speaking
Portuguese Creole. There is also a Lusophone heritage in Chaul (Revdanda)
and in Korlai, where besides the fortress and a Portuguese church, there is
a small community (900) that has Portuguese Creole form of as their mother
tongue.  

There are many other places and communities like these on the Indian coastal
regions. Like most of the other small Lusophone communities scattered around
the world, they are stuck in-between the shadow of a distant past Empire and
the basic necessities to survive and keep their traditions alive. While
trying to promote this global heritage, we should avoid transforming them
into mere museum pieces or destroy their historical habitat with
mass-tourism.

---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
Goanet, 1994-2004. Building community, creating social capital for a decade.
---

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Cannes Goa? Should Goa? IFFI day is here...

[GoanetReader]

##
# Don't just read the news... discuss it. Learn more about Goa via Goanet#
# Goanet is a 10-year-old network launched by Herman Carneiro in 1994.   #
# See all archives http://news.gmane.org/gmane.culture.region.india.goa/ #
# To join, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and ask to join GoanetDigest. #
##

CANNES GOA? SHOULD GOA? THE HOUR OF IFFI RECKONING IS FINALLY HERE

From Pamela D'Mello
asianage at sancharnet.in

Cannes Goa? Should Goa? Why Goa? Will Goa? For all the questions that have
plagued Goa's choice as the permanent venue for India's international film
festival, the hour of reckoning is finally here.

As India's 35th IFFI sets to roll from November 29, to an opening concert
by AR Rehman and Mira Nair's acclaimed Vanity Fair, much is at stake for the
festival itself, Indian cinema and the state's gamble with footing a Rs 100
crore (Rs 1000 million) bill to co-host IFFI.

'We wanted to re-brand the festival using Goa's well known tourist location.
Already there's a certain buzz, we've been able to create a special
ambiance, festival director Ms Neelam Kapur says of the new venue,
describing it as a huge improvement from any other previous location.

Growing at 15% in recent years, India's $509 million (rpt $509 million) film
industry produces over a 1000 films a year, the largest number by any
country worldwide. In 2001 film exports touched Rs 5.25 billion, up 17% from
the previous year, while music rights brought in Rs 1.5 billion in 2001.

With a unique distinction of having produced 67,000 films in over 30
languages and dialects since introduction of the talkies in 1931, India's
film festivals were yet to make a mark globally.

Recent ministerial visits to Cannes from the New Delhi's Information 
Broadcasting ministry, goaded on by Bollywood moghuls Yash Chopra and Subhash
Ghai came up with ideas to re-brand IFFI, anchor it down in India's
best-loved playground for the rich and famous, and use the state's tourist
fame to attract global film makers, enthusiasts and traders.

A 105-kilometre long stretch of sandy shore, 39 starred hotels, cuisine
that's making its mark, and an aimed-for world city-state from
September-March visited by British, Russian, German and Scandinavian
holidayers during peak tourism months -- this Cannes wannabe state is the
new ramp for Indian cinema. 

Even twenty five years ago, some of us -- Girish Karnad, and the late
Satyajit Ray and myself -- felt the festival should be held in one place and
we suggested Goa. But nothing happened, says film maker Shyam Benegal.

IDEAL, FOR TWO REASONS

Goa is ideal for two reasons. Although it is not a centre for film it is a
centre for tourism. A film festival is a festival. Where people come to do
business in films, to enjoy films and also to enjoy the environment of the
place. Goa has everything. A relaxed atmosphere, its a perfect holiday
destination and eventually interest in films will also increase.

Most festivals are known by the cities that host them. For instance, Venice,
Cannes, Stockholm, Locarno, Berlin, Tokyo, Toronto. But India's most
prestigious festival IFFI since inception in 1952, kept roving from Mumbai
to Bangalore, Calcutta, Chennai, and Hyderabad and every other year Delhi.

All these years we've had it in Delhi, we've had exactly the same festival.
How has it helped? It hasn't helped in adding to cinema enthusiasts, not in
marketing, nor has it made Delhi a great film place, argues Benegal.

But an announcement from former IB Minister Ravi Prasad Sharma in 2003
brought some skepticism. Critics argue Goa itself has nothing of a film
culture -- entertainment is associated here with the beach, eating out,
Western music and dance. Films are given the go-by. Goa's few cinema houses
have long been derelict, run down buildings, where Hollywood and Bollywood
blockbuster barely make a box office dent.

Cannes did not have a film culture either, when it started out, says
Benegal. This small fishing village in the south of France was only a
reasonably successful small seaside resort, thinking to extend its tourism
season by a further two weeks, when it agreed to cough up the money to build
a dedicated venue for an alternative festival to Venice in 1939. France had
then just walked out of the Venice festival along with British and American
jury members, in protest against a German film (co-produced by Goebbels'
ministry of propaganda and Mussolini's son) winning the coveted Golden Lion
award.

From there it grew, re-emerging after World War II, with a new venue, branding
itself with the city's trademark palm leaf motif to create the Palme D'Or
award, sexing up the festival with bikini clad glamorous starlets on the
beach. Each decade Cannes grew -- establishing its film market in the 60s,
in 1972 the festival board junked the system of letting countries send
entries and began 

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Cannes Goa? Should Goa? IFFI-day is here

[GoanetReader]

##
# If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]  #   
# Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/#  
# Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others  #
##

CANNES GOA? SHOULD GOA? THE HOUR OF IFFI RECKONING IS FINALLY HERE

From Pamela D'Mello
asianage at sancharnet.in

Cannes Goa? Should Goa? Why Goa? Will Goa? For all the questions that have
plagued Goa's choice as the permanent venue for India's international film
festival, the hour of reckoning is finally here.

As India's 35th IFFI sets to roll from November 29, to an opening concert
by AR Rehman and Mira Nair's acclaimed Vanity Fair, much is at stake for the
festival itself, Indian cinema and the state's gamble with footing a Rs 100
crore (Rs 1000 million) bill to co-host IFFI.

'We wanted to re-brand the festival using Goa's well known tourist location.
Already there's a certain buzz, we've been able to create a special
ambiance, festival director Ms Neelam Kapur says of the new venue,
describing it as a huge improvement from any other previous location.

Growing at 15% in recent years, India's $509 million (rpt $509 million) film
industry produces over a 1000 films a year, the largest number by any
country worldwide. In 2001 film exports touched Rs 5.25 billion, up 17% from
the previous year, while music rights brought in Rs 1.5 billion in 2001.

With a unique distinction of having produced 67,000 films in over 30
languages and dialects since introduction of the talkies in 1931, India's
film festivals were yet to make a mark globally.

Recent ministerial visits to Cannes from the New Delhi's Information 
Broadcasting ministry, goaded on by Bollywood moghuls Yash Chopra and Subhash
Ghai came up with ideas to re-brand IFFI, anchor it down in India's
best-loved playground for the rich and famous, and use the state's tourist
fame to attract global film makers, enthusiasts and traders.

A 105-kilometre long stretch of sandy shore, 39 starred hotels, cuisine
that's making its mark, and an aimed-for world city-state from
September-March visited by British, Russian, German and Scandinavian
holidayers during peak tourism months -- this Cannes wannabe state is the
new ramp for Indian cinema. 

Even twenty five years ago, some of us -- Girish Karnad, and the late
Satyajit Ray and myself -- felt the festival should be held in one place and
we suggested Goa. But nothing happened, says film maker Shyam Benegal.

IDEAL, FOR TWO REASONS

Goa is ideal for two reasons. Although it is not a centre for film it is a
centre for tourism. A film festival is a festival. Where people come to do
business in films, to enjoy films and also to enjoy the environment of the
place. Goa has everything. A relaxed atmosphere, its a perfect holiday
destination and eventually interest in films will also increase.

Most festivals are known by the cities that host them. For instance, Venice,
Cannes, Stockholm, Locarno, Berlin, Tokyo, Toronto. But India's most
prestigious festival IFFI since inception in 1952, kept roving from Mumbai
to Bangalore, Calcutta, Chennai, and Hyderabad and every other year Delhi.

All these years we've had it in Delhi, we've had exactly the same festival.
How has it helped? It hasn't helped in adding to cinema enthusiasts, not in
marketing, nor has it made Delhi a great film place, argues Benegal.

But an announcement from former IB Minister Ravi Prasad Sharma in 2003
brought some skepticism. Critics argue Goa itself has nothing of a film
culture -- entertainment is associated here with the beach, eating out,
Western music and dance. Films are given the go-by. Goa's few cinema houses
have long been derelict, run down buildings, where Hollywood and Bollywood
blockbuster barely make a box office dent.

Cannes did not have a film culture either, when it started out, says
Benegal. This small fishing village in the south of France was only a
reasonably successful small seaside resort, thinking to extend its tourism
season by a further two weeks, when it agreed to cough up the money to build
a dedicated venue for an alternative festival to Venice in 1939. France had
then just walked out of the Venice festival along with British and American
jury members, in protest against a German film (co-produced by Goebbels'
ministry of propaganda and Mussolini's son) winning the coveted Golden Lion
award.

From there it grew, re-emerging after World War II, with a new venue, branding
itself with the city's trademark palm leaf motif to create the Palme D'Or
award, sexing up the festival with bikini clad glamorous starlets on the
beach. Each decade Cannes grew -- establishing its film market in the 60s,
in 1972 the festival board junked the system of letting countries send
entries and began choosing its own films, in 1983 it moved into a new Palais
du Festivals -- 

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Tourism-related paedophilia, Goa ... a blind eye

[GoanetReader]

 abettors are still waiting to be exposed.
--
JAN UGAHI is a Margao-based non-governmental organisation working to help
deprived children in the area.  
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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--

##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Tourism-related paedophilia, Goa... a blind eye

[GoanetReader]

-governmental organisation working to help
deprived children in the area.  
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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[Goanet]GoanetReader -- 200 pages that everyone loves to hate...

[GoanetReader]

 of my relatives are based there. I am very much a
son of the soil.

This 52-year-old Science graduate also has memories of under-development,
which might seem unrealistic to those in Goa who came from more comfortable
backgrounds. Before he got his job, he was among the poorest of the poor,
he says. 

Like some others of his background, Naik at one time looked to the RSS, the
right-wing group that has been mostly close to the BJP and zeroes-in on
religion-related issues and strife or 'cultural nationalism' as a solution
to this-worldly woes. But, latterly he criticised the organisation in Goa as
using Marathi while not standing up for it, and using the sub-altern
segments for the dirty-work while giving the crumbs of office to a narrow
dominant clique.

I'm almost censored today. In all respects. Take the newspapers, for
instance. Over the past six months, I corresponded with various authorities,
and have pointed out how all our constitutional right, the benefits of
freedom and democracy, have been deprived to the Bahujan Samaj (masses or
bulk of the population). For whom was the Constitution formed?

Says he: (After 1961) Goa has prospered materially. But in terms of social
evils too we are Number 1. Much of his sentiment suggests the need for
taking ahead social reform, in a region which otherwise gets camouflaged
under the mask of being a picture-postcard state. It's not that there were
no reformers, he argues, pointing out that writers like Bharatkar Hegde
Dessai had a global perception long before we reached the global village.

Naik agrees that the language used in his book was harsh. Says he: It is
a response to the language used by Konkani protagonists for the last 40
years. 

FEEDBACK: Ramnath G Naik can be contacted on phone 273 1140 (res), while the
writer can be emailed on [EMAIL PROTECTED]

---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
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[Goanet-news]Uncle Frank, a tribute to Frank Simoes

[GoanetReader]

##
# Don't just read the news... discuss it. Learn more about Goa via Goanet#
# Goanet is a 10-year-old network launched by Herman Carneiro in 1994.   #
# See all archives http://news.gmane.org/gmane.culture.region.india.goa/ #
# To join, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and ask to join GoanetDigest. #
##

Uncle Frank -- a tribute to Frank Simoes

By Stuart D'Rozario

For those who may not know Frank Simoes, he was a writer and advertising man
in India. In his lifetime, he published hundreds of articles, wrote two
books, and created some of the most enduring advertising. 

He was enterprising enough to set up one of the first independent
advertising agencies in India, and was smart enough to get out of the
business at a relatively young age to focus on his writing. 

He was a Goan who grew up in Bombay, but whose heart was always in Goa.

Frank was my mother's brother. Growing up I always thought of him as the
famous uncle. But later in life, I saw him for what he was: a great writer.
Tormented, like most great writers. 

I didn't realize it is possible to really get to know someone only after
they have passed away. With Frank, that's exactly what happened. Perhaps
it's because I spent six months helping edit a book of all his writings, but
more likely it's because once someone is gone it becomes easier to see, in
broad strokes, what he was about and what he stood for. 

Time -- instead of blurring things -- can sometimes make things clearer.

When I think of Frank today, oddly enough, I don't think of him as a
legendary advertising man -- even though I know he was that. I think of him
as someone who loved family, friends, writing, food and drink. 

I think of him as someone who found all of that in abundance in a place he
loved more than any other: Goa. I think of him as someone who loved to
write; and even though I know he wrote beautifully and passionately about
everything from politics to business, I think he was at his best when
writing about Goa.

I remember Frank telling me about his book on Goa, as he was writing it. He
said it was along the lines of 'A Year In Provence'. I do think that was an
apt comparison, not just because it's a loose collection of humorous
anecdotes about an idyllic place, but because in both cases, the authors
have on-going love affairs with their respective places. 

(Coincidentally, Peter Mayle was one of the most famous advertising creative
people in London before he chucked it up to move to Provence.)

Frank Simoes' Goa was first published four years ago as 'Glad Season in Goa'
and was on the bestseller list in India. I'm delighted that it is being
re-released. 

I'm sure Frank would have loved the new name. If he was alive today, perhaps
the name might have seemed presumptuous. But since he isn't, I think he has
the permission to claim Goa as his own. I think he always did, secretly. But
honestly, deep down, even a million miles from home, don't we all.

If you buy one book about India this year, I'd suggest Frank Simoes' Goa.
But that might be because I biased. I love Frank's writing, and I love Goa.
--
Stuart D'Rozario is a Creative Director at Fallon Worldwide in Minneapolis.
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
Goanet, 1994-2004, building community and social capital for a decade. 
---

##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Uncle Frank, a tribute to Frank Simoes

[GoanetReader]

##
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##

Uncle Frank -- A tribute to Frank Simoes

By Stuart D'Rozario

For those who may not know Frank Simoes, he was a writer and advertising man
in India. In his lifetime, he published hundreds of articles, wrote two
books, and created some of the most enduring advertising. 

He was enterprising enough to set up one of the first independent
advertising agencies in India, and was smart enough to get out of the
business at a relatively young age to focus on his writing. 

He was a Goan who grew up in Bombay, but whose heart was always in Goa.

Frank was my mother's brother. Growing up I always thought of him as the
famous uncle. But later in life, I saw him for what he was: a great writer.
Tormented, like most great writers. 

I didn't realize it is possible to really get to know someone only after
they have passed away. With Frank, that's exactly what happened. Perhaps
it's because I spent six months helping edit a book of all his writings, but
more likely it's because once someone is gone it becomes easier to see, in
broad strokes, what he was about and what he stood for. 

Time -- instead of blurring things -- can sometimes make things clearer.

When I think of Frank today, oddly enough, I don't think of him as a
legendary advertising man -- even though I know he was that. I think of him
as someone who loved family, friends, writing, food and drink. 

I think of him as someone who found all of that in abundance in a place he
loved more than any other: Goa. I think of him as someone who loved to
write; and even though I know he wrote beautifully and passionately about
everything from politics to business, I think he was at his best when
writing about Goa.

I remember Frank telling me about his book on Goa, as he was writing it. He
said it was along the lines of 'A Year In Provence'. I do think that was an
apt comparison, not just because it's a loose collection of humorous
anecdotes about an idyllic place, but because in both cases, the authors
have on-going love affairs with their respective places. 

(Coincidentally, Peter Mayle was one of the most famous advertising creative
people in London before he chucked it up to move to Provence.)

Frank Simoes' Goa was first published four years ago as 'Glad Season in Goa'
and was on the bestseller list in India. I'm delighted that it is being
re-released. 

I'm sure Frank would have loved the new name. If he was alive today, perhaps
the name might have seemed presumptuous. But since he isn't, I think he has
the permission to claim Goa as his own. I think he always did, secretly. But
honestly, deep down, even a million miles from home, don't we all.

If you buy one book about India this year, I'd suggest Frank Simoes' Goa.
But that might be because I biased. I love Frank's writing, and I love Goa.
--
Stuart D'Rozario is a Creative Director at Fallon Worldwide in Minneapolis.
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
Goanet, 1994-2004, building community for a decade. 
---

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Finding your way around what's happening in Goa

[GoanetReader]

, the 600-kms-away commercial capital of Mumbai
recently got a plush new publication in this category, called 'TimeOut'.
What's worse is that its editor is a seasoned writer-editor of Goan origin,
Naresh Fernandes.

FindAll-Goa obviously can do with its improvements. For now, it seems
heavily skewed towards North Goa. South Goa's tourism lobby could well
interpret this as another conspiracy targeting them, a la the planned and
yet nowhere-on-the-horizon Mopa airport.

Secondly, and more importantly, this is yet another publication that has its
model overwhelmingly dependent on advertising revenues. Nothing wrong in
that, per se. But we already seem to have too many of these in Goa these
days. So, generating reader-oriented quality information is no priority;
earning advertiser rupees is the focus.

Just the other day, a friend in the trade was mentioning how difficult it
has become to earn advertising revenue. He claimed that some of the early
players had ruined the market. That apart, Goa's readers could benefit
from business models that rely on selling credible news and content, to
readers with whom their primarily loyalty lies. But then, not everyone can
be a 'Lonely Planet', which can sell it credibility-packed guide for 25
Australian dollars or more each.

Check it out this new publication for yourself. Findoll is located at Lobo
Vaddo, Parra (Bardez) and on phone is 247 2115 or 247 2338 and on email
simply [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes feedback at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
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---

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- From Adil Shah to Cannes...

[GoanetReader]

.  

There should also be a special section demonstrating the evolution of Goa
Trance in Goa, considering this form of music attracts the highest number of
tourists to Goa. Of course, consumption of drugs could perhaps not be
permitted.

No Festival of Goa can be complete without some of our dances. The Catholics
have made many of the Western dances like the fox-trot, waltz, sambas, etc,
an integral part of their culture. One of the existing halls could be made
into a ballroom for that Goan dance experience. 

There could be things like 'Learn the cha-cha-cha' in one hour for the
wide-eyed tourists from Orissa or wherever it is that they will be coming
from. Besides of course all the other traditional dances of Goa. There could
even be political musical chairs set to the music of some of the Konkani
songs about our duplicitous politicians, using the old, real ministerial
chairs. Though, of course, that might be stretching things a bit.

All of the above can also be combined in innovative ways. 

For example, there could be laments of 'supper theatre', wherein people get
to eat some food while at the same time watching some theatrical action. The
Taverna within the palace could be used to promote Goan liquor
manufacturers. All kinds of spices and masalas could be sold at a retail
outlet. There could be a take-away section for those who would like to take
their food and eat it in the great outdoors alongside the lovely Mandovi.

There could be a bakery and confectionery outlet selling all kinds of Goan
breads and sweets. The fame of the 'poi' has travelled very far, but I
personally these days am enamoured by the 'katri pao' which to my mind
combines the delicate flavours of a roti and a pita bread.

Everything should be wholesome entertainment for the entire family,
and there should be a ticket to simply enter the place, which will
keep the riff-raff away. But things like handicrafts and those kind
of things should be left out since the focus has to be on
entertainment.

There couldn't be a better interactive experience for those visiting Goa.
They will get to party the real Goan way while at the same time experiencing
the unique cultural fusion that the palace on the banks of the Mandovi
symbolises. Besides, only a Festival of Goa Palace can help us compete with
Cannes, since that's what our netas (or rather aya rams) have in mind for
us.
---
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reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
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---
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---

##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- From Adil Shah to Cannes... tracing the route

[GoanetReader]

 in Goa, considering this form of music attracts the highest number of
tourists to Goa. Of course, consumption of drugs could perhaps not be
permitted.

No Festival of Goa can be complete without some of our dances. The Catholics
have made many of the Western dances like the fox-trot, waltz, sambas, etc,
an integral part of their culture. One of the existing halls could be made
into a ballroom for that Goan dance experience. 

There could be things like 'Learn the cha-cha-cha' in one hour for the
wide-eyed tourists from Orissa or wherever it is that they will be coming
from. Besides of course all the other traditional dances of Goa. There could
even be political musical chairs set to the music of some of the Konkani
songs about our duplicitous politicians, using the old, real ministerial
chairs. Though, of course, that might be stretching things a bit.

All of the above can also be combined in innovative ways. 

For example, there could be laments of 'supper theatre', wherein people get
to eat some food while at the same time watching some theatrical action. The
Taverna within the palace could be used to promote Goan liquor
manufacturers. All kinds of spices and masalas could be sold at a retail
outlet. There could be a take-away section for those who would like to take
their food and eat it in the great outdoors alongside the lovely Mandovi.

There could be a bakery and confectionery outlet selling all kinds of Goan
breads and sweets. The fame of the 'poi' has travelled very far, but I
personally these days am enamoured by the 'katri pao' which to my mind
combines the delicate flavours of a roti and a pita bread.

Everything should be wholesome entertainment for the entire family,
and there should be a ticket to simply enter the place, which will
keep the riff-raff away. But things like handicrafts and those kind
of things should be left out since the focus has to be on
entertainment.

There couldn't be a better interactive experience for those visiting Goa.
They will get to party the real Goan way while at the same time experiencing
the unique cultural fusion that the palace on the banks of the Mandovi
symbolises. Besides, only a Festival of Goa Palace can help us compete with
Cannes, since that's what our netas (or rather aya rams) have in mind for
us.
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
Goanet, 1994-2004, building community and social capital for a decade. 
---

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Understanding the Gulfee.. a migratory story

[GoanetReader]

 in it and are never able to come out from
it. These states have practically everything that is available back home and
much more -- club entertainment, drinks, nightclubs, dances, hops, jam
sessions, all sorts of celebrations, parties, gambling, you name it. There
are many Goans who fell prey to such a lifestyle and returned home
empty-handed after decades of service in the Gulf. 

Many of us thought that the Gulf was our permanent home. Well, it is
not so any longer; most of us might have to leave this region pretty
soon -- the writing is already on the wall! So, make hay while the
sun shines!

The above are only a few reasons why Goans have prolonged their stay in the
Gulf, but considering the present circumstances in the region, is he going
to be able to hang in there in the near future? The need of the day is
tenfold more compared to the past, and it doubles with a single earning
family member. 

In the late 19th century Goans found jobs in British Africa and in the early
20th century in Middle Eastern countries. If the Gulf closes its gates to
the expatriates, where do we head next? 'Dhonia Deva Tum amkam pav!' (God
help us!)

That's all for now from Dom's antique shelf... for today!

--
The writer is from Anjuna/Dhahran, KSA and dedicates this article to Goans
in the Gulf. His widely-appreciated nostalgic writing has been appearing on
Goanet in his 'Dom's antique shelf' series. 
---
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---
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---

##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Goa's Rs 240 million multiplex is up... audiences?

[GoanetReader]

 theatres to complement India's Rs 5000 crore (Rs
50,000 million) film industry. 

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##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Goa's Rs 240 million multiplex is up... audiences?

[GoanetReader]

 industry. 

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reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
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[Goanet]EVENT -- Indian classical music and dance at Calangute

[GoanetReader]

##
# If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]  #   
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# Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others  #
##

Kerkar Art Complex organizes concerts of Indian Classical Dance and Music
every Tuesday from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. during the tourist season.  The first
concert for the season is on Tuesday, November 9, 2004.  There will be a
Sitar recital by Chote Rahimat Khan and a Kathak dance performance by Mamta
Hussain.  

For the last ten years, Kerkar Art Complex has been promoting Indian
classical music and dance.  So far Kerkar Art Complex has presented more
than five hundred concerts in order to give exposure to Indian classical
music to the visiting tourists.  The artists who perform at these concerts
include Manab Das, Maruti Kurdekar, B.S. Math, Akkamadevi Hiremath, Mangala
Mardolkar, Jyoti Goswami, Tulshidas Navelkar and Amit Bhosle.  

Contact details: Kerkar Art Complex Gaurawado Calangute, Bardez Goa 403516.
Tel: 2276017 Fax: 2276509 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] and Website
http://www.subodhkerkar.com

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- News from the X'tian world (SAR News)

[GoanetReader]

 to be held at the Se, the oldest heritage church in Asia. Cherian
has participated in a group exhibition in New York. Her new show travels to
the Mayfair in London next year (April 25-May 6) and later, New York.

---
Editor-in-Chief: Michael Gonsalves; Managing Director: Fr. George
Veliparambil. SAR News, 2/5, 4th Cross, Vivekananda Nagar, M.S.Nagar P.O.
Bangalore -560033. Tel.(080) 25482480 Fax: (080) 25476706, E-mail:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] / [EMAIL PROTECTED]

---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
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##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet]TODAY'S QUOTE -- Prof Francisco Correia-Afonso on creativeness

[GoanetReader]

##
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Submitted by Lino Leitao: lino.leitao at sympatico.ca 

A thought from Prof. Francisco Correia-Afonso 

RELATIVE IMMORTALITY: What most men use, what all men can use, to fill the
emptiness of life, and if possible, to achieve fame and immortality in the
process, is the greatest gift that God has given us, the gift of
creativeness, by which we are made collaborators of the Creator. Modern life
seems emptier than in the past, because under the mass production system,
the workman does not find scope for his creativeness. To man has been given
the gift of creating life itself, and the modern man is being robbed even of
this gift. Every child that is born into this world, said Rabindranath
Tagore, is a proof that God has not despaired of humanity. But modern man
seems to have despaired of himself. He is afraid of life. It remains true,
however, that only through creative work we can achieve a relative
immortality on earth. To write a book, to plant a tree, to raise a child,
still remains summun bonum of human life.  -- Francisco Correia-Afonso in a
radio broadcast, 1953

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- News from the X'tian world (SAR News)

[GoanetReader]

 participated in a group exhibition in New York. Her new show travels to
the Mayfair in London next year (April 25-May 6) and later, New York.

---
Editor-in-Chief: Michael Gonsalves; Managing Director: Fr. George
Veliparambil. SAR News, 2/5, 4th Cross, Vivekananda Nagar, M.S.Nagar P.O.
Bangalore -560033. Tel.(080) 25482480 Fax: (080) 25476706, E-mail:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] / [EMAIL PROTECTED]

---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
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---

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Life on a Goan shack is unbeatable

[GoanetReader]

 of sandwiches to sell in the shack. The
shack I ran also used to sell second-hand jeans, rucksacks, cameras,
etc. All types of things are bought and sold in the shacks.

Today it is impossible for an unemployed local youth with no money (they
still exist) to set up a shack. There's the comparatively astronomical
license fee, first of all. Besides, few tourists will be interested in
visiting a shack which sells only 'patal/sukhi baji', 'chai' and cold
drinks, which is the most a local with no start-up money will be able to
rustle up. 

Many also take the easy way out by simply bidding (in government-conducted
auctions) for the shack spots and then renting them out to others.

In the last few years there have been ugly clashes between the 'shack
owners' and the governmental authorities over the number of shacks allowed
on a particular beach. It is easy to understand the anger of the villagers;
specially the poorer villagers. Many villagers look at the shacks as a
start-up operation. It's their stepping-stone to bigger things. But they are
being ripped apart by the sharks of the regulating agencies at the starting
point.

The number of shacks are sought to be restricted because of a variety of
reasons, like cleanliness, overcrowding on the beach, etc. It's also obvious
that, except for the peak season, there is not enough business going on for
everybody (which also suits many just fine). The shacks are also opposed by
the 'concrete' hotels who have to put up with the unbearable sight of
tourists flocking to the coco-huts, thus depriving them of business.

However, the issue of garbage and cleanliness, for example, can be easily
solved by creating a state-wide Beach Cleaning Authority. It is unrealistic
to expect the shacks themselves to do the clean-up job themselves since
they're only in the business of providing service to their customers, the
tourists.

The other problems like paedophilia, drugs, also have to be dealt
with by the concerned authorities. All the problems are really a
separate issue altogether, and should not be clubbed together and
made into a huge 'shack' problem. It is important that the
Government does not throttle this facet of Goa's tourism. Because
shacks are one of those things which make Goa really special. After
all, they're today also an unique part of our heritage.

---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
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---

##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Life on a Goan shack is unbeatable

[GoanetReader]

 second-hand jeans, rucksacks, cameras,
etc. All types of things are bought and sold in the shacks.

Today it is impossible for an unemployed local youth with no money (they
still exist) to set up a shack. There's the comparatively astronomical
license fee, first of all. Besides, few tourists will be interested in
visiting a shack which sells only 'patal/sukhi baji', 'chai' and cold
drinks, which is the most a local with no start-up money will be able to
rustle up. 

Many also take the easy way out by simply bidding (in government-conducted
auctions) for the shack spots and then renting them out to others.

In the last few years there have been ugly clashes between the 'shack
owners' and the governmental authorities over the number of shacks allowed
on a particular beach. It is easy to understand the anger of the villagers;
specially the poorer villagers. Many villagers look at the shacks as a
start-up operation. It's their stepping-stone to bigger things. But they are
being ripped apart by the sharks of the regulating agencies at the starting
point.

The number of shacks are sought to be restricted because of a variety of
reasons, like cleanliness, overcrowding on the beach, etc. It's also obvious
that, except for the peak season, there is not enough business going on for
everybody (which also suits many just fine). The shacks are also opposed by
the 'concrete' hotels who have to put up with the unbearable sight of
tourists flocking to the coco-huts, thus depriving them of business.

However, the issue of garbage and cleanliness, for example, can be easily
solved by creating a state-wide Beach Cleaning Authority. It is unrealistic
to expect the shacks themselves to do the clean-up job themselves since
they're only in the business of providing service to their customers, the
tourists.

The other problems like paedophilia, drugs, also have to be dealt
with by the concerned authorities. All the problems are really a
separate issue altogether, and should not be clubbed together and
made into a huge 'shack' problem. It is important that the
Government does not throttle this facet of Goa's tourism. Because
shacks are one of those things which make Goa really special. After
all, they're today also an unique part of our heritage.

---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
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[Goanet]GOANETREADER -- Church, phones and email

[GoanetReader]

, only a few
institutions have their presence in cyberspace listed. Goa Archdiocese's
website is www.archgoadaman.org. In Sancoale village, the Blessed Joseph Vaz
Sanctuary -- dedicated to one of Goa's saint-in-the-making -- is at
www.frjosephvazgoa.com.

But other links in this directory list a number of Catholic websites. These
include the Vatican (www.vatican.va), Vatican Radio
(www.wrn.org/vatican-radio/audio.html), the Catholic Bishops Conference of
India (www.cbcisite.com), the Catholic Information Network (www.cin.org),
the Catholic Internet Directory (www.catholic-church.org/cid), a site for
social justice issues (www.christusrex.org), UCAN News (www.ucanews.com) and
Zenit (www.zenit.org), among others.

We earnestly hope that (this directory) may facilitate genuine
communication that would create necessary ambiance for meaningful human and
ecclesial relationships, says Fr Olavo Velho Pereira, secretary to the
Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media, which has published the
2004 religious telephone directory.

Fr Velho Pereira quotes the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India statement
on the Church and the Communications Media, which says the media -- of which
telephoning and e-mailing are an important part -- are gifts of God to
humanity.

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[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Divar's bridge that could make...

[GoanetReader]

, please send
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##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet-news]Goanet, the month that was. October 2004.

[GoanetReader]

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Goanet, the month that was. October 2004. 
-

Reports keep coming in from across the Goan diaspora; here's an interesting
one about Goans in Calcutta. [1] Chris Hughes from Down Under defines
himself as an Australian man, happily engaged to go a Goan woman, both
living in Australia. He needed advice on the process in getting married in
Australia and Goa, and whether there would be any duplication in doing it in
two places. [2]

[1] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/018638.html
[2] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/018645.html

This query brought in quite a few replies and suggestions. See

[3] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/018652.html
[4] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/018655.html
[5] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/018665.html
[6] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/018735.html

Tony Barros and others seem to have launched [7]  an interesting thread on
Goans in East Africa
[7] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/018955.html

There was also an announcement (from John D'Souza) of a Goan seniors'
fun-fair at Toronto [8], held in early October.
[8] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/018646.html

Miguel Braganza in Mapusa asks, 'Why so few Mestico in Goa after 451
years?'[9]
[9] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/018720.html

Eddie Fernandes quotes a report [10] that says two Goans, or PLtG (persons
linked to Goa) -- Roque Fernandes and Dominic Martins -- were named in
London dirty bomb arrests an issue which hardly anyone in Goa itself seems
to have taken due note of. 
[10] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/018678.html

Vivek Araujo made this appeal to ex-Africanda Goans: My reminder goes out
to all the Goans/pre-1972 of Uganda, to kindly come forward and assist me to
claim back the property which used to belong/or belongs present (not in a
position to state) to Goans. One of the executive members who has some
documentary evidence to prove he/she was a member of the said club could
well be the start for me. Please please come forward. [11]
[11] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/018650.html

Vincente Fernandes kept updating us all with upcoming birthdays. If you wish
to have yours included, just contact him. One specimen is at [12]. Joel
D'Souza of Assagao continued with his useful daily input of news.  
[12] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/018661.html

Without doubt, October 2004's debate of the month was about caste among
Goa's Catholics. See contributions from Cornel [13], Gilbert Lawrence [14],
Godfrey JI Gonsalves [15], Alito Siqueira [16], Miguel Braganza [17],
A.C.Menezes [18], Neal Pinto [19], Basilio [20], Jose Colaco [21], Helga do
Rosario Gomes [22], FN [23], Mervyn Lobo [24], Melinda Coutinho Powell [25]
others

[13] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/019665.html
[14] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/019398.html
[15] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/019366.html
[16] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/019548.html
[17] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/019672.html
[18] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/019679.html
[19] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/019727.html
[20] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/019478.html
[21] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/019462.html
[22] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/019438.html 
[23] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/019440.html
[24] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/019443.html
[25] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/019369.html

If you're the religious type -- or even if not -- don't miss Jude Bothello's
Sunday Reflections [26]
[26] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/018643.html

Then, of course, there was a wide diversity of news from or on Goa.

A comment from sculptor Satish Gujaral (brother of a former Indian prime
minister) brought an angry retort from engineer Jose Lourenco, who debated
Goa's building styles. [27]
[27] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/018671.html

Mumbai-based documentary film-maker of Goan origin, Anjali Monteiro, has
contributed a lot of work to understanding the 'other' India [28]
[28] http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/2004-October/019456.html

Eddie Fernandes points to 

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Divar's bridge that could make...

[GoanetReader]

 what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes feedback, posted to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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---

 

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Monserrate, in thy kingdom they come

[GoanetReader]

.
But for 15 days you were camping there, doing nothing else. I never
deviated from my work, being in office is not necessary. There are people to
run it, see files, send to me whatever is urgent.

He said that he was incorrectly reported as saying that he could buy
Churchill Alemao or anyone else. Actually, in his words, Churchill gave me
a call and asked, 'Why are you backing Isidore? What I will do?', I said
just sit down. Then he said, 'I too have a lot of loans during my
campaign'... That is what he told the journalist(s). Radharao Gracias was
present. Everyone is available but has his own price.

And you, I ask?

I don't have a price. No one can buy me. It does not mean to say other
people can't be bought. How big a heart you have that's more important. How
I feel towards others. How deep you put your hand in your pocket.

And that, I found on a quick survey in the village, even among those who are
not particularly found of him, is the near-unanimous view. Go to him and
you won't come empty handed, a bhatkar (landlord) who has seen better days
told me. I discussed with Monserrate the Miramar sex scandal, but that
will have to wait for another day.

How much are you worth? Fifteen crore? Twenty? 

I don't think so I had a lot of land, all that hill of Dona Paula. Now
the land is gone, the Lord is here (points to his chest with an index
finger). Only the 'kar' (of the old 'bhat-kar') is there. 

The Income Tax raid? They found nothing. They came and went. And the files
were seized? Those are office files. I've been called for assessment. I'll
go there next week. So, next week, the Income-Tax will have its questions.
As for Monserrate, I'll take my accountant. He knows (everything).

   *  *  * 

Dr Britto has extended me an open invitation. Come anytime, come have a
meal with me, try out my chefs, investigate anything. He gives me his
personal and cell numbers.

Not the meal part of it, because I'm on diet, but it was a tempting
invitation; maybe I'll avail of it sometime soon. As for now, Dr Britto
confirms that he has bought the Kappadocia. It'll be a top-calls
entertainment centre, all set for IFFI. It will have -- a big plus -- a
cinema hall (to seat 200).

The CM is very pleased about it. Which means there'll be one floating
cinema for IFFI, plus one more floating casino, and one more entertainment
centre. Right now, Dr Britto tells me, I discourage Goans from entering my
casino. They talk too much.
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
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##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Monserrate, in thy kingdom they come

[GoanetReader]

 my work, being in office is not necessary. There are people to
run it, see files, send to me whatever is urgent.

He said that he was incorrectly reported as saying that he could buy
Churchill Alemao or anyone else. Actually, in his words, Churchill gave me
a call and asked, 'Why are you backing Isidore? What I will do?', I said
just sit down. Then he said, 'I too have a lot of loans during my
campaign'... That is what he told the journalist(s). Radharao Gracias was
present. Everyone is available but has his own price.

And you, I ask?

I don't have a price. No one can buy me. It does not mean to say other
people can't be bought. How big a heart you have that's more important. How
I feel towards others. How deep you put your hand in your pocket.

And that, I found on a quick survey in the village, even among those who are
not particularly found of him, is the near-unanimous view. Go to him and
you won't come empty handed, a bhatkar (landlord) who has seen better days
told me. I discussed with Monserrate the Miramar sex scandal, but that
will have to wait for another day.

How much are you worth? Fifteen crore? Twenty? 

I don't think so I had a lot of land, all that hill of Dona Paula. Now
the land is gone, the Lord is here (points to his chest with an index
finger). Only the 'kar' (of the old 'bhat-kar') is there. 

The Income Tax raid? They found nothing. They came and went. And the files
were seized? Those are office files. I've been called for assessment. I'll
go there next week. So, next week, the Income-Tax will have its questions.
As for Monserrate, I'll take my accountant. He knows (everything).

   *  *  * 

Dr Britto has extended me an open invitation. Come anytime, come have a
meal with me, try out my chefs, investigate anything. He gives me his
personal and cell numbers.

Not the meal part of it, because I'm on diet, but it was a tempting
invitation; maybe I'll avail of it sometime soon. As for now, Dr Britto
confirms that he has bought the Kappadocia. It'll be a top-calls
entertainment centre, all set for IFFI. It will have -- a big plus -- a
cinema hall (to seat 200).

The CM is very pleased about it. Which means there'll be one floating
cinema for IFFI, plus one more floating casino, and one more entertainment
centre. Right now, Dr Britto tells me, I discourage Goans from entering my
casino. They talk too much.

---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
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---

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Goa's main corporation switches 21 road names

[GoanetReader]

##
# Don't just read the news... discuss it. Learn more about Goa via Goanet#
# Goanet is a 10-year-old network launched by Herman Carneiro in 1994.   #
# See all archives http://news.gmane.org/gmane.culture.region.india.goa/ #
# To join, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and ask to join GoanetDigest. #
##

GOA'S MAIN CORPORATION SWITCHES 21 ROAD NAMES, FOUR DECADES LATER

From Pamela D'Mello (The Asian Age)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Panaji, Oct 30: Corporators of state capital Panaji okayed proposals to drop
Portuguese names from 21 roads in the city and re-anoint them to honour
freedom fighters and eminent personalities.

The exercise comes nearly four decades after Portugal's ouster from its
former west coast enclave and is the second name change exercise to drop the
names of Portuguese governors and personalities.

Panaji's arterial main roads had already been renamed in the past --- after
Mahatma Gandhi, Dayanand Bandodkar (Goa's first chief minister) and T B
Cunha (Goan freedom fighter). Minor road names -- little known even to
residents of this small town --- were however retained until now.

Road nomenclature became an issue once again when freedom fighters and
saffron groups in the state took offence to plaques and sign posts that
publicised the pro-Portuguese' names during heritage restoration and city
upgrade projects in recent months.

On Friday, corporators agreed to drop names like Rua de Ourem, Rua Gov
Texeira de Silva, Rua Cruzador Admastor, Rua Diago de Couto among others and
make way for Goan freedom fighters Mark Fernandes, Peter Alvares, and
Viswanath Lawande.

The name changing exercise was not without acrimony. In June this year,
saffron groups vandalised sign posts and plaques to make their point in a
state that plays up its Iberian westernised image to create its tourism
unique selling-point.

Starred hotels in the state opt for flamboyant Portuguese words and imagery
to create ambiance and bolster sales.

Meanwhile, city administrators have also decided to crack down on begging
and hawking in its bid to spruce up the city for the November 29
international film festival of India.

Rs 100 crore (Rs 1000 million) have been sunk into putting up infrastructure
along a narrow strip of waterfront road.
---
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reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
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##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet]GoanetReader -- Goa's main corporation switches 21 road names

[GoanetReader]

##
# If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]  #   
# Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/#  
# Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others  #
##

GOA'S MAIN CORPORATION SWITCHES 21 ROAD NAMES, FOUR DECADES LATER

From Pamela D'Mello (The Asian Age)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Panaji, Oct 30: Corporators of state capital Panaji okayed proposals to drop
Portuguese names from 21 roads in the city and re-anoint them to honour
freedom fighters and eminent personalities.

The exercise comes nearly four decades after Portugal's ouster from its
former west coast enclave and is the second name change exercise to drop the
names of Portuguese governors and personalities.

Panaji's arterial main roads had already been renamed in the past --- after
Mahatma Gandhi, Dayanand Bandodkar (Goa's first chief minister) and T B
Cunha (Goan freedom fighter). Minor road names -- little known even to
residents of this small town --- were however retained until now.

Road nomenclature became an issue once again when freedom fighters and
saffron groups in the state took offence to plaques and sign posts that
publicised the pro-Portuguese' names during heritage restoration and city
upgrade projects in recent months.

On Friday, corporators agreed to drop names like Rua de Ourem, Rua Gov
Texeira de Silva, Rua Cruzador Admastor, Rua Diago de Couto among others and
make way for Goan freedom fighters Mark Fernandes, Peter Alvares, and
Viswanath Lawande.

The name changing exercise was not without acrimony. In June this year,
saffron groups vandalised sign posts and plaques to make their point in a
state that plays up its Iberian westernised image to create its tourism
unique selling-point.

Starred hotels in the state opt for flamboyant Portuguese words and imagery
to create ambiance and bolster sales.

Meanwhile, city administrators have also decided to crack down on begging
and hawking in its bid to spruce up the city for the November 29
international film festival of India.

Rs 100 crore (Rs 1000 million) have been sunk into putting up infrastructure
along a narrow strip of waterfront road.
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes feedback. Post to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
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---

[Goanet-news]GOANET READER -- Purpose, dignity and peace... for our elderly?

[GoanetReader]

 advertising agencies are
targeting the senior group with older models.  A model providing agency was
complaining that 60 year old models get sent back because they look too
young!  

My cousin in Canada tells me everyone above 65 years regardless, gets
$5000 per year from the federal government, and those below the poverty line
another $5000. In the UK, a survey showed that there is a new generation
which can be called the SWELL generation -- sixty, well-off, enjoying later
life! Their only fear is ill-health and so they lead an active and balanced
diet life with good habits and no dependence either on their children,
relatives or the State.

Madhya Pradesh seems to be a very  forward looking  State. They were the
first to propound and implement The Sound Pollution Act. Now I understand
they have a Bill, spelling out the whole gamut of relationships: family,
progeny, single parents, bachelors and spinsters, duties of State towards
senior citizens, duties of children towards their parents/senior citizens,
education, etc.  

Perhaps a code of conduct will emerge. We in India have a glorious
tradition of treating the elderly with reverence and respect. 
Touching elders feet in greetings, looking after them, seeking their
blessings before important events -- which is a far cry from the
present day TV culture, work-related migration, ignoring and even
taunting the elderly, nuclear families as against joint families. 
Life today is certainly more stressful and fast compared to
yesteryears.

Rough estimates suggest 10% of our senior citizens are drawing a pension,
24% live out of income generated by their life's savings, and 66% are either
near or below the poverty line. We in India have no social security for
every citizen. The Government needs to look into this profile of the elderly
very seriously. Today's young will be tomorrows senior citizens. One of the
key factors in a nations strength and humanity is the way it tackles the
demographic patterns emerging with a clear vision.

THE WRITER is a senior-citizen, who has served both in the Navy and merchant
navy, and leads an active life in the Sainik Stores cooperative venture at
Porvorim. He often writes for the local media in Goa.
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
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---

##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet]GOANET READER -- Purpose, dignity and peace ... for our elderly?

[GoanetReader]

.  A model providing agency was
complaining that 60 year old models get sent back because they look too
young!  

My cousin in Canada tells me everyone above 65 years regardless, gets
$5000 per year from the federal government, and those below the poverty line
another $5000. In the UK, a survey showed that there is a new generation
which can be called the SWELL generation -- sixty, well-off, enjoying later
life! Their only fear is ill-health and so they lead an active and balanced
diet life with good habits and no dependence either on their children,
relatives or the State.

Madhya Pradesh seems to be a very  forward looking  State. They were the
first to propound and implement The Sound Pollution Act. Now I understand
they have a Bill, spelling out the whole gamut of relationships: family,
progeny, single parents, bachelors and spinsters, duties of State towards
senior citizens, duties of children towards their parents/senior citizens,
education, etc.  

Perhaps a code of conduct will emerge. We in India have a glorious
tradition of treating the elderly with reverence and respect. 
Touching elders feet in greetings, looking after them, seeking their
blessings before important events -- which is a far cry from the
present day TV culture, work-related migration, ignoring and even
taunting the elderly, nuclear families as against joint families. 
Life today is certainly more stressful and fast compared to
yesteryears.

Rough estimates suggest 10% of our senior citizens are drawing a pension,
24% live out of income generated by their life's savings, and 66% are either
near or below the poverty line. We in India have no social security for
every citizen. The Government needs to look into this profile of the elderly
very seriously. Today's young will be tomorrows senior citizens. One of the
key factors in a nations strength and humanity is the way it tackles the
demographic patterns emerging with a clear vision.

THE WRITER is a senior-citizen, who has served both in the Navy and merchant
navy, and leads an active life in the Sainik Stores cooperative venture at
Porvorim. He often writes for the local media in Goa.
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
Goanet, 1994-2004, building community for a decade. 
---

[Goanet-news]GOANET-READER Discovering outside Discovery (Rahul Alvares)

[GoanetReader]

lizards, like snakes, are cowardly at heart. 

But the simple truth is not always so exciting, is it?

If you are just a casual channel surfer or watch Discovery for the wonderful
photography (one has to give them full credit for that), and you have no
other interest in the world around you, then you have no reason to feel hurt
or offended by this article. But if you watch nature channels because you
are interested in learning something, then do this instead. Buy a book
(about whatever you want to learn, whether it's snakes, insects, or birds).
You would learn more reading for 30 minutes a day, than you would if you
managed to catch every TV show on the subject for the next two months.

Start bird watching, collect insects -- it's very easy when you have even a
little genuine interest.

Now whenever I go to a friend's house, I watch a movie instead. That's
better use of my free time. Read a few books and you'll soon find that it~Rs
true for you as well.

--
More than being the son of environmentalist Dr Claude Alvares, Rahul has
gone about building a name for himself early -- as probably Goa's youngest
author of a book (on his experiences with wildlife), as a snakecatcher, and
more. He is currently completing his MSc degree.
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet-news]GOANET-READER Caste ... discrimination, old and new

[GoanetReader]

from its cleaners (and Germany keeps debating what to do with its Turkish
immigrants, granting them citizenship in ounces).  

The point here is that Goan society is now slowly acquiring a new section to
exploit and humiliate and while we discuss caste among the Goans let us also
engage with the new modes of exploitation and humiliation that are emerging.
Saying they are non-Goans is just not good enough. So were two centuries ago
the people of the New Conquest, who are now the majority in the Old
Conquests, and so are the number of Goans who eke out their living abroad
making their contributions to the society they have chosen or found
themselves working and living in.

FOOTNOTE: I started giving the references because some of those of the net
are academics who might like to see the sources themselves, but then
abandoned it as it was getting much too long and taking too much time and I
would once again miss the opportunity of adding my two bits as Goanet
www.goanet.org moved on to other issues. Thanks for inviting me and
providing me the opportunities.

ALITO SIQUEIRA is a sociologist at the Goa University.
---
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reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
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##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet]GOANET-READER Caste... discrimination, old and new (Alito Siqueira)

[GoanetReader]

 that are emerging.
Saying they are non-Goans is just not good enough. So were two centuries ago
the people of the New Conquest, who are now the majority in the Old
Conquests, and so are the number of Goans who eke out their living abroad
making their contributions to the society they have chosen or found
themselves working and living in.

FOOTNOTE: I started giving the references because some of those of the net
are academics who might like to see the sources themselves, but then
abandoned it as it was getting much too long and taking too much time and I
would once again miss the opportunity of adding my two bits as Goanet
www.goanet.org moved on to other issues. Thanks for inviting me and
providing me the opportunities.

ALITO SIQUEIRA is a sociologist at the Goa University.
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
Goanet, 1994-2004, building community and social capital for a decade. 
---

[Goanet-news]GOANET-READER -- Caste and traditional hierarchy in Goan society

[GoanetReader]

 of the subconscious mind and resist change. The attitude
crystallised in the phrase, *To konna'lo?* formed the warp and woof of Goan
society. It played a furtive role in the corridors of the seminary, in the
vestry of the church, and in the chapter of the cathedral. It received a
sanction in Goan folklore, was codified in proverbs and immortalised in the
following legend.

The two adjoining villages in Bardez, Sangolda and Guirim, have each a major
population of one social group. They have one church, however, and one
patron saint on the centre altar, the side altars being dedicated to the
Holy Name of Jesus and Our Lady of the Rosary. The religious loyalty of each
of the two social groups is attached to one of the side altars.

It happened once that an old woman in Guirim was on her death-bed. Now, it
is a custom in Goa to teach prayers to the dying and end them with the
ejaculation, *Jezu pay!* (Help me Jesus). The young woman who taught her the
prayers finally whispered in the ears of the dying, Repeat after me: Jesus
help me! 

Hardly had she uttered the ejaculation when the old woman open her eyes wide
and shook her head most piously, Jezu amcho nhum, Jezu ten'cho! and she
closed her eyes and died.

Perhaps the old woman has changed her attitude in the other world. But in
this world, the Goan mind generally wavers between decisions and
indecisions on this social problem. And if I speak wrong, dear reader, tell
me this: has a question been flitting in and out of your mind as you have
been reading what I have written: *To konna'lo*?

Your answer will alone prove or disprove what I have been saying.

LUCIO RODRIGUES (1916-1973) had a brilliant academic career at Bombay
University; he started the literary magazine *The Liberation Movement* and
contributed to many publications in India; a specialist in folk literature
and arts, he was Visiting Professor of Folklore at Indiana University in
1969.
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
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---

##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet]GOANET-READER Caste and the traditional hierarchy in Goan society

[GoanetReader]

 in the phrase, *To konna'lo?* formed the warp and woof of Goan
society. It played a furtive role in the corridors of the seminary, in the
vestry of the church, and in the chapter of the cathedral. It received a
sanction in Goan folklore, was codified in proverbs and immortalised in the
following legend.

The two adjoining villages in Bardez, Sangolda and Guirim, have each a major
population of one social group. They have one church, however, and one
patron saint on the centre altar, the side altars being dedicated to the
Holy Name of Jesus and Our Lady of the Rosary. The religious loyalty of each
of the two social groups is attached to one of the side altars.

It happened once that an old woman in Guirim was on her death-bed. Now, it
is a custom in Goa to teach prayers to the dying and end them with the
ejaculation, *Jezu pay!* (Help me Jesus). The young woman who taught her the
prayers finally whispered in the ears of the dying, Repeat after me: Jesus
help me! 

Hardly had she uttered the ejaculation when the old woman open her eyes wide
and shook her head most piously, Jezu amcho nhum, Jezu ten'cho! and she
closed her eyes and died.

Perhaps the old woman has changed her attitude in the other world. But in
this world, the Goan mind generally wavers between decisions and
indecisions on this social problem. And if I speak wrong, dear reader, tell
me this: has a question been flitting in and out of your mind as you have
been reading what I have written: *To konna'lo*?

Your answer will alone prove or disprove what I have been saying.

LUCIO RODRIGUES (1916-1973) had a brilliant academic career at Bombay
University; he started the literary magazine *The Liberation Movement* and
contributed to many publications in India; a specialist in folk literature
and arts, he was Visiting Professor of Folklore at Indiana University in
1969.
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
Goanet, 1994-2004, building community and 'social capital' for a decade. 
---

[Goanet]GOANETREADER-Review 'Touched By The Toe' (Lino Leitao)

[GoanetReader]

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Touched By The Toe
by Alexandre Moniz Barbosa
Palavra Publications - Panaji, Goa, 2004
Rs 150, pages 211. 

REVIEWED BY Lino Leitao [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

Alexandre Moniz Barbosa comes across an episode while researching Goa's
Colonial Period, which kindles his curiosity, inspiring him to write a
novel; and the novel is: Touched By The Toe.

Touched By The Toe is a fictional narrative, but also, it's a story braided
with historical facts and writer's imagination. It's a legendary story of
Fr. Francisco Xavier's toe, which was bitten off his right foot in the mid
sixteen-century Goa while he was lying in state in the church of St Paul.

Here is how the author describes the toe-biting incident, She knelt before
the feet and as her lips touched the toes of the body, her mouth opened,
engulfed the little toe of the right foot, her teeth closed around it and in
one motion, Isabel bit it fully off the foot of Fr. Francisco Xavier.

Who's Isabel? What made her to bite off the toe from the foot of Fr.
Francisco Xavier? Where's the toe now?

To get answers to the above questions one has to read the novel. 

It's an engaging story, and the author by injecting historical authenticity
to the narrative, transports his readers to that era in Goa's history.

The author recounts vividly a baptism ceremony as it is taking place in the
chapel of St. Jerome. The celebrant is Fr. Francisco Xavier, the first
Jesuit to set foot in India, 1542. The religious atmosphere is depicted
realistically, infusing the sombre solemnity of those times, and if you
happen to have an active imagination, you might envision yourself in that
congregation attending the ceremony, and hear the blessing as enunciated in
Latin by Fr Francisco Xavier: Benedicat Vos Ommipotens Deus Pater, Fillius
et Spiritus Sactus.

But others, who aren't of any religious persuasion, may reflect and
understand the hold the religion of this nature had on the faithful
of that time.

The novel explores Jesuits intrigues, racial prejudices and servile
attitudes of the colonized. While enjoying the reading of the novel, you'll
get a perspective of Goa's history of that period at the same time.

---
Lino Leitao is a  Goan writer based in Montreal.
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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---

[Goanet]GOANET-READER Safe riders, women score better on roads

[GoanetReader]

 says.
 
EXPERT BEHIND THE WHEEL
---

FATIMA D'SA: Another daredevil who is an expert behind the wheel. Be it a
motorcycle, a car, tempo or a truck. She claims to have driven a mini-bus
half-way to Mumbai, much to the chagrin of a drunken driver. I like to face
challenges and I always accept them.

The former minister says she started driving at the age of 12 without her
father's knowledge. During her college days, she would often speed up and
had to pay fines.

She fell in love with the police officer who challaned her three times and
finally married him.

I can drive anything that has wheels and is roadworthy, she says. She has
a penchant for driving cars and runs a garage at Porvorim where she even
modifies any old car.

ENDS
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
Goanet, 1994-2004, building community and social capital for a decade. 
---

[Goanet]GOANETREADER -- Review of Touched By The Toe

[GoanetReader]

##
# If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]  #   
# Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/#  
# Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others  #
##

Touched By The Toe
by Alexandre Moniz Barbosa
Palavra Publications - Panaji, Goa, 2004
Rs 150, pages 211. 

REVIEWED BY Lino Leitao [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

Alexandre Moniz Barbosa comes across an episode while researching Goa's
Colonial Period, which kindles his curiosity, inspiring him to write a
novel; and the novel is: Touched By The Toe.

Touched By The Toe is a fictional narrative, but also, it's a story braided
with historical facts and writer's imagination. It's a legendary story of
Fr. Francisco Xavier's toe, which was bitten off his right foot in the mid
sixteen-century Goa while he was lying in state in the church of St Paul.

Here is how the author describes the toe-biting incident, She knelt before
the feet and as her lips touched the toes of the body, her mouth opened,
engulfed the little toe of the right foot, her teeth closed around it and in
one motion, Isabel bit it fully off the foot of Fr. Francisco Xavier.

Who's Isabel? What made her to bite off the toe from the foot of Fr.
Francisco Xavier? Where's the toe now?

To get answers to the above questions one has to read the novel. 

It's an engaging story, and the author by injecting historical authenticity
to the narrative, transports his readers to that era in Goa's history.

The author recounts vividly a baptism ceremony as it is taking place in the
chapel of St. Jerome. The celebrant is Fr. Francisco Xavier, the first
Jesuit to set foot in India, 1542. The religious atmosphere is depicted
realistically, infusing the sombre solemnity of those times, and if you
happen to have an active imagination, you might envision yourself in that
congregation attending the ceremony, and hear the blessing as enunciated in
Latin by Fr Francisco Xavier: Benedicat Vos Ommipotens Deus Pater, Fillius
et Spiritus Sactus.

But others, who aren't of any religious persuasion, may reflect and
understand the hold the religion of this nature had on the faithful
of that time.

The novel explores Jesuits intrigues, racial prejudices and servile
attitudes of the colonized. While enjoying the reading of the novel, you'll
get a perspective of Goa's history of that period at the same time.

---
Lino Leitao is a  Goan writer based in Montreal.

---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
Goanet, 1994-2004, building community and social capital for a decade. 
---

[Goanet-news]GOANETREADER -- All types make Goa their home

[GoanetReader]

 the season starts,
they've got no time; they're trying to make money. 

Roshan feels the people have become tense because of the loans they
have taken. They're building buildings, they've got loans for cars. 
The way they go asking for business, it's sad, because they have to
pay the loans. I say, full stop. End this, all this building. There
are enough hotels, most of which are empty for half the year. I
think the scene will change again, he says optimistically. He feels
particularly sad, he says, because he has learnt the beauty of a
simple life from the Goans, while the Goans themselves have
abandoned their simple lives for the stress of 'development'.

Karen Nelson Sheehy, now a matronly 65, has been coming down from San
Francisco, USA, to Goa since 1969, one of the first 'hippies' in Goa. She
has been on the hippie trail ever since. Except for a six week period this
year in the U.K., she has been staying in Candolim non-stop for the last
three years. 

Goa offers an amazing range of possibilities, specially for people between
50-65. After having been all over, I'm ready for this. Karen wants to spend
the rest of her life here and even die here. I feel so nourished. Whatever
you take in, it nourishes you. And Goa, now that I'm 65, it nourishes me in
a way I never expected it to. My health, it's very taken care of; I've got a
wonderful gynaecologist; they're very knowledgeable.

Talking about the old days, she says in the late 60's Goa was filled with
Haigh Ashbury hippies. She had come down with her husband and child on a BMW
motorbike. We came down with my son and put him in Kodaikanal.

Why Goa? The weather, the plenty of trees -- what grows here, the cost of
things, of course. I like where I am. I look out and I like what I see
(chickoo and other trees). I'm 65 now. It's not too old, but it's the time
when you start to get a little spiritual, when you want to come back to one
point.

In the beginning, Karen was in Anjuna. From no electricity in Anjuna, a
completely naked beach (in more ways than one), to now. In 1982 I came this
side (Candolim). We used to turn up for the season; in the season people
were in Goa. We'd come in October-November, and leave on the first of March.
Nobody would stay after that. The people who stayed on were in a really bad
shape, completely off their face.

We used to go down to the beach in lungis and sing. Carl (an
American) brought the first generator from the States and Gregory's
(the first restaurant-shack in Anjuna) got going with its parties. I
remember walking down from north Anjuna to the beach with a -- what
do you call it? -- a Goan torch-light (a candle in an empty coconut
shell). There was something so basic and sweet about the whole
thing. It's almost like you want to recapture it, but you can't.

Change, of course, is the only certainty. As Karen puts it, What you're
going to get here is a huge flood of people who have no money, working class
people, who've never been to a beach before, who've never gone to a hotel
before. It might end up with a whole bunch of English people, drinking beer
and watching football.

But there are a lot of other people who're around here, who've embraced the
culture and who will be around because they love the place. And the Goan
people, I think they're amazingly good. Mama Cecilia -- write about here.
I've seen the same people for 40 years. They have looked after people like
nobody else would, this rag-tag, screwed up, drunk, whatever, crowd. These
guys would get themselves into so much trouble. The Goans would look after
them very well. They could never find this kind of thing in the West. I know
how kind they've been.

To keep her 'spirit going' she has a small group of women who meet, paint
and discuss life in her garden, secure in the knowledge that they're in Goa.

---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
Goanet, 1994-2004, building community and social capital for a decade. 
---

##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet]GOANETREADER -- All types make Goa their home

[GoanetReader]

. 

Roshan feels the people have become tense because of the loans they
have taken. They're building buildings, they've got loans for cars. 
The way they go asking for business, it's sad, because they have to
pay the loans. I say, full stop. End this, all this building. There
are enough hotels, most of which are empty for half the year. I
think the scene will change again, he says optimistically. He feels
particularly sad, he says, because he has learnt the beauty of a
simple life from the Goans, while the Goans themselves have
abandoned their simple lives for the stress of 'development'.

Karen Nelson Sheehy, now a matronly 65, has been coming down from San
Francisco, USA, to Goa since 1969, one of the first 'hippies' in Goa. She
has been on the hippie trail ever since. Except for a six week period this
year in the U.K., she has been staying in Candolim non-stop for the last
three years. 

Goa offers an amazing range of possibilities, specially for people between
50-65. After having been all over, I'm ready for this. Karen wants to spend
the rest of her life here and even die here. I feel so nourished. Whatever
you take in, it nourishes you. And Goa, now that I'm 65, it nourishes me in
a way I never expected it to. My health, it's very taken care of; I've got a
wonderful gynaecologist; they're very knowledgeable.

Talking about the old days, she says in the late 60's Goa was filled with
Haigh Ashbury hippies. She had come down with her husband and child on a BMW
motorbike. We came down with my son and put him in Kodaikanal.

Why Goa? The weather, the plenty of trees -- what grows here, the cost of
things, of course. I like where I am. I look out and I like what I see
(chickoo and other trees). I'm 65 now. It's not too old, but it's the time
when you start to get a little spiritual, when you want to come back to one
point.

In the beginning, Karen was in Anjuna. From no electricity in Anjuna, a
completely naked beach (in more ways than one), to now. In 1982 I came this
side (Candolim). We used to turn up for the season; in the season people
were in Goa. We'd come in October-November, and leave on the first of March.
Nobody would stay after that. The people who stayed on were in a really bad
shape, completely off their face.

We used to go down to the beach in lungis and sing. Carl (an
American) brought the first generator from the States and Gregory's
(the first restaurant-shack in Anjuna) got going with its parties. I
remember walking down from north Anjuna to the beach with a -- what
do you call it? -- a Goan torch-light (a candle in an empty coconut
shell). There was something so basic and sweet about the whole
thing. It's almost like you want to recapture it, but you can't.

Change, of course, is the only certainty. As Karen puts it, What you're
going to get here is a huge flood of people who have no money, working class
people, who've never been to a beach before, who've never gone to a hotel
before. It might end up with a whole bunch of English people, drinking beer
and watching football.

But there are a lot of other people who're around here, who've embraced the
culture and who will be around because they love the place. And the Goan
people, I think they're amazingly good. Mama Cecilia -- write about here.
I've seen the same people for 40 years. They have looked after people like
nobody else would, this rag-tag, screwed up, drunk, whatever, crowd. These
guys would get themselves into so much trouble. The Goans would look after
them very well. They could never find this kind of thing in the West. I know
how kind they've been.

To keep her 'spirit going' she has a small group of women who meet, paint
and discuss life in her garden, secure in the knowledge that they're in Goa.

---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
Goanet, 1994-2004, building community and social capital for a decade. 
---

[Goanet-news]GOANETREADER -- Radio rocks... with a live band aired

[GoanetReader]

-changing (why not?) Goa is known
for its taste for the music of the yesteryears. Many of the songs we're
playing today are the ones the songs we heard on radio years ago, in the
'eighties or late 'seventies. At a time when All India Radio was the only
place where we could listen to music coming in, said Jude.

Together with the louder music, there was Abba's Does Your
Mother Know (one of the very few songs by Abba done for a 
male singer, and hence we chose it), the Konkani hit of
the yesteryears 'Molbalo Douh', Quando, and a few more.

Starting at 8.30 pm, the indoors show in a somewhat overcooled and chilly
air-conditioned hall went on till about 10.30 pm. Radio officials said they
had shows for the next four fortnights lined up, with prominent Goan bands.
The next will be on October 28, same time, same place.

Passes are needed for entry; and these can be got from AIR's office. The
under-200 seater Western music auditorium can surely give a boost to local
musical talent, provided it is utilised often, and finds enough patrons to
keep it going. Idea Cellular, the mobile phone company, sponsored this
event, and in turn got advertising space on radio. But surely local musical
talent deserves better, specially since a show of this kind costs around
under Rs 20,000; a small price to pay to encourage talent in a region which
already has a lot of it, and is going ahead on its own. Radio or no radio.

ENDS

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GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
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##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet]GOANETREADER -- Radio rocks ...with a live band aired

[GoanetReader]

##
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# Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others  #
##

RADIO ROCKS: GOA CLAIMS TO SET A NATIONAL RECORD WITH A LIVE BAND AIRED

From Frederick Noronha

IT ONCE WAS a prominent radio station in India. In days when the rest of
Indian broadcasting was turning puritanical, the Portuguese-run radio
station at Altinho (Pangim, then) attracted listeners from far and wide.
Radio Ceylon became a hit on the South Asian air-waves only later, and as one
writer noted, it was the colonial Goa station that gave even top singers
like Lata Mangueshkar her break and wider fame across the sub-continent.

On Friday night, AIR FM Rainbow at Goa claimed to make radio
history by becoming the first Indian radio station to host a
live music band, rocking right out of its studios.

AIR says once a fortnight, Goa's greatest bands will be invited to perform
in their 'Nite of the Fortnight' shows in AIR's specially-designed (but so
far inadequately-utilised) auditorium. 

FM radio has been growing in Goa. It first got a boost in the early
'nineties from Bombay-based private players with deep pockets (Times FM,
Mid-Day, and even a local newspaper player that queued up to get a slot, and
then handed it over to the bigger fish to actually manage).

Younger talent and market-pressures (lavish government funding is
drying up) has pushed AIR into being more conscious of local
tastes, rather than being dogmatic about languages and style.

Two private radio stations, which were supposed to be set up in
Goa, didn't see the light of day. But the new attempts to marry
commercial sponsors with local tastes might help to somewhat recoup 
part of the sheen lost by a station which has considerable gaps
of silence between broadcasts, and has long been pendantic 
about what it airs.

It was the local band named 'Alcatraaz' -- baptised after the high-security
prison -- that kicked off the series. (Band-leader Jude Mascarenhas, who
happens to be freedom-fighter and ex-editor's Lambert Mascarenhas' son,
explained it thus: Music is like a prison. Once you're in there, you can't
get out. I tried to leave the band twice or thrice myself.)

This show kicked off at around 8.30 pm. By 9 pm the RJs (radio
jockeys, in youth lingo) Savio Noronha and Bambino linked up
to broadcast live to the state from out of Altinho. The 9-10 pm
slot is kind of popular, inspite of having to compete with
national TV and local cable TV Goa-news offerings that now come
from three different commercial operators (including the
English-run Goa-365). That FM caters to popular Western 
and/or Konkani tastes (with Marathi slots too, 
but always light music) helps. 

On Friday night, speeches were short. Station director B D Mazumdar praised
Goans for knowing music, loving music, smelling music (did one hear right?)
and creating music. 

Noted Indo-Latin fusion drummer Bondo was aptly the chief guest. (His
sobriquet is a self-depreciating label that refers to a useless, half-formed
coconut. But Joseph Ballarmio Fernandes can squeeze magical sounds out of
his tubby fingers. He has a background of decades in music, began with his
brother's band 'Sparks' in the 'seventies, and was then part of the
Remo-and-Bondo team. Besides working in Europe, he has also performed in
Indo-Jazz fusion and worked in Latino music. He's now back home in Goa, and
has been here for some time now. He spent a decade in Portugal too, as one
of the RJs pointed out.)

This is the place where I started my (musical) life, said a grateful and
nostalgic-sounding Bondo. He narrated how he got a chance to perform on
radio while still in school, and how the influences of the tabla and
harmonium had led him to experiment with Indian classical music too.

Shifting back to the stage, the Alcatraaz comprises Jude 
Mascarenhas (guitarist and lead vocalist), Cassius 
Fernandes (keyboards), Patrick Silveira (percussions), 
Peter Faria (bass), Francis D'Souza (lead guitar) and 
Sandra Franco of Guirim on the vocals. One of the RJs 
pointed out that apart from Sandra, all the rest are 
from within 5 kms of Panjim. Some are from the 
Don Bosco's old boy's network.

Jude was quick to recommend youngsters here to take to music. But
persistence is a must, he cautioned, and don't expect to become an expert
in three months. A prison it may be; but it's a pleasurable one at that.

It was a kind of rewind, and anyway slow-changing (why not?) Goa is known
for its taste for the music of the 

[Goanet-news]GOANETREADER -- In Poinguinim, loyalty is a flag or cap away

[GoanetReader]

.  

Interestingly it may be noted that Isidore is a resident of St Inez and was
ex-councillor of then Panaji Municipal council before he contested from
Poinguinim after statehood. He is a native of Poinguinim though.

From the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary

GODFREY J I GONSALVES
Borda Margao Goa
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##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet]GOANETREADER -- In Poinguinim, loyalty is a flag or cap away

[GoanetReader]

-councillor of then Panaji Municipal council before he contested from
Poinguinim after statehood. He is a native of Poinguinim though.

From the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary

GODFREY J I GONSALVES
Borda Margao Goa
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[Goanet]GOANETREADER -- What is heritage? Heritage for whom?

[GoanetReader]

 Gopinath temple lies unmourned in a heap of
rubble. How many 'unambiguous signs' left by mankind will be destroyed and
the links to our past lost forever?
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[Goanet-news]GOANET READER -- Colonial cousins, Goa's northern counterpart

[GoanetReader]

 on the
word 'subtle'? Much of it seems to have just not faded, but also got
forgotten

Earlier, Dr Albuquerque has written on history-related themes
related to Bombay (Santa Cruz, 1981, Urbs Prima in Indis, 1985, To
Love Is To Serve-Catholics of Bombay, 1986), the Goan diaspora
(Goans of Kenya, 1999) and Goa itself.

In the latter category she has focussed on villages (Anjuna, 1988
and Santa Cruz or Calapor, 1989), biographies (A Life Well Spent,
Biography of Pascoal de Mello MBE, 1996 and Dr Manuel Francisco de
Albuquerque, A Biography, under publication), Christian history (Goa
The Rachol Legacy, 1997, and Under the Archangel's Wings-St
Michael's Church Anjuna 2004).

Sister to a big name in print, ex-editor the late Frank Moraes, and aunt to
the late poet Dom Moraes, Dr Albuquerque's knowledge of Indo-Portuguese
history is not in doubt. One regret is that she takes the traditional
perspective of narrating history as a series of wars, aggressions and
regimes of various rulers. Lacking is a sufficiently detailed account of
economic factors caused these events, and what the long-term fallouts of
these events were on the simple people of the area who otherwise are almost
invisible.

What's worse is this title takes the perspective of dividing history into
'them' and 'us'. Take language such as: In a lightening flash, the Khalifs
of Baghdad swooped on the outlying desert tract of Sind; and only the timely
combination of Hindu princes of neighbouring Gujerat managed to keep this
menace at bay. Obviously, a lot of subjective colouring of history. 

Should we still be looking at the past in terms of Hindu and Muslim periods?
Were these divisions so water-tight, as latter-day interpretations would
like to make them seem?  More than one reference to the Portuguese gives the
impression that the writer has a sneaking admiration of their exploits. When
the Marathas capture Bassein, the reader can't be blamed for feeling almost
sorry for the Portuguese! Is this just inadvertent, or the result of
depending too much on a historiography that has been dominated for far too
long by Portuguese writers and perspectives?

Photography for this book is, at best, functional and basic. 

Dr Albuquerque tries to situate Bassein in a wider context. Sometimes she
succeeds. At other times, not. For example, the book lacks a single map
which shows Bassein's location in South Asia, leading the non-specialist
reader to guess where exactly it's located.

An interesting book nonetheless, even if somewhat stteply priced; it's price
is not mentioned, but understood to be $40, and targeted largely at the
overseas reader.

ENDS
---
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---

##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet]GOANETREADER -- Colonial cousins, Goa's northern counterpart

[GoanetReader]

forgotten

Earlier, Dr Albuquerque has written on history-related themes
related to Bombay (Santa Cruz, 1981, Urbs Prima in Indis, 1985, To
Love Is To Serve-Catholics of Bombay, 1986), the Goan diaspora
(Goans of Kenya, 1999) and Goa itself.

In the latter category she has focussed on villages (Anjuna, 1988
and Santa Cruz or Calapor, 1989), biographies (A Life Well Spent,
Biography of Pascoal de Mello MBE, 1996 and Dr Manuel Francisco de
Albuquerque, A Biography, under publication), Christian history (Goa
The Rachol Legacy, 1997, and Under the Archangel's Wings-St
Michael's Church Anjuna 2004).

Sister to a big name in print, ex-editor the late Frank Moraes, and aunt to
the late poet Dom Moraes, Dr Albuquerque's knowledge of Indo-Portuguese
history is not in doubt. One regret is that she takes the traditional
perspective of narrating history as a series of wars, aggressions and
regimes of various rulers. Lacking is a sufficiently detailed account of
economic factors caused these events, and what the long-term fallouts of
these events were on the simple people of the area who otherwise are almost
invisible.

What's worse is this title takes the perspective of dividing history into
'them' and 'us'. Take language such as: In a lightening flash, the Khalifs
of Baghdad swooped on the outlying desert tract of Sind; and only the timely
combination of Hindu princes of neighbouring Gujerat managed to keep this
menace at bay. Obviously, a lot of subjective colouring of history. 

Should we still be looking at the past in terms of Hindu and Muslim periods?
Were these divisions so water-tight, as latter-day interpretations would
like to make them seem?  More than one reference to the Portuguese gives the
impression that the writer has a sneaking admiration of their exploits. When
the Marathas capture Bassein, the reader can't be blamed for feeling almost
sorry for the Portuguese! Is this just inadvertent, or the result of
depending too much on a historiography that has been dominated for far too
long by Portuguese writers and perspectives?

Photography for this book is, at best, functional and basic. 

Dr Albuquerque tries to situate Bassein in a wider context. Sometimes she
succeeds. At other times, not. For example, the book lacks a single map
which shows Bassein's location in South Asia, leading the non-specialist
reader to guess where exactly it's located.

An interesting book nonetheless, even if somewhat stteply priced; it's price
is not mentioned, but understood to be $40, and targeted largely at the
overseas reader.

ENDS
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
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[Goanet-news]GOANETREADER -- Goa's friendly bazaars, Fridays, flea-markets...

[GoanetReader]

 from Goa co-ordinate their trip
here to take in some shopping. And more often than not, the place they're
eager to rush to -- of all places -- is Bhendi Bazaar!

---
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mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader is edited by Frederick Noronha [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
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---

##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet-news]GOANET-READER Panjim's neighbourhood pays the price for urbanisation

[GoanetReader]

, on sacred ground with enough war heroes to fill
several volumes.

As you walk around -- barring the distant blare of truck horns -- you would
never think that you were just off National Highway 17. The lanes are rarely
busy and if you happen to drop by at siesta time, get prepared to feel
lonely.

Before people ever heard of Sanjit Rodrigues and his 'Bin-Free' campaign,
the residents of this enclave had already started their own door-to-door
garbage collection programme. 

They were forced to take matters into their own hands when nearby panchayats
threw up their hands and said that they couldn't help tackle the garbage.

Rather than take the matter lying down and fixing the blame on the
panchayats, the residents decided to come up with a solution. Even now you
will see uniformed staff pushing a garbage collection wagon and disposing
off waste in two designated disposal areas equipped with incinerators.

While co-operative movements were just starting out and nearby
shop-owners were demanding their pound of flesh, the residents, once
again, took matters into their own hands and started Sainik
Co-Operative Stores (see box). The military 'canteens' visit Defense
Colony thrice a month -- the Army canteen twice and the Navy, once.

According to SS Baxi, secretary of the Sainik Co-operative House Building
Society, more than 1.5 lakh sq mtrs of land was procured from Serula
Communidade to set up the colony in 1966. The land was divided into plots of
equal area and sold at subsidized rates. The Society constructed a Gymkhana
-- equipped with a variety of indoor games -- about four years ago.

In those years Porvorim was still a jungle and the late Captain Anju
D'Souza, one of the first residents, was fond of telling the colony's
children -- while plying them with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of
boiled confectionary -- about the 'white cow' and other assorted 'ghosts'
that used to prowl around the place.

There was only jungle and we didn't even have electricity back then and had
to use paraffin lamps, recalls Commander John Eric Gomes. We also had a
lot of snakes slithering around the place.

It was a challenge getting people to invest in a plot here. There
was absolutely nothing so you couldn't blame them for not wanting to
build their retirement homes in the middle of nowhere, a longtime
resident, who asked not to be named, said.

But as the first few residents trickled in, more started to follow. 38-years
later Defense Colony has 144 homes and many more residents, though many of
them are senior citizens.

As Gomes puts it, We are a part of history. We have some of the
highest-ranking military officers living here. They are some of the best
managers this country has and they reached the top because they were the
best.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
TIRED OF BEING CHEATED BY THE SHOP-KEEPERS
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

PORVORIM: They say that necessity is the mother of invention. It was
necessity that drove the residents of Defense Colony to start their own
co-operative store.

We were tired of being cheated by the shopkeepers here so we decided to
form the co-operative society. It was a very humble beginning, 12 years ago,
and we started by renting out a house in the colony, recalls Commander John
Eric Gomes, secretary of the co-operative society and a consumer rights
activist who recalls loading a rickshaw at Ponda and pushing it up steep
slopes.

Initially the existing shops in the area tried to stop their new competitor
by drastically reducing their prices. But that was exactly what we wanted,
Gomes says.

When reducing prices did not work, they resorted to muscle power. But that
did not work either, when all the military men stood tall and faced off the
goondas.

Today, Sainik Stores has moved into its own building and is counted as one
of the best success stories the co-operative movement can boast of. Gomes
attributes it to divine blessings, God has been kind to us. We survived
without any help and look at where we have reached. (ENDS)

---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
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[Goanet]GOANET-READER Panjim's neighbourhood pays the price of urbanisation

[GoanetReader]

 walk around -- barring the distant blare of truck horns -- you would
never think that you were just off National Highway 17. The lanes are rarely
busy and if you happen to drop by at siesta time, get prepared to feel
lonely.

Before people ever heard of Sanjit Rodrigues and his 'Bin-Free' campaign,
the residents of this enclave had already started their own door-to-door
garbage collection programme. 

They were forced to take matters into their own hands when nearby panchayats
threw up their hands and said that they couldn't help tackle the garbage.

Rather than take the matter lying down and fixing the blame on the
panchayats, the residents decided to come up with a solution. Even now you
will see uniformed staff pushing a garbage collection wagon and disposing
off waste in two designated disposal areas equipped with incinerators.

While co-operative movements were just starting out and nearby
shop-owners were demanding their pound of flesh, the residents, once
again, took matters into their own hands and started Sainik
Co-Operative Stores (see box). The military 'canteens' visit Defense
Colony thrice a month -- the Army canteen twice and the Navy, once.

According to SS Baxi, secretary of the Sainik Co-operative House Building
Society, more than 1.5 lakh sq mtrs of land was procured from Serula
Communidade to set up the colony in 1966. The land was divided into plots of
equal area and sold at subsidized rates. The Society constructed a Gymkhana
-- equipped with a variety of indoor games -- about four years ago.

In those years Porvorim was still a jungle and the late Captain Anju
D'Souza, one of the first residents, was fond of telling the colony's
children -- while plying them with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of
boiled confectionary -- about the 'white cow' and other assorted 'ghosts'
that used to prowl around the place.

There was only jungle and we didn't even have electricity back then and had
to use paraffin lamps, recalls Commander John Eric Gomes. We also had a
lot of snakes slithering around the place.

It was a challenge getting people to invest in a plot here. There
was absolutely nothing so you couldn't blame them for not wanting to
build their retirement homes in the middle of nowhere, a longtime
resident, who asked not to be named, said.

But as the first few residents trickled in, more started to follow. 38-years
later Defense Colony has 144 homes and many more residents, though many of
them are senior citizens.

As Gomes puts it, We are a part of history. We have some of the
highest-ranking military officers living here. They are some of the best
managers this country has and they reached the top because they were the
best.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
TIRED OF BEING CHEATED BY THE SHOP-KEEPERS
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

PORVORIM: They say that necessity is the mother of invention. It was
necessity that drove the residents of Defense Colony to start their own
co-operative store.

We were tired of being cheated by the shopkeepers here so we decided to
form the co-operative society. It was a very humble beginning, 12 years ago,
and we started by renting out a house in the colony, recalls Commander John
Eric Gomes, secretary of the co-operative society and a consumer rights
activist who recalls loading a rickshaw at Ponda and pushing it up steep
slopes.

Initially the existing shops in the area tried to stop their new competitor
by drastically reducing their prices. But that was exactly what we wanted,
Gomes says.

When reducing prices did not work, they resorted to muscle power. But that
did not work either, when all the military men stood tall and faced off the
goondas.

Today, Sainik Stores has moved into its own building and is counted as one
of the best success stories the co-operative movement can boast of. Gomes
attributes it to divine blessings, God has been kind to us. We survived
without any help and look at where we have reached. (ENDS)

---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of
mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send
in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have
written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate
their work. GoanetReader welcomes feedback at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---
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---

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Mohan with a Midas touch (Paul Fernandes)

[GoanetReader]

##
# Don't just read the news... discuss it. Learn more about Goa via Goanet#
# Goanet is a 10-year-old network launched by Herman Carneiro in 1994.   #
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##

Goa Skyline lead: Mohan with a Midas touch

By Paul Fernandes
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

DIVAR: A bird fashioned from a small piece of husk. A cup from a coconut
shell. A snake from a small piece of root. Give Mohan any waste material and
his imagination seems to run riot.

The many cupboards in his cool and spacious house, which is tucked
in a quiet locality on the slope of Divar hill, have an amazing
array of curios. And it takes quite a while to examine them and
admire the skill and finesse with which the items have been
polished, shaped and imparted a stunning look.

His speciality is carving the coconut. At the end of his effort, you may get
Mirabai, Jesus Christ, Gautam Buddha or the face of a man.

But even in dehusked form, he puts the coconut shell and the husk to many
uses. And the showcases are bursting with soap cases, bangles, key and
pen-holders, hair clips, cups of different shapes and sizes, a crab and fish
-- all made from nutshells and other waste in an amazing display of
creativity.

One would think he has been preparing these novelties all his life. But
actually, he started only about 15 years back. After a long 38-year stint as
a government primary teacher in various parts of Pernem and other places, he
settled down in Divar and dedicated himself to making handicraft items.

As one reaches his house down a narrow road after a winding curve around the
hill, one finds Mohan Dattaram Naik and his wife Shubhangi hard at work in
their balcao. Five employees assist them.

His wife shares his temperament and liking for the work. They churn out a
lot of stuff daily but Mohan says he cannot cope with the orders. If I
prepare them in thousands, the things will be sold out easily, he says.

The house is stocked well with the raw material. He can employ more
persons but labour is hard to come by. Nothing much is needed to do
this, according to him. It is only the question of some skill, a
knife and some patience, he says.

Most of his raw material is cheap. He can make different items from the
shells and the husk. The coconut may cost according to its value in the
market. But give him coconuts worth Rs 500, he will make items worth Rs
5,000 from them. Even a tiny diseased and stunted coconut is scrubbed,
painted and fashioned into a bird.

The curios made in this household are collected by representatives of
handicraft emporia and three spice farms, which are visited by hordes of
tourists.

It appears that their enterprise may founder once they decide to stop. My
children kept on studying and did not show interest in this work, Mohan
says.

They are highly qualified and have taken jobs as professionals in different
fields.

But he has taught the skills to many persons. He conducted a course in the
'nineties for the youth at Miramar. But many of those who learn the
rudiments are girls. Once they are married, they often discontinue the work.

For all the man's enterprise, one would think he must be a recipient of
several prizes. But he has been felicitated once by Goa Handicrafts, Rural
and Small Scale Development Corporation (GHRSSDIC).

But modest and publicity-shy that he is, he prefers to live a quiet life on
this sylvan island. If he were living in some coastal area overrun by
tourists, he would have become a well-to-do man with a swanky car and plush
bungalow, says an islander.

Despite their age, the couple maintain the tempo. The work gives us
complete satisfaction and also yields valuable income, says Mohan.

Are you reading this, Goan youth? 

ENDS

The writer is a senior journalist with THE GOMANTAK TIMES where this article
was first published. 
---
GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays,
reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing
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[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Wooden floors, leaking roofs... at Mapusa

[GoanetReader]

##
# Don't just read the news... discuss it. Learn more about Goa via Goanet#
# Goanet is a 10-year-old network launched by Herman Carneiro in 1994.   #
# See all archives http://news.gmane.org/gmane.culture.region.india.goa/ #
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##

WOODEN FLOORS, LEAKING ROOFS: HAPPY MEMORIES FROM A MAPUSA CONVENT

By ARLETTE AZAVEDO
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

St Mary's Convent High School, Mapusa, of the good old days was for most of
us who spent our entire mornings there a home away from home. Some three
decades ago, the building was a rented one. It was not impressive enough,
but was much respected and loved by all who spent time in it. 

Floors were made of wooden planks and the creaking sound it made as we ran
along, made sweet music to our ears. During the monsoons, drops of rain came
in through the leaking roof, but we would never complain. Instead we would
shift our benches and desks, as though caught in a game of musical chairs.

Such was the sporting spirit. 

Lessons would go on inspite of the discomfiture. There was no special
staff-room for the teachers; the hall served as a staff room and a meeting
place for guests who came visiting the school and who never failed to
comment on the happy atmosphere in the staff room. 

The head-mistresses'' office was just 6' by 9', in which sat a desk and a
chair (for the head-mistress, of course), a mike that was used for morning
prayers and other sundry announcements by the head-mistress. Daily news was
also read and elocution competitions were held from that mike. There was a
small stage on the little playground, but the concerts and the competitions
held on it were of a high standard.

In primary class we had boys at St. Mary's with us. Like Noel (Nini) De
Souza, Francis; Ivo and others. They always made the girls cry with their
silly pranks. Of course the girls enjoyed them and missed them when they
left us in the fifth standard. 

The innocence of those days will never come again, for sure.

The atmosphere in the school was very, very friendly between the
head-mistress, staff and the students. We all behaved as though we belonged
to one big family, Teachers knew every student in the classes that they
taught, as in those days there were only 25 to 30 students in each class.

Our batch of 1974 was one of the naughtiest and Sr. Angelique always would
say to us that the majority of the class would plunge; but when the results
were out all were shocked as we had cent per cent passing percentage. 

Pupils of St Mary's were well mannered and accomplished and it is no secret
that they were much sought after in the marriage market.

This school, run by the Carmelite nuns, had many good God-loving nuns
running the institution. Outstanding among them was Sr. Angelique, our
principal, who served in the old school building with dedication for many
years. 

Many a times, one thinks of Sr. Angelique who she was a disciplinarian and
gathered a lot of respect from her students, teachers and staff. Also, one
must admit here that one's favourite teacher, as also a favourite teacher of
many others at St. Mary's, was the stylish and elegant Mrs. Lydia De Souza.

She not only taught us but also groomed us to be better human beings with
her soft spoken mannerism. I shall never forget how she used to get us all
involved in our concerts, and help those in need with her generous attitude.
Memories of those days are so vivid in one's mind, they seem just like
yesterday.

Today the School is housed in a big cement building, with many class rooms
and very many children in each class which surely makes it difficult for the
teacher to know the children by names and help them on a one-to-one basis.
Children in the eighties, nineties and this century grow up perhaps in
different circumstances from those of the 'sixties and 'seventies. 

Those were the good old days in St Mary's and they bring back fond memories.
--
[The writer is based in Mapusa, and often contributes her views to the
newspapers in Goa.]
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[Goanet-news]SUNDAY SPECIAL -- Blame game on within Goa govt's IT corridors

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BLAME GAME ON WITHIN GOA GOVERNMENT MACHINERY OVER I.T. FAILURE

By Niraj Naik
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 
PANJIM: Infighting between various arms of the state government responsible
for the development of the IT sector in the State has come to the fore with
different camps blaming each other for the pathetic situation Goa is in as
far as IT industry is concerned, despite its widely acknowledged potential.

There's a duel going on between the state owned corporation Info Tech
Corporation of Goa Ltd (ITG) and the Department of Information Technology,
Government of Goa.

Chairman of ITG and former Goa Industry Minister Shaikh Hassan Haroon had
only recently strongly criticized the government for failing to announce the
IT Policy for the state.

In an exclusive interview with Cybermedia News, Mr Hassan had also expressed
displeasure over the state government's lackadaisical attitude to influence
the Software Technology Park of India (STPI) to set up its facility in Goa.
He openly held IT minister Francisco D'Souza and IT Advisor Dr Anupam Saraf
responsible for the state-of-affairs in Goa's IT sector.

He also charged the government with interference in the functioning of the
Info Tech Corporation of Goa, which was set up with the objective of
development of IT infrastructure and consequently attracting IT industry.

I want to do many things. But my hands are tied. I have certain
limitations. If government gives us its IT policy and a free hand, we can
get IT industries to Goa, he said. Dr Saraf is a vice chairperson of this
corporation while IT Minister is one of the directors.

The simmering feud between the Corporation and the government took a new
turn when the government asked the former to surrender the 50-acre Dona
Paula land earmarked for a hi-tech habitat. The IT department took over the
land in light of the proposal received from Bangalore-based IT major Wipro
to start a facility at this place, which entered into final stages.

The state government is justifying the move, saying that ITG has no prior
experience of dealing at this level and the project, being prestigious for
the state government, they did not want to take any risk.

On the other hand, the Department of IT charged the ITG of completely
failing to achieve its objective.

Spearheading the attack, Goa government's IT Advisor Dr Anupam Saraf told
Cybermedia News that the corporation has failed to accomplish even smaller
tasks.

He said that nothing stopped the ITG from playing a catalyst role for the IT
industry and added that various events could have been organised on a
regular basis to attract industry. 

Referring to the demand for more land for the corporation, Dr Saraf said
that there is no need to have land in order to promote the IT industry. ITG
can have a tie-up with private real estate developers to provide land and
other infrastructure as per the requirements of the industry.

The Corporation could have done well had it taken up projects towards
achieving its goal, such as designing government websites, building
broadband infrastructure, providing e-mail and web hosting facilities to the
people etc, he added.

Unfortunately, this story doesn't end there. 

The ITG and another government-owned corporation responsible for financing
industries -- the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) -- are also not
seeing eye to eye. 

The fight is over a build-up land at Software Technology Park, Verna owned
by the ITG. ITG had sold this land to a company called Usha Berr Brown,
which was financed by the EDC. The company packed its bags overnight,
leaving the EDC high and dry. EDC attached the property and demanded that
the ITG compensate for the losses. For the past couple of years, a legal
battle has been on between the EDC and ITG to take possession of the land.

Interestingly, according to the highly placed sources, this building has
been chosen by a leading BPO (business process outsourcing) firm which is
intending to set up a facility in Goa. However, in view of the lack of
seriousness of the two corporations to end the tussle, this building is
unlikely to be put to any productive use in the near future. (ENDS)
 
++
This story came to you from Goa's only IT newspaper DIGITAL GOA, which has
been published for last three years. You can support this paper by gifting 
a subscription a relative or friend back in Goa. One year subscription for
this fortnightly paper is just Rs 200. To subscribe, please email
[EMAIL PROTECTED] or call 

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Our politicians' unprincipled behaviour...

[GoanetReader]

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NOTHING, IT SEEMS, CAN STOP OUR POLITICIANS' UNPRINCIPLED BEHAVIOUR

By Joseph Zuzarte
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

There is a saying: You live by the sword, you die by the sword. Our Chief
Minister, Mr. Manohar Parrikar needs to keep that in mind in the midst of
the current murky political situation in Goa. Considering the policy of
intimidation and dadagiri adopted by him vis-a-vis opposition MLAs, it
should not surprise anybody if the Congress too uses its considerable
political muscle to get even with the CM.

He also needs to keep in mind that too much of a good thing can turn
out to be a bad thing. He has already forgotten that the Goa
government is a coalition government and not a BJP government,
though of course the BJP is the biggest party. And that even the BJP
legislature party has swelled its ranks only by getting opposition
MLAs to join in, virtually sidelining the original BJP candidates,
and that some of these other MLAs who joined the BJP are powerful
members of the Catholic community, not Sangh Parivar or Hindutva
leaders.

It's a peculiar situation for the BJP because its ideological base is thus
exposed to be totally hollow. It's just another political grouping of power
hungry individuals who will go to any extent to retain power and continue to
enjoy the loaves of office. In that sense it has got nothing to
differentiate itself from the other major political grouping, the Congress,
which is composed of exactly the same type of individuals.

Also, in practically every state and at the national level, these two
Goliaths of Indian politics are fighting a no-holds-barred battle for
political one-upmanship. It's a battle which has been going on for many
years now. 

Over these years both the Congress and the BJP have managed to cut each
other up to a really small size, which is how they have had to come to rely
on other political entities for government formation, the coalition era.
Many efforts have been initiated for a third front by ambitious leaders
who have sensed the political vacuum, but the total destruction of these two
current Goliaths of Indian politics is still a while away.

What we are thus witnessing in Goa is the same fight-to-the-finish
between the BJP and the Congress. As can already be seen, the other
MLAs have already emerged distinct winners with some of the most
plum ministerships. There is also the inevitable gravitation to the
winning side. 

Things were fine for the BJP in Goa as long as the BJP was also leading the
coalition at the Centre. But the change in the Union government last May has
now forced the BJP here on the back-foot. 

First there was the embarrassment of the Micky Pacheco press conference
while the BJP's top-brass were doing their chintan bhaitak' at Dona Paula.
It was a clearly piqued Manohar Parrikar who took the battle right into the
ranks of the Congress and poached one of their MLAs. The Congress has hit
back with the recent IT raids on a minister and the former MLA from
Poinguinim. One can only expect further twists and turns in this battle.

If Mr. Parrikar thinks it's only the Congress that he has to battle, he's
got another thing coming. The other BJP MLAs are unlikely to have taken
kindly to most of the plum ministerships being given to the other MLAs and
may decide to revolt against the current chief minister for appeasing the
minorities. The CM and the BJP will also find that this appeasement of the
smaller Catholic community may not go down very well with their core support
group of Hindus.

As the recent BJP 'chintan bhaitak' concluded, it was this erosion
of support from this core support group which led to their Lok Sabha
trouncing. That core Hindu support eroded because of a dilution in
the BJP's ideological platform. The BJP had to dilute its
ideological stance because of the compulsions of coalition politics.
 
With the BJP reluctantly having to lead a coalition government in
Goa, a similar situation has also emerged here. Luring more Catholic
MLAs into the BJP fold will clearly not help matters for the BJP
because they may be reluctant to mouth the BJP's Hindutva ideology.
 
There is also the possibility that the BJP may poach the Hindu MLAs
from the Congress, as it had once done in the past, to consolidate
its hold on power. But this again may not go down well with the
original BJP 

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Another view on Ribandar. Church laments abuse of media freedom

[GoanetReader]

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Goa Church Laments Abuse Of Media Freedom After Priest Is Charged With
Child Abuse

By SAR NEWS

PANAJI, Goa (SAR News)- The Catholic Church in Goa has lamented at the
exploitation of press freedom, after the print and electronic media went to
town over an alleged molestation by a Catholic priest in the confessional
box on Christmas night.

Father Olavo Velho Pereira, spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Goa
told SAR News August 25 that the media has blown the issue out of
proportion, and crucified the priest in question without a fair
trial. On August 19, police registered a case of molestation
against Father Newton Rodrigues, parish priest of the Our Lady of
Help Church, Ribandar, Old Goa near here, after he was accused of
molesting a 13-year-old girl, moments before midnight Mass last
Christmas Eve .

However, police have refrained from arresting the priest fearing a backlash.
Father Pereira said, the media as well as the church critics want prompt
action on such issues, which are delicate and cannot be decided impromptu.

The victim, whose father is employed overseas, was scheduled to play the
role of Mother Mary and went a few minutes early for the midnight Mass. At
this point, Father Rodrigues reportedly asked the teenager whether she had
confessed. Though her response was in the affirmative, the priest reportedly
pressed for a confession afresh.

According to the girls uncle, Anthony Froys, the priest took her to
the confessional, where he allegedly molested her.

The complaint however was first filed last week, by a Catholic
activist-lawyer Aires Rodrigues, once a staunch disciple of Rajneesh.

Aires has in recent years been projecting himself in new light after he took
several public-oriented causes and last year filed a public interest
litigation in the High Court challenging the appointment of an RSS incumbent
to the post of Director of Information. Later, however, he succumbed to RSS
pressure and withdrew the petition.

In 2000, police records indicate that  the lawyer was 35th in the list of
goondas, history sheeters and bad characters.

Benefit of doubt ought to be given to the priest because of
improbabilities. How would it be possible for the priest to molest moments
before the midnight Mass. The complaint says that she was molested at 11.15
p.m. At that time, the priest was at the altar said an agitated parishioner
Michael Fernandes. It means he molested her in full view of the
congregation he added.

He said, the complaint was lodged eight months after the episode
and that too by a third party. Obviously, the complaint is
orchestrated to get even with the priest, who has been turning down
Aires suggestions for the parish.

The allegations against the priest appears to be made with vested interests,
says M K Jos, an acerbic campaigner, who said the very background of the
lawyer has vertically divided the parish, with a few supporting the priest,
and others not certain where matters stand.

On August 21, some 350 parishioners went to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
chief minister Manohar Parrikar's residence and demanded action be initiated
against Rodrigues and his associates for creating discord in the village.
The memo which targeted the advocate, accusing him of outraging the modesty
of nuns of a nearby convent with abusive language and threats of rape, if
the principal of the convent-run school was not transferred, according to
his demand.

The following day, a meeting addressed by Aires evoked a response of about
75 parishioners. Referring to the abuse of Press freedom, Father Pereira
pointed out that one daily carried a full page report on the Ribandar
Molestation Controversy and went further on another page to publish a
letter over the issue and the editor's response to the letter. The newspaper
also carried an editorial, with the national media tom-toming the claims of
Aires without any restrictions.

It was as if it was fait accompli. In the eyes of the media, the priest was
guilty. It is unfortunate that the media refused to discern claims, damn
lies and potential reality Father Pereira said. He lamented that the media
went all out to make a fast buck at the cost of the sensitivity of the
priest, without even waiting for the verdict from the Church authorities
despite informing in a press note that the church was studying the issue.

He also regretted the attitude of some individuals, calling a press
conference and speaking to local TV news 

[Goanet-news]GoanetReader -- Why can't everybody be a psychologist?

[GoanetReader]

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WHY CAN'T EVERYBODY BE A PSYCHOLOGIST? 

By Bindu Vaz
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Everyone is allowed to have an interest in spirituality. Each one of us can
be obsessed with health and fitness. Everybody must have a hobby or a
creative pursuit. But if I say everybody should be a psychologist, I will
be dismissed as somebody who probably needs to see a shrink!

The word psychologist conjures up images and words like =- nut-case,
slow, confused, moron. This is unfortunate and a grave injustice to
the word. The word psychology is derived from Latin -- 'psyche'
which means 'soul' and 'ology' means 'the study of'. Put this way,
the word actually means the study of soul. I believe there is not a
single person among us who has not tried to understand what she is
feeling, thinking, the reason why she is feeling or thinking
something. That makes each one of us a psychologist. And yet we shy
away from this word, we have been taught to be ashamed of it.

Let us start from the basics -- what is the difference between man and all
the other animals? We all know that man can think, reflect, reason -- and
animals do not have this important faculty. And yet I'm sure you agree with
me when I say that animals live a more harmonious and peaceful lives than we
do. So what is it that these creatures that are assumed to be lower in the
hierarchy of life have got it right as compared to humans?

Yes I know that humans can create and destroy what they believe is
useful/useless to them. I am not being funny when I say that humans have the
power to destroy the earth if the need arises and even create life in a lab
with no help from God. We have created space-crafts that explore the
universe and we build nuclear arms. I want to ask -- what is it that
intelligent humans lose out on as compared to the lowly animals? What is it
that the animals have it right that we are unable to duplicate? I hazard a
guess - and I believe it might be closer to the truth than we like to admit
- instinct.

Animals live trusting their instincts and we have lost our instincts.

We have forgotten how to trust our instinct. What do I mean by
saying that animals live according to their instincts? I mean when
they feel hunger, they look for food; when they sense danger,
they flee or fight to survive; when they have the urge to reproduce,
they mate and bring forth young ones; when they are injured they
take time out to heal their body.

We study and educate ourselves and in the process lose our instincts. Or we
learn not to listen to our instincts.

I believe a child is born with her instincts in proper functioning order. In
the process of teaching her how to lead a productive life, we kill the
natural instinct and that's where the animals score over us. Have you ever
wondered how the lowest forms of creatures -- insects, cockroaches and
fishes -- learn how to be an insect or a cockroach or a fish? I mean the
higher forms of animals like wolves or lions or elephants at least in some
sense teach their young ones to hunt, to protect themselves and to live a
'community' life. But the lower forms of life like grasshoppers or
cockroaches don't have that in them -- to teach their young ones the rules
of the game -- as far as life is concerned and yet their young ones do
pretty well, don't they?

We, humans are the only species that distrusts its own instincts so much
that we have schools where we send our young ones to learn how to lead a
productive and meaningful life! We think that if the children stayed at home
they would not be able to function well-enough in the world. That they would
not be able to learn how to be a human being.

What instincts do we use as a child (when we are not yet educated enough to
stop listening to them)?

* A baby cries when he or she is bothered by something.

* A baby laughs when she spots love in the eyes of another person.

* A child decides to stop eating the moment she is full -- even if you have
served her favourite meal.

* A child is not ashamed to display emotions as varied as love, hate, grief,
anger. 

* A child is naturally inclined to like wholesome simple and nutritious food
like fruits, vegetables, milk and nuts.

During the course of growing up, she is taught

* To be ashamed to cry (especially if the baby is a boy) and to suppress
this natural instinct which is a great stress-reliever.

* To distrust love when she sees it reflected in another human being.

* To eat 

[Goanet-news]PRIORITY -- Goa withdraws permission for CBI operations in State

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GOA WITHDRAWS PERMISSION FOR CBI OPERATIONS IN STATE
Says Centre stepped on state's toes. 

From Pamela D'Mello / Goa

Panaji, Sep 2: Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar said the state was
withdrawing its consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to
operate in Goa, following Tuesday's central income tax raids on a BJP
minister and former legislator.

I have lost faith in the Centre and in the Central government
agencies, Mr Parrikar said at a specially convened press conference
in the State secretariat this morning.

The BJP was reacting angrily to the widespread raids on the offices and
residences of BJP town planning minister Atanasio Monserrate and an ex-MLA,
Isidore Fernandes, who recently vacated his assembly seat to join the BJP.

The Centre is misusing its agencies and trying to harrass the opposition.
The current ruling party has an apprehension that it will misuse other
agencies for political ends, said Mr Parrikar.

By withdrawing the general consent to the CBI to operate in Goa, the
agency will have to take state government approval for any
investigation other that specific cases against central government
agenices. It currently operates under the Delhi Police Act with
general and specific consent from the States. Goa will be
withdrawing its general consent, the chief minister said.

Previous Congress governments had withdrawn consent to the CBI to function
here from 1996-2000, over disputes with the official posted here.

Mr Parrikar pointedly clarified that his objection was to the alleged
discourtesy and breach of protocol in the IT raids.

Earlier the chief minister had said  raids on a state minister could not
have taken place without the approval of the Central finance minister. He
charged the local Congress leadership with instigating the raids to
destablise his government and frighten MLAs.

There is such a thing as State and Central relations. They have stepped on
the State government's toes, said Mr Parrikar. Serious complaints will be
made to the Prime Minister and President, he said.

Mr Parrikar, in addition, argued that the 30 income tax officials
who conducted the extensive raids in Goa on Tuesday had breached
protcol in not informing state authorities about the raid on a
minister, though state police escorts were taken for the purpose.

While the raids were on, the minister was obstructed from signing a Cabinet
note, amounting to an obstruction of constitutional duties and the
privileges of the state cabinet. The state government is considering legal
criminal action against the IT officials involved, Mr Parrikar argued.

In taking a strong stand on Tuesday's raids, the state goverment here has
launched its own counter-offensive in the local political chess game being
played out in the backdrop of Goa's notoriously instable politics.

The Congress was visibly gleeful after Tuesday's raids, saying it
was a fit reply to the operations of money sharks who had lured Mr
Fernandes into vacating his seat. Goa Pradesh Congress chief Mr
Luizinho Faleiro has said he will seek additional vigilance on money
spending at next month's by-election for the vacated seat.

Meanwhile, political battlelines are already being drawn in the state for
October's by-election which is emerging as a BJP versus
the-rest-of-the-opposition contest. Mr Fernandes is expected to recontest,
after he quit to dramatically alter the equation in the thinly-divided Goa
assembly, this time battling on a BJP ticket.  (ENDS)

##
Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today

[Goanet-news]The life and times of 'Maharaja' Monserrate (Gomantak Times)

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THE LIFE AND TIMES OF 'MAHARAJA' MONSERRATE

Team GT  [Gomantak Times, Sept 1, 2004]

PANAJI: To his followers and beneficiaries Babush is king with a heart. To
his opponents he is a Robin Hood who is no good. Love him, hate him or raid
him, it's difficult to ignore Atanasio Monserrate. If there is one Cabinet
minister who knows how to lead a life of luxury, it is Babush Monserrate.

The Maharaja loves his cars. And his car numbers. Almost all his cars in his
fleet have the same registration number 2141, the number of votes by which
he won his last election. 

The cars are all lined up at his Taleigao bungalow -- Casa Monserrate. He
wears the finest clothes, goes on foreign holidays and dines at five-star
hotels. However, he is hardly defensive about his lifestyle. He once told
GT: If I have the moeny, why shouldn't I spend?

Sources at the Goa Marriott confirmed that Monserrate is a regular at its
FB outlets and has often been spotted dining with associates at its
restaurants or visiting its coffee shop. However, his associates say he
refrains from consuming eatables outside his home out of fear.

People close to Monseratte talk about a Jekyll and Hyde personality who, on
the one hand, rides rough shod over whoever crosses his path and on the
other cuts a dimunitive figure, who speaks with quiet authority.

Zipping around in a Suzuki sports utility vehicle, Monseratte almost always
drives himself around town. He is also known to have helped members of his
constituency who were in dire need.

A Taleigao family in need of a large amount of cash for treatment of a
family member received Rs 25,000 from Monseratte. One constant refrain of
his closest supporters is, Babush is there.

Monserrate's entry into politics is said to have been by sheer accident
rather than any design and arising from a challenge thrown to his former
friend, Somnath Zuwarkar, a former Congress MLA.

Babush has carved out his bastion through his generous donations, and the
work he has managed to do in his constituency. A few of the roads were laid
in a record time. Construction of one of the roads ended in a dispute and a
court case, apparently due to his excessive zeal in carrying out the work.

He is learnt to have solved the problem of acute warter shortage and a
long-pending one in a colony where government officers were staying, which
gave a glimpse of his style of functioning to get the work done.

On a recent campaign visit to Poinguinim he is reported to have donated Rs
50,000 each to three temple committees ona single day. Taleigao residents
claim that Babush distributed a truckload of motorcycles to his closest
supporters and held lavish public parties after winning the Assembly
elections, defeating friend-turned-foe Somnath Zuwarkar. His generosity
apparently played an important role in his victory.

Monseratte reportedly earned his wealth from the sale of vast areas of land
to the government for the construction of the Goa University at the Taleigao
plateau. He further built up his wealth by getting involved in lending money
to builders during the real estate boom.

His work as a moneylender was responsible for most of his brushes with the
law. A number of builders have filed cases against him, alleging extortion
and threats.

Much of Monserrate's income has accrued from the sale of his landed
properties, a fact he has himself acknowledged. His subsequent earnings have
been on lending money, allegedly at high rates of interest.

Monseratte also entered into a dispute with the owners of Cidade de Goa over
public access to Vainguinim beach. In the last quarter of 2003, he
personally led a team of government workers that demolished a gate built by
the Cidade de Goa and built a public access road in a matter of hours.

A Mapusa-based businessman has registered a criminal complaint against
Monseratte, alleging extortion. He was charge-sheeted in the case, but the
witnesses turned hostile after Monseratte became a minister.

Monseratte and his family recently courted controversy during a vacation to
South Africa earlier this year, when an airline official denied them access
to the flight on the grounds that their passports were tampered with.

A close associate told GT: When Babush likes you, he will do anything for
you. But if he dislikes you, he will tell it to you on your face.
Ironically, for Babush, today's (Aug 31, 2004)) raids told him on his face
that the law catches up. And so do political opponents like the Congress.

ENDS