[Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
Two books related to the Portuguese in Goa fell into my hands this week. They are from the University of Ottawa library. IN QUEST OF FREEDOM by James Fernandes (Concept Publishing New Delhi) WHAT ABOUT GOA by Roldaum Anton Souza (Tipografia Silvas, Lisbon) James Fernandes is (was?) a freedom fighter convicted of non-violent political protest and sentenced by the Portuguese military tribunal to 12 years in prison. He was let out in 1958 on a general amnesty after serving four and a half years in Fort Aguada. Very interesting books, by Goans both, albeit on opposite sides of the fence. While that by Roldaum is a defense of Salazar and Portuguese policies and rule, the one by James is merely a narrative of his experience as a freedom fighter rather than a defense of any politics or ideology. WHAT ABOUT GOA is well written and the description of Salazar's reasoning and ideology has made an impression me. I had a totally wrong impression of the man as an obstinate dictator, puffed up with his own importance like a modern-day Robert Mugabe or contemporary Mussolini. However in Roldaum's writing and commentary of Salazar's speeches, he Salazar, comes across a man who genuinely cared for Goa, it's place in history and what would become of it if or when the Union (India) swallowed it. His appreciation of Goans as a people seems equally genuine. Nehru on the other hand, despite the gentleman he was, seems utterly callous about Goa and its future, merely worried about it being a pimple on the face of a bright new India. All this is based on what the two famous men actually spoke and wrote their own opinions and feelings. More on that book later. It deserves further review. Lets us get back to the chapter related to Agente Monteiro in James Fernandes' QUEST FOR FREEDOM. QUOTE During the 3 months I was at Police HQ in Altinho, I was also called for questioning four or five times, by other investigating officers. When you are called by a different interrogator, you went with trepidation in your heart because you did not know what the officer wanted from you and how he would treat you. But it turned out in most of the cases, I was wanted by other interrogators only because my statement was needed to fill certain lacunae in the case-reports of certain prisoners not belonging to our group. The activities of these freedom fighters had been somehow connected with references to me or to our group. The interrogators now checked and confirmed those references by recording my statement in that regard. These were generally matters of detail to which the interrogators did not attach much importance; and that is why I had no trouble even from some of the brutal questioners. They questioned me for about 15 minutes in an off-hand manner and then dismissed me. But the worst interrogator I faced was the notorious monster Monteiro. He was dreaded by every prisoner, because by this time his reputation as a cruel brute was well established. With his brutal beatings, he had maimed scores of prisoners and he had beaten to death at least four or five prisoners, among them a man from my village, Assnora. (Bala Mapari of Assnora was arrested in connection with the assault on Assnora police post, early in 1955, and was tortured to death by Agente Monteiro.). Monteiro was a mestizo (mixed breed), fair, rather tall and powerfully built, quite handsome looking, but with a cold cruel glint in his eyes. We used to see him often walk past our cell with a swaggering stride, followed by his six to eight assistants, all young mestizo ruffians, whom we used to call his hounds. They reminded one of a pack of hounds, because beside their chief, they appeared quite small, and like dogs they followed closely at his heels. They always accompanied him when he went by jeep on his rounds all over Goa, arresting people. And when he interrogated prisoners, it was these "hounds" who took hold of the prisoner and threw him on a stone bench and pinned him there, while Monteiro went on beating him with a rubber truncheon or a wooden baton. What impelled Monteiro to do all this horrible work so diligently? It was not so much loyalty to the Portuguese masters. He was an adventurer in the worst sense of the word - an adventurer with the instincts of a gangster. And l like every man of that type he wished to make an easy and fast buck. There were reports circulating all over Goa that he used to arrest innocent young men of well-to-do families and then demand large sums of money for their release. And the others, from whose relatives he could not expect money, he beat up mercilessly thereby pleasing his bosses in the police department and gaining the reputation of a hero in the Portuguese establishment. One day after I had spent two months in Panjim, one of Monteiro's hounds came to our cell and called out my name. I was surprised because Monteiro had never been concerned with our case; he used to deal mainly with the cases of prisoners who were in
[Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
Goan publications and their editors were forced to close shop in the 50's in Bombaim. Goans were forced to give up their Portuguese citizenship if they were to continue living there. Members of my family were jailed for many days by the evil Nehru for singing in Portuguese at a party and forced to leave Bombaim. BC I hope you can also give a blow-by-blow account of how Roldao was beaten up by the Bombay police and the method of his escape from Bombay to Goa, with his family. Perhaps you could also read about how Goans in Bombay, who resisted the Indian moves to change their attitude towards the Portuguese, were treated, e.g. editors of some prominent Goan publications.
[Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
Great way to shift the topic of this thread away from Agente Monteiro and those who shielded him. Great strategy to ignore the victims of Agente Monetiro and the "indigenous" ruling eltie in Goa in the last days of the Portuguese colonial regime. Regards, GL Paulo Colaco Dias wrote: Thank you Gabriel, those are excellent points for discussion. It would be really nice if we could get the entire episodes regarding Roldao and the difficulties of the Goans in Bombay who were even forced to change their names to succeed in life and to erase their similarities with Portuguese names. --- Gabriel de Figueiredo wrote: I hope you can also give a blow-by-blow account of how Roldao was beaten up by the Bombay police and the method of his escape from Bombay to Goa, with his family. Perhaps you could also read about how Goans in Bombay, who resisted the Indian moves to change their attitude towards the Portuguese, were treated, e.g. editors of some prominent Goan publications.
[Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
Roland I read with keen interest your extract from the book IN QUEST OF FREEDOM by James Fernandes (Concept Publishing New Delhi). Prof James Fernandes hails from my village and vaddo in Assonora and was a close friend of my father. Sometime back during a discussion on the role of freedom fighters, I had mentioned the name of Prof James Fernandes. However, I was not aware that he had written a book on his experiences. James is a humble and unassuming person and very down to earth. Despite his unfortunate experiences under the Portuguese, he did not seek nor obtain any benefits or concessions as a freedom fighter unlike many others. By dint of hard work, he educated and fended for himself. It would be of immense benefit to all of us if Frederick or Augusto or anyone else could interview him and get his views and perspective on life and state of affairs during Portuguese rule and today and tell us where we have failed or succeeded. Regards, Marshall
[Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
If your family lived in Dharavi how would the CID know? BC Dear Bernado, ??? I see, from your repeated use of "Bombaim", that you are now preparing a one-man expedition to reclaim Mumbai on behalf of Portugal, even though it was ceded to the British hundreds of years ago, before passing back into Indian hands. ??? You say that in the 1950s Goans were forced to give up their Portuguese citizenship if they were to continue living there? In the 50s? My family was there in the fifties, and nobody even questioned our citizenship. It was the same with thousands of other Goans who lived in Bombay: the question of their citizenship did not ever arise.
[Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
Roland Francis: Where is James Fernandes today? Response: He lived in Auchit Vaddo, Assonora Khory, Bardez Goa ie. when I last met him and his warmhearted and homely wife, Velsa and children. I guess he would still be living in the same place. Regards, Marshall
[Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
Eddie Fernandes: The book is available online, for free at: http://www.google.co.uk/search?tbs=bks%3A1&tbo=1&q=8170223091&btnG=Search+Bo oks For related books see http://books.google.co.uk/books?q=related:ISBN8170223091&id=6UKFHNfjKLgC&sou rce=gbs_similarbooks_s&cad=1 Response: Thanks a ton Eddie for the weblinks. We are indeed indebted to people like you, Frederick, JoeGoaUK, Eddie Verdes and several others for giving selflessly and being such a rich resource on all matters relating to Goa. We find it so easy to castigate people for the smallest faults but are loath to recognize or appreciate people for their contributions. In this season of advent, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, the Goanet administration, Eddie Verdes, JoaGoaUk and all those who have helped in enriching our lives and expanding our horizons. Regards, Marshall Regards,
Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
I hope you can also give a blow-by-blow account of how Roldao was beaten up by the Bombay police and the method of his escape from Bombay to Goa, with his family. Perhaps you could also read about how Goans in Bombay, who resisted the Indian moves to change their attitude towards the Portuguese, were treated, e.g. editors of some prominent Goan publications. Cheers, Gabriel. - Original Message > From: Roland Francis > To: goanet@lists.goanet.org > Sent: Thu, 9 December, 2010 3:21:57 AM > Subject: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro > > Two books related to the Portuguese in Goa fell into my hands this week. > They are from the University of Ottawa library. > > IN QUEST OF FREEDOM by James Fernandes (Concept Publishing New Delhi) > WHAT ABOUT GOA by Roldaum Anton Souza (Tipografia Silvas, Lisbon) >
Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
Thank you Gabriel, those are excellent points for discussion. It would be really nice if we could get the entire episodes regarding Roldao and the difficulties of the Goans in Bombay who were even forced to change their names to succeed in life and to erase their similarities with Portuguese names. It shows what kind of Democratic country the Indian Union was in the post 1947 - 1970 years... And then some of us claim that India got democracy much before Goa, that it was good, that there was freedom of speech, etc, etc. Yeah. Right! All in paper, of course. There is no full freedom of speech in India even today. There are publications and books that are still banned in India today and you can get arrested if caught with a banned book. There are politicians in Goa being arrested and people prevented from exercising their rights to do public demonstrations, etc. That is the democracy in India today. And it is much better today. In the first few years after 1961, it was exactly the same as during Portuguese times, or worse. Goa even had a one entire year of Martial Law post 1961. What an excellent way of welcoming Goa into the motherland. Best regards Paulo. -Original Message- From: goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org [mailto:goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org] On Behalf Of Gabriel de Figueiredo Sent: 09 December 2010 07:03 To: Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994! Subject: Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro I hope you can also give a blow-by-blow account of how Roldao was beaten up by the Bombay police and the method of his escape from Bombay to Goa, with his family. Perhaps you could also read about how Goans in Bombay, who resisted the Indian moves to change their attitude towards the Portuguese, were treated, e.g. editors of some prominent Goan publications.
Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
I don't know if you read Roland's first submission, wherein he had stated about two books that had come into his possession. One was about Agente Monteiro; the other by Roldao. As Roland wrote about one side of the story, it would be fair to ask him to write the other side of the divide. I do happen to have a copy of Roldao's book, unhappily some 5000 kms away at this moment. I have read it, and most of it is in the style of Jose Colaco's "Bozo Singh Harder Talks". However, there are instances in that book (and others) that relate to violence much greater than Agente Monteiro's at the hands of the Bombay Police. Beatings, seizure of monetary funds, closing down of premises and the like. Another book which reflects these facts is "Nehru Seizes Goa" by Leo Lawrence, which is also banned in India. An aside: if India believes in "freedom of press", why ban these books? - Original Message > From: Gilbert Lawrence > To: goa...@goanet.org > Sent: Fri, 10 December, 2010 10:11:47 AM > Subject: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro > > Great way to shift the topic of this thread away from Agente Monteiro and > those > > who shielded him. > > Great strategy to ignore the victims of Agente Monetiro and the "indigenous" > ruling eltie in Goa in the last days of the Portuguese colonial regime. > > Regards, GL > > > Paulo Colaco Dias wrote: > > Thank you Gabriel, those are excellent points for discussion. It would be >really > > nice if we could get the entire episodes regarding Roldao and the > difficulties > of the Goans in Bombay who were even forced to change their names to succeed > in > > life and to erase their similarities with Portuguese names. > > --- Gabriel de Figueiredo wrote: > > > I hope you can also give a blow-by-blow account of how Roldao was beaten up > by > the Bombay police and the method of his escape from Bombay to Goa, with his > family. Perhaps you could also read about how Goans in Bombay, who resisted >the > > Indian > > moves to change their attitude towards the Portuguese, were treated, e.g. > editors of some prominent Goan publications. > > > >
Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
I am not shifting anything Gilbert. If at all, I was comparing the typical Portuguese oppression pre-1961 with the Indian oppression pre-1961 in Bombay, Calcutta, etc, and post-1961 all over India. Lots of similarities there, except that perhaps you refuse to accept because you or your family/friends experienced the former and never the latter whilst there are lots of other Goan families that experienced the latter but not the former. The trick is to understand what really happened on both sides with both countries and how that had a tremendous effect on the Goan community. You, sadly, are unable to understand that because of simple brainwashing and because Goans are traditionally unable to analyse facts from a neutral point of view. You, my friend, are far from an exception. What is important to note is that Goans suffered in both countries (Portugal and India). I am pleased because we are finally reaching that conclusion in this forum. This is not about defending the Portuguese or defending the Indians. It is about defending ourselves - GOANS -from this complete mess that we are today. Everyone knows who Agente Monteiro was. We even had his own son contributing in this forum a few years ago. He was used by the Portuguese to spread terror in Goa because he was half Goan and could contribute a lot with inside information. No doubt. There is also no doubt that PIDE used him in Portugal as well to continue the terror. There are even rumours that he was involved in the murder of Portuguese General Humberto Delgado on the 13 Feb 1965 in Olivença (a Portuguese territory under Spanish occupation and in dispute for centuries now). He was a mercenary and he was used as a mercenary by the Portuguese. It was terrible. Completely unacceptable. If you only knew half of what the Indian army did to the Portuguese army post 1961 (3,000 men) in clear violation of Genebra convention, you would be surprised. Best regards Paulo Dias -Original Message- From: goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org [mailto:goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org] On Behalf Of Gilbert Lawrence Sent: 10 December 2010 04:42 To: goa...@goanet.org Subject: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro Great way to shift the topic of this thread away from Agente Monteiro and those who shielded him. Great strategy to ignore the victims of Agente Monetiro and the "indigenous" ruling eltie in Goa in the last days of the Portuguese colonial regime. Regards, GL
Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
Dear Paulo, I do not know how much you really know about India pre-1961, or about conditions in Goa during that period. I was born in Goa in 1925, and grew up in Goa, leaving for Goa in mid-1939. Goa was not the paradise some people claim it was. I was a student at Mater Dei at the time and I remember that one young man, a friend of my brother's, foolishly shouted "Viva Goa" in Mapusa. For that he was arrested, beaten, and had his head shaved. Punished for shouting Viva Goa in Goa itself? I lived in Bombay from 1939 to mid-1956 and never felt that India was not a democracy. For several of those years I was with the newspapers, holding key positions with what became the Indian Express, and the Times of India, and the Illustrated Weekly, and never once felt that I had to be careful about what I wrote. We were not censored in India, but the press was certainly pre-censored in Goa. So when you feel like sneering at people who claim that India got democracy much before Goa, and that it was good, think twice before you say, "Yeah. Right! All in paper, of course." India tasted democracy before Portugal did, and Portugal tasted democracy much after Goa did. That's a historical fact. Very best regards, Victor From: Paulo Colaco Dias To: "Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!" Sent: Thu, December 9, 2010 9:20:32 AM Subject: Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro Thank you Gabriel, those are excellent points for discussion. It would be really nice if we could get the entire episodes regarding Roldao and the difficulties of the Goans in Bombay who were even forced to change their names to succeed in life and to erase their similarities with Portuguese names. It shows what kind of Democratic country the Indian Union was in the post 1947 - 1970 years... And then some of us claim that India got democracy much before Goa, that it was good, that there was freedom of speech, etc, etc. Yeah. Right! All in paper, of course. There is no full freedom of speech in India even today. There are publications and books that are still banned in India today and you can get arrested if caught with a banned book. There are politicians in Goa being arrested and people prevented from exercising their rights to do public demonstrations, etc. That is the democracy in India today. And it is much better today. In the first few years after 1961, it was exactly the same as during Portuguese times, or worse. Goa even had a one entire year of Martial Law post 1961. What an excellent way of welcoming Goa into the motherland. Best regards Paulo. -Original Message- From: goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org [mailto:goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org] On Behalf Of Gabriel de Figueiredo Sent: 09 December 2010 07:03 To: Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994! Subject: Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro I hope you can also give a blow-by-blow account of how Roldao was beaten up by the Bombay police and the method of his escape from Bombay to Goa, with his family. Perhaps you could also read about how Goans in Bombay, who resisted the Indian moves to change their attitude towards the Portuguese, were treated, e.g. editors of some prominent Goan publications.
Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
Dear Bernado, I see, from your repeated use of "Bombaim", that you are now preparing a one-man expedition to reclaim Mumbai on behalf of Portugal, even though it was ceded to the British hundreds of years ago, before passing back into Indian hands. You say that in the 1950s Goans were forced to give up their Portuguese citizenship if they were to continue living there? In the 50s? My family was there in the fifties, and nobody even questioned our citizenship. It was the same with thousands of other Goans who lived in Bombay: the question of their citizenship did not ever arise. I am also amazed by your claim that members of your family were jailed for many days "for singing in Portuguese at a party and forced to leave Bombaim." We were a large extended family in Bombay in those days, and we always sang Portuguese, Konkani, and English and Spanish and American songs when we got together. Not one of us was ever arrested for singing in Portuguese, nor were we asked to leave Bombay because of our singing. Yet you say your relatives were jailed for many days for singing! They were even forced to leave the city! Was their singing really that bad? Regards, anyway, Victor From: Bernado Colaco To: goanet@lists.goanet.org Sent: Thu, December 9, 2010 7:10:12 AM Subject: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro Goan publications and their editors were forced to close shop in the 50's in Bombaim. Goans were forced to give up their Portuguese citizenship if they were to continue living there. Members of my family were jailed for many days by the evil Nehru for singing in Portuguese at a party and forced to leave Bombaim. BC I hope you can also give a blow-by-blow account of how Roldao was beaten up by the Bombay police and the method of his escape from Bombay to Goa, with his family. Perhaps you could also read about how Goans in Bombay, who resisted the Indian moves to change their attitude towards the Portuguese, were treated, e.g. editors of some prominent Goan publications.
Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
Dear Victor, Are you from the Rangel family (Tipografia Rangel) ? I know quite a few members of that family. Thank you very much for your response. I appreciated it very much because you are my father's age and well versed with the internet, which is excellent. With respect Victor, people's experiences are different. Some families never experienced the brutality of the Portuguese and refuse to accept that it existed. Other families never experienced the brutality of the Indians in Bombay and naturally refuse to accept that it existed. So, does that prove that neither of them existed? The episodes related here derive from people's experiences. Each person had different experiences. Regarding censorship, are you aware that some of the letters which were sent from Portugal to Goa via Bombay were being opened and censored pre-1961 and post 1961? It is not me that says it. It is a Goan like you, your age too - Fernando de Noronha - O melhor do meu passado - Terceiro Milenio. Available for sale in Goa. Best regards Paulo Dias -Original Message- From: goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org [mailto:goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org] On Behalf Of Victor Rangel-Ribeiro Sent: 11 December 2010 06:29 To: Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994! Subject: Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro Dear Paulo, I do not know how much you really know about India pre-1961, or about conditions in Goa during that period. I was born in Goa in 1925, and grew up in Goa, leaving for Goa in mid-1939. Goa was not the paradise some people claim it was. I was a student at Mater Dei at the time and I remember that one young man, a friend of my brother's, foolishly shouted "Viva Goa" in Mapusa. For that he was arrested, beaten, and had his head shaved. Punished for shouting Viva Goa in Goa itself? I lived in Bombay from 1939 to mid-1956 and never felt that India was not a democracy. For several of those years I was with the newspapers, holding key From: Paulo Colaco Dias To: "Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!" Sent: Thu, December 9, 2010 9:20:32 AM Subject: Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro Thank you Gabriel, those are excellent points for discussion. It would be really nice if we could get the entire episodes regarding Roldao and the difficulties of the Goans in Bombay who were even forced to change their names to succeed in life and to erase their similarities with Portuguese names. It shows what kind of Democratic country the Indian Union was in the post 1947 - 1970 years... And then some of us claim that India got democracy much before Goa, that it was good, that there was freedom of speech, etc, etc. Yeah. Right! All in paper, of course. There is no full freedom of speech in India even today. There are publications and books that are still banned in India today and you can get arrested if caught with a banned book. There are politicians in Goa being arrested and people prevented from exercising their rights to do public demonstrations, etc. That is the democracy in India today. And it is much better today. In the first few years after 1961, it was exactly the same as during Portuguese times, or worse. Goa even had a one entire year of Martial Law post 1961. What an excellent way of welcoming Goa into the motherland. Best regards Paulo. -Original Message- From: goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org [mailto:goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org] On Behalf Of Gabriel de Figueiredo Sent: 09 December 2010 07:03 To: Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994! Subject: Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro I hope you can also give a blow-by-blow account of how Roldao was beaten up by the Bombay police and the method of his escape from Bombay to Goa, with his family. Perhaps you could also read about how Goans in Bombay, who resisted the Indian moves to change their attitude towards the Portuguese, were treated, e.g. editors of some prominent Goan publications. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.872 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3306 - Release Date: 12/10/10 19:35:00
Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
-Original Message- From: Marshall Mendonza I read with keen interest your extract from the book IN QUEST OF FREEDOM by James Fernandes (Concept Publishing New Delhi). The book is available online, for free at: http://www.google.co.uk/search?tbs=bks%3A1&tbo=1&q=8170223091&btnG=Search+Bo oks For related books see http://books.google.co.uk/books?q=related:ISBN8170223091&id=6UKFHNfjKLgC&sou rce=gbs_similarbooks_s&cad=1 Eddie Fernandes
Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
I completely agree with you Marshall. And hope that Frederick or Augusto or JoeGoaUK take the baton. Although I did from time to time read that the freedom fighters wish they would not have done what they did if they could foresee the Goa or today, I and many readers would welcome what a respected professor and freedom fighter would actually have to say. Where is James Fernandes today? Cheers, Roland. -Original Message- From: goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org [mailto:goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org] On Behalf Of Marshall Mendonza Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2010 3:59 AM To: goanet Subject: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro It would be of immense benefit to all of us if Frederick or Augusto or anyone else could interview him and get his views and perspective on life and state of affairs during Portuguese rule and today and tell us where we have failed or succeeded.
Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
On Fri Dec 10 22:29:16 PST 2010, Victor Rangel-Ribeiro vrangelrib at yahoo.com wrote: <<<…I do not know how much you really know about India pre-1961, or about conditions in Goa during that period. I was born in Goa in 1925, and grew up in Goa, leaving for Goa in mid-1939. Goa was not the paradise some people claim it was. I was a student at Mater Dei at the time and I remember that one young man, a friend of my brother's, foolishly shouted "Viva Goa" in Mapusa. For that he was arrested, beaten, and had his head shaved. Punished for shouting Viva Goa in Goa itself? >>> COMMENT : With due respect to your age Mr. Rangel Ribeiro, I would like to clarify your issue what evaded clarification for the past so many decades. Goa during the Portuguese regime was known as ‘Estado da India Portuguesa’ and for your brother’s friend to shout “Viva Goa” was definitely provocative. Why did he not shout “Viva Mapuça”? And why according to you have termed it ‘foolish’? I will give you another example from your perspective. If someone in Kashmir shouts “Viva Kashmir”, will the Indian troops or police join him in chorus or will he also meet the same fate or worse? Kashmir is being fomented by Pakistan, and Pakistani citizens are using firearms and explosives in a bid to annex Kashmir but camouflaged as Independence to Kashmir. It is the same situation that was in Goa; only difference is in Kasmir more modern equipment is being used. Why sedition cases are being sought against a couple of people who wrote or spoke in praise of Kashmir? As for censorship of the press you talk, have you tried writing on Kashmir newspapers? Dr. Ferdinando dos Reis Falcão.
Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
Allow me - the correct title is 'Os momentos do meu passado'. Off-topic, Mr. Fernando de Noronha describes experiences with the Portuguese soldiery and the India soldiery with respect to the breakdown of his vehicle, an Opel Rekord. To cut a long story short (and from memory), in the former instance, when his vehicle came to a halt on the road, a passing miltary vehicle carrying Portuguese soldiers went out of their way not only to diagnose the problem (no fuel in tank), but also to turn around back to Panjim and procure a can of the needful. On the other hand, when his vehicle did the same at Bambolim post-61, the Indian soldiery just told him "this is not a petrol station" or words to that effect. - Original Message > From: Paulo Colaco Dias > To: "Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!" > Sent: Sat, 11 December, 2010 9:40:22 PM > Subject: Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro > > Fernando de Noronha - O melhor do meu passado - Terceiro Milenio. Available > for sale in Goa. > > Best regards > Paulo Dias > > > > > > -Original Message- > From: goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org > [mailto:goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org] On Behalf Of Victor Rangel-Ribeiro > Sent: 11 December 2010 06:29 > To: Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994! > Subject: Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro > > Dear Paulo, > I do not know how much you really know about India pre-1961, or about > conditions in Goa during that period. I was born in Goa in 1925, and grew up > in > Goa, leaving for Goa in mid-1939. Goa was not the paradise some people claim > it > was. I was a student at Mater Dei at the time and I remember that one young > man, > a friend of my brother's, foolishly shouted "Viva Goa" in Mapusa. For that > he > was arrested, beaten, and had his head shaved. Punished for shouting Viva > Goa in > Goa itself? > I lived in Bombay from 1939 to mid-1956 and never felt that India was > not a > democracy. For several of those years I was with the newspapers, holding key > > > ________________ > From: Paulo Colaco Dias > To: "Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!" > Sent: Thu, December 9, 2010 9:20:32 AM > Subject: Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro > > Thank you Gabriel, those are excellent points for discussion. It would be > really > nice if we could get the entire episodes regarding Roldao and the > difficulties > of the Goans in Bombay who were even forced to change their names to succeed > in > life and to erase their similarities with Portuguese names. > It shows what kind of Democratic country the Indian Union was in the post > 1947 - > 1970 years... > > And then some of us claim that India got democracy much before Goa, that it > was > good, that there was freedom of speech, etc, etc. Yeah. Right! All in paper, > of > course. > > There is no full freedom of speech in India even today. > There are publications and books that are still banned in India today and > you > can get arrested if caught with a banned book. > There are politicians in Goa being arrested and people prevented from > exercising > their rights to do public demonstrations, etc. > > That is the democracy in India today. And it is much better today. In the > first > few years after 1961, it was exactly the same as during Portuguese times, or > > worse. Goa even had a one entire year of Martial Law post 1961. > > What an excellent way of welcoming Goa into the motherland. > > Best regards > Paulo. > > -Original Message- > From: goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org > [mailto:goanet-boun...@lists.goanet.org] > On Behalf Of Gabriel de Figueiredo > Sent: 09 December 2010 07:03 > To: Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994! > Subject: Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro > > I hope you can also give a blow-by-blow account of how Roldao was beaten up > by > the Bombay police and the method of his escape from Bombay to Goa, with his > family. > > > Perhaps you could also read about how Goans in Bombay, who resisted the > Indian > moves to change their attitude towards the Portuguese, were treated, e.g. > editors of some prominent Goan publications. > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 9.0.872 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3306 - Release Date: 12/10/10 > 19:35:00 > >
Re: [Goanet] I Am Questioned By The Dreaded Agente Monteiro
Marshall, I might add I (and probably the others too) have a lot of fun while doing it :-) The pleasure is entirely mine, and am not just being polite here! FN Frederick Noronha :: +91-9822122436 :: +91-832-2409490 On 12 December 2010 14:43, Marshall Mendonza wrote: > > > Response: > Thanks a ton Eddie for the weblinks. We are indeed indebted to people like > you, Frederick, JoeGoaUK, Eddie Verdes and several others for giving > selflessly and being such a rich resource on all matters relating to Goa. > We > find it so easy to castigate people for the smallest faults but are loath > to > recognize or appreciate people for their contributions. In this season of > advent, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, the Goanet > administration, Eddie Verdes, JoaGoaUk and all those who have helped in > enriching our lives and expanding our horizons.
