Re: [Goanet] Into the Diaspora Wilderness. . . .
DAN DRISCOLL wrote: > One tiny quibble. Outside of the book-launch venue there was a caterer > table with coffee and sandwichs. Being a bit peckish, after the long drive, > I tried to engage the young custodian, to find out if I might partake. He > seemed totally unable to relate to my query in English, and when my Konkani > friends intervened he seemed not to comprehend Konkani either. All we could > get out of him was a shake of the head. --- Dan, My first guess was that maybe my old friend Cecil Pinto was masquerading as a custodian in order to take total control of the refreshment table. Then JoeUKGoa sent us the pictorial clue. Here is why the custodian could not relate to your question in English or Konkani. The guy has on display, "MUSH RUM SAND WITCH." After a few of those, I too would be shaking my head at anyone wanting to get their hands on the same... http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk28/4937709884/ Mervyn666Lobo * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Goa-launch of the well-received *Into The Diaspora Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho on Aug 29, 2010 (Sunday) at 11 am at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Meet the author, buy a signed copy (only Rs 295 in Goa till stock lasts). http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
Re: [Goanet] Into the Diaspora Wilderness. . . .
The Rajindra Bhavan has a morgue feel to it and the new Goa Medical College Hospital comes close (when you get in there, one feels like getting into another dimension, post haste)! These new buildings are horrible. The old Goa Med was lovely, inspite of the over crowding, it was airy, well-lit and it was easy to smuggle feni to the patients to ease their suffering! These old buildings should be the standard one would think! To the critics who will ask, whats wrong with Rajendra Bhavan, well everything. To compare, visit the Murmagao Municipal building. Its lovely, even the old colonial yellow paint. Aside from all the greasy folks one bumps into the building, it is a testament to the architectural heritage. And I have said this beforewhat is with the namingRajendra Bhavane? Some dead prime minister has his name stuck on the Goa Medical college, others to football stadiums? Goa had a rich football history, singing and dancing (and drinking) comes natural to us like our brown skin! We have our own heros. But give it another 2-3 years if the tourism business manages to live, "old Goan' likely will struggle to breath, so it does not matter. Ah, you were looking to relive yourself eh? All the endless cups of chaai etc? You have not acquired the paan habit ya? You are in Goa sa.there are lots of quiet dark corners. How about the field across the Rajendra Bhavan. This is Goa...they ain't got any civic sense, sorry to say! AN DRISCOLL wrote: > Point well taken abt design; the Mario Mirando wall is nice, and Nataraj I > find okay. Wondering about the washroom facilities, for that big hall. Did > not see them. Wall paint peeling and plaster cracking already. The place had > a terribly 'empty' feel to it. Hopefully things will pick up when the > Theatros begin to kick in. We parked out on the road; some cars inside, but > would have to look around for the big parking lot, and a sign pointing to > it! > > On 8/30/10, Pandu Lampiao wrote: >> >> Dan, >> I thought you would notice the gaudy design of the Ravindra Bhavan; >> with a rich architectural history as ours, its rather numbing to see >> sooo many new ugly buildings all around! Take a look at >> some old architecture- its peaceful, unpretentious and >> calming...minimalist, and it reflected on our national (Goan) >> character. The 'new' architecture is ratherare the grease-balls >> called architects sans aesthetics? Guess it says a lot about where we >> are and where we are headed!!! >> >> As for not getting a response in Concani nor English is nothing >> surprising. Myself will have to soon learn to communicate in Kannad, >> no choice there! >> >> Now some nut-case on the GoaNet will write asking me what my >> contribution to architecture is!!! >> >> n Driscoll wrote: >> > Drove down from Panjim, to the New 'Ravindra Bhavan' for this >> book-launch. It looks as if it will be an extremely interesting read, and >> the talk by former MLA Rahulrau (sp?) Gracious was super good. The point he >> makes about 'Colonial history' seems to me very valid; The Region's unique >> character, and current ability to play a lead role in the 'global theatre', >> is consequence of the colonial past. The Colonists were here, and now they >> are gone---both realities should be celebrated. >> > >> > One tiny quibble. Outside of the book-launch venue there was a caterer >> table with coffee and sandwichs. Being a bit peckish, after the long drive, >> I tried to engage the young custodian, to find out if I might partake. He >> seemed totally unable to relate to my query in English, and when my Konkani >> friends intervened he seemed not to comprehend Konkani either. All we could >> get out of him was a shake of the head. Caterer doing business with Ravindra >> Bhavan, or functions held therein, might be well advised to take note of >> that. >> > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * >> > >> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * >> >> Goa-launch of the well-received *Into The Diaspora >> Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho on Aug 29, 2010 (Sunday) at 11 >> am at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Meet the author, buy a signed >> copy (only Rs 295 in Goa till stock lasts). >> http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/ >> > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Goa-launch of the well-received *Into The Diaspora Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho on Aug 29, 2010 (Sunday) at 11 am at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Meet the author, buy a signed copy (only Rs 295 in Goa till stock lasts). http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
Re: [Goanet] Into the Diaspora Wilderness. . . .
Point well taken abt design; the Mario Mirando wall is nice, and Nataraj I find okay. Wondering about the washroom facilities, for that big hall. Did not see them. Wall paint peeling and plaster cracking already. The place had a terribly 'empty' feel to it. Hopefully things will pick up when the Theatros begin to kick in. We parked out on the road; some cars inside, but would have to look around for the big parking lot, and a sign pointing to it! On 8/30/10, Pandu Lampiao wrote: > > Dan, > I thought you would notice the gaudy design of the Ravindra Bhavan; > with a rich architectural history as ours, its rather numbing to see > sooo many new ugly buildings all around! Take a look at > some old architecture- its peaceful, unpretentious and > calming...minimalist, and it reflected on our national (Goan) > character. The 'new' architecture is ratherare the grease-balls > called architects sans aesthetics? Guess it says a lot about where we > are and where we are headed!!! > > As for not getting a response in Concani nor English is nothing > surprising. Myself will have to soon learn to communicate in Kannad, > no choice there! > > Now some nut-case on the GoaNet will write asking me what my > contribution to architecture is!!! > > n Driscoll wrote: > > Drove down from Panjim, to the New 'Ravindra Bhavan' for this > book-launch. It looks as if it will be an extremely interesting read, and > the talk by former MLA Rahulrau (sp?) Gracious was super good. The point he > makes about 'Colonial history' seems to me very valid; The Region's unique > character, and current ability to play a lead role in the 'global theatre', > is consequence of the colonial past. The Colonists were here, and now they > are gone---both realities should be celebrated. > > > > One tiny quibble. Outside of the book-launch venue there was a caterer > table with coffee and sandwichs. Being a bit peckish, after the long drive, > I tried to engage the young custodian, to find out if I might partake. He > seemed totally unable to relate to my query in English, and when my Konkani > friends intervened he seemed not to comprehend Konkani either. All we could > get out of him was a shake of the head. Caterer doing business with Ravindra > Bhavan, or functions held therein, might be well advised to take note of > that. > > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > > > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > > Goa-launch of the well-received *Into The Diaspora > Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho on Aug 29, 2010 (Sunday) at 11 > am at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Meet the author, buy a signed > copy (only Rs 295 in Goa till stock lasts). > http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/ > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Goa-launch of the well-received *Into The Diaspora Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho on Aug 29, 2010 (Sunday) at 11 am at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Meet the author, buy a signed copy (only Rs 295 in Goa till stock lasts). http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
Re: [Goanet] Into the Diaspora Wilderness. . . .
Dan, I thought you would notice the gaudy design of the Ravindra Bhavan; with a rich architectural history as ours, its rather numbing to see sooo many new ugly buildings all around! Take a look at some old architecture- its peaceful, unpretentious and calming...minimalist, and it reflected on our national (Goan) character. The 'new' architecture is ratherare the grease-balls called architects sans aesthetics? Guess it says a lot about where we are and where we are headed!!! As for not getting a response in Concani nor English is nothing surprising. Myself will have to soon learn to communicate in Kannad, no choice there! Now some nut-case on the GoaNet will write asking me what my contribution to architecture is!!! n Driscoll wrote: > Drove down from Panjim, to the New 'Ravindra Bhavan' for this book-launch. It > looks as if it will be an extremely interesting read, and the talk by former > MLA Rahulrau (sp?) Gracious was super good. The point he makes about > 'Colonial history' seems to me very valid; The Region's unique character, and > current ability to play a lead role in the 'global theatre', is consequence > of the colonial past. The Colonists were here, and now they are gone---both > realities should be celebrated. > > One tiny quibble. Outside of the book-launch venue there was a caterer table > with coffee and sandwichs. Being a bit peckish, after the long drive, I tried > to engage the young custodian, to find out if I might partake. He seemed > totally unable to relate to my query in English, and when my Konkani friends > intervened he seemed not to comprehend Konkani either. All we could get out > of him was a shake of the head. Caterer doing business with Ravindra Bhavan, > or functions held therein, might be well advised to take note of that. > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Goa-launch of the well-received *Into The Diaspora Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho on Aug 29, 2010 (Sunday) at 11 am at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Meet the author, buy a signed copy (only Rs 295 in Goa till stock lasts). http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
[Goanet] Into the Diaspora Wilderness. . . .
Drove down from Panjim, to the New 'Ravindra Bhavan' for this book-launch. It looks as if it will be an extremely interesting read, and the talk by former MLA Rahulrau (sp?) Gracious was super good. The point he makes about 'Colonial history' seems to me very valid; The Region's unique character, and current ability to play a lead role in the 'global theatre', is consequence of the colonial past. The Colonists were here, and now they are gone---both realities should be celebrated. One tiny quibble. Outside of the book-launch venue there was a caterer table with coffee and sandwichs. Being a bit peckish, after the long drive, I tried to engage the young custodian, to find out if I might partake. He seemed totally unable to relate to my query in English, and when my Konkani friends intervened he seemed not to comprehend Konkani either. All we could get out of him was a shake of the head. Caterer doing business with Ravindra Bhavan, or functions held therein, might be well advised to take note of that. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Goa-launch of the well-received *Into The Diaspora Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho on Aug 29, 2010 (Sunday) at 11 am at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Meet the author, buy a signed copy (only Rs 295 in Goa till stock lasts). http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
[Goanet] Into the Diaspora Wilderness
Thanks for reading my post and responding. Those who study and report on the past can best help us by providing useful tips (based on the past) on how to improve the present. Or else the researchers are merely churning the pot, using others as a foot-stool to stand-on and not being too intellectual. Unfortunately as you suggest, we see quite a bit of that (demonizing) on goanet, from individuals whom one would have thought should know better. Is that the look of a fish-face?:=)) Regards, GL --- Gabe Menezes It is true without the past there is no present and without the present there is no future. Yet there is some fish face out there who will comment - words to the effect, some dwell on the past. Gilbert Lawrence individual Goans being pioneers and breaking the 'glass ceiling.' This made it much easier for those who followed them. CULTURAL RELATIVITY (which is still a maturing science) studies customs in the context of culture as a whole and how it works relative to the existing environment and socio-economic patterns of the society. This is obviously a much more nuanced study. Cultural Relativity in a multi-cultural society is theoretically enlightening, but in practice it can lead to social disruption, even in today's world. http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/cs_20100724_3946.php * * * UK STOCKS EXHAUSTED! After a community-supported launch at Croydon, Selma Carvalho's *Into the Diaspora Wilderness* is available at Broadways Book Centre, Panjim [Ph +91-9822488564] Price (in Goa only) Rs 295. Ask a friend to pick up a copy. Details of the book http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/ * * *
Re: [Goanet] Into the Diaspora Wilderness
On 28 July 2010 02:15, Gilbert Lawrence wrote: > Selma's book about Diaspora Goans should be a great read. Congratulations > Selma > for your yeomen work. > > Reading some comments on the book, it appears it has a lot of stories on > individual Diaspora Goans. If true, it shows individual Goans being > pioneers > and breaking the 'glass ceiling.' This made it much easier for those who > followed them. I recollect my job in Hammersmith Hospital in London. At > my > interview, the chair asked me if I knew of a prior Goan, who worked there > and > impressed his bosses immensely.. But I digress. > RESPONSE: I join you on congratulating Selma on her book. It is true without the past there is no present and without the present there is no future. Yet there is some fish face out there who will comment - words to the effect, some dwell on the past. -- DEV BOREM KORUM Gabe Menezes. * * * UK STOCKS EXHAUSTED! After a community-supported launch at Croydon, Selma Carvalho's *Into the Diaspora Wilderness* is available at Broadways Book Centre, Panjim [Ph +91-9822488564] Price (in Goa only) Rs 295. Ask a friend to pick up a copy. Details of the book http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/ * * *
Re: [Goanet] Into the Diaspora Wilderness
Selma's book about Diaspora Goans should be a great read. Congratulations Selma for your yeomen work. Reading some comments on the book, it appears it has a lot of stories on individual Diaspora Goans. If true, it shows individual Goans being pioneers and breaking the 'glass ceiling.' This made it much easier for those who followed them. I recollect my job in Hammersmith Hospital in London. At my interview, the chair asked me if I knew of a prior Goan, who worked there and impressed his bosses immensely.. But I digress. In medicine, we call individual patient-story as "anecdotal cases." They are very interesting because these individual cases are rare and their behavior is different from the norm. Yes, they are different from the norm. Hence we cannot / do not rely-on and study the natural history of the disease (or the community) by relying on individual stories, as many sociologists do. I hope in addition to the important individual accounts, the book has abundant statistical information; a fact not often seen in Goa-related books and writings. When we rely on accounts of yester-years (about Goans abroad OR foreigners in Goa), we often refer to the science of ETHNOCENTRISM. Only recently we have realized the science of CULTURAL RELATIVITY. ETHNOCENTRISM is to see one's "way of life" as the only "right way" of living. Ethnocentrism continues to exists in theory and practice by conservative writers and authoritarian governments, both on the left and right of the political spectrum. In its extreme, ethnocentrism leads to bigotry. CULTURAL RELATIVITY (which is still a maturing science) studies customs in the context of culture as a whole and how it works relative to the existing environment and socio-economic patterns of the society. This is obviously a much more nuanced study. Cultural Relativity in a multi-cultural society is theoretically enlightening, but in practice it can lead to social disruption, even in today's world. http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/cs_20100724_3946.php I am amazed that many Goans who write about yester-year over-look and do not appreciate the distinction and the time-lag between these two sciences. Sociologists and historians of the ethnocentrism era blundered in their observation and in their conclusions. Hope the present generation of scientists in these fields do not commit similar blunders, as they analyze the past, without separations along the time-line. It is like analyzing medicine of 15th -19th century by today's standards. Then, the standard scientific therapy for most illnesses was blood letting, purges, enemas etc, to "remove the bad poisons / humors". Regards, GL * * * UK STOCKS EXHAUSTED! After a community-supported launch at Croydon, Selma Carvalho's *Into the Diaspora Wilderness* is available at Broadways Book Centre, Panjim [Ph +91-9822488564] Price (in Goa only) Rs 295. Ask a friend to pick up a copy. Details of the book http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/ * * *
[Goanet] Into the Diaspora Wilderness
As you know for sometime I have been working on a community project collecting stories of the Goan community in the Diasporas of the Gulf, North America, England and Africa. Availing of the opportunity the UK Goan festival affords and working with Eddie Fernandes of Goan Voice UK, I am releasing through Goan Voice UK, excerpts from Into the Diaspora Wilderness. These excerpts have been chosen bearing in mind the audience at the festival, which will be predominantly E. African Goan. Your feedback will be most welcome. http://goanvoice.org.uk/supplement/diasporaexcerpts.html best, selma
