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Sign Spotting in Panjim
Painted words in our capital city
By Cecil Pinto
I had heard whispers about the Catholic Church in Goa being very
discriminatory, and not treating the faithful equally. I didn't quite
believe this until I visited the Immaculate Conception Church in
Panjim the other day. There near the parking lot, a good ten meters
away from the church walls, was a sign, PLACE FOR CRACKERS. How they
knew about my unplanned visit, is beyond me but I felt very offended.
Why should crackers (and I assume crackpots) be made to stand so far
away from the church? I didn't see any specific signs for duffers,
dimwits or dummies - but I am sure they exist.
At the other end of Panjim we have a relatively new road past Branco
Bar leading to Taleigao. At two places on this road are traffic signs
that clearly warn, HUMP AHEAD. Now I know that Taleigao isn't
exactly known for its civic sense but to put it so bluntly, that
you're going to get screwed, is, I think, in bad taste.
Coming back to the city one sees, below Clube Nacional, PIO'S BAR AND
COLDDRINKS. How very refreshingly honest. Every two-table
hole-in-the-wall alcohol vending establishment announces itself as a
Bar Restaurant when most of them don't even have a kitchen. Why
can't we have Magdelena Drinks and Music or Shirodkar Booze and
Grams. The other nicely named bar in Panjim is VEE BEES INN on A.
B. Road. What a delightfully Goan-English was of saying We are Open.
You find a lot of Filhos in the older sections of the city,
meaning Sons as well as Irmao, basically meaning Brother.
I somehow like the sound of Irmao compared to which Bros sounds
very pop and kitschy. Strangely enough, in all my sign spotting, here
and in other states, I have never encountered Daughters or
Sisters. The pursuit of business seems to be, even now, restricted to
the male members of the family. With so many women entrepreneurs
around I hope we see more firm names with Sisters and Daughters
included.
A huge circular sign on Souza Building opposite the Municipal Garden
announces CLUB VASCO DA GAMA, whereas a smaller blue board on the
same building proclaims CLUBE VASCO DA GAMA. I don't know the
technical distinction between a Club and a Clube, but somehow the
latter sounds more appealing.
In the area near National Cinema you will find a large old style
barber's shop (with a little wooden horse for small boys) named
BARBERIA NOVA SUCURSAL, probably the biggest hair cutting salon in
Goa. Behind this shop you will find a small shop, about as big as a
billiards table, with the fancy name CASHINATH CAMOTIM IRMAO PVT
LTD.
In the Municipal Building we have the imposing SADASSIVA D. N. COUNTO,
COMERICIO DE MAQUNAS DE COSTURA. I have no need for a sewing machine
but the elegant gold on green and black lettering appeals to me. The
Corporation of the City of Panjim has its own name crudely written in
a jazzy typeface, more appropriate for a disco or ice cream parlour.
A pompous name; a frivolous font – to be expected.
Curiously on its signboard Café Aram also has CAFÉ REMANSO painted
below. Apparently that was the old name, with 'remanso' meaning rest.
How nice that the Hindi avatar means exactly the same thing. There is
a Remanso Hospital in Mapusa which, contrary to rumours, was not named
after Remo Fernandes. HOSPEDARIA VENITE run by the ever hospitable
Luis probably has the same root.
Let me go off track here. Interesting how quite a few businessmen from
Divar are in the foodstuff, pharmaceutical and hospitality industry.
Can a hospital (CMM) also be included under the label of
'hospitality'? Of course one cannot ignore the popular Pereira
brothers from Divar who run a multitude of diverse businesses. All
successful thanks to their hard work, sincerity, vision and
efficiency. Most importantly they are also very much involved in
community activities in Divar - and also source staff and supplies
from locals whenever possible. A business model that is to be admired
and emulated.
Back on track and to the Municipal Building. A very old crudely
handpainted signboard on the corner of Café Aram states, DANGER.
PUBLIC IS HEREBY CAUTIONED NOT TO USE THE CORRIDOR OF THIS PRACA DO
COMMERCIO BLDG SINCE IT HAS BEEN DECLARED UNSAFE BY ORDER PMC. Now
this is a very old signboard. Does that mean the entire passage around
the building is still unsafe and un-repaired after all these years? If
this is so then the grandiosely named Corporation
