Dr. Renato Gracias, of Loutalim and Pune, at 94 one of the most distinguished of all living Goans, has just published a new book on Goa called "A GOAN CRUCIBLE OF MEMORIES - Dedicated to the nuclear generation"
The book is a personal eye-witness account of Goa's history, culture, society, religions, transition from Portuguese to Indian, food, drink, and music, written in a succinct 120 pages. It is written especially for those of us, and especially our children, whose knowledge of these aspects and details of Goa may be lacking or incomplete. The book is priced at only Rs. 100, plus shipping costs, and is available from the Pune Goan Institute, better known as the PGI, by e-mailing it's General Secretary, Mr. Savio Mascarenhas, at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Goans in India can also call Mr. Mascarenhas on his mobile phone at 9890840000 or the PGI Manager, Mr. Suraj Singh at 26137189. The area code for Pune is 20. Goans in the US or Canada can e-mail me to buy a few copies that Dr. Gracias, a lifelong family friend, gave me to sell for him. He has also requested that Goanet members publicize this new book on other Goan cyber-forums and Goan associations that they may belong to. To those unfamiliar with Dr. Gracias, he was born in Loutolim on January 28, 1912. He is a graduate of St. Xavier's College and Grant Medical College in Mumbai. After serving in the Indian Army Medical Corp, he joined the Municipal Corporation of Pune in 1952, rising to Medical Officer of Health, and retiring in 1970. He is an expert in Infectious diseases and a prolific writer on medical subjects in medical journals. He was honored by the Vatican and awarded the "Pro eclesia et Pontifica" and a Papal Knighthood for his social service. He has been President of India Catholic Association, President of St. Luke's Medical Guild, President of the Catholic Credit Society, President of the Pune Goan Institute and a member of the Congress Party Executive Committee. He was consulted by Mother Theresa before she started her ministry in Pune, and advised her to inform the police before she started picking the sick and destitute off the streets, which she did, thus avoiding charges of religious exploitation. He was subsequently awarded the Mother Theresa distinguished service award in October 2005.
