Goans from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, UAE receive Leadership Awards

-by gasper crasto / Kuwait

In a brief function 'CONFERENCE ON INDIAN EXPARTRIATES IN THE GULF COUNTRIES' held at the Convention Hall, Hotel Mandovi, Panaji on 29th March 2008, the NRI Affairs Directorate of Goa Government presented Leadership Awards for community service to well known Goans from the Gulf for recognition of their social activities towards the Indian community.

The honorable recipients:

Bahrain: Mr. Francis Correia, Mr. Gabriel R. Crasto, and Mr. Alfred D’Souza.

Kuwait: Dr Jaganath Ramnath Chodankar, Mr Alex Wilson Coelho, and Mr. Carmo Santos

Oman: Dr Mario Carmo de Souza , and Mr Celso Vincent Andre Fernandes

Qatar: Mr Simon D'Silva

UAE: Mr. Ramnath Arjuna Mavlingcar
Dubai: Mr Rockson Rufus Rodrigues

(Delhi): Ms Suman Anand Kurade

The Conference was inaugurated by Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi. The function was presided over by Commissioner of NRI Affairs Shri Eduardo Faleiro while Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Digambar Kamat was the Chief Guest.

FRANCIS CORREIA

Francis Correia, hailing from Cansaulim, a resident of Bahrain since 1974, is employed with Ahmed Mansoor Al A’Ali as Manager of the Real Estate Division. He has been involved in community services from the time he arrived into Bahrain and has served the community in different fields. Correia has provided legal, medical and financial aid to a large number of Goans and members of other expatriate communities. Through the Indian Embassy and Ministry of Labour, he has resolved many disputes of laborers and domestic helpers. He has assisted many with sponsorship problems or to find alternate employment. He has actively participated in events to help the local charities as well.

Correia was honoured by the Ministry of Social Affairs in 1987 for his active participation in organizing festivities of expatriate societies and clubs to celebrate the Bahrain National Day.

He was elected as General Secretary of Young Goans Club, way back in 1979 and served on the Managing committee several times. During his tenure with the club he was able to interact with Goans from other Gulf and European Countries in organizing sports and social events.

Correia is the main person involved in organizing Konkani tiatr events in Bahrain with Goan based and local stage artistes which has helped display Goan culture and heritage in the Gulf and keep Konkani alive and popular. He has also used his status and position to organize visits by political, religious, social leaders from Goa. He is currently the President of Young Goans Club.

Correia is also a coordinator of the Konkani Community of the Sacred Heart Church.

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G.R. CRASTO

Gabriel R. Crasto made headlines last year when he was awarded the ‘Man of the Year Award’ by the Goan Review Art Foundation, Mumbai for his services linked to the Goan community in Bahrain and the Konkani language. Crasto, a popular Master Compere (MC) among the Goan community in Bahrain is always at the forefront of social, cultural and sporting events. He has utilized these opportunities to showcase Konkani, Goan culture, heritage and identity of Goans in Bahrain.

“For me, organizing such events is always a dual purpose,” stated Crasto. “It gives an opportunity for the talented members of Goan community based here to display their art and whatever little income is generated from such events is diverted to help the needy.”

In association with other community groups, Crasto has organized functions to felicitate and honor outstanding sportspersons and stage artistes of the Goan origin. He is always at hand to help those in need of his services - either to coordinate with the Indian Embassy or the local Government agencies. A resident of Bahrain for the last 25 years, he is employed with Mohammed Jalal & Sons as Manager in their Travel Division. Being in the travel field, Crasto was influential in obtaining special fares from Air India for Goans during the Exposition of St. Francis Xavier.
A freelance journalist, Crasto hails from Navelim. He covers the activities of Goans in Bahrain through his writings in magazines published from Goa. In his younger days Crasto worked as a correspondent of West Coast Times (English daily), Novem Goem and Goencho Mog, etc.

In December 2007, Crasto was honored by the Young Goans Club for his contribution to community welfare. He has served several terms on the Managing Committee of the Club in different positions in the past. He is the Chairman of Bahrain Goans Football League and a member of the Konkani Community Committee of the Sacred heart Church.

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ALFRED D'SOUZA

Since coming to Bahrain over 20 years ago, Alfredo D’Souza, has always volunteered his time and services for the poor of the community. He is also a founder member of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights Migrant Worker's Group since 2002. Alfredo has been on the Legal Aid Cell of the Indian Community Services which comes under the auspices of the Indian Embassy. Alfredo works very closely with the Indian Embassy in Bahrain to help 'Laborers and Domestic Workers'. He is also a life member of the Royal Society of St George Charity organization.
Alfredo has been instrumental in starting the first ever 'Shelter for abused domestic helpers' and for well over 10 years has been defending the 'Human Rights' of the poor laborers and domestic helpers who have been abused by their employers and are helpless, even before the formation of the first Migrant Worker's Group in Bahrain.

Alfredo D’Souza is founder member and currently the Vice Chairman of the Migrant Workers Protection Society.

DANIEL F. D'SOUZA WINS FLORIAN VAZ AWARD

DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF GOA.

DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF GOA

Oh, my Goa My heart cries and bleeds for you.
You have lost your past charm, glory and pride which will be difficult to restore.
Now you are sinking and stinking in every field of life!
Our politicians care for themselves.
They have accumulated wealth for generations.
Yet they are ready to sell themselves provided they get a mega price.
Every Panch wants to be a Sarpanch.
Every Sarpanch desires to become a MLA.
Every MLA desires to be a CM or at least a Cabinet Minister!
Throughout the year in Goa we are entertained through their political circus.

Mine owners raped our hills and forests for years.
Now they are further molested and destroyed with the blessings of our politicians,‘Developers’, SEZ and IT Park promoters.
We abandoned our ancestral bungalows in villages and preferred to live in flats in crowded towns without realizing that in flats our mentality has become flat and static.
Visionless and haphazard development desecrated the natural greenery and aesthetic beauty.
We have become blind and immune to the plastic and garbage menace.
Our beaches and roads have become death traps.
Accidents, drowning in the sea, suicides,thefts, burglaries, dacoity kidnapping, rapes, molestation, sex abuse and murders have become norm of the day.
We have become accustomed to these things.
Without them our newspapers are tasteless and lifeless.
When we read these things in our news papers or see them on TV channels we are hardly touched by their horror.

Bars, Beauty parlours (massage parlours?),paedophilia, prostitution, sex tourism bloom with pride.
Alcoholism, drug addiction, Ghutka and Matka flourish with the support of many.
For all seasons and reasons Goa has become a permanent holiday resort to everyone. Uncontrolled tourism destroyed our land and people.
God alone knows how many of us are affected by AIDS!
It is said “Three W’s (wealth, wine and women) ruin a man.
”Here in Goa we are reduced to wreckage from A to Z.
We have drowned our age old morality and values in the depths of the Arabian sea.

Religious leaders are busy with religiosity they have not cared to understand the spirit of spirituality.
They use religion as an income generating activity.
Religion has become mere rituals and festivals.
Road side crosses, temples and shrines are built not to give glory to the Mighty Lord but for our own pride and hidden motives.
Though Goa is part of the mainland Our mentality continues to be that of islanders.
We take pride that we are Goans but none of us are capable to define the meaning of ‘Goan’.
We have lost our cultural and linguistic identity.
Majority community speaks Konknni but takes pride in Marathi.
Minority community is even ashamed to speak Konknni.
Konknni is considered the ‘spoken dialect’ of Dalits and Konknne Butlers’ English (Tambddi Inglez) has become pride of their personality.
Written Konknni in Devanagari survives with the government patronage.
It has become a gold mine for some to survive and dominate.
Since it lacks the support of the masses it will exist till the mine lasts.
The future of Konknni in Roman script is not so bright.
We are heading towards to become an Anglo-Indian community.
We hide our inferiority complex under different masks.
One of those masks which we are afraid to shed is our pride in the territorial identity ‘Goans’!
In the rest of the India the identity of a person is defined by his/her language affiliation.

Kashmiri speakers become Kashmiris, Sindhi speakers become Sindhis.
Konknni speakers should have become Konknnis. But alas!
We islanders take pride as Goans! without knowing what it means And address others as ‘Ghattis’.
Yet we proclaim as most peace loving, cultured, susegad people.
Truly speaking we are the most lethargic, selfish, self centred people.
We lack unity and vision.We faithfully believe and practice crab mentality.
Therefore we lack dynamic solidarity.
The success of Konknni Nirontori has shifted the centre of Konknni from Goa to Karnataka.
Truly speaking Goa was never the centre of Konknni.
Goans are ready to speak and associate with any language except their own mother tongue Konknni – lingua criados.
Probably, if written Konknni survives in the future it will survive in Kannada script in Karnataka.
Goa will become linguistically and culturally a barren wilderness.
Politically Goa is ruined. Culturally it is uprooted. Socially it is caste rooted. Psychologically it is shattered. Morally it is degraded.Ecologically it is polluted. Spiritually it is deprived. Aesthetically it is destroyed. Educationally it is disoriented. Economically it is lop-sided. Linguistically it is divided.
My Goa seems to have reached a point of non-returna state of beyond redemption.
Mother Goa is filled with wounds, injuries, bruises and scars.
Yet who cares for her pain and agony?Her cross becomes heavier everyday.She is crushed with shame.
She has lost her face and fame.Everyday has become for her “Good Friday”.
She waits for her resurrection. Who will be able to redeem her from her lost glory except her own children who know her true story?

Pratap Naik, sj
Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr,
B.B.Borkar Road,
Alto Porvorim Goa – 403 521.

Hot line-up on the cards: CRCC Semis & Finals on Friday

-by gasper crasto

Kuwait's four of the topmost teams will fight for a place in the finals of the 16th Edition of 9-aside soccer tournament being organized by CRC Chinchinim at Salmiya Grounds. The semifinals will be played on Friday 28th March 2008 followed by a grand finale.

Navelim Youth Centre will cross swords with arch rivals GOA Maroons in the first semifinal while Kuwait Goan Association will take on DHL in the second. The games will begin at 7:30am sharp.

President of CRCC Mr. Bosco Leitao has extended an invitation to all football lovers to attend the final day games.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD

CRCC instituted Athlete of the Year Award will also be given at the finals. The prestigious award is given by the club to the most deserving sports personality with years of dedication to the sport of football.

Following is the list of 'Athlete of the Year' award winners over the years:

1. Alcantra Barretto (Navelim Youth Centre) – 1994-1995
2. Francis Machado (CRC Chinchinim) - 1996
3. V.K.Vohra (ex-President of KIFF) - 1997
4. Inacio Faleiro (ex-President of KIFF) - 1998
5. Tony Coutinho (GOA Maroons) - 1999
6. Judas Fernandes (CRC Chinchinim) - 2000
7. Cajetan Godinho (Veterans XI) – 2001
8. Joseph Salema (United Goans Centre) - 2002
9. Sarto Baptista (United Friends Club) - 2003
10. Gasper Crasto (Navelim Youth Centre) - 2004
11. Gajendra Pillay (GOA Maroons) - 2005
12. Tony Dias (ex-President KIFF & Santos FC) - 2006
13. Julio Cardoso ( GOA Maroons) – 2007

About:Cultural & Recreational Club of Chinchinim - Kuwait

CRCC – Kuwait (Cultural and Recreational club of Chinchinim) as the name indicates is an organization for chinchonkars who are based in Kuwait.

Founded in 1992, by only a handful of chinchonkars, the CRCC Kuwait started initially as a soccer club. At the same time they also founded the CRC tournament which was also known as the BBK trophy because of the financial backing by the Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait.

The club also organizes annual picnics for its members and their families in addition to other get-togethers held during the year.

In 1994, the club members decided to organize a Christmas dance party. And so December 12th of 1994 marked the beginning of what was to become a very successful annual event in the Goan calendar in Kuwait. Every year since then the annual 'Fiesta' has been held during the Christmas season.

Remarkably, CRCC Kuwait has only had two presidents since its birth. Mr. Anselmo Furtado and Mr. Bosco Leitao. They along with the backing of other committed members have helped make the CRCC name one of class and prestige.

From the very beginning, CRCC had established a scholarship fund for the bright and upcoming students of the Chinchinim village. This scholarship was awarded to chinchonkar student toppers in all the various schools in the village back home.

In addition to helping the village, the club has also aided other organizations when in need. This has not been limited to Goan organizations or needs only. The club also looks after its members in Kuwait and uses its collective influence to assist everyone.

The CRCC is still a young club, but it has earned a lot of recognition for its achievements in Kuwait. And surely the best is yet to come!

Prince Jacob arrives in Kuwait to launch Padri

Photos sent by Domnic Araujo kalamogui@gmail.com

TIATR LOVERS IN FOR A GOOD TREAT.

TIATR LOVERS IN FOR A GOOD TREAT.

By: Daniel F. de Souza.

It’s Easter time once again. It’s time to break the long spell of fasting and abstinence. It’s also the time of the year in Goa when the Konkani stage gets ready for a new season and new releases. This Easter time is no exception though.With the exception of perhaps Rose Ferns and Menino de Bandar who are both continuing with their same shows viz ‘Maim Tuzo Upkari Hanv’ and ‘Taxi Driver’, all the other playwrights are getting set and giving final touches to their new ventures scheduled to go on stage at Easter time.

The showman of the Konkani stage Prince Jacob is going to bring forth something very colourful and enchanting with his new release ‘Rong’. The show was earlier released in Mumbai last month and has had a good response from Mumbaikars. MaRIO Menezes who takes prides in calling himself the ‘Director with continuous hits’ even though his show last season ‘Tumi Tumche Dolle Ugddat’ did not come anywhere close to his earlier known hits, has declared his new show a tiatr entitled ‘Ghorabeache Vantte’. Don’t be surprised if after the first two shows, you get to see an advertisement that loudly claims it as ‘Declared Hit’! A small piece of advice to my good friend MaRIO though…. he’s got to pay a little more attention to the comedy this time, for with the exit of Ambe and Agostinho his original pair of comedians, this department in his last show was found to be vulnerable.

John D’Silva the playwright known for his high standard script, is driving on a success wave last two seasons, and this time he has got to maintain the tempo and the lead. He is releasing his new tiatr ‘Ekvott’ with his original cast. But, the surprise inclusion is John’s youngest son Benhur Shaan who is taking a bow for the first time on konkani stage . Oh what a name that is! Let’s hope performance-wise he lives up to his name. The Prince of centuries Pascoal Rodrigues is out to tempt tiatr lovers this Easter season with his latest venture ‘Tallni’. Incidentally this is his 44th stage production. The dramatist pair of Anil-Olga is also releasing their new show this Easter season, ‘Ghavo Tuka Dukh Mhaka’ . The artist to be watched however is Fermino of the ‘Nagappa’ role fame. The earlier productions of this pair have had good runs and this show should obviously go a step further in all respects.

Cyril Almeida and Soccoro de Santa Cruz are releasing their joint venture ‘Koddu Soth’ which promises to give powerful songs and comedy. Comedian Ambe who is now wearing the crown of a playwright is releasing his new venture a tiatr entitled ‘Kallem Mazor’. Whether the ‘Black cat’ will bring him bigger and better luck this time, one cannot predict. But, I am sure Ambe is going through a stressful time on the eve of his release, with his mainstay artist Felcy still convalescing from a knee injury she suffered recently in a bus accident. We wish Ambe all the very best. I hope and pray Felcy makes a fast recovery and gets back to the stage as early as possible.

Comedian Agostinho, who had a dream run last season with his tiatr ‘Sir’ is coming up with his new venture ‘Police’ that is set for release on 23rd March. I really admire this man who has the presence of mind to bring forth interesting and contemporary plots in the plays he has produced so far. His title this time is surely a winning one and good enough to arouse curiosity thereby drawing crowds to the theatres. I want to share what a little bird told me recently, believe me, Agostinho is going to depict the ‘man-in-uniform’ in good light! The Policemen can breathe easy now. ‘Sun Tea Gharachi’ is the new show of Jr. Reagan schedule for release in early April. The director has roped in big names like Wilmix-Sharon, Osvy Viegas, Fatima, and Anthony San. Ives Tavares who has earlier given hits such as ‘Bhitorlea Monacho Munis’ and ‘Don tonndancho munis’ is now venturing out with yet another new tiatr with similar title ‘Dusreachem Padd ghalpi Munis’. The show goes on stage on 28th March. On Easter Sunday A.M. Productions is releasing ‘Duddvank Man Devak Okman’.

Comedians Domnic and Luis Bachchan are continuing with their show Rupem Bhangar Maginai’ till the month of May. So is the case with Rose Ferns too who has declared that his show ‘Maim Tuzo Upkari Hanv’ will run till May 2008. International Jet speed political singer William de Curtorim will make his presence strongly felt this season with his show ‘Panch Bailancho Ghorkar Bhurgeank Posta Serkar’ . The highlight of this show will be 4 hit political solos coming from William himself. ‘Anthony Sylvester’s traditional tiatr ‘Don’t worry Be Happy’ will also continue in the new season and go beyond the monsoons.

One playwright who is calculating his time to strike with his new release in style is none other than Mariano Fernandes, the most successful director last season. Known for his super-cast line-up and good morale stories, Mariano who is back from a long overseas tour to the Gulf is coming out in early June with his new tiatr ‘Sorg Sonvsar Ifern’!

The discerning tiatr lover has a wide choice to make his weekend pleasant beginning this Easter Sunday. Make your choice, and book your tickets in advance, but, please do not buy tickets in the black market. Say ‘no’ to black marketeering, say ‘yes’ to advance booking! Happy Easter and Happy viewing to you all.

Norman Cardozo – the man who revolutionised background music in tiatrs.

Daniel F. de Souza.

The konkani stage has seen many great musicians over the last many decades who have given their valuable talents to enrich Konkani music and thus making it popular among music lovers. Good music is essential for the success of any tiatr and so is a good music director. One musician who has worked his way up to the top in Konkani music with determination and perseverance and won him the enviable tag of Music director is non other than Norman Cardozo. Today Norman’s name is a part of most of the Konkani music albums produced in Goa.

Norman’s mother Flemina Cardozo sharing the glory and honours as she proudly holds the Gulab Award 2002 alongside her son.

Recently I had the opportunity to speak to this soft spoken, rather shy and very warm hearted musician who has trotted across the globe on professional assignments from the Gulf States to Europe, and far across the Pacific to Canada with his keyboards, taking konkani music to the world. Born in the picturesque village of Nuvem, in Salcette Norman had his primary education in Mae dos Pobres school there. Thereafter for his secondary schooling he was sent as a boarder to St. Joseph’s High School in Calangute. Having finished school through St. Joseph’s, Norman came back to R.M.S. (Damodar) Higher Secondary in Margao to continue up to XII STD.

Recalling his younger days Norman recalls fondly “ My parents were tiatr goers and I would accompany them during my childhood years. But, somehow I would push my way up to the stage and get enchanted watching the drummer at work from close quarters. On returning back home I would try imitating the drummer’s stunts using empty tins and creating all types of sound! My joining St. Joseph’s High school in Calangute helped me to further my interest in music. It was here at the age of 12 that I picked up the guitar and learned to play the same. Gradually, I was fascinated seeing the ‘Harmonium’ in the school chapel and I would make time to explore the same. I began exploring the chords from the guitar on to the harmonium. It was quite tough in the beginning without anybody’s guidance, but, with perseverance I managed to locate the chords on the harmonium. This thrilled me that I could handle two musical instruments effortlessly. ” For a musically inclined youth his age, it was not unusual to try his hands at different instruments. Taking advantage of the opportunities his school campus offered him, young Norman later began shifting his eyes to the Keyboards. It was a gradual shift no doubt, but, it was surely going to make a tremendous impact on his career which Norman did not realize in his teenage years.

Like any youngster his age, Norman was raring to go as a musician. He found the opportunity after he finished his SSC. Norman immediately joined a local beat group ‘Genesis’ as their vocalist and lead guitarist. He did a two year stint with ‘Genesis’. It was however, in the late 80’s that opportunity came knocking in the form of an assignment to play for a tiatr band in playwright Pascoal Rodrigues’ ‘Rozar’. He was taken in as the lead guitarist. More openings followed with other tiatr assignments as a guitarist, and he merrily obliged. But, the real good break came Norman’s way when Mario de Vasco entrusted him to provide music and background music in his new venture ‘Dumph’ on the keyboards under the guidance of Maestro the late C.P. Dias. Keyboards for live tiatr music were a still unheard of concept then, and hence the change did bring in some innovations and people accepted Norman on the keyboards for his talents.

Going down memory lane Norman said “ My brief encounters in music and the slow progress did not quite impress my mother. She was worried for me and my future. She coaxed me to take up a job overseas. On her advise I took up a job in Qatar on the rigs and worked there for 4 years. But, honestly while bodily I was there, my heart and soul was in Goa and into Konkani music. I filled the void by listening to Konkani music through audio cassettes and CDs and kept the desire alive”.

It was only on his return back to Goa from Qatar in 2000, that through Lawry Travasso he got introduced to playwright Mario Menezes, and from there on his career as full time musician literally took wings. There has been no looking back since then for this talented keyboardist. “Mario Menezes wanted some different background music in his play, he had confidence in me and gave me a free hand to experiment, at the same time demanding performance” remembers Norman. Mario’s show ‘He Chukhik Bhogsonnem Asa?’ took Norman to new heights in introducing out of the way and exceptional background music on the keyboards in tiatrs. Norman had arrived.

Norman Cardozo has bagged the prestigious ‘Gulab Award’ twice for konkani music in Mario Menezes show ‘Mhoji Maim Mhoji dusman’ (2002) and once again for Donald’s tiatr ‘Pallam’ in 2007. So far Norman has provided and scored music independently for nearly 30 odd Konkani music albums and equal number of VCD films too. Besides, he has played the keyboards for innumerable audio CD albums. During his musical evenings with drummer late James Rebello and his wife Vera at their Restaurant Picket Fences in Seraulim, Norman was spotted by nightingale Lorna, and that was beginning of another fairytale. Thereafter Norman has accompanied Lorna as her solo accompanist on the keyboard dishing out Chris Perry’s music during her long tours to entire Gulf, U.K., France, and Portugal, in Europe and in Canada too. He is a regular and frequent flyer to the Gulf for shows all throughout the year.

Lately Norman came in the news for a once in a lifetime event when he got the opportunity to play together with Elvis Goes’ cultural troupe at the Kalangan in Mangalore for the ‘Nirantori’ show organized by Eric Ozario, which catapulted Konkani music in the Guinness world record. ‘Ours was the only troupe in the show that performed with our own orchestra. We performed non-stop for one hour and did 15 songs without a break. I sincerely believe there was a ‘Hand of God’ a-la-Maradona in this event, by way of which I got my name featured in the Guinness record. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity’ said a beaming Norman in conversation with me.

While he is at the height of his career, Norman has not forgotten his formative years and reminisces “ In the beginning Edwin D’Costa of Nuvem has given me a lot of guidance, encouragement and imparted basic knowledge in music. I am thankful to him.” Among the present day younger singers on stage Norman holds, young and up-coming Alria Rose as highly talented. ‘We need talents like her, she is confident and can fire on all cylinders like her legendary father the late Alfred Rose. Wish to see her more on the stage.”

Before parting ways with him Norman had this message “ My message to the youngsters is, if you have a liking for music, go into it in a proper way, learn the Solfegio, and at the same time develop your natural ear for music. Work hard, believe in yourself and be committed. ”

IN SUPPORT OF TIBET'S FREEDOM.

IN SUPPORT OF TIBET'S FREEDOM AND
IN CONDEMNATION OF COMMUNIST CHINA.

With my head down in shame over the silence of major portion of the world with regards to the current brutalities conducted in an organized manner by the communist China against the freedom loving people of Tibet, I strongly condemn the communist Chinese authorities for its repression and suppression of Tibetans in Tibet. To treat the Tibetan Monks so harshly and cruelly is worst than Hitlerian tactics during the Nazi era in Germany and elsewhere where Hitlerism was rampant. Communist China has got very bad habit of promoting its policy of expansionism and thru this policy it annexed Tibet and a huge portion of Indian Territory in its unexpected war with India in 1962. Not satisfied with it, communist China is now trying to annex the other capitalist half of it – Taiwan - and until this is done communist China will never allow peaceful sleep to Taiwan. One bad habit of communists is this that they use brute force to suppress the people’s aspiration and freedom thereby making them as slaves. But human being is human being and being so he will surely seek for freedom and more freedom. For this reason after about 80 years of suppression and repression by the communists in the Eastern Europe headed by Soviet Russia, communism collapsed like a pack of cards. Soviet Russia, Yugoslavia, Poland, East Germany and other parts in Eastern Europe with their communist Governments disappeared from the planet like ether and in the same manner communism in China will also disappear. To happen this, time is not far. In the preceding years we have seen in communist China how some dissidents and youth fought for their human freedom which is under the bondage of Beijing. Tibetans have already shown the way how to fight for human freedom and human rights which are suppressed there.

Those very many people who had no proper knowledge of Communist Chinese annexation of Tibet now came to know the real truth. In the name of Beijing Olympics the cruelties and brutalities of communist China are bared to the entire world. Tibetans in their current struggle may not be successful in acquiring independence for them but surely they are successful in making the world aware of their rights and shaming communist China for denying Tibetans of their rights. Communist China is simply blaming Dalai Lama the spiritual leader of Tibetans who is openly preaching in a Gandhian way non-violence and moreover he openly and loudly said that he is not asking independence for Tibet but just an autonomy. By asking autonomy at least Tibetans will retain and maintain their culture, tradition, folklore, history and demographic structure intact otherwise under communist China all these factors are getting liquidated because Tibet is getting submerged with the influx of communist Chinese influence. By Judaising Palestine, Palestinian Arabs lost its originality and in a few years time if things are not changing in favour of Arabs, Palestinian Arabs will even lose their souls. In Goa after it was annexed by India in December 1961, Goa lost much of its originality. It lost its demographic Goan structure because it is getting submerged by the influx of non-Goans who induct in Goa their own cultural, traditional, linguistic and other attributes mainly ugly, making Goa and Goans lose their originality. Besides, with the conspiracy hatched in New Delhi to liquidate originality of Goa and Goans, Goa is under seize by the non Goans who are inducting all criminal and other dirty attributes in Goa which were not known to Goa and Goans earlier.

I applaud Dalal Lama at least asking for autonomy to keep Tibet, Tibetans and everything related to them alive. Though it is not the best solution compared to total independence yet something is better than nothing. Dalai Lama and other Tibetans wherever they may be, must make their voice very loud and clear because world is listening to their voice. Beijing Olympics is round the corner and this is the right opportunity for Tibetans to impress upon the world of their plight under communist China. History tells us that sports and sportsmen all around the world have strongly fought for social causes, human freedom and human liberation. Mohd. Ali the Boxer was amply responsible for ending the war in Vietnam by forcing his Government to withdraw from this dirty war. Thru sports, the cause of eradication of apartheid gained momentum in South Africa and Rhodesia. The Nazi supremacy of Hitler was dented only when Jesse Owens and other black athletes conquered the Berlin Olympics in 1936. Soviet Russia was forced to realize its folly of sending its troops to Afghanistan only when USA led Moscow Olympics was sabotaged under the administration of Jimmy Carter. Likewise there are innumerable examples to show the power of sports and sportspersons in sensitizing the sensitive issues and thereby gaining the required results. Tibetan issue is very sensitive. The top sportsmen of the world coming to participate in the Beijing Olympics either must boycott the Beijing Olympics or when in Beijing they must speak out loudly against the communist Chinese subordination of Tibet. Tibet must be freed of communism which is nothing but against its own original principle as propounded by its founder Karl Marx. All freedom loving human beings must raise their voice against the atrocities committed on Tibetans by the communist Chinese regime in Tibet.

The great Indian freedom fighter Lokmanaya Tilak said “Freedom is my birthright and I shall fight for it”. He fought along with others and India got freedom from the repressive British rule. But does India openly support the Tibetans’ right for their freedom? Why India is playing the role of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? How India will in such circumstances acquire the leading role in the community of nations? No taxation without representation, gave the slogan by the great Americans of those days because they had hunger for freedom. But are the current Americans under Bush administration following the path of their forefathers? Why the American administration is not condemning communist Chinese behaviour towards the current happenings in Tibet? Liberty, Equality and Fraternity were the famous slogans French revolutionaries gave not only to its people but also to the world. Why the current Frenchmen are not supporting Tibetans for their liberty from China? And why there is silence from the people who produced Magna Charta? Is Margaret Thatcher required now to make the voice of Great Britain more powerful, more piercing and more vociferous as she did when Kuwait’s freedom was robbed by Saddam’s Iraq?

I am sorry because I along with my colleagues and like minded supporters cannot come on to the streets of Kuwait in support of the suffering Tibetans as I did in Goa during the invasion of Kuwait when I brought thousands of Goans on to the streets in a show of solidarity with invaded Kuwait. But surely I lend my solidarity with Tibetans and Dalai Lama for their struggle against communist China.

Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

In reply to Veronica's article "On Support to Scarlet's Mother"

From: Sandy Trinidade sandygraceful@yahoo.co.in
Date: Mar 21, 2008 8:13 PMSubject:
LETTER TO EDITOR.

To: goa.kranti@gmail.com.

Please publish my views on your blog which I have been browsing on a regular basis.

Thank you very much. I have read your views on the Scarlet Keeling case and I must admitthat your views are right on the button. As you have mentioned in your article that police involved in cover up should be put on trial and I agree with you on this issue. PSI, Nerlon, who is a ghantti (Bandra) tried his level best to mislead the government and the people alike on the course of the investigation. It is important to find out why he resorted to such course of action. Was he acting at the behest of the Home Minister, who has has been accused of colluding with the drug czars in Goa along with his son. Another angle that needs to be investigated is whether the police officer took any kickbacks from the two accused to soft pedal on the case. The remote control CM good ole Digu is trying his level best to shield the home minister who is ostensibly close to him and is a close relative of his wife.

It is also equally important to question the Head of the ForensicsDepartment Dr Sapeco, who submitted an inaccurate report involving the injuries on Scarlett. In the first autopsy report only five wounds were found on the victim while the second post mortem conducted on theBritish girl found a whopping fifty injuries on various parts of her body. What does this indicate? What I feel that there a number of people involved in the cover up of this case and such the case should behanded to the CBI. Only the federal agency is capable of handling the case in a fair and transparent manner. The fact that the Digu has refused to hand over the case to CBI indicates that he is trying to shield some people, who needs to be exposed. ________________________________

SUPPORT SCARLET'S MOTHER "FIONA".

SUPPORT SCARLET'S MOTHER "FIONA"

It is a pity that the poor 15 year old British girl was killed in Anjuna after raping by the Goans. No doubt she lost her precious life in Goa but her death must challenge the flaws operating in Goa in the name of tourism. I must admire Ms Fiona the mother of Scarlet for daring everyone to fight for justice. If she had been silent yet another murder of a tourist in Goa would have gone unnoticed. It is not the first time that such an incident had occurred in Goa. Like this so many Scarlets earlier must have died in similar circumstances and yet their rapes, deaths and murders have gone unnoticed because of the crook policemen like Anjuna Sub Inspector Albuquerque. This is the time now for every justice loving Goan including all the NGO’s, social workers and even religious gurus to support Scarlet’s mother in her fight for justice. Only thru such justice Goa will be cleansed of rapes and murders of tourists who no doubt bring lot of business for Goa and Goans. Thru her fight for justice let there be justice in Goa for everyone. The Church and its priests must make heavy awakening thru their preaching in their respective Churches in Goa because fighting for social justice is one of the important obligations of the Church of Christ. “Stop hippism, stop nudism, stop narcotism” – with this type of issues priests and nuns came on to the streets in Panjim earlier and organized meetings at Azad Midan in Panjim in support of their demands. Now, why they are silent? Why they are not vociferous in demanding justice for Starlet’s murder?

Fiona the mother of Starlet accused top non Goan Police Chief of Goa and also the Home Minister Ravi Naik for helping the flourishing trade of drugs in Goa. A Ghantti is a Ghantti, whoever he may be and from wherever in Bharat he may come to work in Goa. He will never have love for Goa and Goans. The term Ghantti is used in Goa by genuine Goans for any non-Goan Bharati residing or working in Goa. Ghantti’s purpose will be only to make money by destroying cultural, traditional, historical, spiritual and linguistic background of Goa and Goans. These Ghanttis coming to Goa have destroyed the immaculate image of Goa since Goa was annexed by Bharat. The accusation hurled by Scarlet’s mother on Chief of Goa Police must be scrutinized properly and if it is true then he should be sent back to Ghanttar from where he is come. Scarlet’s mother will normally not make any allegation without any evidence. Justice loving Goans in Goa must help her in exposing the wrong doers. Justice lover Goans must support her in making her allegations clear and loud. She is a stranger in Goa and it is the duty of good hearted Goans to help her and assist her in every possible way to get justice for her daughter.

About Ravi Naik, yes, he is not a saint. He is a traitor who betrayed Dr. Willie by not surrendering his Chief Ministership to Dr. Willie after the assassination of Rajiv Ghandhi whom he promised he will do. Goa was raped thru land conversions during the tenure of Ravi Naik as Chief Minister of Goa. For the sake of money I feel Ravi Naik will do anything. He is accusing Scarlet’s mother of neglecting her daughter. This point is totally different from the murder of her daughter which is more critical and as such it has to be solved first. Just because she neglected her daughter that does not mean that her daughter should be raped and killed. Ravi Naik’s judgment is faulty. As a Home Minister of Goa he should be ashamed to see his Policemen are playing dirty games in Goa. As a Home Minister Ravi Naik should fight against this crime to track the real culprits and not to bark on the negligence of Scarlet’s mother in leaving her daughter in Goa and herself going to Bangalore. By hurling accusation on Scarlet’s mother I think Ravi Naik is trying to hide his sins. The people of justice in Goa must support Scarlet’s mother physically, financially and otherwise in exposing Ravi Naik’s involvement in promoting drug business in Goa.

Ravi Naik asks the financial standing of Scarlet’s mother and her background financially. Ravi Naik must investigate this aspect only if she is found in robbing somebody. Her one British Sterling Pound is equivalent to so many Indian rupees. By the way, what was Ravi Naik’s financial standing before involving in Politics thru MGP by licking the boots of Bahu Saib Bandodkar and Chappals of Shashika Kakodkar? Ravi Naik was having just a small Bar in Ponda and himself as a waiter serving the customers saying even to an an ordinary “ghantti” customer: "Patrao – Patrao kitem haddunk tukam? Caju? Madd? Wisky?” But now he is sitting on the piles of money. From where he accumulated this much of amount? Ravi Naik said he will instruct Delhi to cancel her visa and send her back to Britain. My foot Ravi Naik!! You can’t do that. You are just a mosquito from Goa. Your voice is not audible in Delhi as much as ours and for your kind information, we from Kuwait have already contacted Delhi to render all help to Scarlet’s mother in making her stay comfortable in Goa till she gets justice for her daughter. Let me repeat once again that our voice from Kuwait is more powerful in Delhi than the voice of entire Cabinet of Goa. Those who do not know must know it now. Very many of my Kuwait's compatriots will also find it difficult to digest this but those who are not involved in our activities will always find it difficult to admit this fact. It is not very difficult to create a dent in Delhi.

According to the latest news report appearing, Ravi Naik’s son is also involved in drug business in Goa. If there is any truth in this allegation then it has to be probed further till the truth is finally ascertained. But before that and with immediate effect Ravi Naik must tender his resignation for owning responsibility for the misdeeds of his son. We cannot have a Home Minister in Goa whose son is accused of involving in drug business which is illegal. We have already informed New Delhi Headquarters thru our contacts about the mischief of Digambar Kamat, Ravi Naik and others who are trying to shelter the culprits involved in Scarlet’s death and rape. Our voice from Kuwait will surely have some effect as it did have earlier. The dirty tourism prevailing in Goa must come to an end. In this direction our campaign is producing the desired results. The campaign for the promotion of tourism in Goa is not in the hands of Goa and Indian Governments only. We can also play our role very well and at moments better than all others either to promote it or to diminish it. Our campaign in diminishing dirty tourism in Goa is gaining good support thru our friends and colleagues worldwide.

Digambar Kamat the current Chief Minister of Goa is toeing the line of Ravi Naik. Digu Bab is not having any daughter? If yes, and if such an incident had to occur to his daughter what will be his reaction? To find the culprit first or to accuse his wife for neglecting his daughter? In Kuwait I spoke to a number of Britishers who thru their personal contacts feel that besides the arrested persons some VIP’s are also involved. They feel Ministers’ sons are also involved for this reason there is an attempts to close this case. If this is the case then I think Anjuna Sub Inspector Albuquerqe’s suspension is only a cover up and he will be reinstated shortly. Even Samson and Placido may be scapegoats. British people here are having better information than Goa Police whom Scarlet’s mother consider as Judases. Why she only? Many people in Goa and elsewhere do not trust Goa Police especially the Ghantti Mamas who are destroying genuine fabrics of Goa by applying ghantti system of Bharat in Goa.

After my last article, I got very good response from the Westerners promising to stop their people in the West from patronizing Goan tourism. All those whom I contacted and who in turn contacted me are of the firm view that Westerners must not patronize Goan tourism where there is no safety for their lives in Goa. This case of Scarlet has taken a different twist giving a very bad image of Goan tourism. There must be a thorough investigation to find out whether any Minister or his son is also involved in having affairs with Scarlet. If it is yes then I will not be surprised. We have already seen the weakness of our ministers and their sons for sex especially illicit sex because "forbidden fruit is always tasty" it is said. This is the time for all who love justice to raise their voices in unison. This is the time for all the organizations fighting for justice for women in Goa to come out on to the streets in big demonstration in solidarity with Scarlet’s mother who is being frightened by Ravi Naik, Digambar Kamat and Ghantti Police. If Goykar are real Goykars then they will fight for justice. In no way the rape and murder of Scarlet should go unpunished.

While concluding let me quote Prophet Mohamed. When he was asked when there will be justice in this world, replied Prophet within a split of a moment saying “When everyone of us will gather courage to fight against the injustice committed on to others as if that injustice is committed on to us only, then and then only there will be justice in this world”.


A. Veronica Fernandes,
Safat, Kuwait”.

IN REPLY TO VERONICA'S ARTICLE ON RAPING & KILLING.

RE: RAPING & KILLING OF GOA IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD‏

From: M cruz (merv_4@hotmail.com)

Sent:Sunday, March 16, 2008 4:13:15 PM

Dear Mr. Veronica:

You have said so many things with your article and these are just a few, a few of the points i would like to make just to voice my opinion and/or my irritation as opposed to your views. I have immense respect for you and the work you do in Kuwait and other places and have heard great things about you through my family and beyond. So, i write, nothing against you as a person just an open and an honest exchange of ideas and beliefs.

With all due respect, your rhetoric will most probably fall on deaf ears. We always knew Goa was a place for hippy's and a good time, but we also knew that these incidents were far and few between. But please do not put Goa in a bad light like the news wires and news papers have done. It is their job to highlight developing countries in a disgraceful tone anyhow , but it is even more disgraceful when Goans themselves put Goa down. This is the doing or our undoing of our own people of "Bharat" and not the "non-Goans"..how much will we Indians blame the foreigners for our travails, we ought to take ownership for all that is taking place and make things better by organizing a grassroots up. We can blame the British, the Americans, and even the Aliens from outer space for our troubles, but nothing will suffice until and unless we stand up and start making changes for the better instead of beating our chests with all that we think is mighty and right.

If you go to Cyprus , you will find the same fun-loving people and a few degenerates from all over the world doing crazy stuff on the beaches--snorting hash, sex, what have you. I am not condoning their actions; it is their personal lives and i am nobody to interfere and tell them what is right or wrong. My point being that Goa is just one of those places where people want to have fun and get away from the daily grime of everyday life. The more we try to safeguard our interests and put barriers to safeguard it, people will anyhow find avenues to by- pass those barriers. We should all live in Harmony and equality and understand each other's ideals before lashing out at others. I am saddened through your knowledge of the world and Indian politics that you look down upon the Goan authorities and type casted them to be the most corrupt in the world. If you look at the numbers worldwide, i would say that the police on the streets of Lagos, Nigeria, Bangkok, Thailand and maybe even at the higher echelons of U.S. politics, among others, are extremely corrupt. Goan police are just minnows in this large cesspool of corruption brought about when we bend over for the British and more so for the Portuguese, and all who came through India's gates and raped and pillaged to glory. By harsh rhetoric, all our intentions and, hopefully, good intentions will just be water under the bridge. There isn't a single source we can lash out against, maybe just one or two; so keeping the beauty of Goa into perspective and all the riches it offers, along with all its wonderful inhabitants if we as "Goenkars" go on a rampage against our own land, and start spewing hatred towards others instead of a select few, we would be castigated by the world as a "real third world entity" and not looked upon as the pearl on the western front of India--

Surely then will people use that as a pretext not just to invade our shores with their personalized brand of cronyism but will surely use it as a pretext to sling mud at our squeaky clean "Christian" Goan faces. And trust me the world does not care whether you are Christian, Zoroastrian, Coptic or the Buddha re-incarnate, we are all humans and humans are the same no matter where you find them, and religion should have no place in our minds and hearts to judge people by whom they worship or lack thereof. We ought to fight the haters and beaters of Goa and target specific pockets of tourists and/or locals who carry out these vile and heinous acts. People are by nature always judgmental, and until and unless we think non judgmentally and stop assuming and carping against people's lives and where they come from or what they do in their homes, etc--we cannot achieve a well-balanced dialogue between people of all nations, colors, ethnicities, and even races (if there is such a thing a race).

In conclusion, i know you might be thinking that i maybe some lunatic or a person who may not or does not know his history or what he is talking about, living in the land of "milk and honey"--The U.S.A-- but if i as an individual do not stand up for yesterday's firebrand type of politics and back water theories about who we are as a people, and what ought to be done to curtail the mess spread in front of us, then this message of hate towards others will carry on for many years to come like a vicious cycle looking to cause hatred and anger with moot. We ought to change things now if we must see a better future of harmony and peacefulness toward mankind and womankind. And then a true revolution is fought not with words or arms, but with intentions, which speak volumes and move hearts to something great and rich for the future.

Respectfully Yours, Merwyn D'cruz

FW: RAPING & KILLING OF BRITISH GIRL IN GOA.Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008 05:41:40

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Re: Scarlett Killing

Nice & frank self-introspective analysis by Veronica.

I feel great about Goan culture of not taking bribe before annexation with India in 1961.

He is right in calling for end to this tourism industry if it promotes ill to the moral of the Society, which is more important than money. But, it may be very difficult or rather impossible as these mafia have got deep roots in the Govt. machinery & the most corrupt politicians of Goa who switch sides on the drop of hat!

With the best regards,
-K. Shankara Bhat
bhat58@gmail.com

RAPING & KILLING OF BRITISH GIRL IN GOA.

RAPING & KILLING OF BRITISH GIRL IN GOA.

This is in regards to the tragic news of the rape and killing of a young British girl, Scarlette Keeling in Goa, at Anjuna Beach. This news is become known worldwide not only thru print media but also thru CNN and BBC. As a Goan I cannot remain a silent spectator. With my head down in shame I pen down these few lines to show my total disgust to the events taking place in my Goa in the name of tourism. With this rape and murder of a young British girl of 15 once again it is proved to the world that Goa is no more a safe haven for tourists and as such it is my request to the British and other European tourists to put an end to patronize tourism in Goa. There was a time Goa was called a paradise for tourists who could even sleep on the beaches at night time without any fear of robbery, rape and murder. But now, no more. Every year now innumerable murders of tourists are taking place in Goa on the beaches. Goan beaches are no more safer places for tourists. Most of the trouble makers for the tourists in Goa are the non Goans who are creating nuisance in Goa by their unwanted presence on the Goan beaches. Goa is become a paradise for the non-Goan robbers and criminals who are supported and sheltered by the top Police personnel, many of them are regrettably non-Goans coming to Goa as deputationists. It is these deputationists who spoiled the serenity and peace of Goa. These deputationists when they come to Goa for their assignments they bring along with them all the dirty attributes from their own States, these attributes are foreign to Goa and Goans. These deputationists come to Goa unaware of the history, culture and tradition of Goa. Some of these Police Officers are even involved in drug business. The drug business is manned and controlled by the non–Goan Indians and foreign tourists. Many of the top Police Officers from the coastal belt including Calangute according to history were best sellers of drugs confiscated from the hippies and other local drug dealers, mainly non Goans. The identities of these Police Officers I can cite at an appropriate time. Some of them are still wearing Police Uniforms and sporting Stars and Stripes on their shoulders. Goa Police Force is the most corrupt force in India and possibly may in the world.

Take for example, when this British girl was killed, Goa Police headed by a non Goan Chief passed a verdict saying that it was a simple case of accidental drowning inspite of the Autopsy done by the renowned Goan doctor who clearly pointed his finger towards rape and murder. Yet, Goa Police who are the most corrupt in India tried to close this case without any solution to solve this murder because of the pressure brought in by the culprits to hush up this case. Only when the mother of this young girl after a week came to Goa and demanded a second autopsy then only the entire secret came to the light thereby exposing the Police and murderer nexus. Otherwise such a mighty crime would have gone unnoticed and rapists would go scot-free. Police in Goa are become thick skinned.

The tourism industry is mainly dominated by the non Goans and they don’t care to preserve and protect the interest of Goa and Goans. Because of this lopsided tourism Goa is become vulgarity den in which mainly the non Goans are playing a major role thereby soiling the immaculate image of Goa and Goans. The genuine fabrics of Goa was spoiled beyond reparation by the criminalization of tourism in Goa. This tourism is like a curse on virgin image of Goa that Goa boasted once. British and other Western tourists will have to play a major role in helping protecting the good image of Goa by not patronizing Goan tourism which is destroying moral fabrics of Goan society. Because of high morality and strong religious practices dominated by the strong Christian roots, Goa was called “Rome of the East” but now due to vulgar tourism, crime oriented tourism, sex oriented tourism, Goa is become the den of rapists and murderers. And who are these culprits? Mainly the Christians and in the case of British girl Scarlet, both the main culprits Placido Carvalho and Samson D’Souza are Christians. And worst part of it was that the Anjuna Police Chief Sub-Inspector Nelson Albuquerque who tried to hush up the whole case in support of the culprits is also a Christian. It is a shame on the Church in Goa and Anjuna Church in particular for producing such rascals in this otherwise peace loving village that boasted of having produced one of the saintly priests of Goa Pe. Agnelo. Both the alleged rapists of the young British girl and the Sub-Inspector are a black mark on the sanctity of this saintly village Anjuna and also on Christianity.

Gone were the days when Christians were considered people of high morality in Goa. Their names only gave them the title of clean record. It happened because during those days Goa and Goans were not influenced by the corrupt influence of non-Goans who were not allowed entry into Goa. But came the annexation of Goa by Bharat in 1961 December and with it came the corrupt influx of non Goans into Goa who spread the disease of corruption and all the dirt of Bharat in Goa. The first person in Goa in post December 1961 period to commit major crimes was a non-Goan Keralite, Kumar by name but his original correct name is Peter indicating that he was a Christian too. Later on he was hanged at Aguada. As a domestic servant he killed a small child and her mother at Taleigao, cut their bodies into pieces and stacked them into a box. These are the non-Goans who influenced Goa and Goans into corruption. During Portuguese time Goa Police Force consisting of Pakle and Goans were not even accepting bribe. For any favour done by them one had to force a glass of St. Pauli Girl Beer (Serveja) on them yet they were not accepting. Bribing police and influencing them to act corrupt was next to impossible then but Nelson Albuquerque was induced to change his ethics and follow the path of culprits. Why? Because Indian Police Force thru their education and training methods are taught to become corrupt to earn illicit money.

The second reason for Goan Christian to be come low morality people was the lack of Christian teachings first at home and then in the Church by our religious gurus who got no time to preach the gospel because they are occupied more in something else such as organizing dance, tiatro, school activities, personal business etc. As a matter of fact our religious gurus are become more corrupt, more sex oriented, more money oriented and more worldly then all others in Goa. The affairs of the Church are not in the hands of upright gurus. Some of them are most corrupt than the extremely corrupt people in the world. In the earlier days priesthood was a vocation but now it is become a business in which one can get all the worldly pleasures. For this reason Goa is not producing any saintly priest after Pe. Agnelo and Pe. Jose Vaz. It is a pity that our community in particular and society as a whole in Goa is in the hands of corrupt religious gurus who produce nothing but rascal members of the community like the ones who were responsible for the death of 15 year old British girl.

Regarding the deceased young British girl and her mother’s discipline, I must say that this type of callous attitude towards her daughter spoiled the whole motherly duty. Leaving a daughter of 15 years into the custody of strangers is the worst crime of negligence by any mother in the world. But in the name of women lib and freedom for children at an early age is the modern western fad which is prevalent in the West. I don’t think such attitude our mothers from East, India and Goa would implement. We care for our children especially young girls. Westerners do not follow our discipline for this reason hippism was born in the West and flourished in Goa mainly in Calangute, Vagator and Anjuna. The miserable death of a 15 year British girl was the result of modern western discipline of the parents towards their children. I abhor such discipline. But that does not give license for my Goan brothers to rape and kill the westerners as they did for Scarlet. Like an idiot, Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat accused the mother of Scarlet for this crime and refused to hand over this case to CBI thereby trying to shield the criminals. He tried to protect the wrong doers especially the Goa Police who like “Bebde” tried to close the case as a simple case of drowning. The days of Kamat are coming to end and only the next few days will tell his strength. He acted like the protector of “Bebde” police and criminals. If anyone wants to overthrow his Government then it must be on this count and not for any selfish motive. What a trauma, humiliation and pain the poor young British girl must have suffered during her last moments from the Goan butchers from Anjuna who acted like wild beasts in an unGoan and unchristian manner? They should be brought to the justice till the end of justice is met.

The peace and serenity of Goa disappeared from Goa the day Portuguese colonialists were thrown out by military force of Bharat in 1961 December. Since then, Goa lost its charm and natural beauty. Indian Government is trying to convert Goa into a brothel and a place of fun and frolic. For this reason tourism industry in Goa promoted like anything thereby giving a distorted image of Goa and Goans especially of Goan females. To put things on right track, we the Goa lover Goans must start a heavy campaign against tourism in Goa which brings into Goa all rascals, doles Goan land to the non-Goans and bring non-Goan corrupt influence in Goa. Because of this faulty tourism, Goa is getting degoanised. I have on my part already started my campaign by speaking to many of the Westerners to spread the news of corruption in Goa thru tourism. I am also appealing Goans in the West to spread the message of faulty tourism in Goa. Goans in the West must raise their voice from the countries of their domicile of the defective tourism in Goa and if they have love for Goa and Goans then they will do this. This faulty tourism is also producing nothing but cheap labour force in Goa of our young boys and girls. In our coastal belt because of this tourism many of our young boys and girls do not go for higher education but get absorbed in cheap labour oriented jobs which fetch them good money as tips by working as waiters.

I hope the news of the murder of the British girl will give a very good lesson for the Western tourist for stopping to come to Goa. The westerners residing in Kuwait, in the Gulf and other parts of the world must pass this sad news on to their people back at home. As it is, the BBC and CNN have already highlighted this issue on their channels.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

"MAIM TUZO UPKARI HANV"

"MAIM TUZO UPKARI HANV"

Once again ROSEFERNS will be back in Kuwait with his hit Konkani tiatr "MAIM TUZO UPKARI HANV" with his full cast. The tiatr is scheduled to be held on Friday, 4th April 2008, at the Hawalli A.C. Auditorium at 3:30 p.m. and presented by Jolly Boys of Benaulim-Kuwait. A tiatr with a touching story of love and sacrifice, the bitter truth, with enjoyable comedy and superb fine acting under the direction of the King of Centuries, Roseferns.

The review of "MAIM TUZO UPKARI HANV" in the Goan English newspaper 'The Navhind Times' goes thus "The play entertains to capture the attention of the viewer with a good script that has many surprises and fine display of emotions".

Konkani tiatr lovers watch out for the next media announcement or email: jollyboysofbenaulim@gmail.com or contact Aseno Ferns 9420352 or Benny Vaz 6533229 or Raja Stores Tel; 2412970 or keep following up on the our blog http://maimtuzoupkarihanv.blogspot.com/

BLOOD MONEY.

BLOOD MONEY

This was what has happened in Kuwait a year back. The whole trouble started during the domestic Cricket match between the two teams. Neither of the teams was aspiring to win the world cup and in Kuwait with the exception of microscopic number of expatriates mainly from the sub-continent, nobody else is taking interest in Cricket. Yet this particular match created ripples all around, not because it created cricket genius on the field but because of this match a murder was committed by one of the supporters of one team. Two rivals came into heated argument because of the disputable decision of the umpire and in the ensuing fight one of them a Malyali young man stabbed to death with a knife his Hyderabadi opponent. After this unexpected murder, the Malyali murderer meekly surrendered to the police.

As per the laws of the land, crime merits gallows unless there are some valid reasons for the judiciary to refrain from passing such a sentence. However, the death sentence can be waived if the murderer or his family members agree to pay the “blood money” to the nearest and dearest of the victim. According to the information, the criminal was not a rich man nor his family members back at home in Kerala to pay the blood money and get escaped from the capital punishment. Secondly, the victim’s family must also agree for the blood money. Finally, the few prominent Malyalis in Kuwait joined together and decided to save the life of their citizen by collecting money from them to pay for the blood money. They firmly resolved to go ahead, went ahead, used their influence in Kerala and Hyderabad as well to impress upon the victim’s family to accept the blood money and finally their efforts worked wonders and created miracle. In this endeavour, in Kerala their Ministers and MLA’s also worked hard to bring pressure on the Chief Minister of Andra Pradesh to impress upon the next of kin of the victim which also finally worked. Not only this, the Andra Chief Minister also contributed half the blood money.

While condemning the murder of a young Hyderabadi man by another Malyali young man I strongly admire the sense of brotherhood displayed by the Malyalis in Kuwait first by collecting blood money to save the life of their fellow brother in Kuwait and later on the same supported by their colleagues back at home. Rarely such a sense of unity has been shown in the past by any other community in Kuwait. It is only because of such strong sense of unity and brotherhood, a life has been saved otherwise just because of this cricket match which was just an ordinary encounter in Kuwait, second life would have also been snatched from this planet, of course thru legal process. Malyalis are known to create wonders and many of these wonders are unique in their own ways. The money collection drive initiated by them to save the life of one of their citizens likely facing the gallows was yet another wonder. I salute them for doing something extraordinary for their own brother in Kuwait by collecting KD 8000/- which is not a small and easy job, it was a difficult task but made easy by their strong sense of unity and collective efforts.

Now writing of my Goan community, if such an incident had to occur in my community for any of our members, what would be the outcome? Would we be able to emulate the example of Malyalis in Kuwait? Who amongst us would come forward to dole out such a big amount? I do agree that economically, Malyalis are outbeating Goans though Goans may outbeat them in organsing cheap activities like Ballroom dancing and 7-a-side soccer tournaments to promote the organizers and not soccer. Financially, Malyalis are far advanced than Goans who will surely find difficult to compete with Malyalis. Taking this view of our financial incompetence to rise to the occasion to help our community members in their hour of crisis, Goan Welfare Society was formed thru the initiative of once powerful Goan social worker in Kuwait, Mr. Vincente D’Souza, who unfortunately is no more in Kuwait now. This GWS was established a few years before the invasion of Kuwait. The purpose of this GWS was to create a fund to help the community affairs and community members in Kuwait, especially to render financial assistance to the needy Goans. Thru the combined efforts of the community members, GWS succeeded in accumulating a huge fund but instead of using it for the welfare of the community in Kuwait from where it was collected and where rightly it is to be used, GWS has transferred it to Goa. Besides this and regretfully, about KD 30 thousand are retained in their personal account by its three members one of them is the current president. All these three persons are from the same village in Goa and coming from the same clan. This is a very dangerous precedent created by the members of the GWS who like “ignoramus” are allowing the three persons to do anything they want and yet they call themselves intelligent. Intelligent in what? In mortgaging the rights of the Society to the three?

After speaking to some of the members of GWS, they feel GWS is taken hostage by the three and there is nobody in the committee or on the members role to use saner counsel to put things right so that the likely robbery may be averted. It is Society’s money and as such it must legally return to the Society. It is public’s money and as such it must come for the use of public needs. Up to now nobody knows who uses the interest of this KD 30 thousand, surely it must be the three persons only for their personal benefits. It is a pity that the community members who boast of being intelligent are become dumb and deaf when acting rightly and justly. It is a pity that a batallion of yes men and yes women in GWS are become impotent to fight for justice. What good one can expect from these yes men and yes women when they return back to Goa for the cause of society and justice? It is these people who are responsible for the promotion of injustice in the community. I am surprised, how the high profile patron of the Society is keeping silence on the poor happenings in GWS. I am equally surprised how the official custodian of the Indian community is also keeping its silence over this sad episode. It is risky business to allow the three persons to hold such a big amount in their personal account when all of them are having questionable past as one of them was involved in misusing Kuwait Goan Evacuees funds in Goa during the invasion of Kuwait If by chance, tomorrow all of them die, who will inherit this big amount? GWS? Surely not but the families of the three.

In case there is any member in GWS who can call himself an upright then he or she will fight for justice, if necessary, even by filing a court case by utilizing the legal assistance from Kuwait because this society was established in Kuwait for the welfare of local community members. Some of the members of GWS who are escaping from accepting their responsibility for fighting for the justice are doing more injustice than the unjust members in GWS. This is not the time to escape from one’s responsibility and allow the robbers to rob. This is the time to fight for the justice. This is the time to raise this issue vociferously not in the committee only but also in the community, not only in Kuwait but also throughout the Goan world. This is the time for every Goykar to talk and talk loudly and by doing so nobody will lose anything. By doing this everyone stands to win only. If there are upright and people of justice in the committee and in the community then now will be their chance to prove that they are for justice. Otherwise, they have no right not only to talk of justice in the community but they have no right even to think of justice. Moreover, they have no right to question me of my prerogative to fight for justice. Those who are questioning me of my right to fight for justice are the supporters and promoters of injustice. Such people will do nothing in society. They are worms and they will disappear as worms only.

While concluding, once again I salute Malyalis in Kuwait for helping their own brother to save from the gallows and hope other communities would emulate this example.


A. Veronica Fernandes,
Safat, Kuwait”.

MONTH’S MIND IN EVERLOVING MEMORY

RALPH GONSALVES

A Holy Mass will be held at the Holy Family Cathedral, Kuwait City for the soul of Ralph on Monday 10th March 2008 at 7.15pm offered by his sorrowful Parents Roque and Joyce Gonsalves & family.

Brother/Brother-in-law: Janessa / Nazarius & Russell.

Uncle of: Narissa
Nephew of: Joao Britto Gonsalves, Estefania / Louis, Maurice/Afra
Cousin of: Lino, Lester, Lyon, Evelyn, Melissa, Melroy

Relatives and Friends kindly accept this as the only intimation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We, the bereaved family of RALPH GONSALVES like to express our sincere gratitude to our Relatives, Neighbours, Friends, Well-Wishers and to all those who rendered assistance, sent floral tributes/condolence messages, called on us personally, offered prayers and shared in our grief.

We also thank Jerome(NBK)/Leona Rodrigues, Lino Fernandes, Mario/Janet Fernandes, Rita Gracias, Augusto Fernandes, United Club of Utorda-Kuwait, Nuvem-Kuwait Parishioners, and the team of www.goa-world.com

We regret our inability to thank each of you individually.

“PADRI” Set to Screen March 28, 2008

Kala Mogui Kuwait (KMK) Presents the biggest movie of Konkani Cinema, SREEPADA MOVIE MAKERS & PRINCE JACOB PRODUCTION “PADRI” (The Man of Patience). The show will be held in Kuwait on March 28, 2008 at 4.00pm at Mashra Al Hawally Auditorium. For your viewing pleasure the screening on wide screen with digital sound system, hold your breath and get set for the biggest show of the year brought to you by Kala Mogui Kuwait the prominent art & cultural organization.

For reservation Kuwait City – Raja Stores 2412970, Salmiya – M&M Confectionery 5619946 (Near Salmiya Church) Khaitan – God’s Gift Tailors 7486901, Farwaniya – 9391452, Abbasiya – 9106617, Hawally – 9540232, Ahmadi/Fahaheel 9884681 or e-mail kalamogui@gmail.com

JIVIT DEVACHEM DENNEM.

Jivit Devachem dennem.

Daniel F. de Souza.

Inglez bhaxen oxi kitem ek mhonn asa; ‘ Life is God’s gift to us and what we make of it, is our gift to God’ . Hacho orth oso zata; Jivit amkam Devachem dennem ani tacho ami koxe toren labh ghetanv tem amchem dennem Devak. Dor ekleak amkam Devan kheritponnim rochleant ani kherit gunn dileat. Hea gunnacho vapor korun ami amchem jivit sartanv ani jivitant yes melloytanv. Zaite pautt ami jivitachea rattavolint guspon astana Devachea denneam ani Devan dil’leam gunna khatir Devak dhinvasunk ani vakhannuk sap visortanv. Amche azu-bazuk zor tor ami ek chaltich nodor firain tor amkam sabar mon’xam distolim jim torekvar bhaxen zolmant savnuch ophangull asat. Kaim zannam kurd’ddim zalear kaim zannam monim…thoddim thonttim…adi. Punn soglleank Devan jivitant koslem nam koslem karia dilam ani tanchi kuddichi oskotai legun kodek marun hem Devan dil’lem karia tim xarti pavoitat ani somazant nanv meloytat.

Fevrerache 12ver sanje velar hanv Ponnje Kala Akademi vosreant Jose Feliciano hacho songit konsert polleunk gel’lom. Jose Feliciano ho ek Puerto Rico-cho sonvsar bhor namnna zoddlolo songit kolakar. Tannem sov pautt ‘Grammy’ puroskar jikhleat. Natalam somoiar ‘Feliz Novidad’ natal git ami gaitanv tem tannem rochlam, songit dilam ani gailam. Vosreat lok khub chikar bhorlolo. Zaite Vascokar songit mogi thuim mhaka zollkolet. Ho konsert khub unch dorjeacho aslo. Torekvar pod’dotichem songit aikonk mel’lem. ‘Feliz Novidad’ natal git legun tannem thoim gailem. Konsert dhedd vora uprant somplo torui lok vosreantlo bhair vochunk kobul nam zalo. Talliancho xinvor korun ube ravon (standing ovation) Jose Feliciano-k xabaski dili. Konsert sompoun bond kel’lo porddo tannim novean ugoddcho poddlo ani lokanchea magnneak man diun Jose Felieciano portun machier yeun anik ek git gailem ani soglleank dadhoxi kele. Oslem hanvem hea poilim khuinch polleunk nam. Hea poilim hanvem Abba, Osibisa, Boney M, adi hanche show polleleat, punn 65 vorsanchea Jose Feleiciano-k lagpi konn nam hem koslich otitai korinastana mhojean sangunk zata. Guitar vazovpachi tachi pod’dot ani takot veglich. Tache hat ani bottam guitaracher taktiken sull’sullit dhanvtat tim polleunk kovtuk diso.

Hem borounk karonn mhollear, Jose Feliciano zolmant savn nibel kurd’ddo. Taka donui dolleanim kainch disona. Machier to ekach zagear bosun guitar vazta ani gaita. Tem guitar pasun taka dusrean haddun tachea hatint diunk zai. To don toranchi guitram vazoita, ek ‘electric’ zalear dusrem ‘Acoustic’. 65 vorsanche piraier legun tacho avaz itlo okhondd ani nivoll ki to aikoteleak sapuch dipkaun udoita. Mhaka-i uddoilo. Devan taka zolmant savn kurd’do kelo punn songitacho gunn taka dilo ani to lhan tin vorsancho astananch savn songita vangdda tacho sombhond zalo. Sonvsarant songit mollar vhodd namnna zoddlele anik kaim songitkar asat zoxe porim Stevie Wonder, adi. Beethoven zannem sundor songit rochlam ani aiz legun tem gazta to zolmant savn bhero aslo.

Vasku xarant osoch donui dolleamnim sap kurdd’do ek Hindu bhav asa. To zolmant savn kurdd’do nhoi punn taka kurdd’deponn mat bhurge piraier ailem. To kurd’do zavn torui aplea hati payamcher ubo asa. Kodelink ani volterank rotesanv korpachem kam to xikla ani aiz konnachoch sohakar nastana nazukponnim nitoll ani nivoll hem rotesanvanchem kam korta ani aplo dis’poto choloita. Hanvem hem dolleanim dekhlam. Hanchi tokhnnai kortana, ani tanche koddsun jivitak ut’ tejon ghetana…amkam Devan soglle kuddiche sande vevosthit dileat dekun ami Taka vakhanndunk favo. Zorui tor sonvsarache rattavolint revddun astana hea vostuncher tuka lokx ghalunk azun vell mellonk nam zalear….ho prachit kall tuka hem korunk anik ek bori sondhi dita. Ticho labh ghe. Jivit ek Devachem dennem mhunn mandun ghe ani Devan dil’leam kiddicheam sandheam ani gunna pasot taka argham diun jivitant yes melloy ani jivit folladik korun tujem dennem Devak bhettoi.

Alfred Rose Legacy lives on …at ‘ Alexyz e os Amigos’

By Daniel F. de Souza dannyboy04@rediffmail.com (Goa)

The Konkani Day at ‘ Alexyz e os Amigos’ at the Fundacao Orient premises on Monday evening was a evening to cherish and remember for a long time to come. The pace for the evening of Konkani song and music was set by versatile Tomazinho Cardozo the popular tiatr celebrity together with his talented and musically oriented wife Irene Cardozo. Tomazinho who has carved a niche for himself on the Konkani stage with his several prize winning tiarts at the Kala Academy tiatr competitions was the right choice to make a presentation on the evolution, roots and development of the Konkani songs and music in Goa.

Tomazinho Cardozo presented the growth and development of Konkani music in Goa in its various genres encompassing the religious music, folk music, mando music, tiatr music, Dulpods, Konkani rap music which made its debut on the Konkani stage in the 1940s, and it’s slow but steady progression to its present state of fusion music blending admirably with the western musical influence. With the backing of young and talented Rabin Pietro on the keyboards Tomazinho along with his wife Irene rendered various vocal renditions of Konkani music of yester years from Young Menezes to Minguel Rod, Alfred Rose, Chris Perry, besides a glimpse of folk songs, Mandos, dulpods, etc. Irene singing in the second voice with a soft touch added much beauty to the evening.

Renowned musician, novelist and Konkani writer Bonaventure Pietro, chipped in with a special rendition of traditional songs sung at the time of wedding ceremony and ritual of ‘Ros’ and ‘Zomin Jevonn’ or wedding lunch etc. Tomazinho’s informative narration on Goan konkani music and song and intermittent rendition of selective tracks to substantiate the text including Mandos and dulpo, which also included some fusion tracks, patriotic and others, with Indian classical touch from his own audio albums were lapped up by an appreciative and elite audience. The husband-wife singing duo of Tomazinho and Irene has always regaled Konkani music lovers for a long time, and on 25th Feb they were once again at their best.

The second part of the ‘Konkani Day’ was again a musical jam-up with the Pietro’s and acclaimed konkani stage artist Rita Rose who specially came down to Goa from Mumbai to regale her fans. Bonaventure Pietro set the ball rolling for reviving Alfred Rose’s memory with an especially composed song on the late singer. Rabin Pietro then followed with two fiery solos of late Alfred Rose ‘Kalchi Koddi’ and ‘Diana’ making the audience hunger for more. The musical score for the songs were sequenced and scored by Rabin himself. Later Rita Rose who along with here husband the late Alfred Rose has taken Konkani music to Goans settled across the globe rendered two songs composed by her husband. The first was a foot tapping solo and later ‘Jivit Goykaranchem’ together with Irene and Rabin Pietro. Fans of Alfred Rose and lovers of Konkani music could have asked for nothing more as the evening came to an end with a loud bravo for all those who helped to make the evening a memorable one. The resident delegate of Fundacao Oriente Paul Varela himself was overwhelmed with the response the programme received from konkani song and music lovers. And in his brief speech admitted that the presentation made by Tomazinho Cardozo helped him a lot to gain a first hand knowledge and insight into the rich and vast repertoire of Konkani music. The show was compered by Alexyz himself in his inimitable style.

Speaking on the sidelines of the programme a beaming and happy looking Rita Rose confided to me that she was very much happy to be part of the week long event ‘Alexyz e os Amigos’ under the auspices of the Fundacao Orient. ‘I am thankful to Alexyz and his friends for having specially invited me to perform at this event. It gives me much pleasure to get back to the stage and fulfill the wishes of my numerous fans who like to see me perform more often’ said Rita with a look of satisfaction written all over her smiling face. It is pertinent to point out that it was the late Melody King Alfred Rose who first introduced the concept of Konkani musical shows onto the Konkani stage in the late seventies performing with his entire family. He even went on to the extent of presenting a ‘Rock konkani musical show’ on a minus one audio track a musical concept that was unheard till then on konkani stage.

When asked if she has plans to come back with a musical show with her musically inclined children Schubert, Engelbert and Alria ? she said ‘ I would love to do that in future, and I want to do that, but, I have to work it out with my son who at the moment is busy with his professional assignments in Mumbai”.

It may be recalled that in January this year, Rita along with her singer daughter Alria Rose was specially flown down to Goa to perform in a Konkani musical show which had Goa’s renowned Mumbai based musicians and music directors. She and Alria performed at Taliegao and on the shores of the Baina beach in Vasco. Alria Rose like her legendary father Alfred Rose is a talented singer and has tremendous power in her voice and is already a hit with the audience wherever she has performed. She should enrich the Konkani stage with more participation in the near future, not only in special musical shows, but also tiatrs whenever possible. This would not only bring glamour to the Konkani stage but inspire many youngsters to follow in her footsteps.

In the meantime, the lovers of konkani music and konkani stage are keeping their fingers crossed that the Chief Minister Shri Digamber Kamat who is an ardent lover of Art and Culture will spare no efforts to recognize the lifetime services rendered to Konkani stage and music by Goa’s one and only true Melody King the late Alfred Rose by naming the Open Air Auditorium at the Kala Academy Panjim in his memory for not only having many firsts to his credit including writing and publishing Konkani novels, but by taking Konkani music to dizzy heights in India and at international level. Late Alfred Rose deserves it for the sheer and undeniable fact that there has been no one else like him on the konkani stage so far, and so far I see no prospects either. The void Alfred Rose has left behind will be too difficult to be filled in the near future. And the fact is, we have to live by this sad truth! I hope better sense prevails and justice is done where it is most due. Will our Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Digamber Kamat rise up to fulfill the just demands of the Aam Admi? Perhaps time will tell.