G’BYE GOA: KOLS/KUNNBIS.
By Valmiki Faleiro.
The last major pre-Aryan group to settle in Goa were the Kols. They followed the Asuras from Chota Nagpur and, on arrival, subjugated them to lord over the land. Asuras were milder people. Kols were fierce, a “semi-savage” hunting tribe. (‘Kol’ means wild pig.)
The tribe name ‘Kol’ got corrupted to ‘Kul,’ ‘Kulvadi,’ ‘Kulmi,’ ‘Kulambi’ and ‘Kunnbi.’ Kols were sub-grouped as Velips, Zalmis and Gaunkars – actually occupational caste names, also common among Asuras/Gawdas. Velips handled religious affairs, Zalmis handled other specific tasks, while Gaunkars, regarded more intelligent, took up farming, hunting and assorted survival activities for the community. Rev. John Wilson thought ‘Kunnbi’ comes from ‘Krishmi’ (tillers of land; also plough.)German anthropologist Gustav Oppert denounced the theory and said ‘Kunnbi’ camefrom ‘Ku’ (mountain), hence a mountainous tribe that originated in South India, where indeed they are known as ‘Kurumbars.’ Rest of India, Kunnbis are found in Maharashtra,Gujarat and pockets of north India. They tilled land, by the slash-burn-cultivate system (‘Kumeri’), yet in use in hilly areas of hinterland Goa. And cropped cereals like millet.
Like earlier Asuras/Gawdas, their tools and implements were of wood or stone – pointed, sharp-edged or blunted, as per need.Units of measurement of produce – by weight or volume – like Kudov, Khandi, Kumbh, revolved around the numbers 12 and 20 – like 20 smaller units made a single larger unit(viz.- 20 khandis equal one kumbh.) Note the Ks in Ku, Kunnbi, Kurumbar, Kumeri, Khandi, Kumbh! Once regarded a sub-caste of Marathas, Kunnbis considered themselves just belowDhangars, but superior to Molvolls (washermen) and Nhavi (barbers.) At their weddings,a barber would wash the feet of the bridal couple and apply vermillion to the guests while a washerman would spread a clean cloth for the couple to sit for the ceremonies on the ground. End of the day, the washerman and barber would carry the child bridal couple on their shoulders, dancing to music by Mhars.
Kunnbis, including Christian, shun pork (save a wild boar) and beef, if not so scrupulous about a plump bandicoot or a monitor lizard. They were mostly vegetarian. Kols worshipped the Earth Goddess, represented by the anthill, ‘Roen,’ renamed ‘Sateri’and ‘Bhumika’ after her capture by Indo-Aryans. They also worshipped trees like the‘Peepal’ and ‘Vod’ (and, perhaps in acknowledgement of the status of original settlers,the ‘Kel’ tree of Mhars, but in the lowest rung of their female deity hierarchy.) Other deities worshipped were Mahamaya and Ravalnath, and those of earlier tribes –Betal, Nagesh, Navadurga and Mallikarjun. Saptakoteshwar was a deity of the Velips.They also worshipped the dreaded tiger, as deity ‘Vagro.’
A temple to ‘Vagro’ was demolished by the 16th Century Portuguese in Utorda, Salcete. It was Kols who first followed the twin-deity cult of ‘Gram Dev’ (village deity) and ‘Kul Dev’ (family deity.) They conducted religious affairs by themselves, no latter-day Brahmin ‘bhats.’ They offered fowls in sacrifice – a white rooster for the Sun God, red or black one for otherdeities, including ‘Chando,’ the Moon God. Billy goats were also sacrificed. They did witchcraft (‘Ghadiponn’) and human sacrifice. Outright sacrifice was later toned down to hanging men from wooden stakes, with iron hooks pierced into the back (as in Madkai-Ponda) or rapidly rotated from a wheel (as in Poinguinim-Canacona.) The blood-letting was banned by Gov. Joaquim Fernando Pestana on Dec 6, 1844.
Another custom. If a pregnant woman died, her legs were broken and the body taken outof the house not through the main door, but through a hole punctured into a side wall(resealed immediately after the cremation.) The path to the cremation ground was then strewn with thorns and, by way of abundant caution, millet was strewn along the way –all because, if the dead one (the poor ‘Alvatin,’ despite her broken legs) overcame the thorns on the way back home, she would slip and fall on the millet. And even if Alvatin overcame that, she would find no way inside the house, because the passage by which she had left was now only a blind wall!
P.S.: Margao activist Siddarth Karapurkar asks (Herald, 10 May) if fish from sewage-contaminated Xelpem lake is fit for human consumption. If pigs that feed on we-know-what are safe, why would Xelpem fish be otherwise? My thought. (ENDS.)
The Valmiki Faleiro weekly column at:
May 17, 2009
FLORIAN LOBO on Goans in Swindon.
Herald -17 May, 2009 -Pg 8 report.
By Eduardo Rodrigues.
In politics, what one's heart feels, does not really mater. It is the substance of living that does.
Thousands miles away from Goa, Goans in Swindon feel that they have been betrayed by the results of South Goa. It is a feeling that they have been betrayed by their brethren for ensuring victory of Congress candidate Francisco Sardinha. However, the narrow margin of victory has been most welcome by the Goan community in Swindon, who, however were expecting much worse for the Congress. This hatred towards the Congress is not because they are BJP sympathizers, but because the way Sardinha positioned himself during the elections by putting party priorities above the needs of Goans in Swindon. "Sardinha promised to legalize bull fights in Goa. This was one of the platforms on which he stood for elections. But what has he done and promised to do for us Goans?" queries Leopold, who has been working in Swindon for the last eight years. "Armed with a degree, I have had to do odd jobs there, while there are so many outsiders in Goa, who have snatched our jobs, sometimes with fake certificates, " decries Leoplod, while admitting the threat of Goans feeling marginalized is predominant in this part of England, besotted by Goans. Souza from Sancoale vent his anger at the Congress for ignoring youth and asked, "What is the Congress trying to prove by fielding these old candidates?" Souza further says that the Congress should get rid of old timers like Luizinho Faleiro, Churchill Alemao, Sardinha, Mauvin Godinho and others since Goans have had enough of these people and the need right now is to field youthful candidates. "What as Sardinha done for us, except for making false promises? Has he cared to know why so many of us Goans in Swindon have to slog it out here?" queries Anthony from Goa Velha. Admitting that he would not have liked the BJP to win, Anthony feels that the Congress should have shown a genuine desire to help Goans, not only during polls but throughout the tenure. Another school teacher Pinto ridiculed the promise of Sardinha to legalize bull fights and said that there are far more serious issues to deal with. "Why does Sardinha not think of helping Goans who have been displaced from Swindon during the recession and are back in Goa without any job?" Pinto argues. Despite the rancour, there are quite a few who are least bothered about the results. "I have to go to my class and do not care a damn," was what Ms Chagas Silva told Herald when asked to comment.
COMMENTS:
Yet again, very well said that, especially by Ms. Chagas Silva. Her stand is all the more appreciated when Goa's politics does not feed (and has never fed) the hardworking and the industrious but has over-indulgingly pampered the class who work for the 'victory' of the political class in elections. Frankly speaking, I was wishing that both the seats in Goa for this Lok Sabha elections be taken by the BJP, not, as Leopold says, because I favour BJP, but this would bring down the ego of the Congressmen of Goa as their noses would be rubbished into the 'sonsodo' stink and at the same time make them sit up and take notice that their so called 'congress bastion' was, punctured yet again. I have always wanted both the Congress and the BJP out of Goa because their attitude towards Goa and Goans have become insufferable of late. Besides, I have helped to offer an alternative to these two monsters who can never reform, having been set in their ways of seeking pleasure and profit for themselves and their chamchas through taking the Goan electorate for a jolly good ride with pleasantly decorated hampers of promises which are discarded into the dustbin come election results.
It is heartening to note that the Goan spirit of feeling the denial and betrayal is felt outside Goa. We have always said that if a Tsunami or a lesser tidal waves is desired locally ( in GOA), there is a need for a stone to be flung from a distance (Swindon, in this case) to achieve the desired results in a relatively small political pond that Goa is. Otherwise one merely gets a miserable 'ripple' which often dies without being noticed.
The whole world wants the Congress to be purged of its demi-gods mentioned above like Luizinho etc. However, we would like to add a couple more like Dayanand Narvekar and Papa Rane. But in a religion of deifying mortals which our politics has been reduced to, especially the Congress Party, no matter what one wishes, to whatever extent, nothing can be changed. It will go on forever in a cyclic rhythm until the demi-gods breathe their last. If the contrary is desired, then the religion itself must be revolutionized to make it supreme no matter who is who. We have given a solution to this through our 'NO SECOND TERM' system, the implications of which are tremendous when it comes to cleansing basic politics of governance. We invite Goans to take note of this.
It is imperative that Goa cannot and will not survive without GOANS. This is not just Goa specific but is true internationally. Therefore, it is high time for those Goans who have had no other choice but to leave the shores of their beloved Goa to make their lives worthwhile, irrespective of the hardships they face in their adopted working world, must look back and support, if not otherwise, atleast morally, by acknowledging the efforts of Goans in Goa who are trying hard to gain acceptance for their unselfish work to bring about a change in the way Goa's administration is handled. It would help vastly if only an attempt is made to understand what it is these die-hards want for Goa and Goan by way of a 'change in the old established guard'. And the attempt should be to go through the 'ROAD MAP FOR GOA' and the Party's Constitution which are available for 'download' at www.goa-su-raj.org
Lastly, it must be realized that old habits die hard. If a definite change is required, it is necessary to look for new solutions by discarding the long cherished love for the 'old' which could have become a mill-stone round one's neck.
The Goa Su-Raj Party of Goa is awaiting this recognition from the sons and daughter of Goa before it goes on to be recognized by the world for what it is. If at all Goa does posses a nuclear device, it is the GOA SU-RAJ PARTY. We do not want that our word be taken on this count. Every concerned Goan needs to test it to realize its potency with which it can reform/cleanse Goa to make it the paradise that every true meaning Goan wants it to be. And the reformation/cleansing will not be individual specific but a systemic and procedural exercise which can neither be kept under the lid nor be diluted in times to come. Doors are wide-open for people who want to belong to this thought process and the action packed march, with the founders guaranteeing the non-change of the rigid course that has been set when sails were put to wind in the year 2000, even in encounters with the roughest of weather or meanest of minds at the helm. And one thing that Goans may rest assured is that they will never have to regret the day they looked at this bright, beckoning 'light-house, that has been the traditional hope of the floundered and the lost.
Cheers
floriano
goasuraj
By Eduardo Rodrigues.
In politics, what one's heart feels, does not really mater. It is the substance of living that does.
Thousands miles away from Goa, Goans in Swindon feel that they have been betrayed by the results of South Goa. It is a feeling that they have been betrayed by their brethren for ensuring victory of Congress candidate Francisco Sardinha. However, the narrow margin of victory has been most welcome by the Goan community in Swindon, who, however were expecting much worse for the Congress. This hatred towards the Congress is not because they are BJP sympathizers, but because the way Sardinha positioned himself during the elections by putting party priorities above the needs of Goans in Swindon. "Sardinha promised to legalize bull fights in Goa. This was one of the platforms on which he stood for elections. But what has he done and promised to do for us Goans?" queries Leopold, who has been working in Swindon for the last eight years. "Armed with a degree, I have had to do odd jobs there, while there are so many outsiders in Goa, who have snatched our jobs, sometimes with fake certificates, " decries Leoplod, while admitting the threat of Goans feeling marginalized is predominant in this part of England, besotted by Goans. Souza from Sancoale vent his anger at the Congress for ignoring youth and asked, "What is the Congress trying to prove by fielding these old candidates?" Souza further says that the Congress should get rid of old timers like Luizinho Faleiro, Churchill Alemao, Sardinha, Mauvin Godinho and others since Goans have had enough of these people and the need right now is to field youthful candidates. "What as Sardinha done for us, except for making false promises? Has he cared to know why so many of us Goans in Swindon have to slog it out here?" queries Anthony from Goa Velha. Admitting that he would not have liked the BJP to win, Anthony feels that the Congress should have shown a genuine desire to help Goans, not only during polls but throughout the tenure. Another school teacher Pinto ridiculed the promise of Sardinha to legalize bull fights and said that there are far more serious issues to deal with. "Why does Sardinha not think of helping Goans who have been displaced from Swindon during the recession and are back in Goa without any job?" Pinto argues. Despite the rancour, there are quite a few who are least bothered about the results. "I have to go to my class and do not care a damn," was what Ms Chagas Silva told Herald when asked to comment.
COMMENTS:
Yet again, very well said that, especially by Ms. Chagas Silva. Her stand is all the more appreciated when Goa's politics does not feed (and has never fed) the hardworking and the industrious but has over-indulgingly pampered the class who work for the 'victory' of the political class in elections. Frankly speaking, I was wishing that both the seats in Goa for this Lok Sabha elections be taken by the BJP, not, as Leopold says, because I favour BJP, but this would bring down the ego of the Congressmen of Goa as their noses would be rubbished into the 'sonsodo' stink and at the same time make them sit up and take notice that their so called 'congress bastion' was, punctured yet again. I have always wanted both the Congress and the BJP out of Goa because their attitude towards Goa and Goans have become insufferable of late. Besides, I have helped to offer an alternative to these two monsters who can never reform, having been set in their ways of seeking pleasure and profit for themselves and their chamchas through taking the Goan electorate for a jolly good ride with pleasantly decorated hampers of promises which are discarded into the dustbin come election results.
It is heartening to note that the Goan spirit of feeling the denial and betrayal is felt outside Goa. We have always said that if a Tsunami or a lesser tidal waves is desired locally ( in GOA), there is a need for a stone to be flung from a distance (Swindon, in this case) to achieve the desired results in a relatively small political pond that Goa is. Otherwise one merely gets a miserable 'ripple' which often dies without being noticed.
The whole world wants the Congress to be purged of its demi-gods mentioned above like Luizinho etc. However, we would like to add a couple more like Dayanand Narvekar and Papa Rane. But in a religion of deifying mortals which our politics has been reduced to, especially the Congress Party, no matter what one wishes, to whatever extent, nothing can be changed. It will go on forever in a cyclic rhythm until the demi-gods breathe their last. If the contrary is desired, then the religion itself must be revolutionized to make it supreme no matter who is who. We have given a solution to this through our 'NO SECOND TERM' system, the implications of which are tremendous when it comes to cleansing basic politics of governance. We invite Goans to take note of this.
It is imperative that Goa cannot and will not survive without GOANS. This is not just Goa specific but is true internationally. Therefore, it is high time for those Goans who have had no other choice but to leave the shores of their beloved Goa to make their lives worthwhile, irrespective of the hardships they face in their adopted working world, must look back and support, if not otherwise, atleast morally, by acknowledging the efforts of Goans in Goa who are trying hard to gain acceptance for their unselfish work to bring about a change in the way Goa's administration is handled. It would help vastly if only an attempt is made to understand what it is these die-hards want for Goa and Goan by way of a 'change in the old established guard'. And the attempt should be to go through the 'ROAD MAP FOR GOA' and the Party's Constitution which are available for 'download' at www.goa-su-raj.org
Lastly, it must be realized that old habits die hard. If a definite change is required, it is necessary to look for new solutions by discarding the long cherished love for the 'old' which could have become a mill-stone round one's neck.
The Goa Su-Raj Party of Goa is awaiting this recognition from the sons and daughter of Goa before it goes on to be recognized by the world for what it is. If at all Goa does posses a nuclear device, it is the GOA SU-RAJ PARTY. We do not want that our word be taken on this count. Every concerned Goan needs to test it to realize its potency with which it can reform/cleanse Goa to make it the paradise that every true meaning Goan wants it to be. And the reformation/cleansing will not be individual specific but a systemic and procedural exercise which can neither be kept under the lid nor be diluted in times to come. Doors are wide-open for people who want to belong to this thought process and the action packed march, with the founders guaranteeing the non-change of the rigid course that has been set when sails were put to wind in the year 2000, even in encounters with the roughest of weather or meanest of minds at the helm. And one thing that Goans may rest assured is that they will never have to regret the day they looked at this bright, beckoning 'light-house, that has been the traditional hope of the floundered and the lost.
Cheers
floriano
goasuraj
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