FAHAHEEL BROS JR, BIG BOYS AND AVC – KUWAIT PROGRESS AHEAD IN IFFK LEAGUE 2011 AT DAYA GROUNDS.
Once again on a tranquil Friday morning the cream of Indian expatriate football community gathered on 25th March 2011 at the picturesque Daya Football Stadium to witness yet another day of compact expatriate football on the magnificent astro turf pitch, in the ongoing IFFK league for the unique and customised IFFK Rolling Trophy. Moving away from sand and worn out grass pitches, fans and players have simply adored this playing surface made available to IFFK by the concerted efforts of its members.
Experienced Veterans United kicked off the proceedings against Fahaheel Bros Jr in the first match of the day. Fahaheel Bros Jr. constantly attacked the Veterans citadel which fell in the 8th minute of the first half through Liyakkath Ali. Veterans were finding it difficult to handle the fleet footed Fahaheel Bros Jr., but somehow managed possession and displayed brilliant ball control in the midfield by Benny, Merwyn and Steven. Merwyn almost equalised for Veterans, but saw his shot ballooning over the cross bar with only the goalkeeper at his mercy. The second half was again dominated by Fahaheel Bros Jr who had the lion share of the spoils as Veterans players started to tire out and Liayakatt completed his brace. Veterans tried their best to come back in the game with Merwyn trying his best to wriggle out from the opposition strangle hold by pushing forward, but their forward line just faded away when Jayan C scored the third goal for Fahaheel Bros Jr. to end the game 3-0 in favour Fahaheel Bros Jr.
The second match pitted Indians against Big Boys. Indians with young new faces this season stunned Big Boys in quick succession with a brace from Scott Gomes. The first goal by Scott was a gem to watch as he collected a long hop from Remy in the midfield and placed coolly in the net beating the rival goalkeeper. Before Big Boys could get in to the rhythm Scott scored again and suddenly Indians were flying high and Big Boys in disarray. Expecting a backlash from the opponents Indians tightened their defence, but cracked under sustained pressure from Big Boys with Shaheer Usman reducing the margin before the breather. In the second half the flamboyant and animated manager of Big Boys changed his strategy and his team were quick off the blocks and stunned Indians with a quick equaliser from Ajmal Kareem. Goaded by this success Big Boys put relentless pressure on the opposition and surged ahead through Shaheer who scored the third goal and thereafter Niaz Ummer made it four for Big Boys to end the match 4-2 in their favour. By far this was the best performance by Indians in the ongoing league with their young and new faces shining bright. Big Boys displayed terrific performance to come back from two goals down to score four and win the match.
The third match between AVC - Kuwait and MAC was awarded to AVC- Kuwait as once again MAC played truant.
The matches were officiated by Indian Football Referees Association (IFRA) Kuwait.
IFFK notifies all its affiliates and fans that the next round of IFFK League matches to be held on 1st April 2011 will be held at the Salmiya Baladiya Stadium as the renovated football pitch is ready for action.
Following are the league fixture scheduled on 1st April 2010 to be held on Salmiya Baladiya Stadium.
At 7.00am Big Boys v/s Fahaheel Bros Jr.
At 8.30am Don Bosco Oratory v/s Fahaheel Bros Sr.
NEXT IFFK LEAGUE FIXTURE AT SALMIYA BALADIYA GROUND ON 21ST APRIL 2011
March 31, 2011
March 29, 2011
IS INDIA A GOAT??
In the recently passed UN resolution mandating UN to implement No Fly Zone over Libya, India along with Brazil, China, Russia abstained from voting in the resolution thereby converting India’s status as that of a dumb Goat. Abstaining from voicing its opinion either for or against is a job of a Dumb. Is India such a mighty power so impotent to voice its opinion on such an important and crucial issue? If tomorrow India gets a Seat in UN as permanent Member wielding even a Veto power then what will be India’s position? How the weak nations and weak people attacked and massacred by the brute powers and dictatorial governments will get help from India which is on record to support the human rights all over the World?
Ghaddafi is killing his own people in the East of Libya, these Libyans are demanding democracy and other liberties from Ghaddafi who is ruling Libya for the last 41 years as if he is the master of Libyans and Libyan citizens are his slaves. Holding power for such a long period has gone to his head and made him absolutely corrupt. When East Pakistani Bengalis started demanding liberties and democratic rights for them from West Pakistan, Gen. Yaha Khan the president of Pakistan instructed his military in East Pakistan to commit rapes and genocide on Bengali people. Because of this there was turmoil in East Pakistan forcing people there to flee to India. Bengali refugees started pouring into India forcing India to raise its voice against the catastrophic calamity taking place in East Pakistan finally provoking India to wage a deadly war against Pakistan in East Pakistan till East Pakistan was liberated from the West. When India is on record to wage a war against neighbouring country to stop it from brutalising its own citizens then why not India openly side with the suppressed people of Libya who are asking democratic rights for them? Moreover, huge number of suppressed Libyans are fleeing to Italy as refugees to avoid persecution of Ghaddafi in their own land just like East Pakistani Bengalis were doing under the persecution of Gen. Yaha Khan.
India is looked upon by the suppressed people all around the globe as protector of their rights and privileges and suppressed Libyan people were expecting India not only to support their cause openly but also to condemn Ghaddafi and his dictatorial regime. By keeping its neutrality India put itself into a shame in the eyes of the democratic World. This was never expected from India that is championing democracy and the cause of suppressed people all around the world.
On behalf of all the suppressed people demanding democratic rights for them I condemn India’s stand on Libya. India showed its acceptance of Ghaddafi’s brutalising of his own Arab Muslim people in its Eastern sector. India professes to be the champion of democracy but in Libyan case India proved its campaign for democracy is nothing but a big Hoax. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in his masterpiece “If I Am Assassinated” written from the prison cell where he was confined before facing the gallows said that India remained united after its independence only because of its shout of democracy which is nothing but a big Hoax. If India remained as India till now it is only because of its democratic slogan thru which it kept itself as a homogeneous entity, otherwise India is not a true democracy, people are fooled in India in the name of the “Mantra” called democracy.
According to me India is not the supporter of democracy, for its selfish benefits it supports even anti-democratic and undemocratic regimes and dictators. During the invasion of Kuwait India also played its dirty dual role of Dr. Jackyl and Mr. Hyde by showing its neutrality instead of condemning Saddam Hussein for illegally invading Kuwait. Moreover, it sent its Foreign Minister Gujral to Baghdad to embrace Saddam Hussein and to kiss his hand thereby approving Saddam Hussein as a hero for invading Kuwait? India is governed by a few people having love for dictatorship in the name of democracy. With the Lollipop of democracy in its hand India is fooling the poor Indian masses who do not understand democracy. India is ruled by a group of dictators against the wishes of the people at the Centre as well as in the States.
I applaud the coalition partners mainly USA, France, Britain and other countries for stopping Ghaddafi and his soldiers from killing and raping his own people in Libya I also applaud NATO for taking full control of stopping Ghaddafi from doing any further harm to civilian Libyans. By this action of theirs, it is once again proved that World will be better protected only by the democratic West and NOT by India, China, Russia and their impotent partners who like to watch as silent spectators when Ghaddafis kill and maim their own people for asking democracy and more democratic rights in their own countries. All the Ghaddafis in the world especially in the Middle East must go either peacefully or forcefully. Then only there will be peace in this region.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
Ghaddafi is killing his own people in the East of Libya, these Libyans are demanding democracy and other liberties from Ghaddafi who is ruling Libya for the last 41 years as if he is the master of Libyans and Libyan citizens are his slaves. Holding power for such a long period has gone to his head and made him absolutely corrupt. When East Pakistani Bengalis started demanding liberties and democratic rights for them from West Pakistan, Gen. Yaha Khan the president of Pakistan instructed his military in East Pakistan to commit rapes and genocide on Bengali people. Because of this there was turmoil in East Pakistan forcing people there to flee to India. Bengali refugees started pouring into India forcing India to raise its voice against the catastrophic calamity taking place in East Pakistan finally provoking India to wage a deadly war against Pakistan in East Pakistan till East Pakistan was liberated from the West. When India is on record to wage a war against neighbouring country to stop it from brutalising its own citizens then why not India openly side with the suppressed people of Libya who are asking democratic rights for them? Moreover, huge number of suppressed Libyans are fleeing to Italy as refugees to avoid persecution of Ghaddafi in their own land just like East Pakistani Bengalis were doing under the persecution of Gen. Yaha Khan.
India is looked upon by the suppressed people all around the globe as protector of their rights and privileges and suppressed Libyan people were expecting India not only to support their cause openly but also to condemn Ghaddafi and his dictatorial regime. By keeping its neutrality India put itself into a shame in the eyes of the democratic World. This was never expected from India that is championing democracy and the cause of suppressed people all around the world.
On behalf of all the suppressed people demanding democratic rights for them I condemn India’s stand on Libya. India showed its acceptance of Ghaddafi’s brutalising of his own Arab Muslim people in its Eastern sector. India professes to be the champion of democracy but in Libyan case India proved its campaign for democracy is nothing but a big Hoax. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in his masterpiece “If I Am Assassinated” written from the prison cell where he was confined before facing the gallows said that India remained united after its independence only because of its shout of democracy which is nothing but a big Hoax. If India remained as India till now it is only because of its democratic slogan thru which it kept itself as a homogeneous entity, otherwise India is not a true democracy, people are fooled in India in the name of the “Mantra” called democracy.
According to me India is not the supporter of democracy, for its selfish benefits it supports even anti-democratic and undemocratic regimes and dictators. During the invasion of Kuwait India also played its dirty dual role of Dr. Jackyl and Mr. Hyde by showing its neutrality instead of condemning Saddam Hussein for illegally invading Kuwait. Moreover, it sent its Foreign Minister Gujral to Baghdad to embrace Saddam Hussein and to kiss his hand thereby approving Saddam Hussein as a hero for invading Kuwait? India is governed by a few people having love for dictatorship in the name of democracy. With the Lollipop of democracy in its hand India is fooling the poor Indian masses who do not understand democracy. India is ruled by a group of dictators against the wishes of the people at the Centre as well as in the States.
I applaud the coalition partners mainly USA, France, Britain and other countries for stopping Ghaddafi and his soldiers from killing and raping his own people in Libya I also applaud NATO for taking full control of stopping Ghaddafi from doing any further harm to civilian Libyans. By this action of theirs, it is once again proved that World will be better protected only by the democratic West and NOT by India, China, Russia and their impotent partners who like to watch as silent spectators when Ghaddafis kill and maim their own people for asking democracy and more democratic rights in their own countries. All the Ghaddafis in the world especially in the Middle East must go either peacefully or forcefully. Then only there will be peace in this region.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
March 25, 2011
CHRISTIAN SATELLITE NEWS CHANNEL NEEDED.
The Indian TV News Channels ( ndtv, timesnow, headlinestoday, newsx, cnnibn, etc) don’t give any coverage to issues related to Christians in India for reasons best known to the people who run these news channels. Here in Bombay during the last one month various Christian groups have been protesting & protesting against the illegal demolitions of heritage crosses by the BMC but not a single national TV news channel has bothered to give any coverage inspite of the fact that all these TV news channels have their regional office and reporters in Bombay.
In Gorai – Manori – Uttan the local Christians have been protesting & protesting against sez, utan garbage dumping ground, powerful builders mafia, hotel lobby, damage done to mangroves, etc but all this does not appear in any TV news channel. In some parts of India churches, graveyards & crosses are still being vandalized, Christians are loosing land, Christians are being denied government jobs, govt housing & civic facilities, church properties are being sold off, church funds are being misused, children of poor Christians are being denied admission in Christian/Convent/Catholic schools and a lot of other issues that affects Christians in India is not reported in any of the Indian TV News Channels. So what is the solution ?? Can some Independent Christian groups which are associated with lay christians/catholics like the Bombay based Association of Concerned Catholics (AOCC) pool resources and start a news channel and give coverage to various issues that affects Christians in India ???
Sure a IMPOSSIBLE dream but Dig for it. Put your desires into motion not just thought. Act. Be bold and courageous. Will it be easy? Not likely. Will it be worth the work, the risk, the frustration? Absolutely. Persist, persevere. Life gives you the opportunity now so don't let one more moment escape your capacity to have, be, or get what you want. Remember that YOU are the instrument of change, the mechanism that with all your capacity will see new things unfold as you put thought into action. Anything is POSSIBLE. If at all AOCC or any other independent Christian group succeeds in setting up a News channel then apart from giving coverage to above issues related to Christians the channel will also have to ensure that coverage is also given to current affairs, solar power, clean water, forest rights, tribal rights, farmers rights, fisherfolk rights, land acquisition, special economic zones, inflation, pollution, environment, land encroachment by builders & slumlords, the incestuous network between the land mafia, bureaucracy, builders and politicians, money laundering, etc etc etc.
The Parish Priests are not selected and elected by local parishoners and obviously the parish priests are not accountable to the parishoners. This system has to change. It is the local parishoners who should select and elect their parish priests. Only those parish priests should be selected & elected who have indepth knowledge of Bible, current affairs, environment who are good, humble & honest who will disclose how church funds are utilized in parish bulletins who will disclose the vacant church properties in possession of the church in parish bulletins who will utilize vacant church properties for the housing needs of poor christians who will not refuse admission to children of poor christians in parish schools who will be prepared to lead from the front who will be prepared to take up the problems faced by the lay christians with the goverment, muncipality, etc.
There are more than 1000 heritage crosses all across Bombay city & suburbs which were built during the Portuguese era. The Bombay Municipal Corp. wants to demolish these heritage crosses for road widening project. Christians in Bombay are not opposing the road widening project but want these heritage crosses to be lifted by cranes and relocated a few feet backward which the BMC is not interested in and if the BMC is not interested in relocating these heritage crosses then Christians in Bombay are fully justified in opposing the demolition of these heritage crosses by BMC. The EastIndians & Kolis were once upon a time the true owners of Bombay – Mobai – Bambai – Mumbai – Slumbai or whatever name you use to refer to this megapolis. The eastindians & kolis have been reduced to a status of Backward Class because of various reasons especially all their ancestral lands surrounding their villages ( gaothans & koliwadas ) in the Bombay region being taken over first by the British Raj & next by the Maharashtra Govt. without giving them proper compensation or Government jobs and the Maharashtra Govt. & Bombay Muncipal Corporation turning a blind eye to the various housing & civic problems the eastindians & kolis face in the Gaothans & Koliwadas.
A century back there were around 300 Gaothans & 100 Koliwadas in the Bombay ( salsette island plus seven islands ) region that number has been reduced to 189 Gaothans & 43 Koliwadas. The Gaothans & Koliwadas are spread across Bombay city & suburbs. These gaothans & koliwadas are surrounded by residential complexes, co-op housing societies, Industrial complexes, govt. housing colonies, skyscrapers, public sector undertakings, central/state govt. undertakings, shopping malls, seepz, sports stadiums, midc, hotels, slums, textile mills, airports, railways, universities, cinema halls, etc. Whereas the native Christians of Goa, Mangalore, Kerala are known as Goans, Mangaloreans & Keralites respectively, a large section of the native Christians in Maharashtra are known by the name EastIndians.
The name East Indian is not an exclusive one, for it is also used by some in West Bengal who are in no way connected with those in and around Bombay bearing the same name. Few would be expected to be aware that the name eastindian has a historical and not geographical connotation. Because of the inappropriate and misleading name very few people know about the eastindians of bombay. Some east indians are also at a loss when people ask "What are you?" or "Where are you from?" or “Where is your muluk ( native place )”. For the answer will elicit more questions than he or she would be able to answer. The East Indians were also known by the name 'Salsette Christians' though no territorial significance was attached to the name 'Salsette' and it merely meant a Christian of the North Konkan region which inlcludes present day Bombay, Thane & Raigad Districts. The North Konkan Region is also known as the Bombay Metropolitan Region.
SALSETTE ISLAND: The metropolis of Bombay and the city of Thane lie on the large Salsette island. The southern part of the salsette island, which includes Bombay City was originally seven small islands. The credit for reclamining all the seven small islands into one island goes to the British who gave the islands the name Bombay anglicized from the previous name BomBahia. Politically, most of the Salsette island falls into the municipality of Bombay. The municipality is divided into two separate districts, Bombay City and Bombay Suburbs. The northern portion of the Salsette Island lies within Thane District, which extends across Vasai and Thane creeks onto the mainland. The EastIndian Christians in Bombay city & suburbs lost all their lands and now it is the turn of Christians in gorai manori uttan. Today the lush greenery, the homes, the villages, the occupation exists in gorai manori belt. Everyone knows, each and every village in this Manori Gorai belt. A lot of funcitions are held, even till late night, road side crosses exists.
The same could be said of the seven islands (bombay city) about a hundred years ago, the same could be said of Salsettle island (present day bombay suburbs) about 50 years ago. If Gorai-Manori is lost, there will not be a single recognizable East Indian village in the Bombay Metropolitan region. The culture and language that has taken thousands of years to develop will be lost. The people will lose their homes and occupations. The residents will lose their means of livelihood which would lead to disintegration of their community both economically, spiritually and socially. If the people lose their homes and occupations the present churches in each of the villages would be reduced to monuments.
The over one thousand year old culture of the locals would be wiped out and the locals would suffer similar fate as the sons of the soil have in the island city and the suburbs of Bombay. The ‘Bombay/Salsette East Indians’ are the descendants of the thousands of indigenous people of Bombay and its environs who trace their conversion to Christianity back to AD 55 with the arrival of Christ’s disciple St.Bartholomew in north konkan, west maharashtra and who later were converted to the teachings of rome/vatican i.e. Catholicism by the four great preaching orders –Dominicans, Franciscans, Augustinians and Jesuits who arrived in the 15th Century alongwith the Portuguese. The Portuguese between the 15th and 17th century had controlled almost the entire Western Coastal Plains of India and the control extended from Daman to Vasai to Bombay to Goa to Mangalore to Kerala coast this explains why you will find many catholics in these regions. The Western Coastal Plains of India is a narrow strip of land sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, ranging from 50 to 100 km in width and more than 2000 km in lenght. It extends from Gujarat in the north and through Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala.
Numerous rivers and backwaters inundate the region. Originating in the Western Ghats, the rivers are fast-flowing and mostly perennial, leading to the formation of estuaries. Major rivers flowing into the sea are the Tapi, Narmada, Mandovi and Zuari. The coast is divided into the Konkan, which is situated in Maharashtra, Goa and northern parts of Karnataka; the Kanara in Karnataka and the Malabar coast in Kerala. Vegetation is mostly deciduous, but the Malabar coast moist forests constitute a unique ecoregion. The Western coast of India with its wetlands, lagoons, mangroves, sea-grass beds, coral reefs and shallow bays, creeks and estuaries is rich in natural resources. Unfortunately, much of this wealth is often exploited in an indiscriminate or ill-planned manner resulting in rapid resource depletion and irreversible environmental degradation.
Major driving forces for coastal degradation include (a) high rate of growth in population leading to reclamation of coastal areas and release of wastes, (b) over-fishing due to lack of alternative livelihoods, (c) large commercial enterprises aiming at quick profit at the cost of sustainability and their insensitivity to the interests of local inhabitants, (d) ignorance about management of resource sustainability among stake holders and policy makers, (e) lack of understanding of environmental significance and importance of coastal habitats, and (f) inadequate enforcement of environmental rules and regulations.
Gabriel D'souza,
Bombay.
In Gorai – Manori – Uttan the local Christians have been protesting & protesting against sez, utan garbage dumping ground, powerful builders mafia, hotel lobby, damage done to mangroves, etc but all this does not appear in any TV news channel. In some parts of India churches, graveyards & crosses are still being vandalized, Christians are loosing land, Christians are being denied government jobs, govt housing & civic facilities, church properties are being sold off, church funds are being misused, children of poor Christians are being denied admission in Christian/Convent/Catholic schools and a lot of other issues that affects Christians in India is not reported in any of the Indian TV News Channels. So what is the solution ?? Can some Independent Christian groups which are associated with lay christians/catholics like the Bombay based Association of Concerned Catholics (AOCC) pool resources and start a news channel and give coverage to various issues that affects Christians in India ???
Sure a IMPOSSIBLE dream but Dig for it. Put your desires into motion not just thought. Act. Be bold and courageous. Will it be easy? Not likely. Will it be worth the work, the risk, the frustration? Absolutely. Persist, persevere. Life gives you the opportunity now so don't let one more moment escape your capacity to have, be, or get what you want. Remember that YOU are the instrument of change, the mechanism that with all your capacity will see new things unfold as you put thought into action. Anything is POSSIBLE. If at all AOCC or any other independent Christian group succeeds in setting up a News channel then apart from giving coverage to above issues related to Christians the channel will also have to ensure that coverage is also given to current affairs, solar power, clean water, forest rights, tribal rights, farmers rights, fisherfolk rights, land acquisition, special economic zones, inflation, pollution, environment, land encroachment by builders & slumlords, the incestuous network between the land mafia, bureaucracy, builders and politicians, money laundering, etc etc etc.
The Parish Priests are not selected and elected by local parishoners and obviously the parish priests are not accountable to the parishoners. This system has to change. It is the local parishoners who should select and elect their parish priests. Only those parish priests should be selected & elected who have indepth knowledge of Bible, current affairs, environment who are good, humble & honest who will disclose how church funds are utilized in parish bulletins who will disclose the vacant church properties in possession of the church in parish bulletins who will utilize vacant church properties for the housing needs of poor christians who will not refuse admission to children of poor christians in parish schools who will be prepared to lead from the front who will be prepared to take up the problems faced by the lay christians with the goverment, muncipality, etc.
There are more than 1000 heritage crosses all across Bombay city & suburbs which were built during the Portuguese era. The Bombay Municipal Corp. wants to demolish these heritage crosses for road widening project. Christians in Bombay are not opposing the road widening project but want these heritage crosses to be lifted by cranes and relocated a few feet backward which the BMC is not interested in and if the BMC is not interested in relocating these heritage crosses then Christians in Bombay are fully justified in opposing the demolition of these heritage crosses by BMC. The EastIndians & Kolis were once upon a time the true owners of Bombay – Mobai – Bambai – Mumbai – Slumbai or whatever name you use to refer to this megapolis. The eastindians & kolis have been reduced to a status of Backward Class because of various reasons especially all their ancestral lands surrounding their villages ( gaothans & koliwadas ) in the Bombay region being taken over first by the British Raj & next by the Maharashtra Govt. without giving them proper compensation or Government jobs and the Maharashtra Govt. & Bombay Muncipal Corporation turning a blind eye to the various housing & civic problems the eastindians & kolis face in the Gaothans & Koliwadas.
A century back there were around 300 Gaothans & 100 Koliwadas in the Bombay ( salsette island plus seven islands ) region that number has been reduced to 189 Gaothans & 43 Koliwadas. The Gaothans & Koliwadas are spread across Bombay city & suburbs. These gaothans & koliwadas are surrounded by residential complexes, co-op housing societies, Industrial complexes, govt. housing colonies, skyscrapers, public sector undertakings, central/state govt. undertakings, shopping malls, seepz, sports stadiums, midc, hotels, slums, textile mills, airports, railways, universities, cinema halls, etc. Whereas the native Christians of Goa, Mangalore, Kerala are known as Goans, Mangaloreans & Keralites respectively, a large section of the native Christians in Maharashtra are known by the name EastIndians.
The name East Indian is not an exclusive one, for it is also used by some in West Bengal who are in no way connected with those in and around Bombay bearing the same name. Few would be expected to be aware that the name eastindian has a historical and not geographical connotation. Because of the inappropriate and misleading name very few people know about the eastindians of bombay. Some east indians are also at a loss when people ask "What are you?" or "Where are you from?" or “Where is your muluk ( native place )”. For the answer will elicit more questions than he or she would be able to answer. The East Indians were also known by the name 'Salsette Christians' though no territorial significance was attached to the name 'Salsette' and it merely meant a Christian of the North Konkan region which inlcludes present day Bombay, Thane & Raigad Districts. The North Konkan Region is also known as the Bombay Metropolitan Region.
SALSETTE ISLAND: The metropolis of Bombay and the city of Thane lie on the large Salsette island. The southern part of the salsette island, which includes Bombay City was originally seven small islands. The credit for reclamining all the seven small islands into one island goes to the British who gave the islands the name Bombay anglicized from the previous name BomBahia. Politically, most of the Salsette island falls into the municipality of Bombay. The municipality is divided into two separate districts, Bombay City and Bombay Suburbs. The northern portion of the Salsette Island lies within Thane District, which extends across Vasai and Thane creeks onto the mainland. The EastIndian Christians in Bombay city & suburbs lost all their lands and now it is the turn of Christians in gorai manori uttan. Today the lush greenery, the homes, the villages, the occupation exists in gorai manori belt. Everyone knows, each and every village in this Manori Gorai belt. A lot of funcitions are held, even till late night, road side crosses exists.
The same could be said of the seven islands (bombay city) about a hundred years ago, the same could be said of Salsettle island (present day bombay suburbs) about 50 years ago. If Gorai-Manori is lost, there will not be a single recognizable East Indian village in the Bombay Metropolitan region. The culture and language that has taken thousands of years to develop will be lost. The people will lose their homes and occupations. The residents will lose their means of livelihood which would lead to disintegration of their community both economically, spiritually and socially. If the people lose their homes and occupations the present churches in each of the villages would be reduced to monuments.
The over one thousand year old culture of the locals would be wiped out and the locals would suffer similar fate as the sons of the soil have in the island city and the suburbs of Bombay. The ‘Bombay/Salsette East Indians’ are the descendants of the thousands of indigenous people of Bombay and its environs who trace their conversion to Christianity back to AD 55 with the arrival of Christ’s disciple St.Bartholomew in north konkan, west maharashtra and who later were converted to the teachings of rome/vatican i.e. Catholicism by the four great preaching orders –Dominicans, Franciscans, Augustinians and Jesuits who arrived in the 15th Century alongwith the Portuguese. The Portuguese between the 15th and 17th century had controlled almost the entire Western Coastal Plains of India and the control extended from Daman to Vasai to Bombay to Goa to Mangalore to Kerala coast this explains why you will find many catholics in these regions. The Western Coastal Plains of India is a narrow strip of land sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, ranging from 50 to 100 km in width and more than 2000 km in lenght. It extends from Gujarat in the north and through Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala.
Numerous rivers and backwaters inundate the region. Originating in the Western Ghats, the rivers are fast-flowing and mostly perennial, leading to the formation of estuaries. Major rivers flowing into the sea are the Tapi, Narmada, Mandovi and Zuari. The coast is divided into the Konkan, which is situated in Maharashtra, Goa and northern parts of Karnataka; the Kanara in Karnataka and the Malabar coast in Kerala. Vegetation is mostly deciduous, but the Malabar coast moist forests constitute a unique ecoregion. The Western coast of India with its wetlands, lagoons, mangroves, sea-grass beds, coral reefs and shallow bays, creeks and estuaries is rich in natural resources. Unfortunately, much of this wealth is often exploited in an indiscriminate or ill-planned manner resulting in rapid resource depletion and irreversible environmental degradation.
Major driving forces for coastal degradation include (a) high rate of growth in population leading to reclamation of coastal areas and release of wastes, (b) over-fishing due to lack of alternative livelihoods, (c) large commercial enterprises aiming at quick profit at the cost of sustainability and their insensitivity to the interests of local inhabitants, (d) ignorance about management of resource sustainability among stake holders and policy makers, (e) lack of understanding of environmental significance and importance of coastal habitats, and (f) inadequate enforcement of environmental rules and regulations.
Gabriel D'souza,
Bombay.
ON MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION LANGUAGE.
By Nisser Dias 24th March 2011
Those opposing English medium of instruction should not be given the responsibility of developing Konkani.
The week began with tens of thousands parents from all over the state converging at the historical Azad Maidan to vouch their support for the movement demanding inclusion of English as medium of instruction. The sheer number of parents responding to the call given by respective PTAs of government and aided schools to attend the meeting sent a shiver down the spine of the government. The message this time around was clear the parents mean business and if the Congress led coalition government fails to include English as one of the languages for imparting education from first standard; it will face yet another debacle in the coming assembly election. The consequences were realised by the ministers and half the cabinet including the Education minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate and as many MLAs showed their solidarity with the parents by making their presence felt at the rally.
However that does not mean that the battle is won, the unity of the parents is of utmost importance. Though the rally indicated that some of the ministers who were instrumental in bringing about the lopsided policy of disbursing grant-in-aid only to those schools instructing in mother tongue and other regional languages have realised their folly, at the same time they have also realised the importance and need of instructing young budding minds in the universal language in this globalized world.
The church too has realized its error in meekly giving in to the bad policy of the government two decades ago and is now willing to switch back to English medium of instruction. One cannot deny the fact that church is a major stake holder in imparting education in Goa, could have taken a strong objection to it. But still the church authorities accepted it maybe for various reasons like patriotism, maybe to give a chance to see if the Konkanni develops. But in these 20 long years the mother tongue of Goa has not improved and it has finally dawned on them that just instructing students in mother tongue till fourth standard will not help it to grow. If at all Konkanni is to be developed it should made compulsory from KG to PG. But would there be any takers? Secondly there are students who have majored in Konkani, has the Goa government provided them with any special grants or are there any privileges for them over other languages or has successive governments of Goa reserved special jobs quotas for them. Has the Konkani protoganists or chauvinists’ awarded and rewarded such students? Has the pseudo educationists and those politicians imposing the language on the young students urged the government to provide incentives to such PG students who committed themselves to Konkani and completed their post graduation in the language? And the answer is no.
The language chauvinists’ or Konkani protagonists are interested in deriving individual benefits from the government like grants and jobs for them and their family members and also cornering and grabbing awards. The politicians are interested either in safe guarding or increasing their vote banks by keeping the population illiterate. If successive governments could not develop Konkani through graduate and post graduate students, how will students of standard first to fourth help in the development of Konkani? Thirdly let the government initiate a survey to understand how many parents bring up their children in Konkani. The percentage is very low. So if a child is brought up in English at home, how is it traumatised when the medium of instruction is English? Infact the child is distressed when the medium of instruction is in Konkani.
Coming to Marathi, it is not our mother tongue but is infact adopted in Goa and given equally status because of politicians who would still prefer to be Maharashtrians rather than Goans and given an opportunity would still be more than willing to merge it with the neighbouring state even now. Be that as it may, Marathi is a highly developed language and I do think any Goan worth his salt has made any worthy contribution to it.
When the parents breaking the barriers of caste, creed and importantly religion came together and demanded in one voice that English should also be allowed as medium of instruction for the next academic year, the politicians and language protagonist were not only rattled but shaken at their foundation. The politicians have realised that they are losing their iron grip on the voters as majority of population is hell bent on educating their children with English as medium of instruction.
Sudin Dhavlikar is one of the ministers in the Digambar Kamat led government is opposing extending grants to English medium of instruction even when his son is pursuing his education in English medium school. But then, can we expect an MGP legislator to support Konkani and more importantly English when his loyalties lie with Maharashtra and not Goa. Worse still can we allow a person whose close family members are either in cahoots or members of fundamentalists organisation like the Sanathan Saunstha. Can such personalities contribute to education?
Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar is another strong believer that mother tongue should be the medium of instruction at the primary level. On 22nd March 2011 while speaking on demands of grants, he made a statement in the assembly that he loves to speak in Konkani; ironically his Konkani is more spiked with Marathi. How can we forget when he keeps on reminding us that his primary education was in Marathi? For argument sake let us assume the choice of his education was made by his parents because they had a choice. But Parrikar boasts his sons were also admitted in Marathi primary school, so how can Goans expect Manohar Parrikar’s love for Konkani. He is also instrumental in starting a daily newspaper in Marathi. Thus his love for Konkani is superficial. So these two individuals will never contribute to Konkani and will never allow the mother tongue or the universal language of the world to be the sole languages of medium of instruction. The primary motive of such individuals is to communalise education in Goa and preferably hand over the entire education sector to the RSS. Of course Parrikar has to first explain what happened to the government primary school which he had handed over to the RSS during his tenure as chief minister.
During my interaction with Manohar Parrikar over the issue during the last Parliamentary election he was categorical enough to state he cannot allow English to be given grants as majority of Hindus would embrace English and would not be in the position to read Hindu religious literature or scripture as it is in Marathi. But this same man who goes that extra mile to promote himself as a secular did not find it appropriate to see to it that Konkani in Romi script was given its due as the entire Christian religious literature or scripture is in Romi script.
Lastly I conclude by saying we are parents of school going children and we demand that the choice to educate our children in any language should be ours and for those who are still of the opinion that mother tongue is the ultimate choice of language for medium of instruction, I say let me know what your grand children speak and specially in what medium of instruction they are taught.Send your comments/reactions to
nisserdias@gmail.com Or SMS 9422437029)(Nisser Dias writes a regular column in GT on Thursday. This article was published in GT today)
Those opposing English medium of instruction should not be given the responsibility of developing Konkani.
The week began with tens of thousands parents from all over the state converging at the historical Azad Maidan to vouch their support for the movement demanding inclusion of English as medium of instruction. The sheer number of parents responding to the call given by respective PTAs of government and aided schools to attend the meeting sent a shiver down the spine of the government. The message this time around was clear the parents mean business and if the Congress led coalition government fails to include English as one of the languages for imparting education from first standard; it will face yet another debacle in the coming assembly election. The consequences were realised by the ministers and half the cabinet including the Education minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate and as many MLAs showed their solidarity with the parents by making their presence felt at the rally.
However that does not mean that the battle is won, the unity of the parents is of utmost importance. Though the rally indicated that some of the ministers who were instrumental in bringing about the lopsided policy of disbursing grant-in-aid only to those schools instructing in mother tongue and other regional languages have realised their folly, at the same time they have also realised the importance and need of instructing young budding minds in the universal language in this globalized world.
The church too has realized its error in meekly giving in to the bad policy of the government two decades ago and is now willing to switch back to English medium of instruction. One cannot deny the fact that church is a major stake holder in imparting education in Goa, could have taken a strong objection to it. But still the church authorities accepted it maybe for various reasons like patriotism, maybe to give a chance to see if the Konkanni develops. But in these 20 long years the mother tongue of Goa has not improved and it has finally dawned on them that just instructing students in mother tongue till fourth standard will not help it to grow. If at all Konkanni is to be developed it should made compulsory from KG to PG. But would there be any takers? Secondly there are students who have majored in Konkani, has the Goa government provided them with any special grants or are there any privileges for them over other languages or has successive governments of Goa reserved special jobs quotas for them. Has the Konkani protoganists or chauvinists’ awarded and rewarded such students? Has the pseudo educationists and those politicians imposing the language on the young students urged the government to provide incentives to such PG students who committed themselves to Konkani and completed their post graduation in the language? And the answer is no.
The language chauvinists’ or Konkani protagonists are interested in deriving individual benefits from the government like grants and jobs for them and their family members and also cornering and grabbing awards. The politicians are interested either in safe guarding or increasing their vote banks by keeping the population illiterate. If successive governments could not develop Konkani through graduate and post graduate students, how will students of standard first to fourth help in the development of Konkani? Thirdly let the government initiate a survey to understand how many parents bring up their children in Konkani. The percentage is very low. So if a child is brought up in English at home, how is it traumatised when the medium of instruction is English? Infact the child is distressed when the medium of instruction is in Konkani.
Coming to Marathi, it is not our mother tongue but is infact adopted in Goa and given equally status because of politicians who would still prefer to be Maharashtrians rather than Goans and given an opportunity would still be more than willing to merge it with the neighbouring state even now. Be that as it may, Marathi is a highly developed language and I do think any Goan worth his salt has made any worthy contribution to it.
When the parents breaking the barriers of caste, creed and importantly religion came together and demanded in one voice that English should also be allowed as medium of instruction for the next academic year, the politicians and language protagonist were not only rattled but shaken at their foundation. The politicians have realised that they are losing their iron grip on the voters as majority of population is hell bent on educating their children with English as medium of instruction.
Sudin Dhavlikar is one of the ministers in the Digambar Kamat led government is opposing extending grants to English medium of instruction even when his son is pursuing his education in English medium school. But then, can we expect an MGP legislator to support Konkani and more importantly English when his loyalties lie with Maharashtra and not Goa. Worse still can we allow a person whose close family members are either in cahoots or members of fundamentalists organisation like the Sanathan Saunstha. Can such personalities contribute to education?
Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar is another strong believer that mother tongue should be the medium of instruction at the primary level. On 22nd March 2011 while speaking on demands of grants, he made a statement in the assembly that he loves to speak in Konkani; ironically his Konkani is more spiked with Marathi. How can we forget when he keeps on reminding us that his primary education was in Marathi? For argument sake let us assume the choice of his education was made by his parents because they had a choice. But Parrikar boasts his sons were also admitted in Marathi primary school, so how can Goans expect Manohar Parrikar’s love for Konkani. He is also instrumental in starting a daily newspaper in Marathi. Thus his love for Konkani is superficial. So these two individuals will never contribute to Konkani and will never allow the mother tongue or the universal language of the world to be the sole languages of medium of instruction. The primary motive of such individuals is to communalise education in Goa and preferably hand over the entire education sector to the RSS. Of course Parrikar has to first explain what happened to the government primary school which he had handed over to the RSS during his tenure as chief minister.
During my interaction with Manohar Parrikar over the issue during the last Parliamentary election he was categorical enough to state he cannot allow English to be given grants as majority of Hindus would embrace English and would not be in the position to read Hindu religious literature or scripture as it is in Marathi. But this same man who goes that extra mile to promote himself as a secular did not find it appropriate to see to it that Konkani in Romi script was given its due as the entire Christian religious literature or scripture is in Romi script.
Lastly I conclude by saying we are parents of school going children and we demand that the choice to educate our children in any language should be ours and for those who are still of the opinion that mother tongue is the ultimate choice of language for medium of instruction, I say let me know what your grand children speak and specially in what medium of instruction they are taught.Send your comments/reactions to
nisserdias@gmail.com Or SMS 9422437029)(Nisser Dias writes a regular column in GT on Thursday. This article was published in GT today)
March 24, 2011
TIATRISTS & POLITICIANS& GOANS.
Well said Willie Severes on Herald dated 23rd March’11, It’s indeed a pity that the very people who preach, practice the opposite, I admire our Tiatrist fraternity, I do enjoy their songs and the messages that are conveyed through their Tiatrs. It is the Tiatrist fraternity that has protected and projected our Mother Tongue Konkanni. I love our Tiatr culture but I am sorry to say that their singing songs against our corrupt politicians or the Tiatrs that expose our corrupt politicians are good but not enough, they should go further and do it with conviction to prove that they mean every word they say and sing. I pray to the Tiatrist fraternity to boycott all functions where these morons are invited as chief guests, even if it means a big pinch in the pockets. That would prove beyond any doubt what they mean what they say.
I live in Dubai and as I said I love our Tiatr culture but unfortunately I and a few of my friends have stopped going for Tiatrs because here in Dubai too this imbecile are invited as chief guests, Goans in Goa are fighting wars and battles against these corrupt politicians and some Goans in Goa and overseas honour and pamper them. Isn’t that aghast ? In a few days time the PWD minister and the CM are invited to Dubai to give away Konkanni awards, a pro Marathi and a Konkanni traitor who has left Konkanni and Goa drying in the hot sun while at their costs they fills their barns. This is what we Goans stand for and support. We certainly get what we deserve.
Freddy Agnelo Fernandes.
I live in Dubai and as I said I love our Tiatr culture but unfortunately I and a few of my friends have stopped going for Tiatrs because here in Dubai too this imbecile are invited as chief guests, Goans in Goa are fighting wars and battles against these corrupt politicians and some Goans in Goa and overseas honour and pamper them. Isn’t that aghast ? In a few days time the PWD minister and the CM are invited to Dubai to give away Konkanni awards, a pro Marathi and a Konkanni traitor who has left Konkanni and Goa drying in the hot sun while at their costs they fills their barns. This is what we Goans stand for and support. We certainly get what we deserve.
Freddy Agnelo Fernandes.
March 22, 2011
WELL DONE KUWAIT BY SUPPORTING BAHRAIN
The latest news that Kuwait has also joined with its other colleagues in GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) States in sending its Navy Units to Bahrain to quell the sectarian unrest there is a good sign of support. As a GCC country, as per the pact Kuwait is bound to come to the rescue of any of its GCC members when any of GCC countries is facing threats to its security. So also other GCC countries are bound to come to the rescue of Kuwait in a similar manner. GCC is a club of 6 Gulf countries, namely Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman. Many countries in the world are having such pacts. When Sri Lanka was in chaotic situation due to unrest, India under Rajiv Ghandi’s premiership sent its troops to Sri Lanka to quell the unrest there developed due to the internal security problems created by the internal sectarian conflicts. So also India in a similar manner sent its troops to Maldives. In Fifties when the then Iraqi troops threatened Kuwait, British Government sent its own troops from its Bahrain base to Kuwait to contain Iraqi advancement into Kuwait,
The latest decision of Kuwait in sending its Naval Units to help Bahrain is a right move having also in it a gesture of gratitude. When Kuwait was invaded on 2nd August in 1990 by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, directly or indirectly every GCC country suffered in varying degrees, Bahrain was one of them. Besides, during the war for the liberation of Kuwait in January-February 1991, Bahrain was the target of Saddam Hussein’s Scud Missiles and in the light of it because of Kuwait, Bahrain also suffered. Hence, it was a very good decision of Kuwait to show its gratitude to Bahrain by supporting Bahrain when it is in problem. To follow the principle of reciprocity is a healthy sign for the smooth functioning of the friendly relations and this is exactly what Kuwait is doing, of course rightly.
The crisis in Bahrain looks more like sectarian between Sunnis and Shias who according to available information are supported thru remote control by Iran, a Shia citadel in the Middle East. Mohammed Ali Jinnah the architect of Pakistan following the independence of Pakistan from the British, in order to reassure the minorities in Pakistan said that henceforth the people in Pakistan will not be identified by their religions, that means Hindus will cease to be Hindus, Muslims will cease to be Muslims and Christian will be ceased to be Chrsitians but they all will be first identified as the citizens of Pakistan. Is such a principle followed in Bahrain where both the Shia and Sunni communities are identified first by the Bahraini nationality or by their religious denominations?
Descriminations based on religions is a worst discrimination because of which human beings are made to suffer though God is same for the followers of all religions. Mahatmah Gandhi said that "Religions are different routes leading to the same destination". The societies and the Governments practicing religious discriminations are offending God who is the creator of all mankind and Who expects all his children to be treated on equal basis. Those societies and those Governments treating their citizens and other subjects on the basis of religious inequalities should stop practicing religious discriminations and then only everything will be okay.
Like India, Middle East is also rife with religious sectarianism. In this area you are too religious conscious which makes you unfit to be a metropolitan. Religious sectarianism is too deeply engrained in people of this area. People in many respects are clubbed and idntified by their religions and religious denominations. Human beings should be religious but not to the extent of being reigious fanatic so as to dub others following different religion than yours as downcast. For the smooth functioning of the society discriminations based on religion should be eradicated.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
The latest decision of Kuwait in sending its Naval Units to help Bahrain is a right move having also in it a gesture of gratitude. When Kuwait was invaded on 2nd August in 1990 by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, directly or indirectly every GCC country suffered in varying degrees, Bahrain was one of them. Besides, during the war for the liberation of Kuwait in January-February 1991, Bahrain was the target of Saddam Hussein’s Scud Missiles and in the light of it because of Kuwait, Bahrain also suffered. Hence, it was a very good decision of Kuwait to show its gratitude to Bahrain by supporting Bahrain when it is in problem. To follow the principle of reciprocity is a healthy sign for the smooth functioning of the friendly relations and this is exactly what Kuwait is doing, of course rightly.
The crisis in Bahrain looks more like sectarian between Sunnis and Shias who according to available information are supported thru remote control by Iran, a Shia citadel in the Middle East. Mohammed Ali Jinnah the architect of Pakistan following the independence of Pakistan from the British, in order to reassure the minorities in Pakistan said that henceforth the people in Pakistan will not be identified by their religions, that means Hindus will cease to be Hindus, Muslims will cease to be Muslims and Christian will be ceased to be Chrsitians but they all will be first identified as the citizens of Pakistan. Is such a principle followed in Bahrain where both the Shia and Sunni communities are identified first by the Bahraini nationality or by their religious denominations?
Descriminations based on religions is a worst discrimination because of which human beings are made to suffer though God is same for the followers of all religions. Mahatmah Gandhi said that "Religions are different routes leading to the same destination". The societies and the Governments practicing religious discriminations are offending God who is the creator of all mankind and Who expects all his children to be treated on equal basis. Those societies and those Governments treating their citizens and other subjects on the basis of religious inequalities should stop practicing religious discriminations and then only everything will be okay.
Like India, Middle East is also rife with religious sectarianism. In this area you are too religious conscious which makes you unfit to be a metropolitan. Religious sectarianism is too deeply engrained in people of this area. People in many respects are clubbed and idntified by their religions and religious denominations. Human beings should be religious but not to the extent of being reigious fanatic so as to dub others following different religion than yours as downcast. For the smooth functioning of the society discriminations based on religion should be eradicated.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
MOTHER TONGUE, MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION: MYTHS AND FACTS. By Fr. Prataph Naik, S.J.
Mother tongue, Medium of instruction: Myths and facts
Dr. Pratap Naik, S.J.
Director
Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr
B.B.Borkar Road
Alto Porvorim, Goa – 403 521
Cell:09850658565
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (2010) defines mother tongue as “the language that you first learn to speak when you are a child”. In Linguistics mother tongue term is not used. Since mother tongue is a misleading concept, linguists prefer to use the term first language. In Goa, pseudo-intellectuals cum educationists, proponents of Devanagari script and handful of people who claim that by their birth of high caste origin, are vociferously advocating the myths they have created around mother tongue, medium of instruction and culture. Let us try to understand why they have created these myths. Myths are efficient and convenient tools to suppress and oppress others, especially people who have no voice. The proponents of these myths do not want marginalized common people and the minority communities of Goa to excel in life. To excel in life, quality of education is really essential. In the twenty-first century, in India quality of education is associated with English. If grants are given to English medium primary schools, children of common people of Goa have an equal opportunity to excel and even supersede students of the high caste origin. The proponents of myths cannot tolerate this naked reality, namely that their progeny will be pushed down from their pedestal of caste hegemony, linguistic and cultural domains. Therefore, they want to continue to dominate the common masses and minority communities with their creative myths. Liars of myths have a creative mind. However they themselves do not believe in the myths they have created! Now let us analyze some of their myths.
Myth number one is that the primary education has to be in the mother tongue of children. Proponents of this myth themselves never studied in their mother tongue! They studied either in Marathi or English. Even their children and grand children are the products of either Marathi or English medium of education. They preach to others what they do not practice themselves! In Goa the vast majority of locals do understand Konknni. Besides Konknni is the Official Language of the State. In this context, Konknni should have been the medium of instruction throughout Goa. But as on 30 September 2008, in Goa there are 936 Marathi medium primary schools of which 888 belong to the government and 48 are run by the private Hindu managements. While there are only 207 Konknni medium primary schools of which 140 belong to the private managements and 67 run by the government. Out of the 140 Konknni medium primary schools, 128 are run by the Catholic community and only six by the Hindu community. Proponents of myths have no courage to say that in Goa, Konknni alone should be given the first priority as the medium of instruction. In the name of mother tongue they perpetuated and want to perpetuate Marathi medium schools in Goa! Taking into consideration the quality of Konknni textbooks, methods of teaching and the competence of teachers it is far better to study either in English or in any other medium except Konknni. Taking into consideration the Konknni textbooks produced for fifth standard onwards, one should totally discourage our children to opt Konknni in Devanagari script as a subject.
Myth number two is the mother tongue is best suited for primary education. If this is true how do we explain the fact that millions of people in the world who have not studied in their mother tongue have excelled in their career. It is true that the dominant language of the household or of the region is used as the medium of instruction, children will learn faster and better. In Goa, in many houses English is spoken as the household language. Day by day the number of such families is increasing. In this context, proponents of education in mother tongue should not oppose or rather admit English as the mother tongue of a section of people of Goa and they have the right to demand English as the medium of instruction to their children. Medium of instruction in any language including English, is no hundred percent guarantee that the children will do well in their studies. The quality of textbooks, teaching methods, adequate training and on going training of teachers, availability of reference books, school environment and many other related factors do contribute to the success of learning. Teaching and learning is not restricted to medium of instruction alone and to school compound.
Myth number three is education at the primary level in mother tongue cultivates love for one’s own language, culture and nation. All over India day by day the demand for English medium schools is increasing. Are these people who demand English education for their children are less patriotic than the hypocrites who created the myths for their selfish motives? Let us admit the fact that today in India, a good command over English language is absolutely necessary for academic, technical advancement and for better job opportunities. Since independence, Indian official languages have not succeeded to unite us as Indians. Each language community is proud of its linguistic and territorial identity. But English alone has succeeded to unite us as Indians. If English is abolished or reduced from India, we will not exist as a country! Those who oppose English as the medium of instruction could rightly be called as anti-children, anti-common people and anti-Indians!
Myth number four is studying in Konknni medium will help children to learn Hindi. This is far from the truth. In Karnataka, Kerala, Andra Pradesh and in other states of India, many locals study in their native languages with respective scripts and yet they do learn Hindi. In Goa, those who want to learn Hindi will learn it irrespective of Konknni.
If we admit that basic education is the right of every child then we must also admit that the medium of instruction is the right of the child. If we want our students from Goa to shine at the academic circles in India, at present the only option is quality of education through English medium. Let us not mix up the language of the heart, namely our household language and language of the mind and learning, namely English. Those who care for children and support the rights of children should openly support the demand of their parents to give grants to English medium primary schools.
Dr. Pratap Naik, S.J.
Director
Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr
B.B.Borkar Road
Alto Porvorim, Goa – 403 521
Cell:09850658565
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (2010) defines mother tongue as “the language that you first learn to speak when you are a child”. In Linguistics mother tongue term is not used. Since mother tongue is a misleading concept, linguists prefer to use the term first language. In Goa, pseudo-intellectuals cum educationists, proponents of Devanagari script and handful of people who claim that by their birth of high caste origin, are vociferously advocating the myths they have created around mother tongue, medium of instruction and culture. Let us try to understand why they have created these myths. Myths are efficient and convenient tools to suppress and oppress others, especially people who have no voice. The proponents of these myths do not want marginalized common people and the minority communities of Goa to excel in life. To excel in life, quality of education is really essential. In the twenty-first century, in India quality of education is associated with English. If grants are given to English medium primary schools, children of common people of Goa have an equal opportunity to excel and even supersede students of the high caste origin. The proponents of myths cannot tolerate this naked reality, namely that their progeny will be pushed down from their pedestal of caste hegemony, linguistic and cultural domains. Therefore, they want to continue to dominate the common masses and minority communities with their creative myths. Liars of myths have a creative mind. However they themselves do not believe in the myths they have created! Now let us analyze some of their myths.
Myth number one is that the primary education has to be in the mother tongue of children. Proponents of this myth themselves never studied in their mother tongue! They studied either in Marathi or English. Even their children and grand children are the products of either Marathi or English medium of education. They preach to others what they do not practice themselves! In Goa the vast majority of locals do understand Konknni. Besides Konknni is the Official Language of the State. In this context, Konknni should have been the medium of instruction throughout Goa. But as on 30 September 2008, in Goa there are 936 Marathi medium primary schools of which 888 belong to the government and 48 are run by the private Hindu managements. While there are only 207 Konknni medium primary schools of which 140 belong to the private managements and 67 run by the government. Out of the 140 Konknni medium primary schools, 128 are run by the Catholic community and only six by the Hindu community. Proponents of myths have no courage to say that in Goa, Konknni alone should be given the first priority as the medium of instruction. In the name of mother tongue they perpetuated and want to perpetuate Marathi medium schools in Goa! Taking into consideration the quality of Konknni textbooks, methods of teaching and the competence of teachers it is far better to study either in English or in any other medium except Konknni. Taking into consideration the Konknni textbooks produced for fifth standard onwards, one should totally discourage our children to opt Konknni in Devanagari script as a subject.
Myth number two is the mother tongue is best suited for primary education. If this is true how do we explain the fact that millions of people in the world who have not studied in their mother tongue have excelled in their career. It is true that the dominant language of the household or of the region is used as the medium of instruction, children will learn faster and better. In Goa, in many houses English is spoken as the household language. Day by day the number of such families is increasing. In this context, proponents of education in mother tongue should not oppose or rather admit English as the mother tongue of a section of people of Goa and they have the right to demand English as the medium of instruction to their children. Medium of instruction in any language including English, is no hundred percent guarantee that the children will do well in their studies. The quality of textbooks, teaching methods, adequate training and on going training of teachers, availability of reference books, school environment and many other related factors do contribute to the success of learning. Teaching and learning is not restricted to medium of instruction alone and to school compound.
Myth number three is education at the primary level in mother tongue cultivates love for one’s own language, culture and nation. All over India day by day the demand for English medium schools is increasing. Are these people who demand English education for their children are less patriotic than the hypocrites who created the myths for their selfish motives? Let us admit the fact that today in India, a good command over English language is absolutely necessary for academic, technical advancement and for better job opportunities. Since independence, Indian official languages have not succeeded to unite us as Indians. Each language community is proud of its linguistic and territorial identity. But English alone has succeeded to unite us as Indians. If English is abolished or reduced from India, we will not exist as a country! Those who oppose English as the medium of instruction could rightly be called as anti-children, anti-common people and anti-Indians!
Myth number four is studying in Konknni medium will help children to learn Hindi. This is far from the truth. In Karnataka, Kerala, Andra Pradesh and in other states of India, many locals study in their native languages with respective scripts and yet they do learn Hindi. In Goa, those who want to learn Hindi will learn it irrespective of Konknni.
If we admit that basic education is the right of every child then we must also admit that the medium of instruction is the right of the child. If we want our students from Goa to shine at the academic circles in India, at present the only option is quality of education through English medium. Let us not mix up the language of the heart, namely our household language and language of the mind and learning, namely English. Those who care for children and support the rights of children should openly support the demand of their parents to give grants to English medium primary schools.
March 21, 2011
WEST IN LIBYA TO SAVE HUMAN LIVES.
Yesterday, Col. Ghaddafi issued a warning to the West that he will put this war of Libya into Europe and it is going to be an unending protracted war. My foot, Col. Ghaddafi!! You are a criminal having killed thru indiscriminate firing thousands of your own people who were opposing your autocratic rule and dictatorial leadership in the East of Libya. The West imposing No Fly Zone is firing pin point target and not killing the Libyans indiscriminately. With all its selfish ambitions and cunningness West is still a civilized zone of this planet. The world has been civilized by the West only even though I am not blind to the selfishness of the West towards their own selfish gains.
Something is wrong with the Middle East Arab mentality. They have very poor sense and judgment of assessing the strenght of their enemies. Saddam Hussein before the war for the liberation of Kuwait said that the West headed by USA will learn a very good lesson in defeat since Gulf War for the liberation of Kuwait will be the "Mother of all battles" and it will be a long protracted war. But instead that war ended in one and a half month only with a heavy defeat to Iraq converting Mother of all battles into "Father of all defeats" thereby inflicting a heavy blow to the ego of Arabs as a whole.
Currently in the Arab World, there is not a single country capable of fighting with the West not only against the combined might of the West but even individually. When president Reagan of USA bombed Ghaddafi’s house with an advance warning, Ghaddafi fled from his house like a cockroach for safety instead of challenging Reagan’s bomber. Israel is the fraction of the entire Arab zone in the Middle East but inspite of its smallness in size and in population Israel inflicted heavy defeats on the combined might of the Arab World because Arabs are not capable to fight against the West that backed Israel. Arabs are talking only of Oil as weapon to fight the West but that Oil is not capable to fight the West. Oil as weapon against the West has failed in mid seventies after the last Arab-Israeli war as it failed earlier and even in future it will fail. When Iraq due to sanction stopped marketing Oil to the West, Saddam Hussein even volunteered to give Oil to the outside world free of charge but nobody bothered to take Oil from Iraq and West was not starved of Oil when Iraq stopped its oil to the West.
Now those who think West is involving in Libya to get free flow of Oil they are mistaken. It looks like it is an Oil issue but in reality it looks like human rights issue for the West since it joined to fight Ghaddafi to save human lives which Ghaddafi is killing in thousands. I strongly support the West in its fight against Libya to save human lives there. Ghaddafi is on record to support the terrorism in the world by supporting the most deadly terrorists even Venezuelan Carlos the Jackal who kidnapped all the Oil Minsiters of Oil Producing Countries while they were in the Oil Meet session.
Some people are accusing West in general and USA in particular for invlving in every nation as if USA and its allies are "Dadas" of the world. Good that USA is taking interest in such matters otherwise autocratic leaders would destroy their own nations and also other nations. If it was not for USA and its alies Kuwait till today would be in the hands of Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Some of the very people earning their sustenance in free Kuwait are still accusing USA for involving in the conflict betwen Iraq and Kuwait. They are so blind to the employment they get in Kuwait because of American involvement in liberating Kuwait. They still do not have gratitude to USA for liberating Kuwait and thereby getting opportunity to gain their daily bread in Kuwait. Such people are blind to see the truth and accept the fact. If it was not for USA and West the world woud have fallen into chaos and disorder. Though USA is an evil but it is a necessary evil.
Only USA and West can save the world from further diorder.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
Something is wrong with the Middle East Arab mentality. They have very poor sense and judgment of assessing the strenght of their enemies. Saddam Hussein before the war for the liberation of Kuwait said that the West headed by USA will learn a very good lesson in defeat since Gulf War for the liberation of Kuwait will be the "Mother of all battles" and it will be a long protracted war. But instead that war ended in one and a half month only with a heavy defeat to Iraq converting Mother of all battles into "Father of all defeats" thereby inflicting a heavy blow to the ego of Arabs as a whole.
Currently in the Arab World, there is not a single country capable of fighting with the West not only against the combined might of the West but even individually. When president Reagan of USA bombed Ghaddafi’s house with an advance warning, Ghaddafi fled from his house like a cockroach for safety instead of challenging Reagan’s bomber. Israel is the fraction of the entire Arab zone in the Middle East but inspite of its smallness in size and in population Israel inflicted heavy defeats on the combined might of the Arab World because Arabs are not capable to fight against the West that backed Israel. Arabs are talking only of Oil as weapon to fight the West but that Oil is not capable to fight the West. Oil as weapon against the West has failed in mid seventies after the last Arab-Israeli war as it failed earlier and even in future it will fail. When Iraq due to sanction stopped marketing Oil to the West, Saddam Hussein even volunteered to give Oil to the outside world free of charge but nobody bothered to take Oil from Iraq and West was not starved of Oil when Iraq stopped its oil to the West.
Now those who think West is involving in Libya to get free flow of Oil they are mistaken. It looks like it is an Oil issue but in reality it looks like human rights issue for the West since it joined to fight Ghaddafi to save human lives which Ghaddafi is killing in thousands. I strongly support the West in its fight against Libya to save human lives there. Ghaddafi is on record to support the terrorism in the world by supporting the most deadly terrorists even Venezuelan Carlos the Jackal who kidnapped all the Oil Minsiters of Oil Producing Countries while they were in the Oil Meet session.
Some people are accusing West in general and USA in particular for invlving in every nation as if USA and its allies are "Dadas" of the world. Good that USA is taking interest in such matters otherwise autocratic leaders would destroy their own nations and also other nations. If it was not for USA and its alies Kuwait till today would be in the hands of Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Some of the very people earning their sustenance in free Kuwait are still accusing USA for involving in the conflict betwen Iraq and Kuwait. They are so blind to the employment they get in Kuwait because of American involvement in liberating Kuwait. They still do not have gratitude to USA for liberating Kuwait and thereby getting opportunity to gain their daily bread in Kuwait. Such people are blind to see the truth and accept the fact. If it was not for USA and West the world woud have fallen into chaos and disorder. Though USA is an evil but it is a necessary evil.
Only USA and West can save the world from further diorder.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
INDIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION KUWAIT LEAGUE REPORT. By Xavier furtado.
DON BOSCO, AVC-KUWAIT AND RBFC MARCH AHEAD IN IFFK LEAGUE 2011 AT DAYA GROUNDS.
The splendid weather conditions in the State of Kuwait on Friday morning time were tailor made for early morning matches as the grand IFFK league 2011 for the IFFK Rolling Trophy got underway at the picturesque Daya grounds in Kuwait. A minute silence was observed as a mark of respect in memory of those people who lost their lives in Japan.
Title aspirants Don Bosco Oratory Kuwait (DBO) started the proceedings against Big Boys Kuwait. Both the teams played cautious football at the onset with DBO creating more chances. Savio and Alex worked in tandem to keep the Big Boys defence busy. Savio opened the scoring for DBO after receiving a pass from Michael in the first half. In the second half Michael consolidated the lead for DBO thereby making the issue safe. But Big Boys had other ideas, looking out to reduce the margin put pressure on DBO defence led by Alex which ultimately cracked and Saheer scored for Big Boys making the tie a bit uneasy for DBO. Big Boys sustained the pressure after the reducer and almost equalized, but their forward missed a glorious opportunity to draw level. DBO quickly regrouped to suck in the pressure exerted by the opposition and came out victorious by 2 goals to 1.
The second fixture pitted defending champions AVC-Kuwait against formidable Veterans United. Both the teams were missing out on players due to injury, cautions and work commitments. AVC-Kuwait started in the right note by attacking the opposition, but Veterans United frustrated them by excellent defensive play. As Veterans defended stoutly, AVC forwards and midfield found themselves in opposition half for most of the time, but just could not bulge the nylons as the Veterans United defence led by maverick Benny Fernandes and stunning goalkeeping by his namesake Benny kept AVC at bay. Finally in the 31st minute of the first half prolific goalscorer Anthony put AVC ahead with a stinging right footer unleashed from the right flank giving no chance to Benny in Veterans goal. In the second half again Veterans United frustrated AVC-Kuwait by parking themselves in the own half. As frustration grew for AVC, a brilliant stunner from AVC’s professional midfielder Francis Sr from the top of the box unlocked Veterans stubborn defence to put AVC 2-0 up. In the final minutes Anthony completed his brace to win the tie comfortably by 3 goals to nil.
The third match between Real Betalbatim Football Club (RBFC) and MAC was awarded to RBFC as MAC could not make it to the ground on the scheduled time, thus earning 3 valuable points to RBFC.
The matches were officiated by Indian Football Referees Association (IFRA) Kuwait.
Following are the league fixture scheduled on 25th March 2010 to be held on Daya grounds.
At 6.45am Veterans v/s Fahaheel Bros Jr.
At 8am Indians v/s Big Boys Kuwait
At 9.15am AVC-Kuwait v/s MAC
The splendid weather conditions in the State of Kuwait on Friday morning time were tailor made for early morning matches as the grand IFFK league 2011 for the IFFK Rolling Trophy got underway at the picturesque Daya grounds in Kuwait. A minute silence was observed as a mark of respect in memory of those people who lost their lives in Japan.
Title aspirants Don Bosco Oratory Kuwait (DBO) started the proceedings against Big Boys Kuwait. Both the teams played cautious football at the onset with DBO creating more chances. Savio and Alex worked in tandem to keep the Big Boys defence busy. Savio opened the scoring for DBO after receiving a pass from Michael in the first half. In the second half Michael consolidated the lead for DBO thereby making the issue safe. But Big Boys had other ideas, looking out to reduce the margin put pressure on DBO defence led by Alex which ultimately cracked and Saheer scored for Big Boys making the tie a bit uneasy for DBO. Big Boys sustained the pressure after the reducer and almost equalized, but their forward missed a glorious opportunity to draw level. DBO quickly regrouped to suck in the pressure exerted by the opposition and came out victorious by 2 goals to 1.
The second fixture pitted defending champions AVC-Kuwait against formidable Veterans United. Both the teams were missing out on players due to injury, cautions and work commitments. AVC-Kuwait started in the right note by attacking the opposition, but Veterans United frustrated them by excellent defensive play. As Veterans defended stoutly, AVC forwards and midfield found themselves in opposition half for most of the time, but just could not bulge the nylons as the Veterans United defence led by maverick Benny Fernandes and stunning goalkeeping by his namesake Benny kept AVC at bay. Finally in the 31st minute of the first half prolific goalscorer Anthony put AVC ahead with a stinging right footer unleashed from the right flank giving no chance to Benny in Veterans goal. In the second half again Veterans United frustrated AVC-Kuwait by parking themselves in the own half. As frustration grew for AVC, a brilliant stunner from AVC’s professional midfielder Francis Sr from the top of the box unlocked Veterans stubborn defence to put AVC 2-0 up. In the final minutes Anthony completed his brace to win the tie comfortably by 3 goals to nil.
The third match between Real Betalbatim Football Club (RBFC) and MAC was awarded to RBFC as MAC could not make it to the ground on the scheduled time, thus earning 3 valuable points to RBFC.
The matches were officiated by Indian Football Referees Association (IFRA) Kuwait.
Following are the league fixture scheduled on 25th March 2010 to be held on Daya grounds.
At 6.45am Veterans v/s Fahaheel Bros Jr.
At 8am Indians v/s Big Boys Kuwait
At 9.15am AVC-Kuwait v/s MAC
March 20, 2011
COL. GHADDAFI'S ATTROCITIES & TURMOIL IN ARAB WORLD.
Let me go on record to openly support International community’s decision to punish Col. Ghaddafi of Libya for killing his own civilian population in the East of Libya. The madness of Col. Ghaddafi should be treated well till he is o.k. mentally. The late assassinated president of Egypt Anwar Al Sadat told Ghaddafi openly ‘You are mentally deranged’ and later on Sadat said ‘I will teach you a good lesson for your arrogance’. Following the latter statement, Sadat bombed Libya and Ghaddafi remained silent like a cockroach.
Col. Ghaddafi with his autocratic rule of 4 decades still thinks that it was his Devine Right to rule Libya thru suppression of his own Arab Muslim people. Like Saddam Hussein, Ghaddafi also is killing his own people and some Muslims and Arabs are blaming the West for liquidating their people. In his 8 years war with Iran Saddam Hussein killed thousands of Arabs and Muslims. Now it is Christian West that is come to the rescue of Arab Muslim people of Libya to save them from the genocide of Ghaddafi.
Ghaddafi is blaming Al Qaeda for fomenting troubles in Libya but is it not the same Ghaddafi who supported and promoted Al Qaeda against the West & Christians? Kuwait before its invasion by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq was pampering Palestinian and following the invasion of Kuwait it was the same Palestinians at individual level and also at official level that betrayed Kuwait and Kuwaitis thereby creating a very bad image of them at all levels. For their troubles in Yemen, its leaders are also blaming Al Qaeda but this was the same Yemen that supported Al Qaeda activities against Christians and the West.
For being the godfather of Muslim terrorists, Ghaddafi created lot of problems to the West in particular and World in general but when his turn came to face the music he became a coward. When he was the president of USA, the late Ronald Reagan threatened Ghaddafi with dire consequences if he does not behave well and to keep up his threat Reagan with an advance warning bombed Ghaddafi’s house. Fortunately Ghaddafi was saved because he moved to different place at the time of bombing, unfortunately his adopted daughter was killed in the bombing raid.
Ghaddafi has no respect for neither regional nor international organizations whose memberships Libya enjoyed. Three days back he promised the world community to abide by the cease fire in his land against East Libya but immediately he broke his promise provoking France, UK, Canada and USA to take military action against his massacre of his own civilian population who are asking for freedom to live freely with free thoughts. When Ghaddafi is killing his own people and maltreating them the civilized world cannot sleep idly. It is the responsibility of the civilized world to come to the rescue of the suffering Arab Muslim Libyans in the East and this is what the Christian West is doing with the consent of the world community. Ghaddafi cannot ignore the wishes and decisions of world body even though he feels world body is irrelevant when shamelessly he holds the membership of UN.
Some years back he said openly that NAM is a big joke incapable of doing anything worthwhile while Libya is also a part of NAM. During and following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, Ghaddafi played a questionable role. He was one of the Arab Leaders who said Kuwait problem should be solved under Arab League but AL finally turned out to be a toothless body to force Saddam Out of Kuwait. In the face of Monster leaders like Saddam Hussein and Ghaddafi, AL collapsed like a pack of Cards. AL looks like a body of ‘Gauva Shipping’ (Turkish Coffee drinking body). Even in recent problem AL in the initial stages was reluctant to allow world body to handle the situation but ultimately it realized its inefficiency finally allowing the West to handle Ghaddafi’s barbarity thru World Body.
The current situation in the Arab World demands surrendering of some important rights to the common people. Arab populations are far advanced and more educated now than what they were 50 years back. The revolt in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Oman and other places was done by the new educated generation with western democratic and decent values. They will not stop till their ideological dreams are implemented by their current autocratic rulers who are known to be exploiting the masses in their respective countries by amassing the wealth of their nations for them and for their sons and daughters. Ghaddafi is one of them and his days are numbered. The days of suppression and slavery are over. Now everybody wants to live in decency and in democracy. We must support the Christian West in supporting new dawn on the horizon of Arab World first and elsewhere afterwards.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
Col. Ghaddafi with his autocratic rule of 4 decades still thinks that it was his Devine Right to rule Libya thru suppression of his own Arab Muslim people. Like Saddam Hussein, Ghaddafi also is killing his own people and some Muslims and Arabs are blaming the West for liquidating their people. In his 8 years war with Iran Saddam Hussein killed thousands of Arabs and Muslims. Now it is Christian West that is come to the rescue of Arab Muslim people of Libya to save them from the genocide of Ghaddafi.
Ghaddafi is blaming Al Qaeda for fomenting troubles in Libya but is it not the same Ghaddafi who supported and promoted Al Qaeda against the West & Christians? Kuwait before its invasion by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq was pampering Palestinian and following the invasion of Kuwait it was the same Palestinians at individual level and also at official level that betrayed Kuwait and Kuwaitis thereby creating a very bad image of them at all levels. For their troubles in Yemen, its leaders are also blaming Al Qaeda but this was the same Yemen that supported Al Qaeda activities against Christians and the West.
For being the godfather of Muslim terrorists, Ghaddafi created lot of problems to the West in particular and World in general but when his turn came to face the music he became a coward. When he was the president of USA, the late Ronald Reagan threatened Ghaddafi with dire consequences if he does not behave well and to keep up his threat Reagan with an advance warning bombed Ghaddafi’s house. Fortunately Ghaddafi was saved because he moved to different place at the time of bombing, unfortunately his adopted daughter was killed in the bombing raid.
Ghaddafi has no respect for neither regional nor international organizations whose memberships Libya enjoyed. Three days back he promised the world community to abide by the cease fire in his land against East Libya but immediately he broke his promise provoking France, UK, Canada and USA to take military action against his massacre of his own civilian population who are asking for freedom to live freely with free thoughts. When Ghaddafi is killing his own people and maltreating them the civilized world cannot sleep idly. It is the responsibility of the civilized world to come to the rescue of the suffering Arab Muslim Libyans in the East and this is what the Christian West is doing with the consent of the world community. Ghaddafi cannot ignore the wishes and decisions of world body even though he feels world body is irrelevant when shamelessly he holds the membership of UN.
Some years back he said openly that NAM is a big joke incapable of doing anything worthwhile while Libya is also a part of NAM. During and following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, Ghaddafi played a questionable role. He was one of the Arab Leaders who said Kuwait problem should be solved under Arab League but AL finally turned out to be a toothless body to force Saddam Out of Kuwait. In the face of Monster leaders like Saddam Hussein and Ghaddafi, AL collapsed like a pack of Cards. AL looks like a body of ‘Gauva Shipping’ (Turkish Coffee drinking body). Even in recent problem AL in the initial stages was reluctant to allow world body to handle the situation but ultimately it realized its inefficiency finally allowing the West to handle Ghaddafi’s barbarity thru World Body.
The current situation in the Arab World demands surrendering of some important rights to the common people. Arab populations are far advanced and more educated now than what they were 50 years back. The revolt in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Oman and other places was done by the new educated generation with western democratic and decent values. They will not stop till their ideological dreams are implemented by their current autocratic rulers who are known to be exploiting the masses in their respective countries by amassing the wealth of their nations for them and for their sons and daughters. Ghaddafi is one of them and his days are numbered. The days of suppression and slavery are over. Now everybody wants to live in decency and in democracy. We must support the Christian West in supporting new dawn on the horizon of Arab World first and elsewhere afterwards.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION: A BOON OR BANE?
Medium of instruction: a boon or bane
Dr. Pratap Naik, S.J.
Director
Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr
Alto Porvorim, Goa – 403 521
Mother tongue is a misleading term. As a linguist, I question this term because what will be the mother tongue of a child who has lost its mother or parents at the babyhood. Even if one accepts the validity of the term mother tongue, it cannot be the norm for medium of instruction at the primary school. In an ideal situation if the dominant language spoken at home or in the neighbourhood is used as the medium of instruction, the child will easily understand the subjects taught and its academic growth will attain the desirable level. Besides the medium of instruction, the quality of textbooks, teaching methods and the competence of teachers are also equally important for the child’s academic growth. In most of the countries of the world the medium of instruction is their dominant language. In India we do not have a single language which is accepted by all as the language of education. English is the only language which unites the Indians at the level of education. In Goa till 1991 in a number of schools the medium of instruction in primary schools was English or Marathi. Konknni as a medium of instruction was limited to 2 schools in South Goa. The spoken Konknni unites the locals but written Konknni divides. Konknni written in Devanagari script has done more harm to locals and Konknni culture compared to Marathi. Konknni written in Devanagari is nobody’s baby. It is artificially kept alive by the government grants to please a handful of protagonists. The textbooks written in Konknni are filled with innumerable grave errors of all types. It is nobody’s concern to rectify them. Those managements who opted for Konknni medium have done so not because of their conviction but to avail grants from the education department. Teachers are not sufficiently equipped to teach in Konknni medium. The rich and those who can afford, send their children to unaided English medium primary schools and later on shift to aided schools. In this visionless and chaotic atmosphere the children who attend the Konknni medium schools have become the voiceless and helpless victims. It is a great injustice done to them. All of us are responsible for this crime. Hence it is our duty to rectify the past blunder and to obtain justice to our children by providing them free English medium education at the primary level. I say this with full conviction after working for Konknni as a researcher and teacher in Goa for 25 years. Our love for Konknni should not make us blind for the future of our children.
In Goa, Konknni is needed only to maintain the cultural identity of the people. Let Konknni be the language of our heart, namely household language, language in the domains of social, cultural, religious and other related fields. In Goa, let English be the language of our mind and intellect, namely education at all levels, administration and intellectual growth and to earn our daily bread. All over India English is gaining momentum as the medium of instruction at the primary level. In the neighbouring districts of Sindhudurg, Belgaum, Dharwad, and Uttar Kannada, even in the villages English medium schools exist and their demand is increasing day by day. Primary education in English in Goa will be a boon for all irrespective of their home language, religion, region and caste. Let our parents, managements and the education department do not fall as a prey to the hypocritical double standard talk of pseudo educationists, mother tongue protagonists and politicians. The future of Goa and our people lies in English medium education, which is a boon to our children.
Dr. Pratap Naik, S.J.
Director
Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr
Alto Porvorim, Goa – 403 521
Mother tongue is a misleading term. As a linguist, I question this term because what will be the mother tongue of a child who has lost its mother or parents at the babyhood. Even if one accepts the validity of the term mother tongue, it cannot be the norm for medium of instruction at the primary school. In an ideal situation if the dominant language spoken at home or in the neighbourhood is used as the medium of instruction, the child will easily understand the subjects taught and its academic growth will attain the desirable level. Besides the medium of instruction, the quality of textbooks, teaching methods and the competence of teachers are also equally important for the child’s academic growth. In most of the countries of the world the medium of instruction is their dominant language. In India we do not have a single language which is accepted by all as the language of education. English is the only language which unites the Indians at the level of education. In Goa till 1991 in a number of schools the medium of instruction in primary schools was English or Marathi. Konknni as a medium of instruction was limited to 2 schools in South Goa. The spoken Konknni unites the locals but written Konknni divides. Konknni written in Devanagari script has done more harm to locals and Konknni culture compared to Marathi. Konknni written in Devanagari is nobody’s baby. It is artificially kept alive by the government grants to please a handful of protagonists. The textbooks written in Konknni are filled with innumerable grave errors of all types. It is nobody’s concern to rectify them. Those managements who opted for Konknni medium have done so not because of their conviction but to avail grants from the education department. Teachers are not sufficiently equipped to teach in Konknni medium. The rich and those who can afford, send their children to unaided English medium primary schools and later on shift to aided schools. In this visionless and chaotic atmosphere the children who attend the Konknni medium schools have become the voiceless and helpless victims. It is a great injustice done to them. All of us are responsible for this crime. Hence it is our duty to rectify the past blunder and to obtain justice to our children by providing them free English medium education at the primary level. I say this with full conviction after working for Konknni as a researcher and teacher in Goa for 25 years. Our love for Konknni should not make us blind for the future of our children.
In Goa, Konknni is needed only to maintain the cultural identity of the people. Let Konknni be the language of our heart, namely household language, language in the domains of social, cultural, religious and other related fields. In Goa, let English be the language of our mind and intellect, namely education at all levels, administration and intellectual growth and to earn our daily bread. All over India English is gaining momentum as the medium of instruction at the primary level. In the neighbouring districts of Sindhudurg, Belgaum, Dharwad, and Uttar Kannada, even in the villages English medium schools exist and their demand is increasing day by day. Primary education in English in Goa will be a boon for all irrespective of their home language, religion, region and caste. Let our parents, managements and the education department do not fall as a prey to the hypocritical double standard talk of pseudo educationists, mother tongue protagonists and politicians. The future of Goa and our people lies in English medium education, which is a boon to our children.
March 17, 2011
"IRI - IRI GHADDEACHO PADDO, IRI - IRI".
It is a “Bhoilancho Ghaddo” stationed in Goa and controlled on sitting on it by the Goan “Ghaddekar” politician. Both the “Boils” are in Kuwait tied to the ‘ZUM’ of the Ghaddo in Goa, the geographical barrier between Ghaddo and Boils is irrelevant. The Ghaddekar politician in Goa from his Ghaddo is controlling the movement of the Boils in Kuwait according to his wishes with the words “Iri – Iri Paddea, Iri – Iri”, with the regular hits of the “Lingddachi Boddi” on the back of the Paddo, again saying Iri – Iri Paddea, Iri-Iri. Both the Boils of the Ghaddo moves as per the pushes, hits and Iri-Iri Paddea. This is what is happening in Kuwait among Goans who are “Chamchas” of corrupt and sinful Goan politicians who are looting Goa and Goans and a fraction of this loot doling to their Chamchas in Kuwait to sponsor their activities.
Some of our “Rostad” Kuwait Goans who falsely claim to be the leaders of Goan community are become so “pochpochit” that they have totally lost their sanity and for the sake of little pomp and show which is very cheap and shallow they are selling themselves to Goan politicians. For thirty Coins Judas sold Christ to the Jews while for the lust of few Kuwaiti Dinars our Rostad Kuwait Goans are selling Goan dignity to the Goa looter politicians. According to the information some looter Goan politicians have vowed to control the activities of Kuwait Goans from Goa exactly like the Ghaddekar as indicated above. There was pressure on me from some corrupt Goan politicians not to sponsor Buses for the public meeting held on 15th of this month at Azad Maidan Panaji on behalf of "Goemchea Rakhonddarancho Awaz". The two buses we sponsored from Kuwait were not by me, they were sponsored by KUWAIT KONKNNI KENDR, Kuwait and over which I have no monopoly though I am a part of KKK.
KKK is controlled by a body comprising intellectual Goa lover Goans and they know what is good and what is bad. KKK is not the tool into the hands of corrupt Goan politicians in Goa. No corrupt Goan minister nor any corrupt Goan politician can control KKK with the words “Iri – Iri” and “Lingddachi Boddi” in his hand. The stalwarts of KKK are true sons of their true Goan fathers for this reason they support genuine Goan causes for the good of Goa since about three decades now. The members of KKK know their fathers very well just like their mothers. Those who do not know their fathers are like Ghaddeache Boil to surrender the Iri-Iri of corrupt Goan politicians.
The recent meeting organized by Goenchea Rakhonddarancho Awaz was to create awakening against anti-Goan and un-Goan activities conducted in Goa by our corrupt Goan politicians. For this reason corrupt Goan politicians advised their beneficiaries in Kuwait with the word Iri-Iri not to support GRA and regrettably our Chamchas in Kuwait surrendered to the Iri-Iri of corrupt Goan politicians. What good can one expect from the Ghaddeache Boil in Kuwait? They have not done anything worthwhile for Goan causes. They were never a part of our innumerable movements for the cause of Goa and Goans. Many of them opposed me in particular for organisning Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center Movement in Goa in support of the liberation of Kuwait. The presidents of the Goan associations licking the boots of the corrupt Goan Ministers and politicians showed their anti-Kuwait attitude by not joining in our movement when they were required to support the cause of Kuwait from where they earn their sustenance. Because of Kuwait jobs they got girls to merry. They are anti-Kuwait and as such they have no right to be in Kuwait. They should go back to Goa and be a part of the corrupt Goan politicians who never supported us in Goa in our movement against Iraqi invasion of Kuwait even though these same corrupt Goan politicians are shamelessly coming to Kuwait to lick the boots of Kuwait. To my local friends and colleagues in GKSC I have already indicated the names of shameless corrupt Goan politicians who deserted Kuwait’s cause when Kuwait was under the illegal occupation of Iraq.
According to the information received from our KKK’s representatives who attended the GRA meet on 15th inst., at Azad Maidan Panaji, it was a total success with the attendance of around 10,000 attendees. It seems it looked like a sea of humanity and thru this multitude public opinion against corrupt politicians will surely going to be created. Now after this Meet, corrupt Goan politicians are become afraid and their Seats in the coming election are doubtful. They will surely have sleepless nights and this is one of the victories of this great Meet.
Goans are awakening now. That they are already awakened was proved with the result of the recent Panjim Municipality election. Babush group was expecting to win all the Seats but they got only half the Seats with the majority of only 2 Votes. This means it was a big defeat for Babuh faction. Beides, thru the system of ‘Aya Ram and Gaya Ram’ the result could be upside down at any time later on and Babush faction may have to occupy the opposition Benches because his majority is very thin and very collapsible. Moreover, in his home area Taleigao he lost many of his previous votes. Winning Panjim Municipality election is not winning entire Goa election. Panjim Municipality election is not the Barometer to gauge the mood of entire Goan voters. If this is the case then Babush lost his Panjim foothold and if he contests the coming Goa Assembly election from Panjim, he will surely lose to Parrikar who in the recent Panjim election gained more Seats than previous number.
Public meetings and public opinions do create public awareness in the right direction. For this reason we must support public meetings and public agitations against corruption in public life. This philosophy our Kuwait Goan idiots and Chamchas of corrupt Goan politicians will never understand because they have ‘Fator’ in their heads. Besides football and Seven-A-Side soccer tournaments they know nothing. It is a shame to have amongst us such idiots who think football alone is our life in Kuwait. In fact the football that we play here in Kuwait amongst us is a big joke unrecognized by any official authority in Kuwait. It is big only for the people involved in it among whom many are acting like big Jokers. Minus football they are like fish out of water. These idiots have created our impression in Kuwait as if we are only for cheap publicity thru football. In 1979 we established our soccer activities to bring unity amongst us but as per the recent happenings our football has created more divisions amongst us. And yet we shamelessly boast of our football activities by becoming slaves of corrupt Goan politicians who control our moves from Goa with the words “Iri – Iri”.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
Some of our “Rostad” Kuwait Goans who falsely claim to be the leaders of Goan community are become so “pochpochit” that they have totally lost their sanity and for the sake of little pomp and show which is very cheap and shallow they are selling themselves to Goan politicians. For thirty Coins Judas sold Christ to the Jews while for the lust of few Kuwaiti Dinars our Rostad Kuwait Goans are selling Goan dignity to the Goa looter politicians. According to the information some looter Goan politicians have vowed to control the activities of Kuwait Goans from Goa exactly like the Ghaddekar as indicated above. There was pressure on me from some corrupt Goan politicians not to sponsor Buses for the public meeting held on 15th of this month at Azad Maidan Panaji on behalf of "Goemchea Rakhonddarancho Awaz". The two buses we sponsored from Kuwait were not by me, they were sponsored by KUWAIT KONKNNI KENDR, Kuwait and over which I have no monopoly though I am a part of KKK.
KKK is controlled by a body comprising intellectual Goa lover Goans and they know what is good and what is bad. KKK is not the tool into the hands of corrupt Goan politicians in Goa. No corrupt Goan minister nor any corrupt Goan politician can control KKK with the words “Iri – Iri” and “Lingddachi Boddi” in his hand. The stalwarts of KKK are true sons of their true Goan fathers for this reason they support genuine Goan causes for the good of Goa since about three decades now. The members of KKK know their fathers very well just like their mothers. Those who do not know their fathers are like Ghaddeache Boil to surrender the Iri-Iri of corrupt Goan politicians.
The recent meeting organized by Goenchea Rakhonddarancho Awaz was to create awakening against anti-Goan and un-Goan activities conducted in Goa by our corrupt Goan politicians. For this reason corrupt Goan politicians advised their beneficiaries in Kuwait with the word Iri-Iri not to support GRA and regrettably our Chamchas in Kuwait surrendered to the Iri-Iri of corrupt Goan politicians. What good can one expect from the Ghaddeache Boil in Kuwait? They have not done anything worthwhile for Goan causes. They were never a part of our innumerable movements for the cause of Goa and Goans. Many of them opposed me in particular for organisning Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center Movement in Goa in support of the liberation of Kuwait. The presidents of the Goan associations licking the boots of the corrupt Goan Ministers and politicians showed their anti-Kuwait attitude by not joining in our movement when they were required to support the cause of Kuwait from where they earn their sustenance. Because of Kuwait jobs they got girls to merry. They are anti-Kuwait and as such they have no right to be in Kuwait. They should go back to Goa and be a part of the corrupt Goan politicians who never supported us in Goa in our movement against Iraqi invasion of Kuwait even though these same corrupt Goan politicians are shamelessly coming to Kuwait to lick the boots of Kuwait. To my local friends and colleagues in GKSC I have already indicated the names of shameless corrupt Goan politicians who deserted Kuwait’s cause when Kuwait was under the illegal occupation of Iraq.
According to the information received from our KKK’s representatives who attended the GRA meet on 15th inst., at Azad Maidan Panaji, it was a total success with the attendance of around 10,000 attendees. It seems it looked like a sea of humanity and thru this multitude public opinion against corrupt politicians will surely going to be created. Now after this Meet, corrupt Goan politicians are become afraid and their Seats in the coming election are doubtful. They will surely have sleepless nights and this is one of the victories of this great Meet.
Goans are awakening now. That they are already awakened was proved with the result of the recent Panjim Municipality election. Babush group was expecting to win all the Seats but they got only half the Seats with the majority of only 2 Votes. This means it was a big defeat for Babuh faction. Beides, thru the system of ‘Aya Ram and Gaya Ram’ the result could be upside down at any time later on and Babush faction may have to occupy the opposition Benches because his majority is very thin and very collapsible. Moreover, in his home area Taleigao he lost many of his previous votes. Winning Panjim Municipality election is not winning entire Goa election. Panjim Municipality election is not the Barometer to gauge the mood of entire Goan voters. If this is the case then Babush lost his Panjim foothold and if he contests the coming Goa Assembly election from Panjim, he will surely lose to Parrikar who in the recent Panjim election gained more Seats than previous number.
Public meetings and public opinions do create public awareness in the right direction. For this reason we must support public meetings and public agitations against corruption in public life. This philosophy our Kuwait Goan idiots and Chamchas of corrupt Goan politicians will never understand because they have ‘Fator’ in their heads. Besides football and Seven-A-Side soccer tournaments they know nothing. It is a shame to have amongst us such idiots who think football alone is our life in Kuwait. In fact the football that we play here in Kuwait amongst us is a big joke unrecognized by any official authority in Kuwait. It is big only for the people involved in it among whom many are acting like big Jokers. Minus football they are like fish out of water. These idiots have created our impression in Kuwait as if we are only for cheap publicity thru football. In 1979 we established our soccer activities to bring unity amongst us but as per the recent happenings our football has created more divisions amongst us. And yet we shamelessly boast of our football activities by becoming slaves of corrupt Goan politicians who control our moves from Goa with the words “Iri – Iri”.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
CAN YOU DO IT, MP SHANTARAM NAIK?
Can You Do It, MP Shantaram Naik ?
Ever since the catastrophic annihilation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the “N” word, has been giving humanity the night mares. The word nuclear sends shivers down the spines of the educated; the illiterate are ignorant of its existence and won’t be able to fathom the repercussion of a nuclear holocaust. Even then man has marched on in the field of nuclear or atomic feasibility, as a result of which a lot of good has come to mankind especially in the field of medicine and treatment for once most dreaded and untreatable diseases. It has also enhanced the power and the research sectors by leaps and bounds, all this is attained at a cost; a risk to humanity itself.
Can any one forget Chernobyl, the disaster in Ukraine, in 1986 ? There have been several others in the US and other parts of the world over the years. In India we have witnessed what chemicals and gases like methyl isocyanate can do during the Union Carbide disaster in Bopal in 1984, which is just a mere miniscule exponent compared to the nuclear intensity. So, the whole wide world is seeking an answer to one question, should we risk the wellbeing of our civilization for scientific and civil benefits ? Is it really worth the risk ?
In Goa MP Shantaram Naik of late seems like a man seeking redemption but unfortunately moving around in circles in the dark. He has raised an issue regarding the safety of the nuclear facility in Karnataka, which is in very close proximity with Goa and the other being the proposed nuclear facility in Maharashtra, again in very close proximity with Goa but on the opposite side and rightly fears for the worst in case of a nuclear meltdown as Goa will be sandwiched in between and nowhere to run. His concerns are appreciated but what I cannot understand is his asking for the safety standards of the two facilities, I am sure everyone will agree that the Japanese safety standards could well be one of the highest or the best, even far better than the US.
But today we are witnesses to the fact that the best of safety standards do not withstand the fury and the force of nature. So if MP Shantaram is well and truly worried about the welfare of Goa and Goans try getting support for the closure of the one in operation or stop the other from being operational, nothing in between will and can save Goa and Goans in case of a nuclear meltdown. Secondly, nuclear as well as chemical contamination is spread mainly through air and water; these two are called “elements” in science along with fire. Lay siege to these two elements and civilization will cease to exist.
In Goa rampant mining has laid siege to these to elements for monetary gains. People living in hinterland are the victims of this siege even after all the opposition; our government does not hear the cries for help. It would do a lot of good for MP Shantaram Naik to personally look into this matter where he will find a good number of his own fellow politicians and party men actually forcing a mining meltdown into the lungs and stomachs of Goans living in and along the entire mining zone, the mining meltdown may not be as devastating as a nuclear meltdown but it is devastating none the less. If MP Shantaram Naik is as keen as he shows to be, give justice to these people who are breathing, drinking and eating mining dust. Can you do it Mr. MP ?
Freddy Agnelo Fernandes.
Ever since the catastrophic annihilation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the “N” word, has been giving humanity the night mares. The word nuclear sends shivers down the spines of the educated; the illiterate are ignorant of its existence and won’t be able to fathom the repercussion of a nuclear holocaust. Even then man has marched on in the field of nuclear or atomic feasibility, as a result of which a lot of good has come to mankind especially in the field of medicine and treatment for once most dreaded and untreatable diseases. It has also enhanced the power and the research sectors by leaps and bounds, all this is attained at a cost; a risk to humanity itself.
Can any one forget Chernobyl, the disaster in Ukraine, in 1986 ? There have been several others in the US and other parts of the world over the years. In India we have witnessed what chemicals and gases like methyl isocyanate can do during the Union Carbide disaster in Bopal in 1984, which is just a mere miniscule exponent compared to the nuclear intensity. So, the whole wide world is seeking an answer to one question, should we risk the wellbeing of our civilization for scientific and civil benefits ? Is it really worth the risk ?
In Goa MP Shantaram Naik of late seems like a man seeking redemption but unfortunately moving around in circles in the dark. He has raised an issue regarding the safety of the nuclear facility in Karnataka, which is in very close proximity with Goa and the other being the proposed nuclear facility in Maharashtra, again in very close proximity with Goa but on the opposite side and rightly fears for the worst in case of a nuclear meltdown as Goa will be sandwiched in between and nowhere to run. His concerns are appreciated but what I cannot understand is his asking for the safety standards of the two facilities, I am sure everyone will agree that the Japanese safety standards could well be one of the highest or the best, even far better than the US.
But today we are witnesses to the fact that the best of safety standards do not withstand the fury and the force of nature. So if MP Shantaram is well and truly worried about the welfare of Goa and Goans try getting support for the closure of the one in operation or stop the other from being operational, nothing in between will and can save Goa and Goans in case of a nuclear meltdown. Secondly, nuclear as well as chemical contamination is spread mainly through air and water; these two are called “elements” in science along with fire. Lay siege to these two elements and civilization will cease to exist.
In Goa rampant mining has laid siege to these to elements for monetary gains. People living in hinterland are the victims of this siege even after all the opposition; our government does not hear the cries for help. It would do a lot of good for MP Shantaram Naik to personally look into this matter where he will find a good number of his own fellow politicians and party men actually forcing a mining meltdown into the lungs and stomachs of Goans living in and along the entire mining zone, the mining meltdown may not be as devastating as a nuclear meltdown but it is devastating none the less. If MP Shantaram Naik is as keen as he shows to be, give justice to these people who are breathing, drinking and eating mining dust. Can you do it Mr. MP ?
Freddy Agnelo Fernandes.
AWAKENING FOR CATHOLICS.
Dear All Catholic Activists,
The Leaders & Officer bearers of Bombay Catholic Sabha, Catholic Secular Forum, Association of Concerned Catholics, etc are doing an excellent job in taking up the problems faced by the bombay lay catholics and also doing a good job in involving the susegaad lay catholics of bombay into political demonstration although at the moment not even 1 percent of lay catholics turn up for political demonstration that’s because the bombay catholic clergy have programmed the bombay lay catholics to remain politically inactive. The bombay catholic clergy are not only highly knowledgebale people but they are also very shana (smart) people they know very well if the lay catholics become politically active then the lay catholics will also revolt against catholic clergy who are indulging in corrupt activities especially in the illegal sale of church properties.
If at all the leaders & office bearers of BCSABHA CSF AOCC MEIF BEIA & OTHER CATHOLIC GROUPS are interested in gaining mass support from the bombay lay catholics for political demonstration then they will have to do the following :
1. Sharpen their Oratory & Leadership skills so that they can speak fluently and confidently in front of lay catholics, large gatherings, television cameras, journalists, reporters, commissioners, ward officers, collectors, ministers, etc.
2. Demand 5 percent reservation in jobs for the bombay lay catholics in BMC, Police, Talatis – Tehsildars – Collectors office, Town Planning dept, Urban Development dept, MMRDA , MHADA, AirIndia, Suburban Railway, Banks, Metro, Monorail, BEST, etc
3. Demand Nomination of 5 special representatives from the bombay catholic community in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
4. Demand that All Churches in Bombay disclose the vacant properties with cts & survey nos. the church is in possession of to the local parishioners and if any property has been sold off then for what purpose the money was utilized with proof. With due respect to the priests, they are shepherds of the flock. They should contain themselves to just that. The priests come here for a few years, finish their term of 2 – 6 years and leave to serve another parish. Therefore, it is best that all the nitty-gritty of Church assets should be left rightfully to the parishioners. After all, the Church and its assets belong to its parishioners.
5. Demand from the bishop, parish priests, archdiocesan board of education & catholic school committees to reserve 50 percent seats for catholics in catholic/parish schools. Presently most catholics have to beg with the parish priest to get admission for their children in the parish school and inspite of begging many are refused admission. Check any catholic school in bombay and you will find less than 8 percent students are catholics. Check any schools run by the Gujaratis and you will find more than 50% students are from the gujarati community. Check any schools run by the Muslims and you will find more than 50% students are from the muslim community.
6. Demand from the Bishop that married catholic priests should also be allowed to perform masses in churches on freelance basis.
7. Demand that the catholic missionaries utilize 50% of their local-national-international donations for serving poor catholics at present they only utilize 10% for poor catholics and 90% for poor non-catholics. If the catholic missionaries refuse then the bcsabha csf aocc should demand from the Maharashtra govt. to ban the conversion activities of the catholic missionaries in maharashtra for the next 100 years.
8. Demand from the BMC to either increase the water supply from 3000 million liters per day to 5000 MLD or stop clearing building proposals.
9. Demand from the Maharashtra govt. to pass special laws to protect the last few bits of openspace, mangroves, saltpanlands, forests ( the correct name should have been Borivali National Forests instead of SGNP) , wetlands, ponds, lakes, quarries, pits, creeks to counter rising sea levels and to protect the vulnerable coastal population of Bombay from the potentially killing impact of tidal waves and heavy rains.
10. Organize frequent rallies for the above demands at Azad Maidan, Shivaji Park, outside Mantralaya, outside bishop house, etc. The Funds for organizing the rallies will come from the lay catholics. If the lay catholics know that there is going to be an economic gain to them in the long run then they will not only contribute money to BCSABHA CSF AOCC MEIF BEIA & OTHER CATHOLIC GROUPS but will also take part in large numbers in those rallies. Ab toh hamein aage badte hai rehnaAb toh hamein saathi hai bas itna hi kehnaAb jo bhi ho shola banke pathar hai pighlaanaAb jo bhi ho baadal banke parbat par hai chhaanaKandhon se milte hain kandhe, qadmon se qadam milte hainHam chalte hain jab aise toh dil dushman ke hilte hain. Amen.
God Bless all.
Gabriel D'souzaAndheri,
Bombay.
The Leaders & Officer bearers of Bombay Catholic Sabha, Catholic Secular Forum, Association of Concerned Catholics, etc are doing an excellent job in taking up the problems faced by the bombay lay catholics and also doing a good job in involving the susegaad lay catholics of bombay into political demonstration although at the moment not even 1 percent of lay catholics turn up for political demonstration that’s because the bombay catholic clergy have programmed the bombay lay catholics to remain politically inactive. The bombay catholic clergy are not only highly knowledgebale people but they are also very shana (smart) people they know very well if the lay catholics become politically active then the lay catholics will also revolt against catholic clergy who are indulging in corrupt activities especially in the illegal sale of church properties.
If at all the leaders & office bearers of BCSABHA CSF AOCC MEIF BEIA & OTHER CATHOLIC GROUPS are interested in gaining mass support from the bombay lay catholics for political demonstration then they will have to do the following :
1. Sharpen their Oratory & Leadership skills so that they can speak fluently and confidently in front of lay catholics, large gatherings, television cameras, journalists, reporters, commissioners, ward officers, collectors, ministers, etc.
2. Demand 5 percent reservation in jobs for the bombay lay catholics in BMC, Police, Talatis – Tehsildars – Collectors office, Town Planning dept, Urban Development dept, MMRDA , MHADA, AirIndia, Suburban Railway, Banks, Metro, Monorail, BEST, etc
3. Demand Nomination of 5 special representatives from the bombay catholic community in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
4. Demand that All Churches in Bombay disclose the vacant properties with cts & survey nos. the church is in possession of to the local parishioners and if any property has been sold off then for what purpose the money was utilized with proof. With due respect to the priests, they are shepherds of the flock. They should contain themselves to just that. The priests come here for a few years, finish their term of 2 – 6 years and leave to serve another parish. Therefore, it is best that all the nitty-gritty of Church assets should be left rightfully to the parishioners. After all, the Church and its assets belong to its parishioners.
5. Demand from the bishop, parish priests, archdiocesan board of education & catholic school committees to reserve 50 percent seats for catholics in catholic/parish schools. Presently most catholics have to beg with the parish priest to get admission for their children in the parish school and inspite of begging many are refused admission. Check any catholic school in bombay and you will find less than 8 percent students are catholics. Check any schools run by the Gujaratis and you will find more than 50% students are from the gujarati community. Check any schools run by the Muslims and you will find more than 50% students are from the muslim community.
6. Demand from the Bishop that married catholic priests should also be allowed to perform masses in churches on freelance basis.
7. Demand that the catholic missionaries utilize 50% of their local-national-international donations for serving poor catholics at present they only utilize 10% for poor catholics and 90% for poor non-catholics. If the catholic missionaries refuse then the bcsabha csf aocc should demand from the Maharashtra govt. to ban the conversion activities of the catholic missionaries in maharashtra for the next 100 years.
8. Demand from the BMC to either increase the water supply from 3000 million liters per day to 5000 MLD or stop clearing building proposals.
9. Demand from the Maharashtra govt. to pass special laws to protect the last few bits of openspace, mangroves, saltpanlands, forests ( the correct name should have been Borivali National Forests instead of SGNP) , wetlands, ponds, lakes, quarries, pits, creeks to counter rising sea levels and to protect the vulnerable coastal population of Bombay from the potentially killing impact of tidal waves and heavy rains.
10. Organize frequent rallies for the above demands at Azad Maidan, Shivaji Park, outside Mantralaya, outside bishop house, etc. The Funds for organizing the rallies will come from the lay catholics. If the lay catholics know that there is going to be an economic gain to them in the long run then they will not only contribute money to BCSABHA CSF AOCC MEIF BEIA & OTHER CATHOLIC GROUPS but will also take part in large numbers in those rallies. Ab toh hamein aage badte hai rehnaAb toh hamein saathi hai bas itna hi kehnaAb jo bhi ho shola banke pathar hai pighlaanaAb jo bhi ho baadal banke parbat par hai chhaanaKandhon se milte hain kandhe, qadmon se qadam milte hainHam chalte hain jab aise toh dil dushman ke hilte hain. Amen.
God Bless all.
Gabriel D'souzaAndheri,
Bombay.
March 16, 2011
II PHASE OF IFFK LEAGUE STARTS ON 18.03.11
INDIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION KUWAIT LEAGUE COMMENCES ON 18TH MARCH 20011, AT DAYA GROUNDS.
Indian Football Federation Kuwait proudly announces the commencement of the Second Phase of the IFFK league for the prestigious IFFK Rolling Trophy. Nine high powered Indian Expatriate teams are participating in the league which promises to be very gripping as the league reaches its climax.
In the fray for the title are seasoned campaigners and defending champions AVC-Kuwait along with favourites Fahaheel Bros and dark horses Don Bosco Oratory. New entrants Real Betalbatim Sports Club with an excellent blend of youth and experience are also a team to watch out based on the recent performances in open tournaments. Big Boys Kuwait with good man management will surely prove a point in their maiden entry. Veterans United with loads of experience and skill are going to be the silent killers for any of the title aspirants. Indians, Fahaheel Bros Jr and MAC are slowly climbing up the ladder of success and will hope to dent the progress of some of the highly rated teams in the league with their unexpected performance on a given day.
The league standings at the end of 1st phase was a close affair between the top teams and surely the 2nd phase will bring out the ultimate.
On 18th March 2011 six teams will be seen in action at the Daya Astro turf stadium and the schedule is as follows.
At 6.45 am Don Bosco Oratory v/s Big Boys
At 8.00 am Veterans United v/s AVC-Kuwait
At 9.15 am Real Betalbatim FC v/s MAC
The league will be officiated by Indian Football Referees Association (IFRA) Kuwait.
IFFK with a short span of two years have achieved tremendous success with its affiliates crossing international borders promoting the game and friendship to the genuine football loving fans, a phenomenon up till now unheard off amongst the Indian Expatriate community in Kuwait.
IFFK once again solicits support of the entire Indian football loving community in Kuwait and cordially welcome one and all to witness the high pounding matches.
XAVIER FURTADO,
IFFK.
Indian Football Federation Kuwait proudly announces the commencement of the Second Phase of the IFFK league for the prestigious IFFK Rolling Trophy. Nine high powered Indian Expatriate teams are participating in the league which promises to be very gripping as the league reaches its climax.
In the fray for the title are seasoned campaigners and defending champions AVC-Kuwait along with favourites Fahaheel Bros and dark horses Don Bosco Oratory. New entrants Real Betalbatim Sports Club with an excellent blend of youth and experience are also a team to watch out based on the recent performances in open tournaments. Big Boys Kuwait with good man management will surely prove a point in their maiden entry. Veterans United with loads of experience and skill are going to be the silent killers for any of the title aspirants. Indians, Fahaheel Bros Jr and MAC are slowly climbing up the ladder of success and will hope to dent the progress of some of the highly rated teams in the league with their unexpected performance on a given day.
The league standings at the end of 1st phase was a close affair between the top teams and surely the 2nd phase will bring out the ultimate.
On 18th March 2011 six teams will be seen in action at the Daya Astro turf stadium and the schedule is as follows.
At 6.45 am Don Bosco Oratory v/s Big Boys
At 8.00 am Veterans United v/s AVC-Kuwait
At 9.15 am Real Betalbatim FC v/s MAC
The league will be officiated by Indian Football Referees Association (IFRA) Kuwait.
IFFK with a short span of two years have achieved tremendous success with its affiliates crossing international borders promoting the game and friendship to the genuine football loving fans, a phenomenon up till now unheard off amongst the Indian Expatriate community in Kuwait.
IFFK once again solicits support of the entire Indian football loving community in Kuwait and cordially welcome one and all to witness the high pounding matches.
XAVIER FURTADO,
IFFK.
March 15, 2011
THE LATE TIATRIST PHILOMENA BRAZ.
THE LATE TIATRIST PHILOMENA BRAZThe recent news of the death of well known Konkani Stage Artiste Philomena Braz was indeed saddening. It is really a pity to notice these days many of our Tiatrists one after the other leaving this world.
Philomena Braz was an yester years Tiatrist from Bombay whom I saw for the first time in 1959 when she came to Goa along with C. Alvares troupe for his Tiatro ‘AXEA’. C. Alvares was instrumental in introducing new – new female artistes in his Tiatros. In this Tiatro with the exception of Jacinto Vaz all the artistes were from Bombay especially brought by C. Alvares for his Tiatro. During that period it was not easy to travel for Goans from Bombay to Goa and vice versa as there was blockade imposed by Bharat Serkar for the free movement of Goans from Bombay to Goa and back. Some of the Goa based tiatrists mainly those who were working at Emisora de Goa (now All India Radio Panjim) were also banned to enter Bombay for being Pro-Portuguese and anti-Bharat. During those days Tiatrists were marked Goans by both the Governments – Bharati Government and Portuguez Government in Goa. In this tight situation travel for Goans from Bombay was very difficult but possible with the help of Identity Cards identifying the genuineness of Goans as real Goans.
By taking advantage of the facility of Identity Cards (Bilhete Identidade as it was called then) C. Alvares then the most renowned Actor and Director came with his troupe to Goa minus Anthony Mendes a Bombay based ace comedian who was replaced by the Goa based top comedian Jacinto Vaz, he was banned to enter Bombay by Bharati Serkar for being Pro-Portuguese and anti Bharat. Among all the visiting tiatrists there were four beautiful looking females namely teenager Ophelia Cabral, majestic Cecilia Machado, pretty Violet and chubby Philomena Braz who played the most admiring role in Axea as that of an old lady in which she really excelled. Her facial appearance depicting as old lady, her slow talk like that of our Goan “Garamae” and slow movement with the help of walking stick made her to gain tremendous appreciation from the audience.
Philomena Braz was an yester years Tiatrist from Bombay whom I saw for the first time in 1959 when she came to Goa along with C. Alvares troupe for his Tiatro ‘AXEA’. C. Alvares was instrumental in introducing new – new female artistes in his Tiatros. In this Tiatro with the exception of Jacinto Vaz all the artistes were from Bombay especially brought by C. Alvares for his Tiatro. During that period it was not easy to travel for Goans from Bombay to Goa and vice versa as there was blockade imposed by Bharat Serkar for the free movement of Goans from Bombay to Goa and back. Some of the Goa based tiatrists mainly those who were working at Emisora de Goa (now All India Radio Panjim) were also banned to enter Bombay for being Pro-Portuguese and anti-Bharat. During those days Tiatrists were marked Goans by both the Governments – Bharati Government and Portuguez Government in Goa. In this tight situation travel for Goans from Bombay was very difficult but possible with the help of Identity Cards identifying the genuineness of Goans as real Goans.
By taking advantage of the facility of Identity Cards (Bilhete Identidade as it was called then) C. Alvares then the most renowned Actor and Director came with his troupe to Goa minus Anthony Mendes a Bombay based ace comedian who was replaced by the Goa based top comedian Jacinto Vaz, he was banned to enter Bombay by Bharati Serkar for being Pro-Portuguese and anti Bharat. Among all the visiting tiatrists there were four beautiful looking females namely teenager Ophelia Cabral, majestic Cecilia Machado, pretty Violet and chubby Philomena Braz who played the most admiring role in Axea as that of an old lady in which she really excelled. Her facial appearance depicting as old lady, her slow talk like that of our Goan “Garamae” and slow movement with the help of walking stick made her to gain tremendous appreciation from the audience.
This Tiatro I saw as a small boy in my village where even Portuguese officers from Aguada attended with rapt admiration and silence even though they could not understand Konkani. But their Goan friends were interpreting something for them in Portuguez. Her role was perfect because she was trained, guided and directed by an ace director C. Alvares and not by any Altu-Faltu director. C. Alvares was a great director and guide for his artistes, he was seasoned in this art with long years of experience and he was not any ‘kalcho porcho potto’ director”. The artistes males and females trained by C. Alvares showed totally different outlook on the stage, especially the females.
In this Tiatro Axea, Philomena Braz as Mother-In-Law with Violet as Daughter- in- law rendered a beautiful duet ‘Chear Anne Zai Asle Panacho Haddpak’. This duet caught the attention of the entire ‘Mattouful’ of audience where Philomena Braz gained more attention. She also sang one beautiful duet with the then hero Alfred Rose as Hindu couple and with Hindu style Konkani expression. The local Hindu Brahmins attending this Tiatro were all took great admiration for Philomena Braz who was well trained by Alfred Rose for this duet.
Later on after Goa was forcibly annexed by Bharat, Philomena Braz came to act in Goa with number of directors, one of them was Kid Boxer with whom she rendered a magnificent duet ‘Somzonnen Zatoch Chuk’ which was very witty, full of idioms and sayings. Such songs nobody sings now. This song looked more beautiful because their voices blended very well and because Philomena Braz well suited to sing this song along with him, Kid Boxer selected her only by discarding others This was the title song of the Tiatro staged by Kid Boxer soon after his release from Nasik prison where he was confined for about 6 months for singing an anti-Indian solo in Bombay. The late Evagrio Jorge who considered himself more Indian than others was responsible for getting Kid Boxer arrested. That Tiatro Kid Boxer wrote in prison while serving his term. Later on I saw Philomena Braz in Goa in Prem Kumar’s Tiatro “Abdul Narayan Desouza” where she played the role opposite to Prem and rendered one romantic “Canto” touching each other’s foreheads purely in filmi style.
Before the invasion and liberation of Kuwait she came to Kuwait to act in one Tiatro at Indian Arts Circle Hall, Funaitees where she played a great role of an old lady which was her forte.
In her death Konkani Stage lost one more great tiatrist. Will Konkani Stage produce another Philomena Braz? I doubt very much. She became great in doing great role of Old Lady because she loved this Tiatro Art more than money. May her soul rest in peace.
In this Tiatro Axea, Philomena Braz as Mother-In-Law with Violet as Daughter- in- law rendered a beautiful duet ‘Chear Anne Zai Asle Panacho Haddpak’. This duet caught the attention of the entire ‘Mattouful’ of audience where Philomena Braz gained more attention. She also sang one beautiful duet with the then hero Alfred Rose as Hindu couple and with Hindu style Konkani expression. The local Hindu Brahmins attending this Tiatro were all took great admiration for Philomena Braz who was well trained by Alfred Rose for this duet.
Later on after Goa was forcibly annexed by Bharat, Philomena Braz came to act in Goa with number of directors, one of them was Kid Boxer with whom she rendered a magnificent duet ‘Somzonnen Zatoch Chuk’ which was very witty, full of idioms and sayings. Such songs nobody sings now. This song looked more beautiful because their voices blended very well and because Philomena Braz well suited to sing this song along with him, Kid Boxer selected her only by discarding others This was the title song of the Tiatro staged by Kid Boxer soon after his release from Nasik prison where he was confined for about 6 months for singing an anti-Indian solo in Bombay. The late Evagrio Jorge who considered himself more Indian than others was responsible for getting Kid Boxer arrested. That Tiatro Kid Boxer wrote in prison while serving his term. Later on I saw Philomena Braz in Goa in Prem Kumar’s Tiatro “Abdul Narayan Desouza” where she played the role opposite to Prem and rendered one romantic “Canto” touching each other’s foreheads purely in filmi style.
Before the invasion and liberation of Kuwait she came to Kuwait to act in one Tiatro at Indian Arts Circle Hall, Funaitees where she played a great role of an old lady which was her forte.
In her death Konkani Stage lost one more great tiatrist. Will Konkani Stage produce another Philomena Braz? I doubt very much. She became great in doing great role of Old Lady because she loved this Tiatro Art more than money. May her soul rest in peace.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
March 14, 2011
ARE GOVERNOR & PWD MINISTER DYNAMIC?
Dynamic CM Of Goa, Says Governor. As elections come closer by the day, I am subjected to unceasing amusement while I read the Goan news papers on a daily basis. For some time now I have been reading about the immaculate mass births of some dynamic youth leaders and dynamic social workers out of nowhere, unknown and probably still seeking emancipation from puberty, I begin to wonder, the dynamics of dynamism have changed in Goa and I am still unaware of it ? Or have the Goan dynamics of dynamism ebbed in to oblivion ?
Looking at the so called dynamic youth leaders and dynamic social workers, it certainly looks like dynamism is dying an agonizing death if not dead altogether. Today’s news papers carried an interesting summation, the Governor of Goa canonizes the Chief Minister of Goa as a dynamic CM and at the same time beatifies the PWD minister as a popular leader and the friend of the common man at the Dalit Seva Sanghatana at Ravindra Bhavan. Whow ! Looks like, we may have to soon look for another place of abode for our beloved Saint Francis Xavier, even Mother Theresa who was a friend of the common man all her life, is yet to be canonized. Oh ! Have I missed something ?
For the political hierocracy, miracles and good work are irrelevant for canonization or beatification, money power is the only criteria, and how could I miss that ! The Goan SC, ST & BC class people are living in hinterland and not in the cities, these people are fighting for their very own survival, last week we saw these very people from Cavrem taking over the mining department for a full day and forced the CM to stop illegal mining in their village. The SC, ST & BC people of the entire mining belt have been have been subjected to the appalling disintegration of their lives, their people and their cries for help have been ignored and it would be interesting to see which Dalits have been facilitating these very people responsible for their misery ? If the people have to fight for their right to live, what sort of dynamism does our CM espouse ?
If the people of Goa are fighting against mega-housing, widening of NH or for that matter water and electricity, how does the PWD minister become a popular leader or a friend of the common man ? I am flabbergasted at the statement of the Governor, or has the Goan fenni taken it’s toll on the Governor ? Self titles and self acclamation is the forte of our political elite and the watch dogs of the political elite are fed and pampered to sing false paeans of our political elite.
The Attorney General of Goa Mr. Kantak is supposed to be the highest paid AG of India and why is that so for a tiny state like Goa ? The Governor Mr. Sidhu thinks he can wallop and gallop at the cost of Goans without being subjected to RTI. The IGP of Goa thinks his son and his friends can use the official cars and bang them into any post on the road and still does not need to answer to the public. Looks like the watch dogs have succumbed to the glitter and the power of money. The RP2021 think tank and the TPC led by the CM think people wishes and their participation is irrelevant, Goa has been declared one of the most corrupt states of India, ecology and environment have been desecrated and destroyed. Crime soaring to newer heights, drugs controlled and distributed with the help and protection of Police and politicians.
Scams are like ducks laying eggs on the trot and all that our Governor can say is Goa is blessed to have a dynamic CM and a PWD minister who is popular and friend of the masses ? In Delhi we have a Sardar who claims, he knows nothing about the intricacies of Thomas, while in Goa the Governor seem not to know about the facts right under his nose and we have a CM who claims not to have heard of Balwa and aren’t we Goans, surely intrigued by the whole Jalwa ? Utt Goykara be in Panjim on 15th March, nam tor nidunuch urtolo Goykara.
Freddy Fernandes.
Looking at the so called dynamic youth leaders and dynamic social workers, it certainly looks like dynamism is dying an agonizing death if not dead altogether. Today’s news papers carried an interesting summation, the Governor of Goa canonizes the Chief Minister of Goa as a dynamic CM and at the same time beatifies the PWD minister as a popular leader and the friend of the common man at the Dalit Seva Sanghatana at Ravindra Bhavan. Whow ! Looks like, we may have to soon look for another place of abode for our beloved Saint Francis Xavier, even Mother Theresa who was a friend of the common man all her life, is yet to be canonized. Oh ! Have I missed something ?
For the political hierocracy, miracles and good work are irrelevant for canonization or beatification, money power is the only criteria, and how could I miss that ! The Goan SC, ST & BC class people are living in hinterland and not in the cities, these people are fighting for their very own survival, last week we saw these very people from Cavrem taking over the mining department for a full day and forced the CM to stop illegal mining in their village. The SC, ST & BC people of the entire mining belt have been have been subjected to the appalling disintegration of their lives, their people and their cries for help have been ignored and it would be interesting to see which Dalits have been facilitating these very people responsible for their misery ? If the people have to fight for their right to live, what sort of dynamism does our CM espouse ?
If the people of Goa are fighting against mega-housing, widening of NH or for that matter water and electricity, how does the PWD minister become a popular leader or a friend of the common man ? I am flabbergasted at the statement of the Governor, or has the Goan fenni taken it’s toll on the Governor ? Self titles and self acclamation is the forte of our political elite and the watch dogs of the political elite are fed and pampered to sing false paeans of our political elite.
The Attorney General of Goa Mr. Kantak is supposed to be the highest paid AG of India and why is that so for a tiny state like Goa ? The Governor Mr. Sidhu thinks he can wallop and gallop at the cost of Goans without being subjected to RTI. The IGP of Goa thinks his son and his friends can use the official cars and bang them into any post on the road and still does not need to answer to the public. Looks like the watch dogs have succumbed to the glitter and the power of money. The RP2021 think tank and the TPC led by the CM think people wishes and their participation is irrelevant, Goa has been declared one of the most corrupt states of India, ecology and environment have been desecrated and destroyed. Crime soaring to newer heights, drugs controlled and distributed with the help and protection of Police and politicians.
Scams are like ducks laying eggs on the trot and all that our Governor can say is Goa is blessed to have a dynamic CM and a PWD minister who is popular and friend of the masses ? In Delhi we have a Sardar who claims, he knows nothing about the intricacies of Thomas, while in Goa the Governor seem not to know about the facts right under his nose and we have a CM who claims not to have heard of Balwa and aren’t we Goans, surely intrigued by the whole Jalwa ? Utt Goykara be in Panjim on 15th March, nam tor nidunuch urtolo Goykara.
Freddy Fernandes.
IS MP SHANTARAM NAIK GONE INSANE??
EXPORT DUTY HIKE WILL RUIN GOAN ECONOMY Looks like the MP Naik is suffering from an acute bout of constipation, one day he come out with a good article with overwhelming thoughts of Goa and Goans and the next thing we hear absurdity and profanity oozing out of him. His statement that increase in the export duty on ore could ruin Goa’s economy is hard to digest that it’s coming from a liberal mind. Monetary gains over the quality of life or life itself of the people at large.
I would like to remind MP Naik that what’s in the underbelly of Goa belongs to all Goans to be used for the benefit of all Goans and not the prerogative of one or a handful of persons, what’s in the underbelly of Goa is not their maternal nor paternal inheritance nor their acquirements, by the virtue of being Goans we are entitled to the national wealth and treasures of Goa.
His ignorance comes to the fore as he tries to justify income generation for private entities over the welfare of large parts of Goa which are directly affected by the ills of mining and their miseries multiplied and magnified. In reality the whole of Goa could be affected if remedial steps are not taken to preserve and protect our environment, ecology and our water bodies, where water tables have sunk to an all time low and our rivers and their tributaries silted and marine life fast disappearing, forests have been eaten up, fields are made barren and left scorched, by the mining dust and I am astounded that MP Mr. Naik has the time and the luxury to even contemplate on the income generation for a few elite.
MP Naik should live in hinterland where both legal as well as illegal mining thrives, for a month or so and then, may be he would realize the agony and the misery that the people in hinterland are mired in as a direct result of mining. Can MP Naik get his priorities right or has he already got them right ? As support for the mining industry, could generate personal wealth as well as funds for the next election. Who are the poor suckers here?
Freddy Agnelo Fernandes.
I would like to remind MP Naik that what’s in the underbelly of Goa belongs to all Goans to be used for the benefit of all Goans and not the prerogative of one or a handful of persons, what’s in the underbelly of Goa is not their maternal nor paternal inheritance nor their acquirements, by the virtue of being Goans we are entitled to the national wealth and treasures of Goa.
His ignorance comes to the fore as he tries to justify income generation for private entities over the welfare of large parts of Goa which are directly affected by the ills of mining and their miseries multiplied and magnified. In reality the whole of Goa could be affected if remedial steps are not taken to preserve and protect our environment, ecology and our water bodies, where water tables have sunk to an all time low and our rivers and their tributaries silted and marine life fast disappearing, forests have been eaten up, fields are made barren and left scorched, by the mining dust and I am astounded that MP Mr. Naik has the time and the luxury to even contemplate on the income generation for a few elite.
MP Naik should live in hinterland where both legal as well as illegal mining thrives, for a month or so and then, may be he would realize the agony and the misery that the people in hinterland are mired in as a direct result of mining. Can MP Naik get his priorities right or has he already got them right ? As support for the mining industry, could generate personal wealth as well as funds for the next election. Who are the poor suckers here?
Freddy Agnelo Fernandes.
March 13, 2011
REPLY TO VERONICA BY SOTER & VERONICA'S COMMENT ON SUPPORT TO GRA.
Re: My support for GRA
From: soter activist. soter@bsnl.in
To A. Veronica Fernandes
From:SOTER (soter@bsnl.in)
Sent:Sunday, March 13, 2011 2:53:49 PM
To: A. Veronica Fernandes (averonicaf806@hotmail.com)
Sorry Mr. Fernandes.
As a Goykar I do not support GRA.
Reasons- it has political party coloursand does not tackled the root cause of Goa's problems.
I would be interested to know the backgrounds of the cheif promoters of GRa and their funding sources.
-Soter
A. Veronica Fernandes Comments: To quote the great French writer Voltaire "I FULY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAY BUT TO ALLOW YOU TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY I WILL DO EVERYTHING WITHIN MY CAPACITY EVEN TO THE EXTENT OF RISKING MY LIFE AND FACING DEATH TO ALLOW YOU TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY THOUGH I FULY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAY"
----- Original Message -----
From: A. Veronica Fernandes
To: A. Veronica Fernandes
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2011 5:55 PM
Subject: My support for GRA.
G O A
--No plans in this revolution are written for retreat--
March 13, 2011
MY SUPPORT TO 'GOENCHEA RAKHONDARANCHO AWAZ'.
GOENCHEA RAKHONDARANCHO AWAZ.
Xetkarano, zotkarano, gheiat tumcheo koiteo ani lagat zogddonk,
Zogoddtana tumkam kainch zanvchena luskon
Zalear fokot zatelem Koitechem luskonn
Pun eit zalear mas zoit etelem lotton.
These were the awakening words used by Karl Marx in his communist manifesto Das Kapital. Thru these words he excited the proletarians to take up arms to fight against the injustice done to the peasants. For this reason he asked the peasants to fight with their Sickles.
Based on Karl Marx’s words, from Kuwait I call upon all our Goa based Goans as:
Goychea mojea Goykarando,
Uttat ani lagat Ponjechea Azad Moidonar cholonk
15ver sanjeachea 3.00 horancher Goyam passot zoggdonk,
Hem zogddem zogoddtana tumkam kainch zaunchena luskonn,
Zalear fokot zatelem 3 horanchem luskonn
Pun mellot tor melltelem zoitachem vhoddpon
Zantun Goem dourunk zatelem nitoll.
From Kuwait, on behalf of all my like minded friends and colleagues I strongly support the move under Goemchea Rakhonddarancho Awaz for the meeting at Azad Maidan Panaji, Goa. This is the good opportunity for the Goa lover Goans to show their disgust on the corruption going on in Goa with the consent of the Government machinery and Ministers and other politicians. This is the best opportunity to awaken the people’s conscience against corruption going on in Goa.
Those who feel it is useless to organize such meetings are living in fool’s paradise. If by shouting one cannot get anything then by keeping silence by sleeping at home can one get anything? I think this is the right way to awaken people who are fed up of current corrupt Goa.
From Kuwait, their financial contribution was assured by Kuwait Konknni Kendr while others are silent. That they are all silent is known but that any of the other Goan associations has contributed anything is still not known. It is very sad to know that some of our Kuwait Goans and Goan associations in order not to antagonize their corrupt God father politicians in Goa and to please them are refraining from supporting GRA. I am not surprised to know this attitude of our Kuwait Goans but what good one can expect from them when they themselves are corrupt and selfish? For this reason they are supporting corrupt politicians’ policies in Goa who are against this meet organized under GRA.
In the past we had in Kuwait among us many Goans having great love for clean life, corruption free but those Goans from Kuwait now are dwindling. Now we have more SELFISH AND CORRUPT Goans among us for this reason they accept money from corrupt Goan politicians and shamelessly claiming to be the leaders of Kuwait Goans. I oppose their leadership. I will never accept the leadership of such pimps. In the past our Goan associations were manned by great Goan stalwarts having great love for Goa and Goans but now some of our Associations are manned by rascal Goans who will sell Goa to the highest bidders. Those who got no love for clean Goa they have no right to call themselves Goans and they have no right to name their associations after Goa.
Finally what good one can expect from Kuwait Goans who are chamchas of corrupt Goan politicians?While concluding I once again announce my total support to GRA in their initiative to organize a public meeting on 15th of this month at Azad Maidan Panjim, to denounce corruption in Goa.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kwait.
Posted by KRANTI at Sunday, March 13, 2011
=== A frequent, chronological publication – exclusive, unpublished and hybrid personal thoughts of A. Veronica Fernandes -- can now be read at http://goa-kranti.blogspot.com/
From: soter activist. soter@bsnl.in
To A. Veronica Fernandes
From:SOTER (soter@bsnl.in)
Sent:Sunday, March 13, 2011 2:53:49 PM
To: A. Veronica Fernandes (averonicaf806@hotmail.com)
Sorry Mr. Fernandes.
As a Goykar I do not support GRA.
Reasons- it has political party coloursand does not tackled the root cause of Goa's problems.
I would be interested to know the backgrounds of the cheif promoters of GRa and their funding sources.
-Soter
A. Veronica Fernandes Comments: To quote the great French writer Voltaire "I FULY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAY BUT TO ALLOW YOU TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY I WILL DO EVERYTHING WITHIN MY CAPACITY EVEN TO THE EXTENT OF RISKING MY LIFE AND FACING DEATH TO ALLOW YOU TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY THOUGH I FULY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAY"
----- Original Message -----
From: A. Veronica Fernandes
To: A. Veronica Fernandes
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2011 5:55 PM
Subject: My support for GRA.
G O A
--No plans in this revolution are written for retreat--
March 13, 2011
MY SUPPORT TO 'GOENCHEA RAKHONDARANCHO AWAZ'.
GOENCHEA RAKHONDARANCHO AWAZ.
Xetkarano, zotkarano, gheiat tumcheo koiteo ani lagat zogddonk,
Zogoddtana tumkam kainch zanvchena luskon
Zalear fokot zatelem Koitechem luskonn
Pun eit zalear mas zoit etelem lotton.
These were the awakening words used by Karl Marx in his communist manifesto Das Kapital. Thru these words he excited the proletarians to take up arms to fight against the injustice done to the peasants. For this reason he asked the peasants to fight with their Sickles.
Based on Karl Marx’s words, from Kuwait I call upon all our Goa based Goans as:
Goychea mojea Goykarando,
Uttat ani lagat Ponjechea Azad Moidonar cholonk
15ver sanjeachea 3.00 horancher Goyam passot zoggdonk,
Hem zogddem zogoddtana tumkam kainch zaunchena luskonn,
Zalear fokot zatelem 3 horanchem luskonn
Pun mellot tor melltelem zoitachem vhoddpon
Zantun Goem dourunk zatelem nitoll.
From Kuwait, on behalf of all my like minded friends and colleagues I strongly support the move under Goemchea Rakhonddarancho Awaz for the meeting at Azad Maidan Panaji, Goa. This is the good opportunity for the Goa lover Goans to show their disgust on the corruption going on in Goa with the consent of the Government machinery and Ministers and other politicians. This is the best opportunity to awaken the people’s conscience against corruption going on in Goa.
Those who feel it is useless to organize such meetings are living in fool’s paradise. If by shouting one cannot get anything then by keeping silence by sleeping at home can one get anything? I think this is the right way to awaken people who are fed up of current corrupt Goa.
From Kuwait, their financial contribution was assured by Kuwait Konknni Kendr while others are silent. That they are all silent is known but that any of the other Goan associations has contributed anything is still not known. It is very sad to know that some of our Kuwait Goans and Goan associations in order not to antagonize their corrupt God father politicians in Goa and to please them are refraining from supporting GRA. I am not surprised to know this attitude of our Kuwait Goans but what good one can expect from them when they themselves are corrupt and selfish? For this reason they are supporting corrupt politicians’ policies in Goa who are against this meet organized under GRA.
In the past we had in Kuwait among us many Goans having great love for clean life, corruption free but those Goans from Kuwait now are dwindling. Now we have more SELFISH AND CORRUPT Goans among us for this reason they accept money from corrupt Goan politicians and shamelessly claiming to be the leaders of Kuwait Goans. I oppose their leadership. I will never accept the leadership of such pimps. In the past our Goan associations were manned by great Goan stalwarts having great love for Goa and Goans but now some of our Associations are manned by rascal Goans who will sell Goa to the highest bidders. Those who got no love for clean Goa they have no right to call themselves Goans and they have no right to name their associations after Goa.
Finally what good one can expect from Kuwait Goans who are chamchas of corrupt Goan politicians?While concluding I once again announce my total support to GRA in their initiative to organize a public meeting on 15th of this month at Azad Maidan Panjim, to denounce corruption in Goa.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kwait.
Posted by KRANTI at Sunday, March 13, 2011
=== A frequent, chronological publication – exclusive, unpublished and hybrid personal thoughts of A. Veronica Fernandes -- can now be read at http://goa-kranti.blogspot.com/
MY SUPPORT TO 'GOENCHEA RAKHONDARANCHO AWAZ'.
GOENCHEA RAKHONDARANCHO AWAZ.
Xetkarano, zotkarano, gheiat tumcheo koiteo ani lagat zogddonk,
Zogoddtana tumkam kainch zanvchena luskon
Zalear fokot zatelem Koitechem luskonn
Pun eit zalear mas zoit etelem lotton.
These were the awakening words used by Karl Marx in his communist manifesto Das Kapital. Thru these words he excited the proletarians to take up arms to fight against the injustice done to the peasants. For this reason he asked the peasants to fight with their Sickles.
Based on Karl Marx’s words, from Kuwait I call upon all our Goa based Goans as:
Goychea mojea Goykarando,
Uttat ani lagat Ponjechea Azad Moidonar cholonk
15ver sanjeachea 3.00 horancher Goyam passot zoggdonk,
Hem zogddem zogoddtana tumkam kainch zaunchena luskonn,
Zalear fokot zatelem 3 horanchem luskonn
Pun mellot tor melltelem zoitachem vhoddpon
Zantun Goem dourunk zatelem nitoll.
From Kuwait, on behalf of all my like minded friends and colleagues I strongly support the move under Goemchea Rakhonddarancho Awaz for the meeting at Azad Maidan Panaji, Goa. This is the good opportunity for the Goa lover Goans to show their disgust on the corruption going on in Goa with the consent of the Government machinery and Ministers and other politicians. This is the best opportunity to awaken the people’s conscience against corruption going on in Goa.
Those who feel it is useless to organize such meetings are living in fool’s paradise. If by shouting one cannot get anything then by keeping silence by sleeping at home can one get anything? I think this is the right way to awaken people who are fed up of current corrupt Goa.
From Kuwait, their financial contribution was assured by Kuwait Konknni Kendr while others are silent. That they are all silent is known but that any of the other Goan associations has contributed anything is still not known. It is very sad to know that some of our Kuwait Goans and Goan associations in order not to antagonize their corrupt God father politicians in Goa and to please them are refraining from supporting GRA. I am not surprised to know this attitude of our Kuwait Goans but what good one can expect from them when they themselves are corrupt and selfish? For this reason they are supporting corrupt politicians’ policies in Goa who are against this meet organized under GRA.
In the past we had in Kuwait among us many Goans having great love for clean life, corruption free but those Goans from Kuwait now are dwindling. Now we have more SELFISH AND CORRUPT Goans among us for this reason they accept money from corrupt Goan politicians and shamelessly claiming to be the leaders of Kuwait Goans. I oppose their leadership. I will never accept the leadership of such pimps. In the past our Goan associations were manned by great Goan stalwarts having great love for Goa and Goans but now some of our Associations are manned by rascal Goans who will sell Goa to the highest bidders. Those who got no love for clean Goa they have no right to call themselves Goans and they have no right to name their associations after Goa. Finally what good one can expect from Kuwait Goans who are chamchas of corrupt Goan politicians?
While concluding I once again announce my total support to GRA in their initiative to organize a public meeting on 15th of this month at Azad Maidan Panjim, to denounce corruption in Goa.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kwait.
Xetkarano, zotkarano, gheiat tumcheo koiteo ani lagat zogddonk,
Zogoddtana tumkam kainch zanvchena luskon
Zalear fokot zatelem Koitechem luskonn
Pun eit zalear mas zoit etelem lotton.
These were the awakening words used by Karl Marx in his communist manifesto Das Kapital. Thru these words he excited the proletarians to take up arms to fight against the injustice done to the peasants. For this reason he asked the peasants to fight with their Sickles.
Based on Karl Marx’s words, from Kuwait I call upon all our Goa based Goans as:
Goychea mojea Goykarando,
Uttat ani lagat Ponjechea Azad Moidonar cholonk
15ver sanjeachea 3.00 horancher Goyam passot zoggdonk,
Hem zogddem zogoddtana tumkam kainch zaunchena luskonn,
Zalear fokot zatelem 3 horanchem luskonn
Pun mellot tor melltelem zoitachem vhoddpon
Zantun Goem dourunk zatelem nitoll.
From Kuwait, on behalf of all my like minded friends and colleagues I strongly support the move under Goemchea Rakhonddarancho Awaz for the meeting at Azad Maidan Panaji, Goa. This is the good opportunity for the Goa lover Goans to show their disgust on the corruption going on in Goa with the consent of the Government machinery and Ministers and other politicians. This is the best opportunity to awaken the people’s conscience against corruption going on in Goa.
Those who feel it is useless to organize such meetings are living in fool’s paradise. If by shouting one cannot get anything then by keeping silence by sleeping at home can one get anything? I think this is the right way to awaken people who are fed up of current corrupt Goa.
From Kuwait, their financial contribution was assured by Kuwait Konknni Kendr while others are silent. That they are all silent is known but that any of the other Goan associations has contributed anything is still not known. It is very sad to know that some of our Kuwait Goans and Goan associations in order not to antagonize their corrupt God father politicians in Goa and to please them are refraining from supporting GRA. I am not surprised to know this attitude of our Kuwait Goans but what good one can expect from them when they themselves are corrupt and selfish? For this reason they are supporting corrupt politicians’ policies in Goa who are against this meet organized under GRA.
In the past we had in Kuwait among us many Goans having great love for clean life, corruption free but those Goans from Kuwait now are dwindling. Now we have more SELFISH AND CORRUPT Goans among us for this reason they accept money from corrupt Goan politicians and shamelessly claiming to be the leaders of Kuwait Goans. I oppose their leadership. I will never accept the leadership of such pimps. In the past our Goan associations were manned by great Goan stalwarts having great love for Goa and Goans but now some of our Associations are manned by rascal Goans who will sell Goa to the highest bidders. Those who got no love for clean Goa they have no right to call themselves Goans and they have no right to name their associations after Goa. Finally what good one can expect from Kuwait Goans who are chamchas of corrupt Goan politicians?
While concluding I once again announce my total support to GRA in their initiative to organize a public meeting on 15th of this month at Azad Maidan Panjim, to denounce corruption in Goa.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kwait.
March 12, 2011
THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION SHOULD BE LEFT WITH THE PARENTS AND NOT WITH IDIOT ILLITERATE MINISTERS.
By Nisser Dias
10th Mar 2011
The right to choose medium of instruction should be left with the parents
The light seems to have started to glow at the end of the tunnel with some parents summing up the courage to demand change of medium of instructions in government or government aided schools in the state of Goa. Last week saw some Parents-Teachers Associations (PTAs) across the state resolving to demand from the government that it should not link financial aid to schools depending upon the medium of instruction adopted by the schools.
This demand was long overdue but none be it the school managements like the church or otherwise, teachers or parents had the courage to get the ball rolling to insist that decision taken by the Progressive Democratic Front in 1991to provide financial aid only to those school who switched the medium of instruction from English to Konkani or Marathi. The mindless decision of the then government had disastrous effects on imparting basic elementary education, teachers had to undergo crash courses in Konkani and Marathi which was not an easy task as they themselves had to first learn and understand the language in a way to instruct its students, parents who too had English background or rather did their schooling with English as the main language had to struggle with their wards. Worse still was the fact that the shift from English to regional language was the root cause for commercialization of education in the state of Goa. The decision of the PDF government led by Dr. Proto Barbosa was like a pivot because immediately after the implementation of the change of medium of instruction hundreds of government recognized unaided private schools mushroomed and their number rose from mere 2 schools in Goa to 158 and still growing. Of course successive governments that reigned over Goa after that neither saw the damage that was being done nor were they interested in bringing about a change in the Education Policy to curtail the mass exodus of children shifting to private schools to escape instruction in Konkani or Marathi. This was a clear indication that the decision of the government was against the market forces, which sadly did nothing good for the students, teachers nor did it help in furthering the cause of mother tongue. What it only did was, attracted businessmen to venture into elementary education which led to exploitation of the parents.
For the political class it was not in their interest to revert back to English as there would be political backlash from handful of regional language chauvinists, popularly known as Konkani-wadis or Marathi lovers or know-it-all politicians. However most of the politicians either educate or seek to educate their children through English medium and force Konkani and Marathi on lay parents. This is not at all acceptable.
Furthermore the decision of the government to extend medium of instruction through regional language upto eighth standard seems to be another ploy of the government to extend support to the unaided private schools. What has been happening till date is that parents admit their children in unaided private English medium schools till fourth standard. At the time when children had to be admitted in fifth standard there was a mass exodus from unaided schools to aided schools. And the reason is not only exorbitant fees but also because aided schools have experienced teachers when compared to private schools. By extending medium of instruction through regional language to eighth standard the government is playing into the hands of few pseudo educationists who not only want to control elementary education in Goa but want to make education a money spinner.
The question before us today is to understand whether successive governments in the state have contributed towards the development of Konkani language in the literary sense for the last two decades. What is the contribution of Konkani authors to the curriculum. Has the government encouraged Konkani authors through financial aid? What is the contribution of the Konkani protagonist or rather language chauvinists to education since Konkani was made medium of instruction at the primary level. Four Marathi language it is a different scenario as Maharashtra is huge state and their literature has much wider scope. What the government needs to do is to first improve Konkani literature and only after careful analysis introduce it in schools as a compulsory subject, be it in aided or unaided school.
It is our irony of fate that successive governments did even have the wisdom to adopt some sort criteria so as to prepare fourth standard children for the transit shift from Konkani to English in fifth standard. It does not end here successive governments during the last 20 years since the change of medium of instruction, have failed to oversee that teachers who complete their B.Ed are trained to instruct in Konkani also. And now the government is worsening the situation by extending medium of instruction in Konkani to Marathi to eighth standard.
Before the implementation of policies that will have repercussion for a long period of time, government should conduct an in-depth study in the last 20 years since Konkani or Marathi has been the medium of instruction as against those years when English was the medium of instruction. Compare and analyse to see the advantages and disadvantages vis-a-vis global needs and requirement. Then take of survey of parents to check their pulse and understand their point of view, initiate a debate where the views of all the stake holders in education are invited and studied and only then implement its policies.
The government cannot and should not function in an arbitrary manner by just taking the views of illiterate politicians. Infact education should be left with credible and genuine educationists and surely not with politicians who sway as per the movement of briefcases supplied by businessmen clad in educationists clothing.
After all said and done, let bygones be bygones, the parents who have come forward to start a movement to pressurize the government to revert back to English medium of instruction should be given all the boost and fillip to take the movement forward. I know that it is uphill task which will take a while of struggle to make those in power to see the reality but if all the stake holder like the Archdiocese Board, teachers, students and parents join hands, the government will have to bow down.
Finally Government should provide grant-in-aid to all institutions imparting education in any language. The choice to choose the medium should left with the parents as they have the welfare of their children at heart and not politicians or protagonists.
Send your comments/reactions to nisserdias@gmail.com Or SMS 9422437029)
10th Mar 2011
The right to choose medium of instruction should be left with the parents
The light seems to have started to glow at the end of the tunnel with some parents summing up the courage to demand change of medium of instructions in government or government aided schools in the state of Goa. Last week saw some Parents-Teachers Associations (PTAs) across the state resolving to demand from the government that it should not link financial aid to schools depending upon the medium of instruction adopted by the schools.
This demand was long overdue but none be it the school managements like the church or otherwise, teachers or parents had the courage to get the ball rolling to insist that decision taken by the Progressive Democratic Front in 1991to provide financial aid only to those school who switched the medium of instruction from English to Konkani or Marathi. The mindless decision of the then government had disastrous effects on imparting basic elementary education, teachers had to undergo crash courses in Konkani and Marathi which was not an easy task as they themselves had to first learn and understand the language in a way to instruct its students, parents who too had English background or rather did their schooling with English as the main language had to struggle with their wards. Worse still was the fact that the shift from English to regional language was the root cause for commercialization of education in the state of Goa. The decision of the PDF government led by Dr. Proto Barbosa was like a pivot because immediately after the implementation of the change of medium of instruction hundreds of government recognized unaided private schools mushroomed and their number rose from mere 2 schools in Goa to 158 and still growing. Of course successive governments that reigned over Goa after that neither saw the damage that was being done nor were they interested in bringing about a change in the Education Policy to curtail the mass exodus of children shifting to private schools to escape instruction in Konkani or Marathi. This was a clear indication that the decision of the government was against the market forces, which sadly did nothing good for the students, teachers nor did it help in furthering the cause of mother tongue. What it only did was, attracted businessmen to venture into elementary education which led to exploitation of the parents.
For the political class it was not in their interest to revert back to English as there would be political backlash from handful of regional language chauvinists, popularly known as Konkani-wadis or Marathi lovers or know-it-all politicians. However most of the politicians either educate or seek to educate their children through English medium and force Konkani and Marathi on lay parents. This is not at all acceptable.
Furthermore the decision of the government to extend medium of instruction through regional language upto eighth standard seems to be another ploy of the government to extend support to the unaided private schools. What has been happening till date is that parents admit their children in unaided private English medium schools till fourth standard. At the time when children had to be admitted in fifth standard there was a mass exodus from unaided schools to aided schools. And the reason is not only exorbitant fees but also because aided schools have experienced teachers when compared to private schools. By extending medium of instruction through regional language to eighth standard the government is playing into the hands of few pseudo educationists who not only want to control elementary education in Goa but want to make education a money spinner.
The question before us today is to understand whether successive governments in the state have contributed towards the development of Konkani language in the literary sense for the last two decades. What is the contribution of Konkani authors to the curriculum. Has the government encouraged Konkani authors through financial aid? What is the contribution of the Konkani protagonist or rather language chauvinists to education since Konkani was made medium of instruction at the primary level. Four Marathi language it is a different scenario as Maharashtra is huge state and their literature has much wider scope. What the government needs to do is to first improve Konkani literature and only after careful analysis introduce it in schools as a compulsory subject, be it in aided or unaided school.
It is our irony of fate that successive governments did even have the wisdom to adopt some sort criteria so as to prepare fourth standard children for the transit shift from Konkani to English in fifth standard. It does not end here successive governments during the last 20 years since the change of medium of instruction, have failed to oversee that teachers who complete their B.Ed are trained to instruct in Konkani also. And now the government is worsening the situation by extending medium of instruction in Konkani to Marathi to eighth standard.
Before the implementation of policies that will have repercussion for a long period of time, government should conduct an in-depth study in the last 20 years since Konkani or Marathi has been the medium of instruction as against those years when English was the medium of instruction. Compare and analyse to see the advantages and disadvantages vis-a-vis global needs and requirement. Then take of survey of parents to check their pulse and understand their point of view, initiate a debate where the views of all the stake holders in education are invited and studied and only then implement its policies.
The government cannot and should not function in an arbitrary manner by just taking the views of illiterate politicians. Infact education should be left with credible and genuine educationists and surely not with politicians who sway as per the movement of briefcases supplied by businessmen clad in educationists clothing.
After all said and done, let bygones be bygones, the parents who have come forward to start a movement to pressurize the government to revert back to English medium of instruction should be given all the boost and fillip to take the movement forward. I know that it is uphill task which will take a while of struggle to make those in power to see the reality but if all the stake holder like the Archdiocese Board, teachers, students and parents join hands, the government will have to bow down.
Finally Government should provide grant-in-aid to all institutions imparting education in any language. The choice to choose the medium should left with the parents as they have the welfare of their children at heart and not politicians or protagonists.
Send your comments/reactions to nisserdias@gmail.com Or SMS 9422437029)
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