Goans - Making a Difference: Book Released on Goa’s Liberation Day

By Gasper Crasto

Kuwait: Goa after the Liberation, 50 years on, an editorial by the publisher Hazel Fernandes, briefly sums up the five decades which Goans have encountered since the Portuguese left after 451 years and bade goodbye to the tiny state of India in December 1961.

Goans, as we know from history, have been migrating to better pastures, outside Estrada de Portuguese (Portugal India) and it is uniquely recorded that Goans have been to Kuwait and other parts of the Gulf region in particular since the mid-1940s.

At the official release of the first edition of the book entitled ‘Goans – Making a Difference’, the dignitaries headed by the President of Goan Overseas Association of Kuwait, Raymond D’Sa, was full of praise for the initiative taken by Hazel Fernandes to present the book to mark this glorious occasion. Among those who attended were a wide spectrum of personalities from the press fraternity, and internet media.

The program commenced with Gaspar Almeida doing the honors of introducing the publisher's team, and a brief on the book. He expressed his proud feelings that this publication is yet again another first that Goans in Kuwait have achieved, which dwells on the individual efforts and achievements towards their success in the professional lifestyle as well as what they do to the community. "We have to support the efforts of all, whether they are government officials or technocrats as we move forward for the betterment of Goa and Goans".

A wide range of issues from Goa’s Freedom Movement, History of Goa, Reflections on the eve of Liberation Day, St. Francis Xavier, Festivals of Goa, Goa Hindu Festivals, Goa Muslim Festivals, Goan Culture, A Fat Goan Wedding, the Carnival, Goa Music, Goan Food, Goa Water Spots, the Dudhsagar Waterfalls, Goa Spice Plantations, Sao Joao Fest, Goa Tourism, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, Konkani essays which included Views and Opinions, Kuwait and Goans, the ever popular Goan statesman and NRI Commissioner Eduardo Faleiro, Goans in Kuwait, News Media, Goans in Kuwait, personalities in Kuwait from a wide spectrum of sports, theatre, artistes, writers, teachers, doctors, commercial professionals, the youngest pilot, Goa’s young entrepreneurs in the IT and food trade, up to the recent mega international event - Global Goans Convention 2010 held in November 2010 in Kuwait, takes pride of place.

“It’s a collector’s item featuring some of the respected personalities among us in Kuwait, it is my desire to see more editions in the near future,” said Navelim Youth Centre President Agnello A.S. Fernandes.

Due to the overwhelming response, the publishers and the team is set to have a second edition in the first quarter of 2011. The attendees at the release programme also included Raymond Pereira, Neeta Fernandes, Norman Noronha, Tony Viegas, Rewon Gomes, Raymond Pereira, Sunoj Nambiar IIK, Gasper Crasto, Roshan Loreno, Mario Fernandes, Anthony Raymond, Manager of Darbar Restaurant, Cajetan Pereira [United Friends Club], Hazel Fernandes, Domingos Araujo [Kala Mogui Kuwait], Jacon Fernandes, Esperanca Crasto, among others, representing a wide spectrum of Goans and the Indian community involved in the banking, finance, trade and commerce, media, and other professions.

Many came forward on the dais and expressed pleasure in this unique book.

The overwhelming support expressed by Kuwait’s leading business enterprises as well as prominent Goan supporters like Souk VIP Centre, UAE Exchange Co., Sanjiv Kumar, Albano Pinto, Taal Restaurant, Oriental Insurance/Bader Al Mulla & Bros Co., Pascal B. Pinto, Oriental Restaurant, Nazareth Brothers, Jacob I. Fernandes [Colva United Centre], English Optics, Fidelis Fernandes [Kuwait Goan Association], Myra-Joel-Monica Elvira-Joseph D’Souza, AlRashed International Shipping Co., and Caesar Holidays (Caesars Travel Group), made the publisher's job much easier. Among the writers whose English and Konkani contributions are included in the book include Lambert Mascarehnas - former editor of Goa Today magazine, Dr.Joe D’Souza, Lino B. Dourado, Gasper Crasto, Pio Esteves, Norman Noronha, John Aguiar, and Gaspar Almeida with still photography of the post and pre-liberation of Goa era as well as the flora, funa and natural bounty of scenic tourist state of Goa.

Raymond D'Sa expressed his views that the concept of putting forward profiles of Goans in Kuwait and their organizational capabilities through the various cultural, sports, arts, and literally activities undertaken by their associations for a common understanding of friendship and promoting Goa's rich and diversified cultural goals. "I am impressed with the quality and content of the book and expressed his full support to continue this good work and bring out the next edition, while he congratulated the team involved in the publication", he concluded in his short speech.

A sumptuous dinner and thanksgiving prayers winded up the special event held at Hotel Kuwait Continental on 19th December 2010 and everyone took the opportunity to personally exchange season's greetings. To obtain your limited edition copy, email: goaworldtoday@gmail.com , fernsfernandeshazed@yahoo.com .

Photos by: Rewon Gomes

ELVINO RODRIGUES - REPLY TO GODFREY GONSALVES.

After reading subject article by GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES , one of the item reminded me of an incident it happened some years back. There was All India Konkani Samelan at Sanklli and Late Dr. Rebello took me along for attending this samelan where I introduced my self as member of Kuwait Konknni Kendr from Kuwait. During the recess time, I took some courage to confront/question in our meeting with Mr. Tomazinho Cardozo then was a strong member of Goa Congress, I asked him why Dr. Willy D'Souza, then Leader of Goa Congress ( a break away faction of Indian National Congress) did not recommend Konkani in Roman Script also while making Official Language of Goa? to which he told me it was not done so as you know the Politicians.

It is worth reminding, although Goa Congress was a rebel faction of Congress at that time, INC leadership at Delhi had a soft corner and still respected and considered Goa Congress Leadership as representatives of Roman Script lovers mostly from Christian population and therefore Dr. Willy was specially summoned to Delhi to know what was his intention towards making the Konkani as official language of Goa and what scripts was to adopt. The devil-traitor took charge of Dr. Willy's soul that time and he agreed and accepted the Devanagri script only instead of agreeing the Roman Script also. That time the INC leaders must have remembered what Nehru have said about Goans after India took over Goa i.e. "Ajib heim he logh Goa-ka".

Delhi Congress Leadership has deliberately summoned Dr. Willy even though they broke from IN Congress and formed a new party called Goa Congress because they have love and sympathy towards Goans of Romi lovers and not to do injustice to this faction by not accepting the Roman Script and making only Devanagri script as the official language of Goa.

I strongly believe that had Dr. Willy recommended and strongly supported the Roman Script, INC leaders who were ruling India at that time would love to agree so because that was the reason they specially called Willy to Delhi even though he was a rebel Congress leader. Goans who wanted the Roman script also to be accepted as script of official language lost their very dear cause only because of Goa Congress and their leadership.

Mr. Tomazinho who now think he is a fighter for Roman Script had no acceptable response to my question and instead he told me this is politics and anything can happen in politics no matter how much dear is the cause for Konkani Roman Script lovers. And I smelt rat in his response. Enemy of Konkani in Roman Script to be one of the scripts of the Official language of Goa may not be only the Devanagri Sript stalwart but Dr. Willy and Goa Gongress leaders themselves.

Roman Script lovers should therefore hold the leaders of Goa Congress specially the Christian MLAs fully responsible for this treason. It is because of them we lost a very dear cause, cant this be changed at this stage or does it require a revolution?

Thanks.

Elvino Rodrigues,
Navelim - Goa.

FOR THE CAUSE OF ROMI KONKANI.

Twenty four years ago when the youthful Floriano Vaz a ST from Gogol Fatorda Salcete Goa India was shot dead at noon near his home at Gogol; it was BBC's then correspondent Mark Tully who reported the news at 1700 hrs.on the BBC radio news channel well before the local and national news agencies.

That sparked a near riot in the commercial city of Margao. That the cause was linked to the ongoing agitation for recognition of Konkani as the official language was obvious .

But the immediate cause for this dastardly provocation was a tiff between Mr Vaz's ex employer the son of a prominent Goud Saraswat Brahmin industrialist from Comba, Margao -- The CRP personnel who fired the fatal round on Vaz was mainly at the behest of the son of this industrialist who was allegedly prevented from proceeding in his white FIAT car (whose number plate was later changed to avoid implication ) as the road was blocked by boulders by Vaz and his youthful supporters.

Well this turned out to be the first martyr for the cause of Konkani. The others were killed in Neura Tiswadi (Ilhas) Goa and a memorial was immediately installed in front of the Church of St Lawrence at Agacaim Ilhas Tiswadi Goa.

But what is the politics behind the erection of a memorial for late Vaz at the Fatorda junction as demanded by the ex- Chief Minister and present PWD Minister Mr Churchill Alemao?
It is understood that the GSB's are all aware that the real culprit for causing the death of late Vaz was none other than the member of their own class and community. The area where the proposed memorial is planned just over 500 meters from the Chowgule College junction and happens to be the new residential township of GSB's who have moved lock stall and barrel from Comba in Margao to self contained bungalows near the Gogol Mutt and within the periphery of the College and Gogol garden.. The area is now known as Vidya nagar.

Therefore obviously they fear that the memorial if erected will haunt them with memories of that fateful day and this constituency being mainly dominated by the ST's there would be reason for provocation and ill feelings against the GSB's at a later date.

Hence the opposition to have any memorial at Old Market (porposed earlier ) or at the Gogol junction both in the Fatorda Assembly.

Incidentally Mr Alemao who alongwith Mr Atanasio (Babush) Monserate the Minister for Education (who is celebrating his birthday today ) had promised to pursue the issue of grant of official recognition to Konkani written in the Roman script at the hustings have now remain silent. The present Official Language act of 1987 grants official status only to devanagari as specifically listed at item 2 (c) of the OLA 1987. Hence deletion of the words (in Devnagari) by an amendment would have solved this issue making -- unity in ONE language and diversity in script -- as a feature to unite Goans more so being the 50th year of Liberation of Goa.
But the reason why these politicians and several others who depend on the Catholic vote bank mainly in the Old Conquests of Salcete Mormugao and Ilhas (Tiswadi) develop cold feet is because the Church heirarchy in Goa essentially a Brahmin led heirarchy which ranks highest in the decision making body has failed to press for the need for recognition to Konkani in the Roman script.

A little probing led this writer to realise that the Catholic Brahmins post Liberation forced their progeny to learn Konkani in devanagari for fear that they would be branded as antinationals for their adherence to Portuguese regime. Several Catholic Brahmins had even adopted Indian names for their progeny for the same reasons.

It is not that they have any love for the devanagiri except the fear of being ostracised by the majority Hindu community post Liberation. The Church heirarchy also belongs to this school of thought and hence despite the fact that they use Roman script for all the religious rites etc they dread to support the cause of recognition to Konkani in Roman script.

Ironically such is the hypocricy adopted by the Church heirarchy that while they support a collective floated by GSB's viz Catholic for Devanagiri even though most of them do not know to read and write Konkani in devanagri they have allowed non Brahmin Catholic priests to fully support the cause of Konkani in Roman script. Notble among them who has spared no efforts to harp for recognition to Konkani in Roman script is Fr. Conceissao of Carambolim Church .
The present CM Mr Digamber Kamat who short of official recognition to Konkani in the Roman script is prepared to do any thing for Konkani and its usage in Roman script as has been his enthusiam shown in the sphere of "tiatr" therefore it is a challenge to elected representatives of the likes of Churchill and Monseratte to show their true love for the cause of their mother tongue.

It is not too late given that we are heading for mid term polls in the State while the BJP is at its lowest ebb --- if not elections in due course 18 month later in May 2012. Thus during the forthcoming winter session in January 2011 these Ministers could easily get a MLA from the ruling coalition either Mr Francis Silveira, Ms Victoria Fernandes or Mr Francisco Micky Pacheco to move an amendment to OLA 1987 and give a due place to Konkani in the Roman script in the Golden Jubilee year.

from the Gogol end
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,
BORDA, MARGAO,
403 602, GOA. (INDIA)+
91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
gonsalvesgodfreyji@yahoo.co.in