GOA’S RESTING PLACES-2.
By Valmiki Faleiro.
Dust you are, and unto dust you shall return. “Aiz mhaka, faleam tuka” (my turn today,yours tomorrow.) Yes, I am on ‘final’ resting places, three days before Ash Wednesday.Unpleasant as the thought of our own death may be, we could, when alive, spare athought about where the dead go from this temporal world – in Goa. Cremation grounds, cemeteries and Kabrastans are not the brightest of places. But eachhas its curiosities.
Let’s consider some from my hometown. Margao’s Hindu ‘Smashan Bhoomi’ is a story by itself. For starters, this crematorium wasnot founded nor run by the municipality, as done the world over, but by a praiseworthyprivate trust. It’s not strictly Hindu, but open to all. The person who works on its everydaycremations is not even a male, but a woman. And she is not Hindu – she’s a practicing Muslim!
Margao’s Catholic cemetery, per prevailing practice, was within the church. Before 1830,when churches in Goa were directed to construct cemeteries outside the church butwithin the church grounds, a new cemetery was built in the backyard, around where theHoly Spirit school stands today. Due to insalubrities, it was shifted to a less inhabitedarea, where it exists to this day. From the oldest to the latest. St. Sebastian Church’s cemetery at Aquem-Margao isrefreshingly different. Far from a cold-marble, gloomy ambience, it’s the most beautiful cemetery I’ve seen anywhere between Mumbai and Mangalore. From the public road,one could actually mistake it for a garden!
Catholics of St. Sebastian chapel (Pandava Copel) previously turned to dust in the Navelim cemetery. When chapel became church, the parishioners decided to have theirown cemetery. (Their new church building, coincidentally, is being inaugurated today.)Like Benaulim-kars who built Livramento Church with their own money, they built their cemetery likewise, albeit on a plot gifted by the Barreto Xavier family – in record time,and in style! Neatly laid out grave-places, small black-granite markers, a simple, openchapel and pleasing landscaping, sets this final resting place apart.
Muslims in Margao have their burial ground. But Miyanbhais from all over India nowabound Margao/suburbs. The town’s once lone Masjid now has close to 20 for company.The Kabrastan is grossly insufficient. Though ready to buy land for another burial site,every potential location – in Ambajim, Aquem Baixo, Colmorod, Curtorim, Davondem,Davorlim, Fatorda, Guirdolim, Macasana, Navelim, Raia and St. Jose de Areal – has met with local protests. It would not be as if Saxttikars are morbidly pleased to deny Muslims decent burials.Could the Salcete sentiment, now fanning across Goa, be that Saxttikars want migrants to return to where they came from?
Burial, practiced by the world’s two leading faiths, is not the ideal way to be despatched.Personally, I’d any day prefer cremation, not over wood fires, but in an electric chamber.My only regret when I was Margao’s municipal president (1985-87) was that my dreamto build an electric crematorium in Margao, open to all faiths, remained unfulfilled. Dr. Attarwala, the man who set up Mumbai’s Chandanwadi electric crematorium, agreedto provide technical details, while I decided to appeal to the Margao Comunidade forland. Before either could happen, my great friend Churchill, now Goa’s PWD Minister,staged the “Flag Incident” that ensured the end of my public office.
I’m almost resigned to the fact that when my own “Faleam Tuka” day dawns, there would still be no electric crematorium in Goa. Dr. Joseph Pinto, a psychiatrist since 1973 in New York, where electric cremations arecheap and burials cost a bomb, tells about one of his early patients, Anthony Franchino.As advance “Thank-you” for agreeing to get him buried rather than cremated, Anthonygifted Dr. Pinto a limo. The latter promptly sold the car and sent the money to an Asilo inGoa. “In the 300-acre Cemetery Park of Morristown, NJ, where Anthony was buried,”says Dr. Pinto, “today deer eat flowers placed by visitors.” (ENDS.)
The Valmiki Faleiro weekly column.
February 23, 2009
February 22, 2009
CUNCOLKARS IN GOA & KUWAIT RISE UP IN UNISON
from Jasper Dias
togoa.kranti@gmail.com
date Sun, Feb 22, 2009 at 5:46 PM
subject[G O A] New comment on Re: FUNKOT" PASS FOR TIATRO.
Jasper Dias has left a new comment on your post "Re: FUNKOT" PASS FOR TIATRO":
Bab Veronica,
Thanks for publishing my comments in your Blog.
I am a avid reader of your Write Ups and here I salute your UPRIGHTNESS. People like you are Born one in 100 years. May god give you good health.
You are the voice of the Oppressed and downtrodden. GOD BLESS YOU AND DONT EVER BOW DOWN TO THE COWARDS.
Going back sometime you wrote an article on CUNCOLIM Sports Acadamy???. Here below is the fruit of your vision which appeared in OHERALDO of 22-2-2009 on line.
Cuncolkars heard your voice from Kuwait, Bab Veronica you need to be in GOA not in Kuwait. Cuncolkars that I m aware of are the TRUE FIGHTERS OF JUSTICE, IF YOU'LL FEEL THE ACADEMY IS NOT OF ANY USE THAN TELL YOUR MLA TO TAKE THE ACADEMY TO VARCA IN HIS PLOT OR TO OTHER PLOTS WHICH HE AQUIRED LEGALLY OR UNLEGALLY.
PLS SEE THE ARTICLE BELOW:
Cuncolkars threaten to intensify stir over football academy
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, FEB 21
Citizens of Cuncolim on Saturday warned Union Civil Aviation Minister and acting AIFF President, Praful Patel that they will be compelled to intensify the ongoing agitation if the government goes ahead with the proposed football academy against the wishes of the people.
A delegation of citizens handed over a petition to the Union Minister making it very clear that what the people of Cuncolim want will be decided by the people and in no uncertain terms by Praful Patel. “If you wish to have the football academy, then you may as well have it in your own constituency. Let us not play the football academy on a political turf, but on a natural turf”, the petition said.
The citizens expressed their surprise that the Union Minister has stopped so low to ask Housing Minister, Mickky Pacheco to hand over the file of the land at Panzorcone. “What is your interest in the Academy”, the citizens asked Patel.
The citizens have demanded for a micro level planning of the project so that the locals know the exact number of vacancies and positions that would be allotted to the people, especially the family members of land losers. “Till date after the first ever presentation, we have nothing in writing from Bharthi Foundation and our local MLA is speaking about laying the foundation stone bypassing the AIFF officials”, the petition stated, adding “this is his trade mark of getting things done his way and bull dozing projects down the throat of the people of Cuncolim against their wishes and then use the police force to arrest innocent citizens, who fight against him”.
The petition has been signed by Dr Oscar Fernandes, former CMC President Ramesh Dessai, Jose Antonio Mascarenhas and others.
Jose Mascarenhas said that only the Cuncolim people will decide for Cuncolim and not Joaquim Alemao, nor Bharti Airtel or Praful Patel. “Only Kuncolkars will decide for Cuncolim. We will defend our land at any cost”, Mascarenhas warned in another letter to the Union Civil Aviation Minister.
It is learnt that the citizens are planning to call on the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and other leaders before launching a sustained agitation against the academy, including a chain hunger strike near the Taddean Khuris.
Posted by Jasper Dias.
togoa.kranti@gmail.com
date Sun, Feb 22, 2009 at 5:46 PM
subject[G O A] New comment on Re: FUNKOT" PASS FOR TIATRO.
Jasper Dias has left a new comment on your post "Re: FUNKOT" PASS FOR TIATRO":
Bab Veronica,
Thanks for publishing my comments in your Blog.
I am a avid reader of your Write Ups and here I salute your UPRIGHTNESS. People like you are Born one in 100 years. May god give you good health.
You are the voice of the Oppressed and downtrodden. GOD BLESS YOU AND DONT EVER BOW DOWN TO THE COWARDS.
Going back sometime you wrote an article on CUNCOLIM Sports Acadamy???. Here below is the fruit of your vision which appeared in OHERALDO of 22-2-2009 on line.
Cuncolkars heard your voice from Kuwait, Bab Veronica you need to be in GOA not in Kuwait. Cuncolkars that I m aware of are the TRUE FIGHTERS OF JUSTICE, IF YOU'LL FEEL THE ACADEMY IS NOT OF ANY USE THAN TELL YOUR MLA TO TAKE THE ACADEMY TO VARCA IN HIS PLOT OR TO OTHER PLOTS WHICH HE AQUIRED LEGALLY OR UNLEGALLY.
PLS SEE THE ARTICLE BELOW:
Cuncolkars threaten to intensify stir over football academy
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, FEB 21
Citizens of Cuncolim on Saturday warned Union Civil Aviation Minister and acting AIFF President, Praful Patel that they will be compelled to intensify the ongoing agitation if the government goes ahead with the proposed football academy against the wishes of the people.
A delegation of citizens handed over a petition to the Union Minister making it very clear that what the people of Cuncolim want will be decided by the people and in no uncertain terms by Praful Patel. “If you wish to have the football academy, then you may as well have it in your own constituency. Let us not play the football academy on a political turf, but on a natural turf”, the petition said.
The citizens expressed their surprise that the Union Minister has stopped so low to ask Housing Minister, Mickky Pacheco to hand over the file of the land at Panzorcone. “What is your interest in the Academy”, the citizens asked Patel.
The citizens have demanded for a micro level planning of the project so that the locals know the exact number of vacancies and positions that would be allotted to the people, especially the family members of land losers. “Till date after the first ever presentation, we have nothing in writing from Bharthi Foundation and our local MLA is speaking about laying the foundation stone bypassing the AIFF officials”, the petition stated, adding “this is his trade mark of getting things done his way and bull dozing projects down the throat of the people of Cuncolim against their wishes and then use the police force to arrest innocent citizens, who fight against him”.
The petition has been signed by Dr Oscar Fernandes, former CMC President Ramesh Dessai, Jose Antonio Mascarenhas and others.
Jose Mascarenhas said that only the Cuncolim people will decide for Cuncolim and not Joaquim Alemao, nor Bharti Airtel or Praful Patel. “Only Kuncolkars will decide for Cuncolim. We will defend our land at any cost”, Mascarenhas warned in another letter to the Union Civil Aviation Minister.
It is learnt that the citizens are planning to call on the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and other leaders before launching a sustained agitation against the academy, including a chain hunger strike near the Taddean Khuris.
Posted by Jasper Dias.
Re: FUNKOT" PASS FOR TIATRO
Great Article, shows the class of KONKANI TIATRISTS. You have exposed LATE JACINT VAZ, why don't you name NAMES of the FUNKOT PASS BIKARIS so that we Tiatr polenar get some rotten TOMATOES / EGGS and Shower them as their REWARDS.
EXPOSE THEM AS IT WILL ERADICATE THE FATTED SALARIED BIKARIS ASKING FOR PASSSES"
ALL THE TIATRIST WHO ASK FOR FUNKOT PASSES BE AWARE YOU HAVE YOUR MASTER IN VERONICA TO EXPOSE YOU.
Sometime back i also read your article on some Tiartist who came to Kuwait / stayed in your house and while going back home also took BANANAS and APPLE from the dining table. SICK PEOPLE.
Bab Veronica keep it up and EXPOSE the wrong doings probably you are the only one who can change the mind SET of tiatrists.
J. Dias
EXPOSE THEM AS IT WILL ERADICATE THE FATTED SALARIED BIKARIS ASKING FOR PASSSES"
ALL THE TIATRIST WHO ASK FOR FUNKOT PASSES BE AWARE YOU HAVE YOUR MASTER IN VERONICA TO EXPOSE YOU.
Sometime back i also read your article on some Tiartist who came to Kuwait / stayed in your house and while going back home also took BANANAS and APPLE from the dining table. SICK PEOPLE.
Bab Veronica keep it up and EXPOSE the wrong doings probably you are the only one who can change the mind SET of tiatrists.
J. Dias
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