GOAN ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA - Goan Voice, Canada

from the editor’s desk...It has been quite some time since Khobro was off the netand I have been receiving mail from many of our dearreaders enquiring as to what happened!! Well, we do livein the age of the internet and computers, and some ofus have not managed to keep up with the progress andstrides that the world of science and technology has beenmaking of late.To cut a long story short, this operation was runningvery ‘old school’ and the sad part is that our computerdecided to give up it’s ghost. Replacing a computer is nota big deal, but recovering data is. And recovering emailaddresses of over 7000 people is even worse. The sad partis that we did not succeed in getting a complete recoveryof email id’s yet, but we are surely working on it.We request all our readers to please forward our Khobroto all on your address books, and if any of you havereceived this issue from one of your friends, please do us afavour, and register yourselves to receive it directly fromus. Send us an email message with the word SUBSCRIBEin the subject and we will have you registered on our newdatabase. To prevent a recurrence of this sort, we havetaken steps to have a massive back up system in placeamong others!The last couple of months were also spent veryproductively, trolling the net for your email id’s... We alsolearnt that there are so many unscruplous fellows in theWWW who are doing the same, for the wrong reasons!On our part, we made sure that we have been veryselective in the process.Now that we are back with this issue, the real hard workbegins all over again. Getting articles for publicationis not easy, and we are eternally grateful to those whovery kindly send in their hard work for publication.We welcome others to join the list of writers for thispublication. In case anyone needs help getting an articletogether, we are always ready to lend a helping hand orkeyboard! Together, we can do it.By way of news, the Goan Association now has a brandnew committee with a lot of new faces. We have awrite up about the new members in this issue. I am sureeverybody is waiting in the hope that with new faces in,there are going to be a lot of new ‘things’ happening inthe Goan circles here in Melbourne. Please make sure tolend a hand and support your committee who have raisedtheir hands to make things happen for all of us.Back in Goa, we have a continously changing scenariowith a new government led by BJP’s Manohar Parrikar.Mr Parrikar is no novice to Goa and Goan politics and thisis his second innings as Chief Minister of Goa. Known tobe a man who does first and talks later, we look forwardto Mr Parrikar bringing about the much needed changein Goa. Among the few on the list of diaspora Goans isthe return of Dabolim airport to the civilian authoritieswhich would also mean that Goa would no longer needto have another airport at Mopa! Mining, and illegalmining is another great concern that needs fixing andwe cannot forget the need for some serious forwardplanning for our choking cities like Panjim, Margao,Vasco and Mapuca. Goans have had enough of thecongestion and lack of parking facilities in our towns.Those responsible for the mess that we are in, shouldbe taken to task.There is such a lot to do, and there is such a lothappening at the same time. Which makes it very easyfor every body to loose track of what is going on andwhere. Which in turn means that someone has to be onthe ball at all times. Mr Parrikar has begun rolling theball with moves like inducting Mrs Alina Saldanha intohis ministry, getting the well known dentist, Dr HerbertGomes into his party, among other things. So we nowwait and see how things are going to pan out.Here in Melbourne, Goans are abuzz with the fastapproaching World Goa Day. This prime functionhas taken on added momentum it being the tenthanniversary of celebrations, here in Melbourne. Thecommittee will leave no stone unturned to make thisnight a night of nights, a night to be remembered for avery long time, as the night when we Goans got togetherin unity, to celebrate being Goan, in a very special andunique way. Check the flyer in this issue of Khobrofor more details. Volunteers are also needed in orderfor the night to be what it is intended. Please do nothesitate to get in touch with us by email: goanassoc@gmail.com with your details. Tickets are already out onsale too.We look forward to meeting each of you when wecelebrate World Goa Day.Saude ani bolaiki tumkam sogleank…1Salus Correia

RELEVANT WRITING IN EASTAFRICAN SITUATIONA review of IN A BROWN MANTLE, a novel by PeterNazareth. Published by East African Literature Bureau,Nairobi, 1972. 157 pp.In this post independent Africa, what are foreign-ownedpublishing firms doing in positively shaping progress? Itappears that, while they are operating in various formsof jackets – like encouraging Africans to get published forexample, they are becoming a serious problem becausetheir commitment is not to Africa but to their purse.For once our academic institutions introduced AfricanLiterature and History as new items in the syllabi, and oncetourist western scholars realized that there were profitablereturns in African studies, there came a demand to meetthis new development. The western publishing firmsrushed to publish material dealing with Africa. Includingtrash which they branded noble contributions to AfricanLiterature.They are doing very well in this gold mine – scooping largechunks into their private bags. The exercise has nowbecome so sweet to them that the competition for bookproduction and distribution is reaching a cut-throat stage.Our local publishing firms (Government owned), beingnew and inexperienced in this trade, stand little chance ofsuccess against the vicious spades of foreign firms whichhave decades of capitalist experience backing them.It is not surprising then that Peter Nazareth’s novel, In aBrown Mantle, published by a department of the EastAfrican Community, despite its being launched in Kampalahas not made the impact which those of us who haveread the book were expecting; because the people havenot seen it, let alone been informed, effectively, of itsexistence. (The foreign owned local press gave it somegarbled publicity, I noticed).But to Nazareth’s novel.The author, a Goan-African, analyses the forces that aredisfiguring political systems in post-uhuru Africa. He isgenuinely concerned with Africa and what the future holdsfor her. The concern is on two levels. The primary levelis political and economic; the secondary, social. He thusemploys a narrator who holds firsthand knowledge ofhis Goan Community and who, because of his completeinvolvement in politics, is a reliable source and cancomment on burning issues objectively and convincingly.Joseph D’Souza, the narrator, tells the story in the firstperson singular. This device enables him to make aconsistently simple and conversational approach to thereader, and establishes a relationship that is both intimateand involving.The story is in fact the narrator’s confession. It begins withan assassination attempt (which is effective on the reader)on Mr. Kyeyune, the Prime Minister of Damibia, the manwith whom the narrator had led this East African countryto Uhuru. D’Souza reads the news of the attempt on Mr.Kyeyune’s life while on self-imposed exile in England. Hegets disturbed when he looks back into his past political life,and “seeking expiation,” he “started writing, confessing.”by Theo Luzuka2Like most Goans in East Africa, D’Souza was employed inthe Civil Service. He leaves his job there with the timelyhelp of alcohol and Mr. Kyeyune. They work together tillindependence, and after. But independence is merely achanging of guards – Africans replacing Europeans – while thevalues of the old colonial system remain. After independence“The economy was visibly in the hands of Asians and invisiblyin the hands of Europeans”. And also after independence“When we woke up four years later, the country was in thequagmire of corruption” (P. 113).Mr. Kyeyune, the tough and genuine politician beforeIndependence, now seems helpless when confronted withirresponsible forces of corruption. One of his Ministers, (themost corrupt) goes to London to buy a golden bed for hisyoung new wife!Even D’Souza, the brilliant politician, later muddies himself inthe mess. And when a fellow Goan politician in a neighbouringcountry is assassinated not because he is a Goan, but becauseof what he stands for, D’Souza packs up and flees to London,leaving Kyeyune to fight the battele alone. That is the story,the confession.But the author lubricates it with flashbacks which also castmore light into his analysis. For example, the Goan Communityis here today – because, originally, their fore-fathers “had tosurvive,” had to get employed in the colonial civil service inEast Africa due to lack of employment cause by Portugueseeconomic thuggery in India.A university usually breeds a country’s future leaders. D’Souzahimself went to Damibia University, and he tells us:“…the student Canteen was run by a student committeeappointed by the Guild. At the end of the second term, thecanteen had made a profit of sixteen cents, and at the endof the year, it made a loss of five thousand shillings. It wasnoticed that all those who worked in the Canteen had newsuits…new radios, etc. Amid rumblings of discontent, theGuild President --...told us not to be misled by our reactionaryand imperialist enemies. He told us how he had put the leaderof South Africa in his place by sending him a telegram on ourbehalf, saying that South African devilish policy was dead,”etc. etc…The University then does not only breed pseudo-politiciansbut also a new class of luxury-thirsty bourgeois elite. Nazarethseems to say that all our academic, political social institutions,and the economic fields which had been infiltrated by colonialforces are continuing to serve the interests of the formeroccupying powers; unless our values are relevantly re-definedand the overall system radically changes, we shall remaindependent on (servants of) the sycophantic tentacles of thegreedy foreign forces.In a Brown Mantle has in mind anyone who can read as itsaudience. It provides good reading. It holds value. PeterNazareth, in many ways, does for Africa what Jesus ofNazareth has failed to do in the history of his empire in Africa.Peter Nazareth has probably got tired of congratulations. ButI must say I am on an eager lookout for his next novel.

Goan Overseas Association, NSWcelebrates 35 years!!!Salus CorreiaIn the last issue of Khobro we featured the flyers advertising the Coral Anniversary of oursister Association, namely, Goan Overseas Association (NSW). A few of our members madeit for the night which turned out to be a grand affair, with our very own Joe Fernandespresenting his much acclaimed Elvis Presley show. For those of you who are not familiarwith Joe, until recently he was the treasurer of the Goan Association and has to his credit,presentation of his Elvis show, besides featuring his band ‘Soul Mates’ at an earlier WorldGoa Day show here in Melbourne.From the reports we received, the function was very well organised by Tony Colaco andhis team at the GOA (NSW). Among the various dignitaries, were members of a few GoanAssociations here in Australia, including the Presidents of the Goan Overseas Associationand the Goan Association of Australia from the state of Victoria. We are pleased to featurea few photographs commemorating the great event.4

Chillies of Goa - A Genetic Treasure Troveby Melinda Pereira KamatThe Portuguese came to Goa to spread Christianityand as a happy accident introduced chillies(Capsicum species) from Brazil in 1565 A.D. FromGoa the chillies reached other parts of Indian subcontinent. The origin of Capsicum annum and C.frutescens is South America. Chillies play a great rolein the lives of Goans and their innovative culinaryart. Goans did considerable experimentationwith Brazilian chillies and evolved their own localvarieties. During my research for an illustratedmonograph on ‘Chillies of Goa”, I came across 23local varieties- making Goa a genetic treasuretrove for germplasm of Chillies in world. This is anirreplaceable crop genetic heritage. The Capsicincontent of local chillies is not known.Once upon a time the village of Aldona was famousfor chillies all over Goa. If timely measures are nottaken then our sambare, hooman, ambat tik, gojju,sansav, tonak , khatkhate, harve, xacuti will looseits authentic fiery hot taste. Certain varieties likethe Moidechi moti mirsang , Aldonechi moti kalimirsang, Aldonechi kali gaunti kashmiri mirsangwhich are traditionally used for pickles , rosachikodi, bhoje, sausages, vindalho, takatli mirsang,bharilli mirsang are almost extinct. Aldonechi motikali mirsang is paprika and has lot of demand inthe European market. It has a pigment called luteinwhich is essential for the health of the retina. Thereare just 1 or 2 families in Aldona growing thesechillies. Say Macaris and Franskin Alemao “problemwith this variety is late ripening and it remains inthe field till 15th May, cattle feed on it and 50% ofit discolours, so it fetches less price”.Morjechi mirsang is thin skinned , blood red incolour and preferred for hooman. In Canaconaduring rainy season kholchi mirsang, lambatmirsang and motvi kamtanchi mirsang is grownwhile during the rabbi season porsantli mirsangis grown. The lambat mirsang has 3 strains, istransparent , thin skinned whereas the porsantlimirsang is plump, maroon in colour, mediumsized and less pungent then the small sizedkholchi mirsang. Chandelche barik butao, Dattsalichi massoori mirsang, Mandrechi mirsang, arepreferred for pickles and dry masala powder.Sataritli gaunti mirsang, dhangari pavsali mirsang,6bugdi mirsang, dhangari unhali mirsang, patalsalichi masoori mirsang, Harmalche butao,Cuncolechi mirsang are preferred for various typesof curry preparations. Portugali mirsangs are of7 types in Goa , with the smallest called pimentmalaget and is used for cafreal masala. Pandhrijalgi mirsang with pointed tip, tambdi jalgi mirsanghas medicinal value, dhavi lavngi mirsang, tambdimoti portugali mirsang, lam taroti mirsang areused for making papads, dangere, vadyo and shev.Local chillies are pathogen resistant and requirevery less pesticides.Nursery beds called Aina or Khandla are raisedbetween 10 th to 18th of November. Size of thesebeds is generally 3m length, 1m breadth and 15 cmheight. Seeds are sown evenly in these beds withash, organic manures, covered with hay, irrigatedwith pot everyday. After 12 days of sproutingremove hay. After seedlings [rompe] develop10-12 leaves they are transplanted. After every8 days weeding is done. Soil from the footpath[paivat] is removed during flowering and put nearthe rootzone to make a ridge called maag. Smallfurrow called chori which is ½ inch deep is madenext to the rootzone [ ½ inch from the plant] forapplication of fish manure, groundnut cake, andorganic manures.Organic farmer Govind Parsekar from Mandremgrows one row of turmeric after every 2 rows ofchillies to keep the plants healthy. He uses organicmanures in the beginning, then mulches the cropand maintains row to row distance of half meter.Vishram Parwar from Corjuem grows brinjal,knolkhol, marigold, field beans as an intercropto reduce pest incidence. Chillies of the first cropwhich are reddish, plump, disease free and with lotof seeds inside are selected for seed purpose forthe next year.It is high time that the government gives subsidiesand awards to people who have taken the painto conserve this rich genetic diversity and theDepartment of Agriculture takes practical steps toconserve the original varieties of chillies from Goa .

AN ODE TO “SORPOTEL”For the hotchpotch known as haggisLet Scotchmen yearn and yell:On the taste of Yorkshire puddingLet the English fondly dwell;Their famed “tandoori” chickenLet Punjabis praise like hell ;But for us who hail from GoaThere’s naught like “sorpotel” !By the Late Philip FurtadoFrom our bigwigs in ColabaTo our small fry in Parel,From our growing tribe in BandraTo our remnants in Cavel,From our working girls at Glaxo’sTo our boys in Burmah-Shell,There’s none whose mouth won’t waterWhen you talk of “sorpotel”!And, oh, for Christmas dinner,Don’t you think it would be swellIf, thanks to a freak of fortuneOr by some magic spell,We could, as they can in Goa,Have a bottle of “cajel”And toddy-leavened “sandnam”To go with “sorpotel” !(Written circa 1970)9

My Teenage memories... cont.of the boys from our neighbouring schools;who eventually became my boyfriend,but just a namesake boyfriend; ended uprequesting another guy to teach me to kissand experienced my first kiss at 13. If the truthbe told; I had no interest in boys; although Idid discover they weren’t as bad as I thought.My interests lied else where; on the beachesof Goa; chasing crabs that ran into the firstavailable hole that was made by another crab;running wild on the beaches of Candolim;playing Kicking the tin, Gully Dan-do, Cupbeardy-Cup-beardywith my two brothers,my cousins and the local boys of Candolim;sitting by the chapel; swinging on the Banyantree, attending every church festival to eatall those delicious festive sweets; buying aballoon on a stick; the balloon was filled withtiny stones that rattled when we shook it andplaying Lard-ice (a game of cards). I lovedgoing for weddings and dances. Attendinga dance meant dressing up for the occasionand I just loved to dress up; still do. It was allof these things that played a great interest inmy life as I was growing up in Goa, from thetime I was 6, right up to the time I turned 13.By Anna DeSouzaIn the summer of 1969, my older sistergraduated high school and mummy didn’twant to leave me behind. She took me back toKuwait. It was the saddest moment I can everremember; because it was the last I was tosee of a Goa that was so different comparedto a Goa of today.Goa back in the 60’s was a beautiful placecompared to the way it is now. 40+ yearslater, I refuse to believe it could stoop to thelevel it has. I am no granny; moaning abouthow good things were back in the day; no!I am merely stating a point that Goa hasdeteriorated.When I talk about my childhood memories ofGoa; it’s of so long ago and it’s almost like I’mtalking about another person. In my opinion,childhood can be looked back upon as oneof the best periods of one’s life; but with apositive attitude, a person can experiencehappiness in any period of their life. Any yearis a good year to turn thirteen and become ateenager, but 40+ years ago in 1969, I couldn’thave chosen to be a teenager at any othertime or place!10

A NEW COMMITTEEA new era has just been ushered in, with the resultsof the elections for office bearers held at the recentAGM of the Goan Association. After leading theAssociation for many consecutive terms, theerstwhile President, Raul Fernandes decided tostep down, making way for a new committee tobe elected. Sadly, in just a couple of months, thenew committee were informed that the treasurerJoe Fernandes along with his wife BernadetteFernandes who was the Social Secretary, had todue to personal reasons, leave the committee witha promise that they would still be around when itwas possible for them to. Our sincere thanks go toboth Joe and Bernadette for serving the committeefor a little more than one full term, and we wishthem the best in their future endeavours.The following are the current members of the newcommittee for 2012 – 2013, with a brief introductionof each:PRESIDENT: Cr Oscar Lobo JPA former banker by profession, Oscar is an electedcouncillor at the municipal council of Glen Eira.Well known in many circles as the man who broughtWorld Goa Day to Australia, he is a thorough Goanall the way, and is willing to make any sacrifice forhis beloved homeland and its people.VICE PRESIDENT: Salus Correia JPFormerly a professional buyer from Goa, currentlyworks as Technical Service Coordinator at DENSO,which is the foremost Auto parts manufacturer inthe world. While in Goa, was actively involved inthe youth scene. Very passionate about Goa, is alsothe editor of this newsletter since its inception.GEN SECRETARY: Alvito Coutinho ACISAlvito was a founding member and is also a lifemember of the Goan Overseas Association, (NSW).The constitutional expert, he was responsible todraft the constitution of that association, whichincidentally, is also used by many other GoanAssociations. Alvito has retired after a noteworthycareer with The Age, which is Melbourne’s premiernewspaperTREASURER: Chris D’Souza – FCA, FCPA, CMAChief Financial Officer of Fortior Global, he isresponsible for the overall Financial Control,Financial Accounting and Management Accountingof the Fortier Global Group, and is currently servingas Hon. Treasurer on the managing council of theInstitute of Certified Management Accountantsof Australia. A diehard Goan, Chris considers Goathe best place to visit in India - Loves visiting andregularly spending time in Goa!11SOCIAL SECRETARY: Rose FernandesAll the way from Bombay now Mumbai,Rose has been around Melbourne with herhusband John, since 1984. With a chequeredcareer behind her, she currently works forState Trustees as a consultant, besidesdoing volunteer work. Rose is brimmingwith humour and tells us she loves a laugh,and making new friends, besides cooking,travelling and yes she said it - shopping!!ASST. SECRETARY: Lorraine AlmeidaBorn and bred in East Africa, lived in Goa,Bangalore & Bahrain, now settled in Australia,Lorraine brings in her vast life experience andis now poised to assist our Gen. Secretarystreamline records and documentation.Passionate about health and fitness among along list of what she enjoys, Lorraine is alsoan Arbonne Consultant, Bible study facilitatorand currently works at Monash CollegeMEMBER: Ebbie Brito CA, ICWA (Ind) FCPAEbbie was a Chartered and ManagementAccountant from Mangalore, India. He isalso a Fellow of the Institute of PracticingAccountants in Australia. Currently retired,he was our former treasurer who enjoys anactive game of Tennis, besides indulginghimself putting on the golf course. Togetherwith his wife Premila, he loves to spendquality time with his darling grandchildren.With many new faces, like the proverbial‘new broom’ we look forward to a new waveof activity generated by the new committeeas they settle in the reins of this association.However, we must not forget that as faras committees go, they cannot work inisolation, but need the constant support andencouragement of the members, withoutwhom nothing much can really happen.Members are invited to get in touch withtheir committee members with their ideasand suggestions besides dobbing themselvesin with new projects they would like to lead.The association now has an email addresswhich members can use to get in touch withthe committee. The email address you canuse is: goanassoc@gmail.comOur membership drive is gaining momentum,and numbers are on the rise. Please do nothesitate to invite your friends to join up asmembers. As the association grows, wewill be in a better position to organise moreprograms for members in the course of theyear. At this point, we wish to remind youthat membership is open to anybody, Goanor not. As long as you love Goa and Goans,we are happy to have you as a member of theassociation.

Goans in Melbourne...are proud to present the 10th Anniversary celebration ofDRESS CODE: FORMALThis is the night of nights,the night when Goansget together to show offtheir roots,their culture...Come, and enjoyyourselves to yourheart’s content: Meetmore Goans and theirfriends than ever before,here in Melbourne...Enjoy the good music,relish the magnificientbuffet spread, andimportantly, just havefun: You will think youare transported back toGoa for the day!!!World Goa DayGoans own annual dinner dance extravaganza!!!Parents are responsible forthe safety of their children7 pm sharp, 25th August @ Springvale City Hall397 - 405 Springvale Road, Springvale. MELWAYS: 80 - A11Relish the Goan Buffetspecially spread for you bySilver PlatterBYO Drinks & nibbles.Enjoy in moderationAlcohol & Driving do not mixCosts covering buffetand dancing:Members: $35.00Guests: $40.00Children: $20.00( 5 - 10 years old )Music to keep your feet tapping by...vibemusic for all ocasionswith NatashaTickets now available:Book early to avoid disappointment.Contact:Oscar: 03 9563 9910 / 0404 848 345 Lorraine: 03 9705 6449 / 0422 404 084Plino: 03 9801 6591 / 0434 434 600 Ebbie: 03 9561 1917 / 0401 511 643Rose: 03 9706 2085 / 0407 823 802 Christopher: 0437 120 862GAAGoan Association of Australia, Inc.(Registration No: A0026249N)12

GOAN ONENESS: DOES IT WANE ONMOVING ABROAD ???By Armand RodriguesWhy do Goans interact differently withfellow-countrymen who may have had someacculturation in dissimilar surroundings ? Tounderstand this paradox, it is necessary toexamine the reasons why Goans venturedinto environments outside their own and howtheir outlooks evolved in dissimilar orbits andover different time spans.In the 16th century, because of ChristianEvangelization, a number of Goan Hinduswere the first to move out to Karwar. Bythe 19th century, Christian Goans went toKarachi, Bombay, Poona, Belgaum, Calcuttaand Hubli, simply because of economicnecessity. At the time, the British held swayover most of the Indian subcontinent (whichincluded the present Pakistan). From the late19th century onwards, Goans found their wayto East Africa, mainly of their own volition,simply to earn their bread and butter. ThePortuguese and the British welcomed them totheir possessions. In the 20th century, Goanswent to the Middle East in droves. The onesthat went to Karwar and Karachi essentiallywent for good, whether intended or not. Theother three streams kept their ties to themotherland. They supported families backhome financially, maintained family homesand visited regularly. The ones in Africa andthe Middle East had to remember that theirsojourn was at the mercy of the rulers, with areturn to Goa an ever-present prospect.In the course of their peregrinations, Goansabsorbed a measure of acculturation based onoutside cultural elements, and then morphedinto distinct subcultures, with attendantbenefits. Just like “you are what you eat”,one’s makeup changed with prolonged staysin different environments.This percolation is specially true of the EastAfrican Goans. Their lifestyle mutated into aformat that emulated that of the British there.With a cook, being served at table, maid tolook after the children, a gardener/errandboy, full-course meals, choice of liquors,dressing well, busy social and sporting life(with clubs and pavilions of their own) huntingand fishing, they could not have asked foranything more. After a four or five-year tourof service, they enjoyed four to six months ofvacation leave in Goa or India. Life was goodand a quantum departure from what it mayhave been otherwise or elsewhere. It is notinconceivable that quite a few would still bein a hand-to-mouth existence in Goa – evenploughing paddy-fields--- had they not reachedAfrica. To their credit, the British admiredGoans for their efficiency and honesty, andacknowledged that they were the backboneof the Civil Service. Goans became a good fitfor the British and, for census purposes, wereaccorded their own separate identity.Goans who went to Pakistan relinquishedtheir former identity and accepted Pakistanas home. Holding administrative positionswith the British and being well-established as13continued on page 16

Memories of our beloved Goa...One of the highlights of the village feastwas the local travelling fair that madeits appearance. No feast or fair wasever complete without the much loved‘Chonnekar’ who sold yummy roastedgrams!!Swaying palms on a Goan Beach!!Goa is dotted with beautifulbeaches along is coastline, andGoans make a beeline to thebeaches for their annual sea bathin the months of March or April.With the monsoon at its peak, thefarming season begins in Goa. Inthis season, visitors to Goa will seethe amazing sights of rice fieldsbeing planted and transplanted.Thanks to our Goans who out of their boundless love for all thingsGoan are responsible for the lovely pictures of Goa above.14

GoanRecipes...by JoyceApa de Camarao - Prawn PieINGREDIENTS:METHOD½Kg. rice1 coconut (grated fine)¼bottle toddy400 gms. sugar8 eggs (yolks)2 Kgs. prawns (shelled, washed, boiled and chopped fine)1/2 coconut juice100 ml. salad or refined oil10 onions (sliced fine)8 spoons sugar9 cloves (powdered fine)salt and vinegarWash the rice and soak in water overnight. Next day grind the rice and coconut separatelyusing toddy. Then mix the ground rice and coconut together, add sugar, egg yolks, salt totaste and more toddy, if necessary. Keep aside for 4 hours till the batter rises. In the meantimegrind to a fine paste:12 dry red chillies1 inch piece ginger6 flakes garlic12 peppercornsNow fry the sliced onions in oil till brown. Add chopped prawns. Fry well, then add groundmasala, a little vinegar and salt to taste. Pour in the coconut juice, 8 spoons sugar andclove powder. Cook till dry. Grease a round cake tin, divide rice batter into two potions.Pour one portion into the cake tin then spread the prawn mixture evenly over the rice batter.Pour remaining batter and bake till golden brown.15

continued from page... 13teachers, secretaries and professionals theyhad good standing in that society even afterPartition.Consanguinity apart, the pertinent mutationsresulted in separating the clusters wheninteraction was factored in. Goans who stayedbehind on the mainland are said to havebelieved that they were more patriotic thanthe rest. In the mix it is relevant to observe thatthe offspring of disadvantaged folks who hadendured a hand to mouth existence, becameupwardly mobile in the mid-20th century,through higher education. Their contributionto the prosperity of Goa is immense.And, the perception was that the East AfricanGoans, with their dissimilar lifestyle, becamea notch removed from the rest. The MiddleEast Goans were seen as well-remunerated,most prudent with their money, and to haveploughed back more into the Goan economythan their counterparts. They had an affinityfor gold and modernistic housing in Goa. Theyalso brought to the stage a greater sense ofgodliness.The above hypotheses seem to have resultedin “liquids finding their own level” or “birds ofa feather flocking together”, as has happenedwith other cultures that now inhabit a multiculturaland diverse society as in Toronto orCanada. That said, it is significant to note thatthe six who spearheaded the formation ofthe Goan Overseas Association (Toronto) mayhave been African Goans--who were in themajority-- but the very first formal presidentof the club, in 1970, was a Karachi Goan andthe third, in 1972 was from Bombay.If it was believed that Goans of all stripeswould regroup and coalesce into one bighappy family, in a diverse and multiculturalsetting like Toronto, this has turned out tobe wishful thinking. The younger generationbreaks the mould, and pulsates to the beat ofa different drummer. They have been movingaway from parochialism and dissipating into awider diaspora. And, maybe it is pre-destinedthat “never the twain shall meet”, with their“them” and “us” subterranean thoughtprocesses prevailing. Our gregarious natureis evidently shifting into a more insular mode,as is the norm in these parts. Even an optimistwill acknowledge that re-integration maybe a far-fetched dream. All signs point to apattern of greater emerging diffusion, withGoan oneness moving towards a mirage onthe distant horizon.Odious as comparisons may be, it will berecalled that class distinctions were partof our cultural physiognomy. AlthoughCatholics did not officially believe in the Hinducaste system, vestiges continued to lingeron in at least a below-the-surface sense.Over the last two decades or so, the linesof distinction have started getting blurredin the Western hemisphere. The youngergeneration, with their broader perspective onlife, see themselves as members of a classlesssociety. Upward or downward mobility in thecaste or class structure is a fact of life today.However, the “old order changeth yieldingplace to new”. Fault-lines now separate thedemographic terrain based on which previousstepping stones we transitioned from to ournew domicile. But even this phase will passas we get more and more submerged in themorass of the “melting pot” and its levellingproclivities.16

AN OPEN LETTER TO SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKARby Anand VirgincarDear Manoharbab,I am writing this open letter to you becauseof my love for Goa, my deep concern for herfuture and fervent hope that you will be mymotherland’s best steward in her journeyahead. I and many of like thinking Goenkarsfrom every community, irrespective of theirreligion, caste, socioeconomic status orpolitical clout, believe that while there hasbeen significant progress in Goa in someareas since we got the opportunity to governourselves after the first democratic generalelections in December 1963, many thingshave become worse. To the great dismayand discomfort of the people of Goa, thecircumstances in which they find themselvesare on a downhill slide today.There are four big problems facing us in Goa.The biggest problem is rampant corruptionfrom the lowest level of the governmentbureaucracy to the office of the ChiefMinister. It has made life difficult for the mostvulnerable segment of our society – poor folkwithout connections, clout and status. Theyhave to struggle to make ends meet, andbribe a bureaucrat or a minister with theirmeagre earnings to obtain a shop license oreven a low paying job. Not far behind is thesqualor and filth in our neighbourhoods, onour roads, and on our beaches and river banks.This is compounded by the destruction of ourscenic hills, invasion of our pristine fields andorchards, and degradation of roads, bridgesand public spaces by years of public neglect andabuse. The final assault is from overburdeningof all basic amenities due to unruly traffic,uncontrolled influx and settlement of migrantlabour, and unregulated low-budget tourism.Besides the above crises concerns, there arecountless other urgent needs. Thousands ofyoung Goans need to be educated at all levelseach year. The old school and college buildingsare falling apart. There are not enoughcommitted teachers. Nothing short of majorfinancial incentives for new recruitment andinvestment for new construction will changethis state of affairs.Furthermore, each year hundreds of studentscomplete their post-secondary educationfrom the many higher educational institutionsthat have sprung up in Goa. There are no jobsfor them in our tiny state. They are forced tomigrate to other places to make a living, toregain their dignity and self-esteem after along futile and exhausting search for it in theirbirthplace. In the process, not only are theyunable to contribute to Goa’s progress, butthe public investment made in their educationis not recouped for the immediate localbenefit of the taxpayers who made it in thefirst place. This problem can only be solvedby a concerted effort to create jobs andentrepreneurial opportunities by providingincentives for growth of local manufacturingplants, information technology firms, hightechnology companies, pharmaceuticaloutfits, chemical industries and green energyenterprises.The public health care system in Goa is in amiserable state. Its flagship, the Goa MedicalCollege hospital building at Bambolim isalready in serious disrepair. Moreover, itcontinues to fail in its repeated attempts to bethe much needed fully functional tertiary levelhospital in Goa offering affordable advancedtreatment for the increasingly more commondiseases afflicting Goans today, such as heartdisease, cancer and stroke. The unfortunatevictims of these scourges have to run toMumbai, Belgaum, Bengaluru or Manipal tosave their lives. Can the Goa government after17 continued on page 18

continued from page... 1750 long years of bumbling not offer its peoplea decent shot at evading death from treatableconditions in their own place of birth? What acrying shame!The changing world has created new demandsas well as opportunities for growth in the21st century. The old ways of governing havebecome a lumbering burden on society, andin many ways, have led to the decadence andcorruption that we are struggling against.Fortunately, the advances in informationtechnology and the internet offer us newsolutions and make electronic governancea distinct possibility. The resulting reducedpaperwork cuts down red tape and eliminatesopportunities for bribes and kickbacks. Whycan’t we have this in Goa? Why can’t we havecomputer controlled traffic lights and potholefree,durable, concrete roads and highways?Why can’t we have a better, more modernairport without further delay?We want a government that would tackle theseproblems in a pro-active, no nonsense manner.We believe that you have demonstrated thecompetence and vision required to head suchan administration. We would like you to makea positive difference to the lives of all Goans bytaking concrete steps to eliminate corruption,to clean up our land, to tell miners and buildersenough is enough, to build better roads andparking spaces, and to more strictly regulatemigrant labour and tourism. Our environmentneeds to be preserved. Our heritage needs tobe protected. Basic amenities such as water,sanitation, electricity and phone service mustbe made available 24 hours a day withoutinterruption.We would like to see clearly stated policies thatwould directly reverse the downward trendin all sectors of public life in Goa. We wouldlike you to address serious weighty issuesthat affect the lives of all Goans, not specialinterests, voting blocks and powerful lobbies.We do not need the communal divisions andthe religious discord, caste based politics, andthe use of raw money and muscle power. Weask you to put an end to these shenanigansand political gimmicks. No more incitement ofhatred between Goan communities in returnfor minor short to medium term gains butmajor long term suffering.Goa must always remain a model of unity witha unified set of unique identities shaped byour entire recorded history within the Indiannation. Our Indian-ness is not apportioned tous on the basis of our religion, our individualtastes, our scripts and dialects or our mediumof instruction. We are all Goans. We are allIndians.So we ask you to carry this banner for us. Abanner of unity, a banner of purpose, a bannerof determination and a banner of servicetowards the betterment of all our peopleand our land irrespective of religion ,caste orsocioeconomic standing . Please, please , Sir ,lead us, upholding honesty and responsibility.With warm regards, high hopes and bestwishes,Anand VirgincarEmail : amchemgoem.amkamzai@gmail.comEditor’s note...This open letter by Anand Virgincar was written before the last elections, and is very valid even today.We hope that Mr Parrikar who is on our mailing list, will take time to read what Mr Virgincar has to sayfrom the depths of his heart which weeps for his beloved homeland Goa. Goa definitely needs moreAnand Virgincars!!! Khobro places on record it’s appreciation of Mr Virgincar’s work.18

‘Pimples on Paradise’I live in Goa. In a small corner in that paradise.In that corner,where I live, there aren’t any dancing virgins. There’s onlyjournalists. And crimson trails of torn professional hymens.And the story I have to tell is not new. It isn’t even a big story.Like the one which spilled out with the Nira Radia tapes.There’s no Barkha Dutt. There’s no Vir Sanghvi. Not even arelatively low-brow, shrill Prabhu Chawla.The story is about a small place. The heroes here are a lotsmaller in scale. So are the villains. But the stories from thissmall place are as interesting as the ones which come fromthe big cities. Trust me. The sweet, warm smell of purificationreeks the same everywhere.As the author of this piece, I will reserve stories involvingme for later. The first story’s a comparison between twoopposite journalistic poles.This is the story of Ash. And the story of Pats.Ash has been a journalist for nigh two decades. He’sconscientiously worked on the newsdesk and reportedextensively in Goa. He’s anchored newspaper editions for allthree local newspapers in Goa. But then he went on and didthree things over the last few years – not necessarily in theorder listed. He became a founding member of a newspaperemployees union seeking fair working conditions. Later,he contested civic elections after putting in a legit leave ofabsence. Third, he befriended me.Result: He has been virtually unemployed for the last fourof the eight years. There are four daily English newspapersin Goa. One monthly news magazine. And several othernews, feature and lifestyle magazines. But no jobs to behad for him. In my honest opinion, he has the professionalwherewithal to fit into any newspaper set up across thecountry.The one reason which editors and newspaper managementsin Goa give him for rejecting his job application, is his ‘voluble’support and perceived involvement in an anonymous mediacritiquing blog I ran by the name of Penpricks. And he wasn’teven part of it.Now, Pats has also been around a bit. He’s on the vernacularend of things. His honest cherry popped early and wasperhaps replaced by a big red plum. He was caught usinga ruling Congress politician’s credit card for wardrobeshopping. Took paid-news suparis regularly. Bought a fewmining trucks. Started real estate projects. Until one fineday he was asked to leave by his newspaper management,when they discovered that he hadn’t withdrawn from hissalary account for several years. Within a month he wassnapped up by another vernacular newspaper and his cycleof corruption renewed once again.The second story has no central characters. There werejust too many of them during the run-up to the assemblyelections in March this year, for any one in particular to takecentre stage. Early during the campaign, both the Congressand the BJP came in with war chests to cultivate the media.Well, there’s still no confirmation of the exact monies doledout to the media here. But then there’re things you seefor yourself. While one political party offered journalistscovering the polls tablet phones along with money, anotherparty simply offered cash on the barrel. So if you see mediafolk in Goa who suddenly flaunt a tablet phone and tell-talesigns of a sudden flush of cash, chances are you may havejust spotted a bad egg.The deal struck between journalists and newspapermanagements and poll contestants these last elections wasBy Mayabhushan Nagvenkarrelatively uncomplicated, but also had a sheen of innovation.Conventionally, the concept of paid news involves paymentof money for publishing of favourable content. During theMarch elections however, the paid-news deals involved notjust writing favourably about one candidate, but also blankingout news involving his opponents. Paid-news emerged as anevolved and a matured entity this time round.Those interested in looking up lop-sided reportage, could scanthe poll coverage in the Herald for a comparative analysis ofassembly constituencies like Fatorda, Curchorem, Quepem,etc, where the coverage has been extremely ‘unusual’ to saythe least. There were other newspapers who did it too, butnone with the élan of the above-mentioned newspaper.And then there’s this little story about me.I’ve been a working journalist since 1997. I have worked forThe Asian Age in Mumbai, Herald in Goa, Tehelka in New Delhiand have also been part of a band of journalists who producedinvestigative news software for television channels. And thenI’ve done some writing on and critiquing of the media in Goaover the years. There’s the story about editorials for sale. Thenthere was the fake story about a holocaust varmint Nazi beingarrested by a fictitious secret German police unit floated by mewhich was published in several newspapers across India andthe globe. Then there was another story about newspaperspublishing sex advertisements promoting prostitution, whereinstead of listing the pimp’s number, I inserted phone numbersof the same editors whose newspapers published these lewdand solicitous adverts. There was also the story of how the GoaEditor’s Guild (GEG) set out to gag the media critique blog, bylisting the item on the agenda of an official Guild meeting. Andthen another one establishing paid news in these assemblyelections in Goa.Result: I’ve had to do my bit of scrounging. I have been at thebottom of the barrel for a spell. In the course of exposing theabove-mentioned stories, I’ve been out of a job for a longwhile. There was no money coming in so I resorted to allsorts of odd writing jobs, since writing is the only paying skillI possess. I did some cheap sweatshop commercial-writing bypitching to postings on craigslist. I’ve written and rewrittenabout yoga mats. About turd-cleaning devices, which help youclear dog poo off the floor, without leaving stains. I’ve evenwritten tasty little descriptors for websites hosting porn filmsand sleazeclips, sometimes making $2 for 500 words.All this, until a friend and fellow journalist Fredrick Noronhavoluntarily and graciously gave up his job writing for a newsagency from Goa, so that I could pitch for it.So now every story told through the ages has had its morals.And I am still looking for the morals in mine.But like I said earlier. The story is the same everywhere.Journalistic corruption is not special to Goa. Dammit, it’s noteven as big as the big metros. So why did I do the things I didand say the things I have over here?Things come across a lot clearer in smaller places. There’refewer people. Fewer buffers. Fewer layers of camouflage.There’s lesser intrigue. The smaller journalistic microcosmof Goa is representative of the profession’s ills and helps oneunderstand the depravity of the broader journalistic setup inIndia in an easy way.A shot of Goan feni in a Goan tavern works as well as the finestscotch in Delhi’s tony, well-heeled clubs. But what would costyou ten bucks here could cost you a few hundred quid in Delhi,with perhaps a Bangkok junket thrown in for good measure.19

Those were the days...A nostalgic view of a bygone era!Recently I was going through real rough periodin my life. My heart was throbbing harder, therewas a big lump in my throat. I was getting dizzyand all kind of things unimaginable happenedto me. I began to develop all kinds of phobia.I did all kinds of tests, all negative. I went toemergency 6 or 7 times. I took some medicinethat gave me hallucinations. My soul seemedto have jumped out of my heart, I was levitatingwhile half asleep, seeing things like Almas doOutro Mundo. Every one gave up on me. Finallya doctor concluded I was having stress relatedproblems and suggested I do some kind ofEastern therapy of meditation. So one Sundayearly morning, I went to Scarborough Bluffs,overlooking Lake Ontario in search for a goodspot for a deep meditation. The ambiance andatmosphere was almost like at a seaside spotin Goa. I closed my eyes and went into a deepmeditation remembering Goa of my youth inlate fifties. And now before your very ownwide open eyes, I present theimagination from my meditation.Goa in the fifties was a real gem of a place.Secluded, pure, fresh, natural, unadulteratedidyllic spot you could call home. Serene, quiet,unpolluted, innocent, crime-free, romanticGoa was not known to many in the outsideworld except the Portuguese who colonized itfor 450 years. And for us, Goans it was a realparadise.Goa tuzo ugddas ietaTambddi mati, mollob, doria-vell, xetam,Dongor, nhoiom, ranam, zonvaram,Ponnos,ambe, madd, igorzo,ghoramNixtem, lonchem, fennim ani chourissamLife in Goa in the fifties was sucegado (Don’tworry, be happy credo). People well-versed inPortuguese had nice paying jobsin the civil service. Doctors and lawyers didgreat business. Military personnel had greatincomes. Mining business boomed in Goaand made millionaires out of Chowgules, theDhempos, the Salgaoncars and the Timblosalong with the medicine man Cosme MatiasMenezes. The kunnbis who laboured in20by Silviano Barbosathe mines also flourished. German cars likeVolkswagon and BMWs were quite affordablefor the well-heeled Goans. The tarvottis eked outtheir living sailing on high seas as butlers, cooksand saloon personnel. English educated Goanswent to Bombay, Karachi and East Africa foremployment. The rest of the local occupationalworkers like farmers, toddy-tappers, andlabourers barely made their living on low pay.But ev ery one had a swell of a time.Primary education was in Portuguese. The escolaprimaria had 4 grades. After the 4th grade, youcould go to Lyceum for secondary education.Some went to English schools and tried tocomplete their matric exams in Bombay or Poona.The village professora taught in Portuguesephrases like: “O sangue que corre nas veias e’Portugues”, “Papagaio canta-berra, dizpapagaio real ,Nossa Terra , Linda Terra, e’ Filhade Portugal” made you really feel like you are apart of Portugal.Konkani language was spoken all over Goa andthe elite Goan families spoke Portuguese athome. Even the criada spoke tambddi Portugues.Konkani Tiatro was the only entertainment forthe masses. Carnaval or Intruz brought threedays of unending frenzy to t he joyful teenagerswho adorned young girls with powder andperfume. Some mean boys used plastic gunsto spray coloured water laced with bananajuice or cashew juice to stain their colourfuldresses. Khells paraded with live bands throughthe villages wit h the drag queen Shali Bai andcomedian Shempia Miguel in Salcete vying forthe coveted trophy in the Khell competition. Thisform of Khell combined with Tiatro later gaveway to a new genre on stage called Khell-Tiatro.Konkani stage artists like Jacinto Vaz, C. Alvares,Miguel Rod, Remmie Colaco, M. Boyer, Airistides,Nelson-Conception-Anthony, Young Menezesand many others kept people’s spirits high.The village feast was a time of the year toremember. First came the Fama then nine daysof novena with a powerful pregador at theevening salves. Then came fireworks of gornadoand foznem and pauss with kombie tantem atcontinued on page... 21

Those were the days...A nostalgic view of a bygone era!the vespera followed by pig killing and cookingof sannam and sorpatel. On the feast day, earlyin the morning the loud village church bells,the foznem and the eerie alvorada band wokeeveryone up. Children, adults, senior citizens,all dressed in colourful dresses and in suits (nokaxt ti today), most with brand new shoes andnew dresses specially for the feast, brought atouch of class to the village feast. Then you goto the church, buy wax candles, give esmolato the beggars, go to the fair, young girlspinning paper flowers on your lapel for somedonation of a few paise. Then you go to the fairfor khajim-bjojim or chonnem, where you getfistfuls of free samples “Chonnem vhor” or yougo to the kermess for some cerveja. Gamblersgoing to the dice table, losing some money. Youalso m et and wished “Boas Festas” to somelong lost friends or relatives visiting you or yourneighbours. Parents giving 4 annem pocketmoney to the kids to buy some sweets, candiesor aiscrot (icefruit) or xarope or lemon soda.Once you come home, you drink a nd load upon two or three dishes of pork sorpotel, boochor vindaloo, sannam, fennim or St. Pauli Girlcerveja. Then you share the chonnem from thefeet of the patron saint. And in the evening yougo to Tiatro or for a dance. (You don’t thinkof mortgage and bills, No mortgage in Goa,even for beggars, the hut is free and esmola isenough, no welfare needed, thank you!).A perfectly normal day in Goa starts this way:Early in the morning, the church bell tolls, butwho cares at 6 a.m. Later the chirping of earlybirds wakes you up. As if this was not enough,the villager poder wakes you up with his jinglebells and then I have to go to buy 3 kanknnam,two paoms (undde) and three kunddia bhakrios.So my sleep-walk is over and I go brush myteeth with charcoal or with that erronda tallobranch in my teeth followed by the rinsing withwarm well water. Then I go you know wher ewith my tambio and pigs come running mad ashell racing each other attracted in the directionof freshly exhudedmorning perfume. After that it is time for a nicejug of hot tea brewed in a charcoal laced mudburkulo. The tea comes with sugar and milk and some chapattis. After a couple hours it istime for pez with lonchem and khollantlem toror if nothing else is available, my favourite kalchi21continued from page... 20koddi which comes with a warranty of a surefireguarantee of a heavy down-pour on yourwedding day (And I can personally vouch forthis).Later I go to the market to buy fish. There arebangdde (4 for 1 eskuz, escudo), tarle, peddveand sungttam. While coming home I buy bhoje,boram, morondd, canddam and jagmam. ThenI come home, eat rice and curry and all bonesand remnants go to chicken, cat and dog. Thehot nis water from rice goes to the pig withcunddo from rice husks. Nothing gets wastedin Goa. (we have no garbage collection, so wedo not pay taxes).In the afternoon we have tea again withmanddoss or dalli or rice bhakri with coconutchunn baked in banana leaves In the eveningwe go to Margao, for a nice football matchbetween Vasco Sports Club and M.C.C. Thenwe come back on that familiar Ford carr eira,with the professor or Padre Tio sitting in frontand driver stops every where when someoneshouts “Rau re” and the kilindor (cleaner) takesmoney without issuing ticketWe had to be home to recite Aimori beforethe Ave Maria church bells toll, then at 8 p.m.the rosary starts. Maim shouts in the midst ofrosary “Arey dar damplam mure? Noman Mure,kurpen bhorlole....”. After that we eat oursupper and go to sleep on the m at on the floor,which was recently covered with disinfectedcowdung (What?, you can’t believe it?) The wepray again (God must be tired of hearing theseKonkani prayers all day long) before we go tomat (not bed). We don’t sleep right away. Nowit is gr anny’s turn to tell us a story of a Raja andRani and kunvor and wealth, after which we goto sleep without hearing the end. And in oursleep, we dream about Africa, America andLondon, where the streets are paved with goldand happiness.And just at that time, I am awakened from mydeep slumber by this stupid cellular phone atthe Scarborough Bluffs.My meditation was over and in a couple daysmy stress disappeared.Silviano Barbosa is a writer, a poet and a novelist(“The Sixth Night”) and lives in Toronto, Canada.

Postcards fromGOA22

GAAPublished by Oscar Lobo for Goan Association of Australia, Inc.Editor: Salus CorreiaArticles of interest may be sent for publication to the editor at:goenchekhobro@gmail.comThe opinions expressed in this newsletter are not the opinionsand view of the Goan Association, but of the concerned authorsthemselves. The Editor reserves the right to refuse publication ofsome articles and no explanations will be offered.