MY GOA July - Aug 2012

JULY +

AUGUST 2012

VOL 2 ISSUE 3 PANAJI-GOA

Dr. Wilfred Mesquita FIRST PERSON

Moral Policing

jerry pinto

IN FOCUS

Binayak Datta BUSINESS SENSE

Alex Braganza PASSION

Savia Viegas

COLUMN OF THE MONTH Poet, author, editor, his books are hot-sellers and award winners

Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki GREAT GOAN

Krishnadas Shama Goa Central Library WAH! GOA

L’ace MUSIC

Contents

12 First Person

Dr Wilfred Mesquita -- Commissioner of NRI Cell

14 Cover Story

Jerry Pinto, the multi-faceted writer

18 Focus Goa

Do Goans need moral police like Shri Ram Sene?

14

JERRY PINTO

Writing requires an immense act of faith

20 Wah! Goa

The mint-new Krishnadas Shama Goa Central Library

22 Art

Profile of sculptors -- Tom and Jeanette Fernandes

24 Great Goan

Classical musician Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki

26 Bookworm

The Sting of Peppercorns by Antonio Gomes

27 Music

Popular Goan band -- L’ace

28 Turning Point

36

Goa Chitra’s Victor Hugo Gomes on life’s ‘aaha’ moments

32 Biz Sense

Chat with Zuari Industries’ flamboyant Binayak Datta

38

12

35 Passion

How Alex Braganza manages music and advertising

36 Health

Time-tested home remedies for monsoons

40

37 Worship

Shravan is a month of penance and prayers

38 Food

Salted dry fish specialities

40 Travel

Glamorous Venice and Milan

42 Fashion

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When it rains, turn up in shorts

44 In Camera

The chikhal-kalo at Marcel is one big ‘Kodak moment’

46 Sports

Tolani Open Summer National Bridge Championship

50 Column of the Month

42 04

Savia Viegas and her musings on Goa

06 Editorial & Letters to Editor 08 Goa Buzz 23 Art Stop 29 People 29 Quiz 30 Biz Buzz 47 Sports Buzz 48 Beautiful People MY GOA JULY-AUGUST 2012

Cover Pic courtesy: Chirodeep Chaudhury

Harsh Reality

editorial

Read Up I VOL 2 | ISSUE 3 | 15 JULY 2012 Editor & Creative Head Harshvardhan Bhatkuly Publisher & Group Head Urvija Bhatkuly Assistant Editor Rachel Fernandes Advisory Board Ralph de Sousa Rajiv D’Silva Swapnil Kamat Editorial Team Alisha Patel Lyndon Pinto Vikram Sane Design Amol Ajgaonkar Annalise Gouveia Administrative & Distribution Virali Govekar Valeny Fernandes Pritesh Naik our Office Address Editorial, Advertising & Administrative Office My Goa 101/5, Rua Thomas Ribeiro Fontainhas- Mala Panaji, 403001 Goa India Tel.: 0832-2425514, 6456555 Email: mygoa.mag@gmail.com My Goa is a monthly magazine dedicated to Goan issues, society, culture and heritage Publisher & Printer Urvija Bhatkuly Printed At: Printek Printers, Bengaluru

www.facebook.com/mygoa

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n some strange ways, I often overlook the fact that one of the key touchpoints of being in the print media calling is to inculcate the habit of reading among the youth.

I count myself lucky that there was never a dearth of books, novels, magazines and newspapers in my house while I was growing up. And more so comics. Today I see my son trying to borrow from the lives of Ben10 and Chotta Bheem not to mention a really despicable kid called Horrid Henry. I never felt I would get into a generation gap thingy, but I guess that’s the first sign of aging -- the temptation of saying “... when we were growing up”. Sorry I digress. Yes. When I was growing up, with the usual fodder of reading, came heroworshipping characters like Bahadur, Chacha Chaudhary and getting inspired from real life heroes like Maharana Pratap, Subhash Chandra Bose or Chandrashekhar Azad. Thanks to Amar Chitra Katha. In fact, I hear that most people who buy the re-printed

version of Amar Chitra Katha are guys from my age-group.

Old kids who grew up on them.

The other beautiful part of life was going to the library.

Borrowing books and returning them on time.

The likes of Saraswati Mandir on Panjim’s 18th June Road is where I first learnt about a cricketing sensation called Sachin Tendulkar in a now-defunct magazine called Sportsworld and the article was scripted by the now celebrated Harsha Bhogle.

I remember the urgency that my uncle had as he could not wait for the paper-boy to deliver the newspaper home, when Rajiv Gandhi was slain. I had to be woken up and told to go fetch a newspaper from any vendor who had opened shop in the wee hours of that dark morning.

I distinctly remember the Konkani-Marathi war when we were in school. We read Gomantak at home and often heard that the Konkani mouthpiece was Margaobased Rashtramat and later on Herald. Back then it was

hbhatkuly@gmail.com

the era of one family - one paper.

I am happy to belong to the era that grew up on reading. A generation that respected the written word.

So you can imagine my joy when I went up to the new Central Library. Although it is located across the creek from where we work from, I could manage to walk across only when the time came to feature the swanky new library in this issue. The smell of books, papers and the fact that one has to act ‘grown up’ and maintain silence in a library brought my childhood back to me in one instant.

That said, I feel there isn’t any institution in the state that can match the grandeur, heritage and the great work that the Central Library has been doing. And at 200 bucks a membership, there isn’t a better deal going out in town.

Go. Sign up. Read up

Reader’s Write in: I recently got a copy of My Goa which had a story featuring me.

I completely enjoyed reading the well-written story. I must also congratulate you for putting out such a brilliant magazine in which each and every story was an absolute pleasure to read.

Emiliano da Cruz My Goa has continuously been providing excellent quality reading material to readers for the last year. It its truly incredible to see that a small state of Goa has such a buzz and kudos to My Goa for capturing all that buzz!

Nicole DeSouza

MY GOA JULY-AUGUST 2012

I have been reading My Goa religiously for the last five months and not once have I found something that I have not enjoyed reading. I would however like to see some comics in the magazine.

Manesha Agarwal Goan personalities are rarely given the limelight they deserve, My Goa has been consistently been putting these personalities in the forefront. I thank My Goa for making these people known.

Preeti Raikar

I enjoy reading My Goa as the featured people are very interesting and not the usual suspects. The magazine is very well done. Cheers to the team!

Anleey Pereira Too much of a good thing is never good, but My Goa just keeps me wanting more.

Alex Menezes My Goa is very colourful and to me that’s what makes it interesting to read. Keep up the good work.

Sneha Francis

We want to hear from you. Tell us what you liked and what you didn’t about us, your favourite story or section and most importantly, what you’d like to see featured in My Goa Write to us at: editorial@my-goa.com Unsolicited material may not be returned. The opinions expressed in My Goa are not necessarily that of the publishers. While great care is being taken to ensure accuracy of information, the publishers are not responsible for omissions or incorrect information. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publishers.

Goa Buzz

News from Goa

GM Viswanathan Anand inaugurates Chowgule College Golden Jubilee

Ashok Chowgule, Vishwanathan Anand and Principal Dr. R V Gaonkar

Chess maestro Viswanathan Anand inaugurated the golden jubilee celebrations of Chowgule College. Interacting with the visibly excited students, the Grandmaster spoke about his life experiences and the journey towards becoming a Grandmaster. Anand shared his personal stories of the hard work, perseverance, success and joy that he has witnessed on the trail which led him to being

the world chess champion. “I’m happy to be down in Goa as a guest at Chowgule College for its Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

The college is celebrating 50 years so it’s a very special time for the college and its students.

I urge the students to enjoy their time in college and appreciate it. The important things for students is to choose to do things that they enjoy and be excited about it,” he said

John Lennon special edition pens by Mont Blanc Mont Blanc, the brand synonymous with the art of writing has now introduced a special, limited edition of John Lenon inspired writing instruments.

Known, for generations, for making sophisticated pens, the brand’s product range has been expanded to include exquisite writing accessories, luxury leather goods and belts, jewellery, eyewear and watches. Mont Blanc has thus become a purveyor of exclusive products. A truly international brand with operations in more than 70 countries, Mont Blanc sells its products exclusively through its international network of over 360 Mont Blanc Boutiques worldwide. In Goa, one can find their luxury store at the Goa Marriott Resort’s Shopping Arcade

Goan Culinary Club to celebrate Global Goan Day on August 20th

In honour of Global Goan Day, to be held on August 20, to celebrate the culture and heritage of being Goan, Goan Culinary Club has planned a series of activities which will showcase different aspects of Goan cuisine. The week long celebrations which commence from August 14 will include serving traditional Goan food at Old age homes chosen by the members. Cookery competitions are also on the cards. This event will serve as a precursor to the mini food festival which is scheduled to take place in January. Hotels as well as indiviuals are invited to showcase Hindu, Portuguese, Goan and Christian preparations

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which are not featured on the menus of most hotels, to revive these dishes and keep the ethos alive. The festival is aimed at NRI Goans visiting the state to recapture the tastes of the ‘good old days’, which

are being slowly wiped out. The Club kick started by O Coquerio has an entry fee of Rs 100, which includes snacks as well as sessions by expert speakers on Goan food and traditions.

Also food details along with the name of the dish and hotel/ individual will be available on the frequently updated blog.

Call Joe Mascarenhas for details on 9326101776

Sesa Goa lays foundation stone for Community Hall at Neturlim

Sr. Adv. Atmaram Nadkarni and Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldesai with Mahesh Patil, Associate Vice President HSEC, Sesa Goa Ltd at the foundation ceremony

Sesa Goa Ltd. recently laid the foundation stone for a Community Hall at Neturlim.

The company also inaugurated the Vedanta Vocational Training Centre and Gerbera Polyhouse Project. The chief guest was Sr. Adv. Atmaram NS Nadkarni, Advocate General of Goa. Also present were Subhash Phaldesai, MLA of Sanguem, Navnath Naik, ZP Member of Rivona, Shashikant Gaonkar, Sarpanch, VP Neturlim; and Mahesh Patil, Associate Vice President HSEC, Sesa Goa Ltd. Sesa Goa Ltd. started the Polyhouse Project in collaboration with Agriculture department under the National Horticulture Mission. Sesa Goa has helped farmers by providing initial 100 per cent investment for erection of poly house and planting material and also provided them with technical expertise for successful implementation of the project

Vasco Saptah draws huge crowds

The annual saptah celebration commenced in Vasco after industrialist, Paresh Joshi, the elder son of Vasantrao alias Anna Joshi, offered a coconut to the presiding deity Lord Damodar.

Renowned bhajan artist, Manohar Shivalkar-Mandrekar began the bhajan programme at Shree Damodar temple accompanied by several artistes from Vasco. The bhajan programme continued for the next 24-hours.

Power Minister and

MY GOA JULY-AUGUST 2012

Mormugao MLA, Milind Naik, Chairman of Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd and Vasco MLA, Carlos Almeida,

Dabolim MLA and former Deputy Speaker, Mauvin Godinho, industrialist and philanthropist, Narayan Bandekar, Chairperson of Mormugao Municipal Council, Sarita Palkar, Chairman of Mormugao Planning and Development Authority (MPDA), and MMC Deputy Chairperson, Krishna Salkar, besides various prominent citizens from Vasco and all over the state attended the celebration

Goa Buzz

News from Goa

adventure at the kid’s activity centre, which will be supervised by trained counselors to ensure a safe and enriching experience.

The specially designed family package lets guests relax in luxuriously designed rooms, where they can enjoy panoramic views of the rain-dripped sunset over the Bay, enjoy gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner options across the hotel’s seven must-visit restaurants housing a wide selection of authentic and exotic cuisines and then, indulge in a dash of recreation activities at Camp Hyatt and Shamana Spa. Under the family package, all kids under 12 are entitled to stay for free.

Bookings for the family package are currently available and valid upto September 30, 2012. And

while you’re there, don’t forget to check out the Desserts of the World festival, a culinary tour of irresistible sweet obsessions from around the world. Chef Mark Hagan, Chef Nicole and their teams put their best dishes forward as they bring alive delectable sweet flavours from across the world. Be it the Austrian Apple Strudel or the Um Ali from the lands of the pyramids or the Italian Tiramisu.

From a host of traditional Indian favourites like the Gulab Jamun get adventurous and try the American styled Rhubarb Strawberry Cobbler, or the Mexican Sour Cream Tart or the French Raspberry Financier or a classic English Summer Berry Pudding among the many other desserts from different regions of the world. This festival is on all through July at the Confeitaria and The Dining Room

rafting project at a function at Ustem in Valpoi, Parrikar said that the initiative of Goa Tourism Development Corporation will augment tourist flow into the state.

The Tourism Minister, Dilip Parulekar, GTDC chairman, Nilesh Cabral, Valpoi MLA, Vishwajeet Rane, and other dignitaries were also present.

The Tourism Minister, Parulekar said that the project besides benefiting locals will also serve as a income source for tourism stakeholders during the monsoon season which is a lean period for tourism activities. He also claimed that the new BJP government has initiated other steps to boost tourism.

The local MLA, Vishwajeet Rane said that such adventure sport activities will attract highclass tourists to the state and generate funds for respective panchayats. He stressed on promoting the project on a larger scale. The GTDC chairman, Nilesh Cabral, in his welcome note, spoke on the concept of the project and highlighted on future plans of GTDC. Later, the Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, Vishwajeet Rane and Cabral along with other dignitaries visited the white water river rafting site and flagged off the first formal rafting. The white water rafting which will continue till mid October is being conducted

by Southern River Adventure Sports Pvt Ltd

Monsoon offers at the Grand Hyatt

The Grand Hyatt has on offer a specially designed family package that allows guests to indulge in the best they have to offer for an all-inclusive twonight stay. And while you treat yourself to a second honeymoon in the serene settings, kids stay for free and have their own bit of fun and a well-planned

White water rafting flagged off by CM

The Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar has said that white water river rafting is a perfect means of promoting tourism in rural areas adding that the profits can go a long way in betterment of people especially the locals.

Speaking after the formal inauguration of white water river

Vedanta launches vocational training centre at Vasco Sub Jail Vedanta Foundation, Sesa Goa and Goa Prisons Authority have joined hands to provide skills to the inmates at the Vasco sub jail to help them return to a dignified life outside of prison.

Goa’s Inspector General of Prisons Mihir Vardhan recently inaugurated the Vedanta Vocational Training Centre. The program, a part of Vedanta

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Foundation’s ‘Umeed’ project, is aimed at giving inmates skills that will allow them to join the socio-economic mainstream and contribute positively to society.

Vardhan said, “Our Department has been undertaking a number of vocational and rehabilitation programmes where inmates are imparted skills and technical know-how through vocational

MY GOA JULY-AUGUST 2012

programmes that could enable them to lead a dignified life when they are released.” Project Umeed interacts with inmates to understand their bent of mind and then maps them to the appropriate skill development training such as computers and tailoring skills, conducted to encourage self-employment opportunities

TRIBUTE

Gracias Saldanha passes away Gracias Saldanha, founder of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd, passed away in Mumbai.

He was the chairman emeritus of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals since May 2011.

Saldanha, who was of Goan origin, is survived by wife, Blanche, daughters, Cheryl and Blossom and sons, Glenn and Mark.

The former marketing executive invested his pension to set up Glenmark in 1977 that is run by his son, Glenn since 2001

Kashinath Jalmi no more

Fiery speaker, beacon of the Scheduled Tribes, former Leader of Opposition and minister Dr Kashinath Jalmi breathed his last at GMC Hospital. He was 62 and is survived by his wife and a son. The three-time MLA, who was also the law minister, was admitted in GMC after he suffered a heart attack. He was reported to be critically ill and was put on ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit.

His mortal remains were taken to his residence at Khandola-Marcel and people from all walks of life thronged to his residence to pay their respects.

Dr Jalmi was first elected to the State Assembly in 1984 from Cumbharjua constituency and from Priol constituency in 1989 and 1994. He has also served as the sarpanch of the TiveremOrgao Panchayat

Feel the Heartbeat of Goa

Panjim : 0832 - 2421429 / 30 Margao: 0832 - 2726806 / 07

Its raining offers this monsoon.......

First Person

dr. wilfred mesquita

Commissioner for NRI Affairs

The NRI Goan is very concerned about the changes in our environment Newly appointed Goa Commissioner for NRI Affairs, Dr Wilfred Mesquita talks about what Goans outside the state can expect from the NRI Cell and the contribution that they can make to the state, in an interview with RACHEL FERNANDES

H

aving taken over as the Goa Commissioner for NRI Affairs with effect from June 4, Dr Wilfred Mesquita is a man on a mission, chief among that being to encourage the numerous Goans settled outside the state, both in India and across the world to contribute back to their motherland.

Not just monetarily, he also wants to encourage contribution in the forms of thoughts, ideas and experiences that will help Goa develop into an ideal state.

Here he talks about the objectives of the NRI Cell, their achievements till date and the plans the Cell has in store for Goans away from home.

Excerpts of the interview: What is the exact objective of the NRI cell?

Our aim is basically to establish a rapport with people of Goan origin who

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MY GOA JULY-AUGUST 2012

are abroad or out of Goa, keep contact with them and make them feel that they have a stake in Goa. To make them feel that they are a part of the state and have to contribute to its growth and development. We also look after their interests like sorting out ancestral land/ property/housing issues and other such disputes. In fact, for their convenience, we have launched a separate card system through which, when they are here on a vacation and need to get work done, they can approach government offices and get their problems solved on a preference basis without much of time wastage.

We also aim to keep them abreast of what is happening in Goa so that if they want to, they can contribute, not just monetarily, but also through ideas and experiences. This way, they will know our difficulties and we can learn from their experiences.

How long has the NRI Cell been functional in Goa? About 10 years now. It was formed in February 2006 but prior to that, it was a private establishment running on government grants. Noted writer, journalist and champion of Konkani language, Chandrakant Keni, started the cell to facilitate a dialogue with the Goan diaspora.

Who exactly does the Cell cater to?

A NRI is basically a Non Resident Indian.

However, for us, any Goan who is living out of the state, be it in India or across the world, we are concerned about their welfare and well-being. Hence, NRIs those living in the Gulf who do not give up their citizenship -- OCIs (Overseas Citizen of India), PIOs (Person of Indian Origin) and NRGs (Non Resident Goan) all constitute NRIs for our functioning.

How easy is it to get in touch with NRIs? A survey has already been done and we have got a rough estimate of about two lakhs Goans living outside India. We don’t, however, have a survey of non resident Goans. We have a dedicated website www.globalgoans.org.in which has eased the task quite a bit.

Define your role as NRI Commissioner?

As the Commissioner, I am nothing but a link between the Government and the NRIs. There are numerous NRIs who have contributed immensely in the fields of medicine, science, art, culture, etc to their adopted states or countries. Now we want them to contribute to Goa. What are the biggest issues that NRIs face?

Among their biggest problems is that on the assets or ancestral property front.

Besides this, they also want some kind of facilities to be given to them in education in Goa, like more seats in medical, dental or pharmacy, engineering colleges, etc.

Then there are the various issues that seamen face, especially the old and retired seamen below a certain class.

Also, there are problems that NRIs face, especially seamen, if someone passes away abroad or while at sea and the body has to be brought back home. We help with the formalities and also assist the families monetarily.

Another big issue is of the unregistered recruitment agents who take unsuspecting job hunters for a ride promising them good jobs abroad and vanishing with their money. We are coming down with quite a heavy hand on them. Also, if we get to know of someone who is in trouble abroad due to bogus recruitment, we go through the procedure of contacting the consulates and embassies to help them sort things out and get them safely back home.

Their main problem is that of the redtapism that they encounter when they express a desire to do something in Goa. Now that the CM has announced various facilities like the one-window clearance, they may probably come back and do something here itself.

What are their expectations from the NRI Cell?

Most of them are worried about environmental protection and the preservation of Goa as it is. Others want

the government to give them various facilities if they decide to come back.

They have a lot of grievances and to deal with and a State Level Committee for NRG Grievances has been formed.

The Central Government recently announced a plan to levy a charge of 12.36 per cent on all foreign remittances to India. Taking cognizance of the numerous labour class working abroad who would be affected, we wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, opposing this plan and requested him to cancel it.

What kind of business is the Cell expecting to get from the expats?

The main business that we expect from them is their contribution to our IT sector which our CM is very keen on developing.

And as he has mentioned earlier, too, any eco-friendly industry is welcome here.

There is a nodal officer to deal with NRI requests for business opportunities in Goa.

The Goan Diaspora is spread far and wide. What procedures do you have in place for building bridges?

We make the best use of technology, the Internet and also attend conferences and conventions. Unfortunately, there are certain misgivings in the Goan community about whether or not I should attend these conventions. When they invite us and we don’t go, it signifies disinterest. The least we can do is have a dialogue and hear their ideas.

The CM recently spoke about inviting Goans back to Goa. Do we have the required infrastructure to support their

plans and ideas?

Yes, infrastructure in Goa is not upto the mark and there is a long way to go, but the CM is aware of it and he is capable of taking the required corrective measures.

One thing that I can assure those who wish to come back is that as long as their plans suit Goa, the government will ensure proper infrastructure and all possible help.

Pravasi Bhartiya Divas is held in Delhi every year. Is Goa also an active participant?

I don’t think we have directly been a part of it till today, but if called upon, we will definitely participate. We may not be able to host an event of that magnitude in a state right now, but we can definitely participate.

Any other big activity or initiative the cell is planning to organize?

Yes. We have the ‘Know Goa’ programme, a state version of the Government of India’s ‘Know India’ programme. We invite about 12 students and young professional (children of PIOs) born and brought up abroad, and take them around Goa showing them the development. This will be the fifth year of this event.

We have also planned and proposed a ‘Muzo Gaon’ scheme where NRIs will be encouraged to name a small project or maybe a road in front of their house after their ancestors, at their expense.

Of course, it will be done within the laws of preservation of the state and the panchayat also will have to pass the project, but we are studying the feasibility of this and we will soon put this proposal to the CM so that he can put it before the cabinet. In this way, our NRIs will also feel that they have contributed something in the memory of their ancestors to their own village.

You recently announced a pension scheme for seamen, a long standing demand...

Yes, we have already had a meeting with one association of seamen, they have given us inputs and certain essential documents. I want their inputs as the scheme is their’s. I want a perfect piece of legislation. They are happy with what’s being done. I don’t know what more they will want, but we have delivered as we promised

JULY-AUGUST 2012 MY GOA

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Cover Story

Pic courtesy: Gajanan Dudhalkar

jerry pinto

Writing requires an immense act of faith

W

hat would you say if a famous writer told you that he started writing his latest novel when he was all of 16? You’d probably think he was pulling a nice little joke on you. But that was perhaps, Jerry Pinto’s exact initiation into the world of writing novels. His latest, Em and the Big Hoom, an effort that started those many, many

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MY GOA JULY-AUGUST 2012

Jerry Pinto needs no fancy introduction. From poet to author to editor, his books are hot-sellers and award winners. He talks about his journey in the maze like world of journalism and writing in a chat with RACHEL FERNANDES years ago has finally culminated into a novel which was recently released in Goa at the hands of famed Goan writer, Maria Aurora Couto at the picturesque International Centre Goa (ICG).

“This is the first book I ever started to write. I began it when I was 16. I remember writing for what seemed like days on end and I thought it was close to completion. I asked a friend about how long a novel is supposed to be. The friend

calculated (took a Perry Mason novel, counted the number of words on every line, the number of lines on a page and multiplied by the number of pages) and told me that it was about 50,000 words.

So, I went back and counted the number of words I had written. It was just 900.

Back then it seemed like I was never going to write the book, so I abandoned it,” he says, describing his first attempt.

The second attempt, he says, came

at the age of 21, when his journalistic pieces had just begun appearing on newspapers. “I felt I was ready to be a novelist. So I got back to the novel and worked on it for about five years. I read it once I thought I was done and it was so obviously and horribly juvenile that I abandoned it and started all over again,” he says.

Draft after draft came and went until the age of 40, by which time he had written and edited 15 books, which is when he decided to give the novel a ‘serious shot’. “I decided I was going to make poverty a good friend and sit at home and concentrate fully on writing this novel. I wrote 1000 words everyday.

After about three and a half years I thought I was done and I decided to give myself a six months break. I read it after that and still found that it was quite bad.

However, as I was reading it, I began to find these little bits that seemed to have some semblance of what I wanted to put my name to. So I cut out everything else and I was left with a story of about 12,000 words which is where I built the novel from,” he explains.

Em and the Big Hoom is a son’s account of life spent with a mentally unstable mother. Imelda Mendes is called ‘Em’ by her two children, the unnamed narrator and his elder sister, Susan while their father, Augustine is ‘the big Hoom’. The family lives in a one-BHK flat in Mahim. Imelda has always been

Jerry’s body of work

an energetic woman, but at some point, after her children were born, a crippling depression set in. Consequently, she has a few good days, but many bad ones. The book narrates how the family rallies around her and each other in a heartbreaking mix of tenderness and humour.

Elaborating a tad more on the ‘process of writing’, Jerry laments the common Indian notion that writing is easy. “To ‘sit and write’ obviously means you are not active and not working as you are not running about. But Thomas Mann said it well when he described writers as

people for whom writing is difficult. Any writing is difficult because it is a writer’s honest effort to portray his/her extended self. Having said that, the extended part of the novel is often more you than who you actually are. So all writing requires an

immense act of faith,” he says.

As for literary novels, Jerry likens the process of writing them to crossing a chasm. “You’re building the bridge as you write. The words you write become your bridge and you don’t know where the other side is or what’s going to happen to the book, whether it will be published, read, reviewed, etc,” he says.

From a maths tutor in his teenage days, Jerry went on to complete his law studies and finally entered the world of journalism. What are the factors that prompted such varied transitions? “To be glib I’d say ‘I’m a Gemini, I’m a double personality. What would you expect?’

But central to this whole endeavour was unsurety. When I was growing up, being creative had no space. No one ever said to me that I could be a writer. However, being good at math and science meant you were going to be a doctor or engineer.

Being a maths tutor was just about making some money. Being a librarian, meanwhile, was quite possibly because of my love for working with books. It was only when I was about 20 that a friend of mine, Rashmi Palkhivala said to me that I should write for the news papers. She kept saying it for a few weeks and I kept saying ‘yeah’ and putting it off. Finally, one day, she told me that while she will continue talking to me as a friend, she will no longer talk to me about writing if I don’t actually do it. That was when I told her the reality, that I was afraid of the

JULY-AUGUST 2012 MY GOA

15

Cover Story rejection. In return she said, ‘Okay then, I will protect you from the rejections, I will take your writings to the papers’. That was the week that I started writing, I wrote madly, about 14 pieces in 10 days.

Rashmi, meanwhile, typed them out and sent them to the newspapers. At Mid Day there was this editor, Hutokshi Doctor.

She read the 14 and accepted 12. She then wrote to Rashmi asking if I would like to write some features. In fact, I still have that handwritten letter. It is these two women who really scripted my writing career. They made it possible by just allowing me space and saying to me that I could be a writer,” he says.

But is it easier now for people to take up writing as a full-fledged profession?

Jerry says he always advices wannabe writers to not quit their day jobs. “I think it is easier to be a writer today, but it’s always going to be a challenge to make a living out of it. There are very few full-

fledged writers who can pay for a proper lifestyle. Let’s face it, young people have lifestyle requirements, they don’t just need to earn a living. If one wants to buy a t-shirt costing Rs 900 and is not willing to accept one that costs Rs 200 in replacement, then they are going to have to earn that kind of money. That’s not possible by being a full fledged writer.

I think most people, when they publish their first book, sit back and say, ‘Now let

the money roll in’. However, they are quite surprised that at the end of six months, their first royalty cheque is like Rs 3000 to Rs 4000 or maybe Rs 20,000. Even if it’s Rs 5 lakhs, considering the time you’ve invested in writing it, an average secretary or management trainee also makes that kind of money these days.

So it’s not like you are immediately catapulted into wealth. You can be a writer and something, there is always a hyphen to it. The second part of that hyphen in where the money comes from. The jam comes from the writing but the bread and butter comes from whatever else you do.

I don’t think the world owes us a living. I believe that every book that one reads is the book that they want to read. If people want to read my book, I would love it, but if they don’t want to, I can’t do anything about it except go ahead and write my next book.” he concludes

Pic courtesy: Chirodeep Chaudhary

Don’t invent excuses.

Start writing the book.

It won’t write itself It’s never easy being a writer and Jerry Pinto minces no words about this. However, he also warns that unless a wannabe writer gets down to the task, despite the commitments, the book in his/her head will not write itself Excerpts of the interview: Have you ever faced the problem of the stereotypical ‘writer’s block’?

I think every writer has that problem.

Sometimes it can be 20 minutes long while sometimes, 20 years long. There are numerous factors that lead to it including lack of publishers, lack of popular support, lack of demand for that type of writing at that time. Some part of it is also a loss of faith. Sometimes the words just don’t come. Do I suffer from it? Yes, just as much as anybody else. How do I overcome it? By trying to acknowledge what it is and saying that even if no one ever publishes this or reads this, there is still some worth in doing it.

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You started out by writing poetry?

I still do, however, I am a very, very, very constipated poet. I write very slowly and it comes with great difficulty because every time I write a clever poem there is something inside me that says, ‘You’re being clever Jerry, leave it. Be real!’ If I just tried to be clever or witty, I could have had about six books of poetry out by now. But for me, poetry is very real and very important and I don’t play around with it. In fact, I already have a contract (publisher) lined up for my next book of poems. I just need to come to the point where I have 50 to 60 poems that I can really truly trust and stand by, poems that truly represent me and are more me than I am myself. At present I have about 30 poems but you never know, a burst may

happen and I may write five or six next year.

Your views on the Goan literary circle?

Goa is a very exciting place. Every time I come here, it’s like a different intellectual landscape. There are the monuments like Maria Aurora Couto, Victor Rangel Ribeiro, Bhai Mauzo, etc. These are all big and powerful writers. The excitement, however, is in the coming and going, the young writers, the writers group, the workshops, the self publishing, print on demand, etc. I think Goa is increasingly conscious of its special place in the Indian subcontinent. It is now actually actively preserving that past. The question often is, how does Goa maintain its individual spot in history? I don’t think one needs

I began Em and the Big Hoom when I was 16. I remember writing for what seemed like days on end and I thought it was close to completion. However, all I had was 900 words. It seemed like I was never going to write the book, so I abandoned it. I gave it a second shot at 21. I worked on it for about five years and once, I thought I was done, I read it. Unfortunately it was so obviously and horribly juvenile that I abandoned it and started all over again. Draft after draft came and went until the age of 40. I decided to sit at home and concentrate fully on this novel. I wrote 1000 words everyday. After about three and a half years of working and a six months break later I read it and still found that it was quite bad. However, as I was reading it, I began to find these little bits that seemed to have some semblance of what I wanted to put my name to. So I cut out everything else and I was left with a sort of a long short story of about 12,000 words. This is where I built the novel from Jerry Pinto

to worry about that because eventually these things will find their place and make their mark. The more specific you get, the more successful you will be. If you start writing a book saying I want to take this book about Goa to the world, you’re going the wrong way. Instead, write and then let the world come and take it.

Your favourite Goan authors...

Maria Aurora Couto’s book on Goa is outstanding as is Jose Lourence’s book on the churches of Goa. Then of course there is Bhai Mauzo. I’m looking forward to the time when Vivek Menezes gets down to writing a book about Goa or when Rahul Shrivastav writes about Goa or when Cecil Pinto, a magnificent humourist, taken on a bigger canvas.

Actually, my favourite Goan author is writing their book.

Three important tips for aspiring writers.

1: Start the f*****g book. It will not write itself. It requires you to sit down and do it 2: Don’t invent excuses for yourself.

Everybody has problems and jobs to do. The book you want to write will have to be written around those problems/ commitments.

3: Don’t worry about things like audience, saleability, publishers, agents, etc until the book is done. First write the book. You can’t sell something you don’t have.

Can writing be taught?

All writing is imitation at a certain level.

Can you teach it? Of course not. But when you have a writers’ workshop, it is assumed that the willingness and talent is already there and now, only honing needs to be done... tips and pointers to be given, someone to read what’s written,

someone to bounce ideas off, etc.

Literary critics, a boon or a bane?

Actually both! Who else is going to tell you what is good from the hundreds of books that come out. I use literary critics in the same ways as most people use film critics. There are some people who understand what you like and hence, you will follow their recommendations versus others. Literary critics are also human beings with their likes and dislikes, you’ve just got to find one who is on the same wavelength as you are. Some people will get my book wrong, I can’t do anything about that.

What can we expect next from you?

My next book is a fable for children, a graphic novel. It is about this mother crow who dreams that her unborn baby crow will be born white. She is terrified that it will be pecked to death. She tries to understand the mentality of crows and what makes them insist that every crow should be black. A talented young lady, Garima Kapoor is doing the illustrations.

Then of course I am working on my second novel, but will it ever come out?I don’t know. I am also working on the selective prose of Adil Jussawalla.

A book in Konkani maybe?

I would love Em and the Big Hoom to be translated into Konkani. However, I’m not quite sure if I believe in bi-lingualism. I have one tongue inside my head and that tongue is English. Yes, I speak Konkani and Hindi and I read and write Urdu, but they are not languages I can write in.

To speak another language is to speak another soul. I’d love to be able to write in it because then that would mean exploring that soul. Unfortunately I can’t.

What would one ideally find you doing when you are not writing or dreaming up characters and plots?

Generally lying on the floor in my shorts under the fan, dreaming or watching movies, especially world cinema which is so easily available these days. I also do a fair amount of teaching still at the Sophia College. I teach the communication media course and I teach it rather strenuously.

I give the students a lot of assignments which consequently means I correct a lot of assignments.

Besides these, I am on the board of directors of this child rights organization Mel Jhol, which is trying to wake up schools and make them more happy and interesting places to be in. This role gives me the opportunity to travel to areas I wouldn’t go to otherwise and moreover, be in the midst of children who are happy and bouncing about.

Five adjectives to describe yourself?

Engaged, I try to be engaged in whatever I am doing and be there 100 per cent.

Cheerful -- because I am largely a cheerful sort of person. Magnificent, modest and lastly, optimistic because even if you write pessimistic stuff, you’re optimistic of its chances of going out there and making other people pessimistic

JULY-AUGUST 2012 MY GOA

17

Focus Goa

moral policing

We don’t need no thought control

Pic Courtesy: The Hindu

Protection or just over-zealous moral policing, that’s the million dollar question youth of today are asking. Rachel Fernandes asks the experts for their opinion

P

ramod Muthalik needs no introduction as his reputation precedes him. The head of the Shri Ram Sene, made headlines after the 2009 Mangalore pub attack where members of his ‘Sene’ went on a rampage in a pub, attacking and beating women claiming that they were indulging in anticultural acts. Muthalik even went on record saying ‘Girls going to pubs is not acceptable’. In retaliation, he had to bear the brunt of the ‘Pink Chaddi Campaign’, an online drive that encouraged people from across, especially women, to send pink chaddis (underwear) to Muthalik, a drive that was met with great enthusiasm and witnessed a massive response.

So why are we talking about Pramod Muthalik here? Well, that’s because the man has now set his sights on the peace and party loving state of Goa. He recently reiterated his decision to set up a unit of the Shri Ram Sene in Goa to deal with and ‘over westernization’ of the State.

Speaking about his motive to a local daily quoted him saying, “Goa is a popular tourist destination and several dance

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clubs and high-voltage parties take place here to attract foreign tourists. However, these adversely affect Goa’s culture and several ‘desi’ young girls visit dance clubs in the name of being modern. Goan culture is being westernized.” Claiming that he has a strong following in the state, Muthalik recently announced that the Goa unit will be set up by as early as September. However, the youth of Goa have an entirely different opinion with most wishing that the state’s political system would ban his entry. There is even a ‘We don’t need Ram Sene in Goa..!! ‘ on

Facebook.

In the financial capital of India, Mumbai, Assistant Commissioner of Police Vasant Dhoble and Social Services Branch team of constables have been taking their role as guardians of the the law and of people to an altogether different level. The city’s once-glittering night life, synonymous with its pubs, discotheques, street food, and in the days gone by, its dance bars, has been facing a fresh crackdown from the city police. Dhoble, a 57-year-old from Pune has taken on the role of not just tackling law and order issues but has also emerged as a de-facto moral police, as he, in his own words, wants to ‘save boys and girls from exploitation’. Over the last few months, Dhoble has been cracking down on establishments that he says ‘flout norms’. Last month, nearly 1000 people marched on Carter Road in Bandra to protest against him It’s almost a case of youth under attack as various self-proclaimed ‘guardians’ of culture, morality and law threaten to suffocate the ‘freedom’ of today’s youth.

But do the youth really require such overzealous, almost bordering on fanatical type of moral policing or does the older generation need a reality check of the feasibility of their thoughts and ideas in today’s day and age?

According to educationist Prabhakar Timble, with the information revolution and access to all forms of media -print, electronic and social, the youth is definitely not under pressure of moral policing. However, he also adds that there are these organizations, in all religious communities, who are attempting to preserve the outdated and regressive customs, traditions and rituals. “There

are fanatical groups in every religion and their agenda is always the same, that of resurrecting regressive and old traditions in the name of identity and culture, he says opining that no organization, which is trying to propagate religion and traditional beliefs in the same breath believes in democracy, or in other words, freedom.

“These are the products of negative social interaction. If we have stooped to this extent that fanatical associations like this are required to police our youth, it is a definitive sign that our social norms and policing system has weakened.

Organizations like this need to be nipped in the bud,” opines another educationist, Jayanti Cardozo.

Veering to the topic of the ‘freedom on youth’ that is under threat, Prabhakar opines that if ‘freedom’ for youth is restricted to just freedom to party whenever and however long they want to, then it is a wrong thought. “The freedom to party is a rather frivolous argument. Instead, the youth should object to anyone who attempts to curb their freedom to act, think, express and

communicate. Their fight should be against those organizations who attempt to impose their regressive ideas of them and those trying to propagate unscientific ideas and rituals in the name of tradition and customs,” he adds.

Commenting that most of such actions taken by groups or individuals in the name of upholding traditions are actually just shortcut measures to gain instant publicity and print space, Jayanti warns that the Shri Ram Sene should not take Goans for granted as they may be ‘susegado’, but they are also quite vigilant. “Morality lies in the eyes of the beholder. If one says scantily clad or barebacked youth and foreigners are scandalizing, then what about the lamanis who wear backless cholis? What about the farmers who wear only the kaxti while working?” she questions.

Prabhakar, meanwhile, adds that organizations like these are steadily losing ground, thanks to the massive communication revolution across the world. “With this revolution in science, technology and communication, individuals and groups like these are just trying to regain lost ground. Actions like these, according to them, are the best way in which they can make noise that we are losing out on our culture and tradition. The best way for youth to deal with them is to assert themselves through education and develop a secular outlook to life. Unfortunately in this day and age, religion is become like a dictator, one that no one can question. However, if the youth start questioning, then they will automatically get more freedom.

Religious principles are universal -- love, brotherhood, non-violence, etc. This is what today’s youngsters need to educate themselves about and imbibe. More than worrying about losing their freedom to party, they should work towards freeing themselves from the clutches of any force that is trying to encroach on their freedom of thoughts. Freedom is a matter of conscience, no one else can give you freedom if you don’t want it, you have to fight for it continuously”

Action against those who invited Muthalik contemplated MANOHAR PARRIKAR Chief Minister, Goa

On June 10, Pramod Muthalik, while at a convention in Ponda, announced his intentions to set up a wing of his outfit in the state. The announcement triggered a loud cry of opposition from politicians and people alike with most demanding for a ban on the Shri Ram Sene and Pramod Muthalik himself.

However, the ruling BJP government has declined to impose a ban saying that the same would be against the Constitution of India. Speaking in the house, Revenue Minister Francis D’Souza said, “Everyone can come to Goa. How can you stop anyone? No one can be stopped. Read the Constitution of India. Let Muthalik come, we’ll take care of him. Meanwhile, CM Manohar Parrikar, who had earlier stated that his government would not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands reacted to the outfits September deadline saying, “I don’t want to react to such elements. However a few days later he added “I have kept a watch...I wanted to know who has invited Pramod Muthalik to Goa. Let me come to know and I will take action against them...They will be arrested,” Parrikar told the Legislative Assembly.

Since Goa is a popular Tourist destination, several dance clubs and highvoltage parties take place to attract foreign tourists. However, these adversely affect Goa’s culture and several desi young girls visit dance clubs in the name of being modern. Goan culture is being westernized.

Yes, we are aggressive in our approach and that is the only way to protect the country. Goans are attracted by our aggressive stand.

PRAMOD MUTHALIK

Shri Ram Sene

JULY-AUGUST 2012 MY GOA

19

Wah! Goa

KRISHNADAS SHAMA GOA state CENTRAL LIBRARY

A trea of kno No just lending and referencing, the all new Goa Central Library, with its modern look, feel and amenities is the destination for everything knowledge related, finds VIKRAM SANE

A

n institution that has been functioning strongly and silently for an astonishing 180 years ceases to be just an ‘institution’ and becomes a place of cultural heritage. Such is the case with the Goa Central Library which became a public library in the year 1832, four years before the establishment of the National Calcutta Library. Upon Goa’s liberation, its name changed from ‘Livraria Publica’ to ‘Biblioteca Nacional de Goa’. Currently it is known as Krishnadas Shama Goa Central Library, in recognition of Shama’s contribution to Konkani literature in the sixteenth century.

Goa Central Library, which was earlier located at Menezes Braganza Hall near the ferry wharf, has now shifted to Patto Plaza, Panjim. The new destination boasts of a highly equipped six-storey building

Feast for the book lover

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with all new state of the art facilities and infrastructure. The curator of the library, Carlos Matheus Fernandes, who is a local hero and almost a celebrity for reviving three sixteenth century ancient texts, reckons, “The space crunch, which had always been a problem in the previous premise, has now been effectively solved”. And how! The library always felt the need to expand and the earlier 1000 square meter area did not allow that.

Plus parking was also a major problem.

Now, they have a humongous 12,000 square meter built up area with massive parking space. The new premises have facilities that would make every Goan proud. Currently, Carlos thinks that this may be the best library in India, but they definitely do not plan to rest on this laurel.

Their aim is to be the best in Asia, soon.

With the facilities they offer this dream is bound to become a reality.

The rules and regulations of the library are effective, yet user friendly and the membership fees and other charges are very affordable. Presently, a reader is offered three cards at the same time with a deposit of Rs.750 and a single card for Rs 200 -- both which are refundable.

The library runs with a very simple yet profound motto, that every book must have a reader. Hence they have a very systematic and aesthetically appealing arrangement of books and items. The old library just had a lending section and a research facility. However, the new premises host a vast and mind boggling repertoire of books, items and facilities.

Carlos gave me a very enthusiastic tour of all the six floors with detailed information AS THE YEARS GO BY...

Established in 1832, four years before the National Library at Kolkata.

Founded as Publica Livraria attached to a military training institution.

In 1897 the library’s status was raised to that of a national library and renamed as Biblioteca Nacional de Nova-Goa In 1925, annexed to cultural institution, Instituto Vasco da Gama and redesignated as Biblioteca Nacional Vasco da Gama In 1956, provisions of Deposito Legal, Portuguese Book Delivery Act made applicable, by virtue of which library entitled to get all the publications from Portugal and Portuguese overseas territories, free of cost

asure-trove owledge about everything. The ground floor has a book drop box where a member can drop off their books, even after the official work hours of the library. It also has self check-in and check-out kiosks. This floor has editions of 27 newspapers and 230 magazines and 200 e-journals. In addition, they have a dedicated Braille section which consists of books, maps, charts, magazines, sculptures, models games and toys. The ground floor also has an exhibition hall cum art gallery to host events.

The second floor has been divided into four sections. The first is the kid’s section which has 15000 books, 25 magazines editions, innumerable toys and 12 computers with net access. It also has four TV screens to showcase educational documentaries. The second section is a maps section which has 147 maps on all subjects. The third is the internet browsing section which has 52 computers with usage rates as cheap as Rs 10 per hour. The scanning rates are Rs 10 per page, Rs 20 if coloured and Rs 40 if it is a coloured A3 size.

Photocopying rates are Rs 1 per page.

It has 2000 academic e-journals and 200000 e-books. The fourth section is the chidren’s audio-visual section which is a hall with the biggest TV screen available in the market and a seating capacity of almost a 100, plus 1500 educational CDs. This floor also has a different entrance which is the only way In 1959, put under administrative control of Servicos de Instucao e Saude (education and health services) and name changed to Biblioteca Nacional de Goa After liberation renamed Central Library From 1969, provisions Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 made applicable From 1987 library has acted as state library From October 1991 libraries earlier functioning under Directorate of Education transferred to Directorate of Art and Culture In 1995 libraries retransferred to Directorate of Education Since 2008 the central library is back under the Directorate of Art and Culture

Rare books and manuscripts

to bring in your own books to read in the study rooms which have individual computers with net access.

The third floor is the main lending section with books from all the fields. It also has a technical processing section, research cubicles, a conference hall and the main office. The fourth floor is the ‘Rare Books and Goa section’ which houses all books published in and about Goa. All these are preserved here under the Government of India Act. It also has microfilms and manuscripts about Goa. The fifth floor has every imaginable book for reference work in any field. It also has dictionaries and a competitive exam cell which has all kinds of books of every competitive exam. The sixth floor has books written in foreign languages like Latin, Portuguese, Spanish and French. Portuguese books from the 16th Century from the provinces of Angola, Mozambique, Macau, Guinea, Cabo Verde and Timor are preserved here. All the procedures required to get books from other libraries is also done on this floor.

This floor-wise departmentalisation has made Goa Central Library a very systematic, precise, succinct and a userfriendly place. Moreover, the state of the art, modern technology used in here is awe inspiring. It has all the modern scanning and photocopying inventory.

Every literary article in the library has an electronic chip in it for easy accessibility

Hi-end scanning technology

and surveillance purposes. Every book and item has a unique or International Standard Book Number (ISBN) or an International Standard Serial number (ISSN). This simplifies tracing and placing books.

There is a library management userfriendly website www.centrallibrary. gov.in This website facilitates locating anything in the library as it has the Goa Uniform Catalogue and the entire article database is indexed properly. The building has in-built dehumidifiers that control the humidity of the entire air conditioned area so that the books are not damaged in any way. This library also has a digital imaging center, a book preservation lab and a fumigation chamber on the fourth floor which keeps all the books protected, germ-free and dry. All the computers feature the latest configuration and an efficient net speed while the TVs are all flat screens and specifically mounted to allow easy viewing. All in all, this place satisfies every imaginable need of a book lover The technical and architectural modifications, however, have not tampered with the original flavour of the library. Visitors are still welcomed with smiling faces and helping hands. It makes you think of moving to a new big home but sleeping in your own comfy old blanket. This is how the swanky new Goa Central Library is managing to wow readers and bibliophiles alike

The Goa book section

JULY-AUGUST 2012 MY GOA

21

Art

JEANETTE & TOM FERNANDES Sculptors

When bronze is better than Goa’s first bronze sculptor couple, Tom and Jeanette Fernandes talk about their craft in a chat with ALISHA PATEL

Jeanette and Tom

J

eanette Fernandes’ works have often been described as ‘remarkable, moving and ethereal’. Her husband Tom’s works, meanwhile, are said to represent the women of the future and capture the grace of movement and the sensuous electricity of a woman.

Together, the husband and wife sculptor duo, capture both, the spirit and the soul of today’s Indian woman -- a woman that represents the perfect blend of modern spirit, but still retains her traditional soulfulness. Together they term their works ‘Spirit and Soul’, with Jeanette focusing on the spirit of her subjects and Tom’s works capturing the spirit in movement and grace.

They started sculpting separately says Tom, followed by Jeanette who adds, “Tom used to sail the high seas for a good number of years, and I used to sail along with him. But when my kids had exams, I stayed back home and it was at that time that I discovered my love for sculpting. I started working with clay.”

Working with clay, however, was short lived as she found it to be very fragile.

Baking a clay sculpture, too, was quite tedious, as the facilities in India are not up to the mark. The only place where one could bake a clay sculpture would be at Dharavi, at the pot making factories.

Pots, as opposed to sculptures, are even surfaced and easy to bake. Due to the different thickness and other factors, the sculptures would often crack when baking and Jeanette lost several pieces.

Looking for a new, more permanent medium, she started working with

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bronze, after she joined the JJ School of Art in Mumbai and sought the advice of some of the senior professors. She was lucky enough to be part of the annual exhibition and is often cited as an example to other students.

Tom on the other hand, who was born and brought up in Tanzania, was surrounded by art and culture and inevitably started sculpting at the tender age of six by playing around with whatever material was available to him. Slowly but steadily, he developed his talent over the years.

Though Tom and Jeanette are very talented painters as well, they choose to pay more attention to sculpture as they find it more rewarding and a 360 degree expression of art, compared to paintings which are one or two dimensional.

Sculpture for them is a way of expressing feelings, as they can touch and feel every angle of their works. “You need to be able to touch your works, and to me that is important,” explains Jeanette. On a lighter note Tom adds, “These will last forever. Tomorrow, if we have a fire, the whole house may burn to the ground, but our sculptures won’t.” Best of all, bronze only gets better with time say the duo citing the example of the Statue of Liberty which has withstood the test of time. The colours of bronze, on maturing, only add to the beauty of it as it highlights detail and brings the works to life.

Very rewarding is how Tom chooses

to describe their journey.

“The rewards give us enough happiness to continue and keep creating works of art,” adds Jeanette.

When Tom is home from the ship, he dedicates all his time to working on new pieces.

Interestingly, even while he is onboard, he finds time to work on pieces.

Jeanette further explains saying that all their works are inspired by their feelings at any given point of time and their works are all original, not ideas picked up from different places.

Though they feel it isn’t easy to survive on art alone, as people in India w o u l d rather buy gold than art and

Art Stop

gold

there are only a handful of people that would buy art for the pure love of it, they are positive about the future and say that “India will get there in time”.

Tom and Jeanette have taken their works not only to major parts of the country, but have also exhibited and sold their works in Singapore and the United States of America. Some of their customers include Lakshmi Nair, wife of Vivek Nair, owner of Leela Kempinski Hotel, Mark Silgardo, Dilip Piramal, owner of VIP Bags and Dilip Chabria. Among the many compliments their works have received, well known art patron and collector, Harsh Goenka has called the works ‘great’ and really enjoyed their shows in Mumbai. Pravina Mecklai, curator and owner of the popular Jamaat Art Gallery in Mumbai, too, has described their works as ‘exquisite’.

“The going has always been rough, but you have to follow your dreams to get to where you want to be. If you remain dependant on art as a source of income, you will work only for the money and not the love of art. Whereas, if you work for the love of art, you are not selling your soul to fill your wallet, and that is the main way to be true to one’s art, without any compromises,” conclude Tom and Jeanette

Though Tom and Jeanette are very talented painters as well, they choose to pay more attention to sculpture as they find it more rewarding and a 360 degree expression of art

Goa Reloaded comes home After its successful and well spoken about debut in the capital city, Delhi’s NIV Art Centre, Goa Reloaded recently made its grand foray on its home turf, back here in Goa. Yes, art connoisseurs, fans and friends of the artists and the public at large were first hand witnesses to the absolutely breathtaking works of hosts of artists, which were on display at the popular Kerkar Art Gallery in Calangute. Like at the Delhi showing, here too, the works of Aadhi Vishal, Chaitali Morajkar, Harshada Kerkar Sonak, Kedar Dhondu, Pradeep Naik, Ramdas Gadekar, Sachin Naik,

Santosh Morajkar, Shilpa Mayenkar Naik, Shripad Gurav, Siddharth Gosavi, Subodh Kerkar, Vaibhava Kitlekar, Vijai Bhandare and Vitesh Naik were on display in a show that was skillfully curated by Johny ML. The inaugural ceremony for the show saw the presence of a host of dignitaries including MLA Vishnu Wagh, a number of prominent artists and art aficionados including fellow artists who avidly discussed each piece of work on display while complimenting the artists on their beautiful works

Gallery Gitanjali holds Chitrangan: Skills & Techniques

ICG hosts Colouring India

Following the fulfilling start of Gallery Gitanjali’s artistic journey titled Chitrangan with a course in the fundamentals of drawing, this year the gallery is offering a series of workshops exploring the wide possibilities using three mediums pastels, water colours and acrylic.

Designed for those who are keen on exploring the basics of handling these mediums and the various possibilities, in the duration of the course, participants will have verbal instructions, demonstrations and a series of exercises and experiments with Praveen Naik.

Chitrangan will be held for a total of 12 sessions of four hours duration each. The group that meets every Saturday will devote four sessions to perfecting their skills, techniques and overall knowledge in each of the above mentioned mediums

A unique three-day illustrator’s workshop was recently held at the International Centre Goa. Organised by the National Book Trust, India the main aim of this workshop was to help develop pre-school books for children below five years of age. A host of senior artists from different parts of the country, gathered to translate ideas to be published as books for children.

The books will be primarily picture books where eloquent illustrations shall narrate the tales told, thus bringing it alive and making reading an even more interesting activity for the kids. The event was also a tribute to famed Goan illustrator Mario Miranda

Potter’s wheel at Sunaparant

Sunaparanta, Goa Centre for the Arts is organizing a potter’s wheel session in the month of July with ceramic artist Mayank Jain. Students will get the opportunity to learn the finer nuances of operating the potter’s wheel. The training session is open to both, first timers and those with prior experience on the wheel. The classes will be held in two batches with five sessions of two hours each

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Great Goan

Pt. jitendra abhisheki Hindustani Classical Maestro

A legend of our times A true exponent of his art, his aim was to teach his students to look inwards and think about music, instead of blindly following in his footsteps

O

ne of the most gifted Hindustani classical vocalists Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki was also an accomplished composer. Born on September 21, 1929, Jitendra Abhisheki hailed from a priestly family traditionally attached to the shrine of Lord Mangesh at the Mangeshi temple. His father, Balwantrao aka Bikambhat, was the temple priest. He initiated his son into the world of classical as well as devotional music, from a tender age itself. He also systematically taught young Jitendra both, Sanskrit and Marathi. Proficiency in these two languages helped Jitendra immensely in his career as a musician and composer.

Pandit Abhisheki passed the matriculation examination in 1949 and went on to study for a degree in Sanskrit literature. He then joined the All India Radio at Bombay for a brief but successful period. His stint with radio not only brought him in contact with several musicians, but also gave him the opportunity to harness his own 24

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musical talents by composing several pieces for various radio programmes. It was around this time that he started his training under the renowned maestro Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan.

He later secured a scholarship from the Government of India for advanced training in Hindustani classical music. Before long, Pandit Abhisheki was composing music for Marathi plays. This meant setting to music, songs in Marathi Sangeet Nataks as well as background scores for what maybe described as ‘prose plays’. All in all, he composed music for as many as 25 Marathi plays, many of which are still being staged using those same compositions. In the late 60s, he received the coveted Homi Bhabha fellowship, from which he taught music at the music school in the US run by the renowned sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar.

Pandit Abhisheki had a remarkably wide ranging repertoire. He was a classicist by nature, but he also had a deep understanding of the semiclassical devotional and folk traditions in the glorious musical heritage of India.

In addition to Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan, Jitendra learned from other great teachers like Girijabai Kelkar, Jagannathbuwa Purohit and Gulubhai Jasdanwala. He also learned some rare ragas from Ustad Bade Gulam Ali Khan.

In the process, he absorbed the gayaki of several gharanas and evolved his own distinctive style. His outstanding contributions to music brought him many honours and awards, including the Padmashri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards.

Pandit Abhisheki had very clear ideas about the nature of his art. He believed that the essence of Hindustani Classical music was the capacity of a raga to develop and expand by way

of alaap rather than sargam. He also believed that no one could be forced to pursue an art, as the urge to learn and seek answers has to arise from within. Because of this conviction, he did not force his children to learn music, though his son Shaunak, of his own free will became his disciple and is today recognized as a leading vocalist in his own right, carrying forward his father’s musical heritage.

Pandit Abhisheki spent his last years in Pune where he taught a number of disciples. This distinguished artist passed away at the age of 65 on November 7, 1998. Needless to say, his multifaceted achievements in the fields of classical music, as well as Marathi Natya Sangeet, will always be remembered by lovers of Indian music.

One of the exemplary qualities of Pandit Abhisheki was the way in which he trained his disciples. Similar to the ancient ‘Guru-Shishya’ tradition, he loved to have his students with him round the clock. He provided them food and shelter along with his vast fund of musical knowledge. He had to suffer a lot in his youth, to receive musical education. He did not want his disciples to share the same fate. He thought, they should be free to apply their minds to music without having to care for the victuals. He treated all of them like family members. He taught them to sing each Bandish with the utmost perfection, but he did not want them to be blind followers. Hence, he taught them to look inwards and think about music. He did all this, without the expectation of a single paisa from his disciples. Many of whom are leading vocalists of the present musical scenario namely Prabhakar Karekar, Raja Kale, Ajit Kadkade, Hemant Pendse, Devki Pandit, Shubha Mudgal and his son, Shounak Abhisheki

Book Worm

The Sting of Peppercorns

The saga of a Goan family

S

et in 1961, in colonial Goa, The Sting of Peppercorns, written by US based cardiologist Antonio Gomes, is a tale of love, lust, ruin and betrayal on the spice trail. The story revolves around the family of the Albuquerques and is told in flashback style. Roberto Albuquerque, who left his family home to practice medicine in the United States, returns to Goa along with his family to piece together the missing parts of his mother’s memoirs.

During the summer of 1961, the Albuquerque mansion in Loutolim is abuzz with preparations for the unexpected return of Dona Isabella’s favourite son Paulo from Portugal. The life of the Albuquerque family takes a tragic turn following the military takeover of Goa by India after 451 years of Portuguese rule. The integration of Goa into India detangles the socioeconomic foundation of the family. The

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MY GOA JULY-AUGUST 2012

reason behind Paulo’s return remains a secret to the family, while the daughter Amanda lets down the family name by falling in love with and marrying Winnie Fernandes, the son of a fisherman.

Roberto meanwhile has his heart set on Maria, who seems captivated by Paulo’s good looks and charm. Dona Isabella laments the loss of their culture and the unraveling of her children’s lives. Haunted by the nightmares of the reason behind him leaving Portugal, Paulo takes to drinking and drugs with the hippies in Baga.

The brilliantly crafted story unfolds like a canvas, suffused with a profound sense of foreboding. It is a light and easy read. The author’s descriptive style of writing easily takes the reader back into colonial Goa and through Antonio’s way of storytelling, give the reader a sense of belonging to the Albuquerque family

Antonio Gomes

Publisher: Goa 1556 and Broadway Book Centre

L’ACE

Music

Popular Music Band

Rocking the music scene Laury Pires opens up about music and the wonderful life journey this passion has taken him through in a chat with VIKRAM SANE

Laury making music

W

hen I saw him walking towards me with a slight limp, I was worried and asked Laury Pires what was wrong.

He laughed and brushed it aside saying that being a long jump and a pole vault champion in school and college is taking its toll now. His chronological age notwithstanding, Laury exhibits the energy of a teenager. Born in Dar-eSalaam, the capital of Tanzania, Africa, his first brush with a musical performance came at a tender age of seven. He used to play the rhythm guitar then. He fondly remembers playing the guitar and singing along ‘Ticket to Ride,’ a famous Beatle’s song. He preferred playing the drums back then but he started playing the bass guitar and stuck to that.

Laury’s family shifted to Goa when he was eleven and a half years old. He joined the Don Bosco School and went on to finished his junior BA from the Dhempe College. He also did a diploma in electrical wiring. Obviously this was done only because of his father’s insistence.

Music was always his true calling. He also worked as a sales boy and a workshop manager in his early days. And owned a transport company! So much for the whirlwinding career options. But, ever since music entered his life at an early age, there was no other plan that life had for Laury.

It was in 1967 that Laury and his brothers started a band called Les Vandals which soon gained popularity.

After performing successfully and rocking shows for almost a decade and a half, the group later disbanded. Almost immediately, in 1981, Laury went on to start another band called The Strangers.

This band, too, functioned nicely for a good 11 years. Later, in 1992, Laury founded and led the band called L’ace.

It has been 20 years now, and the band is still going strong. It was with L’ace that Laury made the conscious decision to venture full time into music. The band performs an amazing 150 shows a year, almost like a show every alternate day.

Also famed for composing their own songs, Laury holds the distinction of composing a song for every carnival. He also has about four compositions which are wildly appreciated by crowds at all their gigs.

A band which plays original tracks apart from covers is a rarity in Goa. L’ace covers tracks by The Beatles, The Monkees, The Shadows, Dire Straits, The Doors, The Eagles and the music of Bob Marley. They mostly play music ranging from pop, country, samba, reggae, rock and roll genres and their compositions, too, are of the same flavour. And though the band has faced tough competition L’ace staunchly follows the principle of delivering their clients’ money’s worth, a principle Laury says has helped them stand out from the rest and power on.

L’ace has gained so much popularity and fame that at a certain point, they

were called the ‘Beatles of Goa’. The band has perform songs in not just one or two, but five different languages English, Konkani, Hindi, Marathi and even Swahili. In Swahili they covered a band called ‘Miriam Makheba and the Kilimanjaro Jazz Band’. This immense popularity has seen them perform at almost all the playable places in Goa and also at various destinations across India and abroad including gigs at Mumbai, Bangalore, Calcutta, Delhi, Dubai, Mauritius and Sri-Lanka. Confessing that it was initially difficult for him to enter the band scene, especially having to coordinate venues and meetings and contacts apart from playing and singing, Laury says he is proud of having managed everything well and having led the band in playing good quality music all these years.

Laury frankly admits that the money in the band life is good. During the offseason months, the band practices about thrice a week. Once the season starts, however, they have absolutely no time to practice. He also admits that he is lucky to have found a job that he loves. Having played music for the past 45 years, he says he has enjoyed every single day of his life and asserts that it is the music that has kept him young, active and glowing after all these years. Every time he is on stage, he says, a new force takes over him, drives him and keeps him ticking. He says that he is happy and that there isn’t even the slightest bit of regret for choosing the band life versus a stable steady job.

Laury lives happily with his wife Daphne, a teacher at Sharada Mandir High School. His son Lenon, who has just finished his BBA, wants to be the drummer in his own band someday.

Lenon sings and plays percussion and the father-son duo jam and rock shows together sometimes. It is apt fitting then when Laury concludes saying, “Blessed is the man who has found his work; let him ask for no other blessedness”

JULY-AUGUST 2012

MY GOA 27

Turning Point VICTOR HUGO GOMES Artist and Museum Curator

Meeting village elders helped me understand heritage better

W

hen I look back at my life there was no single particular event that changed me, rather there were many that span across years. There are some moments in your life that change you forever. I have encountered these moments.

The incidents that have shaped me are: As a child my childhood experience shaped me in a particular way. My grandmother was blind and she would narrate to me stories that greatly influenced me. She could not read books so she spoke about her youth and life in Goa then. It was the lifestyle, the things they did, the tools that they used. They seemed simple yet very beautiful. Today, these stories have influenced the way I perceive the implements at Goa Chitra and their relationship with the artisan.

After graduating in Fine Arts, I was based in Lucknow on a National scholarship during which time I did a course in Restoration and Conservation and also travelled to different parts of India to study tribal arts. Through my years travelling across India on the Lalit Kala Academy scholarship and researching tribal art, I saw and experienced the relationship between the artisans and his tools and implements.

During my stint as the founding curator of a museum, I was involved in approaching churches across Goa, doing inventories of their artifacts, and short listing and negotiating for those that should be part of the museum display.

It was fun to restore these objects and learn about the materials used to create these priceless works of art. I could see the shift in style of artisans from creating

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Hindu artifacts to Christian depictions.

But it is here that I witnessed the loss of respect for antiques, artifacts and our heritage as a whole.

To restore some items to their authentic original state, I had to consult elders who were familiar with them and had actually seen them in use. Because finding such people was not easy in urban areas, Meeting with village elders, hearing their side of the story changed me.

When my mother passed away suddenly -- and this was something that was difficult for me to handle personally -- as she was a very systematic person.

The passage of “progress” first became clear to me from looking at the cupboard where my mother carefully stored her six children’s toys after they had outgrown them. One shelf dedicated to each child. I could see how, within the span of about 15 years that separated the eldest and youngest, the materials used had changed from wood to metal to plastic. This was a literal jump from wooden toys to Barbie dolls. Her death and seeing her totally bare on the floor of GMC morgue was a paradigm shift in the way I perceived life and living. It was a reminder that we come with nothing and go with nothing. So presently, that’s how my wife and I live. We live in one room of 6x4 sq meters at the museum extension, no kids, 9 dogs, 5 goats, 1 cow, 75 birds, and 32 odd fish.

I never believed that I was ‘marriage material’ until I met my wife. She is special. With her I feel grounded and this has helped me take off.

Right from the beginning, I have

Victor Hugo Gomes, a restorer by profession tell us about the incidents that have made him the person that he is today

never seen or perceived my work as a profession as it is more of a passion than anything else for me. The change that has taken place so far is solely out of emotions. I create or work from an emotional level. The change for me was that -- in life we come with nothing and go back with nothing. We do not have the right to destroy that which we did not create and most importantly we must be able to gain the respect of our future generations. If our grandchild questions us, “Hey grandpa, what have you left behind for posterity?” We should be able to answer.

I have never been different professionally. Earlier, I worked on my own. Now my soul mate, my wife, acts as my alter ego and it helps a great deal.

Yes, I am happy about the lessons that life has taught me. Sometimes I only wish the lessons were different.

Although so much has happened and quite a bit of change has come in, I believe that change is good, but I am still the same me, only a little older and a little calmer.

When I think about now I wish I had 48 hours in a day and endless supply of funds -- so that I could document all that needs to be done. There is just so much. As for the future I wish to set up more museums around Goa. Goa Chakra a museum on transportation history will be opened in a month or two besides a Goa Costume and Jewellery Museum by November. I am in the process of coming with my own books and in accordance to our mission developing and promoting of traditional art forms

People Rajesh Dempo awarded

Rajesh Soiru Dempo, Managing Director, Vision Dempo Hospitality and Estates Pvt. Ltd., received the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year award for Corporate Excellence 2012’ and his hotel “The Crown Goa” also bagged ‘The Business and Service Excellence Award’ as ‘The Most Affordable Luxury Hotel’ from Big Research Brands Academy, New Delhi.

Veteran film actor Anupam Kher did the honours of presenting the awards at Hotel Four Points,Sheraton

Moushmi Kamat to head CII,Goa Moushmi K a m a t , the deputy director of CII’s Goa Chapter has been appointed as the association’s Goa state head.

Apart from activating key membership drive, Moushmi will focus on developing and creating a vision and mission for Goa. She will work towards establishing a robust, collaborated networked platform for members to be able to anticipate changes in the economic environment, identify emerging challenges and evolve action-solutions for development. CII is a nongovernment, not-for-profit, industry led and industry managed organization, that has played an active role in India’s development process.

Founded over 117 years ago, it is a premier business association, with a direct membership of over 7100 organisations and an indirect membership of over 90,000 companies

Dr Sangam Kurade on NISTEM board

Sujay Gupta heads The Goan

Dr Sangam Kurade has recently been appointed on the Industrial Advisory Body of NISTEM (The National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management), India’s largest university on food processing.

Based near Delhi, the university is run

by Government of India. Dr Kurade earlier served in the capacity of peer reviewer of the University’s curriculum.

In his new role, he will be advising and planning for the future of the University and food processing technology across India. NISTEM offers B.Tech, M.Tech and Phd degrees in food technology.

Apart from this role, Dr Kurade also serves as the vice-preseident of GSIA and is on the advisory board of the Home Science college

Former editor of Gomantak Times and Herald, Sujay Gupta is the editor of the newly launched weekly The Goan on Saturday.

Sujay has been associated with NDTV 24X7 and a host of other publications including The Telegraph and Times Of India.

Talking about the launch of Goa’s latest weekly publication, Sujay said “The Goan is a product from our land and for our people. It seeks to redefine journalism by making it more relevant, more real and above all ‘game changing’. The Goan does not seek to compete but to compliment other publications in giving all those who live in Goa and who have Goa in their hearts, a paper that ensures comprehensive reading”

No.1 1. On what date in 1946, did Dr Ram Manohar Lohia address a rally in Margao, sparking off a new wave for Goa’s liberation movement?

2. In which year did Goa win the Santosh Trophy for the first time?

3. Which brand of cola was created by the company owned by Jack Sequeira?

4. Who is the director of the movie Paltadcho Munis?

5. Which Constitutional position does Avinash P Lawande and Utkarsh Bakre currently hold?

6. Which village in South Goa is famous for the Budbudyanchi Talli?

7. Who was the first editor of the Konkani newspaper Sunaparant?

8. Identify the person in the picture Email your responses to mygoa.mag@gmail.com with your name and postal address. First Correct entry will win 1 year’s subscription to My Goa

JULY-AUGUST 2012

MY GOA 29

Biz Buzz

Business News from Goa UP-MARKET APARTMENTS AT PORVORIM BY HIGHLAND CONSTRUCTIONS

Volkswagen on a growth path The Volkswagen G r o u p maintained its positive trajectory in the first half of 2012 despite growing challenges in a large number of automotive markets. “We can be satisfied with our performance in the first six months”, said Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, at the presentation of the financial report for the first half of the year on Thursday. “Our strong position in the international markets will enable us to outperform the market as a whole – despite the challenging environment”

30

Luis & Co store

Highland Vistas launched in Mapusa

The national award winning Highland Constructions Pvt. Ltd. Group has launched a new project called the Highland Vistas. The Highland Vistas’ dream is finally turning into a reality in the beautiful and scenic surroundings of Porvorim. It is centrally located with schools, colleges and markets in close vicinity and the capital city, Panaji just a 10 minute drive away.

The famed beaches of Baga and Candolim are also in close vicinity. On offer are 64

MY GOA JULY-AUGUST 2012

two bedroom apartments in well planned and exquisite designs.

The Highland Vistas also offer all the modern facilities and amenities like play area for kids, a fully equipped and functional gym, a club house, reserved and dedicated car parking and a swimming pool and elevators with a power back-up. The entire project is well planned so as to aptly meet all the customer’s needs in the tradition of Highland

Luis & Co. one of Goa’s finest hardware store has made its foray into Mapusa.

Having stores in Panjim as well as Margao, they recently launched a brand new outlet in Mapusa, catering to the convenience of the people of Bardez. The Mapusa store will be known for its designer hardware, modular kitchens and branded equipment. The store has multiple items on display. Established in 1952, Luis & Co. has a proven track record ever since in successfully retaining leading brands of architectural, glass and furniture hardware and components from all over the globe in the state of Goa. Luis & Co. is part of the Armacar Group which also owns sports store Champs, Alor and Alor Grande Resorts, Delfino’s Superstore and Upper House restaurant

GOA’S ONLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Business Goa turns three in the cut-throat publication business. Eminent Chartered Accountant V B Prabhu Verlekar explains the downside of reducing the VAT on petrol prices. Feature stories include Travco Holidays, NRB Events and Dreamscape, among other stories of business interest The magazine also has a series of columns by industry experts.

“Over the last three years, we have maintained a singular focus on being the ‘voice of business in Goa’ and we have received great support

Goa’s first and only business m a g a z i n e Business Goa turned three, this month. In a special third anniversary issue, the magazine chose to focus on the woes of industrial estates in the state. “With 21 Industrial Estates in a small state like our’s speaks of the quantum aspect, but we are miles behind in the race to be considered an ‘industrial state’. We felt that, as flagbearers of the business community, Business Goa

must bring to fore the issues plagued

by Goa’s industry,” said Harshvardhan Bhatkuly, founder and editor of the magazine.

The July special issue also has an indepth interview with Aditi Kare Panandikar, who has taken over the helms of Indoco Remedies as Managing Director from her father, Suresh Kare.

In a special profile, Pallavi Dempo speaks about how she manages to keep The Navhind Times in the lead

Goa Marriott Resort to host Incredible India Food Festival

CM addresses ‘Captains of Indian Industry’

Goa Marriott Resort & Spa is all set to showcase imperial flavours of our great nation’s varied cuisine on the occasion of its independence, at the Incredible India Festival at Waterfront Terrace & Bar, from 4th to 15th August.

Travel on a gastronomical journey befitting the kings, and sample delightful dishes from different regions of India!

From Kashmiri specialties to Chettinad delicacies, from Punjabi favourites to authentic Awadhi fare, this dinner buffet festival guarantees to wow you. With live cooking stations emanating mouthwatering aromas of freshly cooked food and a colossal buffet spread, every day of the festival offers you a chance to experience the flavours of a different region of the country. The festival culminates on independence day, 15th August, with the Grand Independence Day Brunch! For reservations, please call 0832-2463333

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar addressed CII’s Exclusive Interactive session with Captains of Indian Industry in Mumbai.

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) facilitated a high level interaction for Goa Chief Minister with industry leaders for attracting investments for a sustainable future. Those

present were Shivanand Salgaocar, Managing Director, V M Salgaocar, S Mahalingam, ED & CFO, TCS, Jamshyd Godrej, Past President, CII and CMD, Godrej & Boyce Pradeep Bhargava Chairman, CII WR, R Mukundan, Deputy Chairman, CII (WR) and MD, Tata Chemicals and Shrinivas V Dempo, among others

Bicholim Co-op Bank completes 25 years The Bicholim Urban Cooperative bank has organised various activities as a part of its silver jubilee year celebrations.

Chairman of the bank, Umesh Zantye, while speaking to media persons, said that the bank has decided to

provide ATM services to its customers at the Bicholim and Ponda branches. 10 needy students of every school will be awarded scholarships of Rs.1000 each. Zantye also informed that the bank will honour 25 account holders from each branch www.businessgoa.net

The Voice of Business in Goa www.facebook.com/businessgoa

from within and outside the industry to bring to Goa a magazine that everyone can be proud of,” said Urvija Bhatkuly, the publisher and Group head of the media house that also publishes social magazine, My Goa and Goa’s only Marathi magazine -- Gomant Sagar.

Industry stalwarts Datta Damodar Naik and Ralph de Sousa comprise the Editorial board of Business Goa along with corporate trainer Swapnil Kamat and quizmasterarchitect, Rajiv D’Silva

Bajaj launches Pulsar 200NS at Sitara Motors

Bajaj Auto launched the Pulsar 200 NS in Goa. Rahul D Naik, CMD, Sitara Motors said the Pulsar 200 NS is loaded with “many-firsts” in terms of features and technology. The company’s much celebrated iconic Pulsar is all gearedup to enthral sports-bikers.

Commenting on the launch, Rahul said, “These sporty motorcycles have been a testimony to the company’s engineering prowess. The Pulsar 200 NS showcases the next leap in technology with features like triple spark ignition and design that has set standards for others to follow. We are happy to launch the bike in the city as it has played a major role in Pulsar completing the ‘Decade of Dominance’” Read Goa’s only business magazine for news, views, articles, interviews on all things businessy in Goa

JULY-AUGUST 2012

MY GOA 31

Business Sense

BINAYAK DATTA CFO, Zuari Industries Ltd.

I am a natural manager. I love taking the lead Binayak Datta, the business personality of the month, shares with you some pearls of wisdom about lessons that he has learnt from life Binayak Datta

B

inayak Datta. CFO and Vice President, Finance, Zuari Industries Limited is a name to reckon with in the Goan industrial circuit. Here he opens up about choosing his career/profession, factors fueling growth, activities apart from business that he is involved with, his vision and mission for Goa, a place that he proudly calls home and finally, his mantra for young, aspiring professionals and entrepreneurs.

A brief history about my career and profession: As far as I remember, I have been a ‘manager’, whether it was managing a cricket team, may be a school picnic or even just being the class monitor.

Management has been a great motivator and driver of my professional career. Having done my schooling at St Josephs Allahabad and Higher Secondary School at Durgapur, I qualified in the CA examinations from Lovelock & Lewes at Kolkata (now a part of Price Waterhouse Coopers) four decades back. I often feel, when I look back now, that a lot of me as a person would have been contributed by the circumstances through which I passed during my graduation and my Chartered Accountancy.

Those were the days of huge ‘Naxalite’ upheavals in Kolkata. And since I used to stay in a hostel, each night would be a frightful experience — threats to life from the separatists on one side and police excesses on the other. It was a seemingly never ending nightmare. I am quite thankful that I survived to see this day and emerge a successful business manager.

I joined Stewarts and Lloyds, an MNC engineering company with a pay packet

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MY GOA JULY-AUGUST 2012

of a ‘lucrative amount’ those days, `1,500/- a month. This was supposed to be earmarked for boys who qualify CA Exams in their first attempts. I was managing the small team of Regional Accounts at Bombay at the age of 24.

But I really went through my ‘schooling’ during my stint at Philips India. A lot of my organising skills, problem solving techniques and eye for ‘total quality’ found their roots from the learnings from that great company.

I joined the Zuari-Chambal group about 10 years back. This is a great group to be part of and it has one of the best systems, professional management and a formidable set of values.

My foray into the line of professional manager: As I said, ever since childhood I have been engrossed with the ‘Art of Management’ and the ‘Science of Leading’. By and large, the field that occupied my imaginations was the world of managing fiscal responsibilities.

My greatest learning in management came after I joined the industry and my greatest learning in finance, after I started working with banks, financial institutions the regulators and financial consultants.

The factors that have fuelled my professional growth: The biggest fuelling factors have been the different types of exposures in my professional journey. Like everything else, it is the ‘circumstances’ which would always be the ‘boss’. One’s abilities to foresee, plan, act, deliver, test and hold the gains would ultimately decide your abilities to grow.

The first company I joined was a small sized MNC of international repute at Mumbai. It was in engineering and like all engineering companies of yesteryears, getting collections in time used to be a challenge from large government projects. It built in me a sense of urgency in the space of working capital management. Next came my journey through a huge Dutch MNC where raising capital for growth plans were of prime importance because we would always be under pressure for financial closures of one or the other of its huge projects.

It is here that I gained deep insight into treasury management and developed excellent contacts internationally. But my biggest growth factors came from the human resources management and total quality concepts which got embedded in me during this journey.

As a school athlete and a swimmer, I learnt that it is important, not only to be good, but to continue to remain good. For that you need good competition. I could see these abilities paying off since as a company, we were always in constant threat from our leaner and more cost effective competitors.

A businessperson or thinker who has made a deep impact on me: ‘Nani’ Nanabhoy Palkhivala. Nani was a well known and great Barrister, a great Constitutional expert. But his most appealing facet was his uncanny abilities for lateral thinking. He would bring out an idea from where you seem to think there was none. I came to know Nani in one of my stints which had a great part of it devoted to corporate taxes.

He developed a great liking for me and this very ‘unequal’ friendship unfolded a

treasure in my mind. The person, his wit and humour, his ability to see multiple sides of a problem and his abilities to express himself were fabulous. But more than all this, he was a great human being.

My personal style of leadership and management: ‘An egg’; Yes, I think that’s my style. And yes, I’m really fond of eggs. Why an egg?

Because like an egg, I am tough on the exterior and soft, and perhaps tasteful, inside. I’m tough outside, because I have to handle (and grow) other’s money. Soft inside because I have to do that with my people.

Besides my business, I also commit my time and efforts to these causes/ institutions: Mondays to Fridays I am at my office from 9 am to 9 pm. During the day, most of the time I will be busy meeting my people, company visitors and listening to or making presentations. But I reserve the last four hours 5 to 9 pm solely for the contributions I would like to return to the company or to my team on say studying new laws, new fund raising instruments, competitors’ studies, etc or preparing for study lessons for my team.

The weekends are different, I am a totally devoted husband, a golfer, a musician, a playright, a photographer and we are a pair of eager party hoppers.

We are also into helping underprivileged girl children. We sponsor a bright angel through her schooling. We have also been very active at the Rotary and Innerwheels respectively at Kota, Rajasthan.

A lot of our commitments are towards Tagore and his music. Mrs Datta devotes her time to Rabindra Sangeet and Nritya. The two of us have also staged Gurudev’s Nrityanatyas the latest being ‘Shaapmochan’ lead by Mrs Datta herself.

We are sincere followers of the Ramakrishna Order under the teachings and principles of Swami Vivekananda and his Vedanta beliefs.

My hobbies and passions: Music is my passion, one that got embedded in me at birth from my mother, an accomplished light classical singer herself. Throughout my school and college I have been devoted to singing with light instrumentals — guitar, key board and the harmonica. I love songs of the 60s particularly Cliff Richards, Jim

Reeves, Harry Belafonte, Tony Brandt, George Harrison, John Lennon from the West and Talat, Jagjit Singh, Bhupen Hazarika and Sachin Dev Burman back here.

My latest attractions are the Fado from Portugal and Konkani folk songs. I have collected a whole lot of them and have even picked up quite a few tunes.

My vision for the Goan economy: Goa is a small beautiful state with lovely people. Mrs Datta and I are now whole time Goans ourselves and therefore, able to view it as ardent ‘insiders’.

If you see the whole of the country’s economy, we are much better off here in Goa. Our per capita incomes are much above the country average. But, the per capita income growth is coming down on all India levels For example, in 2010-11 the growth in Goa was 13.79 per cent, whereas all India figures were 15.64 per cent. In absolute terms, however, the per capita income in Goa is much higher at 1.17 lacs pa against the all India figure of 53,000 pa.

Manufacturing, which comes under the secondary sector in Goa, recorded a growth of just 6.9 per cent. Growth in the number of SSI units have plateaued off at around 7000 a year for the last three years signifying no growth. The number of entrepreneurs who have filed ‘Entrepreneur’s Memorandum’ in micro, small and medium are all dwindling.

During the last three years only 75 small scale and 4 medium scale memoranda have been filed. Employment generation and investments have both come down.

Only around `150 crores of investment was made in the last three years. Above all, the Index of Industrial Production has come down from 567 to 551 during the last three years.

The following industries which otherwise are suited to Goa recorded fall

in net value added: Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products - 67 per cent.

Manufacture of transport equipments 75 per cent.

Manufacture of furniture - 10 per cent.

The state spends 36 per cent of its gross revenues on salary, pensions and establishment costs and only 31 per cent on works maintenance and materials.

Deposits with banks are increasing and credit offtakes, decreasing. So yes, there is a cause for concern on industry.

Goa needs growth and this cannot come without industries, without employment, without infrastructure.

My vision and my prescription for Goa would be: Goa needs industries that are clean such as IT and ITES, power generation with gas, tourism related development, forestry, marine, fishing, food processing, pharma and bulk chemicals. But to have these industries, we need better power, water, proper roads and a second Zuari bridge. Goa also needs a transparent Land Policy.

The government should also look at human resources to meet the demands of industries. They need to set up colleges which offer degrees that focus on industry specific skill required.

Goa needs to concentrate on the PPP Model for Infrastructure. The new airport inland waterways and an active Maritime Board. It can shore up its revenues by promoting upmarket valley and hinterland tourism to exploit the scenic landscapes of the Sahyadris rather than concentrate on cheap forms of beach tourism. Increase non-tax revenues in places where it needs to and spend on upper end infrastructure and tourism.

For some time now, over the last few years, Goa has been looking for good governance in public programs and political will to achieve. I am happy to note that positive signals are now emanating from the State Government.

My mantra for young aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals: Fix your goal. One goal only. Be careful to select the one you are already good at and be absolutely clear about it. Work real hard -- 9am to 9pm on five days.

Enjoy the learning process. If you are not enjoying what you are doing, don’t do it and then stop and do something else.

When you enjoy, you will certainly win

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alex braganza

Passion

Adman and musician

Music makes his world go around A quintessential creative soul, it’s clear that Alex Braganza has a deep passion for music, finds out VIKRAM SANE

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fter a brief meeting with Alex Braganza at his swanky office, we had to set up another meeting, mutually agreeing that a man’s true passion cannot be understood and felt, over a formal meeting over an office desk. So, while sipping Caju Feni at his beautiful Porvorim residence, I met the real multidimensional Alex. Just by meeting him, or looking at his home, it is actually hard to guess the true passion of this multi-faceted personality until you listen to one of his audio recordings. After that moment, everything is crystal clear. This man is made of and for music. You can listen to him talking about music and his excitement is palpable and his passion, almost tangible. When a man, who loves his drinks, has coasters of bands like ‘The Beatles’, no prizes for guessing that this man has a special bond with music.

Indeed, it has to be passion that has kept music alive and kicking in his life in spite of owning and managing the very successful Broadway Advertising agency.

It was only after making me extremely comfortable, that he began narrating to me how he managed to juggle these dual lives.

Alex was born in Karachi, Pakistan.

His family shifted to Goa when he was just about five years old. As his elder brother August was a passionate music aficionado, music was always a part of Alex’s life. A significant period of his school days were spent entertaining the whole class, by playing cool beats on the desk and compass box. Needless to say, rhythm was in built. This would definitely be a sign of his musical talent and skill that originally a rhythm guitarist, he picked up playing bass guitar, equally efficiently,

Alex at work...

... and play

within a matter of days only because his elder brother’s band needed a bassist.

Alex, in his ninth grade, aptly formed a band called ‘The Ninth Dimension’ which was, supremely appreciated. Since then, life has been a complete roller coaster ride for him. He went on to play for, and form many different groups and bands like ‘The Band’, ‘The Sting’ and ‘Symphony’. All these ventures tasted success. In fact, ‘The Sting’ was one of the most influential and favourite bands in Goa at its peak.

Meanwhile, Alex graduated out of Goa College of Art majoring in Applied Art and specialising in illustration. He then started working freelance in the field of advertising. However, as expected, with an intelligent and hardworking man, work piled up. On the basis of his qualification, lucrative jobs were offered to him in places like Mumbai and Bangalore. But his bond with Goa was too strong and he never felt like leaving home. So, he got two of his colleagues to join him and the trio’s freelancing efforts were followed by an extremely organic process which led to the formation of the now very well known advertising company called ‘Broadway Advertising’.

Money, in the band life was good.

However, music was, for individual reasons, never looked at, as a full time bread-winner by any of his band mates.

Inevitably, life got very hectic and it started getting almost intolerable. They had to perform an astonishing 28 shows a month. On some days, it was like sleeping late after a grueling two-show day and waking up immediately the next day for an afternoon wedding gig. It was getting too hectic. So, they took a very

long hiatus of 15 to 18 odd years. Alex used to play at his place only for himself in these years, but something was amiss.

He loved it when the crowd swooned and grooved to their music. The entire feeling of a crowd enjoying themselves to their music gave Alex, a different high. He could not resist that and correspondingly he was back with a bang after a long sabbatical with a band called ‘The Music Company’. Again, as expected, it was a roaring success.

While signing out, he mentioned another specialty of his groups. It was that they always stuck to their genre. They loved playing covers of bands like ‘The Beatles’, ‘Simon and Garfunkel’, ‘Abba’ which came under the Pop, Country, Rock & Roll and Reggae and they never swayed. The crowd loved them so much that they went on to become one of the most popular cover bands in Goa. The whole idea of playing classic covers live and watching the audience have a good time always pulls Alex back to the band life.

Alex is a person who showcases a rare trait of being technically and mechanically sound along with charismatic artistic talents. He is the only person I have seen who has a classical as well as a romantic view of things. I had this conversation with him at his home, which is entirely revamped by him internally and externally, eating delicious Goan dishes, perpared by him and appreciating wonderful portraits, again, of course, painted by him. Hence I choose to call him the Mr Multidimensional. Needless to add, it was indeed, an evening well spent

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Health HOME REMEDIES

Home-made wonders

No need to panic if you fall prey to common monsoon ailments. My Goa lists out some tried and tested and very effective home remedies

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hough the monsoons maybe heartily be welcomed by many after surviving a scorching summer, it is no secret that come the rains, our immunity levels drop, thus making us easily susceptible to a range of ailments like viral cold and fever, gastro infections, malaria, jaundice, typhoid, cholera, etc.

Puddles of water and our favourite snacks from the local gaddas, and not to forget the piles of garbage that lie strewn across the roads are some of the main causes of those dreaded diseases. Over the years, many have tried and tested different ways to combat these evils, using plain simple home remedies.

My Goa offers you some time tested and true home remedies to keep you well while the monsoons dwell.

A home remedy is a treatment used to cure diseases or ailments that employ certain spices, vegetables, or other items commonly found around the house or in the kitchen or garden. Home remedies are often chosen over allopathic medicines as they are found to be the safest, most reliable and time tested methods of treatment. From the most common cold to a potentially fatal dengue fever, most Goans will swear by home remedies being a better and more effective cure than any other. Chicken soups, neem leaves, fruit juices, and other common spices which are easily found in most kitchens and mothers and grandmothers, who have tested these recipes over the years and have passed them down from generation to generation, will always be found extolling their properties.

The common cold and viral infections leading to fever and body ache is something all of us have been affected at some point or the other. Getting wet in the rain and then sitting under the fan or in an AC room without the chance to dry up just compounds the problem and lo and behold, before you know it, you

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are sneezing and wheezing and coughing away. One of the most effective and proven remedies to contain the cold or infection is a steam hot bowlful of chicken broth with a generous dose of garlic. If you’ve got an itchy or sore throat, make sure to gargle, at least twice a day, using a glass of warm water with a teaspoon of salt dissolved in it. This will help kill the bacteria and contain the infection. Hot milk with turmeric is also a good remedy for a bad throat.

Then there is the recurring problem of malaria. The copious amounts of rain water that collects and stagnates in various places around houses and other areas encourages the breeding of mosquitoes from which the female Anopheles are the carriers of this virus. If you find yourself suffering from excessive fever, chills and nausea, chances are you have malaria. To prevent those annoying mosquito bites from not only ruining your sleep but also infecting you with the virus, the use of a mosquito net around ones bed is a much better option than coils and mats which contain a lot of harmful chemicals. Fumigating the house with the smoke of dried neem leaves or coconut husk with incense powder in the evenings for a few minutes is an excellent way to keep mosquitoes away. If you are indeed suffering from malaria, however, the best remedy is to go to the doctor and have the medicines that are prescribed.

Dengue is another menace to be vary of. Caused by the Aedes mosquito, there is no known vaccine to help prevent dengue from occurring, but many swear by the juice of papaya leaves as the best known cure for the ailment itself. To make the juice, wash thoroughly a couple of papaya leaved and then, beat them into a pulp from which you can then extract the juices. Though it may taste bitter, just one serving of this can do wonders.

Eating out is a common trend today with the large varieties of food easily available.

Hygiene, especially at these eateries is questionable, and consumers often fall

victims of this through gastro intestinal problems. Another common monsoon ailment, most mothers and grandmothers will swear by this concoction as the best remedy mix -- a teaspoon of rock salt, white and black pepper powders, ginger and garlic paste and a pinch of asafetida which has been ground to a fine paste with the juice of half a lemon. Half a teaspoon of this can be had after every meal to relieve the body of flatulence, stomach ache and other gastric troubles.

Fungal infections are also very common during the monsoons as this weather is most conducive for bacteria and other infectious organisms which thrive in warm and dry places like the area between the toes or the folds of skin.

Fungal infections can easily be treated using a fine paste of one teaspoon of turmeric powder, one teaspoon of neem leaf paste and grind these with one teaspoon of sesame seeds adding a few drops of water to make pastelike consistency. Apply wherever there is fungal infection on the body. This is especially effective as application for infection between foot and hand fingers.

Try these simple yet effective home remedies, for a healthy, and fun monsoon this year, and say good bye to sick gloomy days Neem Leaves

Worship

Shravan: Penance and prayers POURNIMA R KERKAR write about the various traditions and rituals associated with the holy month of Shravan preceding the joyous celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi

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hravan, the holy month of the Hindu calendar is marked with fairs and festivals. Goan poet B. B. Borkar rightly says “Samudra bilori aina, Shrustila Pachava mahina” to the Hindu calendar.

‘Pachava’, meaning the fifth month, also represents the colour green. In this holy month, which falls right in the middle of the monsoons, everywhere you look you will find greenery and the true beauty of nature. Different colours mix and mingle with nature during this time. The word ‘pachava’ also relates to pregnant women. During the fifth month of pregnancy, they wear a look of freshness and a soothing smile on their face. During Shravan some Hindus prefers to observe a vegetarian and non alcoholic diet for a full month. Every day of the week is observed in honour of particular deity.

Narali Pournima (Rakshabandhan) is celebrated to pay homage to the sea god by offering coconuts. Rakshabandhan also celebrates love and the perfect, pure relationship of brother and sister by tying a sacred thread symbolically to the brother’s hand. Ashtamichi Jatra is a well known and unique fair in the Narve village in Bicholim on the river bank held inside the crematorium.

Nagapanchami is celebrated by offering milk, fruits, flowers and incense to a clay idol of cobra at home. On this day, digging of soil, frying ‘chapati or bhakri’ is avoided. ‘Patoli’ a sweet dish, is cooked in the form of ‘Prasad’. Kneaded wheat or rice flour stuffed with lentils and jaggery and steamed wrapped in turmeric leaves is the special sweet dish prepared on the occasion.

The month of Shravan is considered to be the best time to devote yourself to your spiritual side to purify the mind and body. Mangalagaur on Tuesday and the unique Aitar pujan (Sunday worship) means the worship of sun (Surya). This worship of nature is mainly for the longevity of a husbands’ life.

This puja is the symbolic worship of nature. On the morning of Shravani Aitar, women wake up early in the morning to venture to the nearby

forest to gather different types of leaves which are very important to the Aitar Puja. While gathering various types of leaves from trees and shrubs, they also familiarize themselves with the medicinal properties of the leaves. Some of the leaves gathered are ‘Ghodyachi Pavala’, ‘Shitechi bota’, ‘Mhatarechi Bondra’ and ‘Devachiddo’. On each of the four Sundays of Shravan, different leaves are used to make cups. Edible betel leaves are used on the first, turmeric leaves on the second. On the third and fourth Sunday, Mussaenda leaves are used.

On each Sunday preparation of sweets in the form of ‘Patoli’, ‘muthali’, ‘sanna’ and ‘poley’ are prepared. While making this sweets rice, coconut and jaggery is required.

These are lines from a traditional folklore and depict the conversation between a daughter in law and her father in law: DIL: Ashad soplo mamaji

Shirvan lagalo

Miyatari aitar dharituy FIL: Tel nage suni thembo gharat

Tiya kasali aitar dharituy Aitar Pujan

Patolyos

The woman expresses herself to her father in law, but the man says that there is nothing left to cook in the house, no oil to light the lamp for puja. There is not even a single drop of oil. How do you plan to perform the worship of sun?

He reprimands her not to perform ‘Aitar Pujan’. But she is firm on the decision and hence says that she is definitely going to worship the sun god. If there is no oil then I will use water as oil but certainly I will worship the sun.

Shravan is the perfect time in the year to observe a fast and relish on vegetarian food. Goans are traditionally fish eaters and it is the breeding season for fish during this time and perhaps our forefathers who had a strong ecological bondage took the decision to eat vegetarian food and attain equilibrium of the body and of nature. Our forefathers believed that in order to appreciate the beauty of nature and to attain selfcontrol, our minds should be free from eating non-vegetarian (tamasik) food and desist from drinking alcohol. Experts believe this could be the underlying reason of observing penance during the Hindu month of Shravan

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Food

Salty Fish delights

Margarida Tavora é Costa of the famed Chef Fernando’s Nostalgia shares two of her favourite dry fish recipes Sambarachi Codi and Dried salted shark rolls (Solvé). We’ve also included the recipe for the alltime favourite, Kismur. Read, prepare and enjoy these tastebud tickling traditional recipes which will leave you wanting more

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or fish loving Goans, a meal sans that all important ‘fish’ is inconceivable. But in the rainy season, and with the fishing ban in full effect, the dearth of fresh fish poses a problem.

Our wise ancestors had the solution to this when they perfected the art of preserving fish by salting it and then drying it out in the summer months preceding the monsoons, before storing it.

A range of fish, from prawn, shrimp, mackeral to shark, etc are salted. The same is also easily available in the market in summer.

When you purchase salt fish, make sure you store it well so that it does not come in

contact with any moisture.

Now salt fish is not for everyone and many people turn their face away thanks to the smell or the overpowering salty taste. However, if cleaned well and prepared using some traditional recipes, salt fish preparations can be an absolute pleasure for the palette.

With a wide variety of fish being salted and preserved, one can prepare a range of dishes. If it’s prawns you have on hand, you can make a nice Sambarachi Codi or a kismur (salad). A Sambarachi Codi is made using dry prawns, coconut milk and dried and preserved raw mango slices and seeds. All

INGREDIENTS Dried shark 500gms Medium sized potatoes 2nos (boiled and mashed) Turmeric powder 1 tbsp Chilli powder 1/4 tsp.

Ginger-garlic paste 1/2 tsp Juice of one lemon Eggs (beaten) 2 nos Breadcrumbs (to coat) Oil (to fry)

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these ingredients blend beautifully to ensure a curry with flavours that will tantalize your taste buds. Kismur meanwhile, is a slightly salty, slightly tangy salad made with dry prawns, onions and freshly grated coconut. The crunch of the onions and the prawns and the combination of salty (from the prawns) and tangy (from the lemon or tamarind juice) flavours make it a hot favourite among one and all.

Pair both these dishes with plain boiled Goan rice and a slice of pickled raw mango (water pickle) if you have it, and enjoy this comfort food on a rainy day.

Salted fish can also be pickled and this is called para.

Once pickled, all you need to do is roast the pieces lightly

Solvé

METHOD Soak the dried fish in water.

Next day, wash the fish well and cook it (under pressure) for 5 minutes.

Cool it and then remove the dark skin.

Mash the fish well Mix in the remaining ingredients (except the last 2).

Add finely chopped green chillies, lime juice and salt for taste Add salt if required when mixing.

Coat with breadcrumbs and fry till golden brown.

in a little hot oil. Mackerel or Bombil (Bombay Duck) is the fish of choice for para.

Then there is the traditional Bacalhau (Salt Cod Fritters). This is said to be a Portuguese recipe passed down. Dry salted cod forms the main ingredient.

To make a good Bacalhau, you have to be careful to get most of the salty taste out of the fish and for this, the fish must be soaked in cold water for at least two days and many water changes so as to get the excess salt out.

Otherwise, the salty taste will overpower every other flavor in the dish

Kismur Ingredients Dry prawns Tamarind soaked in water Chilli powder Chilli powder Freshly grated coconut Large onion finely chopped Oil Salt to taste

SEND IN 2 cups 1 lemon-sized ball 1 tsp 1/4 tsp 1 cup 1 nos 2 tsp

YOUR

RECIPE

mygoa.mag@gmail.com along with your name, postal address and photograph. We will be happy to publish it

Method Clean the prawns well, take off the head, legs and tails.

Heat the oil in a pan and then roast the prawns, on a slow fire.

Keep stirring continuously and when light brown, take off the fire. Once off the heat, the prawns will get crisp after a little while.

If the dried prawns are big, you can break them into half.

Mix together the grated coconut, chilli and turmeric powder, tamarind juice and salt. Mix thoroughly.

Just before serving the dish, add the prawn pieces and chopped onion and mix well once again. Do not add prawns before hand as they will get soft. (If your guests do not eat raw onions, you can roast the chopped onion in a little oil).

Garnish with a little fresh coconut and chopped coriander.

Serve fresh and crisp.

Sambarachi Codi Ingredients Kashmiri chillies 10 nos Coriander 3 spoons Peppercorns 1 tsp Ginger 1 inch piece Cloves 5 nos Garlic flakes 6 nos Cummin seeds (jeera) 1/4 tsp Mace (potri) 1 leaf Saffron 1 bit Cinnamon (tiki) 1 inch Mustard 1 1/4 tsp Coconut. 1 nos Dry prawns 1 cup Dry mango padde and dry mango slices (and in season, you can alternatively use bimblins) METHOD Grate the coconut, grind it well and extract the juice. Keep it aside.

Roast in hot oil all the above ingredients except the coconut.

Grind to a fine paste.

SautĂŠ 2 onions and 1chopped tomato.

Put all the roasted/ground masala.

Add the dry prawns (which have

been cleaned off their heads) Stir this well.

Lastly, add the coconut juice.

Let it cook for sometime on a slow fire for approximately 10 mins.

Then add the dry salted paddes and dry mango solans.

Taste and check for salt and add accordingly.

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MY GOA 39

Travel

visiting Italy

Mammamia!

With her dad set for a business trip to dreamy romantic Italy, SHIBA BHUTANI was only too happy to tag-along for a short yet memorable holiday. Here she shares the travel tales

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our days in Milan and a day in Venice with the family: my vacation was as warm and beautiful as can be. With sun sets as late as 9:30 in the night, it was indeed quite a surprise for a girl from India used to the sun setting by 6.30. Consequently, people find it safe to step out on to the

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bright and beautiful streets for a stroll or more. Illuminated by the warmth of the sun’s glow, the cities are quite alive through late evening and well into the night, too.

From the sunny suburbs of Milan, it took me half an hour Metro ride to get to the heart of Milan. The public transport is efficient and convenient and travelling by cabs, a friendly experience. Step into Milan and the first thing you notice is huge, clean streets, almost unrealistically beautiful like the dreamy locations in Hollywood movies.

Studded with beautifully lit shops, cafés and bistros, these streets make

MY GOA JULY-AUGUST 2012

interesting photographs in every frame that your camera might capture. Right outside the main train station is the City Center of Milan, a huge place filled with shops that tease and tempt your shopping senses.

Duomo, a humongous cathedral stands tall and proud in the city of Milan.

This divine cathedral is an attraction for the eyes of artists, architects, photographers and lovers of pure scenic beauty. Another attraction for a spirited tourist is the Fashion Street in the city. With its

innumerable stores it shows Milan to be the fashion capital of Italy. What I realized strongly was that Milan is a fusion of multiple time frames. You can see the classical and neo-classical architecture in the old, ancient and beautiful palazzos (palaces) and at the same time, you can see contemporar y ultra modern architecture in the commercial buildings.

But this fusion is aesthetically pleasing as well.

It does not clash at all. In fact, it reminds you of the wonderful scenes from the movie ‘Kate and Leopold’. No

Chapel of Gongolda

wonder Milan is world-famous for its fashion savvy public and design excellence!

Nothing says great Italian food like a slice of the traditional delicacy. You don’t know pizza till you’ve gorged on an authentic one in Italy. With fresh, seasonal ingredients from the local market, you are blessed with the aroma, sight and delight of one huge uniform-sized pizza; an experience that stays with you long after you’ve scraped the last bit of cheese off your plate.

Floating on to stories of my day in Venice, isn’t the idea of an entire city built on water jawdroppingly baffling, in a poetic sort of way. Well, it was just that, only more fairytale like.

Every metro, cab and bus is a boat ride. The public transport mainly consists of water buses which are called ‘vaporetti’ and water taxis which are

Duodo Palace Hotel

called ‘motoscafi’ which are the slightly faster and more modern water boats. With images of Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman and soft sound of ‘Do Lafzon ki Hain’ on my mind, I glazed over the ‘streets’ of Venice. Recovering from the pleasant shock of traveling everywhere in a boat, I made my way to San Maraco Square in Venice.

This, I believe, is a place that one must make all the effort in the world to visit. The Grand Canal, also referred to as the most beautiful street in Venice, is a huge canal that runs straight through the city. It is one of the 150 canals that Venice

A painting of Saint Mark’s Basilica

has.

Over this beautiful canal is the Rialto Bridge, one of the main tourist attractions of the city. The Rialto Bridge is one of the 400 or more bridges in Venice!

Two cities in Italy, and I found myself soaked and drenched in the warm culture of the place.

Five unbelievable days were enough to feel the pulse and rhythm of Italy. The architecture, art, music, food and amazing spirit in this place made it a mesmerizing experience.

Back in Milan, I couldn’t help but wish I had just one more day, to live a little more of Italy! It was only perfect that the country was performing beautifully in the Euro. Unfortunately they lost to Spain, but the spirit of the game was running through the streets and waters of Italy

A chapel in Duomo

Italy = Pizza!

After all the sight-seeing and shopping, when you are famished and it finally comes down to the basics, you can only think of one thing… Pizza! This authentic Italian delicacy is something that you cannot miss when you are in Italy. We, Indians are used to ordering a medium or a large sized pizza, but eating a Pizza in Italy is a completely new experience.

The concept of options in size does not exist here. In Italy, a pizza is a uniform sized one person portion. The specialty here is that only fresh ingredients are used in making these pizzas. That is what makes the pizzas so tasty and delicious. The fresh ingredients really bring out the authentic Italian flavors

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Fashion WEAR SHORTS THIS MONSOON

Take a Short Cut!

Shorts in summer are a given but the monsoons are just as inviting a season to go shorts shopping or flaunt your favourite pair. Alisha Patel gives you some tips of how to work the trend

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rom the 1800s, when shorts were first worn by boys as part of their school uniform till today, the apparel has undergone a major evolution. The styles, patterns and ways of wearing them have increased manifold, and today they are no longer just worn by men and boys. Shorts have become a necessity in every women’s wardrobe.

But with numerous styles and occasions, the fears and doubts in people’s minds about how to wear them are endless. From ‘What type of shorts suit my body?’ and ‘What shoes should pair up with my shorts?’ to ‘How do I wear shorts and avoid looking too casual?’ the list of questions is endless.

Designer and stylist, Falon D’Cruz says,” Shorts have really become a wardrobe staple for women today. They can move so easily from day to night attire and that, I think, is the key to good functional dressing. And while not every profession allows such dressing, I think people who are in the fashion industry

or into events and such are the ones who can really take advantage of the same. As awesome as they are, it’s important to wear shorts with care. The key is to find the right length and fit for your body type. It’s important to remember that you cannot grow into a pair of shorts.

The cardinal rule is that if it doesn’t look nice on you when you try it on, it won’t look nice even a little later. So no matter how cute and stylish they may look when you hold them against yourself in the store mirror or on the mannequin, or how sexy the colour may be, be true to yourself. If there’s even the slightest thing about the pair of shorts that doesn’t suit you, set it down, let it go and look for another pair. It’s important to try on different styles and lengths and to get a feel of what suits you best.

This way, if the shorts fit you and suit your body type you can confidently strut around in style.”

So, for all those of you who have your doubts about flaunting this trend, here

are some simple tips to help you make up your mind and thus, glam up your day and keep those heads turning everywhere you go.

Find the pair/style that suits your body type: Mid length shorts work well for almost all body types and unlike knee length shorts that visually cut your legs in half, shorter lengths make your legs look longer while still covering those problem areas like the upper thigh. If you

Westside Blue Nuon `799

Faye Quadros Denim `950

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Pair up with right shoes for the appropriate occasion: Nothing can spoil an otherwise well put together outfit than teaming the look with the wrong style of shoes. For a casual day look, slippers and sandals work best. Boots and shorts are generally a bad idea, especially if the boots are black. However, if you must, chose a pair in a tone similar to your skin colour (so it blends with your legs). If you really want to wear heels, we suggest you wait for a night occasion for the same.

Pick shoes that are simple yet relatively substantial.

A peep toe or a little platform works well for a simple yet glamorous look.

Wear your shorts with confidence: Remember, you have your own unique legs that are perfect for you. Keep your legs in shape with simple exercises, like skipping and running, jumping or squats. Also, remember that no matter what you wear, it is the confidence you wear it with that will either make or break your outfit.

Now that you have read these handy tips and cleared out all the nagging doubts surrounding wearing of shorts, it is time to flaunt those legs. Go girls!

Faye Quadros

Black Shiny `950

Orchid

Brown shorts `500

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Work them according to the occasion: Yes, shorts can be appropriate office attire when the right style is chosen and accessorized to make for a professional looking outfit. Choose longer length, trouser-styled shorts. Cuffed capris or belted Bermudas pleated in unwashed fabrics

such as twill or linen and paired with a button down crisp white shirt works well.

Add a fitted jacket and pumps to complete the more polished look. For a more casual look, a loose casual shirt and a sling bag are perfect for outdoor errands or just a laid back day out.

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are blessed with shapely long legs, hot pants teamed with a blazer or a fuller top, to balance out the proportions make an excellent combination.

For the plus sized and more curvaceous woman, clean cut Bermuda shorts are an ideal choice as they offer more coverage. Those with a petite body frame need not miss out on the trend. Go for a structured fabric cut close to the body and stay clear of oversized, relaxed fit shorts.

Adding cuffs will emphasize pettiness.

In Camera

Chikhal Kalo at Marcel

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t’s a rain tradition considered to be over 150 years old which the locals of Marcel, in Ponda taluka carry out with zest and fervour even today. The inception of the monsoons and the heavy showers form the perfect setting for the famous Chikhal Kalo festival. Quite literally meaning ‘playing in the mud’, one will get to see a large number of devotees heartily plunge into a roll-in-the-muck ‘mud bath’ in front of the Devki-Krishna temple.

The air is rife with the beats of drums, cymbals and bells, and the chanting “Jai Hari Vithal” as the participants, all men, enter the mucky ground where a variety of games, all ensuring a thorough mud bath, are played.

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Various sweetmeats and dishes are prepared by the womenfolk of the village and these are first offered to the chikhal kalo participants. The festival concludes with the dahi handi where youngsters form a human pyramid to reach the earthen pot filled with curd that is hung from a Peepal tree in the temple’s compound. One has to break the pot to get to the curd, an enactment of what Krishna did as a child.

The Chikhal Kalo festival is held every year, two days after Aashaadhi Ekadashi which is the eleventh day of the Hindu calendar’s Aashaadh month, associated with Shri Vithal, the most popular form of Shri Krishna (Lord Vishnu)

Sanjeev Sardesai captures the various moods and sights of this festival.

1. After paying primary obeisance to all temples around, participants circumambulate the temple before the start of the Chikhal Kalo.

2. Chanting of ‘Hari Vithal’ in the temple.

3. Traditional temple oil lamp from where the oil to the body is applied.

4. Distribution of sweets before the start of the Chikhal Kalo.

5. A person in dunked and splashed with mud of chikhal 6. Games played - Human tug of war 7. A father introduces his son to the traditions of the festival

8. Young girls participating in the action 9. Children, too, have their own section 10. Games played - Human Tunnel 11. A mock singing duel 12. Participants eagerly participate in the ‘dahi-handi’ festivities

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Sports Second Tolani Open Summer National Bridge Championship

Bridging the gap

Goa is becoming a hub for Bridge. During the next few months our state will play host to a flurry of national level bridge tournaments. LYNDON PINTO takes you through one that was recently held

Engrossed in Bridge

T

he 2nd Tolani Open Summer National Bridge Championship was inaugurated on June 17, 2012 at Taleigao Community Centre by Dr. Prafulla Hede of Hede Group of Companies in the presence of Kirrubakara Moorthy, President, Bridge Federation of India, Arijit Guha, General Secretary, A K Jahagirdar, Chairman of the organizing committee and President Goa Bridge Association, Prasad Quenim, Vice President and Suresh Kamat, Past President of Goa Bridge Association.

The championships commenced with the Team of Four event for the Tolani Gold Trophy and Tolani Silver Trophy. There were a total of 39 teams for the Tolani Gold and 44 teams for the Tolani Silver in the tournament.

The event was organized by Goa Bridge Association under the auspices of Sports Authority of Goa and Bridge Federation of India from 17th to 21st June 2012. The Championships had two events - The Team of Four Duplicate event, where the participating teams played for Dr. N. P. Tolani Gold Trophy and Dr. N. P. Tolani Silver Trophy (event for Non-Masters) and an IMP Pairs event.

In the 4x14 boards finals played for Tolani Gold Trophy, Dhampur Sugar Mills (S Vaidya, Arun Bapat, S Mukherjee, B Saha, D Majumder, P Kushari) comfortably beat Shri Radhey (V M Lal, R

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G Bhiwandkar, Amod Rele, Prakash Dalvi, Sunil Machhar) by 157-105. Though Shri Radhey won the 1st set by 14 IMPS, they were thrashed in the 2nd set by 43 IMPs and Dhampur Sugar Mills comfortably won the next 2 sets by 17 & 6 IMPs respectively to win the Tolani Gold Trophy.

No team from Goa could qualify for the Team Gold event.

In the Tolani Silver Trophy, the only team to qualify from Goa for the pre QFs was the one with Pradeep Bhandari, Madhav Naik, Barve and Chauthai. Here they were unfortunate to be matched against the ultimate winners - OSRC, Bhubaneshwar and lost by a single IMP. In the 4X14 boards Finals of, the Silver event, OSRC Bhubaneswar (Bhimasen Pradhan, A K Baliasingh, P K Nayak, R C Nayak) beat Dr Helekar (S V Shinde, Dr M N Helekar, Avinash Chitale, S A Prabhu) by 142-135 IMPs to lift the Tolani Silver Trophy. The winners lost in the first set by 13 IMPs but recovered a solitary IMP in the 2nd set and 10 more in the 3rd set to make the match very interesting in the last set. The score with last 14 boards to play was 95-93 in favour of Dr. Helekar team. It seemed that the match would tilt towards the Helekar team, when on the first board (board 43) of 4th set they gained 11 IMPs and further consolidated their position on the 47th board, when

the OSRC team overshot to a slam, which was not there, but that was not to be and they recovered all their losses in the last few boards to win the set by 49-41 and the well contested match by a mere 7 IMPs. 82 pairs participated in the Match Point Pairs Event and pair P Sudhakar Rao - C Srinivasa Rao ranked first and S M Moin - R A Siddiqui pair secured 2nd place. Suresh Kamat, senior player from Goa playing with Alagappan ranked third.

The IMP (International Match Points) Event Elimination 1 started with 141 Pairs. This was reduced to 84 pairs for the 2nd Elimination.

The 54 pair final of the IMP Pairs was played in 3 sessions with 3 sections of 9 Tables. Pranab Bardhan and S. N. Dey Sarkar with a massive score of 79 in the second set took the lead and comfortably won the event. Kaustabh Nandi and Sandip Datta were 2nd with 125 IMPs. The youngsters Animesh Raj and Sriniwas had an excellent performance coming 3rd with 107 IMPs. The best a pair from Goa could manage the 7th spot -- a creditable performance for young Prasad Quenim.

The Tolani Gold Trophy winners walked away with a cash prize of Rs 120000 while the winners of the Tolani Silver Trophy bagged a Rs 50000 cash prize and the IMP Pairs received Rs 25000 as cash award. “Goa has become a major hub for bridge in Goa. We still require the coming forward of many personalities for the betterment of the sport. In the future, Goa has the ability to become an international hub as well, but this requires wider support. Also the challenge of players from Goa has some way to go before it poses a serious threat to the rest of India. Tangible encouragement from the Sports Authority of Goa and other Goan industrialists could go a long way in providing skill as well as exposure to quality Bridge for our local players,� said A K Jahagirdar, President Goa Bridge Association

Beautiful People

Dances of Goa released Goa has many folk dances such as the Horbala, Ghodemodni, Goff, etc which owe their origin to the imitation of indigenous patterns of human behavior.

In an attempt to acquaint the people of Goa with its culture through folk dance, Lotus TV and Films Production

Alina Saldanha releases the cd with Nalini Elvino de Sousa of Lotus films

have documented the various dance forms in their authentic presentation in a DVD titled “Dances of Goa”. This DVD was produced and sponsored by Fomento and Cidade de Goa. Cidade de Goa and Fomento will encourage efforts to record and preserve cultural aspects of Goa. The crew, over a period of 18 months, visited places where these dance forms are performed. Some of the dances are best representative of the secular fabric that Goa is so proud of.

The DVD is spoken and is also subtitled in Konkani, English and Hindi. It was released by Alina Saldanha, Minister of Forest and Environment, guests of Honour were Vishnu Wagh, Chairperson of Kala Academy, Prasad Lolyekar, Director of Art and Culture, Special Invitees were, Dr. Antonio Sabido Costa, Consul General of Portugal in Goa, Sanjit Rodrigues, Commissioner of CCP and Vaidehi Naik, Mayor of Panaji

Goa Chamber’s 104th AGM held The 104th Annual General Meeting of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) was held amid much pomp and grandeur. The chief guest for the function was CM Manohar Parrikar while R V Kanoria, President of FICCI was the keynote speaker. Manguirish Pai Raiker, GCCI President welcomed and thanked the guests for being a part of the evening. Addressing the gathering, the CM spoke out about how he wants to stabilise the state’s economy in the right way

Ralph de Sousa

Gaurang Suctancar

Narayan R Bandekar

Datta Damodar Naik

Sunder Advani

Amit Bandekar

Chirag Naik

Sanjeev Trivedi

Joe Mathias

Nitin Kunkolienkar

Fr. Romualdo de Sousa

R V Kanoria

Manohar Parrikar

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Manguirish Pai Raikar

Sayiprakash Raikar

installed as President of Rotary Club of Panaji

Businessman Sayiprakash Raikar was installed as the President of Rotary Club of Panaji. The club is celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year. Dr. Rekha Shetty was the Chief Guest for the ocassion. Talking about his new role as the head of the Club, Raikar was all enthusiastic and ready to do exemplary community service. He sponsors two schools in Karwar and is known among his peers as a hard worker. He along with his board of Directors have already embarked on a spree of community activities. The recently held school quiz to commemorate the Olympic Games was an initiative of Raikar

ikar Sayiprakash Ra Subhash Sajane performing the installation as other dignitaries cheer Rotarian Sayiprakash Raikar

Bhavana Raikar

Deepak Harmalkar

Parag Sardessai, Asst. Governor

Gaurish Dhond

Viresh Nadkarni

Shashank Mahatme

Subhash Sajane

Dr. Rekha Shetty

Nester Sequeira

Satish Kavlekar

Dr. Prasad Netrawalkar

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Final Word The author is an art historian, painter and writer who lives in Carmona and runs Saxttikids a preprimary school in her backyard

SAVIA VIEGAS

That ‘piece of my heart’

A

s a little child, I often asked my mother what Goa meant: ‘What is Goa, Mai?’ She would take me on her lap, draw a little circle on my chest and say: It is a piece of your heart. Sometimes it makes you cry but it also makes you happy. I grew up thinking it was like a little green piece of land deep inside me.

Through school and the early part of college these ideas changed. In the late seventies things worsened in Goa. The economy stagnated and new genres of jobs were unheard. Lack of opportunities for young educated people forced an outward migration. The things we wanted to do had no scope here. I had decided to leave for Bombay for further studies or to ferret out career opportunities.

The train is whistling at Margao station. The compartment where I am sitting suddenly is full of smells of chouris pao and ripe jackfruit. It sickens me somewhat as my mother taps the window.

I look up. ‘Take care in the city and safely return,’ she cautions, her eyes full of tears. I am 19 and am leaving home first time from a overly sheltered childhood.

The train was headed for VT taking me onward on a journey into life and further studies. I had secured admission in Elphinstone college, Mumbai, a radical institution at the time.

From journalism, to teaching, to scripting plays and research, my career graph took diverse turns. In this phase I grew away from Goa as I leant nationwards and drank in the colours of its diversity and recoiled at its vicious communal fangs. City issues became my

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concerns as I worked as an activist in Dharavi, wrote plays for ASTHA lectured in a city college and forgot I was Goan.

That ‘piece of heart’ had now become a subterranean root growing in the womb of my soul. But when I returned from US after my Fulbright sojourn in 2004, something snapped my ties with the city.

Just like that. Phut.

The silken veins of the piece of Goa lodged in my soul drew me back again to home soil after 28 years. The sense of belonging resurfaced from the root within and began to sprout stems, branches and light green leaves. It was as if I had never left.

We restored the old house and began to live in it. A pre-primary school for the village sprouted in my backyard allowing me to plough back some of what I had acquired during life’s journey. This was not just a structure but a school where there were no differences of high and low, untainted by colour of caste and

creed. We started with 14 children and in just a few years, we had touched an all time high of 75 students.

I had once been amused by the fact that an airline strike of planes going to West Asia a few years ago had brought the betel leaf pluckers and farmers to the brink of starvation. I had a direct taste of this recently when many village schools reverted to English medium.

Our numbers plummeted despite the stringent quality control. Many of the parents were first generation learners and were keen to have education for their children in English medium and were not particular about the finer points of teaching philosophy.

Reverting back after almost three decades was not easy. Carmona, much like most Goan villages, lacked a leisure life and got very lonesome. This factor was further exacerbated by the fact that poor quality private transport between city and hinterland induced pessimism.

However, there were silver linings, too. I was able to follow my love for creative writing and painting in remote Carmona. My books hatching, hatching from a long time, Tales from the Attic (2007) and Let me Tell you about Quinta (2011) were both published after my reverse journey. I had an exhibition in 2009 titled Picturing Us of 30 works in acrylics. In 2012 Abhanama and Diddi and Eddi, both graphic novels are to be self published. But I have miles to go before I sleep. Someone once said you may roam the whole wide world. But the sweetest of all is always home that little piece of my heart -- Goa