Winter Edition 2010
The Voice of the Goan Diaspora Worldwide
This season Goa celebrates >>> Feast of St. Francis Xavier– 3rd December Immaculate Conception– 8th December Christmas– 25th December New Year– 1st January
Feast of the Epiphany– 6th January Republic Day– 26th January Shigmotsav Carnival
Newsletter of the World Alliance Of Goan Associations Editor & Creatives: Kenelm Santana Lopes The mood is set! My bags are packed and I’m ready to go and so are many others !!! Thousands of you have either already arrived in Goa for Christmas or are about to leave. And that includes our patrão Rene Barreto himself ! Unfor‐ tunately there will be many who might not be able to make it. On Christmas eve and on Christmas day they will be haunted by the memories of the warmth of this season celebrated in Goa. A lot of us while visiting Goa will lament how ‘Goa is going to the dogs’ and have a drink or two over it. We decided to get off the proverbial balcão and actually try to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT ! I recently read a book on social entrepreneurship. To borrow Wiki’s gyan, A social entrepreneur rec‐ ognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to organize, create and manage a ven‐ ture to achieve social change (a social venture). Whereas a business entrepreneur typically meas‐ ures performance in profit and return, a social entrepreneur focuses on creating social capital. Thus, the main aim of social entrepreneurship is to further social and environmental goals. However, whilst social entrepreneurs are most commonly associated with the voluntary and not‐for‐profit sectors, this need not necessarily be incompatible with making a profit. We were terribly impressed with the idea and some of us have started work on a couple of pro‐ jects. One idea was towards bringing green technologies to Goa. We realized that we had better exposure
From Inacio D’Silva’s Desk There is a need to recognize the efforts and achievements of deserving Goans who bring hope of preserving the Goan identity. The Awards aim to excite, inspire and encourage Goans to participate, get involved and appreci‐ ate our deserving brothers and sisters. Read More about it at http://www.theglobalgoanawards.org/
to green and ecologically responsible development. Wind , solar and sea waves as sources of energy re‐ main underexploited. Development of bicycle lanes on all roads and promoting the use of bicycles through ‘bicycle only’ campuses and industrial es‐ tates. Enforcement of plastic free zones. Develop‐ ment of green belts in cities by reclaiming polluted swampy land. While all this overall seems like a massive task, you will notice that it can easily be broken down into multiple projects. So we put separate multiple teams in place to work on each of them. To take one example, the use of bicycles. Quite a few campuses in Europe use bicycles. We would
An Attempt to Save Goa Goan Social Entrepreneurs Kenelm Santana Lopes Editor, Global Goenkar, Winter Edition 2010
hope for some Goans from there to share how the bicycles are managed, distributed, lanes designed, etc. A local representative would then find a suitable large campus (say Goa University / GMC/ GEC, etc) where we would lobby with the management to work with us. We might also have to look for and find sponsors for any financial assistance that may be required. Finally a team would champion the idea to it’s implementation and successful deployment. The wonderful thing is that the same model is being used for developing a school for differently abled children, geriatric care, development of local Goan‐ handicrafts , etc., all under one umbrella. As a second idea let us take the education of under‐ privileged children. We have a large number of teachers retiring at the age of 60 every year who are physically still very active and whose productive teaching career is truncated by a piece of legislation that requires them to retire at 60. Put both together and organize a place, a small stipend and you have made the teacher and the aspiring student happy.
Social Entrepeurship is not something that we have invented. People have been social entrepreneurs on a smaller scale without realizing it. Rene has brought multiple Goan associations to‐ gether because of which I actually have a platform to write this editorial and reach Diaspora Goans in doz‐ ens of countries. Edward Verdes has been saving our rich resource of Konkani Music, preserving the lyrics and making it available to us on the internet. Clyde Fernandes decided to save his dear mother’s recipes and make a website out of it. He has given us an archive of Goan recipes like never before and made a venture out of it (Story described in an article inside). We are only extending the idea to include larger groups and institutions and tracking them as time and resource bound projects. But the funda‐ mental principle is the same. Luckily for us , Christmas gets us all converging in Goa and many of us will be meeting to form these little groups and kick off our projects. Since these projects are intended to be tracked using Project Management methodologies ( we will help train those not familiar ) used by many of us, we can sci‐ entifically track our projects to their logical comple‐ tion by constantly tracking our timelines, stake‐ holders, volunteers and making changes where nec‐ essary . Involvement of Government bodies, NGO’s and prominent personalities may be required too. We will help form your team around your idea with local representatives, experts, and help you make contact with the right people. We intend to make information and the progress on our projects available online so we can work effec‐ tively without geographical limitations crippling us. The trick is to ‘Just Do It’. When things start moving others will join. We realize that this is a vast impossi‐ bly large project but we look at it as many little small but doable projects put together. We like to see our glass as half full! If you are keen to work with us on this, please drop us an e‐mail at kenelmlopes@gmail.com. There is a job for everyone ! From Rene, myself and all of us Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
World Konkani Convention:
President of India presents award to Rene Barreto
Mangalore, Dec 9: The Konkani Ekta Divas cele‐ integral part of the rhythm of the nation. We constitution and thus brought the status of Na‐ brated today as part of the 25 days of first world should have a commitment to work for the devel‐ tional language to Konkani. Konkani cultural convention, would certainly go opment of the country and all citizens must have Margaret Alva lamented that these days many down in the annals of the history of Konkani with an opportunity to grow. Unity in diversity and Konkani families do not speak Konkani at home her Excellency the President of India Pratibha harmony are the essential features of our coun‐ as we have come under the influence of western Devisingh Patil gracing the occasion with her pres‐ try. Konkani people represent the essence of culture. “ Let us not forget to speak Konkani at our ence as the chief guest. Her presence in this func‐ India and must continue to be coherent and homes. I am proud to go anywhere and say I am a tion is another step in the direction of taking Kon‐ unified force so that the community and its art Konkani . Our people have done a lot of work and kani to greater heights in all its splendor and and culture can prosper”. She concluded saying contributed immensely to the well being of the glory and the Konkani cultural convention or‐ “tumka serve konkani lokak muje ullas and shub‐ nation”, she said. She also said that the Konkani ganized by Mandd Sobhann to mark its 25 years hashay”, thus adding Konkani flavor to her community should be thankful to Mandd Sobhann of existence proved to be the right occasion. speech, befitting the observing of Vishwa Konkani for bringing the President of India to the Konkani President Pratibha Devisingh Patil honoured 25 Ekta Divas. capital, Mangalore. Konkani cultural organisations and associations The governor of Karnataka Hansraj Bharadwaj Minister of Higher Education, Dr V Acharya, who for their valuable contribution to the preserva‐ pointed out that the presence of the President of represented the Chief Minister of Karnataka, B S tion and enrichment of Konkani culture in their India in today’s function is a matter of great hon‐ Yeddyurappa conveyed the wishes of the Chief Minister to the Konkani people on the region, on the occasion. In her mes‐ occasion. Dr Acharya said sage she acknowledged that having “Contributions of Konkani people in witnessed glimpses of Konkani art various fields of development such as and culture in all its magnificence education, banking industry, literature, she felt being a part of this rich cul‐ tural mosaic. health care and culture are unparalled. The President said that literature Konkanis have set an example for the can be an instrument of bringing country in the matter of peaceful coexis‐ tence”. He also said that the 25 day harmony and national integrity. long cultural convention will get the “Konkani writers can contribute to support of the state government. national integration and forge unity Earlier, Chairman of the reception com‐ and eradicate social evils by creating mittee Ronald Colaco, Gurkar Eriz awareness through their writings. Ozario, President of Mandd Sobhann Konkanis are an enlightened commu‐ nity who have immensely contrib‐ Louis Pinto and other office bearers uted to the field of education in this escorted the President to the dais on state. Some of the educational insti‐ her arrival with a ceremonial welcome. tutions set up by the Konkanis are Louis Pinto gave a traditional welcome more than 100 years old” she said. to the President by offering paan‐pod‐ “Education plays an important role in udak (areconut, beetle leaf and water). today’s knowledge based world and In his welcome address Chairman of the education must continue to receive Reception Committee Ronald Colaco higher priority. Any nation can pro‐ said “Konkani people believe we are gress and prosper if the people are Indians first and Konkanis next. We are disciplined and work with a commit‐ the peace loving people and we uphold President Patil honoured 25 Konkani cultural organisations and asso‐ human values and strive for communal ment. We must follow a pattern in ciations for their valuable contribution to the preservation and enrich‐ harmony. Our contribution to the econ‐ which every individual plays a con‐ ment of Konkani culture in their region, on the occasion. One of those omy of the country is unparalleled. and structive role in taking the nation in honoured was World Goa Day and the photo shows her presenting the with India on the verge of becoming an the path of development”, she award to Rene Barreto. Also another photo of her presenting an award economic super power our share to the added. to Maria Barreto, Rene's wife economy of the country will be much Pratibha Devisingh Patil also stated greater in the days to come”. that Konkani people have a rich tra‐ dition and culture. They are hardworking and our not only to the Konkani samaj but also to the Louis Pinto extended a floral welcome to the enterprising people who have actively partici‐ entire state of Karnataka. He said “we must all President by offering a bouquet of flowers, a pated in the national freedom movement and follow Konkani people so that we can create a saree and a bunch of jasmine flowers to symbolize after independence contributed to the economic , strong and unified India”. our tradition, culture, respect and intimacy. He political and social life of the country. “You have Governor of Jharkhand Margaret Alva who spoke also offered bouquets of flowers to the other dig‐ showcased the richness of your heritage and in her mother tongue Konkani pointed out that nitaries on the dais. Dr Devi Singh Shekhavat, Pra‐ traditions. It has also shown the strength of Konkanis have reached different parts of the fulatha Bharadwaj, MP Oscar Fernandes, Ronald unity among the various dialects of Konkani globe and have achieved name, fame and success. Colaco and Dolphy Prashanth D Souza were also speaking people”, she remarked. “Konkanis are very adjustable people. Wherever among the guests on the dais. Emphasizing the importance of secularism in a we go, we gel with the local traditions and adopt Gurkar Eric Ozario proposed the vote of thanks. multi religious and multi‐lingual country like India the script of that land. Be it Malayalam in Kerala, Ravishankar Rao compered the programme. the President said “secularism is the constitution‐ Devanagari in Maharashtra or Kannada in Karna‐ http://www.daijiworld.com/news/wkcc/default.asp?col_id=72 ally chosen path in our country which guarantees taka Konkani have used the script of that land in by Florine Roche‐ Daijiworld Media Network – respect to all religions. India is a land of people of their literature”, she said. She also recalled that Mangalore diverse religious and ethnic groups who live in she worked with all her might to ensure the Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje harmony. This tradition must continue to form an inclusion of Konkani in the 8th schedule of the
PIONEERING INITIATIVE TO BAG NATIONAL ACCOLADES FOR MUSIC HEROES
Lorna Cordeiro (aka Lorna), also renowned as Goa's Nightingale, has won a Karmaveer Puraskar 2010 under the 'Promoting Culture' category, following her successful nomination by Armando Gonsalves, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Trancemedia. The drive to get national accolades for deserving Goan musicians of today and yester‐ years was initiated during this year's World Goa Day celebrations held at the Gon‐ salves Mansion, better known as the Home of Jazz, in Campal, Panjim. Armando is himself a Karmaveer Puraskar awardee for 2009 in the Peace and Harmony category. He is the second Goan to win this award and the first from the state, in this category. The only other Goan honored with a Kar‐ maveer earlier was noted singer, Remo Fernandes. As an awardee, Armando had also nominated the internation‐ ally renowned Jazz artist and musician, Saskia Laroo of the Netherlands, for a Karmaveer Puraskar. Saskia, who toured Goa on November 19 and 20, 2010, for exclusive shows, also won the award under the 'Global Musician' category. “ I nominated Saskia since she was the first foreign artists to perform in India immediately after the 26‐11 terror attacks on Mumbai. We held the 'Jazz for Peace' concert in Panjim, which was very highly appreciated. I firmly believe, we should exert extra efforts to promote peace and love among all communities worldwide and Saskia amply proved that music is the best vehicle to promote universal understanding,” Armando stated. “I believe Goan musicians truly merit proper na‐ tional honors such as an award from the Padma series, which is the highest national accolade for a civilian, given by the Indian government. Goa has a rich musical heritage and our musicians have made tremendous contributions to the national and international music industry. My company, Trancemedia, has therefore pioneered a move‐ ment to energize all lovers of Goan and Konkani music to seek proper national awards for deserv‐ ing musicians from the state,” Armando, said. On August 20 this year, Trancemedia's brand, Konkani Rocks, had conducted a unique concert at the Gonsalves Mansion. Titled 'Rain or Shine‐ Konkani Rocks, the event featured Lorna and other local musicians. Though Lorna was perform‐ ing after a long gap, the August 20 concert re‐ vealed she had matured to a new, better level, which was appreciated by the audience. This led to a demand from Lorna's fans for another con‐ cert, this time, in South Goa. In response, Trance‐ media conducted the show, 'Konkani Rocks Goa‐ Celebrating Lorna & More..' which was also at‐ tended by Goa's Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, among other VVIPs. Kamat, in his comments said,
he sees “ no problems” in nominating Lorna for a Padma award. Armando Gonsalves and Trancemedia will shortly launch an Internet campaign to serve as a forum for Goans and Konkani music lovers to voice their support for national awards for music stars of yesteryears. “ People in Goa want to actively sup‐ port this initiative. We will channelize this positive
energy to create a platform whereby we can ap‐ proach the Indian government to support and honor Goan music maestros whose contributions to the Indian and foreign music scene have been very significant,” he added. One such Goan musician whose cause Armando and Trancemedia have taken up is Anthony Gon‐ salves. Now in his 80s, Anthony Gonsalves was immortalized by the 1977 hit song “My Name is Anthony Gonsalves…” rendered by Amitabh Bach‐ chan with Kishore Kumar as the playback singer for the blockbuster movie, 'Amar, Akbar, An‐ thony.'
“ Most Goans and Indians are not aware the song was inspired by Anthony Gonsalves, who now lives in oblivion at his ancestral home in Majorda. An‐ thony pioneered the art of blending orchestration into cinema music and was the first to use a fusion of western and Hindi tunes for Bollywood movies. These styles are used in almost every movie pro‐ duced today but its creator, Anthony Gonsalves, is forgotten. We worked towards getting a national award for this Goan great,” Armando ex‐ plained. Trancemedia also owns the brand, Heritage Jazz, which con‐ ducted the first ever Heritage Jazz Festival on November 27 and 28 this year. The two‐day event in‐ cludes honoring of some re‐ nowned Goan musicians. The Heritage Jazz Festival saw major foreign bands performing interna‐ tional quality shows in Panjim. Further, Armando also energized and launched a charity concept‐ Goa ForGiving. Under the Goa ForGiving umbrella, Armando and his team takes international and local music stars to visit homes for the aged, hospitals and slums. “We also have an ongoing project to conduct mu‐ sic workshops to train underprivileged kids, chil‐ dren of migrant workers residing in Goa and school students. This has fetched us a lot of ap‐ plause since street kids and underprivileged chil‐ dren often perform during our shows. This boosts their confidence and we encourage them to take music as a profession that can help them rise from poverty,” Armando explained. As part of the com‐ pany's Corporate Social Responsibility, Tranceme‐ dia also conducts fundraisers and charity events under its brands.
Natalam Ani Novem Voros - A Childhood Memory -Kenelm Santana Lopes Oh there is no place like home for the Holi‐ days……………...sang someone, and for the Goan, home will always be Goa. Christmas growing up in Goa was a magical affair. A week before the 25th, our 3 maids would descend on my home and clean the cobwebs from the 8 metre high roof, wash the festive linen, polish the brass, etc Then a couple of days before, a hindu cook would visit and spend the day at our house, making neureos with coconut and raisin stuff‐ ing, kulkuls, mandare and other fried sweets. Our Catholic maid would in turn make the doce de grao, doce de coco, dodol, pinagri, bolo de coco, etc. Especially exotic was the preparation of Aranhas de Coco (Ghons) made of fine strips of tender coconut candied in sugar. As ‘little master’ it was my duty (presumed) to sample each sweet. My own preparations began exactly 8 days before where a large table was placed in the balcony and generously loaded with soil. My cousins and I then fashioned miniature fields sown with millet and wheat, built a stone and hay stable and used an old blue saree to form a sky like background with paper stars stuck all over. The statues were then placed in this tableau except for the baby Jesus. Our male help came and put up the fairy lights all over
the high eaves of the house. A large star made from a bamboo stick frame and paper was then lit & hung in front of the house Artificial Christmas trees were rare and a huge 5 metre
Casuarina branch was placed in a corner of the hall. We then enthusiastically went about decorating it with Christmas ornaments, some of which we made ourselves. On Christmas eve, the village wore a dark look as none of the illuminations were lit till mid‐ night. At midnight mass, as the bells pealed, the statue of the baby Jesus was placed in the
crib by an elder at home. At the same time fairy lights all over the village were turned on. Much wine and cake was consumed as people met for a treat . The next morning a huge antique platter was laden with the dozens of sweets prepared and bought and this platter called ‘Consuada’ was served to all guests visit‐ ing that day. Packages with sweets were sent to all relatives, friends, neighbours and people in mourning as no sweets are prepared in the year of mourn‐ ing. Lunch was the expected sumptuous treat. We visited elders in the morning to wish them and were visited by my parents younger siblings in turn. Strict Protocol! In the evening I was left to the care of my grandmother while my parents and friends went for the Christmas dance.
The Smiling Bishop - Retreats in UK by a Goan Retreat Group The Goan community in UK had the privilege of attending retreats and healing services this sum‐ mer. The retreat group consisted of his Lordship Rev Bishop Allwyn Fernandes Barreto, Fr. Joe Santiago, Mr. Olivio Pinto and Mrs. Prudencia Pinto. The retreats were organised by the Goan chaplaincy, under the guidance of Fr. Francis Rosario, the Goan chaplain. The retreat sessions, both in Konkani and English were held over three weeks in eleven different parishes, commencing on the 10th of July in Swin‐ don. One of the striking retreats was organised by the St. Joseph’s Youth group, Wembley consisting of the Goan Youth. It was amazing to see the youth organise this retreat entirely coordinated by Clayton & Dione Fernandes Barreto. The last session was conducted at St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church in Mitcham. Each session approximately three hours long, started with praise and worship. A homily followed this, the main theme being God’s Love for us. In this moving homily, Bishop Allwyn and Fr. Joe drove home the point that God’s love for us is unconditional. ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that every‐ one who believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life’ Jn 3:16. From this love flows forgive‐ ness. If we believe that God forgives, then we learn to forgive others and ourselves. {Both Peter and Judas sinned – Peter in denying Jesus and
Judas in betraying Jesus. But Peter became the ‘Rock’ on which Christ built His Church, while Judas ended his life. They both asked for mercy and the Lord forgave them both. The difference was that Peter forgave himself but Judas did not.} How often do we make our lives more difficult by unforgiveness both of self and the other? We ask the Lord to help us forgive – the decision is ours,
lined. Adoration with the healing service and laying of hands followed a meaningful Eucharistic celebra‐ tion. During the healing service, the sick were prayed over by Bishop Allwyn and Fr. Joe. It was amazing to see some of the healings that took place. Some of those on whom the Bishop and Fr. Joe laid hands on, slayed in the Spirit. They experi‐ enced a deep peace within, others experienced love, joy and forgiveness. May this spiritual experience be a spark for us to lead more prayerful lives, to read the Word of God more often and let our lives be ruled by it, to sur‐ render our lives to our Creator and seek His will in all things. This wonderful experience was made possible, thanks to the generosity of many to whom we are really grateful. Fr. Francis worked very hard as the main co‐ordinator. It is not possible to thank each one individually, but we know that in God’s work, the grace comes from God. The role of the Holy Spirit was highlighted. We the ultimate thanks comes from the success of a tend to pray to God the Father and Jesus His Son, mission. May God abundantly bless you and your but not as much to the Holy Spirit, the third per‐ families as you continue your generous work. son in the Triune God. Jesus led a quiet 30 years of life, until after his baptism, when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. By the power of that Spirit, Veena Da Silva He performed great miracles. Architectural Engineer The virtues of faith and surrender which are so WOSCESTER‐UK important in our spiritual growth were also under‐
Diaspora Nostalgia
Goa as we recall it
Goa’s Very Own Airline Few would be acquainted with it, but from the year 1955, till 1961, Goa’s Dabolim Airport was the hub for its very own international airline ‐ one that operated across Asia and Africa and directly connected Goa to destinations as disparate as Karachi, Beira, Jeddah and Timor. This is the story of the ‘Transportes Aereos da India Portuguesa‘ ‐ or Goa’s very own airline, as we know it ‐ and of how aviation was employed to hold together a crumbling global empire in the face of insur‐ mountable odds. Aviation first came to Goa on November 19, 1930 when Portuguese pilot Moreira Cardozo flew a three seater Havilland from Amadora, near Lis‐ bon, landing on a dirt strip near the Mormugao harbour at what would later be Goa’s Dabolim Airport. Cardozo was given a rousing welcome ‐ complete with felicitations and cash prizes in hon‐ our of his achievement. But Goa had no use for aviation. British India enjoyed friendly relations with the Portuguese government, and it made far better sense to fly to Bombay and then sail or drive down to Goa. Overland trade with Goa flourished and sea routes were open and easy to use. All this changed in 1947. With the British Raj gone, a fledgling Independent India demanded that Portugal hand over all its enclaves in India. This demand was grossly rejected by a fascist regime in Lisbon ‐ one whose anti decolonisation policies would later lead to its own obliteration. In time, sociable negotiations ruptured into heated political exchanges and by 1954, the alienation was complete. India shut down its consulate in Goa, and instituted an economic blockade against Goa. The blockade was crippling. All trade with India ceased as rail and road links were snapped. The only link left was by sea, and no one had any delusions on how effectively the Indian Navy could snap this as well. Cut off, Goa would have been lost, but as early as 1951, the Portuguese were already looking to the skies to salvage Unfeasible proposals to para‐drop supplies into Goa using DC‐4 Skymaster aircrafts taking off from friendly Pakistan were made until 1954 dawned, and out of options, the Portuguese set up the ‘Servico Aeronáutica Civil’, which began developing the airport at Dabolim and setting up an airline ‐ the TAIP. Eventually on the 10th of August 1955, the first TAIP flight ‐ a 14 passenger deHavilland Heron piloted by Major Solano da Almeida ‐ arrived from Karachi to Goa, circling first over Panjim to a thunderous ovation from watching crowds and then landing at the new airport at Dabolim. A return flight was later made on what would be the TAIP’s first route: Goa ‐ Karachi. The airport at Dabolim comprised a small passenger building, a single radio beacon and a small shed which served as a hangar ‐ which was somewhat better than the airport at Diu which comprised a shed with a thatched roof, but none of this dampened the spirits of the men operating
the airline. By the 16th of August, TAIP had added Daman and Diu to its Goa‐Karachi route, and by September, the 2nd aircraft had entered service. By May 1956, 2 27‐passenger twin engine Vickers Vikings were purchased to cater to the ever‐ increasing passenger demand. By now 4 Goan air hostesses had been recruited and trained, and the twice weekly Karachi flight was converted into a daily flight. Before long, the TAIP had a fleet of seven aircrafts including the DC4 Skymaster and the Douglas DC6B and operated flights to Aden and Jeddah. The airport ‐ christened the ‘General Bernard Guedes Airport’ ‐ was meanwhile up‐ graded to a concrete run‐ way and was equipped to allow night op‐ erations. By 1960, TAP, the P o r t u g u e s e national airline, had begun a G o a ‐ L i s b o n flight pooling its aircraft with that of the TAIP. Soon, TAIP was flying to Beira in M o z a m b i q u e and charter flights were being operated to Japan and Saudi Arabia. Later that year, the TAIP trans‐ ported troops and supplies to Portuguese East Timor. TAIP pilots often flew in difficult conditions. In 1957, India positioned anti aircraft guns near Daman, threatening to shoot any aircraft that strayed out of a narrow landing corridor that led to the airfield. Straying over In‐ dian airspace would have resulted in being forced to land and imprisonment for the crew ‐ if the aircraft was not shot down outright. In 1957, a TAIP Viking crashed into the fire brigade building at Karachi airport, with no casualties, but was damaged beyond repair. In 1958, a TAIP flight was diverted by Karachi air traffic to Bombay due to fog. However the pilot disregarded instructions and landed in a visibility of 50 yards using ILS aids, rather than land on Indian soil.The valour of the TAIP pilots came to final test in 1961, when ‐ faced with imminent Indian invasion ‐ the TAIP operated several flights to Karachi to evacuate European civilians in the face of a thick aerial and naval blockade. This chapter in Goan aviation should have ended on the night of December 18, 1961 when 2 waves of Canberra aircrafts of the
Indian Air Force carpet bombed the Dabolim run‐ way with 63000 pounds of explosives. But, un‐
Rohan Shirodker Architect RSP Design Consultants Goans In Bangalore BANGALORE‐INDIA
daunted, the runways were repaired in hours. The final flight of the TAIP took off when Major Solano da Almeida ‐ the same man to pilot the first flight into Goa ‐ took off from Dabolim under cover of night in a Douglas DC‐4 with a contin‐ gent of Portuguese evacuees and fe‐ male para troopers and flew at almost zero altitude, evading the Indian blockade to reach Karachi unharmed. Detection would have meant bom‐ bardment and certain death. Hours later, 3,300 Portuguese sol‐ diers holed up at Alparqueiros mili‐ tary base near Mormugao Har‐ bour surrendered to the Indian Army, ending 451 years of Portuguese rule in Goa. The Airport at Dabolim was acquired by the Indian army, who passed it on to the Navy who control it to this day. It was only in 1966 that commercial flights resumed at the air‐ port, although now by India’s national airline: In‐ dian Airlines. Following the TAIP’s demise, its aircraft were inte‐ grated into the Portuguese Air Force and were then sold to airlines across the world. The DC4 which made the last flight on the night of Decem‐ ber 18 ‐ for one ‐ was sold to a Congolese Airline in 1964.Sceptics may argue that the TAIP was just another wing of the Portuguese TAP airline, along with Guinea’s TAGP and the TAO that flew from Macau. Others would argue that the airline was just another tool used by the Portuguese in their vain quest to hold on to their disparate global colonies. But for Goans, it would always remain close to their heart as the one time when Goa flew its very own international airline. The next time you disembark at Dabolim, spare a consideration for the ghosts of its past and for an airline that stood for so much but which no longer flies.
Goa via the lens Sydney Alvares Landscape/Travel Photographer IT Professional –Infosys PUNE‐INDIA http://www.flickr.com/photos/sydneya
She Global Balcão Goan Food, Edited and Uploaded Goan Interests Well I could start off with some bragging as to how my mother is a fabulous cook and that would be one of the reason to start the site, Goan‐ FoodRecipes.com, compiling authentic Goan reci‐ pes handed down from generation to generation. The idea took shape after a random conversation with someone who wanted to do this for his own mother. With the thought of sharing these recipes with others and backed by the desire to learn to cook since I was soon going to shift out, GoanFoodReci‐ pes.com was conceptualized two years ago on the free blogging platform, Blogspot. Blogging was already my profession by then, I quit the corporate 9 to 7 job plus 3 hours of travel everyday in Mumbai for something that paid me 1/8th of what I was drawing at the work place. It was a bold step, irrational to my parents who reckoned I shouldn't have made that move, but they still supported me. In October 2008, I started working on the site, cajoling my mother to disclose her recipes and to allow me to click pictures of her cooking. The site got rolling, although on a reluctant note, with the all‐time favorite Goan Delicacy, Sorpotel. At that time I use to quickly jot down the ingredients, and try to get the right photo as my mother would quickly toss the ingredients in; I ended up using a voice recorder so I wouldn't miss out on some of the tips or any of the steps.
A few recipes later we got accustomed to the process and it began to flow, mother enjoyed responding to questions people had, like how to get the red color of Perad without adding color, or why does their milk cream not turn white and so on. From a few visitors each day, we use to get around 20 – 30 people initially, we hit around 200 people at the time of Christmas 2008. This was a really good start and it made me realize the tre‐ mendous potential of this site. From goan‐food‐recipes.blogspot.com we moved to GoanFoodRecipes.com, shortly after that, we still don't have too many recipes up maybe around 30 recipes, but the step‐by‐step proce‐ dure of teaching people to cook and the quality of the dish that turns out in the end leaves the taste buds craving for more. The following year during Christmas, we jumped forward to over 14,000‐odd people from around the world relishing mom's recipes and in the last year we've had over 100,000 people churning out
the tastiest Goan dishes for their daily meals. The truth behind it is simple, I too have used these recipes to cook the occasional Chicken Cafreal and the Xacutis and more than us blowing our trum‐ pet, hundreds of people have come back to thank us. Not just for bringing them a good meal on their platter but for reviving memories of their mothers, aunts, neighbours and last but not the least, the memory of Goa itself, the place that we all call home. Today, GoanFoodRecipes.com has visitors from over 150 countries, with the majority coming from India, USA, UK, UAE, Canada, Australia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and New Zealand. So if you never managed to quench that feeling for a taste of Goa or from any other Goan Recipe sites on the Inter‐ net showing the same old recipes from a published cook book, your search has finally ended. Its time to put down the Global Goenkar, go to the computer visit GoanFoodRecipes.com and start cooking some of the finest dishes Goa has to of‐ fer! ;‐)
Clyde Fernandes Blogger MUMBAI‐INDIA http://www.goanfoodrecipes.com/
You will find her name very familiar in the Goan kitchen. Almost every Goan housewife has referred to her recipes, most of us must have heard the name of JOYCE FERNANDES sometime or other. The "Goan cookbook" of Joyce Fer‐ nandes has become the most popular cookbook, which have proved handy for many, Others pick up the books to try out their hand on some new recipes. (http://amchemgoem.blogspot.com/2008/06/recipes‐from‐joyce‐fernandes.html). Sadly Joyce passed away this November. The funeral service was held on 18th November at the St. Inez Church, Panjim, Goa. We pray for the repose of her soul and remember her for helping many a diaspora Goan learn to cook Goan .
She Global Balcão Unforgettable Goa-Memories that I cherish Goan Interests Are you talking of Goa? then why this picture? What are you trying to tell us? Is Goa exporting umbrellas? or Goa makes the best of them? Well the best loved memories are captured in the rains and I guess that’s why bollywood does most of the love scenes in the rain. Ain’t I right? I am sure by now all of you’ll have had an expri‐ ence of the sudden rains in Arusha. I am not really sure if you’ll do enjoy them but as for me I am not in favour. But If it was those back old days in Goa as kids? Wow I dont know how I can express that joy, that feeling. At the sight of the first rains we would run out to take a shower as I recall my grand‐mother who is still alive and as usual even now tells us what we must be doing, used to tell us that if we take the first shower the pricly heat that we get on the body due to the hot climate, would go away. I also remember the good old days when we used to go around catching small tiny tadpoles when our parents and the oldies take a nap in the afternoon. We had to finish our job before they catch us in the water. During the month of April‐May just before the rains my cousin, Francis’ mother used to grow
some veggies and fruits, like watermelon which she would later take to the market place to be sold. Well here too I remember the pranks we played. When Francis’ mother took a nap in the afternoons we would get into the fields and rob the juicy watermelon and sometimes even raw ones. And hey is there anyone here who ran after a pig on a sunny afternoon to slaughter it and cook some vindalo and pork sorpotel? mmmm now thats mouth watering isnt it? The fun was running after the pig, catching it, slaughtering it. Whats the fun if you are going to go fishing and your friend cathes the fish and you are only there to eat? Oh ya some people want it on the plate and some like adventure. As kids we had so many outdoors games which we can no longer see or even hear about. Some of the most common was “Meet‐Pee‐Ko” I guess thats how its spelt, Nokoreo (seven tiles) but we used to use coconut shells as tiles, gully danda, marbles ‐ there were so many different varieties in this and yes sometimes play mendi coat? Does it strike anyone? Do we play it here or dont tell me someone has it on windows? No not on those windows. Well as time went by everything started to change. Places got commercialised. The places where we once played football you can’t even keep your feet. The places where you once ran you cant even walk. When I look back on our past and think of the fun we had I feel sorry for the kids that roam on bikes all the time just to kill time or spend their evenings in bars etc. We can’t
GRAD RAMBLINGS Graduate life has started and time is scarce. So you see people asking for 48 hours in a day or 120 minutes in an hour! Ah the common mistake. I always believed in higher efficiency. Thus, I wish I could read two text books at the same time or write two assignments at the same time. I gotta ask Rajnikant about the latter! So what else has been happening? Oh, I met this guy at a student group CFACT meeting who was interested in Indian culture. On knowing I was from India he asked me if I would volunteer to teach him Hindi!! I puffed my chest and said why not!! I guess I was the best Hindi speaker in the radius of a few feet. Yeah there are Indians all over the place here. But then I am the only one who delivered the epic dialogue 'jai aur veeru bhag gaye, magar kaise?' So the man was in safe hands when it came to learning Hindi. So being Indian helped me make a new friend. But being Indian has its downside too. I become really conscious of my accent while speaking to the foreigners. Oops sorry, I mean natives. I am so used to calling Americans foreigners! Coming to
blame them cause they dont have a place to play. At the most I think they can play in schools and on computers. Today the Goa that we see is so different and com‐ mercialised. So unsafe as well. I recall one night when I travelld at 3 in the morning alone on a bike from Panjim to Vasco, thats where I come from, without being stopped by police. Now we have police check post all over the place for security. We had so many LIVE MUSIC shows which took place peacefully and were all over the place. These shows encouraged the younger generation to get into music, perform and show their talents. I re‐ member the first show we played we were not even paid. All we got was 2 dollars then dollar was 50 rupees and that was for fuel only. We got a soda to each to quench our thirst. If we wanted to have a beer we had to buy on our own. But best was we had fun, we enjoyed wherever we played. The best show that I played was for the Sea Food Festival which took place at Campal, Panjim. There was the traditional “Red & Black” dance, “Night of the Babes” Velsao, Cansaulim which took place soon after the beach show (Live music on the beach). All these shows are no more. Today all I can do is sit back and think of those good old days. I love you Goa. VIVA GOA
Seby Fernandes Visualiser/Graphic Designer, Media Works ARUSHA‐TANZANIA www.sebastiaofernandes.com
A Goan Student in Minnsota
my accent, it really stands out. It’s like I over pro‐ nounce every word. I used to think that Raj's ac‐ cent in Big Bang Theory was exaggerated. But now I see the reality. I guess I’ll get used to it as time passes. Not that I feel inferior in any sense. The only time I feel bested by someone is when I walk in front of a mirror! I have installed bullet proof glass mirrors in my apartment cause of my mirror cracking looks! Many people have asked me whether I felt a cul‐ ture shock after coming to the US. I guess it was‐ n’t much because in the US we have only 110 volts as compared to 220 volts in India. An Ameri‐ can coming to India will feel a bigger shock! Hilari‐ ous jokes aside, one thing that has really caught my eyes, or attention rather, is the low waist fash‐ ion here! Guys here have taken low waist to all new levels. Low waist pants would baffle even Newton with their gravity defying lowness. I really want to know how they keep their pants from falling! Free food is big here in the US. Every event is advertised by free food or pizza. Student group
meetings, prayer meetings, gen events and even academic events pull crowds through free food. For instance I have taken a seminar course for 1 credit in the nano science department for the sole reason of free food. They serve amazing cookies,
Daniel Mascarenhas Graduate Student University of Minnesota, MINNEAPOLIS‐USA http://dannythereflectionofperfection.blogspot.com/
cake and coffee before the seminar. It is eat and then go and relax in the comfy hall! Anything that’s pissing me off here? Yeah the ob‐ scenely high cost of labour. The bike repair shop asked me $6 to install new brake pads! Thank you Rahul for installing them for free! A hair cut costs at least $20. And you can’t get second hand hair‐ cuts. So for the first time I see something positive in my hair loss. I guess once I start earning big time (wonder when!), I ‘ll ask Himesh where he got his hair weaving done
Generation Next Helping Goan Kids cope with Dyslexia KIDS CorneR
Five years ago I went to the University of South‐ ampton for a year and learned about specific learning difficulties/dyslexia. During that time I learnt about children with dyslexia, their teaching requirements and their needs. I discovered one common problem these children seemed to suf‐ fer—low self‐esteem, in some cases NIL. As I tried to teach them, discussing with their parents how they could help, it seemed to me that very little could be done for these children that would be effective and lasting until they learned to believe in themselves and value their own worth. A teacher for pupils with dyslexia has many prob‐ lems, no matter how sympathetic or how great her expertise is. Children do not like to be differ‐ ent from their peers. Withdrawing a child from the class leaves him/her wide open to comments and even ridicule from his peers. Help in class can sometimes cause even worse problems. This may and can even result in the child saying, “There is nothing wrong with me” and retiring even further into his shell and/or being disruptive. Only careful teaching, continual counselling of parent and child together seemed to work. Total trust between parents, teacher and child seemed to be the only recipe which brought success. After so many years
of teaching, I am even more convinced that the way, how best to help a pupil with dyslexia. child’s feeling of self‐esteem always comes first. We tend to grossly underestimate and dismiss
Remediana Dias Dyslexia Practitioner, ABA Therapist Chairperson‐Vision Education Society DUBAI‐UAE http://dyslexiagoa.wordpress.com/
their level of understanding the situation. Dyslexia is on‐going all day and night. It is not just an educational problem. Who sees the child most? The family. So who better to take a leading part in the rehabilitation of the child? Parents often suffer feelings of guilt and anger and a feeling of total helplessness. Sometimes they wish to vent their anger on a teacher. This is not the best way to approach the problem. The child for whom the help is being sought can be stuck in the middle of a situation that he feels he has caused, feeling totally bewildered. With all these thoughts and experiences in mind, I strongly feel that there is a need for a Goa Dys‐ lexia Association on the lines of the British Dys‐ lexia Association, a place where parents, teachers can try and sort out in a positive and meaningful
My Sister, Alina My name is Ayra Hannah Siddiqi and I am 8 years old. I go to Jumeirah Primary School and am in Year 3. I love that my middle name is ‘Hannah’ – just like Hannah Montana. I love to read! I read when I come home from school and my mum has to tell me to stop to change my clothes and eat my lunch!! I go for tennis and ballet classes and am learning to play the piano too. I will be do‐ ing my Grade 1 ballet exam soon. But, I enjoy ten‐ nis the most. When I grow up I would like to become an au‐ thor and write fiction books for children, or maybe, a singer or a movie director. I have a little sister, Alina, who is 5 years old and
goes to the same school as me. She is in FS2F and loves going to school. She is very affectionate and polite. I say this because she is always asking for hugs and kisses and never forgets to say ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’. Alina loves to copy everything I do, which is some‐ times funny and cute, but at other times ‐ a little bothersome. My parents say I am her role‐model (whatever that means!) and its great when she learns all the ‘good’ things from me, but some‐ times she also learns the ‘not‐so‐ good’. She has learnt the words to all the High School Musical songs and loves to sing along to Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus (just like me!) Alina calls me ‘Aywa’ ‐ she can’t say her r’s yet.
When she wakes up in the morning, the first ques‐ tion she asks, most of the time, is – ‘Where’s Aywa?’ It makes me feel happy when I am the only one that can comfort her when she is hurt or upset
Ayra Hannah Siddiqi Ayra is the daughter of Abid Siddiqui and Christine D'Sa based in the UAE
– she wants me to hug her or kiss her ‘owwiee’ to make it all better. And when I am hurt, she gets worried and wants to do the same for me. She says things like – ‘Don’t worry, I’m here’ or ‘Are you Ok Aywa?’ When Alina was 4 years old, she didn’t know how to swim, but then she started swimming classes and learned so quickly. I think she is sooooo INTEL‐ LIGENT! I also find her very flexible because she can sit down in positions that I find difficult to copy. Alina is very friendly and can say ‘hello’ to anybody, whereas I am a little shy to do that. So just as much as Alina learns from me – I also have something to learn from her. I know for sure that there is no better sister than Alina in the whole world. Oh! I almost forgot to tell you ‐ Alina has Down Syndrome.
Through Music
His Name Is Anthony Gonsalves
Goa‐born musician Anthony Gonsalves was pre‐ sented with the Karmaveer Award by legendary musician Pyarelal at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here. Eighty three‐year‐old Gonsalves, who pioneered orchestra in Hindi film industry, was given the award by Confederation of NGOs iCONGO on 28th November 2010 Pyarelal Ramprasad Sharma of Laxmikant‐Pyarelal team honoured this music giant, who has taken a retirement and residing at his ancestral home in Majorda in South Goa. Goa‐born internationally famed singer Hema Sard‐ esai was also present on the dais. Gonsalves, whose name became known through Amitabh Bachchan's song'My name is Anthony Gonsalves'from Amar, Akbar and Anthony, started his career as a violinist in the group of Naushad, way back in 1943. Pyarelal in the past had conceded that his song'My name.'was a tribute to his violin teacher. The legend has contributed music arrangements in few of the movies like B R Chopra's'Naya Daur','Waqt', Naushad's'Dillagi'and Chetan An‐ and's'Haqeeqat' In 1958, he founded Indian Symphony Orchestra featuring playback singers like Lata Mangeshkar The Performance At St. Xaviers College‐15th April 1958. and Manna Dey as soloists. There were 100 musicians in the orchestra and a choir of 50 singers with Lata Mangeshkar and Armando Gonsalves of'Heritage Jazz', who organ‐ Manna Dey as soloists. This was the first time Indian music was put on paper so that people will be ised the felicitation in Panaji, said that it was the able to read the score and play it, this was not possible till then. honour to felicitate such an icon GROUPS ACROSS THE WORLD GOAN with Goans looking very chic in their
CASA DE GOA ‐Lisbon, Portugal white cottons, linens and casuals for CULTURAL SOCIETY‐GOA DAMAN & DIU ‐MACAU EDMONTON GOAN ASSOCIATION‐Edmonton,Canada the white themed event. The MC Lloyd FENNY FEVER ‐ UK Sequeira rolled off festivities with the G.N.A.T.‐ Canada games session including ‘stampin the G.O.A. Kuwait, UAE tail’..(Get a crepe paper tail and are GLOBAL GOANS ‐ Dubai, UAE GOA HERITAGE ACTION GROUP, Goa‐India required to pull it out with legs; one GOAN ASSOCIATION CALGARY, Alberta‐Canada partner had to protect it and the other GOAN ASSOCIATION OF DC, USA tried to remove), balancing the balls(a GOAN ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA‐USA GOAN ASSOCIATION OF HUDSON, USA mushy affair involved couples balanc‐ GOAN ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY‐USA ing plastic balls between the nose, GOAN COMMUNITY OF OMAN‐Oman forehead and lips) and loads of others GOAN INSTITUTE KAMPALA ‐UGANDA with interesting Goa related quiz ques‐ GOAN INSTITUTE SAN FRANCISCO‐USA GOANS OF ARUSHA (GOA)‐Tanzania, East Africa tions being thrown to the crowd for GOAN OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ‐GERMANY prizes. GOAN OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ‐NSW ‐ Sydney, Australia Our president Louella made a speech GOAN OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION ‐TORONTO ‐ CANADA GOAN OVERSEAS ASSOCIATION‐Vancouver,Canada though her effervescence said far more GOAN SHUTTERBUGS than her few lines as she gushed with GOAN VOICE UK happiness at the beaming crowd and GOAN WELFARE ASSOCIATION‐Doha, Quatar the huge contingent of young Goans GOANS IN BANGALORE‐India GOANS in HOUSTON ‐USA who were so enthusiastically attending GOANS in NETHERLANDS and participating for the first time in GOANS INTERNATIONAL KGA history. GOANS Of America ,LA‐USA GOANS of MOZAMBIQUE A few dances were in order of course GOANS of PAKISTAN and the long time KGA members led GOANS of UGANDA the way to the dance floor. It was obvi‐ GOANS WORLDWIDE ous at this stage that the event was a GOENKARANCHO EKVOTT‐ Delhi, India KARACHI GOAN ASSOCIATION ‐ KARACHI runaway success to be celebrated with KARNATAKA GOAN ASSOCIATION ‐ Bangalore, India the mouth watering starters that were KONKANI ROCKS & HERITAGE JAZZ ‐ Panjim, Goa being sent across by the courteous MUMBAI GOA ASSOCIATION‐Mumbai, India QUEBEC GOAN ASSOCIATION ‐ Quebec, Canada Opus staff faster than we could eat SERULA ARTS AND CULTURE ACADEMY them. All pretensions of diet and glut‐ ST XAVIERS SOCIETY ‐ Dar es Salaam, Tanzania tony being a sin were abandoned as THE CANORIENT CHRIST ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN TORONTO‐Canada we sunk our teeth into the chouris YOUNG LONDON GOAN SOCIETY‐ UK
We thank all our contributors. Please ensure that your contributions are sent well ahead of time for future editions. Due to the tremendous response, we might not have the space to include it at the last minute. Any errors/omissions are unintentional. Presidents of Goan Associations/Groups enrolled with us are requested to update information/logos with Mr. Rene Barreto For those of you who have not already done so, we urge you to appoint a contact person for the Global Goenkar from your organization who must preferably have easy access to the internet, This will allow better synergies between us and the Goan group that you represent E‐Mail: goanint@yahoo.co.uk, kenelmlopes@gmail.com Blog : http://globalgoanassociationsalliance.blogspot.com/