Goa Streets - Issue 22

Thursday, April 4, 2013 | Vol. No. I | Issue 22 | Price Rs. 10 | Pages 28 | www.goastreets.com

Desi jazz goes cyber • pg 3

Goan homes on canvas • pg 17

Viva Goa, Viva Portugal!

Why Portugal is cool again 51 years after liberation

Walkers take back streets • pg 26

s Plu ete pl nt/ m o c eve e / d foo ghtlif ni ide gu

Shigmo’s bold theatre 18 • Migrant-local clash 22 • Goan lads conquer Barca 23

Photographs by Arun Pavaratty

Colours of Paradise

Anjuna

Where would Goa be without its breathtaking beaches? Here’s a glimpse of some of the best ones in North Goa.

Ashvem

Ashvem

Mandrem

Arambol

Baga

Arambol

Thursday, April 4, 2013 Club IANOS

Club & Global Cuisine Calangute, Baga Road 0832 6528283

LPK Waterfront

Rock & Fuse Night

With Guest Band At Our Shack Ozran, Vagator @ 9 pm +918326510548

India’s first Super Night Club Nerul, Candolim river, Bardez-Goa +919822193410

Elaectro Night

April 4

Ladies Hip hop, Club & House Night

Soft Harmony Night Live

At Fiplees Restaurant, Benaulim @ 8 pm +919822153545/+918322770123

Hip-hop, House & Club Night With DJ Tanya & Sunil On Acoustics At The Park On Holiday Beach, Calangute @ 7 pm +919823827828/+918322267600

Thursday Night Live

@ Sol bar and Restaurant Hari Deva and Smoking Chutney featuring Hari Deva (blues harp), Chrystal Farrell (vocals), Benoy Rai (guitar), Sancho Menezes (keyboards), Colin D’Cruz (bass) & Bosco D’Souza (drums) At The Sofala, Bhattiwaddo, Nerul @ 8 pm to 11.30 pm +918326714141

Thursday Night

With Guest DJs At Nine Bar, Anjuna @ 9 pm +919422057532/+918322273368

Tardy Thursday House Night With DJ Kiran At Club Margarita, Colva @ 9 pm +919823259008

At Micasa, Ashvem @ Sunset

With DJ Kiran At Club Margarita, Colva @ +919823259008

Rock & Fuse Night

with Guest Band At Our Shack Ozran, Vagator @ 9 pm +918326510548

April 6

The Gallery Trance, Psy, Tech House, Prog & Bolly Night With Guest DJ At Nine Bar, Anjuna @ 9 pm +919422057532/ +918322273368

Super Saturday

With DJs David & Ashley At Kamaki, Baga @ 8 pm +919823276520

Live & Wired

With Axel, Crystal, DJs Claudio, George & VDJ LRF At Down the Road, Panjim @ 8.30 pm +918087649050

The Gallery Trance, Psy, Tech House,

At Soma, Ashvem beach @ 4 pm

Prog & Bolly Night With Guest DJ At Nine Bar, Vagator @ 9 pm +919422057532

Beach Grind

Saturday Hip hop, house & club

Djuma Chumma

At Our Shack, Vagator @ 12 pm +919167878311/+918326510548

Trance Party At 9 Bar, Vagator @ 5 pm +919422057532

April 5

Ladies Hip Hop, Club & House Night with DJ Kiran At Club Margarita, Colva @ 9 pm +919823259008/+918322789728

Night with DJ Kiran At Club Margarita, Colva @ 9 pm +919823259008

April 7

Retro Night

With DJ Mauris At Cape Town Cafe, Calangute @ 9 pm +919923325638

Sunday Night

With DJ Kiran At Club Margarita, Colva @ 8 pm +919823259008

Sunday Night

With DJs David & Ashley At Kamaki, Baga @ 8 pm +919823276520

April 8

House Session

With DJ Vicky At Cape Town Cafe, Calangute @ 8 pm +919923325638

Help Mondays

With DJ Trance Ford At The Park on Holiday beach, Calangute @ 7 pm +919823827828/+918322267600

Colin D’Cruz shows off jazz talent on the Net

By Joseph Zuzarte

T

here’s something extraordinarily musical about Goa and Goans. Take one look at the number of musicians making the rounds in the state. Or how the dance floor fills up immediately whenever the music starts.

Goa has always prided itself on the quality of the Western music artistes it has produced, often via church choirs and school bands. But with performance options often limited to weddings or dance bands or sundry funerals, these musicians normally find their way to Mumbai to join the turn to page 5

Crystal Farrel

Monday Night

music & nightlife | 03 Jazz Goa on the net

Mental Mondays

Restaurant & Sports Bar At Candolim @ 7.30 pm +919860698281 Wed: Bingo Nite Sat: Dance Nite & Live football broadcast Sun: Sunday Roast (2 pm)

April 9

Zeebop

With DJs David & Ashley At Kamaki, Baga @ 8 pm +919823276520

the lowdown | 06

Karaoke Night

food | 07

With Emmanuel At The Park on Hoiliday beach, Calangute @ 8 pm +919823827828/+918322267600

Mocha: coffee delight

One Man Band

Fort Aguada Beach Resort

At Cape Town Cafe, Calangute @ 8 pm +919923325638

feature | 11

Tuesday Night With DJ Kiran At Club Margarita, Colva @ 8 pm +919823259008/ +918322789728

Dying khazans of Neura

Tuesday Night

cover story | 14 Viva Indo-Portuguesa

With DJs Pinaki, Lorenz & Alister At Club Cabana, Arpora @ 8 pm +919823539000

Upto April 30 Every Monday

Tamarin Restaurant

Rodden & Anselm play acoustic guitar and flute with a popular play list At Tamarin Restaurant, Calangute @ 7.30 pm

books | 17 Goa houses in water colour

Every Sunday

Tamarin Restaurant

arts & entertainment | 18 Bold theatre at Shigmo

“Richard Goes Solo” with his retro 60’s & 70’s set At Tamarin Restaurant, Calangute @ 7.30 pm

Every Thursday

Tamarin Restaurant

Maxie - Bosa Nova and Latin sounds with guitar At Tamarin Restaurant, Calangute @ 7.30 pm

photo feature | 20 Statues of Goa

Up to May 25

Saturday Sundown

At Martin’s Corner, Betalbatim @ 8 pm to 11.30 pm +918322880061/ +918322880413

satire | 21

Karaoke Night

Hosted by KDJ Pierre At Sweet Chilli, Sinquerim From 8 pm to 12 am +918322479446/ +918325625693

Offshore matka

Upto May 28

feature | 22

sports | 23

Turbulence in villages

Goa boys beat Barca

Retro and All Time Hits

With DJ Aggie At Radisson Blu Resort, Cavelossim @ 9 pm +918326726666/+918326726677

Up to May 31 Le Derriere

Shivers Garden

Specialized in Sea food At Utorda Beach @ 7.30 pm 0832-2755333 Mon: Frankston one-mand band Tue: jimmy Jazz Wed: Brian Bones Thur: Newton & Nezz Fri: David Boggie Sat: Disco Nite

Tuesday with DJ Vicky

With Meramar At Down The Road, Panjim @ 8 pm +918087649050

hot streets | 24

On-going

With DJs Pinaki, Lorenz Brown & Alistair At Club Cabana, Arpora @ 8 pm +919823539000

give back | 26 Tallulah and NoMoZo

Beer, BBQ & Blues

Veeam & the Highway Stars to perform live.

At Sweet Chilli, Sinquerim, Candolim.

From 8 pm to 11 pm +918322479446/ +918325625693/ +919890651163/ +919860182932

At Sinquerim, Candolim @ 7.30 pm +918326645858 Mon: Haydn & Natasha Tue: Mac Dorado Wed: Haydn & Natasha Thur: Flying Colours Fri: Shine on Duo Band Sat: Anslem

Martin’s Corner

Authentic seafood and Goan cuisine along with entertainment with live music every week.

At Betalbatim @ 8 pm. +918322880061 Mon: Savio Tue: Bryan Ivor-one man band Wed: Francis Paul Thur: Duo by Savio & In front Fri: Karaoke by Johnny Sat: Shane. Sun: Kenny

Fernando’s Nostalgia

Goan soul in Goan food At Raia @ 7 pm +918322777054/ +918322777098/ +919822103467 Tue: Brian Bones Thur: Evergreens by Cedric Live Fri: Jazz/swing/ Retro by Tania & Andre Sat: Oldies but Goldies by Friendly Brothers Sun: Nostalgic Moods by Saxy Aggie

Night By Night Every Monday Karaoke Night

Live Filipino Band performance At O’ Goa, Hotel Fidalgo, Panjim @ 7.30 pm.

2226291

Every Tuesday

Tuesday – Country Rock

At Café Mojo @ 10 am to 11.30 pm +91 9850980091/ +91 9860010061

Retro & all Time Hits

Retro hits played by DJ Aggie At Radisson Blu Resort, Cavelossim @ 9 pm onwards +918326726677 / +91 8888061199

Tuesday Night

With the electrifying Miramar Free entry At down the Road, Old Patto Bridge, Panaji @ 10 pm onwards. +91 8087649050

Music & Nightlife 5

Thursday, April 4, 2013

from page 3

Smoking Chutney performing

Every Wednesday Ladies Night

At Soul Souffle, Uddear, Verna @ 8 pm +918322782100/ +919404312100

Jam Session

A musical adventure with Goa’s one & Only Zezhinio At Sweet Chilli, Sinquerim @ 7.30 pm +91 9820820254

Retro, Rock n Roll & Old School

With DJ Saby Fernandes spinning Retro, Rock n Roll At Resort Rio, Tambudki, Arpora From 8 pm to 10.30 pm +919552538203/ +919011015959

Wednesday Nights

Featuring DJs David and Ashley At Kamaki, Baga @ 7.30 pm +91 9923093408/ +918322276520

Every Friday

Friday – Old School

At Café Mojo, Panaji @ 10 am to 11.30 pm +91 9850980091/ +91 9860010061

Trance Party

At 9-Bar Vagator @ 5 pm Beer, BBQ n Blues Friday Nights Featuring live entertainment by Veeam and the Highway stars.

Unlimited beer coupled with set menus containing BBQ options starting @ INR 650/- per person for a package that includes, food, beverages and entertainment.

Every Friday/Saturday DJ Nights

At Capiz Bar, Grand Hyatt @ 10.30 pm. +918323011125

DJ Sindhiya Performing Live

Cosmopolitan Ladies Nite

At Club Margarita, Colva @ 8 pm to 11.30 pm +91 9823259008, +918322789745

DJ Roy Yod Live

Every Saturday

At Butter, Panjim @ 8 pm +918308838888

At Saturdays, Varca @ 9.30 pm to 1 am +918326695066/+918326695025

Every Thursday Rock n Roll

Relive some of the best moments of Rock n Roll At Sweet Chilli, Sinquerim @ 7.30 pm +91 9820820254

Thursday Grill and Games Music, games & barbeque At Soul Souffle, Verna @ 7 pm to 10 pm 2782100, +91 9764694321

Retro Revolution

Retro, country & slow rock with the Valentinos, Elvis on guitar & Edgar on keyboards At down the Road, Old Patto Bridge, Panaji @ 9 pm onwards +91 8087649050

Saturday Karaoke

Karaoke session with KDJ Pierre At Sweet Chilli, Sinquerim @ 7.30 pm 9820820254

Silent Noise Party

At Neptune Point, Palolem Beach @ 9 pm to 4 am 7798680840/7798680842 Fee: Rs 500

Retro Party

At ‘Rewind’ Arpora, near Go-kart @ 8 pm onwards.

Great 70’s ambience, home styled food, live retro music Featuring, Live Retro Band. +91 8007112200.

Three man band

At Café Mojo, Panjim @ 10 am to 11.30 pm +919850980091/+919860010061

Live music by Neil, Ignatius & Grayston At Joet’s Bogmalo, Vasco @ 8 pm.

9860765337/2538036

Karaoke Night

Graeme Hamilton

Thursday – Go Retro

Live Filipino Band performance At O’ Goa, Hotel Fidalgo, Panaji @ 7.30 pm +918322226291

Performing Live At Jazz Inn, Cavelossim, Mobor @ 8 pm to 11.30 pm +919422437682

6 The Lowdown The Lowdown

A Jazz Goa performance from page 5 Bollywood music industry, such as the case of the famed Anthony Gonsalves and many other Goan musicians.

These days, however, you don’t necessarily have to be in the Big City to be discovered.

In just a few years, Colin D’Cruz has positioned himself as the undisputed jazz guru of Goa. And now he’s using that status – and the Internet – to showcase Goan talent to the world.

After settling down in Goa four years ago, he set up jazzgoa.com to show the universe exactly what Goan musicians have to offer.

He’s been recording the music of these talented musicians and uploading it on the website so that anyone sitting anywhere in the world can check them out - for free. You can download the songs or simply listen to them, and if you like, get in touch with the musicians.

“There are over 200 musicians listed,” he says, as we chat in his home studio in Sangolda. “I give a page to each of the artistes.” The page has a brief bio of the musician along with a demo song or two and the contact details.

That’s especially helpful for established musicians. But it’s what he does for new talented musicians that really enthuses him.

“I’ve recorded 80 songs, all originals, all of which can be downloaded from the website. What I’m doing is showing the world the talent from Goa. These songs are world-class, but they don’t have a platform because they’re in Goa where there are no music companies or real opportunities to record and sell CDs. Jazz Goa is giving them the platform, and now with the Internet I’m giving them a worldwide platform,” he explains.

He also features the best talents on his Sunday afternoon radio show on Radio Indigo called Goa Grooves, the only show to exclusively showcase Goan music talent. He talks of some of the more talented musicians he’s spotted. A young man called Sampan Sail who sings like Bryan Adams. Minelli Pinto, a young woman from Porvorim, who plays great piano and also sings. “I’ve recorded eight songs of hers. She’s very promising,” he says. Then there’s Donna Noronha and so many others.

Colin’s jazzgoa.com is not only about jazz, either. There’s also pop, rock and even heavy metal songs on the site.

The most exciting singer he’s come across in Goa, he says, is Crystal Farrell, who now

sings with his jazz band Smoking Chutney and wows everybody who happens to hear her sing.

(Editor’s note: Crystal sang the Goa Streets jingle and you can hear it here - http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=_Ij-E7IEooo). She sang for many years with Goa’s top-rated group The Big City Band and others. Says Crystal, “I never knew I could sing jazz; I used to sing pop and contemporary songs, but with Colin I’ve become exposed to so much jazz music.

It’s more interesting and exciting to sing with his band Smoking Chutney because he gives you the freedom to choose your songs and your interpretation of the song. It’s been very rewarding.”

Off to China for a gig in early April, Crystal and Smoking Chutney have been invited to perform at the Toronto Jazz Music Festival later this summer, though they’re not certain they’ll be going because of the logistics. But what is certain is that they will all be there at the Concert in the Park in Panjim on April 30, the International Jazz Day, along with many of the new talents discovered by jazzgoa.com.

“International Jazz Day was started by the UNESCO last year. This year the main concert is going to be in Istanbul with artistes like Herbie Hancock. Jazz Goa too decided to host an event and UNESCO has listed our event on the International Jazz Day on April 30, which we will have in the Panjim Municipal Garden from 5 pm till 10 pm, featuring guest musicians like Gerard Machado, who will be coming down from Bangalore especially to play here.

Plus Goan musicians from all over have been invited. It’s a great opportunity to hear and be heard,” says Colin as we sit in his home studio sipping tea made by his singer-wife Diana, who has sung the Goa Grooves jingle on Radio Indigo.

“Goa is a global village,” he says. “You never know who’s in the audience while you’re playing. Suddenly a man will come forward and he turns out to be a famous trumpet player or something,” he says. Many of these musicians can also be heard playing in the songs he records of talented new Goan musicians. One such musician is Mtafiti Imara from San Diego, USA, who comes to Goa once every year in August.

“This is an invitation from Jazz Goa,” says Colin, as we part. “If you have a song, come over and record it for free.” All you need is the song lyrics or tune, even if it’s only in your head, and he’ll do all the arrangements and record the music for you, using music software.

Who knows, you might be the next big thing.  Check out the website at www.jazzgoa.com

Portuguese is cool again. That’s the message in this week’s cover story of Goa Streets, where we examine in depth all the reasons why, half a century after liberation, so many Goans are embracing their Indo-Portuguese culture. This is not just academic. If you’ve ever sat in a Goan pub watching Portugal play on a wide screen TV, you might think you were in Lisbon, not Panjim, judging from the alternately jubilant and despondent reactions from the audience at every triumph or failure of the Portuguese players. In the end, however, it’s not actually a story about Portugal. This is about a unique Goan hybrid that has seamlessly assimilated elements of various civilisations through the ages, including the Portuguese. It’s not Portuguese. It’s IndoPortuguese. Or as one of our sources in the story insisted, it’s Goan.

The rule for content in Goa Streets is simple: It must be compelling, fun-to-read and honest.

So when you turn to our story on migrants and vigilantism, we deliver not what we think you might want to read, but the facts as our writer saw them. And we draw attention to how safety concerns are in some cases leading to intolerance.

On these pages, we also bring you a story about how a group of young Goan footballers trampled their counterparts in Barcelona on their opponents’ own turf, a piece on how jazz guru Colin D’Cruz is using the Internet to showcase local musical talent, and a surprising story about some extremely bold and unusual Shigmo performances taking place inside a Hindu temple.

Don’t miss our story at the back of this issue on efforts to keep alive the famous Goan No Motor Zones, or NoMoZo’s, where people, not cars, populate the streets in designated areas.

All that, of course, is in addition to our stories on food, relationships, books and other topics – and our comprehensive listings telling you everything you need to know on how to live it up in Goa. It’s April now. It’s getting warmer, and before we know it the monsoons will be here. We’ll be here too, by your side, week after week. Please be sure to log onto www.goastreets.com to see everything on these pages, plus much more.

We’re Goa Streets. We’re way ahead!

The Goa Streets Team

Time 11am-12 midniht non stop food service, open everyday.

Home delivery: 0832-2411959 & 976415986 Caterin Service Contact: Mr. Roland Rodrigues @ 989042440

turn to page 9

8 Food Outdoor seating at Mocha

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Food Review 9 from page 7

Breakfast @ 99 at Mocha

Feature 11

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Land Reclaimed Through Ancestors’ Sweat Shrivels Away It was a feat of technology, accomplished through painstaking planning and Herculean determination. A thousand years ago, the people of Neura village turned their floodplains into fertile agricultural land used for growing paddy. It was arguably one of the greatest engineering accomplishments Goa has ever seen, repeated along other estuaries. Now, the reclaimed plains – known as khazans – are shriveling away. Below, a villager tells Pantaleao Fernandes what this new reality means for him and the village - and the memory of his forefathers who built the khazans.

The khazan invaded by mangroves

“C

an you see how these khazans have been invaded by the mangroves?” says Vinayak Sawant, a villager in his seventies. “That’s because of illegal flooding of waters into the khazans to rear fish. That has led to the demise of our fertile, organically cultivated fields.”

Vinayak leads the way along a long bund (embankment). On one side of the bund is the rivulet and on the other the khazan. The khazans are saline floodplains along Goa’s tidal estuaries.

“These lands were reclaimed by our ancestors by preventing the ingress of the tidal waters using bunds with sluice gates,” he informs. “These wooden shutters automatically shut at high tide,

thus preventing water from entering the khazans, and then open at low tide, draining out water that inadvertently enters due to any breaches in the bunds.

Salt tolerant varieties of rice like Korgut and Assgo are grown in these khazans.”

According to Vinayak, the khazans were once thriving with paddy. “People were appointed to watch the bund, to spot breaches and to repair them. One man would constantly patrol the bund.

Every three years, the gate of the manos would be replaced. Those cultivating fields adjacent to the bund had to strengthen it, by replacing the clay layers that would erode in the rains. During those days, these fields grew abundantly.”

“Every twelve years,” Vinayak

Dondeshwar deity

continues, “saline water was taken into the fields to eradicate the weeds. The field had to be dug up before April so as to get rid of all the weeds. Permission had to be obtained from the Communidade if you wished to dig in the monsoons.”

He blames the death of the khazans on the current system that has abandoned all these traditions. “Suddenly the whole system changed and came under the mamlatdars (taluka officer) and that spelt the end of the khazan fields.”

Vinayak alleges that there is deliberate negligence of the khazan system and sluice gates by miscreants who let in saline water for pisciculture, thus disrupting the cultivation of the khazan lands.

Centuries ago, Neura was a thriving village that boasted not only fertile fields, but also a major ship building centre in the time of the Kadamba rulers. The villagers worshipped the deity called Bhindimahadev. After the Portuguese arrived, some Hindus fled across the river to neighboring Madkai along with their deity. Centuries passed and the attitude of the Portuguese authorities towards the Hindus became more tolerant. It was then that the ancestors of Vinayak Sawant decided it was time to return to the land of their ancestors.

Vinayak, though advanced in years, is still hale and hearty. “Seven generations ago the fertile fields and the many manos of Neura attracted my ancestors back,” he tells me, adding that his forefathers established a shrine that has become the oldest temple in the village.

The grandest heritage structure in Neura is the Church of St John the Evangelist, built in 1541. At the front of the church is a rectangular stepped basin that resembles a temple tank, and the regular offering of a coconut, banana and a betel nut points to a Hindu

connection. It is watered by a spring that once provided the villagers clear water to drink and bathe in. Even a dressing room still exists. Unfortunately, the water is no longer usable as the tank is no longer maintained.

In front of the old Panchayat office, the bust of a man evokes curiosity. It is erected in the memory of Bernardo Peres da Silva, who in the early 1800s was the equivalent of a governor appointed by the King of Portugal.

Another well known personality was Monsignor Castilho de Noronha, a priest-politician, who was a Canon and member of the Portuguese parliament in Lisbon for three consecutive terms. He was a professor at the Rachol Seminary and authored books on Buddhism and philosophical Brahmanism. The main road passing through Neura, connecting Pilar to Old Goa is named after him.

Neura may have nurtured great men and has reasons to be proud of its diligent agriculturists working to reclaim estuary land in its ancient past.

But in recent times Goa’s politicians have declared some rather foolish plans for this village. In its 2012 election manifesto, the Congress party had promised to erect a new ‘bridge’ in the landlocked Neura village where no river exists. “Parallel Zuari Bridge will be built along with bridges at Terekhol …

Madkai and Neura,” read the Congress manifesto in its ‘Infrastructure’ section.

The then Chief Minister tried to save face on the ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ in landlocked Neura by saying that there must be some place in Neura where a bridge might be necessary!

In the meanwhile Vinayak Sawant awaits wiser men who will come and redeem the dying khazan lands of his beloved village. 

13 Thursday, April 4, 2013

April 4

April 8 to April 27

Every Friday

Water sports

At Youth Hostel, Miramar +919422971250/+919822823035

Tiny Feet At opp. Tasneem Fazal House, Behind International Center, Dona Paul @ 10 am to 1 pm +919730426563/+918322451224

Organised by Walter Macarena At International Center Goa, Dona Paula from 5 pm to 7 pm +919822911161

Attractive corals, coloured and beautiful, shells and fishes all invite exploration.

At Scuba Diving India, Alfran Plaza, M.G. Rd, Panjim @ 9 am to 5 pm. +918326711999

Roller Skating Camp

April 6

Prince and Princess of India 2013 @ 10.30 am

April 7

Goa#oneride 2013 At Miramar, Panjim @ 2.35 pm

Marouan Benabdallah piano recital At Maquuinez Palace @ 6.30 pm

Summer Camp

April 8 to April 10 Thought to Print With Sujata Noronha At Bookworm, Panjim From 9.30 am to 1 pm

April 8 to April 20 & April 22 to May 4 Sailing Course

Orientation Course

At Goa Yachting Association together with the Topper Association of India +919423885099/ +918888250019/ +918322490246

April 1 to April 30

April 15 to April 18 & April 21 to April 25

April 11

At Tiatr Academy Goa, Panjim +918322230738

4th Annual Windsurfing Camp

1st batch commences on 3rd April, 2013.

2nd batch commences on 8th April, 2013.

3rd batch commences on 15th April, 2013.

4th batch commences on 22nd April, 2013.

At Hawaii beach, Dona Paula, Panjim @ 9.30 am to 11.30 am & 11.30 am to 1.30 pm +918806150022/+919145462146

Kathak Workshop

By Nritya Sankul At near Konkani bhasha mandal, Accam Margao +919823936483

Mar 28 to April 10 Shimgo Festival

With Yogita Mehra and Karan Manral At Bookworm, Panjim From 9.30 am to 1 pm

28/03/2013 - Ponda 29/03/2013 - Pernem 30/03/2013 - Panjim 31/03/2013 - Mapusa 01/04/2013 - Vasco 02/04/2013 - Bicholim 03/04/2013 - Sanquelim 04/04/2013 - Valpoi 05/04/2013 - Curchorem 06/04/2013 - Sanguem 07/04/2013 - Margao 08/04/2013 - Quepem 09/04/2013 - Cuncolim 10/04/2013 - Canacona

April 4 to April 5

April 1 to April 30

April 1 to April 8

Kayaking & Training Program 2013 At Vasco and Panjim +919422056037

April 4 to April 6 Green Thumb

Contemporary dance Workshop At Fundação Oriente, Panjim From 5.30pm to 7.30pm. +918322230728

4th Annual Windsurfing Camp At Hawali beach, Dona Paula +918806150022/ +919145462146

April 6 to April 27

Up to May 1

At Paper Boat Collective, Sangolda @ 9.30 am +918326521248

At Art Escape-Resort, Benaulim From 7.30 am to 8.30 am & 5 pm – 6 pm +919881568756/+919323590051

Children Creative Workshops

April 7 to May 26 Drawing Workshop At Sunaparanta, Panjim @ 10 am to 12 pm +918322421311

April 8 to April 13 Little Chefs Camp

At Hub, Nxt to Celebration Restaurent, Caranzalem

April 8 to April 20 Needlework class

At The Naree Artisans Movement Centre, Panjim @ 3 pm to 5 pm +919423883396

Yoga Classes

Every Tuesday Zumba Fitness

Learn a variety of rhythms including salsa, merengue, samba, flamenco, reggae and more from Zumba fitness instructor Cecille Rodriguez.

At Grand Hyatt Goa, Bambolim From 6 pm to 7 pm +918323011603/ +918323011604

Every Thursday Aqua Zumba

Zumba in the water. A water-based workout for cardio-conditioning and bodytoning At Grand Hyatt Goa, Bambolim From 10 am to 11 am +918323011603/ +918323011604

Free Swimming Guidance

Every Sunday

Tailoring Classes

Near Holy Family School, Porvorim From 3 pm to 6 pm 919765731003

Everyday

Yoga for the Body, Mind & Soul

By Ms. Hoor Girglani Monday to Friday At International Centre Goa, Dona Paula @ 8 am to 9.30 am 5 pm to 6.30 pm +919765404391/ +918322452805-10

Want to be Fit & Healthy Presented by Calburn Fitness Solutions in association with the ICG At The International Centre Goa, Dona Paula. +919811511595/ +919823578880

Tuk Tuk

From apparel to jewellery, bags to accessories, everything at Tuk Tuk is handpicked from across India.

At A104, Pereira Plaza, Opp.Hospicio, Margao @ 10.30 am 1 pm & 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm +919049017182

Monday & Friday

Taekwondo Sessions

Martial Arts, Fitness, Health & Selfdefence Trainer: Vincent Rosario, Introductory Fee: Rs. 400 per month At The International Centre Goa, Dona Paula @ 5.15 pm to 6.15 pm +919823696138

Spice Farms

Tropical spice plantation

Elephant rides, authentic Goan cuisine, mini bird sanctuary and a boat to row or paddle.

At Arla Bazar Keri, Ponda For reservation call: +918322340329 or Email: tropicalspice@rediffmail.com

Sahakari Spice Farm

Guests are entertained by folk dances, elephant rides, art of climbing the tall betel nut palms and swinging from one stalk to the other. Lunch in earthen pots and banana leaves.

At Ponda Belgaum highway, Curti.

Call: +918322312394 or Email: info@sahakarifarms.com

Savoi Plantation

Offers traditional Goan Saraswat cuisine served in mud pots and banana leaf plates along with seasonal fruits grown in the plantation.

At Ponda For reservation call: +918322340272/ +919423888899 or Email: savaiplantation@rediffmail.com

Scuba Diving

Barracuda Diving India

Pool parties and underwater celebrations among other water sports activities.

At Sun Village Resort, Baga, Arpora & Chalston Beach Resort, Calangute 2269409/ +91 9822182402

Dive Goa

A dive shop and training centre established by Ajey Patil - marine engineer, naturalist, raconteur and PADI certified dive instructor.

At O’ Pescador Resort, Dona Paula, Panjim +91 9325030110

Dolphin Sighting Trip

Four to five hours trip includes Bbq, Free beers and soft drinks.

Also offers No See – No Pay policy as far as dolphin sighting is concerned.

Sinquerim – Baga beach stretch +91 9822182814/+918326520190 or Email: johnsboattours@gmail.com

Goa Aquatics

Goa Science Centre & Planetarium

Exhibits and playthings which provide means to experience and explore science while playing with them.

Entertaining shows on wonders and magic of night sky @ planetarium.

At Goa Science Centre, Miramar, Panjim @ 10 am to 6 pm. 2463426

Courses LANGUAGES

Alliance Francaise

Learn French courses, Panjim 2420049/ +91 9922813950

St. Britto

Learn French, Mapusa 2293812/ +91 9049018214

Don Bosco Provincial House Odxel Beginner’s German language course

COOKING

Theresa’s Cookery Classes Margao +91 9970037242

Cooking Classes for foreigners Detroit Institute +91 9822131835.

Taengs Cookery Classes Margao. +91 9822585944

Fatima Menezes E Moniz Cooking classes, Raia. 2776035

Offers Scuba Diving Equipment retail at competitive international price.

At Little Italy, Opp Tarcar Ice Factory, Calangute. +91 9822685025

Cynthia Dsouza Cooking Classes

Splashdown

2734589. Margao

Water Park that boasts of 5 pools, a variety of slides, flumes and other interesting features.

At Splashdown Waterpark, CalanguteAnjuna +91 9637424023/024, 2273008,

Museums Goa Chitra

Ethnographic museum that preserves its universality in its collections of artifacts representing the culture of ancient Goa. At Goa Chitra, Mondo-Waddo, Benaulim @ 9 am to 5 pm +91 9850466165/ 6570877, Email: goachitra@gmail.com

Big Foot Cross Museum

Houses 80 classifications of crosses of around the world.

At Big Foot, Loutolim @ 10 am to 5 pm 2777034

Ancestral Goa

A center for Preservation & Promotion of Art, Culture & Environment started by Maendra J. A. Alvares.

At Big Foot, Loutolim @ 9.30 am to 6 pm 2777034, info@ancestralgoa.com

Casa Araujo Alvares

Goa`s first automated sound and light museum. A 250 year old mansion showcasing traditional inheritance.

At Loutolim @ 9.30 am to 5.30 pm 2777034

Verna. 2783281

Bertha Pereira Cooking Classes Vandana’s Bakery Classes Caranzalem. 2462163

Meena’s Cooking Classes Caranzalem. 2462163

GESTO Culinary & Hospitality Academy Margao, 2730873

Branca’s Cooking Classes Panjim. 9822131835

David Furtado Dance & Aerobics

@ Panjim, Mapusa, Porvorim, Candolim, Aldona and Saligao.

Learn Salsa, Jive Waltz for Adults & Bollywood, Hip Hop & Contemporary dance for kids. +91 9975914195

Fatima Moniz

Cooking courses, Margao.

2776035/ +91 9370275702

Dance

Cyrus Da Costa Dance Classes

Monday to Saturday Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, Cha Cha Cha, Jive, Margao. 2715906/ 9921039537

Dr. Martin & Dance Illusions Team

@ Panjim, Vasco, Margao Waltz, Jive, Cha Cha-cha, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Salsa +91 9823014397

Dance for Life Academy Mapusa. 9823765523

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Book Review 17

Thursday, April 4, 2013

The Indo-Portuguese House Seen in a refreshing new light

By José Lourenço

A

beautiful new book by architect Gerard da Cunha and Japanese artist Akeru Barros Pereira takes the reader on a whirlwind ride through Goa’s history and how it influenced the makeup of the houses of Goa. Akeru’s deeply moving paintings show Goan homes in a refreshingly new light, with foliage-framed mansions standing tall in verdant landscapes featuring a melancholy play of light and shadow. Gerard’s explanations are filled with insight and surprises. Did you know that if a Goan family had an African connection, there would be zebras and giraffes in the flooring mosaic?

Ten years after the publication of the highly acclaimed book Houses of Goa, Gerard has now come out with the new book―The Indo-Portuguese House. This hard cover coffee table book, priced at Rs 1700, contains 72 pages of the water colour and pencil paintings of Akeru, a Kyoto-based Japanese artist who is married to a Goan. These images of Goan houses are accompanied by 36 pages of text, illustrations and photographs that illumine the evolution of the Goan house through Gerard’s eyes.

How does this book differ from Gerard’s earlier publication, Houses of Goa? “The two books stand ten years apart. This book contains my understanding of the Goan House, with newer information collected and studied over these ten years.” Gerard also owns and runs the Houses of Goa Museum at Salvador do Mundo in North Goa. “These are Indo-Portuguese houses, not Portuguese houses,” asserts Gerard, commenting on the evolution of the Goan house in recent years. “In the colonial years, Goa was isolated from the rest of India and the houses of Goa could evolve architecturally without outside interference. After the Liberation of Goa in 1961, there was chaos. People left Goa, others came in, and now the architecture of some areas looks like a part of Kholapur or Patna or any other part of India.”

“Akeru makes wonderful sketches, she captures the mood of these houses like no text can. She looks at each house as a story, what it was, what it could have been. Goa has many models of Indo-Portuguese houses, I have tried to include as many as I could in this book.

Even the small house looks beautiful, in

its proportions and design. Akeru also depicts the landscape and setting around the house to complete the imagery.”

Da Cunha decries what he sees as a troubling trend in the current architecture of Goa – what he calls “a kind of cut and paste trivialization of the past” that mimics the Indo-Portuguese style without capturing its “exciting, experimental and wonderfully evolved aesthetic.”

The book also includes rich illustrations from Linschoten, Time Life Books, Mario de Miranda and other sources. The information covers house models, balcaos, boundary walls, railings, roof tiling, flooring, false ceilings and even furniture.

The reader is also able to reflect on the fact that the Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa was built in the same period as

the Great Mosque for Sultan Selim II in Edirne in Turkey, St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow and the Citadel of Bam in Iran.

The origins of steep-tiled roofs and other elements of the well-developed and rich vocabulary of the Indo-Portuguese building are briefly explored here.

But it is Akeru Barros Pereira’s soft toned watercolours that make one look at Goan houses with new and softer eyes.

Akeru, whose husband is Joao Barros Pereira of Cansaulim, has clearly fallen in love with the Goan houses as well.

Trees embrace the house, with leaves caressing the tiled roofs, and sometimes cloaking the house, like green garments.

Falling light around the house evoke the generations of men and women who

strode the banquet halls and children who played hide and seek in the many nooks and crannies of these mysterious mansions. Akeru’s paintings tell stories, tales that beautifully complement Gerard da Cunha’s erudite study.

This book may not satisfy the academician who needs to know more detail, perhaps the earlier tome would serve the scholar better, but this book, The Indo-Portuguese House, is a feast for an aesthete who rejoices in these great houses still standing today and a connoisseur of saudade―that haunting state of nostalgic longing for a time long gone. 

18

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

www.goastreets.com/arts&entertainment

Thursday, April December 4, 2013 13, 2012

April 4

Cartoon Exhibition

At Pai Tiatrist Hall, Margao @ 3.30 pm +918698164522

April 6 and April 7

Konkani Play: Guneav Konnacho directed by Francis De Tuem

April 7

Konkani Play: Guneav Konnacho directed by Francis De Tuem At Ravindra Bhavan Hall, Sanvordem @ 3.30 pm +918322653083

Marouan Benabdallah Live At Maquinez Palace, Campal, Panjim @ 6.30 pm to 8 pm +9183224641303

April 10

Painting and Music show

By Anaka/jacy Mouvillt At Alliance Francaise, Panjim

Konkani Play: Goemkarponn directed by John D Silva’s At Pai Tiatrist Hall, Margao @ 3.30 pm +919850458978

April 12

Music Concert At St. Michel’s Church, Taleigao @ 6.30 pm

April 13

Gudi Padwa Celebration At Kala Academy, Panjim @ 7 pm +918322420453

April 14

Asha Bhosle Live in Concert At Kala Academy, Panjim @ 6 pm +918322420453

April 8 to April 20 Aqua Fiesta 2013 At Cidade de Goa, Dona Paula +918322454545

April 4 to April 6 Goafest At Zuri White Sands, Varca @ 9.30 am

By Mangesh Tendulkar At Kala Academy, Panjim +918322432528

Young Xpressions Art Exhibition At Kala Academy, Panjim +919422454427

Mar 22 to April 22

An Exhibition: The Pepper Cross At Kerkar Art Gallery, Calangute @ 6.30 pm +918322276017

April 15 to April 21

Theatre Workshop For Children above 8 yr.

At Nritya Sankul, Margao +919823936483/+919011059845

April 1 to April 5 Painting Exhibition At Kala Academy, Panjim @ 10 am to 7.30 pm +918322420453

Risqué theatre in a Goan village

Mar 11 to April 10

Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr Konknni Basic Course in Roman Script At Porvorim From 2.15 pm to 5.15 pm

April 2 to April 4

Summer Boot Camp At Heera Farm, Pernem +919422640141

Upto April 30

Indian Classical Music At Art Escape, Benaulim @ 7.30 pm +917350400655

Everyday

Ruchika’s Art Gallery

Ruchika`s Art Gallery displays fine arts, performing arts and new forms of art.

Opp. Goa Marriott Resort, Miramar.

From 10.30 am to 6 pm +918322465875/ +919850571283/ +919881836400

Galleria Ralino

Painting Art Gallery At Souza towers, Panaji +918322228370

Kerkar Art Gallery

Installations and sculptures and paintings

by Dr.Subodh Kerkar. It also showcases works by contemporary artists from all over India.

At Gauravaddo, Calangute

From 10 am to 7 pm +918322276017

Casa Popular

April 12 to April 20

Drawing and Painting Workshop For children above 5 yrs.

At Nritya Sankul, Margao +919823936483/+919011059845

Happy Ending 3D

At Municipal Market, Panaji +918322262135

Xavier centre of historical research

With particular emphasis on contemporary cultural and social issues affecting the State of Goa. At B B Borkar Rd, Porvorim +918322417772

Art Escape

Art Escape Goa is a knowledge sharing our of home experience through learn-bydoing workshops which include painting, Pottery, photography, theatre, dance, films, yoga, recycling & waste Management.

At Art Escape, Benaulim +919892286666/+919881568756/ +919323590051

F

By José Lourenço

rom behind the curtains of the tiny stage set up at one end of the outer hall of the Zambaulim temple comes an announcement ― “Saish Panandikar presents a one and half act play – Happy Ending 3D.” A cheer goes up from the audience of women and children sitting jam-packed on the floor of the hall. The men are crowding around, munching into the ladoos that are being freely distributed. Hugs and backslapping resounds as old friends meet. You can hear the actors and theatre crew jostle for space in the cramped wings of the stage. An invocation for blessings is made―”May all our 33 crore Gods bless us. And may all the Gods of all other faiths bless us too!”

The curtain part and an attractive woman played by Anjali Panandikar sets the stage aglow.

The Shigmotsav festival is on at Zambaulim. This is a celebration of Holi which will host comedy dramas, colour throwing revelry, festive stalls and bawdy entertainment for the hordes of Margao citizens who converge here for Shigmo celebrations. Goa Streets Editor José Lourenço was there, chatting with Saish Panandikar, aka Sai, the writer of the ‘risquiest’ play of the festival― Happy Ending 3D.In this comic farce, members of a family conspire to kidnap a wealthy mama (maternal uncle)for personal gain.

JL: Sai, tell us something about the Zambaulim temple. Why do Margao people flock to Zambaulim for this festival?

SP: When the Portuguese began converting Hindus and demolishing temples in Margao in the 1560s, the linga idol of Lord Damodar (popularly known as Dam-bab) was secretly removed and kept overnight at a house in Comba, of the Keni family. Then it was moved out of Margao and

eventually was shifted to Zambaulim village, which was outside of Portuguese control.

On the first day of the festival, the Hardaspann ritual, depicting the Ramayana, is carried out at Margao. A ritual coconut is consecrated (naal dovorop) at the Keni house in Margao, which had acted as a temporary overnight refuge for the Damodar deity before being moved out of Margao.

Strangely, the Hardaspann prayer ritual is carried out in Kannada, the language of Karnataka. My theory is that in those times, the Dam-bab idol was taken by some families from Margao to neighbouring Karnataka and brought back to Zambaulim after some generations.

JL: How did these Shigmo plays begin? How many plays are staged during the Shigmotsav?

SP: I am told that the natak was being staged even in my great grandfather’s time. I began acting in these plays as a kid, playing roles like that of little Sambhaji, the son of Shivaji. In 1982 I began to involve myself more actively in these plays. The plays are staged every night from Friday to Monday, of the Shigmotsav festival.

On Tuesday the Gulal takes place, where all the Margao people gather here and celebrate Holi. In the 1990s I began writing plays for the Zambaulim Shigmo, and since then every year I have been staging the Friday play of the Shigmo.

In the early years only men were allowed to act in these plays, they would play the female roles too. It was only in the 1970s that a female actor took part in the Shigmo play for the first time, in a play by the Shinkre group.

During the Zambaulim Shigmo, the idol of Lord Damodar is brought up and placed at the first floor gallery which surrounds the hall (sabhamandap) on the ground floor. It is as though Dam-bab himself has come to watch the plays staged by his devotees, the Madgaunkars.

Arts&Entertainment 19

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Gallery Gitanjali

At Opp Panaji Inn, Fontainhas From 9 am to 9 pm. +919823572035

Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem, a newly opened art and learning centre in Majorda.

At Majorda From 10 am to 6 pm +918888862462

Yemanja Art Gallery Painting Art Gallery At Betim, Reis Magos +918322416930

Persian Arts and Crafts At Taj holiday village, Sinquerim +918322479016

Surya Art Gallery

Here contemporary works of canvas paintings on Goan subject and art crafts are displayed.

At Bandawalwada, Pernem +919404149764/ +919422064754

Menezes Braganza hall At Ferry wharf, Panaji +918322224143

Chaku Arts and Crafts Painting Art Gallery At Vaddy, Candolim +918322279039

Panaji Art Gallery

Promotes Goan Art Figurative and individual works of artists.

At Panaji Art Gallery From 9 am to 8 pm. +919822168703

Exhibition of paintings

The Gallery displays paintings on canvas of original art & international print arts.

It also showcases works by contemporary artists from India & abroad.

At Arte Douro Art Gallery, Calangute from 9 am to 9 pm +9183222882266 / +919822147148

Big Foot Art Gallery

Display of works by various artists from India and abroad.

At Big Foot Art Gallery, Loutolim from 9 am to 6 pm +918322777034

Mario’s Art Gallery Painting Art Gallery At Chandor, Salcete +919850460095

JL: What happens at this event called ‘Okol Novro’ during Gulal festivities?

SP: The Okol-Novro tradition is to get a mock groom and bride up on a stage called the Ramnath stage and then have a lot of fun by cracking jokes, using raunchy language and sexy humour. In my grandfather’s time, a bridal pair and a funeral procession would take place at the same time on stage, and they would meet, as a parody of life.

Obscenities are merrily exchanged between characters on stage and off stage. It is a kind of aggressive release and cleansing. For me, Shigmo is a festival when people should release all their bad thoughts and anger, and clean themselves. So in my plays I allowed that free expression and release.

JL: The play is like a large family get-together as well as a broader satirical social commentary. There is realism combined with hearty dashes of absurdism and of course large doses of naughty, sexy humour. Considering there are a lot of women and children watching, isn’t there some kind of censorship for these plays? The next day’s play by a different group is titled Xezarchi Bail Gostachi (The Neighbour’s Wife is Desirable) !

SP: There is no censorship for these plays. There is no need to get the script approved or anything. These plays may be naughty, but they are accepted by our community for this festival time. We never cross the line. Our intention is not to malign or hurt anybody. This is just our community sharing some jokes and having a good time.

This play is staged only for the Zambaulim Shigmo. If I were to stage it anywhere else, I would have to adapt it appropriately for a wider audience.

JL: Prominent characters in Goa, and particularly of Margao, become the butt of merry jokes in the play script.

Manohar Parrikar, Digambar Kamat, Vijay Sardesai, Aires Rodrigues, Sridhar Kamat, Vaikunt Pai Fondekar are favourite targets of Saish’s nataks. Don’t the real people referred to in the comedy of the play get angry?

SP: No no, they take it all in stride. We

had a record crowd, around 600, for this year’s play. The elders say they never saw so many people attend and stay on till the end.

There were people even watching from the upper gallery.

JL: This is a very avant-garde thing, staging a risqué drama right inside the temple, under the deity’s very nose. It is radical and yet traditional. It is very broadminded and progressive, contrary to what the general public would think of conservative Hindu society.

SP: Though the play itself is progressive, there are some unfortunate conditions that we have to follow. At the Zambaulim Shigmo plays, only actors from the Brahmin and Vani (merchant caste) can perform on the stage inside the temple. I feel bad that some of my good actor friends from other communities cannot act here. But we hope to reform this. Now with Bhai Naik being the President of the Mathagramasth Hindu Sabha, who is also the president of an educational trust, we hope change will come.

JL: How does the Shigmo natak compare to khell, the traditional Konkani street play?

SP: Khell street plays would take place during Portuguese rule and even in precolonial times. The khell actors would criticize and hurl abuses at the colonial regime in the plays which would be staged during Intruz, the three days before the 40-day Lent period. They would be invited to perform even in front of the village Regedor’s (local authority) house. The authorities would allow it as a kind of social release valve, to let people express their pent up frustrations and anger during Intruz. So these Shigmo plays also act like a kind of release valve once a year.

I come from a background of street theatre which we used to stage during our years with the PSUProgressive Students Union. I continued to use that style in these nataks.

I don’t use many props or costume changes. My play Happy Ending occurs in the period of one night.

So there is no need for costume changes or set changes.

For me, props and costumes are not important. I prefer direct conversation, eye-toeye contact with the audience rather than between characters. I believe theatre should focus on story, dialogues and characters. I want to stimulate the audience to imagine and think, so that the play becomes more interactive, rather than spoon feeding them with

lavish sets and costumes.

JL: Do these plays nurture new actors?

SP: Yes, of course. New actors like Ketan Kurtarkar, Mohit Keni, Manguirish Salelkar and Esha Timble have acted in my play.

Esha has stepped on stage for the Shigmo play for the first time this year. The cast also includes Anjali Panandikar, Adish Kane, Medha Kamat, Shreyas Kamat, Bharti Naik and others.

JL: Have you ever received any reaction from Hindu right-wing groups?

SP: We were always an activist and reformist group. So there was always opposition from some elements. Even when I wrote some episodes for Prudent Media’s program ‘Lokshahi Hai Hai’, I received phone calls and was met by some persons who criticized me for making fun of our Gods. I replied saying I had a right to express myself and that this was the right thing for me to do.

JL: How are these risqué plays with double-entendre received by the audience in the temple? Your jokes and the message at the end of the play are laced with sexual slang and double meaning. Do you write for two parallel audiences – those who do and those who don’t get the jokes?

SP: Actually all people like this. People think some things are taboo. They want to think and talk about them, but not openly. So I use this platform to entertain and educate them, and also provide them with some erotic mischief! I give them the unexpected; shock them a bit with outteponn, crackpot stuff!

JL: Lala Bala is a legendary openair bar just outside the temple premises. Men gather there after the plays, or during them, for a drink and camaraderie late into the night. How did this place become so talked about among Madganvkars?

SP: Lala and Bala were two brothers.

That’s a good place to recharge and relax. A visit to Lala Bala is an important part of the Shigmo experience for some men. There is a Kushavati rivulet near the temple, called Pantto, parents like to take their kids for a dip there. For them the Pantto is Dam-bab.

For others, it is a ritual to attend the plays.

For yet others, serving meals to devotees in the temple is the real ritual. Some don’t even enter the temple, Lala Bala is their temple.

JL: At the end of the play, there is a moral message. Happy Ending in risqué slang means to be given erotic release manually at the end of a massage, isn’t it?

How did you get away with that!

SP: The message is that everyone wants someone else to come and change their world. You can change the world yourself, you don’t have to wait for some Mama or Baba or Bhai or Tai to do it for you. You shouldn’t wait for someone else to give you a happy ending. The hard work and action of your own hands is most powerful for a Happy Ending! 

20 Photo Feature

Statue of Francisco Luis Gomes at Campal

Miramar Circle

Statue of Dayanand Bandodkar

Mermaid garden in Panjim

Beethoven statue at Siolim

Sculpture of Robert Knox at Donapaula Statue of Abbe Faria at Panjim

Statue of Jack Sequeira at NIO circle, Donapaula

Satire 21

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Offshore Matka Gambling Ban on Goan Matka Upends Life As We Know It

By Cecil Pinto

T

he recent announcement by the Congress-led Central Government, regarding Matka, has led to many reactions and groupings here in Goa. It may be recalled that a Supreme Court Ruling ordered that Matka Betting in Goa had to be stopped immediately. Matka is a betting game that originated in Mumbai, run by numerous smalltime bookies in Maharashtra and other states. A tiny slip with the bet number written on it is the only proof of the bet, which runs on an underground implicit trust. An ‘open’ single digit number can fetch 8 times the bet amount, and a ‘closed’ 2-digit brings a windfall of 80 times.

The ruling Goa BJP government has announced immediate stoppage of Lucky Star Matka, which is Goa based.

Said the party spokesman, “Main and Kalyan Matka are Mumbai based and it is only the earnings that are being routed locally. We can’t just ‘dump’ all Matka Betting overnight. Who will provide a livelihood to the thousands of Matka bookies all over the state? They have no saleable skills, except for clear handwriting, and we have to consider the impact on the economy. It is all very well for some Commission in Delhi to say all Matka is illegal. What about all the major Matka bookies in Goa who now hold powerful political positions?

How will they sustain their hold on the

electorate without these earnings?”

Addressing the matter in the ongoing Legislative Assembly Session, the BJP Government has announced a relief package to the Matka Affected Bookies. The BJP spokesman clarified, “We know the Central Government wants to ban Matka so that the Casinos, run by rich Delhi businessmen, will make more money. But we will effectively take care of those affected by the ban - effective immediately.” A monthly dole of Rs. 15,000/- per Single Matka Table (maximum three bookies) has been proposed.

The Top Rung Matka Bookies Union (TRMBU) spokesman said, “We don’t need the Government to pay our employees. We can take care of them ourselves. Keep your money. We made, and continue to make, enough money for many generations. Just allow us to carry on our business, which we have been doing for decades. Thousands of families in Goa are dependent on Matka―and that does not even include the beneficiaries in the Police Department.”

On the other hand a spokeswoman for the Bailancho Saad (BS) said, “Matka has always been illegal and immoral. Why should tax-payer’s money be used as dole for criminals?

They have been breaking the law with impunity for so many years. It is time they were stopped. Provide them with alternative gambling jobs―maybe selling lotteries or online housie

tickets.”

The spokesman for the Government also added, “Since gambling on boats has already been legalized we intend allowing Matka Betting on cruise boats, fishing trawlers, ferry boats, etc, which will come under the Offshore Gambling Act. We will even allow Matka Betting on canoes, surfboards, inflatable mattresses, life buoys etc. Basically anything that floats is a legal place to bet and gamble in Goa.” Some Lower Rung Matka Affected Bookies are protesting at Azad Maidan.

They have set up tiny tables on the Maidan grounds and are handing out small informational paper slips to interested members of the public― except on Saturday and Sunday. A large generic ‘open’ section of the protestors remain present till 9 pm and only a core ‘closed’ team remains around till 12 midnight everyday―except Saturdays and Sundays.

Their placards largely consist of boards with three single digit numbers written vertically on both sides and a double digit number dominating the centre of the board. The placards change daily, one presumes the numbers represent the number of families affected by the ban―but the fluctuation is rather random.

As expected, the All Goa Motorcycle Pilots Association (AGMPA) has protested. “For so many years we carried the Matka Bets and results from the villages to the cities and to and fro.

With cellphones and the Internet we are facing competition, and now with this ban on Matka Betting how will we feed our families? All Motorcycle Pilots should be declared Matka Affected and be given Rs. 9,000/- a month till Matka Betting is resumed.” The All Goa Private Bus Owners Association (AGPBOA) is expected to jump on the bandwagon as usual. They claim to be affected by just anything―the ban on mining, the price of diesel, the cashew crop, global warning… anything is good enough excuse for them to raise their rates and still provide lousy service.

The Minister for People Affected by Bans has promised a solution by 7th July. When asked why that particular day was chosen he responded, “On my way to the Assembly I saw a man with a leg in a cast stamping on a snake on the side of the road. In Matka numerology this is a Double Seven (satte pe satko) and 7th July is 07/07. Of course it could also mean 27 unless I see an owl tonight in which case…”



Disclaimer: The article on this page is a satire and is not in anyway factual. It is only a humorous and satirical take on the events unfolding around us. We do not in anyway intend to offend any individual or institution through our satires and regret any offense caused inadvertently.

22 Feature

Migrants v/s Vigilantes Photograph by Arun Pavaratty

Migrants at the Calangute bus stand wait for labour contractors to pick them up

By Ashley do Rosario

T

wo weeks ago, Goa woke up to the news of a shocking murder of Hassan Khan, a resident of Taleigao (a suburb of Panjim) who bought and sold second-hand cars. He also dabbled in the real estate business.

It turned out to be a hit ordered by a suspended former official of the Mining Department. But when I overheard a group of young Goans talk about the murder before the culprit was confirmed, one man instantly concluded― “Oh! It must be the work of a ghanti (migrant)”.

Most of the rest in the group nodded vigorously in agreement.

‘Ghanti’ is a Konkani term with derogatory connotations, just like ‘bhailo’ or ‘voilo’, commonly used in local parlance to berate migrants.

A spate of recent crimes in Goa, some involving migrants and others where the culprits are unknown (but as is often the case, the migrants are blamed), has brought the issue of outsiders into sharp focus.

Migrants are increasingly being blamed for the crime wave, despite a lack of definitive evidence they are responsible for most of the offenses. And even if the crime rate is higher among migrants than the population at large, it is also true that the majority of the outsiders are law abiding citizens who have come to Goa to make ends meet, often performing tasks that locals are unwilling to do.

Early last month, Betalbatim, a village in the Salcete sub-district of South Goa, erupted as one voice against migrants

residing there. The reason― an incident in which one Hassan Nagdekar, a Karnataka labourer, allegedly attacked a school girl with a knife after trying to molest her while she was on her way to tuitions.

Hassan was thrashed black and blue before the police arrived. He is charged with attempt to murder for the attack on the girl (which left her with only minor injuries), but is yet to be formally arrested because police say he is still in serious condition in hospital from the beating.

A couple of weeks after this incident, another Betalbatim woman was attacked and again the suspect was a migrant. A similar episode ensued, with villagers beating him up until the cops arrived and shifted him to hospital with a swollen face.

On the back of these twin attacks, Betalbatim residents and lay organisations linked to the local parish church publicly expressed their ire against the ‘influx of migrants’.

“Since all these incidents coincide with the unregulated entry of outsiders into the village, residents rightly feel that these outsiders are responsible for the spurt in crime,” says Franklin Fernandes, Executive Committee Member of the Parish Pastoral Council.

Hillary Cota, a member of the Betalbatim Civic & Consumer Forum, says the people will resort to vigilantism when the state and the justice delivery system abdicate their responsibility.

Migrant labourers working in

industrial estates, at construction sites and as security guards have made homes in single room tenements built by landlords in spare properties surrounding their houses in several villages of Goa. Unease with such migrants who are

Parrikar said, adding that between 40 to 50 per cent of major crimes like murder and rape, had the involvement of construction and migrant workers.

“At least 15 to 20 recent murders have occurred at construction sites alone,” he added.

Parrikar, in the same debate, also revealed that his government will soon issue an advisory, under Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) provisions aimed at preventing in-migration without establishing the character and backgrounds of the people coming in.

Labour contractors, who bring manpower for construction sites and for other menial jobs, will need to provide the police with personal details of the people they bring into Goa. “Crimes are definitely linked to development here,” Parrikar said, while admitting in a way that most who come here do so only to fill the void in the local labour market, where the demand is high and takers among locals are few.

He said his government intends to train locals through the recently formed Human Resource Development Corporation in skills such as construction and security services and ensure outsiders currently working in Goa are eventually replaced with locally trained population.

Laxmi Lingayat Hossur, a maid from Karnataka who lives in Goa, argues that it’s unjustified to blame migrants for crimes only because in some incidents they are the culprits.

“Not all of us are criminals. We come here only because jobs are available. Apart from that there is no other reason,” Laxmi says. She said she’s often felt ostracized, and even puts her head down in market places to avoid confrontation.

“People do taunt, but this is foreign territory for us. We understand our place (in society) here,” she says, resigned to the injustice.

In another debate in the Goa Legislative Assembly, Parrikar mellowed his diatribe aimed at the migrants.

In response to a query raised by Santa Cruz legislator Atanasio Monserrate, he said the government does not keep records of migrants entering Goa on a daily or monthly basis.

Just being found without identity papers does not amount to being a crime in India, said Parrikar in reply to supplementary queries raised by Monserrate.

As for his promise to train locals for the jobs currently held by migrants, the question remains: Will the locals want that work? 

Turbulence in Goan villages in Goa mostly because wages here are substantially higher than back home, is common across the state, especially in villages, where incidents like the ones in Betalbatim, trigger overt migrant bashing campaigns.

A little over four months ago, a similar clash between locals and migrants erupted in Loutolim, another village in the same Salcete sub-district following the murder of a 25-year-old youth. The agitated villagers even set fire to the house of the suspected culprit’s landlord.

Is this anger directed towards the migrant population in the subjective belief that they alone are responsible for all the crime in Goa, justified?

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar stopped short of saying so when in the Goa legislative assembly he hinted that migrants are behind most crime.

“Many criminal activities happen with the involvement of people who work here as their background remains unchecked,”

Sports 23

Thursday, April 4, 2013

What really forced everyone and sundry, including the Catalan press, to go ga-ga over the Indian FCB Escola team was the stunning 2-1 victory they scored over FCB Escola Barcelona.

Yes, the Indian lads had achieved the unthinkable – beat Barca in Barcelona!

Kids training under FCB Escola program

Goan Lads Shine at

By Ashley do Rosario

D

on’t pinch yourself. It’s not a dream. Indeed, an Indian side did beat Barca on their home turf at Nou Camp in Barcelona and forced the football crazy populace there to sit up and take notice.

So what if the opponents the Indian bunch of players locked horns with at Barcelona didn’t have the Lionel Messis in their ranks? A decade from now, those young Barca players could well be up there at the highest international level.

And for all their efforts were worth, these nine nimble-footed, under-12 lads did make India, and in a way Goa, proud last month. More importantly, they proved to the world and the obstinate politicianbureaucrat-packed Indian sports administration, that India’s soccer talent can rise to become world beaters, if the right facilities and training are made available.

Nine Indian kids stole the show at Barcelona, playing for the first time at an international meet of school level teams, put together in 28 different countries

by Barcelona Football Club’s training program called FCB Escola.

They didn’t win the tournament but finished a respectable ninth to catch the eye of many in the business of football worldwide.

Five of the nine players in the Indian FCB Escola team were Goans - Flan Gomes of the Fr Agnel High School, Verna, Bevan Monteiro and Shanon Viegas from Don Bosco High School, Panjim, Ayan Lall of Don Bosco High School, Calangute, and Samward Pereira of Loyola High School,

Barcelona Football Margao.

The lads didn’t particularly start off the tournament with a bang. In fact, their first encounter on that big a stage was dismal, suffering a 4-1 drubbing at the hands, rather feet, of the “FCB Escola 4” team.

But that opening match was the last that they would be treated so badly on the green-top fields at Nou Camp.

They won handsomely against the Kuwaiti FCB Escola team, beating them convincingly with an identical 4-1 scoreline as their opening encounter, albeit ending victors.

They next faced the FCB Escola team from Tenerife and they held their nerve to keep terms with their opponents and force a draw with two goals netted by each team.

The youngsters lost 1-3 to the FCB Escola Reus ‘2’ team but in the very next round they badgered the other FCB Escola Reus team 4-1 to avenge the defeat.

All these efforts of the nine Indian

lads were fine and variously appreciated by rival coaches, talent hunters and officials from FC Barcelona linked with the training program. But what really forced everyone and sundry, including the Catalan press, to go ga-ga over the Indian FCB Escola team was the stunning 2-1 victory they scored over FCB Escola Barcelona.

Yes, the Indian lads had achieved the unthinkable – beat Barca in Barcelona!

And their stunning performance earned the Indian team the honour of being the subject of a team feature in a leading Barcelona newspaper.

According to a parent of one Goan member of the team who was in Barcelona for the tournament, the Indian team was a “big hit” there.

Everyone that mattered, coaches and directors of the other Escolas, he said, made special efforts to make it to the venues of matches to watch the Indian lads play.

In all, the tournament featured 28 FCB Escola teams drawn from across the

globe and from countries including Peru, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Dubai, Poland, Egypt, Spain, among others.

All these nations far outrank India in the latest FIFA rankings. Is this the sign of what’s in store for Indian soccer’s future? Will these nine kids and millions of their peers in this country of a billionplus people persevere in their footballing careers to become world beaters at the highest level say a decade into the future?

Football administrator and physician Dr Rufino Monteiro believes India can be a football superpower in the 2020s. Dr Monteiro, who heads the Goa Football Development Council, says if the Indian football fraternity works dedicatedly towards this goal, India can become a top football playing nation.

That you can’t get results without efforts has been amply proved by the FCB Escola team from India. The youngsters were trained for nearly a year since they were selected in early 2012. Two renowned coaches deputed

by FC Barcelona had selected them after holding trials across India.

Initially, when one such selection trial was held in Goa, the two Barcelona coaches were given a brief to select only two from here. But at the trials, upwards of a hundred kids turned up and the duo had no option but to pick the five talented players who ultimately made it to the Indian team.

FC Barcelona then conducted an intensive camp for these young footballers at Vasco’s Tilak Maidan in April last where they were trained and developed scientifically and in a way that ensures trainees learn to play in the patent Barca style of soccer.

India may be tottering at the sub-150 level in FIFA rankings. But these nine kids have shown that they can get their act together and beat the world if only their nation’s sports hierarchy can get theirs together as well. 

24 Hot Streets

L’Affaire de Derrière

I have never been unfaithful to her.

I know I will feel like an idiot if I mouth that stupid line ―I Love You. What is Love? For that matter I don’t ‘love’ anything. I don’t like the word ‘love’. It is a useless empty word used by foolish people. How do I get around this?

Sunil – Margao Dear Sunil, Some men find it difficult to say those Three Magical Words because of their male instinct not to appear vulnerable and show a dependency on their female partner. There are also a lot of men who say “I love you, honey” to their wives at the drop of a hat.

You have the advantage that you don’t overuse the phrase (well, in your case no use at all!) so when you do actually utter the words, they will have great power. You will know when the right moment comes to open your mouth and say “I Love You.” And perhaps then she will fall into your arms weeping, moved by the fact that you finally said this to her, the most lovely gift of all.

By the way, what makes you say you don’t love anyone or anything?

Some folks have had a cold upbringing without much tenderness expressed, and spend their life uncomfortable with phrases like I Love You. But you said a mouthful in your letter, Sunil.

The word “love” doesn’t have to be spoken to make it real. Other things – care, respect, devotion, shared time and experiences – also amount to love.

Dear Acaricia May, I take great pride in running an immaculate household. My children are well behaved and neat, my husband is very loving and considerate, and my domestic help is very capable and honest.

Actually it is in connection with the latter two that I have been compelled to write to you. At the dinner table last night, my husband was relaxing in his chair as the maid passed by, clearing the dishes. I don’t know if he moved his elbow a wee bit outward or whether there was genuinely inadequate space to pass, but I distinctly saw a grazing contact between his right elbow and the maid’s derriere. My heart sank a bit and I have since been wondering if there is more to this than the eye can see. How do I get to know whether he is being unfaithful to me, and that too right under my very nose? And that girl, what is she up to!? She is actually very capable, cooks better than me, and I don’t know what I would do without her.

She is also very attractive and only 21, but now I wish she was 64. What do I do now?

Martha Fernandes, Panjim Dear Martha, As you yourself pointed out, this could be nothing at all. But just in case, here’s a few things you could do to ease your worries. Step up the action in your bedroom. Give hubbie such a wild time that consorting with any other will not appeal to him at all. Exhaust him, but not so much that he cannot go to work. In other words, make sure all the juice is taken out of him in your presence, not that of another! This will give you both the added benefit of a good workout.

Now there are other options out there which Acaricia May will not recommend. I could tell you, for instance, to command the maid to dress in a sack cloth. Or to monitor all

movements to ensure she and your husband are never alone. You see, dear Martha, don’t turn Ms. Derriere into some kind of forbidden fruit – because we all know that this is the fruit that tastes the best. Instead, try being a little hotter yourself, and work on building trust. Ever consider what hubbie thinks of you and that handsome plucker who comes to tend the coconut trees and help you in the backyard?

See? If doubts fly, it’s all cloudy weather.

Now some readers may find what I’m about to say a little heartless, especially since one must assume your maid really needs the work. But if all fails, and you see advanced elbow play (or worse), you may have to lay her off, shed some

tears and get some new help. This time, yes, raise the age bar. And while you’re at it, let Mr. Feel-Her-Butt know he’s far, far from blameless – and give him a piece of your mind. There can only be one tigress on the hill.

Love, Acaricia May _____________________

Dear Acaricia May, I care for my wife a lot. It is a steady kind of affection, which revolves around her and our kids.

She often whispers ‘I love you’ in my ears and then waits for me to reply.

I usually say ‘Same here’. Then she gets mad, she says why can’t you say I love you too? But I don’t feel like saying I Love You. It is such a boring and meaningless line. Like a line from a silly movie. It doesn’t mean I resent her. I like her, I care for her, I respect her, I have shown it in my actions all our 8 married years, and

She is saying I love You in a very simple unconditional way, and you are lucky to have a life partner who not only says these words to you, but loves you enough to want you to say them back. Cherish that, Sunil! You are a loved man! So say what you feel to her.

Say “I like you’, ‘I care for you’, ‘I want you’, whatever you genuinely feel. She will feel loved and assured, and will look forward to those rare moments when you actually utter that magical super-charged mantra.  If you have any questions about sex, love or relationships, write them in to Acaricia May at acariciamay@ goastreets.com

USEFUL STUFF www.goastreets.com

Thursday, April 4, 2013 Police 100 Ambulance 108 Coast Guard 1718 Women Helpline 1091 Goa State Aids Control Society 1097 Child Helpline 1098

Airline Offices Air Arabia Airlines 9225906416/15 Indian Airlines 18001801407 Air India 2431100/04 Jet Airways 1800225822 Spice Jet 18001803333 Kingfisher Airlines 18002093030 GoAir 1800222111 Singapore Airlines 2438813 Qatar Airlines 7930616000 Ambulance Services Goa Medical College 2458725 Vintage Ambulance +91 8322232533 /+91 9823059948 Ambulance Trust (Margao) 2731759/2714464 Mapusa Ambulance Service (Mapusa) 2262372 Helpline (Dona Paula) 2453303 Super markets Magsons Super Market Miramar, St Inez, Caculo Mall, Caranzalem, Vasco, Verna and Varca

The

Corner

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2463700/2463701/2463702 Orchard Stores Anjuna. 2273231 Newton’s Arcade Candolim. 2489056 Delfinos Super Stores, Candolim, 2356895 / 5235685 Maple Leaf Supermarket Porvorim, 6454099 Parsekar Stores Mandrem, 0832 2247345/2247900

Pharmacies Jeevan Rekha Medical Store Panjim. 2435946 Holy Spirit Medical Services Margao. 2737433 Bardez Bazaar Mapusa. 2256620/2250618 Walson & Walson Calangute. 2276366 Nayana Medical Stores Porvorim. 2417818

Department of Tourism 2438750/2438755 Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd 2226515/2226728 Govt. of India Tourism 2223412/2420529 Panjim Information Counter 2438520 Margao Information Counter 2715204 Vasco Information Counter 2512673

Bus Services Kadamba Road Transport Corporation 133 Kadamba Transport Corporation 2438034/2438036 Manish Volvo 2444056 Paulo Travels 2438531 Neeta Volvo 2438088

Police stations Margao 2705095 Mapusa 2262231 Pernem 2201233 Anjuna 2273233 Calangute 2278284 Porvorim 2417704 Old Goa 2285301 Ponda 2313101 Colva 2788396 Vasco Harbour 2512234 Verna 2782325 Canacona 2633357

Railway Stations Canacona Code:CNO +918322643644 Madgaon Code:MAO +918322712790 Pernem Code:PERN +918322201283 Thivim Code:THVM +918322298682 Vasco de Gama Code:VSG +918322512398/+918322512131 Karmali Code:KRMI +918322285798

Medical and Hospitals Dial-A-Doctor (Toll Free) 1911 Blood Bank 2458724 Vrundavan Hospital, Mapusa +918322250022/+918326713535 Apollo Hospital Margao. 2728888/ 6728888 Manipal Hospital Panjim. 3048800 Vintage Hospital Panjim. 2426650

Release of book on Vamona Navelcar

On April 12 ,2013 at 6 pm Gallery Gitanjali will host the book launch of “Vamona Navelcar-An Artist of Three Continents” by Anne Kettringham to honour and celebrate the singular journey of “Ganesh” Vamona Ananta Sinai Navelcar .

Twice recipient of Gulbenkian fellowships (1963 and 1971), in 1968 Vamona won an international award at the International Exhibition of Art in Monte Carlo for his ink drawing, “Angoche Woman”. His works are in private collections and museums worldwide, in Lisbon, London, Geneva and other cities, and Goa, besides group shows in India and abroad.

Vamona’s oeuvre spans several decades, continents and media including murals and bas-relief composed of metallic, wooden and glass structures.

The book launch will also mark the opening of a retrospective exhibition at Gallery Gitanjali from the 12-19 of April 2013. Anne’s biography of Vamona delves into his trials, tribulations and triumphs intertwined as they were with the history of the times and continents he lived in.

Inspired by the wonder of his works she was encouraged and supported by Mr. Anthony Athaide of Village Sanctuary Arts to pen this book which will be available as a limited edition of only 200 copies, personally signed by Vamona Navelcar at the Book Launch at Gallery Gitanjali.

For further details kindly contact us at : gallerygitanjali@gmail.com / 9673935195

Post Offices Panjim GPO 2223706 Margao 2715791 Mapusa 2262235 Calangute 2276030

Safety Information Tourist Police Booths Miramar 2464260 Tourist Police Booths Calangute 2281238 Tourist Police Booths Vagator 2274031

Art workshop for children A series of one-week art workshops will be held at the Fundação Oriente between 11 am and 12 noon on April 8 to 12; April 15 to 19 and April 22 to 26 on the art works of renowned Goan artist, Antonio Xavier Trindade.

Children aged 8 to 13 years are eligible to participate. The necessary requirements like paper, crayons and pencil colours should be brought by the children.

For registration and further details please contact us on Tel. No. 6450878 or email: foriente.gallery@gmail.com.

French language courses

Alliance Francaise, Panjim announces it’s Summer course session (April-May).

Registrations are open for Beginners, Intermediate & Advanced level.

Also Special Kids Camp (7-11 years) and intensive beginners batch.

Starting date : 13th and 15th April 2013.

Contact: 9923666856/ alliance-fr@ hotmail.com

DreamZ Spa and Salon At Campal, Panjim @ 10 am to 9 pm +918322223628 Sukho Thai -The Thai Foot Spa At Calangute @ 11 am to 11 pm +918326511265 Sohum Spa At Royal Orchid Beach Resort & Spa, Utorda @ 9.30 a to 10 pm +918322884400/ +918322884401

Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa

At Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa, Arossim beach, Cansaulim +918322721234/ +919923207075 edra.godinho@hyatt.com goa.park.hyatt.com

Workshop on using digital resources

Bookworm is organising a workshop on Using Digital resources in a Public Library and Educational Institutions (Children’s Section) on Friday, 5th April 2013, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Bookworm Library, Taleigao. This will include Orientation to Ubuntu Operating System, ICT in Society, Education and teaching-learning, the Philosophical aspects.

Session also includes typing in Indian Languages, Introduction to several educational tools. Soft copies of hand-outs will be provided to all the participants. If the participants bring an empty DVD, the Ubuntu Operating System and all the tools listed will be copied onto it. Session will be conducted by Bindu R Thirumalai from Bangalore. Session is free and open to all.

Learn sailing in a Topper Sailboat

Goa Yachting Association (GYA) together with the Topper Association (India) and Cidade de Goa will conduct two-week sailing courses in the latest, brand new stateof-the-art International Topper sailboats.

There will be two courses, from April 8 to 20 and April 22 to May 4. The courses are for adults and for children over 12 years.

Instruction will be intensive, hands-on and in the water. All applicants must be able to swim at least 25 metres.

Those interested should contact Colonel Milind Prabhu (9423885099), Ashwin Tombat (8888250019) or Rohidas Naik (0832-2490246). Seats are limited.

NoMoZo - Banishing Cars To Make Room For People held along the 18th June Road with the objective of promoting this as a pedestrian shopping street. Our plan right from the beginning was to work with all the stake holders to make this street into a permanent NoMoZo, with the larger objectives of tying this in with an improved public transportation system, improved pedestrian and shopping-friendly street infrastructure, and a cycle plan for the city. We have been busy interacting with the master planners preparing a holistic plan for the city. The next NoMoZo will be held soon, as soon as we have this important part taken care of!

On the whole, the response has been overwhelming and the success

By Tallulah D’Silva

O

ne day in Panjim, I witnessed a man in a fancy car stop right outside the entrance to ‘Bread and More’ and rush inside the shop.

When I questioned him, he simply said that he would only take 2 minutes to pick up a cake and leave. Despite my pointing out that there was an empty slot in the parking bay opposite the shop, the 2 minutes extended to 20 and soon there was a huge pile of honking vehicles outside. He then sheepishly drove off with no justification or an apology. Sometimes the 2 minutes has extended to 12 hours as in the chap who would come late at night from work and invariably double-park, blocking the main access lane to our buildings.

This led to serious issues during an emergency when a senior citizen had to be rushed to the hospital late at night.

Another traffic malady that we suffer from is what I call the ‘Call My Minister’ syndrome! We were stuck in a traffic jam at the Caculo Mall Junction the other day and spotted the owners of two vehicles involved in a minor impact busy on their flashy cell phones―perhaps calling up their favourite minister to resolve their predicament. So while we wait for the traffic cell to conduct a mass vaccination drive to relieve us of these syndromes, there is hope in sight with the adoption of a unique model for decongestion, as demonstrated by the very popular NoMoZo. NoMoZo simply expands to Non Motorized Zone. When all the available space on the city street is chock-a-block with on-street parking and the steady flow of moving cars, the resulting noise and pollution destroy the experience of walking on these streets. Besides

Goa Governor Bharat Vir Wanchoo takes a shot at soccer at one of the No-Mo-Zo events in Panjim being hampered, pedestrians no longer feel safe. The objective of the NoMoZo initiative was to create awareness about car-free streets and ease of mobility to pedestrians in the historically walkable city of Panjim. By cordoning off a certain section of an otherwise busy street, the NoMoZo hoped to give the citizens an opportunity to experience a people friendly ambiance―safe to walk for not only children, parents with prams, senior citizens but the differentlyabled too. Over the months we managed to not only create awareness about pedestrian friendly streets but also gave Panjim’s citizens an opportunity for community bonding.

The first NoMoZo was held in May 2012 and continued every month till October 2012. The NoMoZo was

unexpected. When we organized the NoMoZo, we had to seek permissions in a very short time frame and we were not sure until the penultimate day that we would have our logistics in place.

Luckily, the NoMoZo went on without a hitch for many months. We encountered resistance from only a handful of traders along 18th June road who were apparently incurring losses during the few hours of a Sunday morning once a month that the NoMoZo was held on.

We felt sympathetic to these few traders as our intention was not to inconvenience or hamper anybody’s business. We conceived it as a community initiative and hoped to have all on board. We tried to convince these few that we had to work together and push the government and the local body to put the necessary infrastructure

in place. Although they supported our long-term vision, they were not confident of support from the Corporation or the Government. Their constant worry was that if the government changed, all our great plans would come to naught and by then they would have incurred losses with no hope of recovery. We understood their stand and decided to focus our energies on working with the appointed consultants and the government to crystallize our long-term vision for our city.

Since the inception of the NoMoZo in Panjim, Vasco too had one last year and Margao has plans to do one of its own. It is a community initiative and we support anybody who wants to promote this unique idea in their town or village across Goa. It is not too difficult to implement, and the criteria for choosing a potential NoMoZo is simple, with the concept already functioning in several areas. St Cruz has its main market street closed off with gates at both ends every morning between 8am and 12pm. There are many temple streets that allow only pedestrians to walk to the main temple.

Tito’s lane is now closed for traffic and the experience of walking that stretch is further enriched with the absence of automobile clatter. All these examples are virtually like open malls! To implement NoMoZos, we would first have to identify such potential pedestrian streets in main market places, religious complexes, shopping streets in urban towns, etc and then follow up with the government to notify these.

This concept is unique and now that it has found acceptance with the citizens, the government which supported our idea can step up its action and adopt other streets as NoMoZo’s. There is a lot of running around involved to seek permissions, organize volunteers and make sure all the logistics are in place for a gathering of citizens of this magnitude.

We too hadn’t realized this and were driven by our passion that all would fall in place like magic! Now it is time for the government to lend its support and prove to the people that it, too, acknowledges the very real benefits of pedestrian streets to citizens and businesses alike – and, by extension, Goa’s tourism trade.

Besides the NoMoZo, the Amchi Panaji group has also initiated a Seeti Bajao campaign, where volunteers blow brightly coloured whistles to admonish litterers in public spaces. There’s no about it. With a little determination, we can all make Goa a better place. 

Tallulah D’Silva can be contacted at: tallulahdsilva@gmail.com Websites: www.missiongreengoa. blogspot.com, www. environmentallywrite.blogspot.com

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