8 May, Herald Publication Pvt. Ltd

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Panjim I May 8, 2011 I Postal Reg. No. Goa 101 I Price Rs. 3.00 I Air Surcharge Rs 2 I Pages 16+12

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THE VOICE Of GOA -- SINCE 1900

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wE HAVE CuT Off THEIR HEAD, wILL DEfEAT THEM: ObAMA >> P12

goa

sports

COPs DIRECTED TO REGIsTER fIR AGAINsT DEsHPRAbHu >> P3

GANGuLY ALwAYs wANTED TO PLAY IN IPL: wIfE >> P16

‘No idea’ says Ravi on SIT formation Minister clueless on Cipriano probe

Herald probe exposes blatant cover up

TEAM HERALD

TEAM HERALD

PANJIM, MAY 7 : Home Min-

PANJIM, MAY 7: The home

ister Ravi Naik, was stumped and confused, on the sidelines of a function to launch the marine commando force, when Team Herald asked him if the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Cipriano Fernandes killing was formed.

This was even more surprising since it was the home minister himself who had announced in the State legislative assembly on February 3 that a SIT would be constituted and any action against officers responsible for the custodial killing of

minister’s shock, surprise and confusion when Team Herald confronted him with a straight query whether the Special Investigation Team was constituted to probe the Cipriano Fernandes custodial death case was not surprising. Herald first reported it in its February 26 Weekend edition (Home Minister played SIT card to delay action against Panjim cops,) and then again in its March 20 edition (When the lies come Home).

On February 3, the home minister announced in the

Cipriano Fernandes would be taken after the SIT submits its report.

A SIT was supposed to be formed to investigate the police drug dealer nexus case too involving Police Sub Inspector Gudlar. >Continued on pg 11

assembly a SIT headed by a senior officer Om Prakash Kurtarkar would investigate the actions of police officials charged with murdering Cipriano Fernandes in police custody.

The next day, he prevented his own Home Department from recommending to the director general of police to take action against the accused police officers of the Panjim police station and wrote on the internal note, where this recommendation was made (again published by this newspaper earlier) “I have announced in the legislative >Continued on pg 11

AFP

IN LADEN’S LAIR: Pakistani children play with plastic guns in a street near Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden's final hideout at Abbottabad.

Overprotected VIPs leave common man without police cover SECURITY CHECK

CM, health minister, Speaker have security more than sanctioned TEAM HERALD PANJIM, MAY 7: Goa’s senior most politicians are guarded fiercely. And disproportionately. According to police records available with the Herald, Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane, for instance, has Y category security having 21 policemen guarding him against his entitlement of two PSOs (personal security officers) and one armed guard.

He even has more protection than the State’s Home Minister Ravi Naik, who has only 17 policemen Naik has not exceeded his entitlement.

The security review committee of the Home Ministry has sanctioned Chief Minis-

ter Digambar Kamat a total 30 policemen at his disposal but actually carries 57 of them who perform duties at his official and personal residences in Panjim and Margao respectively.

Goa’s longest-serving former Chief Minister and current Speaker Pratapsing Rane has 35 security staff as against the sanctioned strength of 26. Besides PSOs and escort officers, policemen in plain clothes are posted at his sprawling residence at Kulan in Sanquelim.

Home Minister Ravi Naik has 17 policemen of which seven are head constables and 10 constables. Naik’s family was reportedly under threat from a gangster, Joe Boy, who had allegedly hired

Michael Fernandes to eliminate them.

Former Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro and former Finance Minister and current Congress legislator Dayanand Narvekar have been allotted two head constables each whereas former Transport Minister Pandurang Madkaikar and Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board Dr Wilfred D’Souza are given one head constable and a constable each.

Ex-Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh Union Territory General (retired) S F Rodrigues has nine security personnel as against the entitlement of two PSOs and an armed guard.

DIGAMBAR KAMAT COPS GUARDING HIM:57 ENTITLED TO: 30

RAVI NAIK COPS GUARDING HIM: 17 ENTITLED TO: 17

PRATAPSINGH RANE COPS GUARDING HIM: 35 ENTITLED TO: 26

VISHWAJEET RANE COPS GUARDING HIM: 21 ENTITLED TO: 3

2 policemen, farmer killed in UP clashes

New circular causing hiccups to schools

PTI

TEAM HERALD

NOIDA, MAY 7: Two police-

PANJIM, MAY 7: Though the

men were among three persons killed and District Magistrate Deepak Agarwal got a bullet injury in fierce clashes that broke out in Greater Noida today between security personnel and agitating farmers holding three roadways employees hostage.

Scores of people including an SSP (senior superintendent of police) were also injured when the agitation by farmers demanding better compensation for their acquired land turned violent in Bhatta Parsaul village in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, a Delhi suburb.

The agitating farmers alleged that a protester, who was found dead, was killed in police firing after villagers and security personnel >Continued on pg 11

Education Department circular directing schools not to detain or fail students until they reach class IX has brought glee, especially to academically weak students, it has put school administrations and teachers in a quandary for its inappropriate timing.

The circular issued on May 6, but having retrospective effect implies that students who were declared failed in academic year 201011 will have to be promoted to the next class, despite results being declared.

Implementation of the directive can only ensure chaos and confusion, lamented a Panjim school teacher, who preferred anonymity. “We have finished with admissions for almost all classes. Some students who failed have changed schools. Others have bought note books for

SUNDAY ANCHoR

50 yrs of liberation, but still stranded on the road Villages in Ponda, including KTC chief Deepak Dhavlikar’s Priol have no bus VIBHA VERMA PONDA: There is a road now from Marcel to a village called Betki Khandola. 30 minutes from Panjim, about the same distance between Goa’s capital and the beaches of north Goa. But there is no bus. And there never has been.

In a queer twisted way, in the fiftieth year of Goa’s “liberation”, Tukaram Talekar, of this village is truly liberated from having to wait for buses. He hops on to his fellow villagers’ motorcycles to work.

For those who don’t have friends or relatives who own

vehicles and can’t afford to buy one, it’s the good ole bus number 11—your two feet.

“Not a single bus plies to this village. It is only during schools that Kadamba buses randomly ply here,” Talekar, said, before hopping on his colleagues’ bike for work.

The village nestled in this beautiful Himalaya-like surrounding has not seen any development.

A kilometer ahead is Talewado, famous for its Mandododare Tale Lake. The village comprises about 25 houses and population of

“There are no direct buses to Priol. One has to board a bus to Mardol and from the bus stop hire a rickshaw for 40 rupees ” 200 to 250.

Alandi Talekar, found washing clothes near the ‘spring’ explained how they carry out their routine activity. “There are roads but we have to

walk miles away to get our work done including shopping, medical facilities, and completing tasks. Besides, there is no water connection.

We not only use the spring water for washing clothes and utensils but also use it for drinking,” she said.

Sandesh Talekar, a local boy appearing for graduation, showed us around. He explained how difficult it is for any school or college-going student without any transportation.

“We have so many natural resources like spring water, huge acres of plantation

bearing fruits and horticultural farms. But access here is difficult in absence of public transport,” he said..

Winding up at Tale, Team Herald reached Palsari vaddo where the people share same grievances.

“The government has sidelined this village except for constructing the road which is of no use without any public transport. There are only few houses which can afford private vehicles but what about others,” questioned Sanjana Naik, whom our team stopped to get her >Continued on pg 11

the repeat class, “ said the teacher narrating the hardships students and schools are facing.

Expressing similar views Fr Zeferino Fernandes, Secretary, Diocesan Society of Education, told Herald that though he concurs with mass promotions, the circular should have come prior to the declaration of results, not after closure of admissions. No communication has been received regarding implementation of RTE (Right to Education) Act, he said.

Most schools have also forwarded their academic information to the department for which cut-off date is May 10.

Major causes for worry are lack of preparedness of teachers in handling the situation since mass promotion is inherently linked to Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) and how teachers will devote time >Continued on pg 11

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Shack operators felt that the ‘lots system’ should be given a thorough review and preference should be given to genuine and experienced shack operators who eke out a living from the shacks.

Goa I Sunday 8, May 2011

Many tourists bathe at the waterfalls and river after consuming alcohol, leading to their death — Collem Sarpanch Sandeep Dessai

Loud music blows away Calangute shack operators fortunes As the summer sun breathes down excruciating heat and churns the sands to boiling point, Goa knows it’s curtains on the tourist season.

THOMAS FERNANDES mingled with the shack operators along the sultry Calangute coast, to feel the pulse of their business this season.

T

he current tourist season which had a belated December start, for shack operators, due to the late allotment of shacks by the Goa Government, appears to have been a mixed bag. Marginally better than the last tourist season, prospects of the 2010-2011 tourist season seems to have been punctured by some undesirable actions of the shack owners themselves. The absence of fair-play and sufficient monitoring by the government in the allotment and operation of the shacks seemed to have taken some sheen out of the shack business. Here are individual narratives by shack operators in their own words.

Shack Owners Welfare Society General Secretary John Lobo “Overall, the business was better as compared to last year, but not very good.

There are a lesser number of international tourists this year.

The Russians formed the major chunk of tourists this time around, but they are rarely keen to party, eat and ‘give us business’. There

were also Indian tourists who were more interested in music, but would hardly patronize our business at the end of the day.” Lobo discloses.

“I would say the business was moderate and not flourishing, as was expected at the beginning of the season.

Some things done here were counterproductive, such as loud music played on the beachfront, beyond the permissible limits. British tourists, who usually prefer soft music, would stay away from the shacks due to the blaring music which was beyond their comfort level.

The few shack owners who played loud music in their shacks, hardly had any takers for their business even after they ceased playing such music. But eventually we convinced these few guys to change over to soft music and to their good luck a few international tourists patronized their shacks.”

Verner Costa, shack owner (Candolim) “Business this year was financially more rewarding than the year before. Previously our business was ruined due to the partial

Thomas Fernandes

‘Dummy’ shack owners play spoilsport!

S

A shack along Calangute Beach. erosion of the Candolim beach towards the Sinquerim end as a consequence of the stranded vessel ‘River Princess’ and resultant change in tidal patterns.

With preventive measures in place, the waters have receded and beach has been reclaimed, thus inviting a better flow of tourists as compared to earlier years.

Hopefully, everything

should go well in the years, so that our business flourishes.”

Lawrence De Souza, shack owner (Calangute) “The business this time around was okay as compared to last year, though we started belatedly in December. This year, we expected a lot more returns, but that did not materialize. But we are relieved, the season was okay.”

“The loud music also played spoilt sport. A few shack owners blasted music in this zone beyond permissible limits, drawing adverse comments from our international tourists. Concerned authorities should address the problem in the next tourism season.”

David Fernandes, shack owner (Baga) “I would say business was not better as compared to

previous years. First and foremost, the international guests were less perhaps due to better facilities available in other parts of the world.

Besides, the loud and flashy music disturbed the calm and peace of the seaside, which forced international tourists to stay away from relaxing at the shacks.

Surprisingly, authorities failed to initiate any action

ome shack owners have disclosed the existence of some black sheep within their fold, who are allegedly selling their ‘lots’ at a price. These ‘dummy’ shack operators should not be allowed to participate in the ‘lots system’.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, as they did not wish to invite the ire of their comrades in the trade, the shack operators felt that the ‘lots system’ should be given a thorough review and preference should be given to genuine and experienced shack operators who eke

on the erring shack owners who played loud music beyond permissible limits.”

Stanley Fernandes, shack owner (Candolim) “There were few international tourists this year, unlike in the earlier years.

International tourists previously used to frequent our

Garbage scars breathtaking Agonda

out a living from the shacks.

“Experienced shack operators failed to win a lot and had to get it from others who had two or more applications/allotments in their names,” remarked a shack operator. Although they were in favour of the lot system, they wanted strict adherence to the rules and regulations governing the winning lots.

They felt that authorities should consider the finance pumped in by them over the years so that their investment is safeguarded, even if they fail to win a lot. beaches for the sun and scenic beauty, but nowadays tourists want more activities such as music festivals, etc, which have not been happening on the beaches anymore. The government should do something to attract the international and domestic tourists.”

Kathy Pereira

The ugly scar left of the face of scenic Agonda, in the form of garbage strewn all over the village, including the water bodies, is a testimony to the self destructive nature of uncontrolled and unregulated tourism, says Kathy Pereira.

T

he magnificent white sand Agonda beach, is gradually imbibing the fallout of beach tourism.

Over the years from being a secluded beach mostly frequented by Goans, it has gradually been sucked into the material loop of uncontrolled tourism activities. To cope with the increasing tourists, and resultant tourist trade, it does not have an effective garbage disposal plan in place.

Mounds of garbage including plastic bottles, tetra packs, straws, plastic bags and wet garbage is dumped in sporadic waste dumps in various places of Agonda.

These dumps are not only an

ugly scar on the face of the once clean seaside village, but they pose a serious health hazard to residents.

The garbage not only litters the roadside but has made its way into water bodies, such as the main rivulet in the village, which is close to the coast, and inundated with waste. It is a sorry sight to see garbage floating in this once emerald rivulet at the high tide.

“If one enters the river for traditional fishing, at many points one finds the riverbed full of unwanted waste dumped by unscrupulous elements, but no fish,” remarked a local. The reality is no different in other lakes, ponds and unused wells

which are infested with waste. Fish, which was breeding in abundance in these inland waters, is now almost extinct.

“Even sweet water prawns which were previously available in plenty, are now difficult to find. Other fish varieties are rarely found in these water bodies,” complain several residents.

Incidentally, the only hope that villagers have is the onset of the monsoon, when the garbage is flushed out and the floodwaters of the Arabian Sea bring in some fish.

However in recent years, the sea along Agonda’s coast is choking with mounds of

plastic and other waste. This has prompted Tourism Department workers to come all the way from Panjim and undertake beach cleaning exercises on several occasions. Locals have realized that tourism business which is generating revenue for some is also destroying their environment. Restaurants, shacks, general stores, hawkers and other tourism related businesses are generating this garbage.

“This is because 70% of the tourism trade is directly carried out by outsiders, who are rarely interested in the long-term welfare of the village.” said Panchayat Member Jovi Fernandes.

P K Patil

Garbage strewn in the river at Agonda.

“This garbage has been accumulating even though the panchayat had organized garbage management workshops for the villagers with the help of environmentalists like Clinton Vaz and others, in the past.” said

Fernandes, who organized these workshops during his term as sarpanch.

According to Panchayat sources, people were practically shown how garbage generated in households can be disposed off, or treated in

a better way so that surroundings are not affected.

They were also taught how to segregate garbage at the business outlets.

Incidentally, the panchayat engages two dailywage workers to collect the

plastic waste generated by tourism activities along the beach. Ironically garbage is still being dumped behind the panchayat building and is awaiting transportation to the shredding machine at Shristhal-Canacona.

Dudhsagar’s fatal attraction

The fascinating charm of the Dudhsagar waterfalls at Sonaulim-Collem enraptures many foreign and domestic tourists, but this majestic waterfall has proved to be a fatal attraction for many recounts P K PATIL

A

The Dudhsagar waterfall.

t least 21 persons have not lived to tell the tale of the captivating Dudhsagar waterfalls, having drowned at the falls in the last five years alone, making it one of the most ill-fated tourist spots in the state.

Located approximately 80 kms from Panjim and 15 kms from Collem, Dudhsagar waterfalls has been a popular spot for adventure tourism. Besides foreign and domestic tourists, Dudhsagar is also a regular picnic spot for Goan students, families, office staff.

The popular sites in the area include the waterfalls, Devil’s Canyon and the banks of Dudhsagar River. Of these, the most dangerous place is

the waterfall itself, which is very deep, dotted with rocks and strong underwater currents. Besides, Devil’s canyon is formed by rocks and underwater passages and Dudhsagar River flows through the Devil’s Canyon with great turbulence.

Unaware of the dangers at the Dudhsagar waterfalls, 21 persons have lost their lives since 2006. Incidentally, all these persons were able bodied youth, in the prime of their lives, and were between18 and 35 years. While eight of the dead were from Goa, 12 were from other parts of India.

No foreign tourists, perished at the fall since 2006, while one body was never identified.

Police sources disclosed

that majority of the deaths result from consumption of alcohol prior to taking a dip in the treacherous waters. “Some tourists don’t even know swimming. Besides, there are no lifeguards deployed by the falls by the Tourism Department,” informed a policeman.

Collem Sarpanch Sandeep Dessai echoed similar views. “Many tourists bathe at the waterfalls and river after consuming alcohol, leading to their death.

The Tourism department should appoint lifeguards at three dangerous places at Dudhsagar, the waterfalls, Devil’s Canyon and Signakond,” he suggested.

Sarpanch Dessai disclosed that authorities have largely

ignored the tourism potential of the Dudhsagar waterfalls.

“The area still lacks infrastructure like transport, road, food and accommodation,” said Dessai. He informed that there are over 100 jeeps transporting tourists from Collem to Dudhsagar waterfalls and said the local youth earn a living from this business.

Dharbandora ZP member Rashmi Lambor claimed that attempts were earlier made to monitor the situation at Dudhsagar waterfalls. “Two years ago, police were posted at Dudhsagar waterfalls for some time. But due to shortage of staff at Collem police station, the police presence was discontinued,” Lambor said.

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“I am a three-time MLA, having won twice on the NCP banner. Some of these leaders, who have called for my resignation, have not won any election. I will decide on the timing of my resignation from the party. – Mickky Pacheco

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Cops directed to register Drug trade portrayal in Dum Maro Dum FIR against Deshprabhu

incorrect, says Bassi

HERALD REPORTER

mining scam

PANJIM,

Deshprabhu was fined Rs 1.72 crore for illegal mining of iron ore in Goa, according to documents sourced from the State Mining Department. He claimed that while the land where illegal mining was being carried out was owned by him and that he was not behind the operations.

MAY

7:Judicial

Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Pernem on Saturday directed Goa Police to register an FIR within 24 hours against the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) National Secretary Jitendra Deshprabhu and other State department officials in the illegal mining scam.

In February, activists Pradeep Kakodkar, Kashinath Shetye and Ketan Govekar had filed a police complaint, alleging that the NCP legislator and others cheated the State Government of Rs 50 crores.

It may be recalled that

Deshprabhu was fined Rs 1.72 crores for illegal mining of iron ore in Goa, according to documents sourced from the State Mining Department.

Deshprabhu had claimed that while the land where illegal mining was being carried out was owned by him, he was not behind the mining operations.

Mining Department officials had said that son of a senior Cabinet minister had

been awarded the contract to extract the iron ore from the mining pit.

The complaint letter had also named Director of Industries and Mines, Director of Transport, Chairman of Goa State Pollution Control Board, Chief Conservator of Forest Department and other officials from the respective departments and Korgao Village Panchayat of being involved in the illegal mining scam.

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 7 : Just as the dust is settling on the controversy surrounding the Bollywood flick ‘Dum Maro Dum’, Goa Police today said that the projection of drug trade in Goa, in the movie, was incorrect.

Director General of Police Bhim Sain Bassi said that ‘there is no place safer than Goa’ since just a few offences are reported here.

“Goa is safe for everyone including women who can go out even at 10:30 pm and can dress in any attire. There is no restriction on any form of clothing here. Goan culture is good, and Goa Police has a limited role,” Bassi

maintained.

He nonetheless added that movies are three-hour entertainment packages.

“Movies are movies. If carpets and heroes can fly, what can we comment about them. It is three hours entertainment for the people in the theatre,” Bassi said while speaking on the sidelines of the launch of Goa’s Marine Commando Force.

While refusing to reply to media questions on whether police officers had watched the movie, the police chief reiterated that Goa is a safe place and police contribute to the safety of people here.

Marine Commandos struggle to cross River Mandovi HERALD REPORTER

Sachin Ambadoskar

PANJIM, MAY 7: On the first day of commissioning itself, Goa Police’s elite Marine Commando force, named as ‘Sheshnag’, unfortunately struggled to cross the River Mandovi in Goa, due to the strong underwater currents.

Dressed in olive green and brown uniform, armed with sophisticated weapons such as AK-47 rifles and bullet proof vessels built by M/s Goa Shipyard Limited, the 10-men force finally swam across the Mandovi from Betim Jetty to the Captain of Ports jetty.

Home Minister Ravi Naik, who flagged off the exercise of the elite force, said that the commandos, who have undergone eight months intense training, will be sent for further training to the Indian Navy’s academy at INS Mandovi, Verem.

The home minister along with Director General of Police Bhim Sain Bassi, Deputy Inspector General of Police Ravindra Yadav, Coastal Police SP Om Prakash Kurtarkar and other officers witnessed the exercise while patrolling the river aboard a vessel.

When questioned, Bassi said that the force will be

The Goa Police’s elite Marine Commando force. trained in such a way that they should be able to swim in their uniform, shoes and with rifles strapped to their back.

“They have been trained right from scratch. When they began, they had no knowledge of even elementary swimming. They are now trained for over eight months,” he informed.

The police chief added that the Force will be a seaborne version of Goa’s Quick Response Teams (QRTs) which were formed to counter terrorist attacks on land. “We have dedicated

manpower, in the form of QRTs. Goa police is well trained to counter terrorists,” Bassi stated.

Speaking further, Bassi said that Goa being an international tourist destination is always on the terror radar because of ample international media attention. He said Goa is a good prospect not only for tourists but also terrorists.

“If terrorists want media attention then there can be no better place to strike than Goa, as it is susceptible to any possible terror strike.

Fortunately Goa has been

lucky notwithstanding the Vasco and Margao blast cases,” Bassi said.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the launch of Marine Commando Force, Bassi further said that there are constant attempts by the anti-social elements to destabilise Goa’s economic prosperity, which is largely surviving on tourism. Admitting that Goa Anti-Terrorist Squad is yet to be constituted, he said that the men-in-khaki are developing all requisite capabilities to counter terrorists.

“We have the capability to

I will inform Pawar, then quit: Mickky Says will field candidates in all constituencies HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MAY 7: Former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco on Saturday lashed out at the State NCP leadership for demanding his resignation, saying that he would quit the party as and when he wants, but only after informing party supremo Sharad Pawar.

The NCP legislator representing Benaulim constituency announced that he would field candidates in all the 40 constituencies, but said he would unveil his election plan only after the State goes into poll gear.

Speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of a mega medical camp at Majorda on Saturday, a visibly agitated Pacheco said he does not require any certificate from the State NCP leadership, who has even not won an elec-

tion.

“I am a three-time MLA, having won twice on the NCP banner. Some of these leaders who have called for my resignation have not won any election”, he said and asserted that he alone would decide the timing of his resignation from the NCP. “I am free to do what I want. I have the right to take my own decision. The State NCP leadership is no one to dictate terms to me on my continuance in the party”, he said.

Pacheco, however, asserted that he would not ditch or backstab the party high command led by supremo Sharad Pawar. “I will never ditch Pawar. I will tell him before leaving the party. I can do that anytime.

I will never ditch my leadership in Delhi”, he said, while saying that he enjoys excel-

lent relationship with the party supremo.

Reminding the massive convention organised by him at Betalbatim in February last year in support of the party, Pacheco demanded to know in what way he is responsible for destroying the party organisation.

“Where is the question of anti-party activities? Have I done anything wrong by speaking on corruption and scams in the government”, he questioned and asserted that people had attended the Betalbatim convention because of him and not for the party.

Replying to a question on future political plans, Pacheco said he is almost ready with his candidates in all the 40 constituencies, adding that his political plan will be unveiled before the State goes to the polls.

counter Mumbai-like terror attack. The defence organisations like Assam Rifles, Border Security Force (BSF) and Indian Navy have trained the force in the combat operations,” he stated.

The force would be attached to Goa Police’s Coastal Police wing, to patrol the 105-km-long coastline.

Fearing a possible terror at-

tack emanating from the sea, like the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, Goa police in 2009 decided to set up the marine commando squad as one of the ways to thwart such incidents.

The team has been allocated five high speed interceptor boats, which would be used to crisscross the shore off Goa and its inland waterways.

Goa I Sunday 8, May 2011

The marine commandos have been trained right from scratch. When they began, they had no knowledge of even elementary swimming. They are now trained for over eight months. — Director General of Police

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When Egypt faced unrest we had the opportunity to attract Egypt bound charters but we couldn’t seize the opportunity since we did not Visas on arrival facility. -- Ernest Dias

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Goa I Sunday 8, May 2011

We concentrate on 18 types of traffic violations which can minimise accidents. We also book cases in all other violations but our focus is on to reduce accidents. We are facing personnel crunch as we have two talukas to look after, Ponda and Dharbandora. --PI Salim Shaikh

face off

As persistently reported by Herald, people in the mining belt are relentlessly fighting for their survival against illegal mining and its draconian consequences. Shweta Kamat met with Director of Mines and Geology Arvind Lolienkar and Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar, to assess whether government through its regulatory framework and legal clout is serious about curbing mining and giving people the right to live in their ancestral villages in tranquility.

We have acted when illegal mining Govt is not serious about curtailing operations are reported: Lolienkar illegal mining: Rajendra Kerkar

What are the steps taken by mines department to control increasing illegalities in the state’s mining sector?

Lolienkar: Steps are being taken by the department in coordination with other departments to curb illegalities. We have already warned all mines to stop all illegal activities related to their operation. In the recent

decision, we have resolved that if they fail to adhere to the High Court norms, their permits would be canceled permanently.

Directions are also been issued to the state Transport department and Police to keep a close watch on all illegalities occurring along the mining belt. The RTOs have already issued more than 700 challans to trucks.

There have been allegations that government is ignoring illegal mining operations and other related activities, as it earns huge revenue in form of royalty. What is your reaction?

Lolienkar: I disagree.

Every time, illegal mining operations are reported to us, government has acted.

Our limitation is that we cannot act immediately. We need to follow proper legal procedures.

So you mean to say that

it’s only after people act, that the department will react?

Lolienkar: It’s not that.

But we alone cannot regulate illegal mining. There has to be local support. It is good that the locals are bringing illegal mining activity to our notice.

Apart from overloading, it has also been found that mining firms extract more than the permissible capacity. How will this be controlled?

Lolienkar: We have already directed all operational mines to submit detailed reports on their fresh extractions and ore rejects lying on the sites. Once we receive the data and discover violations then the necessary steps would be taken by the department.

We can approach Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) demanding suspension of their licences.

It has been observed that in several cases, mines are leased out to one person, but operated by another.

Why has the department completely failed to take action against these agents?

Lolienkar: The recent Indian Bureau of Mines circular has made it mandatory for the agents to register themselves with the mines department. We act as per the records available with us.

All these years, we had names of mining lease owner so naturally we were acting against them.

What action will be taken against those 15 mines operating without valid environment clearances as pointed out by Public Accounts Committee?

Lolienkar: We will have to study the entire issue. We will be getting back to PAC with details. Action would be taken if mines are found erring.

Are adequate efforts made by government to control illegal mining and its related activities in the State?

Kerkar: Goa government is not serious and sincere to curtail illegal mining in Goa. It is rampant. The state mines department is kept under-staffed so that they cannot take quick action against illegal mining.

If government is genuinely concern about growing illegal mining activities in the state, then there is need for some serious steps.

What more should the

government do?

Kerkar: Those mines which are functioning without requisite permissions should be closed immediately.

Department should be provided with trained staff.

There is need for transparency in the functioning of the department as also the mines. Locals need to be taken into confidence before granting new leases. Fines and punishment should be implemented sincerely.

Do you think that controlling truck movement will help to ease illegal mining in the State?

Kerkar: To some extent it will definitely help, as the entire illegal mining depends upon excess extraction and overloading. The government agencies need to monitor the movement of these trucks very carefully. Every driver needs to be provided with valid identity proof along with details such as for which mine

he is working or fleet owners’s/company’s name.

Are there attempts made by government or mining firms to suppress anti-mining movements of locals in Sattari?

Kerkar: There are some politicians, vested interest and officials involved in mining. In Sattari, attempts are made to suppress the antimining movement with the help of police and other concerned officials of forests department.

In Ambeli, permission for digging tank was used for illegal mining, which continued for 2 years. It was patronized by the local politician in Gavane. Also illegal mining continued without obtaining necessary forest clearance.

Has illegal mining been affecting Goa’s wildlife sanctuaries? What according to you should be buffer zone between sanctuaries and mines?

Will new circular affect tuitions?

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, MAY 7: Will the circular issued by the Department of Education mandating schools not to detain students studying in classes I to VIII impact the Goa tuition market negatively?

Presuming that this change may make parents and students lax about the latter’s academic performance, there seems to be a remote possibility that they the tuition may be doomed.

In fact percentage of students enrolling for tuition classes in once promoted to class IX may actually increase.

Dinar Baros, Executive Member, PTA, Loyola & Fatima Convent High School, Margao is confident that it will be a boon for people conducting coaching classes as school teachers stand absolved of their responsibility.

That the tuition market will not be affected is also evident from the fact that coaching classes run by professionals mostly, cater to students of classes IX and X, whereas tuition market for lower classes is not organised.

Uday Kharangate who coaches IX and X class students, in Margao agrees that city based parents will continue to send their children

for coaching due to competition.

Contrastingly, teaching faculty believes their work will turn more challenging, since they will need to ensure that students who neglected their studies in lower classes develop the capacity to succeed at exams in higher classes.

“Syllabus for class IX is tough and requires greater grasping power. Students of class IX, aged 13, or 14, find it difficult to cope with the syllabus,” said Kharangate.

Rajan Ilias, another tutor for higher classes believes mass promotion won’t benefit students. On the contrary, it may exert more pressure on

teachers in high school.

But the circular may deprive many women of supplementary income since they tutor kids in lower classes, suspects Ilias.

A Mapusa school teacher, whose students include kids from marginalised communities, says that she will have to work assiduously to keep students engrossed in their studies and convince parents to devote some time them.

Baros suggests that remedial teaching is not the only solution. Teachers should be accountable to bring about a sea-change in education in government aided schools.

Kerkar: Illegal mining has been affecting Goa’s wildlife sanctuaries, since long. In 2003 central ministry had given directives to stop mining inside the sanctuaries.

However, even after notification, illegal mining continued.

It is mockery that head of the forests department has agreed not to keep buffer zone for sanctuaries even of 1metre. Man-animal conflicts have increased in areas near sanctuaries. It is the need of the hour that government should maintain the buffer zone of 3 kms.

What consequences do you foresee in state, if mining continues at this pace?

Kerkar: If mining continues, at this pace, Goa will turn into an unproductive desert. There will be grave shortage of drinking water.

Increased pollution will make fresh oxygen scarce.

Life expectancy of every Goan will decline.

Barnabe Sapeco

the party is on: CCP Mayor Yatin Parekh issues directions to the officials at the Panjim municipal garden on the eve of the “Summer Festival -- Together For Panjim” which will be held every Sunday.

Visa-on-Arrival could be icing on tourism cake Traffic violations on rise in Ponda HERALD CORRESPONDENT

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 7:Though this tourist season has been exceptionally good, the tourism industry believes Goa could rake in more bucks, if the facility of ‘Visa-on-Arrival’ was introduced in Goa. This season, Goa received highest number of charter flights with domestic and international tourists touching 23 lakh. This figure will inflate by May end due to inflow of domestic tourists.

"The season has been fantastic and we are expecting the tourist inflow to touch 27 lakh," said Swapnil Naik, Director of Tourism.

According to tourism director the number of Foreign Individual Travelers (FITs) is steadily increasing. Ernest Dias, Head of Charters, SITA Travels while conceding that the season was productive, suggested ‘Visa-onArrival’ facility to up the stakes.

"We might lose out if we do not have Visa-on-Arrival as competition in the region is turning fierce. Some tax

benefits will do good," says Dias who also pointed out that if the number of charters increased this season so also would the number of Russian tourists. "When Egypt faced unrest we had the opportunity to attract Egypt bound charters but we couldn’t seize the opportunity since we did not Visas on arrival facility," pointed Dias.

Though European

economies have picked up the arrival of European tourists hasn’t. In 2007-2008, Goa received 365 charters from UK carrying 100664 tourists. In 2008-09 it dropped to 287 flights with 77500 tourists. This drop from UK and Europe was attributed to economic slowdown. The rise in British, Danish and Swedish travelers is good this year but doesn’t match the inflow of

preceding years.

On the other hand the number of Russian tourists has gone up substantially. In 2007-2008, the number of Russian tourists was pegged at 42690 with 159 flights. By 2010-11 it jumped to 70053.

This season Goa had charters from six different destinations in Russia. While industry believes that increase in Russian tourists is driving away tourists from

West, the Tourism Director believes otherwise.

"I don't think so though I felt the same initially. It's not true because the number of tourists coming from UK and other parts of the West has gone up even as the number of Russian tourists increased."

Gaurish Dhond, President of Travel and Tourism Association Goa (TTAG) says Goa has to have its infrastructure in order to attract high spending tourists.

The TTAG has been pursing the matter of Visa-onArrival with the Central government. "We have had written to the Centre and discussed it with the chief minister," said Dhond who emphasized that the government should also sort out the garbage problem to project Goa as a clean state.

"You see plastic littered everywhere. We need better infrastructure and a clean Goa will have tourists returning to this destination.

We have to prove that Goa is better tourist destination than other places," he concludes.

MARCEL, MAY 7: Ponda Traffic Cell has recorded increase in number of vehicular offences since January 2011, as compared to the previous year.

According to data available with Ponda Traffic Cell, a total number of cases booked from January 2010 to April 2010 were 9,494 cases as against 9,763 cases in 2011.

The traffic cell collected Rs 11,03,300 by way of compound fees, whereas in 2010 it was Rs 11,26,850.

There are about 50 different types of motor vehicle violations. Out of the 50 violations, riding without helmet offence has recorded maximum number of cases in Ponda taluka (2,033 cases).

The Traffic Cell collected over Rs 2 lakh through fines from riders riding without helmet, Ponda Traffic Cell In-charge PI Salim Shaikh told Herald.

“We find that youth are more likely to be guilty when it comes to traffic violations.

Two-wheeler riding without

helmet has the maximum number of cases as the fine is mere Rs 100. It seems that offenders are least bothered as they have to pay only Rs 100 for helmet less travel,” informed PI Shaikh.

“We have noticed that helmet-less travel and speed limit violation is a regular offence. However, it is not so with drunken driving.

Drunken driving carries a hefty fine which is decided by the court,” said Shaikh.

“Even the licence of the offender is suspended, so the number of cases has dropped. Last year, there were 87 cases of drunken driving as against 50 cases this year from January till April,” he added.

“Of the 50 different offences, we concentrate on 18 types of traffic violations which can minimise accidents. We also book cases in all other traffic violations but our focus is on to reduce accidents. We are facing traffic personnel crunch as now we have two talukas to look after, Ponda and the newly formed Dharbandora,” informed

Shaikh.Traffic personnel deployed on the interceptor vehicle informed that on an average they track around 30 vehicles for over-speeding.

The interceptor vehicle is mostly stationed at Banastarim Bridge or along the national highway in Ponda taluka.

Traffic personnel informed that many a times their presence is alerted by road users to each other by flashing headlights, which they claim has helped them as road users are compelled to slow down.

“Whenever a vehicle crosses the speed limit, it is alerted on the camera. Even if the vehicle does not stop, notice is issued to the vehicle owner through our department, as the vehicle number is recorded in the camera,” said Police Constable on the interceptor vehicle Dattaram Bhosle.

“Sometimes, road users alert other motorists by flashing vehicles headlights.

Alerted motorists then slow down and this is what we want, vehicles should be driven within speed limits,” said Bhosle.

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Matanhy demands law banning sale of land HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 7: Convenor of

Goa’s Movement for Special Status Matanhy Saldanha has demanded that the State Government immediately enact legislation to ban sale of agricultural land to non agriculturists, as part of the demand for Special Status for Goa under Article 371.

Saldanha stated that “we are losing land, water and all our resources and the only way to prevent destruction of Goa is to secure Special Status.”

He demanded the implementation of laws such as Common Civil Code, laws pertaining to Communidades for safeguarding Goa’s interests, protection of land of SCs, STs and OBCs. Special status under Art 371 is needed to protect the identity and culture of Goa. Another of our demand is that any central legislation will have to be reviewed by the State Government since BPL and other central government schemes do not apply to Goa due to the stan-

dard of living and income levels. He informed that MPs Shantaram Naik and Sripad Naik had already tabled Private Members Bills in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha respectively. A private members bill had been jointly tabled by Curtorim MLA AleixoReginaldo Lourenco and Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza in the Goa Assembly.

Matanhy Saldanha stated that no Goan Representative was part of the proceedings of the Constituent Assembly which drafted the Indian

Constitution and hence special provisions were not made therein to accommodate the circumstances and needs specific to Goa. As part of the awareness campaign among the people of Goa the first village level committee of Goa’s Movement for Special Status was launched at St Cruz village with Reggie Gomes as the Convenor and former MLA Victor Gonsalves as an active member who will be one of the main speakers at the ward level meetings. The village committee will conduct meetings at all 11 wards of St Cruz panchayat to bring awareness not only on preservation of our cultural and social identity but also to safeguard our economic interests, Gomes stated. Taxes and duties and foreign currency which are collected by the State and sent to the Centre especially from Tourism and Mining should be shared equally with Goa. We are also creating awareness on protection of our environment.

Churchill assures to desilt Salpem lake

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, MAY 7: PWD Minister Churchill Alemao has said that he would take up the work on desilting of the contaminated Salpem lake in Navelimvillage at an estimated cost of Rs 4.5 crore once Margao is connected to the sewerage project.

Speaking after inaugurating a self help group near the children’s park Dialgona, Navelim on Saturday, Alemao disclosed plans to develop the Salpem lake as a tourist spot after its desilting. He said work of connecting Margao city to the sewerage network is presently underway, adding that desilting work on the Saplem lake would commence after sewage waters from Margao stop flowing into the lake.

He took the platform to

take a dig at his rival and former Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro for doing nothing to stop sewerage waters from entering the Salpem lake from neighbouring Margao.

Alemao’s statement on the Salpem lake assumes significance and comes against the backdrop over the agitation by the farmers against the proposal by the Goa sewerage development corporation to acquire nearly three lakh square meters of land in and around the Salpem lake for the expansion of the Margao sewerage plant and to create a buffer zone around the STP. Residents of Navelim had also come out strongly against the discharge of sewage waters from Margao into Salpem lake at the Kudchadkar hospital, saying the sewerage has not

SNAPSHOT Newborn baby abandoned

MARCEL: In a shocking incident, a newborn baby boy was found abandoned at Durgabhat-Ponda on Saturday morning.

Ponda police received a call at around 9 am stating that the baby was found abandoned near the street.

Police suspect that the baby is a day old as the umbilical cord was still attached to the baby.

The baby was immediately shifted to the ID hospital, before being shifted to the GMC hospital at Bambolim for further treatment.

Talulim woman commits suicide MARCEL: A 33-year-old married woman committed suicide at her house in Kamarbhat-Talulim, Ponda, on Saturday evening. Ponda police said Kunda Naik hanged herself with the help of a Dupatta.

Ponda youth missing MARCEL: A youth from Upper Bazaar in Ponda is reported to be missing since Friday. In a complaint, Sachin Naik has stated that his brother, Vijay (27) had left the house on Friday evening and did not return since. Sachin said Vijay was last seen riding his motorcycle (GA-05 E-1139). Incidentally, the same motorcycle was found abandoned at Borim Bridge on Saturday morning.

Sernabatim house burgled MARGAO: Unknown culprits barged into a residential house at Sernabatim-Colva last night and decamped with gold ornaments worth over Rs one lakh.

Colva police said that the miscreants entered the house by breaking open the grills. Once inside, they ransacked the cupboards and managed to lay their hands on gold bangles, a bracelet etc all valued over Rs one lakh. Police has registered a case against unknown persons in connection with the burglary and investigations are on.

only contaminated the lake, but has left the river Sal polluted.

The residents had threatened to block the sewage discharge point at the Kudchadkar hospital if the government fails to act and control the sewage discharge urgently.

We are losing land, water and all our resources and the only way to prevent destruction of Goa is to secure Special Status.

-- Matanhy Saldanha

Navelim farmers threaten contempt plea against govt agency HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MAY 7: Aggrieved

farmers and petitioners on Saturday lodged their protest over the ongoing work on a retaining wall at the rivulet of River Sal at Dongorim in Navelim and disclosed plans to file a contempt petition in the High Court over the issue.

The residents contended that the High Court had directed the CRZ authority to stop work on the retaining wall at the rivulet following a petition filed by the farmers and residents on grounds that the work was carried out sans proper NOCs and has allegedly encroached in the rivulet and would affect the low lying paddy fields and the environment.

One of the petitioners Edward Lima maintained that a government agency has commenced work at the site taking advantage of the weekend.

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Goa I Sunday 8, May 2011

The High Court had directed the CRZ authority to stop work on the retaining wall along River Sal following a petition filed by the farmers and residents on grounds that the work encroached in the rivulet and would affect the low lying paddy fields and the environment.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our dearest JOSEPH VAZ ( Sarpanch V.P.Rachol)

Wish you Good Health & Happyness Always, Best wishes from:SEBY VAZ BERNADO FERNANDES TRIFONIO CARDOZ ALBERT VAZ ORLANDO CARDOZ EDWARD VAZ MANUEL X. CARDOZ ( Ilha-de-Rachol)

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WEEKENDEDIT

Ravi’s selective amnesia, stumps Cipriano probe

T

he Home Minister’s incoherent, confused and miffed reaction, when asked a very fundamental question about his department, is a symptom of the neglect in the overall functioning of the government. The home minister had no clue when Herald asked him if the Special Investigation Team, which he himself had announced would take over the Cipriano Fernandes custodial case three months ago, had been formed.

This was a question asked mainly to elicit a response that would expose a truth your newspaper knew all along, and had reported extensively. The truth was the home minister announced, in what appeared a show of professional decision making, that action against police officers charged with murdering Cipriano would be taken only after the SIT submitted its report. For three months this has been a hoax. No SIT has been formed. So, there is no question of any report.

And the blood stained Panjim cops, led by its disgraced former PI, are free men knowing that the no investigating agency will arrest them, since action will be taken only after SIT submits its report.

Look at how all of us in Goa have been fooled brilliantly. In three months, all of us have moved on. The heat on this case is no longer fierce and the media, to be frank, is cooling off. This is exactly the game plan that has been planned and perfected.

The home minister was clearly taken aback when he was asked a question about the SIT on the sidelines of his launch of the marine commando force. He was seen clearly groping for answers. This wasn’t the assembly where he could read prepared answers or a press conference, which he would address from a detailed note. The charitable explanation is that Ravi Naik, after announcing the formation of SIT, assumed that it was formed and he left it at that. And then, did nothing to check if it was functioning, since the investigation was against eight to ten policemen, including the former head of the police station of Goa’s capital town.

If this view is taken, the home minister can well get away with a relatively minor charge of incompetency. On the other hand, the ground reality, as circumstantial evidence uncovered by Herald and reported, suggests the announcement of SIT was the first stage in a broader cover up of protecting these policemen. It is very unlikely that the home minister, after making an announcement in the assembly that a SIT would be formed to take on the investigations into the custodial death of a person, would forget all about it. Unless he planned to forget about it all along.

Selective amnesia is actually a lovely oxymoron. If you selectively forget, you selectively remember and are in a state of acute alertness.

In this case, forgetting to form the SIT has been an important tool of strategy, not a forgetful lapse of a home minister.

The charge of complicity sticks because if this was a case of mere forgetfulness, then the Director General of Police, who controls the police establishment should have reminded him of the urgency to constitute the SIT. Instead, when these questions were being thrown at the home minister by Herald, the DGP grinned and said, “let us meet on the May 10,” and took the home minister away from the heat. It so happens that May 10 will be the outgoing DGP’s last day in office, after which he will have to answer no more questions from pesky journalists.

Sadly, Ravi Naik will have no such luxury.

Circumstantial evidence uncovered by Herald, suggests the announcement of SIT was the first stage in a broader cover up of protecting these policemen. ­—­Edit

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Vol. No CXI No. 127 I­Goa I Sunday 08, May 2011

The glamour aspect of English language is due to its easy global connectivity. ­—­Lambert­Almeida

GUEST COLUMN

Is English really a videshi language?

W

hen a man is born he inherits a few things. Apart from the genetic make-up of his ancestors, he also inherits the lingo, culture and religion of his community.

Similarly when a nation is born, its population too inherits a few things.

With the departure of the British, India inherited a cohesive geographic entity with a population of a diverse multi-lingual and multi-racial or ethnic and religious mix. It meant the nation had fault lines in the process of moving forward.

But the vast diversity of the country and its people, often chaotic were considered very Indian, and was positively labelled as unity in diversity. The lingual diversity was most prominent and became the very basis of states’ demarcation. But in practice, the great Indian-Dravidian lingual divide and the numerous sub-dialects meant, that if you put 100 different specimen Indians into a class-room, they could not talk to each other.

In that respect, India as a nation differed from China, Brazil, Korea or South Africa. But India then had one distinct colonial inheritance – the English language that was rooted in its hallowed institutions (the democratic, bureaucratic, legal, administrative, commercial and educational). The English language, though not considered Indian, was thoroughly institutionalised in us.

Since 1947, the English language has been our strongest tool giving us connectivity internally and externally as a socio-economic political entity or simply said, as a nation.

Over the decades, that tool has been sustaining the vast growing ‘pool of talent and knowledge’ in all spheres of activity. There has not been, and there will not be a substitute for that.

Right from the India’s premier schools and colleges, the elite schools and institutions of Indian Defence Forces, to IIMs, IASs, IITs and medical colleges, to the mass and electronic media, the predominance of English has been established. The language itself has evolved in India into variety of spoken regional accents and overall has acquired the tag of Indian English.

There is a vast literature (educational, fiction and non-fiction) churned out by

LamBert aLmeiDa

But India then had one distinct colonial inheritance – the English language that was rooted in its hallowed institutions (the democratic, bureaucratic, legal, administrative, commercial and educational). The English language, though not considered Indian, was thoroughly institutionalised in us Indian English writers, and tons of newspapers and magazines are being printed. For many Indians in India and abroad, English is not only the key to the powerful and universal knowledge base, but also enables to know about their history, culture or religion.

Today, millions of Indians (and others) read the authentic English translations of Bhagvada Gita, Buddhism, Koran or teachings of Sai Baba or Vivekananda.

There is hardly any subject or topic or book worth its name that has not been translated in English.

It can be safely assumed that English has prospered and evolved and has integrated into Indian psyche, especially the middle class urbaniSed Indian.

So, if it is 30-35 per cent now it should be 60 per cent in a couple of decades as

India gets more urbanised as well as globalised.

Hindi, the Rashtriya Basha, although well entrenched in the northern home states, has not been able to accomplish its avowed objective of being the sole or predominant language of the nation for a variety of reasons. However, the spoken Hindi version is evolving as a proletarian lingo of the workers and of the market place, especially in urban centres, mainly due to the predominance of North Indian migrant labour and traders.

The more popular proletarian version of Hindi is the one popularised by Bollywood films, song-and-dance and the ads on television. Paradoxically, everything about Bollywood is now anglicised, with actors, film makers, film critics, and composers, being distinctly well conversant and comfortable with English.

From cricketers to tennis or badminton stars, from models to college girls, everybody wants to flaunt their English vocabulary or diction. The hype might have started with the Bollywood stars but it has caught on across the nation.

The glamour aspect of English language is due to its easy global connectivity. The fashion, style, and music also contribute to the popularity of the English language. This very aspect is the one that makes some Indian culture buffs to look at English as a possible threat to Indian culture.

But as everything has a downside, it is hardly a reason to stunt the growth of English language, which has a solid and serious role to play in nation building.

And the glamour aspect aside, this language enables millions to earn their living in the country and millions of NRIs to contribute to national wealth. It also helps sustain the worldwide businesses of the 60 odd billionaires that India currently boasts of. So shall we banish it and let everything collapse?

Is English really an alien or videshi language as a few English bashers label it out to be when it is not only the de facto official and primary language of India but a medium that sustains the very concept of an Indian nation? The answer is blowing in the wind.

BENTO frOM ThE TINTO

fACEBOOK

facebook.com/heraldweekend Hubert Gomes Irrespective of the formula, the Goa government wants to adapt to solve the medium of instruction issue; I believe it will only be a part of the solution. There is an urgent need to improve the quality of primary education in Goa. Teachers need to be trained better, and studies should be made more interesting for the child. Instead of overloading the child with tons of information, extra emphasis should be given to make the child more creative and logical. We will have smart students only when we have smart education system.

Vasco Alvares Candlelight vigils make for pretty pictures. Strikes, road blockades and boycotting are the need of the hour.

Colin Savio Coelho The movement has to gather further momentum. The demand is the need of the hour and we hope we can achieve it. Strikes and vigils maybe needed but we need much more Glestone Fernandes The High Court’s decision to acquit the two policemen, who were sentenced to life imprisonment at the Margao session court in 2008, for the custodial murder at the Cuncolim police station in 2001, has raised doubts about the credibility of our judges and the judiciary system. If it wasn’t the two acquitted policemen, then who really committed the crime? The High Court needs to justify their verdict.

Paganini Fernandes I entered Panaji from the Merces bypass link, then below the Mandovi bridge, and saw some barricades to slow down traffic, but expecting to see someone checking any documents or vehicles, did I see any one? None whatsoever. I would say that could have helped from many different angles. Other than that this exercise was a big zero.

Calangute needs to take out the trash

C

alangute was one of the first places that the hippies visited in the 60s. It was a beautiful expanse of white sand from the little creek in Baga right to Candolim and then Sinquerim and the fort. It must have been quite the thrill back in the 70s.

In the mid-90s, I was there quite often, a few restaurants had sprung up but it was still a village in almost every sense of the word. When I came back from Bombay in 2005, I was lost. I couldn’t remember a thing and there were 10 times as many restaurants.

Today, more than 50 per cent of tourists, domestic and foreign, visit this stretch at least once during their stay in Goa. Even now, it is one of the first places that tourists visit.

It surely must be fun seeing Calangute for the first time – people on the streets, restaurants and bars every 10-20 feet and then the heaps of mud, narrow footpaths, garbage strewn everywhere, erratic parking and so much more. Truly the jewel in Goa’s crown!

The entire stretch which was once indicative of a seaside Goan village is now indicative of something, but I’m just not sure what. The arrogance of two heads of power perhaps, so bent on breaking each other’s strongholds (and backs) that the people end up suffering?

One is an MLA and the other controls

Kurt Bento the panchayat. Neither of them seems to care about the will of the people.

Yes, they both claim to have the people supporting them, and play the blame each other for the lack of basic infrastructure. Is one to blame, or both? Does anyone really care?

People I know from that area don’t.

They just want a place to shop properly, but alas, the market is a tragic mess.

Going to St Alex Church on the weekend has now become difficult. People, heading out in the car, find a number of bikes parked right outside their gates, blocking their exit. From their own house! Talk about innovative ways of house arrest.

There are friends who take a walk in the evening, along the crowded road that leads from the market towards the beach, and when they get back home, have to take a shower to get the red mud out of their eyes, ears and mouths.

This is all in the area where the main bus stop is. Where people come to shop.

Where the old barberia, which always

fascinated me, stands. This is where most of the crowd is every evening, especially on weekends. This is the heart of Calangute. And it’s the filthiest.

The narrow Baga road has surreptitiously become narrower too. Yes, it’s a commercial place but whatever happened to common sense and sensibility?

On the other end of Calangute, a place of worship seems to have now encroached upon the setback. I know my eyes have gone a little weaker in the last few years but there’s no way this structure could’ve suddenly grown larger. All the while the battle goes on.

Anyone living in North Goa ends up on the stretch at least once a week, to meet someone for dinner or a drink. I know people who refuse to head to certain areas on that stretch. I dread it too, on certain days. It’s scary driving on the Baga road sometimes.

Calangute boasts of being the richest panchayat in Goa. It boasts of having the biggest number of restaurants and Goa’s only proper nightclub. It is where commercial parties commenced.

Somewhere down the line, the local authorities are going to have to start looking out for the people, instead of themselves.

So, the bottomline, if Calangute is indeed the jewel in Goa’s crown, what is the state of the rest of Goa?

PEOPLE’SEDIT

English strengthens the future Jason D’sa

T

hose opposing the addition of English as a language eligible for grants should ask themselves, do they believe that giving the choice of English will affect enrolments to schools offering other languages?

If the answer is no, then they should not have any opposition to its addition. If they believe that parents will shift their wards out of regional language schools and into English medium ones, then the question is why do they want to deny parents the right to provide education to their children in a language of their choice. Is this not a form of oppression?

The other question is do they believe that if students are taught in English, they will lose touch with their motherland? If the answer is no, then how does it matter?

If the answer is yes, then does this mean that all those who have studied in English medium do not care for the state and an insult to those who have studied in the English medium?

They need to look around and see if those causing the divide were taught in English or regional languages. To link the Medium of Instruction (MoI) with a person’s character is ridiculous.

The opponents to English typically quote Japan and Germany as countries where the MoI is in the mother tongue.

They forget to point out that these are countries where the mother tongue is followed country-wide. Using that logic itself, Hindi being the official language and English being the administrative language should be the only languages in which the MoI is imparted.

It is a pity that the chief minister is unable to make a decision on his own and has to ask the high command. All he needs to do is pro vide grants to all schools irrespective of the MoI that they opt for.

The job of the government is to provide a level playing field.

Where parents and schools have the option to choose on which language they will impart education.

Since it is the view of the protagonists that Maharashtra takes care of Marathi, Goa needs to take care of Konkani.

However, there are several noncontroversial ways to ensure that Konkani gets its due recognition.

The government could, collabo rate with states that have a Konkani speaking presence (Karnataka, Maharashtra) and pro mote Konkani theatre, literature and films.

Local television channels should improve the quality of production and promote the language free via DTH and cable in other states similar to Kannada, Gujarati etc channels are viewed.

Konkani can be made mandatory as a second language upto the 10th standard. In the primary section of non-Konkani medium schools, equal hours of teaching can be provided in the MoI and Konkani.

Finally, for those who are against English, it would be pertinent to note that the dalits in Banka village of UP are building a temple dedicated to ‘Goddess English’ so that the locals are inspired to learn the language and come up in life.

Why are Goans then trying to hold back their brethren?

Fo r l ette rs to t he e di to r c o nt act us at e d itor wee ke n d@ h e rald -go a.c o m Printed and published by Vinayak Pai Bir for and on behalf of Herald Publications Pvt Ltd. Printed at Herald Publications Pvt Ltd, Plot No: L-135, Phase II, Verna Industrial Estate, Verna, Salcete, Goa. Published at PO Box 160, Rua Sao Tome, Panjim, Goa - 403001.

Editor-in-chief: Mr R F Fernandes. Editor: Sujay Gupta (Responsible under PRB Act). Regd Office: St Tome Road, Panjim, Goa. Tel: 2224202, 2228083, Fax: 6658510 (all Editorial); 2230535, Fax: 2225622 (Advertising); Margao: 2737689. Mumbai Office: 16-A, Bell Building, 2nd Floor, 19 Sir PM Road, Fort, Mumbai - 400001 (Tel: 22840702/22844908). RNI No: 43667/83.

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Disclaimer: Except for the weekend edit above, articles and letters in Herald represent the views of the concerned authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Herald editor, publisher, and/or owners.

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Civil supplies inspector raids Baina fair price shop HERALD REPORTER

M Prabhav

VASCO, MAY 7: Mormugao

civil supplies inspector along with officials from Mormugao Mamlatdar’s office paid a surprise visit to a fair price shop in Baina to enquire into alleged irregularities to divert food quota in the black market.

After receiving directive from Mormugao Mamlatdar, Civil Supply Inspector Balesh Shakardande along with officials from Civil Supply visited the fire price shop at Zuari building in KatemBaina, which is run by a consumer cooperative society on Friday afternoon.

Some ration cardholders, who have been denied ration quota meant for them, had complained that a particular shop had been diverting assigned food quota in the black market.

According to report from inspector, the shop had lifted five tonnes of rice and one tonne wheat consignment a couple days ago. However,

CATCHING THE CHEATS RED-HANDED: Mormugao civil supply inspector along with other officials check the sales register of a fair price in Vasco. during the visit on Friday, the officials found the nearly one tonne of rice quota meant for the poor people was missing from the shop.

In his justification, Society Secretary Krishna Fadte claimed that he had given one tonne of rice to some other fair price shop, which assured to return it back by Monday.

He also claimed that though such an act is not permissible, but on mutual understating he had given the rice quota to other shop.

Shakardande said fair price shop owners are not permitted to divert the assigned quota for them.

“We have seized the sale register and will submit detailed report to the Mamlatdar for an appropriate action,” said Shakardande.

Meanwhile, Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza supporting the move of the civil inspector said that diverting of quota is not permissible and one has to bear the brunt for their act.

Hundreds of faithful converge on Agonda for St Anne feast

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

CANACONA, MAY 7: Hundreds of devotees converged at Agonda to attend the celebration of the feast of St Anne on Saturday.

The feast mass was concelebrated by Fr Saude Pereira, parish priest of Chandor church in the presence of Agonda Parish Priest Fr Manual Fernandes and half a dozen of priests.

Delivering his homily, Fr Saude exhorted the faithful to live a life of piousness and simplicity and be rich with the love of God. "St Anna lived a pious and ordinary life and God chose her to be the grandmother of His only Son in this world," said Fr Saude.

Fr Saude also delivered the homily during the first mass on the feast day, which too was attended by large number of devotees.

Music maestro and Agonda Assistant Parish Priest Fr Peter Cardoz

Kathy Pereira

HONOURING THE SAINT: Statue of St Anne taken in a procession. along with the church choir of St Anne was taken in proled the congregation in the cession in the church comhymns during the feast pound. Devotees later lined mass. up in large numbers to kiss Agonda parishioners cel- the statue of the saint. ebrate the feast of their paA Konkani drama tron saint on the first 'Rochnar' by John D'Silva in Saturday of May, which oth- aid of the church fund was erwise the Catholic Church later staged in the night. observes the same on July Incidentally, some parish26. The feast was previously ioners commented that the traditionally celebrated on feast did not have the festive the first Sunday of May. charm, with only a few stalls After the mass, the statue present at the fair.

SNAPSHOT Baina church feast today

VASCO: The annual feast of the Patron of Our Lady of Candelaria Church at Baina will be celebrated on May 8. The main celebrant at the feast mass will be the Dean of Mormugao Deanery Fr Pascaole Afonso and parish priest of Candelari Church Fr Vithal Miranda. As part of the feast, the Baina Boys will organize a 'Musical Evening' featuring bands and DJ's at Baina beach.

Jesus Christ feast at Vanxim

PANJIM: The annual feast of Jesus Christ will be celebrated on May 8, at Vanxim Tiswadi Church. The High Mass will be at 10.30 am. The main celebrant will be Fr Hermogenes Fernandes. In the evening, besides the variety entertainment programme, there will be a free Konkani drama at 10.30 pm by renowned Konkani artist Comedian Ambe entitled ‘Mhaka aikunk zai’.

Shirgao Zatra today BICHOLIM: The famous Zatra of Shirgao will be held in Bicholim on May 8. The Dhonds (devotees) have already started with their penance for making themselves ready for the Zatra. The penance of the Dhond starts five days before the Zatra.

Fr Milagres Dias to release audio CD PANJIM: The first Konkani Audio CD by Fr Milagres Dias – ‘Monis Devachem Mondir’ – will be released on May 8 at Our Lady of Rosary Church, Fatorda, by the Parish Priest Fr Boulais D’Costa on the eve of the feast of Our Lady of Rosary. The music and lyrics are by late Mollindo Rodrigues.

Some ration cardholders, who have been denied ration quota meant for them, had complained that a particular shop had been diverting assigned food quota in the black market.

VASCO, MAY 7: Following in

the footsteps of the City of Nice, France, the state tourism department plans to focus on mass rapid transport system and solid waste management, Tourism Secretary Swapnil Naik has said.

After attending a two-day Indo-France meet on sustainable tourism, best practices in regulation, public private partnership and ecofriendly tourism facilities at Heritage Hotel, on Friday, the state administration has felt the need for mass rapid transport system and solid waste management.

Speaking to Herald along the sidelines of the seminar, Naik said: "We have learnt many things from resources personnel France, while valid suggestion were made

by Deputy Mayor of Nice City Rudy Salles.

"Nice city, being an ageold eco-tourism destination, has enough experience in

The City of Nice is similar to Goa in terms of area, population and seasonal tourist destination. It had also faced similar problem of mass rapid transport system and solid waste management nearly four decades ago.

15 tourists from MP duped HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, MAY 7: A group

of 15 tourists from Madhya Pradesh were duped of their valuables including gold ornaments and cash, all worth Rs 4 lakh, at Calangute Beach on Friday.

Two women have been arrested in this connection.

According to reports, a group of 15 people from MP, who had arrived in Goa on May 4, went for a swim at Calangute beach

on Friday.

They kept all their belongings in a bag, which was handed over to one of the group members, Neelam Chandan. The bag contained four mobile phones, cash of Rs 61,500 and gold ornaments of all the group members, police said.

While Neelam was seated near the lifeguard tower with the bag, three women came and sat behind her. In the meantime, one of the

women from among the group of three women disappeared from the site with the bag, leaving behind the other two women.

Realizing that her bag was missing, Neelam caught hold of the other two women and handed them over to the police. Police have arrested Haseena Nadaf (28) and Fatima Nadaf in this connection.

PSI Narayan Chimulkar is investigating the case.

Deputy Naval chief visits GSL HERALD REPORTER VASCO, MAY 7: Vice Chief of

Naval Staff Vice Admiral D K Dewan recently paid a maiden visit to the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).

Vice Admiral D K Dewan's vist to GSL comes ahead of the launching of third in the series 105M Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel indigenously designed in house and built

by GSL for the Indian Navy.

RAdm Vineet Bakhshi CMD GSL conducted Vice

UP youth held for murdering girl friend HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, MAY 7: A youth from Uttar Pradesh has been arrested in connection with the murder of his girlfriend, Jennifer D'Silva, at Vagator on Friday.

Jennifer (28) from PattoRibandar, who was running a small shop in Vagator, was found dead in a suspicious manner near Hilltop at Vagator.

Anjuna police arrested Saurav Khan following a complaint by Jennifer's brother on Saturday.

Police said the case has been registered as murder.

The post mortem reports suggest she died of congestion and oedema in the brain and lungs.

Commenting on reports that the victim may have died of a suspected drug overdose, PI Manjunath Dessai said: "It need not necessarily be a case of drug overdose, but it could have been other factors that need investigation."

Tourism dept mulls rapid transport system HERALD REPORTER

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Goa I Sunday 8, May 2011

the tourism sector and had faced similar problems what Goa is facing today."

He informed that Nice, which is similar to Goa in terms of area, population and seasonal tourist destination etc, had faced similar problem of mass rapid transport system and solid waste management nearly four decades ago.

"But now, it has very good mass rapid transport system and garbage free tourist places."

However, the tourist flow in Nice is much higher, as France overall caters to nearly 88 million foreign tourists annually, while the tourist inflow to India is just 6 million."

"We would certainly focus on the two main aspects, mass rapid transport system and solid waste management. Being a tourism state, we have improved basic tourist facilities to sustain tourism in the State," said Naik.

Chief of Naval Staff around the shipyard and apprised him of the shipbuilding, ship repair activities and the expertise available at GSL. Dewan was also apprised of the GSL modernization plan.

Later, Vice Chief of Naval Staff visited some of the Naval Ships that are under various stages of construction at GSL. During his visit, a presentation was made to Dewan regarding the growth of GSL from a barge building yard to a sophisticated shipyard capa-

APPOINTMENTS

ble of designing and building ships for the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard from concept to commissioning.

Vice Chief of Naval Staff appreciated GSL's efforts in upgrading the Shipyard so as to be able to build sophisticated and high value ships like Mine Counter Measure Vessels for the Indian Navy.

APPOINTMENTS

APPOINTMENTS

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Goa I Sunday May 8, 2011

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Sports is a great way to rehabilitate the kids.

Due to their disabilities, their motor skills are hampered.

— Pedro

we

The tillers and harvesting machines have reduced our overhead costs and helped us overcome the growing problem of scarcity of labour.

— Peter Tereza

Herald Pics

VILLAGE REPORT – SAO JOSE DE AREAL

The tech fields of home Feeling the green green grass of home and bountiful fields, is getting to be very difficult with less farming and low yields. Sao Jose de Areal however has changed all that with farmers adapting wholeheartedly to mechanised farming.

Julio D’ Silva takes to the fields to check this out

Angels on the island

Pics: Julio D’Silva

They play football and plant onions and chillies to get better. They sleep on bunk beds with the rest of their friends and dance to Enrique Iglesias and Justin Beiber in the afternoon.

Kurt Bento visits the Little Angels Home in Chorao, where mentally challenged children get a new lease of life

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education and activities that the kids go through every day. They play football and cricket, they plant onions, fava beans, ladyfingers, spicy red chillies, rice and more.

They even make food for the two pet pigs in the pigsty at the back.

“Sports is a great way to rehabilitate the kids.

Due to their disabilities, their motor skills are hampered. This way, they get to exercise their body,” says Pedro, a huge football fan who idolises some of the Brazilian greats over the years.

On an average day, the kids get up at 5.30am and get ready for school. Life moves a little slower than normal in the Little Angels Home, but Pedro and Jenilda are clear on one thing;

the kids have to learn to be independent. In the real world, later on in their lives, they would have to fend for themselves, and so, “they need to brush their teeth and dress up for school on their own,” explains Jenilda.

Some of them go to the local St Bartholomew school, while some are taken to Porvorim to Sanjay School. Their studies are as important to their care givers as are sports and farming. They have a nap in the afternoon before they get up, all eager to play and run around. The evenings are spent playing football, or working with Pedro and Jenilda in the huge backyard that is their little farm. This is also the kids playground, their young

eter Tereza,, who had not tilled his ancestral field in the village of Sao Jose de Areal for the past four years, harvested his first rabi crop, and is a content man. He, along with his brothers, sowed their field last year, with the help of mechanized equipment and managed to rake in a good harvest, with a minimum investment. “In the time of growing inflation, it has come as a relief. The tillers and harvesting machines have reduced our overhead costs and helped us overcome the growing problem of scarcity of labour,” he says.

The village, situated a few kilometers away from Margao, was traditionally an agrarian economy and it is slowly returning back to its roots. Agriculture has recently come into focus to help the villagers supplement their income and keep alive the traditions of their ancestors. However, with the changing times, most of the villagers have taken to working in government offices and the private sector.

Socorro Aniceto Fernandes, owner of Village Pub along the MargaoQuepem highway, who worked abroad for some

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS: (Above) Jenilda, with some of the children, cleans fava beans.

(R) some of the little angels play keep uppy with a football he roads on the island of Chorao are narrow and winding, through fields and around trees. Not too far from the Pomburpa ferry point, is a wide field, and to the side, a bright yellow and green house, the colours of Brazil. This is the Little Angels Home, run by a lovely couple - Jenilda and Pedro. The Little Angels Home, set up in 2006, is home to a dozen mentally challenged children and a few children from broken homes. But this is no ordinary home, if there is any reason to call a charitable home like this, ordinary.

What makes this place different, is the hands on

A GREEN HAND: Soccoro works on his field in preparation for the monsoon, while (below) the dry Selaulim canal

minds cherish the few hours that they spend digging up the land and planting seeds, or later, picking the beans from their stalks and spreading them out onto a huge blue tarp, to dry under the sun.

Their progress is evident. Ludovic is the eldest of the inhabitants of the home. He’s twice the age of the rest of them. At 43, he came to the home skinny as a rake. He couldn’t handle himself in the toilet nor did he know how to properly eat his food. He was full of animosity and verbally lashed out at those around him. Three months later, Ludovic is healthy, more than twice the size he was when he came in. He can now eat

with a spoon and fork and helps the couple take care of the rest of the children.

Jaywant is another case. He was brought to the home, because at 12, his alcoholic father shoved down liquor down his throat. He was found lying on the road, purging his young stomach out. He’s still unsure of himself and sits in a corner most of the time.

Jenilda helps him to assimilate by spending time with him, helping him sketch with crayons.

Wherever they came from, whatever happened in their past, when they leave the Little Angels Home, one thing is for sure. They’ll be in a much better state than when they came in.

years, is another villager who has returned back to the soil. Recollecting his childhood days when he would visit the fields along with his mother and brother to harvest their crops he said, “With consumers opting for organic food there is huge market for brown rice, which grows well in Goan soil. I was not sure about tilling the fields previously, due to the lack of labour. Most of the rice will be used at my restaurant itself.”

The Selaulim irrigation project, which was supposed to provide water for irrigation to the villagers was welcomed by them. But, 20 years later the promise is still unfulfilled as the canal

Herald Pics

CRUSADER

CULTURE KEEPERS They go back to their roots quite often with an eco friendly fest that promotes art and culture among their little village. Now, they aim to protect a hill that is close to their hearts.

Kurt Bento spends a warm afternoon with the Culture Club of Goa, in Salvador do Mundo n a state full of culture, and the allegations of dying traditions, this little village has rediscovered it. The Culture Club of Goa, based in Salvador do Mundo, has found a unique way of uniting villagers and getting them to come together for a cause – culture and tradition, art and theatre.

The Voluntary Ecofriendly Community Fest is held once in a few months at Salvador do Mundo with a few clear rules – no chief guests, no

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runs dry.

Peter further alleges that seeds and fertilizer, provided by the local MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco to the farmers to encourage agriculture, has not reached them as panchayat members distribute them to only those whom they favour.

However, with agriculture now being revived due to mechanization, the village has seen a spurt in the number of people opting for farming as an additional profession. And if the Selaulim Irrigation project turns in to a reality, farmers from Sao Jose de Areal will be able to harvest not two but even three crops in their fields.

Till that time it is a wait and watch game.

competitions, no prizes, no plastics and no alcohol, proudly emblazoned on a huge board at the venue. “It’s an equal opportunity and a multi cultural event,” says Mario Fernandes, one of the members of the culture club.

The fest is a fun way to celebrate the traditions of Goan culture. When they say traditional, they mean it. Anslem Fernandes, another one of the active members of the club explains, “The food is eaten from pa-

KANJI HIGH: (above) Visitors at the eco-friendly community fest enjoy some kanji in coconut shells. (left) the old cross on top of the hill

trayeos (plates made out of jackfruit leaves) while kanji is served in kotios (coconut shells). We also

have sannas and other local food items.”

The club then picks the kids who excel in

music or acting and help them by sending them for classes and workshops. They then send them across for the All Goa Tiatr Competition, where many have been launched into the professional world of tiatr.

The movement started off as a way to keep the villagers here, instead of

them migrating to other cities and countries, by empowering the musicians and actors in them.

Today, the movement has grown. It is a reason to protect certain parts of the village from being taken over by building lobbies and other such nefarious elements.

The current project of

the culture club, is the Almancho Dongor, a hill behind the village church. It not only has a chapel on top, but also a cross that was built almost a century ago. “This place is one of the only hills and plateaus untouched in urban Goa. We want to keep it that way,” says Anslem, a member of the local

church committee. The hill also provides ground water to the Pomburpa spring and the entire set of villages – Salvador do Mundo, Porvorim, Pomburpa and Soccoro.

On May 23, the club has decided to host another fest, this time with the chapel as a backdrop, to create awareness amongst the villagers and ask for their help in protecting the hill. “We came up with the idea to use the hill to harvest water for the village, during the monsoon. There are people in the village who have a hand in destroying a lot of the heritage points in the village, including a 400 year old arch that existed next to the church.

We’re hoping to galvanise the people into protecting the hill and whatever little heritage exists on it,” says Mario.

The abundance of colour, the use of traditional utensils and the smell of good Goan food wafting through the air, is what takes Salvador do Mundo back in time, even if only for a day. For them, it’s a celebration of all things Goan.

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mirror

Konkani shall always be the language of love but English today is the language of our purse.

— Dr Ajit Kantak

The right to education act (RTE) goes to the extent of giving 75 per cent share to the parents in formation of the managing committee. Parents are the educationists par excellence.

— Father Zeferino Santosh Mirajkar

POLITICS IS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION... ..and votes are the mother tongue HANDCUFFED: Parents who courted arrest in Margao being loaded into police vans on their way to jail

For the political jury that will decide if English will ever get fair play in Goa, this was never a language issue. Nor will it be. Sujay Gupta lifts the curtain and goes behind the scenes to bring you how the Congress and its beleaguered chief minister are struggling to find a solution which will not damage everyone politically

For

Churchill

igambar K a m a t , the Chief Minister who hates to takes decisions, even when he is forced to, almost put his hands up in frustration to ‘go home’ early last week.

Flanked by PWD minister Churchill Alemao and deputy speaker Mauvin Godinho, both of whom were losing patience over Kamat’s indecision over including English as one of the mediums of instruction, Kamat got up. “The High Command takes all decisions, they put me here, let them take a decision on this. If not, I’m going home,” he said.

Taken aback at the

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chief minister’s outburst, Alemao calmed him down but realised that Digambar Kamat had other worries. It soon became clear that even if Kamat wanted to give space, time and thought to the strengthening demand of parents and leaders from Salcette, that adding English would be prudent and sensible, the state’s senior most leaders led by Speaker Pratap Singh Rane would come in the way. In fact, the chief minister acknowledged privately within this circle of senior ministers and others that there was no clear consensus and any further chances of reconciliation was dim given that Rane senior is

extremely rigid about giving into the demand for the inclusion of English.

The Rane family (including son Vishwajeet, himself a product of fine English education) felt that giving into English would severely damage the Congress’ poll prospects in Sattari taluka.

While this may not quite be the gospel truth, the old political firm of the Rane clan, which once campaigned for the state to have two official languages Marathi and Konkani, have stood firm, looking at the medium of instruction issue, purely and only through the prism of politics.

Rane, quite like his extreme push for Marathi

and Konkani getting equal space, has clearly indicated that any change in the status quo will force him to take tough decisions, a euphemism for breaking the party.

The two coalition MLAs who will go with Rane are the Dhavlikar brothers of the MGP, Deepak and Sudin, and in all likelihood, his son Vishwajeet Rane.

The loss of Sattari and a chunk of Ponda is certain to go away in a situation like this.

The divide is almost complete. At a meeting in the chief minister’s chamber at the assembly premises, during the last days of the previous session, one of the senior leaders told Rane, “You may try

Mickkey

Against

Mauvin

to beautify the Congress tree, water it and look after its branches, but what about its roots? You have weakened the roots of the Congress by not supporting a genuine demand of the parents”. Apparently, this ‘root’ story, has been quoted time and again by the AICC General Secretary in charge of Goa, Jagmeet Singh Brar, during his talks with leaders here.

For the AICC, this isn’t going to be easy. Traditionally, the party has been pro mother tongue, but then again, the Goa of today does not, at a practical level, have one common mother tongue.

In fact this point has been the basis of the

“Bhatikar, Bhembre refuse to look at the dirty side of the coin” Ajit Kantak, a well known orthopaedic doctor from Margao, goes where anti English protagonists Uday Bhembre and Arvind Bhatikar do not dare – to the ground. In this incisive essay, Dr Kantak goes looking for his fellow students who studied in Marathi medium at the primary level and finds out where they are today. The results are shocking o begin with let me make it very clear that I have no personal gains or losses because of the present controversy over the medium of instruction. Both my children are grown up and are successful in their chosen professions after completing their schooling from Loyola High School and Fatima Convent High School, Margao, respectively, in English medium.

I studied in Marathi medium from standards one to four and then in English medium further on, and even managed to be a rank holder in post graduation at University of Bombay in the medical field. But, let me explain the major pitfall in the system of change from Konkani and Marathi medium to English. From my class of about fifty students, in standard four in the Marathi medium, only two students, including me, have managed to successfully have a profes-

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sional career.

What about less privileged who did not have such facilities? Let those like Bhatikar, who like me, came from a Marathi medium background and studied to be an IAS officer, find out two things.

How many of his classmates in standard five in English medium, who came from Marathi medium had privileged families with financial and educational proficiency. He will be surprised to find that almost all had access to help learn English at home through their relatives or by a tutor.

What about the remaining students who studied in Marathi? What happened to them?

This is the other side of the coin, which Bhatikar and Bhembre do not want to look at because this side is sordid and dirty. Out of curiosity, I tried to locate some of my classmates who studied with me at Damodar School, in Marathi.

Children of goldsmith families turned to their family traditional business of making gold ornaments. All the fifteen girl students married early to gadavalas and taxi drivers. Incidentally, one girl classmate of mine was frying bhojis, next to Holy Spirit pharmacy, in the old market until quite recently.

Three classmates are selling red chillies in new market, Margao.

Four have nondescript ‘gados’(stalls) in the new market.

Four are matka agents, one girl is a primary teacher in a government Marathi School in Pernem, six became small time posorkars (grocers) in old market and two are repairing cycles next to the Comunidade at Margao, while one is mending shoes in the old market.

Roughly four percent of the total number of students in my class have been, what you call, successful.

Everyone who wants

Konkani or Marathi medium looks at the success of this four percent, and not the ninety six percent who have become bojicars(street vendors).

Why do Shashikala, Bhembre, Bhatikar and others want Konkani and Marathi medium schools.

To know this we need to travel way back in early sixties when Dayanand Bandodkar was the chief minister.

Bandodkar, in his crooked wisdom, started Marathi schools all over Goa. so that he could use them as his permanent vote bank as Digambar Kamat has done to Monte Hill (non Goan) residents.

The Christian community completed their education in English medium. Look at the developments in Christian majority talukas like Salcete, and vice versa look at Shiroda or Darbandora.

Bhatikar and company talk about Japan, China and Germany having flourished in spite of us-

ing their native language.

This is not totally true.

In fact even Japan and China have realised their mistakes and are making amends to their curriculum.

Japan has been under recession, since the late nineties, when the revolution started. Japan had a steady declining GDP and continued recession.

It was only 2009 that Japan started changing to English. China could have done much better had they learnt English earlier, but they realised their mistakes and now China has more students opting to learn English.

With the whole world moving towards learning English, it is but natural that our medium of instruction should be in English, with Konkani as a compulsory subject so that our students also learn our mother tongue. Konkani shall always be the language of love but English today is the language of our purse.

Pratap singh

note on the subject prepared by deputy speaker Mauvin Godinho for the party high command.

Godinho is also the campaign manager for the state Congress for the next elections, and knows the implications of not solving this issue one way or the other for the party.

He has clearly rooted for English and according to sources at the centre where this note has been received, it states that grants have been given for teaching in Marathi, Konkani, Urdu and Kannada and by the same yardstick, English should be included. Godinho also feels that this is a language backed by the majority.

vishvajeet

Sudin

A final decision will be taken on a cost benefit analysis of political losses and wins and at this time, while ground level feedback suggests that the centre is closing in on the decision to introduce English, if not fully, then in some form. But the speaker’s rigid stand against it and the chief minister’s indecisiveness has put the issue on hold.

Either way a confrontation is certain. This hardening of stands has led to a hardening of personal positions. For instance, when Churchill Alemao got to know that Uday Bhembre, a close ally of the anti English, Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch, was

Deepak

one of the people meeting AICC General secretary Brar, he asked in mock confusion, “Who is Uday Bhembre? What is his role?”

So far, the people who will take decisions that will secure the practical future of the next generation haven’t thought beyond their own political futures, including education minister Babush Monseratte. A strong advocate of English, he has been silenced by the chief minister into holding back. Clearly decision making is not a happy past time. But this indecisiveness over English could cause the Congress its biggest set back at the fag end of its term.

NO DISCUSSION, JUST IMPLEMENT WHAT EXISTS Father Zeferino, the secretary of the Diocesan society of education is one of the key figures whose views should matter in this debate. After all, this society has been running schools all over Goa and has received grants to run them. In an interview with Team Herald, he says allowing parents to make a choice of adding English as a medium of instruction is a policy that exists Herald: What is the outline of the various rules, with regard to the medium of instruction at the primary level in the Goa Education Rules (1986) Father Zeferino: Rule six states that the medium of instruction at primary stage shall be as far as practicable mother tongue of the child, unless the parents or guardian of the child requests otherwise in writing. Meanwhile, circular 61 of 1990, number seven states, “The government has also decided in principle to consider the payment of grants to those unaided primary schools imparting primary education through either Konkani, Marathi or a regional language.” The above circular does not speak of mother tongue but of specific languages.

Herald: So parents do really have a choice?

Father Zeferino: The Goa school education rules in 1986 attach a great importance to the role of parents in the education of their wards, and gives them freedom to choose their schools. The right to education act (RTE) goes to the extent of giving 75 per cent share to the parents in formation of the managing

committee. Parents are the educationists par excellence. There is no question of any discussion, no question of any change or amendment of any rule, no question of any change of any policy decision, no question of any imposition from any corner. It is a question only of implementation of existing rules with regard to the choice of parents.

Herald: What kind of impact will the move to introduce English have on current aided schools? Will it adversely affect, as it is being felt, by a particular community?

Father Zeferino: The impact will be positive. There is no need of additional grants since the issue is with respect to aided schools. It is not a communal issue. More than 50 per cent of the students in most of the aided schools belong to the majority community. It requires no change or amendment of any rule or policy and does not affect adversely our culture as the respect for the choice of the parents also demands they have a compulsory subject of either Konkani, Marathi or another regional language.

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Goa I Sunday 8, May 2011

The Supreme Court today set up a team to conduct survey and demarcation of 99 iron ore mines in Bellary-Hospet forest region of Karnataka to identify sites of alleged illegal mining

SC forms jiont team to survey ‘illegal mining’ in Karnataka PTI NEW DELHI, MAY 7: The Supreme Court today set up a team to conduct survey and demarcation of 99 iron ore mines in Bellary-Hospet forest region of Karnataka to identify sites of alleged illegal mining and directed that violators will have to stop work in their entire lease area.

A special forest bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia ordered forming of the joint team of representative of the Forest Department and the Mines and Geology Department of state government besides those of Karnataka Lokayukta and the court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC).

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india SNAPSHOT Protests after Geelani’s speech SRINAGAR: Protests erupted today in Batamaloo area here soon after special funeral prayers were offered for slain terrorist Osama bin Laden by a congregation led by hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Masked youth clashed with a large posse of police and CRPF personnel soon after the separatist leader addressed the gathering. The crowd shouted pro-Islamic and proOsama slogans, calling the al-Qaeda chief a "martyr" who sacrificed his life for the cause of Islam.

"We are here to offer prayers for Osama. America is calling him a terrorist but reality is that he was a good man.

Four Harayana students killed UDHAMPUR: Four students of Haryana were among five persons who were today killed and three others injured when a vehicle carrying them rolled down into a gorge on Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir.

A car, which was carrying students of Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) of Haryana, from Srinagar to Jammu, skidded off the road and rolled down into the deep gorge near Chenani, 80 kms from here, early this morning, police said. The deceased have been identified as Sanjeev Kumar, Parveen, Naresh Kumar and Ravinder Singh (all from Harayana), and car driver - Abdul Majeed, resident of Dooru area of south Kashmir, they said.

Given the facts and circumstances of the 2G case, I am not inclined to allow the instant application, pending disposal of bail applications. Accordingly the applications are dismissed.

-- O P Saini

‘Centre should capture Dawood’ VIJAYAWADA: Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu today demanded that the Centre initiate action to capture fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and also take steps to dismantle terrorist camps in Pakistan. The US government has successfully ended the era of international terrorist Osama Bin Laden. The international mood is against Pakistan and in favour of India. Our government should ask Pakistan to hand over Dawood and the other accused in the 26/11 terror attack case," Naidu told reporters here.

Yeshwant Sinha is not a member of the new committee. He was a member of the old PAC -- Murli Joshi

Order reserved on Kanimozhi Govt should give ATR bail, denied exemption on PAC report: Joshi

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's daughter and DMK MP Kanimozhi at Patiala House in New Delhi on Saturday in connection with a hearing of 2G scam.

PTI NEW DELHI, MAY 7: Suspense continued today over arrest of DMK MP Kanimozhi with a special court reserving for May 14 its orders on her bail application after CBI strongly objected to it saying her "complicity" in the alleged bribe given to Kalaignar TV in the 2G scam was clear.

The court also rejected

her plea seeking exemption from personal appearance before it on May 9 and 10 as CBI contended that she was "controlling everything" in Kalaignar TV, which got Rs 200 crore bribe from Dynamix Balwa group, from behind the scene.

Kanimozhi, and co-accused Sharad Kumar, Managing Director and CEO of the channel, wanted to go

Militant hideout busted in JK SRINAGAR: Security forces today busted a militant hideout in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition, a defence official said here.

Acting on a tip-off, army raided dense forests in Trehgam area and busted the hideout. A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered, defence spokesman Lt Col J S Brar said.

The recoveries include one machine gun, three AK series assault rifles, 12 pistols, three revolvers, 2,350 rounds of AK ammunition, 97 rounds of machine gun, 10 grenades, one mortar bomb, two rocket propelled grenade boosters, four binoculars, 14 AK magazines and 12 pistol magazines, he said.

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Goa I Sunday 8, May 2011

to Chennai to prepare for appearance before Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing money laundering aspects of the 2G scam.

Special CBI Judge O P Saini will pronounce the order on the bail pleas of Kanimozhi on May 14, a day after the results for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections will be out.

"Given the facts and circumstances of the case, I am not inclined to allow the instant application, pending disposal of bail applications.

Accordingly the applications are dismissed," the special judge said on their plea for personal exemption from appearance.

Earlier, senior advocate Shanmugasundaram, appearing for Kanimozhi and Sharad, said "the accused may be allowed exemption from personal appearance before this court as they wish to visit Chennai in order to meet their auditors to prepare their replies before the ED for which they have been summoned for May 12 and 13."

PTI KOLKATA, MAY 7:

PAC Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi today said the government will have to submit an action taken report on the draft report prepared by him on the 2G scam.

"The future of the report is bright. The report is now with the Speaker. It is taken to be presented before the House. The Government will have to give a action taken report on it," Joshi told a press conference here.

Noting that it was entirely wrong to say that his report was rejected by the majority of the members, he said after the PAC meeting was adjourned some members had raised dissent once they came to know that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram and some officers were named in the report.

"Such dissent is invalid as it was raised after the meeting was adjourned. Besides, the report has no note of dissent. What they have done is

a tamasha (joke)," he said.

Referring to the 'election' of Saifuddin Soz to chair the meeting which 'rejected' the report, Joshi said, "No Rajya Sabha member can chair the PAC." On the Congress demand for removal of Yashwant Sinha from the PAC, Joshi said, "He is not a member of the new committee. He was a member of the old PAC." In reply to a question, Joshi denied that his report was an indictment of the prime minister and his government. "All we have said in the report is that the prime minister was a mute witness (to the scam). The PAC does not indict anyone."

He said that the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram "has not done what he should have" in preventing the scam.

"The government has a duty to protect the revenue created by the common people. If it fails, the PAC recommends remedial measures.

I'll continue to chase the rupee and see it is going

where it is meant for," he said.

Alleging that the UPA and its allies were getting embroiled in fresh scams every day, he said, "Ministers are being charged with corruption and court cases are pending."

Regretting that the Samajwadi Party and BSP opposed the PAC draft report, he said, "I am trying to figure out the reason for their Uturn."

Joshi said the government was making no effort to bring back black money stashed away in foreign banks. "If Hasan Ali says he knows the names of all those who have illegal money in foreign banks, why cannot the government? They are protecting the corrupt and the anti-people."

The veteran BJP leader said he would expose the "mischiefs" of the government in a democratic manner. "I have decided to take this to the people as to how the government is denying them their entitlements."

“District Magistrate Deepak sustained bullet injury, whereas the SSP sustained injuries from stones pelted by the protestors,” he said, adding that six personnel were also injured in the attack.

Trouble broke out when a large contingent of police, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and anti-riot personnel along with district officials descended on the village to rescue the three abducted men.

dent especially where the class strength exceeds 25.

Fr Fernandes points that government failed to keep its promise of consulting all stakeholders on the issue.

The CCE requires that there should be no more than 25 students in each class so that the teacher is able to devote sufficient time to each student and regularly evaluate his/her performance. But with no ground work done, it needs to be seen how schools will cope- up with the CCE re quirement and without availability of additional infrastructure.

Schools short on space will find it impossible to cre ate new divisions. Most schools in the State have about 56 students per class, on average. The permissible limit for a lower class is 64 students and 60 for a higher class.

Mario Quadros, a former president of All Goa Headmasters’ Association, while favouring mass promo tions, is discontented with the circular’s timing and lieves teachers will havebe put in extra efforts to remedial teachingthrough tress performanceto but of weaker students.

Both Zerafino Fernandes and Dinar L Barros, Executive Member, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) Loyola and Fatima Convent high schools says the circular will prove counterproduc tive and fear that the drop out rate will be higher in class IX. “Students who were propped up for eight long years will have to face reality from class IX onwards. This could lead to poor performance in the crucial years ahead leading to frustrations and suicides,” Barros opined.

Dr. Celsa Pinto, Director of Education was not available for comment, despite reaching her on cellphone.

FROM PAGE 1 Minister clueless But till date neither SIT has been constituted nor dedicated officers appointed to investigate either of the cases. The drug nexus case is now in the hands of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CB) I after a High Court order last week.

Stumped by the Team Herald question, Naik clearly flustered retorted “Why don’t you ask (SP) Kurkarkar? Ask the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) . Why you are asking me (on whether SIT is constituted or not in both these cases). The matter has been given to the CBI… High Court is hearing the matter…” replied the miffed minister.

The home minister probably didn’t realize that it is not Kurtarkar but the police and his own Home Department which has to move to constitute the SIT. Kurtarkar is just an officer who Naik named to head the non-existent SIT. In Cipriano’s case, the CBI does not come into the picture at all.

Naik earlier was quoted saying that action would be initiated against all police personnel on duty at the police station from 10.30 pm on January 7, 2011 to 11.55 a.m. on January 8, 2011 when Cipriano was arrested and brought to the Panjim police station.

With today’s hollow outburst, these continue to be just empty words.

Herald probe assembly that SIT headed

by Om Prakash Kurtarkar will be constituted and action against officials will be taken after submission of the SIT report.”

As Heralds investigations have revealed there is no record of the Police Establishment Board transferring the case to the SIT. When the government decides to constitute a Special Investigating Team, the ideal process is that the Police Establishment Board headed by the DGP and consisting of the IG, the DIG, the senior superintendent of police and SP headquarters has to formally appoint an officer to head it.

This is ratified by the Home Department and then sent to the Law Department.

A formal notification is then issued. Importantly, the terms of reference and the time frame for the inquiry are clearly defined in the notification.

In a reply to a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by social activist Jowett D ‘Souza, SP Headquarters V

U Borkar said that no information of the Police Establishment Board meeting to transfer the case to SIT w as available.

The only record of who will investigate the charges of murder, among others, of police officers of the Panjim police station, is this letter by DIG RS Yadav dated 9/02/2011. The letter states “The investigation of this case will be conducted by Braz Menezes PI under the direct supervision of Mohan Naik, SP of CB CID and overall supervision of O P Kurtarkar Supt of Police (coastal security)” Kurtarkar, the man who Ravi Naik said in the assembly was going to head the SIT investigations on the case, has admitted to Herald that he is there in his capacity as SP Coastal Security.

The case is on paper with PI Vasco Braz Menezes who was deputed to the Crime Branch but is back in his old post of PI Vasco without relinquishing his position as head of investigations of the Cipriano case.

In the backdrop of all these developments, the supposed lack of knowledge about the formation of a team whose report will decide the government’s action against the killer cops appears to be a cover up to protect the Panjim policemen.

2 cops killed fought pitched battles for several hours.

The three employees of the State-run UP Roadways held hostage since yesterday were rescued by the security personnel, police said.

“Two constables were killed, when protesters fired heavily on the police team, which had gone to rescue three employees of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) were held hostage since yes-

terday,” Director General of Police Karamveer Singh told reporters in Lucknow.

He said a body of an unidentified man with country-made fire-arms and cartridges was later recovered in the field and it was yet to be ascertained under what circumstances he died.

Agarwal, who went to the village hoping to resolve the hostage crisis through talks, suffered a bullet injury and was rushed to Kailash Hospital in adjacent Noida where he was operated upon, police said. Officials said Agarwal’s condition was stable. :”Three employees of UPSRTC—driver Deependra and two supervisors Dugesh Bharadwaj and Niranjan Singh— were held captive by the villagers when they had gone for survey work (for a new bus route) yesterday,” the DGP said.

The DGP said the situation was now under control and 15 to 20 people have been arrested.

He said the protesters were led by Manveer Singh Tewatia, who he alleged incited the mob for his vested political interest.

“He was misleading people and trying to create dispute when none actually existed,” he alleged.

Singh said that after overnight efforts to appease the protesters to get the captives released, it was decided to rescue them at all cost.

“A huge contingent of police led by Divisional Commissioner and Inspector G Meerut, district magistrate and SSP Gautam Buddha Nagar reached the site where protesters were staging a dharna and initiated action,: he said.

The DGP said that the protesters, who initially dispersed, started firing from the village in which the two constables Manveer Singh and Manohar Singh were killed.

Stranded on road reaction on the public transport system in the village.

On the next leg, Marcel to Ponda, Team Herald boarded a local bus, which was easily available and reached the Ponda bus stand and waited for almost two hours to find no buses for Priol, a constituency repre sented by Kadamba Trans port Corporation Limited Chairman Deepak Dhawalikar.

“There are no direct buses to Priol. One has to board a bus to Mardol and from the bus stop hire a rickshaw for 40 rupees ,” said one of the commuters at the bus stand.

An official at the Kadamba counter at the Ponda bus stand said ,“You will not find Priol buses whereas private buses are irregular. There are hardly any buses which ply but only when schools are open . During vacation, they change their route,” he said.

Saddened at this state of affairs, the team left with hard lessons learnt. Goa may have Internet, broadband and mobile connectivity but it still lacks bus connectivity in villages close to its important towns.

New circular and attention to each stu-

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“

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Pakistan is now being asked to do something that could prove its sincerity and commitment to the fight against militancy.

-- Newspaper

Goa I Sunday 8, May 2011

Our strategy is working, and there's no greater evidence of that than justice finally being delivered to Osama bin Laden.

-- Barack Obama

We have cut off their head, Obama meets US special forces who killed Osama will defeat them: Obama PTI

PTI WASHINGTON, MAY 7: Noting that US had "cut off" alQaeda's head with the killing of Osama bin Laden, Presi-

dent Barack Obama has declared that America would ultimately defeat the terror outfit.

"We have cut off their head and we will ultimately defeat them," Obama said in his address to the US soldiers after meeting privately with the full assault team that killed the al-Qaida leader.

"We're making progress in our major goal, our central goal in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and that is disrupting and dismantling --

and we are going to ultimately defeat Al Qaeda," Obama said in his first major address on this issue after he announced on Monday that Osama has been killed in a successful US operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

"Across Afghanistan, we've broken the Taliban's momentum. In key regions, we've seized the momentum, pushing them out of their strongholds. We're building the capacity of Afghans, partnering with communities and police and security forces, which are growing stronger," he said at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Obama said the US-led in-

ternational forces have put al Qaeda's leadership under more pressure than at any time since 9/11, on both sides of the border.

"So the bottom line is this: Our strategy is working, and there's no greater evidence of that than justice finally

being delivered to Osama bin Laden," he asserted.

At the same time, Obama conceded that this continues to be a very tough fight.

"You know that. But because of this progress, we're moving into a new phase. In the coming months, we'll start transferring responsibility for security to Afghan forces.

Starting this summer, we'll begin reducing American forces. As we transition, we'll build a long-term partnership with the Afghan people, so that al Qaeda can never again threaten America from that country," he said.

WASHINGTON, MAY 7: President Barack Obama has met some of the American special forces commandos, who killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in an operation in Pakistan and saluted them on behalf of the US and people all over the world for a "job well done".

Accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden, Obama was briefed on the operation by members of the special operations troops who executed the dangerous raid on Osama's compound in Pakistan and killed the al-Qaida chief on Monday.

The meeting took place at Fort Campbell, Kentucky

where Obama had gone to address American troops on their return from active duty in Afghanistan.

Obama and Biden met with the full assault force that carried out the operation, a White House official said.

The president awarded the units involved a Presidential Unit Citation - the highest such honour that can be given to a unit - in recognition of their extraordinary service and achievement.

"Here at Fort Campbell, I had the privilege of meeting the extraordinary Special Ops folks who honored that promise.

It was a chance for me to say on behalf of all Americans and people around the world,

job well done. Job well done," Obama said later in his public address to the troops.

The president and vice president then met with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and the 5th Special Forces Group to thank them for their service.

In each meeting, Obama was able to speak and offer his personal admiration and gratitude for our service members, and to personally greet them, the official said.

"Thanks to the incredible skill and courage of countless individuals -— intelligence, military —- over many years, the terrorist leader who struck our nation on 9/11 will never threaten America again," Obama said.

ISI chief on ‘critical’ US mission to explain Pakistan position PTI ISLAMABAD, MAY 7: ISI chief

A T-shirt reading “Osama Got Obama’d” is displayed at a souvenir stand near the White House in Washington on Saturday, six days after al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by US Navy Seals in Pakistan.

Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha has left for the US to explain Pakistan's position on the presence of Osama bin Laden in the country against the backdrop of reports that he may step down over the debacle.

Pasha set off on the "critical mission for putting an end to misgivings about Pakistan in the US" yesterday, the influential Dawn newspaper reported today.

He left for the US a day after the army's top brass conceded an intelligence failure in detecting the al-Qaeda chief's presence in a compound located a short distance from the Pakistan Military Academy in the garrison city of Abbottabad.

Syrian tanks enter coastal town PTI BEIRUT, MAY 7 : Syrian tanks rolled into a Mediterranean coastal town today in an es-

calating crackdown by President Bashar Assad, just a day after clashes with antigovernment protesters left at least 30 dead nationwide, activists said.

Details of the troop deployment in Banias, which has seen weeks of demonstrations demanding regime change, were scarce as communication and phone lines with the town and the surrounding area were cut off.

But activists in touch with townspeople said soldiers on tanks rolled into Banias before dawn. The activists spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

The deployment came just hours after Friday's clashes with anti-government protesters killed 30 people across the country, according to a leading Syrian rights

activist.

The move raises fears of a large-scale military operation in Banias, similar to the one carried out in the flash point southern city of Daraa.

Daraa, near the Jordanian border, has been under siege since April 25, when Syrian authorities cut off electricity and phone lines and deployed tanks and snipers to crush dissent there.

The army announced the end to an 11-day military operation on Thursday, but residents have since said troops still remain in the streets.

About 50 people have been reported killed in Daraa over the past 10 days.

The UN said today it is sending a team into Syria to investigate the situation, and the European Union is expected to place sanctions on Syrian officials next week.

Both actions are significant blows to Assad, a British-educated, self-styled reformer who has tried to bring Syria back into the global mainstream over his 11 years in power.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the US was pressing the Syrian government to cease "violence against innocent citizens who are simply demonstrating and trying to state their aspirations for a more democratic future."

Friday's protests spanned the nation of 23 million, from the capital to the Mediterranean coast and the arid northeast.

Rallies were held in major areas including the capital, Damascus, and its suburbs, Banias on the coast and Qamishli in the northeast.

With Pasha hoping to restore trust during his US visit, The Daily Beast, a website affiliated to Newsweek magazine, reported that the ISI chief "may step down, as the government looks for a fall guy for the bin Laden debacle."

It said Pasha's resignation "was only a matter of time."

The Dawn said uncorroborated reports suggested that Pasha met the CIA's station chief in Islamabad before leaving for Washington and reminded him of the ISI's contributions in the war on terror and the lead about bin Laden's courier that eventually led the US to the al-Qaeda chief's hideout.

Bin Laden was killed in a raid by US special forces on the Abbottabad compound of the al-Qaeda chief on May 2.

An official statement issued on Thursday after a meeting of Corps Commanders chaired by army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said the military admitted its "own shortcomings in developing intelligence on the presence of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan."

It said that "an investigation has been ordered into the circumstances that led to this situation."

Though the Corps Commanders meeting tried to address public doubts about the military's capabilities, analysts and observers have said that there are numerous unanswered questions regarding bin Laden's presence in Abbottabad, just 120 km from Islamabad, and the US raid.

Four out of 5 Americans think Pakistan knew of Osama hideout: Poll PTI WASHINGTON, MAY 7: Reflecting the anti-Pakistan mood prevailing in the US after the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, a latest opinion poll has said at least four out of every five Americans think that the Pakistani establishment had knowledge of the hideout of the top al-Qaeda leader.

"Americans overwhelmingly believe top Pakistani officials knew Osama bin Laden's whereabouts and strongly oppose further US aid to the country where the top terrorist was found," Rasmussen said.

The poll showed that 84 per cent of American adults

think it is at least somewhat likely that high-level officials in Pakistan government knew where bin Laden was hiding. That includes 57 per cent who say it is very likely they knew. Only nine per cent believe it is not .

Just 15 per cent of Americans say the United States should continue military and financial aid to Pakistan.

Sixty three per cent say that aid should not continue, while 22 per cent are not sure, Rasmussen said.

Further, only five per cent of adults now regard Pakistan as an ally of the US, down from 15 per cent in August of last year. Twenty six per cent view Pakistan as an enemy .

Hindus, Sikhs living in ‘insecurity’ in Pakistan PTI ISLAMABAD, MAY 6: Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan have demanded protection for the minorities, which was living in "insecurity" across the country, as they took to the streets over the killing of a shopkeeper from the community in Punjab province's

Hassanabdal town.

Hindus and Sikhs of Hassanabdal town blocked the G T Road with the body of Kanhaiya Lal, a 70-year-old shopkeeper who was shot dead on Wednesday evening while he was returning home from his shop.

Hindus and Sikhs had protested outside the hospi-

tal where his body was taken for autopsy. The members of the two communities expressed resentment at the insecurity of minorities across Pakistan during the protest.

On Thursday morning, the body was handed over to the shopkeeper’s relatives for cremation.

As a large number of Hin-

dus and the Sikhs led by PML-N parliamentarian Araish Kumar were taking the body to the Indus river for cremation, some people placed the body in the middle of the G T Road and blocked the traffic.

They shouted slogans and alleged that minorities were not being provided adequate

security across the country.

Traffic on the RawalpindiPeshawar stretch of the G T Road and Hassanabdal-Hazara road was suspended.

The protesters demanded that Lal’s killers should be arrested and Hindus and Sikhs living in the area should be provided adequate security.

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sports

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho will boycott the club's press conferences until UEFA inform him why he has been banned for three matches, his assistant, Aitor Karanka, revealed. Karanka said Mourinho "would defend himself until the end" and would make no further media appearances until UEFA justified the sanction against him.

Verna in last eight HERALD CORRESPONDENT Margao, May 7: Verna Sports Club defeated Navelim Villagers Union 5-4 via the tiebreaker to sail into the quarter-finals of 17th Sao Jose de Areal Villagers Cup inter village football tournament organised by Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club at Padribhat ground, Sao Jose de Areal on Saturday. All goals came in the opening session.

Verna were rewarded when Wilson Fernandes fired home giving no chance to the rival goalkeeper. Navelim Villagers neutralised the lead through Sidney Colaco.

In the tie-breaker, Eusbeio Fernandes, Vincent Fernandes, Francis Fernandes and Leslie Machado were on target for Verna while Sanford Cardozo, Richard Costa and Claude Dias netted for Navelim Villagers Union.

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Goa I Sunday, 8 May 2011

We were not at our best in our defeat to Arsenal last week and we cannot be like that again against Chelsea on Sunday.

-- Man Utd winger Nani

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Goa United Sports Academy rout BFA

Calangute (HC), May 7: Goa United Sports Academy trounced Brasil Futbol Academia 3-0 in the U-18 First Division League at Poriat ground, Calangute, Saturday.

After a goalless first half, Goa United forwards got the act together to score thrice to demolish a much superior side.

Vikram Singh (2) and Lestor Martins were the scorers.

Salgaocar, East Bengal and Dempo have better chances of winning the I-league. However, Churchill Bros have not lost hope yet. Churchill’s Gouramangi was confident that the Varca-based team will give their best against HAL on Sunday in Bangalore.

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Goa I Sunday, 8 May 2011

Bagan hold an edge as it’s their home-match on Sunday. We have little option but to win. Salgaocar will fight till the end.

-- Salgaocar coach Karim Bencherifa

Davorlim lift Conceicao Cup HERALD CORRESPONDENT Margao, May 7: Davorlim Sporting Club scored a 5-4 tie-breaker win over Parish Youth Club, Nuvem to emerge champions in AllGoa Conceicao Colaco intervillage football tournament organised by Shooting Star Sports Club at Assolna ground, Saturday. There was no score at full time.

Parish Youth dominated the first session, enjoying ball possession and forcing two good chances to take the lead. They nearly broke the deadlock soon after the kick off when Gammy D’Costa’s fierce shot struck the crossbar much to the dismay of Nuvem supporters after receiving a measured pass from Remy Colaco. A couple of minutes later, Parish Youth came close to surging ahead but Richard Colaco’s rasping drive was blocked

by Davorlim goalkeeper Joaquim Figueredo.

At the other hand, Davorlim struggled to stitch a decent move with the result they were confined to their

Sangolda oust Nerul United HERALD SPORTS REORTER Mapusa, May 7: Nikhil Naik grabbed a spectacular winner as Sangolda Lightning defeated Nerul United Sports Club 1-0 in 5th Siolim Sodiem Super Soccer Cup at St Anthony’s church ground, Siolim, Saturday.

The match was goalless at the breather.

The game was exciting from the kick off, although teams were playing very defensively.

Eighteen minutes from time, Nikhil Naik swung in a free kick from the edge of the box which flew past the stranded Nerul custodian to give Sangolda victory.

Tie-breaker at Saligao

The capTain of Davorlim Sporting Club receiving the All-Goa Conceicao Colaco memorial trophy and Rs 30,000 from Mauricio Afonso in the presence of Benjamin D’Silva, Asmucao after the finals at Assolna ground, Saturday. own half. Crossing over, Davorlim put up better performance.

Midfielder Parryson Rebello outpaced his marker but made a great blunder as on seeing the Parish Youth goalkeeper coming out ballooned over.

Davorlim had another scoring opportunity but striker Venson Figureido failed to beat the rival goalkeeper after being fed by Andrew Colaco. Later, Venson Figureido and Parryson Re-

bello harassed the rival defence with well orchestrated raids.

As the time ticking out, both the teams were desperate and went all out but match winner eluded them .

With the issue remain unresolved, the tie-breaker were applied. Davorlim had the last laugh converting all five while Parish Youth converted four.

Davorlim were richer by Rs 30,000 plus trophy while

Parish Youth had to settle for Rs 20,000 plus trophy .

Following prizes were awarded: Man-of-the-match Rs 5,000 Venson Figueiredo of Davorlim. Best disciplined team Goa Velha Sports Club.

Mauricio Afonso, coach of Dempo Sports Club and former captain of India football team was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in the presence of Fr Joao Coelho, assistant parish priest of Regina Martyrum Church,

Assolna, Benjamin D’Silva, GFA Executive member, Benjamin D’Silva, former FIFA assistant referee and Asmucao Cardozo.

Earlier, a minute silence was observed in memory of Conceicao Colaco.

Marcus Cardozo, president of Shooting Star Sports Club welcomed. Augustine Furtado proposed the vote of thanks. The function was compered by Rony Cardozo.

In all, 16 teams participated.

AGENCIES

League in Kohlapur, Saturday.

Lalrindika put the Arrows in the lead with a curling freekick as early as the 12th minute only for Kuttymani to pull it back for the home team in the 35th minute. But Lalrindika

sealed the fate in the 60th minute to take Arrows to 26 points from 24 matches. Mumbai FC on the other hand stay on 32 points from 23 matches.

Musli Power X-tra Viva Kerala and ONGC FC

played out a goalless draw in another match at Jawahar Municipal Stadium, Kannur.

The result puts Viva Kerala on 26 points from 25 matches while ONGC move to 23 from 25.

Arrows win, Viva hold ONGC Kholapur, May 7: A brace from the talented Lalrindika helped Indian Arrows beat Mumbai FC 2-1 to garner three crucial points in I-

Siridao win Panjim (HSD), May 7: Siridao Sports Club beat Agasaim Youth Sports Club 3-1 in 6th late Frank Pires football tournament at Siridao church ground, Saturday.

Siridao scored in the 15th and 20th minutes. Agasaim reduced the margin in the 40th. Siridao rounded off the tally in the 50th.

Sporting pip Mohammedans HERALD SPORTS REPORTER Panjim, May 7: Sporting Clube de Goa scraped past Kolkata’s Mohammedan Sporting by a solitary Samananda Singh goal in a Second Division I-League football at Polo ground,Shillong Saturday.

Samananda scored in the 18th minute to take Sporting to 8 points from 5 matches while Md Sporting stay at the 6th spot with three points from as many.

In another match, Shillong Lajong Football Club blanked local rivals Royal Wahingdoh 2-0 to strengthen

their position at the top of the table.

Left-half Boithang Haopip scored one in each half to settle the issue.

The victory takes Lajong to 13 points from 5 matches while Wahingdoh languish at the 7th spot with one point from four matches.

PANJIM (HSD): On the occasion of Santa Cruz Chapel feast, Youth Boys of Grand Morod will organise their 4th tie-breaker on May 9, near Santa Cruz chapel ground, Saligao, at 7 p.m. The winners will get Rs 6,000 while the runners-up Rs 4,000. For details contact 9011318066.

Kaushal Doble, Rutvi Govekar, Sahil Parrikar, Michael Hayes, Rana Hayes, Mukesh Sadiye, Disha Wale, Dipti Wale, Lorenzo Lobo, Rhea Desai, Sherwan Braganza, Megan Braganza, Rushab Savoikar, Neeha Khaunte and Rueben Menezes who crossed 2km at River Mandovi on May 1. Rupesh Halankar was the chief guest which was organised by Vista Do Rio Resort, Porvorim. The swimmers were trained by Loretto Cardozo and Domnic Fernandes.

GFA U-18 2nd Division: Salcete FC v. Orlim SC, Rosary ground, Navelim, 4 p.m.

GFA U-16 North Zone semi-final play-off: United Club of Nerul v. Brasil Football Academia, Duler Stadium, Mapusa, 4 p.m.

Crown Boys soccer finals: Vailankani Boys Calangute v. Friends Circle Goa Velha, Govt ground, Santa Cruz, 5 p.m.

All-Goa 3-a-side soccer tie-breaker organised by Barcelona CCCP, Saligao, Saligao Four Roads ground, Saligao, 7.30 p.m.

Arjun’s Sanvordem Premier League Cricket, Mollem village panchayat ground, 1 p.m.

All-Goa 5 overs tennis ball cricket tournament organised by Camurlim United Sports Club, Kajro ground, Vagalim, 9 a.m.

State level inter-Govt Dept T-20 season ball cricket finals: PWD v. SAG, SAG ground, Fatorda, 2 p.m.

All-Goa 5-overs tennis ball cricket organised by Camurlim Sports United Club, Kajro ground, 9 a.m.

All-Goa 3-a-side floodlit soccer organised by Parish Youth of Our Lady of Candelaria, Camorlim panchayat ground, Ambora, 7 p.m.

Six-a-aide men hockey organised by Punola and Sports and Cultural Club, Bhatlem ground, Punola, Ucassaim, 9 a.m.

All-Goa inter-village football organised by Ambelim Sports Club, Ambelim ground.

Seven-a-side football organised by Penha da Franca Sports Club, Penha da Franca church ground.

15th Holy Cross inter-village football quarters: Verna Sports Club v. Betalbatim Sporting Club, VodlemollKakoda ground, 4.30 p.m.

V M Salgaoncar Soccer Cup: Sodiem Sports and Cultural Association v. Adarsh Yuvak Sangh, Saligao Sporting ground, 4.30 p.m.

6th late Frank Pires football: Rossman Cruz, Nagoa-Verna v. Paradise Sports Club, Siolim church ground, 4.45 p.m.

17th Sao Jose de Areal Villagers Cup soccer: SSC, Loutolim v. Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim, Padribhat ground, Sao Jose de Areal, 4.45 p.m.

All Goa Wenceslau Gonsalves volleyball final: Churchill Brothers v.

Crown Club, Crown court, Santa Cruz, 8.30 p.m.

YSC Mankem soccer finals: Assolda Boys v. Ronshika 8, Panchwadi, Mankem ground, 4.30 p.m.

Santolin and Jose memorial inter-ward football finals: ABC Benaulim v. St Paul, Ampem ground, Benaulim, 8 p.m.

Dempo need victory against Al Ansar to stay in race HERALD SPORTS REPORTER Panjim, May 7: Al Ansar of Lebanon lost 1-4 to Nasaf in a Group A AFC Cup match in Beirut on Wednesday, thus having to rely on their final match against Dempo on May 11 in Pune for quali-

fication in the next stage.

Nasaf scored their fifth consecutive victory and tallied 15 points. They will play Al Tilal in their last match on May 11 in Uzbek-

istan. Al Ansar have an aggregate of 6 points with two victories and three losses and have a goal difference of minus three. Al Tilal are fourth with 4 points while Dempo

are fifth also with 4 points and a goal difference of minus 14.

Dempo could still qualify as the second best team provided they beat Al Ansar in Pune and at the same time hope that Nasaf will beat Al Tilal, which

should not be difficult given Nasaf’s superb record, unless Nasaf allows Al Tilal the victory in which case the Yemen team will make it to the next stage on better goal difference. For Al Ansar, a draw would see them through.

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F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel bounced back from his crash in practice on Friday to claim pole position in an all Red Bull front row on Saturday for Sunday's Turkish GP. His fourth successive pole position of the season was the first time this feat had been achieved since Finnish driver Mika Hakkinen in 1999.

Nani stokes mind games AFP Manchester, May 7: Manchester United winger Nani has started the mind games ahead of Sunday’s title-deciding visit of Chelsea by claiming his team-mates hold a psychological edge over their rivals.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side held a 15-point advantage over Chelsea two months ago and were seemingly coasting to a record 19th domestic title.

But Chelsea have since eaten into United’s lead and arrive at Old Trafford just three points adrift with three games to play and with the

Bopanna & Co out of Madrid AGENCIES

dancy and says Premier United are League title mentally in a again in their better state of sights followmind following ing a run of their recent five straight Champions league wins.

League quarThe moter-final win mentum has over their visishifted in retors. cent weeks to U n i t e d set up a meetSUNDAY too ing that will Wolves v. West Bromwich proved strong for the leave the winStoke City v. Arsenal west Londonners at the Man United v. Chelsea ers last month, head of the MONDAY winning both table and Fulham v. Liverpool at home and favourites to away, and the Portuguese finish top.

But Nani disputes that winger says memory of their Chelsea are in the ascen- 3-1 aggregate success will

FIXTURES

Nadal makes Swiss roll Azarenka's moves into Madrid final AGENCIES

Madrid, May 7: Indian Davis Cupper Rohan Bopanna and his partner Aisam-ul-haq Qureshi , seeded fourth, were sent packing from the Madrid Open as the American pair of John Isner and Sam Querrey edged them past via Super tie-breaker.

The Indo-Pak combination lost 7-6(6), 4-6, 3-10 in the men's doubles quarter-finals of the clay court ATP Masters tournament.

The match lasted one hour and 31 minutes.

help end Chelsea’s hopes of retaining the title for good.

"The results against them in the Champions League were very good," Nani said.

"We showed we can play against them and win both legs. I think that gives us the psychological advantage going into this critical game.

"We were not at our best in our defeat to Arsenal last week and we cannot be like that again in this one.

"We all realise we have to get back to our high tempo and confidence against Chelsea. We have to get back to our very best if we are going to do anything.

Madrid, May 7: World number one Rafael Nadal battled back from a set down to defeat arch rival Roger Federer and reach the final of the Madrid Open this evening.

Nadal, the defending champion having beaten Federer in last year's final, extended his winning streak on clay to 37 successive matches after overcoming the third seed 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 in two hours and 36 minutes.

In a match full of opportunities for both players to

break serve, Spanish star and home favourite Nadal was the more clinical, capitalising on five of his 12 chances, while Federer could only take two of his 11 break points in the match.

Nadal will now meet the winner of tonight's second semi-final between world number two Novak Djokovic - who has won all 30 of his matches this season and five successive tournaments against surprise package Thomaz Bellucci.

In the women section, Vic-

toria Azarenka moved to within one victory of a third title from her last four WTA events as the Belarus fourth seed ended the hopes of German Julia Goerges 6-4, 6-2 in the semi-finals.

Sporting’s superb rally against Dempo HERALD SPORTS REPORTER Mapusa, May 7: A splendid first half hat-trick from Hanslem Furtado was not enough to give Dempo Sports Club victory as Sporting Clube de Goa rallied to draw the match 3-3, in GFA’s U-18 1st Division encounter at Duler stadium, here, Saturday. Dempo led 3-0 at the interval.

Ten minutes into the second half Sporting coach Franky Fernandes was sent to the dressing room for taking his protest with the referee too far. This incident

seemed to fire up Sporting and substitute Melvin Fernandes set up goals for Mario Fernandes and Aslon Oliveria in quick succession, before finding the equaliser himself.

After just 11 minutes on the clock, Edberg Sequeira laid the ball for Hanslem and he blasted it against the crossbar and into the back of the net to give Dempo the lead.

In the 25th minute, the same combination of Edberg crossing for Hanslem to hammer home doubled the lead for Dempo.

Three minutes before the

SNAPSHOT

Tie-breaker at Ponda PANJIM: Sapna Park Sports and Cultural Club will organise the 2nd All-Goa 3-a-side floodlit tie-breaker football tournament on May 8 from 7 p.m. at the club ground, Sapna Park, Bethora Road, Ponda. The winners will take away Rs. 3000 and a trophy and the runnersup Rs.2000 plus a trophy. Details may be obtained from Xenio on 8806670916 or Volney on 9158312560.

U-17 Hockey selection trials PANJIM: The Association for Control of Hockey in Goa has been invited by Indian Hockey Federation to field the Goa State team for Under-17 boys National Hockey Championship in Mumbai from May 27 to June 8. The team will consist of 18 players and 2 officials. Boarding/lodging and local transport will be borne by IHF. Players born on or before 1.1.1994 are eligible. Players may contact ACHG general secretary Anselm Gabriel on 9823281881 or Alexander Remedios on 9822486626.

Senior hockey selection trials PANJIM: Hockey India will organise the 1st Senior National Men Hockey Championship in Bhopal from June 10-19.

Goans Hockey, an affiliate of Hockey India, will conduct selection trials to select the Goa team at Peddem Sports Complex hockey ground, Mapusa on May 16 at 3 p.m. Those interested may report with two passport size photographs and complete kit to Lloyd Macedo (vice-president) or Dexter Pereira (treasurer), according to a press note from GH.

Football camp at Campal PANJIM: Portais Sporting Club will organise a football coaching camp for 8-18 years with the assistance of qualified coaches from May 10 to 25 at Campal from 7.15 to 8.30 a.m. Details may be obtained from D D’Sousa on 9689939826 or R Cardoso on 9689939828.

breather Dipam Tilve sent Hanslem rushing through on goal and he kept his balance and slotted home with finesse, to the delight of the Dempo fans.

Sporting pulled a goal back in the 59th through Mario Fernandes who bundled in a corner after Aniston Fernandes did well to block Melvin’s initial shot.

Five minutes later Melvin lifted the ball over the Dempo custodian who had come rushing out and Aslon stayed calm as he neatly proceeded to head the ball into an empty net.

Sixteen minutes from the end, Roston Fernandes sent in a cross from the left which Melvin superbly controlled, before dribbling past his marker and placing in the back of the net for Sporting’s third.

At Tilak Maidan, a brace from Alwin Cardoza helped Sesa Fooball Academy down Betalbatim Sporting Club 50. Mario Lobo, Mauvin Borges and Steven Mendes also found the target for Sesa.

Churchill Brothers overcame Salgaocar Sports Club Juniors 1-0 at Cansaulim ground.

PWD to meet SAG in finals HERALD SPORTS DESK Panjim, May 7: An unbeaten 60 by Mayur Naik and his match-winning 64 run partnership with Someshwar Adpaikar (28) and a useful 24 by Sameer Chodankar helped PWD beat Directorate of Agriculture by 15 runs and sail into the finals where they will meet SAG in the State level inter-Govt Dept T-20 season ball cricket tournament organised by PWD Sports and Recreation Club in association with the SAG. Put into bat, PWD were reeling at 62/7 but were steadied by the 64-run partnership between Mayur Naik (60 no) and Someshwar Adpaikar (28). A valiant effort by Gurudas Gaonkar (58 no) for Agriculture, fell short of the PWD’s total by 15 runs. Mayur Naik was later adjudged man-of-thematch.

SAG thrashed Directorate of Art and Culture by 91

runs, thanks to an enterprising 71 by Anil Arolkar and his 42-run partnership with Sandip Naik (30), who also picked up 4 wickets to share the man-of-the-match award. The finals are slated for May 8 at 2 p.m.

“

Goa I Sunday 8, May 2011

I have trust in the refs. They make mistakes but this is normal, you have to accept that or you have to say there is a conspiracy and I don't believe that.

-- Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti

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The family of Spanish golf legend Severiano Ballesteros confirmed Saturday that the 54-year-old, who underwent surgery for a brain tumour in 2008, died overnight. Seve Ballesteros died at 2:10 am, surrounded by his family, in his home in Pedrena in northwestern Spain, following ‘respiratory failure’.

“

Goa I Sunday, 8 May 2011

On good tracks we have done well against strong teams be it Delhi or Kolkata. Ours is a young team and it took some time to settle down.

--- Kochi Tuskers skipper Mahela Jayawardene

MI thrash Daredevils PTI

Mumbai, May 7: Dishing out another superlative all-round performance, Mumbai Indians crushed Delhi Daredevils by 32 runs to virtually qualify for the play-offs of the Indian Premier League here today.

The win at the Wankhede Stadium meant Mumbai are back at the top of the leaderboard with 16 points from 10 games and have virtually booked a berth in the last four stage of the Twenty20 tournament.

On the contrary, the loss has knocked Delhi out of the the May 24-25 play-off race and are langushing at the seventh position with eight points from 11 matches.

Invited to bat first, Mumbai rode on a blazing start provided by Aiden Blizzard, who blasted 37 in 23 balls, besides a belligerent 56-ball 87-run third wicket partnership between Ambati Rayudu (59) and Rohit Sharma (49) to post an imposing 178 for four.

Faced with the huge task of chasing the stiff score, Delhi batsmen buckled under pressure and were tottering at seven for four in the third over before they recovered through an 87-run partnership between

Mumbai Indians batsman Ambati Rayudu plays a shot at The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.

top-scorer James Hopes (56) and Y Venugopal Rao (37).

But it was not enough as Mumbai shot out the visitors for 146 in 19.5 overs to suffer their seventh defeat in 11 games.

It was yet another clinically efficient bowling display by Mumbai, who choked the Delhi dashers by packing off David Warner, rival captain Sehwag, Colin Ingram and Naman Ojha within the first 3 overs.

After Harbhajan dismissed Warner off the fifth ball of the innings, Delhi soon slumped to seven for four.

The visitors lost Ingram to Lasith Malinga's unplayable yorker before Munaf Patel sent off Ojha and Sehwag, to virtually seal off Delhi's escape route.

The partial revival was led

by Hopes, dropped at long leg

by Munaf Patel off Malinga when on 23. Rao was bowled

by Dhawal Kulkarni in the 14th over when the Daredevils were on 94.

Pathan made 23 off 18 balls before he was yorked by Malinga in the 18th over when Delhi required 51 runs which virtually ended their hopes.

Malinga, Munaf, Harbhajan and Kieron Pollard grabbed two wickets apiece.

SCOREBOARD Mumbai Indians: A Blizzard c Sehwag b Nadeem 37, S Tendulkar b Irfan 14, A Rayudu hit wicket b Hopes 59, Rohit Sharma c Rao b M Morkel 49, K Pollard not out 9, A Symonds not out 4. Extras: 6. Total: 178 for 4. Fall of wickets: 50-1, 54-2, 141-3, 172-4. Bowling: M Morkel 4-0-49-1, Irfan Pathan 4-1-23-1, A Agarkar 4-0-310, S Nadeem 4-0-28-1, J Hopes 4-0-45-1.

Delhi Daredevils: V Sehwag c Rohit b Patel 2, D Warner lbw b Harbhajan 1, C Ingram b Malinga 1, N Ojha c Rayudu b Patel 1, Venugopal Rao b Kulkarni 37, J Hopes run out (Suman) 55, Irfan Pathan b Malinga 23, Y Nagar c Patel b Harbhajan 0, A Agarkar c Patel b Pollard 7, M Morkel c Symonds b Pollard 10, S Nadeem not out 0. Extras: 9.

Total: 146 all out. Fall of wickets: 3-1, 4-2, 4-3, 7-4, 94-5, 123-6, 123-7, 128-8, 1469, 146-10. Bowling: Harbhajan 4-0-24-2, L Malinga 3.2-1-18-2, M Patel 4-0-29-2, D Kulkarni 4-0-27-1, K Pollard 2.3-0-24-2, A Symonds 2-0-23-0.

Man-of-the-match: A Rayudu

Sourav wanted to play in IPL: wife PTI Shillong, May 7: Elated at Sourav Ganguly’s comeback to IPL, the former Team India skipper’s wife Dona feels if a player can keep himself fit and perform, he should be allowed to continue in the game.

“Just because my students are dancing, it does not mean that I stop performing. If you can keep yourself fit and can perform, then why not?'' Dona, an Odissi dancer, told PTI here.

“When Sachin is scoring a hundred after hundred, will it be right if he is stopped from playing?'' she said.

Dona said Sourav quit the national

team on his own accord and because he felt like that. The family was sad when Sourav was not picked up initially by any IPL franchise. ''It is nice that he got an opportunity now. Players like him should have their own time of declaring when they don’t want to play. He should play if he wants to,” she said.

Sourav Ganguly has made an entry into IPL–IV, with Pune Warriors announcing on May three that it had signed him on in place of the injured Ashish Nehra.

The icon of Kolkata Knight Riders in the first three seasons, Ganguly found himself

out of the fourth edition as no franchise bid for him in the auctions earlier this year and later took to commentary.

He is likely to take the field tomorrow when the Pune Warriors lock horns with Kings XI Punjab.

Asked which team, she would support now that her husband has joined Pune Warriors, Dona, an accomplished Odissi dancer, said, ''I will be among many fans in Kolkata who will be supporting Pune Warriors.''

Dona was here to perform at a fourday festival to mark Rabindranath Tagore’s sesquicentenary birth anniversary.

Saina in Malaysia Open final PTI

Kuala Lumpur, May 7: Top seed Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal stormed into the final of the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold after scoring a convincing straightgame win over seventh seed Korean Ji Hyun Sung here today.

Saina, who had made a shock first round exit at the Indian Open Super Series last week, recorded a comfortable 21-14 21-13 win over her rival in just 35 minutes.

Saina will take on second seed Xin Wang of China in the summit clash tomorrow.

Wang beat fourth seed Korean Youn Joo Bae 21-6 2119 in the other semifinal today.

Kolkata Knight Riders bowler Iqbal Abdulla (3rd left) celebrates with teammates the wicket of Chennai Super Kings batsman Murli Vijoy at The Eden Garden Stadium on Saturday.

Kolkata win via D/L AfP Kolkata, May 7: Brett Lee conceded just eight runs in four overs as Kolkata Knight Riders beat Chennai Super Kings by 10 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain-hit Indian Premier League match on Saturday.

Kolkata were 61-2 in 10 overs chasing a modest 115run target when play was called off due to rain at the Eden Gardens. South African Jacques Kallis was unbeaten on 21 and Manoj Tiwary on 15 not out.

Australian paceman Lee and left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla played key roles in restricting Chennai to a

small total on slow pitch despite a fighting 54 from Subramaniam Badrinath.

Abdulla took one wicket in his four overs, giving away 15 runs.

It was Kolkata's seventh win in 11 matches and Chennai's fourth defeat in 10 games of the Twenty20 tournament.

Mumbai and Kolkata now jointly lead the 10-team league table with 14 points, followed by Chennai (12), Bangalore (11), Rajasthan (11), Kochi (10), Delhi (eight), Deccan (six), Punjab (six) and Pune (four).

Chennai earlier failed to post a competitive total after electing to bat despite a half-

Basement teams battle for salvage PTI Mohali, May 7: Placed at the bottom of the points table, Kings XI Punjab meet Pune Warriors in a battle of the basement teams desperately looking for a win to salvage some pride in the Indian Premier League here tomorrow.

For Kings XI, who have suffered five losses from eight games including four in a row, last night's 85-run crushing defeat at the hands of Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bangalore would be weighing heavy on their mind.

In Yuvraj Singh's Pune, all eyes would be on former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who recently replaced injured Ashish Nehra in the side. The

TODAy’S fIxTuRES

Royal Challengers v.

Kochi Tuskers 4 p.m.

Kings XI, Punjab v.

Pune Warriors 8 p.m. experienced left-hander, who might play tomorrow, is expected to boost the sagging morale of the team.

century from Badrinath, who hit two sixes and three fours in his 41-ball knock before being run out in the last over.

Badrinath put on 65 for the fourth wicket in the last nine overs with South African Albie Morkel, who contributed a run-a-ball 30 not out.

Chennai struggled for

runs, scoring 40 in the opening 10 overs. There were just two sixes and six fours in the entire innings.

The first big shot came in the 10th over when Badrinath lofted off-spinner Yusuf Pathan over long-on for a six.

He then pulled seamer Lakshmipathy Balaji over midwicket for another six.

SCOREBOARD Chennai Super Kings: M Hussey c Morgan b Balaji 15, M Vijay c and b Abdulla 5, S Raina c Kallis b Yusuf 4, S Badrinath run out (Bhatia) 54, A Morkel not out 30. Extras: 6. Total: 114 for 4. Fall of wickets: 8-1, 152, 49-3, 114-4. Bowling: B Lee 4-0-8-0, Iqbal Abdulla 4-0-15-1, Yusuf Pathan 4-0-25-1, R Bhatia 2-0-10-0, L Balaji 4-0-33-1, J Unadkat 1-011-0, J Kallis 1-0-9-0.

Kolkata Knight Riders: E Morgan b Ashwin 5, J Kallis not out 21, G Gambhir c Randiv b Ashwin 16, M Tiwary not out 15. Extras: 4. Total: 61 for 2. Fall of wickets: 9-1, 33-2. Bowling: A Morkel 2-0-14-0, R Ashwin 3-0-12-2, D Bollinger 1-0-6-0, S Jakati 2-0-14-0, S Randiv 2-0-14-0.

Man-of-the-match: Iqbal Abdulla

Gayle threat looms large as Kochi take on RC PTI Bangalore, May 7: On a high after beating the in-form Kolkata Knight Riders, Kochi Tuskers Kerala would be wary of the Chris Gayle threat when they take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in their Indian Premier League match here tomorrow.

Their bowling might have kept them in good stead in the 17-run victory against Kolkata earlier this week, but Tuskers will be faced with a much-stiffer Gayle challenge.

The towering West Indian

has been in rollicking form, notching two centuries since joining the RCB ranks.

His punishing 49-ball 107 against Kings XI Punjab on Friday wreaked of brutal aggression and disdain.

Interestingly, 96 of his runs were conjured from 10 fours and nine sixes, some heaves clearing the pickets by a mile.

If he continues to smash the ball the way he has been doing even the likes of R Vinay Kumar and S Sreesanth would be stressed to contain him on a wicket on which the ball has come nicely to the bat.

OHERALDO

Pg I

INDIA

GOA, SUNDAY 8 MAY, 2011

Orissa to resume land acquisition for Posco project PTI BHUBANESWAR, MAY 7

Armed with the final forest clearance order for the mega Po s c o s t e e l p ro j e c t n e a r Paradip, Orissa government today decided to resume land acquisition activities from May 18 even as opponents of the South Korean steel major were preparing to foil the bid.

"The state government will begin land acquisition work for Posco project from the place where it halted last year in view of a stop work order from the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF). The land acquisition work will be completed within a month," chairmancum-managing director of the state owned Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) Priyabrat Patnaik told reporters.

The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting between the Chief Secretary B K Patnaik, IDCO officials and representatives from the Ja-

gatsinghpur district administration. Some senior police officers also attended the meeting.

The IDCO which was incharge of acquiring land for different projects, had to abandon land acquisition work at the proposed plant site villages of Posco on August 6, 2010 after the MoEF objected to it based on the recommendation of the N C Saxena Committee which pointed out gross violation of provisions under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

Lifestyle

Relationships

Sunday, 8 May 2011

Sports

Business

Health

Art

Culture

Environment

Education

Information Technology

‘AND’ and ‘global desi’, two high street fashion brands from ‘And Designs India Ltd’, recently made its foray into the Goan market. Herald chats with the lady behind and one of the prêt designers of India, Anita Dongre

Travel

BY CHRISTINA VIEGAS HERALD FEATURES here are very few experiences in life that can parallel the joy of motherhood. Most mothers can give up anything at all in life to be a good mother to their kids. And this is something mothers will never trade, even for the most alluring offers in life. From the very moment you realise there is a part of you growing within you, you love this being with a fierce protection that you never knew existed in your before.

Now this seems to come naturally to a mother giving birth to her own. But there are hoards of mothers who adopt babies and yet can love and protect as intensely as natural mothers. What does it take to pick up a stranger’s baby in your arms and welcome the little one into your very heart? Mothers in Goa who have adopted, avow, “When you decide to adopt, yes, there are a lot of apprehensions.

But this is more to do with the social stigma and legal procedures than whether you can welcome the little one in your home and heart.

The very fact that you are ready to adopt means you have prepared yourself to love this new being, no matter where the little one comes from.”

In fact, talk of adoption and the first reaction from most people is, “I would never want to adopt as who knows what the kid could have inherited from its biological parents.” But a mom in Goa who has adopted beautiful twins says, “Every family, more or less has a problematic kid. Yet, no importance is given to this as the kid is their biological one. Why pinpoint fingers only at adopted kids?” Another mother pipes in, “People only see the negative side of everything? Why don’t they talk about the umpteen number of success cases? There are so many adopted kids who are better human beings than biological ones.

In fact, in every family, you will have at least one or two problematic kids, even though they are biological. Yet, this is just looked at as natural.”

So, it is not the genes or traits passed on that are more important, but the upbringing, atmosphere and love you give your kid which is more essential for the child to grow into a good person.

Another mom in Goa who had adopted a baby girl, despite having her own, says, “In our home, sibling rivalry exists very much like it does in any other family with biological siblings. But that is just normal. After so many years of care and sacrifice, you even forget you adopted a child, she is as good as my biological one.”

When does the parent tell the child that she/he is adopted? A mother advises, “There is no fixed age. At various stages of their growth according to their age, you should try to get the message across through stories.” She also cautions, “But it is vital that the couple be the first ones to break the news as this information could get out through bullying kids in the neighbourhood or any bitter person.”

But, adoption is still considered a social stigma. A couple from Saligao have countered this by taking their family and friends into confidence before they could adopt and kept them involved in the whole process. They also opine that there is great need to sensitise doctors, lawyers and teachers, alongside other professionals about adoption so that they can be a catalyst in promoting such a noble cause.

Now don’t, for one moment, ever think that people adopt only because they are childless.

A lady who has been barren for the last decade, on suggestion of adoption, callously remarked, “I don’t want to adopt a child. I would rather stay childless than love a stranger’s child as my own.” As shocking as this revelation was, the lady must be respected for being so upfront.

Because imposing adoption on someone can bring about drastic results.

And there are many more women who constantly argue against adoption. They seem to be able to dig up every ill of adoption. While, there are still others who create an atmosphere of confusion for parents deciding to adopt as they start emphasising on soft baby curls, a wonderful smile, complexion etc, instead of being a support system for parents to just follow their heart, thereby avoiding guilt feelings. After all, these irreplaceable bundles of joy are conceived and born in one’s heart.

So the above is evident of the fact that not every woman can open her heart to a baby not her own, biologically. And this is what makes adoption such a significant happening in one’s life. And it gets even better when couples who have complete families have still adopted a kid to give the little one a home. Truly amazing!

You are the woman who has dared to open your heart to a little one not born off your flesh and blood. Happy Mother’s Day in all its glory!

Born to create…

BY CHRISTINA VIEGAS HERALD FEATURES ighly bored in school and one to constantly bunk classes, as a little girl of 15 years, Anita Dongre was always interested in clothes. She says, “While I was totally uninterested in routine academics, I simply excelled the moment I joined design school, because that was where I was meant to be.”

Having started off two decades ago, Anita enlightens, “Back then, it was not really the age of fashion designers in India. So, those days, mothers used to stitch clothes for the family on their quaint sewing machines. I was exposed to this as my mother did so. I was constantly enamoured by the fabrics she bought, the cuts she made, everything. I guess, that’s when it all started.”

Photo by Siddesh Mayenkar Today, she is thrilled that two of her most popular high street western fashion brands, ‘AND’ and ‘global desil ’ have hit the racks of the Goan fashion market and are available at Caculo Mall. She says, “For the last five years, I have wanted to have my designs in Goa. I am thrilled.”

Known as the designer who embodies empathy in her creations, it is her understanding

H

Maie moga sarki vost dusri na - Anon

Tourism

Parenting

email us at: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com

However motherhood comes to you, it’s a miracle.

- Valerie Harper, adoptive mother

WHEN THE SUN SHINES...

Photo by Siddesh Mayenkar

South Indian actress Shobhana with her adopted child

Fashion

GOA’S HEARTBEAT

Conceived in My Heart T When you go in for adoption, genes do not matter, upbringing does.

As the world celebrates Mother’s Day, Herald salutes the mothers who have opened their hearts for the conception and growth of their children

Entertainment

Drying paddy in the hot Goan sun: an oft seen local activity during the summer months

Kate shops for Groceries K ate Middleton looked like any other young middle-class woman out shopping when she was spotted at a supermarket recently. Clutching a shopping list, she studied packs of chocolate biscuits, washing powder, pasta, and fruit and vegetables, said a media report.

The future Queen, who has lost her wedding-day curls and straightened her hair, hovered over a counter of fresh pizzas on a shopping trip to Waitrose. She emerged from the store with a full trolley before loading five bags into the back of her Audi.

Prince William’s bride has vowed to do without flunkies and live the simple life of an officer’s wife to help give their marriage a g o o d grounding, ac-

cording to the report.

It was the first time she had been seen out in public since she and William left in a helicopter for a quiet weekend on the day after their wedding. In a waterfall cardigan, white cotton jumper and her favourite black Hudson skinny jeans, she even put her trolley back after loading up her car. She chatted with other shoppers and made steady progress around the store.

While his wife stocked up on supplies for their rented farmhouse, Prince William, 28, had been involved in two mountain rescues overnight after going back to work as a Royal Air Force (RAF) search-and-rescue pilot.

(Courtesy: IANS)

of the uniqueness of each woman’s own beauty, grace, body and the pulse of a woman’s desire, ambitions, dreams and sensuality that inspired her to create her fashion house. And what is her plan to dress the Goan woman? Anita elucidates, “Today, Goan women like other women across the country are more fashionable. They are keen to dress with the latest. I have kept in mind the fact that Goa is a hot and humid place. So, I have given clothes that will be comfortable and yet maintain its classic line.”

Having launched ‘AND’ in 1999, how has Anita snipped and snapped fabric to cater to women’s changing tastes over the years? The reply is, “Way back in 1999, designers didn’t really cater to sizes. I was the first to start designing to sizes because like I always maintain, women come in all sizes and shapes and fashion is not only for one particular size. I am able to empathise with the modern Indian woman. Born and brought up in India, I reflect what she’s looking for – she is more modern, body-conscious, wants perfectly fitting clothes, and she is definitely getting adventurous. And I am able to deliver that and yet succeed in maintaining my clean, elegant and simplistic lines. We give out 10 new designs every week.”

So, does this pose a constant challenge? Anita says, “Not a challenge really. But definitely it makes life exciting and more interesting.”

Anita has dressed celebrities from corporates to Bollywood to television. She says, “When I see films or TV soaps, I recognise so many of my designs. From Zeenat Aman, Hema Malini and Juhi Chawla who walk into my stores to pick up everyday clothes, to seeing my designs worn by Priyanka Chopra and Sonakshi Sinha on the red carpet, it gives me great happiness.”

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info ‘nf’un zone

Sunday, 8 May 2011

WHAT’S UP IN GOA??

‘Dalgado Day’, organised by Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA) will be celebrated on May 8 at 10.30am at the Tiatr Academy of Goa, Campal-Panjim. Call 9881810832.

‘Song Offerings’, a collection of Tagore’s prose translations from Bengali to English will be read out on May 8, Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary. It will be held from 5:30pm to 7pm at the International Centre Goa, Dona Paula. Call 9765404391.

‘Pogo Mad’ and ‘Smart Potato’, live summer workshop for kids will be held from May 9 to 29 at Kids.Com Playgroup and Counselling, Vagator-Anjuna. Call 9923393844 Film-Making workshop with Oscar nominated director Ashwin Kumar, organised by Art Chamber will be held in July at the Art Chamber, Calangute. Registration is open. E-mail artchamber @gmail.com. Call 9823217435.

‘People’s Preparedness and Participation in Disaster Management in Goa’ is the topic of this fortnightly Friday Balcao session, to be held on May 13 from 4pm to 6pm at the Goa Desc Resource Centre, No11 Liberty Apartments Feira Alta, Mapusa. E-mail goadesc@gmail.com.

‘Walk for Smile’, a walkathon for arthritis patients, organised by the Goa Medical College will be held on May 8 from the Entertainment Society of Goa, Panjim to Hotel Mandovi, Panjim.

‘Right To Information’ is the topic of the workshop, organised by Asha Family Responsibilities and Rights Association will be held on May 8 from 9.15am to 11.30am at St Andrews Church Complex Hall, G o a Ve l h a . E - m a i l trustasha@yahoo.co.in. Call 2256445 or 9822166876.

‘Art is all around us’, an art and craft workshop will be held from May 23 to May 28 May at Chinchinim. Registration closes on May 19.

Call 9766374445 Collector’s Day, will be celebrated by the Museum Of Christian Art on May

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HOROSCOPE 15 at the Museum. It will allow collector’s to showcase their collections. Registration closes on May 10. E-mail museumofchristianart @gmail.com. Call 2285299.

‘Natyarangpancham’, a 5-day theatre festival of selected plays of Goan playwright Pundalik Naik, organised by the Kala Academy, Directorate of Art and Culture and Antruz Lalitak, Bandora will be held from May 7 to 11 at the Kala Academy, Panjim.

Call 2420452.

Sons of Babur, the first play written by Union Cabinet Minister Salman Khurshid and directed by Tom Alter will be staged on May 12 at the Kala Academy, Campal-Panjim. Call 2420452.

Free public sessions on rhythmic breathing, organised by the Rhythmic Breathing Club, Goa will be held in the month of May. Registration is open. E-mail veebee200303@yahoo.co.in. Call 9422443421.

Dance classes, organised by Dr Martin and Dance Illusions will be conducting dance classes in Margao, Vasco and Panjim on May 12, 13 and 14, respectively. Call 9823014397.

Free Summer Special animation classes, organised by Arena Animations will be held during the course of May at MGM Animations Academy, Panjim. It will cover creative art and sketching and computer fundamentals. Registration is open. E-mail mgmanimations @gmail.com. Call 2225153‘Indian Sculpture’, an exhibition of painting

by Shalini Srivastava, organised

by Sunaparanta - Goa Centre for the Arts, Altinho-Panjim is underway till May 11 at the Sunaparanta, Altinho-Panjim. Call 2420452.

Yoga sessions, organised by the International Centre Goa, Dona Paula will be held every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday beginning from May 3. There will be two batches. Batch I will take place from 6am to 7am and batch II from 6pm to 7pm.

E-mail prog@incentgoa.com.

Call 9766015762

Let someone else take care of the planning.

Trust him or her 21 Mar - 19 Apr to do what's n e c e s s a r y.

Who's your favorite relative - preferably older? Get in touch with them (use an Ouija board, if need be) and hear them out. Some solid advice is there for the taking, as long as you're willing to listen.

Taurus I f p e o p l e i n power won't be cautious, you should be extra 20 Apr - 20 May cautious, just in case. Your capacity for contentment is enormous, even if you are sometimes unfulfilled. Today brings a deep sense that everything is okay, no matter what's really going on. Work with it -you won't be sorry.

Even if you Gemini have a lot of things going on, make time to acknowledge your 21 May - 20 Jun feelings. See if you can have a few pennies or dollars off of each purchase today -- or even cut back on the number of purchases you make. You need to hang on to your cash for the time being.

Celebrate your obnoxious side today! It takes guts to break out of your shell.

22 Jun - 23 Jul Your emotional side is always showing, but on a day like today, that's a plus for you and those around you.

It's one of those times when you can feel the good energy pouring through you and out into the world!

Friends will be the perfect accessory today and will offer the honesty you 24 Jul - 23 Aug need. You need to tackle something new today.

It may be that you know exactly what comes next, but it is just as likely that you need to solicit ideas for big projects that you can get started on.

You may not have enough time to go over the finer details 23 Aug - 22 Sep today -- be general. Get social!

Your energy is just right for parties, dates or anything requiring witty banter. Even if you're usually shy, this is the time to crack that shell and expand your social network a bit more.

Let go of your privacy today.

Find out what it's like to share 23 Sept - 22 Oct something real.

Reject any requests for tackling new tasks or projects today unless they're direct orders -- it's far too easy for you to get overwhelmed right now. Someone close may be in need, but they can wait a day or two.

Scorpio Today, temptation will test you. Make sure you stick to your 23 Oct - 22 Nov plotted course.

Your mental energy is peaking now, so get ready for some amazing adventures. Try not to worry too much about things that don't matter and just let your intellect roam free and wild!

Sagittarius In a test of wills

Capricorn Your communication style speaks before you can speak, 22 Dec - 20 Jan s o d o u b l e check your work. Some see you as inflexible, but actually, you just like to stick with what works.

When you see something new and better -- as you are sure to today -- you adopt it without a second thought.

Aquarius Many things demand your attention today - be brief but 21 Jan - 19 Feb thorough with each. Take care of any pressing responsibilities today before getting into anything big, exciting or long-term.

It's far too easy for you to lose yourself so much that you forget to pay that one important bill.

Get ready to get busy! Fun, creativity and a tiny bit of 20 Feb - 20 Mar d r a m a a r e coming your way. You're usually up for something new, and today you feel the urge to create it yourself. All that good energy needs to be put to use, so make sure that you're channeling it in the right direction.

Aries

Libra

today, the outcome is entirely up to you -- stick 23 Nov - 20 Dec to your guns.

Your moods are swinging all over the place right now, and you need to try to keep up with them. If you're up, take on new work -- but when you swing back down, try to pass it off on the intern.

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Pisces

DID YOU KNOW? The Windmills of the Netherlands

serviette Pronunciation sur-vee-et Function Verb Meaning : a small piece of table linen that is used to wipe the mouth and to cover the lap in order to protect clothing during a meal Example Sentence Sam was given the task of neatly folding the serviettes and setting the table.

LAFFS

The Netherlands is famous for its windmills, some 1,200 of which survive today.

The Dutch built windmills for many centuries and to some extent, the windmills built the country itself, since without them much of the land drainage could not have occurred. In that time the mills were developed for corn milling, land drainage, saw milling, and in fact all manner of industrial purposes. Despite this widespread use, Dutch mills are in may ways quite primitive – using canvas sails, and turned to wind by hand as distinct from the automated mechanisms that were developed for English windmills, including the fantail, and shuttered sails. In the Netherlands, work is underway to make windmills a major generator of electricity. Today, May 7, is National Windmill Day in the Netherlands. Some 600 windmills, water mills and pumping stations will be open to the public today, and millers will demonstrate the way their windmills work.

WIZARD OF ID

Funny Quote

“Part of the inhumanity of the computer is that, once it is competently programmed and working smoothly, it is completely honest.”

– Isaac Asimov DAILY GROOK LOYAL ROYAL

by Francis Rodrigues she was my friend now she’s my mate, let us marry then come kiss me kate!

GARFIELD

MIND BENDERS

SUN MOON TIDES

Tongue Twister Sunday 33° C | 26° C Dawn 05:46

The two-twenty-two train tore through the tunnel

Partly Cloudy

Sunrise 06:09

Sunset Dark 18:55 19:17

Moon rise 10:09 Moon set 23:22 High 12:35

Low 07:22

TIDES High Low 14:33 20:22

09:20 11:25 13:50 16:40 18:45 21:00 23:05

Robocop The Incredibles Bad Boys II District 13: Ultimatum Brothers Bolt From Russia with Love

09:00 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 12:15 Journey to the Center of the Earth 14:15 The Tournament 16:15 Mermaids 18:45 Yes Man 21:00 17 Again 23:00 Whiteout

Where do animals go when they lose their tails?

High —

D Tide timings are for Mormugao Harbour. For Panjim/Calangute add 20 mins. For Colva add 30 mins

16:15 18:15 21:00 23:40

Black Water Hero No. 1 Phas Gaye Re Obama Albela

09:00 12:30 16:00 20:00

Aabra Ka Daabra No Entry Jewel Thief Life Partner

10:15 12:15 14:15 16:45

Look Who's Talking Now Juno The Exorcism of Emily Rose Look Who's Talking Too

Last ‘Riddle Me This’ Answer: Boxing ring

18:40 Maid in Manhattan 21:00 Vacancy 23:15 xXx

10:00 11:30 15:00 16:00 19:30 20:00 23:30

IPL 4 H/ls King No. 1 IPL 4 Extraaa Innings Indian Premier League 4 IPL 4 Extraaa Innings Indian Premier League 4 IPL 4 Extraaa Innings

08:00 Race 12:00 Shahenshah 20:00 Shaan

13:00 Action Replayy

11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

American Idol Community Community Family Guy Family Guy Friends Friends Koffee With Karan Dexter Dexter Mr. Sunshine Raising Hope The Good Guys Desperate Housewives Koffee With Karan Detroit 187

10:00 Kumbh Karan 10:30 MAD VIII 11:00 Mr. Bean: The Animated Series 12:00 Pokémon: The Rise Of Darkai 14:00 Chhota Bheem Marathon 17:00 Mr. Bean The Animated Series Marathon

IDIOT BOX 10:00 10:30 11:30 12:30 16:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 22:00 22:30

Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya Comedy Ka Maha Muqabla Comedy Ka Maha Muqabla Superstar Buzz Navya Love U Zindagi Chaand Chupa Badal Mein Comedy Ka Maha Muqabla Pyar Mein Twist Aap Ki Kachehri

10:00 Kahani Ab Tak 10:30 Idea Jalsa: Music for Soul 11:00 Dance ke Superstars Lime Light 11:30 Dance ke Superstars 15:00 Movie 23:00 Kahani Ab Tak

10:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma 10:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma 12:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma 15:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma 15:30 Ring Wrong Ring 16:00 Ring Wrong Ring 16:30 Ring Wrong Ring 17:00 Gili Gili Gappa 17:30 Gili Gili Gappa 18:00 FIR 20:00 Do Raaste

08:30 Superstar Preview 09:00 Geet 09:30 India's Magic Star

SUDOKU 853

Riddle Me This

11:00 12:30 13:00 20:00

10:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

India's Magic Star Superstar Buzz Krrish Sarfarosh

Leverage Top 20 Countdown Most Daring Guinness World Records Wipeout Most Daring Top 20 Countdown Wipeout Most Daring Guinness World Records Top 20 Countdown A Civil Action

10:00 Las Vegas

20:00 Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper 22:00 Mr. Bean The Animated Series Marathon

09:00 GS Caltex Maekyung Open 12:00 Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open 15:00 2011 Sbk Superbike World Championship 16:30 FIA F1 World Championship Raceday 2011 17:15 FIA F1 World Championship 2011 19:15 FIA F1 World Ch’ship Chequered Flag 2011 20:00 Hitz 20:30 Ace 2011 21:00 MotoGP World Championship 2011 H/ls 22:00 GP2 Series 2011

09:00 Judo World Masters, Baku 2011 12:00 Grand American Series 13:00 Sportscenter Weekend 13:02 KIA X Games Asia 2011 14:58 Sportscenter Weekend 15:00 Full Time 15:30 Scorecast Sunday 16:00 Super Sunday 16:25 Barclays Premier League 2010/11 18:30 Barclays Premier League 2010/11 20:30 Barclays Premier League 2010/11 22:30 MLB Regular Season 2011

10:30 11:00 14:00 15:00 15:30 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 22:00

ICC Cricket World WWE: Specials WWE: NXT Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2011 UEFA Europa League H/ls UEFA Champions League H/ls WWE: NXT WWE: Superstars WWE: Specials ATP 1000 Masters 2011

10:00 KFC Twenty20 International H/ls 12:00 West Indies Tour of Australia 2010 H/ls 14:00 Demolition Man 14:30 Inside Cricket 2011 15:00 Timed Out 2011 15:30 England Cricket Weekly 16:00 India Cricket Weekly 2011 16:30 STAR Mail 2010 17:00 Clydesdale Bank 40 H/ls 18:00 Ganguly's Greatest 18:13 Clydesdale Bank 40

10:00 Nat Geo Investigates 11:00 Nat Geo's Most Amazing Photos

11:30 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Don't Tell My Mother Extraordinary Dogs Nat Geo Amazing!

In the Womb Lion Ranger Big, Bigger, Biggest My Life Is a Zoo Nat Geo Amazing!

Fight Science Terraquiz 2011 Mission Army Nat Geo Specials

11:00 14:30 15:00 16:00

Traveller Band Traveller Band It Happens only in India Traveller Band : Lebanese Food Safari Science & Tech : Prehistoric Park: Part 2 Remembering 9/11 Paul Merton in India : Delhi Deadliest Warrior : SWAT vs. GSG-9 History Rocks : The Woodstock Generation

18:00 19:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

06:00 Art of Living 06:30 Jazz Gospel Concert 07:00 Yoga By Baba Ramdev 07:30 Kids Club 08:00 English News 09:00 Argham Diumia 10:00 English News 11:00 Health Watch 11:30 All Goa Youth Fusion 12:00 Flavors 12:30 Sunset Symphony 13:00 English News 14:00 Clown Fiesta 14:30 Fairyland 15:30 Yoga By Baba Ramdev 14:00 English News 17:00 Konkani Mass 18:00 English News 19:00 Argham Diumia 20:00 English News 21:00 Health Watch 21:30 All Goa Youth Fusion 22:00 English News 23:00 Konkani Mass 00:00 Yoga By Baba Ramdev Note: Subject to change

Instructions for Sudoku 9 x 9 letter: To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in each of the nine vertical columns, in each of the nine horizontal rows and in each of the nine boxes

SUDOKU SOL 852

HERALD CROSSWORD - 853 Across 1- Turkish honorific; 5- Cease moving; 9- Beaver creations; 13"We're all in the same _____"; 14Crude carrier; 15- Airline since 1948; 16- Knot in wool; 17- Spud state; 18- Advertising award; 19Fill with horror; 21- Dine; 22- Metrical foot; 23- Information; 25- Excuse me; 27- Water-bottles; 31Like bread dough; 35- Inter ___; 36- Optical device; 38- Stare angrily; 39- Balderdash; 40- Sierra ___; 42- ___ Cruces; 43- Monetary unit of Botswana; 46- Chamber; 47- Created; 48- Loose-fitting skirtlike garment; 50- Goes before; 52- Dynamic beginning; 54Authentic; 55- River to the Moselle; 58- Bingo!; 60- Bear witness; 64- Compassionate; 65Umbilicus; 67- Bones found in the hip; 68- "Rule Britannia" composer; 69- Cornered; 70- Approach; 71- Boris Godunov, for one; 72- One of the Channel Islands; 73- Amusement; Down 1- "Dancing Queen" group; 2- Rise; 3- Heavenly strings; 4- Capital of Georgia; 5- Secreted; 6- Exclamation to express sorrow; 7- Flowering tree of Hawaii; 8- Award; 9- Proceeding by tens; 10- ___ breve; 11- Disfigure; 12- Oscar Madison, for one; 14- Crude structure?; 20- Bruce ___ was a famous kung-fu movie star; 24- Facial expression used by Elvis Presley; 26- Hosp. readout; 27Wagons; 28- Hawaiian greeting; 29- Saltpeter; 30- Pry; 32- Cobb, e.g.; 33- Commerce; 34- Approvals; 37- Nasal grunt; 41- Green beryl; 44Lodger; 45- Chemical ending; 47- Assembly; 49Bestows; 51- Director's cry; 53- Butler's love; 55Three-handed card game; 56- Broadcasts; 57-

Editor Wintour; 59- Affirm solemnly; 61- Zeno's home; 62- Former name of Thailand; 63- Shipping deduction; 66- A mouse!;

SOLUTION - 852

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GOA’S Host of Programmes to look out for on Dalgado Day

h

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e n in p p a h ’ n ot ‘

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Sunday, 8 May 2011

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HERALD FEATURES he Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA) will be celebrating ‘Dalgado Day’ on May 8, 2011 with the presentation of various programmes throughout the day.

A workshop on research begins the celebration. It will be held at 10.30am at the Tiatr Academy of Goa in Campal-Panjim. Heading the workshop will be Dr Rafael Fernandes, Associate Professor at the Goa University. He will speak on the vital aspects of research. The workshop is designed to encourage Konknni writers to take on research related projects in Konknni, especially in the Roman script.

The post-lunch session, which begins at 2.30pm, will be Konknni Kavi Sammelan.

It will feature the participation of budding poets. Well-known Konknni poet Yusuf A Sheikh will preside over the Sammelan.

Later, at 4.30pm, two award-winning novels, ‘Toddzodd’ written by Pandharinath D Lotlikar and ‘Kantto’ written by Willy Goes will be released in a special book release function. Father Santana Carvalho, parish priest of Our Lady of God Church, Pomburpa will be the chief guest while Sheikh will be the guest of honour. The President of the Dalgado Konknni Akademi, Premanand A Lotlikar will preside over the function.

The day long function will be held at the Tiatr Academy of Goa’s Conference Hall which is in the Campal Trade Centre, Campal-Panjim.

Those interested in taking part in the Kavi Sammelan are requested to contact 9881810832. All the members of Dalgado Konknni Akademi and lovers of Konknni are kindly requested to join in the celebration of this day.

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Wilmix Mazarello to open Tiatr Workshop HERALD FEATURES he six-day workshop on acting and other aspects of drama, organised by the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) will commence on May 9 and will be underway till May 14 at the Conference Hall of the TAG, Campal-Panjim.

The workshop will be inaugurated by well-known tiatr personality Wilmix Mazarello at 3pm. Tomazinho Cardozo, President of TAG will preside over the inaugural function.

Twenty-six tiatr artistes will be participating in the workshop which will be conducted by Shantaram Pawar, a diploma holder in theatre.

The workshop will deal with all aspects of acting such as different walking styles, mannerism, miming, movements, improvisation, etc. It will also focus on stage lighting, stage setting and background music.

The concept behind the workshop was set in motion by TAG’s wish to provide basic knowledge to those wishing to produce or act in a tiatr.

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A Blend of Traditions at Santa Cruz Quermesse – Day II

Photos by Siddesh Mayanker

HERALD FEATURES he second day at the Santa Cruz Quermesse proved to be as entertaining as the first. The gathered crowds were treated to a plethora of performances including the 15-member brass band playing some memorable tunes. It was really good to see people of different age groups being a part of the traditional music.

The traditional Goan catholic music was followed by the performances of traditional Goan Hindu dances organised by Nilesh Fatarperkar. Apart from providing wholesome enertaiment, the coming together of the two traditions was also an attempt at sending out a message of communal harmony among all the residents of Santa Cruz. While the first part of the evening revelled in the traditional arts, the later part gave the audience a more contemporary feel with dance performances by Jason and Sylvia and their troupe.

And finally it was time for some Konkani music by Francis de Tuem, Lulu and Fortes Trio who wound up the evening with some memorable tunes.

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In step with the music: Jason and Sylvia

Age no bar: The 15-member brass band had musicians of all age groups

Cultural gems: Beautifully performed traditional Goan dances

Striking a pose: Glenn Raposo and Ivy Anes

Playing the right tune: Musicians trying to co-ordinate their music

Here for an entertaining evening: Dickcy Vaz and Savitha Vaz

Young dancing talent from Santa Cruz: Cinida Maria Dias

MUSIC REVIEW

BY COLIN SAVIO COELHO colin.coelho@gmail.com

Photos by Siddesh Mayanker

A Great Selection of Rythym and Blues T

Creativity Abound at the Great Goan Photo Exhibition HERALD FEATURES he Great Goan Photo Exhibition’, a photography exhibition organised by Goan Shutterbugs, in memory of the late Laxmikant P Kudchadkar. The exhibition was inaugurated by Nilkanth Halarnkar, Minister of Tourism and Nandan Kudchadkar, the creator of the museum Calizz. The exhibition had four themes, Enchanting Goa, Spirit Of Goa, Goa Going and Simply Unique. A prize distribution of the photography contest was also held.

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Inaugurating the exhibition: Nilkanth Halarnkar

here are some kinds of music that have evolved to become what they are today. These music genres have come a long way from the way they had started. But the music has never really dropped in popularity. One of these evolving genres is RnB. The popularity of RnB has hit the top. There are hits springing out practically on a daily basis. The popularity is probably still maintained because of the room for improvisation and creativity left by the way the music sounds and plays.

The term RnB had numerous meanings and definitions since its discovery in the 1940s. 1950s and after, this music had more to do while referring to blues records.

This then evolved further in the 1970s, where it was a comprehensive term used for soul and funk. In 1980 the contemporary RnB came by.

There is one album that comes up to the mark as far as real contemporary RnB and putting together of popular music goes. Red Hot RnB is the album that makes an instant impression.

It all begins with Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars. The album also has very popular B.O.B tracks in Airplanes Feat, Airplanes Feat II and Nothin’ on You. There are also hits by the everpopular Jason Derulo in Riding Solo, In My Head and Watcha Say. Among the popular tracks in the album is Billlionaire by Travie McCoy, So Fine by Sean Paul, Sugar by Flo Rida and many more. There are hits that many would instantly connect with because of the presence of works of popular artistes like Leona Lewis, Iyaz, T.I., Alesha Dixon and Seal amongst others.

Red Hot RnB is one album that will be pick up in a jiffy. The popularity and the music are two factors that could make it a red hot product with contemporary RnB lovers.

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Sunday 8 May 2011

John Travolta introduces Lindsay Lohan to Scientology

A

ctor John Travolta has introduced troubled actress Lindsay Lohan to scientology, a religious system based on seeking of self-knowledge and spiritual fulfilment, in a bid to get her life back on track. The 57-year-old actor, who is a devout follower himself, suggested that Lohan should give the religion a shot in the hope to settle her career and troubled life.

“Even though producers were hesitant to hire Lindsay because of her troubled past, Travolta assured them he’d take her under his wing. He feels confident he’ll be able to keep her on the straight and narrow now and forever,” said a source.

Lohan has reportedly promised Travolta she will attend a Church of Scientology induction course.

Pg4

Bryan Adams is Finally a Dad!

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ocker Bryan Adams, who famously wrote his 1984 song Diana about the Princess of Wales, will have to pen a lullaby now — he has become a father for the first time at the age of 51.

And in a nod to modernity, Adams has included the name of his baby daughter’s mother in her list of names – Mirabella Bunny Grimaldi Adams.

Mirabella’s mother is Adams’s personal assistant – now his live-in partner – darkhaired Cambridge graduate Alicia Grimaldi, 31.

“Br yan and Alicia are absolutely thrilled,” says a friend, adding, “And Bryan couldn’t be happier. I have no doubt he will make an absolutely wonderful father.”

“I’m really proud to announce that on April 22, Mirabella Bunny was born,” said a statement issued by Adams. “She arrived like all good Easter bunnies on Easter Friday. Mother and baby are both well and happy. Thanks in advance for your kind thoughts and wishes,” he added.

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one are the days when motherhood used to lead to an ill-shaped, flabby body. In-shape Bollywood moms like Malaika Arora Khan, Twinkle Khanna and Karisma Kapoor have proved that a woman can look just as fit and stylish as she used to before becoming a mom. These hip Bollywood moms who have maintained their figure even after having kids have become a source of inspiration and role models for many housewives and working women.

“When I was pregnant, I was very nervous about the fact that now I will never be able to get back to the size I was before having a baby. Then I saw Twinkle Khanna and Karisma Kapoor and I realised that if they can do it, so can I,” says Reetika Shah, a 29-year-old mother.

“They inspired me to not just let go of myself after my child is born. So once I gave birth to my baby girl, I started exercising and thankfully didn’t gain extra weight at all,” she added.

“Actresses like Malaika Arora and Twinkle Khanna are the new age moms. They are perfect examples of having babies, maintaining careers and remaining fit. Something every woman loves to be. Mothers are inspired by them and that’s definitely one of the driving forces for them to exercise to get bodies like them,” says Althea Shah, vice president, marketing and fitness expert Gold’s Gym India.

After delivery, many women stop caring about their body because they get busy with their children.

Reema Hiranandani, a 33-year-old housewife, say: “I used to have a good figure before my pregnancy, but I

Shapely Lessons from Bollywood’s Glam Moms

Parenting

gained weight after my son was born. Till he was four, I didn’t do any exercise and I was just putting on weight.

I had a mindset that now I’m a mother and it’s okay if I look a little healthy, but my husband once commented that even Karisma Kapoor has two babies but she is still so fit. That hit me and I realised that he is right. The next day I joined the gym,” she added.

There are many ways a woman who has given birth can stay in shape.

“Every individual must do at least two to three days of cardiovascular workout. It may be simple walking turning into a brisk walk. Following a pregnancy, the muscles that make up the abdominal wall will have considerably less elastic than their pre-birth condition. Toning these muscles can help increase your circulation and help bring back your pre-pregnancy figure,” advises Shah.

“While your body needs time to recover from the trauma of birth before resuming a regular workout, you can perform simple exercises like pelvic tilts, pelvic crunches, bicycle kick, etc, to stay fit,” she adds.

So it won’t be an exaggeration to say that Bollywood moms like Amrita Arora, Sonali Bendre, Raveena Tandon, Juhi Chawla, Pooja Bedi and Perizad Zorabian have not only entertained their fans, they have succeeded in inspiring them too – as mothers.

People rebuked at Work buy Expensive Items with Credit Card People feeling low after a rebuke or threat at the workplace often shop for expensive, luxurious items, paying with their credit cards. This sense of hurt prompts them to restore their self worth by purchasing high status items, says a new study by Niro Sivanathan of the London Business School and Nathan Pettit of Cornell University in the US. They examined whether people might be more likely to use a credit card when feeling down and out.

They had people work on an ambiguous computer test, and then told half of them that their “spatial reasoning and logic ability was in the 12th percentile,” a jargonistic way of telling them they are not very smart. They told the other half that they were in the 88th percentile, a perfectly fine performance, according to a statement of the London school.

When asked how they might pay for “a consumer product that you have been considering purchasing”, people who had had their ego bruised were substantially more likely to say they were planning on paying on credit.

In a follow-up, Sivanathan and Pettit asked 150 college students to think about buying a pair of jeans. Half were told to consider a pair of exclusive, high status designer jeans, while the rest were told to think about normal everyday jeans.

The students then went through the same computer test and were told they had done poorly or well.

The self esteem threat made people willing to pay almost 30 per cent more for the luxury jeans and were more than 60 per cent more likely to intend to purchase the jeans with a credit card.

Getting Some Sunshine can prevent Falls in Older People

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Road Fuel to now come from Lunchtime Menu!

S

oon, millions of cars will be running on lunchtime favourites.

Britain’s biggest road fuel supplier, Greenergy is planning to make diesel using sausage rolls, pasties, pork pies and crisps.

The company has already signed a deal to buy up oil squeezed from waste food, which will be turned into bio-diesel at the firm’s Hull plant.

It will then be blended into the diesel that goes to one in five of Britain’s fuel pumps.

“It’s another example of British ingenuity and will help reduce our dependency on costly crude,” said Paul Lester, the company boss.

Although only a very small proportion of each car’s fuel will come from food waste, total production will amount to millions of litres each year.

According to Lester, just one processing plant will treat enough waste pies or crisps to fill a cruise ship.

t’s a good idea for older people to get some sunshine regularly. For it helps maintain adequate Vitamin D levels which in turn can prevent falls. A study by Neuroscience Research Australia found that low Vitamin D levels are associated with falls in the elderly.

“Sunshine and Vitamin D are essential for maintaining our physical strength and cognitive abilities,” says Jasmine Menant of Neuroscience, adding, “Our study shows the importance of ensuring that Vitamin D levels are adequate in all older people, particularly as the benefits seem to extend beyond cognition and the musculoskeletal system to our ability to prevent ourselves from falling.”

Vitamin D is produced by the skin after exposure to sunlight. Also, many older people spend more time indoors due to frailty, immobility or illness and may not be exposed to regular sunshine.

Menant and colleagues investigated the relationship between Vitamin D levels and falls in people aged 70-90 years living in the community. The team found that approximately one third of participants were Vitamin D deficient. These people were also weaker, had a slower reaction time, poorer balance and slower gait, and performed worse in cognitive function tests.

“In particular, those with lower cognitive and physical performance may benefit from spending more time outdoors or taking Vitamin D supplements,” Menant says.

Courtesy: Agencies

Editor –in-chief: R F Fernandes. Editor: Ashwin Tombat. Chief Editor-Features: Christina Viegas.

Regd Office: St Tome Road, Panjim, Goa. Tel: 6658512, 6658500, 2224202, 2228083. Fax: 2222475. Email: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com.

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From Goa’s Soil Air Layering or Gootie

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Grandma’s Kitchen

Travel

Meal for Mama

Enchantment of Venice

MOST WANTED ON US’ LIST

Dead! Now What?

Pakistan won’t change a bit even after Osama. Someone said Pakistan has not yet decided whether it should take cash or credit for Osama's killing. They are inclined to claim cash from the US rather than deny the US the credit for the masterly operation. It suits them to protest about violation of sovereignty and appear disgruntled, having done nothing to protect their prized possession. The whole point of protecting him was to fatten him and to hand him over to the US at the most opportune moment as Pakistan had no use for him. Osama or no Osama, Obama or no Obama, US-Pakistan relations will remain robust, says T P SREENIVASAN As for the war on terror, this is a milestone, but the road extends beyond the horizon.

There are enough individuals, organisations and States which believe in terrorism as a justifiable way of gaining the advantages that cannot be obtained by legitimate means.

No reason exists for jubilation, as was seen in the streets of the US. The US and the world cannot afford to bring their guard down. The massive investments made for security around the world will still be justified as terrorists look for new and innovative methods to beat the system. In fact, one of the legacies of Osama is the suffering undergone by ordinary people at the airports and elsewhere. As someone observed rightly, the best punishment for Osama would have been to make him go through airport security day in and day out for the rest of his life.

Pakistan will not change a bit even after Osama. Someone said Pakistan has not yet hildren say the damnedest of things. They also make the wisest of statements. A Malayalam poet wrote, “Children, who cannot put words together, you are the ones, who have the vision and the knowledge decided whether it should take cash or credit for Osama's killing. They are inclined to of God's will.” This has been proved once again, when my granddaughter Durga's response to the news claim cash from the US rather than deny the US the credit for the masterly operation. of Osama bin Laden's death was, “Oh! I thought he was dead long ago!” Apparently, other children It suits them to protest about violation of sovereignty and appear disgruntled, having reacted similarly, according to Facebook entries from around the globe. Then why are the adults so done nothing to protect their prized possession. The whole point of protecting him excited? Why are they over analysing the impact of a death that occurred, at least figuratively, quite was to fatten him and to hand him over to the US at the most opportune moment as Pakistan had no use for him. some time ago? Are we not exaggerating the importance of Osama's death to the US, to President Obama, to No one believes that Pakistan was unaware of Osama's whereabouts or the timing of the US operations.

More information will become available about Pakistan's complicity and duplicity, but that will not add anything Pakistan, to international terrorism, and most of all, to India?

I do not dispute President Obama's claim that Osama was found hiding under the nose of the Pakistanis and that, to the information the world already has, if it wants to punish Pakistan. Pakistan's friends, particularly China, will in a swift and efficient operation, US soldiers killed him in a firefight, with no losses to American lives. I do not also continue to nurse it as a potential guarantee against India's unbridled rise politically and economically. Nothing will dispute the claim that Osama was given a decent burial, with Islamic funeral rites in the deep sea. I am sure the DNA change even in the US position that Pakistan should not be allowed to fail. The US does not want Pakistan either to has been preserved before the body was disposed off. But this was clearly the whirlwind which came after the wind break up or fall into the hands of fundamentalists. The US has been saying for long that India should work with was sewn decades ago. The world will move on, more or less in the same wayward way as before, even after his those in power in Pakistan, because those who came after them would have longer beards!

Osama or no Osama, Obama or no Obama, the US-Pakistan relations will remain robust. Tensions and differences death. Osama could well have lived on without making much of a difference to the world.

There was only one logic in the timing. President Obama's re-election campaign had begun and it was time that of opinion will persist between them, but, in the ultimate analysis, the big brother will prevail.

India has no reason to rejoice in Osama's exit from the scene. Laskar-e-Tayiba and the other outfits are nurtured he justified his Nobel Prize for Peace by getting out of at least one of his wars. The timing of the killing was chosen by him to register a victory and to begin withdrawing from Afghanistan after installing a hotch-potch government not by Al Qaeda, but by the Pakistani intelligence and State. They will not change their spots. The hope that the which would not threaten his homeland security. He may well win his second term on account of bringing Osama to world will be convinced that Pakistan was culpable for 26/11, now that it has been caught cheating the US, is farjustice, though public memory may not outlast any other event that may affect the verdict. Osama had become fetched.

Nobody is looking for new evidence. Whether we begin the dialogue or not, the perpetrators of 26/11, including irrelevant to Al Qaeda except as a symbol of jihad. The terrorist outfit will survive and regroup itself to give cause Kasab will survive one way or another. for concern to the West and others, but this was inevitable whether Osama died in his bed or killed in battle.

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...contd on page 4

The Economics of Goan Tiatr

On the Tiatr

Stage

BY TOMAZINHO CARDOZO

T

iatr is the most popular dramatic form of Goa. The number of tiatrs shows staged in and outside Goa is the vivid witness of its tremendous popularity. On an average, each show is staged at least fifty times.

There are others which have complete hundreds of shows, that too with tickets. Thousands of shows are staged yearly in Goa, Mumbai, the Gulf States as well as Western countries. No other dramatic form in Goa enjoys such popularity. Therefore tiatr is the only form of entertainment which is commercially successful in Goa. Employment Some of the details of dramatic troupes and the tiatrs produced by them will throw more light on the economic aspects of tiatr. There are at least 10 to 15 well established dramatic troupes in Goa which produce two new tiatrs every year. Apart from this, we find that there are few troupes which produce three tiatrs, also every year.

The production of two and three new tiatrs every year is due to the fact that the staging of tiatrs takes place continuously in Goa. This activity gives direct employment to hundreds of artistes such as writers, directors, actors, singers, composers, musicians, stage set designers, light and costumes designers, etc.

Financial benefits As no feast in a village or a ward in Goa is complete without staging a tiatr, 70 per cent of these shows are staged in villages while approximately 30 per cent of them are staged in cities like Panjim, Margao, Mapusa, Ponda and Sanvordem. As most of the performances take place in the villages, it also provides business/employment to (a) Persons erecting temporary pandals to stage the show. (b) Persons supplying chairs for the show. (c) Persons who hires out light, sound and other stage equipment for the performance. (d) Persons involved in printing, transport, advertising. Besides providing entertainment to thousands of people, this activity generates sizable income and expenditure as it helps in making a living of hundreds of families in Goa. Expenditure The number of performances of a tiatr will basically depend on the popularity of the director. It also pays to have well known artistes to act in the tiatr. As songs also play an important role in the success of the tiatr, the singers also count in attracting audiences to witness a tiatr. Therefore the cost of production of a tiatr will

depend on factors like the popularity of artistes, type of stage set, costumes, etc.

This may be analysed as follows: ● By the time the first show of a new play is staged, the producer incurs an expenditure which varies from few thousands to lakhs of rupees according to the requirements of the play. This expenditure includes expense for rehearsals, making of the stage sets, musicians, other equipment of lights, costumes, make-up, etc. ● Every time a show is staged in a city or a village, the expenditure of that show will vary between Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 which includes the payment to the dramatic troupe and the expenditure of the auditorium/temporary pandal, transport, advertisement, etc ● The income of the show will depend on the rate of tickets and the number of chairs available in the auditorium/temporary pandal. ● Hence the producer of the tiatr will breakeven his expenditure if he can stage reasonable number of performances of his tiatrs. There are instances also where producers have gone into losses.

But it is satisfying to note that success stories are more than failures.

Industry status There was a demand from tiatr artistes that tiatr activity be considered as an industry. Their demand was echoed by the Tiatr Academy of Goa sometime back. However the tiatr artistes themselves feel that the status of industry to tiatr may prove counterproductive for them. This is mainly because not all the dramatic troupes in Goa are permanent and most them, many a time, are formed for the purpose of staging a particular tiatr. The artistes are also not permanently employed by the dramatic troupes. The accounting intricacies may also put more financial burden on them. Hence the demand for industry status for tiatr lies dormant.

Conclusion As stated earlier, the tiatr stage is the most popular dramatic form of Goa comparable to any other drama in the country. But it does lack to some extent in professionalism as far as its standard is concerned. However the number of performances of each tiatr in a small population of tiatr-loving people places it on a solid foundation of commercial activity.

(Email your feedback to: tomazinho.goa@gmail.com)

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GOA’S FIRST AND ONLY GIP A Feni-licious Fill of Goan Spirit

Huge Successful Step forward for Feni

BY CHRISTINA VIEGAS HERALD FEATUERS fter having notated volumes on Feni and the need to improve the quality and yield to rightfully deem it as a worthy GI product, it is my pleasure to enlighten the readers on a very successful step forward. Two senior scientists, Dr S B Barbuddhe and Dr A R Desai from Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Goa collected samples of the cashew juice from all across the state, during the last Feni season (2010) in their quest for effective organisms to improve the quality and production of Feni. They dissected and studied a total of more than 100 yeasts to see how different types of yeasts behaved under laboratory conditions at ICAR, Goa. According to Dr Barbuddhe, they zeroed in on 7 strains. He says, “The taste of Feni depends on the microbes which vary from Pernem to Canacona. We had isolated 48 strains and identified seven to be very good, giving Feni an excellent taste.”

And the great news is that this season, they used these for fermentation and distillation in the laboratory and they were highly satisfied with the results. Dr Barbuddhe says, “The end result was a fine, top quality product.”

For one who has travelled around in cashew plantations and studied the entire Feni-making slog in person, my first question was about the blackness in the juice when they are left to ferment naturally (aerobic fermentation). Dr Barbudde says, “We have done away with that blackness completely. Now you will only see the whiteness in it.”

For every reader’s benefit, in lay person’s parlance it means, the bad bacteria was eliminated and only the good ones were retained to eat the sugars in the juice. So, when this process is implemented all across Goa, Feni will be a product of genuine fermentation and not from some black, rotting stuff which has made the Goans themselves relegate it to a derogatory position.

And what about the acute aroma of Feni? As much

A

as we would like to argue that the sharp smell is a vital component of the drink, the fact remains that this is what makes majority of drinkers stay away from Feni. And this anerobic fermentation in the lab has ensured there will be no more concern of the sharp aroma. And according to the people who have tasted the improved product, this factor will go on to make a huge difference in taking this drink all over the world.

Mr Gurudatta Bhakta, general secretary of All Goa Cashew Feni Distillers and Bottlers Association and owner of ‘Cazcar’, who is virtually the pioneer in getting the process going with the involvement of ICAR, is a happy man. He was the first to give the sample of his cashew juice to ICAR and this season, after the success at the lab test, the pilot project is being tried in small batches for commercial exploitation at Mr Bhakta’s distillation unit in Nanora. This process has truly brought out the fruity flavor in the drink. And he is more than confident that today, he has got an excellent geographical indication product in hand that can challenge the global spirits of the world.

He is game for any amounts of tests on his product. According to Bhakta, he has also experienced a marginal increase in output but he will confirm the same during the next season.

Meanwhile, ICAR is planning to implement this pilot project (which was a success in Bhakta’s unit) on a huge commercial scale all across Goa, during the next Feni season. Yes, finally there is hope that with the interest of stakeholders who genuinely care for the quality of the product and the cooperation of ICAR, Feni will soon proudly stand shoulder-to-shoulder on global shelves across the world. Not only as a fine quality product but also one that is seeped in rich tradition where the local traditional wisdom involved in the manufacturing has been guarded and handed down from generation to generation.

BEAUTY & brains

BY DR NANDKUMAR M KAMAT

When Khalil Gibran met Osama bin Laden

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n the no soul’s land between maronite Christian heaven and Wahhabi Muslim heaven Bashrri, Lebanon born, Khalil Gibran met Riyadh born, Saudi Arabian, Osama bin laden. After they greeted each other and exchanged pleasantries, Gibran asked politely, “Did you have any chance to read my ‘Prophet’ ?

Osama nodded in affirmative and said, “Yes, but you missed ‘Sayyid Qutb’s Al-Adala al-Ijtima’iyya fi’l-Islam’ (Social Justice in Islam) and ‘Ma’arakat al-Islam wa’l-Ra’s Maliyya’ (The Battle Between Islam and Capitalism).”

Gibran shrugged and said, “How could I when these works appeared when I had left for this abode? Tell me Osama, how is the world now, before you landed in your heaven?”

Osama’s eyes sparkled for a moment before he spoke, “ The Americans were fools to dump my mortal body in Arabian sea. They thought that no shrine could be built in my memory. But they are wrong. Land, water or air, it makes no difference to my philosophy and my message”.

“And what was your message?” Gibran was eager to know.

“Simple, Islam as a complete system of morality, justice and governance.

Reject everything capitalist, secular, democratic, materialistic, liberal. Engage in jihad to defeat jahilliyah and protect Islam,” Osama explained.

Gibran appeared unconvinced, “but Osama , that’s not my understanding of Islam.

Times when sharia was born were different.

The society was different. There was illiteracy, poverty, famines, epidemics, a lot more misery, slavery. I thought the world which you have seen was different. Tell me how you landed here so unexpectedly? Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Tobit , Azrael were discussing your arrival in Wahhabi paradise.”

Osama touched his golden beard and replied thoughtfully, “I was destined to be a martyr. It doesn’t matter how I reached here.

What matters is my martyrdom.”

“Really?” “Would your martyrdom unite or divide the world? Would it create a more peaceful or more stressful future for mankind?”

Versatality of Feni demonstrated by cocktail expert, Shawn D’ Souza

Red-i for Feni 40 ml Cashew Feni 20 ml Triple Sec 15 ml Lemon Juice 10 ml Sugar Syrup 60 ml Cranberry Juice Method: Shake all ingredients in a shaker and strain in a cocktail glass.

Garnish: Orange Slice Glass: Cocktail

oil S s ’ oa G From

Gibran, reserve your poetry for propagandists of jahilliyah,” exclaimed Osama bin laden. “I have read enough of your non sense in ‘Prophet’.

Gibran was not amused by Osama’s outburst. “Pray, could you tell me more about that non sense?” “Yes,” replied Osama, “Al Mustafa says on ‘crime and punishment’, oftentimes have I heard you speak of one who commits a wrong as though he were not one of you, but a stranger unto you and an intruder upon your world. But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the highest which is in each one of you, so the wicked and the weak cannot fall lower than the lowest which is in you also. And as a single leaf turns not yellow but with the silent knowledge of the whole tree, so the wrong-doer cannot do wrong without the hidden will of you all.”

Having been impressed by Osama’s recital, Gibran said, “but that’s the truth, you yourself have experienced it. It makes perfect sense even to the blind.

Tell me Osama don’t you have the silent knowledge of the whole tree. Don’t you know what you have sown and what others would reap?”

Osama fell silent for some time. Then he began to sob softly. Gibran was moved by his tears, “What happened my friend? Did my words pierce your soul?”

Osama answered, “No, I had not permitted myself to enjoy the other part of your work. I was afraid of the truth, the reality.”

And which was that part?” Gibran asked. Osama hesitated and then quoted from ‘Prophet’, “And take with you all men, for in adoration you cannot fly higher than their hopes nor humble yourself lower than their despair. And if you would know God be not therefore a solver of riddles. Rather look about you and you shall see Him playing with your children. And look into space; you shall see Him walking in the cloud, outstretching His arms in the lightning and descending in rain. You shall see Him smiling in flowers, then rising and waving His hands in trees. I don’t really want martyrdom Khalil, but it would be forcibly imposed on me,” thus spoke Osama bin Laden before the time to close the gates to his Wahhabi Muslim paradise approached.

(Email your feedback to: nandkamat@gmail.com)

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BY MIGUEL BRAGANZA

Air Layering or Gootie

T

he revived ‘Konkan Fruit Fest’ in the golden year of Goa’s liberation is over and the Botanical Society of Goa has just marked 21 years of its life on May 4, 2011. By the time you read this, the 3rd National Seminar on Kokum organised by the Goa-based Western Ghats Kokum Foundation (WGKF) would also have concluded at the Goa University. What next?

Let us get ready for the monsoons with some techniques to multiply plant varieties of choice.

When I was still a little school-going boy, my father taught me hands-on how to do air layering with a little clay from anthill or ‘roenn’, some coconut fibre or ‘katho’ and about a metre length of coir rope. It was the end of May and the plant chosen for the layering or gootie was the local green lemon tree near our front balcony. The choice of time was because the plant was in active grown after the end of the lemon season and the monsoon rains would soon be with us to water the layer.

All the material used was locally available, the ‘roenn’ being the very face of the Earth Goddess, Sateri, worshipped in Mapusa as Tulzai or Mirabai or Milagris Saibinn. The three-day feast in Mapusa begins tomorrow and ends on my father’s birthday.

Most of what you read in this column is what I have learnt from him. The place we live in is known as ‘Saterichi Raim’ and once upon a time must have been a sacred grove or ‘Dev Rai’.

The lime and lemon trees are difficult to root as cuttings but very easy to root as gootie. My father had a way with words and people who know both of us say that some of it has come to me along with his knowledge of plants and skills of multiplying them, as naturally as possible. He had a simple rule for teaching: “Things that make us happy, make us wise.” It could never be otherwise.

He would happily put a 3 before the 5 marks his students at Lyceum received and ensure that they passed the subject with 35 marks. Quite a few of these students are doing well in various professions, including teaching, as officers in the Goa Government or in business.

The happiness at seeing the roots

emerge on the lemon gootie I had made has enabled me to remember the art to this d a y.

(See video at h t t p : / / w w w. y o u t u b e . c o m / w a t c h ? v = e o z r B 9 5 0 F F c and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwq5CrMjDcw). The science of it I learnt at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore.

Two circular cuts on a pencil-thick branch with matured grey-brown bark are to be joined by a transverse cut. The bark between the two circular cuts is then peeled off without damaging the rest of the bark. The fine layer of almost transparent bark (technically, the cambium layer) touching the wood or xylem is then scraped off with a sharp blade or grafting knife. Thermocol cutters and paper cutters were not available then, but can be used now. Clay soil or sphagnum moss or any other material with high water holding capacity is applied to the cut end to encourage root formation. Coconut fibre is available in plenty and is not damaged by squirrels that can damage polythene sheet used to cover the rooting medium.

The ‘rooting medium’ is as important for primary roots as the ‘medium of instruction’ is for primary schools. It must hold water or it will not serve its purpose. The plant is bluffed into believing that it is on terra firma as the poor innocents are bluffed into believing that Konkani in the Devanagri script is their ‘Mother Tongue’ even when it is written by Marathi-educated writers with liberal doses of the language they learnt in their primary school, Marathi. Like the education system, the gootie produces the “adventitious roots” and never the tap root system of a dicot seedling plant.

It is for this reason that gootie grafting of mango was abandoned for approach grafting introduced by the Jesuits and since 1984 for the ‘Stone grafting’ developed by Dr R S Amin in Gujarat.

When the roots emerge from the distal part of the branch, a notch of one-third the diameter of the branch is given at the end closer to the main trunk of the tree. After a week to fortnight, the cut is deepened to half the diameter. Ten days later the newly formed ‘plant’ is cut from the tree and planted in the nursery, preferably in a polybag filled with garden soil to acclimatise to the field conditions. After another fortnight it is ready for planting. The lemon tree is the best place to start.

(Email your feedback to: braganza.miguel@gmail.com)

Across 1- Fed; 5- Adlai's running mate; 10- De-intensify; 4- Hawaiian native dance; 15- Interlace; 16- Nights before; 17- Et ___; 18- Computer key; 19- Category; 20- Closer; 22- Spider; 24- Org.; 25- More bohemian; 26- Push with the head; 28- Strikes out; 32- California's ___ Valley; 35- Jackie's second; 37- Replace the electrical conduits; 38- 100 square meters; 39- Chocolate source; 41- Devoted follower; 42- Body art; 45- Exclamation of disgust; 46- Annoyance; 47- Diciembre follower; 48- Dynamic beginning; 50- Reply; 54- 1836 siege site; 58- Mausoleum at Agra; 61- Oozed; 62- Looking down from; 63- Aggregate of qualities that

make good character; 65- Attention; 66- Monetary unit of Cambodia; 67- Furnishings; 68- Legal rights org.; 69- Eye sore; 70- First name in cosmetics; 71- Abound; Down 1- Kofi Annan's home; 2- Some hybrids; 3- AKA; 4- Capital of Kenya; 5- Large jug or pitcher; 6- DC bigwig; 7- Golden Horde member; 8- Tennis champ Chris; 9- Turkish palace; 10- Invoke evil upon; 11- Mary Kay competitor; 12- Actress Hatcher; 13- Cornerstone abbr.; 21- Euro forerunner; 23- Give up; 25- Gillette brand; 27- Snack in a shell; 29- Animate existence; 30- Ages; 31- Dispatched; 32- Fill to surfeit; 33- OPEC member; 34- Allot; 36- Hosp. area;

37- Architect Mies van der ___; 40- Culture medium; 43- Tread underfoot; 44- Mrs. Chaplin; 46- European weasel; 49- Actress Charlotte; 51- Willow provision; 52- Merchandise; 53- Choose; 55- Expeditiously; 56- Blackbird; 57- Music hall; 58- Sailors; 59- Arguing; 60- Young kangaroo; 61- Shrivelled, without moisture; 64- Digit of the foot;

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Sunday, 8 May 2011

ANIMALWorld

The Noble Creatures engraved in our Culture

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ultures all over the world view animals in different ways. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata, two great Indian Epics, are an excellent example of how animal characters are portrayed positively in ancient India. In fact there is no Ramayana without animals. What inspired Valmiki to become a great poet? The experience of seeing a bird in love shot dead by a hunter. In shock and sadness he cries, “You will find no rest for the long years of Eternity, for you killed a bird in love and unsuspecting!” For days he cannot get these lines out of his head and repeats them over and over. Lord Brahma understands the inspiration that Valmiki has come across and instructs him to retell the life of Rama in a poem.

The Ramayana is the most glorious celebration of animals. There is no distinction between human beings and other life forms and the same qualities and emotions are felt irrespective of the species. Both sides have animals – and while the humans can be bad, the animals are not. Ravana’s palace was guarded by four and three tusked elephants, horses and strange animals but there is no report of them taking part in the war. A comment of author Valmiki: “All living beings, including those which are born in animal wombs are eager to do good to Rama, even by sacrificing their lives.”

When Ravana abducts Sita, it is the vulture Jatayu and his brother Sampati, sons of the charioteer to the Sun, who fight with him and dying, inform Rama of the kidnapping.

When Rama sets out to find Sita he is informed by a wise old woman that the monkey Hanuman can help him. Who is Hanuman? The son of Vayu, the Wind God, and Anjana the monkey. This clearly sends out the message that even animals are of divine descent. Rama helps Hanuman’s friend Sugriva of Kishkindha kill his elder brother Vali – but in this slaying, no attempt is made to make Vali the “bad guy”. In fact it is written in an almost disapproving style indicating that Rama is flawed. Sugriva becomes the king of the tribe and calls all the tribes to search for Sita. Their strength is increased by the bears led by their king Jambavan. They come to the edge of India and Hanuman volunteers to jump across to Sri Lanka to see if Sita is there.

Turning himself into a cat, Hanuman jumps across the sea and explores the kingdom and finds Sita in a grove. Hanuman reveals himself to Sita and takes back a message from her asking Rama to come and rescue her. Before Hanuman returns he begins to destroy Lanka in a fit of rage but Sita stops him by asking him to leave some for Rama to finish off!!

BY MANEKA GANDHI

When Lakshman and Rama dither at the thought of attacking Lanka it is Jambavan who urges them to have courage. Rama resolves to fight. He leads all of the animals to the ocean shore where they are confronted with the problem of crossing. Nala the monkey becomes the architect of the bridge Ramasetu that presumably stands till today. I do not think a human could have built that bridge thousands of years ago with stone, wood, grass and sand 100 leagues long and 10 leagues wide. Every animal helps in making it. Monkeys of all sizes, shapes and hues scramble to collect branches, stones and large boulders and drag them to the shore, piling them on top of the other in the sea. In four days the task was almost complete. When Nala and his monkeys put the large rocks, they find the water pushing through the crevices of the rocks and gradually dislodging them. Five little squirrels come and asked to fill in the gaps. Rama agrees (and it is said that he rubbed his fingers down their backs leaving three beautiful colored stripes.)Within minutes, hundreds and thousands of little squirrels come running out of the forest. They roll on the sand and then roll on top of the crevices closing up all the leaks until the bridge was strong enough for Rama's army to cross.

The animals cross the bridge and thousands die in each battle. But they refuse to give in and little by little Ravana is pushed back. Indrajit, his son, takes over the attack and millions of animals die. Indrajit is invisible and when he throws his huge axe, it flies through the air heading straight for Rama. Sugriva is suddenly afraid for Rama’s ability to knock down the flying weapon. He jumps up and throws his body in front of Rama. The axe hits Sugriva square in the heart and he dies instantly.

Lakshman is mortally wounded. It is Hanuman who fetches the mountain with the herbs that cure him. Indrajit and Ravana are killed and the army of surviving animals returns to the mainland and to their own families.

What are the qualities that make a human: intelligence, sensitivity, compassion, mercy, patience, courage, farsightedness and empathy. In the Ramayana all the animals have these qualities. The devotion and love that shines through these animals is the ultimate form of divinity.

The Ramayana has had a great impact on the culture of India. It gave form to the values of our society and giving role models of correct behaviour. There is increasing evidence that the kingdoms existed and that the battles took place in the years between 1200 and 1000 BC. If you say that, all the animal roles are mythological – then you must also say the same about Ram and Sita and stop revering them. But if they arewere real and are forms of the divine, so must the animals be.

W E E K LY

(To join the animal welfare movement contact gandhim@nic.in)

H O R O S C O P E

Mar 21 - Apr 19

Monday is a frustrating, emotional day - your family is getting to you. That's only going to make you feel worse.

Whip up a big salad. Tuesday and Wednesday are all about sports, heat and adventure. Thursday finds you sitting in a chair at a desk all day long. Friday and Saturday, details threaten to overwhelm you, but rushing ahead will only create more problems. On Sunday, turn your attention to someone else.

Sept 22 - Oct 23

Apr 20 - May 20

May 22 - Jun 20

If the person you have a crush on is just standing Monday's the day to walk up to them and make something happen.

Tuesday and Wednesday are not about your love life at all, although they might be about someone else's: You'll be arbitrating an argument between two people who have a lot of feelings for each other. Thursday and Friday are full of romance. Saturday, a hot date is in order. Sunday's nice and lazy.

You're making lots of lists at the start of the week. The more fun you make it, the less it will seem like work.

Tuesday and Wednesday are great days - an intellectual challenge figure strongly - but Thursday you find yourself stalled conversationally. Communicating with your family isn't easy.

Revisit your to-do list on Friday, and get as much done as you can before the weekend. You'll want to be able to fully enjoy the sunshine.

Oct 24 - Nov 21

Yo u r m o s t n e e d e d strengths on Monday are your adaptability and your talent for appreciating the smaller things in life. This entire week is dominated by your friends - friends who see you as a leader (on Wednesday), friends who see you as a listener (Thursday) and friends who tell sidesplitting stories (Friday and Saturday). Your friends are involved in your day on Sunday, too, and so is someone special. Zing!

On Monday, you have a lot of horsepower and a full tank of gas. What can stop you now?

Things come to you so easily that you forget what a struggle life can be sometimes. A reminder comes on Tuesday or Wednesday in the form of a fairly major disagreement. The rest of the week is a joy - you get to see someone you haven't seen in eons and you have the chance to do something kind for someone. Sunday is restful: Sit outside on a blanket and bask in the day.

Jun 21 - Jul 22

Monday allows you to see far into the distance. Your biggest goals are faraway peaks. Tuesday and Wednesday, as you're going about your regular life, try to keep those faraway peaks in mind, especially when you're making decisions. Thursday and Friday, organise your social life so you can be around as many people as possible.

Then, on Saturday, focus on cleaning, errands and the like. Sunday requires you to be nimble. Stay on your toes.

Nov 22 - Dec 21

Dec 22 - Jan 19

Some days the chemistry is just funky. Monday is one of those days. Take the opportunity to be selfish and follow your own mood. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday, try to engage others again. The middle of the week is a happy, lucky time but Thursday is, frankly, a bummer. Friday and Saturday feature a strange inversion: The people you love most are the people who drive you craziest. Sunday ails all ills. Everything goes your way.

You wish you had an atomic transporter device that could place you somewhere else in the world in the blink of an eye. You're in a dreamy, imaginative mood on Monday.

Tuesday and Wednesday, you're burdened with urgent but not very interesting problems at work. Then, on Thursday, a small discovery lightens your outlook. Friday and Saturday are filled with accomplishment. Sunday is full of welcome challenges and the energy you need to meet them.

Jul 23 - Aug 22

Aug 23 - Sept 21

Your sensitivity yields beautiful things on Monday. An impulsive phone call to an old friend couldn't be better timed. Tuesday and Wednesday, you begin to realise that the love you heap on the people around you is coming back to you tenfold. Thursday through Saturday, you have little time for phone calls and thoughtful Post-Its, what with the stress of certain financial matters. But on Sunday, friends, romance, communication and fun define your day.

Jan 20 - Feb 18

Monday's busy. You're having about seven different conversations at once. You're energised by situations like this.

Tuesday and Wednesday the madness continues, but it's not a fun sort of craziness anymore. Thursday and Friday are fantastic (and, yes, organised) days. On Saturday, things make sense and you have the time to do all the things you'd like to do. This weekend is the beginning of something meaningful. Sunday's deep.

Feb 19 - Mar 20

On Monday plenty of old feelings are suddenly on display. Literal clutter also figures into your day - some cleaning is in order. On Tuesday and Wednesday you might come across something you haven't seen in ages. It might inspire creativity. Thursday and Friday are entirely uncreative days - business matters demand your attention - but Saturday gives you the opportunity to say something sweet and necessary to an awesome friend. Sunday is pleasant and culturally eye opening.

Monday is the kind of day you live for: Love is in the air, a poem is in your head and entertainment options abound. Tuesday and Wednesday are still dreamier, but you have to shake your head a couple of times. You have important tasks to take care of. The second half of the week is defined by various relationships - and, as always, you're best off not being too critical of anyone. On Saturday, strive to be nice. Then, on Sunday, collect on an old debt.

GRANDMA’S

Fire Walking in Chorao

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BY SANJEEV SARDESAI

any festivities are held in various parts of the world, keeping the local culture and traditions in mind. Goa too has its fair share of mysteries and awe inspiring intricacies that puzzle the mind.

One such festivity held on the island village of Chorao in Central Goa, just across Ribandar is its annual Fire Walking Ceremony, held in the premise of the Sri Devkikrishna Bhumika Mallinath Temple, in the period of the Shigmo festival (February – March). This festival attracts thousands of spectators, who wait patiently and partake in the vigorous dancing followed by fire walking.

The festivities start at the border of the village, about 8.30pm, just about a kilometer from the Chorao Ribandar Ferry Jetty. The multitude of villagers gathers at the village border, which is now a tarred road, each one carrying a tightly tied dry coconut frond in its full length. The flame is carried by the allotted persons from the temple to these people, who light up these fronds and these many blazing torches are carried from there-on to the temple in accompaniment of loud beaten ‘Dhols’ and ‘Tashas’, which are local drums used in religious activities.

On reaching the temple, they fling their torches in a pile of wood placed in a conical manner. As the dry wood catches fire and converted to embers, it takes around 4 hours. In the meantime, the hundreds of devotees gather around the ‘Tulsi’ in front of the temple and amidst loudly sung folk songs, the men folk furiously and vigorously dance the ‘Talgadi’ – a Goan folk dance in synchronised steps. It is indeed a pleasure to see old and young villagers partaking and dancing to the beats of the drums. There are many dance steps made use of in performing this dance. Ladies are not seen to participate in this dancing.

Once the wood turns to hot embers, the same are spread in a circle of thickness of about 6-8 inches. Special sticks are used by the allotted devotees to remove any

VIEW Finder

Kitchen

BY LAWRIE COLACO

A Meal for Your Mamas

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unburnt wood and other obstacles. The diameter of this fire circle is about 10 – 12 ft.

At the allotted time, it is seen that a few of the devotees go into a trance and run towards an undisclosed spot towards the hillock and return back after veneration or paying obeisance.

After this the process of walking or running through the fire begins.

Keeping in mind the hundreds of people going through these embers, many temple volunteers wait ready to assist in case of emergency.

It is observed here that opposing to the religious abstinence of meats and other foods in the Shirgao Fire Walking, here any person, other than ladies are allowed to go through the fire. The only condition is that your head should be uncovered. It is seen that young boys fearlessly run over the hot embers. Some may even request you to try running over the fire. Some devotees who had offered obligations to the Deity are seen to run through the fire holding their children in their arms.

To control the huge rush of Fire Runners, the temple authorities erect a single gate to facilitate the runners.

The event ends after the Holy Rituals at around 3 – 3.30 am early morning. One can get the real essence of Goan festivities through hair raising drum beats, watching the frenzied dancers and visiting the sweet meat stalls around.

You can even try taking an opportunity of a life time and run through the fire!!

ama you gave me food that taste cannot be forgotten, over the years even after tasting the world’s finest dishes from the hands of the finest chefs. The world today celebrates Mothers day, dedicated to all the mothers for what they do from inception of the child in the womb until they breathe their last.

Mind you, if you want to get a feel of the stress of cooking food, taking consideration that its every one’s favorite, note of specials diets for you or your family members, and you still have to do what no man can do and despite all that hard work and the food turns out good, there is no appreciation in the end. This is what our mothers go through day in and day out.

This mother’s day, just give her a break, don her role and get going for the day, manage as well as you can and see if she will let you down: the worst food she will claim the best . This is an eye opener to you, many mothers may not be at ease when you are in the kitchen and constantly try to update you on how to do and start doing …. Its called concern.

So, this May 8, wish all your mothers a Very Happy Mother’s Day on our behalf! Happy eating!

Peas Pulao INGREDIENTS: 2 tbsps ghee 1 large onion chopped fine 1 cup fresh green peas 1 cup Basmati rice 3 cups water Salt to taste 1/2 cup warm water METHOD: Wash the Basmati rice well in running water and keep aside to soak for 30 minutes.

Heat the oil in a deep heavy-bottomed pan. When it is hot add the onions and cook till soft.

Add the peas and stir well. Add the rice and fry for 2 minutes. Add the 3 cups of water and salt to taste to the rice and set it up to boil on a medium flame. Once the water comes to a boil, reduce the flame to a simmer and cover the pan. Cook till the water seems to have almost disappeared - tiny holes will form on the surface of the rice.

Add the 1/2 cup of warm water all over the top of the rice and cover the pan again. Simmer for another 5-7 minutes and turn off the fire.

Allow the rice to sit for 10 minutes and serve.

Jelly INGREDIENTS: Water - 100 ml Agar Flakes or Gelatin - 1 tbsp Fruit Puree - 60 ml Fruit Juice - 100 ml METHOD: In a pan, combine the agar flakes and water and stir till the flakes are dissolved.

Now pour juice and cook for couple of minutes.

Pour mixture in a bowl and keep it in the refrigerator.

As the mixture starts to set, stir in the puree.

It is ready to serve.

(E-mail your feedback to sanscritic@sify.com) Email your feedback to: foodiegoa@gmail.com

WEEKEND Splendour

email us at weekendsplendour@herald-goa.com

Pg4

Sunday, 8 May 2011

What does the world's most successful tablet computer do for an encore?

More of the same HERALD FEATURES he second-generation iPad from Apple is thinner, faster, lighter, and whiter, but not a radical departure from the original. You can't blame Apple for going easy on new features. Apple's original recipe for the iPad single-handedly created and captured the demand for tablets last year. By any measure, it is not a product in need of fixing. It has the market share, it has the developers, and it has the momentum.

Apple also just makes damn fine products. Have a few minutes with the iPad 2, and you will surely say it is as stunning as the original. The first thing that strikes you is the iPad's weight loss. The second thing that registered is the feel of the device.

Apple still uses anodised aluminium on the back, which is cool to the touch and generally resists smudges. The back now flattens out at the middle, allowing it to better stay put when placed on a table. In spite of the iPad's thickness decreasing by a third, it seemed no more fragile than the original design. In fact, with its lighter weight, it feels less susceptible to being dropped.

Of course, the banner feature for the iPad 2 is the addition of two cameras, which can be used for recording video or stills. The camera on the back is located in the upper-right corner, recessed onto the tapered edge to avoid scratching. It looks just like the lens on the iPhone 4 and is similarly blessed with 720p video capture. There's no camera flash, and the

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sensor is not identical to the iPhone's, since its still-shot capabilities are essentially video stills (similar to the fourth-gen iPod Touch). That said, having tested the cameras on more than a few competing tablets over the past year, it can be stressed how ridiculous you feel shooting pictures with a tablet in public.

Unlike smaller devices, the iPad's 9.7-inch screen can present faces at life-size. We've seen this before with desktop- and laptop-based video calling, but it can be uncanny to actually hold someone's life-size face in your hands. FaceTime still remains a Wi-Fi-only feature, however, so in-car iPad video calls are still an elusive capability.

Under the hood, the iPad 2 has plenty to brag about.

The new spec uses a dualcore A5 processor that promises to be twice as fast with nine times the graphics performance. The speed, detail, and fluidity of the graphics for gaming are awesome.

Another feature that is sure to leave a burning feeling in the competition is HDMI compatibility. Using a dock cable, the iPad can now mirror its output to a TV over a standard HDMI connection. The supported resolution goes up to 1080p, and unlike previous video out solutions for the iPad, users are no longer limited to outputting video playback or presentations.

Everything you see on the screen is mirrored to your TV, be it video, photos, games, or the home screen.

B O O

TOMES...

ON THE SHELF -----------------------------------------------------------------tiger hills Author: Sarita Mandanna ------------------------------------------------------------------

K W O R M

...CONTD FROM PAGE 1

Dead! Now What?

Brave words have been spoken by our hawks that we should follow the US example and take out the criminals ourselves, but there are more who say we do not have either the will or the capability to do that. Even nuclear war is considered a possibility in the event of any dirty trick. We have no lesson to learn from the Osama killing. Our enemies are better protected than the hapless, sick (and reportedly phoneless and internetless) and fragile Osama, who found his watery grave. They do not face the wrath of a superpower as Osama did.

India has to muddle its way through the perfidy of Pakistan, blowing hot and cold, using the carrot and the stick. The dead Osama will not influence war or peace with Pakistan, just as the living Osama did not.

Elimination of Osama was a declared objective of the war on terror. His killing was essential for the US to declare victory before beginning its withdrawal from Afghanistan. An Afghan dispensation friendly to Pakistan will more than compensate for the present loss of face for Pakistan. Sacrificing Osama is a small price to pay for such a long term gain for Pakistan.

The timing of the killing of Osama may have suited the US strategy in the Afpak region and it may have executed it on its own, but Pakistan may well stand to gain by the action, whether there is already a deal or not. On previous occasions, reports on Osama's death were exaggerated, but this time the implications of his death are unduly exaggerated.

(The author is a former ambassador of India to the United Nations, Vienna and a former Governor for India at the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna. He is currently the Director General, Kerala Inter-

national Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, and a Member of the National Security Advisory Board)

BY SHEELA BHAT Will a dead Osama bin Laden be more dangerous than alive?

There is no doubt that terrorist groups will confer martyrdom on him. After all, Islamic history is full of examples where martyrs attract greater following than living leaders. Naturally, then, the Al Qaeda would soon declare martyrdom for Osama.

The United States has killed Osama and recovered his body, but every little action and symbolism on the part of America in dealing with his death would matter to anti-American terrorist groups.

For a section of Muslims, Osama was the symbol. He was a fighter against injustice to Islam. For the rest, he was the symbol of terror.

There is no doubt that he was becoming less and less influential since hiding was becoming difficult and had taken a toll on his health and operations. Still, after his death he is likely to haunt the world for some time to come, till the ideology that made the Al Qaeda is defeated. The Taliban, Lashkar-e-Tayiba, Jaishe-Mohammed and the Harkat-Ul-Jihad are far from over.

Osama inspired rich and poor Muslim youth in the Middle East, Africa, central Asian countries and even Europe. Many Americans like David Coleman Headley were attracted to terrorism only after Osama's rise in the Islamic mindscape. The death of Osama is already discounted by their foot soldiers and it is unlikely that these young people would go home leaving behind their anger.

Lose Yourself in the Enchantment of Venice

BY TANIA JAMES he novel’s heroine is Devi, a girl so willful that, at age 10, she declares to her mother that she will marry no one other than Machaiah, a handsome local hero and famed tiger hunter. She has no idea that her lifelong friend, the shy, sensitive Devanna — Machaiah’s younger cousin — harbors his own hopes of marrying her.

And so ‘Tiger Hills’ seems bound for territory already well trod by Jane Austen and ennifer Aniston. But time and again, Mandanna steers her novel in surprising directions. More than a love story, ‘Tiger Hills’ explores the hazardous side of passion and the shackling grip of memory once love has been thwarted. It also vividly evokes Coorg itself — the coffee plantations, the European settlers, the age-old clans — offering an illuminating portrait of place through six decades of social change.

As children, Devi and Devanna are practically inseparable. Both attend a missionary school, run by Reverend Gundert, a German priest and amateur botanist, who recognises Devanna’s intelligence and resolves to make a civilised doctor of the boy. Upon leaving the village for Bangalore Medical College, however, Devanna is cast into a claustrophobic hell of abuse, perpetrated by a tyrannical fellow student. To cope with his most harrowing ordeals, he lapses into half-mad spells, reciting the names of his beloved botany texts (Flora Sylvatica, Flora Indica) and contemplating his love for Devi: “Close they had been, ever since he could remember, like two eggs in a nest.”

Back in the village, Devi is carrying on a secret relationship with Machaiah, full of ardent promises and sexual longing. While Devanna suffers far from Coorg, Machaiah and Devi are as bound to the land as they are to each other. Surveying the hills, Devi feels “a sense of belonging, natural as breath. Like . . . a bird, folding its wings, come home to roost at last.” But all idyll is destroyed once Devanna returns and, in a shocking series of events, forces Devi to be his wife.

Of the three characters, Devanna — romantic and ambitious, tortured and heartbroken — is the most nuanced. Mandanna delicately charts the psychological breakdown that leads him to violence and lifelong regret. As the novel surges ahead, though, it turns to Devi and Machaiah, and the continuation of their ill-fated affair.

The plot gathers in energy and pace, but these characters aren’t as fascinating as Devanna, and their emotions can feel overly articulated, their dialogue stilted with metaphors bordering on melodrama.

The novel accelerates through several momentous historical events, including both world wars and the Indian independence movement. But while the passage of years gives the book an epic sweep, the story loses some of its carefully accrued depth. Few of the novel’s late plot twists deliver the emotional force of a single ruminative scene in which an older Devanna recalls the rare bamboo flower he had longed to discover as a boy, in the jungles of Coorg, just so he could name it after his childhood love: Bambusa indica devi. “There was so much left to say,” Devanna thinks, but he goes no further, leaving the reader to feel the reverberations of what he has lost.

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Places

TRAVEL

BY ARVIND PINTO The majority of ost travellers to Italy make a stop at Venice. This city situated on the Adriatic eastern tourists invariably land coast of Italy consists of little islands that are reached either by bridges or boats. A at Piazza San Marco, the large open square in veritable tourist paradise, since Venice front of St Mark’s Cathedral. Basilica di San is filled with tourists the year round. For those Marco is one of the finest examples of Byzanwho travel by train to Venice – you know that tine architecture. Built around 1800 its one is approaching Venice as the train trundles grandeur came to symbolise the power and along the bridge to pull into Venezia Santa Lucia. opulence of the Venetian merchants. The The railway station is just besides the termini of gilded domes look resplendent when the Grand Canal where you can book your boat touched by the setting sun. For Venice was tickets should you decide to explore the city by an independent city state until its unification boat. For those who have time or intend staying with Italy. The inside of the cathedral is on in Venice – the city is best explored on foot, equally grand and imposing. Outside the since all the islands are connected by a series of basilica there stands bronze statues – the over bridges.

Tetrarchs who governed the city state as But the majority of tourists take the boat, of well as Greek horses that were once said which they are several types and shapes. Several to adorn the Arch of Trajan in Imperial of the locals have their personal gondolas and Rome. The large open square outside the quite a few of these are lushly furnished with Basilica is invariably filled with tourists taking velvet seats, Persian rugs and a boatman dressed pictures, feeding the pigeons or just shopping for souvenirs.

Photo by Arvind Pinto in the typical black suit with a top hat. Tourists Pigeons in the piazza are tame and come to you should you decide to can also hire these gondolas to boat around the take a picture with them on your arms. In fact they appear so domesticated islands. Then there are smaller boats called ‘sandolos’ that are used for personal purposes. that you wish you had one of them as your pet! There are several shops in the piazza selling Several of the jetsetters have their own motorised or speed boats. But for the majority of tee shirts, souvenirs of Venice and other knickknacks. There are also several eateries although tourists there are the waterbuses that stop at the various islands. You buy a ticket on an many of them are rather expensive by Indian standards. It is best to buy something to eat at hourly basis and you can hop on and off according to your fancy. Stopping at some of the some of the smaller shops on some of the not so known islands. lesser know island is worth an experience. You are able to look at some of the buildings and Leaving Venice is indeed painful, for the memory of the swaying gondolas and the music houses of Venice. It is interesting to find that most of their business and commerce is done that these create remains in your mind even after you leave this enchanting city! on water. It is the boatman that ferries your provisions as well as carries you to various places.

(Email your feedback to: arvind_pinto@yahoo.com

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Editor –in-chief: R F Fernandes. Editor: Ashwin Tombat. Chief Editor-Features: Christina Viegas. Regd Office: St Tome Road, Panjim, Goa. Tel: 6658512, 6658500, 2224202, 2228083. Fax: 2222475. Email: weekendsplendour@herald-goa.com.