March 2011 by Shailesh Amonkar

VOL 1. NO 11. MARCH 2011, RS 25

‘I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE MYSELF RATHER THAN CHANGE GOA’ DR MOHAMMED MODASSIR

‘PAINTING IS LIKE BREATHING TO ME’

HARSHADA KERKAR

LITERATURE AND LATTE

LITERATI: BOOKSHOP

RAJ BHAVAN

Grace and GRANDEUR

EDITORIAL NOTE

History and Majesty

he historic Raj Bhavan has seen it all—from being the undisputed seat of power during the Portuguese regime and subsequently, until Goa attained statehood in 1987, under the reign of successive Lt Governors appointed by New Delhi. The equation only changed after Goa was granted statehood when real power devolved to the elected members in the Legislative Assembly. Since then the Governor has largely been a ceremonial head, intervening only when there was an unmanageable crisis in the government. And Goa being Goa, there have been quite a few! But given our lifestyle leanings, our focus has mainly been on the Raj Bhavan palace. Though not a palace in the conventional sense, it is indeed a palatial structure with a panoramic view of the seas unmatched by any other edifice in Goa. Its sumptuous Darbar Hall, spacious verandahs with their magnificent views, its antique chandeliers, tableware, assorted bric-a-brac, priceless paintings and attached chapel and gardens make it a rich repository of a time when Goa was indeed the El Dorado, the City of Gold, as described by various travellers and

historians. The sheer size of the surroundings is also overwhelming. Spread over 86 acres of prime land, it is rich in flora and fauna and adventurous walking paths with a secluded private beach. We are grateful to the Governor Dr S S Siddhu for exchanging his views with us and for his gracious cooperation in allowing us free rein to capture the Raj Bhavan in all its present and past grandeur. Our last month’s cover story on Jade Jagger was something of an exclusive for us and we have received several congratulatory messages and letters, one or two tinged with envy! We remain grateful to our readers for their spontaneous response, as we are still a fledgling publication. We are also pleased to feature two young designer siblings, the Mapxencar sisters Riddhi and Siddhi whose quirky and attractively designed apparel have met with success in several high fashion quarters in the country. In a short time the Literati Café and Bookshop in Candolim has become the hub for readings and launches of books in Goa, with several leading writers and

international publishers opting for this picturesque and friendly location. We congratulate Literati also for its attempts to spread the reading habit among youngsters all over Goa. Our First Lady in this issue, the painter Harshada Kerkar has steadfastly withstood the vagaries of fashionable trends and continued to paint portraits and landscapes reflecting Goa. We wish more power to her palette! And finally, we wait with bated breath along with our readers for the results of the first The Navhind Times – VIVA GOA Goan Achiever’s Awards in different categories. We wish all the deserving nominees the very best of luck! Till our next issue — VIVA GOA! Kedar Dhume

READERS’ RESPONSE I eagerly wait for my copy of VIVA GOA every month. In the last issue, I particularly enjoyed the feature on The Mustard Seed Company and was pleased to read about the budding talent in the state. I also enjoyed the article on Aaron Fernandes, the tattoo artist, in the January issue. And we need to take a leaf out of Jade Jagger’s book, and conserve Goa’s natural beauty before ruthless construction destroys it. Good going guys! Poonam Cardozo, Margao

I’ve just received my February issue of VIVA GOA in the post. As I am currently living in Bangalore, it’s very important for me to get my monthly Goa fix. I loved the article on Jade Jagger and I think it’s important that you have put aside your avowed policy of only featuring Goa and Goans as you stated in your editorial. We live in a multicultural world, and that includes Goa, probably more so than most other Indian states, baring the major cities. Carry on with a good mix of all that is important to Goa and Goans, and the the rest of the folk living there. I also noticed the artist featured in the Colour

VIVA GOA discovering Goa like we never knew it is… the mag is turning out to be a must read... Aparna Jayant Shah

interviews on such dynamic entrepreneurs in Goa. Nilesh Gaonkar

Congrats! VIVA GOA has graduated now and it should receive more laurels seeing the way the magazine has progressed from kindergarten. Looking forward to many more articles. Smita Patil

Great issues and very level with both sides reported, keep it up. Annand V Madgavkar

I was very motivated by reading the interview of Victor Albuquerque. I appreciate his passion at this age, hats off to him. Please publish more Ecstasy exhibition at Seshah House is not Goan, but the exhibition is being held in Saligao, truly a Goan experience. Don’t limit yourselves VIVA GOA, keep up the great work. Jacqui De Lima Leitao, Bangalore

VIVA GOA invites comments from its readers. Letters should be short and relevant and can be sent to editor@vivagoaonline.com

Congrats… great going! That’s a hottttttt cover!

Guitry Velho Priyal Kamat

The best letter of the month will get a free pair of ladies’ shoes from SENIOR

Editor & Publishers Note We make every effort to publish a magazine that is informative, entertaining and free of errors. Any omission or inaccuracies are entirely unintentional. Please do bring to our notice any item that may be incorrect or photography erroneously published. Also, we would be pleased to include any item or photograph that warrants our attention.We believe in the spirit of Goa and its warm and lively people, and do hope the content in the magazine brings smiles to our reader’s faces. As always, suggestions and comments are welcome on feedback@vivagoaonline.com

page

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Disha Charitable Trust – A centre for special children

Editor & Publisher

page

editor@vivagoaonline.com

page

COVER STORY ‘No other Raj Bhavan has such a diverse past’

The 16th-century Raj Bhavan in Goa is the oldest such abode in India. This magnificient seat of power overlooking the sea and at the confluence of the Zuari and Mandovi rivers, is steeped in history and contemporary politics

page

AFTER HOURS Dr M Modassir

Goa State Election Commissioner

page

FEATURE

Literati, a bookshop and café is set to promote a fine new chapter, BeBook – a mobile library project for deprived children

Assistant Editors

Emylou D’Souza Dielle D’Souza reporter@vivagoaonline.com Photographer

Arch Siddha Sardessai examines how Paul Chaddha’s house in Nagoa manages to brilliantly achieve simplicity in design

page

COUTURE Power Dressing

is the way to go By Diksha Khanna

The German author spills the beans on her take on the ‘lost’ Goan identity

page

LEGAL BRIEF The Law Damned

HOSPITALITY The O Hotel

By Sinead McManus

page

ACADEMIC AID Dempo Donates Rs13.5 cr

WELLNESS Snip Spa and Salons By Parineetha Sethi

page

FIRST LADY Harshada Kerkar

GOAN CUISINE Festive Feasts

Renowned painter

Manohar Shetty

INTERIORS/ EXTERIORS

page

Editorial Consultant

HOMING IN Kornelia Santoro

Kemistry Media Solutions Pvt. Ltd. shailesh@kemistry.in

page

VIVA GOANS Riddhi & Siddhi Mapxencar

By Advocate A N S Nadkarni

Shailesh M Amonkar

By Dr Nilesh Talwadkar

page

Principal Consultant

HEALTH Prevent Kidney Stone Disease

page

Fashion designer sisters who have made it big

Kedar N Dhume

By Chef Deepa Awchat

Edric George Design

Nagesh Naik Kemistry Media Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Manager Advertising

page

BIZ NOTES

page

VIVA GOA DIARY

page

HAPPENINGS

page

VIVA GOA SPOTLIGHT Uddesh Ramnathkar Goa’s National Bravery Awardee

Tamara Faleiro

advertising@vivagoaonline.com Mob: +919850077993 Circulation

Satyawan Parsekar circulation@vivagoaonline.com Published by

M/S Advertising Associates [Publication Division], 703, Dempo Trade Center, Patto Plaza, Panaji, Goa 403 001, INDIA Tel : +91 832 2438999 Cover Credits Photograph: Edric George Printed at Akruti, 318, Parvati Industrial Estate, Pune Satara Road, Pune 411 009 All rights reserved. Republishing in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. All photographs unless otherwise indicated, are used for illustrative purposes. RNI registration applied and pending

COVER STORY

RAJ BHAVAN

GRACE and GRANDEUR

The 16th-century Raj Bhavan in Goa is by far the oldest such abode in India. This magnificent seat of power set in over 86 acres of prime land with an attendant chapel overlooking the sea and at the confluence of the Zuari and Mandovi rivers, is steeped in history and contemporary politics. VIVA GOA takes a close look at the splendours of this historical edifice which is the official residence of the Governor of Goa

By KEDAR DHUME

omesh Bhandari, the former Governor of Goa (1995-96), wrote of his official residence in his book ‘Goa’: “It is at the confluence of the two main rivers of Goa: the Mandovi and the Zuari. There is no better panoramic view in Goa than from this cape: the Indian Ocean towards the west, the bay of the river Mandovi and Fort Aguada on the north, and, on the south, the bay of the river Zuari and the busy port of Mormugao.” The breathtakingly sweeping view also encompasses a history of Goa. So enamoured was he of the state and the palace that was his home, that he devoted an entire chapter to this historical and stately edifice popularly known as the Cabo – the Portuguese word for cape. The present Governor Dr S S Sidhu (see box) is both aware of its history and the need to maintain the palace in all its glory. He says, “It has the most beautiful, fascinating and panoramic view. No other Raj Bhavan in the country beats it.” The Governor has made some welcome additions including the creation of a natural Botica Park from the existing lawn, a forest trail for visitors, a much improved gymnasium,

park facilities for the children of employees, and increased accessibility to worshippers at the attached church. He has also maintained an inventory of its priceless paintings and has shifted his office downstairs to make himself more accessible to visitors. He has indeed been a people-friendly Governor. Spread over 86 acres of prime land, both the palace and the surrounding grounds are grand indeed. The Cabo survives as the oldest residence of a Governor of a state in India. The two-storeyed edifice consists of a spacious reception area called the Darbar Hall which is used for official purposes for the swearing in ceremony of Governors, Chief Ministers and the Council of Ministers. The main dining room can seat 30 people. There is also a private dining room and sitting rooms. A long verandah with a commanding view of the Mandovi bay and the Arabian sea is a vantage point and as Bhandari puts it, gives one “a feeling of being on the deck of a large ship”. The breathtakingly sweeping view also encompasses a history of Goa. The church on the edge of the cliff dedicated to Our Virgin Lady of the Cape, the Chapel of Nossa Senhora Mae

Pics by Edric George

COVER STORY de Deus (Our Lady Mother of God) Cabo was first built around 1534 as an abode and place of worship for the Franciscan friars. A few years later the Cabo, given its strategic location, was converted into a fort to act as a sentinel over the confluence of the Zuari and Mandovi rivers. In later years, Viceroy Matais de Albuquerque, an ardent devotee of the Franciscan church, reconstructed the chapel along with a monastery with locally available laterite stone. The church and the fortress thus existed side by side, reaffirming the power of religiosity during those times. Over the centuries the Raj Bhavan retained its halo as a centre of power with successive Viceroys and Governors undertaking major renovations. There was a brief interlude in its history when the Marquis of Wellesley, the Governor General of British India, in 1799 housed his troops at the Raj Bhavan to ward off a threat posed by the French in alliance with Tipu Sultan. The threat never materialised and the British troops left by 1815. The Raj Bhavan, though reinforced into a fort with a few ramparts, some cannons and a Black soldier on guard to keep a watch on

enemy ships, was never truly tested as the bastion of Portuguese rule. Though the Cabo housed several distinguished Governors and Viceroys during the Portuguese regime, it was elevated to the seat of de facto power within Goa after Liberation in 1961. With Goa still a Union Territory until statehood in 1987, the Raj Bhavan held sway with successive Governors appointed by New Delhi and the elected Legislative members only playing a nominal role. After Goa was granted statehood in 1987 the ‘Cabo Raj Niwas’ was renamed as the Raj Bhavan and the Governor reduced to a titular head. But given the internecine warfare within the political scenario in Goa, successive Governors often played a crucial hand in the politics of Goa, with several dramatic cloakand-dagger machinations being played out in its grand interiors. Indeed it is in more contemporary times, with the constant upheavels within various successive governments, that the Raj Bhavan and presiding Governors at various times who have played major roles in stabilising – or destabilising – various governments. The history of the Cabo is also steeped in myth and legend. One of the most popular is the tale of Dona Paula whose authentic tombstone bears the legend ‘Here rests Dona Paula de Menezes, the wife of Antonio de Souto Maior who died on December 21, 1682’. One legend suggests she fell in love with the

governor-general, whose enraged wife had her thrown from the cliff and her ghost is said to haunt the seas around. The presence of her epitaph alone here gives a lie to the outlandish myths surrounding Dona Paula foisted by tourist guides and their ilk. The Raj Bhavan, over the centuries has seen history come and go. In the contemporary era, after liberation in 1961, its first Indian Military Governor was Major General K P Candeth, the chief of the Indian armed forces that overcame the puny resistance of the Portuguese in 1961. He stayed on for only six months before relinquishing the honour to T Sivasankar, Goa’s first Lt Governor. Following him were ten other Lt Governors culminating with Dr Gopal Singh who was the Governor when Goa achieved its ambition of statehood under Rajiv Gandhi’s government in 1987. Since statehood, Goa has had 14 Governors, the newest entrant being Dr S S Sidhu who has held the post since August 2008. Every Governor privileged to have lived in these surroundings has spread the good word about the Raj Bhavan. Romesh Bhandari writes, “The driveway itself, which is one kilometer long, is enough to make any visitor feel humbled and awed. There is no other place in Goa that can match the Raj Bhavan in any manner… There are so many breathtaking locations in the estate… At the bottom is Gun Point where old Portuguese

Nossa Senhora Mae de Deus Chapel

The crowning glory of the Raj Bhavan, the Darbar Hall

guns are still located. It is indeed ideal for outdoor parties… I have had the good fortune of living in many Raj Bhavans. Each has its own special features, but I can say without fear of contradiction that there is none that is as ancient and has such a diverse past as having begun as a church, expanded into a monastery, being converted into a residence and then barracks for soldiers, and ending up as the residence of the Portuguese rulers of Goa.” Successive Governors have helped improve and fortify the ancient building in various ways. The Raj Bhavan has played host to a long line of distinguished guests including former Presidents Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, K R Narayanan, Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma and R Venkataraman, the present incumbent President Pratibha Patil, former Prime Ministers of India and other countries, besides foreign Ambassadors and Governors from other states. All of them have been struck by the grandeur of Raj Bhavan. Speaking eloquently of a grandiose past era are the presence of Bohemian glass chandeliers and a collection of Chinese porcelain and silver. Among the Raj Bhavan’s prized possessions are five Cantonese vases dating back to three centuries and two porcelain bowls with the coat-of-arms of a former Portuguese Governor. Besides marble-topped wooden chests, there is also an antique set of the finest China crockery and a beautiful collection of wooden furniture, made with the highest craftsmanship dating back to the 19th century. Some of the chairs bear motifs of Hindu gods and temples bearing testimony to the skills of Hindu craftsmen. The extensive Raj Bhavan grounds have a private helipad and beach and its own jetty, besides, of course, the chapel which is open to the public for morning Mass on Sundays. The chapel houses some rare and exquisite artefacts including a remarkable 17th-century figure of the Infant Jesus made of ivory imported from Mozambique. Rare paintings adorn the walls of the chapel. A door from the chapel leads to the sacristy and to the cloisters which were built for the monks and which have now been converted into guest rooms. A beautifully carved antique door with an eight-pointed figure of the sun marks the end of the cloisters. A short distance away from the chapel is the Grotto with an altar dedicated to St Paula carved in rock. Many devout Goans believe they will have their wishes fulfilled after offering prayers here. A small museum next to the office of the Secretary is also of interest to visitors. The museum displays replicas of sculptures of Hindu gods and godesses dating back to the 11th century and beyond, besides some Christian icons and figurines. Goa’s Raj Bhavan has seen politicians and successive Governors come and go. It has withstood the ravages of both time and the elements. Its extensive grounds and gardens are immune to the ravages of ’development’. It has the most beautiful and the widest possible panoramic view of the seas surrounding Goa. Long may it survive. n

GOVERNORS OF GOA MAJ GEN K P CANDETH (Dec 1961 – June 1962)

T SIVASANKAR

(June 1962 – Sept 1963)

M R SACHDEV

(Sept 1963 – Dec 1964)

HARI SHARMA

(Dec 1964 – Feb 1965)

K R DAMBLE

(Feb 1965 – April 1967)

NAKUL SEN

(April 1967 – Nov 1972)

S K BANERJI

(Nov 1972 – Nov 1977)

COL P S GILL (Retd) (Nov 1977 – March 1981)

JAGMOHAN

(March 1981 – Aug 1982)

Air Chief Marshal I H LATIF (Retd) (Aug 1982 – Feb 1983)

K T SATARAWALA (Feb 1983 – July 1984)

Air Chief Marshal I H LATIF (Retd) (July 1984 – Sept 1984)

Dr GOPAL SINGH

(Sept 1984 – May 1987)

AFTER STATEHOOD DR GOPAL SINGH (May 1987 – July 1989)

KHURSHED ALAM KHAN (July 1989 – March 1991)

BHANU PRAKASH SINGH (March 1991 – April 1994)

B RACHAIAH (Addl charge) (April 1994 – Aug 1994)

GOPALA RAMANUJAM (April 1994 – June 1995)

ROMESH BHANDARI (June 1995 – July 1996)

Dr P C ALEXANDER (Addl charge) (July 1996 – Jan 1998)

T R SATISH CHANDRAN (Jan 1998 – April 1998)

Lt Gen J F R JACOB (Retd) (April 1998 – Nov 1999)

MOHAMMAD FAZAL (Nov 1999 – Oct 2002)

KIDAR NATH SAHANI (Oct 2002 – July 2004)

S C JAMIR

(July 2004 – July 2008)

Dr S S SIDHU \(July 2008 – present)

COVER STORY

‘Nothing Beats This

RAJ BHAVAN’

The present Governor of Goa Dr S S SIDHU has maintained the dignity and majesty of his grand residence while making several improvements. VIVA GOA spent a morning at the palatial grounds where the Governor expounded in his own words on the historical palace

Governor Dr S S Sidhu in his office at the Raj Bhavan flanked by both his Aides-De-Camp (ADC) S P Bosco George and Lt Varun Prakash

he Raj Bhavan is a very special building – a unique piece of architecture. As you know, this is one of the finest Raj Bhavans in the country. I was the Governor of Manipur for four years. And every Raj Bhavan has a special feature. But Raj Bhavan Goa is definitely the oldest. The present structure dates back to the 1870s. It provides the most beautiful, fascinating and panoramic view. Nothing beats it. It covers 86 acres of land with forests and attractive flora and fauna. A beautiful area that has been developed is Cannon Point, which was once utilised by the Portuguese as a look-out for possible invaders at the confluence where the Zuari and Mandovi meet the Arabian Sea.

There was also fishing at Cannon Point. There was a lighthouse as well that is non-functional. To be more accessible to the people and to other visitors, I have shifted my front office downstairs. Another small addition I have made is the Botica Park. As there was only a small lawn, I decided to create a space where the families of governors and guests could perhaps enjoy some tea. I improved and extended the park and named it Botica. And now it has been extended so that you can reach the Confluence Point. It adds to the character of the palace. There was a gym also, but it was dysfunctional. There wasn’t any equipment, so I revived and added some equipment to it and also made it operational. Now, the health of most of my officers is very good and I occasionally go there as well .We also have an expert who visits and so it’s fully utilised. I visit it twice a week for around 20-30 minutes. After all, I am not young, I am 80-plus. As there was no play area for my staff’s children, I added a Children’s Park. I feel happy when I see children playing there. But I don’t intend to put up a golf course as it would mean cutting trees. I put a chip and putt, though with only one hole. I started with a tournament called the Ladies and Gents Tournament in May 2009. Occasionally, I go for a game of golf in the Naval Golf Club. I have also introduced the Governor’s Cup there. There was also a volleyball court here that wasn’t utilised. So I turned it into a tennis court – but both options are available. I was told that earlier there used to be some walkway in the jungle. Even before it was turned into the Governor General’s house, it was an imperial guest house for a while. So I have removed the bushes and a walkway is being created. There is no pucca road but I have created a path. In future, if visitors wish to explore, then the trail would be a great help. There is some beautiful fauna here including birds for visitors to see. The chapel is opened every Sunday to the public even if the President of India is staying with me. The midnight mass on Christmas Eve draws many people. However, due to space constraints many are left standing outside. The organisers asked me to convert the open ground that was reserved for parking to accommodate the rest of the people. The chapel is a unique feature and one of the altars has beautiful paintings, which I have conserved. Another very expensive painting was also restored. Its estimated value is three to five million pounds. Each item on the stock register done physically in my time was individually examined. We have had quite a few dignitaries visiting the palace. The President of India has stayed here for three days and recently, for four days this time. The former President Dr Abdul Kalam had also visited. During the European Film Festival, I hosted about 16 ambassadors with their wives here. There is always something or the other happening. I will always have fond memories of this place.

COVER STORY

Ketak S Nachinolkar, having graduated from Goa College of Architecture, Panaji with a post graduation in Architectural Conservation from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi is a practicing architect and conservation consultant based in Panaji

T 16

The Dining Hall

THE RAJ BHAVAN –

Architectural

Perspective

VIVA GOA called on board Goa’s famed conservation architect Ketak Nachinolkar to give his views and architectural perspective on the Raj Bhavan

he Palace of the Cabo Raj Bhavan lies within the confines of the walls of the Cabo Fort which was a highly strategic location at the cape for the defense of Goa under Portuguese occupation. The Fort, in tandem with the Mormugao and Aguada Forts functioned as a first line of defense against any aggressive approach from the seas. Located majestically at the tip of the headland overlooking the Arabian Sea, the Palace structure that we currently see has come a long way since its establishment as a Franciscan Retreat built in 1594 along with a chapel. The retreat functioned as a summer palace for the Portuguese Viceroys with the shifting of the capital to Panaji in 1845. Thereafter it was the official residence of the Portuguese Viceroys/Governor Generals since 1918 and on liberation in 1961 it continued to

serve in the same capacity. The building thus has a long history of being occupied by the highest dignitaries of the land. The two-storied main palace building is accompanied by ancillary structures housing the Governor’s secretariat and other premises. Over time the structure has been altered and added to according to the needs of the times and, as is apparent, this has reflected the changing ethos of the times. The oldest part that was the convent lies immediately by the side of the chapel. This part presents itself as an area reflecting a sense of severe austerity. The walls are rather thick and the lower storey has a smaller height, being the storage and service areas as compared to the upper storey which, as the main living area, has a greater height. This was in character with the early Portuguese architecture prevalent in

Goa during the 16th-17th century. The floor has been constructed with wooden beams with laterite stone blocks, a characteristic feature of 16th-17th century structures. Another noteworthy feature of this period is the central courtyard with its arcaded veranda typical of convent structures and the door edges of basaltic stone. The block featuring the tower shows a more humane and mellow approach compared to the severe austerity of the older part. This shows the use of modern concrete as a structural material as well as the chamfers and the curved wall which was a characteristic feature of the Art Deco period in vogue during 1920s to the 1950s and was apparently added once the Governors made this their residence during that time. The dignity that the main building commands is instantly apparent in the architectural setting with the wide landscaped plaza that fronts the long elevation of the building. The tower feature rising above the building mass in the central area further proclaims this effect. On the exterior, the building presents itself as a light structure with the mass broken by the staggering of the blocks and being fronted with deep verandas on columns which reduce the bulk of the heavy masonry walls. In keeping with the dignity of the building and the high esteem of its occupants, the living quarters are appointed on the upper storey. This was a typical feature of the colonial Portuguese aristocracy, of getting a better vantage of the surroundings from inside as well as ‘looking down’ from a ‘superior’ height. This is apparent from the wide and long straight main staircase that leads directly to the upper floor. The lower floors were relegated to the services and other functions of lesser importance. The upper floor has spacious halls for public receptions as well as the private rooms for the Governor and his guests. These are all well-appointed, capturing the views around. The lofty internal ceilings, in keeping with their proportions, are airy and sufficiently lit. The interiors of the rooms and the halls make extensive use of natural varnished wood for the floors and ceilings as well as for the walls. The paneling lends a feeling of warmth and comfort to offset the sheer overpowering scale of the building. The building is wrapped on the exterior by deep verandas which offer panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and Panaji city as well as, most importantly, protect the rooms from the scorching westward sun in the evenings and the heavy winds and rains during the monsoons in the absence of any natural barrier on the sea front. Thus the Palace of the Raj Bhavan, having served to accommodate the highest dignitaries of the territory of Goa, commands an aura of high protocol and dignity which is reflected in its architecture over the years of its occupation. n

AFTER HOURS

A column in which CEOs, political figures and other busy professionals reveal how they relax and spend their spare time

‘I Would Like to Change

Myself Rather Than ’ Change Goa

Diligence and hard work have led to his many accomplishments. Goa State Election Commissioner Dr MOHAMMED MODASSIR, the IAS (Retd) bureaucrat who recently took voluntary retirement, is a man with a vision. The family man shares the secret behind his successful career with VIVA GOA

ith a PhD in Arab Culture and History, a M Phil and M Sc under his belt, at 56, higher learning still ranks high on Mohammed Modassir’s agenda. With relatively free time on his hands, he plans to attempt a second PhD. Originally from UP, Modassir was recruited to the Goa Civil Service in 1979 and has held several noteworthy positions over the years, some of which include Director of Transport, of Industries and Mines, and of Education as well as Managing Director of EDC Ltd and Goa IDC. Modassir has made his home in Dona Paula with his wife Dr Yasmin, principal of Dhempe College of Arts and Science, who has always kept him firmly grounded. The devoted husband and father of two girls reveals what he values the most in life.

ON HIS PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY

It has been a sacred trust from the beginning. As the nation and state have certain expectations from a civil servant, I have always tried to work with diligence, responsibility and hard work. I have been as receptive to the problems of the underprivileged as I have been to the well-heeled. The effort has always been to be as helpful as possible while keeping in mind rules and regulations.

ON POLITICAL PRESSURE

I must point out that a civil servant has the freedom to perform his duties without bias as far as the grip of the political system is concerned. In a democracy, all the arms of a state like

the legislature, judiciary and executive are independent and interdependent. Ultimately, each position has to be observed as a means to achieve social justice and equity – the ultimate aim of a decent society. Relatively new instruments in the hands of people, like public interest litigation and new instruments like Right to Information will change the face of our nation very fast. This will come about with the help of the free press and television.

ON HIS MOTIVATION TO PURSUE HIGHER LEARNING

There has been a tradition of learning in my family. Even my great grandfather was a postgraduate in two disciplines. Given this background, I married a girl who had completed her M Sc, M Phil and PhD. Both my daughters first did their MBA and then registered for a Ph D despite the fact that they are busy executives in multinational companies. As I have some free time on my hands, I plan to pursue one more PhD.

ON BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY

I have always had a 12-hour work day, but after that I am devoted to family and friends, on weekends as well. I never bring office problems home as far as possible. My wife Yasmin has always kept me grounded. She has taken care of the home and family while balancing her own work life.

ON UNWINDING AFTER OFFICE HOURS

Music and reading excite me. When I buy a

new book or a set of books, I don’t part with them until I finish. There are three sources of acquiring knowledge and wisdom. The first is when you see, assimilate and reflect on what is happening around you. The second is through your own experiences, mistakes, and successes. The third source, which is the most important, is through the written word. It gives you knowledge, wisdom and experiences over time, keeps you abreast of current happenings and provides you with a glimpse into the future. Therefore, it is very natural for me to enjoy reading which is the single largest source of attaining knowledge and wisdom.

ON QUALITY TIME AWAY FROM WORK

It is very important to bring up good, responsible and receptive children. It is also necessary for developing an equal, open and friendly culture among family members.

ON HIS FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS

Pics by Edric George

Dr M Modassir with his wife Dr Yasmin

Taking a ‘holiday’ in the pure sense has been a mirage, which I want to turn into a reality. In India, Kerala is one of the best places, while South East Asia is a very exciting destination abroad as is Europe. Both have a great diversity of cultures that I find very exciting.

ON WHAT HE LIKES ABOUT GOA AND WHAT HE WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE

To tell you the truth, I like everything about Goa. My destiny brought me here, courtesy the Government of India, so I would like to change myself rather than think of changing Goa.

ON HIS PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE

I believe in the very simple philosophy of ‘you shall sow what you reap’. In the long run, this is the only truth that I have procured in my own life and in the life of others. Set impossible goals, break them in small, everyday achievable bits and one day the impossible will become possible.

ON HIS MESSAGE TO YOUNG GOANS

There is no substitute for hard work and there are no shortcuts in life – so set off in whichever area you have chosen. There is no substitute for excellence in education. To excel in life, it is of utmost importance to be a good human being with robust human values and respect for all viewpoints, cultures and traditions.

I believe in the very

simple philosophy of ‘you

shall sow what you reap’. Set

impossible goals, break them in small, everyday achievable bits and one day the impossible will become possible

FEATURE

Literature Latté and

A veritable temple to the written word, Literati, a bookshop and café is set to promote a fine new chapter, BeBook – a mobile library project for deprived children By EMYLOU D’SOUZA

W 22

ith books ranging from the latest to second-hand copies, including a section devoted to Goan writing, Literati is thriving. Run by Diviya Kapur, a lawyer from Bangalore who decided to pack in her job and set up shop in Goa, she found herself a 100-year-old house in Calangute, and Literati was born in 2005. “Even to find a space was difficult because in my mind’s eye, I had envisioned Literati in an old house, but no one wanted to rent to me,” says Kapur. As an afterthought she adds, “The reason being that I was neither a foreigner nor a Goan.” Keen to help turn bored and unhappy children into literate and fulfilled ones, the charming bookshop is certainly trying “to make books a little more glamorous and exciting”. BeBook is a mobile library project for deprived children in Goa supported by the charitable Tara Trust. With readings and interactive workshops, it aims to involve children in books and arts and inculcate the experience that reading and learning is fun.

“At the moment we have one outlet in Colvale and another in Panaji. The next one is set for Saligao and we already have three in the south,” explains Kapur, who belongs to a group of Goa-based volunteers, offering their time and expertise to the two-year-old project. “We have to cart the material around as we don’t have a vehicle. Hopefully, when we have a bus we can access even more areas.” With a sprightly frog (bebok in Konkani) as the mascot, this educational aid incorporates local art forms like music, folk dance, craft and street theatre as well as other concepts like health and hygiene, conservation, garbage collection and pollution. By endorsing another perspective of learning, BeBook promotes readership among children and gives them access to multilingual books, including ones in English, Hindi, Konkani, Marathi and a few in Kannada. The readings and workshops are conducted in cooperation with local institutions and partners such as the mobile school for slum children run by Don Bosco and orphanages like Care and Compassion and Hamara Ghar.

OF BOOKS AND MORE

Whether a discussion on translation or a book reading, if one pops into Literati there is always some activity or the other on the agenda. Last month in aid of the mobile library, the bookshop held two fundraisers. The first was a jumble sale with live music and the second an art auction displaying the work of around 42 artists. Literati has, over the last couple of years, hosted events with internationally acclaimed

authors such as Amitav Ghosh, Dr Sudhir Kakar, William Dalrymple, Dayanita Singh, Amruta Patil, Zai Whitaker, and more recently Zac O’Yeah. “The biggest book launch was Amitav Ghosh’s ‘Sea of Poppies’. We were a part of his international and national tour. It was in the monsoon but we easily had 150 people here. It was quite special,” says Kapur. As far as governmental initiative in hooking children’s interest in the state is concerned, Kapur feels that existing resources are underutilised. “When I first began, I always commented on the fact that every village has a building or a space for a library, which is not so often the case in other states. Sadly, most of them are non-functional. I think the government could very easily promote reading by making those libraries functional. And I don’t think it is such a difficult thing if that system was already there. It is only a question of reviving it. I think

Pics by Edric George

GOA ON A

SHELF

GOA: A DAUGHTER’S STORY BY MARIA AURORA COUTO FERRY CROSSING – SHORT STORIES FROM GOA EDITED BY MANOHAR SHETTY THESE ARE MY CHILDREN BY DAMODAR MAUZO REFLECTED IN WATER – WRITINGS ON GOA EDITED BY JERRY PINTO

as children we all read a lot.” Literati’s extensive book collection has been moulded according to customers’ preferences. The sections that are big are literature, Indian fiction and non-fiction, children’s books, religion and spirituality. The Goa section is another major draw. There is also a book club where 12 to 15 literary enthusiasts meet regularly every week to discuss a book. Sometimes even passersby join in the discussion. Literati also houses a home café. “The home café is more of a facility for our readers. Sometimes we even have someone else running it. I always say that I’m not much of a business person. But I think the fact that we have grown and that we are able to sustain ourselves in our sixth year must mean that things are on the right track.” n

VIVA GOANS

Riddhi and Siddhi Mapxencar

A regular column featuring eminent Goans living outside Goa

Sisters With

Style

Raw creativity remains the essence of their futuristic designs. Mumbai-based designer sisters Riddhi and Siddhi Mapxencar have built a solid business around their passion. VIVA GOA zooms in on the duo and their high-end designer brand mapxencaRS others. Actresses Kareena Kappor and Mugdha 26

iddhi and Siddhi Mapxencar may only have one collection under their belts, but their creations were selected for the Genext category of Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) last September in Source India 2010, as new budding designers and also for Genext at the Indian Premiere London Fashion Week 2010 (IPLFW). Not bad for two women who started out with doodling and sketching in school, but who always envisioned themselves in the fashion industry. Riddhi, a knitwear graduate from Mumbai’s

NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology), worked with reputed Indian fashion designer Narendra Kumar Ahmed as head women’s wear designer. Siddhi, a FCT (Fashion and Technology Clothing) diploma holder also from NIFT, learnt the ropes with her mentor Arjun Khanna as a menswear designer. The sisters’ custom-made western clothes for women and men, sold under the brand name mapxencarRS started in 2009, are realised at trendy boutiques across Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad such as Aza Men, Maya by Gitanjali, Taamra and Sugar among

Godse, along with former Miss World runner-up Parvathi Ommanakuttan and Miss India Pooja Chopra have all donned their contemporary garments. With a fascination for quirky things, the Mapxencars, new entrants on the fashion scene, discuss their individual design philosophies and the source of their inspiration. What inspired both of you to get into fashion design and when did this happen? Riddhi: Siddhi and I were always fascinated by the fashion scenario in India during the 90s. We were in school then and were always

excited to watch fashion shows of Rohit Bal, Ritu Kumar and other big names in the fashion industry on television. We always had a flair for drawing and painting and knew that we would end up in the designing field sooner or later. Siddhi: I am a lover of art. I was always fascinated with paintings and sketches, perhaps because our mother is an artist. And of course, being enthusiastic about dressing and grooming, the best way to combine art and clothing was through fashion designing. Could you tell us more about your collection and the various fashion shows you have organised/showcased your work at? Riddhi: Our collection always has a concept behind it. I love crazy ideas, crazy materials and crazy style. Siddhi and I, both have a fascination for quirky things. My philosophy is to have fun while creating what you do and also believing in it completely. I find my inspiration from the things that surround me. It could be anything from nature to buildings to people. I am always fascinated by the way bridges, highways or buildings are constructed. The process of constructing something as huge as the World Trade Centre or the Taj Mahal amazes me. To a great extent, my curiosity inspires me in the construction of garments. Our collection was selected for the Genext category of Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) in September 2010, in Source India 2010 as new budding designers and also for Genext at the Indian Premiere London Fashion Week 2010 (IPLFW). Who has been your mentor or guru and why? Riddhi: Narendra Kumar Ahmed is my mentor. I worked with him for three years after completing my course in NIFT, Mumbai. I have always appreciated his work and have come to realise that he is a thinking designer. Even after I started my own label, he has been supportive and encouraging. I always take his advice for important things related to my career. Siddhi: I assisted Arjun Khanna three years before the launch of mapxencaRS. He always gave me the creative freedom that every newcomer desires. I was always fascinated to see his love for clothes, the passion with which he created them, perfected the making and the microscopic interest he took in every detail of the garment right from fabric weaving to packaging. He is truly an inspiration. Trace your roots to Goa and tell us when you decided to move out. Riddhi: Goa is a great place. It has its own charm and serene beauty which is so different from other cities. I spent nearly 20 years of my life in Goa. However, at that time it didn’t have a recognised fashion institute and that’s when I decided to move out. Siddhi: After finishing my engineering in computers at PCCE, I left Goa in 2004. My

family hails from Margao and that’s why we were raised here. Which is your favourite collection and why? Riddhi: It is always the next one. Siddhi: Undoubtedly it’s the Woven Magic of Architecture that we showcased at the Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive 2010. The simple reason was that it was an honest, edgy and quirky attempt to show the projections of architectural details in clothing. What are your earliest memories of Goa and how often do you visit? Riddhi: I remember going to Colva beach every Sunday with my parents. We used to look forward to it. I love the scenic beauty and virgin beaches of Goa. Siddhi: Goa has been a source of joy. Needless to say, our creative minds always find a perennial source of inspiration from Goa’s scenic beauty. I think it offers you a certain sense of freedom that makes it so special and having a home here makes it all the more better. I try to visit every two months, although it is a bit tough due to our hectic work schedules. Describe your favourite memories of Goa. Riddhi: Visiting Moti Dongar in Margao (Moti Hill) almost everyday with Siddhi and my best friend Shefali. We used to have a gala time chitchatting and eating Mulayam’s shev puri. Siddhi: Spending time with family and friends on the beaches and completely losing track of time. I guess Goa does that to you. I am a fan of Goa’s sossegado vibe. I think nobody can relax as cheerfully as a Goan does. I’ve always cherished our visits to the churches in Goa too, which are rich in vintage art and a source of abundant inspiration.

Kareena Kapoor in a Mapxencar creation

How difficult is it to find success in the career you have chosen? Riddhi: Success in any field is difficult. There is no easy way out in the fashion industry too. Our parents Mahesh and Sadhna Mapxencar have been very supportive. In this industry you are as good as your last collection. Designers are born everyday, so it is imperative to sustain the competition by doing consistent good work. Siddhi: Honestly, I would say we are very hard working and of course, God has been kind. There have been initial glitches but with immense support and blessings from our parents things have always fallen into the place. Describe some memorable events in your lives related to fashion design in India and abroad. Riddhi: Receiving an award for the best knitwear designer in NIFT Mumbai in 2007 and being selected for the Genext category of IPLFW 2010. We were very excited about it as the show was held in London. Also for LFW 2010, we were selected from among 172 designers and were mentored by ace designer Wendell Rodrigues who guided us well. Who are your favorite icons or fashion designers in India/abroad? Riddhi: My favourite international designer is Hussein Chalayan. I love his technologically advanced garments. He has created some of the most fabulous futuristic pieces in the history of fashion. Gareth Pugh’s structured clothing is inspiring too. I also love the works of Rohit Bal and Manish Arora, they have their own unique style. Siddhi: Internationally, it’s Karl Lagerfeld and in India it’s Arjun Khanna. What are the main pressures that fashion designers face in the industry today? Riddhi: Setting up a strong back end, reducing the cost of production without compromising on quality and finding skilled workers. Siddhi: As there is a lot of competition, the market is flooded. Also, I wish the industry turns more corporatised.

What is your advice to young people aspiring to be fashion designers in today’s world? Riddhi: Never give up, come what may. It is very important to gain technical knowledge from a reputed fashion institute. Don’t just start your label immediately after college, you need to work for a minimum of three years with a designer or retail company depending on your interest. There are ample avenues in the fashion industry. Siddhi: Have the right reasons to enter this field. I think many youngsters feel that fashion is all about glamour, wining and dining. That’s a part of it, but there is a lot of hard work and talent that goes into making you a good designer. Love what you do, and the rest will follow. n

RAPID FIRE

Style forecast for 2011… Riddhi: Colourful, lacy, neon and slightly punk and biker style with a touch of 1970s thrown in (not all at the same time, of course!) Siddhi: Power shoulders Couture in India… Riddhi: Very few designers understand it Siddhi: Still in its infancy

Design philosophy… Riddhi: The mapxencaRS design philosophy aims at making Mahesh and Sadhna Mapxencar structured and conceptualised garments with a touch of futuristic elements Siddhi: God lies in the details. Take care of the details and the details will take care of you An everlasting trend… Riddhi: Audrey Hepburn’s influence on clothes Siddhi: The little black dress The wackiest thing you own… Riddhi: The mapxencaRS pocketed jacket Siddhi: A vintage jacket from London What do you miss about Goa when you’re away… Riddhi: People’s genuineness Siddhi: The beaches and the wide spaces Your favourite Goan dish… Riddhi: Prawns, fish curry and rice Siddhi: Chicken cafreal One place you must visit when in Goa… Riddhi: Martins Corner Siddhi: Brittos – I love the food!

LEGAL BRIEF

A regular column on legal affairs and philosophy

The LAW Damned The Prime Minister has no right to be a silent spectator

Atmaram Nadkarni is a Senior Advocate and former Advocate General of Goa

owever high you may be, the law is always above you. In ancient times, despite the age-old saying “the king can do no wrong”, rulers had to abide by the principles of law and even the king was considered subservient to it. Thus I was absolutely aghast when I heard the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at a recently televised press conference. Personally speaking, Dr Singh epitomises a person of outstanding academic excellence and integrity. His days as the governor of the Reserve Bank of India saw discipline and system in the functioning of the bank. The late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who meant well for the rapid progress of the country, realised that the Planning Commission of India which comprises the Prime Minister as chairman and the Planning Minister as the deputy chairman, was hardly contributing to the development of the nation. It was with a desire to bring in certain reforms that he, for the first time, appointed the then governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Dr Manmohan Singh to the post of deputy chairman of the Planning Commission. Dr Singh’s stint earned him the post of Finance Minister in the Cabinet headed by the late Narasimha Rao, whose government actually brought in the liberalisation progress initiated by Gandhi. Dr Singh performed his duties as the Finance Minister exceedingly well despite his earlier avocation with the World Bank or other UN bodies. There was no cause for anyone to cry foul over his appointment; and it was perceived that the planning strategies and personal integrity of Dr Singh were above board. To a great extent, his impeccable integrity was never even called into question. His personal integrity and loyalty to the

Source: www.zazzle.co.uk Gandhi family was also beyond any question; and yet the man led a very simple life and fell successfully into the category of academic thinkers of a scholarly nature. With this background, he assumed the mantle of the coveted post of the Prime Minister after Sonia Gandhi declined what was hers through a culmination of events and circumstances. One thing must be said to the credit of Gandhi, was that by declining the post for whatever reasons she saw fit, she displayed a rare quality of leadership, eminence as well as sacrifice which I do not think has any parallel in the world. This is yet another feather in the cap for Gandhi as it was not an easy task having to choose the right person for the most important position. I for one was sincerely happy, thinking that the country would progress under the prime ministership of Dr Singh who, by sheer good luck or by dint of hard work or God’s grace, was lucky enough to complete a whole term successfully. Thereafter, the UPA-2 experiment became a reality. I would not like to dwell too much on several skeletons falling out of the cupboard owned by the ruling party. The Commonwealth Games scam, the 2-G spectrum scam, the Devas ISRO scam and others, apart from having shaken the confidence and faith of the people, has in general brought shame and disrepute to India’s image abroad. With all these scams emerging, one thing that was still perceived by a majority of Indians was that Dr Singh did not

have a hand in any of them. There were calls from various corners asking a variant of some vexed questions. However, despite all these questions, the general feeling was that it was only at the level of the Kalmadis and Rajas that corruption was rife. I would not have approved of the Prime Minister being a mute spectator but I still felt that here is a man who has the highest respect for Law. But this was only my impression I must confess, until I viewed the Prime Minister’s press conference in which he addressed the Editors of various news channels. The Hon’ble Prime Minister has, in my opinion, damned the Law. Dr Singh said that in coalition politics and in co-action governments one is required to make certain compromises. This statement of his would probably violate the Oath of Office and Secrecy he has so solemnly taken under the Constitution. Be it coalition politics or any kind of compulsion, no person however high he may be, can be allowed to violate the Law and then defend it by stating that some compromises are required in coalition compulsions. The Law can never be compromised and doing so is nothing short of a serious criminal act in itself, apart from a breach of trust reposed in a person heading the Government under the Constitution. It becomes more aggravating when a person of the stature of Dr Singh makes such a statement. I do not understand the PM’s compulsion in having to address this press conference. It would certainly have been better had he not addressed it at all. Indeed, silence on his part would have been golden considering the mess he has got himself into. I must admit while the Prime Minister addressed the press I had not found the aura which is usually associated with him, having seen him constantly over the last two or three decades. The Prime Minister has not only a legal duty in terms of the Constitution and the rules of business framed under it, but also a moral duty. Firstly, not to countenance any if these scams; and secondly, instead of compromising for coalition or political reasons, he ought to have come out in the open and exposed this misdoing as no one other than the Prime Minister is in a better position to do this. Of what use is the credit balance held by the Prime Minister if the debit balance far outweighs it with his silence? Surely he would not like his illustrious career to be simply forgotten and wiped out by simply being a silent spectator to the corrupt acts of others? Some sense prevailed among the ruling bosses when they agreed to a JPC, although belatedly, for a period of three months and that too, by allowing the Winter Session to pass off without any productive business in Parliament. I only hope and pray that God Almighty puts some good sense in the heads of our political bosses not only to run the government with efficiency, honesty and transparency, but also to arrest the looting and plundering of the Public Exchequer and the Government Treasury. n

ACADEMIC AID

Dempo Announces Rs 13.5 crores as Endowment to US Alma Mater

Vasantrao Dempo Reflective Chair at Carnegie Mellon University to support teaching and research on societal scale phenomena relevant to India

hrinivas Dempo, chairman of the Dempo Group of Companies, has made a $3 million (Rs13.5 crores) gift to endow a professorship in Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business. The gift will be used to endow the Vasantrao Dempo Reflective Chair, which will be occupied by a Tepper School of Business professor and support teaching and research on societal scale phenomena that is relevant to India. The professor, who will be named to the chair by the university later this year, will partner with a distinguished scholar from a university in India. A philanthropist, Vasantrao Dempo was the founder of the Dempo Group of Companies. He was a leading industrialist whose vision changed the industrial scenario in Goa and was conferred the Padma Shri for his extraordinary contribution to the socioeconomic reconstruction and rapid industrial growth of the nation by the Government of India.

“I am delighted to be partnering with Carnegie Mellon University in endeavoring to do a number of things at once by means of the endowment,” said Shrinivas Dempo, who studied Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at the university. “The professorship would continue my relationship with my alma mater in a way that is to me both meaningful and fulfilling, enable a worthy homage to the memory of my much-loved grandfather and help create the framework of distinguished collaborative American scholarship in India – related studies that would hopefully lead to more inclusive growth for my country, a dream my grandfather saw in his lifetime and strove for.” The “reflection” chair is a new concept intended to link formally faculty at Carnegie Mellon and at leading universities in India. Thus, there will be two Vasantrao Dempo Professors at every point in time – one at Carnegie Mellon and one in India. The selected Carnegie Mellon faculty member

will be appointed to the chair for a tenure of four years, which can be renewed for one additional four-year term, after which a different faculty member will be chosen. The Indian scholar who partners with the chair will be a senior, tenured faculty member of an Indian university. The partnership continues Carnegie Mellon’s important connections to India. More than 30 percent of Carnegie Mellon students are from outside the US, and the majority of those students are from India. The largest concentration of CMU alumni outside of the US lives in India. “On behalf of Carnegie Mellon University, I would like to thank Shrinivas Dempo for this generous gift,” said Carnegie Mellon President Jared Cohon. “This chair continues the strong ties between Carnegie Mellon and India. We are pleased to be partnering with Shrinivas Dempo, a widely respected name in India, through this professorship.” n

FIRST LADY

A column featuring women who have stepped beyond the shadow of their eminent husbands and are achievers in their own right

Painting Is Like Breathing To Me Portraits are artist Harshada Kerkar’s forte. While maintaining a contemporary style, she also evokes a sense of nostalgia. The painter expounds on how everything comes second place to her art

quiet rebel, Harshada Kerkar refuses to adhere to fashion. Through her paintings, she manages to freeze her characters as a reference to time and history. Kerkar graduated in painting from the JJ School of Art, Mumbai. Known as the ‘pastel queen’ during her student days, she was awarded a gold medal for sketching. She is the recipient of the coveted All India Fine Art Society Award and her paintings adorn the Lalit Kala Academy in New Delhi. She has also exhibited her work in several other states besides in Portugal. But Goa is dear to her heart where she has set up the Harshada Art Gallery in Miramar. Married to advocate Satish Sonak who is committed to social and environmental causes, Kerkar elaborates on her artistic vision with VIVA GOA .

Have your creations been inspired by the works of other painters? God, the greatest painter has inspired me. He drew the sky, painted the flowers, put smiles and wrinkles on faces and created harmony out of chaos. This is the stuff my paintings are influenced by. Although old is gold today, I learn more from my students who have a fresh approach. During my teenage years, M R Acharekar was my Dronacharya for sketching and I was Eklavya. Degas became my role model regarding figurative work in dry pastels. My landscapes often borrowed the division of space and refreshing blues from Madhav

Satavalekar. But encouragement is more important than influence, so I thank Prafulla Dahanukar for encouraging me. I have always been in love with the paintings of Ram Kumar and Laxman Shreshta. I have also learnt a lot from the paintings of Goa-based abstract painters such as Vaman Navelkar, Antonio D’Costa, Swati Nair and Suhas Shilkar. Who has made a difference to your work? For a long time I foolishly believed that imitating another artist was a big achievement. But my artist brother Dr Ravindra Kerkar opened my eyes and said that “to have a style of your own you need not be a stereotype copycat”. Thereafter my work became different when my quest for my own identity began. What advice would you give to extremist groups who forcibly deny artists the freedom of expression? I would not give them any advice because if they don’t understand my silence they will not understand my words. Why should I waste my time in sowing seeds on rocks? Do you think the high prices some painters command are detrimental to their artistic vision? Does it lead to indiscriminate work where the name is more important than the painting itself? It depends upon what type of person the artist is. If money is the objective of his art, then he will paint indiscriminately.

Those who want money as a byproduct of artistic activity and not as its main objective are rightly more concerned with the value of the paintings irrespective of the price factor. When the name of the artist is more important than the artist, the label becomes more important than the product. This is not art but a business and money game prompted by investment markets. People are amazed by your ability to capture expressions and moods, what do you try to communicate through your paintings? When I created a series on ragpicker boys and labourers, I identified myself with them. I called it Advaita. I don’t capture moods, I release them. My paintings communicate ‘me’ through them. Your father and brother are both famous artists. What was it like growing up in such a creative environment? I was the little angel. But in heaven, an angel is nobody in particular. Tell us something about your personal interests beyond your work? I am interested in trekking and in taming my husband. How do you strike a balance between the demands of your home and your own professional interests? Everyone at home is so much in demand that

God, the greatest painter has inspired me. He drew the sky, painted the flowers, put smiles and wrinkles on faces and created harmony out of

chaos

they don’t have time to be demanding. So there is no need for me to indulge in any circus. What does your daily routine involve and how do you unwind after a day’s work? Paint, paint, paint is my daily routine. After a day’s work I either go for a walk with my husband or I daydream. Art is not my profession. Art is like breathing to me. There is no choice. If I have to breathe, I must paint. How important is ‘space’ to you? Perhaps it is the only thing which is more important than my paintings.

Pic by Edric George

Do you think women suffer gender bias, even in progressive Goa? A million times, yes. As a woman artist I have to always swim against the tide. If I sit by the roadside to paint a stray dog, that’s a male prerogative I am told. When a husband dies, even today his widow is forced to break her bangles. Despite the fact that the ratio of women professors is 58 per cent in Goa’s higher education sector, so far no woman has been appointed as chairman of the Goa Secondary or Higher Secondary School Board. In the last three years, the government has sent 118 officers on foreign tours. How many of them were women? A women coolie in the market lifts the same weight and at times carries heavier goods than her male counterpart. But she is comparatively always paid much less. That is the sorry situation today. n

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

EMYLOU D’SOUZA learns about the lives of special children through Disha Charitable Trust – a Centre for Special Children. It brings a fresh perspective on how far we have come and how much further we need to go

alita, 15, depends on public transport to get to school. Each day is an uphill journey. Conductors ridicule and jostle her, while fellow passengers touch her inappropriately. Lalita is mentally challenged. Often victims of insensitive and crass behaviour, disabilities can make the most ordinary of aspirations, from buttoning a shirt to walking down the road or taking a bus ride a struggle. Faced with similar situations, teachers from Disha, a government-recognised charity for special children in Panaji, have travelled with their students to try and stop such crimes, to sensitise the public to children with special needs. The joint secretary and manager of Disha Sandhya Kalokhe explains that their children are aware of their disability, understand that they have one, but cannot express their feelings. “When our children are targeted on account of their disability, the parents experience even worse mental torture – some are already guiltladen because of their child’s conditions,” says Kalokhe, a mother of a special needs child, who was one of the founding members of the school. In 1994, Kalokhe along with other parents of mentally disadvantaged children felt the urgent necessity to initiate an institution which would cater to the emotional and educational needs of their young due to the lack of facilities

special school move on to the Vocational Training Centre located in the same premises. They are taught screen-printing and lamination, besides being trained to make files, folders, letterheads, business cards, envelopes, candles and festive items such as diyas during Diwali and rakhis for Raksha Bandan. Disha takes orders for such products and also holds annual exhibitions and sales – the most recent one was organised by the GCCI’s Women’s Wing in Azad Maidan – the profits of which go to the students. Space constraint is a pressing issue. Each year, the institution turns away many children who seek admission. The occupational therapist needs to create a proper clinic and the speech therapist says she needs quiet to work.

A physiotherapist helps a child with fine finger movements

Disha is even in need of a playground. Another aspiration is to convert the vocational training centre into a full-fledged sheltered workshop. Disha wants to create a more disabled-friendly environment, but that is on hold for the time being. “We have applied for space in the common education complex project, but we have not received a response from any government,” says Kalokhe. Gaps in village infrastructure like roads, problems getting on and off buses and providing sufficient space to maneuver within them, entering a building that has stairs, are just a few among the grave issues that immobilise people with special needs. A report published on the NDTV website states that over 90 per cent of disabled children in India do not get any form of schooling. Though the Right to Education Act holds out the promise of creating a system for disabled children, it has so far failed to fulfill the expectations of parents. While the Directorate of Education provides certain schemes for the disabled – an annual grant of Rs 500 for books and other stationery and Rs 800 for uniforms; a monthly travel allowance of Rs 200 and expenses on education equipment up to a maximum of Rs 5,000 given once in three years – the sum is too paltry for children with special needs. A greater effort is needed from the government and society to ensure a future for special children. n

Pics by Edric George in the state. The school served two students and operated out of a flat. It now has 72, including some who are employed. “They still need our guidance and so do the employers,” reveals Kalokhe. She adds, “Eight of our students work in private establishments. One child was trained in screen printing so he was placed with a screen printer for two years. Now he has opened a small unit. Another is employed in Hindu Pharmacy, while another is a room boy at Hotel Delmon.” In addition to mainstreaming or integrating their students into society, Disha also organises and occasionally finances corrective surgeries. Once a child is registered, a thorough evaluation of the child’s capacities and capabilities is made. Based on that, goals and an individual curriculum are chalked out. Disha finds out whether they can read, and if they can, sight reading is put into place. The early intervention centre set up last year is a great help. According to principal Veena Shejwalkar, who has been with Disha since 2003, “We have procured the services of a speech therapist, occupational therapist and physiotherapist. Early intervention literally means intervening as early as possible. The child and the parent have to be guided on how development takes place. Our faculty is also open to others with special needs.” Students above 18 who have completed

Speech therapist helping a child associate objects with words

Narendra Padte, secretary, Veena Shejwalkar, principal, and Sandhya Kalokhe, manager

HEALTH

A regular column on healthy living

Dr Nilesh B Talwadker MS, DNB is a consultant general and laparoscopic surgeon in urology at Goa Medical College, Bambolim

U 36

rinary calculi (stone) disease or Urolithiasis, as it is called, is a common affliction described since antiquity. No age is spared and no country or ethnic group is protected from this common clinical problem. This holds true for Goa as well. A question frequently asked by patients is: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;how did I develop this stone?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The answer is multifactorial. Clinical presentations of patients with urinary stone vary from abdominal pain, hematuria (passing blood in urine), mild urinary tract infection, severe urinary sepsis to life threatening uropathy with obstruction to the urinary tract and renal failure. However, all patients with urinary stones may not be symptomatic. The prevalence of kidney stone disease

A higher prevalence of kidney stone disease is found in hot, arid, or dry climates and coastal belts such as Goa

Kidney Stone Disease Prevent

is estimated at one per cent to 15 per cent in a population, with the probability of having a stone varying according to age, gender, race, and geographic location. Stone disease typically affects adult men more commonly than adult women. Though found in all age groups, stone occurrence is relatively uncommon before the age of 20 but peaks in incidence in the fourth to sixth decades of life. A higher prevalence of stone disease is found in hot, arid, or dry climates and coastal belts such as Goa. Heat exposure and dehydration constitute occupational risk factors for stone disease as well. The prevalence and incident risk of stone disease is directly correlated with weight and body mass index. Fluid intake is inversely related to the risk of kidney stone formation. The physical process of stone formation is a complex cascade of events that occurs in the kidney. It occurs in three steps or chemical processes, namely: crystallisation, supersaturation and aggregation. The most common type of stones in terms of chemical composition are calcium oxalate and uric acid stones which constitute 75 per cent of all urinary stones. Urinary stones can be detected at various sites in the urinary tract from the kidney and ureter above, to the bladder and urethra below. Treatment for each differs depending on various factors such as size, site and type of stone. During the past 15 years, therapeutic procedures for urinary stone have undergone fundamental changes. Procedures like ESWL (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy), PCNL (Percutaneous Nephrolithotrity) and URS (Ureterorenoscopy), besides open surgery have revolutionised the way in which urinary stones are treated. The method of treatment for a particular stone in a patient has to be judiciously and carefully selected by the specialist. All these forms of treatment are today available within the state in both the private sector as well as at the Goa Medical College. But just the removal of the stone alone is not a curative measure. It is extremely important to prevent recurrences in patients. This can be achieved by fluid intake management, dietary changes and lifestyle modifications.

FLUID MANAGEMENT

One mainstay of treatment is the forced increase in fluid intake to achieve a daily urine output of two litres. Encourage all stone formers to drink at least three litres per day to maintain a urine output of more than two litres every 24 hours. The fluid intake should be evenly distributed over the day (approx two glasses every second hour). It is particularly important to drink before going to bed and again before or after each voiding. Patients exposed to chronic dehydration caused by hot and/or dry environments, extensive physical activity or diarrhea, are advised to replace external (including sweat) fluid losses. Citrus juices (particularly lemon juice), tender coconut water and barley water help in stone prevention.

DIETS TO BE LIMITED OR STRICTLY AVOIDED

n Intake of meat, meat products, fish and poultry should be limited. Red meat as well as sea foods like shell fish and prawns must be avoided completely. n Intake of high salt content food like pickles, papad and other salted eatables should be avoided. The net effect of a high sodium (salt) diet is an increased propensity for the crystallisation of calcium salts in urine. Dietary sodium restrictions benefit both normal individuals as well as stone formers. In combination with animal protein restriction, a reduced sodium diet will decrease stone episodes by approximately 50 per cent. n Soft drinks (including cola) and alcoholic beverages (especially beer) are unsuitable as they increase the risk of developing uric acid and oxalate stones. Beer should be totally avoided contrary to the belief that drinking beer helps in flushing out of stones. n Obesity and associated dietary patterns are significant risk factors for stone formation. Increased body mass index, larger waist size, and weight gain correlate with an increased risk of stone episodes. This increased stone risk is more pronounced for women than for men. Obese patients have a higher propensity for uric acid calculi. Excessive weight should be reduced but

without extreme fasting or high-protein weight loss diets. It is important that dietary intake be distributed over several meals. And always eat slowly. The aim is to achieve an optimal weight or BMI (body mass index). BODY MASS INDEX = WEIGHT IN KG / (HEIGHT IN MTS). NORMAL RANGE IS 20 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 25. n Limit intake of foodstuffs rich in oxalate such as spinach, beets, chocolate, nuts and black tea.

RECOMMENDED DIET

n It is important to have a good intake (not excessive) of calcium in the diet-like milk and milk products, while avoiding calcium supplementation in the form of tablets. This is contrary to the wrong belief that calcium containing foods should be restricted. Dietary calcium avoidance actually increases stone recurrence risk. n Citrus juices (particularly lemon juice), tender coconut water and barley water are recommended n Different forms of vegetables, salads and fruits as well as cereals and dairy products should be part of the daily diet. In short, a healthy diet would be a balanced vegetarian one with restricted intake of non-vegetarian food.

LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS

Lifestyle modifications suggested are as follows: Reduction in body weight without extreme fasting; sufficient physical activity; avoid excessive loss of fluid or adequately replenish them; reduce stress; allow for sufficient sleep. With these conservative measures alone, you can minimise the risk factors for stone formation. Thus, only these conservative measures may be necessary to keep stone disease under control. However, a regular review and evaluation with a concerned specialist is extremely important to prevent an onset of complications. In conclusion, if you do have a urinary stone, it is important to get proper and prompt medical advice while adopting healthy dietary habits and lifestyle changes. So live healthy, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get stoned! n

INTERIORS/ EXTERIORS

Simply Manisha & Paul Chaddaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house in Nagoa is a judicious blend of brilliance and simplicity

An alumnus of the Goa College of Architecture, Arch Siddha D Sardessai casts an expert eye every month on distinctive and contemporary houses of Goa

visit to this beautiful villa at Jiya, Nagoa reminds one of a sublime interaction that is at once engaging and collaborative. Located about 15 kilometres from Panaji, Paul Chadda has made it his permanent address after shifting from the UK. The villa focuses on simple exteriors that result in a dramatised setting off of the elegant and charming interiors. The design concept takes shape from the foyer itself. Contributing to this warm welcome is a sleek and beautiful console and a square mirror with a silver leaf pattern. Two tall sleek uplights by the mirror add grace to this little foyer and prepares visitors to experience the house in all its glory. The home announces its simplicity almost instantaneously on entering. It draws attention to the far end of the living room that brings in the outdoors through its larger-than-life sized windows. The drawing room extends out onto a wooden deck which beckons one outside to experience the feeling of floating on water as it

Brilliant overlooks the swimming pool. The flooring of large vitrified tiles with its creamish shade and the little interventions of granite along the edges, window and door jambs create a perfect platform for the furniture elements to enhance their presence. The furniture has been customised by Benchcraft from Delhi. Paul recalls, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shifting base from London and making Goa our first home, we wanted to have a house that would live with the fundamental design principle of less is more.â&#x20AC;? The living room evokes a sense of the aesthetic principles of Zen and quiet opulence and is neatly segregated into the seating, dining and bar areas placed at the corners, giving it a very spacious feel. The seating area is dominated by a dash of turquoise among the creams in the central carpet and the pillows on the sofa. The vibrancy of this colour gels well with the

intricate design screens done behind the TV unit. The cove light lends character to the living space and brings in a sense of character and openness. The living area spills into the dining zone, where the six-seater dining table takes centre stage. The side cabinet divides the dining from the living. The dining table has a Mother of Pearl inlay pattern at the centre, and is accompanied by a set of chairs that complement the simplicity of the design. The two chandeliers and the long rectilinear mirror

add to the essence. While the dining area has been kept simple with basic colours, the bar is the cherry on the cake, its counter hosting two elaborately designed bar stools. The curvilinear shape of the stools breaks the monotony of the straight lines of the other furniture. The kitchen amid all its electronic gadgetries continues to carry the design theme into the scheme of things. The powder room done in Italian marble and with an inlay of dark-coloured marble in an elliptical pattern adds glamour to the space beyond. The Zen flavour persists in the glass and the SS handrail leading to the first floor above where the master bedroom and two other bedrooms are located. As you move along the stairs, the tall slit windows at the mid-landing level heightens the visual effect of the place. Family portraits adorn the wall at the first level along the corridor in front of the stairs. The daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bedroom is highlighted with dark pink-coloured wall paper at the backdrop of the bed. The white bed with a ledge that holds the stylish modern SS finished four-post impressively holds the pink drapes. A girlish character permeates this room with several pink carpets placed around the bed. An attached dresser leads to the toilet done in

whites and a brown border. Simple yet elegant furniture adorns the guest bedroom. The tall slit windows with Roman blinds set within the granite jambs add verticality to the room. A long corridor lined by the mirror-faced closet making for ample storage leads to the master bedroom. This closet craftily and unobtrusively lines the corridor. It makes more space available for the bed and the cosy little seating space. A large upholstered headboard along with the bedside table lamps conjure up a fuss-free decor peppered with subtly dramatic accents. The bathroom is truly international and could be a stand-alone showcase of design, especially with the use of Italian marble. It represents both modernism and eclectic aesthetics that reflect contemporary sensibilities. Selectively used materials and finishes anoint the rooms with varied auras. The living areas are well lit by the natural light freely flowing in through the huge glass windows. Achieving simplicity in design is not that simple, but one finds the seamless interiors created in this home inviting you to experience their brilliance. n

Paul, Manisha and Ishanika Chadda

COUTURE

On what’s haute in the world of fashion in Goa

Diksha Khanna, is a fashion designer who has worked in the fashion industry in India and the UK. A Graduate from NIFT, Delhi and a post graduate from the University of Leeds, UK, she has worked for couture label Bunmi Koko, London and domestic retail brands such as Globus and Giovani. She is currently based in Goa

46 The Little Black Dress with silver studs on the shoulders from Very, Panaji – similar in style to Preen’s power dress [Autumn/Winter 2010] on the opposite page – is perfect for that longawaited after-office party.

Power Dressing

Whether it was Halle Berry’s potent looks at the Golden Globe Awards 2011, or Bollywood divas at one of our many awards ceremonies, power dressing is the way to go

ower Dressing, which is intended to convey assertiveness and confidence, has become the hottest trend in town. The whole look exudes an aura of power and the added assurance that sets you apart from the crowd. With this bold, no-nonsense look, you will surely be a head-turner wherever you go – be it a corporate meeting or a formal dinner.

The concept of power dressing dates back to the early 80s, reflecting clothing styles favoured by business and politics in the US and the UK. This style was brought to the fore by influential and popular women such as the then UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Princess Diana, who both became style icons. The impact of power dressing was so captivating that women at various levels in the corporate hierarchy and politics started to imbibe certain of its elements in their wardrobe. It was now no more restricted to the elite and the crème de la crème of society. This unique style of dressing came to mean crisp, bold and confident. As Donna Karan, a celebrated American designer once put it: “We’ve come a long way. Power dressing now is designed to let

the woman inside us come through.” This season saw a huge comeback of 80s power dressing on the ramps of top international designers such as D&G, Preen and Jill Sandler, among others. For D&G, power had taken over the pretty, structured, sharp blazers that had replaced flowing, fairytale dresses. Donatella Versace redefined the term power dressing with her sexy leather pants and minidresses. It was most suited for a younger and bold clientele. n

TIPS FOR WOMEN POWER DRESSERS n Shoulder pads in dresses n Evening dresses with large embellished sleeves n Oversized jacket look, big lapels n Jewelled brooch; choose brooches according to the look you want to sport n Gold clutches with long chain handles n A colourful scarf on a plain black dress

AND FOR MEN

n Well-fitted power suit, slimmer cuts, neat finishes, lightweight fabrics n Right jacket length of the suit – just covering your butt n Do up right-top button in a two-button jacket and only the middle one in a three-buttonhole jacket n Accessories are important – tie clips and cufflinks n Flat-front trousers with hemline covering laceup of shoes, falling an inch above the welt of the shoe n Smart, polished leather shoes. And don’t forget the comfort level

Sosa’s multipanel linen dress can be teamed up with a big black suede bag, top

Blue linen top with black linen pants with elasticated waistband available at Sosas, Panaji, and is ideal for the casual power dressing look

HOMING IN A regular column by foreigners who have made Goa their home

Pic by Edric George

From the Bullet to

Kornelia’s Kitchen S

Blessed to live in Goa, German author Kornelia Santoro spills the beans on her experiences and her take on the ‘lost’ Goan identity

ometimes I wonder why we live in Goa. Recently I drove my Maruti Zen across the Mandovi Bridge, when a car with a Goan number plate stopped in front of me. A passenger hopped out and dropped a bag of garbage into the river. This makes me mad, but not for long. At the end of every journey I turn into the lane leading to our home. Buffaloes are grazing in the paddy fields. A friendly neighbour greets me. The television shows the freezing temperatures in Europe, while a lush breeze ruffles the leaves in the teak trees surrounding our house. Then I feel blessed to be allowed to live in Goa. I came to Goa for the first time in 1986 during a holiday. Everything looked very different then. There were hardly any beach shacks. We were happy with potato bhaji and bread for breakfast. Behind the outhouse piggies were waiting for a snack. I left with a sun tan and did not come back for many years. My life as a newspaper journalist kept me busy in Germany and I spent my holidays exploring new places. My 30th birthday arrived and I realised I was standing at a crossroads in my life: career or children? I wanted to have time to enjoy my baby – and I still needed the man to start a family with. At the same time I could not imagine being only a housewife and mother. Then a friend invited me to stay with her in Goa. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the international community of people. On my last evening I sat on the steps of a porch watching the sunset, while two men discussed the prices of Enfield bullets. An epiphany struck me. I decided there and then to take a sabbatical from my job, to buy a motorbike and to travel through India while pondering my future. In January 1994 I became the proud owner of an Enfield Bullet. I was struggling for weeks

to learn how to deal with this metal monster. I don’t know how many times I arrived at a chai shop, had my tea and then desperately kicked the Bullet. In the end I had to ask one of the guys to start my bike. Finally, I mastered the kick start and explored India on my own, which left me with treasured memories. At the end of the two years I returned to Goa. When I crossed the border I felt like coming home. A few weeks later I met my future husband Alberto. We fell in love and to start a family was the next natural step. We thought that Goa, the place where we met, would be a fine place to raise a child: sunshine all year round, fresh air and plenty of beaches to enjoy the sun and the sea. Luckily, my husband is a man of independent means so we didn’t have to worry about making a living. In 1997 we got married in Milano and settled in Goa. In 1999 our son Valentino arrived and has spent most of his life here. We still enjoy living in Goa, although it has changed dramatically – garbage is strewn over almost every square metre of the country. We shifted from the northern beach belt to Sangolda, which reminds us of the villages from yesteryear. We hardly ever go to the beach anymore. We prefer hotel swimming pools and their beaches now. They are clean and protected from hawkers and mass tourists. When my son joined school I wanted to express myself in a creative way again. I started painting, but I also felt like writing. Luckily I have an observant husband with great ideas. From childhood I love cooking. I collect cook books and I love to watch cooking shows on television. However, Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver use ingredients I still cannot find in Goa or they cost a fortune. Hearing me grumbling, my husband suggested three years ago, “why don’t you write your own cook book? Just describe everything you prepare for us”.

I presented my concept for Kornelia’s Kitchen to the Goa Writers club who gave me great feedback and support. “But we want to see your personality in the book. We want to know about your personal experiences in the kitchen”, they told me. To my ‘kitchen adventures’ I added information about the nutritional value of ingredients. Over the course of two years, my cook book took shape. On December 21, 2010, Kornelia’s Kitchen – Mediterranean Cooking For India was launched at Literati in Calangute. The honorary consul of Italy, Antonio Dal Negro, confirmed in his speech that my recipes are genuine and reflect the taste of the Mediterranean cuisine. The honorary consul of Germany, Cecilia Menezes, spoke about food being an expression of culture. Obviously there is a big interest in cross-cultural subjects. More than 100 people came to my book launch, which made me very happy. I believe Goa could develop into an exciting hub for art and literature. I gladly add to the cultural exchange, which seems to bother many people. Many times I read complaints about the lost Goan identity. I cannot relate to this. The world keeps on changing. An identity is an abstract idea, which is brought into existence by everybody’s actions and attitudes. What Goa really needs is a solution for the garbage crisis. Crying only for the government to deal with this problem does not help. In our home we separate the garbage. Organic waste is thrown into a hole dug into the earth and turns over a couple of months into fresh ground – without any help from us. We separate paper, plastic and metal and send it for recycling, the rest we burn. This is not the perfect solution, but it is better than littering the environment. I am an optimist and I believe that change for the better is possible. I believe in love, peace and harmony. n

HOSPITALITY

A column which reviews the best hotels in Goa

O INDULGE

Sinead McManus has lived and worked in Goa for the last five years. She lives in Canacona, South Goa, but her job entails travelling extensively around India, promoting the country to the British/American Travel Trade and to the independent traveller

THE Daring, different, and exciting, The O Hotel Goa in Candolim offers visitors the finest levels of hospitality and service

Its X Factor:

The location

ositioned next to one of Goaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular landmarks, the Kingfisher Villa, you will find The O Hotel Goa centred on Candolim beach in north Goa. Opened in 2009, the 18-month-old property boasts much more than a hotel experience with multiple activities for all age groups, coordinated trips and beach activities coupled with gourmet food and a variety of restaurants.Conceived by owners Neelam and Anil Seolekar of the Oxford Group in Pune, The O Hotel Goa has a fashionable and chic elegance that attracts all senses of design, colour, lighting, art and music. The striking, fashionable and bold interiors are the concepts of Les Harbottle, the famous South African interior designer. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;a a 42 km drive from the airport and we were welcomed by a team of staff colourfully dressed and presented with equally vibrant orchids and mocktails. Addressed by our

names (mine always being a handful), the staff accompanied us to the reception area unusually positioned at the back of the hotel. We were driven there in a golf buggy, a novelty that immediately lifted our spirits. As the Penthouse Suite was reserved for us, we had the wonderful experience of occupying it for the next couple of days. Truly regal, it hosts a large living room overlooking our own private pool, a dining room and a bedroom with a large four poster bed with a heavenly mattress. Extravagant to say the least! To suit various budgets, there is a choice of different categories of rooms. These include the O Court Yard with its beautifully designed ground floor rooms, opening into the central courtyard; O Deluxe – on the first floor, larger, with more spacious rooms and O View Suites – a suite with an unending view of the Arabian sea, the best location to watch the most spectacular sunsets. The O Hotel Goa offers different areas of rich and appealing dining experiences. Although the Harajuku Restaurant was not

opened during our stay, it boasts of being the only authentic Pan Asian restaurant in Goa that includes Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Malaysian and Vietnamese food. So on offer was, Kitsch, their all-day dining restaurant serving a la carte and buffet meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a live display kitchen offering the freshest meals during your stay. An aesthetic décor surrounded by tranquil water bodies heightens the dining experience imparting a truly resort feel. Then there is Adda – the seasonal restaurant on a wooden deck with views of the pool and lawns on one side and the breathtaking ocean on the other. The O Spa is the answer to a tired mind, body and soul. For some unabashed pampering, there are three well-equipped treatment rooms with professional therapists at your service. Dr Jaanavi S Prabhudesai, who runs the spa backed by 10 years of experience in Ayurvedic medicine and healing techniques, says, “Perfection of details during therapy is the key ingredient at Saatmya O Spa.” The O Hotel is for the discerning business

We at The O believe in creating drama in everyday life. A sense of theatre is created traveller but it also offers just the right mix of peaceful relaxation and buzzing activities that all goes into making a fabulous holiday for one and all. n

WELLNESS A regular column featuring the great spas of Goa

Parineeta Sethi is the publisher and editor-in-chief of ‘AsiaSpa India’, ‘Asia Pacific Boating India’, ‘Millionaire Asia India’ and ‘Selling World Travel’. She is an authority on spas and has closely followed the spa culture in Goa

Bask in

Oriental splendour Look good and feel good at Snip Salons and Spas

The Tamarind Slush stands out as an ultimate detox body polish that flushes out all accumulated toxins, while the best-selling Balinese massage is both soothing and firm. The Stone Crop Facial for anti-pigmentation, the Coconut Facial for brightening and the Quince Ice Wine treatment to combat ageing are the other popular options. Snip ensures its clients keep coming back for more by personalising every service and handpicking the best of therapists. And it’s not just about service, it uses only the best quality products, stressing on 100 per cent organic treatments which emphasise the use of tropical fruits. With more outlets set to open soon, Snip is looking forward to a pan-India presence, bringing its luxurious ‘sanctuary for the senses’ to many more clients. n

hen it opened shop in 1998, the Snip Salons and Spas was meant only to be a funky hair care place catering to upbeat young, yuppie clientele. But over a decade, Snip Salons has blossomed into a full-fledged spa offering an exotic mix of Oriental treatments matching international standards. The Spa has its own distinctive stamp at all the three stand-alone units in Goa and Mumbai and five outlets in star hotels. The heady Oriental influence can be seen and felt throughout the spas, both in décor and treatments. Although Snip Salons stick to its wide range of Ayurvedic offerings, but extends its range of Asian treatments to Thai, Indonesian, and Chinese variants. It has also the distinction as one of the first spas in the country to use original Hungarian products. With 14 suites, the Calangute unit in Goa is the largest of the three stand-alones by Snip Salons and Spas. Twelve of the suites are fully self-contained with wet steam and showers. There are two luxury couple suites too. It has a separate Friends and Family suite containing three treatment beds and a skin clinic, apart from the six reflexology recliners and five stations dedicated to L’Oreal’s exclusive luxury hair care brand, Kérastase. Spread across 12 suites, the Panaji salon also has self-contained steam and shower rooms, along with the reflexology and Kérastase stations. Snip Salons and Spas has spread its stress-busting fingers to Mumbai as well, with six self-contained suites and three dedicated to Shiatsu and Thai treatments, ensconcing customers from the hustle and bustle of the city. The spa’s internationally trained stylists ensure clients are pampered with beauty treatments, massages, even blow- dries and hair colouring. Most specialise in at least three colours, leaving you completely at ease, without any fear you might be beyond recognition. A round of treatments at the spa promises to keep you at your vibrant best thanks to invigorating massages, reviving scrubs and exfoliants, anti-ageing facials as well as manicures and pedicures.

Our design

influence has always been

Oriental, or Far-Eastern. Buddhism and a spiritual inclination is often noticed in our accents and décor – Archana & Sumeet Bhobe Directors

GOAN CUISINE

A monthly column offering the best of Goan food and drink

Festive Feast

This month we celebrate two festivals – Mahashivrathri, observed with the fasting delicacy of Kanaga Ani Sabudana Kheer and Holi, a time just right for Puran Poli

Chef Deepa Awchat, originally from Mapusa, is the co-founder of ‘Goa Portuguesa’, ‘Culture Curry’ and ‘Diva Maharashtra’, Mumbai’s popular, award-winning restaurants. She is also the author of ‘The Goa Portuguesa Cookbook’ deepaawchat@ goaportuguesa.com

Kanaga Ani Sabudanyachi Kheer 56

(Sweet Potato Sago Pudding) Ingredients

2 soup bow ls

Sweet potatoes .................... 250 gms (4 medium) Sago ..................................... 1 ½ tsps Ghee...................................... 1 tsp Milk ...................................... ½ litre (2 cups) Sugar .................................... ¾ cup Cardamom powder ............... ¼ tsp Raisins ................................. 1 tbsp Cashew nuts ......................... 10

Method

Wash and soak the sago for six hours in two tablespoons of water and keep aside.

Boil, peel and cut the sweet potatoes into small half-inch thick pieces.

Heat the ghee in a pan, add the boiled sweet potatoes, sauté for two minutes and set aside.

Boil the milk in a pan until it reduces to three-fourth of its original quantity. Add the soaked sago and cook for about five minutes until transparent. Add the sugar, potatoes, cardamom powder, raisins and cashew nuts and cook on a medium flame stirring continuously for five minutes.

Serve hot or cold.

Puran Poli

Pork Sorpotel

Makes 10

Serves 4

Ingredients

Ingredients Boneless pork ................................600 gms Pork liver .......................................160 gms Ginger-garlic paste ........................1 tbsp Turmeric powder ............................1 tbsp Oil ...................................................2 tbsps + ½ cup Dried red chillies.............................12 Cloves .............................................15 Black peppercorns ..........................20 Cinnamon .......................................1 two-inch stick Cumin seeds....................................1 tsp Vinegar ..........................................4 tbsps Chopped onions ..............................2 large Palm feni (optional) ........................2 tbsps Tamarind pulp ...............................2 tbsps Sugar .............................................2 tsps Salt to taste

NOTE

Method

This is a Goan version of the Brazilian Sarapatel, a stew cooked by African slaves, made of organ meats, and the parts of the pig that were usually discarded like the tail and ears. Sarapatel was based on Sarrabulho, a Portuguese stew of mixed meats and vegetables

Cut the pork into large pieces and cook with ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder and salt in two litres of water for 20 minutes. Add the liver and cook for another ten minutes. Remove the pork and liver from the stock and set aside. Retain the stock. Cut the partially-cooked pork and liver into half-inch cubes. Heat two tablespoons of oil in a pan and stir-fry the red chillies, cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon and cumin seeds until fragrant. Grind all the spices together with vinegar to a fine paste. Add a little water if required. Heat half a cup of oil in a pan and sauté the onions until they change colour. Add the pork and liver cubes and ground spice paste and stir-fry for five minutes. Add the reserved stock and cook over a medium heat until the pork is tender. Stir in the feni, tamarind pulp, sugar and salt to taste. Cook for another two minutes. Serve hot with sannas or pao.

2 3 4 5

For Filling Split Bengal gram (channa dal) ..........2 cups (400 gms) Grated jaggery .....................................2 cups (400gms) Turmeric powder ..................................¼ tsp Cardamom powder ..............................1 tsp Nutmeg powder...................................1 tsp Outer Cover Wheat flour ..........................................1 cup (130 gms) Refined flour (maida) ..........................1 cup (130 gms) Oil ........................................................½ cup (70 ml) Salt to taste Accompaniments: Pure ghee or milk

Method

1 2

Wash and soak the split Bengal gram for an hour. Boil, strain and keep aside. Heat a hollow pan, add the boiled split Bengal gram and jaggery, and cook on a medium flame until the jaggery melts. Keep stirring until the split Bengal gram is soft and mashed and the mixture is dry. Add cardamom and nutmeg powder, and mix well. This mixture is called puran. Make balls of the puran, which are double the size of lemons and set aside. Mix refined flour, wheat flour, salt and oil, and make a soft

3 4

Sanna

(Steamed Rice Cakes) Method

Makes 14-1 6

Soak the split black gram in water. Cover overnight or for at least eight hours. Drain and grind with enough water to a fine paste. Set aside. Soak the semolina in four cups of water for two hours. Mix the ground paste, semolina, salt and enough water to make a thick batter. Leave the batter to ferment for eight hours. Grease the surface of each sanna (rice cake) and mould

2 3

NOTE Puran poli can also be served with milk. (Make small pieces of puran poli and soak it in a bowl of milk)

dough by adding water. Knead well to make it soft. Make small lemon-sized balls of this dough and roll out into four-inch pancakes (puris). Place each puri on a flat surface, place the puran ball in the centre and cover it on all sides. Flatten it on your palm. Sprinkle some refined flour and with the help of a rolling pin, roll it into a round chapatti. Heat a flat frying pan and on a medium flame and roast the puran polis on both sides until light brown Apply pure ghee on it and serve hot.

5 6

7 8

Ingredients Split black gram ............. 1 cup Rice semolina ................. 2 cups Salt to taste with a little oil. Pour the batter into each mould until half full (do not fill the mould NOTE to the brim). Sannas dipped into sweet coconut Steam the milk flavoured with sanna for cardamom powder are a Goan favourite. Sannas 15 minutes. are the traditional accompaniment to Serve hot.

sorpotel

BIZ NOTES

Dempos to set up shipyard in Gujarat

he chairman of Dempo Group of Companies, Shrinivas V Dempo signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Gujarat government to set up a modern shipyard in the state with a total investment of Rs 750 crore. The MOU was signed at the recently held the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The shipyard, spread over an area of about 100 acres, will be located in the Marine Shipbuilding Park to be developed by the Gujarat government near Dahej. This initiative is a part of the group’s vision to expand shipbuilding activities beyond the shores of Goa. It aims to cater to both international and domestic markets with bigger and technologically advanced vessels and to become one of the most prominent shipbuilding companies in India.

Dempo Group chairman Shrinivas V Dempo receives the MOU certificate from chief minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi

AQUAriva by Gucci wins award for Best Boat

ell-known London-based English magazine Wallpaper has awarded Aquariva Gucci the very best ‘creations’ of 2010. This award is awarded for excellence in innovation and quality, contributing to improve lives in many different

ways. Among the Italian icons that received an award is the outstanding yacht Aquariva Gucci, resulting from a unique working relationship between two of the most famous Italian design houses, Riva and Gucci, and Officina Italiana Design, the designers who created the original Aquariva in 2000. Aquariva Gucci was, in fact, selected among the top creations to set a trend in 2010 according to the prestigious English magazine, winning first prize in the Best Boat category. In India, Aquariva Gucci is retailed by Marine Solutions, one of the country’s premier leisure boating companies based in Mumbai and the only firm offering exclusive yacht berths and services at their yacht station in Britona, Goa. The managing director of Marine Solutions Anju Dutta was certain that this yacht would be an instant hit among the boating and cruising enthusiasts in Goa.

Chintamanis set to hold jewellery exhibition in state

hintamanis, one of the country’s most respected and trusted premium jewellery retailers, is showcasing their latest Jewellery at an exhibition to be held from March 10 – 12 at Hotel Mandovi, Panaji. The exhibition in Margao will be held from March 14 – 15 at Hotel Nanutel. Chintamanis’s gold and diamond jewellery designs range from traditional to contemporary and caters to diverse consumer tastes. Every piece of jewellery is hallmarked and diamond jewellery is certified, assuring quality, caratage and long term value. With a professional in-house design team, the group also deals in high value solitaires and premium gemstones. Chintamanis has received several awards over the years for its innovative creations. They have also won two national jewellery awards by All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation, one for the best uncut diamond ‘Jadau Jewellery’ and one for innovative marketing in association with Maharashtra Times. Founded in 1979 by Arun Kaigaonkar, the group has three outlets in Mumbai – a flagship outlet in Prabhadevi, one in Borivali and another at Vaishali Jewellers, Girgaum. It also has an outlet in New Jersey, USA.

BIZ NOTES GHRSSIDC holds Gandhi Shilp Crafts Bazaar

he Goa Handicrafts, Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited (GHRSSIDC) recently organised a Gandhi Shilp Crafts Bazaar at GTDC grounds in Baga. This is Goaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest all-India handicrafts exhibition sponsored by the Development Commission, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and was inaugurated by Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik in the presence of the GHRSSIDC chairman Sameer Salgaoncar. The ten-day exhibition showcased and sold a diverse range of items fashioned by artisans from across the country.

Manga the new hot spot at Arpora

anga, a restaurant offering Oriental cuisine, is the latest in the line-up of newly launched restaurants in the state. Located near Sun Village hotel, Arpora, Manga is an initiative of the de Souza Group. The fine dinning restaurant combines elements of classical Japanese, Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese cuisines with unique ingredients. The courtyard is designed around a magnificent and old mango tree, hence the name Manga, which translates to mango in Portuguese. The layout provides each guest with the utmost intimacy and privacy as the tables are spread out around the massive tree. Dim lighting adds to the romantic ambience. Manga is designed by Reginald Goveas, a Goan from the south, who has interpreted a Balinese inspiration with real flair and placed it in Baga-Arpora. The concept was developed by Anna Hayden who was born in New Zealand and brought up in Japan. She has 12 years of experience in restaurants in Australia and New Zealand and is the manager of the restaurant.

Exclusive TBZ & Sons jewellery expo held 60

ribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri & Sons (TBZ), Opera House from Mumbai recently held a hand-crafted and designer jewellery exhibition. The three-day exhibition at Hotel Fidalgo in Panaji was inaugurated by Dr Pramod Salgaocar in the presence of managing director of Geno Pharmaceuticals Dilip Salgaocar, CMD of TBZ & Sons Pratap Zaveri, director Chaitanya Zaveri and Rohit Kapadia. For the benefit of South Goa, the exhibition was also showcased at Hotel Nanutel in Margao. Synonymous with exquisite gold and diamond jewellery, TBZâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s range of artistic and trend-setting jewellery was skillfully juxtaposed with various precious stones like diamonds, rubies, emerald and pearls.

Dr Pramod Salgaocar inaugurating the Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri & Sons expo at Hotel Fidalgo in Panaji. Also present are Geno Pharmaceuticals managing director Dilip Salgaocar, managing director of TBZ & Sons Pratap Zaveri and director Chaitanya Zaveri

BIZ NOTES MPT Trade Meet in Belgaum

ormugao Port Trust is making a distinct effort to transform into a multi-commodity port from a mono-commodity one,” the chairman P Mara Pandiyan, IAS, said while addressing a trade meet in Belgaum. “In the process, the organisation is initiating a number of measures including the development of various port infrastructure projects such as WOB iron ore terminal with a capacity of 7.2 million tonnes, an import coal terminal at Berth No 7 by M/s Adani Group with a capacity of 5 million tonnes and the mechanisation of coal handling at Berth No 11. A container terminal, multi-cargo berth and an oil berth have also been planned in the Vasco bay,” he added. The trade meet was organised by MPT at Belgaum in association with the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belgaum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCC). Others present on the occasion included deputy chairman Biplav Mumar, BCCI president Jaidip Siddannavar, JT commissioner (Commercial Taxes) Ajay Nagabhushan, IAS, A S Rao Chief Freight Traffic Manager South Western Railway, and CONCOR Group GM Vasudev Rao. Pandiyan assured the Captains of Industry of Belgaum that the trade meet was an opportunity to develop a oneto-one relationship and a personal rapport with them, while initiating a single window system. He also stressed that he would be personally available to solve any problems. With Dharwad becoming a huge industrial hub with the starting

of the new Tata bus-building venture in Belgaum, MPT is looking forward to collaborating with Tata regarding the export of these vehicles. Accessibility will also be improved along with the clearing up of bottlenecks following the widening of the Goa-Belgaum highway into a four-lane road. In his presentation, the Traffic Manager of MPT N Vaiyapuri suggested that MPT intended to increase awareness of its various facilities and projects along with the benefits of using the port by potential importers, exporters and other users in the hinterland of northern Karnataka and south Maharashtra. MPT port users Meera Kumar of M/s Aspinwal and Co Ltd and Amit Kamat, president of CHA Goa, made presentations for the industry at the trade meet, which ended with an interactive session.

Trainers’ Association Inc inaugurated

rainers’ Association Inc was inaugurated at the hands of Chief Secretary, Government of Goa Sanjay Shrivastava at an impressive ceremony in Panaji. Speaking on the occasion, Shrivastava appealed to the trainers to meet up to the challenges before the community. In his keynote address, Fr Romauld D’Souza highlighted the case of education drop outs. He called upon the gathering to proactively commit to the cause of empowerment through education. The

Managing Director of EDC, W V Ramana Murthy extended the full support of the EDC to the initiative of empowering the human resource in the state. The Trainer Icon award was presented to Fr Romauld D’Souza while entrepreneur Charlton Collaco received the Successful Shisya Award. The function started with the screening of training videos. The website and brochure of the association were also launched on the occasion. Founder President of the Association,

Pravin Sabnis welcomed the gathering while the secretary, Samir Kapdi proposed the vote of thanks. Senior Trainers KPM Rajan, Kishore Shah, Z H Zaidi, Somu Rao, Carlos D’Sa, Anil Tendulkar and others were present on the occasion. The Trainers’ Association Inc is a forum for trainers, coaches, presenters, facilitators, moderators, educators and resource persons to interact, collaborate and enhance their skills through a forum for sharing, learning and evaluation.

BIZ NOTES Wockhardt launches Aadhar Card for seniors

USI Wockhardt Hospital recently launched Aadhar Card, a revolutionary initiative to provide healthcare facilities for the well-being of senior citizens at a privileged price. The privileged card was launched by chief guest, speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly Pratapsingh Rane, along with famous Indian music composer Anthony P Gonsalves, eminent writer and social worker Madhavitai Dessai and senior medical fraternity Dr Filipe Neri da Piedade Correia. Also present were senior Wockhardt officials including head of NUSI Wockhardt Hospital Arvind Bhagania, national head marketing Naveen Sharma and head Goa and Maharashtra Murali Rao.

The head of NUSI Wockhardt Hospital Arvind Bhagania said, “The launch of the Aadhar Card is a small gesture from the hospital towards the social commitment for the welfare of the elderly.” The salient features include 15 per cent benefit on health checkup packages, OPD consultations and OPD non-invasive investigations. A free ambulance service within the state, interactive health lectures – by super specialist doctors – with the objective of keeping senior citizens aware of the preventive and curative aspects of healthcare. It will also cover a special benefit of ten per cent on basic hospitalisation charges (surgical packages), special benefit of ten per cent on room rent, including ICU stay and special benefit on IPD diagnostics.

New LIC office at Margao

he Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has opened a new Senior Business Associate (SBA) office in Margao. PWD minister Churchill Alemao inaugurated the latest addition to the national firm’s burgeoning activities at Aquem, Margao. According to LIC’s marketing manager B Mahji, the office is the company’s ninth Life Plus authorised premium collection and help centre outlet in Goa. The centre is owned by LIC Curchorem development officer and SBA Dayanad Desai, who has around 15,000 clients in force with 52 leading agents in his organisation. Others present on the occasion included LIC Goa division senior divisional manager A K Madhankar, LIC manager for sales Agnelo Pacheco, development officer Dayanand Desai and Kiran Desai, as well as LIC branch manager Purshotam Kunkolikar.

Hotel Fidalgo to host Malaysian Food Festival

otel Fidalgo, Panaji, in association with Malaysian Tourism, Mumbai and Malaysian Airlines are set to launch the Malaysian Food Festival from March 11 – 20 happening for the first time in Goa. Vice president of Hotel Fidalgo Vivek Pathiyan came up with the idea of launching a Malaysian food festival and approached deputy director of Malaysian Tourism, Mumbai Zulkifli Mohammed to launch Malaysia in Goa. Renowned award-winning chef Hammid Mohammed Sharif and chef Mohamad Bin Arshad, popularly known as chef Matt or the ‘Flying Chef’ will be the men behind creating delicious Malaysian fare at a live cooking station. A dance troupe from Malaysia will entertain visitors during the festival, which will be held at O Goa Restaurant at Hotel Fidalgo.

BIZ NOTES LG branding at Carnival 2011

G, a world leader in consumer electronics, used this year’s Carnival celebrations as part of a major branding exercise with three floats as part of the parade in Panaji and Margao. The company created a headturning ‘LG In Wonderland’ float with life-sized colourful flowers, while another brought the cricket fever to life with a moving cricket stadium. The third was beautifully ornamented with carnival elements and also showcased its state-ofthe-art electronic products. All were adorned with carnival elements. LG was also the lead sponsor of the Red, Black and Gold Dance organised to celebrate the success of the carnival at Mandovi Riviera.

New location for The Bombay Store

mble through the streets of the city and one is bound to discover The Bombay Store. Now relocated on S V Road, opposite the old passport office, the store offers an array of products catering to locals as well as tourists. Take your pick from among an exquisite collection of artifacts and gifts, apparel, wellness, bed and bath items, tableware and fashion. It also promises to house a special stationery corner with eco-friendly and handmade products. Other than artifacts and stationery, The Bombay Store will also showcase a wide

variety of mellow fragrances of tea, herbs and pot pourri. A select range of wellness products derived from Indian herbal essences are also available. The tableware collection showcases exquisite designs, which blend Indian traditions with contemporary art to liven up your home. The Bombay Store houses products between the price range of Rs 50 to Rs 20,000. Indian patriots and businessman like Lokmanya Tilak and Sir Ratanji Jamshedji Tata among others, conceived Bombay Swadeshi Co-Op Stores Co Ltd, which came into existence in 1906. It became the first retail organisation

to be listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. The brand was rechristened The Bombay Store in December 1995. It currently operates out of 14 outlets – the flagship store on Sir P M Road, along with others at Inorbit, Malad; Inorbit, Vashi; High Street Phoenix; Triose Mall, Lonavala; MG Road, Pune; Ishanya, Pune; Panaji, Goa; Indiranagar, Bangalore; Novotel Hotel at Hyderabad Airport; GMR Hyderabad International Airport’s domestic and international terminals and at Mumbai domestic terminal with a new addition at Prozone Mall, Aurangabad.

VIVA GOA DIARY

Bhiplav Kumar appointed as new dy chairman at MPT

iplav Kumar, IRTS, took over as the new deputy chairman of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) on February 18, appointed by the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India. Prior to joining the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) in 1992, he was the chairman and deputy chairman of Paradip Port Trust, Orissa. He held several distinguished posts in both, the railway and port sectors. Prior to being appointed as deputy chairman of Paradip Port, Kumar was director Tourism under the Ministry of Railways. He has held important positions in the railways, including senior Divisional Commercial manager and director of Tourism and Catering. Kumar has received national awards, including awards conferred by the Railway Minister in 2007 for excellence in performance in individual capacity.

Goan architect elected as treasurer of Indian Society of Landscape Architects

Goan artists display work at Gitanjali

he Gallery Gitanjali in Fontainhas recently organised the Goan Kaleidoscope 2011, bringing together 36 creative minds in an eclectic mix of established and promising Goan artists. With varied themes and concepts, each artist put forward a unique perspective to drive across a strong message – socio-political, environmental, theological or philosophical. Artists including Sadguru Chedvankar, Mohan Naik, Rajendra Usapkar, Harshada Kerkar,

Francis D’Souza, Suhas Shilkar, Conrad Pinto, Rajeshree Thakkar, Charudatta Prabhudessai, Viraj Naik, Yolanda D’souza, Rajesh Chodankar, Harsha Mandurkar, Nirupa Naik, Veenita Chendvankar, Vasudev Shetye, Vijai Bhandare, Praveen Naik, Kanhaiya, Chaitali & Santosh Morajkar, Shistah Thapar, Naguesh Sardessai, Loretti Pinto, Norman Tagore, Ramdas Gadekar, Kalidas & Kausalya Lotlikar, Ryan Abreu, Manjunath, Querozito D’Souza and Liesl Cotta and others showcased their work.

rch Manguesh R Prabhugaonker, a practicing landscape architect from Goa has been elected as honorary treasurer at the national executive council of the Indian Society of Landscape Architects (ISOLA) at the recently held elections in Ahmedabad. After completing a post-graduation in landscape architecture from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, he has been practicing as a landscape architect for the past 18 years. He played a vital role as convener at the recently held National Conference 2011 of ISOLA in Goa. The conference addressed several issues of landscapes and leveraging leisure through landscape designs. Prabhugaonker aims to nurture and enhance the profession of landscape architecture by providing leadership in the creation of artful design in the man-made, cultural and natural environments. Established in 2003, ISOLA has over 360 members both nationally and internationally. It aims to promote a high standard of professional service in application of the art and science of landscape architecture and design.

On a lucky date with Pankaj Advani

he Goa Marriott Resort was the ideal location for a romantic date on Valentine’s Day with Pankaj Advani, one of the best sports persons in the country. A table for two at the pool-side facing the beach, the world’s first grand double billiards champ, and mesmerising Goa at its best – Poornima Singh an anchor from Mumbai couldn’t have asked for more. She was excited

and equally surprised at her luck, as she was getting to meet Advani who she had only seen in the newspapers and on television.’The sports youth icon, winner of seven world titles and one of the most eligible bachelors in the country, was set-up on a blind dinner date with a lucky girl courtesy the Silver Lining Group, media partners – VIVA GOA and the venue partner – Goa Marriott Resort.

Advani is one of the youngest Padmashree and Khel Ratna award recipients and also the current reigning Asian Games champion. His good looks and charisma have already got his female-fan following list growing rapidly. This role model for the youth of our country has also sizzled on the ramp on numerous occasions – the last time being in Bangalore for Goa’s Wendell Rodricks.

Unique photography exhibition ‘BavarIndia’ at Kerkar Art Complex

hoomimal Gallery, New Delhi, in collaboration with the Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany in Goa organised a photography exhibition by Peter Müller and Walter Hoffmann called BavarIndia at Kerkar Art Complex, Calangute. The exhibition was inaugurated by Cecilia Menezes, Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Goa, in the presence of speaker Pratapsingh Rane and chairman of Bal Bhavan Vijayadevi Rane. BavarIndia is a joint photo project curated by Julia Ziegelmaier in which the two photographers from Munich, who met not in their home city but in Goa, combine their work from Bavaria – beautiful southern Germany with mountains, lakes and picturesque villages and the subcontinent of India – inexhaustible, mystical and relentless. Visitors experienced powerful images from both hemispheres – free from obsessive matching but always opening the doors of perception, learning and understanding.

HAPPENINGS

Beats at Marbela Beach Marbela Beach Resort, the perfect concoction of laid-back luxury, situated on Morjim beach, was the place to ring in Valentines Day this year with the Absolut Valentines prelude. The party at sunset got off to a magical start with singers and songwriters Bess and Georgiana, followed by DJ Andre from Russia jamming with percussionist Ajay Gulati and Remo Fernandes for a spontaneous session. World-renowned DJ, Cheb I Sabbah rocked and everyone hit the sand dancing. All round, a great night for entertainment. Remo Fernandes

Radhika & Akash Timblo

Dino, Sinead, Damian & Chris

Silvester & Matasha

DJ Cheb I Sabbah

Jaydeep Rajebhosale

Shaan Spins at Shanti

DJ Shaan & Ajay Gulati

After his successful debut at Sunburn Goa 2010 and becoming the youngest DJ to perform at the international Electronic Dance Festival, Shaan, the son of Nayana and Shailedra Singh of Percept, was recently spotted spinning tracks at Shanti, a lounge shack on Ashvem beach. The 16-year-old DJ mesmerised the crowd with an impressive set of tracks – slower numbers meant for day parties – compared to the music played at Sunburn. DJ Sashanti, the owner, as well as DJs Remund and Guido also set the mood at the event. Sipping cocktails and soaking in the sun, both locals and tourists let their hair down, grooving to Shaan’s beats.

Harinder & Shailendra Singh

DJ Sashanti

Aneel Verman & Lyndon Alves

Rajeev Samant

What a Night! – The Times Food and Nightlife Awards Goa

Digambar Kamat presenting the award for Best Italian to IL Camino of Vivanta by Taj, Fort Aguada

In an impressive awards ceremony held at Vivanta by Taj Holiday Village, Sinquerim, the best of Goa’s restaurants and hotels, along with its clubs were presented with The Times Food and Nightlife Awards. Attended by around 400 guests, the event featured 21 food stalls offering world cuisines. It was attended by Vineet Jain, the MD of the Times of India Group, while the important guests for the evening were chief minister Digambar Kamat, tourism minister Nilkant Halankar, leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar, chairman of EDC Agnello Fernandes, besides CEOs of several hotels. Actor Arshad Warsi lent his grace along with current winners of Femina Miss India. Stand-up comedian Ash Chandler kept spirits high and had the audience in stitches with his one-liners.

Delhi Darbar directors Ashwani and Raja Nayyar receive the award for Best Indian Food from Nilkanth Harlankar

Sanjay Shrivastava presenting the award for Best World Cuisine to Cidade de Goa GM Neeta Sen and Executive Chef Prasad Paul

Prashant Joshi

Shilpa Deshpande

Pratima & Gaurish Dhond

Neelam & Anil Siolekar

Manohar Parrikar

Vineet Jain

Agnelo Fernandes

Emiliano D’Cruz

Pavithran Nambiar

Harshita Saxena

Rajenda Talak & Priyanka Bidiye

Natasha & Carlos Ferreira

Pankaj Joshi

Pallavi and Vinata Naik

Murad

Priya Verlekar

Gurudas & Anita Kamat

Thelma Moses

HAPPENINGS

Footloose

Pallavi Dempo & Abhishek Soman

The Xtremers Academy, a team of dance instructors, brought Dancewire 2011, one of the biggest dance concerts to Goa. The event at Kala Academy, sponsored by Goa Tourism Development Corporation, featured more than 500 students with executive director of The Navhind Times Pallavi Dempo as the chief guest. With an exciting lineup, they performed Merengue, Bachata, and Paso Doble among others. A fashion show for children was a highlight of the evening. Spectacular performances by the All India Salsa Champions and the All India B-Boying Champions had the audience enthralled with their charming dance moves

Jegatha Muralidharan & Abhishek Soman

AZ U R – The Big One!

Keziah & Arun Kaura

DJs Priyanjana and Ashton

Amey, Gitanjali, Sunith & Roshni

AZ U R, the transition lounge at the Goa Marriott Resort rolled out the heavy stuff to celebrate its one year anniversary on February 19. The party also marked the re-launch of the lounge’s sensational Saturday nights. DJs Ashton, Joel and Priyanjana had party-goers grooving to sensational beats. AZ U R is the social zone of the ‘Great Room’, a modern Marriott concept. This is essentially an attempt at transforming the erstwhile lobby area of the hotel into inviting, comfortable zones encouraging guests to linger for socializing, working or relaxing throughout the day. Robson Da Costa & Fiona Cardozo

Cris, Greg & Lorraine

VIVA GOA SPOTLIGHT Focusing on Goan achievers

GOAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NATIONAL BRAVERY AWARDEE

Uddesh Ramnathkar

Main pic by Edric George

chool was just out and Uddesh R Ramnathkar was taking his usual route home near the Ramnathi Temple in Ponda with his friends, without the slightest inkling of how subsequent turn of events would drastically alter his life. As they approached the lake, they spotted two boys thrashing around, hanging on for dear life. Without hesitation and with no regard for his own safety, Uddesh dove headfirst into the water, swimming towards the panicked children. He singlehandedly dragged out seven-year-old Omkar, and eight-year-old Ashok to firm ground. The two brothers were visiting the temple with their families when they ventured out naively to fish in the lake, which was ironically the same one Uddesh learned to swim in. Uddesh, who had saved their lives, was just a 12-yearold student of Sri Saraswati High School in Bandora, Ponda. Hailed as a hero, Uddesh was conferred with the National Bravery Award, 2009, for his selfless act of courage. In addition to a certificate, trophy and medal, he also received a cash award. Whisked off to Delhi for the Republic Day parade, he received the special award in the category of Physical Bravery of the 17th Godfrey Philips Bravery Awards for displaying exemplary courage and presence of mind. He was introduced to several VIPs including President Pratibha Patil, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and chief minister of Delhi Sheila Dixit, among others. Besides Uddesh, 21 youngsters received the awards that year. A boy who rescued over 50 people during a stampede in Himachal Pradesh and another from Gujarat who saved his father from a crocodile are stories that have left an imprint on Uddeshâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind. He now dreams of pursuing a career in software engineering. Given his intrepid temperament, we are sure he will succeed in this endeavour.