November 2010 by Shailesh Amonkar

GOA’S FIRST LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE VOL 1. NO 7. NOVEMBER 2010, RS 25

‘WE SHOULD MAKE THE BEST USE OF OUR QUALITIES’ DR DILEEP DEOBAGKAR

A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE MUSKAAN – A TRUST FOR PERSONS WITH CANCER

VILLAGE GETAWAY THE MAYFAIR HIDEAWAY SPA RESORT GOA

INDIA’S PREFERRED EVENT DESTINATION

EDITORIAL NOTE

here is something about Goa which has made it India’s top event destination. Its congenial atmosphere enhanced by the sunny disposition of our people are only a part of the answer. Supplementing this in recent years, has been a growing sense of professionalism in handling mega-events in the state. From the International Film Festival of India to major Indian classical music events, from national level exhibitions to sold-out pop and rock shows like the Indian Music Conference, Sunburn and the Big Chill, Goa has amply demonstrated its acumen and undoubted showmanship as the country’s preferred event destination. Goa is no longer just a tourist destination but now a top venue for popular entertainment shows as well as for exhibitions and national and international conferences and marts. These lesser known organizational skills as event managers and

Goa, India’s top event destination

Goa’s growing popularity as an event destination is what we hope to highlight in our cover story It is the kind of acumen reflected individually in the form of Agnello Oswin Dias, from Chinchinim, south Goa, who has made giant strides in advertising. We also have the privilege of featuring Muskaan in our new ‘Making A Difference’ column. NGO members, people with large hearts who have no ulterior motive other than the happiness of their fellow beings, must be appreciated. We invite readers to send us suggestions of NGOs they would like us to feature. Congratulations are also due to Goan novelist Margaret Mascarenhas for her latest award winning work ‘The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos’. Rejected by several myopic Indian publishers, the novel has found a truly international audience with its

READERS’ RESPONSE VIVA GOA is a magazine of substance. Congrats. I was very impressed with the column Legal Brief by Senior Advocate Atmaram Nadkarni. It had a great impact on my mind and I found it very important in the form of knowledge and necessary to reflect on, specially in a complicated surrounding of some people one is forced to be connected with. It sure helped me to understand things better and look at things from a real perspective. I was also impressed with your page Viva Goa Spotlight, a platform for young Goan achievers. I wish all the youngsters the very best in life and sincerely hope they set examples for generation next, which is now an important bench mark for a progressive world. Amita Quenim, Dona Paula

Kudos for this great effort aptly christened VIVA GOA. Each issue of your magazine is tastefully written and garnished with near to perfect photographs. And I guess this deadly combination makes it quite a good appetizer. However, I could not miss the sight of the

publication by a highly respected American publisher. We are also honoured to feature the dynamic Vice Chancellor of the Goa University Dr Dileep Deobagkar in our personalised ‘After Hours’ section. We are equally pleased to feature our ‘First Lady’ Neela Narvekar, Goa’s first Art of Living teacher, who has been spreading the good word of the world renowned guru and her guide and mentor Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Given the right encouragement, Goa can become the leisure boating capital of Goa, as we expound in our ‘Time Off’ section. We also wish bon voyage to Blue Ocean Cruises as soon as it embarks on it’s first Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai cruise, a voyage that will surely evoke memories of old sea journeys to Mumbai—only, of course, this trip will be a tad more comfortable. Finally, may we digress just a little in offering our

photographs in the Goan Cuisine section had been mixed up. The photograph for Torachi Uditmethi was placed in the column that contains the recipe for Moongacho Gathi and vice versa. I hope this observation will be taken in the right manner. Come the first week of every month, the barometer of excitement rises just to have a look at your magazine. The cover story is always the most desirable portion to read. Hope to see a great story next time. Nikita Pai, Panaji There is constant improvement in the quality and contents of VIVA GOA. The October issue is a lifestyle magazine of international standards. It is of interest to all, irrespective of their profession and age. Although the issue has stressed on Goan architecture, the other contents of the magazine are of great interest to the general public. Congratulations to the VIVA GOA team. Adv S N Joshi, via email

congratulations to Shrinivas Dempo on his hard-fought victory as President of the Goa Football Association. As such elections should be, it was a keenly contested one but we feel sure the future of Goan football is in safe hands—or should we say feet? Baba, as we affectionately call Shrinivas, has demonstrated good leadership skills right from school when he was named the Head Boy of Sharada Mandir School, 1985 batch. VIVA GOAN FOOTBALL! Viva Goa!

Kedar Dhume

This is one magazine my entire family looks forward to reading. A classy magazine presenting Goan culture and happenings! Chandrashekar M G Every month is an amazing cover with amazing write ups. Great job! Congrats to you and ur team. Dinesh Sinari Congrats on the magazine! Looks good… waiting to get my hands on the next issue. Roger Attlee VIVA GOA invites comments from its readers. Letters should be short and relevant and can be sent to editor@vivagoaonline.com. 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

COVER STORY

Event Zone Goa Goa has always attracted tourists for the usual reasons: fun, feni, Carnival and the New Year. Today, India’s smallest state has transformed itself into the country’s prime destination for events

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AFTER HOURS

LEGAL BRIEF

Dr Dileep N Deobagkar Vice Chancellor, Goa University

Solving Disputes Through Mediation By Advocate A N S Nadkarni

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GUEST COLUMN Viva Espana! By Arch Sunil Sardessai

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE From a ‘Pink October’ walk to spreading mass awareness to a new lease of life. That’s Muskaan in action - a trust for people afflicted with cancer

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FEATURE

The luxury cruise is no longer limited to the Caribbean and South East Asia or to the well-heeled tourist. Blue Ocean Cruises is determined to ride a new wave by introducing its Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai cruise

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VIVA GOANS

From the village of Sarzora in Chinchinim to Cannes, ad genius Agnello Dias has always had the inspiration and the resilience to go places

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HEALTH

Relieving the Agony of a Slipped Disc By Dr Shekhar Shirwaiker

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FIRST LADY

HOSPITALITY

Advocate Neela Navelkar Art of Living teacher

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INTERIORS/ EXTERIORS

Arch Siddha Sardessai on Venkatesh and Veena Prabhu Moni’s house in Salvador-do-Mundo reveals the grandeur of a palace

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FEATURE

Author Margaret Mascarenhas on her latest novel The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos, Goa’s literary scene and teaching art to prison inmates

CONTENTS

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GOAN CUISINE

Diwali Delights By Chef Deepa Awchat

VILLAGE GETAWAY THE MAYFAIR HIDEAWAY SPA RESORT GOA

INDIA’S PREFERRED EVENT DESTINATION

Editor & Publisher

Kedar N Dhume editor@vivagoaonline.com Principal Consultant

Shailesh M Amonkar Kemistry Media Solutions Pvt. Ltd. shailesh@kemistry.in Editorial Consultant

Manohar Shetty Assistant Editors

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

Nagesh Naik Kemistry Media Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Manager Advertising

Tamara Faleiro

Published by M/S Advertising Associates [Publication Division], 703, Dempo Trade Center, Patto Plaza, Panaji, Goa 403 001, INDIA Tel : +91 832 2438999

52 46 page 62 page 48 page64 page

HAPPENINGS

WELLNESS

Drawing up detailed maps for tourists and publishing property guides, the managing director of FindAll Goa, Tomoko Lobo has come a long way from her ancestral home in Hanawa, Japan

MUSKAAN – A TRUST FOR PERSONS WITH CANCER

circulation@vivagoaonline.com

HOMING IN

A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE

Satyawan Parsekar

HI-TECH

The Beach House By Parineeta Sethi

DR DILEEP DEOBAGKAR

Circulation

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‘WE SHOULD MAKE THE BEST USE OF OUR QUALITIES’

advertising@vivagoaonline.com Mob: +919850077993

The Mayfair Hideaway Spa Resort Goa By Sinead McManus

Choose a Tablet PC that’s Worth your Money By Raj Sinai Dempo

GOA’S FIRST LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE VOL 1. NO 7. NOVEMBER 2010, RS 25

BIZ NOTES

VIVA GOA DIARY

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VIVA GOA SPOTLIGHT

Savio Alemao & Sasha Saldanha

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

EVENT ZONE GOA

Goa has always a5racted tourists for the usual reasons: fun, feni, Carnival and the New Year. Today India’s smallest state has transformed itself into the country’s prime destination for events. From the Big Chill to the Sunburn Festival, from IFFI to Indian Classical music and dance soirees, from GoaFest to the latest new entrant Quantom with its ‘progressive trance music with a mystical twist’, Goa has rapidly taken centre stage. DIELLE D’SOUZA imbibes the state’s hospitable and enterprising spirit

t’s a sea of beautiful people moving in a synchronised wave to the sound of the speakers. There’s nothing more international than music, and festivals promoting that pulsating sound of electronic beats continue to plunge their hands deep into the seemingly bottomless pockets of rich yuppies. It all started with the flower people in the 1960s, bringing their carefree attitude, colourful clothing and altruistic ideals to Goa. A haphazard group of people dancing to the strains of the guitar and bongo on the beach soon expanded into a swarming crowd of youngsters hypnotised by electronica. “Goa has historically been a happy, fun, party, music destination,” says Lyndon Alves, director of travel and event management company Sunset Getaways Goa. “You walk down Fontainhas and you’ll see people sitting in a window playing the violin. This is part of life here. Our biggest offering is fun!” This fun and zing element is profusely evident in multi-hued ads in newspapers, the snazzy billboards and the endless reels of Bollywood movies shot here. They’re only lapping up what Goa is offering – a “365-days-on-a-holiday” destination, where you can leave your tedious office hours and mundane business behind. It’s an escape from big city life and a much cheaper place for students and young working people to let their hair down. International tourists too get a downsized and cheaper version of Ibiza or Thailand, only a short stop from the other exotic sights India has to offer. The Seafood Festival at Miramar, Bacardi Blast, The Big Chill Goa and Sunburn Festival were among the first to take beach parties in Goa to a whole new level. Bringing in international DJs and mimicking the set-up of similar parties in the west, the organisers suddenly discovered the egg laid by the proverbial goose. The state, blessed with natural beauty, vast open spaces and comparatively cleaner environs, was the perfect place for event companies to set up shop and consequently for music lovers to answer their calls. Says Nikhil Chinappa, Sunburn Festival director, “A music event makes a destination

THE BEGINNING

more exciting compared to other places and also boosts tourism.” The festival, held during the last three days before New Year’s Eve, ensures many tourists overlook expensive air tickets and hotel rooms to be part of the event. Tickets are sold out in a matter of minutes, with social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter providing a marketing boost. And with ticket prices in their thousands, it’s no wonder that Goa is now attracting a different kind of tourist to these large music festivals. “Some tourists, mostly the older ones or those with very young children, like to relax and spend a quiet vacation at the beach or in the hinterland,” explains Dr M Modassir, IAS, Goa’s Secretary, Tourism. “But many more, mostly the younger tourists – both domestic and international – want to have a good time, and music or art festivals attract them. They enjoy the beaches and the shacks too, but big festivals also play a major role in bringing them to Goa.” The senior bureaucrat, who has served Goa in various capacities, adds, “We are also giving special attention to promote MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) tourism, a new focus for Goa Tourism. This is in addition to promoting regular tourism involving beaches, churches and temples.” Organisers appear to be putting their last beads of sweat into making their respective events successful. While they become increasingly popular, a host of new ones are waiting in the sidelines for the perfect moment to unfurl their banners. “It takes a lot of time and effort to organise an event like Sunburn – from the infrastructure to making sure all the acts have their flights of preference, to moving men and machines, and organising traffic during the festival,” Chinappa says, adding that support from local partners and administration is very important. “We like Goa because people are very open to us, are very warm and welcoming, and are always a phone call away. This sort of thing doesn’t happen in Europe.”

DJ Ankytrixx (Ankit Kocher), who has been instrumental in organising progressive trance events in Nepal, has decided to kick-start his dream project in Goa. “I’ve been doing parties in Nepal for more than ten years,” he recounts. “We started off the electronic music scene in Nepal and we have flown down a lot of DJs. I thought Goa was another venue which could be interesting in January-February as Nepal is too cold to do anything at that time of year.”

QUANTUM LEAP

With Sejal Vohra, and three other partners, Kocher is planning Quantom, an annual progressive trance festival with a mystic twist. “We’re calling it Quantom – Mind, Body and Music, wherein ideally mornings will include a holistic touch,” says Vohra. “I’m trying to get therapists who can work with people on the spot. There will be yoga, meditation and alternative healing.” Kocher adds, “The music will start around noon and we’ll have tarot card readers, jugglers, a chill zone, magicians and fortune tellers.” To avoid the noise ban, these festivals are sticking to the sunshine, keeping it bright, open and loud, all while staying in the safe zone with the law. Typically beginning at around 10am, the parties are in full swing by the evening and culminate in a riot of laser lights and clinking glasses as the sun goes down. Revellers who still have energy left head to some of the more popular clubs for an after party. Other organisers have sought out metal

MUSICAL MIX 10

maniacs and lovers of relatively less popular music genres in Goa. Among those finding a niche in this market is the Indian Music Conference (IMC). Salama Yamini, director of planning and new business, is excited about the inaugural festival between November 17-20 in Arpora. “IMC is bringing together nearly all music genres under a single roof. People will witness different aspects of music in four days and everything related to music is invited and celebrated. It’s a brand new and never-seen-before concept in the Indian music scene. It’s going to be huge!” she exclaimed. More than 150 artists are due to perform at the festival under genres including funk, techno, house, trance, hip hop and rock. “Our vision is to make different genres of music popular in India. Unlike other music festivals which concentrate on a single genre of music, IMC has every type of music to cater to the diverse musical interests of the masses and ushers in networking priorities at most,” adds Yamini. “IMC is a sure-shot multi-dimensional venture which rounds up almost everything in the field of music – be it artistes, music producers, record labels, or instrument manufacturers.” IMC has dipped its finger into the Indian music scene to bring a taste of all that is musically Indian to Goa. “It brings to light a whole new world of music that is still untouched and undiscovered in the Indian music scene. We have made sure that our folk and classical music lives throughout the IMC,” says Yamini. But music festivals also come along with the tainted smear of drugs and alcohol abuse. While as Alves states “there’s no party without alcohol”, drug abuse seems to rear its menacing head every time New Year’s comes around. Only last year, a 23-year-old died of an alleged drug overdose at Sunburn, but organisers insist she had taken the illegal substances before entering the venue. “We maintain a zero tolerance of illegal activities,” says Chinappa vehemently. “Some people use music as an excuse to cover up the reason why they take drugs. These people need help. If you stop the music, it doesn’t

NO TO DRUGS

mean they will stop taking drugs.” Even with CCTV cameras and sniffer dogs, the faint sweet whiff of weed still taunts organisers. Alves adds, “If someone puts an Ecstacy tablet in his or her mouth outside the venue or hides it in their undergarments what can we do? We can’t be overly obtrusive and start physically checking people to that extent. We agree that there is a drug problem. But the solution is definitely not stopping people from watching sunsets or attending parties.” The huge influx of tourists means the government is left floundering in piles of traffic violations, increase in criminal assaults and a scarce security apparatus diverted to the needs of high-profile visitors. A senior government official, who requested anonymity, explains, “The government is doing its best to tackle the drug issue. Nobody can eradicate drugs completely, not even a superpower like the US, but I think we have reduced substance abuse in the state considerably.” Dr Pandurang Phaldesai believes that Goa perhaps needs to widen its reach to a different kind of tourist – those looking for culturally-inclined events like Shigmo and classical festivals. “Goa is being projected in a negative manner, which makes a sensation at the national and international levels,” the member secretary of Kala Academy, Goa’s premier centre of art and culture, says. “We must take precautions to avoid the over-commercialisation of events. We must put in some efforts to discourage the negative way in which some parties portray Goa. Perhaps bringing out more creative and colourful events like Lokotsav will also attract people who value folk culture to the state.

CLASSICAL NOTES

“We see a spate of visitors, especially international tourists, who attend Dhalo or dance festivals and classical music festivals.” Nationally acclaimed festivals promoting folk and classical music are well-received, with visitors pouring in from across states to attend them. “People wait for such occasions,” adds Dr Phaldesai. “This November we are hosting the annual festival honouring Surashri Kesarbai Kerkar, a doyen of Indian classical music who is a Goan by birth, while in February there will be a temple-based dance festival over three days.” Adding another dimension to entertainment is the nine-day International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which has also chosen Goa as its home. “We are promoting the state as a film destination through IFFI,” explains Manoj Srivastava, CEO of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG). “That period brings in big names from show business from around the world, which in turn contributes to an increasing number of people who come to watch movies, see their favourite actors or just enjoy the festival atmosphere. “Many have returned to shoot films in the state, thereby bringing in business and further promoting through movies.” Perhaps it’s a vibe that the state gives off, or simply a fun-loving attitude carried over from the Carnival – very popular until it was overridden by commercialisation a few years ago – but everyone wants a piece of Goa. It has the perfect mix of sand and sun, parties and pools, hip and care-a-hoot. Even Vijay Mallya brings his party to the boil to celebrate the end of yet another glamorous year, as paparazzi-starved starlets and hot shot actors find new ways to feed gossip mills running wild over their holiday plans. “Goa is a laidback holiday destination,” says Asheen Laljee, general manager of travel company The Spice Route. “The people, its lifestyle, culture and relaxed atmosphere are the main attractions for events, besides its natural glory. Goa has the infrastructure, accommodation facilities from five-star to clean basic rooms and caters to all types of people.” Laljee gets her fair share of stress-packed management assignments with some of the

GOA FEST

biggest non-entertainment events organised in the state. Every year traders fling business parlance back and forth during the India International Jewellery Show – Signature Goa, a prestigious event organised by the Gem and Jewellery Council of India. International buyers and sellers trade in diamonds, gems and gold on our own soil, even though Goa has only a nascent jewellery market. “GoaFest too has its annual awards here,” says Laljee. “Organised by Advertising Agencies Association of India, this event is very popular among some of the biggest players like Google, O&M, Lintas and UTV, who participate in the three-day show.” Anjuna gears up for Rider Mania in November, when it hosts bike enthusiasts from across the country for three days. Royal Enfield owners zip around the former hippie haven, kicking up a virtual sandstorm with races and bike workshops for the grease monkeys. And then in the evening, it’s back to what Goa has come to mean, “party time with live rock bands”, adds Laljee. With all these events, it’s only natural that a lot of money exchanges hands. From restaurants to hotels, omlette pao ‘aunties’ to bike rentals and car hire companies, everyone thrives on the steady stream of tourists. “This is promoting tourism to the aam admi,” says Alves. “The whole belt benefits – the shacks, the watersports, taxis, motorcycles and hotels. The government says we need to reach out to the common folk, so we need to go to that level and not cater to just the five-star tourists. If the government shuts down the music festival, it will mean cutting out 25,000 people who spend a lot of money here.” Chinappa reiterates this thought, saying day parties like Sunburn invite party animals to do simple things that propel business, like taking time out to have dinner, something they may miss on a night out. “Business owners say they experience a lull until Sunburn. The festival stops at 10pm, so after a day of partying, many people choose not to go clubbing,” he explains. “They prefer to have dinner with friends and family and then return for the festival the next day.” Adds Dr Modassir, “The government clearly understands the importance of tourism for the economy. A lot of plans are in the offing to create a more wholesome avenue for tourists without endangering the environment, including an emphasis on eco and rural tourism, development of the hinterland,

adventure sports tourism and a National Institute of Watersports.” After the sun has set and the party animals have had their evidence of a good time frozen in camera frames, the dust settles and Goa is left with a pile of garbage that has nowhere to go. Environment groups cry foul and the media chases the story for a few weeks until the pile is swept under an editorial carpet for another 12 months. Plastic bottles, plates and cups fringe the sand strips, and posters, bags and other paraphernalia entangle themselves on thorny bushes by the roadside. “Unfortunately, tourists from India are not really concerned about other people,” confesses Alves sadly. “Thailand has the same population to toilet ratio, but in India we are not concerned about the person who has to use it after us. Similarly, if someone throws a bottle on the road, we think it’s somebody else’s call.” Music festivals are now trying to clean up after themselves and the people they attract to Goa. Christmas and New Year, the time for giving, ironically brings with it not only the fun times, the laughter and the parties, but also the beer bottles, wasted food and junk. “We want to come up with a one-week initiative with the tourism department to clean up the whole place from January 2-9,” says Alves. Vohra, who is as keen on cleanliness as she is on the vibrant décor at Quantom, adds, “We’re looking at giving away portable ash-trays and putting up signs to make people aware of cleanliness. We’ll do whatever it takes to make sure cleanliness is maintained and people are not abusing the place.” Says Kocher, “Perhaps we’ll give away a bottle of beer or say about Rs50 or Rs100 for every package of garbage you hand in.” Whether it’s a more sensitised tourist or a stricter law, the government needs to get its act together to give both visitors and locals a good season – economically, environmentally and socially. The tourists bring in the money, but to keep them coming back for more, we need to freeze our natural beauty in a time warp, ensure the laws are strict enough to deter unhygienic conditions during and after events and work collectively towards a more tourist-friendly state. It seems far-fetched, but who doesn’t want that for Goa?

OPERATION CLEAN-UP

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

‘We Should Make The Best Use of Our Qualities’ Leaving a plush job at Yale University, Dr Dileep N Deobagkar followed his heart back home where he eggs on researchers and students to new heights as the Vice Chancellor of the Goa University. He tells VIVA GOA how his work is his hobby On his hobbies

I don’t really have time for hobbies although I would love to. Academic administration is my priority so it becomes difficult to get time for other things. Perhaps after getting out, I’ll indulge myself! But my wife’s words ring true for both of us. Both of us really enjoy research and teaching. As she puts it, “We are very lucky people. We get paid for doing our hobby.”

On his vacations

L 16

earning is something Dr Dileep N Deobagkar has no intention of ever giving up. Having had the distinction of working on cancer gene research with the National Cancer Institute as well as on genetic engineering with Yale University, both in the US, this PhD in Molecular Biology and Tuberculosis has shared a chequered history with some of the biggest brains in the world. He was instrumental in the advent of the biotechnology discipline at the Department of Science and Technology in India, while being part of various committees to help formulate national policies and research in modern biology. Taking charge as Vice Chancellor of Goa University in 2007, Dr Deobagkar brings his vast knowledge and experience to the portals of Goan education. Busy though he is, the researcher reveals the little things in life that make him happy…

On a typical day at the office

I normally have office work between 10am to 6.30pm. But I reach here anytime between 9-9.15 as it gives me a lot of time to attend to a variety of things. Everybody knows I’m here

at 9am, so many come before 10am in order to meet me without a formal appointment.

On his leisure activities

I usually prefer to spend late evenings or my days off surrounded by people – cultural activities at the university, meeting people not necessarily connected with hardcore academics. It helps me learn a lot. Otherwise, at home leisure time involves reading and music. I enjoy light Indian classical music. Events at Kala Academy also form part of my leisure activities whenever I get the time, as their programmes usually start during working hours. However, I try to keep away from watching too much TV as it could spoil me!

On balancing work and family

It so happens that my wife is also a recognised scientist in Pune, so she is equally busy. I have two daughters but there are not in Pune either. My wife comes to Goa once in a while and she might visit for Diwali. She is a member of many communities that come to National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and the Goa University, and I sometimes go to Pune.

I love holidays, but I really don’t have any time for them. We are part of the Guha Research Conference, which is a group of elected people involved in advanced life sciences. We meet every year at some place in the country for three days, where very hardcore science discussions take place, but they are very informal. Both my wife and I are members of the group, and I try to make it at least once every two years. The meetings are organised in remote places which do not attract many visitors at that time of the year. For example, in the winter we’ll go to Kulu Manali for the conference. We don’t go out, but we enjoy the kind of nature that nobody else will.

On his philosophy of life

I always insist on doing what one likes to do. The advantage with this is nobody will tell me to do my best because I enjoy what I’m doing. We are trying to make students into some famous person who has done something. In the whole process, we lose the ability to get the best out of the individual – the student neither becomes like that famous person, nor is himself or herself.

On what he loves about Goa

The first thing I like is the people of Goa simply because of the ambience, nature and surroundings which they are part of. This is something I hope remains and it’s changing under the garb of progress. Another unique thing about Goans is their human touch. Globalisation should be positive. We in Goa have our own qualities and identities. We should retain them and make the best use of them. People come to Goa because of our natural beauty. If we don’t maintain it, will they return?

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

A Second Chance at Life

From a Pink October charity walk to spreading mass awareness to a new lease on life. That’s Muskaan in action – a trust for people aﬄicted with cancer

By EMYLOU D’SOUZA

Pics by Edric George

Dr Shekar Salkar, Goa’s well-known oncosurgeon, flags off the walk

I 18

Muskaan’s support group meets regularly at their centre in Panaji

have breast cancer.” The chilling words still haunt her today. Diagnosed with a malignant lump two years ago, Vrida Tavora, 49, describes her battle with cancer as “living hell”. “I panicked from the second it was detected,” says the mother of two boys. “My perfect world came crashing down and I would burst into tears at any given moment.” The tears have subsided but the memory of her ordeal still holds strong. Like most cancer survivors, Tavora is an inspiration. She courageously battled the disease, her family being the “saving grace” in her life. However, she regrets not being associated with Muskaan earlier. “If only I had consented to meet with Muskaan members who had tried their best to get in touch, I would have been a bit more reassured and relaxed. That’s why this walk is a great opportunity for people to interact and find out more about cancer,” says Tavora, geared up for the Sunset Charity Walk 2010. To coincide with International Breast Cancer Awareness Month or Pink October, Muskaan believes in spreading the

message of hope, unity and cancer awareness within the community through the walk. Cynthia Chowgule, event coordinator for Muskaan, attributes the success of the walk to an overwhelming community spirit. She says, “The charity walk is about action. The walk creates a platform to learn more about cancer and early detection in a very positive context. Friends and families come together to celebrate the spirit of giving through a demonstrated personal contribution of time and money. People’s generosity enabled us to hold this special event at virtually no cost to the organisers or Muskaan.” Statistics show that 35 out of every one lakh of the female population in Goa are detected with breast cancer, making it the second highest affected state next to Mizoram. Around 900 participants, compared to the 500 last year, turned up for the fundraiser walk to show their support for breast cancer awareness in the state. For Vasanti Vinod, a yoga teacher from Caranzalem, the walk

BE AWARE!

Eight out of ten lumps

are benign. A persistent lump in your breast should prompt an appointment with a doctor.

A mammogram cannot

cause breast cancer. An x-ray of the breast is one of the best screening tools available for early detection.

A family history of

breast cancer doesn’t mean you will get it, but it put you in a higher risk group.

Breast cancer isn’t

contagious.

Men can develop breast

cancer, but it is very rare and usually a more aggressive form.

was an event to attain first-hand information about cancer and pass it on to her students. “The breast self-examination demonstrations Muskaan have organised are very informative,” she says. “During my yoga sessions I will be able to discuss with my class what I have picked up and we can exchange views and learn from one another.” Dr Shekar Salkar, Goa’s well known oncosurgeon, who flagged off the walk, hopes that such initiatives will help patients to deal with the stress caused by cancer, have it treated and live a fruitful life. “A simple breast self–examination is very important for every woman. However, as time goes by, people become complacent and tend to take it for granted. They forget that breast problems can pop up at any time. I feel that Muskaan has taken a step in the right direction with such demonstrations and by handing out literature,” he says. Muskaan, founded in 2006, aims to provide support for locals with cancer. What started off as a three-member group initiated by Babita Agarwal, a cancer survivor and Dr Sharmila Sardesai whose mother was detected with it, the trust’s base is now 35 plus. When Agarwal was undergoing treatment, she realised that she needed to talk to someone who had gone through cancer or was going

through it, but could not meet any one. “However, later on I met like-minded people like Rashmi Mehta and Dr Sharmila who wanted to start a cancer support group which could create awareness and provide emotional support to thousands of people like me,” she reveals. Muskaan’s support group meets regularly at their centre in Panaji. Sharon D’Mello had to put on a brave face for her son who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at only four. Ten years later, the brave face is a permanent fixture for Sharon as are her monthly sharing sessions at Muskaan. Besides the popular charity walk and meetings, Muskaan has organised cancer detection camps in association with the International Medical Association-Goa and other local bodies in several villages including Cortalim and St Cruz. Ek Rikami Bazu, a Marathi adaptation of the English play Tissue, staged at Kala Academy last year was another Muskaan initiative to spread mass awareness about breast cancer. Winning the fight against cancer depends on getting it out in the open, creating awareness, eliminating the stigma and uniting to take it on together – and that is what Muskaan is all about.

Cruising into the Blue... from Goa FEATURE

T Oneil Khosa, MD and CEO, Blue Ocean Cruises

here's always a first time. If you've never been on a cruise before, then here’s your chance. No need for a passport or visa as you venture forth on the high seas. The Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai cruise is a novel way to see a relatively inaccessible area. Blue Ocean Cruises owns MV OceanLife, a nine-deck contemporary cruise vessel that is all set to sail the high seas. The ship can accommodate up to 574 passengers in 231 cabins and boasts of a large swimming pool, three hot tubs, a kid’s zone, shopping, a pool bar restaurant and a casino. It has also tied up with Air India to promote the Fly Cruise packages. Keeping in mind the needs of the Indian traveller, the cruise provides an international experience with an Indian touch. It has even tied up with the Taj Group to serve passengers both Indian and international cuisines, including Jain meals. Cruise tourism has a huge amount of potential for future growth in India with its large and unspoiled coastline. It is one of the most dynamic and fastest growing components of the leisure industry worldwide. This sector has witnessed some activity in India as well in recent times. However, it is still in its infancy in Goa. At present, the Union Government encourages foreign cruise liners to undertake coastal runs. And no Indian company owns a luxury cruise line yet. With over 15 years

of experience in the cruise and shipping industry, Oneil Khosa, managing director and CEO of Blue Ocean Cruises, feels that “a reduction in port charges and fuel costs by the government” could be the solution to attract potential cruise line companies. At a cost of Rs 47 crore, construction of an international cruise berth has commenced at Mormugao Port Trust (MPT). Director of Goa Tourism Swapnil Naik is eager to see the completion of the project. He says, “We look forward to promoting Goa as hub of cruise tourism once the terminal is complete in December 2011. Cruise tourism has not taken off in Goa as it should have considering Goa’s intricate system of inland waterways.” In the last few years cruise liners calling at MPT have gone up, yet the Tourism Department restrained itself from promoting cruise tourism for want of a proper terminal. Blue Ocean’s MV OceanLife will dock at the usual berth used by all non-cargo ships at MPT. Another kink that needs to be ironed out and put into perspective is the lack of facilities for physically challenged passengers on board, among others. So whether it’s a dream wedding on the high seas, a birthday party, a corporate meeting or just a cruise, Blue Ocean Cruises is all set to test the waters and take the plunge in Goa.

VIVA GOANS A regular column featuring eminent Goans living outside Goa

From the village of Sarzora in Chinchinim to Cannes, ad genius Agnello Dias has come a long way. Nearly every award, from the Grand Prix to the Lion Award, both at Cannes, has his name inscribed on it. The former JWT India creative head and founder of Taproot India has always had the inspiration and the resilience to go places… from a tiny hamlet in Goa to the world

From Chinchinim to Cannes AGNELLO OSWIN DIAS

What inspired you to take up a career in advertising? Actually, I joined advertising by default. I was bumming around doing nothing, playing some soccer when my brother suggested I try this ‘advertising thing’ in order to get me to do something more meaningful. I tried, was rejected and tried again and again until it grew into a huge ego issue. By this point, I simply wanted to get into an agency just to prove a point and then quit. When I finally got in, however, inertia took over and I just hung around. I think my life has been driven by inertia.

e travels across the world picking up awards as he goes along. But his heart remains in Sarzora, Chinchinim. Agnello Dias has come a long way from being just another youngster. The world was his oyster as chief creative officer, India division, of JWT – one of the world’s largest advertising agencies, but he moved on to more challenges. His new venture, Taproot India has won Asia’s only Gold Clio 2010 and was ranked in Cannes as the country’s best performing agency within a year of its inception. The ad genius has garnered 14 Lion awards at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival and one Grand Prix. Aggie, as he is popularly known, was responsible for winning the country’s first and only Grand Prix at Cannes as well as India’s first and only Lion in the

Who has been your mentor or guru in your advertising career? Though I got my first break in an agency called DART, the first person to adopt me and show me the ropes of real advertising was Nargis Wadia in her agency Interpublicity. Thereafter it was Chax (K S Chakravarthy) for the most part of my working life, then Arvind Sharma and Sridhar of Leo Burnett. Titanium and Integrated category at Cannes. Dias has worked with the biggest names in the biz – nationally and internationally – and clients including Cadbury’s, UPS, Bayer, Coca Cola, Bajaj Auto, Heinz, Indian Oil, Fiat India, The Times of India, McDonald’s, Pepsi, Ford, Nike, Sony, Airtel, and Procter & Gamble have all benefited from his creative spark. With the experience of more than two decades, Dias, whose wife Nandini is CEO of Loadstar UM, has been a judge at competitions such as British D&AD, the One Show in New York and the AAAI’s Goafest. The former member of JWT’s Worldwide Creative Council was also chairman of the jury at the Outdoor Advertising Awards and at the Indonesion and Sri Lankan national award shows. Agnello Dias tells VIVA GOA what makes him tick.

Tell us about your roots in Goa. My father John Piedade Dias and my mother Crystaline Dias come from a village called Sarzora near Chinchinim in Salcette. They migrated to Mumbai a few years before I was born, but we have plenty of family in Sarzora and some in Vasco as well. We still have our family home in Goa where my parents spend an increasing amount of time now. I have spent almost every summer vacation in Sarzora all through my youth and have grown up with the boys from the village as my friends. I even played soccer one year for Sarzora’s Assumpta Club. Goa and Sarzora and its people have a special place in my heart and there is a feeling of kinship and belonging which is difficult to explain. Which one of your campaigns is a favourite and why? While campaigns like Lead India, Teach India,

Thums Up, Sony and Bajaj are now very famous, a personal favourite in recent times has been the Nike cricket commercial which has a Konkani song on the soundtrack. It was one of the songs we heard on radio all through our growing years and putting it on a world-class brand like Nike was a fitting tribute to a fine language. Your fond memories of Goa Playing for the village soccer club certainly ranks up there as for us city boys, Goan football was the Holy Grail. As children, I vividly recall a few massive wedding celebrations where we stuffed ourselves silly and also came of age with occasional copachem. I have fond memories of all my cousins and relatives and clearly remember how strange it was that most village folk were related in some way to each other. I remember the candle-lit procession of Our Lady of Assumption winding its way through the fields after dark, singing the most haunting hymns accompanied by the soulful wailing of the rebec. It was a scene straight out of a European noir film. The happiest memories I have are of my friends Ben, Gravil, Dexter and Godwin and the crazy times we had together. How difficult is it to find success in the career you have chosen? I think it is far more difficult now than it was when I started. In fact, I probably would never have even got into the business were I to try today. Most children today are far more ambitious, talented, focused and driven than I ever was. But it is a high stakes game. Even if you are super-talented, you may not make it if you don’t happen to be in the right place at the right time. It’s a bit like going to the casinos. If you play, you may or may not win. But if you don’t, you definitely will not win. Describe some memorable events in your life related to advertising in India and abroad Well, going on stage in Cannes to receive India’s first and only Grand Prix so far was pretty memorable. Meeting President Abdul Kalam during the Lead India finals was another. Then, being invited to judge the festivals at Cannes, New York and the D&AD at London was flattering. Getting the Grand Prix at Goafest for Nike and seeing the entire industry tapping their feet to a Konkani song in Goa was a nice high. Making National Chief Creative Officer at the largest advertising agency in the country (the same place where I was once rejected) was quite redeeming. This year, I was invited to speak at Cannes and that was pretty rare. Who are your favorite icons or people you appreciate in the industry? Oh there are quite a few. There’s Kiran Khalap, Chax, Abhinay Deo, Prakash Varma, Rajiv Rao, Paddy, Piyush Pandey,

Prasoon Joshi, Balki (R Balakrishnan) and so many more. The industry is full of icons and I am privileged to belong to it. Tell us something about your experience at Cannes Well, we had this huge tricolor which I took on stage and it caused quite a stir, perhaps because only countries like Brazil and Argentina had carried flags on stage before. And also it was quite overwhelming to be honoured on a stage that had previously been graced by world legends of cinema, music and the arts. And being surrounded by a battery of world press photographers and journalists, shooting questions at you in strange languages on the red carpet was both confusing and exciting. What are the main pressures that advertising professionals face in the industry today? One of the main challenges, not pressures, I would say is the rapid pace of change – in the market place, in consumers’ minds, in technology, in media and more. Keeping track of it is a full time job in itself, leave alone having the mind space to think laterally. What is your advice to young people aspiring to be advertising professionals in today’s world? It is not the most talented who makes it, but the most resilient. Creative stamina is more important than creative firepower.

RAPID FIRE

If Kerala is God’s own country, Goa is… Where God heads to on a weekend. A Goan dish you relish the most… Xacutti, baby shark ambotik curry. Favourite eating joint in Goa… Home. I rarely eat out. Favourite places you visit in Goa… Sarzora Lake. Describe yourself in one or two words… Survivor. The last time you heard a ridiculous rumour about yourself… When I was judging The New York One Show Awards in Hawaii, there was a rumour that I was collaborating with an agency in Poland to migrate and set up a firm there. Advertising to you is… Acting without revealing yourself. Power is… Delusional. Freedom is… An illusion. Favourite political figure… Mikhail Gorbachev.

LEGAL BRIEF A regular column on legal affairs and philosophy

Solving Disputes Through

MEDIATION

Instead of long-drawn and expensive litigation, the way out is through mediation

Atmaram Nadkarni is a senior advocate and former Advocate General of Goa

overnments, be it the central or state governments, have been one of the biggest litigants in the courts of the country. This may be because the government is often sued by the lower courts against itself before the superior courts. Delivery of justice to citizens is the hallmark of any democratically governed society. A civil society governed by ‘rule of law’ and not by ‘rule of man’ would obviously mean that the government should be happy that a citizen has won the case. During my tenure as Advocate General of the state, one of the important things I kept in mind is that if the citizen gets justice, it is the government who has won the case. Law officers and government lawyers are not appointed to defend the sins committed by bureaucrats, individual ministers or a group of ministers collectively. Law officers are expected to defend the case in a righteous manner only for the purpose of ensuring that justice – economic, political and social – is done in the matter. I am sure that if the state and central governments decide to take this approach seriously, 60 percent of the litigations in the country would be reduced overnight. Unfortunately for the citizens, government decisions are not dictated by rule of law or consideration of justice but more often by favouritism, corruption and on the whims and fancies of individual ministers. This despotic disposition is one of the main causes for the mounting arrears in this country which very soon will reach unbelievable and unmanageable proportions. It is time that all right thinking citizens wake up to this reality. Generally, one of the reasons why people tend to get stressed out is on account of the litigation which at times is apprehended, projected, or likely to come up in the near future. In all these cases, one of the fears is of the expenses involved in litigation depending upon which forum the litigation is likely to surface. The biggest headache in litigation is for the successful plaintiff to get the decree executed. After fighting out the matter right up to the highest court over a period of several decades, he is required to

run from pillar to post to get the decree executed so as to enjoy the fruits of litigation. It is a true but stark reality that the successful plaintiff is often required to make it his life’s mission to have the decree executed when in fact it is the defendant who should have been required to obey the law, viz, the final judgement of the courts. It is most unfortunate that in civilised jurisprudence, which we claim to have in our country and given the constitutional provisions which our framers of the Constitution enacted, our lawmakers and law commissions have not yet woken up to this phase of litigation. Everyone involved in the process of administration of justice – the lawmakers in framing the law and learned judges who dispense justice – intend to reduce the arrears in the courts. Mounting arrears, most of which are unmanageable, may be yet another cause for delay; but why should the plaintiff who has got the final order in his favour be required to execute a decree? To that extent, the provisions of the code of civil procedure and other executionary provisions require a serious re-look at the hands of lawmakers. One of the worst fears which may come through in the near future is that given the long delays, people will take the law into their own hands and resolve matters in an extra-judicial, extra-legal manner.

Sensing this danger, the Legal Services Authority Act has contemplated an alternate dispute resolution through the Lok Adalat. The importance of mediation in legal causes can never be underestimated. In certain western countries, its importance is well understood as being a proportionate means of avoiding the stress and expenses of litigation and is therefore encouraged. In India today, we have the Legal Services Authority manned by the judges themselves, a court-based mediation scheme carried on through the mediation providers. We have also developed what is called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;mediation advocacyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which requires a completely different set of skills compared to those in the battle that takes place in a courtroom. Undoubtedly, this is still in its infancy and hopefully will grow with informed commercial litigants and parties. Mediation was practised in the United States, the Pacific Rim countries, and thereafter travelled towards the United Kingdom. Now, almost all civilised democratic countries including India have been committed to using the alternate dispute resolution in appropriate cases as a recognised mode of disposal of

disputes since 2001. Mediation, in short, is a voluntary, non-binding private resolution of a dispute in which a negotiated statement is the goal towards which the help of a neutral person can be encouraged. Generally, mediation can only be said to have benefits and not demerits. True it is that if everyone mediates, or where there is no bona fide dispute where no precedents come up, there will be little role for the courts to play. In India, we even have court-directed mediation where courts statutorily refer parties to mediation. Indeed, there are provisions in the Civil Procedure Code for mediation in the midst of adjudication. There are also standard form mediation agreements and Littleton Dispute Resolution Services, besides the Dispute Resolution Services in the UK, the Chambers of Commerce of various countries, the Council of the Bar of England, Maritime Solicitors and so on. India has taken a lead role having realised the benefits of mediation. Indeed, it would be wiser for the government of the day to engage neighbours to compromise whenever they can by educating the litigious population that the

nominal winner is often a real loser in terms of fees, expenses, and a waste of time and energy. In fact, Abraham Lincoln stated that lawyers as peacemakers have a superior opportunity of being good men â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and there will still be business enough. These peacemaking lawyers also in the process play a role as healers. In the history of mankind, we have had many physicians, ministers and people from varied professions who have acted as healers. Coupled with professional competence in their respective field, they displayed the enormous skills required to be a peacemaker between warring parties. Lawyers, like some of the sacred professions, are in a relationship where people open up their innermost secrets, having suffered or are threatened with an injury. It is indeed true that people go to lawyers to be healed, to be made whole and to regain control of their lives. This role for lawyers would bring out the divine philosophy in them and add a credit balance in the law of karma.

GUEST COLUMN SUNIL MANOHARRAI SARDESSAI is a practising architect and is an active member of the Indian Institute of Architects, Goa Chapter and Indian Institute of Interior Designers

Espana! VIVA

A group of architects makes a break for Spain, the land of architecture, fiesta and football

By ARCH SUNIL SARDESSAI

The Goa Chapter of the Indian Institute of Architects at Torres KIO

“In travelling a man must carry knowledge with him if he would bring home knowledge,” said Samuel Johnson and this is indeed what a group of touring architects discovered!

isiting Spain has for centuries been the dream of artists and architects alike and chasing precisely this dream of discovering the much revered Spanish masters made ten of us undertake this pilgrimage to the three celebrated cities of Spain – Madrid, Barcelona and Figueras. So there we were – Bryan and Orty Soares, Tulio and Suzie De Souza, Mahendra and Sonali Gaunekar, Nilesh Salkar, Mangesh Prabhugaonkar, Ashley Mascarenhas and I, all armed with the slogan ‘No Spain, No gain!’, landing in Madrid, welcomed by sunny weather and the warm hospitality of our Spanish hosts. To learn about the history of a place and discover its secret, a local guide is the best bet. Our city guide Elena Perez brought the history of the city alive as we heard her stories in rapt attention, pointing out details that might have gone unnoticed to the unguided eye. Royalty comes first and so we started off with a visit to the Royal Palace. The ninth-century Moorish castle rebuilt in 1734 after a terrible fire is strategically located on a hillock with a sweeping view of the city and stands tall as the official residence of the Bourbon dynasty. Art is an inseparable part of the Spanish essence and our next visit,

Sunil Sardessai with the ‘Guernica’ at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid to the Museo Nacional del Prado started our journey into the splendid world of the Spanish masters. It is a museum of art considered second only to the Louvre in terms of the quality of art and various art movements. After shopping for prints and art books, we continued to the Reina Sofia, which houses among other paintings the breathtaking Guernica. A painting of massive proportions, it is a brilliant example of Pablo Picasso’s cubism, displayed through fragmented images and intellectual representation of objects. We were indeed standing before an important milestone in the art history of the world!

‘Seeing’ a piece of art and architecture is not the same as ‘looking’. ‘Seeing’ involves only the effort it takes to open you eyes, ‘looking’ means opening your mind and utilising your intellect, and as professionals that is what we had come for. A visit to the old hillside town of Toledo, an example of Roman-occupied Spain, brought us to an impressive cathedral and the Church of Sao Tome which houses the famous El Greco painting titled the Funeral of Count Orgaz. The heaviness of the two artful days was lightened by a visit to a factory which manufactured swords used in fencing and bullfighting. Before proceeding to the more vibrant and equally historical city of Barcelona, we took a detour to the exotic island of Ibiza, appropriately named ‘the fun capital of the world’. The beautiful beaches, marinas and the hippie flea market reminded us of home; a place the flower children of the 70s came to, before discovering Goa! One of the areas that stood out was the bird market – parrots, cuckoos and all kinds of colourful birds on sale, not to mention many that are known to turn a canary yellow after their first bath! The market is a well-organised version of our own Anjuna flea market. Nilesh said, “What someone might consider junk becomes valuable property here.” Manguesh added that the antique pieces looked so “new in the sense they looked freshly stolen only the night before!”

At Sagrada Familia in Barcelona All along the tour, our taste buds were treated to a variety of Spanish flavours. Paella, a local version of our pulao washed down by generous portions of Sangria, a mix of wine and fruit juice, became our constant companions at the dinner table. In Ibiza we treated ourselves to lip-smacking preparations of a fresh seafood catch. The climax to this holiday came the night we visited Amnesia, the world’s largest disco, where more than 100,000 revellers can wiggle their butts at the same time. How appropriately named, this place sure puts one in a trance, forgetting the world outside. Energised after that break, we were ready for the second and final leg of our Tour de Espana. Barcelona in the past has stirred many an emotion and inspired many to dizzying heights of creativity. The lively and vibrant city has been voted one of the most happening cities in the world and was also the Olympic Games venue in 1992. Barcelona, like Madrid, showed tremendous hospitality and some of us who tried hard at words in Spanish were equally well received as our Portuguese and Konkani niceties. Suzie and Tulio’s fluency in Portuguese helped steer a bit faster at a lot of the hotels and shopping areas. An important chapter in the history of Barcelona is the man known as Antonio Gaudi, a name which has inspired every student of architecture. In many ways we were prepared

to meet our God. One of the greatest exponents of modernism, Gaudi pushed the architectural craft to its limits, mastering steep curves and creating the world’s most magical and sensual buildings. Seven of his works including The Guell Park, Casa Batllo, Casa Mila and the Temple of Sagradia Familia have been named World Heritage sites by the UNESCO. The uniqueness of his designs and his eye for detail left us spellbound. Our trip was fulfilled. Our next destination was Figueras, the town of the celebrated surrealist painter Salvador Dali. The metaphysical painter was widely influenced by the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud and his dream theories. His popular painting The Persisitence of Memory depicts clocks melting like Camembert cheese. As his wife Gala says of this painting, “It is a picture that, once seen, even for an instant, can never be forgotten!” Yes… we did go to the bullfights. The 250-year-old La Monumental Stadium is considered the ‘cathedral of bullfighting’ and is the only operational stadium in Barcelona as bullfighting is being banned soon due to a state referendum. The sight of the matador mercilessly killing the massive bulls in this gory one-sided sport in front of a crowd of thirty thousand will always linger in our minds. As we came to the close of our stay,

we visited the mountain town of Montserrat (sawn mountain in Catalan). The Basilica dedicated to Our Lady of Montserrat (the patron of Catalonia), built in the 16th century gave a sweeping view of Barcelona 30kms away. The day ended with a flamenco performance in a Spanish village styled on a 12th century settlement erected specially for the Olympic guests. We tried our best to match their tap dance but the Spaniards were too fast for us. The spirit of Spain cannot be complete without a game of football. In the land of the reigning world and European champions we were lucky to watch the inaugural exhibition Spanish League match between Barcelona and AC Milan with a thunderous crowd of a hundred thousand cheering for their heroes, Lionel Messi, David Villa, Iniesta and Ronaldinho among others. The atmosphere pepped us up and we left the country on a high note, returning home to work with a new found energy. I feel that this trip has broadened our knowledge of history, our technical skills and our personal experiences, because if the personal (or spiritual) dimension is lost, then looking at structures becomes more significant than solveing a crossword puzzle. Orty quotes a legendary traveller, “You are never the same after you have travelled.”

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

‘NO GREATER JOY THAN SERVICE TO HUMANITY’ Goa’s ﬁrst Art of Living teacher Neela Navelkar on how spirituality drives her life

ringing a smile to someone’s face is what she lives for. Actively involved in rehabilitation groups like Asha Mahal, Neela S Navelkar from Taleigao uses her deep knowledge of law to help women and children in distress. With the help and support of her husband, renowned pathologist Dr S C P Navelkar, the Art of Living teacher, who is also a lawyer, seeks out every opportunity to serve society under the guidance of foundation head Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Now enjoying grandmother status to four-year-old Trisha, Navelkar has two sons who have done her proud – Siddhesh, an alumnus of IIM Bangalore currently working for Cognizant Technology in California, and Sarvesh, who did his BE from IIT Powai and is now working for an IT firm in Bangalore. She has been the President of Asha Mahal, a short-stay home for women and children, from 1995 to 2005 while continuing to serve as a member of the All India Federation for Women Lawyers and founder member of the Goa State Federation of Women Lawyers. She was also a delegate at the International Federation of Women Lawyers conference in 2008 to deliberate on laws and rights related to children. Navelkar explains what she sees as her purpose in life to VIVA GOA

What is it about the Art of Living Foundation that attracted you? After doing a basic course in the Art of Living, I felt cleansed and renewed. I feel good, less exhausted and more positive after regular practice of the breathing technique, Sudarshan Kriya. There were no Art of Living teachers in Goa in 1998 when I first entered the organisation. I always felt great pleasure in the company of the teachers who came from Mumbai and Bangalore. My first meeting with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was a wonderful experience.

How has being part of the Art of Living Foundation changed your life? As part of the Art of Living Foundation, I have ample opportunities to serve society -I think there is no greater joy in life.You can be of use to people around you, bring a smile to others. You always get opportunities, so naturally your life blossoms. I found my comfort zone has increased considerably through the Art of Living Foundation. Today I find myself happy even in difficult situations. You must have met Sri Sri Ravi Shankar a number of times. What is the experience of meeting your spiritual leader like? Yes, I have met him several times since I joined the Art of Living Foundation. One thing I can always say that in the presence of the Master your mind is “No Mind”. All questions dissolve. All problems vanish. On meeting him you feel so fresh. I am always impressed by his playfulness, humour and presence which is difficult to explain.

Why do you think foreigners appear to be drawn to Indian spiritual gurus? The knowledge that flows from Indian spiritual gurus has no comparison to anything in the world. Our ultimate presence in this world can be explained only through enlightened masters. Besides social and economic needs, spiritual thirst needs to be satisfied too. Ancient Vedic scriptures are the only answer to our most difficult questions. How many followers does the Art of Living Foundation have in Goa? We have more than 50,000 people in Goa who have gone through the Art of Living courses. ‘Living in the present moment’ is the principle sutra of the Art of Living. All the processes are but to bring the mind to the ‘present’. The present is a gift to humanity from nature, and awareness can bring an end to miseries. Awareness, belonging and commitment is the ABC of the Art of Living Foundation.

Art of Living teacher Neela and her husband Dr S C Navelkar

What do you love most about Goa, and is there anything you’d like to change? Nature is in abundance in Goa and Goans are so natural and simple. I would prefer to have progress in Goa without losing our identity as Goans, without losing our true nature. As Master says, “Deepen your roots, broaden your vision.”

Can you tell us something about your own personal interests and activities beyond your home? My deep interest in knowledge that flows from my Master is my first choice other than home. I have always been interested in doing social work. I worked for Short Stay Home, a home for women in difficulty, for a number of years with great satisfaction. Now that I am in the Art of Living Foundation, I get ample opportunities to serve society. Being a teacher of the Art of Living, I guide the six-day course, designed by Master at least once a month.

How do you strike a balance between the demands of your home and your own professional or personal interests? One need not strain to attain a balance. I always believe in Divine Order, which takes care of everything in life. Whether it is my profession as a lawyer, my home or social work under Master’s inspiration, all the jobs get the appropriate time, depending on the priorities. Nothing is trivial in life – may it be the home, profession, or work. I give priority to the first 30 minutes after waking up as well as the last ten minutes before I sleep. This is the time I spend with myself. This is the time I thank Master for what I am today. Do you think women suffer gender bias, even in progressive Goa? This world is full of opposites; good and evil, strong and weak co-exist. We should restrain ourselves from projecting women as oppressed and helpless. A woman is represented in Durga, Laxmi and Saraswati. In India, we worshipped women in that form. We should regard it as our duty to help the oppressed, whether man or woman.

INTERIORS/ EXTERIORS

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

A Royal Retreat

A journey into Venkatesh and Veena Prabhu Moniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house in Salvador-do-Mundo reveals the grandeur of a palace Venkatesh and Veena Prabhu Moni with their children

s we drove past the serene waters and the lush green fields of Salvador-do-Mundo, we began to conjure up images in anticipation of the large palatial house that we were about to visit. The drive to the house was as stimulating as it was refreshing and a thought came to mind that Venkatesh and Veena Prabhu Moni must enjoy this journey itself as much as their home. On reaching the entrance gates, we realised why people called it a ‘palace’ – with its perfect setting and close resemblance to the grandeur of a palace, could one call it by any other name? The large foreground, a neat little driveway and tall columns made us feel that we had arrived in the kingdom of Venkatesh Prabhu Moni, who was standing at the main door to receive us. The heightened plinth of the house studded with an exposed laterite arched entrance and the truly majestic white columns were even more welcoming. The arched doorway led us into the vast open living space. The enormity of the living room with a bifurcate stairway reminiscent of the palatial houses of yore described the passion of Prabhu Moni who wished to live in such a house. “I always dreamt of living in a palace. And though a lot of people laughed at my dream, I have had the last laugh today,” says Venkatesh with an engaging smile. Architect Sunil Sardessai drew up the first plans for the house and then Venkatesh took over, shaping it in just the way he wanted. He didn’t employ a supervisor, but executed the work personally with equal passion. Along the two sides of this vast space are a pair of seating areas fitted with exclusive sofas brought all the way from Sri Lanka. Interspersed among these are artifacts from every culture and an antique Goan-styled seater. The ornate mouldings and the concrete balusters along with the marble flooring gel perfectly together and speak the same language. On one side, the living room opens into the swimming pool area and once out in the open you can feel the serenity of the surroundings again. It’s from here that you also see a semi-outdoor, fully equipped gym and the line up of cars that he owns. A Mercedes, BMW and Lexus convertible purr alongside each other vying for equal attention with the Triumph bike. Venkatesh has a passion for cars and he has also framed a large picture of his fleet of vehicles. The first floor of the house has a large puja room on one side of the double heightened space. There is also a large space

in front of the mandir that is used during bhajans and other religious functions. Cement corbellings add to the ornate detailing of the puja room and the shikhara (the topmost stone) is an exquisite piece of art in itself. On the other side is a large dining room facing part of the open kitchen. The sheer clean look of the kitchen is amazing. Explains Veena, “This is just the show kitchen, the actual cooking happens at the side, which isn’t visible from the dining area”. The upper level boasts of an entertainment lounge with comfortable seating, a well displayed bar, disco lights and a sound system, all in all recreating the magic of a club. The lights spring to life when Shubham, the eldest son cranks up the music and our feet almost begin to have a mind of their own. A synthesiser and a guitar lie in one corner of the room, further proof of his interest in music.

The master bedroom with its vast terrace overlooks the plains and a large four-post bed embodies the way the rajas and the maharajas lived in a past era. The bedside lamps add a touch of romance to the room. Along one side is a fully equipped bathroom fitted with a steam and sauna room, separated from the bedroom by sliding glass doors. Privacy is attained by drawing the curtains on both sides of the glass. A walk-in closet also opens up into this bathroom space. The floor of the terrace has a tree pattern created with china mosaics and is a perfect place to unwind after a hard day’s work. On either side of the master bedroom, the two elder children have their rooms. Both of them open into a pergola-covered terrace and also boast of a view of the plains. It’s from here that we noticed the expanse of the garden in front of the house. A gazebo sits in the centre of the lawns surrounded by water. A nozzle at the centre of the gazebo’s umbrella spurts out water which drips down the sides of the roof into the water body below recreating the magic of the rains. You can actually enjoy the sound of the dripping water when seated here. Reading books and having a drink or two is the apt thing to do in the midst of this recreated nature. Venkatesh is quick to point out that the garden in front of the house is just a fraction of the one at the rear. He takes us to the second floor where he plans to make a rustic sit-out to enjoy the fruit garden that he has painstakingly nurtured. The dreams he has for his house know no bounds. Venkatesh sums it all up for us, “This is not the end, it’s just the start. I am only 40 and have a great many dreams.” So much so for a man who has braved it all and fantasised about living in a palace. Our wonderful journey into the kingdom of Prabhu Moni finally drew to a close.

FEATURE

… ’ y r o t S d o o G a r o f ‘A Nose

s a h n e r a c s a M t e r a g r a M … la to Indian e u z e n e V s g r as she brin garet Mascarenhas on e it r w a s a e r c reappearan Irene Dos Santos’. Ma art to prison inmates r e h s k r a m f pearance o n publisher nd teaching ZA An America latest novel ‘The Disap r, Goa’s literary scene a U D’SOU O L Y M r e E e h h s By audience in ﬁnding an Indian publi

here are some things about Goa that remind Margaret Mascarenhas of her birth place Venezuela, some common flora and fauna, certain Iberian cultural and architectural aspects, but mostly the warmth and fun-loving nature of the people. Unconvinced, mainstream publishers in India declined to take her latest work under their wing. It is a loss they may well rue. “They thought it might not be of interest to an Indian readership as its subject is Venezuela. So the US edition is being distributed in the country by Hachette,” says Mascarenhas, who had no difficulty in finding an Indian publisher for her previous novel ‘Skin’, set partly in Goa and Daman. “In fact, The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos is a far more ambitious work both in terms of subject and technique as compared to ‘Skin’,” she adds. Her experience as a city editor and journalist has given Mascarenhas “a nose for a good story”, perfect fodder for the novel. Apart from being a saga of love, family, and staying

together when it counts the most, it is a story of revolution. A Barnes and Noble Discover pick and winner of a Publishers’ Lunch Deluxe award, it has been well-received in the US and is about to go into its second print. In Goa, the well-attended release was at Sunaparanta, Goa Centre for the Arts. As Director of the Centre and normally not one to glaze over the truth about the literary scene in Goa, she admits there is “far more happening in the vernacular than in English, but there is a paucity of good translators. Translation is an art itself to convey the right nuances”. Mascarenhas is involved in an interesting charity project, the seed funded by Sunaparanta, along with her colleague Swatee Nair, “a fabulous abstract painter and excellent art critic”, and the head of the Blue Shores Silent Trust, who had the idea of teaching painting in prisons. “Together we have developed an expanded programme in which we teach pure arts as a year-long syllabus –

painting, performance art (taught by Crisologo Furtado) and what I call ‘word art’, as some of the inmates are not literate, but can express themselves verbally with ease and imagination,” she says. The idea is to teach inmates to become competent artists while giving them a productive channel to express themselves in a healthy way. “Anything can be inspiring,” reveals the writer. A bus ride, a conversation overheard in a café, the smell of fresh bread baking. Mascarenhas is currently working on a third novel called ‘Just Another Car Bomb’, which is partly set in the US and partly in Beirut. It is “character-driven, but the subtext is the virtual routine with which we take bombings in today’s world”. No matter what the inspiration for the story, Mascarenhas believes “Goa can be inspiring, and it is a wonderful place to write. It offers the quiet of the village while at the same time, a certain cosmopolitan atmosphere”.

HEALTH A regular column on healthy living

Relieving the Agony of a Slipped Disc

Bad posture and a lack of physical activity can lead to slipped disc By Dr SHEKHAR SHIRWAIKER

Intervertebral Disc Prolapse

The author, a MS Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ortho, CPS (BOM), is an orthopaedic, arthroscopic and trauma consultant. He is a pioneer in Goa to perform total hip, total knee replacement and arthroscopic surgery

It is an irony that as our country progresses and white collar jobs are on the rise, the need to consult orthopaedic doctors has increased tremendously. People have no time, or rather are unwilling to exercise, resulting in weak back muscles and development of fat around the waist. Weak muscles could lead to damage of the back ligaments, ultimately inviting major problems like intervertebral disc prolapse or slipped disc, as it is commonly called.

Disc Prolapse

During disc herniation, the nerve root is pressed, sending painful radiation along the right leg. Sometimes the nerve controlling only the big toe is damaged, leaving the patient unable to extend it. The patient is usually surprised when told there is nothing wrong with the toe, but rather the problem is in the back (slipped disc). Clinical diagnosis: Doctors find out if a patient has a slipped disc by a diagnosis which looks at: History of wrong posture or lifting weights by bending forward. Low backache, sometimes pain and numbness shooting down one or both legs. Local pain at the prolapsed disc site of the back. A patient when lying down gets severe pain in the centre of the back on passively lifting the legs.

Source: www.denverchiropractor.com

Since the bones are not involved, a X-ray of the following will help confirm whether the patient has a slipped disc: Loss of lumbar (lower back) curvature also known as bamboo spine due to spasm of low back muscles. Decrease in the space between the two vertebrae bones (intervertebral disc spaces). The X-ray is only the confirmatory test, but since I trust my clinical judgement, an MRI investigation will be required if the patient can afford it, or if the conservative treatment (options that do not involve an operation) has failed and surgery is required.

Treatment A large majority (90 per cent) of slipped disc cases can be treated without surgery. A fresh case can be treated at home with strict bed rest, anti-inflammatory drugs from three days to a week until the leg can be straightened and lifted passively without pain. A patient who tries only pain killers believing it to be a simple backache and later experiences numbness and pain in the legs must be admitted to a hospital with continuous pelvis traction, anti-inflammatory drugs, nerve strengthening injections, and Inter Ferential Therapy and Short Wave Diathermy to the back. From my experience, even patients who were recommended surgery have responded fully to the above treatments. The most important treatment begins when the patient has fully recovered. It involves strengthening of the back muscles. I teach back exercises to be done at home for a period of three weeks and then advise the patient to join a gym to further develop the muscles. The patient is also advised to use a corset (an abdominal belt with back support) which he/she might have to use until the patient re-develops the weak back muscles (approximately three to six months). Rarely do patients need to undergo surgery, and even if they do, it is a simple procedure involving the removal of the disc and replacing it with a bone graft.

HOW YOU CAN GET A SLIPPED DISC

Bad posture like bending forward or sitting for a long time with folded legs unaccustomed to this position. Exercises as changing the wheel of a punctured car. By shifting a heavy cooking gas cylinder. 50 per cent of my practice consists of back ache, half of which is due to a slipped disc. Just like the cartilage in the knee prevents friction between the bones, we also have discs between every vertebra except for the first two neck vertebrae. Humans have five cushions or discs between the lumbar vertebrae. Dozens of nerves crisscross between the bones and join to form the sciatic nerve, the main nerve passing on control messages from the brain to the legs. A normal disc between the vertebrae is made up of strong fibres called annulus fibrosus and a central jelly-like substance called the nucleus palposus. The spinal cord splits into two free nerve roots which control the left and right legs. With advancing age, the jelly nucleus in the disc degenerates, causing shortening of height.

HOSPITALITY A column which reviews the best hotels in Goa

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

VILLAGE GETAWAY T

he Mayfair Hideaway Spa Resort is the latest addition to the Mayfair Hotels and Resorts â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;list of treasuresâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Located in the village of Betul in South Goa, Mayfair has chosen this beautiful spot where the River Sal merges with the Arabian Sea, where locals still spend their days fishing for some of the best seafood in Goa, not forgetting the famous Betul crabs. Situated 41 kms from Dabolim airport and 18 kms from Margao, the Mayfair Goa caters to tourists and business travellers alike. Chairman and Managing Director Dilip Ray and director

Jayant Ray have created a Goan-meets-Balinese theme with hints of colonial architecture amidst nature. Driving through the hinterland, we arrived at the resort. Met by friendly staff, we crossed a footbridge separating two water bodies and this is where our journey to inner wellbeing began. While checking in, we were offered a mocktail, a local ice cream and a cold flannel, which made for a refreshing change from most other hotels. Escorted to our rooms, we were led down a ceramic motif pathway weaving through luxuriant greenery and past the infinity

This boutique resort is certainly the jewel in the crown of Mayfair and is all set to welcome the tourists visiting Goa – DILIP RAY Chairman & Managing Director

The Mayfair Hideaway Spa Resort Goa In beautiful Betul, the Mayfair Hideaway lives up to its name

pool with its captivating view. The resort has 30 spacious, luxuriously appointed rooms that capture the essence of Goa in a contemporary setting. Each room is replete with all modern amenities, but what makes it different from the rest is the size of the bathroom with ‘His’ and ‘Her’ sinks, a dressing area and a large bath overlooking a private balcony. Chef Kailash Barik from north east India heads the bars and restaurant. Nautica is the multi-cuisine restaurant where lavish buffets are laid daily and serves Indian, European, Oriental and Goan delicacies. Aquarium, the

in-house bar offers everything from cigars to champagnes and from wines to whiskies. The pool bar Bougainvillea offers signature cocktails, beverages and snacks on the pool deck. This is where we found ourselves sunbathing during the day. In the evening, we were charmed by the local fishing village coming to life again. The Mayfair is soon set to be a world-class spa destination. The spa comprises five therapy rooms (two double and a single) offering an array of luxury treatments. With a choice of traditional Indian therapies and more

internationally-known massages such as a rejuvenating Swedish or a Balinese Royal Ritual, we were spoilt for choice. We received each treatment as part of the package and were encouraged to further relax in the Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, all within the same spa suite. Indulge at the Mayfair Hideaway Spa resorts, leave behind the stress and strains of a hectic schedule and experience the magic of nature in all its resplendent beauty for a memorable stay.

HI-TECH Continuing our column on the latest trends in technology

Choose a Tablet PC that’s

Worth your Money Before you buy your tablet PC, make sure it’s just right for your needs

T Raj Sinai Dempo was with Lucent Technologies Inc and is a networking professional from San Jose, California. He is currently Director of R&D at Santech Global (APAC region)

echnology gadget choices can be confusing. However, there are sites like ehow.com or ask.com that make a fairly good attempt to guide the consumer in fact finding and making that ‘mojo’ decision. While people make their choice in local civic polls based on perception and factual information, here is what is required to buy a tablet PC: Choose the form that best suits your need or working environment. There are three different forms of tablet PCs to choose from and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Slate models are tablet PCs without dedicated keyboards. User inputs rely on handwriting recognition using the digitiser, touching the screen with your fingers or stylus. Convertible models are tablet PCs that look like notebook computers with attached keyboards. The swivel hinge allows the screen to rotate 180 degrees and fold flat on top of the keyboard. It is usually

heavier and larger than the slate models. It is also one of the most popular models today. Hybrid models are tablet PCs that share the features of slate and convertible models.

Choose a processor with enough speed and performance to meet your needs. Note that the 2number of options you have in terms of processor specs depends on the form of tablet PC that you chose. Since convertibles are the most popular, it has the widest range of processor options among the three forms.

terms of operating system, go with Microsoft Tablet PC Edition (XP or Vista) since it is 3theInWindows operating system most tablet PCs use. Before getting an operating system other than Windows, conduct your own research just to be sure it works.

The battery life should at least last up to four hours since most of the time you will be 4working away from your table. This is very

important especially if you plan to use the tablet PC at meetings.

No matter what kind of computer you use, memory (RAM) always plays an important role in its overall 5performance. The tablet PC that you choose should

have a minimum of 2GB, and more is better. Some tablet PCs can be customised for up to 8GB but it is not practical unless you have a more powerful processor than dual core.

you have the option to choose between storage (Hard Disk Drive or HDD) and 6solidIfmechanical state drive (SSD), it is always better to go with

solid state since it is quieter and requires less power to operate which can prolong battery life. Although it is more expensive, it is more reliable and lighter in weight compared to HDD which best suits your tablet PC.

Connectivity is as important as mobility. the tablet PC that provides more 7Choose connectivity, which basically includes Wi-Fi

or wireless connections, USB ports, video output ports, Bluetooth and optical drive. You should get all the connectivity that a laptop has as much as possible.

Source: www.ehow.com 2010

www.silentbits.com

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

Haven Sea by the

Spread out at the edge of a languid and lush Sernabatim beach in South Goa, The Beach House makes the strenuous a week a lot easier to cope with

you are at a crossroads in life or feel that you require an MOT and service for your body and mind, then The Beach House Retreat is the place If

to come! – KATE TYLER Retreat Manager

he Beach House is every way the wellness stopover that one needs every now and then, thanks to a stressful lifestyle and general burning of the candle on both the ends. Offering a range of innovative, all-inclusive wellness programmes, the retreat provides a perfect setting for vacationers looking for complete body and mind rejuvenation combined with luxurious five-star pampering. Amalgamating ancient traditions with cutting-edge technology, it offers a mixture of medical and holistic therapies like The Total Body Rebalancing Treatment – which addresses everything from hormonal imbalance, excessive and sudden weight gain, and/or even emotional distresses. Set up by a former pharmacist, Ajit Patel, the resort falls somewhere between a world-class spa and an advanced clinic. The endeavour, as the entrepreneur puts it, is to be a wellness haven for the healing of body, mind and spirit by using a mix of eastern and western ethos, provided by a team of on-site specialists.

To vouch for is the seven-night Total Body Rebalancing package – a complete MOT for both body and mind that claims to leave the recipient cleansed and rejuvenated. This involves a strict detox – no solid food all week, just fruit and vegetable juices and clear broth, accompanied by 28 different supplements and aloe vera shots. Also included are twice-daily obligatory treatments at the spa, as well as sessions with a nutritionist and hypnotherapist, life-coaching and talks on wellbeing. As part of the package, one is also tested for various diseases and conditions; bone-mass density, acidity levels and visceral fat were also measured. One can lose up to six kilos in a week and some years too! So would one categorise this as a holiday? Well, if your idea of a holiday includes plenty of food and wine, sightseeing trips and late nights at a pub, clearly then it isn’t. But if you are looking for an escape from the mundane life for a while and return refreshed and healthier, then this one is up for grabs.

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

‘That is what Goa is all about –

THE WORLD WITHIN A WORLD!’ Tomoko Lobo, the managing director of FindAll Goa has come a long way from her ancestral home in Japan

come from the town of Hanawa, in the Akita Prefecture. My home lies in the midst of volcanic mountains with natural hot springs and acres of natural landscape around. I still remember the cherry blossom trees in spring, flecks of white on black boughs. Then the flowers fall forming a white carpet and the trees sprout their first leaves. In winter, I used to ski home from school in deep snow. This made me a fairly good Nordic skier. I miss the hot springs the most and the family trips for hot baths. But Goa is a culture and a land I have now grown to love. And often I forget that I am of Japanese origin when I bargain for fish in Mapusa in my heavily accented Konkani. Often I think I get a good bargain not because I am good at bargaining but because I make the effort to speak the language, even though it sounds more like Japanese than Konkani. I graduated from Art University in Tokyo,

studying graphic designing and I was also a planner and copywriter. As a freelance copywriter I worked a lot on advertising campaigns. My main clients were major tour companies. I worked with major advertising firms in Tokyo and often travelled to Europe with art directors, photographers, translators, etc. This is when I felt the need to learn English to communicate with people in other countries, so I decided to go to the UK and studied English conversation for a year and a half. Goa was never on my travel plans. I was always fascinated by European history of art and architecture. And that is what took me to Carcassonne, a small ancient town in Southern France in October 1989. And that is where my life’s path changed completely! It was here that I first met Michael Lobo, who was traveling with a German friend in a Porsche Spider. We still joke about whether it was the Porsche Spider or just Michael’s charm that made the moment magical. But this began my tryst with magical Goa. I came to Goa for the first time in January 1992 with Michael and our German friend. And was captivated! Goa was really beautiful – endless powdery and sandy beaches, scenic coconut trees, spidery, narrow village roads, white chapels and churches… There were no telephones, no fridge, no lights, no gas and no car. But that was what made Goa paradise. And its uncharted rural character sparked off our business plans – the birth of FinDoll as a brand. We married and came to settle in Michael’s ancestral home in Parra in January 1993. Fascinated by the beauty of the land, we stayed on, looking for a new opportunity and new direction. The idea for FinDoll Communications & Publications was conceived on August 15, 1993 at Mae De Deus Church in Saligao, a very symbolic moment for us in a church with beautiful neo-Gothic architecture. While we waited for the mass on the Feast of Assumption, the idea slowly grew... I wanted to learn the language and started taking lessons from a girl from the village. As I could not find a book that could teach me Konkani, we decided to create one and so Speak Konkani And Have Fun was born! We later extended it to German. The next logical business idea was also born out of a need. It was impossible to find one’s way around villages especially as they were uncharted. So Michael and I would roam the twisting by lanes and dirt roads on our scooter, mapping the remotest villages and towns. We put together not only chapels, crosses and unmarked by-lanes, but restaurants, street names, shops, establishments and other landmarks on a map. Today, FinDoll Communication & Publication produces the most comprehensive maps of Goa and even undertakes work for Goa Tourism. Our next logical step came in 1996, when we launched Goa’s first and only property guide Homes & Estates. In those days, it was uncustomary in India to disclose the selling price of a property in the media. Homes & Estates not only mentioned the price of the

Michael and Tomoko Lobo (Top) Cherry blossom trees in spring, Japan (Left)

properties for sale, but even gave property rates in individual areas (talukas) of Goa. We grew the company slowly. We had started off with four people, with Michael and me doing most of the work and the running around. By 2000, we had grown steadily and were soon a reasonably medium-sized company. But we were hungry for ideas and on a trip from Japan, the next germ of an idea was born – a guide for tourists. In 2004, after nearly a year of collating data and organising material, we launched FindAll-Goa – a handy pocket-sized publication that announced events

and vital information for visitors to Goa. Distributing 10,000 free copies every month, we developed a small but firm footprint on the event map of Goa. The idea quickly gathered momentum, and now Goa Tourism has also started assisting us by distributing the magazine at airports and government offices. A year later we included free maps of Goa in the package as well. Our maps had also come a long way since we started sketching and measuring on our dinky little scooter. Recently, Michael and I looked to the future and realised that Goa had no world-class retirement residence – a place we ourselves would want to spend our senior years. And so the concept of Bougainvilla Hermitage was born. We literally toured the world, looking at retirement homes in Europe, America and Japan and we arrived at the blueprint for our own retirement village. A place where seniors could be ‘independent but not alone’. That was the guiding philosophy of Bougainvilla Hermitage at Nachinola, just outside of Mapusa. From the wheel-chair friendly, non-skid paths to the environmentally friendly facilities and the senior friendly in-flat accessories, to the self-contained enclave, it will be our home and the home of like-minded people who love Goa and all things Goan. We have come a long way from when this all began. But sometimes, when the cool winds blow in from the East, I think I can smell the scent of cherry blossoms again. And when I feel really homesick, all I have to do is go down to Anjuna, pick up a bottle of Sake and sticky Japanese rice and whip up a sushi for my extended Goan family. And that is what Goa is all about – the world within a world!

GOAN CUISINE A monthly column offering the best of Goan food and drink

Diwali

Delights

Goans celebrate Diwali, a festival of lights with lots of thrill and zeal. They prepare mouth-watering delicacies, which Goans locally call faral. I am delighted to present to you, some sweet and non-vegetarian dishes to stimulate your taste buds. Happy cooking!

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 NOTE nd The milk a be n ca r a g su ith replaced w and ilk m t u n co co jaggary

Doodhatale Goad Fou

Milky Beaten Rice

Ingredients

Beaten rice (fou) Milk Sugar Raisins Cashew nut pieces Cardamom powder Melted ghee

Serves 4 1 cup (90 grams) 3 cups (750 ml) 1 cup (80 grams) 1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon 1 teaspoon 1 tablespoon

Method

Wash and soak the beaten rice and keep it aside for 20 minutes. Drain the excess water and keep aside. Soak the cashew nuts in water and keep aside.

2 3 4

Heat milk in a pan, boil it on a medium flame for 15 minutes until it is half its quantity. Add sugar to it and boil until the sugar melts.

Add the soaked beaten rice, raisins, cashew nuts and cardamom powder, let it simmer on a low flame for five minutes until the milk thickens.

Serve hot or cold

Caranguejos Recheados

Stuffed Crabs

Ingredients

Crabs 8 medium Butter 1½ tbsp Chopped spring onions 1 cup Turmeric powder ¼ tsp Chilly powder ½ tsp White pepper powder ½ tsp Tomato purée 2 tbsp Grated processed cheese 1½ tbsp Sugar ¼ tsp Chicken stock cube (optional) 1

Besan Ladoo

NOTE ing While serv at have oos th besan lad e refrigerator th in t p them up been ke days, warm s in the w fe a r fo 0 second for 15 to 2 . They will not ve a w ro ut mic me soft b only beco freshly m e e s also made

Ingredients

Method

1 2

2 cups (240 grams) ¾ cup (180 ml) 1 tsp 1 cup (220 grams) 1 tbsp

Sieve the besan and set aside.

Heat half the quantity of ghee in a shallow pan and when it melts, add besan to it. Stir fry it over a low flame until the besan is well done and gives off an aroma (15 to 20 minutes). Add the remaining ghee and stir fry it for another five minutes.

Add cardamom powder to it and mix well. Remove it from the flame and keep it aside for five minutes to cool a little.

4 5

Add the powdered sugar and mix well.

Take a lime-sized besan mixture, shape it into a round ladoo and decorate it with a raisin. Store them in an airtight container.

Stuffed Tiger Prawns

Ingredients

Tiger prawns Turmeric powder Ginger-garlic paste Dried red chilies Cloves Black peppercorns Cinnamon Cumin seeds Chopped garlic Chopped onion Sugar Vinegar Salt to taste Oil

Method

8 - 10 (1 kg) 1 tsp 1 tbsp 6 8 10 1-inch stick ½ tsp 8 cloves 2 medium 1 tsp 4 tbsp

2 tbsp + for shallow frying

Make a vertical slit along the back of each prawn. Marinate the prawns in a mixture of salt, ginger-garlic paste and turmeric powder for 15 minutes.

Grind the red chillies, cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon, cumin seeds, garlic and onion with vinegar, sugar and salt to a fine paste. Add a little water if required.

Makes 2 0

Gram flour (besan) Ghee Cardamom powder Powdered sugar Raisins

Goenche Wagh

Method

NOTE As butter and cheese are used in the recipe, you need not add any salt

Boil the crabs and remove the meat from the shells. (You should get approximately one-and-a-half cups). Select four crab shells, wash well and wipe dry.

Heat the butter in a pan and sauté the spring onions until they change colour. Add the crab meat, turmeric, chilli and white pepper powders, tomato purée, a tablespoon of cheese, sugar and a stock cube. Sauté well for a few minutes.

Stuff the four shells with the cooked crab meat and sprinkle the remaining grated cheese. Place the shells on a baking tray and bake in a hot oven for two minutes till the cheese melts.

Serve hot.

Heat two tablespoons of oil in a pan and sauté the ground masala for two minutes. Remove from the pan and stuff each prawn with one-and-a-half teaspoons of ground paste. Tie the prawn with a thread to seal the masala paste.

Heat the oil in a frying pan and shallow fry the prawns until golden brown and serve hot. NOTE ng Insert a lortically ve toothpick length of along thewn so it the pra rl while doesn’t cung fryi

HAPPENINGS

ITM-GOA MAKE MERRY! ollowing a formal inauguration by the F Governor Dr S S Sidhu, the four-day International Travel Mart (ITM-Goa), Goa’s biggest and most successful travel and tourism mart kicked off with a networking party at the Goa Marriott Resort. In celebration of a triumphant first day, representatives of all 75 participating companies intermingled and relaxed to the beats of DJ Pravin Chari and the Goan Carnival Troupe. ITM-Goa which aims to boost tourism-related business in the state was jointly promoted by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and the department of tourism, India Tourism, Travel & Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) and Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI). ITM-Goa is a one-of-its-kind tourism mart and one of the few exclusive business-to-business networking events organised in the country. ITM-Goa is expected to be a permanent annual fixture on the Indian tourism itinerary. Pics by Edric George

The Governor Dr S S Sidhu lighting the traditional lamp at the inaugural ceremony of the International Travel Mart (ITM-Goa). Also seen are Tourism Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar, Chairman of GTDC Shyam Satardekar, Secretary Tourism Dr M Modassir, President of GCCI Cesar Menezes & keynote speaker Pradip Madhavji

Team GTDC led by MD Nikhil Desai, Laxmikant Vaigankar, Deepak Narvekar, Anthony Fernandes, Lucia D’Souza, Noelyn Sandos, Thelma Moses & Bernardo Araujo

Vinay Albuquerque, Bhagavan Balani, Benny D’Souza, Charles Bonifacio, Joseph Baretto, Ernest Dias, Noreen Nizari, Edith Avileli & Ashraf Nizari

52 Swapnil & Varsha Naik with Pamela Mascarenhas

The ITM-Goa venue

Victor Hugo Gomes,Prashant Maurya & Ravi Goel

Sonia, Manu Gupta, Atish Fernandes & Vikram Antao

HAPPENINGS GLITZ AT THE CROWN GOA t was an evening of fashion and soothing music at IMonty The Crown Goa in Panaji with models wearing Sally creations strutting their stuff on the ramp. The designs were a combination of black and gold with elaborate headgear and were beautifully displayed against a cascading water backdrop. Under its new management of Vision Hotels, a Vishwarao Dempo Group Venture, The Crown Goa opened its doors to family, friends and trade members with the perfect setting of Monty Sallyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fashion show. Monty expressed his gratitude to the directors of the hotel, Rajesh and Bhakti Dempo for showcasing his latest creations. Bhakti promised that The Crown Goa would continue to host such events in the future.

Monty Sally with models showcasing his innovative designs

Designer Monty Sally with the directors of The Crown Goa, Rajesh & Bhakti Dempo

Ketan & Vaishali Angle Pics by Edric George

Deepali & Raj Dempo

Sheona, Charlene, Jean & Mario Sequeira

Vishnu Tarkar

Dr Suresh Dubhashi & Amit Sukhtankar

Gaurish & Pratima Dhond with Manguirish Raikar

HAPPENINGS

MERCEDES OWNERS IN TOP GEAR

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat flagging off the Mercedes rally

ozens of classic Mercs paid tribute D to one of the biggest and oldest brands in the world at the Ashvek Vintage World’s Mercedes-Benz Rally. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat flagged off the rally in Margao and 45 cars made their way to Cidade de Goa, Panaji. Organised by Pradeep Naik, who owns six vintage cars, the rally saw proud Mercedes owners putting their beauties on show for all to see. Ashvek Vintage World is Goa’s first and only vintage car museum and showroom.

Pics by Edric George

Aakash Counto

Pradeep Naik

PEOPLE’S HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF ‘89 HOLDS REUNION he 1989 SSC batch of People’s High School T in Panaji, arranged a reunion bash at Miramar. The idea was to meet everyone and

Abhijit Sadekar & Kapil Surlakar

Manisha Salkar

Gaurang Suctankar

Archana Deshpande

Neville Noronha

Aditi Karapurkar

Siddharth Rataboli

catch up after more than 20 years. The majority of the batch made it a point to be there. Some of them even came from places like Mumbai. Facebook helped as a connecting medium for these mates who were eager to reminisce about the old days. Music and dance, among other things made it an evening to remember.

Rohan Khaunte

Manzar Qazi Pics by Abhijit Sadekar

HAPPENINGS A ‘CONSUMMATE LIFESTYLE EXPERIENCE’ here else will you get a complete W designer outfit – from dresses and shoes to bags and accessories – all in one place? Jeeva Bhat and Aashna Khatwani have opened their new boutique Capricorn’s in Calangute to help you find your perfect look from among creations by acclaimed designers especially for Goa. The who’s who of Goa turned up to check out the shelves, which offers a shopping experience customers are bound to enjoy – a choice of colourful fabrics and various textures juxtaposed with home accessories, jewellery, antique carpets and a gallery café. Says Jeeva Bhat, co-owner and designer, “We offer clothes, shoes, scarves and bags designed not only by me, but also ready-to-wear ranges by Camiz from Mumbai, a special line by Nafisa Ali, shoes and bags from Payal Kothari's Verushka line and handmade glass jewellery by Gauri Kalokhe.” The store also sells nomadic rugs or kilims certified by Carpert Seller, the only firm with the largest collection of antique carpets in the country. The cosy gallery café has an open kitchen offering juices and sandwiches. Guests are invited to get behind the counter and make their own snack. Pics by John D’Souza

Jogesh & Aashna Khatwani, Jeeva & Sameer Bhat

Sujay Gupta & Daryl Pereira

Suraj Lotlikar, Nandan Kudchadkar, Akbar Mulla & Vijay Sardesai

Nivedita & Gaurav Gupta, Manoj Caculo, Nilesh Juwarkar Puranjaya Singh

Manoj & Neeta Rajani

Meghna Caculo

The Capricorn store in Calangute

Archana Bhobe & Nilima Morajkar

Kushi Dawda

Kanika Dempo

RESORT RIO BRINGS ITALY TO GOA Felice &Vicenzo Govind Tiwari, Bhupesh Shah Rainone

Shashmir & Rajesh Colvalcar

Dr Sachin & Dr Radhika Palyker

Aditya & Piu Basu

Vanita & Burkhard Wiegar

Sheetal, Anand & Khushi Palan

Pooja Sarin

Terence Nunes

Reema Kamat & Anjali Kamat

Pics by Edric George

hortly after the launch of two restaurants, S Resort Rio in Arpora has opened another one – a pizzeria and ristorante Italiano – to give Goans a small slice of Italy in their own backyard. Mamma Mia! offers an authentic taste of Italian cuisine rustled up by Chef Felice Rainone. The Italian masterchef and his brother Vicenzo, who is the manager of Mamma Mia!, are keen to deliver only the real thing. Chef Rainone, who has more than 30 years of experience in the business, says, “Proscuitto e melone, insalate di mare, crema di pomodoro and carpaccio di manzo are some of my all-time favourite antipasti, along with pastas like tagliatelle, gnocchi, tortellini and ravioli.” Goa’s food lovers turned up to taste the food, ingredients for which were sourced locally as well as imported. “The USP of this restaurant is the wood-fired pizzas. That along with the setting, location overlooking the pool and other authentic Italian food are going to be the biggest selling points,” adds Resort Rio general manager Terence Nunes. Want a slice of Italy? Head to Resort Rio. Buon Appetito!

BIZ NOTES

Uninor’s Olav Sande

Uninor launches Dynamic Pricing SM mobile service provider Uninor has launched their Dynamic Pricing strategy in Goa, offering mobile tariffs with up to 60 per cent discounts on a one-paisa per second billing. Introducing a revolutionary G marketing idea, customers will get discounts that change with location and time.

Each mobile phone tower broadcasts a different discount displayed on the screens of all mobile phones in the area. As the customer moves from one tower coverage to another, the discount changes. With the Dynamic Pricing plan, Uninor customers can avail of tariffs as low as 0.40 paisa per second by changing their location. Olav Sande, executive vice president of Uninor’s Mumbai hub, flagged off the Uninor Wheel of Fortune at the launch. He said, “Whether a tourist or a local, there is something for everyone in what we are offering in Goa this tourist season. We believe in coming closer to the customer and understanding their needs.”

Chintamanis’ bridal show

umbai’s leading jeweller Chintamanis will showcase its new designs to Goans during a Bridal Show in Margao and Panaji. The special bridal jewellery expo will have exclusive designer diamond bridal necklaces, kangans and maang tika on display at Nanutel in Margao on November 27 and 28, and November 30 and December 1 at Hotel Mandovi in Panaji. Kundan and polki bridal jewellery will also be featured. It will be the first time the jeweller showcased exclusive bridal jewellery for its patrons in Goa. Chintamanis will also launch its temple jewellery collection for the first time during the exhibitions.

Qatar Airways launches mobile phone website

n addition to the existing online internet facility qatarairways.com, Qatar Airways has recently launched its new mobile website m.qatarairways.com. It features a host of functions including check in, flight status information, mobile boarding passes and seat selection that enables travellers to easily access the airline’s services through internetenabled mobile device. Qatar Airways operates daily non-stop services from Goa to Doha with convenient connections to North America and South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Pershing boats at Goa Boat Show Pershing luxury boats will be on display at the Goa International Marine and Boat Expo 2010

ershing, a leading name in motor yachts and a brand of Gruppo Ferretti, is set to showcase its products at the Goa International Marine and Boat Expo in Panaji from December 17-20. Four new models were on display for the international public at the Cannes International Boat and Yacht Show 2010 for a week in September (8-13). The firm unveiled a restyled Pershing 50.1, an expression of Gen Next, while keeping it distinctly sporty and elegant. The boat was named Pershing fleet’s Best Selling Model for several years and the company hopes its revamp will draw more people to its high performance and excellent comfort. Other models also on show on the Cote d’Azur included the Pershing 80’, characterised by its streamlined profile and smart interiors, Pershing 72’, a model that set the standards for its category, and Pershing 64’. Pershing’s brand manager Nadia Serafini said, “This is a significant selection of the latest Pershing products in the framework of providing a vast overview of the great variety of contents Pershing boats have always granted to their customers, being evidence of constant commitment to research that characterises the brand and Gruppo Ferretti as a whole.” The firm is represented in India by Marine Solutions, one of the country’s leading luxury boat dealers. Managing director Anju Dutta added, “Pershing intends to confirm the values that have made its yachts renowned and recognisable all over the world – attention to design, unique style, maximum care for details and constant search for the latest solutions.”

Manek Gem puts bridal collection on display

Focus opens new store in Panaji

iamond and studded jewellery manufacturer Manek Gem held a three-day bridal show in Panaji and Margao to display their designs ahead of the wedding season. The annual event showcases a wide range of the brand’s special bridal collection, from subtle and traditional designs to bold and contemporary styles. Wedding bangles, bracelets, earrings, mangalsutras, etc were on display and Manek Gem is looking at a 15 per cent to 20 per cent hike in sales. Anand Palan, owner of Manek Gem said, “Such an event allows our customers to plan for the wedding season in advance, and also helps us understand what the trends are going to be. Customers come to our showrooms and plan their purchases. They can either pick up something they like on the spot or even place an order for a customised design.” He added, “People used to travel to other cities specially to purchase jewellery now have the option of buying from Goa itself. This has been a blessing in disguise for us.” Sheetal Palan said they change a design according to the customers taste and budget, and with dozens of customers streaming in every day, the brand looks set for a glittering wedding season.

Focus has opened a multi-brand consumer electronic home appliance store in Panaji

he Focus Group of Companies has opened a multi-brand consumer electronic home appliance store at Campal, Panaji, offering a wide variety brands for the customer to choose from. On display at the store are LCDs, televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, microwaves, air-conditioners, laptops, digital cameras, MP3 players, modular kitchens and a host of other domestic appliances. The firm says its eValue store is the only

ock and Raaga Entertainment Pvt Ltd has opened its third retail store in Margao, and R also released two new albums under its

place in Goa which offers such a wide variety of electronic home appliances. Deputy Mayor of the Corporation of the City of Panaji Yatin Parekh and Central Bank of India chief manager D D Agarwal inaugurated the showroom. Branch managers Yogesh Venu (Sony), Macjoe Rebello (LG) and Samarth Srivastav (Samsung) were present. The directors of the Focus Group Akshay Jain, Aires Andrade and Dr Ajay Estibeiro played the perfect hosts.

Rock and Raaga opens Margao outlet production label. The well-known entertainment destination held the event on Dussehra, with fado singer Sonia Shirsat and fusion group Shanti providing two hours of live performances. P S Malhotra and his grandchildren Kunal

and Priyasha inaugurated the store and also released Yograj’s new album Tatkar – The Mystic Sounds of Strings and Sonia Shirsat’s Saudades De Fado. Founded in 1998 by Rajesh Malhotra, Rock and Raaga, which retails in movies, books, magazines, apparel, toys, jewellery and gifts apart from music, has more than 100 titles under its music label.

VIVA GOA DIARY

IMA holds annual conference in Goa

undreds of doctors, including students from the Goa Medical College, attended the Goa state Indian H Medical Association (IMA) conference in Dona Paula.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat inaugurated the two-day event, at which three senior IMA members – Dr Vishnu Vaidya, Dr Santosh Usgaonkar and Dr Digambar Naik – were felicitated for their service to the community and their achievements in the medical field. The fourth annual conference featured a host of distinguished doctors speaking on a variety of topics including lung cancer therapy, breast cancer and robotic surgery. The state’s most well-known oncologist Dr Shekhar Salkar, a strong proponent of breast cancer awareness, is the IMA Goa president.

Buyao Rocks Konkani CD released

Shrinivas Dempo elected president of GFA 64

hrinivas Dempo, chairman of the Dempo Group of Companies and president of Dempo SFootball Club, has been elected as the new president of the Goa Football Association. He told VIVA GOA, “It is a big win and a satisfying one, although it was a closely fought contest. But I am happy the way things have shaped out and every member needs to be congratulated for the victory.” Dempo won the poll with an 85-75 vote margin against rival Peter Vaz, president of Sporting Clube de Goa. Dempo also acknowledged Vaz’s competitive spirit in the well-fought elction.

inger and music composer Sidhanath Buyao released his latest Konkani CD, Buyao Rocks Konkani, a venture of Buyao Theatres Goem, at the Mega SKonkani Musical Extravaganza at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao.

Minister Churchill Alemao releasing the Buyao Rocks Konkani CD

The event was a tribute to his father, renowned singer and musician Goem Shahir Ulhas Buyao. Buyao Rocks was launched by Minister for PWD Churchill Alemao, the parish priest of Carambolim church, Fr Conceicao Silva, vice chairman of Ravindra Bhavan Shridhar Kamat who composed five of the songs, Prince Jacob and writer John Aguiar. The formal function was followed by performances by prominent artistes of the Konkani stage like Anthony San, Prince Jacob, comedian Humbert, Francis de Tuem among others. Priced at Rs 150, fans can purchase a copy of the CD from any leading music store. Those who order via sms could be a lucky winner and will receive a cash prize of Rs 10,000. Orders placed up to December 31, 2010 will be eligible for the scheme. To order sms type BUYAOROCKS (space) name, address and number of cds required and send to 7600676006. VIVA GOA congratulates Sidhanath Buyao on his CD and appreciates his effort to promote Konkani among the younger generation.

WENDELL PUTS ON KUNBI SHOW AT FASHION WEEK

endell Rodricks has created waves once again with his latest collection for W Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in

New Delhi. The product of years of immense research and hard work, the Wendell Rodricks Kunbi Tribe collection is aimed at reviving the Kunbi traditions by mixing ethnicity and modernity. Wendell’s collection mixes cotton and silk, woven and knitted textures and brings a tradition of the Kunbis – a once denounced tribe – back to the forefront of Goa. The saris have been presented to the President Pratibha Patil, United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Asha Digambar Kamat, who proudly wear cotton saris as a badge of cultural identity.

Lisa Ray wearing a creation from Wendell Rodricks’ new collection

Savoir Faire Media emerge national quiz champions

n a battle of wits and logical thinking at the finale of the Tata Crucible Business Quiz 2010 held in October, the team of Rajiv D’Silva and Harshavardhan Bhatkuly from ISavoir Faire Media emerged as national champions.

Rajiv D’Silva and Harshvardhan Bhatkuly with the Tata Crucible Business Quiz awards

D’Silva and Bhatkuly have been regional winners for the last four consecutive years. Thrilled with their win, D’Silva said, “It’s a great opportunity for us to be part of the quiz. We are looking forward to participate in the future as well.” Business Goa editor Bhatkuly, who had a long-standing dream to win, added, “It is a vindication of belief because people never gave a chance for a team from Goa to beat the biggies of India’s corporate quizzing. It is team-work that works for us.” The seventh edition of the Tata Crucible Business Quiz spread across two months, witnessed strong participation with over 1,000 teams contesting. It was held across 18 cities with 300 teams from eight cities. The quiz was hosted by ace quizmaster Giri Balasubramaniam, who challenged and kept both the audience and participants on their toes throughout the event.

Wedyn Noronha does Goa proud again rumping more than 300 students from all over the country, Wedyn TNoronha, 11, won the eighth place in

the National Championship of MaRRS International Spelling Bee Competition 2009-10 in Kolkata last month. The spelling master earlier secured the first and third ranks at the North Goa Interschool and State Championships 2009-10 respectively. At the national competition, he competed in various rounds including dictation (written and oral), jumbled words, word application, complete the idioms, crossword, pronunciation key, synonyms and antonyms. The youngster attributes his success to the support of his parents Savita and Erlick Noronha. Started in 2003, the MaRRS Spelling Bee is a self-motivated competition for school children in Asia

Spelling master Wedyn Noronha to help them improve communications skills through better vocabulary and proper use of words. More than 3 million students from over 1,000 schools participate in the annual competition, which begins at the school level and progress to the international level through inter school, state and national championships.

VIVA GOA SPOTLIGHT

Focusing on Goan Achievers lying isn’t easy when you’ve got the lives of hundreds of passengers in your hands. The risks are high, a split-second decision could prove fatal and the physical and mental demands are rigorous. ‘If God had meant us to fly, he’d given us wings’, it is said. Savio Alemao and Sasha Saldanha, two Goan commercial pilots have found their life’s calling in the contrary. The main reason Savio, the son of politician Churchill and Fatima Alemao, chose flying as a career was because of the niggling thought that entered his mind every time he sat in an aircraft. “If only I was a pilot, I could take over the sky”. Having done precisely that, Savio is a licenced pilot from Bassain Flying Academy in Bankstown, Sydney, Australia. For Sasha, the daughter of Alex and Lilly Saldanha, the directors of Emerald Lawns, it has always been a childhood desire, her love for adventure and a passion for speed that spurred her on to a career as a pilot. She obtained her commercial pilot’s licence at only 19 years from Pan-Am International Flight Academy in Florida, USA. Savio and Sasha take to the sky with VIVA GOA...

One thing that fascinates you about flying… Savio: The fact that I can take over the sky and that too without wings. Sasha: The moment of exhilaration when you feel yourself flying thousands of feet above the earth. The first time you sat in a cockpit, you felt… Savio: Very excited. But the moment we reached 7000 ft I got air sick. Sasha: Overwhelmed! A perfect man-machine interaction.

A misconception about being a pilot… Savio: That pilot’s have an easy life. We have to toil a lot for our licence. After getting a job it is an immense responsibility and a disciplined life. Sasha: Pilots are handsome men-of-uniform who are grossly overpaid for an easy job because everything is on auto-pilot these days.

A funny or embarrassing experience while flying or in training… Savio: Flying my mum around Sydney Harbour and Opera House. I told her that we were running out of fuel and I didn’t know what to do, she went berserk. It was so hilarious to see her praying and screaming at the same time. But when we landed she gave me a big hug. Sasha: When I was being taught the steep turn 360 over the sea and every time my instructor would start the maneuver, I had this weird feeling that we would both roll out through the doors like little marbles and fall into the sea. Complaints when in the passenger seat… Savio: I’ve had a good experience so far. Sasha: No, not at all! He’s the captain, he knows what he’s doing.

A scary experience while flying… Savio: When I was on my way back to our base in Bankstown from Cessnock in Sydney and I was cleared to land, luckily I saw another aircraft on the runway which the air traffic controller didn’t notice. I did a last minute go around, I almost had a crash that day. Sasha: Getting caught in a thunderstorm, unaware, on my way back after a tiring four-hour cross country.

Savio Alemao & Sasha Saldanha