Medeira's Intelligent Missive

Da Vinci Code and Inox

Hello!! Goa & Goans.Its been a long time now since I have got down to writing in this newspaper.I was just scanning through the news paper and stumbled across an article that instantly caught my eye. It was titled "The Da Vinci Code and Sharon Dias". I had read also the letter some days back from Sharon Dias and was very passionate about her view point.
I am not a very religious person.Though I belong to the Catholic community I agree on many a teachings we have and disagree too on a number of teachings and practices we follow, however I do not ever support someone or something discrediting or demeaning any religion be it Islam,Hinduism, Sikhism,Christianity,Jainism etc.Using the same yardstick with every religion and practising equality of religions is something that everyone should follow.
With reference to "The Da Vinci Code" I completely agree with Mr. Ino Lobo & his comments based on the letter appearing in your newspaper written by Sharon Dias.I am sure Sharon would agree if she has even little self respect and is a righteous person by nature she would not want anyone making fun or distorting the truth or rumour mongering about her or her family.Similarly she should realise that such movies like this one which spice up the facts and distort them to make it attract controversy thus inducing people's curiosity should definately be banned.Movies like this which hurt religous sentiments of any religion should never be allowed in a multi religious & cultural society be it today or ages before.
Being a Catholic she should have stood by the Church and not by her feelings of this being a progressive age.One should know that progressive could mean a lot of things depending on what context we are reffering to and which subject we are talking about.
Yes I agree you have a choice to watch it or not and that has been denied to you due to the expression of people's sentiments,the church's opposition against this movie and the government's & theatre owners wise decision to ban it thus not raking up & flaring communal passions.If you want to watch this movie you can buy it when the DVD comes out and watch it then in the privacy of your house.
The majority of us Catholics definately do not want to see this movie in theatres shown around Goa nor it's posters splashed all over town or for that matter any previews shown on television as well.
I am sure, Sharon, Inox does not depend on a bunch of your friends and you visiting their theatres.They have a vaster majority that supports their decision and the government of Goa decision not to show this movie throughout Goa.Inox also has a bigger following that you might think.With this decision they definately have increased their following as well for being a right thinking and sentiments oriented and concerned organization.

Croydon Medeira's letter in the Herald

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Cator Re Bhaji - Goemcar Gaoncara

Govt’s bid to change Comunidade Code flayed!

The participants at the seminar on ‘Whether the government has the power to amend the law of the comunidades’, strongly opposed any government move to change the Comunidade Code.
The seminar was jointly organised by the Association of Components of Comunidades and Literati, at the Institute Menezes Braganza hall, to discuss the proposed amendment in the Comunidade Code by the state government.
The Association of Componentes of Comunidades will also present a representation to the Governor, Mr S C Jamir for “saving the comunidades from further destruction”.
The representation “recommends the appointment of an inquiry commission to examine the atrocities committed by the state under such colour of law over law abiding citizens and the age old village communities in the state without lawfully constituting the revenue villages of the government”.
“Until such time, restrain the revenue authorities from lording over comunidades,” the declaration says.
The former chief secretary, Dr J C Almeida, speaking at the seminar said that the ‘Gaonkars’ of the comunidades have woken up too late, when most of the structure of the comunidades in the state has been totally destroyed.
Observing that the state government has carried out various amendments to the Comunidade Code in 1985, 1995 and 1996, Dr Almeida said that the government should not further amend the Code just to give land to whoever it wants. “The Comunidade Code is a legislation and hence it can be amended by the government,” he said, pointing out “however, the Code should be changed only after taking into consideration, the views of the members of the comunidades.”
Dr Almeida also said that the industrialisation of Goa which started in 1964, saw no provision in the Comunidade Code to give the comunidades land for the industries. The Article 303 of the Code which provides that comunidade may approve the granting of land which is given by the government to the industries, thus came into existence, he informed.
The senior advocate, Mr Bernard D’Souza said that the proposed amendment in the Comunidade Code is nothing more than political compulsion.
The government is proposing to amend the Article 334 by adding Section B to it, so that the comunidade land can be granted to any person as per the wish of the government, he said, adding that “the government should first carry out its duties towards the comunidades”.
The government is not interested in putting the things in order, as regards the comunidades, Mr D’Souza observed. He also alleged that the bureaucrats are responsible, to a great extent, for destroying the structure of comunidades.
Mr D’Souza however supported granting of comunidade land for social causes like constructing schools and hospitals.
Former class I government officer, Mr Percival Noronha, said that the moment Agriculture Tenancy Act, 1964 was applied to the comunidades, the fine structure of these bodies collapsed. He also noted that comunidades were the first public bodies to be destroyed after Goa was liberated from the Portuguese regime, mainly because of corruption.
The secretary of the Association of Componentes of Comunidades, Mr Andre Pereira, in his welcome address said that there are lot of misconceptions about the comunidades such as the bodies were established by the Portuguese and they were mostly controlled by the Catholic community.
“Presently, there is no responsible authority to look after these bodies,” he lamented.
The general secretary of Goa Su-Raj Party, Mr Floriano Lobo and the past president of Aldona comunidade, Mr Hector Fernandes also spoke.

(From the Navhind Times)

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Bessaun Tujer Podom Re - Cardinal Saiba

CARDINAL IVAN DIAS APPOINTED PREFECT OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE EVANGELIZATION OF PEOPLES

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed an Indian cardinal to the top Vatican post in charge of the Catholic Church’s missionary activities worldwide. The Vatican on Saturday announced the appointment of Cardinal Ivan Dias, Archbishop of Bombay, as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. The 70-year old prelate is the second Indian cardinal to be appointed to a top Vatican department, after now-retired Cardinal Simon Lourdusamy who headed the Congregation for Oriental Churches from 1985 to 1991. Cardinal Ivan Dias succeeds Italian cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, who has been appointed archbishop of Naples, in the southern Italy. Cardinal Dias was born in Mumbai, formerly Bombay, on April 14, 1936, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1958. From 1961 –‘64 he studied at Rome’s Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy which trains future Vatican diplomats. While obtaining a degree in canon law from Rome’s Pontifical Lateran University in 1964, he worked with the Vatican Secretariat of state planning for the Pope Paul VI’s visit to Bombay that year for the International Eucharistic Congress. A veteran Vatican diplomat, Cardinal Dias has an impressive record in the Holy See’s missions abroad, mostly in mission countries of Africa and Asia. From ’65 to ’73 he served in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Indonesia, Madagascar, Reunion, Comoros and Mauritius. From 73’ to 82’ he served at a higher level in the Baltic States, Bielorussia, Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria, China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania. In 1982, with his appointment as Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Togo and Benin, he was ordained a bishop. From ‘87 to ‘91, he was Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to South Korea, after which he was transferred to Albania in 1997 as Apostolic Nuncio. This was a crucial phase in the history of the Balkan nation. Pope John Paul II visited Albania 1993 and reinstated the Church hierarchy in the world's self-declared atheistic nation ordaining 4 new bishops. In 1996 Cardinal Ivan Dias was appointed Archbishop of Bombay, succeeding Cardinal Simon Pimenta who retired. Late Pope John Paul created him cardinal in 2001. Currently, Cardinal Ivan Dias is member of three Vatican congregations –viz, the Doctrine of the Faith, Divine Cult and the Discipline of the Sacraments and Catholic Education. He is also member of the Vatican’s Pontifical Councils – for Culture and the Laity, as well member of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church, the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See and of the council of cardinals studying problems related to the organization and finance of the Holy See.

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The forthright Moidecho Silva

Da Danm’d Code”

There’s an oft touted phrase “truth is stranger than fiction”; so where does one draw the line between purposefully distorted truth and fiction? “Da Danm’d Code” flirts with the truth in demonic fashion. Consider the atrocious connections hinted at, or insinuated, in the following:

*Opus Dei is linked to manipulation resulting in multiple murder; it is made out to be an organisation mired in intrigue; and it indulges in ritualistic sexual orgies. This is slanderous and uncalled for.
*Leonardo da Vinci is made out to be a schemer and an apostate. This amounts to posthumous defamation in very poor taste.
*Jesus of Nazareth is painted as a cheat, an imposter and a deviant. This is downright blasphemy. It is a tenet of Christian faith that the nature of Jesus was divine: He came from the Father. It is satanic to suggest that Jesus was anything else.
For Christians to be appalled is but natural. It is a reality that evil rules the world today. But we are called to choose Truth and denounce evil. That is why millions are stirred up around the world by “Da Danm’d Code.

Letter by Mr Nazar Silva, Moira.

Comment: As usual Nazar Silva has expressed his forthright views very succinctly. However, he can rest assured that after surviving two thousand years of good and bad - doing it and having it done to it, the Catholic Church will survive this blasphemous fiction.
A thought worth remembering though is that, if such blasphemy had been written about the Prophet Mohammed, all hell would have broken loose.
In the meantime the followers of the Son of Man should harken to his tenets of turning the other cheek. There is no stronger philosophy in this world.

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Uzvaddachim Kirna

Goans To Get Bible In Local Language

PANAJI, India (UCAN) -- The Archdiocese of Goa and Daman has undertaken an 18-million-rupee (US$4 million) project to print the Bible in Konkani, the official language of Goa state.
Father Manuel Gomes, head of the archdiocese's commission for the biblical apostolate, told UCA News that they hope to bring out the first copies in June. The 2,300-page hardbound translation in Roman script will have a retail price of 300 rupees (US$6.67), but the archdiocese is selling it at half price for advance orders. It plans an initial print run of 60,000 copies and already has received orders for 40,000 copies through its parishes, Father Gomes said.Natives of Goa, a coastal state in western India, have waited 450 years to get the Bible translated into Konkani, even though Jesuits established Asia's first printing press there in 1556. India has 22 officially recognized languages and 1,630 dialects, 33 of these spoken by at least 100,000 people. The Bible has been translated into many of these tongues.Father Francis Caldeira, who earlier headed the archdiocesan biblical commission, blames lack of encouragement from the Portuguese for the delay in printing the Bible in Konkani.The Portuguese ruled Goa from 1510 until India took control through military action in 1961. Panaji, the state capital, is about 1,910 kilometers southwest of New Delhi.Father Caetano Cruz Fernandes, a theologian, said that until 1961, "there was no scope for translation" of the Bible into Konkani. The archdiocese began to use Konkani from 1965, following a demand for Mass in the local language. It used a translation from the Latin text.According to Father Gomes, the "real impetus" for the translation came after the archdiocesan synod in February 2000, which "made a forceful demand for a Konkani Bible."Father Caldeira, who now directs St. Pius X Pastoral Institute, said the first portion of the Bible translated into Konkani was Psalms, in 1920. A translation of the New Testament was completed in 1974.Father Ave Maria Afonso, who was also involved in the translation, said translation of the Old Testament took almost 15 years. The committee used the Jerusalem Bible as the standard for translation, but it ran into difficulty and had to make reference to different versions of the Bibles.Translators also had to consult other references in some cases, Father Caldeira said. "This is a slow process and cannot be hurried," he told UCA News. The priest also pointed out that Konkani became a popular reading language only after Goa adopted it as the state's official language in 1987.

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Viva Goem

Indian vs. Goan

By Arwin Mesquita

I am proud to be citizen of a country with the Worlds major religions and a variety of different cultures.
The essence here is that different types of people make up our great country; Goan culture & identity being part of it. It is very important that these cultures & respective identities are preserved.
Opinions are voiced that since Goans are free to buy land/migrate to any part of India (exception Kashmir); the same should be for all other communities towards Goa. I appreciate this view but do not agree; most of the states in India have sizeable sizes/populations and migrations from other states will not make a significant change to their culture. One argument for example; Mumbai has majority non-Maharashtrian population but; Mumbai is a non-local minority city in a local majority state. Bottom line is that there is no threat to the Maharashtrian culture!!
What we face in Goa today is a threat to our culture and identity; in a few years time will there be a place we can call home? With the current trend, I seriously doubt it. It is in this view that we need to push for an exception to the norm; which could even mean taking up the issue the Indian Government for constitution changes to preserve Goan Culture & Identity. In hindsight, I believe that we have negotiated this at the time of liberation.
There are many communities e.g. The Kurds who long for a place to call their own and here we have a place but, are giving it away.
Lastly my opinion is that each individual needs a sense of belonging and identity; A lot of Goans shun our language, culture and customs either due to embarrassment or other reasons. Each one of us should ask ourselves the question i.e. Do we want the Goa we know to go away? If the answer is yes, then I rest my case!!

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Ubaldo - Khodegant Concanim Mogi

Fr Ubaldo takes over as Editor of Vavraddeancho Ixtt

Fr Ubaldo Fernandes has been appointed editor of the popular Konkani weekly "Vavraddeancho Ixtt" (Workers' Friend) by the Society of Pilar. He has taken over the reigns from outgoing editor Fr Peter Raposo. An ardent lover of Konkani, Fr Ubaldo has assisted the weekly in 1961-62. A nationalist at heart, he would always publish articles regarding the Liberation of various African nations. An extremely talented lyricist, he conceived an composed the lyrics of the first opera in Konkani "Agnel - Onod Goycho" (Life of Fr Agnelo) and "Mahan Porgottnar - Goycho Saib" (Life of St Francis Xavier). The 65-year-old priest has also composed hymns for All India Radio, and also Mandos and poems. An educationist and a linguist, Fr Ubaldo is also a qualified lawyer too.

(GT)

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Award for Dr Jose Pereira

The Internationally acclaimed scholar, Dr Jose Pereira, from Curtorim, will be awarded the prestigious Dr Kashinath Mahale Award 2005. Asmitai Pratishthan will present the award to Dr Pereira on May 27 at Margao. The lifetime award carries a cash prize of Rs.10,000, a citation and a memento, to recognise and honour scholars, writers and artistes who have rendered yeoman service in promoting the culture of Goa. Dr Pereira's research work "Konkani Mandakini", a book comprising specimens of Konkani writings showing the evolution of the language from the 12th century and his collection of religious songs "Bhakti Gitam" besides "Songs of Goa", his works on Mando published in two volumes and co-written book "A Sheaf of Deknnis" are considered to be a rich contribution to the language and culture of Goa. He has also written books on theology and architecture.

(GT)

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Tomazinho Cardozo's Commentary

OF GOA, GOANS AND NON-GOANS

After Liberation, Goan lifestyle has undergone a drastic change, which has created job opportunities for others and hence the influx of non-Goans into the state. Soon after Liberation, rapid spread of education provided enough opportunity to all Goans to study, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. Higher education too was brought to their doorstep. Hence literacy increased and naturally it led the youth to search for white-collar jobs. Simultaneously, doors to Gulf countries opened wide, thereby tempting our youth to migrate... If as per the statistics, the percentage of non-Goans in the state is about 35% about 15 to 20 years later, I feel it will be more than 50 per cent. We will not be in a position to stop this trend because their 'services' are needed for our survival. Under these circumstances, what will Goa and Goans be like in 2025, only time will tell!

(Tomazinho Cardozo, GT)

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Another Angle Of The Concanim Argument

Script for Konkani. Konkani in Roman Script is being projected as the language of the Goan Catholics and the move is to seek its recognition as such under the `minority rights' enshrined in the Indian Constitution. Consequently a demand is apparently being concocted for an amendment in the State Official Language Act of Goa that contemplates only the Konkani in Devanagri Script. The amended Act should comprise both Konkani in Devanagri Script and Konkani in Roman Script for the sake of the Minority. Rajan Narayan had already said, about 20 months ago ("Goan Observer",Feb.21-27,2004) that the then BJP/RSS Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar "had virtually instigated the Romi Konkaniwadis to demand that the Konkani in Roman Script should also be recognised as the official language". We know very well Parriker's love for Konkani andThere has recently been a hue and cry in the allegedly Goan Catholic Community in favour of Roman for the Catholics! The contenders for the Official Status for Marathi are overjoyed for the present agitation will surely help them achieve their goal! The promoters of this movement also demand that the Schools - which have been teaching Konkani in Devanagri Script for 30 years, amounting to a generation - should switch over to Konkani in Roman Script.
1. Most of the `reasons' brought forth are rather complaints or grievances of a presumably affected few that can be well redressed with an amicable dialogue. They do not justify at all the intended upheaval in the social, political and educational fields likely to damage the unique harmonious and secular fabric of the Goan society at large. And that too at this stage where all the educated people of 50 years and below are well conversant with the Devanagri. 2. The slogan " One Script, One Language, One Literature" of Akhil Bharoti Konknni Porishod, right from its birth in 1939,in Karwar, is blown out of proportion to make the gullible majority of Catholics take it as a threat to their culture. It does not actually mean more than the Catholic motto "One Flock and One Shepherd". It does not spell in the least a blow of death on the other scripts and an imposition whatsoever of Devanagri instead. At its widest, it is a `wishful thinking' or an ideal goal unanimously agreed upon by all the Konkanis in the session in Karwar in 1939. 3. Nothing is further from the truth than to say that Konkani was never written before the arrival of the Portuguese. Historical books and documents such as "Oriente Conquistado" and the letters of the Missionaries of that time amply indicate the existence of people who knew to read and write in the local language. Dr. Pratap Naik's contention is that Marathi was written to some extent and Konkani had been only a spoken idiom. He further says that it was the Missionaries that gave it a Script. This trend may lead to a dangerous implication that Konkani is just a dialect of Marathi. It may jeopardize all the achievements of our `giants' of the past and present, like Dr.Gerson da Cunha, Eduardo Bruno de Sousa, Mons Dalgado, Shennoy Goybab, Dr. Mariano Saldanha, Bakibab Borkar, Dr Manoharai Sardessai, Ravindra Kellekar, Purushotam Mallaia, Felicio Cardoso, Dr. Olivinho Gomes, Adv Uday Bhembre - to name only a few - in proving that Konkani is an Independent Indian Literary Language rather older than Marathi itself and, being a descendant from Sanskrit, its rightful script is Devanagari. Fr. Stephens and Fr. Maffei could be quoted in favour of the latter assertion. 4. History shows us that the Catholics, other than the elite, clung to Konkani, that too mostly the spoken one, for want of other options. It was not a "sacrifice" as such! Whereas Hindus were given the advantage of having their education in Marathi, the mavxi bhas, a sister of their mother-tongue, even at the Lyceum level. They had thus the opportunity of enjoying and interacting with the rich literature of the neighbouring regions. Hence the deep multi- centennial influence of Marathi in their social, cultural and religious life. This explains their relative reluctance till today to change their mindset and the painstaking struggle Shennoi Goybab had to endure to win over his confreres to the cause of Konkani. Shedding their centuries old Marathi tradition amounted to shedding off their own skin, as Ravindra Kellekar puts it, for the sake of Unity and Identity of Goans. 5. Dr. Pratap Naik calls "Murkh"(Stupid) the promoters of Devanagri Script. Dr. Mathew Almeida, on the other hand, casts aspersions on the slow process of transition of Hindus from Marathi to Konkani. Both being born and bred in Karnataka and consequently not fully aware of the peculiar historical circumstances that shaped the ethos of Goans, should have been more prudent in their statements. One gets the impression that they are bent on creating a rift between the two communities. 6. Familiarity with the Devanagri will definitely throw open a window to appreciate the Indian languages, such as Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi and others of the same clan. It will help the Goan Catholics to enter emotionally and socially into the main Indian stream. Or do we intend remaining a ghetto forever? Are the Goans going to be a divided society of "hindu dexi somaz" and "kristi pordexi somaz", as Fr. Moreno says? Inter-religious dialogues tend to be a farce! 7. Tremendous has been the development in the field of Konkani Literature in Devanagri. We have plenty of books of poems, essays, dramas, novels of international standards, many of which already translated into Indian and European languages. We have at least four good Konkani Dictionaries and a magnificent Konkani Encyclopedia divided into four huge volumes. It may take another 50- 60 years to create such a wealth in the Roman Script. 8.Last but not least is the threat of Marathi being an Official Language of Goa. That will be the end of the Goan Identity.

Fr. Jaime Couto, M.S., B.Ed [Professor of Konkani Language in Goa seminaries] strita@sancharnet.in

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Melodious Mandos - Adeus Korcho Vellu Paulo

ADEUS KORCHO VELLU PAULO

Adeus korcho vellu paulo
hem mojem, kaliz re fausota
dispedir korchea velar
vo sonvsar naka so disota

Chorus
Vochu voch re, rodu naka
DEVU feliz kortolo tuka (Twice)

Forsan adeus tuka kortam
him mhojim, dukam re golloitam
jaitem martir hanv bogitam
ankvarpon tukach re bhetoitam

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Niz Goemcar - Faria

EUROPEAN HONOUR FOR ABBE FARIA ON 250TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY

Commemorative postcard to be released:

World famous hypnotist, priest and revolutionary, Abbe Faria will be the first Goan to be honoured by a member of the European Union with a commemorative postcard on the occasion of his 250th birth anniversary on May 31, 2006. This rare distinction is only the second of its type accorded to any Goan after Portugal commemorated Blessed Joseph Vaz with a postal stamp on the occasion of his 300th birth anniversary. A petition signed by nearly 300 signatories from India and abroad for the issue of a commemorative postal stamp to mark Abbe Faria's 250th birth anniversary was submitted to the postal authorities of several countries. Though the petition reached the Stamp Advisory Committee of one of the European countries after the deadline for submission of proposals, the committee was polite enough to assure the release of a commemorative postcard with a facsimile of a stamp, according to US-based Goan artist, Dom Martin.

(Paul Fernandes, GT)

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GOA, GOAN, GONE

Last week when I was there, Goa whizzed past me. Goa? Whizzing? How could Goa - languorous land of laidback socegado, ageless as the ebb and flow of the Mandovi and Zuari rivers, as the subtle alchemy of the rich,red earth which transmutes itself into the green gold of paddy fields and coconut groves - ever be made to whizz? I looked hard at Goa. The landscape - of crescent moon beaches and peppermint churches and tiny villages punctuated with the curled-up commas of sleeping dogs - was as serene and still as always. What was whizzing about were people. Not the local people, the Goans, who looked on this untoward activity with bemusement, but people from outside who were in a great rush - the great Goa land rush. The property market, booming all over India, has gone ballistic in Goa. Everyone seems to want a piece of the place. Buyers from Delhi and Mumbai and Mohali and Ahmedabad are pouring in on a frantic buying spree, an invading army bent on a second 'liberation' of Goa from the Goans. The motto seems to be: If it doesn't move, grab it quick - before someone else does. A holiday villa - or even a two-bedroom apartment - in Goa is the next thing you buy after you've bought your iPod. It's a question of peer pressure. Everyone's got one, so how can you be the only exception? Forget politics or globalisation or climate change. The major - indeed the only - topic of discussion in Goa is property prices. Dona Paula's going for between Rs 8,000 and Rs 18,000 a square metre, depending on the view. Or rather, Dona Paula's already gone for that price, and is totally sold out. So how about Porvorim, where you can still get something for roundabout 3,500 a metre? Everyone hares off to Porvorim, causing traffic jams and the prices to jump even higher. Someone mentions a rumour of a German selling a bungalow in Asagaon and there's a general stampede for Asagaon. But the German's bungalow has already been snaffled by one Mr Ashok from Dilli, so everyone heads hopefully for Ribander where a new highway's been built. There're no regular water connections in Ribander yet. But what the heck. It's got a view. And you can get a piece of it for 2,000 bucks a metre. How can you go wrong? What's fuelling the upward drive of property prices is that apart from Indians, foreigners are also buying into Goa, drawn by its redolence of residual Europe. Almost everyone speaks English, they have recognisable names like Fernando and Isabelle, there are hardly any beggars, the booze is cheap and plentiful. It's India without the Indianness. Heaven should have it so good. Property consultant Alan Viegas tells me that foreign nationals are entitled to buy property either by staying for more than six months and claiming resident status or by forming a facade company which enables them to acquire immovable assets as a corporate entity. Goa is selling like hot vindaloo. And pretty soon there'll be no more of it left to sell, or to buy. And when that happens, Goa will stop being Goa and become something else. Like Ghatkopar, or Brixton, or Greater Kailash III, as a Dilliwalla remarks. Already Baga and Calangute look like Lajpat Nagar market. Or Chowpatty on a public holiday. Goa? Gone, or almost. The thought saddens me for a moment. For when Goa stops being Goa, what will the Goans do? Rent the place back from the new owners? My regret is fleeting. For it is soon overtaken by a further reflection. That, for all the pomp and circumstance of title deeds and legal documents and claims of proprietorship, we're all of us just short-term tenants, whose tenure is at the sufferance of an infinitely munificent, infinitely indulgent Landlord who created it all to begin with. Not just Goa but everything else as well, sea-facing view and all.

By
Mr Jug Suraiya in the Times of India

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Amchem Bhangarachem Goem

GOEM AMCHEM – GOEM AMCHEM

Ch.
Goemchea mojea Goemcarano
Goemchea mojea Goemcarano
kalok sorun dis udela
komean amcam sadh ghala
utta veguim uta veguim
Uta veguim uta veguim
1.
Amchem Goem kai borem
Kukulem ani sobit borem
Panchvo char xetam’chem
Unch unch madam’chem
Godh godh ambeam’chem
Movea movea nallam’chem
Doriachea pottantleant ailam amchem Goem.
2
Ami put Goemche
Ami duvo Goemcheo
Goemcho fudar voch amcho fudar
Amcho fudar toch Goemcho fudar
Hench ami somju’ea
Aminch tho godou’ea
Aminch tho godou’ea
3
Fudarachim sopnam amchim
Panchvea madanim guspotlean
Xetanim tea patoulean
Zogdim zuzam nakat amcam
Pan tem portuea , pan tem portu’ea
Bharat desh voir kadun
Soglea sonvsarak dakou’ea
Soglea sonvsarak dakou’ea
4
Devanim nirmil’li
Santanim puzzil’li
Hi amchi goemchi bhuim
Nillim nillim lharam
Ranghim ranghim phakram
Tore tore’chim fo’lam fu’lam
Amchea sukak paar nam
5
Socol dottori voir molloub
Hench amchea deva thal
Tarvanim bovon Sonvsar dekun
Nodor amchi fakar’lea
Sogleo basso amcheo basso
Konkni amchi mai bhas
Titch koknamchi rajbhas
Gomteo mod’dun rogot pi’un
Sonvsaracho vinas korun
Zaite jahn assusleat
Zaite jahn assusleat
6
Uzvad dissona kud’dea bhavak
Vat gavona thonte bhoinik
Ponti ami tetou’ea
Deva laguim magu’ea
Shantatae adharan
Sonvsarak ami vatou’ea
Sonvsarak ami vatou’ea
7
Noim’eo amcheo gaitat
Dorea amcho gazta
Vosont rutu ful’la
Ambo amcho chovor’la
Kogul ambear gaita
Ku’oo – ku’oo
Monh amchem aumdeta
Soimba’chea sangita
8
Atant amchea ektari
Golleant amchea sur’rashri
Calzant amchea vir’rashri
Atant amchea dan’nashri
Nodrent amche vijai’shri
Goem amchem Goem amchem

Courtesy the patriotic 'niz Goemcho pokx' Goasu-raj.

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A Pastoral Venture

Mogachem Git

Ten young priests of the Archdiocese of Goa have come together to present their first Konkani telefilm ‘Mogachem Git’. Mogachem Git (A Love Song) will be telecast on Panjim Doordarshan in two 30-minute episodes, on May 5 and on May 12 at 7.30 pm. The telefilm, produced by Panaji Doordarshan, is directed by Fr Santan D’Souza and has been written by Fr Bolmax Pereira and Fr Isidore Dias.
Mogachem Git begins with the opening shot of a rough sea, with mighty waves striking the shore. Entangled in the raging waters are the lives of three young people: Newton, searching in drugs and gangsterism for the love denied to him by his parents, Rex, trapped in Newton’s drug dealing network and Dyna, hooked on the flesh trade, again due to parental negligence. In their troubled waters enters Fr John, the Curate of their village church. The ten priests have just finished their year of specialised studies at the Pastoral Institute St Pius X, Old Goa, where, among other subjects, they delved into media studies and production. All of them are seen on the screen, acting along with an inevitable female cast, consisting of Melinda D’Cunha, Claudia Rodrigues, Fausta Gonsalves and Ditta Vaz.

(From OHerald)

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A Selfless Self Effacing Crusader For Concannim

Tendulkar selected for Dalgado Award

A noted Konkani writer and Roman script activist, Mr Prabhakar Tendulkar, has been selected for the prestigious Monsenhor Sebastiao Rodolfo Dalgado Award 2006, awarded by the Dalgado Konkani Akademi, for his invaluable contribution towards the development of Konkani language. The award comprises a memento, a citation, a shawl and cash award of Rs.25,000. The award will be presented at Institute Menezes Braganza Hall, on May 8, on the occasion of 151st birth anniversary of Mons Dalgado.

(NT)

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Mandovi-cho Doryea

Mhadei River, the lifeline of GoaThe Mhadei (Mandovi river) or Mahadayi (Great Mother), which originates in the Degaon village of Karnataka is a lifeline of Goa. It drains 1,580 sq km of the geographical area of Goa. The major rivers of India are almost all inter-state rivers. Mhadei is also an inter-state river which originates in Karnataka and flows through Goa and Maharashtra. It may not come under major rivers of the country, but definitely it is an important river for Goa as it flows through six talukas of Goa state namely Sattari, Sanguem, Bicholim, Tiswadi, Ponda and Bardez draining almost half the geographical area of the state. Karantaka is planning to dam this lifeline of Goa. If Karnataka's plan to dam the Mahdei succeeds it will cause irreparable damage to Goa. And this will lead to water crisis in Goa due to the diversion of water from the river.

(Bhiva P Parab, NT)

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