Ghozali - Mar 2008

MELGOANS

VOLUME 4,

ISSUE 3

MARCH 2008

News of Goan relevance for Goans in Melbourne www.melgoans.com

Our Mission “To provide Goans and their friends an enjoyable and a relaxing time without the need for formal membership. In doing so, we will showcase our cultural activities and also learn to integrate with the multicultural society of Melbourne”.

From the editor’s desk…

Mogal Goencarano, Last month we spoke about the pride that we all felt when we got news about Konkani in the Guinness Book of World Records. And in this issue we are going to let you guys out on to a big secret. After we had American Idol followed by the very successful series of Australian Idol here in the land of Oz, we just heard a buzz about World Konkanni Idol. A small group of devoted die hard Konkani lovers who include the unstoppable Rene Baretto of World Goa Day fame, Benedict Lobo of Radio Goa fame are now as we speak making great moves towards the successful organisation of World Konkanni Day. As things unfold and as we get more news, we shall be only to happy to share the good news with our readers. Here in Melbourne, with the funny weather doing the rounds, a lot of people ended up falling sick. We hope that phase of weather is over and things will settle back to normal with the usual four seasons in one day talk!!! But guess what? Even that did not deter or slow down the organising of the May Queen Ball 2008. My sources tell me that it is all but ready to take off on the 17th of May at the St. Kilda Town Hall. With a better venue this time, I am sure Melgoans are now all set to present their best presented function ever to date. And it is good to know that these guys are having their usual ‘open door’ policy, which means every one with an entry ticket is invited. No problem if you are a ‘member’ somewhere, or not. It just does not matter with these functions. Just come over, and enjoy being ‘Goan’, in the happy company of so many more Goans who grace the occasion. Our NRI stalwarts are now back home after their holiday in Goa over the year end. Some had an extended stay, like our friend Rene Baretto. Thinking of Rene, that guy is always so full of surprises. I like the way he thinks of an idea, and just throws it about like a challenge. Like he did for World Goa Day. And look where we are today, here in Melbourne at least. When no one wanted to dare grab the gauntlet, for whatever reasons at the time, our friend Oscar Lobo stood up and well, the rest is now history. We are proud to say that here in Melbourne we have one of the best functions for World Goa Day, worldwide!!! Well, that does make us feel oh so proud… Let love prevail, mog assundi!!!

Salus Correia

From the rambling ‘Reddo’…! There was a time, some time ago, in good old Goa, when there was a serious law and order problem in the state. The state machinery just failed, with the ministers and MLA’s too busy filling their pockets. Nothing worked without some baksheesh, and things became so bad, that a band of goodas decided that they could rule the roost. In some cases, they actually did well. They dished out their own brand of justice to the common man, and a lot of people were happy with the outcome then. Imagine not having to go to court to evict a bad tenant who wanted to usurp your property! The Lords of these gangs held their own courts in the villages of Merces and Santa Cruz, close to Panjim, and for some funny reason, people began to ‘respect’ these guys. The so called ‘Lords’ had their own special purpose ‘troops’ who carried out the wishes of their boss very quickly. It was a sad day last month, when things came to head and there was violence at the Panjim Police Station, and at Babush’s residence too. In the aftermath of it all, there have been heads rolling as usual. And before long, it will all be forgotten, only to surface again for some other reason, at another place. Yes, Goa is changing. Greed they say knows no bounds, and it is greed which induces these politicians to do whatever they can when they can. And the result is the sad state of affairs in Goa today. While the ministers are so busy amassing wealth totally disproportionate to their incomes, governance has gone to the dogs. Planning is something that does not exist. I just feel sad to think of what is going to happen to our state of Goa, twenty years from now on. May be we are already too late today, but like they say, better late than never. Wake up Goans, wake up before you suddenly realise that there is no more of our beloved Goa tomorrow. Another story doing the rounds has been the one about the British girl Scarlet who was found murdered on a North Goa beach. And looks like this story is going to bite a lot of people—politicians and bureaucrats alike. Even our own Herald Sun carried that story here in Melbourne, and so did quite a few other newspapers around the world. Sad bad publicity for Goa, thanks to the drug mafia, the goondas and their likes who were responsible for the tragic end to young Scarlet’s life. I think it is about time something is done before it is too late. We do not want people to think of Goa as the place where young tourists are lured and killed. That will be really tragic for Goa. As usual, before I run out of space, let me wish GOA, my Goa all the very best. Recad sogleank!

Bostião Xavier

This page has been sponsored. Our thanks to the advertisers.

From our Konkani corner World Konkani Idol

Sonvsari Konkani Bôkt

TOM: Ana, do you know that even today they're clapping? Ana, tum zannôi aiz pasun lôk talliô pêtt'ta? ANA: Clapping? And what is the reason, may I ask? Talliô pêtt'ta? Ani kitem tachem karann zait, vinchariyeta? TOM: Because Konkani is in the Guinness Book of Records. Karann, Konkani Guiness Record Book-ant bitôr sôrli. ANA: Yes, that was great honour for our Konkani. Ôi, to vhôdd man amche Konkani bhaxek. TOM: Now another idea is blossoming for Konkani. Atam anik êk êvzônn fulta Konkani khatir. ANA: Is Konkani in such great demand? Konkani-k itlo vhoddlo deman asa? TOM: Not for Konkani but for Konkani idealists. Konkani-k nhôi, punn Konkani 'idealist-ank'. ANA: And what are they working on this time? Ani kitear te vavurtat hê pavtti? TOM: To choose a World Konkani Idol -Konkani singer. Vinchunk êk Sonvsari Konkani Bôkt - Konkani gavppi. ANA: That must be a very difficult task. Tem chôdd agodd kamm zaunk zai. TOM: Difficult, yes; but not impossible. Agodd, ôi; punn nhoi goddo-naslolem. ANA: With today's YouTube anything is possible. Aichea Youtube vôrvim kiteim ghoddoyeta. Is this a Goan or a Manglorean idea? Hi Goemkaranchi vô Munglôrkaranchi evzônn? TOM: It is purely Goan, of Benedict Lobo. Ti purri Goemkarachi...Benedict Lobo-chi. ANA: Isn't he the one of Radio Goa? Nhôi to toch Radio Goa-cho? TOM: That's it. And Rene Barreto is a partner, I think. Toch. Ani Rene Barreto techo bhagidor, mhaka dista. ANA: A World-wide Konkani singing contest? Akhea sonvsari Konkani gaeonk 'Contest'? TOM: That will encourage to learn Konkani songs. Tantun hurba mêlltêli Konkani gitam xikonk ANA: What they don't speak, they can sing. Kitem te ulôinam tem tanchean gaeonk zata. TOM: With their anglicized pronunciation, I suppose. Tanchea inglêzi ucharan, mhaka dista. ANA: Who worries about that. Let them sing. Tachi konn porvau korta. Tankam gaeonknni. TOM: Really, I don't know a single Konkani song. Khorench, anv ekui Konkani kantar noklom. ANA: Neither do I. But I love to listen to Konkani song. Num mhunn anv. Punn anv avoddtam Konkani git aikonk. When is all this going to happen? Kernam hem sogllem ghoddon yetelem? TOM: I think it will happen next year -2009. Mhaka dista tem ghoddtelem fuddlea vorsa -2009 ANA: That will happen only if they get sponsors. Tem ghoddtolem fokot tankam 'sponsors' mell'lear. TOM: Yes, nothing can be done without money. Ôi, kainch kôrunk zainam duddu nastanam. ANA: And you will need new Konkani songs. Ani nôvim Konkani gitam zai zatôlim. TOM: They'll forget about that and use old songs. Tem te visortelet ani pornni gitam vapuddtlet. ANA: My young nephew sings well. Mhozo lhann bacho boro gaeta. TOM: But does he sing in Konkani? Punn to Konkani bhaxen gaeta? ANA: No. And I don't know a single song to teach him. Na. Ani anv ekui git noklom taka xikounk. Ho contest Is this contest for children or adults? zaun asa bhurgeank vo zannteank? TOM: Truly, it should be for children. Khorench to zaunk zai bhurgeank ANA: Yes, it should grow their interest in Konkani. Ôi, tanchi chotrai vaddounk zai Kon

Our sincere thanks to the ‘evergreen’ Basilio Magno who has been our faithful and diligent sub-editor looking after “KONKANI KONSO” Please send your feedback to: [email protected]

Very few seats left! Hurry with your bookings to avoid disappointment!!!

This page has been sponsored. Our thanks to the advertisers.

Loving Konkani the Manglorean Way

By Tomazinho Cardozo

They did it. They toiled, they sacrificed and they achieved success. They saw that Konkani - its song and music - entered The Guiness Book of World Records. As GT remarked, "Not Goans but Mangaloreans made Konkani proud worldwide". Has the Konkani 'Mull Pitth' - Heartland - been shifted from Goa to Mangalore? Konkani is the official language of Goa then why events like "Konkani Nirantari" that can take Goa to international fame do not take place in Goa ? I was a witness to the record-breaking feat at Kala Angann at Mangalore on that glorious day, 27th January 2008 , when "Konkani Nirantari" - singing Konkani songs continuously for 40 hours ended successfully, earlier record was broken and Konkani was catapulted to international fame. During those two days, I have observed certain facts and certain qualities in our fellow brothers in Mangalore. According to me, this behaviour creates enthusiasm and emboldens them to undertake unique events for the promotion of Konkani. I would like to share my observations on the mind-set of Mangaloreans towards their mother tongue, Konkani. First of all, they love their mother - tongue Konkani. They are proud of their language and hence they do not hesitate to converse in Konkani. Rich or poor, literate or illiterate, all speak Konkani. I was introduced by Shri. Eric Ozario, the 'Gurkar' (Head) of Mandd Sobhann to Shri. Rony Colaco - a NRI and a strong supporter of his mother tongue Konkani. He discussed with me in his mother tongue Konkani various issues adversely affecting the growth of Konkani. He was sincere in his views. I found his deep love for Konkani in his talk. Afterwards I came to know that this gentleman has donated Rs. Ten lakhs for organizing 'Konkani Nirantari'. He also donated Rs. Twenty-five lakhs for the completion of 'Kala Angann' theatre complex, which is under construction. I met yet another NRI, Shri. Ronald Mendonca, who burns with similar passion for his mother tongue.There were hundreds of people who have donated Rs. Five lakhs, One lakh, Fifty thousand, Twenty Five Thousand, Ten Thousand and Five Thousand towards the show. In fact it was a perople's show without any backing from the Government. Out of 43 singing groups that participated in the programme, only six were from outside Mangalore. 37 groups were from Mangalore diocese alone. Out of these 37, six groups consisted of religious persons such as Nuns, Priests, Seminarians, Brothers, etc. Remaining thirty-one groups had come from 31 parishes of Mangalore Diocese. These troupes consisted of choir singers in the churches and were trained by priests, nuns or by musicians serving in the churches. In fact 'Konkani Nirantari' was inaugurated by His Grace, Rev, Dr. Aloysius Paul D'Souza, the Bishop of Mangalore Diocese. If one goes through the list of hundreds of donors and thousands of singers, one observes that 99% of the donors and singers consist of people from the Christian community. Thousands of people who attended the programme were also Christians. If such a thing had to happen in the field of Konkani in Goa , it would have been termed a 'comunal' event. In Mangalore it is the source of strength of the unity of Konkani people. The Church of Mangalore is directly and indirectly involved in the promotion of Konkani and it does contribute in a big way towards the success of Konkani in Mangalore. The Konkani people of Mangalore are the happiest people among the whole Konkani speaking population of our country. This is because they fought tooth and nail and won the battle to preserve their mother tongue Konkani the way they have experienced it for centuries. They thwarted the efforts of selfish-minded people who wanted to impose Devnagiri script for Konkani in Mangalore and compel the Mangaloreans to accept 'one language, one script, one community' concept of fascist nature. They did it in style. Shri. Eric Ozario was the brain behind this achievement too. In the academic year 2006 -2007 they privately introduced teaching of one subject Konkani in Kanada script for their children in English medium High Schools. The Government could not object because they taught Konkani only after the official school time was over. The schools managed by priests, nuns and other catholics helped this movement and over fifty schools started teaching Konkani in Kannada script. Due to this initiative, the government of Karnataka had no alternative but to issue a notification recognizing both the scripts - Kannada and Devnagori- for Konkani. An option was given to use the script of their choice to teach Konkani. Today there are over 90 schools, all except one under Christian Management, which teach Konkani in Kannada script. The children are happy and the parents too are happy because they learn Konkani in the script and in the dialect of their choice. Because of this, more and more Christians in Mangalore are encouraging their children to learn Konkani. They go closer to Konkani day by day. They strengthen the Konkani identity. So far there is not even one school teaching Konkani in Devnagori script in Mangalore Diocese. Acceptance of the script and dialect of their choice will go a long way in making Konkani education in Mangalore flourish in the years to come. This aspect too has given a determined boost to Konkani movement in Mangalore. The situation of Konkani in Goa and in Mangalore is almost the same. Christian Goans use Konkani in Roman script and Christian Mangaloreans use Konkani in Kannada script for all their religious activities. Only schools managed by Christians support Konkani in Goa as well as in Mangalore. The only difference being the script and the dialect imposed in Konkani education are not acceptable to parents in Goa while the script and the dialect of their choice are used in Mangalore. Therefore, Konkani education and Konkani identity will prosper in Mangalore and not in Goa . It is high time that the Goan Church , the priests, the nuns and other school managements offering Konkani education ponder over this issue seriously and devise ways and means to attract Christians from Goa towards Konkani education. Otherwise Christians in Goa are bound to become strangers in their own land in times to come.

Goa police to probe possible murder of Briton NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Authorities in India are investigating whether a British girl could have been raped and killed in Goa last month after the victim's parents demanded a more thorough look at the case. Two weeks ago, police found the body of Scarlet Keeling, a 15-year-old British tourist, with bruises all over her body on a deserted Goa beach. Police initially said she had possibly drowned. It is the latest case to highlight the safety of tourists in India. Tourism officials met this year to discuss attacks on tourists after at least seven foreign women and girls said they had been raped or molested. Keeling's parents said Scarlet was raped and murdered and demanded immediate action, police said. "We have recorded her death as an unnatural one and now trying to find out whether she was indeed raped and murdered," Bosco Jorge, a senior police officer probing the case, said from Goa. An autopsy report has revealed her mouth was stuffed with sand and she did not have enough salt water in her lungs to suggest drowning, but police said it was too early to come to conclusions. On Sunday, authorities in Goa said they had asked the police to look deeper into the case after Keeling's parents demanded a second autopsy. "We are looking into this case very seriously," J.P. Singh, the chief secretary of Goa state, told Reuters by telephone. "We are looking at all possible angles to find out what exactly happened." Tourist industry officials were worried. "If we can't protect our tourists, the word will spread and people will be scared to come to India," Sunil Kohli, chairman of the Travel Agents Federation of India said in New Delhi.

India created history by notching up their first-ever cricket tri-series title on Australian soil, pipping the world champions by nine runs in a nail-biting second finals which saw fortunes fluctuating from one team to the other till the very end.

This page has been sponsored. Our thanks to the advertisers.

GOAN RECIPES By Joyce MIXED MEATSTEW ½

Kg. beef

¼

Kg. pork

1

cup chicken meat

2

large Goa sausages (remove skin)

2

tablespoons ghee or fat

2

tomatoes (sliced fine)

2

onions (sliced fine)

4

flakes garlic (sliced)

1

inch piece ginger (cut fine)

2

carrots (cubed)

2

large potatoes (cubed)

1

cup peas (shelled)

1

cup macaroni (boiled)

½

cup milk

lk

Pound together: ¼

teaspoon cummin seeds

3

peppercorns, 3 cloves,

1

inch piece cinnamon and

½

inch piece turmeric

Wash the different meats separately, cut into small pieces, apply a little salt and keep aside in separate containers. Boil the beef and keep aside. Fry the sliced onions, tomatoes, garlic and ginger in ghee till onions turn light brown. Add the boiled beef and fry well, then mix in the pork and fry it. Finally add spice powder, chicken and sausage meat, fry a little and add one or two cups of warm water. Cook till all the meats are tender. Add carrots, potatoes and peas. Stir in milk and macaroni. More salt and a little vinegar may be added if required. Allow to simmer on slow fire for about 3 minutes before removing the pan from the fire.

This page has been sponsored. Our thanks to the advertisers. This page has been sponsored. Our thanks to the advertisers.

Remember the good old days when we went to Dona Paula? Look at what they have made of this formerly quite and serene place. Where once we used to go to relax and enjoy the evening breeze, today there is the noise and bustle of the hawkers trying their best to sell off their wares to the hoards of tourists who daily make a beeline to the spot. The two canoes are still there, but we can hardly see them with so many pleasure boats crowding the scene!. And look at the background. What once was a beautiful hillside view with a few roofs in sight, today we can see a concrete jungle that mars the horizon! Thanks to JoeGoa for the photo.

Printed and Published by Oscar Lobo for Melgoans Pty Ltd., who are not responsible for the opinion or views of the contributors. This monthly read is distributed free of charge. Contributions for publication are most welcome, and will be included in the next issue subject to clearance by the editorial board. Editor: Salus Correia Email: [email protected]

www.melgoans.com