[Goanet-News] THE PRINTED WORD-41: Freedom, post-1961 and more

[Goanet News]

Freedom, post-1961 and more

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We have a lot to learn
from the stories of the
past, and these contain
lessons for the future,
argues FREDERICK NORONHA
(FN), in his weekly review
of some new and not-so-new
books from Goa.

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Bonifacio Dias' 'The Call of Freedom' is an unexpected kind of a book.
In it, advertisements compete for space with letters from past and
present ministers and politicians, and there's even a story of a
journalist-freedom fighter forming a significant part of the book.

Former 'Indian Express' correspondent in Goa G.R.Singbal describes the
book thus: "It is partly an autobiography and partly a compilation of
the journalistic work of the writer... "

We're also told that writing is not just a hobby but a first love for
Mapusa-based Sashtikar, Dias. And that the author is a "nationalist to
the core" and has unquestioning loyalty to the Congress and the
Nehru-Gandhi family. Obviously, Dias comes from times when "loyalty"
had different connotations; these days, one is a fool if not an
opportunist.

Writes 'Kaka' Singbal: "The book contains many important
reference-worthy documents, including a court judgement in the
controversial UG (United Goans Party) symbol dispute case. It includes
thumbnail portraits of many important freedom fighters with their
photographs, and is a 'must' buy for media offices and libraries for
ready reference."

Some interesting tit-bits about the past emerge.

>From the Sixties come stores about the Opinion Poll (Dias strongly
contests Advocate Uday Bhembre's view on how this came about). And
there are stories about the bitterness and bickering even amongst the
diverse groups that fought for the end of Portuguese colonial rule in
Goa. The activists of today, fighting among themselves even while
battling to save Goa, perhaps are not unique after all!

Dias is at his best when he talks about the issues he knows closest.
For instance, the post-1961 developments in Goa, the heady days of
merger-separate status, UGP-MGP politics and what not. But it gets
less relevant towards the latter part of the book, when the writer
touches on all kinds of diverse topics across the globe. These are not
something one can obviously have first-hand touch with.

As a person, Dias has been amiable and friendly. That's the reality.
But another reality is that freedom-fighters in Goa need to be
introspect now about their role in post-Liberation Goan society. (One
is not referring to Dias per se.)

Have they given back as much as they've claimed? Some have, for sure.
But together with those with well intentions, there are tonnes of
fakes. For freedom fighters to claim educational reservations for
their children nearly five decades after their campaigns ended is
quite a mockery of patriotism and its motives!

The book was printed at Haldankar Offset in Panjim (phone 2427968) and
is priced at Rs 200. Its first edition was released in May 2008. I
picked up my copy from Varsha's in Panjim, near Azad Maidan. And the
book tells me Dias is based in Duler, Mapusa.

FOOD AND MORE

Out of my collection of Goa books popped Chef Zubin D'Souza's cookery
one. It's titled 'The Good Goan Cookbook' and is not very new,
published for the first time in 2001.

It is published by English Edition (4/105 Jogani Industrial Complex,
Chunabhatti, Mumbai 22 Phone 527 4464) and has some interesting
recipes. English Edition has been active in holding book exhibitions
in Goa in the recent past.

Check 'An introduction to Goan food'. D'Souza says, "Food and drink
are taken very seriously in Goa".

Recipes included focus on green masala, recheiado masala, a number of
soups (including shellfish!), snacks including baked crabs, fish
dishes (smoked mackerals too), veg food, meat and pickles. Deserts and
tea-time snacks (tisana and merenda) are included, as are a few pages
to feni.

Zubin D'Souza writes: "The many recipes in Good Goan Cookbook have
been culled from the very source my grandmother, mother, aunts and an
assorted retinue of family retainers and celebrity chefs have been
badgered to help put together ... a collection of recipes that will
bring unlimited happiness to every tastebud."

Superlatives apart, this book does seem to have some interesting recipes.

PORTUGUESE TITLES

'Say It In Portuguese' and Globetrotter's 'Portuguese In Your Pocket'
are two small books that give an introduction to the language of Goa's
former 'Mother Country'. Both, I picked up from Broadways at the end
of 18th June Road in Panjim.

For a generation which lacks any knowledge of a language in which much
of our history is written -- or even holds the key to migration to
Europe -- these could be useful books. Even if elementary.

The first is a phrase book for the traveller. It promises 2000
"up-to-date' and practical entries. Easy pronunciation tips. A handy
bilingual glossary. And clear type.

For a region like Goa, which draws so many visitors each year, perhaps
it's time to have a similar title for Konkani too. The fact that
tourists in Goa can get by perfectly without knowing a word of Konkani
is no excuse for not having a useful book of this kind. People just
might want to learn a few phrases; and if they're willing to pay for
it, why not?

Globetrotter's is a two-way dictionary and phrase-book.As it points
out, it includes "useful phrases" for specific situations -- from
booking a hotel room, to finding a hospital.

The phrase book is also thematically colour-coded, to help you easily
find what you're looking out for. It offers some general Portuguese
pronunciation rules, and

TIME TABLES

Goa Air & Rail Timetable is a tiny booklet that shows the schedules of
how to get into and out of the tourist region. It is touted as one
that is "ideal for tourists and Goa residents to plan (their)
journeys".

It has been published by Gurney House Media, 305 Pocket E, Sarita
Vihar New Delhi 110076. This is not a current book, and given its
nature, tends to get outdated early. Yet, an interesting concept
keeping informed at a few rupees.

STORIES

'Goitolleantleo Kannio' is by Thomas C Fernandes (Nest Productions,
Flat DF03 Agali Estate, Fatorda), and priced at Rs 40.

Dalgado Konknni Akademi's Premanand A Lotlikar, in his introduction to
the book, makes this point: "We all have a writer hidden within us. We
have many stories in our minds, but mostly they just stay there."

The author of this book has been at Raia's St Theresa's, teaching the
subjects of Scouting, History and Konkani. He has also written and
published in local journals.

Books like this 97-page inexpensive publication could do much to keep
alive the script and dialect that feels it has been getting short
shrift even after Konkani became the official language of Goa.

ON TOURISM

'Transforming Re-Forming Tourism: Perspectives on Justice and Humanity
in Tourism' is a publication of the Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism.
It is edited by Caesar D'Mello caesardmello at connexus.net.au  and is
available from ECOT 9/1 Ratanakosin Road, T Watget, A Muang, Chiang
Mai 50000, Thailand.

Unlike our local critics of tourism, more concerned just about the
morality and ethnicity ('outsiders' swallowing us) aspects of tourism,
the Ecumenical Coalition has tended to take a broader perspective in
critiquing the "smokeless industry". If one is not wrong, the editor
might have an expat Goan connection.

Some interesting essays here, from which Goa could learn. History from
Peter Holden, and verse from the Malaysian poet Cecil Rajendra (his
'When The Tourist Flew In' is a classic of this genre).

Is tourism a tool for building a world community? Tourism and
Development. Tourism and Faith. Tourism and the Environment. Tourism
and Regional Perspectives. And case studies. These are among the
themes touched on in this book.

Contact the writer: fred at bytesforall.org