SUCH BOOK LOVERS, SUCH LIBRARIES - By Prof Ramdas Kelekar

Please find attached the text of a Marathi article from Govadoot newspaper, which Prof Ramdas Kelkar wrote on me as a writer. I thank Mr. Kelkar wholeheartedly for taking the initiative and writing the article. For the convenience of readers, I translated the article in English, which is appended below:

 Dev borem korunv.

 Moi-mogan,

 

Domnic Fernandes

Anjuna, Goa
Mob: 8805237604/9420979201

 

 

SUCH BOOK LOVERS, SUCH LIBRARIES

By Prof Ramdas Kelekar

 

Domnic has penned a beautiful memoir of his youth. There is no doubt that this English book will prove useful. Domnic’s writing reaches worldwide through the Internet.

This was the origin of his first book “Domnic’s Goa”.

 

DOMNIC, Anjuna’s bibliophile who delves into the past

It’s natural to be proud of one’s village. But the face of the village is slowly changing into a town. At this stage, it is difficult to say whether the village stories and all that we talked about and remembered would remain for future generations or not. With this purpose in mind, one writer, Domnic P.F. Fernandes, wrote two books, not only on Bardez but also on Goa. Through these books one comes to know Domnic’s sense of observation and public relations.

Domnic hails from Anjuna. He had to face a lot of obstacles during his childhood days. Nowadays, all types of facilities are available, especially transport. Yet, he proudly says that he faced those challenges. His family encouraged him. By the grace of God, due to his keen observation and strong memory, he can still recall his childhood memories. Due to this, he was able to give justice to his writing in the two books he wrote.

Mapusa and Goa can be discussed with two different angles. Both have unique peculiarities. Now Goa has become popular for good as well as bad things but even then every village has its own speciality. This is one type of a historical phase. Due to love for reading and resourceful mind, Domnic has kept these two books to be cherished as invaluable reading treasure for the future generations.

All those who are interested to know more about Goa and its history, Domnic’s two books will provide more knowledge.

From 2003, the writing of Domnic has reached all over the world through the Internet media; it’s worth reading. And thus, he published his first book titled: Domnic’s Goa. The writer spent his childhood in Anjuna, which has now become a hub of drugs!

After completing his Portuguese education in the coastal village, he came to Mapusa for further studies and then lastly joined Monte de Guirim School, an English institution. He passed his S.S.C and then completed his graduation in B.Com. Since his school days till today, he never goes to bed without reading books - it’s his custom.

His father was employed abroad. At the start, he read books (Romansi) written in Roman Konkani but he never neglected his studies.

Thereafter, when he got a job at the “Secretariat”, the late Vaman Sardesai encouraged him to take up writing. But this writing was of official papers. However, this experience paid him off when he went to Bahrain. In Bahrain, he was entrusted with office responsibility. During free time, he learned how to draft official letters. Due to this practice, he was recommended by a Pakistani to the Habib Bank Ltd of Pakistan in Bahrain. Even with this busy schedule, he read love stories, detective novels and stories. His favorites were James Hardly Chase, Agatha Christie, Perry Mason, etc. He developed a habit of collecting books when he was abroad. He brought most of his books at his home in Anjuna.

Presently, he is in business, yet he has not given up writing about his own village i.e. ANJUNA. Although he is growing old, he remains active for 15 hours every day, including a few hours reserved for reading only.

During his childhood, there were other factors which also influenced his life. Radio is one of them. His father brought for him a Phillips brand radio from Kuwait. What is surprising is that till today he remembers the timings of broadcasting programmes of those days. This he mentioned in his book Domnic’s Goa. Apart from following modern recreation media, he still listens to the radio, without fail.

Domnic gives more importance to those elements which helped him mould his life e.g. tiatr, festivals, beaches, toddy tappers, o padeiro (baker), public wells, etc.

Domnic does not want to forget the memories of his village and Goa. “Modernization is taking place very fast in my village and that is why the village beauty is vanishing; I am worried about this,” he says. Future generations will definitely like his childhood memories. People will love to read interesting memories about their naturally beautiful village.

There was no custom of having a double-storied building or house in Anjuna. If anybody dares to do this, then one has to face many obstacles in his life. For this, Domnic has stories and experiences to prove.

Domnic says: Reading, observation and memory, these three things helped me to complete the two books.

 

GOVADOOT, Word Ambassador, Page 5:

Sunday, 14 March 2013.

____________________

 

Indian Bowling League Kuwait joins www.goa-world.com team and wishes all a Blessed Easter.

Death of well-known figure of Tiatr and prominent Businessman of Mapusa – Mr. Shrirang Pandurang Narvekar

Death of well-known figure of Tiatr and prominent Businessman of Mapusa

– Mr. Shrirang Pandurang Narvekar

 

Yesterday (12/3/13) marked the end of another well-known figure of the Tiatr fraternity and a prominent businessman of Mapusa, Mr. Shrirang Pandurang Narvekar. He dominated the Konkani stage both in terms of acting and stage setting. He was ailing for sometime but he made it a point to come and occupy his seat in the shop, every day, at least in the evenings. He was 75 years old.

Shrirang came from a poor family. He was a hard worker, who loved Goa and his mother tongue, Konkani. He began his acting career in Marathi plays at the age of 9. He was an excellent actor. He was a lover of music and drama. He was a playwright and also produced dramas. During the 1970s, Shrirang occupied the centre stage in the field of Konkani drama. Besides acting in Konkani tiatrs, he also acted in the first Konkani film Sukhachem Sopon.

Last December, the Mhapxenkars felicitated him on his 75^th birthday. He was very happy because my wife and I attended the function. Besides receiving ‘Lifetime Contribution to Tiatr Award’ at hands of ex-Chief Minister, Mr. Digamber Kamat, in December 2011, he also won many other awards. In his homily, Adv. Ramakant Khalap said that he had proposed Shrirang Narvekar’s name to the Goa government for the Padmashree Award but sadly it did not materialize. Shrirang was a councillor of Mapusa Municipality from 1976 to 1982 and was also the President of Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav committee and a trustee.

When Mapusa did not have a decent theatre in the late 1960s and early 1970s and staging of tiatr in the town was a difficult task, it was Shrirang who initially erected his mattov in the open area next to the Central Talkies (now the State Bank of India stands tall in its place), but later he shifted it to the fields of Jaganath Khalap, opposite the police station. This could easily accommodate a crowd of 2,500 to 3,000 people. The mattov would be built around September-October and dismantled by April-May.

This mattov of the late Shrirang was quite famous and had created a revolution of sorts in Mapusa as people would rush to see tiatr in this Narvekaracho Mattov (Narvekar's Pavilion’. Though the tickets were cheap at that time, there was an ample comfort in his mattov for people to sit and enjoy the tiatr. Konkani drama troupes from Bombay would also come to Mapusa to stage their performance in the mattov, which he ran for 25 years. He also had a mattov in Panaji, which he ran for six years.

In the 1970s, the late Shrirang was a staunch supporter of late Jack Sequeira’s United Goans Party (UGP), and, later in the 1990s, he joined the United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) and was also its president for some time. In their speeches, Mr. Surendra Sirsat and Adv. Ramakant Khalap, praised Shrirang’s talent for drama, social work and his political career. They said he spoke ferociously against the opposition but when it came to socializing, he never mixed friendship with politics; thus, he maintained his friends’ circle intact.

Shrirang was one person who knew every single Konkani tiatr/film actor/actress personally and that was because he had interacted with them during the course of tiatrs. He was a knowledgeable person. He helped me a lot during the research of my book “MAPUSA - Yesterday and Today”. He gave a small speech at the end of book release function. We became very good friends since then.

Politicians cutting across the party lines including Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Francis D’Souza, and Mr Surendra Sirsat, who had a close association with the late Shrirang, have condoled his demise. Mr D’Souza said that a towering personality in the field of drama had passed away leaving a big void, which was difficult to fill.

The cremation took place today at 11:30 am. A lot of people attended the funeral – I saw Adv. Aires Rodrigues, Floriano Lobo, Ubaldo Braganza, but I did not see any tiatrists at the cemetery. Perhaps, they paid their last homage to him at his residence.

The late Srirang is survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter, son-in-law and grand children.

May Shrirang Narvekar’s soul rest in peace!
Moi-mogan,

 

Domnic Fernandes
Anjuna, Goa
Mob: 9420979201 / 8805237604

Link: http://tiatracademy.blogspot.com/2009/07/rongant-ronglo-mi-shirang-p-narvekar.html

Domnic's article in the Sunarparant on MAPUSA

review of my book "MAPUSA - YESTERDAY AND TODAY" by Prakash Vaman Kamat

Dear Gaspar,

Please find below a review of my book "MAPUSA - YESTERDAY AND TODAY" by Prakash Vaman Kamat, which please post on your forums. Thanks in advance. Take care. God bless.

Best - Domnic
------------------------------------------------

Dear Netters,

 

Please find below a review of my book MAPUSA – Yesterday and Today by Mr. Prakash Vaman Kamat, Panaji, which appeared in the Konkani daily newspaper Sunaparant on November 18, 2012. Since I do not read the newspaper, I did not know about it, but one of my Hindu friends recently gave me a copy of the newspaper and I had my friend, Joel D’Souza transliterate it from Devanagri to the Roman script. English translation follows.

 

Moi-mogan,

 

Domnic Fernandes

Anjuna, Goa

Mob: 8805237604/9420979201

-------------------------------------------

 

Mapusa – Yesterday and Today

“Mapusa – Yesterday and Today” (Mhapxem – Kalchem ani Aichem) hem Domnik Pi Ef Fernandis hachem pustok kaim disam fattim mhaka potrakar ixtt Frederick Noronhan dilem. Hem pustok mhonnlear ‘A Reminiscent Tour’ (Fattleo iadi zagovpi bhonvddi).

 

Domnik ho internettar ani khas korun Goanet he vebsaittir 2003 sala savn satotean borop korpi Goenkar. Mull Anjunacho ani tachem xikop Mhapxeam zalam.

 

Mhapxeamvelea tachea iadinchem pustok vachtokuch mhaka tachem poilem pustok ‘Domnic’s Goa – A Nostalgic Romp through a Bygone Era’, hem 2007 vorsa uzvadda ail’lem pustok vachpachi umollxik lagli. Karann tannem Mhapxeam vixim fattleo iadi itlea kholan vochun boroileat ki istimosanv dislea bogor ravona.

 

Hem pustok uzvaddailam Fredrickachem ‘Goa 1556’ he prokaxon sonsthen. Tantuntle oprotim fottu khudd Frederick Noronha hannich kaddleat. Pustokak Goencho chollvollo ani Mhapxenkar Migel Arcanjo de Braganza hachim subok prostavona lablea.

 

Hem pustok borovpacho het sangtona bab Domnik mhonntta ki aplem hem pustok mhollear tholavho itihas ani barso tornatte pillgek fuddarache nodren bore toren somzupak. Xobd ani chitra-fotvanchea madheamantlean hem kam’ apnnem kelam. Pattlea xekddeant Mhapsa koxem aslem tache vixim ‘Reference Material’ mhonn hea pustokacho upeg zavpak zai oso hetui tanni ukttaila. Hea xarachi adli kirt ani vhoddvik hankam Domnikachea pustokachea pana konkonni uzallo melltta. Zannim hea xarak namna zoddun dili tea veaktinchi iad, tanchea vavrachi dokhol hea pustokant lekhokan ghetlea. Mhotvachi gozal mhollear fattlea itihasik gozalink jitleo jiveo kortona borovpean Konknni utrancho ghosghoxitponnan upeg aplea borpan kela. Hem Goenkarponn. ‘Mhapxem’ nanv xarak koxem poddlem hache visim kitleoxeoch akhaika borovpean dileat.

 

Amche sarkilea bhaileank hem pustok vachtona itli mojea ieta, zalear khud’d Mhapxenkarank ani Bardeskarank tem sam’kem chatt korun mhapixe kelea bogor ravche na! Mhapxencho bazar, mhotvachem khuris, devlleo, bojivali aii, khol’lechi gironn, kansarvaddeavelim kansarachi dukana Domnikan kitem mhonnun kitench soddunk na.

 

Mhapxenchea mhotvachea lokank ‘profile’ keleat. Tantun bekrivalo Juze Braganza, Mr Bekracho Pedru Visent Vaz, Mukheamontri Manohar Por’rikarachem kuttumb, toxench chear khepe Mhapxenchean vidhansobha vechnnuk jikhil’le up-mhukheamontri Babush D’Souza hancher borop asa. Borovpean bodolil’lea Mhapxenchi zhalok dilea tacheo kaim dekhi polloieat! Adli Dhurichi khanavoll atam Adarsh Nivas Bar & Restaurant zalam. 1961 adim jem Purtugez vorg choltale thoim atam Blue Daimond Bar & Restaurant zalam. (Goembhor hi “bar bar dekho... hazar bhar dekho’ sonskruti poriattok Goenchi vollokh!!!)

 

Hea pustokant matiechea moddkeancho bazar aila toso gorvancho ani bokddeancho bazar aila. Bokddeam vixim borovpean bori mhaiti dilea. Fattleam xenkddeachea modheak Goeantlim ganvantlim choddxim kuttumbam bokddeo palli. Amchea ghora ek sundor ani maiest bokddi asli ‘Mogru’. Hanvem legit dud kaddlear ti nokhre ken’nach kori nasli. Mhoji vhoddli bhoinn zolmoli ten’na mhoje avoichea thanak abses zal’lo. Mhoje bhoinnik Mogruchea dudanuch posvonn dili. Hanv sumar 9 vorsancho aslo. Mhozo bapui Kuvetta savn suttiek ghora ail’lo. Eka Birestara amchea bokddeani xezareachea porsant ghusun tanchi ful-zhaddam khalim. Xezareani amkam galli fosti ghaleo. Mhojea bapain moneanim sogllem sonslem. Dusre dissa sokallim uttlear amcheo bokddeo ani amcho bapui ghora nasle. Magir amkam kol’llem amcho bapui fantodder 4 vorancher uttun amchea charui bokddeank ghevun Mhapxeam Xukrarachea bazarak khattkak vikun ailo. Khas korun Mogru na zal’leachem khub dukh amkam zalem, punn ami kitench korunk xoknasle... amkam kol’llem ten’na khub vogot zal’lo...

 

Hea pustokant Mhapxem xarache chodonn ghoddnnek hat na bott lagil’la barik-mottea zaitea zannachi dokhol hea pustokan ghetlea. Sodheacheacho poriavoronn montri Alina Saldanha hanchoi porichoi hea pustokant tanchea advogad bapaik lagun kortana Domnikbaban ‘A lady minister from Mapusa” oso kela; adlea Kendria kaidea montri Ramakant Khalap pustokant asat. Tosoch xikxonn vattarantlea sorgia Gunddu Amonnkar hanchea kutumbachea vavracho ugddas asa. Hea pustokant Mhapxenchea Xukraracho bazar, konvchechea kanknnachem dukan ‘vollara’che mahiti soit aileant.

 

Bardesche adle Viscont, Mhapxenchi famad ghoram ani ghoranni vepari ani tanchi vepari asthapna, xikxonnik vavr kel’le lok ani bhorbhorattik ail’leo xikxonnik sonstha heo ani her zaiteo khachi-konxantleo iadi hea pustokant zagoileat. Hem pustok fokot nostalgic (smuti zajogpi) mhonnuk zavchem na, tor khoreanich Mhapxem vixincho ho ek dostievoz ani jivo-toddtotti itihas. Xarachea obheasokank ani Mhapxenchea tornatte pillgek hem pustok khub mohotvachem thorum ieta.

 

Hea pustokant Domnik aplea sanponnak hatak dhorun Mhapxenchea iadinchi bhonvddi kortana aplea khobri sangpi xoilint vachpeak titloch ‘nostalgic’ korta. Hea sundor fotu-chitra ani xapnnavoll gavil’lea pustokachem mol fokot Ru.350.

 

Prakash Vaman Kamat

Panaji

9422443093.

 

Sunaparant, Aitar, 18 November, 2012.

 

 

ROUGH ENGLISH TRANSLATION

 

Mapusa – Yesterday and Today

 

The book “Mapusa – Yesterday and Today” was given to me by my journalist friend, Frederick Noronha sometime back. It’s a reminiscent tour.

 

Domnic is a Goan who has been writing on the Internet, especially on Goanet, since 2003. He hails from Anjuna and has studied in Mapusa.

 

After reading his book on Mapusa, I was eager to read his earlier book “Domnic’s Goa – A Nostalgic Romp through a Bygone Era”, which was released in 2007, because he has gone so deep in writing the reminiscences of Mapusa that one cannot but admire his writing.

 

The book has been published by Frederick’s ‘Goa 1556’ Publishing House. The photos in the book are clicked by Frederick Noronha himself. The Foreword of the book is written by the famous Goan activist, Miguel Arcanjo de Braganza, who is a Mhapxenkar.

 

While explaining the purpose of writing this book, Domnic says the book is a step towards ensuring that our local heritage and history will be better understood, if not bequeathed to posterity, in the form of words and images. He also suggests that the book may be used as a ‘Reference Material’ on the Mapusa town. Every line of Domnic’s book reflects the past glory and greatness of the town. The book documents important places, buildings and personalities who won laurels for the town. The most important thing about the writer is that, as he goes on recalling the past, he uses Konkani words abundantly. This is Goanness. The writer also gives several examples of how Mapusa got its name.

 

If the book enthrals us, outsiders (non-Mhapxenkars and Bardezkars), then it will surely drive the Mhapxenkars and Bardezkars crazy. The Mapusa bazaar, important crosses, temples, bojivali aii, the flour-mill at Khorlim, Kansarvaddo’s coppersmiths’ shops - there is nothing that Domnic has spared.

 

He has profiled important persons of Mapusa. Among them is Jose Braganza; Pedro Vicente Vaz or Mr. Baker; Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Parrikar and his family; Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Francis or Babush D’Souza - Mapusa’s only four-time Assembly election winning MLA. Post-liberation changes outlined by the writer are worth reading. Previous ‘Dhurichi Khanavoll’’ is now known as Adarsh Nivas Bar & Restaurant. Pre-1961, where Portuguese classes were held, is now Blue Diamond Bar & Restaurant. Everywhere, this “bar bar dekho... hazar bhar dekho” culture flaunts Goa’s touristic identity. (Look at it a thousand times)! (CHECK: In the Hindi song “bhar” refers to the number of times you see, but Prakash rhymes it with the proliferation of liquor bars.)

 

The book features the clay pot bazaar as well as the cattle trading centre. The writer has written much on the rearing of goats. He writes: “In the middle of the last century, most families reared goats. We had a beautiful, affectionate goat called ‘Mogru’. She allowed me to milk her without any fuss. My mother had an abscess on one of her breasts when my elder sister was born. So, Mogru provided milk for my sister. When I was around nine, my father who was then in Kuwait, came home on vacation. One Thursday evening, our goats entered the neighbour’s garden and ate their flower plants. The neighbour shouted and swore at us. My father silently suffered the words of abuse. The next morning we woke up to find the goats missing, as was our father. Later, we came to know that our father had woken up at 4 a.m., headed for Mapusa with all four goats and sold them at the Mapusa Friday bazaar, fated for the slaughter. Though we were sad, there was nothing we could do, as it was too late.

 

In this book, the writer has spoken about many a people. While speaking about the late Adv.João Julio Salvador Souza, who was popularly known as Adv. Salvito, Domnic introduces his daughter, Ms Alina Saldanha, the present Environment and Forest Minister, as ‘A lady minister from Mapusa’. Ex-Union Law Minister of India, Mr. Ramakant Khalap, also finds mention in the book. The late educationist, Gunddu S. Amonkar and his family’s work is also remembered in the book. The book outlines the old market along with shops, including glass bangle shops and the meaning of a vollar (glass bangle seller).

 

The yesteryear Viscount of Bardez, famous merchants and their homes, educationists, new Schools and Institutions and many places that are not seen generally, have been exposed in this book. We cannot just term this book ‘nostalgic’; it holds much more than nostalgia. It would mean a lot to researchers of Mapusa town, and, especially to new generations.

 

In this book, while Domnic takes one around the town by holding his/her hand, he makes the reader nostalgic with his writing style. This beautiful book filled with photos costs only Rs.350.

 

Prakash Vaman Kamat

Panaji

9422443093.

 

Sunaparant, Sunday, 18 November, 2012.

 

---- As forwarded to Gaspar Almeida, www.goa-world.com on 11 March 2013 via email by Domnic Fernandes.