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
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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.

Release of Konkani CD - DEVACHEM RAJ by George Coelho at the Albuquerque Mansion, De Mello Vaddo, Anjuna

Release of Konkani CD - DEVACHEM RAJ by George Coelho

This evening, George Coelho’s 12^th devotional songs audio CD titled ‘DEVACHEM RAJ’ was released at the Albuquerque mansion in De Mello Vaddo, Anjuna at the hands of Ms Ruth Albuquerque, who has generously contributed to spread the word of God through this CD.

George said: “There is no greater joy than serving God. I praise and thank God for giving me the WISDOM to compose these hymns to glorify Him”.

Through this CD, Ms Ruth Albuquerque sends an earnest request to all those who listen to this Audio CD to follow the 5^th Commandment: “Honour your father and your mother.

After the release of the CD, Domnic Fernandes, Ms Ruth’s neighbour in Gaumvaddi, gave the following short speech in Konkani (English translation follows):

Oxem mhunnttat: “Doieallponn ani peleak pavop eka munxeachea sobhavanuch asta.” Oxench amchem Ruth bai Albuquerq korit ailam. Tannem aplea avoi-bapaicho kallzache kholaiek thavn mog kelo. Tachi avoi vaittan anturnank lagli tednam, tannem tika hea ghorant haddli, tichi poramos keli ani aplo mog tiche thaim xinvrailo. Tachean aple avoichem rinn farik korunk zalenam punn tannem aplo kaido pall’llo – aple avoik tichea gorjechea vellar ani morosor mogan sangat ani tenko dilo.

Ruth baien aplea sasupaik ani sasumaink polleunk nam torui tannem aplea sasupaicho, Dotor Manuel Francisco Albuquerque-hacho ho sobit putlo ubarlo – osli korni bhov thodde kortele asat.

Amcho Panchvo Mandament sangta: “Tujea bapaik ani avoik man di”, punn aiz-kal zaite zann ho Mandament khoxe-monan mostitat. Ho Mandament pallinant dekunuch amcho avoi-bapui Zantteanchea Ghoranim pavtat ani thoddim babddim eksurim aplea ghorantuch jiv soddtat. Oxem ghoddonk karann, amchea mogachem oskothponn. Adlea kallar, avoi-bapui ani bhurgeam modem bandpas itlo mozbut aslo ki tancho avoi-bapui vorsanchim-vorsam anturnar xevtolear pasun tim tankam kedinch sannddinaslint; nimanno suskar sutto porian tancho urbhen poramos kortalint.

Ami bhurgim amchea avoi-bapaik favo to man dilearuch tanchea mogachim niz herdderi zateleanv. Ho ojeapancho Mandament bhasaita ki amchem jivit borem toltelem avoi-bapaik man dilear.

Panchvo Mandament eke mandamentache sankllechi vollok dakoita ani amcheo sorigoti dusream thaim iskuttaita. Panch than Dhavo Mandament, amkam munxeaponnanchea bautteache chalichem natem ugddapaita zacho lamb-dig asor zonn-ekleacher, kuttumbancher, zomeancher ani somazacher poddtta.

Avoi-bapaik man divop ami vaddon vhodd zatoch somponam. Punn ho kaido purea jivitak lagu zata. Amchim avoi-bapui jitlim zannttim zait vetat, tankam khasgi alaxireachi goroz poddtta, zoxe porim tanchea kuddichea bollak adar divop, ani goroz tednam tankam poixeanchoi adar korop.

Poilem, avoi-bapainim ami bhurgim mhunnon chintunk zai – Devachim bhurgim. Vhodd gorjechem: Ami Dhonia Devacho mog kortanv tosoch amchea bhurgeanchoi mog korunk. Tednanch ki bhurgeanche dhormik fuddareanchi bhumika ami korunk xeokteleanv.

Hi CD “Devachem Raj” bhair kaddun, Ruth baien amkam ek zobordost sondex pattoila – Avoi-Bapaicho mog korat.

Dev borem korunv.

(ROUGH ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

They say “charity begins at home”! This is exactly what Ms Ruth Albuquerque did. She loved her parents to the core of her heart. When her mother was bed-ridden, she brought her here, in this house, looked after her and showered her love on her. She could not repay everything that her mother did for her but she did her part – she gave her company and helped her in her old age.

Although Ms Ruth did not meet her in-laws, she recently erected this statue of her father-in-law, Dr. Manuel Francisco de Albuquerque, which very few of us would have done.

The fifth commandment is: ‘Honour your father and your mother’, but how many of us today follow this commandment? Because we do not follow the commandment our parents land in Old Age Homes and sometimes die a lonely death in their homes. This is because of lack of love. In the past, the bondage and love between parents and children was so strong that if parents were sick and in bed for many years, children would never give up on them; they would look after them till they breathed their last. We, the children, are the beneficiaries when we honour our parents. This is the commandment with the wonderful promise that life will go better for us if we simply obey it.

The Fifth Commandment introduces us to a series of commandments that define proper relationships with other people. Six of the commandments—the fifth through the 10th—serve as the standards of conduct in areas of human behaviour that generate the most-far-reaching consequences on individuals, families, groups and society.

Honouring our parents does not cease when we become adults. It is a lifetime commitment. As they get older, this may include physically caring for them, and, as necessary, helping financially support them.

We, who are parents, should first think of ourselves as children—the children of God. It is just as important for us to respect and obey our heavenly Father as it is for our children to respect and obey us. Only then is it possible for us to fully grasp our role as the spiritual leaders of our children.

By producing the cassette “Devachem Raj” (God’s Kingdom), Ms Ruth is sending out an important message to all of us to honour the Commandment.

Thank you."

The CD has the following 13 songs:

1.      Devachem Raj – Sonia Shirsat

2.      Jezuchea Vauran Kantte – George Coelho

3.      Mog Kor – Anita D’Souza

4.      Sonvsar Sorche Adim – George Coelho

5.      Dev Sanddunk Nam – Velroy Fernandes

6.      Sorgincho Uzvadd Dakhoi – George Coelho

7.      Bodolnni Korum-ia – Fr. Eusico Pereira/Anita D’Souza

8.      Yeshu Mera Saathi (Hindi) – Anita D’Souza

9.      Sorchonam Mog Jezucho – George Coelho

10.  Porza Onupkari – Sonia Shirsat

11.  Lord You Use Me – Br. Joel Lasrado

12.  Jivitachi Govaiki – George Coelho

13.  Sobd – George Coelho

Moi-mogan,

Domnic Fernandes

Anjuna, Goa

Mob: 9420979201/8805237604
16/02/2013

http://domnicfernandes.blogspot.com/2013/02/release-of-konkani-cd-devachem-raj-by.html

Ven. Fr. Agnelo D'Souza Jayanti celebration - 144th birthday!

Dear Netters,

Ven. Fr. Agnelo D'Souza Jayanti celebration - 144th birthday, went on well, attended by over a thousand people. Besides locals and people from Bardez, five bus loads of Ven Fr. Agnelo's ardent devotees arrived from South Goa to attend the event.

The main celebrant of the Solemn Mass was His Grace Dr. Henry D'Souza, Bishop of the Bellary Diocese, who came all the way from the Karnataka State to participate in the celebration. In his homily, the Bishop told the packed gathering that our attention should not be on the miracle required for his beatification but on the saintly example he has left for us to imitate - the beatification and canonization would follow. The Bishop appealed the congregation to emulate Ven. Fr. Agnelo in his humility and to love our neighbor like he always did. Bishop Henry is very humble and jovial. He mingled freely with the people and greeted them with a broad smile, as they sought his blessings.

 

Rev. Fr. Kyriel D’Souza, the Provincial of Goa region, explained to the gathering the process of beatification of Ven. Fr. Agnelo, which requires a medically convincing miracle. He asked people not to lose faith and requested everyone to continue to pray for his beatification.

Fr. Thomas Gonsalves, the Parish Priest of St. Michael Church, Anjuna, who was instrumental in arranging the event and also the visit of the Bishop (he was his classmate), appreciated the Bishop’s visit to Gaumvaddi, the birth place of Ven. Fr. Agnelo, and hoped his homily would encourage everyone to continue Ven. Fr. Agnelo’s devotion more fervently. He also thanked co-celebrants of the Mass and residents of Gaumvaddi for their untiring work and support in connection with the event and even otherwise. He further reminded the gathering that there is a weekly novena of Ven. Fr. Agnelo in the Chapel of St. John the Baptist on Thursdays, which begins with prayers at 4:30 pm followed by mass at 5:00 pm.

I wrote and delivered the following address in Konkani after the Mass, which was appreciated by many, including the Bishop:

"Bhov Manêst Bisp Saibano, Dotor Henry D’Souza, Manest Pilar Sonstecho Sorv Vhoddil, Padr Francisco Carvalho, Goa Province-acho Vhoddil, Padr Kyriel D’Souza, amchê igorjecho Vigar, Padr Thomas Gonsalves, padri-bhavano, madri-bhoinnano ani mogacheano, tumkam soggleank Dev bori sanz ani Maiê-mogacho ievkar!

Aiz ami hangasor ekttovleanv, Man’eavont Padr Agnelachi dhobajik Jayanti – ekxem chouve-cheallis-vo zolm dis (144th birthday) monovunk ani hantunt bhag ghevunk, Karnatak rajean thavn mud’dom’ aileat, Bhov Manêst Dotor Henry D’Souza, Bellary Diocezicho Bisp Saib.

Janerache 21ver, ek hozar oixim ekonn-sot’tor vorsa (1869), Budhvara, sanjechea 7 vaztam, amchea mannkulea Anjuna ganvant, Gaumvaddint , Minguel Arcanjo Mariano de Souza ani Maria Sinforosa Perpetua Magalhães hanger, ek porzollit babulo zolmolo, ani aiz to ek noketr koxem sogllea sonvsarak porzollta. To dis St. Agnesachê porbecho asun, bhurgeak “Agnel” vo ‘supurlo mendro’, hem nanv taka bês-borem boslem. Mornachea  sonkottant to aslo dekun, taka ghorantuch bautizm’ dilo. Devachea upkaran Agnel babulo boro zalo ani Fevrerache 13ver, ek hozar oixim ekonn-sot’tor vorsa (1869), Anjunche igorjent, taka bautizm’ dilo, ani Agnelo Gustavo Adolf hem nanv dilem. To nnov (9) bhurgeam modlo sovo – att (8) chedde ani ek (1) cheddum.

Supurloch astanna, Agnela sovem bhoktiponnancheo ani dhormik jivit xikpacheo khunna disti poddleot. Avoichê manddieruch, Agnel magnnem korunk xiklo, ani tichea hatak dhorun, neamit igorje vochunk laglo; tichech dekin, Devache ani peleache sêvek aplem jivit orpunk pavlo. Agnel gineanan huxear aslo; iskolant to poilo ietalo. Ganvantlim avoi-bapui aplea bhurgeank Agnelachi dekh ghevnk laitalim. Tachem bhokti jivit lipun urlem nam; tem tachea tivan, Padr Lazaro Fortunat-an pollevn, ‘Agnel ek dis padri zatolo’ oxem bakit kelem.

Agnel ikra (11) vorsancho astanna tacho bapui ontorlo ani don vorsam uprant tachi avoi ontorli. Tedna, Agnelak vhoddantlo vhodd dokho boslo, karonn, avoi tachi chodd apurbai kortali. He vhôddle familichi zobabdari tachea paichea bhavan ghetli, ani tovui somplea uprant, Agnelachea vhoddlea bhavan, Pri. Manuelinhan, aplea padriponnachea munniarponna xivai, familik samballchi zobabdari ghetli. Pri Manuelinhan aplea dakttea bhavachem bhoktiponn ani xegunn pollevn, Agnel vaddlea uprant, ek dis taka padri zavpachi khoxi asa zalear vicharlem. Agnelan zabab dilo: “Hoi, Devak zai zalear, mhaka padri zavpachi khoxi asa.”

Adlea Goeam, Santa Monikachea Motthant, Goenchea Arsebispan ani Udentechea Patriark Saiban, Dom Antonio Sebastião Valentin-an, Dezembrache 19ver, ek hozar oixim ani nnov’vot vorsa (1890), Agnelak Up-Prodhana Sevokachi makhnni dili.

Agnelak fokot padri zavpachi khoxi nasli, punn Dhormik Sonvsthent bhitor sorun, odik sopurnnaien jieunk to ontrektalo. Punn tea kallar Goeant ekui dhormik sonvstha nasli. Dekhun, tannem Pilarche Diosezan, Sant Francisk Xavieracheam Misionaranche Sovsthent, rigunk ievjilem.

Julaiche 17ver, ek hozar oixim sat’tian-nnov vorsa (1897), Agnelak Pilar Sonvsthent umedvar koso ghetlo. Dezembrache 18ver, teach vorsa, Dom Antonio Sebastiao Valente, Arsebispan, Prodhan Sevokachi makhnni taka dili, ani Maiache 22ver, ek hozar oixim att’tian-nnov vorsa (1898), tannem Pilarche Misionari Sonvsthent poileo angonvnneo keleot.

Agnelak Sonvaradis, Setembrache 24ver, ek hozar oixim nnoiann-nnoi vorsa (1899), Dom Valente Arsebispan, Adlea Goeam, Se Katedralant, Padriponnachi Makhnni dili ani lamb retir kortoch, apleam ghorcheam ani ixttam hujir, Pilarchea Mothant, tannem Poilem Mis bhettoilem.

Padr Agnel Jezuchea Povitr Kallzachi ani Povitr Sonvskarachi vhodd bhokti kortalo. Tabernakla mukhar horanchim horam dimbier sartalo. Dukhest Saibinnichi bhokti kortalo; tichea adharan, apnnank padriponnachem apovnnem ailem mhonnttalo.

Padr Agnel xegunni vortovlo; onbhavarteank to konverter kortalo. Ek vhoddlo pregador mhonn tachi kirti gazli. Tache sermanv soglleank avoddttale. To ogeponnan jietalo; kuddin ekdom’ oskot also; choltanna loktalo punn polputrant pavtoch tacho tallo gaztalo. Tache sermanv dharunn kallzam-monam bodoltalo. Padr. Agnel provochon korunk ani Xubhvortoman porgottunk zolmol’lea porim, Devan taka polputrant thavn monam bodolchi podvi diloli. Tachea sermanv-am vorvim, zaite patki lok, kumsarak ietalet. Jezuchea Dongra voilea sermanv-a porim, Padr. Agnelacho sermanv lokak lagtoli xikovnn divun, kallzam movallaitalo.

Novembrache 20ver, ek hozar nnovxim sat’ta vis vorsa (1927), Povitr Kallzache porbe disa, sokallim panch (5) vaztam, sangateam hujir Padr. Agnelan aplo atmo, Devache adin kelo.

Padr Agnel tum, pregador vhoddlo; Raitura tuvem jiv soddlo ani Raiturche cimitirint tuka purlo, punn Pilarcho convent tujea ravnneak tuvem vinchun kaddlo. Devosanv tujem, xara-xaranim; rupkar tuzo, ghara-gharanim; piddevont bore zaleat hozaranim, Padr. Agnel tujeam milagrinim

Anjuna tuzo zolmancho ganv, ak’kea sonvsarak gazta tujem nanv. Tum bhagivont khoro, milagrincho turo, bhavarteancho tum alaxiro.

Aiz sogllea dhormancho lok, Goeant, Bharatant tosoch bhailea desamnim, khothkotean magtat Padr Agnel tum veginch sant zalear puro.

Padr Agnelachem jivit amkam ek nomunno zanvdi ani ami-i tache porim bhoktiponnan jieunk Devachi kurpa magum-ia.

Dev borem korunv.”

 

Moi-mogan,

Domnic Fernandes
Gaumvaddi, Anjuna, Goa
Mob: 8805237604/9420979201

PICTURE AT FLICKR – Courtesy: Joel D’Souza: http://www.flickr.com/photos/52243088@N00/8403704141/in/photostream/

BLOGSPOT: http://goanewsblog.blogspot.in/

Links:
http://domnicfernandes.blogspot.com/2013/01/ven-fr-agnelo-dsouzas-jayanti-144th.html

Ven. Fr. Agnelo D'Souza's Jayanti (144th birthday) on January 21, 2013 at Gaumvaddi, Anjuna

Dear Netters,

St. John the Baptist Chapel Committee in coordination with Fr. Thomas Gonsalves, the Vicar of St. Michael Church, will be celebrating Ven Fr. Agnelo D'Souza's Jayanti (144th birthday) on January 21, 2013 at his birth place, Gaumvaddi, Anjuna, Bardez, Goa.


Novenas began on last Saturday, January 12, 2013. Novena mass takes place every evening at 5.00 pm at the chapel in Gaumvaddi. Every day a different priest from the Pilar Society celebrates the mass. Today, the mass was celebrated by Dr. Fr. Hillary Fernandes, the vice-postulator for the cause of the beatification of Ven Agnelo. Fr Hillary said several complicated medical cases which could not be proved successfully by science were sent to Rome - a prerequisite to beatification - but due to technicalities were not accepted. "However, people continue to send us the accounts of Ven Agnelo's intercession in their lives. It's their faith in him that helps them to receive promptly what they ask for," said Fr. Hillary.

On January 21, the main celebrant will be His Excellency, Fr. Henry D'Souza, the Bishop of Bellary Diocese, Karnataka. Many priests from Pilar and all over Goa will be participating in the Jayanti. Three bus loads of pilgrims from South Goa have confirmed their attendance on the day and we expect many more from all over Goa. A big pandal will be erected in front of the chapel to accommodate the crowd. All are welcome to participate in daily novenas and in the Jayanti on 21/1/2013!

Dev borem korunv.

Moi-mogan,

Domnic Fernandes
Gaumvaddi, Anjuna, Goa
Mob: 9420979201/8805237604
Link: http://fragnelpilar.in/life/life.htm

Annual Day Meet for Ex-Students & their families at Monte de Guirim

Annual Day Meet for Ex-Students & their families at Monte de Guirim

 

Yesterday evening, December 19, 2012 an Annual Day for Monte de Guirim ex-students and their families was organized by Monte de Guirim Past Pupils’ Association at Monte de Guirim. My wife and I attended the function. It was quite grand.

Although I keep visiting Monte de Guirim whenever I get a chance, I make it a point to visit the school every time a book of mine is published so I can pass on a copy of the book to the library, but it was the first time that I attended an ex-students’ function. It was a good opportunity to visit my alma mater, where I met a few old timers – most of the attendees were 1968 batch onwards.

One Senior Friar, Fr. Dinesh (earlier John) Mendonça was felicitated for his long service. Ex-teacher, Joy, was also felicitated, and so were one Sports Person and one S.S.C. Topper.

Student activist-turned politician and ex-MLA of Dabolim constituency, Herculano Dourado, who passed out from Monte de Guirim the same year as I did (1965-1966), was felicitated for Life Time Achievement.

 

Herculano was one of the all-rounder students of Monte de Guirim. He was a studious boy, a footballer, an athlete, a gymnast, Assembly leader, a monitor, an orator – you name it. Herculano recalled some of the old teachers - Fr. Pacificus, Fr. Ephrem, Fr. Diogo who were instrumental in instilling academic, moral and spiritual values in us, which helped him build his career. He also recalled that unlike today, it was a boys’ school. As such, girls were a taboo, but we got a chance to look at girls from convents once a year when they attended our annual concert. Referring to the Liberation Day, Herculano told everyone present that though the Portuguese had long gone, some foreign items were still available for sale at the school’s store then.

It was great to meet and interact with Herculano and renew old friendship. I also met old-timers Francis aka Fanchu Silveira, Alban Fernandes, Gilman Fernandes, Jose Luis (my classmate in Special Class), Albert Goveia, retired Sr. Scientist at the NIO and many others. We sipped drinks, talked about good old days, inquired about our present lives and successes.

There was singing and dancing to the music of “Lui Solo n Live”. Food was catered by the ‘Merces Caterers’. Each entrant was charged a fee of Rs.350; snacks, soft and hard drinks were provided at an extra charge. Many prizes were given away for different activities. I was one of the winners of a prize – ‘person with most white hair and beard’!

The MC made an announcement and informed everyone that I authored three books - ‘Domnic’s Goa’ (2007) – a book on Goa’s customs and traditions; ‘Dispott’ttem Chintop’ (2009) – a Konkani book in Roman script on Goan sayings, and ‘Mapusa, Yesterday and Today’ (October this year) – a book on Mapusa half a century ago.

Moi-mogan,

Domnic Fernandes
Anjuna, Goa
Mob: 8805237604/9420979201

 

[as forwarded to gaspar almeida, www.goa-world.com on 19th December 2012]

[Pictures added by goa-world.com].

Other links to Monte de Guirim
http://www.goacapuchins.com/fraternities


 

‘Splashdown Water Park’ in Anjuna, Goa

It’s been a roller coaster ride .....

                                - Christine Machado (goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com)

 

The following article appeared in yesterday’s (17/12/2012) Herald Heartbeat section:

Almost everyone loves splashing around in water, and ‘Splashdown Water Park’ in Anjuna, created by marine engineers Melroy Pinto and Levancio D’Souza, has given Goans of every age the opportunity to have some fun in the water. A year after it was inaugurated, this water park is a favourite hangout spot with both, Goans and foreigners.

“The response has been unexpectedly good,” admits Pinto. “People give many suggestions – we get negative comments, too, and we take them seriously. If the suggestions made are good, we try to rectify them as soon as possible.”

‘Splashdown’ has played host to many school and club picnics, orphanages, and family reunions.

“We have tied up with hotels who want their guests to visit. It has also been used as a location for shooting movies, the latest one being ‘Baga Beach”, revealed Pinto, adding that many people from the south come in groups but those from the north come as nuclear families.

People of different nationalities such as the British, Russians, Afghans and even Iranians and Saudis frequent the park. “The Afghans have their own music, which they request me to play and dance their traditional dances. So do the Iranians. It’s very interesting to watch”, elaborated Pinto who states that Splashdown is a “happy place with no misbehaviour of any sorts owing to its no alcohol policy.”

“One of the foreigners described what he called the magic hour of the place, which begins from 3:00 pm,” informed Pinto and further elaborating that, in the morning everyone is excited to play on the slides but at around 3:00 pm, people settle down and start making friends. “Someone’s wife joined in the Rain dance with some Indian women. There was some Bollywood song playing and the Indians knew the steps to it” discloses Pinto.

Every business flourishes with time and Splashdown is no different. Many improvements have been made over time. “We have tried to make our park 100 percent safe. We have done up the lawns, added new swings and on the whole made it more child friendly,” said Pinto. “Sometimes people lose their valuables, especially gold and purses and leave their numbers with us. If we find it we make it a point to courier it back to them wherever in the world they are.”

However, some problems still persist. “One of the major problems we have had is when grass is cut; it gets carried to the pool with the wind or with people walking. We have built more pathways to avoid this from happening but I don’t want it to be all paved all over. We need the greenery, too,” said Pinto.

When ‘Splashdown’ first began, equipment was manufactured outside Goa and while the required material can now be obtained in Goa, ‘Splashdown’ prefers to remain faithful to the ones who were there for them in the beginning. “Even though we didn’t have much money then and little know-how, they did not take advantage of us. In fact, the man came down especially to Goa to aid us,” added Melroy.

As ‘Splashdown’ completes a year, Melroy has a lot of ideas and additions that he wants to make there. “We opened two restaurants on December 14. One will be open for the public and one for the water park. Also an exciting ride ‘Pendulum’ is on the card. The foundation is already in place”, said Pinto. “We also want to develop the rear part for wedding receptions for holding weddings.”

Splashdown Waterpark   http://www.splashdowngoa.com/
Calangute-Anjuna Main Road, Padre Agnel Vaddo, Gauvaddi, Anjuna, Bardez-Goa 403509

Telephone:	+91-9637 424 023/ 024,
	+91-832 227 3008,
Website:	www.splashdowngoa.com
E-mail:	splashdown.goa@gmail.com

 

COMMENTS:

‘Splashdown Water Park’ is the first major project in Gaumvaddi, Anjuna.

The plot originally belonged to Ven Fr Agnelo’s family, which was sold to Melroy Pinto and Levancio D’Souza. Many of the projects in Goa are owned by outsiders, but this one is solely owned by two Goans. We are proud of Melroy and Levancio.

Another good thing about the Water Park is that right from the beginning Melroy has insisted that his staff should be Goans. As such, majority of his staff, barring a few labourers, are Goans. Melroy means what he preaches!

Moi-mogan,

Domnic Fernandes

Anjuna, Goa
Mob: +91 8805237604/9420979201
domvalden@hotmail.com


[As forwarded by Mr. Domnic Fernandes to gaspar almeida, www.goa-world.com
on December 18, 2012]

Posted by Goa-World.COM

Betty Ferns – Flashback of yesteryears in Bahrain

Betty Ferns – Flashback of yesteryears in Bahrain

This message is to convey my heartiest belated congratulations to the eleven tiatrists who were recognized and awarded lifetime achievement awards by the Tiatr Academy Goa (TAG) on last Saturday, December 14, 2012.

Nowadays, I don’t travel long distances because of vision problem – underwent laser surgery on my right eye to rectify leakage in the retina; even then I had planned to attend the function in Margao but unforeseen circumstances did not allow me to fulfil that commitment.
 

This year the Tiatr Academy Goa has conferred lifetime achievement awards on eleven eminent tiatr personalities and they are: C. D'Silva, Jessie Dias, Jr. Rod, Diana Fernandes, Josefina Dias, Betty Ferns, Joe Rose, August De Panchwadi, Manuel Dourado, Roseferns, and Tomazinho Cardozo.

I have known all these actors/writers/ directors/ singers on stage but I would like to make a special mention about Betty Ferns with whom I have acted in Bahrain:

During my tenure as the General Secretary of the Young Goans Sports Club in 1977-78, for the first time ever, we brought five famous Bombay Tiatrists
– C. Alvares, Remie Colaco, Jacinto Vaz, Mary Vaz and Betty Ferns, and staged four tiatrs in Manama, Bahrain. Cyriaco Dias was employed with MENAS (Middle East Navigation Aids Service) in Bahrain. Therefore, though he was an ex-Bombay tiatrist, he was considered a resident actor.

I have acted with Betty Ferns in four tiatrs in Bahrain: Ghorachem Sukh by Remie Colaço; Govachem Ghor by Jacinto Vaz, Farikponn by Cyriaco Dias and Kednam Udetolo to Dis by C. Alvares. I was already an established actor in Bahrain since 1973 but it was a great experience to act with the above-mentioned five professionals, and that too from Bombay. I also acted with the second batch of other Bombay actors in Bahrain the following year; more on that next time. Tiatr were held in Al Nasr Club in Manama.

I enacted main roles in the first three tiatrs and a movali’s (gangster’s) role in Kednam Udetolo to Dis. This role was originally played by the late Young Mendes.

The scene was thus: Betty is a blind girl who crosses road with a kerosene lamp in one hand and an empty glass bottle (to fetch kerosene) in the other. I try to help her cross the road but since she was alone, I look around, take advantage and try to rape her. During my struggle with Betty, suddenly Jacinto Vaz passes by, picks up a fight with me and rescues Betty. Jacinto Vaz punches blows at me and knocks me down. It was pitch dark. At this juncture, dim coloured stage lights flash in all directions. I try to get up and run away. Here a real accident takes place.

When the glass bottle which Betty was carrying fell on the ground it broke into pieces - unfortunately, the floor was bare – it was not covered with carpet or anything else. As I got up and was taking off from the floor, the bottom of broken bottle, which was lying next to my hand, cut a big chunk of flesh from under my left thumb and blood started gushing. As soon as I went inside, everyone was shocked to see me bleeding profusely. As an emergency treatment, the actors brought a Whisky bottle and poured it on my wound sending a burning sensation on it. They also poured Whisky in a glass and made me gulp it – anaesthesia was applied externally and internally!

An announcement was made and public informed that I had received a cut on my hand and was taken to a hospital for treatment, and that tiatr would recommence soon. They rushed me to the Emergency Section of the Mission Hospital, which was just around five hundred meters away. The organizers explained to the doctor the situation and the need for me to be back on stage as soon as possible. He sutured the flesh, bandaged my hand and discharged me. In the meantime, tiatr went on and I was back right in time before the start of the sovo poddo or the sixth drop/part of the tiatr.

In this scene, I am tied to a chair and questioned. Jacinto Vaz, who was a natural actor, keeps slapping me and asking: “Tuka cheddvank rape korunk zai? Atam mar kha”! (Do you want to rape girls? Now take the beating)! – these lines were not in the script; he added them. Actually, I was in pain and this guy, Jacinto, was making me laugh but I had to control myself because it was a serious scene. I recovered from the cut after about three weeks.

In order to make these actors feel at home, we temporarily converted three rooms of the Club into bedrooms and in one of the rooms we set up a kitchen and hired a Goan cook who cooked dishes of their taste. They spent six memorable weeks with us resulting in close relationship. This is when I got to know the five actors intimately. Goans in Bahrain would visit them at the Club premises every evening and many took them out for dinner or lunch on Fridays (holiday in the Gulf).

In 1978, I visited Betty Ferns at her home in Bombay, and the others in Goa. I showed them the scar of the wound, which looks like a question mark, as below that scar there is another scar of a bone grafting, and told them that it was the trade mark of “Kednam Udetolo to Dis”!

Remie Colaco and his family, Jacinto Vaz and his family and my family had a full day picnic at Sanvordem Lake. It was the month of May. We bathed in the lake and drank plenty of Urrak. Remie was a very good yodeller; so, he sang songs and yodelled every now and then and kept entertaining us. Jacinto and Mary Vaz visited me twice at my home in Anjuna for lunch. May their souls rest in peace!

Betty Ferns is the lone surviving actor of the troupe that visited Bahrain in the 1970s. I very much wanted to meet with her but circumstances prevented me from attending the function in Margao. But I will somehow meet her on one of these days.

 

 

Moi-mogan,

Domnic Fernandes
Anjuna, Goa
Mob: +91 8805237604/9420979201

 http://domnicfernandes.blogspot.com/2012/12/betty-ferns-flashback-of-yesteryears-in.html

[Documented and archived as forwarded by Domnic Fernandes to gaspar almeida, www.goa-world.com on 15 December 2012]

 

Coloured Photos courtesy:  ALVARES.JUDE.239
http://www.flickr.com/photos/82539704@N03/
veengle.com
& Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG)
and www.goa-world.com (gaspar almeida - B&W photo of Domnic Fernandes while in Bahrain in ) archives.
http://domnicfernandes.blogspot.com/2012/12/betty-ferns-flashback-of-yesteryears-in.html