------------------------------------------------------------------------ * * * 2007 ANNUAL GOANETTERS MEET - GOA * * * ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WHERE: Foodland Cafe - Miramar Residency - Miramar, Goa
WHEN: December 27, 2007 @ 4:30pm More info: http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2007-December/066098.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --- CORNEL DACOSTA <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: As in the long article supplied to Goanet by Mervyn Lobo in Toronto, young Asians/Goans have minds of their own and caste has virtually no bearing on their calculations/judgements made particularly by young marriageable women. Young people and > especially women want to manifest their freedom to > marry a person of their choice and not one of their > parent's choice. And I say good for them. It is time > that male unwarranted hegemony on this highly > personal issue came to a rapid end. RESPONSE: Dear Cornel, I assure you this dynamic that has occurred in London and Toronto, has simultaneously occurred in Goa as well. Catholic girls are well educated; in contrast per cent of the male population drops out early to pursue careers that earn hard cash. As a result our qualified girls find it hard to meet prospective grooms within the stifling divisions of caste. A lot of Goan girls and boys marry fellow Indians, from Kerala or Bangalore. A lot of the girls (and boys) marry outside their own caste because finding a suitable partner within is not a viable option. Many young people meet their prospective partners at college or at the work place, where attraction and compatibility are considered important rather than caste. > Cornel writes: > But, Catholic' Goan caste/casteism is definitely > rife in Goa. Indeed, Goa reeks of caste in its > provincial atmosphere. It is a major generator of > caste categorisation. However, it ceases to be so > strong in the metropolis of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkota > etc. RESPONSE: I don't know how accurate you are in this description of Goa being a major generator of caste catergorisation. Infact caste is very much a problem in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkota where societies cling to their need to marry within the caste system, and this desire like the desire to have a male child cuts across all economic barriers. Cornel writes: Education and material prosperity has taken > the wind out of casteists and they cannot even > provide a rationale for their beliefs when > challenged to do so. RESPONSE: Education and material prosperity has played the same role in Goa as it has in London. Most notably the prosperity of the Gulf Goans has had a major equalising effect on Goan society. I'm sure pockets of caste exist in Goa, especially in the bedrooms and dimly lit corridors of Old Power but, is it widespread, is its influence debilitating Goan society, is it affecting anyone's life on a day to day basis? I don't think so. Ofcourse I could be wrong as I am about so many things! selma ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spread the Christmas Cheer, even when you're not here! Send classic greetings to your loved ones in Goa. EXPRESSIONS - 2007 Christmas Hamper Visit http://www.goa-world.com/expressions/xmas/ Or e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------