You are welcome Roland. On Sat, 11 May 2024, 06:01 Roland Francis, <[email protected]> wrote:
> Many thanks to you and Marise. > I will start on the suggestions provided. > > Roland Francis > 416-453-3371 > > > On Fri, May 10, 2024 at 6:07 PM Joao Paulo Cota <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Hi Roland, >> You can start at the Museu Militar de Lisboa. >> They have an amazing collection of documents and a lot of memorabilia, >> all military related. >> They are very helpful and the documents are well organized and indexed, >> that can be also searched digitally. >> You can contact them directly, with preliminary question on >> [email protected] >> Their service is one of the finest I have ever experienced, they have a >> lot of stuff related to Goa. >> >> https://www.exercito.pt/pt/quem-somos/organizacao/ceme/vceme/dhcm/lisboa >> <https://www.exercito.pt/pt/quem-somos/organizacao/ceme/vceme/dhcm/lisboa> >> Notícia >> <https://www.exercito.pt/pt/quem-somos/organizacao/ceme/vceme/dhcm/lisboa> >> Descobre mais no link abaixo. >> www.exercito.pt >> Good luck, >> Joao Paulo Cota >> ------------------------------ >> *From:* [email protected] < >> [email protected]> on behalf of Roland Francis < >> [email protected]> >> *Sent:* 09 May 2024 21:09 >> *To:* [email protected] < >> [email protected]> >> *Subject:* [GRN] Pe Alfredo d’Araujo (late) >> >> The last posting prior to retirement of my maternal uncle from Loutulim >> born in 1912 was as vicar and parish priest of Margao’s Holy Spirit Church. >> >> In his younger days, he was an officer-chaplain in the Portuguese army in >> Goa and I think, in a couple of African colonies. >> >> Can anyone please tell me where to start my search to find his military >> service records? >> >> Another question kindly. On my parents’ marriage certificate the priest >> is listed as Alfredo de Asarejo. While my first thought was that this uncle >> might have officiated at his younger sister’s marriage service in Bombay’s >> Holy Name Parish in 1948, is Asarejo a Goan surname and the priest thus >> have been someone other than my late uncle. >> >> Many thanks in advance for your inputs. >> >> Roland Francis >> 416-453-3371 >> >> >> On Sat, Mar 30, 2024 at 2:16 PM Goa-Research-Net < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >> “GOA: as Fernando de Noronha knew it” >> ‘Goa: tal como a conheci’ (‘Goa: as I knew it’) (Third Millenium, 2018; >> price: Rs.400) >> [image: Caetano Mascarenhas] >> >> <https://medium.com/@caetanomm?source=post_page-----4b51668578c3--------------------------------> >> >> Caetano Mascarenhas >> <https://medium.com/@caetanomm?source=post_page-----4b51668578c3--------------------------------> >> · >> >> Follow >> 12 min read >> · >> Mar 5, 2020 >> >> <https://medium.com/plans?dimension=post_audio_button&postId=4b51668578c3&source=upgrade_membership---post_audio_button----------------------------------> >> >> Probably the most disastrous consequence of Goa’s violent rupture from >> Portuguese sovereignty in 1961 at the hands of Indian Army is that the >> entire period of Goan history after Portugal’s take over in 1510 is taken >> to be a black hole. It suited the narrative of Goa’s new ruling classes to >> stain the entire Portuguese era as one of no historical value to Goans. >> Unfortunately, the Goan intelligentsia of the time (mainly the Catholic >> elite) reacted by simply hot-footing it abroad and abandoning their Goan >> heritage or by going into a prolonged coma that allowed the community to be >> smeared by the nouveau pseudo-patriots. One of the doleful effects was the >> break in transmission of cultural and historical traditions (accentuated by >> the near-total extinction of Portuguese language) to the adolescent >> generation of Goans. >> >> It has been said by the ancient Roman, Cicero, that a people that does >> not know its own history is doomed forever to live in the state of >> adolescence. Goans don’t know much. The book ‘*Goa: tal como a conheci*’ >> (‘Goa: as I knew it’) (Third Millenium, 2018; price: Rs.400) is a book of >> history *sui generis*, written in Portuguese, by Fernando de Noronha, >> that goes a long way to fill a part of this lacuna. It is a narration of >> ‘what happened in Goa between 1930 and 1980’. It is neither historiography >> nor a memoir, although it partakes elements of both. The Author saw the >> writing of the book as the fulfillment of a duty to his beloved land so >> that its people may use it the better to understand themselves. >> >> The late Fernando de Noronha, originally from Neura, was born in 1920. He >> held a day-job as a bureaucrat but he also dedicated himself to teaching >> the Portuguese language and was clearly an ardent admirer of all aspects of >> the Portuguese intervention in Goan history. He contributed to whatever >> remained of the Portuguese press in Goa after 1961 and was also party to a >> valiant attempt to run a new Portuguese-language periodical, which did not >> last long, in the mid-1980’s. >> >> It is not a coincidence that the period covered by the book commences >> with the Salazar era getting under way in Portuguese politics. It is also >> the point of time when an uncle of the Author embarked on a public career, >> namely, the priest-politician Castilho de Noronha, to whom the Author >> professes a debt of having been a source of inspiration. The Author does >> not pretend to cover the entire social, cultural and historical canvas of >> Goa but only the part of which he knew best: Catholic Goa. Even though it >> provides a mass of historical facts, the purists will complain that there >> is no attribution of primary sources. However, the accuracy of information >> given is assured by the ring of truth that surrounds it. >> >> The book has separate chapters on Politics and Administration, Society >> and Culture and religion. It is evident that meticulous and painstaking >> research has gone into its compilation, which is all the more admirable as >> the Author does not appear to have had any institutional support or >> resources. >> >> The first chapter delves into the political events and institutions that >> are not of merely sectarian interest. Other than the recently-published >> ‘Resurgent Goa’ by the academic Varsha Kamat, it is doubtful if there is >> any other book that contains such a wealth of data and information relating >> to that historical era. This period had momentous historical importance for >> Goa. The Portuguese nation had passed through traumatic, if enlightened, >> times of Republican regimes from 1910. Although the legislation and the >> egalitarian and secular way of life that it introduced in Portuguese >> territories marked it out as probably the most advanced country in the >> Western world, its economy had run to the ground. Out of such chaos there >> emerged the proverbial strong man with a messianic halo, Antonio Salazar, >> who was a university professor who went on to dominate Portuguese life with >> an iron hand (but little prosperity) over the next forty years or so. The >> Author reveals that he holds Salazar in esteem bordering on veneration. >> >> It is hardly known in Goa that the creation of a constitutional monarchy >> in Portugal as early as 1820 led to the institution of a regime based on a >> libertarian Constitution drafted and promulgated by an elected Parliament. >> This Constitution conferred equal citizenship on the overseas residents of >> the Portuguese territories and did away with the concept of ‘colony’. It >> was about this citizenship and equality that the greatest Goan political >> leaders, namely, Bernardo Peres de Silva and Francisco Luis Gomes (of the >> 19th century) and Luis de Menezes Braganca (of early 20th century), >> boasted. The overthrow of monarchy and promulgation of a Republic in 1910 >> further cemented the liberal polity. However, the dictatorship of Antonio >> Salazar overturned a hundred years of enlightened democratic rule and >> restored the status of ‘colonies’ to the overseas territories of Portugal. >> This new regime was known as ‘Estado Novo’ (New State). It reintroduced >> racial and religious discrimination in the colonies and adopted an >> authoritarian political structure around the year 1930. This book picks up >> part of the story from this date so far as it relates to Goa. >> >> Since there was no real involvement of the masses in public affairs in >> the ‘New State’, the political history of the new colonial regime shrinks >> to no more than the history of the local rulers, i.e. the Governors. The >> Author gives thumb-nail sketches about the activities of the Governors who >> held office, including the last ill-fated Gen. Vassalo e Silva. It appears >> that this last incumbent had embarked on various projects towards the >> economic and infrastructural development of Goa: building of National >> Highway, provision of piped drinking water, laying of sewerage system, >> restoration of Old Goa and proposals for bridges across rivers Mandovi and >> Zuari. He also founded naval establishments and scholarships for Goan >> students to study in Portugal. His greatest achievement was to sacrifice >> his own career rather than risk the destruction of Goan territory and lives >> by surrendering nobly to the conquering Indian Army on 19th December 1961. >> >> The ‘Chapter 2’ is crucial as it contains hitherto unavailable >> information about the political structures in Goa during the post-1930 era. >> The existing political parties ‘Partido Indiano’ and ‘Partido Ultramarino’ >> had been outlawed and only the State-sponsored party ‘Uniao Nacional’ >> (National Union) permitted to operate. The Republican statute ‘Bases >> Organicas’ of 1914 had provided for a certain degree of autonomy for Goa >> and the creation of a ‘Legislative Council’ to be elected by a limited >> suffrage. It was meant to be the first step towards a democratic process, >> as it also had a majority of *ex-officio *and Government-nominated >> members. However, in 1933 this body was designated as ‘Government Council’ >> and rendered toothless in view of the ban on independent parties and the >> introduction of the Colonial Act of 1930, which reduced Goans to being >> second-class subjects. The Colonial Act had been opposed vigorously by Goan >> political and intellectual leaders, who declared categorically that Goans >> would never renounce their rights for self-government. >> >> The book has a lot of minutiae of names of members, composition of >> committees and place of meetings but not much about the substance of the >> legislative powers or the subjects of its jurisdiction. It is stated that >> the Decree of 1st July 1955 sought to increase the area of administrative >> decentralization, but no details are given other than the assertion that >> the members of the Council has liberty to speak ‘within limits imposed by >> education and decency’ (p.35). >> >> The new Constitution of 1933 also provided for a national parliament, >> known as National Assembly. This assembly had the power to make laws and >> was composed of candidates proposed by the only permitted party. It is not >> explained what was the nature of ‘election’ in a one-party State. From the >> deputies so chosen, Castilho de Noronha argued for administrative >> decentralisation and financial autonomy for Goa. However, the life of Goans >> continued to be governed with an iron hand. Curiously, the Salazarist >> regime continued to nominate members to represent Goa, from among Goans >> living in Portugal, till its collapse in 1974. The new democratic >> government of Portugal formally accepted the integration of Goa into the >> Indian Union, without, it must be noted, the Goan polity being involved. >> >> The Author gives detailed particulars about the bureaucratic system and >> financial administration. It is of interest that the total number of >> Government employees in 1961 was a little over 4,000 only. The notable >> feature of the Annual Budget was that no deficit was allowed, i.e. the >> planned expenditure had to be strictly within the limits of the projected >> revenue. The village authority, with power to decide minor local disputes, >> was the ‘Regedor’ appointed by Government from the local gentility. The >> autonomy of the millennial Comunidades was restricted with the onset of the >> dictatorship. >> >> The Author holds that the dictatorship of Antonio Salazar was inevitable >> to bring order to a nation in chaos, to ‘re-educate’ the people, to >> discipline the administration and to ‘guide’ the Press. In a nod to the >> emerging anti-colonial movements, Salazar had permitted token elections to >> a new parliament. In June 1946 the public meeting addressed by Indian >> socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia at Margao had thrown the local >> government out of balance. According to the Author, the movement of Goan >> nationalists in British India was made up of haters of Christianity, >> idlers, criminals and mercenaries. The militant group Azad Gomantak Dal is >> said to have been promoted by Indian official agencies. He points out that >> not only Nehru but other top Indian political leaders in 1950’s, >> specifically Morarji Desai, had opposed any use of force in Goa. In 1948 >> Portugal and India broke diplomatic relations. >> >> The Author asserts that the economic blockade imposed by Indian >> Government against the territory of Goa in mid-1950’s only caused serious >> discomfort to India-based Goans without success in putting pressure on >> Portugal to release its hold on Goa. This tactic is said to have actually >> contributed to economic development in Goa such as construction of >> airports, direct international flights, improvement of canals at Paroda and >> Khandeapar and import of high-value products including motor-cars. A >> meeting between some Goan political leaders and Antonio Salazar in 1947 did >> not generate in the Dictator any appreciation for the political aspirations >> of Goans. The account of Indian military takeover of Goa on 19th December >> 1961 does not contain any new information. >> >> The chapter ‘Post-1961’ contains perspectives and narratives that are not >> currently popular. It lists many little-known publications of 1962 onwards >> that record various opinions worldwide with respect to the military >> takeover of Goa. The Author notes that the pacifist professions of Indian >> governments were merely a pragmatic ruse, not a matter of principle. The >> Author links the military attack by China on India’s north-east region in >> 1962 to this diminution of India’s pacifist prestige. The new Indian regime >> introduced censorship over Press and even private postal correspondence. >> There were nascent attempts in Goa to create political organizations and to >> address the travails caused by imposition on local bureaucracy of >> outstation ‘deputationists’, seen as corrupt and incompetent. There were >> also cases of excesses from lower-level military personnel. A brief >> reference is made to the attempt to merge Goa with Maharashtra and to the >> unique ‘Case of Fr. Chico’ (who refused to recognize Indian sovereignty >> over Goa). Disruptions were caused to Comunidades and to the sanctity of >> private property by new legislation. The Author accuses the new regime of >> intentionally destroying recorded Portuguese music at the radio station of >> Panjim as part of the design to uproot Portuguese culture and language from >> Goa. Despite recurring episodes of Goan manifestations of unhappiness with >> post-1961 system of government, the post-Salazarist democratic Government >> of Portugal unilaterally recognized Goa as legal unit of Indian Union. >> >> In the part about ‘Facets of society and culture’, the Author speaks >> fondly about the Lyceum, founded in 1854, which was the only institution of >> learning above school level other than the fabled Rachol Seminary and Goa >> Medical College. Till 19th century the Portuguese language was prevalent >> mainly among the upper-class Catholics of Old Conquests. From the >> establishment of Republican regime in 1910, education in Portuguese was >> promoted among the Hindu community, the beneficiaries of which were its >> upper echelons who then became prominent in local life and even abroad. The >> Catholic clergy were particularly proficient in the language. After 1961, >> the language fell into official and even social disfavor, till the ties >> with Portugal were re-established in 1980. The Author points out that the >> continued cultivation of the Portuguese language among the youth of >> post-1961 generations would have better connected them to our culture and >> appreciation of past Goan writers and historical research as well as linked >> them to the 200-million-strong Portuguese speakers worldwide. >> >> The first Portuguese daily ‘O Heraldo’ was also the last to shut shop, in >> 1983. A new weekly ‘A Voz de Goa’ had a short life in mid-1980’s. The >> Portuguese language has then been featured only in a weekly radio program >> ‘Renascenca’ and in private gatherings. The Portuguese presence has >> survived in music, in names of hotels and roads and in vocables that have >> become part of Konkani language. Portuguese, which is still the >> mother-tongue of many Goan families, got a shot in the arm with its >> introduction in the 1980’s into the school and college curricula. There are >> many Goans who have continued the literary tradition in contemporary >> Portugal. >> >> The chapter on ‘Journalists and Writers’ is a most valuable record of >> writers and polemicists who are all lamentably forgotten and unknown today. >> The sheer quality and volume of writings in Portuguese in such a small >> territory as Goa is a matter of amazement. There are also short notes on >> the many periodicals published during the period covered by the book. I do >> not think there is any other publication that contains this precious >> historical record that has shaped the social, cultural and political ethos >> of 20th century Goa. >> >> The ‘Instituto Vasco da Gama’, founded in 1871, merits a whole chapter >> for its unmatched contribution to the widening of literary and scientific >> horizons of young Goans. (This institution was renamed as ‘Menezes Braganca >> Institute’ after December 1961.) The hoary ‘Seminario de Rachol’ is said to >> have had academic standards that were higher than in Europe. The book gives >> valuable information about its scholastic structure. >> >> The chapter on ‘The city and the village’ gives interesting particulars >> about the administrative divisions of Goa. It also names the many wards >> that formed ‘Nova Goa’ (now Panaji), its squares, streets, entertainment, >> social profile and classes, including the now-extinct ‘descendentes’ and >> ‘mesticos’ whose ‘bon vivant’ lifestyle spiced up the local social life. >> The Margao town was known as the cultural and political capital of Goa on >> account of its manorial and intellectual life (which was lampooned in the >> novel ‘Jacob e Dulce’ by Francisco Joao da Costa). The towns of Mapusa and >> Vasco da Gama enjoyed less prestige. >> >> Village life was tranquil and secure. Society was homogeneous and, not >> withstanding its caste divisions, lived harmoniously. There was no >> religious strife. Incidents of crime were low and one almost never heard of >> serious offences like rape and murder. Corruption among public officials >> was not known. The economy was basically agricultural operations of paddy >> and coconut cultivation with other fruit-bearing trees. There was an >> attempt to develop the extensive barren land of the New Conquest >> agriculturally. The only industry that existed was small-scaled factories >> for canning and preservation of fish, meat and fruits. The mining of >> ferrous ores began only in 1950’s, which also lead to the improvement of >> Mormugao port. Emigration for employment was widespread and it balanced the >> local economy. >> >> The chapter ‘O Clero’ (The Clergy) dilates upon the contribution of Goan >> Catholic priests to public life by way of education and writings. >> Interestingly, it notes that late Francisco Xavier Gomes Catao wrote >> extensively on the history of Goa Archdiocese in various periodicals. As >> there is no comprehensive history of Catholic Church or Christianization of >> Goa, one hopes that these writings are soon collected in a single or more >> volumes. The Author gives the roll-call of Goan clerics who made history by >> being the first Indians to hold offices as Cardinals and Bishops and >> Patriarchs of Goa. >> >> The collapse of the Republican regime in Portugal around 1926 ended the >> separation of Church and State. The Church began to reassert itself in >> civil public life and even political institutions. The religious Orders, >> which had been expelled from Portuguese territories in the 18th century by >> Marquis de Pombal, returned to Goa in the 20th century and run prestigious >> educational and welfare institutions. The Author asserts that the Catholic >> Church has been a force for good for the general public in Goa. The >> Christian influence, he says, has contributed to the creation of a distinct >> identity of the Goan, no matter his religion. >> >> There is an interesting account of Catholic apologetics in Goa that is >> not likely to be found in any other historical account. The chapter >> contains an invaluable record of the many Catholic periodicals (the first ‘*O >> Crente*’ being founded in 1895) and writers (lay and clerical) who >> battled in defence on Catholic orthodoxy. The elite of educated Goan youth >> of early 20th century was largely indifferent to religion, many of whom >> (such as Antonio Floriano de Noronha and Luis de Menezes Braganza) went on >> to become celebrated flag-bearers of liberal thinking in Goa. The concept >> of religious polemics itself dissolved when Vatican Council II opted for >> dialogue, instead of antagonism, with other phase. >> >> In the chapter ‘The Faith of the People’ the Author reviews the many >> peculiar practices and events surrounding the Catholic religion in Goa, >> e.g. the caste-based sectarian formations (‘Confrarias’), the prevalence of >> ‘evil eye’, the invocations to different saints for specific favours and >> the naming of various villages after different cognomens of Mary, Mother of >> Christ. The Author attributes the typical Goan qualities of honesty, >> sincerity and loyalty as being the fruits of (mainly Catholic) religiosity. >> >> The book is written in unpretentious and elegant Portuguese prose. >> Everybody interested in things Goan should be grateful for this labour of >> love. >> >> >> https://medium.com/@caetanomm/goa-as-fernando-de-noronha-knew-it-4b51668578c3 >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Goa-Research-Net" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/d4cf08b2-8522-4e78-9fb3-9c4db1727910n%40googlegroups.com >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/d4cf08b2-8522-4e78-9fb3-9c4db1727910n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Goa-Research-Net" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CA%2Bx1-5Q88PqY85QtOYxjJ1OV73383Fz7eoeJW%2BmUUyhMBpWcLA%40mail.gmail.com >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CA%2Bx1-5Q88PqY85QtOYxjJ1OV73383Fz7eoeJW%2BmUUyhMBpWcLA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Goa-Research-Net" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/GV2P195MB216196A467575BA1C6550F6882E72%40GV2P195MB2161.EURP195.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/GV2P195MB216196A467575BA1C6550F6882E72%40GV2P195MB2161.EURP195.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Goa-Research-Net" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web, visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CA%2Bx1-5RUNBdVJAGx9SY2YVEoqVD2Pv0QMS%2BR%2Bo9YXfpoE%2BLBZg%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CA%2Bx1-5RUNBdVJAGx9SY2YVEoqVD2Pv0QMS%2BR%2Bo9YXfpoE%2BLBZg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Goa-Research-Net" group. 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