GOAN HISTORY and CULTURE: Diaspora Goans In response to several requests to transmit this message to other Goan websites, please feel free to do so! Those who suggest transmitting this in the native language are welcome to translate this into Konkani. Please use our name and e-mail address so that we can receive direct feedback from the readers; which is welcome!
Those NOT interested in Goan History or Culture: And Those who know it all! Please feel free to hit the DEL button NOW. I invite Goans to review what they read, add their own views and use the information to start a dialogue with their family as a Sunday talk or a mid-week dinner-conversation. Or it could be a topic for conversation of a Goan club meeting. Hopefully this will stimulate among all of us, including our families, a discussion on the language of Goan culture. It will also help us review some of our own personal experiences and the practices of other native communities. Now that our young Goenkar couple have got married and are settling down we will turn our attention to Goan life. Before we talk about Goan Life in our native land, we will write about the Goan Diasporas. This is a big subject. We will divide it into three sections: Old Diasporas; Recent Diasporas; and Challenges for Diasporas. Abstracted from the Book Amchi Khobor - Our News - Inside Goa By Philomena Lawrence and Gilbert Lawrence OLD DIASPORAS Many groups came to Goa and many left Goa. Over the span of 3,500 years there have been many Diasporas caused by a number of rulers who lorded over Goa. Diasporas also arose due to famine, epidemics, and better job prospects elsewhere "panv korunk ghela". Initially, the migration was to neighboring parts of Goa; then further away in the Asian subcontinent. Today the dispersal is also global, leading to diverse groups, many with an altered way of life. But they continue to maintain cultural relationships especially at events such as marriage, births and deaths. Goans rely on the Indian tradition of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - the whole world is a family. Many Diaspora groups guard their culture with pride and tradition, some by marriage stipulations. There are around 300,000 Goans scattered within India, while another 200,000 live outside the country. Some are absorbed by the society into which they migrated and settled. Diasporas are preserved by religion, language and culture. They regularly visit ancestral villages, the kinship (gotra) temples and churches, and research their genealogical roots. Diasporas have close and not-so-close links with the native land, and physically identify with their ancestral home and village. They keep their ties through ethnic clubs and associations and observe many cultural festivals and family-centered celebrations with other members of their national or village communities. In Bombay, these Goan unions were a community unto themselves called Coors or Cudds and are estimated to have numbered more than 300. In other countries, similar alliances took the acronym GOA - Goan Overseas Association or GI - Goan Institute. The clubs and associations of first generation immigrants had an unwritten motto to "live together as brothers in a foreign land." These fraternities or cudds were village or occupation-based, and were an extension of village society. Many cudds also served as residential premises for working bachelors with the motto to "live together under one roof." Most cudds were seamen's clubs and a place of shelter prior to or after a tour of duty. Goan seamen served with distinction and devotion creating a reputation for themselves and for those who followed them. They occupied positions from the highest to the lowest in both commercial and naval shipping. Unfortunately, native Goans of today have yet to recognize and honor them; and the many Goans who perished in the line of duty trying their best to be devoted bread-winners, husbands and fathers. The wives of these Diaspora men need to be complemented for their courage and valor. As single parents, they raised a large family. They undoubtedly benefited and were strengthened from their Goan culture and mores which was reflected in their values and their day-to-day way of life. Not only as single head-of-households did they take care of their many children, the wives also took care of the grandparents, unmarried siblings, uncles and aunts ... and they maintained peace in the household. When Diaspora men came home for a short vacation, they were the Mr. fix-it taking care of the leaky roof, the broken durig (fence) etc. From these humble beginnings, expats of today have come a long way. Many of today's natives and Diasporas forget the struggle and strife of their forbearers to provide for their families and lay the ground work for success for future generations. Next week's presentation on expats will focus on "Recent Diasporas" Regards, Philomena and Gilbert Lawrence PS: Have you looked at the World Goa Day webpage? It is just electrifying and their theme song is very thrilling. If you have not checked these WGD posts, you are missing something. ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
