GOAN HISTORY and CULTURE: Diaspora Goans In response to several requests to transmit this message to other Goan websites, or other Goans 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. Last week we wrote the first of a three part series on Goan Diasporas. We divided the topic into three sections: Old Diasporas; Modern Diasporas; and Challenges for Diasporas. Abstracted from the Book Amchi Khobor - Our News - Inside Goa By Philomena Lawrence and Gilbert Lawrence MODERN DIASPORAS The modern Goan Diaspora has occurred mainly over the last 2-3 generations. Goans moved to new places with their families thus altering the Diaspora societies from "bachelor colonies" to family units, and essentially settling down in these new places. The Diaspora first was to adjacent areas in India and later to more distant parts of the subcontinent, including Pakistan and Burma. Over the last 100 years, they have taken the leap and established population groups in South-East Asia, Africa and South America (former Portuguese colonies) as well as East Africa, South Africa and the Middle East (former British colonies). In the last half century, expat Goans live in significant communities in Portugal, Britain, Canada, Australia and America as well as many non-English speaking countries. For geo-political or economic reasons, some continued to stay in the place they originally migrated. While others re-transplanted to form a truly international Goan Diaspora; sometimes within one family and not uncommonly within an individual. Initially these families had strong ties to the native land due to family bonds, frequent visits, holidays and participating in joint-family's life-cycle rituals like birth, marriage and funerals. However over decades and with kids born away from native land, the ties have loosened. Thus it is not uncommon to meet a Goan who states, "I was born in East Africa, grew-up in England, live in USA and I am supposed to be Goan - Whatever that means". That is not a flip remark but an honest response to multiple cultural identities and some may call split character. In the USA, kids of the Indian Diaspora are affectionately and derisively called ABCD- American Born Confused Desis. Similar descriptions could apply to all Goan expats born and brought up outside India. With "voluntary immigration", individuals in a Diaspora are self-selected, skilled, motivated and faced challenges peculiar to pioneers. They were emancipated before or after migration. These �migr�s have done well, through dint of hard work and perseverance found in all immigrants. First and second generation �migr�s, in spite of / or because of their education, have generally lost touch with the native language and culture. That was less likely when the expats settled in a milieu dissimilar to their own as in Africa and Middle East (OIL and WATER mix). But expats Goans in India, Europe and the United States are within similar (but not same) cultures. There is a risk of dilution (WINE and WATER mix) followed by assimilation, fading, and finally a total lack of native culture. This exposes some to the perils of a people with no norms and mores. In this respect, recent Diasporas can learn much from prior ones, chiefly the GSB (Gowda Saraswat Brahmins) who have managed to preserve the Konkani language, deities and culture even while living in a wine-water milieu in India. It is important for �migr�s to know their roots, heredity and language or else face good-natured criticism from natives who say, �They do not know it, they do not speak it, they do not understand it, but they sure fake it!� Expats try to retain their ties to their indigenous land through G.O.A. (Goan Overseas Association), village, native church and school associations and more recently WGD (World Goa Day). Now in the computer age they also keep their ties through tourism and tourist books, webpage and the internet. However these long distance 'no touch' contacts of short durations do not give the expats a working-knowledge of the culture or the enduring Goan "way of life". This is reflected in surveys undertaken about current Goan cultural practices which receive poor or unconstructive responses. Majority of us, expats, have replaced factual knowledge on Goan ethnic traditions with high spirited "points of view", beliefs or "that's not important" or "its old fashioned mind-set", IMHOs, or "speak for yourself" comments. Unfortunately, Presidents of many expat Goan organizations, who should have provided a leadership role in encouraging their members to maintain their native culture, have made Goan social and cultural events a "party place". Here the pride of place is "scotch, food and leisure". The office bearers have followed rather than led their groups. And when one follows the crowd, one caters to the lowest common denominator. Most thoughtful Goans complain about these associations as being indifferent "to things Goan" including the language, culture, traditions and customs. One of course can also argue that "the thinkers" in the Goan community have just elected to withdraw and be reserved, aloof, snobbish or 'cumprumento' rather than be assertive (but polite) for a cause they believe in. Clearly a happy and sensible median must be found for socialization as well as true cultural interactions. Or else why call it a Goan event? or individuals come to it if there is no better event in town! Goans, especially our ladies, should take the lead in developing a cultural program for the adults and the children at these events. This is an essential part of maintaining an ethos and a Goan community. The usual saying is, "All want to watch a good cultural program. No one wants to take the lead and volunteer to put one on." However when one volunteers, the President of the organizations should seize the opportunity; rather than treat the association and the social function as their private fiefdom. Many Goan events do not have a Master of Ceremony. A president is usually a good planner and organizer, but may be a poor MC. Goans who attend the social/cultural functions do so out of pride and out of some degree of inconvenience to support a native event. Hence get-togethers have to be punctual, tasteful, well-programmed and organized to reflect Goan talent, skill, ingenuity and traditions. Next week's presentation on expats will focus on "Challenges and Opportunities" for Goan Diasporas to remain connected. This will be presented at the Goan Colloquium in New York on Saturday. Those attending the Goan colloquium this coming Saturday in New York (part of World Goa Day events) can request an advanced copy of our next Sunday's posting. Regards, Philomena and Gilbert Lawrence PS: Have you looked at the World Goa Day WGD webpage? It is very stimulating and their theme song is very thrilling. Make your plans to be at the WGD in Los Angeles on the Fourth of July weekend. ########################################################################## # 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 # ##########################################################################
