A Goan colloquium, held in June at the College of New Rochelle in New York, and organized by Father Basilio Monteiro, provided thought-provoking and sometimes even controversial presentations on issues related to Goan Diaspora and Goan culture.
Victor Rangel-Ribeiro observed that those present had been able to integrate successfully into the American environment, while still retaining their own culture. "We were able to do this because we had a good sense of our own selves; however, those who lacked the same degree of cultural self-confidence tended to try to integrate as fast as possible by latching on to superficial characteristics of the host culture---for example, by immediately adopting an American accent." According to Robert Newman, author of the Book "Of Umbrellas, Goddesses, and Dreams: Essays on Goan Culture and Society", the lack of unanimity on what is Goan culture is not so much a Goan Hindu vs Goan Catholic thing as a matter of class, caste or education. Toddy tappers, field laborers, or ramponkars have similar views, and speak Konkani whether they are Catholic or Hindu. Similarly Brahmins of either religion agree that they are different, that Catholic and Hindu are far apart, though at the bottom of society, this has not been the case. Dr. Gilbert Lawrence, oncologist at a Utica Hospital, cited ways of preserving and promoting Goan culture. Among them, Family Goan meal every Sunday accompanied with a family discussion on some aspect of Goa; “buying and presenting Goan” tapes, CDs, etc. Also, Goan culture should be part of all Goan social events- private or public. Dr. James Almeida, professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, suggested that the development of "Private capital networks" among the Goan diaspora and modeled after those that exist among the various Indian communities (e.g. among Patels in the hospitality industry) could provide the critical impetus for aspiring Goan entrepreneurs, reinforcing their integration into the socioeconomic milieu of this country. Ralph D'Souza, addressing issue of ghettoization, felt that while Goans perhaps ghettoize themselves socially to some degree, this has its advantages. "Goans are historically well equipped to adapt to occidental cultures and indeed do so. However we as Goans must get more involved with other Indian American organizations as well as with establishment institutions, as we have done very well and have a responsibility to give back, to contribute and to participate." Dr. Santosh Helekar's Newtonian theory of culture posits that the Goan culture was founded on the collision of various cultures that settled in Goa, and is therefore fundamentally motile. (i.e. Kurukhs in 10000 BC; Maraungs in 7000 BC; Asuras in 3500 BC; Sumerians in 2000 BC and many other groups). Goans possess "a deep-seated affinity for novelty and change". That is why the Goan culture has tended to incorporate features of incoming settlers' cultures (e. g. the concept of divine ownership of land was most likely brought in by people of Sumer). ########################################################################## # 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 # ##########################################################################
