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Vivian, the history of Goan presence and achievement in portugal is a long and brilliant one. Many goans are not aware of this at all, and it would be great if someone someday set out to research this theme. I only mentioned a few names that I could recall instantly, but there are many examples of successful Goans in the 20th century. In fact, I think the early Goans in Portugal made such a good mark here that they created an enduring and prestigious image for Goans. Even today, some people have a high regard for you if you are a Goan, irrespective of what you are and what you do.
Tony Barro's article on East Africa is a most interesting one. I would like to get back to that, and add my own account about Mozambique, if and when I find the time.
I do not think the Portuguese policies had any influence on British attitudes. Quite on the contrary, it was British / Anglo-saxon influence via neighbouring Rodhesia and South Africa that explained some racism that existed in colonial Mozambique, and which by all accounts was not noticeable in Angola. There is one instance however, worth mentioning. When, in the 80's, the UK and Portugal were negotiating with China, for returning HK and Macau to Chinese sovereignty, the British Govt.(Margaret Tatcher) put a lot of pressure on Portugal not to grant Portuguese citizenship to the people of Macau, fearing that they would flock to the UK.There was some friction between the two countries at the time, bu the Port. Govt. did not budge and stood on principle. Which is why there are more than a 100.000 people in Macau with Portuguese nationality (all those who were born there under Portuguese rule). They have the right to live in Portugal and some did just that, but the majority remained in Macau. The UK created the infamous Nationality Bill instead, which made Hong-Kong British nationals second-class citizens, without the right to reside in the UK. The Hong-kong civic and democratic leaders at the time praised the portuguese attitude and held it as an example before the British colonial administration, demanding equal rights with the people of Macau, apparently without success.
Rui Colla�o
From: Vivian D'Souza <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Goanet]Rui Collaco's posting on Goan achievers in Portugal Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 10:56:44 -0700 (PDT)
Glad to hear that so many Goans achieved so much in Portugal. This was probably a testament to the Portuguese people and the Portuguese government which was not as color conscious and racist as the British were particularly in the colonial days. Tony Barros's reference to the achievements of Dr. Paes is due to his having lived in British East Africa where Goans while highly regarded, were still kept in place by the British.
During Colonial days in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, there was a hospital known as the European Hospital, later re-named Ocean Road Hospital, and another hospital called the Sewa Haji Hospital. The European hospital catered to Europeans and the Sewa Haji Hospital was for Asians and Africans. However, there was a special Goan ward at the European hospital. The birth certificate of those of us born in Dar es Salaam showed the place of birth as at the European Hospital. Clearly the European Hospital had better facilities as this was the era of racism and segregation. Did the Portuguese Government because of its enlightened policies push the British Government for this arrangement for all its citizens, irrespective of race ?
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