(Dr Gilbert Lawrance wrote: Please do not be too harsh on the miniscule
minority of Bhatkars and Fidalgos in Goa (pre-1961). They were really like
"A one-eyed person, who is a king among the blind".)
Harsh, doctor? Never. Having had occasions to interact with them closely,
I've found most of them to be perfect gentlemen -- suave, cultured and
generous to a fault. They make excellent friends. I've enjoyed their
gracious hospitality and always believed that it was the prevailing social
milieu that turned their borebears into villains -- much like the zamindars
elsewhere in India. Nairs are despised in Kerala for the very same reason,
so I do empathise with them.
But what's unique about some Goan bhatkars of vintage variety is their
seemingly disproportionate and illogical loyalty to the Portuguese. The
moment the letter 'P' is uttered, they put the blinkers on and begin to brag
about the three bridges and a radio station the Portuguese had managed to
build in 450 years. I always restrained myself (for fear of losing a few
good friends) from saying that the bridges survived because nothing heavier
than bullock carts passed over them!
I'm only coaxing them to accept the reality and stop living in the past
because I sincerely believe that their intellectual vigour and loyalty can
be true assets to modern India. There's hope. The younger generation is not
so obsessed with their Portuguese past as the oldies.
Cheers, RKN
- [Goanet] Re: Re: Posts on Goa Radhakrishnan Nair
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