THE SIXT NIGHT.
The Sixt Night a novel by Silviano C. Barbosa came into my hands thru one
of the friends of the author about 5 months back, it was sent to me by the
author. Since it is a very interesting book I said I must read it with
full attention and hence it took me such a long period to read it. Though
it was 5 months back that I got it in my hands but only in the month of
February end I started reading it and once I started I never stopped till I
completed it. The novel had a magnetic effect on me and it should also have
similar effect on any Goan who loves Goa and especially those who have seen
and enjoyed yesteryears Goa. It should be a prize catch for any Goan who
really loves Goa from bottom of his heart. It gives a very good history of
Goa then, it gives very good account of our tradition, cultural habits and
so many attributes related to Goans and Goan way of life. Those who want to
know Goa before Bharati rule that means those who want to know more if not
something from Goa during Portuguese colonialism they must make a point to
read this novel, not only read this novel but read it carefully and absorb
many of the attributes of Goa and Goan life during those golden days.
After reading this book I met some of the tiatrists in Kuwait and also the
visiting ones and not only requested them but also pleaded with them to read
this novel so that they enhance their knowledge on Goa of past years. By
reading this novel they can learn so many things and instead of writing
their dramas on the basis of the stories from Hindi Films they should write
something based on Goan life depicted in this novel. It is my sincere
request to the younger generation of Goans to read this book because by
reading it they will learn more of real Goa and genuine Goans than what they
will learn from their parents.
The author Silviano C. Barbosa is not an unknown writer to this forum, he is
a well known personality as far as journalism is concerned, his writings are
having very good meaning. In "The Sixt Night" the language he used is very
appropriate befitting the context. The story revolves around a young Goan
girl a commoner - during the Portuguese rule in Goa, how she became
friendly to a Portuguese Officer and became pregnant and while she was in
this state Bharat sent its Military and annexed Goa forcibly. This
annexation is dubbed as liberation which according to the author means
nothing for many Goans. Because of this unexpected annexation of Goa, the
Portuguese Officer had to leave Goa leaving his Goan girlfriend stranded in
Goa who finally delivers a baby girl. Incidentally, the Portuguese Officer
is not aware of the the pregnancy of the Goan girl. And to reunite the
couple again and to get the custody of their child back to them the
Portuguese father of the child journey back to Goa and the mother in search
of the Portuguese Officer to London, Canada & Portugal and the pathetic
circumstances both the father and mother encountered in between is of
tremendous significance. I am sure after reading this novel, many of the
Goans will remark that this a unique type of novel written by a Goan. Such
a novel I never came across before on Goan way of life written by a Goan.
Many of the books on Goa and Goan life are written after the exit of
Portuguese in Goa by the writers who are not Goans. Having microscopic
knowledge of Goan history, culture and tradition, these Ghantti authors
wrote of yesteryears Goa the way they got borrowed knowledge of past Goa.
Silviano C. Barbosas account of past Goa is based on his being born,
brought up in Goa, inhaling Goan air by birth. The author deserve lot of
compliments for writing such a wonderful book and every Goa lover Goan must
make a point to acquire this novel and read it and enrich his Goanness.
I have a friend of mine in Kuwait, he is a Bombay Goan and formely he was
the Librarian at St. Xaviers College, Bombay. While in this profession at
St. Xaviers, he read a lot but when he read this book, he told me that The
Sixth Night is the most precious novel that he ever read. Futher he went
and said all who are having interest in Goa and who want to know what Goa
was during those days they must make a point to read this novel which
potrays real and genuine Goa and Goans
Such novels are written by well known international authors like Denise
Robbins
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
_________________________________________________________________
Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE!
http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/
