In theory, the word "Konknno" means "from the Konkan". So the term should apply for all of us. But that's not the way it works.
In reality, a number of Konkani words have strong pejorative, class, or demeaning connotations. For instance: poder (not just a baker), Gaudo (I've heard this word used almost like a swear-word at the assembly, after a journalist was threatened with a breach-of-priviledge action), Bamon (not just a caste-name), Bardezkar (not just someone from a particular locality), kharvi (not just a fisherman, but all the connotations of class... any wonder why some young lad would prefer to work as a hotel waiter instead?) etc... What Chris talks about below also probably has a lot to do with class. There was a time when Hindus in Goa were (except for a tiny, rich business-landlord elite) largely socio-economically poor. There are probably reasons for this. Robert S Newman, the Marblehead-based anthropologist, says Hindus were disallowed from even holding a simple schoolteacher's job in the government till the Portuguese (more egalitarian) Republican Revolution of 1910. Hindu out-migration (abroad) didn't happen in large numbers as among the Catholics too. (I think Theo or some other historians have however also written about the Hindu control of the colonial economy; but this of course did not cover the majority of community. On the other hand, one also needs to point to certain post-1961 trends where certain governments such as Kakodkar's and Parrikar's sought to continue the old policy of discrimination ... but in reverse. The issue of minority employment in government, specially in some departments like the Police, are matters of largely-unaddressed concern today.) Anyway, that is another point.... Chris, was I mistaken when I read a trace of the suggestion that the "mistrust" of your grandmum and her "compatriots" was somehow justified? In my view, all communities in Goa, as in other parts of our complex subcontinent, tend to have stereotypes about each other. These steroetypes are, as the Xavier's Institute of Communication said in a fascinating training kit against stereotypes, were "partly true and wholly false". There's no need for us to feel smug about this. FN Chris Vaz chrisvaz at optonline.net > I would dare to suggest that the appellation "konknno" belongs to a bygone > era when there was mistrust between Hindus and Catholics in Goa. My > grandmother (may she RIP) and her compatriots would never trust Hindus even > though on the surface they appeared to be cordial, engage in commerce, and > would caution us not to believe or consort with Hindus. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Frederick Noronha 784 Near Convent, Sonarbhat SALIGAO GOA India Freelance Journalist TEL: +91-832-2409490 MOBILE: 9822122436 Skype/Yahoomessenger: fredericknoronha www.bytesforall.net _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: %(user_optionsurl)s This email sent to %(user_address)s
