Left out TNN | Oct 29, 2014, 12.30 AM IST READ MORE Tiswadi|Times Panchanama|Isidore Domnick Mendis|Cumbharjua|Bridge Isidore Domnick Mendis Surrounded by the villages of Marcela, St Estevam, Corlim and Banastarim, Cumbharjua is a unique village in Tiswadi taluka which, at one point in time, was a peninsula. Around 164 years ago, its western side was excavated for navigation and, from then onwards, it became an island. The Cumbharjua canal is also a famed crocodile habitat and stretches of its canal is home to the Indian Magar crocodile. Cumbharjua is a name derived from Kumbhars (potters) though hardly any one living on the island pursues this profession today. The island village has a population of 4,878 out which 3,919 are registered voters. Cumbharjua has 12 vaddos including Talap Vaddo, Surchem Bhatt, Goll Vaddo, Tak Vaddo, Malla Vaddo, Zor Cantor, Gavant, Thapah Vaddo, Chaddassseai, Rambuvan Vaddo, Khaddap Vaddo and Gaundalim. Of late, an element of uneasiness is brewing up among locals of Cumbharjua. They feel left out and completely let down by the state government which they say has not provided a direct access road to Cumbharjua to two bridges under construction; the Cumbharjua -Gaundalim bridge and the Cumbharjua-Marcela bridge. "The soon-to-be ready bridges will not be favorable to us, Cumbharjuakars. It is an irony that our villagers sacrificed so much of their 'xhettam' (agricultural fields), but, it has given them no benefits at all," said Shivaji Shet of Khaddap vaddo, son of late freedom fighter Mukund Shet. Government sources say these two new bridges are scheduled to be inaugurated either this year on December 19 or on January 26, 2015. The bridges will decrease the distance between Panaji and Belgaum by 15 km. "In the field of sport as our village is bereft of sports facilities; be it a Goa Cricket Association (GCA) or Sports Authority of Goa ( SAG)-owned and maintained cricket ground. The neglect of the village is clearly visible with the construction of the two new bridges in which local consideration has not been given a serious thought. We, too, want to get connected to these bridges from our village and not by using the 2km-long route via Marcel. It is very important to note that these two bridges save time and distance in travelling to Belgaum and other parts of Goa be it Bicholim , Valpoi etc. Even the distance required for travelling to Panaji from Cumbharjua would will get reduced by atleast 7-8km," said Vijay Kumar Shet from Goll vaddo, who, in his higher education days, played for Bombay University as an opening batsman in the years 1972-75. Concurs Suryakant Gawde of Gawant vaddo "Access roads are the only way which can allow Cumbharjuakars to use the two bridges. For example, the road at Talap vaddo between the St Francis Xavier Chapel and the old Cumbharjua-Marcela bridge could be used as an access road for the new Cumbharjua-Marcela bridge because this road would not lead to any destruction of any house or property." The panchayat is steadfastly standing behind the demands of villagers. "The panchayat will do everything to act as a facilitator if the state government decides on the construction of access road. The local self government is aggrieved too that despite its farmers who have sacrificed over 30,000 sqm of land , they cannot directly use the bridge from their village. The panchayat is with Cumbharjuakars in their demand for the access roads to these bridges," said Cumbharjua sarpanch Suresh Naik. Residents of Gaundalim, however, feel the construction of new bridges will terminate the ferry operations on the canal between mainland of the village and their vaddo. "As the ferry service will come to end, parishioners staying on the mainland side of the village will stop coming to the parish church and prefer going to Holy Family Church at Marcel as it will become relatively closer," states Fr Eufemiano Lino de Sa, the parish priest of the 1653-constructed St Blaise Church. MLA Pandurang Madkaikar said, "One of the bridges has already been constructed while the other is under construction. Land for the approach road has been acquired by the government though work is yet to begin." +++++++ Top View The panchayat is with Cumbharjuakars in their demand for the access roads to these bridges:Suresh Naik, sarpanch One of the bridges has already been constructed while the other is under construction. Land for the approach road has been acquired by the government though work is yet to begin :Pandurang Madkaikar, MLA +++++ People's take The soon-to-be ready bridges will not been favorable to us. It is an irony that our villagers sacrificed so much of their agricultural fields, but, it has given them no benefits at all :Shivaji Shet, Khaddap Vaddo Access roads are the only way which can allow Cumbharjuakars to use the two bridges: Suryakant Gawde of Gawant Vaddo We, too, want to get connected to these bridges from our village and not by using the 2km-long route via Marcela Vijay Kumar Shet, Goll Vaddo +++++ Problem Problem No recognition to art: There is no state government recognition to art and culture "The village thrives with artists, bhajan singers and theatre artists, but, it is sad and unfortunate that like its neighboring villages of Zuem (St Estevam) and Marcela which also is a home for performers in the field of folk art, music, drama, tiatr, painting literature etc, it has not received Goa state cultural awards for the past 10 years," states Shivaji M Shet, who is pursuing a PhD programme in graphic arts from Visva-Bharati, Kolkata. Unemployment woes: "Cumbharjua is also home to highly-qualified people, but, they are not considered for top jobs in the industrial areas. Our people are only absorbed in low- profile and least paid jobs in the job market. All high posts go to the outsiders," says Suryakant Gawde. Foot Bridge at Goll vaddo: “ The construction of such a bridge would be a boon to the villagers employed in Corlim industrial area as the distance would be of just half a kilometer instead of the present one of 7 kms via Marcel and Banastarim .One and a half months back I had discussed this aspect with CM Manohar Parrikar .” states Vijay Kumar Shet A Little History Cumbharjua has one of the oldest educational institutions, the then Marathi-medium Sharda Mandir High School and Shree Shantanduga library which was co-incidentally established way back on December 1, 1913. Today, the school's medium of instruction is English and it is run by the government. Cumbharjua has a rich legacy of art and culture. Most people are artisans and excel in making Ganesh idols and floats for Shigmo. Around 400 years ago, during the Portuguese rule, it was an uninhabited place and its first settlers were Brahmins like the Kenkre, Bhobe, Bhandare , Sardesai , Dhume, Hedekar families in order to escape religious conversion. This village set on the banks of Mandovi river has Shantadurga as its deity and she is housed at a temple in Marcel. Every year, for 21 days, between March and April she is taken on a 'palki' (palanquin) to each and every house of this island village.
