Well said Rose! I totally agree with you and have to say that my youth and formative years in Mombasa encompassed not only the culture, friendship and ethics of other castes, creeds and nationality but that it also helped forge my outlook in adulthood too. I grew up in an area which had Muslims (all sects), Hindus (all castes) and Goans (all castes again) living together in harmony and friendship as well as sharing wonderful unity at Diwali, Eid and Christmas which sadly is lacking in this world today. We all integrated so well. I am happy to add that these connections and friendship have lived on, despite most, if not all emigrating to other parts of the world with the advent of emails!! Sadly it takes just the opinion of a few, with well chosen words to ignite a different opinion of things but I can assure you that the majority who were born and lived in East Africa will agree with your comments! Thanks to you and Mel for keeping the balance! Regards Celia.
Message: 3 Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2014 15:10:25 +0100 (CET) From: Melvyn Fernandes <[email protected]> To: "goanet [goanet]" <[email protected]> Cc: "Eugene Correia \[Eugene Correia\]" <[email protected]> Subject: [Goanet] OHeraldo article - Mapping Goan Presence in East Africa (Response to Eugene Correia by Rose Fernandes) Message-ID: <5870326.31301417443025147.JavaMail.www@wwinf3711> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Dear Eugene Re:? OHeraldo article - Mapping Goan Presence in East Africa Your article on OHeraldo on the above subject made interesting reading. However there are two lines on which I would like to comment.? The first line is: Quote: East African Goans will never be able to erase this ugly aspect of caste and class warfare from the annals of history. Unquote To tackle this issue I first need to tell you a true story of a pride of lions who wanted to sit in the shade of a tree away from the scorching sun.?? However, this space had already been claimed by monkeys first.?? The lions roared in, sent the monkeys climbing the tree to keep out of harms way and settled down to a nice sleep.?? In this instance, the monkeys decided it was time to reclaim their land.?? >From the top of the tree they made susu (piss) in bucketfuls on the sleeping lions who in disgust had no alternative but to leave.?? Reclaiming their space once again to enjoy.? See the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0L02LkpcMo All this banter about the ugly aspect of caste and class warfare.?? The reality is when the tailors (dorjee) were not able to join certain clubs, none of them lay down on the ground and died, did they? ? No, instead tailors got their own backs, reclaimed their right to belong to a club and and formed their own club holding their own successful social and welfare functions.? With their sewing skills, fashion flare, swanky three piece suits and latest ladies designer clothes, they were the best dressed at functions, birthdays, weddings and funerals and enjoyed probably excellent Goan cuisine and drink.?? So who lost out in the end?? This is exactly what I would have done, why be among people who do not want you when you can be with people that do. Tailors were important in other aspects of Goan life (as I have written about in previous posts). ? Added to this, they also had the determination to rise above petty behaviour and show us all they did not give a damn, more a win situation than warfare is the way I see it. The second line is: Quote: Goans felt they were God's chosen people and kept aloof from the other Indians who outnumbered Goans. Unquote My own personal experiences were very different.?? Our interface with other Indians was on an every day basis.?? When all my classmates meet for a reunion next year, there will be just a few Goans in the mix, most will be Indian or Muslim, we have all kept in touch over the years and all got on.?? On the street where I lived in Mombasa, Kenya the make-up might have been predominately Goan but they were Hindu and Muslim families too.?? On this basis, I beg to differ on the point you made that Goans kept aloof from other Indians. If you look at the Sikh heritage website, you will see many photos of the Sikh-Goan relationship there. http://sikh-heritage.co.uk/frame.htm General: On a general note, what is disconcerting is the amount of writing that is being done especially by those who did not spend even a day of their lives in East Africa during this time.?? Can I invite one and all to write about their own life experiences while fresh in mind and sharing them with us on goanet both the shameful things and not so shameful things. Or are their livestyles empty and devoid of interest that East Africanders are filling this gap for them? East Africa might come under "good old days" but most of us from this period of time have a great capacity to enjoy life and are doing so today. Rose Fernandes Thornton Heath, Surrey, United Kingdom 1 December 2014
