Immigration – a Taboo word Two major world events from 2016; namely Brexit on June 23rd and the US Presidential Election on 8th November were both won using Immigration as a fear factor. The irony of the events was the fact that Nigel Farage of the UK and Donald Trump were both descendants of refugees or immigrants. Nigel Farage is said to be descended from French Huguenots whereas Trump has German (paternal) and Scottish ancestry (through his mother who worked as a domestic in the US). Keeping aside the abhorrence many feel against Trump it is indeed a great achievement that the son of a former domestic and immigrant is now holding ‘the most important position in the world’.
These individuals very cleverly appealed to the silent communities who blamed new comers for their own complacency or inadequacies. These silent communities conveniently forgot that they were also descended from Immigrants who chose to move away from their natural habitats. Immigration and its pros and cons would require to be written in book form as there is much to discuss. My thoughts are about the selfishness and anger expressed by our own small Goan community and worse of all by these Immigrants themselves. Goa as we known had been a jewel in the Portuguese crown and had been an important outpost for trade but sadly after the collapse of the Portuguese empire in the 1600s - had ceased to become a lucrative area for trade. Also by that time other trade routes had been established. Times must have been difficult for the locals who had lost the privileges enjoyed during the Golden Era – hence the only alternative to make a better life was through Immigration. In the absence of records it is hard to research when the initial migrants moved out of Goa to make a life in the Subcontinent of India and beyond. So we keep a bench mark of the 1700s when we have official records which indicate that Goans Christians moved to more established cities like Bombay, Calcutta, Lucknow, Cawnpore (Kanpur) etc. With the establishment of the East India Company – some of the Goan Christians were best placed to take on the more menial roles for the British as they were not bound by the taboos of handling beef and pork which was prevalent by the major faiths of India – Hinduism and Islam. This they did diligently and owing to their honesty and loyalty were greatly appreciated by the employers. The ones from more privileged backgrounds were encouraged to take up higher education and these bore fruits in their rise through the ranks to positions just under the British. The railways and their posts were also other areas where the Goans services were utilised. A branch of my own ancestors are known to have been in British India in the early 1800s and that is where they are said to have made their wealth. They returned to Goa and built a home in Siolim. A daughter then married an individual who was a part of another enterprising group known to have landed in the small fishing village known as Kurrachee (Karachi – now one of the largest cities in South Asia). These enterprising men started trading whilst a few others sought employment with the stationed British. Along this time – there were also workers from Goa who were employed to cook, wait and clean for the British. Interestingly, many of these people including single men with good jobs were known to live in ‘Chummeries’ or ‘Coors’ – which were shared accommodation. These individuals after having been well established would return to Goa – get married and return with their newly-wed wife to which ever city they were established and take on separate premises. This pattern has continued over the years during the wave of immigration to British and Portuguese Africas in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Gulf States in the 1960s and to the present day with many stationed in places like Swindon and Wembley in the UK. This way of life which was deemed acceptable years ago is now being vilified by many of our fellow Goans possibly jealous that their fellow villager or somebody not belonging to their social status was taking this step to improve their status back in Goa. Some of these Goans who live in humble accommodation in the UK have gone back to their villages and have invested by building large villas. They have hopes someday to return home to their beloved Goa. I feel very proud of these people who despite the odds are making efforts to better their stock and their lives. Many people are unaware that immigration of Goans to the UK has been going on for centuries and not decades. The first known settlers are known to have come aboard ships working as ship hands sometime in the late 1700s. Many of these ship workers remained and lived in some of the more deprived areas of Liverpool, and London. These in turn integrated with the local communities and their descendants still bear the surnames de Souza, Fernandes etc. One might argue that these could have been Portuguese or Brazilian but research on the Ship workers by noted researcher Mr Cliff Pereira from the UK has found records of many such individuals. These were classified by a term ‘Lascars’. I remember coming across this word years ago whilst reading the exploits of Sherlock Holmes but never associated it possibly with Goa. During recent research I have also discovered that many Goan Seamen have been awarded posthumous medals for bravery during the Wars fought by the British in the 19th and 20th Centuries. The information relating to these paper medals are easily accessible at the National Archives in Kew, London. It is but a little known fact that a Goan merchant José Luís Xavier Soares – hailing from Uccasaim married a British woman from Liverpool in the 1800s and the son Sir Ernest Joseph Soares (liberal) was historically the first Goan to be a Member of British Parliament winning from Barnstaple in 1900. There were others from the Luso Indian communities of Calcutta and Bombay but with possible links to Goa. Every human being wants to better their life and if your homeland is not providing you the opportunities – you can but dream that the grass on the other side is indeed Greener then you imagine. You are willing to take this plunge. We are fully aware of the class and culture divide we have in our own area – be it in Goa, India or neighbouring Pakistan. We still discriminate among each other based on our social status or education. It is no small wonder why people chose to carry out menial or low paying jobs in the unknown rather than in their own backyards. I certainly don’t blame them. The more obscure the foreign land the better as there would be less chances of bumping into a fellow villager – who would relay news back to Goa as to the plight and suffering of their fellow being. It is no wonder that people over the ages have taken the plunge. Currently, the escape route for Goans has been through the acquisition of the Portuguese citizenship. The process costs money which many of the people from lower income can ill afford but they are willing to take on the opportunity. The previous routes of working in the Gulf States are not appealing for these people as stay in those countries is dependent on employment. Loss of employment would require them to return back to their village and bear the wrath and ridicule of their family and friends. A Portuguese citizenship on the other hand is prized as not only do you have the right to live and work in Portugal – you are also able to do so in 27 other countries. In the aftermath of the Brexit vote – the Goan community in Britain who have come via this route have been ridiculed and vilified by their own ilk on social media. It is also sad that some who have subsequently obtained British citizenship also voted ‘Brexit’ hoping that this would be the end of Goan migration. Comments by senior politicians in Goa and UK have tried to show that these Goans would have to go and settle in Portugal or return to Goa with their tails tucked under, but that is and will not be necessary. I am positive that Goans have the strength and fortitude to make their living in whichever area they chose. The doors to the UK may have closed but they also have access to twenty seven other countries with the EU – many of which also have English as a second language. A survey a few years indicated that there were Goans in 98 countries –some of which would be no go areas. But they have strived. All it takes are for a few pioneers and a community is formed. These events occurred before in the 1800s in British India, 1900s in British and Portuguese Africa. Since Brexit – the interest in acquiring a European nationality has seen a dramatic increase especially for the young and more educated people of Britain and accordingly a Portuguese nationality falls within the parameters. The UK (though not a founder member) had been a part of this Economic bloc since 1973 – from when a large chunk of the British population were born. They have enjoyed the same freedom of movement as their European counterparts. These individuals don’t want a change to the only way of life that they have known. I feel freedom of movement is good for the development of a country as it brings in new ideas and perceptions. What I do agree is that there should be greater integration among the communities in terms of learning about British values and culture and imparting the same of your own community. A large chunk of the Goans from Africa voted for BREXIT. These Goans have always felt superior to their fellow Goans from the Subcontinent and Portuguese Africa and longed for the glory days when they were part of the British Empire. These Goans felt overwhelmed with the influx of Europeans through the EU. The right wing press very cleverly manipulated facts to show that these Europeans (which included Goans holding Portuguese citizenship) were draining resources in education and health. This is but a small trickle when compared to the drain experienced through the ageing population of Britain. I may not agree with this feeling of superiority of these Goans but will always have a great admiration for these pioneers during the 1960s and 1970s when they left East Africa to make Britain their home. These individuals were exposed to racism and discrimination but stuck it out. We relative new comers are now bearing fruits of their sacrifices. I would like to thank them for it. There is a growing resentment that many of the Goans are coming to the UK as the Benefits system is good. This has further been acerbated by the idle boasts of a few. Some of the old time Goans who have benefitted previously in some way or other reckon that this should be ended. I reason with them that it is a good system provided if it is not abused. An example I often quote is of a man who we can call Mr X. Mr X has been approached by Mr Y to invest some £ 50,000 in a business venture. Mr X sells of a bulk of his assets to generate the sum. Unfortunately, the business does not take off and in the result Mr X has lost all that he had including his home. He now has the option of going to the local government and obtaining housing and some support to enable him to restart his life in the UK. Imagine a similar scenario in Goa – Mr X only has the alternative of going to his family or friends to see if they would help him. This would invariably require them to take on insults or ridicule from loved ones. The Government would not step in to help this guy as such services are not the norm in that part of the world. This country affords one to take risks in life. I would like to end by using a quote which states ‘Immigration is good for the country to which they go. It helps break the equilibrium of poverty in the country from which they come’. We should therefore embrace and appreciate it as a good thing. Sent from Outlook<http://aka.ms/weboutlook>
