Re-sending. A CORRECTION.
The report in T.O.I. is dated* 21st Dec. 2010.* *(Apologies for the error in the date in previous email)* Hi! This might be of interest. : A related report by Vincent D'Souza in* The Times of India* ( *dt. 21st Dec. 2010*) "*Jingle Bells Go Silent at Goan Club*". *LINK to Vincent D'Souza's article in TOI, given below.* best wishes, Praba Mahajan Researcher-Writer Mumbai. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/Jingle-bells-go-silent-at-Goan-Club/articleshow/7141097.cms On Fri, Jun 26, 2020 at 8:31 AM Praba Mahajan <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi! > > This might be of interest. > : > A related report > by Vincent D'Souza in* The Times of India* ( dt. 1st Dec. 2010) > > "*Jingle Bells Go Silent at Goan Club*". > > *LINK to Vincent D'Souza's article in TOI, given below.* > > best wishes, > > Praba Mahajan > Researcher-Writer > Mumbai. > > > > https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/Jingle-bells-go-silent-at-Goan-Club/articleshow/7141097.cms > > > On Fri, Jun 26, 2020 at 4:48 AM Goanet Reader <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> ROCQUE FERNANDEZ >> [email protected] >> >> It used to be Hubli, today it is Hubballi. What was Diamond >> Valley, Chocolate Street, is now a different place. Its >> current address reads as Keshwapur. Yet, from 1901, almost a >> hundred and twenty years ago, this has been home to a tiny >> pocket of Goa. >> >> Dating back to 1901, in the prime location of >> Diamond Valley, Chocolate Street, Hubli, a >> determined effort by the Goans of the day brought >> into existence what was then known 'Portuguese Club'. >> >> Andrew Fernandes, better known as Master Fernandes, >> Lawerance Francis Braganza and Leopold Braganza >> were the backbone and founders, among others, who >> got going the idea of a club for the Goans of Hubli. >> >> The plot on which it was located sprawled across >> approximately 12,000 square feet of land, and was donated by >> the Kategrie brothers. Surprising but true, the strong old >> Club building has been maintained without much modifications >> to retain its original looks. >> >> Its walls have been recently plastered with cement and sand. >> The roofing has Mangalore tiles fitted on wooden beams. >> However, the wooden flooring once danced upon has been >> replaced with Shahabad flooring tiles. The walls have pigeon >> holes spaced apart, perhaps for better ventilation, when the >> doors and windows were closed to contain loud music during >> party time. >> >> Over the years the Diamond Valley lost its precious glitter >> as well as its name, but now this area of Keshwapur is still >> considered as one of the most prominent locations in the city >> which has been later named Hubballi. Presently, it is the >> second-biggest city in the State of Karnataka in India. >> >> Being a Railway Junction equipped with a regional >> Railway workshop, Goans and Anglo Indians were the >> preferential choice in the Railways because of >> their fluency in English which was then a vital >> qualification requirement. >> >> The Anglo Indians made use of the Railway Institute whilst >> the Goans had their own Portuguese Club for their social, >> recreational and cultural activities. >> >> During its prime days, the Institute was well attended for >> all its activities and programs. Wedding receptions, >> birthday and anniversary parties were among the common >> celebrations conducted at the club. >> >> During Christmas, weeklong programs were organized with fancy >> dress, singing competitions, Christmas tea and a sports day, >> housie, etc. A May Queen Ball was organized during the month >> of May with a May Queen of the night competition, who was >> selected from among those shortlisted by a jury. It was a >> matter of pride for young women to feature on this list. >> >> Every weekend the seniors joined in for games of >> rummy. This apart, a library was maintained and >> members visited the club to update themselves >> reading magazines and the daily newspapers that >> were made available to members. Youth, for their >> part, were more interested playing table tennis and >> carom. Occasionally competitions were also conducted. >> >> A volleyball/throwball court was prepared for outdoor >> sports. Thus, the Goans of Hubli had been bestowed a >> valuable legacy by our pioneering ancestors more than a >> century and twenty years ago. >> >> The Portuguese Club was later re-christened to what is today, >> the Portuguese Goan Institute. >> >> Unfortunately, over the years, the institute has rapidly >> turned inactive and disintegrated mainly due to the fact that >> our younger generation, after their education, were compelled >> to leave Hubballi to seek gainful employment in the larger >> cities of India and abroad. >> >> In addition, membership declined, resulting in a >> paucity of funds to maintain the Institute. This >> has rendered our invaluable inheritance in a prime >> location, desolate, unsightly and in ruins -- a >> grave injustice and shame to our departed ancestors. >> >> The past two decades have seen a further deterioration with a >> skeleton managing committee barely attending monthly >> meetings. Social and recreational activities gradually died >> down because of poor response and attendance. >> >> The last major event was celebrating the centenary year of >> the Portuguese Goan Institute, in 2002. It was held on the >> open campus of the premises and was well attended. The >> managing committee used this opportunity to once again appeal >> for the reviving and restoration of the institute, at least >> for the future welfare and enjoyment of our seniors, >> ourselves and our youth to avail of social and recreational >> activities. >> >> Unfortunately, no significant progress was made thereafter. >> >> There was a time when some felt, and wrongly so in one's >> opinion, that it was preferable to hand over the property to >> the Church authorities or to our Catholic religious >> institutions, who had been eyeing the premises and had made >> many an enquiry. >> >> Another suggestion was to lease it to run a nursery school. >> >> These were outrightly rejected by a majority of the >> committee members. There still is a hope that sometime, >> someday, a future generation of Goans would realize the value >> and importance of this initiative, and accordingly take the >> initiative of investing and bringing back glory to what it >> was once. In view of this, the property has been protected >> from any take-over or external interference. >> >> During the last decade, the institute’s activities >> have come to a standstill. It was left to lone >> committee members who shouldered the task of >> administering and looking after the basic >> necessities and requirements to keep it on the map. >> >> To retain it, the premises and hall were given on hire for >> weddings, parties, conferences and prayer meetings. The income >> from these hirings took care of maintenance and settling of >> monthly water, electricity bills and taxes. Occasionally >> housie was organized as the sole activity for members. >> >> Several attempts were thereafter made for a revival, but have >> failed. The city of Hubballi has grown enormously in size >> during the past century with its borders extended far beyond. >> >> From once having a single parish, five parishes are now >> functioning. Many Goans have been scattered far and away >> from the vicinity of the Goan Institute at Keshwapur, thus >> making it difficult for regular participation or involvement >> increasing the challenges it faces. >> >> Presently the Goan Institute has an elected managing >> committee which is facing the urgent need of funds to get the >> roofing restored, costing approximately Rs150,000 to 200,000. >> >> Once restored and repaired, the institute can plan >> activities and make efforts to relive the >> activities of the past as envisaged by our >> ancestors. But time is running out and so is the >> enthusiasm to get going. >> >> One could rightly suggest a bank loan, but who is going to >> bell the cat? Perhaps Goans from abroad who have their links >> in Hubli can step forward. The President, Dexter Braganza >> can be contacted on +919611101324 for further details. >> >> One has every reason to believe that with a readymade prime >> property available, the Goans of Hubballi will one day see >> reason and get to seriously utilising the Goan Institute in >> the future. I have -- fortunately or unfortunately -- been a >> managing committee member for almost four decades with >> nothing much to boast about, and in fact partly responsible >> for the present state of affairs. >> >> -- >> Rocque Fernandez recently resettled in Nachinola, Bardez, >> after being in Hubli for a generation and more. He is married >> to Sharbelle (nee Aguiar) who is currently working on a book >> on her late father, the radio-announcer in Goa, Roderigo >> (Roddy) Aguiar. >> >> Goanet Reader is editor and compiled by Frederick Noronha. >> >
