On 24/07/07, Eddie Fernandes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
... there appears to be a problem when it comes to defining what exactly is a Goan... ================================== Folks, This question has been raised on GoaNet many times over the years and my definition has always been: A Goan is a person with roots in Goa Eddie Fernandes http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/
That's a convenient argument :-) Convenient for the bulk of those on Goanet, that is. But others would not agree. One risk is when we exclude others, we ourselves could get excluded. Some in Goa have attempted to make it a 'place-of-birth' issue (take the case of born-in-Goa cricketeers who have risen to Test level). So far we don't have an RSS-style definition excluding those who don't accept Goa as their "holyland" and "fatherland" (punyabhoomi and pitrubhoomi). I would prefer any definition of a Goan to be as inclusive as possible -- including people opting to live in Goa, those born here (or some of whose ancestors were born here) and still consider themselves to have some links with the place, and others who build and retain a positive affiliation with Goa. For instance, I would consider RK Nair (active on Goanet) a honorary Goan, as I would do in the case of my former colleague and Times of India ex-special correspondent here, Debashish Munshi. FN -- Frederick Noronha Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED] P: +91-832-2409490 M: +91-9970157402 Yahoo: fredericknoronha Skype: fredericknoronha GTalk: fredericknoronha 784, Sonarbhat, Near Lourdes Convent, Saligao 403511 Goa India
