---------------------------------------------------------------------------
**** http://www.GOANET.org ****
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The First Konkani E-Cinema
BLACK Nhesop Atanchem Fashion
Premiers at Masrah, Hawalli Auditorium, Kuwait on Aug 10, 2007
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2007-August/060201.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr. Teotonio R. de Souza,
<Could Mr. Martin tell us something more about this Goa connection of his
<ancestry? What were van Camps doing in Goa at that time? This could help us
<understanding little better our history.
in that time there were (unfortunately) no Van Camps in Goa.
My fathers name is Van Camp and he married a Duarte (my mum Patricia Duarte) in
Karachi in 1960. My mothers father was from Goa, but she herself has never been
to Goa. She was born in Rangoon where her father (Armando Marcus Duarte born in
1883 in Guirim, Bardez) worked as a doctor in the same practice as his uncle
(Joseph Celestino Duarte born in 1873 in Guirim, Bardez).
They had to escape Rangoon in the second world war and on their way to Karachi
stopped at their aunts' and sister-in-law's place in Bombay. The aunts' name is
Casilda Duarte, she was first married to Felix D'Mello and after his early
death to Dr. Lambert Mascarenhas (from Porbundar) whom previously was married
to her older sister and my granddads' twinsister Juliet Duarte.
So after some time my mum stayed with her mother (whom was also a Doctor just
like granddad but he was in that time in the army trying to escape Burma by
foot to Ledo) at her uncles' place.
I am trying to find out more about the Duartes. Recently I have been asked by a
local publisher to write a book about my background/roots. Therefor I would
like to know more about these Duartes. It seems that my greatgrandfather
(Laurenço Caetano Duarte born in 1844/1845 in Guirim, Bardez and I would like
to get his birthcertificate) was one of the pioneers of the Karachi Goan
Association. He wasn't a president such as Mr. Edward Raymond or his son Herman
Raymond but he must have been quite influential in those days. By the way
Herman Raymond married the daughter of Joseph Celestino Duarte (Queenie Duarte
and my mothers' godmother). This Laurenço was one of the co-founders of the
Indian/Ideal Life Assurance Company in 1892. He owned two plots of land with
buildings thereon in Saddar Bazaar Quarter near Napier Street (perhaps later
named Duarte Mansions) and then a bungalow situated in Native Infantry Lines
(Duarte Villa) and three plots of land in Cincinnatus Town, Garden Quarter
(where many Goans used to live so they say) and besides that he had lands in
Malir. I have asked someone at the Karachi Goan Association if he would be so
kind to check the archives about this LC Duarte. He was definitely already in
1880 in Karachi because his wife (Maria Felicidade Teolistas Dias) gave birth
to a twin (they died pretty soon after birth unfortunately) in Karachi, all the
other children (12 in total between 1883 and 1900) must have been born in Goa,
most probably Guirim.
I guess that is the story in rough. Besides the opportunity to write a book
about my background (Belgian, Goan, Jewish (my grandmum doctor in Rangoon)) I
would find it interesting to do a lot of research about the Goan presence in
Karachi since the mid or beginning of the 19th century. Any interesting books?
I would like to know more about why did the Duartes leave Goa in one way, all
daughters lived in Bombay or Goa and the sons all lived in Karachi with their
families, and how was their life in Goa. Will there be some information left
about the Duartes and then I mean Laurenço and his two brothers and sister and
parents and grandparents? The only link to Goa I found in an old bible
belonging to my grandfather and that was most probably their address in those
days: Mr. Duarte "Avistosa" Firungui Bhat Guirim, Bardez, Goa.
This seems to be a rather strange answer to a simple question and actually the
only answer would be: the Van Camps were doing NOTHING in Goa. My dad came to
Karachi in the end of the 1950's to help start up the YCW-movement: Young
Christian Workers that is.
If you or anyone who finds it interesting enough wants to shine your light on
it and give me feedback, please do and don't hesitate.
All the best,
Martin Van Camp - Duarte (I just use the Duarte name as well because I am proud
about my heritage (whatever it may be)
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/attachments/20070807/40786bab/attachment.html
