Gabe speaks of CURRENT casteism in UK and Victor speaks of casteism's PRESENT existence in Portugal. Interesting that Victor gave his speech on casteism in Portugal and not in Goa. The overwhelming opinion among native residents is, its ABSENCE in Goa; where Caste exists.
Question: Is casteism in the Goan Diaspora, past and present, a response to physical and psychological vulnerabilities? These vulnerabilities apply to all, however high they may be in the socio-economic ladder. In fact it is likely that those high on the ladder may be more vulnerable, because, "the higher you are, it is harder when you fall." This is the Cognitive Dissonance of colonial existence, (in Goa and in the diaspora), when one is not the master of their own environment. It was well known in Bombay, that other ethnic groups praised, supported and promoted their own ethnic group. Unless one had an 'inside relation', the Goans were an exception ... in the lower and in the upper echelons. Most Goans moved up the ladder in Bombay, because of some other ethnic 'godfather', that appreciated the Goan's talent ... and gave the bichara (poor fellow) a break / chance. Regards, GL ------------ Gabe Menezes wrote: I do not believe it is a problem in Goa. I do think it is a problem though in the U.K. as it was in East Africa.
