This evening, for the fence-sitter that I'm reputed to be, going by the grapevine on Goanet, I made suprisingly provocative set of few points at a Margao function (Grace Church hall, organised by the Goenkarachem Diaz). Someone was upset by my anti-anti-migrant approach, that he went on to inform me that it "had been informed" that my folks had their roots "somewhere in Udupi". This, I guess, would sufficiently explain why someone was willing to swim against a chauvinistic tide that today is the easiest scapegoat for almost everyone in Goa.
It was a bit irritating to have attempted arguments derailed by allegations over ethnicity. But later this evening, I had an even longer laugh, after reading a post from VM (for those who came in late, he's told-time Goanetter Vivek Menezes, who's threatening to make a comeback on Goanet which I hope he does!). The post in question is already out on the Goa-Research-Net and is titled What a DNA test of a Malarkar has revealed - You may all be born NRI [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/goa-research-net/message/3044] Amazing stuff... It talks about his brother's voluntary DNA test, and what it revealed about the origins of "a Malarkar" (i.e. someone from Divar). VM's unnamed brother, I think he has just one, also explains why he did the test, and the website that does these tests for a "hundred bucks" (US not Indian!) explains where one's ancestors came from, upto 50,000 years ago! If you thought "being" from Udipi was a big enough insult, I guess you guys are in for an even bigger surprise. Check out that link. Hint: there are connections to the Dark Continent, and some doubly-landlocked country in Central Asia. Enjoy, as they would say! Rajan Thackeray, Raj Parrikar, etcetera... you might just need to sharpen your arguments soon. FN -- Frederick Noronha http://fn.goa-india.org Ph +91-832-2409490