----------------------------------------------------------------- Goanetter Francis Rodrigues (Vasco/Toronto) unveils his book, The Greatest Konkani Song Hits. Launch dates: Goa (Kala Academy) on 9 Aug. 4 pm. U.K. (Staines) on 15 Aug. Canada on 20 Aug and US on 30 Aug. Details http://www.konkanisongbook.com/
----------------------------------------------------------------- Yes there are echoes but they have nothing to do with Darjeeling tea powder boxes that were thrown in the Boston harbour. It isabout a Goan family , Prazeres Prabhus ( a fictitious surname ) who have certain traditions to maintain or so i was told by my son who is employed in the U.S. Being on friendly terms with a young man of this family, we , my wife and i were invited to their sprawling mansion for an afternoon tea session. I was told by my son to maintain silence and not to open my mouth unless requested to do so. My son adds further, please forgive me daddy, but do not behave as Goenkar chatterbox. A few ooh's and aah's every now and then and a curt appreciation of their sitting room furniture. crockery etc. would do. All these items , I believe, were brought from India or rather bought or gifted to them by the departing British families to our young man's great grandfather who apparently was the traditional B of the famous Goan ABC class. All went very well and our hosts were very ;polite to the extreme but nevertheless a bland session by Goan standards. After we returned to India, I happened to read an article about the life of British families in India.They, about 2 or 3 families were in the habit of meeting for a week end dinner. All propah behaviour at the table but hardly any conversation from the butler's ;point of view. Apparently the British had a golden rule never to discuss anything with natives around. After dinner is over, and the butler and his assistants retired to their living quarters, the British families had a sherry (port) session when they were at their voluble best cracking jokes at the expense rajah and other local dignitaries. It can be safely assumed that the only aspect of the British way of ;life in India that the butler came across were their ;manners at the dining table and the butler thought this was the acme of their life and therefor the butler imposed the British mores of silence upon his family members for generations to come. Antonio
