----------------------------------------------------------------- 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/
----------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Goan Christians' historic emigration continues BY: Devika Sequeira SOURCE: Deccan Herald. 9 August 2009 at http://www.deccanherald.com/content/18569/goan-christians-historic-emigratio n-continues.html Excerpts: The Goa Migration Study 2008 reveals that seventy-four per cent of those who emigrate from Goa are Christian. Catholics comprise only a quarter of the state's population, but the emigration rate within the community is 42 per cent for 100 households compared to just five per cent among Hindus. Every third Christian home in Goa has an emigrant. Goa became the earliest territory in the non-western world to be exposed to western culture. Dismissing local protests, the Portuguese imposed a 'military tax' on those leaving the state, and a property tax on those who lived outside, but retained properties in Goa . The property tax compelled entire Goan families to emigrate permanently selling off ancestral properties here. As a consequence, Goan settlements came up in Santa Cruz in Mumbai, in Kolkata, Karachi and Aden. According to the 2001 Census, Goa's Christians have declined from 38.07 per cent in 1961 to 26.68 per cent in 2001. Based on the last census, migrants make a fifth of Goa's population. That proportion would be closer to one-third today. Full text, 612 words at http://www.deccanherald.com/content/18569/goan-christians-historic-emigratio n-continues.html Forwarded by Eddie Fernandes
