Sometime during the Napoleonic wars of 1799, Britain briefly occupied Goa for
approximately 13 years.
The day after the St.Xavier's' feast of 1800, two young men named Jose and
Mario were walking along the Mandovi river. Jose, was strapping young lad,
particularly disturbed by current rumours that St. Francis Xavier had brought
the Inquisition to Goa. He was convinced that the Portuguese and St. Francis
Xavier had brought only milagres to Goa. Mario, a fair-faced lad, had riden on
his black steed for many days, from Jamshedpure to attend the feast and was
staying with relatives in Altinho Nova Goa.
Both of them had had quite a sizable amount of sorpatel and feni the night
before in celebration of the feast and were feeling a bit bloated. They had
picked up a few words of English and wanted to show off to each other their
fluency in the language.
"You know Mario I am feeling a bit funny in the stomach" said Jose.
"Really like wot? mu're" said Mario.
"You know" said Jose with a nod and a wink.
"Then go and ease mu're" said Mario, bravely try to choke his laugh.
Unfortunately right behind them was an English foot soldier, who ran to the
nearest battalion to report this incident as two rowdy Goans planning a
revolution in the name of its people. The two were immediately arrested and
sent to the gallows.
Now the English were a strange people who despite routinely dispatching people
to the gallows also hailed them as heroes. As they solemnly marched on to the
band playing "God save the Queen", the people gathered around shouted in
admiration, "There go the two brave Goanese" and from that day forth the people
of Goa were known as Goanese and a statue was erected in Nova Goa in honour of
the two men. One standing tall and the other squatting next to him.
This story is a historical fact.
best,
selma
