A very interesting article by Dr. Nandkumar Kamat. I also have a high regard for the coconut tree which is referred as Sriphal as every single part of the tree can be utilized. I once asked a very learned man, Mr. Shriram Bapat, who was one of the first IAS officers of India? Why do the Hindus worship the coconut ? He replied ; Some people worship a personal god. God is omnipresent. Persons who do not have a personal god, worship Him in other objects. Coconut is a very useful in many respects.
When I came to Goa 22 years back, I was engaged with social work, trying to improve the economic conditions of the landless labourers of Baida, people who had worked in our property and fields in the olden days. This was done under the NOG, named Konkan Sevadham, an organization which I had started for this purpose. We started a carpentary centre at Baida with the help of Caritas. Twenty years back, i used to make coconut handicrafts under a unit named Goan Handicrafts. We put up an exhibition in Margao which was inaugurated by Mr. Luizinho Faleiro. The handiworks were distributed by Auda Viegas,- the social activist from Margao - for a number of years . The unit was eventually closed as it served the purpose.The gaudi boys and girls are all educated now some of them are graduates, accountants and hold many responsible jobs. john-carmo.
