Dear Barad,
Thank you for another Baradesque question. I don't know how Goan Christians got
their surnames but I do know how I got mine.
Many, many centuries ago in Shiroda, my Hindu great-great-grand-father suffered
from a chronic heart problem. He was always saying to my
great-great-grand-mother, Lata, "mujea calzan doz" and he eventually became
known as Cardoz. Rumours persisted that the Portuguese had tortured him into
changing his surname. In actual fact, his own neighbour Borodkar was spreading
these rumours. He was jealous that Rama Khrishnan Bhandari Cardoz was so loved
in the village that he was given a special name all of his own.
I hope this story helps you with your studies into Goan Christianity.
Best,
Selma
