Title: Who the bleep cares about Goas St. Xaviers Institute for Historical Research? By Selma Carvalho Source: Goan Voice UK Daily Newsletter, 9 May 2010 at www.goanvoice.org.uk
Full text: Betty Pires, co-founder of Investcorp, hosts wonderful dinner parties in London. I like Betty. Despite her success in life as a businesswoman, despite living in several continents and hobnobbing with US presidents, shes never forgotten to champion the cause of Goa . Last week, she threw open the doors of her elegant mansion to host a party in honour of Father Delio Mendonca, Director of St. Xaviers Institute for Historical Research and author of the books Conversions and Citizenry and Jesuits in India. Father Mendonca has the sort of forgiving smile one is usually met with at the entrance of Goan baroque churches, with none of the starchiness of a man of cloth. Hearing him speak so passionately about art, archives and the importance of their preservation, I could almost be tempted to return to the fold. He was briefly in London to promote the art collection of Angelo da Fonseca, (http://www.xchr.in/index.php/angelo-da-fonseca-indias-catholic-artist/35-an gelo-da-fonseca/51-angelo-da-fonseca-indias-catholic-artist) who, according to a recent article by Professor Teotonio R. de Souza, the former director of the St. Xaviers Institute, perhaps might have not the received the recognition he duly deserves because of questionable links to those close to the Salazar regime, at a time when the relationship between India and Portugal had become hostile because of the Portugals continued presence in Goa. Angelo da Fonseca was a Christian art painter. Although he shunned the J. J. School of Art, finding it too European for his tastes, his most signature and emblematic painting, The Goan Madonna, (http://www.xchr.in/index.php/museum/xavier-art-gallery/41-xavier-art-galler y/102-angelo-da-fonseca) to me is strikingly similar to the art of the much celebrated Mexican artist, Diego Rivera. Rivera was a staunch communist and had studied art in Spain as a young man, being strongly influenced by European modernists and the imagery of Spain. Although Angelo da Fonseca might have consciously sought to escape European influences, the Iberian influence of telling stories with stark images and the vivacity of bold colours seems to have been part of his Goan psyche. Vivek Menezes, writer, art patron and closely associated with the St. Xaviers Institute, tells us that Angelo was in fact shunned by the Catholic Church in Goa. The Catholic mouth-piece, the Examiner newspaper, denounced him as pagan. But, in latter years, the artist found support among the European Jesuits in India and his entire collection is now in the custody of the Jesuit-run St. Xaviers Institute. This reclaiming of Fonseca is also an indication of the evolution of the Catholic Church in Goa. The Fonseca collection, though, needs a formal gallery to house it. It is reassuring that Goans are finally taking themselves seriously. In the midst of all the political pessimism, a grass-root struggle is taking place to save our environment and artistic heritage. The indigenous art and writings of the Goan have remained largely unknown, not just to the world but even to us. We have not had the platform needed to make them visible. This talent is only now coming out of the dusty, airless attics it has been lying for years. The St. Xaviers Institute is also a repository of countless manuscripts and rare books, a trail of our history and in fact that of several other countries has been left for us within the temperature-controlled walls of the St. Xaviers Institute. Geographical historian, Cliff Pereira, who was at the party, explained how the Institute houses historical manuscripts which tell of our trading relationships with the Middle East and as far as Macau. How men from our Goan villages engaged in global trade with foreign countries, when the very word globalisation itself would be coined many centuries later. Colonisation never robbed the Goan of his ingenuity and entrepreneurship. Our self-respect in our historical past is waiting to be discovered in the yellowed-pages of these archives. As the evening came to a grudging end, as light kisses on the check wished each other good-bye, as multiple hands grabbed at the coats from the coat-closet and promises to keep in touch rang loud, I couldnt help feeling proud that I am Goan, that my history and artistic heritage was as rich and varied as that of London itself, which boasts of being one of the most impressive historical cities of the world, that the preservation of the St. Xaviers Institute of Historical Research was an important task entrusted to us and that it behoves us as Goans to offer whatever support we can. Father Mendonca is planning an exhibition of the Agnelo da Fonseca collection, first in Lisbon and then, hopefully if there is enough support, in London. For a video clip (6m. 09s.) of Father Delio Mendonca giving a tour of St. Xaviers Institute, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtPcvE9m6IY For a photo at the event see http://www.flickr.com/photos/90182...@n00/4590940063/ Do leave your feedback at [email protected]
