Bravo! Greeting, from Atlantic Canada (Dartmouth NS B2X A28). Look me up, if ever you come by this way. Dan Driscoll.
On Thu, May 24, 2012 at 12:59 AM, Eduardo Faleiro <[email protected]>wrote: > STATEMENT OF SHRI EDUARDO FALEIRO AT HIS PRESS BRIEFING > (May 22, 2012) > > > Over the last two months, I along with Adv.Bernard d’Souza visited several > villages and towns in the districts of Kolhapur and Belgaum to meet the > people of Goan origin settled in those areas. > > In the 16th and 17th centuries thousands of Goans, both Hindus and > Christians, left Goa to escape religious and cultural persecution, > epidemics and continuous wars and settled in the neighbouring areas of > North Karnataka and South Maharashtra. They speak Marathi or Kannada and > also Konkani and visit regularly their temples and churches in Goa. > > Most of the people who migrated to the neighbouring areas of Maharashtra > are called ‘ Bardezkars’ since their ancestors migrated mostly from Bardez. > Their surnames in school records and revenue registers appear as ‘ > Bardezkar’. The descendants of those settled in Karnataka are called ‘ > Konkanes’ because they speak Konkani at home along with Kannada. > > Hindus, Muslims and Christians in those areas participate in each other’s > religious festivals, weddings and other gatherings and there is no > difference in their social life and food habits. > > - We have taken steps to write the history of Goans migration to the > neighbouring regions in those early centuries. > > - Many of those persons are Christians and every year a large number of > them come walking for 3-4 days to attend the feast of St. Francis Xavier > but when they arrive at Old Goa they do not have a reasonable place to rest. > > - We have formulated a Youth Exchange Programme for youth of Goan origin > in the neighbouring areas to visit Goa and get acquainted with their roots > and different facets of life here. Similarly Goan youth will visit the > neighbouring areas to acquaint themselves with the people of those areas. > This Youth Exchange Programme is intended for the young generation to > contribute to and promote understanding, goodwill and co-operation between > the three States involved. In the first Youth Exchange Programme, about 10 > Goan youths in the age group of 18 to 30 years will visit villages and > towns in the districts of Kolhapur and Belgaum from June 23rd to June 30th > next. Similarly, youth of Goan origin in the neighbouring States will be > invited to visit Goa in the month of November. > > I now request my colleagues Adv.Bernard d’Souza, Shri Devraj Bardezkar and > others to elaborate on the subjects I have just mentioned. > > > Eduardo Faleiro > loksevagoa at gmail.com >
