** Hi Annette . Hope there will be many more messages like yours/mine pouring in.
Here in London last night I spoke with friends from Saligao ( ex Britto's) one of whom happens to be heading out tonight on a private trip and expects that he will be @ the funeral . Best TF. This below was sent out earlier via Goanet . ** ** ** *An inspirational pillar of his generation passes on* . Whilst I was was never a student of his , I did have the pleasure of knowing his immediate family especially Yvette , Kevin, Patsy who are more or less of my generation, as also his nephews/nieces Dean , Kenneth et al. to name but a few . There was always a gracious warm welcome in the ever bustling household that was "Chez Saldanha" . I for one will always remember his unstinting generosity with his time , such as in instructing us , not just in the basics of say " reef knots" , but also in the finer points of survival tactics, orienteering etc @ Scout /Guide Camps and Jambooree's in Mapuca and Salmona. Over the years and even today, these still stand by me in good stead as does the Scout motto : "BE PREPARED" . It was his treasure trove archive of back issues of the National Geographic, that he generously allowed us village kids , to browse though , that inspired so many of us to gain a wider global perspective , in a world before TV had arrived in Goa and the internet was way beyond our global ken. I think Rico for one , will back me up on this :) We raise our hat to you ! Fare thee well Sir, on your final "safari" to a place where the wildebeest and the buffalo still wander forever free, across those wide open spaces ! In empathy with the family , friends and fans of a man who always marched that extra bit faster to the stirring strident beat of a different "dhol" and the track undiscovered . A.Anthony FERNANDES (Donvaddo / currently London U.K based ) - Show quoted text - On 11/08/07, Frederick Noronha [फ़रेदरिक नोरोनया] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Our condolences to the relatives, specially members of Saligaonet. > Kevin told me in a chat that the funeral is likely to be on Aug 16, > 2007 (Thursday). FN > > Edwin Saldanha husband late Phyllis Saldanha, father of > Yvette/Dinesh D'Souza (Canada), Kevin/Lisette Saldanha > (Canada), Patricia (Patsy)/Frederick(Freddy) Nazareth > (Canada), Jennifer(Jenny)/Mark Fernandes (USA), Daphne/Deryck > Desouza (Canada); Brother of Rev. Father Ernest Saldanha (Don > Bosco's Panaji), late Freddy/Alda Saldanha, Lira/John D'Cruz, > Bertha/lateVictor, Anna. > > Grandfather of Andrew, Alex, Emmy, Cathy, Daniel, Jessica and > Ian. Brother in law of late Eugene/Helen D'cruz, Emily/late > Crescencio Coelho, Cissy/Alfie Cordiero, Cleo D'cruz. Uncle > of Gregory, Hubert, Roland; Charlie, Doreen, Rev. Fr. > Dominic, Magaret, Francis, Carolyn; Dean, Kirk, Quentin, > Kenneth, Christopher, Tina, Elaine; Karen and Jason? > > He was born in Entebbe, Uganda on April 29, 1918 and passed > away on August 9th 2007 at JMJ, Porvorim, Goa. > > * * * * * > > Below is an article that I felt very priviledged to write... focussing > on an interesting personality. As Sr Lily of Lourdes Convent > commented, "Mr Saldanha was someone who used all his talents to the > full." I couldn't help agreeing more. If only we could translate > concepts like "development" to mean human development, then Goa could > be a different place.... > > PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST... AS A WINE-MAKER > > By Frederick Noronha > fred at bytesforall dot org > > He has played many roles in life: scout-master, artist, > teacher, a Jesuit... but none so unusual as that of being a > wine-maker. Edwin Saldanha's book on the subject, which he > penned without much thought due to the badgering of some > friends, has not only entered a second edition but also > promises to block no secrets about this unusual art. > > "Let me boast a little," says Saligao-based Saldanha, now > 85-years-old. "My book is the only one in the whole world > that tells you how to make wine from tropical fruits." For > instance, it has recipes on how to make wine from mangoes, > bananas, cashews, and even the local fruit known as kokum > (bindnna) or jambul. > > Secrets of successful wine-making are considered to form an > ancient tradition, which has often been closely-guarded by > many cultures. But Saldanha's 'Successful Goan Home Wines' > says it "exposes these secrets to amateurs through... > time-tested techniques". > > Appreciation has come in from far and wide. When this writer > wrote a review of an earlier edition for a newspaper in > Bangalore, the publisher said orders came in for over 70 > copies of the unusual title. > > "Some boys from South Africa tasted it and said it really > tastes like sherry (the blended, fortified wine from Spain > that varies from very light to dark brown in colour). Yet it > was wine made from the cheapest possible fruit you could use > in Goa -- cashew." > > One lady from Germany brought in cream of sherry. "Believe it > or not, it's no different from my wine," says Saldanha. > > This octogenarian former schoolteacher at St Britto's > (Mapusa) and earlier a prominent scout-master in the Goa > scouting movement, has a strange story of how this book came > to be. "This book saw the light of day because of Dr > Nandkumar Kamat (a microbiologist and environmentalist from > Goa, deeply interested in researching various aspects of > local life)," he says, and narrates how he was egged on to > put his knowledge on paper. > > It happened that he was recovering from an operation, when Dr > Kamat dropped in for a visit with a government official. On > being offered a glass of wine, the visitors were intrigued > over how it was made. "They begged me to put down on paper > how it was done, before I die," says Saldanha. > > He put together a rough manuscript, which they polished up. > "My biggest surprise was when they came after a month, with > the artwork, and clicked a photograph of myself, in a new > shirt, for the back-cover (of the first edition that came out > half-a-dozen years ago)." > > Saldanha's wine-making skills run deep. > > "I've make wine from everything. One journalist asked me, > *'Uncle, what don't* you make wine from?" says Saldanha, who > *jokes that this can be done > even from the soles of old shoes! "I've been making wine as a boy of 13 or > 14. My mother too was interested in wine-making," says he. > > Saldanha, at one stage in his life, joined the Catholic > religious order of the Jesuits. Based in Belgaum, outside > Goa, the Jesuits then were caught in the cross-fire between > unfriendly ties between India and Portuguese-ruled colonial > Goa. So, they needed to make their own religious wine for > mass, since supplies from Goa were then blocked. > > This was done in a roundabout way. In those days, India > didn't have grape orchards. So, dry raisins were imported > from Greece. These were soaked in wooden barrels, to make > wine. "It's very simple. Dry raisins kept in boiling water, > stored overnight, act much like grapes do (in the wine-making > process)," he points out. > > In his view, the easiest fruit from which to make wine is, of > course, grapes. "There's the right proportion of yeast and > sugar in grapes." > > His own story gives an insight into the history of Goan > migration, even in the early and mid-twentieth century. > > Saldanha was born in Entebbe, in colonial East Africa. "That > time there were no schools there, and parents used to send us > to a European lady to learn our ABC. At the age of eight, I > was sent to Goa to do my primary education, and got stuck > here till 1949," he recalls, memory razor-sharp. > > Later, he went back to spend two decades in East Africa. But, > he says sardonically, "By then, all the trees which used to > grow gold coins had already been shaken. Kenya was beginning > to fight for Uhuru (or freedom... and things were getting > tough for the many Goan emigrants in that region)." > > Saldanha quotes his Canada-based veterinarian son Kevin as > saying there's good demand for the book among even just > relatives and friends in that part of the globe. > Incidentally, cities like Toronto have a Goan population that > runs into a few thousands, but all buyers of the book need > not necessarily be Goan. Even though the Rs 60 book (in it > second edition, now out, it's priced at Rs 80) is could > easily be sold for five Canadian dollars a copy. > > Someone reported back that they picked up the wine-making > book from a railway book-shop in Sydney, Australia. > "Something which I did just as a past-time has turned out to > be quite a success," says he, with a tinge of pride. > > But what was his motivation? > > "Every man and woman would like to do something which could > help other people. We should not die before we do something > for the improvement or happiness of others," he suggests. > > Most wine-makers, unfortunately, believe that their secrets > should never be let out "because (they say) if too many keep > trying to make wine, you get sour wine," says Saldanha. > > What makes wine different from, say, whiskey or liqueur? Wine > is not distilled. It is fermented, and the sugar in the fruit > is converted to alcohol, says Saldanha. > > Women tend to prefer sweet wine, so sugar can be added -- in > a process known as 'doctoring' the wine. "There's no secret I > know that I've knowingly kept out of this book," says he, > with a touch of pride about his openness in sharing > information and knowledge. A Dutch friend, visiting this > octogenarian-winemaker, commented that this attitude indeed > reflected 'open source' -- keeping knowledge free for being > transmitted to whoever can use it. > > "You just try making one of the most unusual types of wines > mentioned -- wine made of milk. Do try it," he challenges. > Even scientists said it never occurred to them that milk, > when curdled, could be used to make wine, he says. (There are > two recipes for 'milk wine' in this book, and one requires > the use of condensed milk with sweet limes, sugar, nutmeg, a > little Vodka and other spices like cloves and cinnamon. > > "Any young educated person can set up a complete industry by > making wines on a large scale. It was only when I visited > Canada (to visit children abroad) that I understood what > 'large-scale' really means. They have 50 barrels of a hundred > gallons each, every day. Everything there is mechanised," he > says. > > Saldanha narrates how he managed to trace recipes of > wine-making from a priest in Nachinola village, even as these > closely guarded recipes were almost being consigned to the > flames after the latter's death. "After he had died, his > sister-in-law was burning up all his 'useless' papers. In > that was one of the recipes," says he. > > Saldanha says that places like Goa -- with its one-time > Portuguese influence -- had a tradition where affluent women > retained closely-guarded secrets on making wine. "They don't > sell it, but only use it for festivals and feasts, and make > it in small quantities." > > Other visitors to Goa also vouch that they've consumed wine, > at some coastal restaurants in South Goa villages like > Benaulim, which was home-made. > > Saldanha believes that some distillers of Goa's traditional > -- liquors including the traditional-brew feni -- use an > adulterating chemical substance popularly called 'navsagar' > or diluted industrial alcohol to produce more. This is done > with little regard for the health of those consuming it. > > "Liquor being sold at Rs 30-40 per bottle is probably made by > adding Navsagar", says he. "Some of the feni you get in > beautiful bottles with beautiful labels could actually be > poison. More genuine liquor should be higher priced," says > he. > > He says some friends were urging him to write a book on > cooking next. "My style of cooking is to dump in some leaves > or whatever I can lay my hands on. Provided it tastes good. > And if it doesn't taste good, just add one Maggi cube," he > says with his sardonic sense of humour and the twinkle in his > eye. For someone who encountered Saldanha as a wide-eyed > 12-year-old schoolboy, the problem remains that one simply > doesn't know when to take him seriously. > > It might be a really good idea, we suggested. > > "Oh, no," said he. "I've reached a stage where enough is > enough. I'm angry with that fellow upstairs. Because I've got > a passport, but no visa," he complains with mock ire. > > "'He' says there's no need for artists up there. But then, I > say, who'll paint all those images of the many saints in > heaven," he said, betraying some hints of enjoying the joke. > > Saldanha argues that a tiny bit of wine is healthy, specially > after one crosses two-score and ten. "(It's not good) for > those young boys falling down in gutters near the bars," says > he. His advice: a small 40 to 60 milliliter peg, taken at > food time, and well diluted for someone above 50. This, he > believes, could help digestion and circulation. (ENDS) > > -- > Saligao-based Frederick Noronha is Goa's most high profile > journalist in cyberspace. This interview was done with Edwin > Saldanha some five years ago. > > This article is published under the > Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 license. See > http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ (c) > Frederick Noronha. 2006. Some rights reserved. > > You are free: * to copy, distribute, display, and perform the > work * to make derivative works. Under the following > conditions: by Attribution. You must attribute the work by > crediting its source in full. Noncommercial. You may not use > this work for commercial purposes. Share Alike. If you alter, > transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the > resulting work only under a license identical to this one. * > For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others > the license terms of this work. * Any of these conditions can > be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder. > -- > Frederick Noronha Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org > E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED] > P: +91-832-2409490 M: +91-9970157402 > Yahoo: fredericknoronha Skype: fredericknoronha GTalk: fredericknoronha > 784, Sonarbhat, Near Lourdes Convent, Saligao 403511 Goa India > _______________________________________________ > Saligao 403511 website http://saligao.goa-india.org > Saligaonet mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.goacom.org/mailman/listinfo/saligaonet > -- On 12/08/07, ANNETTE D'SOUZA <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > We were very sorry to hear of the sad demise of Mr. Edwin Saldanha. His > passing away will be a great loss to his children & their respective > families (Yvette, Kevin, Patsy, Jenny & Daphne) and we pray that God gives > them the strength to bear their loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with > the > Saldanha family for the eternal repose of his soul. > > We knew Mr. Saldanha quite well, Luwell because of his association with > St. > Britto. I, because of my chatting to him at Peggy's Corner whilst waiting > for the Mapusa bus to go my way. At first glance, he seemed stern, ... > the > teacher's quiet looks & dignified aura,... but on chatting with him, I > changed my mind.... I found him to be a very pleasant, kind & > knowledgeable > gentleman. Also saw his strength & that of Yvette when the family needed > them most at the time of Patsy's ordeal. Wish I had known about his > winemaking abilities earlier, only got to know about this on reading > Rico's > article some time ago. I loved homemade wines & have seen our friends > make > the same. Oh well, it's too late now as I am no longer able to taste nor > drink wine. But I'm sure Mr. Saldanha has written down the recipe > somewhere > for others to follow ...as I recall, isnt there some book written? > > Once again, we convey our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family. May > his soul rest in peace. > > > Annette, Luwell & Ashley > > > > >From: "Frederick Noronha [फ़रेदरिक नोरोनया]" > > >Our condolences to the relatives, specially members of Saligaonet. > >Kevin told me in a chat that the funeral is likely to be on Aug 16, > >2007 (Thursday). FN > > _________________________________________________________________ > Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! > http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ > > _______________________________________________ > Saligao 403511 website http://saligao.goa-india.org > Saligaonet mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.goacom.org/mailman/listinfo/saligaonet > -- A.Anthony ( Tony) FERNANDES
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