A BOOK THAT TOUCHES ON SALIGAO, NOT JUST COINCIDENTALLY SALIGAO, Dec 30: It's a book dealing with Burma (Myanmar) and Goa. But a lot of its pages also refer to the Bardez village of Saligao, where many migrants to this region came from.
In the index to the 289-page book called 'Songs of the Survivors', Saligao features in two dozen mentions. The book was released on Dec 29, 2007 at the Xavier Centre of Historical Research at Alto Porvorim. Editor Yvonne Vaz-Ezdani is herself based in Saligao. And the village features prominently in this book, through the stories of other contributors who have each added to build up the other 24 chapters of the work. Vaz-Ezdani tells her own story of growing up in Burma, the tough post-independence times there, and the struggle to get back home and build life again here on her return. It was her grandfather who first migrated to Burma. She writes: "My uncles Joe, Peter, Sonny and Frank came in turns to Goa, found Goan brides and took them back to Burma where they became an intrinsic part of our family." She adds: "[Former Saligao sarpanch] Jose Cordeiro, who was like the eighth brother, also brought his Goan bride Annie Sequeira to Burma and his family was regarded as one of the Vaz families. We remain close to this day." Yvonne Vaz-Ezdani's brother Lloyd Vaz, chief executive of the Pune-based Eco-Tec Solutions, has also contributed a chapter of anecdotes to the book, though he was born after the momentous events of 1942 -- when the Japanese occupied Burma during World War II. Most of the stories are based on the period of occupation. Another chapter in this book is called 'No Club Dance This Christmas' and is by Veronica Carvalho, whom many from Saligao would know as an active social campaigner despite being a senior citizen. Says the book: "Veronica Carvalho has played many roles in life, from being an air-hostess on the Portuguese Airlines TAIP to taking up responsibilities as a social campaigner in Goa." She was later based in Mozambique, and now lives in Grande Morod. Engineer Peter Vaz of Donvaddo, Saligao also contributes his own story to the book. It's titled 'No Way Out' and looks at his family's years in Burma even while it was occupied by the Japanese. Peter Vaz retured to Goa, worked with the Public-Works Department, before retiring. He is the only surviving brother of seven Vaz brothers who repatriated from Burma. He lives with his wife Clotilda and youngest son Louis. His children and grandchildren are based in Goa, and his only sister, Quennie, lives in Miramar. Another chapter is penned by the late A.J. D'Cruz, who was earlier featured in C. Hubert D'Souza's book 'Sloreata Saligao', which features profiles of eminent people from this North Goa village. Late Doris D'Mello of Sonarbhat also features in the book. Her interview, done by the editor just before she died, is titled "A Street Named D'Souza". Doris D'Mello worked as a nurse in Rangoon, Mumbai, Magwa (Kuwait) and with the Southwell Kuwait Oil Co Clinic at Ahmadi. She lived next to Lourdes Convent with her husband, the late Faust D'Mello, and their five Kuwait-born children -- Angela, Cedric, Belinda, Elizabeth and Gerry (now all based in Canada and Kuwait). Incidentally, the book itself begins with Isabelle "Isa" Vaz's contributed, titled 'No Christmas Toys'. Isabelle Vaz is the only daughter of the late Anju and late Ivy D'Souza, and sister of the Mumbai-based Aloysius D'Souza. Her husband Frank Vaz expired in 1999. They have six children -- Glen, Noella, Leon, Joe, Vanessa and Warren. She loves visiting and spending time with their families in India and abroad, and keeps busy in parish work and social activities. Mumbai-based Tony Machedo, who tells a story of how his father migrated to rangoon in 1909, plans to settle in Saligao too. Among the Saligaokars and Saligaokarns present for the function were Fr Nascimento Mascarenhas (whose book on the priests of Bardez is soon due), Annie Cordeiro (whose photo in the Burmese dress is included in the book), Leon and Zelia Vaz, Brian Vaz, Sheila and Sharon Lobo, Gordon and Maria Vaz, Cheryl Fernandes, Asha Lobo, Noella (Vaz) and Glenville da Silva, Patricia (Vaz) and Carmo Colaco, Deanna (Vaz) and Olav Fernandes, Olinda Sequeira and Ruth, compere Stephanie D'Souza, Cyril Fernandes and family, Lizzie (D'Mello), Pamela D'Mello and Riza D'Mello Noronha, among others. 'Songs of the Survivors' (Dec 2007, ISBN 978-81-905682-4-1) is priced at Rs 295 in Goa and is available via Broadway Book Centre on 18th June Road in Panjim. For more details contact its editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] ENDS -- Frederick Noronha http://fn.goa-india.org Ph +91-832-2409490 Links from Goa: http://goalinks.livejournal.com/ _______________________________________________ Saligao 403511 website http://saligao.goa-india.org Saligaonet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goacom.org/mailman/listinfo/saligaonet
