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* G * O * A * N * E * T **** C * L * A * S * S * I * F * I * E * D * S *
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See essay below submitted for the GOA SUDHAROP GOAN SENIORS E-BOOK. Please send
your submission to
[EMAIL PROTECTED] - there is no deadline. When published (around Jan 2007), the
E-BOOK will be
updated periodically.
Thank you for your support.
Goa Sudharop
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REMINISCENCES OF MY GOAN YOUTH.
By Prof. Louis Jose Dennis
The world-wide essays for Senior Citizens of Goan Origin, launched by GOA
SUDHAROP, U.S.A. based
NGO to mark this year 2006 as the "Year of the Senior" speaks volumes of the
love and affection of
the organizers for those in the sunset of life. The wise words of my elders
Participating makes
you grow, award-winning makes you glow, deeply rooted in my mind, right from
my days of youth,
prompt me to participate in the essay on Reminiscences of my Goan Youth.
During my primary education in Portuguese, the quality of discipline was
imbibed in us by our
teachers. This has been emphatically mentioned by me, because the teachers
always moved about the
classroom with a polished stick which was seldom used, but frightened us
nevertheless. I remember
acting in a Konkani play Bhatkar wherein the leading role of
Bhatkar(landlord) was played by
me, to the amusement of the audience. Later in life the fictitious role of
Bhatkar enacted by me
became a living reality in Curtorim.
I vividly remember the good old days in Curtorim, when I used to accompany my
uncle (godfather) to
our Predio (paddy fields) in spite of the inclement weather. During the
sowing season, the
farmer used to throw the best variety of rice seeds in the fields with such
dexterity which I used
to marvel.
The Nonni (weeding) and transplanting of the paddy fields by the women
laborers were
interesting, as the women used to indulge in village gossip while performing
their duties. Canja
(rice broth)
was provided by us during the short break at around 10 a. m. They were a very
jolly group that
kept me amused with their jokes in Konkani. They addressed my uncle as Mapit
Bhatkar and would
jokingly ask me when I would take his place.
The harvesting season was equally interesting with the women harvesting and the
men tying them
into sheaves which were brought to my Forad (open space in front of our
house) for the
"Boile-Mollni (threshing with Oxen). The height of amusement for me was the
threshing and
winnowing time. This took place from late evening till the early hours of the
morning. The
laborers were treated with rice curry, salt fish and mango pickle, along with
Maddam-fenni
(coconut alcoholic drink)after which they started threshing accompanied with
lively Konkani songs
which continued throughout the night, with maddam-fenni flowing, and the
singing of the rhythmic
Konkani song, Xekoi Xekoi (drink, drink). At midnight Attol (jaggery and
rice sweet) was
served to the delight of the laborers. I watched all this till early morning,
when I fell asleep
in the balcony, only to be awakened by my uncle for my breakfast. The paddy was
stored in a
granary with a Koddo (bamboo mat around the grain).
I can never forget the Paddo (coconut plucking) every three months. The
Paddkar (coconut
plucker) climbed the tall coconut trees swiftly and fearlessly, wearing just a
Kashti (red cloth
used as briefs).On reaching the top he sang songs and whistled to let us know
that he had reached
the palm fronds. Then loudly counting the coconuts, dropped them to the ground
either in bunches
or separately.
The May holidays were not complete without the mango plucking season.
Mangoes-Malcurada, Xavier,
and Monserratte were stored in hay in one room of our ancestral house, which
were relished by all
those who visited us. Then again in the month of May when all students studying
outside Goa,
returned home, the Mocidade de Curtorim (Youth of Curtorim) of which I was
the President
organized the traditional May Ball at Curtorim which was largely attended by
the elite of Curtorim
and the neighboring areas. Here the elders all suited and booted attended this
Festa Dancante
(Ball) with an eagle eye to catch an eligible damsel for their son or an
eligible macho for their
daughter. Arroz Refugado (pullao) and Orxata (almond drink) were served to
all those who
attended the function, as the Ball continued till Madrugada (wee hours of the
morning) to the
strains of a brass band.
On the 18th December every year, St. Alex Church Curtorim, celebrates the feast
of Our Lady of
Guadalupe popularly known as Kelleam Fest. On the eve of the feast, the
relatives and invitees
flock to Curtorim to help celebrate the feast at home. Sannas (made from rice
and toddy) are
prepared in the Copro(sanna oven) on the burning firewood, and the whiff of
the delicious
Sorpotel (dish made from pork) is in the air. At the break of dawn the
villagers of Curtorim,
woke up to the sound of the popular Goan Alvorado (wake-up call), and the
young and the old
decked in their best attend the High Mass followed by procession and
benediction. By noon a
sumptuous lunch is dished out in every house. In the evening all go the
Kermess (fair). There
all friends gather to celebrate the event. I remember I was given just Quatro
Tangas (4 annas)
by my uncle to spend at my discretion at the fair. But till today I cherish the
memory as with
this amount I bought Kaddeo Boddeo, chonne and other sweets.
Before the lotus bloomed in the main lake of Curtorim, around the Christmas
season, the group
Curtorcares in which I took part was awarded the second prize at the Second
All Goa Mando
Festival at Panjim, performed the same Mando in a special canoe which went on a
cruise around the
lake to the thunderous applause of the vast crowd that had gathered to witness
this unique event.
Words fail to express adequately my gratitude for the golden opportunity
afforded to me, a silver-
haired senior citizen (77 years) of Goan origin, which was grabbed by me, for
such an opportunity
knocks at ones door just ONCE!
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