[Goanet] Kanheram-Nature’s food store and phar macy for insects-is there something useful for ai ling humans?
--- http://www.GOANET.org --- Goanet joins Noel Rebello to raise money for Daddy's Home (Margao, Goa) Sponsor Noel as he climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,882m or 19,298 ft) Make a donation at www.Goanet.org, click on MAKE A DONATION, state Daddy's Home in the Donation comments For more information see: http://bit.ly/SupportDaddysHome --- Kanheram-Nature’s food store and pharmacy for insects-is there something useful for ailing humans? In 2005 researchers from Thailand isolated a new class of cyclopeptide alkaloids-Ziziphine N, O, P and Q and showed that these chemicals have anti plasmodium falciparum activity. But they didn’t know that this plant is common in Goa and attracts a large diversity of insects except the mosquitoes. A review by Joullie and Richards (2004) on cyclopeptide alkaloids says-“The most investigated group of cyclopeptide alkaloids with respect to their sedative properties has been the sanjoinines. Han and co-workers have identified these agents as some of the principal components responsible for the sedative activity of plants of the Zizyphus species which have found use in traditional Chinese herbal medicine as treatments for insomnia.” There are still many unidentified chemicals in this plant which attracts the insects. But here in Goa we have stressed more on edibility. People prefer-Yellow, orange and red Boram (Ziziphus mauritiana, season December to May), white, pink pearly Chunnam (Ziziphus rugosa, season March to May) , black kanhera (ziziphys oenoplia, September-October) These are ecologically, economically and medicinally useful wild Ziziphus species of Goa. These are also major keystone species of Goa university campus on Taleigao plateau spread over 1.70 sq. kms. Among these only kanhera=jackal jujube or Ziziphus oenoplia begins flowering and fruiting near the end of monsoon, precisely in September. It is a thorny bush. Now what’s so important about jackal jujube? Years of observations showed me that it is virtually a food store and Pharmacy of insects- once it begins flowering there is a procession of insects-close to 200 species and still counting-these include all type of beetles, flies, ants, spiders, wasps, bees, damselflies, butterflies-why so many and so diverse-what is it in that thorny plant? The images are available at http://picasaweb.google.co.in/Nandkamat/KanheraJackalJujubeFloweringAttractsAProcessionOfInsects#http://picasaweb.google.co.in/Nandkamat/KanheraJackalJujubeFloweringAttractsAProcessionOfInsects More members in the procession expected over the next two weeks… And the short videoclips The southern birdwing (?) was sighted hovering near the bushes Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_9J_f0CDWQ The blue flower wasp (species unidentified) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jy9YGPnC04 The black and white floral wasp (unidentified species) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDrTUUUlnEw Small, smart spiders strategizing for a feast http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXXXgOyTsE4 The blue bottle fly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGsR-Cm3hlA -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Aayle bangde, talle, isvonache dis-How the changing colours of kaleidoscopic post monsoon skies indicate a bumper fish harvest
--- http://www.GOANET.org --- Goanet joins Noel Rebello to raise money for Daddy's Home (Margao, Goa) Sponsor Noel as he climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,882m or 19,298 ft) Make a donation at www.Goanet.org, click on MAKE A DONATION, state Daddy's Home in the Donation comments For more information see: http://bit.ly/SupportDaddysHome --- Moby Dick Aayle bangde, talle, isvonache dis-How the changing colours of kaleidoscopic post monsoon skies indicate a bumper fish harvest “why the sky looks so red , mother-molobh itlem tambde, tambde kidyak dista ge? ” I used to ask as a child mostly after the ‘chavath’ festival. “molob tambde zalyar mure khup bangde, talle podtat”-my mother And then the whole week we would be extricating bangde fish bones from our ears-bangde for breakfast, Bangde for lunch, Bangde for dinner… One of my favourite novelist (I intend to translate his ‘Moby Dick’ in Konkani) Herman Mellville would have been impressed with Goa’s fish-food, bangdo-talle-isvon lore. I always enjoyed “chowder’ a chapter in Moby dick, which has following passage applicable to our predicament when skies turned red and there was nothing else than smell of mackerels cooking in the house- “Fishiest of all fishy places was the Try Pots, which well deserved its name; for the pots there were always boiling chowders. Chowder for breakfast, and chowder for dinner, and chowder for supper, till you began to look for fish-bones coming through your clothes (Melville ,Moby dick, 1859)” It is a pity that we have so little of the sea, the coast , the lives of our fisherpeople-ramponkars, magkars, gabits, pagis and the fish in our local literature…Modern Konkani literature virtually draws a blank on this count despite our icthyophilic society… I confirmed my mother’s belief after a few years. The colourful sky indicates a bumper fish harvest, First bangde and bangdulyo ( we cook at least 50+ recipes) , then the barik talle (baby sardines, excellent for deep frying and sukhe, volvalem, a plateful can be finished in no time with bones intact) , followed by rainbow coloured oil sardines (voshiche talle, barbecue them and watch the oil dripping and smell the divine aroma ) then-follows Isvon -king fish for which people pay any price (easy to clean and cook, it is real ‘chicken’ of the oceans, tastes best when deep fried also try king fish chilly fry- tastes good). A fisherman from Caranzalem explained to me the connection between large harvests of sardines followed by equally large catches of kingfish “te kithe asa zanai mure, poyli talle podtat, tanka khavapak isvon yetat, talle chod zalyar isvonuy chod podtat’ ( First we have sardines, the king fish chase them and then we get a bumper king fish harvest) What divine skyscapes nature is producing these days in Goa?. Is a hidden painter at work? Leave the house at 5.30 p.m. these days and just look at the western horizon till 7 pm. Enjoy the vision. This is Goa, tropical Goa, Our GOA! Some amateurish snapshots http://picasaweb.google.co.in/Nandkamat/KaleidoscopicEveningSkyscapesFromGoaUniversityCampus#http://picasaweb.google.co.in/Nandkamat/KaleidoscopicEveningSkyscapesFromGoaUniversityCampus A vision of Sunset experienced on the road connecting Santa cruz’s Holy Cross church to Taleigao market via the bandh. http://picasaweb.google.co.in/Nandkamat/SunsetAtSantaCruzCalapur#http://picasaweb.google.co.in/Nandkamat/SunsetAtSantaCruzCalapur How long the natural beauty of Goa would last?. It depends on the new generation, their attitudes, perceptions, commitments, vision…and most important-altrustic love for Konkani language and ability to connect to common people by speaking and writing in their mother tongue…. A member of our non teaching staff requested me for a Konkani poem to be sung by her child. I obliged her instantly and requested her to record it as I read it in our office… “Goencho saim aapli kani sangta’ is my Konkani song dedicated to new generation of Goa…view it on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=panDfdlx2yQ excuse for my cold…the weather is too bad…I am yet to recover from a throat infection. Dr. Nandkumar M. Kamat, Taleigao, September 16, 2010 -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Ethnomycology of Goa’s shiti olami
--- http://www.GOANET.org --- Goanet mourns the passing of Cornel da Costa in London, England - Sep 10/10 --- Ethnomycology of Goa’s shiti olami Please view http://picasaweb.google.co.in/Nandkamat/WonderfulShitolOlamisTheEdibleTermitomycesMicrocarpusOfGoaIndia#http://picasaweb.google.co.in/Nandkamat/WonderfulShitolOlamisTheEdibleTermitomycesMicrocarpusOfGoaIndia (see previous report at http://mushroomsofgoa.blogspot.com/2009/02/exploring-goas-rich-ethnomycologygoas.html) After reading this background information Scientific name:- Termitomyces microcarpus heim or Podabrella microcarpa in sensu singer Biodiversity:- indexfungorum database lists four taxa 1. Termitomyces microcarpus (Berk. Broome) R. Heim 1941; 2. Termitomyces microcarpus (Berk. Broome) R. Heim 1942, 3. Termitomyces microcarpus f. microcarpus (Berk. Broome) R. Heim 1942, and 4. Termitomyces microcarpus f. santalensis R. Heim 1977, The above follows the classification scheme as per Roger Heim. Heim had accompanied American anthropologist R. Gordon Wasson to Santhal region to check mycoentheogens. Heim a global expert on termitophilic species then found a new taxa of T. microcarpus and named it santalensis to honour the santal tribals. As per Rolf Singer’s scheme the species is listed as 1. Podabrella microcarpa (Berk. Broome) Singer 1945, 2. Podabrella microcarpa var. major Sathe J.T. Daniel 1981; 3. Podabrella microcarpa var. microcarpa (Berk. Broome) Singer 1945 So how many species of T. microcarpus exist on earth? In my opinion 5-8 including the three novel forms which I have reported in Goa i.e. goanensis, longiradicata and epiphyticus. Local names:-shringar, shiringar, shiti, shitol, shit (for cold conditions) Etymology:- from ‘beautiful” or “cold conditions” Period of appearance:- from middle of August to January, peak in September Habit:- in groups, clusters of 2-5 or upto 200 Habitat:- on ground rich in litter, on plastered mud floors, on sandy soils exclusively from fragments of fungus combs scattered by termites as monsoon nears end Distribution in the world:- African countries south of sahara, South east asian countries below Himalayas (upto Yunan, Vietnam and Phillipines). Not reported from neotropics Edibility:-known to be edible in all countries where it is found but owing to ephemeral fruiting, fragile nature, small size increases collection efforts, need to harvest fresh and consume within 24 hours Recipes:- Goans make a spicy preparation (tonak), at least 300-1000 need to be collected for a good meal, a popular species in Ponda, Canacona, Pernem, Sattari Cultivation status:- since these mushrooms are cultivated by fungus growing termites cultivation is difficult. Nutritional importance:-Yorubas of Nigeria use these for medicinal purposes, known for antioxidant value (also view Ugandan research on Nutritional and hypocholesterolemic properties http://ajol.info/index.php/ajfand/article/view/54081) Conservation status in Goa:-Unlike other 14 locally marketed termitophilic agarics these species are not marketed owing to their fragile and non fleshy nature and very short shelf life-so there is no conservation need In Pernem they call these edible mushrooms-Shringar or shiringar olamis because they ‘beautify’ the termite hills and the ground In rest of Goa these are knows as ‘ Shiti or shitol olami” or just ‘xit olamis’ (Salcete) I found them during my research work- at Margao, near Holy spirit church on cow dung plastered floor, in Molem sanctuary ( a species closer to south African) , Poinguinim, Majorda, Santa cruz, Bambolim and at Panaji ( first epiphytic occurrence in world on Ficus benghalensis, reported on http://www.bio.net/bionet/mm/mycology/1999-September/007457.html, named as Podabrella microcarpa var. epiphyticus ). Another collection was made close to Archbishop’s palace, Altinho below Samania saman (rain tree). At Mycology lab, dept. of Botany Goa University we’re studying these species for past 12 years. A few videoclips on the species would be uploaded on YOU TUBE next week. Weblinks:- http://picasaweb.google.co.in/Nandkamat/WonderfulShitolOlamisTheEdibleTermitomycesMicrocarpusOfGoaIndia#http://picasaweb.google.co.in/Nandkamat/WonderfulShitolOlamisTheEdibleTermitomycesMicrocarpusOfGoaIndia (see previous report at http://mushroomsofgoa.blogspot.com/2009/02/exploring-goas-rich-ethnomycologygoas.html) There are many poisonous look alikes of shiti olamis so do not venture to collect and consume any wild mushrooms. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Fwd: What the Portuguese did in 1632 to compete with Taj Mahal and impress the Moghuls?
A wrong videoclip link was sent in earlier post. This one is the correct one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brh6WfrfMEg -- Forwarded message -- From: Dr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.com Date: Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 2:36 PM Subject: What the Portuguese did in 1632 to compete with Taj Mahal and impress the Moghuls? To: goanet goanet@lists.goanet.org “Eka vatin, eke ratin…..” View the You Tube clip Along the 375 years old Ponte de Linhares causeway-a crumbling architectural marvel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjKUnmfQ9YU What the Portuguese did to compete with Taj Mahal and impress the Moghuls? It is not a coincidence that construction of Taj ( actually MumTaz mahal) Mahal and Ponte de Linhares causeway began in the same year-1632 When the news of construction of Taj Mahal at Agra by emperor Shahjahan reached Goa-the Portuguese decided to impress the Moghuls with something great, so great that it would not have any parallel in Asia during 17 th century They surveyed the Mandovi waterfront. Two creeks-Chimbel and Ourem were separating Ribander, the suburb populated by Fidalgoes. The whole are was swamy crisscrossed by creeks and rivulets interspersed with salt pans and large tracts of Khazan lands. They felt that a land bridge, a causeway could connect old Goa to Panjim. They commissioned the best of the Jesuit minds from the city of old Goa. The Count of Linhares (1629-1635) meant business. He was a ruler full of ideas. He wanted to show to the world that the Portuguese are not less than the Moghuls in architectural or engineering feat. It was not an easy task. The base rock in Mandovi is 15 metres below the sediment. So the superstructure had to be raised on a strong wooden pile. The Portuguese had scrutinized the local techniques of Khazan bundh construction and repairs. The engineering work involved-driving large areca poles in the mud. Dig foundation pits in mud. Transport logs of Jambho to the site. Bury the 5-6 metres long logs deep, vertically. Erect pile foundation on the assembly of logs. Construct 40 Roman arches. More than a million dressed laterites. Then lay a stable stone carpet over the bridge for 3026 metres. Followed by compacted soil. Locals could not believe what they were watching-fishermen, salt producers, farmers… The legend says that the Jesuits built the Ponte de Linhares causeway with a single candle (eke vatin) and in a single night (eke ratin). When the causeway was completed- it was then the longest in whole of Asia. It was a multipurpose bridge. It allowed controlled intake of saline water for the 10 large salt pans fisheries near the stakes (khutavani), normal cross drainage from higher grounds, berthing places for the small canoes. It could also be used for the defense of the entrance to city of Old Goa by mounting cannons. It fulfilled both the civil and military purposes. The foundation of the city of Panaji would not have been possible as the new capital of Portuguese Goa without this asset. Despite repairs, the causeway shows wear and tear. Many arches are collapsing or sinking. It qualifies for world heritage status as a 17 th century architectural and engineering wonder. No doubt , moghuls and foreign travelers must have been impressed with the sight as they entered Old Goa from river Mandovi. When you stand in the middle of the Mandovi bridge, the causeway shows how important it is for the ecological security, transport, communication, trade, commerce and prosperity of Island of Tiswadi which today accounts for 50 percent of the wealth of the state of Goa. The problem is nobody cares for it. It is as important for Goans as Taj Mahal. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Chronicles of ecological agony and urban ecstasy
Chronicles of ecological agony and urban ecstasy How green was my Taleigao http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMb5KWUO33A End of hope-the neglected and flooded farms of Taleigao http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUdlmNyZoZg Waiting for Concrete jungles-vast expanses of uncultivated Merces farms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjKUnmfQ9YU -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Tribute to My teachers:-informal and formal-Part I
Tribute to My teachers:-informal and formal-Part I Nandkumar Kamat “Sa vidya ya vimuktaye’ ‘Vidya bhoghkari, yasha sukhkari, Vidhya Gurunam Guru” “Vidyadhanam sarva dhanapradhanam” “Gurrursahkshat parabrahma, tasmai sri guruve namah” I was raised in the above tradition in a family of GSB traders where nobody was educated beyond a few standards. Then many formal and informal teachers came to my aid as I charted a turbulent , often lonely course of my career, my life and everything else.who were they, those who kept my hopes and aspirations in this life alive?. On the eve of Teachers' day this is a humble tribute to all of themI am here on NET because of them. :Late Tipu Gavade, 101years, Aksan, Madakai, 1991-3 He educated me on the engineering aspects of Madkaim’s vast khazan lands. He remembered all the details of construction of Khazan bundhs, backwaters or ‘poim’, repair works such as ‘thor’, ‘cupto’ and ‘chonoi’. He remembered Goa of the years of first world war. Before I could interview him for Goa Doordarshan, he succumbed to an accident. Recently I met his daughter in law at Madkaim. : An anonymous yellow cab driver, 1970, Panaji: He taught me honesty at the age of nine years. There was a taxi stand near Imperial hotel, Panaji-old praca. Taxis from St.Cruz used to take passengers in the morning for Re. 0.25. To reach early to school, I used to get a lift. When I gave him an eight anna coin, this driver returned me extra change which without counting I had pocketed. Then he caught hold of my collar and asked me- “Tu odxech kortolo?. would you do this again, return my extra change”. I apologized and returned the extra cash and took a vow not to touch money which does not belong to me. : Shrimati Sindhu Kelkar –my language teacher in high school, 1969: I had a muslim friend-Mirsab in high school in V th standard. On the way back from school to Panaji bus stand he used to purchase ‘panpatti’ (scented betel leaves with stimulants) from a gada (kiosk) near Fazenda footpath. Once he offered me a panppati to taste and I took it without knowing that we were being followed by Mrs. Sindhu Kelkar who was also proceeding in the same direction. When she saw me chewing paan, she gave me an angry look and hurried her steps without saying anything. Next day, in the class she asked both of us to stand up and ordered us to write the sentence- “henceforth we would not consume panpatti or any other tambakhu (tobacco) product in our life (amhi yhapude kadhihi panpatti kinva tambakhu khnar nahi) hundred times, show it to our parents and get their signatures. We did it. I don’t know about Mirsab. He left the school and I lost his track. Since that day I have never touched any tobacco product in my life. : Headmaster, Marxist ideological champion S.S. Khanolkar, 1968-75 An old colleague of comrade B.T.Ranadive, when Sa.Su.Khanolkar took over as Principal of Kasturba Matoshri High school (formerly Kanyashala, a wholly Marathi medium high school till 1980s with excellent Sanskrit teaching facilities) everyone was terrified. He had hair trigger temperament and was a strict disciplinarian. I have seen him losing his temper in the class and slapping my classmates on small academic mistakes. I never got his ‘prasad’. I remember him for identifying and promoting my reading habits. ‘Take what you want, as many books as you wish to read’ he used to call and tell me. He gave me first English dictionary-Oxford’s and advised to learn 10 new words everyday. He threw open the school library for me. Within a few days of arrival every new Marathi book used to reach me. “Sant ani Science’ by Prof. Deshpande was then a controversial book in Maharashtra. It had attacked the casteist approach of Maharashtrian saints. It was heavy stuff for me in VIII th standard. But Khanolkar made me read it and develop an idea of rationalism and literary criticism. He also introduced me to Prof. Narhar Kurundkar’s iconoclastic critical books- Jagar and shivaratra-which discussed the Hindu-Muslim politics in India. Kurundkar’s Jagar can be now matched only with the scholarly tomes of Karen Armstrong. He introduced the system of presenting books as awards for intra school competition. I won several awards in state level elocution and essay competitions only because of his inspiration. He had also admonished me for writing a satirical poem on my classmate. When the girl complained, he called me to his office and said-Can’t you find any other subjects?. Having spent seven years in the high school which lies today in a dilapidated condition - I have come to value his special attention to me in boosting reading habits and creative spirit. : Science teacher Vijay Rajgolkar: 1971-75 Young Rajgolkar from Belgaum under the influence of Soviet brand of Communism was running ISCUS in Panaji with Adv. Arun Nigalye, Ramesh Kolvalkar and others. He was a hardcore rationalist and taught science subjects very effectively. He loaned
[Goanet] Tribute to My teachers:-informal and formal-Part I
Tribute to My teachers:-informal and formal-Part I Nandkumar Kamat “Sa vidya ya vimuktaye’ ‘Vidya bhoghkari, yasha sukhkari, Vidhya Gurunam Guru” “Vidyadhanam sarva dhanapradhanam” “Gurrursahkshat parabrahma, tasmai sri guruve namah” I was raised in the above tradition in a family of GSB traders where nobody was educated beyond a few standards. Then many formal and informal teachers came to my aid as I charted a turbulent , often lonely course of my career, my life and everything else.who were they, those who kept my hopes and aspirations in this life alive?. On the eve of Teachers' day this is a humble tribute to all of themI am here on NET because of them. :Late Tipu Gavade, 101years, Aksan, Madakai, 1991-3 He educated me on the engineering aspects of Madkaim’s vast khazan lands. He remembered all the details of construction of Khazan bundhs, backwaters or ‘poim’, repair works such as ‘thor’, ‘cupto’ and ‘chonoi’. He remembered Goa of the years of first world war. Before I could interview him for Goa Doordarshan, he succumbed to an accident. Recently I met his daughter in law at Madkaim. : An anonymous yellow cab driver, 1970, Panaji: He taught me honesty at the age of nine years. There was a taxi stand near Imperial hotel, Panaji-old praca. Taxis from St.Cruz used to take passengers in the morning for Re. 0.25. To reach early to school, I used to get a lift. When I gave him an eight anna coin, this driver returned me extra change which without counting I had pocketed. Then he caught hold of my collar and asked me- “Tu odxech kortolo?. would you do this again, return my extra change”. I apologized and returned the extra cash and took a vow not to touch money which does not belong to me. : Shrimati Sindhu Kelkar –my language teacher in high school, 1969: I had a muslim friend-Mirsab in high school in V th standard. On the way back from school to Panaji bus stand he used to purchase ‘panpatti’ (scented betel leaves with stimulants) from a gada (kiosk) near Fazenda footpath. Once he offered me a panppati to taste and I took it without knowing that we were being followed by Mrs. Sindhu Kelkar who was also proceeding in the same direction. When she saw me chewing paan, she gave me an angry look and hurried her steps without saying anything. Next day, in the class she asked both of us to stand up and ordered us to write the sentence- “henceforth we would not consume panpatti or any other tambakhu (tobacco) product in our life (amhi yhapude kadhihi panpatti kinva tambakhu khnar nahi) hundred times, show it to our parents and get their signatures. We did it. I don’t know about Mirsab. He left the school and I lost his track. Since that day I have never touched any tobacco product in my life. : Headmaster, Marxist ideological champion S.S. Khanolkar, 1968-75 An old colleague of comrade B.T.Ranadive, when Sa.Su.Khanolkar took over as Principal of Kasturba Matoshri High school (formerly Kanyashala, a wholly Marathi medium high school till 1980s with excellent Sanskrit teaching facilities) everyone was terrified. He had hair trigger temperament and was a strict disciplinarian. I have seen him losing his temper in the class and slapping my classmates on small academic mistakes. I never got his ‘prasad’. I remember him for identifying and promoting my reading habits. ‘Take what you want, as many books as you wish to read’ he used to call and tell me. He gave me first English dictionary-Oxford’s and advised to learn 10 new words everyday. He threw open the school library for me. Within a few days of arrival every new Marathi book used to reach me. “Sant ani Science’ by Prof. Deshpande was then a controversial book in Maharashtra. It had attacked the casteist approach of Maharashtrian saints. It was heavy stuff for me in VIII th standard. But Khanolkar made me read it and develop an idea of rationalism and literary criticism. He also introduced me to Prof. Narhar Kurundkar’s iconoclastic critical books- Jagar and shivaratra-which discussed the Hindu-Muslim politics in India. Kurundkar’s Jagar can be now matched only with the scholarly tomes of Karen Armstrong. He introduced the system of presenting books as awards for intra school competition. I won several awards in state level elocution and essay competitions only because of his inspiration. He had also admonished me for writing a satirical poem on my classmate. When the girl complained, he called me to his office and said-Can’t you find any other subjects?. Having spent seven years in the high school which lies today in a dilapidated condition - I have come to value his special attention to me in boosting reading habits and creative spirit. : Science teacher Vijay Rajgolkar: 1971-75 Young Rajgolkar from Belgaum under the influence of Soviet brand of Communism was running ISCUS in Panaji with Adv. Arun Nigalye, Ramesh Kolvalkar and others. He was a hardcore rationalist and taught science subjects very effectively. He loaned
[Goanet] Poemoods:10 Taka chanchavan, chachavan mallo!
Taka chanchavan, chachavan mallo! (cathartic poesis) Nandkumar Kamat Two people were discussing in market,’ The ghastly Dourado murder, I heard this sharp statement “taka chanchavan chachavan mallo” What form of cruelty, That creates a Goa of Mahanand, Or the accused, baby faced young boy, Who allegedly stabbed Naresh Dourado, Not once but 45 times? 45 TIMES! We are so sensitive about stray dogs, And vanishing frogs, snakes, butterflies’ But really something else is endangered here, The sanity of youngsters; The generation which is our democratic dividend! Where is our sensitivity when A member of young generation, The post internet, post cellphone generation Plots and butchers another youngster, What really is flowing under our own feet? Currents of sadism? Or A new form of cold cruelty? When I walk to my house at night, Motorbikes speed by, Driven by young people, For no reason yelling at me, Throwing unprintable abusive words, Youngsters, total strangers; Everyday I ignore them-they know our small vulnerabilities, They just love it; What creates such behavior? Pursuit of hedonism? The higher FAR we have permitted; For the world of glamour , fashion, sexcitement, Culture of justifying any means to achieve any end?.. It is awful to read the answers to assembly questions, Giving the figures pharmacywise, villagewise, for over the counter sale, Of anti-pregnancy tablets; The enormous number.. as if a spermatic revolution is overtaking Goa! Higher testosterone levels are creating havoc! To stab another youngster 45 times and watch him bleeding to death, Needs a heart hard as stone, Hands not human but of an evil force! We get worked up on animals, Used for biomedical experimentation, We fall silent often, As individuals, institutions and as a society, With multitudes of lifeless praying places, offering no solace or solutions, When the evil is seen personified... What breeds this evil? It is not easy to stab a person 45 times, And be deaf to his cries begging for life, mercy… The signs are already visible , This society stands condemned, The trail of cruelty is long, The shadow of evil is spreading wide, Shall I search for oysters in Chikhalim bay To find pearls of compassion? A life has been lost, another may rot in jail If found guilty, That won’t change anything, anything…at all... The chain may still continue, But we need an explanation from GOD Of Hindus, Christians, Muslims Oh Almighty, Why have you made hands Which stab a man 45 Times? The men in market said “tazya dollyant rogat na” I see a kid next to me admiring a brand new car, Parked in front of market, She sighs and says softly addressing nobody, ‘Oh , I wish, I had that car’ Who creates such wants? Who creates the greed? What is it that creates the impulse, overwhelming, To stab a man 45 times? How sad,that the idea that’s Goa, is slowly dissolving, It is not a summation of aberrations, Or self consolations to forget as one time exceptions; Together we’re proceeding to face the Apocalypse NOW!. (dedicated to memories of all those unfortunate youngsters of Goa who have succumbed to cruel death) Nandkumar Kamat September 4, 2010 -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Now available in Toronto, a few copies of *Into The Diaspora Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho. Contact Bosco D'Mello bo...@goanet.org (416) 803-7264 http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
[Goanet] Amcho Ravindrabab Sonsarak aantaralo
Mogal Goenkar bhavano ani bhaynano, Amcho Ravindrabab Sonsarak aantaralo, Ravindrabab Gelo! Padmabhushan Ravindra Kelekar breathed his last after a prolonged illness at 11.30 a.m. at Margao. His death would be the biggest news for days and weeks, locally, nationally, internationally-such was his image… He died on a day when we remember blessed Mother Teresa Of Kolkotta, He died in a year when we are celebrating birth centenary of his close friend poet laureate of Goa Bakibab Borkar, He died after having received some of Country's highest literary honours-the fellowship of sahitaya akademy followed by Dnyanpeeth award, we expect nothing less than at least two days state mourning and his final rites with full honours and state salute.. Re-Posting an article on Ravindrabab..written just a month ago…. Ravindra Kelekar: A Cultural Institution Published on: July 25, 2010 - 22:58 BY NANDKUMAR KAMAT (Courtesy, The Navhind Times, Monday 26 July 2010) (http://www.navhindtimes.in/opinion/ravindra-kelekar-cultural-institution) ON July 31, the prestigious Dnyanpeeth Award would be conferred by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Ms Meira Kumar on veteran Konkani writer, scholar and philosopher, Ravindra Kelekar, affectionately called ‘Ravindrabab’. This is also an honour to Goa and the Konkani language which figures in the world’s top 125 living languages. The ceremony would take place at Kala Akademy, Goa. Goan identity, Konkani and Ravindrabab have become synonymous. No writer in the post-liberation era of Goa had been as influential as him in exerting and asserting moral and ideological influence on younger generations. The Dnyanpeeth Award crowns his stellar service of more than 60 years to culture and literature. At the age of 85, Ravindrabab towers in the contemporary Goan society as a guiding light of knowledge and wisdom. He has been a cultural institution himself. He has influenced and moulded at least 3 generations of Konkani writers and set out a clear political, social and cultural agenda for Konkani language and literature. By participating actively in politics and being a torch-bearer of the movement to oppose Goa’s merger with Maharashtra, Ravindrabab carved a separate and exclusive niche for himself distinguishing him from the puritans who considered literature as merely a single-minded apolitical creative activity. His pointed and hard hitting editorials in the literary magazine which he had founded–the ‘Jag’ Konkani monthly made Goans sit up and think. Jag continues to be the only exclusively literary and oldest Konkani monthly in the world today. Ravindrabab offered this literary platform to young writers who then blazed their own trails on Konkani’s literary horizon. Goa’s own Kakasaheb Kalelkar As a great bibliophile and voracious reader of world literature, Ravindrabab set high standards for writers and contemporary Goan thinkers. Four decades ago he said that Konkani would need to promote new subjects like ecology and cosmology. He may be one of the few writers in India possessing an astronomical telescope and spending hours watching the night sky from his courtyard at Priol. Considering the need to present astronomical knowledge scientifically before the Konkani speakers, Ravindrabab came out with a Konkani book on Astronomy–‘Brahmandatale tandav’. He was one of the first writers in India to recognise the need for books on ecology and environment in Indian languages. Exposed to contemporary trends and currents in global and national literature, Ravindrabab’s life was enriched by the great Gandhian scholar, Kakasaheb Kalelkar. Today for the five million strong Konkani speakers scattered in more than 100 nations, Ravindrabab is Goa’s Kakasaheb Kalelkar. His simplicity, non-assuming and affectionate personality, deep humility before the literary greats and above all his almost fanatic single-minded faith in the future of Konkani society, culture, language and literature made him a hero of the Goans during and after the Opinion Poll. Ravindrabab recognised the 3 aspirations of Goans–recognition for Konkani as the official language of Goa, statehood and inclusion of Konkani in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Between 1984-1992, these dreams were realised after a lot of action, advocacy and struggle. Forseer of Problems facing Goa When he appeared on Konkani’s literary horizon, there were only a handful of Konkani books published every year. Since then Konkani has come a long way thanks to all-round efforts of publishers, writers and scholars. Konkani publications are flourishing. Very soon the state of Goa alone would publish more than 100 Konkani books per year. One of largest dictionaries in any Indian language–a 2029-page Konkani illustrated dictionary published by Panaji’s Rajhauns shows the power and potential of the modern Konkani language and its’ linguistic, lexicographic scholarship. Such an effort would not have been possible without Ravindrabab’s moral
[Goanet] We Are Mightier Than Death (By Ravindra Kelekar, translated by Augusto Pinto) reposted by Nandkumar Kamat
Goanet Reader: We Are Mightier Than Death (By Ravindra Kelekar, translated by Augusto Pinto) On Monday 24 th September 2007 Augusto Pinto had posted this beautiful translation. It is most appropriate as state of Goa is mourning Kelekar's death...thanks Augustobab I take liberty to post it again considering the fact that Ravindrabab is no more…it sums up TATO's philosophy and his stoic, sthithpradnya attitude towards life, death, everything We Are Mightier Than Death By Ravindra Kelekar I need a siesta of at least half an hour every day, for when I get up I'm so completely refreshed, that I can attack the evening with as much enthusiasm as I did the morning. Yes, I feel it's a new day altogether. Yesterday was Sunday. There were quite a number of guests, and so I missed my afternoon nap. By evening I was dog-tired and so I went to bed at nine -- pretty early for me. As a result I woke up at 4.30 in the morning. I had a wash, and then I thought I'd read, but then I realized that I'd have to put on the lights and wake everyone up, so I went out and sat in our razangovn, which is what we call the quadrangle of our house in Konkani. I said to myself -- let me watch the sun rise. There was dead silence everywhere, a silence which the occasional screechy chirp of an insect or two made more eerie. Slowly the eeriness began to assume a character of its own. I glanced upwards and recognized quite a few constellations and stars. As I gazed at them, I don't know when, but I dozed off to sleep. When I woke up again it was a little later in the morning but still dark. The clock in the sitting room went tick tick tick tick. I've no idea why this sound gripped my attention but I began to feel that this tick tick tick tick was being deliberately directed at me. I shuddered. Somehow a feeling began to creep over me that this sound was the sound of Death, striding purposefully towards me, and every-time I heard it go tick tick tick tick, I felt it had moved that many steps closer to me. I got a start and said, is He coming so soon? Damn it, I've so many tasks left incomplete, I must get them done and owe (over) with or else they'll be left unfinished. I got up and went inside to work. I am quite like anybody else. I know I've got to die some day and I also know that no one but no one can escape death. That even the very greatest have had to suffer this fate -- that too I know but somehow I've always lived my life without ever feeling that I was going to die. Death was what happened to other people. I would accompany them to the crematorium as part of the funeral processions. But I'd never really believed deep down in there that one day I would be the corpse. Even at my advanced age. So many of my companions have gone: some in the prime of their lives. In that sense death has been my constant companion. Still, I can't quite fathom that death will get me one day. The knowledge that everybody dies is one thing, to actually have death knocking at your door -- that's the kind of intimate experience that's quite something else altogether. At one point of time, a sadhvi named Rehana Tyabjee figured in my life. One day she told me, My brother, there's absolutely no doubt He'll come. Don't waste your time waiting for him. Just think He's already here, right in front of your face and He's going to take you away today itself. Fix this notion in your head, and then go about settling your accounts. Whatever you'd planned for today, do now itself. And, if you can, finish what you'd intended to do tomorrow. Only then shall you learn to live life as it should be lived, not simply pass through it. Unless one lives with the consciousness that Death is going to take you away any moment, life will never have any depth. Life has some value if it has depth; not length in years. The words of Sister Rehana reverberated in my ears. I'd sat down to work, but these musings over Death seemed doggedly determined not let go of me. All of a sudden it struck me, Do I not have to die too one day? Of course I have to. Then why not die today itself? Today, this very moment let me die and be done with it. If Death came what could he take away from me? Nothing. Nothing but my worries, right? Well, why shouldn't I, of my own free will, give them away on my own? Look, they won't be coming along with me when I go, and after I'm gone, they're not going to stay behind to trouble anyone. The second I'm gone they'll vanish too. So why not get rid of them right now itself? For a moment or two this thought gripped my mind my mind and I felt a whole load of worries vanish in a flash. I suddenly felt weightless! And I began to swim in an ecstasy of blissful liberation. Over the last quite a few years, there've been quite a few things I've voluntarily given up. I've stopped taking quite a few responsibilities. And
[Goanet] Fwd: Amcho Ravindrabab Sonsarak aantaralo
-- Forwarded message -- From: Dr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.com Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:56:45 +0530 Subject: Amcho Ravindrabab Sonsarak aantaralo To: goanet@lists.goanet.org Mogal Goenkar bhavano ani bhaynano, Amcho Ravindrabab Sonsarak aantaralo, Ravindrabab Gelo! Padmabhushan Ravindra Kelekar breathed his last after a prolonged illness at 11.30 a.m. at Margao. His death would be the biggest news for days and weeks, locally, nationally, internationally-such was his image… He died on a day when we remember blessed Mother Teresa Of Kolkotta, He died in a year when we are celebrating birth centenary of his close friend poet laureate of Goa Bakibab Borkar, He died after having received some of Country's highest literary honours-the fellowship of sahitaya akademy followed by Dnyanpeeth award, we expect nothing less than at least two days state mourning and his final rites with full honours and state salute.. Re-Posting an article on Ravindrabab..written just a month ago…. Ravindra Kelekar: A Cultural Institution Published on: July 25, 2010 - 22:58 BY NANDKUMAR KAMAT (Courtesy, The Navhind Times, Monday 26 July 2010) (http://www.navhindtimes.in/opinion/ravindra-kelekar-cultural-institution) ON July 31, the prestigious Dnyanpeeth Award would be conferred by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Ms Meira Kumar on veteran Konkani writer, scholar and philosopher, Ravindra Kelekar, affectionately called ‘Ravindrabab’. This is also an honour to Goa and the Konkani language which figures in the world’s top 125 living languages. The ceremony would take place at Kala Akademy, Goa. Goan identity, Konkani and Ravindrabab have become synonymous. No writer in the post-liberation era of Goa had been as influential as him in exerting and asserting moral and ideological influence on younger generations. The Dnyanpeeth Award crowns his stellar service of more than 60 years to culture and literature. At the age of 85, Ravindrabab towers in the contemporary Goan society as a guiding light of knowledge and wisdom. He has been a cultural institution himself. He has influenced and moulded at least 3 generations of Konkani writers and set out a clear political, social and cultural agenda for Konkani language and literature. By participating actively in politics and being a torch-bearer of the movement to oppose Goa’s merger with Maharashtra, Ravindrabab carved a separate and exclusive niche for himself distinguishing him from the puritans who considered literature as merely a single-minded apolitical creative activity. His pointed and hard hitting editorials in the literary magazine which he had founded–the ‘Jag’ Konkani monthly made Goans sit up and think. Jag continues to be the only exclusively literary and oldest Konkani monthly in the world today. Ravindrabab offered this literary platform to young writers who then blazed their own trails on Konkani’s literary horizon. Goa’s own Kakasaheb Kalelkar As a great bibliophile and voracious reader of world literature, Ravindrabab set high standards for writers and contemporary Goan thinkers. Four decades ago he said that Konkani would need to promote new subjects like ecology and cosmology. He may be one of the few writers in India possessing an astronomical telescope and spending hours watching the night sky from his courtyard at Priol. Considering the need to present astronomical knowledge scientifically before the Konkani speakers, Ravindrabab came out with a Konkani book on Astronomy–‘Brahmandatale tandav’. He was one of the first writers in India to recognise the need for books on ecology and environment in Indian languages. Exposed to contemporary trends and currents in global and national literature, Ravindrabab’s life was enriched by the great Gandhian scholar, Kakasaheb Kalelkar. Today for the five million strong Konkani speakers scattered in more than 100 nations, Ravindrabab is Goa’s Kakasaheb Kalelkar. His simplicity, non-assuming and affectionate personality, deep humility before the literary greats and above all his almost fanatic single-minded faith in the future of Konkani society, culture, language and literature made him a hero of the Goans during and after the Opinion Poll. Ravindrabab recognised the 3 aspirations of Goans–recognition for Konkani as the official language of Goa, statehood and inclusion of Konkani in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Between 1984-1992, these dreams were realised after a lot of action, advocacy and struggle. Forseer of Problems facing Goa When he appeared on Konkani’s literary horizon, there were only a handful of Konkani books published every year. Since then Konkani has come a long way thanks to all-round efforts of publishers, writers and scholars. Konkani publications are flourishing. Very soon the state of Goa alone would publish more than 100 Konkani books per year. One of largest dictionaries in any Indian language–a 2029-page Konkani illustrated dictionary published
[Goanet] Priolacho maharukh (the giant banyan of Priol) (A poetic tribute to late Ravindraba Kelekar) by Nandkumar Kamat
Priolacho maharukh (the giant banyan of Priol) (A poetic tribute to late Ravindraba Kelekar) Bakibab gavan gelo, Manoharbab Zagovan gelo, Bhangibab chitun gelo, Pandit pitarun gelo, Ayaz goencher padlya monel, Sukanidekhun moni zalyat, Pavasakuy rodunk yeta, Themyathemyant dukam distat, Disauzvada rat Zali, Priolachya kulagarani Punavechi umas zali Aashe kide Zale Goyant? Sagle budla dukkhachya lharan, Priolacho maharukh Ayaz danpara kosalala Ravindracho aast Zalo, Aant zalo yugacho, Konaknikhatir zuz dillya. Eka mahan zivitacho, Ravindrachi yetali yad, Daryachaya lhara lharak, Goenchya mogal matyentalya, Gunyam gunyak, kana kanak, Ravindrachi yad yetali, Giryank ani noketrank, Panank, fulank priolachya, Hatyak, zayank, surangak Ravindrabab gelo dovarun, Amchayakhatir ek divali. Ginyanachi, Konkanichi, Goembabachya sapanachi, Priolacho Maharukh, Dekh somest sosnvarak, Opta dukhest nimani aarga, Ravindrachya ugdasak -Nandkumar Kamat, on the occasion of the sad demise of Ravindrabab Kelekar, whose residence at Priol was a pilgrimage centre for writers and scholars of India and world. Fondly known to near and dear ones as Tato', Ravindrabab would be missed from Konkani's expanding, young and vibrant literary circle as a father figure and guiding light. I appeal the Konkani loving Goan NRI community to send their condolences to the family at Priol via his niece Dr. Savita Kerkar sav...@unigoa.ac.in and/or nayakr...@gmail.com -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Goa-launch of the well-received *Into The Diaspora Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho on Aug 29, 2010 (Sunday) at 11 am at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Meet the author, buy a signed copy (only Rs 295 in Goa till stock lasts). http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
[Goanet] An English Bandhkavya poem-HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO GOANET'-corrected version (ignore previous post please)
Sorry, due to an oversight three lines beginning with P, N, and S -were accidentally dropped from the poem posted earlier. This is the corrected version, Do not consider the previously posted In Sanskrit, Chitrakavya, Bandhkavya are forms of poetry based on arrangement of letters. World’s only bisymmetrical inverse palindromic poem “Ram-Krishna Kavya’ is a superb example of Sanskrit lexicoarchitecture- if the verses are read from left to right it is tribute to Lord Rama and if the same verse is read from right to left it is Lord Krishna’s description. This is an English ‘bandkavya” poem to wish GOANET on the occasion of its’ 17 th anniversary. Top to bottom assembly of the first letters of the following would make “HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO GOANET” Hearts of Diaspora and hopes of Goans, A horizon beyond the horizon, Platform for opinions, wide, diverse; Pursuit of points, counterpoints, cascading entropy, Yet, at the end of it all, gentle or not so gentle agreements to disagree, Archives would chronicle the story Never before in our history News, views, comments, critique Information could be shared across oceans Vast, so voluminous, but bridged by ever ascendant arches of Electronic enlightenment, enchantment, disenchantment; Right or wrong, true or false, Stinging, ringing, subtle or soft, A voice is a voice, a word is a word, a thought is a thought; Rising above the narrow walls, crossing impossible boundaries, Yearning for fundamental unity of the proud sacred Goan blood, The opportunity was seized by the selfless visionaries, Offering a model, a lesson-a global cultural cybericon GOANET Of the Goans, for the Goans, by the Goans; Across the submarine cables, rises today, a strong, vibrant and democratic Network of ideas, sentiments, blessings, dreams interwoven; Eager to expand, reach out, serve, share, communicate, it is now- Time to celebrate! Rejoice in celebrating democracy! -Nandkumar Kamat Aug. 26, 2010 -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Goa-launch of the well-received *Into The Diaspora Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho on Aug 29, 2010 (Sunday) at 11 am at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Meet the author, buy a signed copy (only Rs 295 in Goa till stock lasts). http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
[Goanet] The orphaned farms of Goa-a tragedy unfolding as you tour the countryside during monsoon-2010
The orphaned farms of Goa Kamati, tukam amche kidyak podla, Tuze xet aasa? Tu kalafurcho re, kay bhailo? I had been heckled for telling the truth. By my own Goan brethern... I Know that I have no farmland, or a plot of land , even a house of my own.. but what I have is a vision of Goa, for Goans and their generations to come... Why blame the outsiders?. We build slums for them. What our blue blooded Niz Goenkars , esp the Goan farm land owners, tenant cum cultivators are doing?. They are taking crops of scrapyards, hutments, dance floors, garages in their farms… Vast tracts of farms on banks of Chapora/Colvale and Terekhol river have been leased out to deposit mountains of alluvial sand Paddy fields of Camurlim and Tuyem are mined for windowpane oyster shells to make lime in Sawantwadi Entrance to Mapusa and Margao from Panaji showcases how farms are being (mis) used.. In several suburban villages the annual konsachem fest' has remained just a ritual.. where are the 'konsam?... Within four to six years many villages like St. Cruz and Taleigao would not be left with any plot to get their konsam for the feast...but I'm sure these would be flown in from Bangkok Compare and contrast the picture… Farmers have land but are not willing to cultivate..despite a shower of subsidies Non farmers like me are willing to do intensive horticulture, but there is no land…nobody is willing to lease even a millimetre Farming doesn’t mean only rice farming. Many other crops can be cultivated profitably. It is a tragi-comic situation in Goa. Urban farmers in nearby Nagali Taleigao take 50 crops (fruits, flowers, vegetables, medicinal plants) Watch them in action http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJh-xGqz6hU View partially cultivated Salvador da Mundo khazans http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEQSMMvxDj4 now notorious for illegal pisciculture The Chorao Farmers club is doing very well. They even sell high quality packaged rice in attractive bags.Taleigao, Chorao are success stories… Those who don’t wish to cultivate just hold on to the land waiting for windfall income from conversion. The government has admitted that despite provision in tenancy act it doesn’t wish to assume the management of lands uncultivated for 3 years as per section 36. The lands can be then allotted to those willing to cultivate them. What’s the fate of this 400 hectares rice bowl in Curca-Santana valley, Tiswadi? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BqHar6ESrY And this one- the low lying Khazans between Taleigao and Dhakli Morombim?. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJh-xGqz6hU I alongwith others (Dilip Borkar, Victoria Fernandes, Sushrut Martins) had staged a rasta roko and went to jail on Aug. 25, 1988 . For two years (Oct. 1988 to Jan. 1991) I also appeared in the high court personally at my cost and argued a PIL ( one of the first in Goa) to ensure that Pantecantor, Chirculem , Novo bandh would not breach again and these farms would never get flooded again…but 1200 farmers of Calapur have let me down miserably, despite several motivational meetings. Today when I see familiar people from Merces and St. Cruz filling the low lying farms, I feel defeated. THESE ARE OUR OWN PEOPLE. The absentee landlordism needs to be stopped. Contract farming is not the solution. We need to follow the success stories of Taleigao and Chorao. The demand for local tropical fruits and vegetables is growing. The above orphaned areas can meet the need of whole taluka. It is a crime to keep the fertile land uncultivated. It is bigger crime to convert the land for parking fruit carts, godowns, dance floors, scrapyards, garages, farmhouses cum residential complexes…all the villages in Goa need to come out with their annual cultivation and cropping plans and punish those who keep their lands uncultivated. Let Calapur, Morombim farmers lease out their lands to Taleigao, Chorao farmers... The only megaproject which Goans could undertake is the megaproject of ploughing the fields again at all costs Farms of Goa are not just pieces of land on cadastral survey maps. They are living natural and cultural ecosystems. There may not be farmers' suicides in Goa. But ours would be the only society to commit a mass 'harakiri' by orphaning the fertile farms. The point of no return is reaching soon... The day Goan society commits itself to till, plough every mm piece of land , not by compulsion but by inner conviction, as a sacred duty would be golden day for Goa. Actually that is the real message of festival like 'chavath'-worship of Lord Ganapati. But who cares? Let us wait for that day... -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Goa-launch of the well-received *Into The Diaspora Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho on Aug 29, 2010 (Sunday) at 11 am at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Meet the author, buy a signed copy (only Rs 295 in Goa till stock lasts). http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
[Goanet] Tribute to a Hindu father
I don't know what to say when some people question my being a Hindu by birth. Very few are interested in knowing about the pains I took for my religious and spiritual education in a family which was very ritualistic. My father was an epitome of Hinduism as he understood it from his perspective. My father Mukund Vishwanath Kamat would have been 93 years old on Aug. 24 th. He expired in October 2001. As I am getting older, I suppose, I can catch his life from a more mature perspective. He may forgive for any transgression. I know him as a very devout Hindu. I have not seen anyone performing a puja everyday for 4-5 hours, for more than 60 years, three times a day. Then there were pilgrimages, yadnyas, abhisheks at temples. We couldn't study at night when he chanted (japa) OM NAMAH SHIVAY four-five thousand times. The century old house with old fashioned tiles would reverberate with the chant. He would not stop till midnight. Then it would begin all over again in the morning, then in the afternoon, late. He would have the lunch at 4 or 5 PM. Once I asked him-Father why are you doing all this? He replied innocently- I am collecting 'punya' for all of you and for your kids when they would be born. He had full faith in karmavipaka. He never missed a single Hindu festival. We are branded GSB vaishnavaites owing allegiance to Partagali monastery. But my father was a polytheist. In his pantheon our family deity-Lord Ganesha was on top, followed by Lord Siva, then Lord Vishnu, Lord Ramachandra and Lord Krishna. But he also worshiped our sthandevata-Sri Damodar of Margao/Zambaulim. He was also fond of Lord Hanuman. Whatever he chanted we also memorized automatically. He fed the crows and cows without fail and no beggar went without food or alms He was cheerful in welcoming every guest. He never discussed the guest's religion or caste. Everyone shared the table equally. Actually I became aware about castes only later, in the college. As school going kids he imposed prayers on us and I blindly followed them for some years before starting my own exploration in the srutis and smrutis and vedanta. I began arguing with him on understanding the meaning of the Sanskrit verses. I gave him the translation of mantrapushpanjali. He was impressed. But he was unhappy as I gave up the normal rituals one by one. With some persuasion he had my thread ceremony. But I don't wear the sacred thread any more. At one point he thought that I had become a 'nastik- an atheist. But when he heard me reading the full text of srimadbhagavadgeeta after my uncle Jagganath Kamat expired, he changed his impression. there would be problems, it is Ok now since you've married Melinda he said while blessing my wife. But I knew that he was somewhat unhappy. He was worried about my younger sister Nilima's marriage after I married a Christian. In fact we as a couple were avoided like a plague for several years , like untouchables by all those near and dear, who were afraid that their sons and daughters would not find any match within the community ( and caste). it was only after they took care of their matches that diplomatic channels' were slowly opened. That was a face of the society which I had failed to recognise earlier. My father could not offer any rational explanation of these taboos, unwritten codes.. as we were suffering...he understood my despair but old age did not permit him to do anything...at least he did not disown a rebel son... Due to family objections me and Melinda had to leave the house on the day of our civil registration. A friend arranged accomodation for us. We had to build our nest from nothing, stick by stick... But we continued to interact with him. I gave him the books which he had no opportunity to read earlier. These included Dnyaneshwari, Tukaramachi gatha, Dasbodh, translations of major Upanishads. He immersed himself in reading these texts in the final phase of his life. Then my sister Nilima married John Eric Menezes. The almighty had taken care of divine justice. It was good to have John as my brother in law. He is very cultured and joins us in annual chavath family get together. My father taught us self respect-swabhiman. He used to say baithana to aise baithana ki koi na bole utth. bolna to aise bolna ki koi na bole zooth' To educate and feed a large family he slogged without rest. If he were to miss the last bus to Calapur-he would walk from Panaji to st Cruz even when it rained. He abhorred all types of self declared Godmen. They are frauds, he used to proclaim. I see his point now in the growing spiritual market. After he completed 80 years, he began losing his eyesight. That was the time I began interviewing him on family history. Our discussion turned to spiritual matters. I spent several evenings with him discussing vedanta. Then I lectured him on tatvam asi, aham brahmasmi' and Adi shankaracharya... He was impressed by Tarkatirtha Laxmanshastri Joshi's essays... now he was beginning to get other dimensions of
[Goanet] World’s first free educational video lectures on Genus Termitomyces (from Mycolab, Botany dept. Goa University)
World’s first free educational video lectures on Genus Termitomyces Some background:- So far 71 species have been catalogued in the paleotropical wild, edible mushroom genus Termitomyces. These are found in a belt stretching from sub saharan Africa, Yunan, Vietnam, Chinese Taipei to Phillipines-not to mention Indian subcontinent (from Srinagar to Andamans). It is a species grown exclusively by the fungus growing , mound building termites and has no independent existence. This association is 180 million years old. Despite a century of research it has not been possible to domesticate this species and cultivate it artificially like Button or oyster mushrooms. We are working at Mycology lab, Botany dept., Goa University to cultivate it artificially and also to produce the edible, flavoured , texturized mycoproteinin benchtop fermenters.We have world's largest collection of tropical Termitomyces cultures in our fungus culture collection. World’s largest edible agaric mushroom Termitomyces titanicus found in Zambia is the size of an umbrella (60-80 cms. across) , weighs 2.5 kg which one can carry home and cook!. Imagine growing it artificially. It would end the protein nutrition problem in world. Goans-mostly the first austric community discovered the edibility of Termitomyces spp. during hunting food gathering stage. Mycophagy in Goa thus dates back to paleolithic period. I named India’s largest Termitomyces mushroom species found in Molem sanctuary, Sanguem as Termitomyces santerei sp.nov. Kamat (1991). It is 27 cms across and weighed 160 gms. It is very rare now. I found world’s and India’s smallest Termitomyces mushroom species in Tiswadi island and named it Termitomyces gomantakiensis sp.nov. Kamat (1991). After a gap of 19 years I collected it again this year in market samples. About 25 years of my field research has yielded 30 species of Termitomyces in Goa, making our state the largest in world in genetic diversity of the species. No doubt this land is indeed blessed by the goddess of termite hill-Santeri , sankritized and iconized as Goddess Shantadurga! Goa gives less importance to knowledge and serious research based scientific activities. All the time people are discussing “practical value”, whether something from wild is tasty and can be cooked and consumed. Politicians and market forces are actively promoting plunder of wild species. Even the local mushroom sellers are not an exception. I was collecting marketed samples for research. They scolded me once-‘Hatun shikpachem bi kay na, ti vikti ghevon, khavapachi”. (there is nothing to learn from these olamis, purchase and eat them). The inexplicable craving of true Goans for taste of wild olamis-Termitomyces spp. can be explained in the chemicals which work on the brain. It gives a feel good feeling. We found an unidentified polysaccharide, a natural biolubricant ( locally known as lal) which the species produces at egg stage which people enjoy. The Chinese found Termitomycesphins A–D, Novel Neuritogenic Cerebrosides which have capacity to repair brain damage. In India most of the biochemical work on the species has been done since 1975 at Kokota's Indian Institute of Chemical biology-that too on a single species Clypeatus found in Goa as khut, khutyali, chochyali or toshali olamis. My late father, a mycophile, lost his temper when he read that I was trying to get a ban on commercial collection of the species from wildlife sanctuaries. The ban did not work out due to political interference in forest department. There is still nowild mushroom pickers' code' on Goa like UK, EU or some states of USA. It would be late when it comes... Plundering of wild mushroom habitat brings in windfall income. I have local wild mushroom trade statistics since 1985 compiled from informers across the state. This year the wild edible Termitomyces (olamis) fetched a record price-Rs.8- 10 each egg stage (kolo). That was the price I had paid in 1982 for a packet of 100. By end of this month the turnover would be Rs. 10 million. Bolkornem village in Sanguem itself sells mushrooms worth Rs. Ten lakh. A roadside seller at Dhulapi, near the Ciba factory made a cool Rs. 5000 in a day last month. The demand is growing. Even those who never tasted these wild species are now addicted to it. Even very immature stages are found in market samples. This is bad news for eco-conservation. Goans don't feel the need to get educated about the scientific aspects of the species which they consume. But there are other countries in the world which worship knowledge and value research. My efforts are now directed towards them. Since there is very little learning material in Afro-asian countries on Termitophilic mushroom species, I requested my culture technician Ms. Priyanka Shirodkar to record the following educational videoclip in our mycological laboratory at Department of on Botany, Goa University. It is in two parts. It was her first attempt of
[Goanet] Goa’s Transformed Landscape under Goo gle Earth
All those who were and are directly involved in preparing, supporting, blessing RP-2021 would be answerable to people of Goa for what has been revealed by latest imagery from Google. And it is foolish to accept overnight revolution in the same corrupt administration which would ‘implement’ RP-2021 to finish whatever that has been left by some cunning Goans conniving with Greedy Goans ( read the sick small advertisements offering properties, farms, plantations, houses to moneybags). It is unprecedented ecological, cultural and social ‘harakiri’ in the history of Asia by a neo-liberated colonized region. The imagery is our collective societal epitaph. Begin from Terekhol (already sold out) and end the Google journey at Polem-Galjibaga ( about to be sold out). The following article is just a pointer to what we can learn from tools which are denied to us in India by heavily funded ISRO and NRSA. We shall NEVER PERMIT banning of Google Earth in India. Goa’s Transformed Landscape under Google Earth Published in Sunday Panorama, The Navhind Times, on: August 22, 2010 - 02:31 *By Dr Nandkumar Kamat* *(Courtesy:-* * http://www.navhindtimes.in/panorama/goa-s-transformed-landscape-under-google-earth )** *Knowledge is power and democratisation of knowledge means the ultimate power. That’s why governments get worked up with Google Earth (GE). It makes you a vigilant citizen. You get hard evidence pictured from space - and these images never lie. It is evidence admissible in courts. Google Earth in a corrupt country like India is a democratic force multiplier. Combined with the power of RTI, Google Earth can force good governance. Google Earth underwent a radical change by replacing its’ five-year-old satellite image database with latest images. The image database is dated April 22, 2010. One has to read these images carefully because the salinity during summer has made all the coastal and estuarine water-bodies appear white. Only the freshwater parts are shaded blue. The government of India is not ready to offer such latest images free to citizens. ISRO’s Bhuvan project - a crude imitation of Google Earth with foreign plug-in fizzled out due to poor imagery, slow downloads and low resolution. Google Earth helps any citizen to compare any location at two different times - past and present - so the transformation can be easily seen. GE has a function called ‘Historical imagery’ (click on seventh button on the main Menu bar from right) which gives a synoptic view of the transformation of the landscape from November 4, 2002 to April 22, 2010. Having used GE regularly for the past five years, it was just difficult to believe that Goa’s landscape has transformed so much when I compared the older set of images of the same locations. If seeing is believing then take a look at the four-month-old high resolution satellite images of Goa’s traumatised landscape under Google Earth. If you have never practiced with Google Earth, just download the free version from http://earth.google.com/intl/en/download-earth.html. In minutes you can install and begin using it. It is a bit slow on a Dial Up connection but impressive with broadband. What is this landscape transformation? It is surface development - authorised and unauthorised, legal and illegal, in private and public sector. The green cover everywhere is seen much more fragmented. Panaji appears like a city waiting to be clean shaven-in a haste to get rid of its’ famous tree cover. The city did not look so ugly five years back when I wrote about it in this edition on June 15, 2006. All over Goa, settlements are eating into forests and areas with high tree cover. Townships are coming up close to natural lakes and reservoirs. Roads – legal or illegal are seen proliferating indicating systematic work to open new and inaccessible areas for real estate development. The huge private hotel project coming up within just 40 metres of Siridao bay (not a river as notified under CRZ) girdling the Bambolim beach appears as a distinct eyesore. But the CZMA would not be convinced even after measuring the distance using the ruler provided by GE. There is very little scope left in the eco-sensitive island of Tiswadi for spatial planning. The latest images show the pressure of urbanisation. Tiswadi is slowly reaching the point of no return - the maximum carrying capacity. And is it any wonder that in this island not a single place can be identified for sanitary landfill? Development around Bainguinim shows that these people would never tolerate a landfill in their backyard as property values may fall. So, highly urbanised Tiswadi is in danger of sinking under a pile of untreated solid waste. Even areas which were once thought out of reach and difficult to access are not getting spared. The uniformly green semicircular Curca-Santana-Gouli-Moula watershed is being engulfed by the outgrowth from the rapidly developing Kadamba plateau. The entire stretch of one of the finest urban
[Goanet] Fwd: You have photographed toxic Chlorophyllum molybdites mushrooms
Thanks Rico, This reply was sent within 17 minutes of receiving joeGoauk's query.In my previois promt reply it was exaplined to him that the mushrooms appearing in the images are toxic Chlorophyllum molybdites. The following additional email had an attachment of a research paper on the subject. -- Forwarded message -- From: Dr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.com Date: Fri, Aug 20, 2010 at 2:04 PM Subject: Re: You have photographed toxic Chlorophyllum molybdites mushrooms To: JoeGoaUk joego...@yahoo.co.uk For further information and to create awareness I am attaching one of the paper on poisoning from Chlorophyllum molybdites. see the pdf attachment. People unfamiliar with mushrooms should never collect mushrooms for consumption. There is a huge amount of literature on this subject. besides there is a fashion in Goa to attack anything from wild for consumption without any consideration to its' conservation status. All my efforts to create awareness on local wild edible Termitomyces species have been wasted. Checkhttp:// www.scribd.com/doc/11518620/Ecoconservation-of-Goas-Termitomyces-biodiversity This was presentation in a National seminar at Mangalore University. All mushrooms have ecological role and be left untouched in nature unless one collects samples for research. we are working on getting useful biochemicals, enzymes, natural pigments, drugs, antibiotics from Goa's mushrooms in our lab. We have so far catalogued 500 species of higher fungi of which 300 species are mushrooms. See my blog on Goa's mushrooms at http://mushroomsofgoa.blogspot.com/ where I have uploaded images of collection amde for research till July end... more images would follow... also check our mushroom research work at http://precedings.nature.com/documents/2835/version/1 http://precedings.nature.com/documents/4215/version/1 and a paper on a new strain of edible oyster mushrooms which we have developed at http://precedings.nature.com/documents/4213/version/1 perhaps you could send me images of mushrooms for research and teaching purposes. The location and date (possible georeferenced with Google earth) would be very useful. On Fri, Aug 20, 2010 at 1:44 PM, JoeGoaUk joego...@yahoo.co.uk wrote: thank you Sir --- On *Fri, 20/8/10, Dr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.com* wrote: From: Dr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.com Subject: You have photographed toxic Chlorophyllum molybdites mushrooms To: joego...@yahoo.co.uk Date: Friday, 20 August, 2010, 1:43 PM Your photographs show Chlorophyllum molybdites a toxic species. we have documented it since 1988 in Goa and it is very common on well manured ground and comes in fairy rings (full or half circles) . its' gills (underside) is pale green turning white. Do not consume it. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Demand Google earth based land use audit -Latest (april 2010) Google Earth satellite images of Goa reveal the bitter, naked truth-almost nothing left for spatial planning under RP-2021
Latest Google Earth satellite images of Goa reveal the bitter, naked truth about drastic change in land use It was a mistake/underestimate when I had written in one of the previous post that only about 72900 ha. Of land (about 729 sq.kms or 20% of Goa’s geographical area) is left for any kind of spatial planning under RP-2021. Actually even this area is under attack as the Google imagery indicates….if we study talukawise changes.. so with most of the areas being opened for development what is left for regional plan and regional (spatial) planning? Notwithstanding the fact that another high powered council under Dr. Mashelkar is preparing another plan for Goa upto AD 2025. How would it mesh with RP-2021 with the technologists and economists dominated council operating from Pune? But what do the latest (april 22, 2010) Google earth images show?. Ignore the white reflectance from saline waterbodies and marshes, this is a summer phenomena when salt crystals reflect light … the freshwater gives the normal blue colour I was aghast to look at vandalization of Tiswadi island…where I was born (Panaji) and thoroughly familiar with its’ origin, historical geography, topography through time…. You can use “historical imagery” feature of Google earth and catch the changes since 2003… and then you would realize that the whole time gaining business by town planners, architects, engineers in the name of RP-2021 was a smokescreen to permit these ‘developmental’ activities…as most of the damage has occurred post 2006…the ‘development’ is still under progress as the town and country planning dept. has washed off its’ hands… and the flying squad is rarely airborne…. A ring road around Calapur’s pristine Bondval lake? A concrete jungle in Malim valley? Hotels encroaching on Baga river? Scrapyards in Khazan fields of Merces, Taleigao? . Mud flat formation at mouths of rivers and creeks, and so on... And the havoc in the entire mining belt-in addition look at the new stone quarries, the bleeding hills… The high resolution imagery gave me a sinking feeling. I have an article on this issue for Sunday. Since the images are permissible evidence, our energies need to focus on pinning down the government with the satellite pictures….locationwise. Our village panchyats are small.. But I could see the RCC dust bin in front of my university allotted residential quarters very clearly in the latest images . so why not we have Village panchayatwise Goggle earth based audit?It is unfortunate that our own ISRO is not cooperative despite better images… Please spend some time on Google earth on location of your interest..this tool has to be used proactively and intelligently to suspend, stop, reverse what has been going on. This is not possible by giving legitimacy to RP-2021. It is hightime to dump it immediately and demand a Spatial use audit based on GE imagery and ground truthing. I am afraid, having known the function of the administration that RP-2021 would be used to disempower the unususpecting, simple folks of Goa (how many can purchase, read the TCP act, 1974?). -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Intellectual and culinary communion with mushrooms-An unique first hand expert Goan ethno-Termitomycophilic experience
Intellectual and culinary communion with mushrooms-An unique first hand expert Goan ethno-Termitomycophilic experience As if SHE had heard my prayers, the Mother Earth suddenly began blessing me by producing bountiful crops of edible Termitomyces mushrooms at my common house at Bondir, Santa Cruz, a phenomenon which I had never seen for 40+ years…… See the latest crops (august 2010) which I managed to save for filming and study Crops inside our garden http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrujRm8ClPI Crops over larger area http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYxrIy9yOKo The latest record shows that since September 2008, I have now three species-Termitomyces globulus, Termitomyces robustus and Termitomyces petaloides sp.nov. all from an area of less than 300 sq.mts….. My garden then became a living mycological laboratory for me, having done still and videophotography of the fruiting phenomena since 2008 and also detail biological studies in our mycology laboratory at Goa university… The videoclips at least those loaded on You Tube are certainly the only videos so far available on this genus and species from anywhere in the world!. Filming on the spot without professional gear was difficult.. more so at night… Last year we found a novel species –Termitomyces petaloides sp. Nov, Kamat, Desouza and Priolkar under finalization…we are sending it to either Mycological research (UK), Fungal diversity (Hong Kong) or Mycotaxon (USA) … Imagine, a novel mushroom species , new to science from one’s garden… That was not all.. Mother Earth was challenging me with new questions and puzzles… I had spotted nocturnal activity of land snails on these mushrooms. This year I videofilmed it. This adds a new dimension to our current understanding of the tropical food chains…watch these three short clips, the only such films in world/India, so far…we are studying biological and ecological significance of this trophic behaviour and the results would be published separately http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K50jgt4e0no http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj3JPmei_CU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c6COLE6KTM Besides, after such a bumper crop after taking care to leave behind half the mushrooms for maintenance of the ecosystem and to permit the termite workers to reinoculate their fungal combs.. why not have a feast? See our collection used for consumption as well as scientific studies…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLwrB4au7X8 Goa has a rich tradition of Ethomycophagy… We cook at least 50 recipes from wild edible mushrooms… So after harvesting the crop from my garden I interviewed my wife Melinda on the culinary art of cooking these wonderful species… How to cook “olamis” –some tips from Melinda…this is just glimpse, there is more to come on this delicious subject http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ0eGwaSz1I The intellectual and culinary communion would continue…we expect a few more crops in September, then probably in December and early January… -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Videosnippets of Centre for science and environment (CSE) regional workshop on Coasts at Goa University
Centre for science and environment (CSE) regional workshop on Coasts at Goa University CSE , New Delhi ( visit http://www.cseindia.org/) founded by eco crusader late Anil Agarwal which publishes the very informative environmental advocacy magazine ‘Down to earth’ (check http://www.downtoearth.org.in/) and does a service to the world by operating an information packed environmental portal (visit http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/ ) , led by the dynamic director , Padmashree Ms. Sunita Narain in association with GUJ organized a two day workshop for journalists on Coasts and Coastal communities at the conference hall of Goa University, on Aug. 13 and 14 which had a good response. Here are some videosnippets of concluding function on Aug.14. Some more videoclips would be uploaded soon. Part I of speech by Goa Chief minister Mr. Digambar Kamat http://www.youtube.com/user/nandkamat#p/u/10/lEPH5mVe4OY Part II of the speech by Goa CM Mr. Digambar Kamat where he mentions about special status to Goa and Pandit Nehru. http://www.youtube.com/user/nandkamat#p/u/31/ZnOK0TTL1PQ Part I of concluding remarks by eminent scientist, Padmavibhushan Dr. M.S. Swaminathan (he is remembered for the Ecodevelopment Task force report 1982 appointed by central Planning commission, which had forwarned the ecological disasters in Goa way back in 1982. The report was not fully implemented but had guided RP-1986-2001) http://www.youtube.com/user/nandkamat#p/u/30/tsY4rQl6tnQ http://www.youtube.com/user/nandkamat#p/u/30/tsY4rQl6tnQ http://www.youtube.com/user/nandkamat#p/u/30/tsY4rQl6tnQ Part II of Dr. Swaminathan’s remarks http://www.youtube.com/user/nandkamat#p/u/29/2HbjzF8tgUo -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Fwd: Videosnippets of Centre for science and environment (CSE) regional workshop on Coasts at Goa University
-- Forwarded message -- From: Dr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.com Date: Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 2:19 PM Subject: Videosnippets of Centre for science and environment (CSE) regional workshop on Coasts at Goa University To: goanet goanet@lists.goanet.org Centre for science and environment (CSE) regional workshop on Coasts at Goa University CSE , New Delhi ( visit http://www.cseindia.org/) founded by eco crusader late Anil Agarwal which publishes the very informative environmental advocacy magazine ‘Down to earth’ (check http://www.downtoearth.org.in/) and does a service to the world by operating an information packed environmental portal (visit http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/ ) , led by the dynamic director , Padmashree Ms. Sunita Narain in association with GUJ organized a two day workshop for journalists on Coasts and Coastal communities at the conference hall of Goa University, on Aug. 13 and 14 which had a good response. Here are some videosnippets of concluding function on Aug.14. Some more videoclips would be uploaded soon. Part I of speech by Goa Chief minister Mr. Digambar Kamat http://www.youtube.com/user/nandkamat#p/u/10/lEPH5mVe4OY Part II of the speech by Goa CM Mr. Digambar Kamat where he mentions about special status to Goa and Pandit Nehru. http://www.youtube.com/user/nandkamat#p/u/31/ZnOK0TTL1PQ Part I of concluding remarks by eminent scientist, Padmavibhushan Dr. M.S. Swaminathan (he is remembered for the Ecodevelopment Task force report 1982 appointed by central Planning commission, which had forwarned the ecological disasters in Goa way back in 1982. The report was not fully implemented but had guided RP-1986-2001) http://www.youtube.com/user/nandkamat#p/u/30/tsY4rQl6tnQ http://www.youtube.com/user/nandkamat#p/u/30/tsY4rQl6tnQ http://www.youtube.com/user/nandkamat#p/u/30/tsY4rQl6tnQ Part II of Dr. Swaminathan’s remarks http://www.youtube.com/user/nandkamat#p/u/29/2HbjzF8tgUo -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Poemoods:08-Celebrating Freedom
Celebrating freedom… I celebrate freedom… Freedom to say what I want and write, I am an Indian , I love India, India is part of my system, I live for India, I wish to die for India, Be part of same elements of which my ancestors had been part! This country has given me everything, The nutrients to carve me as a foetus, My mother’s nourishing milk, I never grew my own food, And never inquired while purchasing whether a farmer from Punjab grew my wheat, And whether my lentils came from MP and spices from Kerala, I just take my country for granted, every day.. Because I am free, I have freedom to cry, shout, curse, condemn, protest, exhibit anger, privately, publicly! I know there is no power to tie my hands, Imprison my pen, electrocute my thoughts, castrate my brain... Freedom is flourishing everywhere, getting stronger…louder In this country which was looted, raped and plundered, To build the mills of Manchester, And forge the Steel of Glasgow, And transport the affluence to Americas, Those who drank blood of India, Today are scared of India, Those who cut the thumbs of the weavers of Dhakka, Are wearing the Woolens of Ludhiana, Gentries who worried about India’s survival, Taste the Indian curry in Londoners hurry! I celebrate the freedom, Which made me what I am today, It is not my country which has let me down, We have let down our country, We wrote tomes on poverty, even got a Nobel prize, For theory of entitlement and economics of equity, But spent more money on pet food, Than throwing a morsel to satiate the nearest crying orphan on the footpath, Was there really a man like Gandhi in this country, A man who is not from Cinema? I have no complaints about my freedom, I have grievances against my countrymen, I wish I cut and paste Khalil Gibran here! But India is Not Lebanon! We talk, write and criticize a lot, We take sadistic pleasures in describing how this country is going to dogs, As if the rest of world has turned into a paradise, What is dictatorial China, a nation or an AC prison? Where is the comparison? India is India-there is no match.. visit Kumbhmela, Where else would I find 30 million people melted as one crowd? What is that magnetism which still binds the country? The charm which Jawahar attempted to discover? Aurobindo demystified, Vivekananda glorified, Rajneesh exported, blessed Mother Teresa embraced in humble service? A xenophobic country can not have 426 living languages, India’s borders were always unguarded, “find a plant which has no medicinal use’ had told Charaka’s teacher in University of Takshsheela, When Charaka had asked anxiously to his Guru in Ayurveda, “Master , when my education would end?” “it is over” had told the master, When Charaka returned empty handed. That’s the spirit of India. Discovery. Pursuit of Knowledge for the sake of Knowledge. Freedom fits this country like an inseparable bionic ornament! But we refuse to enjoy the freedom, “We, the people’ are real masters of our country, The power is WITHIN us… It was discovered in 1857, 1942, 1977… and forgotten… The Imperial Mauryans could have marched in Macedonia, Akbar could have conquered Persia, Marathas could have ruled Afghanistan, But India did not pursue such chakravarti agendas… Indians were happy in building a Borobudur, An Angkorwat somewhere, A stupa here, A zen garden there, We have let down this great country, this civilization, We have layers of gossips, but no pregnant news, Of hope, resurgence, reconstruction and repair, We cultivate tremendous self pity, A trait our children have picked up from us! Our individual poor self image, Collectively contributes to a nation’s self image, What use is this freedom, if I shop for new chains to bind me? What use is this freedom if I curse my own mother? What use is this freedom, if I don’t free myself, Who has stopped me? From self liberation? Where is that Sufi, a Kabir, A bulle Shah, A tagore? Why I refuse to compose the songs and sing for my self liberation? Somewhere inside I know, I may deny, but I know, That this soil is sacred, The elements of our ancestors are mixed in it! Having tasted the freedom, I need to be worthy of it, I have to rise from my own ashes, And see the country rise! That is our Karma, that’s our collective moksha, that’s independence, that’s freedom! Long live Indian people, the great Indian republic! Vande Mataram! Jai Hind! God Bless India! Somestachem Borem Zanv amcho des , amka panv Dr. Nandkumar M. Kamat August 15, 2010 Taleigao -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] 15 Videoclips to celebrate August 15 th
Celebrating International year of Biodiversity and the Independence day 15 Videoclips to celebrate August 15 th Watch my latest bio-videoclips The avian diversity in action! Birds of prey 1. The majestic flight of a Brahminy kite (Haliastur indus) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mbltBxoRDQ The ‘fisher’ …. Indian cormorant (Phallacocorax fuscicollis) loves our rainwater harvesting project 2. Fishing and swimming, diving action http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNJe7CCcGSM 3. Drying itself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2lCwGna6Po 4. Flying away after disturbed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVByC5MqpYQ The insects in action 5. The greedy (and ever enterprising) Wild honeybees (Apis) on wild Jasmine (Pavetta indica) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coMaXHTPoXs 6. Butterflies on Lantana bushes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dldObGZ5WE 7. A blinking ‘Photinus’ firefly on vegetation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLaC9TdbPe4 8. The sporting spirit of aquatic spiders (Megadolomedes australianus) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a6DZ9YjoPA 9. A praying mantis (Hierodula majiscula) camouflaged on leaves http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bUTdViQyQk Mushrooms Non Edible 10. Fairy rings of Agrocybe pediades on lawns http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5QrGyl8Y2I Edible 11. Termitomyces heimii-the wild mushroom species which Goans are destroying by overexploitation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaLEmV-BNe0 (Details of resource depletion at http://www.scribd.com/doc/11518620/Ecoconservation-of-Goas-Termitomyces-biodiversityand Ethnomycological aspects at http://www.scribd.com/doc/7458618/EcotheologyofTermitehillan-Indian-ethnomycological-connection-by-Dr-Nandkumar-M-Kamat) Wildflower festival 12. Watch large carpets of Neanotis, Justicia, Smithia, Ericaulon, Drocera (insect trapper) , Eutricularia (insect trapper) , Rhamphicarpa (five O clock flower –a root parasite of grasses) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akJ8VPTGMT4 13. Rhampicarpa longiflora –white Tutari flowers, dominate the campus Five O’clock flowers in heavy bloom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXYsZN33Bpk 14. Climate change favours five O clock flowers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeRIVuiyWw8 15. Innocence of water-an ephemeral monsoon stream in our campus counting it’s last days http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJj1kFPzZ9M -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Goa's Padmashree Dr. Suresh Gundu Amonkar on Dr. Jose Pereira and Hinduism
Padamshree Suresh Gundu Amonkar in response to the controversy over Dr. Jose Pereira’s paintings wrote a lead article for The Navhind Times, Sunday Panorama, Aug. 8, 2010. Despite his ill health Sureshbab has devoted himself to build a multicultural society full of love, peace and mutual respect… I had reviewed Dr. Amonkar’s historic, pioneer Konkani translation of Dnyaneshwari and Japji-the Sikh holy text. There is so much common ground in devotional music-gregorian chants, sufi music, choir music, shabad kirtan or Hindu bhajans and aartisDr. Amonkar sees one single sacred thread weaving the omnipotent and omniscient force!! Dr. Amonkar was warmly received and felicitated at Golden temple, Amritsar. He has cemented the bonds of understanding between different communities which distinguish our country. Every Konkani speaker need to read all his translated books-Dhammapada, Tirukurul, Bhagvadgeeta, Saint John’s Gospel and the rosal Konkani Dnyaneshwari. I wish the almighty may give him strength to render Al Ku-ra-aan , Zend Avesta and Talmud in Konkani. Multicultural unity had been strength of Goa. We must read the original texts ( and if possible good expert commentaries) of all the religions. Despite having studied Sanskrit at School for four years it took me 20 more years of deep reading to have an enlightened vision of Hinduism.Until then I was just a worshipper a follower of rituals. It changed the day when I began explaining the meaning of the prayers and mantras which my late father Mukund V. Kamat used to chant for hours. He was one of the most orthodox Hindu I had ever seen. I wish I could have explained him works of Karen Armstrong and Wendy Doniger. No doubt Actress Julia Roberts has also realized what is true about Hinduism, (and earlier Richard Gere about Buddhism) and this trend would continue in the west, so it is hightime that all Hindus rediscover themselves and Hinduism, there is so much to absorb! Dr. Amonkar says in his article…. “I recommend to all the champions and defenders of Hindu faith to launch a project of self-education - “Discovery of India” a la Nehru which should include reading of great scriptures – Dhammapada, Geeta, Guru Granth Sahib, Kural, the Four Gospels, works of all Indian Saint Poets as also the reading of Kalidasa’s ‘Kumarsambhava’ (after which they will never be scandalised) and a visit to the Khajuraho temples, viewing of Rajasthani miniature paintings after which no “defender of Hindu faith” will ever think of threatening a Hussain or a Pereira. A religion, to satisfy the largest proportion of mankind, must be able to supply food for all types of minds; and where this capability is lacking, the existing sects all become one sided.” Visit the following weblink to read the full article http://www.navhindtimes.in/panorama/defence-jose-pereira-and-hindu-faith Let us wish ailing Sureshbab good health and a long life! -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] An unique species of bioluminescent caterpillar discovered in Goa University campus!
Ga University, Taleigao campus favours beautiful bioluminescent creatures of night We hate wild vegetation and love manicured lawns, but it is the same wild vegetation which supports these fireflies. We must oppose any pesticide sprays on our campus. I am observing campus fireflies since 2001 May. This year these creatures appeared 10 days late, i.e. on May 31. Their season is from May to early November. But their overall number has decreased as campus illumination has increased. Until this year I had no information of their identity. Two species of fireflies Photinus and Photuris were identified in Goa University campus. I captured the Photuris species after the rains on May 31, 2010, night and Photinus on June 30, 2010, night. I am posting this information to Firefly watch, Museum of science, Boston. I work as a volunteer under their programme and report status of fireflies in our campus. Do visit this beautiful website https://www.mos.org/fireflywatch/ Perhaps you too could join this initiative…. It is intriguing why there are no scientific studies on fireflies in Goa. So I have posted some images for would be researchers/biologists/entomologists The link is http://picasaweb.google.com/Nandkamat/BioluminescentCreaturesOfNightAtGoaUniversity# It has two images of glow from a bioluminescent caterpillar from our campus. BREAKING NEWS! An unique species of bioluminescent caterpillar discovered in Goa University campus! This segmented caterpillar is hardly 5 cms long but at night on rainy days produces a strong, intense and persistent yellowish green glow like a beam from a laser light. I collected and handed over one live specimen to Dr. I.K.Pai, dept. of Zoology for further investigation. Another specimen was spotted in front of Faculty block A at night. Fortunately I had a camera with me. It was good to capture one of these on Videoclip-perhaps the only available in world on such a phenomena. So enjoy probably the first videoclip on You Tube in the world, on tropical grassland based bioluminescent caterpillar, that too from an environment familiar to all of us. http://www.youtube.com/user/nandkamat#p/a/u/0/qlncKL140Os Nature is great and it never stops me amazing!. One life would not be sufficient even to study our own campus biodiversity, even one single wild species in depth. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Fwd: All for just 72000 hectares-how civil society in Goa wastes its' energy!
-- Forwarded message -- From: Dr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.com Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2010 22:42:23 +0530 Subject: All for just 72000 hectares-how civil society in Goa wastes its' energy! To: goanet@lists.goanet.org do you mean that only about 7 hectares would be left for spatial planning Arch. Edgar Ribeiro who was taking down notes while we were discussing (not a presentation before RP task force) on Oct. 7, 2007 at CM's residence asked me... yes, that's it and therefore the whole RP business does not make sense to me I had replied. Now the government admits in the assembly that RP-2021 excludes 297400 hectares of ecosensitive areas. A fact which forest (govt. and private forests, mangroves) , agriculture, water resources (command areas) , environment (CRZ) etc. depts. always knew and about which I had always written. Goa's total area is (after excluding 700 hactres of area under island of Anjedives surrendered to Indian Navy) stands at 370300 ha. Delete 297400 of statutorily covered ecosensitive area. Then we are left with just 72900 ha. for any sort of land use planning. Remember this area is distributed over 189 village panchayats, 13 municipal councils and the CCP. A simple calculation would show on average just about 360 ha. per local authority. and for such a minuscule area Goa needs a regional Plan to tie everyone's hands legally, technically, cartographically-for next 11 years, esp. in villages!. A plan which no other smaller or larger state or union territory in India is interested to prepare. A plan which government views academically and as the panchayat minister has assured- Illegal constructions can be legalized Let us see the galaxy of saints who would implement the new regional plan for a mighty area of 72900 hectares (hundreds of talukas or tehsils in India are larger than this). An excellent example of how civil society in Goa wastes its' energy. Now it would be difficult to jump from the RP-2021 ship! be sure that by next assembly election people of Goa would be stripped of all their powers except casting the ballots! Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Big victory for Goa's culture vultures and heritage entrepreneurs-Assemby passes the draconian amendment to archaeological act. 1978 to stiffle public protests and 'interference'
August 4 th was a party day for Goa's culture vultures and the new and highly professional breed of heritage entrepreneurs in Goa! Finally their systematic lobbying has handsomely paid off. The government moved and passed with voice vote a seemingly innocuous amendment to ancient monuments and archeological sites act, 1978, the ONLY SUCH AMENDMENT ANYWHERE IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY but it is actually aimed to stiffle popular protests and resistance against any government plan in connivance with private parties But the same government, despite full powers could not move an amendment intelligently in the same act to make mining or quarrying impossible near the notified monuments... if that were to be done 20 % problems in mining areas would have been over esp. in Tamdi surla, Vichundrem, Rivona, Kolamb areas... Read the fine print of the amendment.. it is one more victory in the march of disempowering the people!. There was remarkable unity among all political parties including BJP over this... if government officers remove centuries old dressed stones and clandestinely supply to decorate private residences and hotels... post amendment nobody would be able to interfere, challenge, question! Henceforth no questions would be possible if a fashion ramp is built on a fort rampart, a coffee house is put up, a liquor bar or a souvenir shop is set up and an acid party is held-all in the name of adaptive reuse a convenient term for generating 'revenue' for maintenance' of the monuments...with zero local stakeholder participation! Same thing had happened in 1997 when amendment was moved to the Goa gambling act to permit offshore' casinoes! I was present in the old assembly lobby and had persuaded the opposition MLAs to stage a walkout after protesting We have seen the 'results' today of that amendmentthe riverine Casino culture And who benefits from such revolutionary amendments?. people and press in Goa takes ages to wake up!. The press suppresses news when it hurts advertisement interests. It has been revealed in the assembly that for every Rupee from public funds that is spent in the name of renovation of Goa's notified monuments, INTACH pockets a commission of 15 paise!. The MOU also reveals that INTACH would virtually run the show for 5 yearsand 15 years for Reis magos fort!. That MOU should have guided the commissioner CCP who is a small fish in the Miramar overbridge business! There were no global tenders, no competitive bids, no codal formalities before INTACH was hastily roped in in an election year...everything happened under right pulls and pressures by networking with right politicians and civil servants! Obviously skeletons would tumble once CAG smells a rat! Culture vultures would never smell any conflict of interests when everyone is interested in getting something leased out... did anyone make noise over the land held by Taj hotels on Aguada plateau? or the land illegally reclaimed within CRZ at Fontainhas for a private car showroom which has blocked the drainage of the area? There are hundreds of monuments in larger states but the governments there had never thought about amending the actI know why Goa government brought the amendment and that truth tells me that full scale auctioning of our land, our natural and cultural assets has now ACCELERATED! . it is big people, big money, big connections, excellent PR! I had warned individuals and NGOs that the government has found a way for backdoor privatisation under the name of adaptive reuse by amending the above act. Lady Helen Hamlyn would now have the last laughand all those patriots who went with a begging bowl to her when the government was sitting on a kitty of Rs. 21 crores!. The generous lady obliged and gave Rs. 35 million gift to Goa...but inexplicably ONLY for the strategically located Fort Reis Magos... The real fun would begin within two years, when the press and activists would suddenly wake up to taste the new revenue model. Now the state army would be at the gate to stop those who differ, disagree, protest and question!. it would be quiet a show with culture vultures aligning with people in uniforms! Our 'renovated secular historic monuments would be fortified gated communities!. A seven star hotel coming up (opening in December, may give run for money to Cidade de Goa and Mariott) at Bambolim as part of Aldeia project has now blocked our right to visit the pristine Bambolim beach...by 2012 entire coastline of Tiswadi from Cidade de Goa hotel to Dando, Agacaim would be fully privatised leaving out only tiny outcrops of rocks in intertidal areas I would resend this same email on goanet exactly after Two years!. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA * * * Was life in the *kudds* glamourised? Who said, It appears that the Goanese (sic) are a roving people, prepared to go to any part of the world for well-paid employment? How did Goans find their first toehold in the Gulf? Find your answers in Selma Carvalho's
[Goanet] All for just 72000 hectares-how civil society in Goa wastes its' energy!
do you mean that only about 7 hectares would be left for spatial planning Arch. Edgar Ribeiro who was taking down notes while we were discussing (not a presentation before RP task force) on Oct. 7, 2007 at CM's residence asked me... yes, that's it and therefore the whole RP business does not make sense to me I had replied. Now the government admits in the assembly that RP-2021 excludes 297400 hectares of ecosensitive areas. A fact which forest (govt. and private forests, mangroves) , agriculture, water resources (command areas) , environment (CRZ) etc. depts. always knew and about which I had always written. Goa's total area is (after excluding 700 hactres of area under island of Anjedives surrendered to Indian Navy) stands at 370300 ha. Delete 2974000 of statutorily covered ecosensitive area. Then we are left with just 72900 ha. for any sort of land use planning. Remember this area is distributed over 189 village panchayats, 13 municipal councils and the CCP. A simple calculation would show on average just about 360 ha. per local authority. and for such a minuscule area Goa needs a regional Plan to tie everyone's hands legally, technically, cartographically-for next 11 years, esp. in villages!. A plan which no other smaller or larger state or union territory in India is interested to prepare. A plan which government views academically and as the panchayat minister has assured- Illegal constructions can be legalized Let us see the galaxy of saints who would implement the new regional plan for a mighty area of 72900 hectares (hundreds of talukas or tehsils in India are larger than this). An excellent example of how civil society in Goa wastes its' energy. Now it would be difficult to jump from the RP-2021 ship! be sure that by next assembly election people of Goa would be stripped of all their powers except casting the ballots! Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA * * * Was life in the *kudds* glamourised? Who said, It appears that the Goanese (sic) are a roving people, prepared to go to any part of the world for well-paid employment? How did Goans find their first toehold in the Gulf? Find your answers in Selma Carvalho's *Into the Goan Diaspora Wilderness*. Buy from Broadways Book Centre, Panjim [Ph +91-9822488564] Price (in Goa only) Rs 295. http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/ * * *
[Goanet] Rise of Goa’s Cultural Censors
Rise of Goa’s Cultural Censors Published on: August 2, 2010 - 00:07 (Courtesy:-The Navhind Times, Goa, Monday, August 2, 2010) Original article weblink:- http://www.navhindtimes.in/opinion/rise-goa-s-cultural-censors *By Nandkumar Kamat** *Any serious student and practitioner of Hinduism who has cared to learn about the personality, life, work and scholarship of one of the greatest Goans of all times, Indologist Dr Jose Pereira would not agree with the intimidatory methods adopted by self-styled cultural censors of Goa who claim to represent the Hindus. The Governor of this state needs to take a serious view of this entire matter and send his confidential report to the President of India and also intervene immediately and proactively to correct the lethargy of the constitutionally established state of Goa in consistently neglecting, and at times, indirectly encouraging such acts of intimidation against artists and scholars. The police and administration of Goa is yet to prove its neutral and secular character. The government of Goa owes an apology to Dr Jose Pereira who has not visited Goa to get such ridiculous treatment in the name of safeguarding religious sensitivities. Dr Pereira, now crossing 80 years, is a victim of Parkinson’s disease. He has full right to be treated with respect, dignity and honour. The police of Goa had no business to judge the works of art and order removal of paintings. It was a knee-jerk reaction especially when the assembly was in session and the whereabouts of the Home Minister were not known. We are not under Taliban rule to be told about the alleged telephonic threats of decapitation which Dr Jose Pereira has received. Issuing a threat to a scholar’s life and the silence of the police and Home Department on this matter is a sign of things to come - the boost to Goa’s self-styled cultural censors. Hinduism, a multicultural ecosystem This is a very serious matter which should have occupied prime attention of the assembly in session because people of Goa have elected the 40 representatives to safeguard their mandate under our Constitution. To me, after 40 years of deep and still-evolving contemplation, rich spiritual insights, Hinduism is not just another religion but an entire religious, multicultural ecosystem. It is like an ever-growing, expanding Banyan tree with myriads of microhabitats within its folds. It is not so shallow and superficial so as to get offended by nude artwork representing epical, puranic and mythological entities. Its fathomless spiritual and philosophical depth is its greatest strength. This is offset by rising cultural schizophrenia so aptly commented by Wendy Doniger in her monumental treatise - ‘The Hindus’ - An Alternative History (2009). It is a text which every modern Indian Hindu needs to read seriously as an external scholarly peer review by an American non-Hindu Sanskrit scholar and Indologist. The painting from Orissa on the jacket of Wendy’s book too would have offended the self-appointed moral conscience keepers of Goa’s Hindus. It shows Lord Krishna riding a figure of horse made by topless dancing women. Doniger has made an interesting comment on this painting and therein lies the answer to understand the nude mythological figures in some of Dr Pereira’s works. Doniger says - “The glorious horse that graces the jacket of the book is an example of contribution of a foreign culture to Hinduism since composite animals of this type came from Persia and entered India with the Mughals, and an example of the intersection of court and village, as the image travelled from the Mughal court in Delhi to a village in the state of Orissa. It is an image of women almost certainly painted by a man. Depicting Lord Krishna as the rider on the horse makes the Muslim image a Hindu image and the rider on the horse is an enduring Hindu metaphor for the mind controlling the senses, in this case harnessing the sexual addiction excited by naked women. This multivocal masterpiece is, like Hinduism, a collage made of individual pieces that fit together to make something far more wonderful than any of them.” The self-styled censors The self-styled censors are overworking to destroy this collage and scatter the pieces. Is it not an irony that the only scholarly scientific research work of high merit on pre-Portuguese Hindu temple architecture and sculptures, hero and Sati stones, caves and man-made cave temples of Goa should come from a non-Hindu German Indologist, Prof Gritli Mitterwalner? The self-styled cultural censors would have objected to her discovery of an ancient temple at Taide, Sanguem depicting a sexual scene. But because of rational scholars like her, Hinduism has immensely benefitted. This is also the lesson from the Indian renaissance post-Raja Rammohan Roy. If the government gives a free hand to cultural censors of Goa then it would be impossible to host an International Sanskrit conference or Indology conferences here because the censors would
[Goanet] “nudism” in Dr. Pereira’s paint ings and criticism of Laxman’s ‘Last supper ’ Carton - In which century are we living?
“nudism” in Dr. Pereira’s paintings and Laxman’s ‘Last supper’ Carton In which century are we living? (Then Jesus said, Father forgive them, for they know not what they doLuke 23:24) ( Avidnyatam vijanatam, vidnyatam avijanatam- Kathopanishada – “those who think that they no nothing , understand everything but those who claim to know everything know nothing) What is superior?. The creative impulse of the artist who has no axe to grind with any religions of human origin OR the label of religion which is stuck on his forehead? Is it the religious denomination of the artist which has started bothering some of the critics, the agitators, the fascist forces, the self styled censors? ARTIST AS A *'CHRISTIAN'* Crystallized and personified innocence-the wise man among the Goans-his name in this mortal existence-Jose Pereira, religious label -Roman Catholic is hated because ‘nudism in his paintings’. ARTIST AS A *'HINDU'* Another giant of an artist -who took the brush from the classes to the common masses-R.K.Laxman, a Hindu in his mortal existence is taken to the task for reinvention of ‘Last supper’. I thought after viewing the cartoon that Lord Jesus would have approved it. The central message of the cartoon is universal message of Christianity and true Roman Catholicism. It all depends on what one reads from the cartoon-there are layers of meaning and interpretation but it is a modern masterpiece. HE would have said after noticing criticism of Laxman-‘ God What if a controversial, non conformist Goan painter Francis Newton Desouza or our own Mario Miranda were to draw that cartoon?. Perhaps a different yardstick would have been used… So what we have now are two unwanted controversies…do these make any real, logical, objective sense, especially to those who are well read in history of religions and art ? 'HINDU ART ' BY A 'CHRISTIAN 'ARTIST Take opposition to Josebab’s paintings. I did not find anything objectionable because I am a serious student of Indian philosophy, art, architecture, vedic and non vedic Hinduism. I had given two public lectures in Marathi at Margao on Vatsyayana’s Kamasutra ( the first ever in history of Goa) in front of a sizeable middle class Goan audience without any controversy. These were organized by Sanskrit Pracharini Sabha, Margao devoted to promotion of world’s oldest and richest language. If nudism in Josebab’s paintings is opposed because it injures the Hindu sentiments and is considered vulgar by those who claim to be the self styled guardians of Hinduism, then by the same yardstick all the aniconic temples of Lord Siva/ Rudra/Mahadeva which have installed the Lingams, his sculptures depicting him as mahayogi (urdhva-retas-one who could reverse the flow of sacred semen) and the whole cult of Matrika or nude mother goddess worship could also attract a ban/opposition. What about plain erotic verses in Kalidas’s Ritusamhar and in Jaideva’s Gitagovindam?. And closer to the headquarters of the radical Hindus-Marathi scholar R.C.Dhere’s classical Marathi monograph –Lajjagauri (the nude goddess)?. Would the constitution of India permit free artistic expressions or promote revisionism? Would the radical Hindu forces also demand ban on procession of Naga sadhus and elaborate description given by Marathi novelist Go.Ni.Dandekar of their strange rituals? Would the radical Hindu forces demand a total ban on sub-continent’s tantric traditions? Having born in an orthodox Hindu Brahmin family, after having studied Sanskrit and original works on Hinduism, I discovered by the time I became a graduate, that my Hinduism is not just a religion, a label or a denomination to me-it is a complex, religious, assimilative, liberal cultural ecosystem. It has no single leader, no single sacred text, neither a founder and it doesn’t get dogmatic about its’ texts. It anticipates the rise of new prophets and religions and is prepared to coexist with them. It says –“ekam satyam vipra bahudha vadanti’ (the wise people say the same thing in different manner). Unfortunately it drifted terribly after the Buddhist resurgence and Islamic onslaught from its’ noble upanishadic roots. Josebab’s paintings is a tribute to all encompassing spirit of Hinduism. He is a very humble man. His artistic consciousness had launched him in a time machine and that’s what he experienced as if in a tantric trance. A composite reading of all his work pertaining to Indian cultural ethos would convince anyone born as a Hindu that his paintings is a service, an artistic interpretation and not a defamation. Josebab’s nude paintings would attract a massive response at Benares, Vrindavan, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Bhubaneshwar, Tanjore, Baroda, Gauhatti if exhibited there… There is something basically very wrong in the way Josebab’s paintings have been attacked…probably the paintings, or the exhibition is not the real target, the Jesuit managed XCHR is, could be, it is for CID, IB to investigate…after all Porvorim is
[Goanet] How forces destroying Goa are made statutorily stronger-retired scientists get rehabilitated on powerful statutory posts again and again
My indologist Guru ,Dr. Josebab Pereira says prophetically, 'THE FORCES DESTROYING GOA ARE MUCH STRONGER THAN I AM' But who's making these forces stronger-?. all those who are willingly or unwillingly involved in disempowering people of Goa and those who see no conflict of interests when such forces are made still strongerexamples follow.. No conflicts of interest now?. How retired scientists from NIO get rehabilitated on statutory posts again and again….? All the anti-mining, anti mass tourism, anti industrial pollution, anti privatization, anti mega housing project, anti SEZ et al activists please take note if forces destroying Goa need to be made weaker and not stronger. This is the biggest news for you in 2010. It all depends how you make this committee work and hold them accountable and responsible if they just sit idle, go against spirit of the act and people of Goa. The latest notification by MOEF on appointment of State EIA appraisal committee needs a studied response from all those , individuals, activists and NGOs, who know or need to know what it is and how it is going to make a vital difference in mining, non mining, industrial and tourism areas, including housing megaprojects. What I find striking now is -there are three very senior retired NIO scientists ( one on Goa CZMA, almost a ‘life member’; another as chairman GSPCB, and third one recently appointed on a EIA appraisal committee) who have been rehabilitated on powerful statutory committees and shockingly nobody sees any ‘conflict of interest’ in such appointments…esp. when the projects and issues which they handle can make a huge difference for the future of Goa. There are some questions:- 1. How retired scientists from NIO get suitably rehabilitated (sometimes for three terms) as chairman of the very powerful statutory Goa state pollution control board? 2. As working scientists they are not known to have taken any position (unless briefed to do so on case by case basis as I observed while conducting public hearing on Miramar beach privatization) in their entire research career on issues of public interest despite constitution, working conditions not forbidding them ( exceptions are Kalidas Sawkar, Antonio Mascarenhas, salute them), but no one sees any conflict of interest when they may deal with the same corporate clients for whom they had done paid consultancy work (check paid Environmental impact assessment (EIA) consultancy work by NIO on NIO’s website, under individual researchers’ page) 3. Interestingly we find a lot of favoritism again when the chairman, GSPCB recommends and appoints NIO scientists (working or retired) on the powerful technical committee of GSPCB? . so then it becomes an all NIO affair- a new form of “insiders’ trading’. Is there no conflict of interest in such decisions?. 4. If it pricks the conscience of any activists (with or without sponsorship from United Churches of Canada, IDRC, Helen Hamlyn Trust etc) in India or abroad- please justify the nomination of engineers, chemists and geologists on Goa’s State EIA appraisal committee. What is their experience in EIA?. Again the technical committee is headed by a retired NIO chemical oceanographer. 5. How these people would deal with the projects of their ex corporate clients?. It is the total spinelessness of Goa state pollution control board which has resulted in Goa’s present environmental and ecological tragedy. We haven’t heard clamor for demanding resignations from people on statutory positions who have clear conflict of interests when they are supposed to be fully ecofriendly and people friendly and not politician or minister or investor friendly. “He would create problems for the government” – a retired and much deified NIO ex scientist had opined when a senior government officer had proposed my name as a potential non official new member to the Chief secretary of Goa (CS) when the issue of reconstitution of Goa CZMA came up a few years ago (not recently). The CS had then readily dropped the idea. The officer was taken aback because the scientist could offer absolutely no reasons but he was successful in poisoning the mind of CS. My well wisher officer could understand the gut level hatred and discomfort. This had become noticeable and pronounced in the society after I had married Melinda -a Roman catholic at Old Goa’s se cathedral. My wife says-“ it is just jealousy. People don’t disclose the real reasons why they hate you and this would continue till you live in Goa!”. In his Visit and interaction/public hearing on CZMA at the auditorium of Agnel Polytechnic, Verna, on Aug. 30, 2009 the Hon. Minister for environment and forests, Mr. Jairam Ramesh declared- anyone in audience may write to me why Goa deseves a special case. It was not this ex NIO scientist or any other member of CZMA or govt. officer but I, who went home and by night, in public
[Goanet] Ravindra Kelekar: A Cultural Institution
Ravindra Kelekar: A Cultural Institution Published on: July 25, 2010 - 22:58 BY NANDKUMAR KAMAT (Courtesy, The Navhind Times, Monday 26 July 2010) (http://www.navhindtimes.in/opinion/ravindra-kelekar-cultural-institution) ON July 31, the prestigious Dnyanpeeth Award would be conferred by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Ms Meira Kumar on veteran Konkani writer, scholar and philosopher, Ravindra Kelekar, affectionately called ‘Ravindrabab’. This is also an honour to Goa and the Konkani language which figures in the world’s top 125 living languages. The ceremony would take place at Kala Akademy, Goa. Goan identity, Konkani and Ravindrabab have become synonymous. No writer in the post-liberation era of Goa had been as influential as him in exerting and asserting moral and ideological influence on younger generations. The Dnyanpeeth Award crowns his stellar service of more than 60 years to culture and literature. At the age of 85, Ravindrabab towers in the contemporary Goan society as a guiding light of knowledge and wisdom. He has been a cultural institution himself. He has influenced and moulded at least 3 generations of Konkani writers and set out a clear political, social and cultural agenda for Konkani language and literature. By participating actively in politics and being a torch-bearer of the movement to oppose Goa’s merger with Maharashtra, Ravindrabab carved a separate and exclusive niche for himself distinguishing him from the puritans who considered literature as merely a single-minded apolitical creative activity. His pointed and hard hitting editorials in the literary magazine which he had founded–the ‘Jag’ Konkani monthly made Goans sit up and think. Jag continues to be the only exclusively literary and oldest Konkani monthly in the world today. Ravindrabab offered this literary platform to young writers who then blazed their own trails on Konkani’s literary horizon. Goa’s own Kakasaheb Kalelkar As a great bibliophile and voracious reader of world literature, Ravindrabab set high standards for writers and contemporary Goan thinkers. Four decades ago he said that Konkani would need to promote new subjects like ecology and cosmology. He may be one of the few writers in India possessing an astronomical telescope and spending hours watching the night sky from his courtyard at Priol. Considering the need to present astronomical knowledge scientifically before the Konkani speakers, Ravindrabab came out with a Konkani book on Astronomy–‘Brahmandatale tandav’. He was one of the first writers in India to recognise the need for books on ecology and environment in Indian languages. Exposed to contemporary trends and currents in global and national literature, Ravindrabab’s life was enriched by the great Gandhian scholar, Kakasaheb Kalelkar. Today for the five million strong Konkani speakers scattered in more than 100 nations, Ravindrabab is Goa’s Kakasaheb Kalelkar. His simplicity, non-assuming and affectionate personality, deep humility before the literary greats and above all his almost fanatic single-minded faith in the future of Konkani society, culture, language and literature made him a hero of the Goans during and after the Opinion Poll. Ravindrabab recognised the 3 aspirations of Goans–recognition for Konkani as the official language of Goa, statehood and inclusion of Konkani in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Between 1984-1992, these dreams were realised after a lot of action, advocacy and struggle. Forseer of Problems facing Goa When he appeared on Konkani’s literary horizon, there were only a handful of Konkani books published every year. Since then Konkani has come a long way thanks to all-round efforts of publishers, writers and scholars. Konkani publications are flourishing. Very soon the state of Goa alone would publish more than 100 Konkani books per year. One of largest dictionaries in any Indian language–a 2029-page Konkani illustrated dictionary published by Panaji’s Rajhauns shows the power and potential of the modern Konkani language and its’ linguistic, lexicographic scholarship. Such an effort would not have been possible without Ravindrabab’s moral and intellectual support and creative inspiration at critical times. A nationalist to the core, he had foreseen the problems which the collapse of Goa’s traditional occupational structure, rise of parallel economy and uncontrolled migration would cause. His writings reflect a practical approach to Goa’s sustainable development. Most of the ecological problems in Goa today-urbanisation, pollution, illegal mining, death of agriculture have arisen because Ravindrabab’s timely advice through his numerous articles and speeches was not heeded. He appealed the young Konkani writers to become fighters-activists who would be able to make a difference. That’s how writers like Udaybab Bhembre, Pundalik Naik, Dilip Borkar and N Shivadas came forward from time to time to lead public movements. Ravindrabab constantly
[Goanet] VideoPoem shot on the location devoted to aquatic bubble universe
While photographing a monsoon stream in our campus ( it feeds our Bondval lake) , this spinning vortex, a dynamic nursery of bubbles was noticed and on the spot as I tried to hold the Sony cybershot camera steady, came out a poem spontaneously as I was transfixed by the rotating motion and the vortex reminded me of all the motion in the spinning universe and also the theory of bubble universes in cosmology. The vortex continued to spin with the momentum of the flow of the stream which also reminded me of the flow of time on the fabric of space creating space time continuum... http://www.youtube.com/user/nandkamat#p/a/u/0/xG51k7v4CeE The stream is being barricaded by a new compound wall coming up and this may be the first, last and final videoclip of the vortex phenomenon at those coordinates in the spinning universe and our spiral milky way galaxy.. irrespective of the scale, perhaps nature acts in a way to send a message..beauty in simplicity! -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA * * * IS YOURS one of the stories of Goans on board the S.S. Dwarka, or at the Strait of Hormuz, Basra or Bahrain, Dubai, Swindon, Mombasa, Poona or Rangoon? Selma Carvalho's new book *Into the Diaspora Wilderness* docks at many other ports. Get your copy from Broadways, Panjim [9822488564] Rs 295. Pp extra. http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
[Goanet] The ridiculous and wholesale cheating b y Task force on RP-2021-What happened on Sunday O ctober 7, 2007 at CM’s residence?
REPORT: A presentation which was never given officially-and never before a MS , task force who joined in his jogging shorts at CM’s residence - an informal briefing meeting –The ridiculous and wholesale cheating by Task force on RP-2021-What happened on Sunday October 7, 2007 at CM’s residence? Politicians have their own ways, Media its’ own, NGOs have their own ways, the religious bodies have their own ways and the Government has strange ways to engage people…theiir best policy is hide information and keep one guessing, use when convenient and throw in dustbin…this is a truthful account of how an informal meeting and information given in good faith has been conveniently converted as “my presentation before the Task force RP-2021”. A RP-2021 prepared with falsehood is doomed to fail. For sake of posterity and keep the records straight I am constrained to bring out all the facts, there is absolutely nothing to hide...this is just a Zalak! I submit (let the MS, task force produce the copy of invitation sent to me or any other records and also explain who invited me and how for the so called meeting with CM on Oct 7, 2007) and stand by the statement that I HAVE NEVER GIVEN A PRESENTATION BEFORE THE TASK FORCE ON RP-2021. In fact I did never receive any cooperation to create awareness on the folly of going for a RP-2021. Check the mail pasted below. It is dated 25 august 2007 much before Task force on RP-2021 came into existence (on 5/10/2007). It reads urgent-for uploading on GRN, Goanaet etc.-The Model town and country planning act, 1998 Reply | Dr.Nandkumar Kamat to fredericknoron. show details 8/25/07 fromDr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.comtofredericknoro...@gmail.com dateSat, Aug 25, 2007 at 7:10 PMsubjecturgent-for uploading on GRN, Goanaet etc.-The Model town and country planning act, 1998mailed-bygmail.com hide details 8/25/07 I am sending the pdf file of page scans of Govt. of India's model town and country planning act (draft) 1998 (prepared to enforce 73 rd and 74 th amendments) which was sent to town and country planning dept. , Govt. of Goa, in 1998 for repealing the old TCP act, 1974. The Goa government organized a one day technical convention at Yatri Niwas in October 1998 where this act was circulated. Then the politicians developed cold feet because they felt that nothing would be left for them if the old TCP act is repealed and this one after deliberations etc. is passed. I had actively participated in this technical convention. Actually right from December 2006, GBA should have insisted on passing this act with suitable, people, eco and Goa friendly amendments. The GBA activists were sent a copy of this act in January 2007 through Adv. Satish Sonak of GPF. Basically, this act need to form the basis of any discussion even before you start talking of a new regional/perspective plan.But for reasons best known to it, GBA does not want to discuss about this precious document. Although the quality of some scanned pages is poor I request you to upload it at GRN, Goanet and as many sites as possible so that people who are going in wrong direction understand the importance of this model legislation and how it can empower local self government bodies.Politicians however, would be very happy to amend the old Goa TCP act, 1974 and not to commit themselves to repeal it and pass the new one ( a modified draft from 1998 model act). I am also sending by next mail the note which I had prepared for the committee set up by CSJP In october 2005, a full 14 months before GBA formation. I stand by all the points in that note and reiterate that:- 1. Repeal old TCP act, 1974 and begin public debate and hearings on the above model draft act, 1998 2. Order CTP, Goa to submit progress/failure report on regional plan 1987-2001 (old regional plan) 3.order Performance auditing of Goa state land use board and Goa state land resources management committee whose non action/inaction was responsible for RP-2011 mess and reconstitute both these bodies 4. Scrap all PDAs permanently 5. Scrap all ODPS (these are useless without CDPs) 6. Transfer interim powers ( till new mecahnism under new TCP act becomes active) for land use planning to local authorities consistent with 73 rd and 74 th amendments, to control these powers the gramsabhas to set up special committees 7. Implement recommendations of V.A. Pai Panandikar committee report on State finance commission 8.Consistent with unanimous resolution of Goa assembly of Jan. 18, 2002-appoint a task force for sustainable urbanization. Open the file which had recommended eminent town planner and architect Mr. Edgar Ribeiro to head the task force. 9. The new 10 year perspective plan is to be prepared only after old TCP act is repealed and new TCP act is passed. 10. Draft an act taking into consideration public opinion to debar the sale of land in Goa to outsiders on lines of Himachal pradesh and Uttarakhand The above may be quoted or referenced as 'Dr. Nandkumar
[Goanet] Fwd: Remind Goa CM about RP promise, GBA to MLAs
Enough is enough. Before a point of no return is reached people should demand complete scrapping of RP-2021,(an excellent academic exercise in cartography now there is another Plan for Goa till 2051 to be prepared by an elite committee Under Dr. R.A. Mashelkar) , also demand dissolution of all the corrupt PDAs, implementation of first and second state finance commission reports, restructuring and reactivation of state land use board (check work done by Kerala counterpart) and the land resources management committee deliberately kept defunct there is a long list of things which Goa actually needs but GBA has gone in a direction entirely misguided by urban centric architects, engineers and professionals who may not have seen all 380 villages and 45 towns in Goa and the actual political, administrative and social realitybesides there is a calculated bias against the village panchayats as if 50 % population in urban Goa sports only saints and prophetsRP-2021 is of and by those who sit on 70% wealth of GoaLET ME RECORD HERE FOR POSTERITY-RP-2021 WOULD BE THE BIGGEST BLUNDER IN GOA'S POST LIBERATION HISTORY AFFECTING MORE THAN HALF A MILLION UNUSPECTING POWERLESS POPULATION WITHIN NEXT FIVE YEARS DIRECTLY. -- Forwarded message -- From: Dr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.com Date: Wed, Jul 21, 2010 at 6:52 PM Subject: Re: Remind Goa CM about RP promise, GBA to MLAs To: roger dsouza rdsg2...@gmail.com The biggest mistake of GBA was to cooperate with the govt. to prepare RP-2021. GBA thinks that TCP would act like a superdepartment. Governments don't act like that. This is my humble observation for past 33 years and I have worked much more intensively with all kinds of politicians and technocrats. Governments need to be kept under check by making them draw and commit to policies and through people friendly legislations and by getting powers decentralised.. We don't need a RP for forest areas, area under industrial estates, area specified under command area act, 1997, are under CZMA, area under captain of ports jurisdiction, MPT, military camps etc. for that matter any area under control of existing central and state acts beyond the jurisdiction of TCPD. GBA has failed to understand that a regional plan even under the present TCP act is useless until all supporting mandatory plans-ODP, CDPs and TPs have been ready. These were not preapred within the stipulated 3 years period read by the end of 1977-80. GBA has failed to get convinced that no other state is interested in a RP. NCT has a master plan thanks to Mr. Ribeiro. GBA has also failed to understand right from the beginning that considering the small sizes of our 380 revenue villages it is the local authorities which would do all spatial planning and there is limited role in a small state like ours for a TCP board As I had explained to Mr. Riberiro and Arch. Charles Correia at CM's residence just before the task force notification was out in 2007, the planning is left for only 80,000 hectares and for that we don't need a town and country planning board sitting in Panaji dictating things to a farmer in Pernem Mr. Ribeiro could see the future and wisely he resigned and left... but GBA stuck like a limpet...to the same corrupt administration hoping somehow that a new RP would create a new, clean working culture All the political parties thank GBA for the following:- 1. For not insisting on comprehensive land reforms 2. For not insisting on surface land utilization policy (without which spatial land use plans have no value) 3. For not insisting on Goa state natural resources management policy 4. For not insisting on a housing and habitat policy favourable to local ecology and local ethos 5. For not insisting on state rehabilitation policy and act for project oustees affected by developmental projects 6. For not insisting on reactivation of Goa state land use board and state land resources management committee 7. For not inisting on total repeal of outdated TCP act, 1974 and passing of the model TCP act, 1998 which could have been introduced in 1998 itself 8. For not insisting on implementation of the first (V.A. Pai panandikar) and second (Mr. Alban Couto) finance commission reports to empower local authorities and further for fully cooperating with the government to prepare a regional plan friendly to town planners,architects and engineers under an outdated act which no other state has ever prepared. 9. For supporting the continuation of all the present corrupt PDAs and not demanding their immediate dissolution 10. And above all by helping to deny the peoples' power to the people and by promoting only the urban lobbyists All the political parties in the state are unanimous in denying microplanning powers to local authorities and they are very pleased with GBA's performance so farit is unprecedented in Goa's post liberation history You would see the reality once the dreaded RP-2021 gets notified
[Goanet] A literary bombshell from a writer who aimed to create his own school of aesthetics and literary criticism in Marathi
A literary bombshell from a writer who aimed to create his own school of aesthetics and literary criticism in Marathi I have never waited so eagerly to pounce on the oven fresh copy of Prof. Bhalchandra Nemade’s latest and much awaited Marathi novel- “Hindu-jaganyachi ek samruddh adgal’. This novel would change many stereotypes in Indian literature. (please view his interview in Chennai's the Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/lr/2010/07/04/stories/2010070450080300.htm) I booked a copy with Mr. Mahesh Angale of Sharadiya Vitaran and almost every day I bother him. I may get in a day or two. It seems that first edition was sold out last week- a record in Marathi, but not something unexpected for a language of 100 million speakers. I shared beautiful moments with Prof. Nemade when he was at Goa University for a few years. While I was residing at Calapur-St Cruz he was staying at Merces and he used to often give me ride on his old scooter. I have dedicated a Marathi poem to him. When I was elected as president of Post graduate students union at Goa University, we felicitated him for joining as a new faculty. He was all for support of small languages like Konkani. A lot of publicity hype has been created on this novel-but the Anglocentric world is unaware of this new cultural phenomenon. It may generate a fresh debate on nature of Hinduism and how it has been distorted over centuries...Dr.Nemade has virtually dropped a bombshell in Maharashtra...the ripples would now spread across the Hindi belt.. Sequels are likely to follow as Dr. Nemade promises. He is now 72 and very active. At present I am reading Selma Carvalho’s book on Goan dispora. First impressions are good after finishing 20 pages. We know very little about our Goan brethern abroad. More such thematic writings are required from Goans settled all over the world. Their present nationality does not matter. A true 'goenkar' would always remain a 'goenkar' at heart. I wish this book could be translated in Konkani. Goa Konkani akademy may be pleased to support. More about Selma's book after I finish reading it...and more about Dr. Nemade's novel once I devour it. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA * * * Read Selma Carvalho's warmly-received book *Into the Diaspora Wilderness*, a journey through Goan life in Africa, the Gulf, England and North America ... gripping and well-told real-life stories. See http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/ Buy in Goa via Broadway Book Centre, Panjim. Ph 9822488564. * * *
[Goanet] No conflict of interests now?-Liberal critical comments welcome once again....
The highly selective approach of the conscience keepers of Goa would be seen in their stand on the following issues where obviously the 'conflict of interest' is either not detected due to poor homework or because there is a tacit understanding that these personalities deserve permanent exemption.Besides there are fundamental issues ( policies, legislative reforms, administrative mechanism, decentralization of powers to grassroots) to be addressed on the purpose and mandate of the so called TCP review committee that too under an officer who has been accused to shield mining interests and ironically 'prepared' both goa mining policy' and goa forest policy which are awaiting cabinet clearance. After a careful thought I am constrained and compelled by conscience to paste some old correspondence ( make a composite reading of all three e-mails annexed below) on Regional plan and related issues. Examine three latest developments:- 1). Government shelves City development plan (CDP) of Margao MC Questions- a) Who prepared the plan at Govt. cost? Answer:- Arch. Rahul Deshpande and associates Incidentally Mr. Deshpande also happens to be the paid ( and prize winning too, we appreciate that) architect of GSSIDC and also a member of an important decision making task force on RP Goa 2021-would the conscience keepers ask Mr. Deshpande to make his choice now?. A panchayat member is disqualified if he/she takes government contracts. 2). GOAMAP criticism of ex-NIO biologist, mangrove champion Dr. Aravind Untawale GOAMAP commented-GOAMAP also condemns scientist Arvind G. Untawale, former director of National Institute of Oceonagraphy, Dona Paula who has prepared report for Goa Governemnt declaring that there are no mangroves in Pachwadi to benefit Sesa Goa mining company. GOAMAP advises Dr. Untawale and other scientists not to indulge in unethical practices to favour mining industry. I have not seen or studied the report. Nobody can doubt Dr. Untawale's knowledge , expertise and interest reg. mangroves. So it is difficult to believe the comments if we read what he had said in Mumbai-check the news item-Report indicts CIDCO, MHADA, MMRDA(check the weblink http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/8501673.cms ). Dr. Untawale had done excellent consultancy for Industrialist Godrej foundation leading to conservation of pristine mangroves at Wikhroli. But Panchwadi is an ecosensitive area where no mining should be allowed at any cost. I am trying to get a calling attention motion on this issue in Goa assembly. GOAMAP could help. But is there no conflict of interest if Dr. Untawale continues to be a member of CZMA almost from the beginning all these years?. And why there is a retd. geologist sitting on CZMA?. Is there no conflict of interest?. Another geologist/marine scientist is member secretary of Goa state biodiversity board- How he would reconcile the interest of mining companies and biodiversity conservation? 3). Constitution of govt. committee on review of TCP act, 1974 I maintain that RP-2021 has to be dumped, scrapped immediately and all those who helped in laying down this dangerous trap owe an immediate apology to people of Goa. Spatial planning powers to be fully decentralised. State land use board and land resources management committees need to be recast and activated. RP-2021 would ensure with better maps, GIS etc. programmed, stepwise, intelligently planned systematic, externally aided destruction of Goa. The folly would be realized once harassment of the people post notification begins. It is different matter that I had campaigned in favour of Model TCP act, 1998 was an active and integral part of CSJP's pre GBA deliberations in 2005 (see E-mail ANNEXURE 1-the draft of letter/ press release which I had assisted to revise and ponder whether GBA has received answers to the issues raised way back in Dec. 2005by an important organ of the Church itself) and in all sincerity made suggestions to the CM after a farcical meeting on TCP act in October 2007, (see ANNEXED e-mail 2 below). Now look at the composition of the new review committee- 1. Commissioner Secretary (TCP) … Chairman. 2. Adv. *Mahesh Sonak* … Member. 3. Adv. *Nitin Sardesai* … Member. 4. Adv. *Cleofato Countinho* … Member. 5. Under Secretary (Drafting/ … Member. /Law) Law Department 6. Ms. *Patricia Pinto* … Member. 7. Shri *Shridhar Kamat* … Member. 8. Shri *James Mathew*, … Member *Senior Town Planner *Convenor. Do you find anything odd, missing?. It is an interesting government committee where present/past/active/passive/dormant members of GBA would sit with lawyers representing Aldeia de Goa and other builders' or miners interests. Let them come forward and show that they don't have such 'conflict of interests'. I am also pasting below (See ANNEXED E-MAIL 3 below) the information sought by a member of GBA on Aldeia de Goa project. The PIL was filed much later. Now let me see how the 'conflict of interest' issue is being
[Goanet] Fwd: Re: Discovery in Bambolim
suo moto' expression of interest and declaration, To avoid any future 'conflict of interest', and to fall in line with the global colour of the activism season, in consultation of my good old friend Durgadasbab of GAKUVED , I am considering to send a research proposal through Canadian funded Indian NGO 'Vikas adhyayan Kendra' to Canadian Council of Churches (CCC). I don't think poor Australian prehistory researchers like Dr. Bedenarick would help financially. Once I get a Canadian agenda with Canadian sponsorship, Durgadasbab would get Canadian quality research. If there are any objections for licking Canadian shoes for Canadian currency, please be liberal in sending them right now before the proposal is finalized. 'mining agent' and traitor scientist Nandkumar -- Forwarded message -- From: durgadas gaonkar gaonka...@rediffmail.com Date: Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 12:04 PM Subject: Re: Re: Discovery in Bambolim To: nandka...@gmail.com Cc: gaonka...@rediffmail.com Hello! Dr. Kamat, On behalf of the GAKUVED communities I express our sincere thanks for bringing in light the glorious past of the Gawda community : The historical findings at Bambolim Plateau. I also wish to bring to your kind notice one more fact that - At the plateau of Curca Bambolim near the military camp there is a open space near the temple. The said place was used by our ancestral to conduct the General Body Meeting called VARG of all the members of the Gawda community from all over Goa. Some research about that place also to be conducted. I am very much thankful for your valuable research work by which more light can be put on the existence of the Gawda Commuities. Durgadas Gaonkar On Wed, 07 Jul 2010 01:56:17 +0530 wrote Someone needs to inform Al Gore and Rajendra Pachauri that the sea levels in Goa are moving in the wrong direction from their predictions. --- On *Sat, 7/3/10, Santosh Helekar *wrote: From: Santosh Helekar Subject: Discovery in Bambolim To: Dr.Nandkumar Kamat .Date: Saturday, July 3, 2010, 6:40 PM Nandakumar, A couple of questions. First, are you preparing to send these findings for publication in a peer-reviewed archeological journal? That would be the appropriate thing to do to validate your findings. Second, I had read that the land of Goa was under the sea until about 1 B.C.E. How does your claim of humans having entered Goa 80,000 years ago conform with this fact? Cheers, Santosh --- On Sat, 7/3/10, Dr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.comhttp://www.rediffmail.com/cgi-bin/red.cgi?red=http%3A%2F%2Fus%2Emc805%2Email%2Eyahoo%2Ecom%2Fmc%2Fcompose%3Fto%3Dnandkamat%40gmail%2EcomisImage=0BlockImage=0 wrote: On June 25 th I made an important discovery on Bambolim plateau which pushes back the history of human colonization of Tiswadi island to 1 BCE (humans entered Goa 60-8 years BCE) It was the discovery of five groups of linear stone cupules...vestiges of prehistoric rock art, which I have dated to mesolithic-early neolithic period. these site was known to have a microlithic industry. I have already sent the pictures and details to IFRAO chairman Australian rock art researcher Dr. Robert Brednarick and awaiting his comments The first set of images of these rare finds are uploaded at http://picasaweb.google.com/Nandkamat/PrehistoryOfBambolimPlateauLinearCupulesAndMicroliths#http://www.rediffmail.com/cgi-bin/red.cgi?red=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb%2Egoogle%2Ecom%2FNandkamat%2FPrehistoryOfBambolimPlateauLinearCupulesAndMicroliths%23%40mail%2FisImage=0BlockImage=0 for public viewing and appreciation along with my collection of microliths ( 5000 years old) from ancient trails on the plateau.. Feature stories on the discovery would be published in English By Sunday Panorama of The Navhind Times of July 4 th, 2010 and by Goa edition of Lokamat Marathi on the same day. The creators of these cultural heritage were undoubtedly the austric settlers whom we know today as the coastal settlers of ST Gavada community occupying a continuous belt of southern Tiswadi from Aivao-Taleigao to Palem Siridao. They feel threatened due to urbanization and march of concrete forests. The tribal heritage is almost gone and a few of us are trying to survey and document what remains of the ancestors of tribal settlers.. A more detailed monograph on this subject is due... I thank the mother earth for having revealed this heritage to me like a vision. I am still attempting to read the message behind it... For sake of conserving the location I can't reveal it until security measures are put in place. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA On Fri, Jul 2, 2010 at 12:59 AM, Santosh Helekar chimbel...@gmail.comhttp://www.rediffmail.com/cgi-bin/red.cgi?red=http%3A%2F%2Fus%2Emc805%2Email%2Eyahoo%2Ecom%2Fmc%2Fcompose%3Fto%3Dchimbelcho%40gmail%2EcomisImage=0BlockImage=0 wrote: One of the misfortunes of India is Indians like Nascy who have never had any attachment
[Goanet] A humble tribute :-On the occasion of 26 th death anniversary of Poet Balakrishna Bhagvant Borkar
On the occasion of 26 th death anniversary of Poet Balakrishna Bhagvant Borkar (B. 30 November 1910, Curchorem, Goa , death- 8 July 1984, Pune, Maharashtra) “Once upon a time, in a beautiful land called GOA, amche Goem lived a poet Bakibab Borkar” ( Our Grandchildren in AD. 2060) “ and generations of Goans to come would not believe that such a poet was born and literally lived poetry all his life in Goa” ( who said that?) Short biography:- 1926:-First published poem in Marathi 1929:- Passes matriculate from Dharwad, then completed Portuguese education in Goa 1930:-Teacher in Government school and marriage to Ms. Rukminibai Sardesai 1933:-Meets famous Marathi novelist V.S. Khandekar, Publishes first Marathi poetry collection –“ Pratibha’ (genius) 1934:- Meets B.R.Tambe, the popular Marathi poet; Overwhelms the audience in Baroda literary meet and wins the Gold Medal for poetry reading for “Tethe Kar maze Julati’ ( Salute to the great ones…) 1946:-Participates in movement launched by Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia. Tenders resignation from government job. Leaves for Bombay. Edits “porzecho avaz’ a mouthpiece of freedom struggle 1955-61:-Appointment on AIR Pune as spoken word producer 1961-70:- Appointment on AIR, Panaji as spoken word producer ( Marathi, Konkani, English, Hindi and Portuguese), also in forefront in opposing Goa’s merger with Maharashtra, vehemently champions Goa’s separate identity, writes poems on the same, invites the wrath of his Marathi well wishers 1970:-Special issue of ‘Mandovi’ dedicated for completion of 60 years, edited by late Shriram Kamat 1970-84:- Devoted to lecture tours, poetry recitation, writing, guiding young generation of poets and writers, promoting library movement, arts and literature July 8, 1984:- Death in Pune . A literary journey of 58 years comes to an end. Literary contributions:- Total published books (1930-1987):- 43, Marathi:-33, Konkani:-10 Total 11 poetry collections- about 1000 Marathi poems, Pratibha (1930), Jivansangeet (1937), Dudhsagar(1947), Anandbhairavi (1950), Chitraveena (1960), Gitar (1965), Chaitrapunav (1970), Kanchansandhya (1981), Anuragini (1982), Chinmayee ( 1984), Lavanyarekha (unpublished) Three edited anthologies-Borkaranchi Kavita (1960), Chandavel (1972), Kaivalyche Zad (1987) Besides- Essay collections (4), Novels (4), Short story collections (2), Biographies (2), translations (6), Edited anthology (1-Kusumagraja-Maharashtra’s celebrated poet laureate) And 10 books in Konkani including the poetry collections “Paizana’ and ‘Sasay’. The trustee of Poet Borkar memorial committee, Pune Ujwala Vasant Sardesai has published two volumes (2005, 2008) of the entire Marathi poetry of Bakibab under the caption “Borkaranchi Samagara Kavita’. These include 782 poems. This is an ivaluable resource for students and research scholars of his poetry. Goa Konkani academy is bringing out new editions of his Konkani poetry –“Paizana’ and “Sasay” on July 8th. There is no befitting memorial of Bakibab in Goa. There are legal problems to take over and convert his residence at Bori ‘shantiniketan’ in a memorial. A small street in Porvorim was named after him. Shri Sarswati Mandir library in Panaji organizes an annual poetry competition in his memory. So also Konkani Bhasha Mandal, Margao. The Goa government had appointed a state level birth centenary committee last year which is considering several suggestions. The Chief Minister has recently announced a special chair in the name of B.B.Borkar in Goa University for studies in comparative literature and poetics. Most of his poetry has not been translated/transliterated in major world languages. To the post Bakibab generation he is still unknown, a puzzle, a riddle, an enigma. It is sad to see that there is very little global awareness about Goa’s most sung, most loved, most romantic, most cultured, most spiritual genius poet…. All his life he spoke for unity of mankind, understanding all religions, promoting peace and social harmony…he spoke lovingly about Christianity and the life of Jesus as well as the Maharashtrian saints-Dnayaneshwara and Tukarama. He sang sufi songs and bowed his head before the noble thoughts in Islamic spirituality. He idolized Gandhiji and Tagore. He sang glories of Gibran and Pessoa. He loved Neruda and Octavio Paz. He was a true global citizen. I knew Bakibab as a school student. But I came in his contact only after 1980. I always enjoyed talking to him. Tears flood my eyes so easily when I remember the words he had written to me on a post card after he read my series of articles on history of Goa (1982-3) “ You are born in a blessed land…don’t forget those who came before you” Bakibab, You are in my heart! Mhoji Tukam aarga -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Poemoods-06: Moods of water-Cosmic and chaotic
Poemoods-06 Moods of water-Cosmic and chaotic :Cosmic: I imagine, Archeology of water, Cosmic, Chaotic, Potential of history In aquatic seeds, Clouds Extending beyond Galactic horizons, Eclectic interstellar dusty landscapes, Molecules, Fully Didactic, Water-the liquid altar of life, Ancient, Timeless, Shapeless, Mercurial, Dynamic, It is inside me, It is beyond me, It is everywhere, It shapes my very existence, My water is not really my water, Once upon a time, Comets brought it here, Emptying their aquatic payload, To make our oceans! Om Udakaya namah! OM jeevanay Namah! Om apaye namah! Tvam srushti, tvam tushti! Tvam prana, Tvam dnyana! Archeology of water From chaos to cosmos, From non life to life, Please, please, Give me sacred Ganagajal, I plead for liberation, Mukti, Moksha, I would die happily! I would merge happily! Be part of panchmahabhutas! I would dissolve completely, without tiniest residue, material or immaterial, Unrecognizable in every sense, devoid of any essence, of existence, udak is shanti, udak is peace, water is bliss! Sarve dukhkha udakamasryanti! :Earth: The exposed womb of earth; Oceans; There was nothing here before, Except heat and dust, Fumes, Without perfume of life; Totipotency of time, Had seeds to sow, Earth, I owe everything to you, Every cell in my body, Every breath, Every motion, emotion Earth, You are the cause, the medium I had been circulating in The same biosphere, For eons, I was recycled several million times, Every grain of my existence, From past, present and future Is YOU, EARTH! ONLY YOU! Possess me! Change me! Bless me! Earth, let me arrive from where I had departed, Once again, again and again! Amen! :Violence: Can water be violent? Or is it the primal force unleashed, Beyond our scope, To understand? Can water be silent? Or it is the MONEL which falls, All of a sudden, When streams stand still, lakes frozen, Waves unwavering, calm, peaceful, disciplined, Like naughty school kids, Ordered to behave! If water is violent, Then floods would not be floods, But a gorgeous display of raw power, Erosive, metamorphosizing, transforming, If water is silent, It is satori-satori OM mani padme haam! Meditation which is beyond our understanding, Aren’t monsoon Clouds silent carriers Of meditating water? Violence or silence, What matters is resilience, Yours and mine, For survival! Against all forces, all odds, with shallow dreams of deep happiness! Water accompanies us silently or violently, Unconcerned, passive, neutral! * Dr. Nandkumar Kamat July 6, 2010 Taleigao, Goa -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Poemoods:05-July Rains_Trivisions
After experiencing 51 rains, a stage comes when rains cease to appear as vertical streams of water and assume a different ecospiritual, transcendent personality….monsoon in Goa needs an epic, but I have neither time , nor priority to write one now…. Poemoods:05 July rains: trivisions :Rhythm: Drip tip leaves, Sound of raindrops, Falling on the litter, Wet and decaying, Aromatic, Aesthetic, Apurbayeche! July rains Have a different rhythm, Rain covers the landscape In soft flimsy vertical sheets, Quivering, touching so gently, The tentative kiss of the earth, The parting of the Curtain of clouds The explosion of light The cold passing drops, Falling scattered, indecisively In slow motion, July rains can be silent, Like a lost Lama, In the shangrila of clouds! :Smell: The first rains are cleansing type, The rains of June, The first rains inseminate, The first rain drops, The semen of the skies, For Shakambari earth! The goddess of vegetation, July rains are healing type, Smell the vegetation, Listen to the birdsongs, Look at the celebration Of liquid joy, July rains are nostalgic, They loosen the grave soils, They touch the bare bodies, Living and dead, Naked and clad, July rains discharge, The blessed holy water July rains release, A bouquet of perfumes, Diversity of smells, Filling the damp nostrils, Waking up something inside, Very deep, alien, Evolutionary memories, Oh dear, How much we have walked from, The plains of dark continent, To arrive somewhere, To be humans, To be sensitive, sensitized, July rains release Archaic smells, Of earths bygone, July rains signal, There is more to come, Monsoon climax, Floods of the greens, Eye soothing orgies Of cholorophyllous biomass, July rains-are July rains With character, identity, a personality Soul solubilizing! Bilkul divine, InshallaH…. : Touch: The contact of this water is different, Cold, silvery, molten, On bare arms, skin July rains communicate In a liquid script, Pure affection, Affiliation to life, More solid, strong, erect, unbending! July rains… July rains… Goencho pavas! Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, July 5, 2010 Taleigao, Goa
[Goanet] Memories of Allen costa
As a student of Panaji's Massano de Amorim Govt. Marathi primary school I was a child artist in the popular Khalar and malar' programme on AIR-Panaji. I remember Allen costa on AIR and can't forget his voice emanating from our Radio with nice wooden cabinet. I bumped into Allen later on AIR while presenting talks, features and participating in Yuvavani programmes and compering the same. AIR stopped sending contracts to me after 1999, full 33 years after my voice was aired as a kid. We also had a similar National Radio set which needed four large dry cells. I miss all the old voices from AIR. Allen's was most distinct and had a fine timbre. I feel it still ricochets in the cavern of my conscience. Life has become multichromatic and polyphonic if not cacophonic... those who still remember jovial personalities like Allen are doing a great service to the legacy of Goa's entertainment culture in the age of innocence which we have really lost...I still listen to songs from Amchem noxib and wonder where we have reached today?. What have we gained and what have we lost? But Allen is not there to entertain us My generation is ever grateful to him -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Marine microbial diversity research centre at Goa University
Marine research centre to be set up at Goa University TNN, Jul 5, 2010, 12.36am IST PANAJI: Goa university (GU) vice-chancellor D Deobagkar said recently that a marine microbial diversity research centre, under government of India's department of earth sciences, is proposed to be set up at the university. Speaking at a biodiversity awareness programme sponsored by UGC and organized by GU's botany department, Deobagkar said that the national facility (with a sub-centre in Chennai) will facilitate collection of data on microbial resources. The major hub in GU campus will have its separate building and w orld class infrastructure, especially laboratory and is likely to function on the pattern of central research organizations through a Rs 6- crore project. Goa university and Annamalai university, Chennai, will collaborate in commencing a new MSc programme in oceanography to carry out research on both sides of India's coastline. Thousands of cultures, fungi, algae etc are expected to be deposited in the national facility after it is set up. NIO scientist Baban Ingole, who was among a number of scientists who gave their presentations at the programme conducted in association with Goa Union of Journalists, said the earth's climate has been always changing. But in the last ten years it has warmed by about 0.6 degrees Celsius as compared to 1.5 degrees Celsius in the past 1,000 years. Other botanists, microbiologists and experts raised concerns about the loss of biodiversity in the state due to mining, construction activity and other forms of development. M K Janarthanam said plateaus harbour endemic species but awareness about this aspect is poor. Nandkumar Kamat said that fireflies have been affected by the spraying of pesticides and seen less and less. The flowering of fruit (trees) has changed and trees are in a kind of suspended animation, he said. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Botanists fear threat to survival of rare floral species at Rivona
My senior colleague Prof. M.K.Janarthanam who specializes in Plant taxonomy gave a presentation in a Biodiversity awareness workshop pn July 3rd at Goa University. You may view the details of the workshop sponsored by UGC in association with Goa Union of Journalists on http://www.gugujbiodiversityworkshop.blogspot.com The following news was a creative fallout from the above day long workshop. Botanists fear threat to survival of rare floral species at Rivona Paul Fernandes, TNN, Jul 5, 2010, 12.05am IST PANAJI: Signs of development activity to lay a road on a lateritic plateau at far-off Kevnem in Rivona has botanists worried. The proposed road passes close to the habitat of Goa's very own sparkly white flowers with brownish-black seeds. In fact, the Dipcadei goanese is so native to the state that it is even named after it. Goa University botanists found a plant unknown to science in this village in 2007. They later named it Dipcadei goaense after a two-year-long research, said M K Janarthanam, professor at the Goa Unviersity. This is the only place anywhere in theworld this plant has been seen, Janarthanam added. Though for the past couple of years during the course of their research they have noticed local boys laying football on the plateau, botanists say that the activity has not affected the species' survival. However, they fear that the proposed road will pose a big threat The road has been laid not far away from large populations of several hundred individuals (flowers) in the Kevnem area, said a concerned research scholar, Ashis Prabhugaonkar, who visited the area on Sunday. GU botanists are worried about further destruction of the habitat, which may result in loss of the rare species. We are contacting the forest department with the details to protect the species in its habitat, though there appears to be no immediate threat, Janarthanam said. The findings have appeared in a reputed science journal, Kew Bulletin, published by Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew in England. This species of flora is closely related to another Dipcadei species namely, Dipcadei concanense, but differs mainly in terms of the size of the flower. The new species is apparently endemic, because it is known only from the type locality in the foothills of the Western Ghats at Rivona, Janarthanam said. Botanists from Kew and South Africa have initiated major research in the family, Hyacinthaceae to which this new species belong. Goa University's botany department has studied flowering plant biodiversity for more than 15 years, but has not traced this species anywhere else. Intensive searches in Goa could not help in tracing the plant anywhere else, Janarthanam said. In India, the genus is represented by nine species, including four varieties of which six species are present in Maharashtra alone on lateritic plateaus and table lands. Otherwise most of the species of the genus have been inhabiting Africa, said the university professor. Flowering and fruiting occurs between June to August, botanists said. The plant starts growing from underground bulbs around June, after the rains. Peak flowering occurs at the height of the monsoon, Prabhugaonkar explained. Usha Yadav, a botanist from Willingdon College, Sangli who collaborated in the study could not be contacted. A search for possible habitats in other localities will continue during the monsoon as in the recent past, Janarthanam said. The conservation status is as of now labelled as 'criticially endangered', following norms laid down by the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN), ...as it is limited in its populations and seen in only one locality, he added. Each individual may last for just over three days and by the end of season, most of the plants in the population are seen with one to four leaves, though plants during peak growing season even sprout seven leaves, he explained. The authors of the study predict that there may be a special species of moth pollinating this plant. It will be interesting to look for the pollinator of these species as it may be a moth, Janarthanam said. The authors of the study are also trying to contact some locals in a bid to create awareness about the plant. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] A new leaf in Goa's prehistoryLinear cupules of BambolimHistory of human colonization of Tiswadi now goes back to mesolithic (10000 years BCE) period
On June 25 th I made an important discovery on Bambolim plateau which pushes back the history of human colonization of Tiswadi island to 1 BCE (humans entered Goa 60-8 years BCE) It was the discovery of five groups of linear stone cupules...vestiges of prehistoric rock art, which I have dated to mesolithic-early neolithic period. these site was known to have a microlithic industry. I have already sent the pictures and details to IFRAO chairman Australian rock art researcher Dr. Robert Brednarick and awaiting his comments The first set of images of these rare finds are uploaded at http://picasaweb.google.com/Nandkamat/PrehistoryOfBambolimPlateauLinearCupulesAndMicroliths# for public viewing and appreciation along with my collection of microliths ( 5000 years old) from ancient trails on the plateau.. Feature stories on the discovery would be published in English By Sunday Panorama of The Navhind Times of July 4 th, 2010 and by Goa edition of Lokamat Marathi on the same day. The creators of these cultural heritage were undoubtedly the austric settlers whom we know today as the coastal settlers of ST Gavada community occupying a continuous belt of southern Tiswadi from Aivao-Taleigao to Palem Siridao. They feel threatened due to urbanization and march of concrete forests. The tribal heritage is almost gone and a few of us are trying to survey and document what remains of the ancestors of tribal settlers.. A more detailed monograph on this subject is due... I thank the mother earth for having revealed this heritage to me like a vision. I am still attempting to read the message behind it... For sake of conserving the location I can't reveal it until security measures are put in place. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Helping save Australian rock art heritage
Dear Friends, I have just read and signed the online petition: Save Dampier rock art hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition service, at: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/dampier/ http://www.petitiononline.com/dampier/ I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and consider signing yourself. Best wishes, Dr. Nandkumar M.Kamat -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Poemoods:-04-:After making an epochal discovery:
Poemoods:-04 Dr. Nandkumar Kamat ( A treasure trove of Mesolithic rock art, the oldest so far in Goa was discovered last week by the writer. He knows that if the discovery is given publicity the site would be rapidly vandalized. And if it is not published then it is as good as having never existed before. ) :After making an epochal discovery: I knew that I had walked here before, Ages ago, I knew that the essence of biosphere, Which made me, Had been at these coordinates, Earlier, So the discovery, Was a rediscovery Of myself, my own roots, I discovered the oldest rock art, At the most unlikely place, Near the concrete forest, It was a sign, From the past to the present, Here are the marks, the carvings told me, Of the first human footprints, On this island, The first nomads, The first travellers, The first visitors, The pioneers, What shall I do with this epochal discovery, In Mesolithic global rock art? Who shall care, And if I disclose, The art would vanish in a week, After some media interest, A few VIP visits, some intellectual masturbation, Pulverized to pieces, The art would be lost forever… It is just amazing, How these marks revealed themselves to me, It is still amazing when you know, That you had been here before so many times, But what is revealed now was unknown, Then you see it, suddenly, freeze there, You see the magic of the stone, Precisely that could be the original purpose, To bring the discoverer to the same coordinates, In space and time, Align the world lines, And challenge the mind…look..read…solve the puzzle I did it.. The epochal discovery Made me humble, simple, perplexed, thoughtful, What follows, who knows, To publish or not to publish, That’s the question now! I am still waiting for its’ solution…. July 29, 2010 -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Poemoods:-3:Serving my son-Nachiketas:
Poemoods:-3 Dr. Nandkumar Kamat :Serving my son-Nachiketas: OM Nachiketasayh Namah! I saw his name in my dream, Nachiketa-the heavenly fire of knowledge; The creator of Kathopanishada; THE BOOK of books; Some atoms of that creation Cycling in the biosphere for eons; Might have entered my bloodstream, To give me that dream When I was sorting out mechanically, Hundreds of names , to name my newly born son! Every day he tests my patience, The worst test comes When he vomits, has diarrhea’ AABA, he calls me, to help him to the loo, AABA is a big bundle of false pride, And massive ego, The self righteous AABA-weighs the options, Knowing that he is exhausted, His muscles are aching, AAba, AAba-Nachiketas again drags me, Who is he? I wonder -looking at him like a stranger, How estranged I have become, From my own son? My own flesh and blood? He runs to the loo, It would not easily get over, Whole night he keeps me awake, Making umpteen trips frequently, Then the ritual of washing And changing ,washing and Changing! Oh, GOD, I am so tired! TIRED! Having brought a new life in the world, I need to choose between, My comforts and his wellbeing, Things which appear simple, obvious Are no more so, He is testing me in every way, I throw out all the tomes on Child ethology, psychology; I wonder about the Fine texture of love, The algebra of alpha males, The calculus of compassion, The landscape of altruism, The subaltern narcissism, I recall Mother Theresa’s soft wrinkled hand, On my head in blessings, Which perhaps I did not deserve, Nachiketas loves to sketch Jesus, Every wall, every inch of the house, Every paper, pages of magazines Carry HIS image, HIS portrait hangs on our wall, I See HIM somewhere in distance, As a faint shadow, when I wash and clean my son, Again and Again and Again, There are countless questions, On HIS lips! With string of spontaneous teardrops, Trickling down my cheeks, AAba, AAba-Nachiketas is afraid…. He thinks that he has done, Something wrong, mischievous, But I weep for myself, for My inability To overcome selfishness, My wickedness, sadism, weakness; I give him a big hug, he smiles instantly! When I serve my son, Service becomes a divine revelation! Profoundly intimate, spiritual, It is a communion, Of the father with the son, on the way to, Incremental ego dissolution. Shishu devo bhava! Shishu devo bhava! Tathastu! Tathastu! AMEN! June 28, 2010 -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Poemoods-I-(Anthropocene fusion poems depicting moods of nature, species, people, capturing events)
Poemoods (Anthropocene fusion poems depicting moods of nature, species, people, capturing events) Dr. Nandkumar Kamat I :Fireflies: I stayed awake the whole night; And nights after nights; To glimpse a few stray Flipping greenish photons; Of airborne creatures of light Fireflies! I see a void dark fathomless; Ashes of an ecosystem A sodium street lamps vomits Monochromatic photons An ecofriendly solar streetlight Radiates white eerie glow The void of the night has no creatures of light This is extinction, This is annihilation, This is vinasha, The nights have lost the glowing innocence A monochromatic diffusion permeates Throughout….. This is simplification This is deprivation This is epitaph On the tomb of my existence What tribute does one species pay to other species? In what form? Words, bones, ashes, blood, tears, sperms? I still stay awake, possessed, Nights after nights Expecting to be bathed in that fantastic glow Of greenish airborne trees of life! Swarms of Fireflies! To seek salvation Liberation… From chains all artificial..inhuman…insane! II :Monserrate watching a man cleaning the flooded Santa Inez creek: I am watching Babush Monserrate- who’s Watching a man with the head just above The murky waters Trying to declog the Santa inez creek; It is a different kind of voyeurism! It is possible that the reams and reams of My writeups, reports On the condemned creek, Abused, mass raped by the builders, Were thrown as raddi and Have blocked the flow of the creek What use is wisdom In this rotten city On the brink of a forced mass suicide An Ecocide? III :Images of Kushavati floods: And unquiet flows Kushavati, She is angry, she is bleeding, Every watershed, Every valley, Every bank Every micrometer Has been tortured, The flat , vast sheets of turbulent waters, Stagnated traffic, Cursing people, There is blood on everyone’s hand, Every palm is stained, Muddy waters, Bloody waters; Mud, blood, And unquiet flows Kushavati, Carrying the wet fluid wounds, Feeling lost, Abandoned, Hurt, Helpless, Orphaned, By her sons, her daughters, Everyone, Everywhere Everywhen! June 27, 2010. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Poemoods:-2
Poemoods:-2 Dr. Nandkumar Kamat I :Making way for stagnated water in the campus: Sometimes with the tips of my shoes, Or end of a wooden stick, I stop on my way, To restore, The free flow of stagnated water in the campus; A small drain, a gutter, a pool; Wherever, water has halted, Waiting for a liberator, I rush there like a child; The key word is ‘ stagnation’ The flow has to be restored, The water needs to be drained, I noticed, That it obediently finds its’ level, and flows happily, This is not possible, When people and their minds, Stagnate, the free flow stops I can’t kick them with tips of my shoes Neither use a stick, however strong, Because people are not fluids They prefer to stagnate, rot and stink Preferring to end as a cesspool; A sewer An anaerobic entity, Happy with itself, forever, wherever, whatever… II :Waiting for A rainbow: There is nothing like, Anticipating a rainbow, The disciplined orgy of the light Almost wishing for it, On a cool, humid evening, Or early breezy morning, You hold your breath, For the miracle to happen, The first faint arches of the orb To be visible And then it gets released Like a Japanese folding fan Spanning horizon Actually it is an illusion, Like our life, An ephemeral architecture of divine beauty! -June 28, 2010 -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Scattered old public (published, verifiable) confessions of a newly anointed mining agent (proudly Indian, not IDRC sponsored fifth columnist ) -Part A
Scattered old public (published, verifiable) confessions (in English- technical problems in translating Marathi, Konkani ) of a newly anointed mining agent (proudly Indian, not IDRC sponsored fifth columnist ) -Part A I. What we are drinking is actually poison water. There are no quality checks and the Government has not bothered to address the problem in spite of reminders and individual representations.' All concerned, including the Goa Pollution Control Board, have failed to address the most important issue of water quality check, while the Government continues to mislead the people on the issue, he charged. Coming to the rivers flowing through Goa, he said these were laden with heavy metals and it is time the Government sits back and takes note of the situation.” II. “What's the position of the first order and the second order streams which feed the run-off to our rivers? Wherever there is access from the road, hundreds of private mining trucks and goods carriers are taken directly to the bed of these streams for washing. All the heavy metal silt, oil, grease, paint from this activity then enters the water-bodies. The Goa State Pollution Control Board has resolved that monitoring such type of pollution is not their business.” III. “Under Section 28 no mining or construction can be done near such a monument without a permission. But the understaffed and resource-starved Archives and Archaeology Ddepartment had no information of this illegal activity till the agitated villagers alerted it. It appears that several truckloads of laterite stones and earth had been lifted from the site of excavation but the directorate of mines was unaware of the violation of Section 3 of the Goa Minor Minerals Concession Rrules, 1985. The directorate promised action only after the quarrying was completed.” IV. “The entire urban population on both the waterfronts of Mandovi is discharging the raw sewage and solid waste in the river. The barge and trawler traffic also contributes to pollution. The river is estimated to carry about 200 thousand metric tones of sediment from the north Goa mining belt EVERY YEAR. After monitoring the environmental health of the estuary in 1974-5 and 1984-5 the scientists of National Institute of Oceanography did not dare to repeat the sampling in 1994-5. “ V. “ A state which has not internalized massive negative environmental externalities:- Goa may have accumulated per capita the highest negative environmental externalities on account of open cast iron ore mining since 1946-7. One measure of this is the quantum of low grade ore dumped as overburden or ore reject. To mine a tone of Iron ore two metric tone of overburden needs to be removed. The cumulative ore reject piled up in more than 50 villages is already more than 5-600 million metric tones or per capita 30-40 metric tones. Another measure is annual rate of sediment flow in Mandovi and Zuari rivers. From the mining dumps the sediment reaches the rivers at the rate of 2-2.5 lakh MT per year in Mandovi and Zuari rivers. This makes Goa’s case special on environmental and ecorestoration grounds because the rising concentration of heavy metals in food chain is ecotoxic. Very soon there could be a situation similar to Arsenic poisoning in west Bengal. Ecotoxicity studies from Goa University and NIO had already warned about the dangers.” VI. “The present environmental discourse regarding mining shows that perceptions differ sharply between various stakeholders. Whereas villagers in Sattari and Sanguem are vehemently opposed to the opening of new mining leases, in areas declared as sanctuaries some people view mining as an economically beneficial activity. The mining labour unions have also adopted an ambivalent stance towards the problems faced by the agricultural proletariat. The big players in mining have improved their environmental record and have also obtained the ISO certification for environmentally sound mining practices. Generally the debate and the controversies have centered around issues like the deforestation and loss of wildlife, habitat fragmentation, air and noise pollution, the high levels of dust in the environment, the location of the reject ore dumps, the sediment flow polluting the waterbodies, the depletion of local groundwater table, the hazards created by ore transportation and the erosion of infrastructure like the roads. There seems to be an economic tradeoff to compensate for the environmental deterioration. People may not be worried about the long term effects of the pollution if they get generous financial support to build a religious structure or a community hall. The labour shift has also resulted in abandoning of the fields and the mining area has seen a boom in the service sector. People are caught on the horns of dilemma- they would lose the economic affluence, direct and indirect employment if environmental issues are fought aggressively and apolitically. And if they only focus on
[Goanet] Please respond -Is suffering of mining affected people a human rights violation issue? Can it be made a human rights issue?
I need the Goanetters responses , need specific answers , not evasive replies 1. Is suffering of mining affected people in the mining belt of Goa a human rights violations issue? 2. if not can it be made a human rights issue? 3. If not, then the reasons thereof? 4. if yes, then whether it can be addressed by statutory state human rights commission? 5. if answer is affirmative, an unequivocal YES to 1, 2, 4 then what has been done in this regard by anti mining activists? What are the constraints in taking it as a human rights violation issue?Are anti mining activists interested in agitating for a state human rights commission In your participation in answering the above lies the beginning of a democratic and peaceful constitutional path to provide social and ecological justice to mining affected people of Goa with or without open, unequivocal understanding, unity, solidarity by mining trade ( including barge, trucks) unions and their leaders. -'mining agent' -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Let us give up “mori ambot tikh” an d launch 'save sharks (mori) campaign/movem ent
Let us give up “mori ambot tikh” Goa’s fish markets would show you baby sharks, hammer head sharks… There are lots of customers who prefer “mori’ fresh or dried… I also love “mori ambot tik”. The best recipe which I tasted was at Caranzalem, Panaji’s Martins’ beach corner… For past five years, I have given up ‘mori ambot tik”… Because sharks in Arabian sea are endangered… I raised this issue with Goa’s forest dept. and fisheries dept. I told the director, fisheries to educate the fishermen. The matter was also brought to the notice of forest minister in a meeting in his chamber. But still sharks are being sold in Goa’s markets… If any NGO is waiting for a good readymade issue-this is it, pick it up- “stop sale of sharks” or “save sharks campaign” “give up mori ambot tik, mori masala’ Besides reminding local authorities once again today, I am also petitioning MOEF, Govt. of India to direct Goa government to ban catching and selling of shark species notified under wildlife protection act. This matter would also be placed on the agenda of the Goa state wildlife advisory board whenever it meets again. What should be alternative:- Mori lovers may wonder. it should be possible to breed some species of sharks artificially with NIO's help. They already have technology for mussel culture. cage culture, shellfish culture etc. Some of Goa's bay are excellent for shark rearing in submerged licensed cages. The Times of India published the following news today (june 23, page 9, Goa edition) Endangered sharks falling prey to fin soup demand Sharks may soon disappear from the East Coast with greedy fishermen killing these predators for their fins, which have a great demand in Asian countries and a few European nations…..In fact, fishing of 56 species of shark was banned under the Wildlife Act and the Marine Fishing Act of 1986. “Sharks have a key role in maintaining the fragile marine eco-system. But today, they are almost extinct,” said Andhra University zoology department head Prof D E Babu. Read the full story http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Endangered-sharks-falling-prey-to-fin-soup-demand/articleshow/6072829.cms -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Grateful to Mr. Rajendra Kakodkar, Need still more critical and qualitative contributions
'satyam bruyat, priyam bruyat, na satyam apriyam bruyat' 'Vade vade jayte tatavabodha' I was very pleased to receive mining consultant Mr. Rajendra Kakodkar's recent emails. Need more such critical and qualitative participation which would enrich my forthcoming publication to be released at the hands of a prominent (mining) trade union leader who would also salute Mr. Kakodkar. If he refuses then I would get retd. High court judge Thanks Rajendrabhai...please continue and be liberal... Also mark a copy to chairman, IDRC, Ottawa, Canada and Dr.Ligia Noronha, Teri Dev borem korum -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Global alert!Backdoor privatization of heritage monuments-After Reis magos it would be Cabo de Rama (Kholgad) fort
Could people who welcome restoration but oppose privatization (superstore, shopping mall, film institute et al) of old GMC building have a separate yardstick for privatization of Reis magos, Cabo de Rama and Chapora (or what ever is left there) forts?. I salute Heraldo and the vernacular language dailies for highlighting the concerns and anxieties of Khola villagers..I had expected this. The CM and his officers had been hiding these facts. The decision is already made. Read Khola locals red over govt plan to handover Cabo-de-Rama fort http://www.oheraldo.in/news/Local-News/Khola-locals-red-over-govt-plan-to-handover-Cabo-de-Rama-fort/37947.html Why this issue is not being discussed?. Is it because eminent people are blessing the business deals and MOUs?. I am in favour of scientific restoration consistent with UNESCO charters. I am in favour of full transparency when Rs. 200 millions of 12 th finance commission are involved for heritage conservation. I am for open bidding and global tenders-not pick and choose, the selective treatment given to INTACH. Has anyone seen the master plan INTACH has prepared?. where are the copies? who would spare them to us?. The archives director avoided my questions. After restoration with public funds shall we surrender the monuments for private profit making interests?. Already TATAs are holding to land ( 2. 75 lakhs sq.mts.) worth Rs. 2500 milliions on Aguada plateau without paying the government the lease rent of Rs, One crore (10 millions) per year since 1998. Civil society does not ask them any questions. Why , because they give us NANO. where is their promised Disneyland, the entertainment park?. Why the lease deed is not cancelled and the land taken back to set up a public funded convention centre, for which central government promised Rs. 500 crores + ( you need to visit the panoramic helipad area to believe the importance of the land leased to Fort aguada hotels)... I am in favour of joint management of restored monuments in association of local authority- a people's management trust, a peoples' cooperative. Let us not underestimate Goan entrepreneurial spirit. We have seen the status of private engulfment of the defense structures of Fort Aguada. I am closely monitoring the systematic attempt of backdoor privatization of scenic heritage ( esp. Indo_Portuguese) monuments. The new business deals seem to be acceptable to NGOs and activists. Please get a copy of the tripartite MOU between INTACH, Goa Government and the lady Helen Hamlyn Trust. Prajal Sakardande got one for me and then I alerted him. ...the intention is sound but it is all like the useless expensive jetty built at Kala Akademy (for fashion and film shoots and eventually to cater to a powerful five star hotel's clients in Sinquerim and Panaji)( the same hoteliar now wants the height of old bridges on Santa inez creek to be raised to permit boating a la venice style...that would also explain why the creek needs steps..as suggested by CCP. keep the track of these interesting developments in Panaji around Campal-St Inez area) I wish to tell my good friend Padabhushan Mario Miranda- the government had the funds, Rs. 200 million and we did not need Lady Helen Hamlyn's money. I had vehemently opposed this move since the beginning. The MOU was done hurriedly in an election year. The lady could have given the money to Goa INTACH to restore the crumbling houses of some great Goans, esp. Franciso Luis Gomes ..but we know why the lady had fallen in love with that fort... we also know that if the donation was indeed a gift for goa' the same money should have been made available to restore St.Anne's church...an Indian Baroque masterpiece about which I had written after many visits...I trust my good friend arch Ketak Nachinolkar who is helping INTACH to restore the majestic church. I wish him success... Mariobab, you would not be able to do anything once the Reis magos fort is restored and the new business model is implemented..because INTACH would claim that they restored the fort with their money... we have seen what has happened to Fort Tiracol and ramparts of Fort aguada... fort of cabo de Rama and Chapora-scenic, lovely , saleble spots would be aggressively marketed and these would be well secured gated privatized monuments Of course I need to wait patiently before the scenarios which I am depicting come true and then the society begins to agitate on the same points...belatedly! Globalization is now truly enveloping Goa-now comes the backdoor privatization of the monuments! the usual argument would be -whether the state govt. has funds to maintain the monuments?. I had given the solution-establish village heritage councils, multistakeholder trusts. This official report is being incubated because powers to maintain heritage monuments were decentralised to PRIs. Govt. was favouring private interests (check decision on Casinos, online lottery etc.) Counter question:_How much is spent for 10 days
[Goanet] Poems from the forthcoming collection of a mining agent-II
Poems from the forthcoming collection of a mining agent-II As a newly anointed ‘mining agent’ , I would be dedicating a series of numerous poems (they come so easily to me since my childhood, like salivation or urination…) to miners of Goa whom people love to hate..or hate to love depending on attitudes or agendas-indigenous or exotic.. My new poem is suitably titled -“ Chess Guevara” (This poem is dedicated to eminent social worker, young and dynamic patron of sports, arts and handicrafts-Mr. Samir Anil Salgaonkar. Obviously, like others in the legal business, he did not see any ‘conflict of interests’ in operating his family inherited mining business in Goa and patronage of Chess with liberal sponsorships. His associates also did not subject him to a neoinquisition on his stand on local mining, environmental issues. As a Congressman Samir may not have visited tribal areas where Naxalite pestilence has spread to promote the game of Chess but if he takes inspiration from the life and works of Chess Guevara then An All India Naxalite Chess festival is possible ( why not organize it at Sundargarh, orissa? there are people who have frequently visited this place from Goa before they developed cold feet to stand up and say proudly that they are indeed naxalites) with presence of the new “bandit queen” to preside over (Salgaonkar sponsored) prize distribution function followed by a salute of 21 rounds of AK-56 machineguns smuggled from Nepal. Obviously Samir would succeed in arranging a total surrender of arms and would be the first miner in the world to end Naxalism by promoting the wonderful, peaceful addictive game of Chess. Best of luck Samir in this mission. We are with you….) Chess Guevara Samir I know you and your interests But you know nothing about me, I have left the dark Columbian forests far behind There are no diaries left now I dumped them in cold waters of Lake Titicaca I see in the litter of memories , hidden... Only exoskeletons of rusting motorcycles I abandoned myself in pursuit of the king of the games And the game of the kings I put down the gun and lifted the pawn I was reborn in my new avatara… I am Chess Guevara, Samir My life has become An eight by eight chessboard Where I make all the moves I am mover but not a shaker yet But I get shaken now and then When I discover miners and their agents Spoiling my moves, my game Mentally I have had a game with Che, with Fidel But I am still an infidel To the cause of revolution Which is coming, which is coming From the hungry bowels of tribal belt The final move against my own belching democracy My condemned state down with indigestion The much waited endgame The checkmate! Yes, Samir it was good that we met Before the Cheque-mate I was touched by your hospitality I was moved by your generosity Your grace and charm It moved me Life is a movement Against stagnation, stagflation Miner is the king, agent is a pawn Whose moves first and whose moves last? Who stands stripped and who stands attired? Samir, I am tired Tired of your democracy of , by and for Wealthy miners like you It affects my name It affects my game I am Chess Guevara Don’t you see the conflict of interest What a shame, Samir, what a shame! -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] The geopolitical and geoeconomic duplicity digest-II
The geopolitical and geoeconomic duplicity digest-II Previous part contained examples of Canadian mining pollution and suppression of data on their toxic waste from the people and Canadian NGOs Canada has long term plans to take over mines in India through its’ powerful MNCs and the grounds are being prepared slowly…. An ambitious agenda has been drawn… The Canadian crown corporation IDRC promotes Canadian mining interests It supported a study in Nilgiris It funded a TERI project on Goa’s mines It is a major donor to PANOS But those who take support from IDRC and Canada had been and continue to be strangely silent on the havoc caused by Canadian mining in resource rich poor countries…. * * *A Struggle for Clean Water and Livelihood: Canadian Mining in Costa Rica in the Era of Globalization* SAY YES TO LIFE, NO TO MINING! was the slogan of a protest against the Canadian firm Vanessa Ventures Ltd in Costa Rica on March 22, 2002. Thousands of Costa Ricans took to the streets in Ciudad Quesada to battle the decision of their national' government to grant a permit for open pit gold mining to another Canadian mining corporation. Why are Costa Ricans fighting Canadian mining firms? The answer involves forests, pollution, debt, water, local livelihoods, and globalization-related national policy changes. Women are central in the mining protests, both as leaders and as those whose lives are most affected. Read the full tragic story by Dr. Ana Isla at http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=1777 -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Fwd: Acknowledgement of email
It was a serious proposal and the CM would have to study and only then with justification reject it. please support the proposal. -- Forwarded message -- From: cm.goa cm@nic.in Date: Mon, Jun 21, 2010 at 9:47 AM Subject: Acknowledgement of email To: Dr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.com I am to Acknowledge your email dated 19th June 2010 regarding *Colonialism as a theme for IFFI-2010 and writer Ms. Arundhati Roy to inaugurate and make a speech.The same has been forwarded for perusal of Hon. Chief Minister.* -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Call for support of the proposalColonialism as a theme for IFFI-2010 and writer Ms. Arundhati Roy to inaugurate and make a speech
Please support this proposal by flooding the CM's mailbox, 2010' is a watershed year. 1. On October 5, 2010 it would be a century of foundation of republic in Portugal which led to a mini renaissance in Goa 2. It is being celebrated as birth centenary year of D. B. Bandodkar and poet Bakibab Borkar 3. It is International year of Biodiversity 4. Colonialism in India, Indian subcontinent and Asia completes half a millenium... Irrespective of the outcome of this proposal it would also test our own willingness to welcome dissent and dissenters. The event would not only be a big crowd puller but Ms. Roy may leave an indelible mark on our psyche after her visit... -- Forwarded message -- From: Dr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.com Date: Sat, Jun 19, 2010 at 9:03 PM Subject: Colonialism as a theme for IFFI-2010 and writer Ms. Arundhati Roy to inaugurate and make a speech To: cm@nic.in To, The Chairman, Entertainment Society of Goa, (ESG) and The Chief Minister of Goa, This is a serious proposal. At the very outset my suggestion for IFFI (which I feel is too expensive and need to be scrapped, but that may not happen) is that it should choose a theme on colonialism and peoples' struggles/movements across the world' for the 2010 edition. You would surely get good entries from decolonised countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. please note that Goa's freedom struggle was supported by many resistant movements in Asia and africa. The Government of Goa spends a lot of money on IFFI and invites Bollywood and Holywood celebrities for the opening ceremony. What ideas they leave behind?. This tradition needs to be broken and the government need to invite the Booker award winner, writer and crusader Ms. Arundhati Roy for the opening ceremony during IFFI, 2010 as a change. if she refuses to be a state guest then we would make her a peoples' guest. Since IFFI may open on 50 th birthday of Ms. Roy it would be an appropriate occasion to honour her in the land of Abbe Faria, T.B.Cunha and Francisco Luis Gomes. Ms. Roy could also be requested to speak on- Colonialism down 500 years a topic which would be suitable considering the completion of 500 years of Goa's conquest by Afonso de Albuquerque, on 25 th November 2010 and foundation of colonial rule in Asia. Ms. Roy,, however controversial she may sound need to be given full freedom and opportunity to say everything and anything she wants to say in the best traditions of democracy and the spirit of vade vade jayte tatvabodha. The people of Goa have never heard her directly. She had spent some time in Goa when she was young. She would love to revisit this place and may be that would inspire her to complete her new novel. The literary, cultural and political circles of Goa would certainly benefit from the presence of such a global personality. By inviting her on her birthday the government and state of Goa would be able to demonstrate that the most dissenting voice is given a public platform in this state and we're not a 'failed democracy'. I know that such a decision would need a lot of political courage on your part and ESG' s part. But Ms. Roy would be the fittest person to speak on Colonialism when the event in Goa has been a low profile affair. Please put up this proposal before ESG and get it discussed. I am sure that despite their personal opinions, the other members would not show any inhibition to support my suggestion unless they treat Ms. Roy as political untouchable'. Let IFFI-2010 be declared open by Ms. Roy. Let her speech be iconic and memorable-kickstarting a new ideological and intellectual ferment in Goan society with ripples across Mandovi and the Arabian sea thanks Nandkumar Kamat -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Mahatma Gandhi and his disciple Vinoba Bhave took pride in cleaning toilets
Apinirvanmayati-nanlo-yati-shitatam The details of MFG projects were sent as committed in my previous post-critical comments are welcome etc. People who weigh their microseconds in gold would never waste time in reading it unless there is a compelling reason (or treason…) Each and every mail on this issue would be published without editing in my compilation. So can I humbly submit that Madam Miranda is at liberty to post anything and everything.. Madam Miranda need to visit all the MFG sponsored “toilet block” beneficiary villages… I would personally request my good friends Mr. Rajendra Kerkar and Mr. Ramesh Ganwas to ensure that…esp, after the derogatory stylistics of the mail.. Actually Mirandabai has hit the nail very hard…. People demand these facilities, simple toilet (Sandas) facilities, the same people from mining area for whom everyone’s heart bleeds..and they have no money to spare! At Lamgao, below the mines I had to join a lota parade a few years back early morning… I don’t know how Sanagth workers funded by Dempo mining co. are managing… I have no idea if Madam Miranda visits mining areas of Goa with Canadian or British portable toilets.. but we Goans are inconvenienced and crave for western style toilets.. Madam Miranda’s historic mail would be very useful to the toilet deprived people of mining area for understanding how foreign funded campaigners view a basic sanitation issue.. and crack jokes.. Until Canadian or British MNC mining interests take over the responsibility of exporting/donating through Mirandabai’s NGO, or their agents in Goa/rest of India, the state of the art toilets to the poor mining regions of Goa, MFG may really send the money down the toilet…. As regards to toilets, I clean my own everyday and take no offense for Miranda’s comments. People should read –“ Zen and the art of toilet cleaning’ with due humility. Since I am no more associated with MFG, Madam Miranda could also direct the question to Dr.Narayan Dessai, the non official member on MFG executive committee since 2007 (and a former research student of University of Sussex alumni Prof. Peter Rony Desouza, the better half of London School of Economics alumni Dr. Ligia Noronha) with reference to the following observations… “More than six decades ago, Mahatma Gandhi and his disciple Vinoba Bhave took pride in cleaning toilets because they felt humiliated and ashamed by this ugly blindspot among their countrymen. Gandhi was particularly pained by the custom of night-soil carriers who existed by the millions and he wanted to bring dignity to the lives of entire castes that engaged in this means of livelihood, generation after generation.” So you, see, there is no ‘conflict of interest’ if we develop expertise in toilets… As regards skills like plumbing, carpentry etc. Madam Miranda may get detail tips from a senior and experienced MFG EC member like Dr. Narayan Desai who incidentally was also principal of a junior college managed by a Goan mine owner in the very heart of north Goa’s mining belt. And if that is not sufficient she is free to dig into the expertise of other respected members (except late Shri Jagdish Wagh) of Goa’s civil society who had been on Executive committee of MFG before and direct the same comments and questions to them which are enshrined in the ‘stinking’ mail… Message: 10 Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2010 18:01:08 +0100 From: Carmen Miranda carmitamira...@gmail.com To: goanet@lists.goanet.org Subject: [Goanet] Where the Mineral Foundation of Goa money goes? Message-ID: aanlktiktrtm9obfysyo7pc1sp586wh-4rstzkvxpw...@mail.gmail.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Where the Mineral Foundation of Goa money goes? Apparently down the toilet! Given that the bulk of Mineral Foundation of Goa's work is to build school toilets and school benches according to the minutes of Feb. 10, 2010 meeting of executive committee of MFG, kindly published by Dr. Nandkumar Kamat for our information, why does the MFG need to recruit the expertise of a scientist like Dr Nandkumar Kamat? Is he an expert also in toilet plumbing and ergonomically desinged school bench carpentry? Is the MFG wasting Dr Kumar's time or is Dr Kumar wasting our time? Carmen Miranda -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Poems from the forthcoming collection of a mining agent-I
Poems from the forthcoming collection of a mining agent-I As a newly anointed ‘mining agent’ , I would be dedicating a series of numerous poems (they come so easily to me since my childhood, like salivation or urination…) to miners of Goa whom people love to hate..or hate to love depending on attitudes or agendas-indigenous or exotic.. ( Poem dedicated to Goan mining magnate Shri Dattarajbab V. Salgaonkar who also runs “ Goa Today” and Konkani daily ‘Sunaparanta’ and a lavish art gallery in a palatial Indo Portuguese mansion at Altinho, Panaji, patronised by many mining agents) I-Sunaparanta Oh Rajbab! I have just returned from the ravaged hills of Kodamba, Kushavati I made red fiery speeches there, I lit ambers… I shouted slogans , clicked some snaps for the NET (you may download them from http://naxaliteminingfart. blogspot. com) See the stains on my palms The bleeding soil of Goa See the feet drenched in mud.. Yes, I condemned the miners.. That was the agenda for the day.. Now I have a different one.. The artistic, the sublime, the creative The other side of me… I have a request..Rajbab I am a reborn Valmiki “Ma nishad pratishtam, tvamagama shashwati sama, Yetkraunch mithunadekamavadhi kamamohitam’ (Ramayana, anustubh Chhanda) Like one Dasgupta who has promised ( or threatened) to rise from his ashes Perhaps from Sundargarh forests of Orissa.. I am entitled dear Rajbab, To regurgitate my agony In artistic ecstasy.. Let me put my colourful creations.. My mined ejaculations.. In your beautiful art gallery.. I hope perhaps you would patronise my art.. You are known to patronise even your worst critics.. Even those who sign condemning anti mining petitions.. I am floating on clouds of hope.. After returning from the abyss of Kodamb.. After the curator offers some coffee, cakes Which we couldn’t get anywhere between Margao to poor Kodamba.. I would make an offer, tell the price… Right now I am not purchasable.. my art is.. See the stains on my palms Let me wash them in airconditioned basins of Sunaparanta Let me undergo a catharsis I am a born artist, art is my interest Believe me Rajbab There is no conflict of interest -Mining agent-Nandkumar Kamat, 2010, End of poem I in a series of numerous poems. to follow
[Goanet] Fwd: Goans support the first people of Canada in their struggle for indigenous people's human rights
This mail would also be marked to parliamentarians from Goa with a request to raise the matter in the next session -- Forwarded message -- From: Dr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.com Date: Sat, Jun 19, 2010 at 1:51 PM Subject: Goans support the first people of Canada in their struggle for indigenous people's human rights To: i...@firstpeoplesrights.org To the chairman, First people human rights coalition, Heartiest greetings from Goa, India-the land of Abbe De Faria, T.B.Cunha, Francisco Luis Gomes. We in Goa, India are aghast that Canada which is liberally funding NGOs and individuals in India, through crown corporations like IDRC is meddling in the tribal belt of India's western ghats and advising them to influence the policies of our republic to further its' own long term political, geostrategic, geoeconomic, bioeconomic and business interests is absolutely unfair to the real owners and custodians of the great nation-the first people of Canada. The hypocrisy is that Canada is applying double standards-charity for tribals in western ghats of India and denial of fundamental rights of its' own tribals-i.e. the first people We are shocked to know that , Canada is the only member of the UN Human Rights Council to vote against the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It is a shame to accept funding in any form from such a nation through direct or indirect means and hide the dubious record of Canada which claims to be a global champion of human rights. We would like to have further information about injustice done to the first people of Canada so that armed with these details we can educate and alert our civil society in Goa and rest of India and also generate debate in our media, intellectual and literary circles, legislature and parliament We express full solidarity with the first people of Canada on behalf of the people of Goa in general and the tribes of Goa , the first people of Goa in particular...we specifically acknowledge and appreciate the excellent work of native women's association of Canada and assure them that their counterparts in Goa would fully support them in their struggle using all democratic means Dr. Nandkumar M. Kamat Convenor Goan peoples' forum for solidarity with first people of Canada Goan women's forum for solidarity with native womens' association of Canada member, committee for ethnological studies of agropastoral Gouly/Dhangar tribals of Goa, Govt. of Goa Former president, All Goa Students Union (AGSU) Goa-Tibet solidarity forum And Campaigner for establishing Goa Human Rights Commission and Minorities Commission -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] The geopolitical and geoeconomic duplic ity digest –I
The geopolitical and geoeconomic duplicity digest –I The Canadian crown corporation IDRC funded strategic studies on Goa’s mining since 1998 (reference:- http://www.idrc.ca/es/ev-5415-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html and http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-29129-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html ) to influence local policies while hiding the truth about Canada’s own dirty tracks… 1. Court Orders Canada to Report Pollution Data for Mines *OTTAWA, Canada*, April 27, 2009 (ENS) - The Federal Court of Canada has ruled that the Canadian government must stop withholding data on one of the country's largest sources of pollution - millions of metric tonnes of toxic mine tailings and waste rock from mining operations. The ruling came late Thursday in a case brought by two environmental groups - Great Lakes United and Mining Watch Canada - represented by Ecojustice, a public interest law firm. (read the full story http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2009/2009-04-27-02.html) 2. Ottawa hiding* **pollution** *figures from* **mining** *industry, watchdog* ...* TORONTO - Three environmental advocacy groups are seeking a judicial review of the actions of federal Environment Minister John Baird for allegedly counselling mining companies to ignore their legal responsibility to fully report all the pollution they're responsible for. Read the full story ( http://www.ecojustice.ca/media-centre/press-clips/ottawa-hiding-pollution-figures-from-mining-industry-watchdog-alleges ) 3. The World Unites Against Inco: Backgrounder Published Date: 15-06-2002 The World Unites Against Inco: Backgrounder Inco Limited is a Canadian-based global company and the world's second largest producer of nickel. Inco also produces copper, cobalt and precious and platinum-group metals. Based on the latest data filed by the company with the Government of Canada, Inco has also been identified as the worst mining polluter in Canada, emitting toxins at more than twice the rate of any other mining company in the country. (read the full story:- http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=5272 ) Posted in public interest By Mining agent-Dr. Nandkumar Kamat Convenor Goans for solidarity with the mining affected people of Canada -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Where the Mineral Foundation of Goa money goes?-from the minutes of Feb. 10, 2010 meeting of executive committee of MFG-an illustrative list
1 Construction of compound wall, toilet flooring for Primary school building at Dapodem in V P Curdi 2,75,000/- 2 Request to provide toilet facilities, 20 benches with desks for GPS Pontemol. 2,00,000/- 3 Construction of additional staircase for C T N H School - Curchorem 9,00,000/- 4 Donation for construction of Gomantak Vidyalaya, Usgao 5,10,000/- 5 Assistance for 75 benches and renovation of school toilet for Sarvodaya Education Societies High School, Curchorem 3,75,000/- 6 Supply of 60 sets of desks/ benches for Miracles High School, Sanguem 2,30,000/- 7 Filling of Pits Levelling of School assembly ground - GHS Zambaulim 90,000/- 8 Construction of Classroom at GHS Kalay 12,00,000/- 9 Request for execution of work of leveling of Playground - GHS Dhaushire 3,00,000/- 10 Request for 10 bench-cum-desks Play Equipments GPS, Khodgini, Surla 1,00,000/- 11 Request for 5 school benches GPS Ambeshi Pale. 17,500/- 12 Construction of Anganwadi at Housing Board Sanquelim 7,00,000/- 13 Repair of existing Anganwadi at Phanaswadi, Navelim 3,50,000/- 14 Construction of wall around Govt. Primary School, Khodiye 1,00,000/- 15 Request for 06 Desks play equipment for our School - PTA GPS Virdi 86,000/- 16 Request to Construct toilet facilities to GPS Shirigao 2,40,000/- 17 Request for const of Balwadi at Advoi Desaiwada V P Bironde 7,00,000/- 18 Construction of balwadi at Pissurlem 7,00,000/- 19 Provide 20 benches to GHS Tarmatha - Bhile Surla 76,000/- 20 Request to provide erect the play equipments at school campus - GPS Bicholim 85,000/- 21 Request for Balwadi Library at Bordem Bicholim 13,50,000/- 22 Request to Provide outdoor Play Equipment - Nyanmandir Nursery KG School Cudnem . 65,000/- 23 Requset to Supply 100 benches Desks - GHS Advoi 3,80,000/- 24 Request for Cupboard Flooring Tiles extension of school room for GPS Phanaswadi Navelim 1,90,000/- 25 Const of compound wall around GPS at Poncem 1,85,000/- *PUBLIC UTILITY* 26 Bhumika Aadinath Saunskrutik Kala Manch, Usgao - Req for Library furniture books. 80,000/- 27 Const of Crematorium at Sanquelim Municipal Council 4,25,000/- 28 Construction of Bus stops at Cudnem. 2,50,000/- 29 Construction of Crematorium at Bhandarwada Amona . 2,80,000/- 30 Repair Crematorium at Shirodwadi, Mulgao 2,65,000/- 31 Sponsoring play equipments at Shardanagar Bordem, Bicholim 85,000/- 32 Furniture for Shantadurga Vachanalaya , Virdi 44,000/- 33 Construction of Crematorium Surla 2,80,000/- 34 Construction of spring at Zariwada Cotarli Ugem. 1,30,000/- 35 Repairing of Irrigation channel at Cudnem 40,50,000/- 36 Construction of irrigation channel at Honda 2,50,000/- 37 Regarding Construction of irrigation cannel for Bhile to joshibhat at Surla . 11,50,000/- 38 Repair of Akacho Band at Navelim 37,00,500/- 39 Construction Desilting of Tali at Ovle Honda 4,10,000/- 40 Repair of existing sluice gate at Pallan Khajan Pilgao – Bicholim 2,20,000/- 41 Request for desilting of nallah of Mansak Bhatyashet field madhala Khut field Virdi, Iron plates on Sao Band bandhara at Ghadiwala, Virdi. 37,50,000/- 42 Repairing of Channel at Sastacho Akh . 48,50,000/- 43 Const of Tali for Ganpati Visarjan Agricultural Purpose at Ambegal Pale 6,50,000/- 44 Support wall for bandhara at Bhamaikarwada, Surla 2,80,000/- 45 Request to supply drinking water for Advoi village 60,00,000/- -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Naxalism with (capitalist) printer cartridges?
Naxalism with (capitalist) printer cartridges? Huge quantity of rice, 300 kg of dried fish, two generator sets, three solar panel plates, a big battery, three motorcycles, two cartons filled with printer cartridges and an electric metal cutter - these are just some of the “mind-boggling” recoveries made by the security forces after raiding a huge camp that the Maoists were running in the thick forest area of Porahat in West Singhbhum in Jharkhand on Monday. Read the full story www.dailypioneer.com/262773/Naxal-camp-with-weapons-rations-busted.html -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] More critical comments are welcome-reg. Is Nandakumar Kamat an Agent of Mine Owners and the Politicians Who Want to Sell Minerals for a Song to Multinationals for their Personal Benefit?
- society Governance structure– a tri-sector partnership of GMOEA/GMA (Goa Mining Association), government and civil society Core programme -environmental improvements, community development and best management practices Funding mechanism-corpus and annual contributions based on tonnage produced and from other sources based on the principle of ‘additionality’ Guidelines for submission of proposals and the criteria for approval have been prepared for environmental projects and other activities. The foundation was registered on 12th December 2000. Does anyone knows why Canada is funding mining research in Goa? Nothing was discussed about Canadian mining interests ( Canada also exports ore to China and has its' environmental problems to tackle) in Goa and Canadian funding for research on mining in Goa. More about it later...and from open official sources Now here is some interesting information about my nomination on EC of MFG conceptualised by TERI. I am not consultant to MFG. All that I have received , like other members as per their rules, so far is Rs. 2000 as sitting/transport expenditure for a single half day meeting. I learnt many things in the meeting -like how people in mining area approach MFG for projects. I would like to post copies of minutes. In fact I could see wasteful expenditure. I asked the chairman are you running a parallel administration in these villages?. I did not lobby for EC of MFG membership. It was Mr. Parag ranganekar who approached me with the request. Mr. Parag Raganekar is a well known ornithologist and natural historian in Goa, he specializes in birds, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies and is an employee of Mineral foundation of Goa. would NGOs go after his blood, boycot him, see conflict of interests?. I can initiate a nice inquisition against him- Bloody butterflies!Why ornitho/lepidepterologist Parag licking the boots of criminal miners through MFG?. Goanetters may please give the green signal Finally-please have a careful look at the list of non official members who had represented civil society on MFG before me. Was a separate yardstick applicable to them?. One member mr. Wagh is no more there to defend himself. For the term 2009-11 besides me Dr. Narayan Dessai is also nominated. For those who may not know he is related to environmental activist and social worker , Nyon 6, 6 agitation hero Dr. Dattaram Dessai and another selfless champion of Goa's sustainable future Dr. Anil Dessai ( in UK). I am happy that Dr. Narayan has been ( at least so far, who knows what happend after I post this?) spared of all the mining agent' tirade. Questions directed to me have not been so far directed to him. Since all these postings are valuable for posterity and I am not afraid to sacrifice my life for any dear Goan cause, while fighting till last breath against forces who wish to break and disintegrate my beloved country-once again I welcome the most critical criticism. Let the anger, hatred, misgivings, mistrust, frustrations come out in full force. It would be a valuable Internet literary asset for me. I am spoiled by likes of Saint Eknath. 'Ma vidvishavahay, sarve santu niramaya, Sarve bhadrani pashyantu, Na kaschit dukhmapnuyet' Mining agent-Nandkumar Parag's mail is pasted below. -- Forwarded message -- From: Parag Rangnekar rangnekarpa...@gmail.com Date: Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 9:41 AM Subject: Re: Is Nandakumar Kamat an Agent of Mine Owners and the Politicians Who Want to Sell Minerals for a Song to Multinationals for their Personal Benefit? To: Dr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.com Dear Dr. Kamat, Apologies for the delayed response. The following have represented the civil society on the Executive Committe of the Mineral Foundation earlier: 2001-03 1. Shri. R. A. Mazalkar 2. Dr. B.A. Gomes 2003-05 1. Shri. K.D. Sadhale 2. Shri. Jagdish Wagh 2005-07 1. Shri. Arun Madgaonkar 2. Smt. Asha Sawardekar 2007-09 1. Shri. Arun Madgaonkar 2. Dr. Narayan Desai warm regards Parag -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Fwd: Explanation needed
-- Forwarded message -- From: Dr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.com Date: Thu, Jun 17, 2010 at 2:41 PM Subject: Explanation needed To: Hartman de Souza hartman.deso...@gmail.com What's Canadian interest in western ghats?. Are Indian funding agencies gone bankrupt?. Or is there something more than meets the eyes? Canadian interest in mining, biodiversity etc. is inexplicable...there are conflicts of national interests! While you find 'conflict of interests' with my nomination on MFG , foreign funding seems to be most welcome, we lick their boots... check http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-83010-201_104645-1-IDRC_ADM_INFO.html I view the following statement with a lot of curiosity... Maureen O'Neil, President, International Development Research Centre (Canada) (the same organization which sponsored Dr. Ligia Noronha's studies on mining in Goa and a donor to PANOS) In her address to the Kroeger College Leadership Forum (Carleton University) Globalization--Is Canada Ready? on February 8, 2001 she made this interesting comment... In Latin America and the Caribbean, foreign investment in mining promises new wealth and economic growth. Canadian mining companies are major players. But it can also threaten new abuses of human rights, or place indigenous cultures at risk, or assault fragile environments. In a very new project known as the Mining Policy Research Initiative, IDRC is helping communities in the region to define their own concerns and then, armed with new knowledge, to negotiate on more equal terms with prospective investors. To cite a second case: our research project that supports research on Micro Impacts of Macroeconomic and Adjustment Policies was launched first in the Philippines to monitor and predict how national economic policies actually affect poor people in their own communities. Lessons learned are already being shared with researchers and applied in more than a dozen other countries of the South—knowledge that directly ameliorates inequalities with better governance and that is being applied by policy-makers. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Cushioning impact of globalization- del ivering socio economic justice to workers in Goa ’s traditional occupations (GTOS) and busin esses
Cushioning impact of globalization- delivering socio economic justice to workers in Goa’s traditional occupations and businesses This has reference to previous post http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2010-March/190767.html As a chairman of the 30 member task force committee (hereafter refered as TFC) appointed by the government of Goa in March 2010, under the directorate of social welfare to frame an appropriate scheme and package for protection and support for traditional business/occupations of Goa, I would be submitting my report this month and as declared by the CM in the June 8 press conference, the benefits may start flowing from the current financial year. With the help of members I would be continuously monitoring the progress. The following were my terms of reference:- 1. To identify the traditional occupations of Goa 2. To identify short term and long term needs of traditional occupations for their protection and promotion of their enterprises and employment 3. To suggest specific measures/schemes for upliftment of workers in traditional occupations 4. To prepare and submit a time bound detail action plan for protection and promotion of traditional occupations of Goa I may have an official press conference and make a powerpoint presentation by end of this month. I have been assured full support by Goa bakers’ association, Goa toddy tappers association, Goa potters (kumbhar) association, Goa salt producers association, fulkars, molekars, fogeri, chanekars, khazekars and numerous other stakeholders. They have given excellent cooperation. Subject to the criteria which would be laid down, I expect the new scheme to benefit 70,000- 10 people in Goa at grass roots level. It would be a historic step to support and empower them. Over next 12-18 months, to make the benefits of the scheme reach the genuine people, I personally plan to visit village panchayats which were known to be main centres of traditional occupations/enterprises with some of the committee members ( esp. Rajendra Kerkar, Dadu Mandrekar, Prakash Poreinkar, Soyru Velip and Dr. Uday Gaonkar, Subhash Mahale, Gaspar dias of Toddy tappers association et al.) once the scheme gets going. We would address meetings in local language and visit the houses of traditional workers. How it began? The government was made to act on basis of a detail note which I had sent to the CM on May 28, 2009. The government had provided Rs. 300 lakhs in the budget for the financial year 2009-10 but it could not prepare an appropriate scheme. So, after discussion with stakeholders like Goa bakers’ association, horticulturists (molekars), floriculturists (fulkars), researchers of Goa’s traditional arts and crafts-Rajendra kerkar, Prakash Poreinkar, Dr. Pandurang Phaldesssai and others, I requested the CM in January 2010 to constitute a task force committee. The TFC held two meetings and collected details from stakeholders. We also studied the existing schemes of state and central government departments to avoid duplication. Towards socio economic justice Governments have come, ruled and gone. Since 1988 I have consistently championed the cause of protecting, reviving, supporting the traditional occupations of Goa. There are some social security measures at state and central government level. But these are not sufficient. My village Calapur /Santa cruz had fishermen, toddy tappers, feni distillers, potters, poders, salt producers, garland makers. But with urbanization, change in land use, the occupational structure of village has changed. We used to prepare traditional hot Goan masala (an unique blend of spices) in our house. My father had written the recipe which included 53 items. I couldn’t find it. With his demise the knowledge has vanished. When I interviewed my mother about her knowledge of traditional Goan food she listed about 1000+ recipes. The goan randapi (traditional goan cook/cater) is becoming a rare institution. I told the champions of industrialization that to create one job in an industry an investment of Rs. 1-1.5 crores is required. In addition government gives power, water employment subsidies. Why not protect and promote existing employment-I asked these champions. There is no package for our poders or potters or toddy tappers. I have written on the plight of poders earlier-read http://www.colaco.net/1/nanduPoders.htm). And what’s the tax free profit from Salt production industry?. My student Ms. Sajna Fernandes did a study on salt pans of Merces in 1995. She came out with fantastic figures. A hectare of Salt pan (agor) gives a net profit of Rs. 1.5 lakhs after working for 120 days. An average income of Rs. 1250 per day. I told the governments which came to power since 1988-89 that here is an example of “traditional sustainable employment’. Protect and promote it. I met the ex industries minister Shaik Hassan, then Carmo Pegado and all those who followed them. They were sympathetic but couldn’t do
[Goanet] Note (2006) on preparing a policy on sustainable mining of alluvial sand resources from Goa's rivers
With low capital base, cheaply exploited unorganised labour living in poor conditions, zero concern for ecology and environment, intensive sand mining is nothing but the mass rape of rivers of Goa. Exploitation has crossed millions of cubic metres per month. The business has crossed Rs. 1000 crores per year (check rising bank deposits in Colvale, Dhargal, Pirna alone) and is still growing thanks to explosion of constructions, megaprojects. We don't need another Saleli in our islands. Farmers from Tuem, Camurlim, Chicalim colvale used to visit me at St. Cruz to tell their woes. River banks have collapsed. Shell fisheries is gone. Coconut groves washed out. Khazans flooded. The letter sent by Minister of environment and forests (independent charge) Mr. Jairam Ramesh ( http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Rpt_IA1.pdf) to all the chief ministers on sustainable mining of minor minerals on June 1, 2010 vindicates what I had been advocating since 1993. On September 22, 2006, I had sent a note to CS, Goa hoping that he would act on it. Since 1993-4 I did not receive much support from civil society or the media on the issue. The issue was focused since 1993. Collector (north Goa) Mr. Jose Philip was given a copy of the report prepared for Peaceful Society by my students who happened to be from the villages known for sand mining-Dhargal, Colvale etc. . (The report was captioned-'Ecological Economic Aspects of Alluvial Sand Mining from Terekhol Colvale Rivers, Kamat, N, Kasar V, Desai, V and Mandrekar K, 1994, Peaceful society). He sent some letters, but there was no change. people were turning greedier. Have Rs. 5 lakhs and invest in this business. In 2000 I supervised another student from Cumbarjua, Mr. K. Bhosle to survey all the five estuarine islands of Mandovi. He produced an impressive report-' Environmental management of estuarine ecosystem in Goa. He quantified sand exploitation in Jua. It worked out to be 61000 cubic metres (CM) per year, far above sustainable capacity in that small ecofragile island. At the unit rate prevailing then (Rs. 600 per CM) they were getting Rs. 3. 6 crores per year. Imagine 3.6 crores in a village where the panchayat has an annual development budget of a few lakhs per year. This study showed that sand worth Rs. 60-75 crores was exploited from Jua over 20 years. This must be a record for a small estuarine island. Again massive sand excavation has begun in Jua. I asked my student to suggest remedies. He came out with the following:- Sustainable Management Of Alluvial Sand Mining In Mandovi River: The overexploitation of the alluvial sand may result into erosion of the river. Therefore when Government authority issues license for extraction sand following guidelines should be put to make sustainable exploitation of sand. The extraction of the sand must be restricted to certain minimum capacity for every month and that limit must not be exceeded. Certain plots should be made in the river which should be allotted for each sand owner.Authority should be appointed to look after whether these guidelines are followed or not and penalty should be given if guidelines are not followed I had submitted a copy of the report to govt. of Goa. Now with ban by Karnataka to export Kali river sand to Goa a new Sand rush has begun. Therefore the issue needs to be focused because not only ecofragile islands in Mandovi but more than 20 villagesin Terekhol, Colvale and Mandovi river basin face the problems. I intend to followup this matter persistently with Goa administration. If these remedies fail then the affected villagers would be guided to follow the peaceful, non violent route of a PIL in high court. I am sure the civil society would find a lawyer for them. - Forwarded message -- From: Dr. Nandakumar Kamat nka...@unigoa.ac.in Date: Fri, Sep 22, 2006 at 5:22 PM Subject: Note on preparing a policy on sustainable mining of alluvial sand resources from Goa's rivers To: cs-...@nic.in Cc: nandka...@gmail.com To, The CHief secretary, Govt. of Goa, Shri J.P.Singh, IAS, Sir, Compliments for your stand on a rapidly depleting resource of Goa-the alluvial sand. I am attaching a note for your action. It may be also brought to the notice to the hon. minister for mines, shri Digambar Kamat. If you need any further information I would be pleased to furnish. Let us all strive to get an excellent and acceptable policy for Goa. Thanks warm regards Dr. Nandkumar Kamat Goa University Note Dr. Nandkumar M. Kamat Lecturer, Dept. of Botany, Expert in Environmental Impact Assessment Goa University Sept. 22, 2006 To, The Chief Secretary, Government of Goa, Shri J. P.Singh, I.A.S. A note on formulating a clear-cut scientific policy on sustainable alluvial sand mining Sir, My attention was drawn by the following news item published in The Navhind Times issue today (Sept. 22, 2006)-Weblink-http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=092251 Policy on sand mining soon NT
[Goanet] Appeal to CM , Goa to introduce the bill on Khazan land management (draft enclosed)
This matter is related to Goa's ecological destiny. You don't see Pyramids in Goa because they were built in a different manner-horizontally. The first impact of sea level rise in Goa would be the erosion of Khazan bundhs. This is massive geoengineering work-end to end the bundhs run 2000+ Kms. and this feat is equivalent to building several Pyramids. For example the outer 12 kms long bundh along Cumbarjua canal which runs from Agacaim to Corlim. Four metres wide and six metres high it needed mud worth half million cubic metres. All this was done manually by several Gaunkaris over decades. The rising sea and higher tides would submerge 7-8000 ha. land and displace 100 thousand people from 40-50 villages. The solution is legislative-better management mechanism on participative, cooperative basis.The Gaunkaris could do it for past 2000 years. After agitating since 1988 over the issue, courting arrest, going to jail, fighting a PIL (WP, 319/88) in court by arguing in person, campaigning on public platforms and through media (several articles were written in Konkani, Marathi and English) and helping raise the issue since 1995 in the assembly through starred and unstarred assembly questions and private members' resolution, the last option was to seek a durable legislative solution. That advocacy led to a draft bill. It doesn't matter how long it takes (political parties are hesitant to take stand on the bill) , Pressure would be mounted on the government consistently to get this bill discussed and passed and end the rule of Goa's politically well connected notorious illegal Khazan land pisciculture mafia (annual turnover Rs. 25 crores) whom people are afraid to confront. Read this mail with reference to my previous posting http://lists.goanet.org/htdig.cgi/goanet-goanet.org/2010-January/188615.htmlcaptioned-; Struggle is not yet over-the battle to save Goa’s Khazans and Salt pans--reminiscing 19 years after the highcourt judgment and for further information read my paper Please read my paper on this issue- http://www.scribd.com/doc/17712347/Ecology-and-Political-Economy-of-Khazan-Lands-of-Goa -- Forwarded message -- From: Dr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.com Date: Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 9:00 AM Subject: Please introduce the bill on Khazan land management (draft enclosed) To: cm@nic.in cm@nic.in Cc: nka...@unigoa.ac.in To, The Hon. CM, There is a total mess in 17000 hectares of Khazan lands spread in 8 talukas managed by 140 tenants associations.On one side government is spending crores of ruppees on repair of bundhs and on the other side the associations are minting money by auctioning the fields for pisciculture. With global warming and sea level rise most of the khazan bundhs would break thus flooding massive low lying areas. The present system would not be able to control the damage. There are similar lands in Konkan-known as Khar lands. In 1948 the new Maharashtra government brought Bombay khar land act. it was revised in 1978. Maharashtra has a Khar land development board since 1948. It executes all the works. But after tenancy act was brought in Goa, the government transfered the job to ill equipped tenant associations. I am enclosing copy of the bill on Khazan lands which a committee headed by ex secretary, law Mr. Subbanna, myself, Dr. Ligia Noronha and Mr. sanjit Rodrigues had prepared in 1999-2000.it was meant to be introduced in 2002 but the assembly was dissolved. Mr. Parrikar despite several reminders could not introduce it. The Khazan lands are ecologically fragile. We'd given a detail report to revenue department in 1992-known as Agricultural land development panel report then headed by former revenue minister Mr. Shankar Salgaonkar. It was edited by me and Dr. N.P.S. Varde as members of the panel appointed in November 1990. As an expert on Khazan lands in Goa, I appeal you to adopt this bill, introduce it in the assembly, and form Goa Khazan land development board.it would help to restore 17,000 ha. of Khazan land, save about 100, 000 jobs and increase farm income by 50-100 crore Rs. besides controlling soil erosion, water pollution etc. The bill may be opposed by all those who're involved in corrupt practices-like auctioning the manos but as the CM you must take this radical step which would be welcomed by common people and NGOS. nandkumar -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Proud to be an agent of tribals-my non violent and compassionate path
Helping the tribals-my non violent and compassionate path The incident occurred 26 years ago but whenever I step in the tribal wards of Markaim the Gavade tribal people recognize and come forward to greet me with tremendous love and affection…this is the village where I had taken practical lessons of relief work…as leader of All Goa Students Union and a relief work volunteer! Here I had met and interviewed the centenarian Tipu Gavade, who was active at the age of 101….he had an accidental fall and expired a few years back. He could remember the years of first world war (1914-18) vividly and was a repository of traditional knowledge. Markaim in Ponda taluka is a beautiful village partly located on Zuari river and Cumbarjua canal . During the monsoon very little barge traffic is seen in the river. But sometimes a barge is anchored in the channel. Markaim has a large Gavade ST population distributed compactly in two wards-Adan and Akhsan. The men are agricultural labourers. The women too do odd jobs. Every year they get work across the river in vast Khazan fields of Neura and Dongri. it is a dangerous crossing across the river during monsoon. As dusk falls the children eagerly await the return of their mothers, aunts, grand mothers. There are many young widows. But that that day was different--- It was raining heavily on June 13, 1984. About 40 women crowded a Vhodem -a passenger country craft without the balancing ulandi from Markaim to reach across to Neura. The canoe hit the underwater rope of a barge anchored in the river. There was a terrible commotion. It was one of biggest disaster in history of Goa. Within minutes 35 women drowned. Some bodies were never found. Search parties arrived late. Relief work was slow. But the vernacular press splashed the news next day and whole Goa was mourning the death of these poor and unfortunate souls. People have not forgotten this tragedy even today. Chowgule groups’s Marathi daily Gomantak gave a call to the readers to donate for the Markaim canoe tragedy victims relief fund. It was a firebrand journalist, the editor of Gomantak Mr. Athawale who approached me for undertaking door to door survey work. Gomantak had collected more than Rs. two lakhs from common people of Goa within a month. It was a relatively big amount in 1984. I was president of All Goa students union then and had a small team of student leaders with me who joined me in the day long survey -Mr. Vishnu Wagh, late Mr. Cyril Pacheco, Ms. Rashida Muzawar and Adv. Mahesh Sonak. As we visited the narrow lanes of the tribal hamlet and talked to the surviving family members the real dimension of the tragedy struck us. We had to counsel the women and the single parents-some had two or three minor kids to look after. The wards were congested. There were many TB cases. Alcoholism was rampant. This part had never seen real development. There were tears in my eyes as I began writing the report. It was immediately accepted. I proposed relief supply-rice, foodgrains, mattresses etc. This was given in a few days in a special function at Markaim. The long term plan was to build and repair houses and instead of paying relief in cash keep it in a safe deposit account on basis of the criteria which I worked out after ascertaining the needs of the survivors. We ensured that the beneficiaries would receive at least Rs. 100 per month from the accrued interest. Our long term proposals included free and safe transport across the river and insurance of the farm labourers, health camps etc. Many of these recommendations (school, health centre, new ramp) were implemented by the govt. and a few still remain without action. Then I suggested organization of a NSS ( National service Scheme) camp in the village and undertake repair and construction works of five houses. We prepared the estimates and obtained the NOC from land owners. Philanthropist and social worker Mr. Dadu Bharane was very helpful. The responsibility was accepted by the NSS Coordinator of Dhempe college of arts and science, Miramar and my former biology teacher Prof. Gajanan Kelkar. We personally transported the building materials from Panaji to Markaim on a hot afternoon in an open tempo. A health camp was also held. We camped in the village at night for a week. We shared our memories and food with the tribal friends. Three houses were repaired and two new ones were constructed. The camp was successful. Over 35 fixed deposit accounts had been opened at Markaim, Maharashtra bank. The editor of Gomantak daily was joint signatory and without his consent no money could be withdrawn. We inquired and found that every month the beneficiaries used to collect the monthly interest which was like a small pension for them. There was no other social security scheme in Goa. After seven years the issue of renewal of all the fixed deposit accounts came up. Amazingly, the beneficiaries came forward for renewal. “amka paishe dovrunk zai’ they said in unison.
[Goanet] Please urgently stop sand digging in ecofragile Vanxim island near Divar
-- Forwarded message -- From: Dr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.com Date: Tue, Jun 1, 2010 at 1:39 AM Subject: Please urgently stop sand digging in ecofragile Vanxim island near Divar To: cm@nic.in Attention Dear Hon. CM, Please recall the telephonic talk about stopping illegal sand mining near Amona Khandola bridge and near Vanxim island some days back when you said band korunk layata.But nothing happened. I am deeply disturbed by the following report, confirmed it through my contacts and therefore urge you to direct the collector, north goa, (in view of revenue code, 1968), dir. of mines (which licenses such activity) ,, captain of ports ( need to protect navigable channel and wharfs, jetties), CZMA, dir. of environment (CRZ area) and Goa police immediately to raid the Vanxi sand digging site and consficate all the materials and book cases against the culprits. It is sad that the environment department and Goa CZMA has failed to take notice and gets into action only after reading newspaper reports. its' inaction is ruining Goa;s estuarine island resources within sensitive mangrove, khazan and island areas. They would be answerable to the public for this damage. I am also unhappy that depsite several appeals, memorandums and emails to the govt. since 1993-4, the state govt. has failed to fix sustainable limits of alluvial sand mining. Even note sent to ex CS J.P.Singh was not acted upon. If your govt. doesn't act the Vanxi island would get eroded and washed out *Vanxim Vanquished* Jelton Fernandes, all of just 17, is one of those few concerned citizens in an apathetic Goa I keep writing about in this column. He lives on Vanxim island tucked away north-west off Divar island and in the news these days because of the literally thousands of tons of sand that is being illegally extracted in the stretch from the old Captain of Ports jetty opposite the Jesus Christ Church of Vanxim up to the ferry jetty where the islanders cross over to Divar. The Captain of Ports jetty was where boats once ferried people from Vanxim directly to Panjim. No longer. Divar is where maximium apathy happens. Vanxim falls under the Sao Matias Village Panchayat and its sole panch Manuel Furtado couldn?t care less about the sand extraction and watches blithely as part of Vanxim?s shore gets eroded. Neither does the Sao Matias acting Sarpanch Tulsidas Kundaikar, who has been in office since June 2008. Kundaikar even had the audacity to tell a news channel that he had done all he could, which was shooting off letters to the Mines Department, the Goa Marine Police and Captain of Ports (CoP) and specifically picked on the extremely susceptible Captain A P Mascarenhas,(who retires next month) for his ?inaction? blaming the official squarely. But Kundaikar is an old hand at this, for years he blamed Mascarenhas for the government?s dismal record of building ferry boats. Though the illegal sand extraction has been going on for the past three months, Kundaikar didn?t think it was necessary to inform the Cumbarjua MLA Pundurang Madkaikar, till (unconfirmed yet) Sunday April 25 when another concerned villager Edgar D?Mello and Jelton met him protesting his own inaction. Earlier a group of about 15 Vanxim villagers also met him. The marine police did make on a joyride to the site. How else can you describe a boat trip when your cops come in a swift boat and don?t pursue the slow and cumbersome sand boats that promptly scooted off and no arrests made. In the backdrop of the calm river and two beautiful islands, joyride it was. *Inside Job* While it is mostly non-islanders who are robbing the island of its precious eco-protection (some of them are from the neighbouring island of Akhada) what has hurt Vanxim villagers most is that people from the island itself like Tulsidas Parab, Padmanath Bhosle, Ramesh Bhosle, Bhalchandra Bhosle, Amrut Volvoikar, Shivanand Bhosle and Kishore Tari are as high as their knees in the sand extraction racket. Bhalchandra Bhosle and Amrut Volvoikar own two boats each which shows there is money to be banked, and there are an estimated 60-70 boats that work the sand bank there. The manner in which a single boat is loaded easily fills up a large sized truck. Many of these Sand Extractors have provided the migrant workers hired to load the boats with crude shacks to live and no toilets. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Need to act on report on minor minerals sent by minister of state, MOEF, (ind. charge) Mr. Jairam Ramesh
-- Forwarded message -- From: Dr.Nandkumar Kamat nandka...@gmail.com Date: Mon, Jun 7, 2010 at 1:51 AM Subject: Need to act on report on minor minerals sent by minister of state (ind. charge) Mr. Jairam Ramesh To: cm@nic.in Dear CM, Goa A lot of agitations have taken place over exploitation of major minerals. But minor minerals are getting plundered at a faster rate for local consumption. Even at Sanquelim I noticed river sand excavation. Excavation of coastal beach sand despite ban, river sand, shingles, shells, murum, quartz pebbles has become rampant without any demarcation or sustainable limits. The report sent by Hon. Minister , MOEF (copy elclosed) Mr. jairam ramesh is in right direction. In fact I have been petitioning the govt. since 1993 on the same issue. The state govt. need to act on this report with top priority for disciplining alluvial river sand mining, quarrying and murum excavation. The Minister has already written to you, but still I am sending this mail to reiterate that the central guidelines are helpful to us. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Arundhati Roy, Operation Green Hunt And The Indian Middle Class By Abhijit Dutta
An eye witness account by Roy's critical middle class admirer, Abhijit Dutta who attended the meeting of Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights (CPDR) on the ‘War Against People’ in Mumbai She is a writer. So she writes. Who does she write for? Who is the audience? Where does she publish? Do her exclusive 32 page essays appear in the monthly magazines published out of Dantewada (scribbled, one would imagine, in blood, on tendu leaves) or does it appear in magazines to the said middle class, who forks out the Rs. 20 that the essay costs? Would seminars like these, where she enters with a phalanx of photographers, where adoring fans (yes, fans. One woman, dressed in a blue cotton saree with tribal print, said breathlessly: I just want to touch her feet) wait with bated breath, attract anyone at all if she wasn’t popular? As a writer, to make any change at all, she needs to be read! Guess who, in this country of a billion, can read? The first name begins with an ‘M’ and the second with ‘C’. Members of India's great middle class need to read the interesting account http://www.countercurrents.org/dutta070610.htm -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Chennai Journalist Nandini Krishnan says-We need Arundhati Roy like a hole in the head
A thoughtful critique by Journalist Nandini Krishnan, Chennai Excerpts:- The Maoists have consistently turned down invitations to hold talks. India doesn’t have the best record where ‘talks’ are concerned - we’ve been ‘talking’ to Pakistan for half a century - but is killing non-Naxals a solution to this? It may have been Abraham Lincoln who famously quoted the Bible and said “a house divided against itself cannot stand”. But the adage hasn’t been proved true as many times in any other country as in India. It is this quality which saw parts being swallowed whole by the Mughals and then raped by the British. We can debate about a government attacking its own citizens, but how can those who claim to be exempt from the law qualify as citizens? We live in far more dangerous times than the Colonial Era, and the world is watching as the big candidate for the United Nations Security Council struggles with ‘internal security threats’. In an age of neo-colonialism and terrorism, with far too many vested interests to keep track of, what are we opening ourselves to in providing forums for Maoist sympathisers? read the full interesting story http://sify.com/news/we-need-arundhati-roy-like-a-hole-in-the-head-news-columns-kghkzpgcacd.html
[Goanet] Proxy war against Indian republic under the facade of Naxalism exposed
Foreign powers would do anything to see India bleed. This has been going on since 1948. A surrendered Naxalite revealed- “We had a Filipino man come down to train us in 2001. LTTE men have come twice for the same purpose. They instructed us in defense and offense tactics, like laying mines and grenades. Others from the party taught us weaponry handling, like AKs, SLRs etc. way before that.” read the full story http://conflictreporting.wordpress.com/category/surrendered-naxal-profile/ -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Romantic revolutionary dreams for tribals held hostage under the barrel of gun
The Naxals would be sandwitched between the tribal rebels and the Indian forces very soon, if they continue to romanticise revolution under the barrel of the gun!. “The Naxals have been saying that they are fighting to bring us power. For many years, we roamed the forests chasing this elusive dream, but it was nowhere in sight. So, we decided to surrender,” says Sukhlal Atla and his wife Renuka, both Naxals who surrendered last year. Suresh Harami, former member of the North Gadchiroli-Gondia Divisional Committee who laid down arms early this year, says, “I often fought with them (Naxal bosses), arguing that we should allow some development works like roads since they are really needed, especially in times of health emergencies. They never agreed.” Read the full story http://www.indianexpress.com/news/in-gadchirolis-red-zone/530422/0 Obviously celebrities like Arundhati Roy would keep mum over such stories -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Celebrating World Environment Day-How green was my campus-View My 30 best pictures
Greetings of World Environment Day 2010 View my 30 best pictures of Goa University campus. http://picasaweb.google.co.in/Nandkamat/HowGreenWasMyCampusMy30BestPictures# It was an attempt over past 10 years to freeze on frame whatever that remains before we lose it, miss it, kill it, eliminate it, disturb or destroy it With this perspective we can project the future of our campus 10 years from now. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA University --
[Goanet] Odxel valley -urban development to engulf -Tiswadi's last intact windswept valley with climax evergreen vegetation
Please view the web-album to get an idea of what all this is about... http://picasaweb.google.co.in/Nandkamat/OdxelValleyInTaleigaoMarkedForClearance#5479387668296171602 Where Odxel ward of Taleigao ends and Cancra ward of St. cruz begins- you find the Odxel valley. Same type of Valley we would see behind Betim's Malim fishing jetty. This is also colonised illegally. While surveying the boundaries of our university campus to detect environmental violations, I came across the Odxel valley and development which is encroaching on its' pristine beauty. Even during summer the eye soothing evergreen vegetation spread upto the edge of Marmagoa bay ( not Zuari river as CZMA mistakenly believes to benefit the developers) offers a breathtaking view of birds of prey-kites and fishing eagles. Such a location has right to exist and exist intact ...the 5000 years old route to the valley is marked by saced banyan trees-Vad-with megalithic stone circles. At least one Barazan' location was found where Budhvont used to sit and oracles used to be cast. These are very old places for sacrifices. The valley has a huge rare Ficus tree (F. benjamina? I need to check) which supports many nests of kites and eagles. You can see this tree even on Google map, The big question is how to stop the development which is spreading towards the valley. The flying squad would find some work here as a house is coming up by clearing vegetation. There was no sign of men and machinery probably because this development is done in slow motion to evade detection. One pit per week, one wall per month. Once the structure is up-then there is hesitation to demolish it. The vegetation in the valley is not ordinary type-it is evolved under environmental stresses-steep slope, lateritic soil, high winds, heavy lashing rains...the Aldeia project-an eye sore concrete jungle has already manicured similar valley-Bambolim valley-so what could be the fate of Odxel valley?. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] If armed forces step in then Naxalites should nominate Arundhati Roy for Nobel peace prize-2010-11
Compared to work of Dr. Karanth, Bhairappa, CT Khanolkar, HM Marathe, RS Dighe, SNPendase, TS Pillai, MT vasudevan Nair and our own Pundalik Naik and Mahabaleshwar Sail I did not find anything in much hyped GOST which I read within a few weeks of its' publication in India. Unfortunatley all those I mentioned made the mistake of publishing in their mother tongue first. They had no literary agents and professional editors. After she ran out of original creative ideas (what's the name of her second novel?epic? or drama? ) a confused Arundhati Roy is trying to develop a constituency for herself...perhaps a radical school of thought which Indian intellectuals would then teach as arundhati roy school of anti state antipolitics. She is good at crafting words and phrases and so would succeed nationally and internationally in her project. She has a strategy-be iconoclastic, unconventional, use shock treatment...get peoples' attention no matter what you write! Still Arundhati Roy needs India and India needs her. She is basically playing to a western audience which hates to see a stable, economically prosperous, united India. But she can attempt to write something in Indian languages too , like in Malayalam- and not use the language of an oppressive capitalist society. But she can't help it. She knows that she is more fluent in a foreign language. what a contradiction?. I am sure her naxalite comrades don't speak or use English, Cantonese or Javanese... India still needs Many bold anglophilic women like her. That's the test of real democracy. Agreeing to disagree. We don't and shouldn't hate Arundhati. She is one and exceptional. She may be wrong but she has right to say what she feels strongly about... Arundhati naturally doesn't believe in Gandhiji and jaiprakash narayan. JP did not glorify the Chambal dacoits. He worked to change their lives and make them surrender. Where are the dacoits in Chambal today?. Does anyone think the dacoity problem in Chambal ravines was lesser than naxalism? Arundhati could even take a leaf out of Raj Kapoor's monumental film jis desh me ganga behati hai. If I were the PM of India then I would have given full powers and logistic support to Ms. Roy to negotiate with the Naxalites and come out with an accord within of course India's constitutional framework. She could have even consulted the Nepalese comrades. But she herself would find out that Naxalites are negatively indoctrinated and being self righteous and rigid would not abhor violence. There is a larger plan of disintegrating Indian state. The issue is not as simple as stopping resource exploitation, forest rights, tribal rights and self rule. I am a small person. Despite problems I believe in constitution of India and the power of the vote. The Mizoram accord proved what India could do. It is the vote politics in radical W. bengal and Kerala today where guns were booming and bombs used to go off in 60s and 70s. Miracles are possible in democracy. Majority of India doesn't appreciate Naxalism and the path of violence. The public opinion against naxalites would snowball in a year or two as they engage in mindless violence. With superior intelligence, Naxals would be crushed if the powerful Indian state hammers them. it doesn't matter how long it takes and what it would cost. The Sri lankans have shown what they could do. The LTTE virus was eliminated. We have the example of end of militancy in Punjab. What happened to the Naxalism in Andhra Pradesh?. There were also sympathizers of veerappan who used the same Robin hood logic. Veerappan was crushed. Naxalism can be glorified but it can not survive without supply lines from Pakistani and Chinese support. We had heard shrill pro-naxalism and naxalite voices (slogans like 'naxalbari lal saalam, laal salam etc. on streets, pro naxalism wall graffitti etc) in Goa during the days of students movement (1980-90). Public memory is short. Most of naxal sympathizers, co-travellers have now changed or gone underground. They could join AR. Has Arundhati heard of people who offer practical solutions? Here we have Dr. Abhay and Rani Bang, sacrificing urban comforts and choosing to serve the poorest of poor, the tribals in naxalite infested gadchiroli district in Maharashtra. Send a hundred Bangs in Naxalites areas and watch the change... There are many others like Rajendra Singh of Tarun Bharat sangh working for millions of poor and marginalised farmers in Rajasthan. Has she heard of Godatai Parulekar, Anutai wagh or Nanaji Deshmukh?. Did she ask Sunderlal Bahuguna and Chandiprasad Bhat of Chipko fame in Garwhal Himalayas why they did not embrace Naxalism? Apart from promising them the much needed narcissistic publicity platform ( that too in capitalist centric press which consumes resources of the poor) did in any of her interactions with the Naxal comrades, Ms. Roy ask them what else she could do for their hostage supporters, e.g. better roads, jobs, schools, health care,
[Goanet] Sorry-Not a megaproject-road construction and tree slaughter was done by Goa University for completing boundary wall
Not a megaproject-road construction and tree slaughter was done by Goa University for completing boundary wall This is a new and interesting development. After posting the previous alert and appeal about the road construction and tree slaughter, I visited the registrar, Goa University, Dr. Sangodkar, in the afternoon (June 1, 2010) and requested him to conduct an on the site inspection. We inspected the university’s map, checked the boundaries and then with University engineer Mr. Sawakar we proceeded to the site of road construction. Both the registrar and the engineer were surprised to discover the activity and damage. “this must have been going on for many days’ , opined the registrar. He noted the imprints in mud made by heavy earth moving machinery. I requested him to file a FIR. The engineer pointed to a section of completed boundary wall (after shifting to the present campus it has taken university 16 years to undertake a compound wall construction along the large boundary as there were no funds for the same ) and implied that the road construction and tree slaughter might have taken in the private property without university’ s knowledge. But perhaps he would not know that he would be changing his opinion in a few hours. We concluded the inspection with the registrar assuring to seek an explanation from the security guards in the boys’ hostels who could have noticed the movement of machinery. It so happened that, after returning from the inspection, considering the tree slaughter and its’ impact on wildlife I contacted the CCF, Goa forest dept. Dr. Shashikumar and asked him to send RFO, Panaji to investigate the matter of tree felling. “How is it possible that access for road construction and tree felling was given from university property without anyone’s knowledge?”. He expressed his doubts. But I insisted on an inquiry by RFO who is also the notified tree officer. Dr. Shashikumar assured to send him. In the meantime Times of India –Goa Journalist Mr. Paul Fernandes contacted me. I asked him to visit the said site in the evening. Both RFO Mr. Korgaonkar and Mr. Paul appeared at the same time, around 4 PM. Mr. Korgaonkar came with his full team. Then we proceeded to inspect the road and tree felling. A little further we noticed another wall on a slope and a large cleared area. The forest dept. team noticed logs of a freshly cut large jackfruit tree. A woman was collecting the branches. She said that a landlord has allowed her to collect the wood. A few trees could be seen fallen to the ground with the branches cleanly severed. ( I would post these images later) A Kokum tree was in a state of collapse. Mr. Korgaonkar expressed his doubts about involvement of a private party. Looking at the laterite bricks he said that this could be university’s work. He sent his forest guard to inspect. The anti climax came sooner than expected. As I waited for the forest dept. team to complete the survey of the damage, apparently the registrar had also set in motion his own investigation. After some time, Mr. Korgaonkar approached me and said that he would like to meet the registrar. He shocked me with these words-“ this is the work done by your university”. I phoned the registrar’s office and requested for an appointment with RFO. Mr. Korgaonkar then spoke to the registrar. Within a few minutes the full team of engineering section of Goa university led by the registrar Dr. Sangodakar descended at the site with maps. They went around and checked some boundary marks. Then the delegation assembled in front of boys’s hostel and then the registrar admitted that the conclusion drawn in the afternoon inspection was wrong. The road was made by contractor engaged by the university to build the boundary wall to transport machinery and materials to permit construction of a section of the wall on the steep slope. “ but this damage is not acceptable” I said-“besides permission of forest department was not obtained”. Besides, I said_-“why a six metre wide road is required to transport machines?, What happened to the trees and timber?.” Mr. Korgaonkar reiterated my statement. He insisted that despite being a public body the university need to obtain permission under tree preservation act. The registrar assured that compensatory plantation would be done during the monsoon. I said that it would be difficult in the rocky part now. “ We need to admit that the work was not properly supervised and the impacts were not assessed seriously”. The engineer said that traditional trail would be maintained. RFO said that there would be mud flow in the village due to loose soil. I told RFO to follow the procedure as per the rules. He expressed the inability to do house to house search and confiscate the wood and timber. Turning to the university engineer, I said-“ this is a slap on my face. I have already informed the world that the damage is done by some private interest for a megaproject. I am really ashamed that our university has done
[Goanet] Goa netters need to read the State economic survey 2009-10
Please visit the website of Goa's dept. of planning. http://goadpse.gov.in/ and download and read the latest State economic survey from this weblink http://goadpse.gov.in/publications/Economicsurvey0910.pdf How wealth is getting created in Goa?. How bank deposits are growing phenomenally despite global economic recession?.( What's the source of all this wealth?.a point to ponder...) What is really the quantum and contribution of NRI deposits?. Urbanization, social security, health sector, education... and much more.. this is the legally acceptable official document consistent with Govt. Of India's planning commission guidelines and format... a must for all Goan NRIs and Goa netters..don't miss the voluminous annexures Also there are many other reports on the website freely available.. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, member, Goa state planning board-2009-11
[Goanet] Final assault on the last surviving green belt and wildlife habitat-Kalapur bandh-Nagali hill-the grand megaproject plan exposed
I have observed that everywhere people are hurrying to destroy green belts and fields as if they know that after notification of RP-2021, they would get all these crimes condoned….that explains filling up of vast Khazan fields at Merces and at many other places There is a grand plan to destroy the green belt of Kalapur bandh and convert the green watershed with many habitats of mammals, reptiles, birds and thousands of wild trees teeming with wildlife for new megaprojects. The area is between102 years old Bondval lake of Calapur communidade and the Model status matchbox buildings megaproject at Nagali, Taleigao. (see the indexed images in my picasa web album) Bambolim plateau is a microlithic (5000 years old) archaeological site. For thousands of years there existed an ancient trail, a foot track from Calapur bandh to Bambolim plateau. There were some rock cut steps too..all this is destroyed within a few days… A road is being constructed on very steep slope in clandestine manner behind Boys’ hostel, Goa University (check the image of a banyan tree and a cross) to link with existing road which connects St cruz to Taleigao. I spotted this activity yesterday evening and reported it to the VC at night. It would be reported to concerned authorities and the media once offices open. I don’t know whether flying squad has any wings and energy to fly. The toll so far:- At least 2-300 wild trees, loss of precious habitatsand artificial break in vegetation, massive soil erosion et al Need concrete evidence of the ecovandalism-just 5 kms away from the seat of power? View the picasa web album http://picasaweb.google.co.in/Nandkamat/DestroyingTheLastGreenBeltOfBandhCalapur#http://picasaweb.google.co.in/Nandkamat/DestroyingTheLastGreenBeltOfBandhCalapur and send your strong protest e-mails to the Chief minister of Goa on his e-mail ID cm@nic.in There is absolutely no point in observing world environment day this year with such daylight ecocrimes---there is still more to follow -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] How we put tiny Goa on the global rock art map 17 years ago-Part I- A peep into prehistoric Goan shamanism
How we put tiny Goa on the global rock art map 17 years ago- Part I- A peep into prehistoric Goan shamanism (Prelude:- During 1988 I discovered paleolithic stone tools and petroglyphs at Tiska-Usgao on the old route across the mountain to Bondla and published the findings in the Navhind Times. During 1990 the ex-MLA of Rivona, late Mr. Ranu Prabhudessai had mentioned to me about 'goravarakhnyachim chitram' at a site close to his house but I could not visit the site. In study excursion of our university nature club, to archaeological sites of Quepem during nov. 1992 Adv. Vallabh Ganwas Dessai suggested that we could visit the place on the river bank. But it was already late and the road conditions were bad. In February 1993, I met Arch. Kamalakar Sadhale from Ponda at a function at Wagale High school, Mangeshi. He said that horticulturist Mr. Kalidas Sawaikar has told him about certain interesting archaeological objects near his farm at Kolamb and we must visit the site. This news was conveyed to the then director of archives and archaeology Dr. P.P. Shirodkar. Ultimately we could all gather on May 9, 1993, Sunday. Dr. Shirodkar brought archaeologist from his Dept. Mangesh Deshpande. After I joined them we proceeded to pick up Arch. Sadhale and his son Abhijeet (then pursuing his B. arch studies at Ahmedabad). We reached the location at about 1 pm and as soon as we stepped on the stream bank we were left speechless. After spending a few hours surveying the area and marking the petroglyph outlines with chalk to record their shapes we left the location. History of Goa had been pushed back by at least a few thousand years that day. The legend of genesis of land of Goa by Lord Parashurama stood debunked. Goa was put on rock art map of south India, India, Asia and the world that day. I wrote a detail article Goa's stone age art gallery' in June 1993 issue of Goa Today magazine and received a word of appreciation from Goan Indologist, Philologist Prof. Jose Pereira, Fordham University. Dr. Shirodkar not only wrote extensively on the importance of the rock art but took steps to notify the location and preserve it. Subsequently, petroglyphs were found at Kazur (Quepem) and Mauxi (Sattari) as well as Virdi, Sawantwadi. I also discovered 21 cupules at Mauxim, Sattari and 4 cupules at granite rocky outcrop-'pandavachem talap' at entrance to Benaulim village. Austrian rock art expert Prof. Neumayer also visited the Kolamb site followed by Prof. A.K.Sundara of Karnataka university. Although many papers have been presented I have differed with the interpretations and findings and have followed a different multidisciplinary methodology after studying world rock art and Indian rock art ethos to arrive at the dating, antiquity, nature, genesis and the spiritual and material world of what I have termed as kushavati culture since the stream is part of Kushavati river- a tributary of Zuari river. ) This article is dedicated to my good friend, a progressive farmer and a caring MLA, late Ranu Prabhudessai who had warned about the dangers of uncontrolled mining in Rivona area in 1990-2 and had played a stellar, unwavering role in pushing the report of house committee on Nylon 6, 6 plant which sealed the fate of that controversial megaindustrial venture. Mr. Prabhudessai had a tragic jeep accident and succumbed to injuries. Supplementary material:- My research article Animal diversity in rock art'' in pdf format can be found at http://www.scribd.com/doc/31138638/Animal-Diversity-in-Goa-s-Rock-Art-by-Nandkumar-Kamat-1995 and the album of rock art gallery petroglyphs mentioned in the following article at http://picasaweb.google.co.in/Nandkamat/PrehistoricGoanShamanismTheKushavatiRockArtGalleryGoaIndia#5469611125567591026 and a history seminar presentation on demystification of the unique form of 'ocular labyrinth' at http ://www.scribd.com/doc/7458449/Labyrinth-of-GOA-DemystifiedPresentation-made-in-2005-during-history-seminar-Goa-University%28Weblink:-%20http%20://www.scribd.com/doc/7458449/Labyrinth-of-GOA-DemystifiedPresentation-made-in-2005-during-history-seminar-Goa-University%29. Prehistoric Goan Shamanism Nandkumar Kamat ( Published in my weekly column, NEW FRONTIERS, in the Panorama Sunday magazine, The Navhind Times, May 9, 2010) Exactly 17 years ago a new leaf was turned in archaeology, cultural and ecological anthropology and paleoecology of Goa. It was also a mothers’ day on Sunday, May 9, 1993 when I was standing on the banks of Kushavati river. We had made a discovery of the prehistoric petroglyphs of Goa. More than 125 forms were found scattered in the area. There in front of me was the evidence of prehistoric Goan shamanistic practice. On a platform rich in metals, Iron and Manganese, we were witnessing an age before the use of metals. The factory of the artists’ tools were before us-the stream bed littered with polymorphic polished heavy pebbles. One could pick up any stone hammer and chisel and
Re: [Goanet] 39 new dragonfly species found in Goa (Paul Fernandes, TNN)
The caption of the posted news item is misleading. A new species means a novel species in science which the taxonomists have to diagnose and publish with full details. The caption of the news item is misleading. I have seen the original paper mailed to me by Mr. Ranganekar. It says that 34 new records for Odonates (Dragonflies and Damselflies) were found in Goa. This means these species are known in science but were not earlier surveyed in Goa. We need taxonomists and field ecologists to fully catalogue the existing biodiversity of Goa. There is hardly any knowledge of many groups of insects, flatworms, invertebrates, bacteria, soil fauna etc. Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA On Fri, May 7, 2010 at 1:59 AM, Goanet News wrote: 39 new dragonfly species found in Goa Paul Fernandes, TNN, May 5, 2010, 02.58am IST PANAJI: The whir of tiny dragon flies and damsel flies was not heard much amidst the recent din about turtles and tigers. But a 19-month long study carried out in Goa some time back is likely to bring them into sharper focus as the number of their species has now gone up to 74.
[Goanet] Episodes of environmental destruction at Bambolim valley and Merces khazans
The regional plan 2021 is a mass harakiri by unsuspecting Goans. Those who believe in it are extremely naive about the dynamics of destruction on ground level and the connivance of all vested interests. RP-2021 is a joint ploy to deny people their powers at grass roots level and centralize everything in the hands of the same old corrupt PDAS and immobilised TCP board. Once notified, people would be technically harassed and tortured for 11 years-thanks to all those who supported this unique idea in India. At CM's residence, I had requested both Arch. Charles correia and Mr. Edgar Ribeiro in August 2007 to accompany me from there itself for witnessing 100 environmental violations in and around Panaji citythey had declined. Now there are 500+ violations which you spot when you travel/take a walk... just in an area of 30-40 sq.kms. in Tiswadi. The government seems to have given full liberty in the meantime to builders, developers and unscrupulous elements to destroy whatever that remains of Goa. Everyday I have to witness and follow environmental destruction wherever I travel in Goa. I stop there and try to contact those who're supposed to take action... here are two sample episodes Episode I:-Destruction of the lush green valley of Bambolim, Tiswadi, Goa On February 8, 2010 I had brought the RFO, Panaji to inspect the sudden clearance of roadside vegetation on the slopes of Bambolim valley close to road to Dona paula from GMC, Bambolim. A private party intends to build a road on steep slope to connect the Bambolim valley to MDR-Dona Paula. There are hundreds of wild trees and a lot of animal and bird life here. That RFO did not supervise or monitor the activity probably because of political pressures. On May 1 st at about 6 p.m. as I was proceeding to visit Dr. Sushrut Martins's house to offer my condolences, I noticed a stack of wood near the roadside at Bambolim after crossing the AIR staff quarters. This plot overlooks 'aldeia de Goa' megatownship. With a lot of difficulty I got DCF Mr. Shetgaonkar to visit and inspect the location at night. Let us see what action takes place now.. Please view evidence for episode I by visiting http://picasaweb.google.com/Nandkamat/BambolimGreenValleyDestruction# Episode II:-Destruction of the ancient ecosensitive khazans, mangroves and creeks at Merces Merces is saturated with scrapyards.. the old, natural drainage system is gonethe whole village is turning into a RCC jungle On Saturday evening the CTP Mr. Ahmad promised to send a senior town planner to inspect Merces Khazans. On Sunday may 2, 2010, afternoon another officer of town and country planning department met me to witness the gross, wholescale destruction of the ancient Khazans (saline paddy fields) of Merces close to the new byepass on road which connects Pato RIbandar to wadi, Merces. This was rice bowl of the entire area for hundreds of years. Even the officer was shocked to see the destruction and promised to file a FIR. Let us see what action takes place now... Please view how our own Goan brethern, the tenants who owe the khazan lands are treating their ecologythe ecosensitized parishioners of Ribandar told me that they are not concerned with this as the area falls within Merces VP... during one of our environmental animation interaction... Please view evidence for episode II by visiting http://picasaweb.google.com/Nandkamat/DestructionOfEcosensitiveKhazansOfMercesTiswadiGoa# Then I received a SOS from villagers of Khandola about illegal sand mining..near the bridge .just today afternoon and I have asked them to contact President , MBA MS. Nirmala Sawant. more about that later... I am not keeping good health. It doesn't matter if I follow Sushrut Martins soon...but there would be no compromise against the forces of evil destroying Goa...till my last breath -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] A global call for saving Goan Mangoes from Extinction
--- *** Follow Goanet on Twitter *** http://twitter.com/goanet --- Mangoes – A case study of How Goa is losing globally precious agrobiodiversity heritage… A global call for saving Goan Mangoes from Extinction Dr. Nandkumar M. Kamat Asst. Professor, Dept. of Botany, Goa University Taleigao, Goa, 403206 nandka...@gmail.com It is called “king of fruits’ and “fruit of the kings”.. Which fruit of Goa has 7 % of global diversity?. Is not saving Mangoes of Goa as important task as saving the Royal Bengal tigers?. What we do if we lose this gene pool?. I am alarmed by the rapid biodiversity erosion of Goan mango varieties. Global Goan mango lovers need to petition the agriculture dept. of Goa and the three MPs on this issue. In the current International year of biodiversity-the slogan should be “Save Goan Mangoes from extinction”. “Sambaluya Goenchya amyache girest daiz” MANGO (*Mangifera indica *L.) (Anacardiaceae) has origin in the Indo-Burma region during the earlier period of the Cretaceous era. India has world’s largest Mango gene pool. Mango spread from India to other countries. Within India, Goa has the largest number of mango varieties. Defining Goan mangoes:- According to me“Goan mangoes are the indigenous ‘mangoes of Goa’, either one of the 100+ catalogued varieties or those traditionally proven cultivars which have a definite origin in Goa and have a history of cultivation in Goa mostly organically.” Mango research:- (Authentic work on Mango includes The mango: botany, production, and uses by R E Litz, 1997, CABI, UK, 670 pp.. The first chapter –Introduction: Botany and importance by S.K. Mukherjee of Calcutta University and R E Litz of University of Florida is important. I found the superbly illustrated monograph ‘Romance of the Mango’ by Kusum Budhwar (2004, Penguin India, 290 pp. ) a useful tome on Culural history of mango in India. Scientific studies on mango cultivars e.g. Genetic diversity analysis of mango cultivars using inter simple sequence repeat markers, by Pandit et al., (2007) can be found at http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/oct252007/1135.pdf) Uniqueness of Goan Mangoes Goa has a rich diversity of 100-110 varieties of mango which represents 10-11 % of India’s mango diversity (with 1000 cultivars) and 7 % of global mango diversity (1600 cultivars). This is remarkable for a small state. It means that for every 34 sq. kms. geographical area Goa has a different, unique mango cultivar. This was magic of classical grafting techniques. The ICAR-Goa monograph records only 50-60 varieties. There are no dedicated commercial plantations. Just about 3000 hectares of land is under Mango cultivation. This means the cultivar density is very high -a large number of different cultivars occupy a small cultivation area. Thousands of mango trees have been cut in the villages without even attempting new replantations. A 100 years old tree on Merces lake described majestically by St. Cruz’s poet laureate Paulino Dias was cut mercilessly to permit ever growing lakeside encroachments. A Mango tree on NH 17 A, which survives near GMC bus stop, opposite Dental college complex, was saved from slaughter due to my efforts 20 years ago. When Mango trees get slaughtered, no biodiversity impact assessment is made to check whether any rare variety gets lost. The village panchayats also have no record of the wealth of mango cultivars. A globally rare Mango variety like ‘Ananas’ found only at Cansaulim, Marmagoa taluka ( village of T.B.Cunha, Chandrkant Keni, Mathany Saldanha and many others) might have been lost already. Only two trees were reported in that village. These were the ONLY TWO LAST SURVIVING TREES OF ANANAS MANGO VARIETY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. If by chance, any more such trees are found in Cansaulim, it is duty of the owners to conserve them and propagate the germplasm. The peak season for Goan mangoes is from end of April to Middle of June. Best mangoes are sold in May. *Reminiscences of Mango days* Year 1969:- We feast on a basket of Malacorado mangoes. At a time we buy 100-150 mangoes. A certain supplier from Chorao delivers the mangoes. During May we see 30-40 varieties of local mangoes in Market. 1979:- Mango prices increase with boom in tourism. But still we can afford to buy the best local varieties. Totapuri, Neelam are not seen in market. 1989:- Very few varieties of local mangoes (15-20) are found in Markets. Still good quality Malcorado, Fernandin , bemcurado are sold at affordable rates. 1999:- Alphonso mangoes are marketed in Goa in large quantities. Neelam, Totapuri also dominate the market. The number of local varieties goes down. In Mapusa market, one could see 20-25 varieties. 2001:- In 21 st century Goa, mango prices go through the roof. In Panaji
[Goanet] A note on considering Goa as a special case -an ecologically fragile/ecovulnerable state-copy of Letter mailed on August 30 , 2009 to Mr. Jairam Ramesh, Union minister for state (independent
In his Visit and interaction/public hearing on CZMA at the auditorium of Agnel Polytechnic, Verna, on Aug. 30, 2009 the Hon. Minister for environment and forests, Mr. Jairam Ramesh declared- anyone in audience may write to me why Goa deseves a special case . Within a few hours I dispatched him the following note and marked the copies to Goa government. Further action on this note is awaited. (On the request of the Hon Minister for state (independent charge), Ministry of Environment and Forests, Shri Jairam Ramesh, Govt. of India) From:- Dr. Nandkumar M. Kamat, Vice Chairperson, Mahadayi Bachao Abhiyan (MBA) , And Asst. Professor, Dept. of Botany, Goa University Taleigao, Goa, 403206 August 30, 2009 To, The Hon. Minister for state (independent charge) Environment and forests Govt. of India, New Delhi. Shri Jairam Ramesh Sir, Thanks for your deep interest and love for Goa. I could see that you left an indelible positive impression on the audience. Many powerful dignitaries had been to Goa but for the first time in many years I heard voices of optimism and hope from simple folks who had assembled at Verna. Congratulations! Touched by your sincere approach and dynamism, I’m responding to your request in the public consultation held today at Verna to submit some points to make Goa’s case special. I’ m submitting a quick list of a few points on basis of my own personal studies. I’m also attaching a separate paper ( a pdf file) on Goa’s environmental tragedy for your perusal. *A note on considering Goa as a special case -an ecologicallyfragile/ecovulnerable state.* Once upon a time the Vijayanagara emperors who ruled for a short period had declared Goa as the capital of Konkan-“Goabhidham-Konkanarajadhanim”. But the Goa of today has accumulated many negative externalities. A single major ecological catastrophe may tilt the balance and finish what remains. On several accounts, Goa can be given a special ecological status To cite a few:- 1. Seismically vulnerable state:-history of Goa is very complex. The landmass has undergone three major folds and violent tectonic changes. The west coast fault runs close to Goa. The state is crisscrossed by six geological faults. It is due to geodynamic activities that Goa is endowed with a beautiful undulating landscape. However that also makes Goa geologically vulnerable. 2. Peculiar hydrography vulnerable to small swings:- The distorted courses of western flowing rivers in Goa shows tectonic influence. Not a single major river flowing through Goa has its’ source within the state. So being a lower riparian state, Goa is extremely vulnerable to interstate water disputes. 3. What came up may go down : -Goan landmass is a mosaic of submerged and emergent parts. The emergent parts indicate deposits of marine fossils-corresponding to fall in sea level by 4-6 metres about 6-8000 years before present (YBP). Marine fossil beds are located near Mapusa river, Chapora river, Chicalim, Siridao, Bambolim etc. There is every possibility that this process would be reversed by global warming and sea level rise. Expert studies by Dr. Rajiv Nigam are available at NIO. 4. State most vulnerable to sea level rise:-A large part of coastal Goa is at or below sea level. This is also densely populated. A TERI report has estimated that about 5% of land mass of Goa would be submerged in this century. That makes Goa the most vulnerable state in India in terms of impact of global warming on land cover loss. 5. A vanishing repository of traditional ecosystem engineering and technology:-Very few states in India inherit a tradition of self governed village communities like the ancient ’gaunkaris’ (communidades) in Goa. At the time of Goa’s liberation there were 225 communidades. Goa needs a special status to conserve and preserve the ecological and community assets (numerous ponds, lakes, embankments, sluice gates, drainage and irrigation canals etc.) created by these institutions and theirtraditional ecological and technological knowledge. A massive effort is required for rejuvenation of traditional knowledge and its’ integration with appropriate modern technologies. This is not possiblewithout Goa having a special ecological status. This may be considered as “ traditionalecotechnological argument’. 6. Moving towards a water deficit state:-The deeper reach of tides in the nine major rivers of Goa creates salinity conditions which don’t permit construction of large storages like dams unless precious forest areas are sacrificed or large settlements are disturbed. Two minor dams-Anjuna and Selaulim were built in the western ghat talukas before EPA, 1986. technically it may appear that a lot of rainwater is going to waste. But the truth is large storages are not possible in freshwater zones of the rivers. This is the reason why permission was denied by MOEF to Mandovi irrigation project in western ghats taluka of Sattari in north Goa district. Considering the water demand
[Goanet] Cultural Talent Search Competition
*The Directorate of Art Culture, Govt, of Goa recently organized a ‘Cultural Talent Search Competition’ for the school students involving several events,* * i.e. Tabla, Harmonium, Guitar, Keyboard, Violin, Indian Classical Vocal, Light Music, Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Monologue, Western Solo, Drawing, Essay Writing Poetry Writing. * *The results were declared and forwarded to the concerned schools. The prize distribution function of the same will be held on February 3 at Institute Menezes Braganza Hall, Panjim at 3.30 pm.* Please view the names of Goa's talented children-2009-10 list. http://www.oheraldo.in/news/Local%20News/Results-of-cultural-talent-search-contest-declared/32754.html Let us wish them a creative future. The competition is held every year at taluka and state level as per the state cultural policy, 2007. It is an unique state sponsored scheme in India. Since 2007-08 it has benefitted hundreds of talented children in Goa. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
[Goanet] Advocacy is not over-in pursuit of good public policies for Goa, Goans and the great Indian republic
Advocacy is not over-in pursuit of good public policies for Goa, Goans and the great Indian republic Reminiscences of republic day-2000 to 2010 Dr. Nandkumar M. Kamat- (ex-chairman) task force committee to draft Goa state cultural policy-2002-07 (The State cultural policy, 2007 mentioned throughout this post can be downloaded in Adobe PDF format from the weblink http://www.goachamber.org/cms/index.php?option=com_docmantask=doc_downloadgid=195Itemid=61 ) My quest to search Cultural wealth of Goa:-A small state, India’s smallest by size, with geological history of 3.6 billion years, 16 rock types, 25 soil types, with two major lifeline rivers-Mandovi and Zuari, nine other rivers with 42 tributaries, 100 natural springs, 200+ lakes and reservoirs, 1600 plant species, settled by the first humans some 60-80,000 years ago, having four racial types, four tribal communities, 41 kinship groups, six religions, 380 revenue villages, 45 towns, 225 village communities/gaunkaris, having been ruled by 50 different dynasties directly or indirectly-Goa is culturally very active, diverse and creative. There are 50 different forms of folklore. It was estimated that 200 thousand Goans ( almost 15 % of total population) are culturally creative in some way or other. They can act, dance, sing, play, paint, sketch, sculpt, weave, carve, compose. Kala akademy’s annual competitions at all levels witness local participation of more than 50-60 000 culturally active people/participants/stage artists. The state level Bhajan competition is Asia’s biggest. I am a poet since my childhood, a writer for 35 years, a columnist for 30 years. I wrote the first book in Konkani for children on History of Goa-Amchya Goencho itihas (Rajhauns Vitran, Panaji, Goa,1983, now out of print) which received the award for best book instituted by Konkani Bhasha mandal. Since my student days I gave many lectures and presented slide shows on various facets of Goa’s history, archaeology and culture. The ferment in mind led me to ask myself a question-What needs to be done to promote cultural democracy in Goa?. What can be done to empower the 200 thousand culturally creative Goans?. Sarvodaya leader , a Gandhian to the core , Acharya Dada Dharmadhikari, member of Constitution assembly of India, was my ‘teacher’ during his brief visits to Goa. I was also impressed by lectures and books by his son Chief justice (rtd. Bombay high court) Mr. Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari. Both stressed on ‘We, the people’-the preamble of our constitution. Dada told me –‘be self dependent, work with force of your ideas, have faith in democracy, have faith in our constitution’. Justice Dharmadhikari told us-“ in public life, as an Indian citizen your religion is the constitution of India’. When golden jubilee of Indian republic (1950-2000) approached I became restless- I asked myself-What have I done for this republic?. What have I done for people of my state?. I wanted to catch the moment-the golden jubilee. I was a nominated member of state level cultural advisory committee. We discussed a lot about different schemes to promote literature and culture-but something was missing. Janaury 26, 2000:- I was thinking about the rich facets of India’s culture as the republic day parade was telecast. Suddenly I thought of an idea- there was a lot of talk on a national cultural policy but no progress was made. Why not advocate for a State cultural policy?. I sat down and began writing a detail note- a memorandum to be submitted to state minister for art and culture Mr. Digambar Kamat, a BJP MLA in the cabinet led by Mr. Francisco Sardinha. . I read from the press note that he would be attending a cultural function in Kala academy in the evening. I finished the note by 5 p.m. and rushed to Kala Akademy well in time. Before the function began, I met Mr. Kamat in the lobby and told him-“ Today is the auspicious occasion of golden jubilee of our republic. I am submittting a hand written 8 pages note on state cultural policy. If we prepare it then Goa could have a real cultural democracy. It would be a great gift to goan people”. I handed over the envelope to him. He assured me that it would be followed. March, 2000:- The director, art and culture, Mr. M.V. Naik told me that the government is studying my note. April-October, 2000:- I remind director , art and culture about the pending action on the note. He assures me once again that the file has been opened and is under consideration of the government. 25 October, 2000:- BJP withdraws support to govt. led by Mr. Sardinha. Mr. Manohar Parrikar takes over as CM of Goa. A period of political turbulence follows. There is no action on my note. I send reminders to both Mr. Parrikar and Mr. Kamat. December, 2000:- Secretary (art, culture, archaeology, archives, museum) Ms. Archana Arora, IAS invites me for a discussion on conservation of cultural heritage of Goa. I brief her on my note on cultural policy. She requests me to chair
[Goanet] Struggle is not yet over-the battle to save Goa’s Khazans and Salt pans--reminiscing 1 9 years after the highcourt judgment
Struggle is not yet over-the battle to save Goa’s Khazans and Salt pans--reminiscing after 19 eventful years…. Nandkumar M. Kamat Struggle is not over-only the pace is reduced. Life is dissipating slowly. At 51, my once youthful stamina is absentEvil forces are increasing. Voices of sanity and sensibility are becoming rarer. There are more threats. Even threats to one's life. …Goa and Goans have changed beyond recognition, but memories still flood the mind when 17 January approaches! Mindtape in reverse order as best as I could recollect! 17 January 1991:- The Goa bench of Mumbai highcourt finally delivers the judgment in my PIL WP 319/88. The prayers pertained to 1. Repair the Pantecantor and Chirculem khazan bunds 2. Restore the Panaji,_St Cruz and Panaji-Merces roads getting flooded 3. Assist the farmers, Salt producers and toddy tappers besides incorporate all the suggestions based on the high level inspection ordered by the court on my request I had filed and argued the case in person on behalf of 1200 farmers, 200 toddy tappers and 30 salt producers since October 5 th , 1988, the date of admission. This involved dedicating 48 full days in the court and appearing before 10 different benches between 1988 to 1991. 22 November 1990:- Just two weeks before the PDF alliance led government lost power, notification to appoint an Agricultural land development panel –ALDP, is issued based on the detail note swhich I had submitted on problems of khazan lands and their sustainable management to the then Minister for revenue, Dr. Kashinath Zalmi. Members besides myself are-late Dr. J. F. Martins-freedom fighter, Mr. Percival Noronha, Dr. J.B. Sardessai, Dr. N.P.S.Varde, and the dir. Of agriculture. The minister revenue is chairman and the undersecretary revenue-Mr. Nambiar is member secretary. Due to politically fluid situation the panel couldn’t start the work till April 1991. (The ALDP report which was only such report after the report of Dias’s Goa land reforms commission, 1964 and Anthony Desouza committees’ s report on land ceiling 1973, was submitted in March 1992 without any political interference at any stage and was used extensively during the agitation for realignment of Konkan railway route. Only a fraction of the report was implemented as the political parties couldn’t manage without support from Goa’s notorious pisciculture mafia which stands in the way of implementation of ALDP report. Please read my paper on this issue- http://www.scribd.com/doc/17712347/Ecology-and-Political-Economy-of-Khazan-Lands-of-Goa ) August 11, 1990:- As suggested by revenue minister Dr. Zalmi, on basis of my brief study of the problems of khazan lands in Goa, I prepare and submit a note to him demanding constitution of a panel with the terms of reference suggested. July 1990:- A police constable from Ribandar police station delivers a summons to me to appear in the JMFC’s court. The government decides to prosecute me with 14 others for having indulged in ‘rasta roko’ at St. Cruz on August 25, 1988 demanding urgent repairs to khazan bundhs and action on flooded khazan farms and eroded roads. On that day at 9 a.m. we were dragged by police, beaten, thrown in a van and locked up at Panaji police lockup. A delegation of citizens led by freedom fighter Dr. Martins meets Collector, north Goa Mr. Dengnunha at night requesting our unconditional release. Collector assures that no charges would be pressed as he had understood the issue. In the lockup we refuse the food and water and finally got released past midnight. It now appears that the PIL filed by me got on the nerves of politicians and secretaries, so almost two years after the agitation government thinks of prosecution. The case drags on for several years before the government comes to its’ senses and in public interest withdraws it. But in the meantime I had the double duty of appearing in two courts. Those who appear before the JMFC’s court are released on bond and surety. My friend Mr. Dinesh Joshi stands as surety for me. February-1990:- Accepting my counter affidavit on government’s report, the bench orders the Development commissioner Mr. Baijal to hear me. On my demand a field inspection of the creek, bundhs,low lying farms and salt pans is conducted in presence of DC, dir. Of agriculture, irrigation, revenue, Mamlatdar, Tiswadi, Collector, North Goa, local MLA Mr. Victor Gonsalves. May 1989:- The issue of restoration of salt pans of St. Cruz and Merces is taken up with director of industries. Joint meetings are held with salt producers. Government commissions experts from central Salt and Marine research institute, Bhavnagar to prepare a report on salt industry of Goa. Scientists Mr. Joshi and Mr. Rathod submit the report. Oct. 5, 1988:- I stand before the Goa bench of Bombay highcourt-justice Mr. G. D. Kamat and Mr. C. Dharmadhikari, arguing and pleading the admission of PIL. The hon. Judges admit the petition and ask us to refrain from
[Goanet] Agacaim byepass would be an environmental disaster from monsoon 2010
Has anyone seen the cross drainages Of the much hyped Agacaim byepass?. Six months ago I had alerted the local MLA Mr. Silveira. I told him that the byepass would act as an earthen dam restricting natural, normal drainage of the higher ground between siridao to Agacaim to the Zuari river. Instead of RCC open box culverts, fragile, perishable RCC pipes have been used. These are unsuitable for the khazan, silty land through which the byepass passes. Let me be on record-this byepass would serve as an environmental disaster during the monsoon-the settlements would be flooded, the main road would be flooded, water stagnation due to faulty drainage would create new breeding grounds for mosquitoes. I have already cautioned the CM before he inagurated the byepass. Besides, the alignment is hazardous near the Siridao football ground. I am also contacting mr. Alemao to look into the above aspects. We had a disastrous experience with Bambolim byepass and Ribandar byepass both of which have done much more environmental damage as compared to entire controversial Konkan railway alignment in Tiswadi and Salcete. St Cruz and Merces are dying villages, in utter ruins with the destruction of natural drainages and the ancient khazans, wetlands and salt pans. -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA
