[Goanet-News] Showcasing History For Posterity (Paul Fernandes on Victor Hugo Gomes' upcoming museum in Benaulim)
Showcasing History For Posterity Museums filled with antiques are a dime a dozen, but a walk through Victor Hugo Gomes' out-of-the-box ethnography museum at Benaulim is like turning the pages of Goa's rich eco-cultural and agrarian history, finds Paul Fernandes in THE TIMES OF INDIA (Goa edition, Dec 13, 2008) "It is a tribute to our forefathers, their eco-friendly agrarian techniques, their traditional way of living and their deep concern for the environment," Victor Hugo Gomes says of his Goa Chitra Museum. The soon to open museum that's based in Benaulim is filled to the brim with objects ranging from occupational tools to quaint utensils and even rare instruments such as the 'technology' used for preparing milk products. The Journey Angered by people's visionless shift to modern utilities and filled with pride about Goa's traditions, Victor, 40, was driven by a searing passion to collect rare things for posterity. A fine arts graduate and national award-winning painter, the trained heritage conservationist spent almost half his lifetime hand-picking the pieces from remote corners of Goa. "I gathered old and discarded implements and tools from attics and storerooms simply because they were mementoes of a fading lifestyle," he recalls. "I spoke to elders in different places and was shocked to learn that many things were lost, but tried to document the ethnicity and rituals associated with every item I collected," he adds. Only an eccentric could have filled such a museum single-handedly, many think. "I lived a lot in forest areas and slept and lived in difficult conditions while gathering them," he recalls. He transported them in his car, unmindful of damaging it, often loading it with wooden objects such as the whole jaggerymaking plant (photo via epaper.timesofindia.com). Wife Aldina, a college lecturer, adds, "If Victor heard of houses being broken down he would rush to pick up pieces he could find. He would just rush to the remotest corner, even if dead tired, to source material. People even laughed at his strange passion." In fact, Victor broke the marriage covenant of having children in his bid to leave a rich legacy for Goa's children, says Aldina. "It was a difficult decision but one made by choice," she stresses. Finances were another point. Victor poured all his earnings into fulfilling his dream. Having studied restoration and conservation at the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), he returned to Goa and helped set up the Christian Art Museum and later, eked out a living by restoring old houses. "Whatever I earned from my restoration work went into gathering and saving these rare objects from extinction," he says. Most of the objects were badly battered by the elements and neglect. His experience as a curator helped in their painstaking restoration. "A team of workers and carpenters worked for several months. Some objects needed extensive restoration while very few were picked up from antique shops at great cost and few were gifted by friends," he says. As the collection grew into a treasure-trove, realization hit Victor about its richness and inestimable value. "We think modern technologies are the best, but the pieces collected show the hardwork, wisdom and ingenuity of our ancestors." Museum, Ahoy! The construction of the museum for the large assortment of objects, designed by himself and set against the backdrop of the organic farm -- another showcase of his skills -- took three years to complete. Built bit by bit. "The material for the house, right from stones to wood for the roofing and to the doors and windows, came from 300 houses from all over Goa," says Victor. Aldina adds, "Victor has a scientific mind and being creative as an artist there's no half way for him." Victor has formed a trust in his mother's name, Dona Angela Memorial Trust, with the long-term objective of securing the museum's upkeep and management in the future. "The museum should be a place where children can walk in freely and enjoy man's link with nature and culture - a classroom, a playroom, zoo and garden for them." He dislikes that antiques today have become "lifestyle objects" for the nuveau riche. "They do not understand the object's value and utility," he opines. Explaining the ingenuity of implements crafted by artisans of yore, he says, "Take the crab catcher apparatus for instance, there's no way the crab can come out from this simple bamboo trap." "We are dying as a society and once we have lost our old technologies it means we regress to primitivity," Victor, for whom modern amenities hold no fascination, philosophizes. "My aim is to put our heritage and indigenous technology on the world map and the museum should create a sense of pride for our culture among our youth," he concludes. TNN Antiquity's Ingenuity * Kerosene-fired refrigerator, iron, fan, oven, lamps, petromaxes * Nail-less ghano (wooden machines) that extracted oil and sugarcane juice (for j
[Goanet-News] Kala Academy: Carols, Marathi and Konkani plays....
KALA ACADEMY GOA Programmes planned Dec 8 to 24, 2008 North Eastern Handloom Exhibition Dec 15, 2008 10 am to 2 pm Mangueshkar Kala Mandir KA-PDS One Act Play Competition Dec 15, 2008 7 pm KA-PDS Marathi Drama Competition "Pakshi" Ticketed Dec 15, 2008 4.30 pm to 8.30 pm Open Air Auditorium Auxilim High School annual gathering Dec 15-17, 2008 10 am to 7.30 pm Art Gallery Sadashiv V. Parab painting exhibition Dec 16, 2008 7 pm KA-PDS Marathi Drama Competition "Darmashree" Ticketed Dec 16, 2008 4 to 8 pm, Open Air Auditorium Mushtifund H.S.School Annual Gathering Dec 17, 2008 10 am to 2 pm Mangueshkar Kala Mandir KA-PDS One Act Play Competition Dec 17, 2008 7 pm Mangueshkar Kala Mandir KA-PDS Marathi Drama Competition "Raigadla Jewha Jaag Yeete" Dec 17, 2008 Open Air 4-8 pm DCT's Vasantrao D.H.S.S. of Arts & Science prize distribution Dec 18, 2008 Mangueshkar Kala Mandir 10 am to 2 pm One Act Play Competition Dec 18, 2008 Mangueshkar Kala Mandir 7 pm KA-PDS Marathi Drama Competition "Waiting For Godo" Ticketed Dec 18, 2008 Open Air Auditorium 3.30 pm to 7.30 pm Help & Help Charitable Trust All Goa Inter College Carol Singing Competition Dec 18-19, 2008 10 am to 7.30 pm Art Gallery KA-PDS State Art Exhibition (Student Category) Dec 19, 2008 9.30 am to 2 pm Mangueshkar Kala Mandir KA-PDS Hasya Vyanga Kavi Sammelhan -- FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org M: +91-9822122436 P: +91-832-2409490
[Goanet-News] Goa news for December 15, 2008
Goa News from Google News and Goanet.org Visit http://www.goanet.org/newslinks.php for the full stories. *** Post-Mumbai siege, Coast Guard patrolling up in Goa - Hindu [Dec 13, 2008] Panaji (PTI): In the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks through the sea-route, the Coast Guard (CG) has increased patrolling and number of sorties off Goa ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/5-0&fd=R&url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200812131711.htm&cid=1280076065&ei=CqVFSeSbKIjOgAOT2snyDg&usg=AFQjCNGeYcZ6Nnfuz14x_TqCiBVd-_G0Iw *** Russian consulate concerned about citizens\' safety in Goa - Times of India [Dec 12, 2008] PANAJI: Concerned about the safety of their citizens holidaying in Goa, the Russian consulate has advised the former to "reconsider their trips" to the ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/4-0&fd=R&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Goa/Russian_consulate_concerned_about_citizens_safety_in_Goa/articleshow/3831304.cms&cid=1279987467&ei=CqVFSeSbKIjOgAOT2snyDg&usg=AFQjCNGupHxM7ZrtZullCTs8hUWIDsgiYg *** ˜Port Trust displacing Goa fishermen - Hindu [Dec 13, 2008] PANAJI: The local fishermen community has accused Goas only port body the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) of attempting to displace them on the "pretext" of ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/3-0&fd=R&url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/14/stories/2008121456200100.htm&cid=1280097743&ei=CqVFSeSbKIjOgAOT2snyDg&usg=AFQjCNHT9nokWP0Lvc73u_pkTExcMf_hpg *** Goa faces neglect behind scenic facade - Hindu [18 hours ago] Panaji (IANS): Domestic violence is 'fairly common' in Goa. One-third of its women suffer from anaemia, and one-fourth are undernourished, says a new book ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/2-0&fd=R&url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200812141081.htm&cid=1280235154&ei=CqVFSeSbKIjOgAOT2snyDg&usg=AFQjCNE808eO-i_aoUR-B-k3w7A9D5rLxQ *** Goa police detain Nepali national at Dabolim airport - Hindu [14 hours ago] Panaji (PTI): A Nepali national was on Sunday detained by the Goa police after he was found suspiciously moving around Dabolim airport in the port town of ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/0-0&fd=R&url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200812141501.htm&cid=1280309045&ei=CqVFSeSbKIjOgAOT2snyDg&usg=AFQjCNH0yY8HmITgl-yNh5blPs-EDfSQ8Q *** Ranji Trophy Plate League, 5th round, 3rd day - CricInfo.com [3 hours ago] Captain Swapnil Asnodkar led from the front as Goa upset Group A leaders Himachal Pradesh in Dharamshala. While the hosts were already through to the ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/9-0&fd=R&url=http://usa.cricinfo.com/ranjiplateleague2008/content/story/382135.html&cid=0&ei=CqVFSeSbKIjOgAOT2snyDg&usg=AFQjCNErZ_fqvxep_1fU5KUFnJR5pxqRXg *** A scarred Goa - Deccan Herald [Dec 13, 2008] Far from the picture ”perfect image of Goa, lies another Goa virtually quarantined away from the milling hordes of tourists and other beach and surf struck ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/8-0&fd=R&url=http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Dec142008/books20081213106522.asp&cid=0&ei=CqVFSeSbKIjOgAOT2snyDg&usg=AFQjCNHb4qT_ETLbHjQrnXpPE9daauOaGw *** Steps taken to prevent smuggling of liquor form Goa - SahilOnline [18 hours ago] Karwar:The district administration has taken steps to prevent the smuggling liquor from Goa in view of coming assembly by-election in Karwar constituency. ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/7-0&fd=R&url=http://www.sahilonline.org/english/news.php?catID=coastalnews&nid=4204&cid=0&ei=CqVFSeSbKIjOgAOT2snyDg&usg=AFQjCNFPZjtQnljfS7zTYpPN6V6fReAm2Q *** German girl wants to return to home country - Times of India [3 hours ago] Highly placed sources revealed that on December 5, 2008, the foreigner's registration office (FRO), Mumbai wrote to FRO, Goa asking whether the latter had ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/6-0&fd=R&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Goa/German_girl_wants_to_return_to_home_country/articleshow/3837506.cms&cid=0&ei=CqVFSeSbKIjOgAOT2snyDg&usg=AFQjCNGtSbt8hkZRCZznBtyDKci1TK0y8w *** SEZs in Goa unlikely to be denotified - Business Standard [4 hours ago] "Denotification of the Goa zones is not possible," a commerce ministry official said, adding: "DLF is the only developer with a notified SEZ that has asked ... http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/1-0&fd=R&url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/sezs-in-goa-unlikely-to-be-denotified/01/26/343235/&cid=0&ei=CqVFSeSbKIjOgAOT2snyDg&usg=AFQjCNEI7fruJrEkudU60bMt4RW9z_e99Q Compiled by Goanet News Service http://www.goanet.org/newslinks.php
