THE GREAT GOAN DIASPORA: FOCUS ON BURMA
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TRYING TO PIECE TOGETHER, THE BURMA STORY: Saligao-based Yvonne Vaz
Ezdani <raynon at vsnl.net> has an ambitious project on hand, so wish
her well and help if you can. She says, "The story needs to be
told."
Any Burma Goans out there? Or anyone connected to someone
who lived in pre-war Burma,experienced the first bombings,
joined the exodus to India -- by boat, by plane, or treked
-- and settled someplace else?
Yvonne is doing some research on Burma Goans, collecting stories of
individuals or families, personal accounts of experiences especially
centered round the Japanese bombings and its consequences on Goans
living in Burma during that time.
She says: "Perhaps the questionare below could give some shape to
the stories. But it need not be followed strictly in the order given
(1) Who in the family first went to Burma? (2) How did they go? (3)
Which part of Burma did they settle in? (4) How did they earn their
living? (5) What did they feel about life in pre-war Burma? (6) What
were their experiences during the first bombings? (7) How did they
escape to India? (8) What did they experience during the journey?
(9) Where did they land in India? )10) What happened thereafter?"
Yvonne, who has been teaching in higher secondary school in Goa and
is known for her helping spirit, says it would make the stories more
interesting if they contained something about their Goan friends who
shared the experiences with them.
She adds: "Not many people write their memoirs. But
everyone tells others about their past experiences
especially if they are as sensational and unique as the
great exodus from the war zone. It is my hope that
someone, somewhere will record what has been narrated to
him/her by a Burma Goan who's now passed on or someone
who's too old to write about his/her experiences The
stories need to be told, or they will be lost forever.
This is history. Try to contribute to it. The names of the
writers will be mentioned in the book. This is not a
commercial venture. It's just something thats close to the
heart of a Burma Goan who also has a story handed down by
her ancestors. Please email the stories to raynon at vsnl.net
or send me an email and I'll send you my postal address."
--
Frederick Noronha Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org
E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
P: +91-832-2409490 M: +91-9970157402
Yahoo: fredericknoronha Skype: fredericknoronha GTalk: fredericknoronha
784, Sonarbhat, Near Lourdes Convent, Saligao 403511 Goa India
