Books from Goa...

fredericknoronha

Understanding more about Goa: books

Finding relevant books on Goa can be challenging. That's because the place has a vibrant book publishing sector, but mostly coming from small publishers, which sometimes makes the books a bit difficult-to-notice. But it helps if you know where to start. This small region of 1.4 million has a very active book publishing sector, with varying levels of quality.

Goa's denizens are believed to have written in as many as 13 languages. And this place had the first European-introduced printing press in Asia, even if by accident, way back in 1556

BOOK PLACES, OLD AND NEW

In Panjim's dusty and colonial-style building of the Government Printing Press (on M.G. Road, near Azad Maidan, and the Goa Police Headquarters) you find traces of the past. It's still just might be possible to buy a Portuguese-published book, what with its antique value, for a few rupees. That is, provided the staff is willing to oblige.

Some other interesting outlets:

* Broadway, at Sant Inez in Panjim (Ashirwad Building, near Caculo Island, at the western end of 18th June Road). Claims to have the largest bookshop in Goa, open till 9 pm, good prices and fair selection of Goa-related books.

* OIBS (Other India Book Store, above Old Mapusa Clinic, Feira Alta, Mapusa 403507 Ph 2263306) www.otherindiabookstore.com

This alternative space is hidden atop what used to be a hospital, and draws foreign tourists (who mostly drop in after visiting Mapusa's Friday market) and those looking out for alternate literature. This is a prominent mail-order outlet, but locals are often largely unaware of it. Entrance is from the rear of the old Mapusa Clinic Building... you could get lost. Good selection of Goa-related books, and have many of those in print. They publish an often-updated "Goa books" and also alternative-books catalogue. Far cheaper to buy locally (or order from within India) and pay in rupees. http://www.goacom.org/oib/

* Hotel Mandovi's bookshop (near the Panjim ferry jetty) is easier to locate and centrally located. D. B. Marg, Panaji, Goa 403001. www.hotelmandovigoa.com Ph 0832 - 2426270, 2426271, 2426272, 2426273 2424405, 2224406, 2224407, 2224405. Small but very current collection of local books.

* Golden Heart Emporium in Margao (Confidant Book House, Behind GPO, Margao ph 2732450). A large bookshop in South Goa.

* Varsha Book Stall, in Panjim, near the centrally-located Azad Maidan. More of a newspaper stall, tiny and packed with paper, but also with some useful collections of new (and old) books.

* Literati in Calangute (Opp Tarcar Ice Factory, near ABC Farms). Literati is a bookshop and cafe situated in an old restored house located at E/1-282 Gaura Vaddo, Calangute, on the coast of the region of Goa. There is a new books and old books section and a reference room is also in the process of evolving. Divya Kapur, who runs it, says the aim is also for Literati to evolve into a space where book readings, book clubs, theatre, workshops, exhibitions, music, dance and other activities can take place on a small scale. It was inaugurated in November 2005.

Goa also has some interesting libraries. The Rare Books section at Central Library (opposite Azad Maidan, near the Ferry Jetty at Panjim), the Goa University's library (at the GU campus, Taleigao Plateau), the Xavier Centre of Historical Research and its neighbouring Thomas Stevens Konknni Kendra at Alto Porvorim (Bakibab Borkar Road, opposite the Water Tank), and more utilitarian libraries run by the municipalities of Panjim, Mapusa, Margao and elsewhere. Goa University library is online at http://goalnet.unigoa.ac.in/gulibrary/index.htm

SOME PAGES WORTH LOOKING AT

"Of Umbrellas, Goddesses and Dreams: Essays on Goan Culture and Society". By the US-based Jewish anthropologist Robert S. Newman. Very insightful essays. Pp 290. Rs 225.

'Kaleidoscopic Goa: A Cultural Atlas'. By Kala Academy's Dr Pandurang Phaldesai. Large-sized, hard-bound. 213 pp. Rs 850. Edited from a PhD thesis. See the chapter on Goa's 'ethnomusical heritage', or the music that shaped the region. There's another on games played by children in Goa of the past -- including, for instance, a tickling-based game called 'khatkulyani'. There's even a 'cultural map' centered on the devotion of Lord Mallikarjun in Goa. And an analysis of the co-relation between Goa's folk performing arts and different caste groups.

ARCHITECTURE AND MONUMENTS

"The Parish Churches of Goa: A Study of Facade Architecture". (ISBN 81-903034-0-6). By engineer-turned-writer Jose Lourenco. Rs 495. It's an interesting read (or browse), well put together, and with a tasteful get-up. This book takes you on a church-by-church architectural tour. Lourenco does so without getting too dense or technical but with just enough details to whet your appetite. Photographs are by Panteleao Fernandes, and the foreword is by prominent scholar Dr Jose Pereira. Lourenco's book calls itself a "study of the architecture of the numerous parish churches that dot the towns and villages of Goa". It covers "all 159 parish churches as they stand today" and "examines the Neo-Roman influences on these edifices in the Mannerist, Baroque and Rococo styles".

"Houses of Goa". By Heta Pandit and Annabel Mascarenhas, with photography by Ashok Koshy. This is a book which ended up in the creation of an actual museum on the same theme (and which can be visited, not far from Alto Porvorim, in an almost rural setting called Alto Torda). It was an initiative of arguably Goa's best known architect, Gerard da Cunha.

"Window on Goa". By Maurice Hall. 1995. UKP 12.95 is now being sold in Goa for Rs 795. Interesting mix between a popular, easy-to-read and academic's eye view of Goa.

"Inside Goa". By Manohar Malgaonkar. With drawings by Goa's famous cartoonist Mario Miranda has been reprinted in 2005. Rs 695.

"Old Goa: The Complete Guide". Published by Ilidio Noronha. Rs 125. Inputs about the former colonial capital and now a centre of heritage and religious importance.

"St Francis Xavier and Old Goa: A Historical Guide" (2004). By principal of St Xavier's College Newman IP Fernandes, priced at Rs 100.

TRAVEL, ALTERNATIVES

"Walking In and Around Panaji (Goa)". From the fairly-active Goa Heritage Action Group, and the Corporation of Panjim. An attempt to show you around the capital, on foot, and thus add value to the town's charms. Panjim or Panaji or Pangim -- and simply Ponnje as it reflects from the tongue of every Konkani speaker -- whatever you call the town, it has a lot to offer to the visitor. Informative.

This books takes you to diverse localities -- Ribandar, Portais, Mala, Fontainhas, Sao Tome, the 'central spine', Campal, St Inez, Altinho, Caranzalem and Taleigao. The authors make one think about just what we might be losing out on amidst the fast-changing pace of urban growth in Panjim.

Some 304 pages, with useful photos listing Panjim's heritage in stone. Each building and structure is rated for its architectural, historic, social, cultural, group value and also whether it is associated with some prominent personality, natural beauty or "technological milestone". Here you'll learn that Avenida Republica became Dayanand Bandodkar Marg, and is India's "largest promenade".

'Margao: Heritage Walk Map". Not a book, but a map. Researched by architect-urban planner Ashisk K Sinai Rege. Brief but very useful introduction to Margao, and the three heritage walks (of 20, 34 or 45 minutes) one could opt for in what is sometimes called the cultural capital of Goa. It lists the traditional houses of Margao. You might have to look about a bit to find this publication.

"100 Goan Experiences". By Pantelao Fernandes. Rs 395. 99 pp. 2007. Hardback. Tells you of some things to do while you're in Goa. Lists places worth visiting, monuments, and little-known attractions around Goa.

LOOKING BEYOND

"The Transforming of Goa" (OIP, 1999, pp212, Rs 175). Edited by Norman Dantas, Other India Press. Another interesting backgrounder on Goa. Its focus is the people and their sociology. Recommended for those keen to go beyond the stereotype of Goa.

MUSIC

"Songs of Goa: Mandos of Yearing", "Songs of Goa: Mandos of Union and Lamentation" and "Folk Songs of Goa: Mando-Dulpods and Deknnis". Authored by knowledgeable US-based theology professor and Sanskrit expert Jose Pereira. This series from Aryan Books in New Delhi, explains the relevance of Goan music in the global scale of things, specially how history shaped it in a very unusual manner.

'Winds of Fire: The Music and Musicians of Goa'. By journalist-author Marioi Cabral e Sa. A fairly comprehensive tome (Rs 750. ISBN 81-85002-19-3 Promilla, New Delhi, 1997, pp 373). Parts of the book (II and III) are a compilation of essays by other specialists.

HISTORY

'Goa Through The Ages: Volume II. An Economic History' (Concept, New Delhi. Reprint 1999. pp 316, ISBN 81-7022-226-5 set). Not so new, yet still relevant. Edited by the Indo-Portuguese historian Dr Teotonio R de Souza, the founder-director of the Xavier Centre of Historical Research.

COOKBOOKS

Try Goa-related cookbooks by Joyce Fernandes, Jennifer Fernandes, Aroona Reejhsinghani, Gilda Mendonca and others. Most are focussed on Goa Christian food. Don't overlook the world of delicious Hindu Goan cooking, especially. "Ishtaan: The Best of Goan Saraswat Cuisine". By Padma Mahale, as told to Sapna Sardesai (Rs 175) focuses on Saraswat cooking. It includes a lot of great recipes here, fish-based and veg.

WHAT'S ON

"FindAll Goa", a 48-page tall-pocketsized booklet is supported by Goa Tourism and is available free in some bookstalls and other outlets. It's a month-by-month listing of festivals, food, discos, art galleries, museums, events and more. Online at www.findall-goa.com Contact: FinDoll, 119 Lobo Vaddo, Parra, Bardez Goa Ph 832 2472115 or 2472338 or 2473904.

COFFEE-TABLE

"Goa, Ma Belle". Rs 1590. Photographs by Emmanuel Chastang. Text by Simone St Anne. A well-illustrated book.

"Magnificient Monuments of Old Goa". By Patrick J Lobo. Rs 1200. Hardbound coffee table book illustrated with sketches, plans and colour photographs providing a treasure house of information about the churches, chapels and convents of Old Goa. Pp 130 (2004)

"Goa: Images and Impressions". By Thomas Vaz. Rs 295. One of the early books (now in a reprint) of the Goa circa the 1980s or earlier. Thomas Vaz is a local photographer, and one of the early ones to 'sell' Goa via picture-postcards.

MISCELLANEOUS

"Getting Married in Goa: The Complete Wedding Guide", Rs 125, pp 178, is aimed at the small but growing number of tourists (apart from locals obviously) who choose Goa as the venue for their wedding.

"Parmal" is the annual journal of the fairly-active Goa Heritage Action Group. Presently priced at Rs 200. Useful collection of essays of varied aspects of Goan life.

"How To Be an Instant Goan". By Valentino Fernandes. A tongue-in-cheek book explaining various aspects of Goan life. Now in its fourth edition (2007). Rs 150. 160 pp.

"The Call of the Snake: Real life stories by a young snake catcher from Goa". By Rahul Alvares. With a foreword by Maneka Gandhi. Rs 125. ISBN 81-85569-57-6 otherindiabookstore.com If wildlife and nature is your interest, here's what to read. Specially for the young!

Check out the reprints of copyright-expired and old Portuguese (and English-language) books brought out by publishers from Delhi (AES, BR, etc) in hardbound covers, priced usually between Rs 150 to Rs 895.

Check out these and more books on the place. You're sure learn more than just see Goa as a destination and sand and surf.


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FN * Independent Journalist http://fn.goa-india.org
Ph +91-832-2409490 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Goa
http://www.linkedin.com/in/fredericknoronha

__________________
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FN M: 0091 9822122436 P: +91-832-240-9490 (after 1 pm)
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f r e d e r i c k n o r o n h a @ g m a i l . c o m

Gametotravel

Great reference for Books on Goa. Maybe one can make good libraries pick them up!

Gametotravel

Also Frederick you may agree that who read about diverse cultures are the best tourists/travellers.

The converse may also be true as the world shrinks.

Peace ,Prosperity and Respect!

fredericknoronha

Am trying to take on a not-for-profit initiative to promote the visibility and availability of Goan books worldwide. Please see http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/go...ly/077316.html

The 'small air packet' option of the Indian Posts, fairly low prices for books here, and the booming market that publishing in India is currently seeing ... all could add to make this possible.

Incidentally, I also write about Goa-related books for Gomantak Times and Goa Today. FN

fredericknoronha

Agreed, but ... With so much needless travel happening in these days of global warming, perhaps the best tourist/traveller is one who doesn't move out of home :-) Perhaps a drastic idea for the global North... but a reality for most in the South/Third World still. FN

dumpy

Surprised you didn't mention Fish Curry Rice?

fredericknoronha

You're right. But then there are a number of interesting publications, that any attempt at building a list is bound to run into prominent exclusions.

By the way, while a junior journalist, I worked on the initial attempt at building 'Fish, Curry, Rice' way back in 1987. Also reviewed it when it came out in the early 1990s. For us here, it has 'been around' for some time. Not meaning to underestimate the information it collates between its covers! FN

machadinha

Excellent post, Frederick. Thanks.

__________________
Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

fredericknoronha

Thank you too for your kind words. FN

fredericknoronha

From a recent column written for the Gomantak Times:

WRITER FROM ANJUNA

Dr Teresa Albuquerque, a writer from Goa who lives between her homes at Anjuna (Goa) and Santa Cruz (Bombay) happens to be the sister of pioneering ex-editor late Frank Moraes and the aunt of accomplished writer Dom Moraes (1938-2004).

Incidentally, when we met last at the Literati in Calangute, I mentioned to her the idea from expat journo Eugene Correa of having a Frank Moraes School of Journalism in Goa.

She told me about the many books she published, and the difficulties she was facing in making them visible. Which is unfortunate, considering the relevance of these books to Goa, and the diaspora Goan community elsewhere.

Born of Goan origin in 1930, at Poona, Dr Albuquerque was a student of St.Xavier's College, Bombay, graduated through the University of Bombay in Arts with Honours in English and French, and then in Education, and has a Masters degree in History and Politics as well a Doctorate in History.

As a Fellow of Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture, she was an active member of the Bombay Museum Society, Asiatic Society of Bombay, Church History Association of India, Heras Society and the Bombay Local History Society.

Dr Albuquerque has been a recipient of the Mahindra Senior Research Fellowship of Heras Institute, was also awarded a scholarship by Heras Institute to undertake research on the Goans in Kenya.

In her micro-historical studies, she has delved into the colonial past of Bombay and Goa with special emphasis on the "Portuguese impress". Dr Albuquerque has traveled widely, lectured on the subject both at home and abroad and frequently contributes historical articles to art journals and newspapers.

Books authored by her are:

Santa Cruz That Was
(Bombay 1981)

Urbs Prima in Indis : An epoch in the history of Bombay
(Promilla& Co. Publishers, New Delhi, 1986)

To Love Is To Serve : Catholics of Bombay
(Heras Institute,Bombay, 1986)

Anjuna: Profile of a village in Goa
(Promilla &Co. Publishers, New Delhi, 1987)

Santa Cruz : Profile of a village in Goa
(Fernandes & Co.,Publishers, Goa, 1989)

A Life Well Spent: Biography of Pascoal de Mello, MBE (Speedy
Printing Centre. Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, 1996)

Goa: The Rachol Legacy
(Wenden Offset Private Ltd., Bombay 1997)

Bassein :The Portuguese Interlude
(Wenden Offset Private Ltd., Bombay, 1999)

Goans of Kenya
Michael Lobo Publishers, Mumbai 2000)

Bacaim to Vasai
(Wenden Offset Private Ltd., Mumbai 2001)

Teresa Albuquerque can be contacted via email <teresalbu@gmail.com> In Goa, her telephone number is +91-832-2273676, and expects to leave for Mumbai on July 16, 2008. There, her number is +91-22-26499005

fredericknoronha

Can anyone help to translate this?
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TRANSLATORS

Before we lose our link to our past (and present), can we think of getting more works translated? What is needed are volunteers who can translate old Portuguese texts into English, for possible republication.

Including texts like Arte Palmarica. See http://www.divshare.com/download/4088057-e79 A friend who knows Portuguese told me he was finding it difficult to comprehend the technical context of this book that focuses on the coconut tree.

If you can help in any way, please get in touch. Also, needed volunteers to help put online, via the internet, the digital versions of copyright-expired Goa-related books.

dumpy

Ah Cha

federica

A great book with nice pictures and a lot of information about Goan houses and culture.

Thank you for posting so many infos, Frederick! I'd love to read the book about Parish churches.

fredericknoronha

Federica, you can get in touch with me off-forum (fred at bytesforall.org) and I'll try to send across this book, which you could pay me for on receipt. It was written by my friend, engineer-turned-writer Jose Lourenco of Velim/Margao.

I've recently realised that the Indian postal system works rather efficiently and inexpensively to send across books (via a "small air packet" ... keep one side open, get it 'professionally' packed by one of those outlets located near the Panjim or Mapusa post offices, and ensure that it contains ONLY printed matter to get a good rate). FN

fredericknoronha

Another recent column on books related to Goa... FN

Aparanta ... an impressive book, even to look at

------------------------
Frederick Noronha's
weekly column looks
at books priced
significantly high,
and excessively low....
and also makes a case
for more translations
in multi-cultural Goa.
------------------------

"What's the price of the book?" asked the suitably-awed man at the counter of my occasional dinner restaurant. He saw the copy of 'Goa: Aparanta -- Land Beyond The End' being carried the other day. Naturally, it was more than visible. It's too outsized to fit in my small knapsack.

Earlier, the bookseller too marvelled at the paper used for the book. Its layout is artistic, and so are the photographs.

One could debate, though, about the image of Goa projected here. Without doubt, it's a top-down, elite eye's view of the small region that has been on the cross-roads of history for centuries.

See how the book puts it: "Goa was known in ancient times as Aparanta, 'the land beyond the end'. For more than fifteen centuries before the Portuguese stormed ashore in 1510, seeking to put a lock on the spice trade to Europe, other seafarers from Rome, Venice, Ethiopia and Arabia had rowed and sailed their primitive crafts across the Arabian Sea and up the Zuari River on a more peaceful mission.

"Their goal, to trade in our fabled ancient capitals, even those that existed before Gopakapattana, Chandrapur and Govapuri. The hoardes of Roman, Venetian and Aksumite gold coins that are still being found in our region are evidence of the extent of the ancient trade."

(The Wikipedia has another take on this. It says, "Aparanta, or Aparantaka (meaning 'Western border') was a geographical region of ancient India, variously corresponding to the northern Konkan, northern Gujarat, Kathiawar, Kachch and Sindh.")

This book is by mining-baron and publisher Dattaraj V Salgaocar. He undertook it together with journo and the author who knows how to tell a story well Mario Cabral e Sa, fashion-designer with strong views on Goa Wendell Rodricks, and that meticulous editor Victor Rangel-Ribeiro.

Dattaraj Salgaocar's involvement is explained thus: "Right from his student days in Mumbai and America, Dattaraj Salgaocar had dreams of producing an all-encompassing book that would correct misconceptions and present a true picture of Goa. As the years passed, the dream became a compulsion, and he turned to a close friend for help."

This is going to be a book which many would take pride in including on their bookshelves. Whether it will be widely read -- and discussed -- is another issue, given its price of Rs 3500. At least one writer has made his ire publicly known at being left out from this collection.

But history and useful tidbits pour out of the slick pages of this large-sized 248-page book (available at Broadway, Panjim). For instance, this is how Salgaocar tells his story:

"In December 19, 1961, when Goa was being liberated from the Portuguese, I was a little over four-and-half years old. We then lived in a small house in Baina, in the port town of Vasco da Gama. With the Indian Armed Forces advancing swiftly, a strong rumour grew that the Portuguese, in a last desperate act, would set the harbour's oil tanks on fire before surrendering.

"So we moved to Loutolim, to Mario de Miranda's mansion; my father knew the Mirandas well enough to count on their instant hospitality. Compared to our tiny home in Baina that was shared by more than two dozen persons, the huge Miranda home was to me like a dream palace, with stairs to scamper up and down and chandeliers all over the ceilings and plenty of rooms to peek into. Fortunately, the Portuguese surrendered and we returned to our home very quickly."

A story of changing times. Covering centuries ... not just days or years or decades. Let's see the response this book evokes. It would be nice if more of Goa's new books get discussed; rather than getting greeted with a studious silence as is often the case.

SAYINGS, IN KONKANI

'Konknni Oparincho Jhelo' is a slim, 70-page book by Brazinho Soares Kalapurkar. It contains sayings in the Konkani language, listed alphabetically, but without English translations.

Soares-Kalapurkar is based in Ubo Dando, Santa Cruz. He came out with this book in March 2007, priced at Rs 65. It's available with the Goa Konkani Academy.

There's a photo of Soares-Kalapurkar on the back-cover. One is reminded of the man with the amazing collection of Konkani-related publications.

This book also includes some advertisements at the end. Nothing unusual about this. It is the trend with publications (mainly in Konkani) which are willing to walk the thin line between excessive commercialism and keeping book prices reasonable. They recognise the importance of keeping the printed page accessible to the general reader.

This book is informative and interesting. It shows the richness of the Konkani language. A language which today might struggle with science and technology, but is still powerful when it comes to dealing with the realities of our part of the globe.

Perhaps the sayings could have carried English translations, to make them more appreciable. But then, the risk that goes with that is that the sense of the sayings are sometimes 'lost in translation'. Not all bilingual books of Konkani sayings read well or read accurately.

Some sayings from this book: "Aplo haat jaganath, dusreacho haat korta ghat." Or "Dhovea ghoddeachi chakri korchi nhoi." Or even "Narlacho rag fatra kodden upkarona."

So how would these aptly render into English?

TRANSLATIONS

Talking about which, one was provoked recently to make this point about the need for more translations here.

If we accept that Goa is indeed a multi-cultural society -- being multi-lingual, multi-dialect, multi-script, multi-ethnic, multi-caste, multi-community and multi-race -- then we probably need to reflect its diversity better in translations too.

If we try seriously enough, it just might be possible to work out some collaborative translation project. Like the collaborative subtitling of http://dotsub.com/ or Project Gutenberg's distributed proofreading at http://www.pgdp.net/

The more languages we could do these in, without any form of untouchability towards any language, the richer would Goa's multidiversity be.

GETTING COMPLETE

Silvia Braganza, the Sant Estevam-linked widow of Aquino Braganza, who himself was a prominent figure in the post-colonial political life of the African nation of Mozambique, is completing her biography of a book devoted to her late husband. It's in Portuguese, currently.

Braganza, as we would know, is one of the few Goans (like Pio Gama Pinto, and Fritz D'Souza) who took the side of those fighting for independence in colonial Africa. Braganza, whose family came from Goa, died in a plane-crash. In the same flight that mysteriously killed the president of that former Portuguese colony.

If Goa is to appreciate its achievers, it needs to first understand them. Given the linguistic realities in post-colonial, post-1961 Goa, books like these do deserve to get translated into English.

KONKNNI BRAILLE

'Konknni Braille' is Dhanshree Zambaulikar's book. The 32-year-old author born in Madkai, studied in Agaciam and Pilar. Her training comes from the Ramana Maharashi Academy for the Blind in Bangalore.

A useful book for a small language like Konkani.

One hopes it is put to productive use, rather than just becoming an end in itself. The book, published in 2006, is priced at Rs 25, and available at the Goa Konkani Academy, at 243 Pato Colony, Panjim.

PRICING

Talking about the Goa Konkani Academy, they do have a large stock of books for sale. You might, of course, like many of us, lack the necessary skills to follow the script, language or dialect (Devanagari, Konkani, Antruzi) used for most of the Konkani Academy books.

Yet, the fact remains that Konkani publishing cannot be ignored. More so because it has manoeuvered itself to be officially recognised (at least as far as the Devanagari script goes), and today gets a large chunk of the state funding pie.

In this context, it would be nice if books brought out by the GKA are more widely noticed. One problem immediately noticeable is the fact that the books are priced so low.

Is that a problem?

Indeed. Since the prices are far-below-market-levels -- which today hovers around one-rupee-a-page roughly as the end-price -- these books simply fail to enter the market distribution channels. So, it becomes tough to buy these books.

Distributors won't take on such books, unless they are given the commission they expect. Likewise, if the books are priced too low -- like those of the National Book Trust publications -- then the commercial distributors have little of a stake to distribute them.

Perhaps it's time for groups like the GKA to take on a more realistic approach towards pricing. Higher cover prices would allow them to offer distributors higher commissions. This would, in turn, increase the visibility of the books on the book-stands. Nothing stops the GKA from legally offering end-buyers a decent discount too. Everyone would gain from being a bit more realistic in the marketplace.

PROMOTING MARIO

Hats off to architect Gerard Da Cunha for so determinedly promoting the work of cartoonist Mario Miranda. On a lazy Sunday morning, Cunha was busy, talking to the press about his work, via the phone.

I suspect Cunha is a die-hard Goan at heart. The causes he promotes -- even if his success does sometimes evoke envy -- are quietly done and strategically selected. His museum on Goan houses, his books published with Heta Pandit and others, and now his initiative to collate the work of Goa's most-famous cartoonist all add value to the idea that is Goa.

Gerard once laughed and mentioned that he was born, of all places, is the now-notorious Godhra. Like his former partner in the architectural profession, Dean D'Cruz, he is a non-resident Goan who returned home early. Here's looking forward for more initiatives from them, hopefully in a way that won't glamourise Goa too much so it only makes everybody and their uncle want a holiday home here, turning it only into an un-affordable address for most and another ugly Mumbai-like concrete jungle.

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Contact FN: fred@bytesforall.org or 2409490 or 9970157402 (after 1 pm)