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Goan Forum's PERSONA(E) of the Year 2004
Read full report at: http://www.colaco.net/TGFpersons2004a.htm The New Year is already upon us, and we at The Goan Forum take this opportunity to look back at identifying an individual or a set of individuals who have made the most distinctive contribution to Goa in the year 2004. This contribution does not necessarily have to be beneficial to Goa or Goans, only that it has been the most distinctive. We at The Goan Forum chose January 30th to name this persona(e) as it is on this day in 1948 that the greatest Indian Apostle of Peace Mahatma Gandhi was murdered by a right wing Hindu nationalist. We believe that many men and women in Goa yearn for equality, justice, freedom, peace and what is right, but are too afraid to articulate those thoughts in public. They are unfortunately left helpless as they watch impotently the charade played by powerful interest groups and the sycophants who parrot the talking points handed to them. Mercifully, not every single Goan is a sossegado fence sitter. There are indeed a few exceptions. Among the individuals we looked at: Goa's present Chief Minister Mr. Manohar Parrikar, well-known Goa journalist Fred Noronha, brilliant writer from the heart Ethel da Costa, principled activists of conscience, Godfrey Gonsalves & Miguel Braganza, conscientious objector Dr. Francisco Colaço, noted Goan Arvind Bhaticar, Goa University botanist Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, Goa Union of Journalists president Ashley do Rosario, The Heraldo newspaper, the pit bull watchdog Floriano Lobo, journalists of the future like Melvyn Misquita and the gadfly publication, the Independent Goan Observer and its principals. Fred Noronha normally invites high expectations of him, only to fail to cut any mustard in the end. This year was no different. The year 2004 was another year that the highly talented, hard working and extremely capable Fred Noronha "stowed away" his God-given gifts of the written word. Perhaps 2005 will be different. Ethel da Costa has impressed us with her straight and in-your-face writings. She has not hesitated to call a spade a spade. She has tackled many an issue affecting Goa with customary panache. She has been positively brilliant. Godfrey Gonsalves, Miguel Braganza and Floriano Lobo are dogged individuals who are consistent in their opposition to what they see as inappropriate. Goa needs more individuals like them to straighten out the modus operandi of the crooks who continue to rip off the system and rip off Goa. Dr. Francisco Colaco and Arvind Bhaticar represent the classy Goans who are honest, sensible and direct in their dealings. They are indeed role models for the younger generation. Arvind Bhaticar is blossoming into an amazing satirist. It is possible that he always was a brilliant satirist, but has until recently kept his talents hidden. Melvyn Misquita is a journalist to watch in the years to come. He has excellent writing skills. Provided he is given the right 'space' to work in, he is the most likely among the Goa journalists to use his talents well. It was disappointing to see Ashley do Rosario and Dr. Nandkumar Kamat waylaid in 2004. Much was expected of them and so little were they able to deliver. The Heraldo newspaper was always known as one which stood its ground in the face of adversity. The year 2004 saw the Heraldo somehow misplace its soul. It is possible that this is only a temporary misplacement. It will be an absolute shame if it isn't - for there are many young and hardworking Goan journalists who struggle at the Heraldo in a surprisingly primitive work environment. It will be a shame to see that struggle wasted. Most impressive was Mr. Manohar Parrikar's sense of purpose and his discipline. It is this discipline which has brought significant stability to Goa after the chaotic years under the corrupt and decadent Maharashtrawadi Gomantak and Congress governments. The Goan Observer started out as a rag-tag tabloid, looking destined to go the route of the Blade and Uzo, the anti-Bandodkar rags of the mid to late 1960s. Initially, the Goan Observer was made up mainly of unrelenting anti-Parrikar tirade. However, after the first few issues, the Goan Observer under Rajan Narayan has made a remarkable transformation. It has moved closer to the centre. And in an ironic twist, the Goa Chief Minister with the trail of some horrible decisions has moved to the extreme right. Among the Goans who have assisted Rajan in his effort to provide Goa with the only credible opposition is a former Goan journalist Ben Antao. Ben is a centrist and a realist. But he is also a straight-talking Sashticar who puts his money where his mouth is. Needless to say, Ben who gave former Goa CM Bandodkar the shivers during his (Ben's) Navhind Times journalism days has been a good source of moderating inspiration for Rajan. It is for this reason that TGF names Rajan Narayan and Ben Antao as Persons of the Year 2004. TGF From:
"Frederick Noronha (FN) Martin, permit me to forward your note to goa-research-net and Goanet. You could get some interesting feedback from the researchers there. As you would know, I'm not an academic or researcher but just a journalist. The article on 'Roots' (Goans tracing their ancestry) was based on the experiences of others who had undertaken such a venture. People like Dr Teotonio de Souza had given me valuable clues in the past. I think before coming down, you could try to link up with people via email who might have similar interest. The key maybe to find out which village your ancestors came from. Once that is established, you could be almost certain that others with the same name from the same area have a high probability of being related to you (not always though). All the best in your search. It always pays to keep asking others for links and connections. The answers are somewhere out there. You never know what you could find -- as in the case of Goa journo Melvyn Misquita, who was tracing his grand-uncle who died on the ship Britannia III during the Second World War, off the coasts of Africa/Brazil! FN From: Valmiki Faleiro Rather than totter in uncertainty, oHERALDo's young team of journos and editorial consultants have, in just one month, proved the prophets of doom entirely wrong. In place of decrepit styles and page get-ups, oHERALDo has metamorphosed with refreshing and imaginative changes -- both in looks and editorial content. The newspaper has re-focused itself on issues of Goan concern and perspective. Editorials are crisp, incisive, to-the-point and, above all, graceful. (So much unlike the past.) Editorial page leaders and anchors are largely Goa-centric, and readable stuff. In sharp contrast to the prophets of doom, the oHERALDo is fast turning to be comparable with the best of regional newspapers in India. And who, do you guess, has made this possible? Those very same young, resourceful and home-bred Goan journalists, who -- pertinently -- have now tasted true FREEDOM -- from a tyrannical editor. Names like Ashley do Rosario, Melvyn Misquita, Anthony Mergulhao and a good many others. (Mayabhushan Nagvenkar, alas, has shifted to Delhi on a better job.) These are the journalists whose innate creativity was kept under a tight lid. In the days of yore, no subordinate was asked or encouraged or allowed to write the editorial columns. Anyone perceived as a threat was quickly thrown out. Such was the untold editorial *Freedom* oHERALDo staffers enjoyed for 20 long years. When I read today's oHERALDo, I beam with pride that our own Goan boys and girls are capable of producing such a newspaper. Regards/Valmiki Hi Melvyn, A quick peek at your website and it looks wonderful! Very nicely done up. Great beginning if you are indeed experimenting with Frontpage. Was interesting to read a few tidbits - like the one about your Grand Uncle on the ship off Brazil/Africa... Rickson
Rodricks
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