Viva Damão!

Between the Sword and the Pen, lies the Guitar (Part-2)

2011-12-12T18:44:00.002+05:30

Looking back down the road I've traveled, with a guitar case instead of a suitcase in my hand, I earnestly wish I could say, "So far, so good!" But in all honesty, it hasn't been so. As throngs of my fellow Damaneses opt for Portuguese citizenship and leave Daman to settle down in Europe, more and more I feel like a stranger in my own hometown. The ever-expanding 'Bribe Tribe' is still foreign to me despite it being well over two decades since we got delinked from Goa. Come to think of it, I did not experience as big a culture shock in 1961 as I did when we were severed from Goa.

With only a month to completing 50 years of its liberation, Daman had its biggest-ever protest march this November 24th. A young man spoke with such conviction on topics and problems that have been making a buzz on social media sites, perhaps fueled by similar protests elsewhere in the country. I could easily use this as grist for my songwriting mill and churn out a protest folksong - no music sounds as authentic as when the oppressed sing songs of protest but wouldn't it be a crying shame? Our traditional folk songs were about poverty and its alleviation; never about oppression and alienation. And we had riches - we were multicultural, multilingual, multiracial and lived in sweet harmony.

I still need my guitar and the power of folksongs to help me along the way. Folksongs may age but they never get old like the one-week hit songs of today. That's because they document our history, culture and values more authentically, enticingly and entertainingly than any history book ever could. My music teacher may have found solace in a bottle of wine but he left me the most enduring legacy. I believe that music is a means of experiencing as well as expressing freedom. And most of all, I believe that the guitar is a celebration of this freedom because you are free to 'do-your-own-thing, any-which-way'!

Click here for part-1

Folk-Songs-Rock.com up!

2011-10-03T11:19:00.001+05:30

Welcome on board my 'Folksy Ark' at "Folk-Songs-Rock.com!

Folk-Songs-Rock.com

Discover the magic of folk music in its various genres and sub genres. It's a labour of love in celebration of folk songs, folk artists, folk instruments, folk festivals, folk music history and everything folk.

I'll be updating and growing this site to give you new information as they're added, including folklore from exotic places worldwide - places rooted deep in tradition like Portugal, India and Brazil!

Check it out! Click here...

Carnival 2011

2011-03-14T12:35:00.001+05:30

The Carnival - spelt, 'Carnaval,' in Portuguese - is a Portuguese legacy which is making a big comeback with the Catholics of Daman. It had reached its height in the 80's and is seeing a revival since the past 3-4 years with Carnival 2011 taking it a notch higher than last year's celebrations.

This annual three-day festival is celebrated in Brazil, Goa and other former Portuguese colonies. It begins on the first Sunday of Lent though there's no connection with Lent from a religious angle.

This is the main road in Big Daman - people are coming out of Machiwar (one of the 'Bairros' of Daman) and heading towards the football field

Unlike the Goa carnival which is termed as the 'commercialized' version, the Daman Carnival is unique in that it's not a sponsored event and is truly the carnival 'of the people, by the people - and most importantly - for the people!' In fact, the Catholics who take part in the three-day event, don't even approach any commercial establishment for sponsorship.

Revelers coming out of the various 'Bairros' on to the main road of Big Daman

The first day of carnival is called, 'Domingo Gordo' ('Fat' Sunday:) in Portuguese. The Damanense 'espatada' (pigling BBQ) accompanied with the local liquor and a special salad made from brinjals (eggplant) baked underground and Portuguese music is the de rigueur staple!

Revelers dancing in one of the 'Bairros' of Big Daman

Portuguese music, especially Pimba, is a favourite as it makes it easy to use the beat for marching along the streets, incorporating the same dance-steps used in the Damanense wedding march!

The groups (mini floats) dance their way from 'Bairro' to 'Bairro' to recorded Portuguese Pimba music blaring from speakers mounted on to little trucks with a DJ onboard

The closest thing to carnival in India is 'Holi' in that both have revelers and use colour on each though in the Daman Carnival, a sort of cheap talcum powder is used and 'gulal' or water-based colours are never used. The main two differences however, are that while 'holi' is a religious festival, carnival though celebrated by Catholics, is not a religious festival; secondly, revelers come out in fancy dress while in 'holi' that's not the case.

Adeus, ate outro ano!

Daman Day 2011 Celebrations

2011-02-04T14:10:00.003+05:30

Daman Day 2011 was celebrated on "Dia de Damao" - 2nd of February which also coincides with the feast of "Nossa Senhora das Candeias" - an annual, open air mass held on the forecourt of the DMC building and offered by the councillors and staff of the Daman municipal council.

Due to the ongoing DMC elections, the organizers of "Daman Day 2011" decided not to have the sports and cultural events this year and instead hire out a restaurant-cum-discotheque for celebrating their 4th Daman Day soon after the mass. A special bus ferried revelers to venue - "Nana's," in Small Daman at 8pm and dropped them back at 11pm.

The theme for Daman Day 2011 was...

Viva Damão: Proud to be Damanense!

Mr. Gabriel Guedes, well-known orator of Daman, made the welcome speech in Portuguese which was followed by a toast raised with the traditional goblets of port (albeit Goan) wine! This was followed by the quintessential Portuguese traditional dance - the Vira - performed by children in authentic costumes to the musical performances of the Daman Folklore Group.

The evening flew by in the time it took to sample the starters and down a couple of drinks, with renditions of popular Damanense folk songs as revelers jammed with the folklore group.

Then there was the customary session of ballroom dancing to peppy Portuguese music by DJ Rambo before dinner was served. The traditional Daman "Dampaque" took centre stage on the buffet table as did a bottle of the local fiery drink, "Benslor" on the bar counter!

Soon it was time to sip liqueur and head for the bus but not before everyone made a pact to meet again on Carnival 2011!

Visit http://www.WorldDamanDay.com for more!

World Daman Day 2010 - Daman

2010-09-13T12:28:00.001+05:30

Following the resounding worldwide success of World Daman Day 2008 & 2009, the organizers decided to open the celebrations of the 3rd World Daman Day (2010) on the 2nd of February 2010 - the day Damão came to be in 1559 - leading to the big day itself under the aegis of World Goa Day courtesy, London-based founder, Rene Barreto.

The theme of World Daman Day 2010 was, “Viva Damão! Eu falo Português!” because of all the cultural facets – art, religion, tradition, custom, language, music, cuisine, architecture and attire – language is the binding glue that holds it all together and it also is the conduit through which culture is propagated.

Damanenses around the globe in countries like the UK, US, UAE, Canada, Portugal, Macau and Holland among others, celebrated all things Damanense by showcasing their Damanense cultural heritage through artistic and cultural expressions such as musical and food festivals, competitions, traditional and folk dance performances, art & craft displays and football tournaments. This idea proposed by Rene in 2008 has now grown into a great tree spreading its branches around the globe while rooted deeply in our culture. Though the official website at www.WorldDamanDay.com has been serving its purpose excellently, this year we used Facebook as the main means of communicating and propagating the concept thus making it possible for anyone with a Facebook account to participate. This made the need for ‘meetings’ obsolete as we did not have the usual consensus of a handful of naysayers but the mandate of 1300+ Facebook fans of Daman!

While World Daman Day has mainly been celebrated by Damanenses outside Daman, in Daman itself the movement picked up so much momentum this year that it surpassed the celebrations of all other places by far! There was a football tournament on the eve of WDD-2010, which saw six teams vie for the WDD-2010 cup over 18 matches. The next evening, WDD-Daman turned out to be the best ever, anywhere, World Daman Day - an unexpected crowd; presence of Professor Ajay Prasad, of Centre for European & Latin American Studies, JMI University, Delhi; beautifully presented Portuguese traditional dances and folklore; 100% Portuguese music; Damanense cuisine; dinner and dance; speeches in Portuguese - you name it! And best of all - no self-titled, ‘VIPs’ - because on WDD, every Damanense is a VVIP!

We have been flagging off World Daman Day on the 2nd of February - “Dia de Damão” - and culminating the celebrations in August-September. However, since this time of year sees the most inclement weather due to the southwest monsoon, not to mention school exams and the popular demand for shifting the main event to February, Daman will henceforth have the main event on the opening day i.e., 2nd February, beginning 2011 while other countries will continue to celebrate it on or about the 20th of August.

Noel Gama

Overall Coordinator - WDD-2010

World Daman Day 2010 - Peterborough

2010-08-26T12:18:00.000+05:30

Peterborough (UK) celebrated their 3rd World Daman Day on the 22nd of August 2010.

Check out the program highlights on the official World Daman Day website!

Saudades! Folk Memories of Damão

2010-06-09T15:43:00.000+05:30

The book every Damanense has always wished someone would write for them!

Saudades! Folk Memories of Damão!

A memoir about the folksy past of Damão (Daman), a little-known, former Portuguese enclave on the western shore of India

While Viva Damao! The Insider's Guide to the Indo-Portuguese Culture, Customs & Etiquette of Daman is a travel guide for non-Damanenses, Saudades! Folk Memories of Damão is a nostalgia-infused trip down memory lane - a keepsake for Damanenses and lovers of the Damão we love most.

Saudades! Folk Memories of Damão will be a co-authored memoir featuring only B&W pics of the last decade of the P'guese era in Damão (Daman).

Started as a Blog2Book project launched by the late Pedro Cabral Adão, former Consul General of Portugal on 10th June 2006 in Daman, the memoir format seems to suit it best.

For a detailed view of the clusters of blogs that make up the chapters of the book, visit www.noelgama.com.

Viva Damão - the band!

2010-05-10T13:20:00.003+05:30

Returning to my roots - from "The Exclusively Western" 1-Man band to the exclusively, "Portuguese Music" One-Man Band! My special thanks to everyone who's been cajoling me for a come-back! Muito obrigado!

"Viva Damão!" is an exclusively Portuguese Pop & Folk 1-Man Band from Daman (Damão), India with a mission...

"To revive and popularize Portuguese Pop & Folk music in India through the power of the Internet"

Viva Damão!

www.NoelGamaMusic.com

Viva Damao - the book

2010-04-13T11:51:00.004+05:30

I'm 90% done with the research for my book, "Viva Damao: The Indo Portuguese Subculture of Daman."

Now begins the writing part of the project - should take three months; and another two months to pass through my editing.

Here's a mock-up of the hard cover version:

And the soft cover version:

Draft of Back Cover:

Become a fan of the book on Facebook - Click here!

World Daman Day 2010

2010-01-11T12:39:00.000+05:30

Take a sneak peek at the brand new World Daman Day 2010 website here: http://www.worlddamanday.com

Portuguese language course in Daman

2010-01-11T11:09:00.000+05:30

I'm happy to inform that I received a letter from the ambassador of Portugal acknowledging the receipt of my book, "Culture Wise INDIA," and promising all help in starting Portuguese language course in Daman!

Wanted: Potted History of Daman!

2009-11-25T16:21:00.001+05:30

I've been searching for the potted history (also known as timeline) of Daman (Damao) for my website, www.discover-daman.com.

In case anyone has a source where I can obtain the potted history of Damao, I'd be very much obliged if you'd kindly share it with me.

Thanks,

Noel

European Forum of Voluntary Work, 2009 edition

2009-11-24T14:01:00.000+05:30

I voted for Artur Martins of Portugal - you can also do the same here: http://www.benevolat.eu/en/vote.php

Visit of Ambassador of Portugal to Daman on 12th Nov 09

2009-11-14T14:52:00.001+05:30

The ambassador of Portugal came on a one-day (unofficial) visit to Daman along with the Goa-based Consul General on the 12th of November 09.

Though I couldn't meet them, I was able to get my letter, requesting their intercession for starting Portuguese language classes in Daman, delivered.

My well-connected, UK-based friend and fellow Damanense, Victor Fernandes, gave both, a moral boost and a real boost to the project by forwarding the letter to the University of Aveiro, the Associativismo Sem Fronteiras das Comunidades Portuguesas, the Ministry of External Affairs and a prominent social worker in Portugal.

Here's the text of my letter:

********************************

12^th November, 2009

Dr. …

(Camp: Daman)

Dear Dr…,

Boas Vindas!

I take this opportunity to present you a copy of my first book, Culture Wise INDIA: The Essential Guide to Culture, Customs & Business Etiquette (Survival Books, UK) which was released on Amazon in May but most important for me, the first copy debuted in Portugal on 18^th July 2009 and found itself in the hands of my long-time friend and mentor, Dr. Adelino Rodrigues da Costa (chief of Fundação Oriente – Goa).

I have mixed feelings – I wanted so much for my first book to be on the topic closest to my heart – Damão! However, the book does something for Damão because it gives Damão its first book author.

Loyal as I am to Goa, Daman & Diu, I mentioned in my book how and why the culture in this former Portuguese colony is different from the rest of India. But no two fingers are alike and so it is with siblings. These cultural differences though subtle, lend Damão its uniqueness, giving its people an identity of their own – the Damanense! This is the premise and essence of my forthcoming book, Viva Damão! The Indo Portuguese Subculture of Daman.

I’d like to mention here, with gratitude, that Viva Damão and three others in the series, have their genesis in one of my Blog2Book projects launched by the late Pedro Cabral Adão, former Consul General of Portugal at the commemorative function of National Day of Portugal, of Camões and of the Portuguese Community, in Daman on the 10th of June 2006.

Like my fellow Damanenses, I’m proud of my Portuguese heritage – the forts, the churches, the architecture, etc. – but what are these without culture? Our fort may not have made it into the elite Seven Wonders of the Portuguese World but it is culture that breathes life into monuments. And the Indo Portuguese culture of Damão is by far more Portuguese than that of Goa and Diu and thrives without sponsored efforts of any institution.

But there’s more… our culture has spilled over to foreign shores, the UK in particular, and thrives there too. British community leaders are frequent observers at our social and cultural events, especially in Leicester and Peterborough where the concentration of Damanenses is densest – adaption is not on their agenda; they have adoption in mind! The worldwide success of World Daman Day 2008 & 2009 bear testimony to that.

But of all the cultural facets – art, religion, tradition, custom, language, music, cuisine, architecture and attire – language is not just the binding glue that holds it all together, it is the conduit through which culture is propagated. In this regard, I’m proud to say that of all the erstwhile Portuguese colonies in Asia, only Damão can boast that five decades after the Portuguese left, the mother tongue – a Lingua Mãe – of every newborn Catholic Damanense continues to be Portuguese, albeit as a dialect. Not only that – migrant traders from neighbouring states begin speaking the language in just 2-3 years, picking it up in their day-to-day interactions with Damanense customers! Can you say this of Goa and Diu or even Macau?

But Damanense youth yearn to learn standard European Portuguese which, unfortunately, was discontinued in the Institute of Our Lady of Fatima though the state board to which it is affiliated lists the language as an optional subject for the SSCE. In this connection, I’ve been in discussions with a newfound Portuguese friend, Dr. Henrique Salles da Fonseca, author of the blog, A bem da Nação, about launching a formal Portuguese language course in Damão on the lines of the one conducted by the Indo Portuguese Friendship Society in Goa. It is with this in mind – Ensino da lingua Portuguesa – that

I now seek your intercession and the resources of your good offices for bringing our project to fruition so that future generations of Damanenses can continue to say with pride, “Eu falo Português!”

Muito Obrigado,

Noël Gama

www.NoelGama.com

www.WorldDamanDay.com

www.DiscoverDaman.com

www.allaboutdaman.blogspot.com

************************************

Mario Miranda gets Spain's highest civilian honour!

2009-11-11T11:22:00.000+05:30

Daman-born, Mario Miranda became the first Indian to receive Spain's highest civilian honor - the "la Orden de Isabel la Catolica" at a function held in his 300-year-old Casa de Miranda in Loutolim, Goa. The honour comprises the cross of the official of the Order of Isabel and a citation from Miguel Neito Sandoval, tourism counsellor, director of the tourism department and the embassy of Spain in India.

My friend and mentor, Dr. Adelino Rodrigues da Costa, delgate - Fundacao Oriente, was one of the prominent guests at the function.

Mario, a close friend of my parents, considers himself a Damanense though he is of Goan descent. To read more about Mario, check him out on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Miranda#Biography

Viva Goa! Viva Damao!

Win a copy (ebook) of "Culture Wise INDIA"

2009-08-26T10:35:00.000+05:30

Win a copy of my new book, "Culture Wise INDIA" (Survival Books Ltd, UK) - it's easy... visit the following url and enter your name and email address:

http://www.howtotellagreatstory.com/contest.html

Countdown to World Daman Day 2009 - Football match

2009-08-25T11:49:00.000+05:30

In the countdown to the 2nd World Daman Day, a football match was organized by Ralph Miranda on the 16th of August 2009, 6pm, at the football ground in Big Daman. The two teams specially formed for the event were named, ‘Damao’ and ‘Portugal.'

World Daman Day messages from WDD-09 Country Coordinators

2009-08-21T14:04:00.001+05:30

Hello Mr. Noel Gama

It is so far one year past and here we are to celebrate, WORLD DAMAN DAY 2009.

" A BIG CREDIT TO YOU NOEL" CONGRATULATIONS.

It gives me very much pleasure to tell you that on the 16th. August 2009, we will be celebrating WORLD DANAN DAY with our few Daman people living here in Holland.

So right from this coner of Holland a land of WIND MILLS, we invite you all our Daman Fellows to join the CELEBRATION.

GREETINGS from HOLLAND,

VERIDIANA.

*****

HAPPY WORLD DAMANDAY 2009

Celebrations are always full of excitement and joy. Today once again the Damaneses re-live Damanin the real sense of the word, via our customs and traditions not only through our festivities but in our hearts as well. We recall our great history, the ones who have gone before us and who are now blessings us from above.

Let’s soar in the tide of our second World DamanDay celebration throughout the globe in whatever way we can. Be proud of our great cultural heritage and always enjoy being a Damanese.
This is our Big Day to treasure, so cherish and fill it with wonderful, colorful moments and sweet, joyful memories. Let the extra rich and special feeling of this day envelop us in its warm embrace.Remember the unique and outstanding features of Damaneses are the warmth, love, care, concern and helping nature which always stands out and shines brightly for the world to see.

Wishing all the Damaneses around the Globe “A HAPPY WORLD DAMANDAY 2009”

Also, wishing the Goans “A HAPPY WORLD GOADAY.” and the people of Diu “A HAPPY DIUDAY”

Congratulations to Rene Barreto and Noel Gama for their successive triumphant achievements and efforts to make this occasion a day to remember.

Maria Franco & fly.
Country Co-ordinator, Fujairah, U.A.E.

*****

Dear Damanenses,

Daman does not have many such occasions. Probably not one where all Damanenses - rich or poor, big or small, educated or uneducated, of different religions and casts, those who have never stepped out of Daman and those who live in a so called 'classy world', a day where, we all 'THINK Daman', 'EAT Daman', 'LIVE Daman' and 'LOVE Daman' together. This is a great investment, a marvelous happening and a boost to Damanenses and Daman.

I wish there had been such a day much earlier and sincerly hope there will be more of these to bring DAMANENSES and celebrate DAMÂO together in unison. Many may not have caught on this day-WDD, for various reasons. As for me, with all my heart, I wish to celebrate with every Damanense on this WDD-09 - not for the date, not for anything else, but just to be with all Damanenses. Good to have such a day. Good to have a dedicated Daman Day.

Congratulations to Noel, all Damanenses around the World, and Damanenses in Daman who make things happen. Thanks to Rene Barreto for whispering into Noel's ears and a Happy World Goa Day to Goa.

Wish all Damanenses a HAPPY AND WONDERFUL WORLD DAMAN DAY-2009.

LONG LIVE OUR DEAREST AND EVER LOVING DAMÃO!!!!!!!!!!lI.

VIVA A NOSSA QUERIDA E AMAVÉL DAMÃO DE SEMPRE!!!!!!!!!.

Oscar Noruega & Family
Macau

*****

Although we are miles and miles away from our dear homeland, we hold dear the Daman Culture and our bond with the people of Daman is beyond understanding. Canada is a beautiful place as you can see from the photographs and we all enjoy this beautiful place that God has made, however, we still love our Daman and in Daman we remain united.

God Bless all Damanenses,

Tony Machado
Country Coordinator (Canada)

HAPPY WORLD DAMAN DAY - 20 August 2009!

2009-08-20T10:44:00.000+05:30

Dear Damanenses and lovers of Damao,

Parabens!

Wishing you A Very Happy & Peppy 2nd World Daman Day!

From:
M D G Rocha (Country Coordinator - India)
Oscar Noruega (Country Coordinator - Macau)
Pranay B Kolakkar (Country Coordinator - USA)
Franco Fonseca (Country Coordinator - UK/P'boro)
Luis Fonseca (Country Coordinator - UK/Leicester)
Sandra Gonsalves (Country Coordinator - P'gal)
B Lopes (Country Coordinator - UK/Leicester)
Lysa Lopes (Country Coordinator - UAE)
Silvester Machado (Country Coordinator - UK/London)
Tony Machado (Country Coordinator - Canada)
Sharmila Mascarenhas (Country Coordinator - UAE)
Maria Franco (Country Coordinator - UAE)
Veridiana de Sousa (Country Coordinator - Holland)
Noel Gama (Overall Coordinator - Daman, India)

Viva Damao! Come, Discover Daman!

www.WorldDamanDay.com

Message from Dr. Adelino Costa (Portugal) on World Daman Day 09

2009-08-19T10:45:00.000+05:30

Caros Damanenses

Estamos a poucas horas de iniciar as celebrações do World Daman Day 2009.
É uma boa oportunidade para que eu envie uma saudação a todos os Damanenses, residentes ou não residentes em Damão, incentivando-os a preservar as suas tradições e práticas culturais específicas e distintas, que conservam tantos traços da herança cultural portuguesa.

Porém, é de toda a justiça salientar nesta iniciativa o papel mobilizador que tem sido desempenhado pelo Noel Gama que, com grande dedicação e muito entusiasmo, tem estado na primeira linha da preparação do World Daman Day e na dinamização de um renovado sentimento de orgulho dos Damanenses pela sua terra e pela sua cultura.
Ele merece a nossa gratidão e o nosso apoio para continuar essa nobre missão a que se tem entregue.

Viva Damão! Vivam os Damanenses!

Lisboa, 18 de Agosto de 2009
Adelino Rodrigues da Costa
(antigo Delegado da Fundação Oriente na Índia)

Meet Damanenses worldwide on Facebook

2009-08-10T12:26:00.003+05:30

Damanenses have taken networking from the bazaar to the internet!

Meet them on Facebook and interact with them on the group, "Discover Damao in Daman."

World Daman Day on Facebook

2009-08-10T12:12:00.002+05:30

Check it out - it's where most of Damanense youth are active!

Press Release: 2nd World Daman Day - 20th August 2009!

2009-08-08T12:36:00.001+05:30

DAMAN, 8 August 2009: Following the resounding success of the first-ever, WORLD DAMAN DAY last year, the organizers launched into the second year as early as April 2009 for the worldwide celebration of the 2nd World Daman Day on the 20th of August 2009 under the aegis of World Goa Day courtesy, London-based founder, Rene Barreto.

“Daman has always looked upon Goa as its 'Big Brother.’ But no two fingers are alike and so it is with siblings. These cultural differences though subtle, lend Daman its uniqueness. This worldwide event is a celebration of the unique culture of the people of Daman who have an identity of their very own – the Damanense,” says Daman-based author, Noël Gama who is the Overall Coordinator of the event.

The theme of World Daman Day 2009 is, “Viva Damao! Come, Discover Daman.” “Damão is not just the former name of Daman,” clarified Mr. Gama. “It’s another name for the Indo-Portuguese subculture of Daman and is a way of life. But most importantly, when broken up into its two syllables, it reveals the secret behind the characteristic hospitality of the typical Damanense – 'Da mão' – which literally translates to 'give me your hand,' in Portuguese meaning, ‘Welcome!’

Damanenses around the globe in countries like the UK, US, UAE, Canada, Portugal, Macau and Holland among others, celebrate all things Damanense by showcasing their Damanense cultural heritage through artistic and cultural expressions such as musical and food festivals, competitions, traditional and folk dance performances, art and craft displays, etc.

While World Daman Day is mainly celebrated by Damanenses outside Daman, in Daman itself there will be a football match on the 16th of August at 5pm in the sport ground in Moti Daman and on the big day itself, a cultural program in the evening. More information can be found at www.WorldDamanDay.com.

50-year old Portuguese sign board still in use!

2009-07-28T16:32:00.003+05:30

You'd think the above picture of a sign board was taken from a local museum!

The photo was taken with a mobile phone in January 2009 when I visited a colleague in the Primary Health Centre (PHC), Fort, Big Daman.

Whoever says that the Portuguese language is on the decline in Daman, is certainly not living in Daman - this sign board is being used by a government establishment!

Culture Wise INDIA debuts in Portugal!

2009-07-18T11:30:00.003+05:30

Dr. Adelino Costa probably is the first person in Portugal to buy a copy of my book, “Culture Wise INDIA!”

Here’s what he has to say...

Caro Noel,

Recebi hoje o teu livro que tinha encomendado. Provavelmente é o primeiro que chega a Portugal. Está muito bonito, muito bem ilustrado e é muito informativo.

Parabéns.

Adelino Costa
Portugal

********

Dr. Costa has been a good friend and mentor for a decade. We first met in 1999 when he visited Daman when he was the Director of Fundação Oriente in Goa and have kept in touch since.

Sao Joao

2009-06-25T16:01:00.004+05:30

Sao Joao (St. John’s feast) was celebrated yesterday, 24th June 09, in Damao (Daman) Portuguese style as usual with 'add-ons.'

I woke up around 7am to firecrackers in the churchyard as well as echoes from the various ‘bairos.’

The day was spent putting up effigies made by stuffing old suits with straw and firecrackers. An earthen toddy pot is used for the head which is also stuffed with straw and firecrackers. The effigies are usually of men.

I had a rather heavy lunch around noon - the traditional ‘vale nascido,' a dish made of sprouted beans garnished with salted cubes of pork fat.

After lunch, I packed my family into our car and headed for the beach. Damanenses don’t wear conventional swimwear. Men and boys wear Bermuda shorts and women and girls opt for slacks and Tees. Typically, Damanenses seldom protect their eyes with sunglasses. Very few actually swim, preferring to frolic in the waves near the shoreline.

We waded along the shoreline from Ferrieros to Badrapor but got back into the car and drove to Jampore beach around 4pm. Jampore was where the party was in full swing - Damanenses from Small Daman preferred crossing the creek over to Big Daman than partying on rocky, Devka beach. There were people in the water and in little groups on the shore under the needle pine trees, partying - eating, drinking canned beer, strolling, snapping pictures, cruising in cars.

There was more fun in store elsewhere later in the evening - the ‘Judas’ effigies were burnt all over town.

For those that missed all the fun or would like a replay on a smaller scale, there's always Sao Pedro (St. Peter’s feast) to look forward to on the 29th of June.

The first rain of the season

2009-06-22T14:29:00.002+05:30

Daman had its first showers on Sunday afternoon, lasting over two hours.

When it stopped, the sun did come out again, to give Daman that clean-washed look and to release an earthy-scented vapor all evening.

Jampore beach in Big Daman was jam-packed with tourists and so was Devka beach in Small Daman.

San Joao (St. John's feast) is on Wednesday, the 24th of June - looking forward to photographing the glut of 'Val nacido' (sprouted beans) in the bazaar - it looks as if there's nothing else on display but 'Val nacido!' It's the same scene on Good Friday - but it's 'Bred' (green leafy veg) used for the devil's recipe, 'Aag sal de bred' to tempt those fasting to pig out at lunch.

And 'Val nacido' is no newborn's food either - you need a shard of 'Papri' (papad) as the only piece of cutlery, to scoop out a portion of the beans and garnishing of salted cubes of pork fat, and convey it into your mouth - you eat the 'papri too - each time!'
The next logical step is a swill of liqour. Some spoilsports swig beer. A few rounds of this and then you're ready for your first clumsy plump into a surf-n-sand roller.

Right - eat/drink, rinse and repeat! As easy as that!

By my calculations, high tide is around 5pm on San Joao and 9pm on San Pedro (29th June).

Oh, despite the 360 degree pollution (dirt, water/air pollution and corruption) in Daman, life is good in a secret place called, Damao.

Daman Fort loses battle, wins war!

2009-06-11T10:30:00.003+05:30

It should have been a sad day for me and fellow Damanenses. The fort of Big Daman, one of the 27 nominations for the 7 Wonders of the Portuguese World, did not make it, while Goa and Diu did.

The winners:

* Basilica de Bom Jesus (Goa/India/Asia)

*Fortaleza de Diu (Diu/India/Asia)

* Igreja de Sao Paulo (Macau/China/Asia)

* Fortaleza de Mazagao (El Jadida/Marrocos/Africa)

* Cidade Velha de Santiago (Ilha de Santiago/Cabo Verde/Africa)

* Convento de Sao Francisco de Assis da Penitencia (Curo Preto/Brazil/South America)

* Convento de Sao Francisco e Ordem Terceira (Sao Salvador da Baia/Brazil/South America)

A team of journalists of RTP - Portugal, visited Daman and the fort in particular, over a month ago but apparently, weren't impressed. Who would? The clutter of ugly government quarters, rusting government vehicles along the roads, a proliferation of garages for government vehicles, the trash in the moat, the PWD tar dump near the convent, labourers staying in Bocage's house, etc., in the fort drown the efforts of the Archeological department to maintain structures of historical value. It was also reported that the RTP team were not granted permission to photograph the Se Cathedral in the fort.

Of all the ex-Portuguese colonies, Daman perhaps has the least to show today, almost 50 years after Liberation. Goa has its natural beauty and is a great tourist destination, is 'big,' is a state, has thousands of Goans not only in Goa, but all over India and in most countries of the world; Macau is beautiful, has the world's biggest casino, glittering hotels, an international airport, one of the biggest race courses in Asia... the list goes on. Diu is on the tourist map and has clean beaches with white sand.

But of the little rule-flouting Daman has, all it can flaunt is its Portuguese heritage - culture, monuments and language, even 50 years after Liberation. The only things to show visiting ministers and dignitaries are the Portuguese forts, the Portuguese churches and the Portuguese folk dances!

Our fort may not have made it into the elite seven but what's a monument without culture? It's culture that breathes life into monuments. And the Indo Portuguese culture of Daman is not endangered, far from it... it thrives without sponsored efforts of any institution. Not only that, the culture has spilled over to foreign shores and thrives there too. The resounding success of World Daman Day 2008 bears testimony to that.

No 'Wonder award' for us and no wonder Fundacao Oriente in Goa does nothing for Daman - there IS nothing to do!

Viva Damao!

Noel

World Daman Day gets a DotCom domain name!

2009-06-05T14:19:00.000+05:30

I've bought the domain name, www.WorldDamanDay.com today, on World Environment
Day!

Now visitors needn't type, http://web.mac.com/noelgama/wdd09 into their browsers any
more to access the site.

Just type, www.worlddamanday.com and be sure to bookmark it!

Viva Damao!

URGENT! Vote For DAMAN!

2009-06-04T10:50:00.003+05:30

"7 Maravilhas" is a project to identify the Seven Wonders of the Portuguese world out of 27 nominations one of which is Daman!

1. Log in to www.7maravilhas.pt and click on Votar (that's 'vote' in P'guese:)

2. Click on any one of the 27 images - it will ask you for your name and e-mail Id. Fill in those.

3. Click on DAMAN.

4. You have to click on six other images to complete the survey. I clicked on both the images pertaining to Goa and one for Diu. I also clicked on Macau where we have a number of Damanenses living.

5. Click on the 'Confirm' button and you're done.

Go on, cast your vote - here's your best chance to take Daman to the top of the world!

Then, pass on this message to EVERYONE you know - ANYONE can vote; it's not only for Damanenses. All you need is an email ID.

Results will be declared on the 10th of June - Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas.

Viva Damao!

Culture Wise INDIA: The Essential Guide to Culture, Customs & Business Etiquette

2009-04-23T14:22:00.003+05:30

I've just received a copy of my book, "Culture Wise INDIA: The Essential Guide to Culture, Customs & Business Etiquette" from my publisher, Survival Books Ltd., UK!

The book probably makes me:

1. The first Damanense writer living in Daman, to author a book post Liberation;

2. The first Damanense writer to author a book in recent times given that Antonio Muniz was a Goan;

3. The first Damanense writer ever to write a book on a topic other than Daman:)

But loyal as I am to Goa, Daman & Diu, I've mentioned how and why the culture in this former Portuguese colony is different from the rest of India.

The book can be ordered on Amazon.com or by copy-pasting this url into your browser: http://www.amazon.com/Culture-Wise-India-Essential-Etiquette/dp/1905303475

Viva!

OBITUARY – FR. FRANCIS DA GAMA, SJ (1934 – 2009)

2009-04-21T15:21:00.002+05:30

I'm reproducing below Fr. Francis da Gama's obituary written by his colleague, Fr. Fred Sopena, SJ

*******************************

Francis was born in 1934 in Daman, and spent the first ten years of his life there, his initial schooling being in Portuguese. In 1945 he joined St. Stanislaus’ High School, Bandra as a boarder, and six years later was among the first batch that passed the new matriculation exam. Among his schoolmates who also joined the Society were Valentine Rodrigues, Alban D’Mello and Lawrence D’Souza; another more illustrious companion was Ivan Dias, later Archbishop of Bombay. Already at School Francis had distinguished himself by his love of writing (in the school magazine), and dramatics.

In June 1951, Francis joined the Jesuits at the Bombay novitiate, Vinayalaya. The next few years followed a predictable pattern of formation: philosophy and theology in De Nobili College, Pune, and regency in the Bombay diocesan seminary. In March 1964 he was ordained, and two years later, sent to the diocesan seminary once again as a teacher in their juniorate. The next ten years were active and productive for the young priest in charge of seminarians at their most impressionable stage. He taught them language, public speaking, dramatics, and even the rudiments of film appreciation, for which he started and registered a film society.

In 1974, Provincial Bertie Philipps requested him to take charge of the Province mission magazine, Our Vineyard, from St. Xavier’s High School. Francis edited, published, advertised and distributed the magazine to a large and loyal readership for almost ten long years. Side by side he wrote film reviews in the popular press, gave talks on radio (usually on cinema), encouraged young Jesuits to opt for the media studies (he was the first Province Coordinator of Communications), and was among the first Jesuits involved in teaching in the Xavier Institute of Communications. Together with this Francis showed a keen interest in the Sodality movement (now rechristened “Christian Life Communities” (CLC) and was the animator of a unit at Seva Niketan, and closely associated with Sidney D’Souza SJ in this work. He later went to Rome for a training Course. He edited the CLC magazine, Morning Star for five years.

What he appreciated most of all in the Society, Francis declared, is its tremendous diversity, which opens the mind and challenges the heart. Throughout his formation he rubbed shoulders with Jesuits from every land, and in his own group there were men of vastly diverse talents and temperaments. All this helped the formation of his character, and Francis was deeply grateful to God for all that the Society had done for him.

The last years of his life Francis spent at St. Xavier’s High School almost unnoticed, but not forgotten by his Jesuit brothers who took good care of him.

Francis was a man of peace. Peace seemed to be an essential part of his well-integrated nature. His spirit was in command for most of his life but gradually sickness took the upper hand. Perhaps due to the stress of work, the gentle unruffled presence of Francis broke down and gave way to bouts of depression and erratic behaviour. Francis died at 10:45 pm on April 2nd 2009 in the Jesuit Nursing Home, Vinayalaya. Almost two days later his Jesuit brothers, relatives and staff of St. Xavier’s High School accompanied him in the Eucharist and burial services at Holy Family Church, Andheri. May his soul rest in peace.

Fr. Fred Sopena, SJ

*******************************************************

Goodbye Fr. Francis da Gama

2009-04-03T09:42:00.001+05:30

Dear Damanenses,

Fr. Francis da Gama, sj (Hilario Gama's son) died last night in Mumbai.
He was diagnosed with cancer of the liver last Wednesday - that's two days ago.
The funeral is tomorrow, 4th April. The service is at 4pm IST at Holy Family Church in Andheri, Mumbai.

Fr. Francis da Gama lived in St. Xavier's School, Dhobi Talao, Mumbai most of his life. His home in Big Daman now houses the CreditCitizen Bank.

Fr. da Gama was a film critic, a writer, and editor of the Vineyard but most of all, he was my writing mentor - he got my first article published in The Herald when I was only 14 and always believed that I could be a good journalist.

May his soul rest in peace.

"Viva Damao!" eZine subscription

2009-02-10T14:52:00.001+05:30

Hi,

The "Daman Global eNewsletter" is now, "Viva Damao!"

I've changed the format from the PDF version to a double opt-in eZine.

All you have to do is go to www.Discover-Daman.com and subscribe by entering your first name and email address in the boxes provided at the bottom of the page or on the top/left margin of other pages on the site.

Once you subscribe, you will receive an email requesting you to click a confirmation link, after which you will receive a welcoming email.

Your subscription will begin with the next issue once you've confirmed it!

Noel Gama
www.discover-daman.com

Seafood Festival - 23-27th Jan 09

2009-01-26T12:50:00.003+05:30

It’s blowing a bit here in Daman but crowds are queuing up to get on to the lift for grabbing a place at the ‘Lime Lite,’ one of Daman’s most famous rooftops - Hotel Gurukripa in Small Daman.

Proprietor, Vijay Tandel, launched ‘Seafood Festival’ - 23-27th Jan 09 featuring a Daman/Goan theme. I sampled what he had on offer on the 25th evening... fish, crab, prawn, lobster, salads, rice chappatis, Bombay ducks, cocktails and Portuguese/Konkani music... great crowd too.

Viva Damao! Come, Discover Daman!

Sneak Peek Into 2009!

2008-12-31T14:22:00.002+05:30

Happy New Year 2009!

DAMAN GLOBAL eNEWSLETTER - Issue -2 uploaded!

2008-12-18T10:12:00.002+05:30

Issue -2 (Vol. I) of the DAMAN GLOBAL eNEWSLETTER has been uploaded!

You can download the PDF file by going to http://public.me.com/noelgama where I've also archived the previous issue.
If the link doesn't work, kindly copy and paste it into your web browser.

Enjoy!

Call the chilli by any other name!!

2008-12-04T12:53:00.001+05:30

Portuguese-based Creole of Damao came closest to Standard Portuguese in the seven years or so preceding the liberation in 1961 during the time the Portuguese troops camped in Daman. This is also the period when the Indo-Portuguese culture leaned more on the European side, again, as a result of the influence of the troops and their families.
Further, this happened more in Small Daman than Big Daman as most of the troops and their families lived there. Also, almost all of the elite of Damanense society lived in Small Daman. It was the elite of that time that interacted most with the 'White' officers and their families. Hence the slight difference in the Portuguese of Small Daman and Big Daman.

Even the same dishes are named differently in Small Daman and Big Daman, eg., a common fish dish is called, 'Coco manteiga' in Small Daman and 'Caldo doce' in Big Daman; a Christmas sweet is called, 'Teia de aranha' in Small Daman and 'Aranha do ceu' in Big Daman; a blossom is called, 'flora de ice cream' in Small Daman and 'Coco ralado' in Big Daman; a roadside flower is called, 'Flora de ardoza' in Small Daman and 'Flora de Virgem Maria' in Big Daman. (Excuse the spellings:)

When the Portuguese left in 1961, there was an exodus of the locals too, mostly from Small Daman when most of the elite left. Big Daman became the new seat of Indo-Portuguese culture by default - it had more catholics and it's original creole and Indo-Portuguese culture was not affected much during the last seven years of the Portuguese as Small Daman was.

But the language is certainly not dying despite the convent school discontinuing Portuguese as a second language and more and more Goan priests who do not know the language being posted in Daman not to mention the large numbers of south Indian Christians in Small Daman. The number of people speaking Portuguese as their mother tongue may be declining for the simple reason that they're migrating to the UK and definitely not because they're switching to another language as has happened in other parts of India where P'guese based creole was spoken. Not only that - quite a few traders/shop-keepers in Big Daman who migrated to Daman (Rajashtanis being the most prominent) as recently as five years ago, speak Portuguese with their Portuguese-speaking customers!

Well, for good or for bad, Damanense Portuguese says it best - people feel they heard a 'real' mass when it's said in P'guese and nothing could give them more satisfaction than using a P'guese swear word... the English SOB is a sob before it's P'guese translation. And there's a variation that was used by the Pguese to name a local chilli!!

Eu Falo Português!

2008-12-02T13:02:00.004+05:30

The topic about the Portuguese language spoken in Daman by Damanenses is very popular on the forums.

Here's my take on the current status of the language...

There are four main types of Portuguese in today's Daman:

1. The most popular is the 'remix' version - Portuguese (ungrammatical), garnished with English words, a dash of Gujarati and of late, a sprinkling of Hindi! This is spoken by everyone up to the age of 50 to 55. If you're at a distance where the speech is audible but the words are not decipherable, the 'tune' is Gujarati! To cite an example, I was attending mass in the Se Cathedral in the Fort a few years back when a group of Portuguese tourists entered from the main door. The mass was in Portuguese and therefore, the choir was singing a Portuguese hymn. A good three minutes into the hymn, one of the Portuguese men tapped the shoulders of his colleagues and whispered, "E Portugues!"

2. Badrapor Portuguese - same as above but grammatically the most incorrect and with a few dozens of words that are said to be 'original' Portuguese and decidedly old. Badrapor Portuguese is romanticized the most by Westerners and locals 'scholars.'

3. The Portuguese spoken by those who studied it at least up to 'segunda grau.' These are in the age group of 55+ and have also studied English post-liberation. They are the self-appointed ambassadors of the Indo Portuguese culture of Daman, forming a closely knit circle that is as impenetrable as the forts of Daman. They swear by 'Badrapor Portuguese,' but try to speak their best 'European Portuguese' in the presence of whites. Interestingly, they speak the 'remix' version amongst themselves and in their homes:)

4. The Portuguese spoken by the endangered species of Damanenses in Daman - the erstwhile elite of Damanense society, who speak grammatically correct though 'old' Portuguese, even in their underwear - before whites as well as amongst themselves in their own homes. They are old, 70+, have an old-world aura, old-world values and have seen or rather heard it all but have chosen to remain silent and let the babble go on and on...

Noel Gama
Daman

2008-11-22T09:39:00.003+05:30

The general public of Daman was caught unawares when the police descended on them on the night of 19th November (2008). Many were returning from work or from shopping, others were just relaxing on municipal benches and public places and the yet others were in bars when jeep-loads of police accosted and indiscriminately beat up people all over Daman (Nani/Moti) and then herded them to the police station.

Those on mobikes were stopped and thrashed. It is reported that even some people who were still shopping, were beaten and the tables of those sitting outside bars, smashed to pieces. Those locked up were released around 2pm the next day.

Neither the victims nor the general public seem to know what hit them! It is alleged that when the victims tried to contact the local politicians, they discovered that they'd switched off their mobiles.

It is rumoured that the policemen were from neighbouring Silvassa. It is also rumoured that the Gujarat police were conducting a search for terrorists in Daman at the same time!

Another curious thing - only men, mostly young, were beaten up.

Since the 19th, people don't venture out after dark. Bars - the only nightlife you see in Daman - wear a deserted look. It is rumoured that no more than four can seat at each table though there's been no official notification of any kind... only rumours and more rumours!

DAMAN GLOBAL eNEWSLETTER - Inaugural Issue uploaded!

2008-11-06T14:20:00.005+05:30

Daman's first global eNewsletter has been released today - 6th November, 2008!

You can download your copy (PDF) here:

http://public.me.com/noelgama

Viva!

Noel

"Discover Daman" Homepage up!!

2008-10-31T14:19:00.005+05:30

The homepage of my content-based theme site, "Discover Daman" just
went up!

Tier-2 and tier-3 pages will start going up in the days and
months that follow.

Check out the homepage here and let me know what you think: www.Discover-Daman.com

Viva Damão! Keep the culture alive: First “WORLD DAMAN DAY” Celebrated Worldwide on 20th August 2008

2008-09-10T12:17:00.006+05:30

The first-ever, “WORLD DAMAN DAY” was celebrated by people of Daman origin living outside India in countries like the UAE, USA, Canada, Holland, Macau, Portugal and the UK along with the 9th “World Goa Day” on invitation from its London-based founder, Rene Barreto. The month-long celebrations were undoubtedly, the biggest worldwide Damanense party in the history of Daman!

World Daman Day like World Goa Day, is primarily celebrated outside of India in an effort to first establish identity and later turn it into a brand as Goa has already done. The date, though significant for Goa vis-à-vis the status of the Konkani language, isn’t of any significance to Daman. But there was the benefit of getting a helping hand from the much-experienced organizers of WGD. In any case, ultimately, it was the spirit that counted and which turned a black number on the calendar into a red-letter day!

The theme for World Daman Day ’08 was, “Viva Damão! Keep the culture alive!” The imposing centuries-old monuments, customs and traditions have withstood the test of time – all 450 years of them – but it is the culture that breathes life into them.

The motto was to promote, publicize and celebrate all things Damanense by showcasing the unique Damanense cultural heritage, expressed culturally and artistically.

Cock in the shadow of the peacock
A heady blend of Indian and Portuguese cultures, the Indo-Portuguese subculture of Daman is obviously multicultural, multilingual and multiracial yet always in beautiful melodic harmony. When the Portuguese spelling of the word, ‘Daman’ is broken up into its two syllables, it reveals the secret behind the characteristic hospitality of the typical Damanense – 'Da mão' – which literally translates as, 'give me your hand,' meaning, ‘welcome!’ Says Asunta Franco, Country Coordinator for Fujairah, “You can take a Damanense out of Daman but you can never take Damão out of a Damanense.” It truly is a way of life, for life!

UK – Leicester & Peterborough
The largest body of Damanenses outside India is based in the UK comprising largely Catholics, Hindus and Muslims who have literally transplanted the culture on to British soil. Says Franco Fonseca, Peterborough-based Country Coordinator for the UK, “the British come to observe our social and cultural events but not with the intention of adapting to the culture… they have adoption in mind.” The month-long festival held in Leicester and Peterborough showcased Damanense cuisine, folklore, folksongs, Damanense Mando, Portuguese folk dance, art and sport… “We included games like Sete Telhas, Jili Patta and Inti-tolla even though these are now sidelined in Daman itself,” says Luis Fonseca, Overall Coordinator for Leicester.

UAE – Dubai, Sharjah & Fujairah
The three country coordinators for the UAE organized cultural, culinary and sporting events as well as picnics and excursions, which included a visit to a Portuguese fort in Fujairah. Lysa Lopes, the coordinator for Sharjah, uploaded some of her best Damanense recipes on the WDD-08 website. Tourists to Daman often ask where they can sample Damanense or Indo-Portuguese cuisine. Damanense food is not served in any of the hotels though many label some items on their menu as ‘Daman special.’ The grand finale of the month-long celebrations was in Fujairah, where Damanenses from Sharjah and Dubai joined in a gala event of music, dancing, games and a traditional Damanense dinner.

Daman – Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?
On reading about WDD-08 in the Hindustan Times and the Times of India, Damanenses in Daman too wanted to join in the partying. “The whole world is celebrating and what are we doing about it?” asked Mr. Fremiot Mendonca, the go-to person when researching the local history and culture of Daman. In a matter of minutes, the Damanenses in Daman got their act together, using nothing but their telephones!

The ‘elders’ and the not-so-young were not only more enthusiastic than the youth… they knew what they wanted. Louella Rocha, overall coordinator for Daman, had a list of Do’s & Don’t’s – “no Slim Shady stuff, please... it’s got to be proper ballroom music; no colas, please... it’s got to be wine or rather cake ‘n’ wine; no ‘English’ mass... it’s got to be in Portuguese; no artificial flowers for decking the hall… only ‘kajooree’ palm fronds please…” ‘Viva Damão’ is not just lip service for the Damanenses – it’s the real thing and they don’t just ‘do it’ – they do it right! So, though late in getting into the groove, Damanenses in Daman perceive it as a new beginning and look forward to WDD-09.

Truly global community, bonding on the Internet
During the planning and execution of WDD-08 on a global scale, country coordinators and their team members as well as other Net savvy Damanenses worldwide, made good use of the Internet to achieve so much in so little time – a mere two months from idea to fruition!

The first step was setting up a website at http://web.mac.com/noelgama/wdd08 which was bombarded with traffic minutes after Rene Barreto shot out his press release on the Internet.

As WDD-08 came closer to D-Day, everyone felt that the festival was already turning into a movement! To keep the momentum and meet public demand, “Daman Global” was launched on Google Groups at http://groups.google.com/group/daman-global – a place to network, share news, make announcements and to do what Damanenses do best and enjoy most... gossip!

This is being followed up with the first global eZine, “Daman Global eNewsmagazine” which will bring news updates from all the countries where Damanenses live in. The inaugural issue is being released this month. Subscriptions are accepted online on the WDD-08 website.

A website with the most comprehensive and authoritative information on Daman is being launched next month at www.Discover-Daman.com.

World Goa, Daman & Diu Day ’08
For the first time, Damanenses, especially those in Daman, found that they were doing it for themselves – unlike other times when they’d be programmed to perform the tired ‘vira’ (known locally as ‘Portuguese Dance’) for visiting ministers. The Damanenses in the UK proved that just performing the ‘vira’ on stage is not what culture is about... it’s beyond that, more inclusive and much, much bigger... it’s a way of life – the Damanense way of life.

“Let’s keep the spirit and wish in our hearts – to one day celebrate World Goa, Daman & Diu Day,” says Lysa Lopes, Country Coordinator for Sharjah, UAE. Well, it had always been “Goa, Daman & Diu” until some politicians in Goa decided to delink two of the smaller siblings. Remo Fernandes’ hit song could be tweaked just a bit to make it more specific – “Politicians in Goa don’t know how to do the mando!”

Viva Damão!

Noel

Message from Founder of World Goa Day
World Goa Day is in its ninth year but WORLD DAMAN DAY is in its very first year. The WDD-08 celebrations have come about from a suggestion put by me to Noël Gama in Daman, India two months ago in mid-June. But the progress they have made in those two months is just unimaginable! Noël and his Global team of Damanenses could make any community proud of them. The progress in these celebrations have been exceptional – a very good example for us, Goans.

My congratulations to the people of Daman! I am proud to be associated with the people of Daman and with their overall leader and founder of WORLD DAMAN DAY, Noël Gama!

Rene Barreto
London, UK

Coming soon... 'Discover Daman'

2008-08-13T21:40:00.001+05:30

The most comprehensive and authoritative site on Daman will be up
soon... maybe the 20th of August?

Here's some insider info:

It's an SBI! site - read, 'theme-based content site.'
The site concept is 'Daman'
The site name is 'Discover Daman'

URL: www.Discover-Daman.com

Viva Damao!

Join "Daman Global" on Google Groups!

2008-08-08T12:49:00.002+05:30

Hi Damaneses!

As suggested my Rene Baretto quite a number of times, I’ve just created a Google Group titled, “DAMAN GLOBAL” for Damaneses around the world to keep in touch with each other and to network.

Details:

* Group name: Daman Global
*Group home page: http://groups.google.com/group/daman-global
*Group email address daman-global@googlegroups.com

Everyone is invited to go to http://groups.google.com/group/daman-global and join the membership.

Enjoy!

Noel Gama
Daman

Press Release - 1st World Daman Day

2008-07-05T14:52:00.006+05:30

Here's the press release shot out by Rene Barreto founder - World Goa Day, from London on 3rd July 2008:

1st WORLD DAMAN DAY – 20TH August 2008

WORLD DAMAN DAY is being celebrated for the very first time on the 20th of August 2008 under the aegis of WORLD GOA DAY courtesy, Mr. Rene Barreto – the founder himself!

Daman has always looked upon Goa as its 'Big Brother.’ But no two fingers are alike and so it is with siblings. These cultural differences though subtle, lend Daman its uniqueness. This worldwide event is a CELEBRATION of the unique culture of the people of Daman who have an identity of their very own – the DAMANESE!

“Damão is not just the former name of Daman,” says Noël Gama, Overall Coordinator of WDD-08. “It’s another name for the Indo-Portuguese subculture of Daman and is a way of life. But most importantly, when broken up into its two syllables, it reveals the secret behind the characteristic hospitality of the typical Damanese – 'Da mão' – which literally translates as, 'give me your hand,' in Portuguese meaning, ‘welcome!’”

The organizers are sure that the Administration of Daman and the Tourism department in particular, will support this endeavour. But only the proactive participation of Damaneses abroad will make it a resounding success.

So, we call upon all Damaneses wherever you may be around the globe, to dedicate the 20th of August every year, to PROMOTE, PUBLICIZE and CELEBRATE all things DAMANESE by showcasing Damanese cultural heritage through artistic and cultural expressions and celebrations like…

• DAMANESE MUSICAL FESTIVALS & COMPETITIONS
• DAMANESE FOOD FESTIVALS
• TRADITIONAL/FOLK DANCE PERFORMANCES & COMPETITIONS
• ART & CRAFT DISPLAYS
• POETRY & SONGWRITING COMPETITIONS

People of Damanese origin, all over the world, are invited to come together and not only actively participate but initiate these worldwide celebrations, which will be coordinated by Noël Gama who is based in Daman.

Let’s all celebrate all that is Daman – the sights, the sounds, the senses and the ‘saudades.’ Let the party begin – feel, think, breathe, live, eat and yes, drink to Daman!

FOR MORE DETAILS – Please contact your coordinator in your country of residence or the Overall Coordinator in Daman at: noelgama@mac.com

About the Overall coordinator – Noël Gama is the winner of the "Writer of the Year 2007" award of The Writers Bureau, UK and the author of "Culture Wise INDIA," now listed on Amazon.com. His signature Blog2Book projects caught the attention of a former Consul General of Portugal in India, who launched one of his websites, www.noelgama.com on Indo-Portuguese culture and is now being turned into four books viz., "Viva Damão! The Indo-Portuguese Subculture of Daman," “Saudades! Folk Memories of Damão,” “If You Ever Come to Damão – Ultimate Travel Guide to a little-known Ex-Portuguese Hideaway”and “Where Angels Tread – Photo guide to the Churches, Chapels, Crosses & Grottos of Daman”

Country Coordinators:

Portugal – Bosco Mendonca
UK – Franco Fonseca /Bertoldo Lopes
Macau – Noel Libano
Holland – Veridiana Veloso de sousa
Fujairah – Maria Franco
Sharjah – Lysa Lopes
Australia – John Machado
Saudi Arabia – Sylvia Rebello
UAE – Joe Colaco
Ajman – Maria Noruega
Abu Dhabi – Anthony Colaco
Dubai – Jack Machado
Oman – Sharmila Mascarenhas
Saudi Arabia – Brian D’costa
Kuwait – Veronica Fernandes

Websites – http://web.mac.com/noelgama/wdd08
http://worldgoan.blogspot.com/

WORLD DAMAN DAY Website

2008-07-03T12:51:00.001+05:30

The World Daman Day 2008 website is now under construction but can be accessed here: http://web.mac.com/noelgama/wdd08

Feedback and suggestions are welcome!

WORLD DAMAN DAY!

2008-06-17T10:46:00.005+05:30

Here's some great news: Rene Barreto, the founder of World Goa Day contacted me for launching the first ever, WORLD DAMAN DAY along with World Goa Day on the 20th of August.

Like World Goa Day, WORLD DAMAN DAY is a day for Damaneses all over the world to celebrate our great cultural heritage which is so unique.

Rene asked me whether the culture of Daman is similar to that of Diu - this is what I replied:

"The culture of Daman has elements of both, Diu and Goa though more of Goa as Goa is the big brother of Daman & Diu.

However, Daman has a subculture mostly populated by the Catholics. I call this subculture, 'Damao.'

And, this subculture is more Portuguese than the Indo-Portuguese culture of Goa.

My book, Viva Damao! Guide to the Indo-Portuguese Subculture of Daman, portrays this."

Rene has invited me to be the World Coordinator and is now seeking Country Coordinators in the UK, Portugal, Macau, Dubai and every country where we have even just one Damanese.

Cheers!

Oops, They Did It Again!

2008-06-09T11:40:00.006+05:30

It's been reported that an anonymously written letter objecting to the transfer of a priest back to Daman, was being circulated last week.

Phones of people with connections (other than phone connections:) buzzed late at night, with matters finally getting to a head when two people suspected of having written the letter were summoned by the police.

And to think that these are the very people who have been teaching us to be like Christ and to 'turn the other cheek' - what cheek!!

While I was told that one elderly man did appear before the police, the other one who has a history of diabetes and hypertension, took so bad that the last rites had to be administered before rushing him to a hospital! Last I heard, he was still in hospital.

I pray that he recovers completely - he has a wife and young children.

Sorry to disappoint you, my readers - I cannot divulge names (at least not yet) and am forced to use terms like 'alleged,' 'reported,' etc., because it is rumoured that some of our pastors are contemplating filing defamation cases against a few of their parishioners.

How foolish we've been to sit pretty, feeling safe that persecution of christians only happened in other parts of India and could never happen in Daman. Who'd ever think that it would be an inside job. I'd reword the saying that charity begins at home to - "persecution begins at home!"

Goa Parishioners' Association - To tackle 'arrogant' priests!

2008-05-27T13:05:00.005+05:30

And you’d think that Goan priests took a dictatorial stance only with us in Daman!

An article (see scanned image) published by “Sathyadeepam” in their May 16-31st issue, cites instances where some priests refuse to administer sacraments to people who dare to challenge them or are poor and so have no voice, besides instances of parish funds being administered arbitrarily... sounds all too familiar, doesn't it?

According to the article, about 200 Catholics met in Margao on April 18th to form the “All Goa Parishioners’ Association” (AGPA) which will address parish priests’ “dictatorial attitude,” besides fighting corruption and lack of religious freedom in the Church.

It’s time ADPA (All Daman Parishioners Association) came into being!

Miracles of Fatima - If you look closely

2008-05-15T11:02:00.004+05:30

The feast of Our Lady of Fatima was celebrated as usual on the evening of 13th of May, 2008 at the foot of the grotto adjoining the church of O L of Remedios... high Mass followed by the procession around the park with the congregation holding home-made paper lanterns with candles in them, singing Portuguese hymns in praise of O L of Fatima. My wife, Louella pushed the pram carrying Noé, our seven-year old son as I walked alongside them bringing up the rear... so much like Fatima, Portugal.   

But I had my own agenda for the evening...   

About 18 years ago, I had written a song that was inspired by a sermon by Fr. Joseph Dias, my favourite preacher. His words, "you have eyes but cannot see. This man is blind but he can see..." had such a great impact on me that I reflected for days, when all of a sudden, the whole song fell into place and I wrote it down in one go in just 10 minutes flat. I titled it, "The Greatest Gift Of All," and dedicated it to the blind.   

But what has this got to do with Our Lady of Fatima, whom I can see in her grotto every single day, from every window of our flat across the street? Well, the Writers Bureau (UK) announced their prestigious annual poetry writing competition recently and I thought about sending in my song (critiques all agree that it's a poem too) with a new title, "For Your Eyes Only" and so I thought it appropriate to print it out and put it up to Her and let Her decide - if I won, the world would get to read it; if I did not, it would remain for Her eyes only but with a petition to help restore sight in the blind of the world.

We waited for the crowd to disperse after the service, so that I could make my special offering in private, by burning the sheet of paper instead of a candle, at the grotto.   

In the meantime, Carroll Remedios, my schoolmate, opened the glass door housing the statue in the grotto, so that he could recover the plants put inside for the Mass. As an afterthought, he brought down the statue for Noé to kiss. Of all the people that came to the service, only Noé got to actually touch the statue! And this was even before I had made my offering... I had to come back around 9.30pm to make mine, as I needed candles for setting the paper on fire. I thought this was very meaningful and again, so much like Fatima, Portugal... yet so different... so special, because it was She who came down to Noé!   

But it is only today, the 15th, that I realized another thing... She had also opened the door to accept my offering! It is I who have been blind for these last two days! And look at me, writing a poem for the blind!

Lee Gimpel Interview

2008-03-20T13:05:00.000+05:30

Here's the link to a pre-release interview of my book, "Culture Wise India," with Lee Gimpel the editor of INDIA TRAVEL INSIGHTS: http://www.indiatravelinsights.org/noel_gama.html

India Travel Insights endeavors to provide insights into India travel and tourism through candid interviews with thought-leaders and knowledgeable observers. ITI's contributors are Indians and non-Indians with informed opinions about the state of tourism in the subcontinent.

Lee Gimpel is a business, travel and technology writer based in the US. He is the author of the popular PassingThroughIndia.com blog as well as a forthcoming book about traveling through emergent India.

Sad Demise

2008-03-15T16:20:00.001+05:30

Frank Gonsalves, a founder member of the Daman Association in Portugal, passed away on the 6th of March.
He was 82 and is survived by his wife, Celina and two sons, their wives and four grandchildren.

'Bungalow Inglais!'

2008-03-06T12:07:00.003+05:30

My parents spoke a great deal about an establishment in Small Daman called, 'Bungalow Inglais' and also referred to as, 'Dak Bungalow' by the locals. It was the official guest house of the English during the Portuguese reign.

I persuaded my mother to lead my brother, Dr. Frank Gama to the spot for a shoot last Christmas.

I need to do more research about 'Bungalow Inglais' and invite inputs from readers.

Look who's on Amazon!

2008-02-28T21:26:00.006+05:30

My book, "Culture Wise India: The Essential Guide to Culture, Customs & Business Etiquette" is now listed on Amazon.com

Culture Wise India is essential reading for anyone planning to visit or live in India, whether for business or pleasure, for a few days holiday or a lifetime. It is guaranteed to help newcomers avoid cultural and social gaffes; make friends and influence people; and enhance their understanding of India and the Indian people. Printed in full color.

Product Details
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Survival Books, Ltd. (July 25, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1905303475
ISBN-13: 978-1905303472

Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Culture-Wise-India-Essential-Etiquette/dp/1905303475

Viva Carnaval!

2008-02-11T13:49:00.000+05:30

The carnival floats made a comeback after about 25 years! Gabby, a popular local DJ took out a mini float on Tuesday, the 5th of February, the last day of the carnival.

The float comprised five trucks with dancers and merry-makers in a variety of costumes, Brazilian Samba dancers' outfits being most prominent, despite the cold - 7 degrees! The music blaring out was Brazilian and Portuguese folk.

The Heavier Cross: Layman's Burden

2007-12-11T12:43:00.002+05:30

While ‘conversion’ is perhaps the hottest and most debated topic elsewhere in the country, in Daman, its meaning is limited to the amount of rupees you get when you exchange British pounds, even to catholic priests! This isn’t surprising as religious conversions into the catholic faith are unheard of in this tiny former Portuguese enclave which enjoys exemplary communal harmony.

But that’s not all – if you are born into a catholic family, becoming a catholic is much more difficult than a mere conversion, given the bureaucracy and autocracy of the local clergy. Why, even getting the birth of your child registered with governmental agencies is a breeze. If your child is not born in Daman, a priest may go out of his way and advise you to register the birth in Daman all the same, to ensure that he or she is eligible for Portuguese citizenship – your child is a potential donor (British pounds) of the future.

Compare this with the procedure for getting your child baptized: not only are the parents interviewed and antecedents checked prior to your child’s baptism – the godparents are also appraised. Everyone in the family, including the grandparents on either side, should be ‘good Catholics.’ If any of these players are found not to be attending mass, there’ll be ‘problems.’ Even you as parents, cannot exercise your choice of who will be the godparents of your own child – if one of the proposed godparents does not go to church regularly, they may be turned down by the priest and advised to show improvement in the ensuing six months, during which they will be under ‘observation.’ Again, there is no system of maintaining any sort of ‘attendance registers’ at churches – information is garnered via rumour mills, hearsay and sycophants and then shared among the clergy. However, if you happen to be influential or a generous donor, a Nelson’s eye will be turned to whatever perversions you may have and you may even be given place of honour at ceremonies.

But your trials as parents are far from over – ‘counselling sessions’ follow, which culminate in a rehearsal of the baptismal ceremony. In my own case, one of those holier-than-thou types from Mumbai conducted the sessions, as I was a ‘difficult’ case for the padres.

While Christianity promises ultimate freedom, words like ‘compulsory,’ ‘mandatory,’ etc., used in circulars and announcements in churches never fail to amaze me, more so when we are not only living in the 21st century but in the world’s biggest democracy. One priest even thanked the congregation thus, “Thank you all, for obeying me.” As I write this, I am informed that it’s ‘compulsory’ for couples getting married this season to buy raffles worth at least Rs2000. Like the sheep we are expected to be, we bend to autocracy that very often lacks the requisite authority.

One thing the clergy don’t get right is our culture, though I don’t blame them as they are Goans and our culture is alien to them. They address concerns like ‘dowry,’ and the notorious ‘Indian mother-in-law’ – issues that are irrelevant to the local culture where these are non-entities. It is becoming fashionable to invite priests from Mumbai for preaching during novenas – except for the diction, the theme is the same as the preachers are either Goan or East-Indian. Having no insight into our unique Indo-Portuguese culture, all they achieve is to incite such ideas into the simple minds of our people. I have heard irresponsible statements being made during sermons in public places, like “Mothers, leave your sons alone!”

The focus, seems to be on young couples, while neglect and in a few cases, physical abuse of aging parents, have never been addressed so far. It’s probably their convenient interpretation of ‘leave the dead to bury the dead.’

It has also become ‘mandatory’ for couples to attend counselling sessions before marriage, conducted by visiting priests or lay people with dubious credentials, causing more harm than good, as is obvious by the unprecedented spate of separations, divorce and marital disharmony in a town previously renowned for producing ‘until-death-do-us-part’ couples.

The vicious circle goes on – for ages, the Catholics of Damão, have opted to first go to their parish priest for arbitration, whether for marital problems or property disputes and obviously, the priest is not competent to redress these issues as he lacks the qualifications and more importantly, first-hand experience. But this is not as serious as the role he tends to play – being privy to all information from both parties, he decides whose side to take, based on his grapevine information and which of the parties is more supportive of his personal agendas.

Scandalous conduct of our priests are as old as our local history, with sex and alcoholism part of the script - 'A Father becomes a father,' would make a great title - but what is perturbing now is the entry of greed for power and money above everything else. Not only are more and more demands being made for donations from the immigrants working in the UK, but the priests themselves have started going on trips abroad to collect funds from these emigrants, especially to Leicester where they are concentrated. Those locals who are still awaiting their Portuguese passport, are perforce obliged to match the pound-donation in rupees to save face!

Another thing of concern is not just the big number of religious festivals – it’s the pomp and spending associated with them. These festivals stress more on the decorations and the gastronomic feast that follows, rather than worship. Each successive ‘sponsor’ is intent on outdoing the previous one, egged on by regular announcements in church to let the left hand know exactly what the right hand has been doing! After the service, besides the feast that usually follows for ordinary invitees, the sponsors have to throw a lavish banquet exclusively for the local clergy and their guests from neighbouring parishes and make sure that drinks flow like water.

Many of my fellow Damanenses have been approaching me with their grouses and asked me to start a signature campaign. Everyone is scared to even comment, leave alone complain or protest, lest they get the stigma of an outcast. I have been putting it off simply because of its distasteful nature – until this evening, on assignment for covering the inauguration of the prayer hall dedicated to Christ the King in Big Daman, for a Portuguese magazine. The project cost is estimated at Rs25,00,000 and I was told donations were in many cases, reluctantly made. As I dutifully clicked away with my Nikon, in one blinding flash, it all struck me as a big mockery… perhaps like Cain’s offering? And therefore, I decided to send this message to the mockers… we may have blind faith, but we are not blind. I hope they see the light too.

I have been as candid as in a confession, though it may be likened to slapping the local clergy on one cheek – think they’ll offer me the other cheek, like true followers of Christ? I’d like to bet every pound I have, that they’d prefer to burn me at the stake. But that would make me like them – judging people before Judgement Day.

I don’t think I can join in the mockery and wish my readers the usual, ‘Merry Christmas’ as I would be doing worse than Pontius Pilate – crucifying Christ on His Birthday. But in the true spirit of Christmas, let us forgive them even though they know pretty well what they are doing and let nobody ever take our faith away, nor make us less charitable because there’s still hope.

Viva Damao! The Indo-Portuguese Subculture of Daman

2007-08-20T15:49:00.000+05:30

I finished writing "CULTURE WISE INDIA" and submitted it via email to Survival Books Ltd., UK on the 31st of July '07 - a day after I turned 50!

Here's news for my fellow Damanenses: I just bought a domain name for my next book, "Viva Damao! The Indo-Portuguese Subculture of Daman," tentatively, a 200-page book on the lines of Culture Wise India.

I will also be launching an eZine titled, "Viva Damao!"

Interview with Aneeta Sundaraj of 'HowToTellaGreatStory'

2007-02-14T16:22:00.000+05:30

I was recently interviewed by Aneeta Sundaraj of 'HowToTellaGreatStory' vis a vis WB's Writer of the Year 2007 award.

Here's the link to the interview page: http://www.howtotellagreatstory.com/byot/byot67.html

Aneeta is the editor of 'How To Tell A Great Story,' a website for all relevant information on the art of storytelling, story writing, storytelling ideas, skills, methods and techniques, etc.

Here's the link to her site: http://www.howtotellagreatstory.com

Copyright © 2007 Noël Gama
http://www.noelgama.com

Writers Bureau (UK) "Writer of the Year 2007"

2007-02-03T15:00:00.000+05:30

As published on the web site of Writers Bureau at www.writersbureau.com:

The Writers Bureau
Writer Of The Year 2007 is...
Noel Gama

Noel has had a fantastic year with his writing which has culminated in a UK book deal.

This year, again, we were presented with a tough choice for our winner. In the end we chose Noel because, not only has he worked tremendously hard to produce a good body of work, he’s also used new technology in an imaginative way to expand his
markets.

What's more, he’s done all of this in his spare time!

Copyright © 2007 Noël Gama
http://www.noelgama.com

Daman-based writer signs book deal with UK publisher

2007-02-03T14:57:00.000+05:30

As published in UTs' Voice, 1-15 Jan, 2007

Daman: UTs' VOICE's Wildlife columnist, Noël Gama has been offered a 2-book deal by British publisher, Survivor Books Ltd for two of their best-selling series. He has signed the agreement for the first, a 50,000-word book titled, “Culture Wise India" which will be released in the 3rd quarter of 2007. The second book, slated for spring 2008 is titled, “Living & Working in India.”

Mr. Gama had pioneered an innovative ‘Blog-to-Book project, “Saudades! Folk Memories of Damão” which was launched by the Consul General of Portugal on the National Day of Portugal on June 10, 2006.

Drawing on his two decades of experience in the HRM field, he is also writing 2 ‘How-To’ e-Books on the subject.

Copyright © 2007 Noël Gama
http://www.noelgama.com

Quatercentenary Celebrations: O L of Remedios

2007-01-10T13:05:00.000+05:30

Erected in 1607 as a Chapel by Captain Rue de Mello de Sampayo, Governor of Daman, it became a parish church on 9th March 1675 when the Confraternity of Our Lady of Remedios was formed.

The yearlong celebration to mark the 400th year of the Church of Our Lady of Remedios, Big Daman, took off with pomp and solemnity on New Year’s Day.

Parishioners from nine zones, each headed by a leader bearing a white banderole with the insignia of the zone’s patron saint, made their way in processions from different points across the city, finally converging on the church.

As if on cue, the rays of a golden sunset cast a ruddy glow on the façade of the church. 14 priests concelebrated a high mass to the refrains of beautiful Portuguese hymns.

A cultural program followed the Mass, showcasing Portuguese folk dance, traditional fare in this former Portuguese colony on the western coast of India.

‘Remedios’ is ‘remedies’ in Portuguese and the locals - the fisher folk especially - pay homage to the Blessed Mother. Legend has it that the original statue of the baby Jesus that she held in her arms was taken away to Rome and substituted with a new one.

What is outstanding about this church as well as other churches and chapels in Daman is not the Manueline architecture but the beautiful gilded wood carvings that adorn the altars, reredos and ceiling and the life-like statues which are also carved from wood. Though these have withstood the ultimate test of time - 40o cycles of the southwest monsoons - they look newer than modern woodwork that has seen but just a couple of monsoons!

A casual glance out of a window, or from higher ground or even a view from the ground up or for that matter, from any vantage point in this centuries-old city, will more often than not, be met with either the image of an equally ancient church or chapel or deity.

A copy of the detailed guide to the churches, chapels, grottos and crosses of Daman titled, “Where Angels Tread” can be obtained from the Parish House, Parish of Bom Jesus, Fort, Daman.

Copyright © 2007 Noël Gama
http://www.noelgama.com

Spreading Awareness - Making it Viral!

2006-12-01T16:51:00.000+05:30

World AIDS Day on the first of December, is not just about raising money, but also about fighting the disease and prejudice, by spreading awareness.

World AIDS Day themes
2006 - Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise - Accountability
2005 - Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise - Make the Promise
2004 - Women, Girls, HIV and AIDS
2003 - Stigma & Discrimination
2002 - Stigma & Discrimination
2001 - I care. Do you?
2000 - AIDS : Men make a difference
1999 - Listen, Learn, Live: World AIDS Campaign with Children & Young People
1998 - Force for Change: World AIDS Campaign With Young People
1997 - Children Living in a World with AIDS
1996 - One World, One Hope
1995 - Shared Rights, Shared Responsibilities
1994 - AIDS & the Family
1993 - Act
1992 - Community Commitment
1991 - Sharing the Challenge
1990 - Women & AIDS
1989 - Youth
1988 - Communication

"Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise” is this year’s theme - an appeal to governments and policy makers to ensure they meet the targets they have agreed to in the fight against HIV and AIDS. This will be the focus till 2010.
World AIDS Day is organized by WAC (World AIDS Campaign). Before 2005, it was organized by UNAIDS.
The Red Ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness that is worn by people all year round and particularly around World AIDS Day as a token of solidarity.
The red ribbon started as a "grass roots" effort, and as a result there is no official red ribbon, and many people make their own. It's easily done - just use any ordinary red ribbon and a safety pin!

The biggest battle against the war on AIDS is being fought in research laboratories. The latest entrant and possibly a more potent form of treatment over the conventional anti-retroviral drugs is Gene Therapy.
The results of experiments conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and VIRxSYS (a biotechnology firm based near Baltimore) published in the NY edition of The Economist of November, 9th 2006 are very promising.
If later trials confirm the early positive results, it could be the long-awaited anti-HIV vaccine.
3 Small things you can do to make a BIG difference:
Wear a red ribbon - Carry a few in your pocket to pin on your friends!
Protect yourself and your partner. If you are worried - get tested!
Make copies of articles like this one and send them to everyone you know - make it viral!

Copyright © 2006 Noël Gama
http://www.noelgama.com

The Last 48 hours of the 400-year Portuguese rule

2006-08-10T11:40:00.000+05:30

While researching my book, "Saudades," I found nothing but one-liners like 'Daman was annexed to India on 19th December 1961' or 'The 400-year P'guese rule finally came to an end on December 19th, 1961' etc., about the sequence of events in the last 48 hours of P'guese rule.

If, even I, a five-year old then, retained some vivid images of those 48 hours, I am sure hundreds of our townsfolk would have more accurate and clearer accounts of their observations and personal experiences to share! So many questions left unanswered like who were the two children that were hit by a bomb while fleeing from the convent? If our generation does not record this, we would be depriving future researchers of valuable data.

As such, I intend soliciting first-hand/eye-witness accounts of what happened in the last 48 hours of the P'guese rule i.e., 18th & 19th Dec '61 and then publishing this anthology as a free ebook on my website.

Anyone who was present in Daman on 18-19th December, 1961 may send in about 2000-word write-ups of their observations, experiences, fears, etc., preferably by email, stating their name, age & contact address. In case... just in case... there is a photograph that was taken while running for cover, I promise it will make it to the cover of the ebook!

I eagerly look forward to receiving your submission.

Copyright © 2006 Noël Gama
http://www.noelgama.com

Where Angels Tread..

2006-08-01T11:12:00.000+05:30

A guide to the churches, chapels, grottos & crosses of Daman was released at a function in the Se Cathedral of Daman on Sunday, 30th July 2006.

The title of the guide is "Where Angels Tread.."

The photographs were supplied by Dr. Frank Gama and the script by Noel Gama of Noah's Mark Publishing.

Copyright © 2006 Noël Gama
http://www.noelgama.com

Fort being invaded from the inside!

2006-07-01T12:56:00.000+05:30

The lyrics of my song "..the old fort which could never be invaded from the inside, is now being invaded dear, righta from the outside..." proved prophetic.

According to a report of the national newspaper, Hindustan Times of 17th June 2006, a huge building has been constructed illegally in the fort near the old lighthouse. On visiting the site, I also discovered to my dismay that a public road has also been encroached upon by the builder.

I contacted the editor and was informed that further investigations follow and a TV channel will be covering the story next week.

Copyright © 2006 Noël Gama
http://www.noelgama.com

Dia de Camoes celebrated in Daman with great success!

2006-06-12T10:57:00.000+05:30

The Dia Nacional de Portugal, de Camoes e das Comunidades Portuguesas was celebrated in Daman on the 10th of June in the settings of the beautiful Mirasol Lake Resort in Small Daman.

The open-air program scheduled from 5.00pm to 7.00pm local time took off around 6.00pm to allow the hot summer sun to cool down in the Arabian Sea!

His Excellency, the Consul General of Portugal Pedro Cabral Adao gave the Welcome speech (in English) followed by a speech by Mr Dharmendra, the Development Commissioner of Daman and then by renowned local orator Mr. Gabriel Guedes who spoke in Portuguese. Mr. Sergio Mascarenhas de Almeida, Director of Fundacao Oriente, Goa also graced the occassion.

Besides the Development Commissioner, Dr. Modassir, Collector of Daman, Mr. Reddy, Conservator of Forests, Mr. Eurico Rosario, Chief of Police, Mr. Orlando Miranda, Asst Public Prosecutor, Mr. Vishal, President of the Daman Municipal Council were also present. Others present in the huge crowd were the priests, senior citizens Dr. J N Gama & Mr. Arjemiro Fernanes, the press, including Mr. Abhijit Mukhopadyay, Executive Editor of the popular UTS' VOICE.

At the beginning of the show, the National Anthem of India was played followed by that of Portugal.

The main theme of the Consul General's speech was about the friendly relations that now exists between India and Portugal.

The speeches were followed by a cultural show of traditional/folk dance and songs by 3 local groups viz., Bem Fica of Small Daman, Caravela of Big Daman and a new and upcoming group of Big Daman.

Certificates of merit were presented to students who successfully passed the various grades of the Portuguese language classes held in Daman.

The Consul General graciously conceded to my request to launch my website titled "Saudades! Folk Memories of Damao" at the end of the show by clicking the 'Publish' button on my laptop computer that activated Apple's iWeb application for uploading the site at http://web.mac.com/noelgama.

After the launch of 'Saudades,' the groups from Small Daman, Big Daman, the visitors from Goa and the Consul himself, all joined in onstage for the Grand Finale - dancing to folk songs of Damao!

Copyright © 2006 Noël Gama
http://www.noelgama.com

Dia Nacional de Portugal

2006-06-10T11:38:00.000+05:30

The Dia Nacional de Portugal, de Camoes e das Comunidades Portuguesas is being celebrated in Daman this year at Hotel Miramar, Devka Beach, Small Daman.

The program is scheduled from 5.00pm to 7.00pm local time and will be hosted by Senhor Pedro Cabral Adao, Consul General of Portugal.

Mr. Sergio Mascarenhas of Fundacao Orient will also be attending.

Copyright © 2006 Noël Gama
http://www.noelgama.com

A Word that can launch a thousand pictures.

2006-05-29T10:35:00.000+05:30

My quest for the meaning of the word 'Saudades' began on my sixteenth Birthday.
That evening, at the party, I found my mother looking in my direction but not at me, with an expression that reminded me of the Mona Lisa. I walked up to her and jokingly asked: 'A penny for your thoughts?'

She smiled fondly and said, 'Do you know what is Saudades?'

'Nostalgia. Oh! You have been thinking of the time you were sixteen,' I replied.

'Nostalgia is the English word but there is no word as profound, as intense, as urgent, as sweet' she said.

The dictionary defines 'Saudades' as a feeling of longing, melancholy, or nostalgia that is supposedly characteristic of the Portuguese temperament.
It could not have been more accurate right down to the use of the word 'supposedly' because the author of an English dictionary cannot feel the feeling and hence will never find its true meaning!

I hope my forthcoming book titled SAUDADES! FOLK MEMORIES OF DAMAO mitigates this feeling in those that have been fortunate enough to feel it and is of more use than a dictionary to those who are in search of it. When you find it, you will know because you will feel it deep in your heart and you will want to read the book again out of Saudades.

Saudades,

Noel

Copyright © 2006 Noël Gama
http://www.noelgama.com

Between the Sword and the Pen, lies the Guitar

2005-12-12T15:45:00.000+05:30

Nostalgia's gripped people like never before - you read it in the papers, see it on TV, hear it in conversations and relive it in your reminiscences. American guitar-manufacturer, Fender, released a re-issue of their legendary Stratocaster electric guitar of the 70's with the punch-line, "Accept it, you are nostalgic about the 70's!" What date-stamp better than the music-genre of the period in question? When you listen to a song of days gone by, doesn't it remind you of a particular incident of that time? Sometimes, it's the other way round too - speak of the 60's and you think of The Beatles but for most locals of Daman (a former Portuguese colony) over the age of 50, it's about the Liberation.

It was morning, December 18 1961, but I thought it was night. All the windows of the house where my parents, as also the wounded Portuguese governor, Brig. Costa Pinto, had sought refuge from the bombers flying overhead, were shuttered and the electricity being cut off, candles provided the only light. During each of those bombing raids in the two-day siege, my parents shielded me with their bodies as they stood between a wardrobe and the inner wall of the house, as if clinging to their only possession while all the little boy in me could think of was a chance to have a peek at the fighter planes!

We soon got our freedom from the 400-year Portuguese rule and Damão became Daman (though Goa did not become Gowa and Diu did not become Div). People began to adopt the new system, adapt to mainland Indian culture and etiquette, and adjust with the new currency as they attempted to build a new life from what could be salvaged. But while the sound of guns continued to echo in our ears in the aftermath, I suddenly realized that there was a silence that was much louder than this din and which I thought only I could hear - it was the absence of music. That's when I joined the elders in the search for lost possessions. I cannot forget that glorious moment when I finally found my treasure trove in the attic of my grandparents' house - a hand-wound HMV gramophone with a huge stack of 78 rpm shellac records.

I would play the gramophone the first thing when I woke up in the morning and the last thing I did before going to bed. I used up box after box of styluses and dabbed the records with cotton buds dipped in kerosene oil to remove the grime that got into the grooves. One day, I did not go to school, staying home listening to records all day, trying to figure out the parts of the songs and identifying the instruments. And my parents as well as my class teacher, approved of it! That was my first taste of freedom.

It was only when I turned 15 that I found my music teacher - an old man who had been a church violinist before he took up to the bottle. He agreed to teach me European music theory. The sessions lasted the entire monsoon, 'classes' being held in the shelter of his umbrella under pouring rain as he supervised the transplantation of the rice crop in ankle-deep water. Notebook in hand, I soaked in the music. No, we did not have printed music sheets so he wrote melodies in ink in my notebook and made sure I got to sing pieces I had never heard or set eyes on before. When I could sing a difficult genre called 'Motet', he sent me off on my own with the advice to buy an instrument, preferably a violin, if I could afford one. It was here that my mother, who used to sing harmony in the church choir as a girl, stepped in and suggested that I take up the acoustic guitar. She said girls in her time loved guitar-playing 'guys' more than football-playing 'boys'! That was when I got my first guitar, back then in the 70's and I went on to acquire a line-up of 15 guitars along my road to freedom.

I have also done my share of songwriting - lyrics came first and then the melody, the guitar being my primary instrument for writing though I often use arranger keyboards for my OMB performances. I started writing songs in the late 80's when I learnt that Stevie Wonder was blind and that the Beatles could not read music notation and that it was perfectly okay to write by ear. After all, music per se is written for the ears and notation, tabs, etc. are but means to an end. Music is a means of experiencing as well as expressing freedom and, the guitar is a celebration of this freedom.

Click here for part-2 (December, 2011)

Copyright © 2005 Noël Gama
http://www.noelgama.com

Soon it will be Christmas Day

2005-12-02T11:36:00.000+05:30

'Last Christmas, I gave you my heart...' goes the popular song by Wham! And come to think of it, we all look forward to Christmas and yet when it’s Christmas Day, most of us look back, reminiscing.

I remember the early 60s in Daman when people would start collecting eggs weeks in advance, carefully writing the dates on the eggs and storing them under layers of rock salt in tins. Back then, the ovens were not electric but made of clay and known as panela de barro, fueled by burning coconut husk which was sold in gunny sacks. Sugar was 'controlled' by the ration-shops and so just like the ants, we too would ingeniously start hoarding sugar, even going to the extent of using the quota in the ration cards of domestic servants who did not need sugar, preferring toddy to tea!

By the 10th of December, housewives in groups of about six would gather in the kitchen of one of their houses every night after putting the children to bed and, with coffee and gossip to keep them going, would make sweets like boroas, queijadinhos, bolinhos do coco, etc. Coconut and egg yolk were the common ingredients. In Portugal, the wine industry until recently used the whites of eggs in their processes and the residual yolks gave birth to the delicious sweets industry. I think no other sweet symbolized the fusion of the erstwhile colonies better than Bolinhos do Porto which is made of just 4 ingredients viz., coconut symbolizing India, raw egg-yolk symbolizing Portugal, cocoa symbolizing Africa and, sugar the universal ingredient!

'But the times, they are a-changing...'croons Bob Dylan and home-made sweets are giving way to off-the-shelf sweets from Bandra, caroling giving way to recorded music, e-mails replacing Christmas cards and so on.

But there is one thing that has solidly withstood the test of time and that is the humble Bolo de Sura, a modest cake made of flour, eggs, jaggery and for leavening, toddy from which it gets it name (‘Sura’ is toddy in Portuguese). In the days of plenty, this cake was made for giving to the poor on Christmas Day. To this day, a slice of this poor-man's cake adorns every platter of sweet that is exchanged among neighbors and friends, rich and poor.

Just like the Yule Pudding of the English, the Bolo de Sura is Daman’s own Christmas cake symbolizing the very spirit of Christmas.

Noël Gama
02.12.05

Copyright © 2005 Noël Gama
http://www.noelgama.com

Diwali in Heaven

2005-11-19T09:12:00.000+05:30

As published in UTS' Voice of 16.11.05

DIWALI IN HEAVEN
By
Noël Gama

All Saints’ Day observed by Christians on the 1st of November was not only the eve of All Souls’ Day but also Diwali, the festival of lights, thus morphing solemnity, somberness and festivity as at dusk, the church bells began to toll while the congregation silently wound its way to the cemetery to light candles at the gravesites of their dear ones.
I have participated in this ritual for decades but this time, I accidentally stumbled upon a custom unknown to most of the people of my hometown, Daman!

As I cruised down a lane called Badrapor that night, I noticed through the swirling fog that most of the Christian dwellings had brightly burning candles on their front porches and only my keen sense of observation made me distinguish them from dipavali lamps! Here was an uncanny similarity to what I had read in my French textbook in school, about the way All Souls’ Day was commemorated in the countryside of France. But there was no French connection in this erstwhile Portuguese colony of Damão. Could there possibly be a chance this custom had somehow found its way to tiny Badrapor, which was the landing-ground for the Portuguese over 400 years back? How come the rest of the population of Daman so steeped in custom and tradition was not even aware of this?

Curiosity taking the upper hand, I parked and walked up to the door of an elderly lady who explained that the candles were indeed meant for the departed souls who would be visiting their homes on the eve of All Souls’ Day between dusk and midnight.

As I settled behind the wheel of my car on that serene November night, I could suddenly see the spirit behind such customs and traditions, the flesh and blood of the surreal. I could not help but remember the victims of the blasts in Delhi as I looked up at the display of fireworks in the sky for a flitting moment and then beyond into eternity as my lips whispered those three little words that my soul was saying – R.I.P.

Copyright © 2005 Noël Gama
http://www.noelgama.com

Bridge that gap - rope in the Cable Guy!

2005-11-15T09:10:00.000+05:30

To,

The Editor
UTs Voice
Daman

SUB : BRIDGE THAT GAP - ROPE-IN THE CABLE GUY!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Sir,

UTs Voice's report on the status (quo) of the bridge over the Daman Ganga River made depressing reading. Obviously, a lot of water has flowed since August 2004!

While the free bus service has given the local populace some respite, even this gets disrupted when the Zari Causeway overflows during the monsoons.

Another alternative could be the introduction of cable cars to ferry people across the river. The possibility of taking the ropeway on lease from hill stations during monsoons being off-season, could be looked into.

Some of the benefits of the ropeway are:-

Safety even when the river is in full spate;

Reduction/elimination of cost of bus/boat transport;

Reduction in traffic congestion over Zari Causeway which itself is not strong enough;

Preservation of natural resources (reduction in consumption of petrol/diesel by motor vehicles taking the Kachigam/Karambeli detours);

Reduction of pollution caused by emissions from the dense traffic converging towards the causeway;

Tourist attraction due to its uniqueness;

Noel Gama

The Miracle at the Home for the Aged

2005-05-16T12:41:00.000+05:30

This song was born out of what happened one night at the Home for the Aged in Big Daman. A sick old lady had been left in the home because the wife of her only son did not want her in their house. The visits of her son decreased over the months while the permanent pain in her arm increased till it was so unbearable that night that she walked to the beach in the dead of night and laid down in the water to sleep and never wake up. But the tide was receding and local fishermen (not the Great Fisherman!) found her fast asleep in the wee hours of the morning!

DESTITUTE WOMAN

V1 She sits there all alone
By the window of the institution
She’s dressed up for the evening
Looks like she’s waiting for someone dear
(Yes, she’s waiting for someone)
She looks out expectantly
Into the fading daylight outside
But no, there is no one calling on her

V2 She gets up all by herself
And then she limps back into the dorm
She rests her head on the pillow
And through the tears
Thinks of her son (He has forsaken her)
Her lips move as she whispers
“Lord, watch & keep him when I am gone
Ah! Till we meet someday up there in paradise”

CH1 No one to talk to, when she’s feeling so blue
No one to cry on, when the pain comes on
No one to lean on, when she cannot go on
She’s a destitute woman (x 4)
Just a destitute woman

V3 So she lays awake all the night thru
Still she’s all dressed up
Waiting for someone
She looks up expectantly
Up at the ceiling, ready for Him
(Always ready for Him)
Tonight she’s very sure
That the Lord will knock on her door
Ah! Yes, tonight He’ll be callin’ on her

CH2 And then there’ll be, no more feeling the blues
No limp, no shame, no more tears of pain
No ‘old’, no ‘young’, no more sorrow beyond
She’ll be destitute no more
(Repeat Ch2 & fade out)

Noel Gama
11.07.1992

Alma Mater Always Matters!

2005-04-16T08:50:00.000+05:30

Having come across an invitation from the Reader’s Digest to all its readers in their June 2005 issue for one's personal story of inspiration, I thought to myself, 'what better place to begin than at the beginning where it had all started?' So, PDA in hand, at precisely 8.00am one Saturday, I walked down my street along with school-going children, right up to the imposing Portuguese building of the convent where I had studied from Kindergarten through High School.

As it turned out, it was a trip down memory lane. Standing there in the light drizzle on that June morning, I was transported back in time to another dark, wet and cloudy morning in June 1974, the first day of my last year at school. On that memorable day, at the stroke of the school bell, a young nun had come bustling into the classroom with the brightest of smiles we'd ever seen, bursting with energy and enthusiasm, rearing to go! She introduced herself and announced that she would be our Class Teacher. She came over to each one of us and got us to introduce ourselves.

When finally we had all settled down, she opened her textbook and asked the class, “What do you know about William Wordsworth?” With a straight face, I stood up and said, “His words are worth listening to!”

And then everyone burst out laughing! Our team was born that instant! When I paid her a courtesy call recently, she said she still remembers it after over 30 years! To this day, the class of '75 draws inspiration from her vibrant personality.
As I walked down the hallway and through the corridors, the laughter echoing in the recesses of my mind, it dawned upon me that there were quite a few elements about my Alma Mater that still served as wellsprings of inspiration for me: The chapel, where I had played my guitar for the first time in June ‘74 and developed my skills in the art of song-writing; the Christmas-tree, in the cloistered garden, which still seems to be growing - living proof that there is no limit to growth despite varying environmental conditions; the twin steeples which let me know from the window of a taxi cruising along the river bank on my return from an outstation business trip, that I am already home; the night-sky over the convent-the only place left in town where I can see stars that still look the same as they were when I gazed upon them with the eyes of a child as I still do; the convent bell that rings every evening at Angelus, reminding me that not a day goes by without the nuns kneeling in prayer before the statue of Our Lady of Fatima beseeching her to intercede for all the children that have ever passed through the portals of the school.

Paradoxically, it is here in the past that I return to in body, mind and soul each time I have to take my next step into a world that is at times dark, wet and cloudy.
The rain had stopped and the sun was out when I finally stepped out onto the busy street, PDA in hand, with not a word on its shiny glass screen but only the reflection of my brightly smiling face. It said it all!

Bridge Across Troubled Waters!

2005-04-15T08:38:00.000+05:30

MAN RAISES AND NATURE RAZES BUT THE HUMAN SPIRIT RISES UP EACH TIME!

Come rain or shine, these 2 colonial siblings – Damao Grande & Damao Pequeno - are inseparable! In fact, the river Daman Ganga is looked upon as a mother embracing her 2 children under the watchful eye of San Jeronimo with his 2 giants and a dog guarding the Gate of the Damão Pequeno fort.

On the 20th of June 2004, Damão Grande & Damão Piqueno reached out their little hands (Damao in Portuguese means ‘Give me your hand!’) once again towards each other at the inaugural function when the newly repaired bridge was thrown open to the public.

The evening air was jubilant with never-ending motorcades, the headlamps turned on and horns blowing non-stop; throngs of people crossed over from both sides with even our colonial cousins from Silvassa and Dadra & Nagar Haveli joining in!

A startling revelation was that the flow of humanity, oblivious to the new bridge, proceeded triumphantly across it without even a pause, right through the streets of Damão meeting fellow Damanese and exchanging pleasantries like it was New Year’s Day!

It is this bonding that the people of Daman have, irrespective of caste or creed, which is unbreakable and has withstood the test of time. After all, everyone has been ‘baptized’ in the waters of the Daman Ganga!

The bridge came down again only 2 months later in August 2004 due to torrential rains and man seems to have given up this time around but nothing seems to ever dampen the spirit of the people of Daman.

Copyright © 2005 Noël Gama
http://www.noelgama.com

Candle-light Vigil

2005-04-14T09:16:00.000+05:30

All Saints’ Day observed by Christians on the 1st of November is also the eve of All Souls’ Day morphing solemnity with somberness as, come dusk, the church bells begin to toll while the congregation silently winds its way to the cemetery to light candles at the gravesites of their dear ones.
I have participated in this ritual for decades but last year, I accidentally stumbled upon a custom unknown to most of the people of my hometown, Daman!

As I cruised down a lane called Badrapor that night, I noticed through the swirling fog that most houses had brightly burning candles on their front porches. Here was an uncanny similarity to what I had read in my French textbook in school, about the way All Souls’ Day was commemorated in the countryside of France. But there was no French connection in this erstwhile Portuguese colony of Damão. Could there possibly be a chance this custom had somehow found its way to tiny Badrapor, which was the landing ground for the Portuguese over 400 years back? How come the rest of the population of Daman so steeped in custom and tradition was not even aware of this?

Curiosity taking the upper hand, I parked and walked up to the door of an elderly lady who explained that the candles were meant for the departed souls who would be visiting their homes on the eve of All Souls’ Day between dusk and midnight.
As I settled behind the wheel of my car on that serene November night, I could suddenly see the spirit behind such customs and traditions, the flesh and blood of the surreal. I could not help but look up at the star-studded sky for a flitting moment and then beyond into eternity as my lips whispered those three little words that my soul was saying – R.I.P.

Copyright © 2005 Noël Gama
http://www.noelgama.com

The Song of Daman

2005-04-13T12:40:00.000+05:30

Let me introduce you to Daman with the lyrics of a song I wrote dedicated to my home-town:-

DAMÃO

This is the story of Damão
My sweet little home-town
And if you are a visitor
You’re bound to hear it somehow

For the talk of the town, is the town itself
The story is short you’ll see
But it sure is the best place
In the whole world for you to be

‘Da Mao’ is Portuguese for ‘handshake’
Peaceful people we are
We still make lots of salt dear
Down by the riverside

In Damão we are all good friends
And related to one another
We all do great business dear
In the name of personal favour

Many wonder, ‘why do we need
The little light-house at all?’
With 350 bars my friend
Daman’s the world’s wettest place

We have three wonders which please don’t miss
The jig-saw puzzle over the creek
Is nothing but an upside down
Three-piece, rusty, old, hanging bridge

The old fort which could never be
Invaded from the outside
Is now being invaded dear
Righta from the inside

The aquarium’s rare fishes, caught
From the Daman Ganga River
On the brink of extinction have earned
The distinction of ‘endangered species’

And last, but not the least dear
We too have our share of beaches
Devka Beach and Jampore dear
Sister-concerns of Singapore

So can’t you see, we are self-sufficient
And just to make it more convenient
We have our own currency dear
Which is strongly anti-apartheid!

Noel Gama
Daman
4.5.89

Copyright © 1989 Noël Gama
http://www.noelgama.com