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FAM - Feedback, Appreciation & Memoirs!
September 1, 2010 - The
GOANS OF PAKISTAN (www.goansofpakistan.org) project is a year old! I am
happy that it has gone places and brought smiles, whispers and reminisces
that have stretched across the miles! It has confirmed my feelings – after
having noted all the FAM (Feedback, Appreciation & Memoirs) – that there
will always be a little Pakistan in our hearts (as I said in my lead-story
‘Footprints on the Sands of time” one year ago). But I dread to say today,
that this specie called the ‘Pakistani Goan’ is all but extinct in a
country that we so loving call or called ‘home’.
Menin Rodrigues
(menin100@gmail.com)
February 3, 2012 - You have to be
really proud of the work you are doing on behalf of not only Goans but of
the Catholic community of Pakistan. I have come across your website by
accident as I am doing a research into my wife's background and even as I
write this I realize that even though my wife always thought of her having
East Indian background i.e. her mother was born in India, I have now found
out that her father Wilson James Caldeira was actually born in Karachi and
his father was in the construction business and Wilson would have gone on
trips to Bombay at the time where I suspect he married Martha my mother in
law. They made their home in Karachi. I met and married in Bahrain where
Wilson would have worked. It is very fascinating to try and find out who
we truly are. At the moment I have just emailed my wife's nephew whom I
have never met, a young man called Ashley Caldeira - I suspect he will be
able to collate and I hope keep this precious memory in store but alive. I
am very, very happy to have come across your website. I did know the last
president of Pakistan was a St Patrick's ex student - but when I picked up
that bit you wrote "that he had a reunion with his mentors" - I noticed a
hint of human emotion. We all have this or you would not have created the
website. Thank you and congratulations. God Bless
Cariton Pinto - USA
NB - My parents were Goan but I was born and raised in East Africa. I was
in the Royal Navy and had the privilege of sailing into Karachi on a RN
Minesweeper HMS Beachampton in 1970!
January 15, 2011 - Hello Mr. Menin,
Dev Bore Korum. I am a Goan and my parents settled in the neigbouring
Sawantwadi in Maharashtra. I am impressed by the way Goans have kept alive
the
Konkani language and Goan way of living in Karachi. I stumbled upon your
website
www.goansofpakistan.org accidentally. It contains a lot of info
regarding Goans in Karachi. I will pray to Lord Jesus to shower his
blessings upon you all. Again Dev Bore Korum (God Bless You)
Boney Sharaon – Sawantwadi, Maharashtra, INDIA
January 14, 2012 - Just to introduce
myself briefly, I am a Goan, 73 years old, hailing from Chorão, Ilhas, Goa.
Started my work career in Bombay in early 1960s and then worked for over
30 years in the Middle East - Bahrain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, retiring in
2004. I can understand how busy you are with diverse activities, as
observed from your webpage, but sincerely hope you will find time to read
my email and hopefully respond positively at your earliest. I am
researching the history of the statue of Christ the King we have in Chorão,
erected on a hilltop, away from our parish – St. Bartolomeu’s Church. This
statue was supposedly brought to Chorão from Karachi by a Goan/our
villager in the 1930's in a casket which was lying in St Bartholomeu
Church premises for some years. Then in 1936 it was formerly placed on a
huge pedestal with a surrounding compound on the top of a hill in the
village. Other than finding that one Mr. Esperdião Matias Quadros
was in the forefront for collecting donations and carrying out the work,
there is no other official record in the Church or the village connected
with the statue's arrival in Chorão or its establishment on the hilltop.
From my researches I have found that one Major Quadros gifted the
statue of Christ the King that is erected in front of St. Patrick's
Cathedral in Karachi. Do you happen know if Major Quadros was a Karachi
Goan and if so, can you or anyone furnish me more details on him. He is
not in any lists of prominent Karachi Goans though. I have also found that
Major Quadros was staying at the Cicinnatus Town developed by Cincinnatus
Fabian D’Abreo, whose ancestors are from Saligão, like several other
prominent Karachi Goans. So my surmise is that Major Quadros was also a
Goan and perhaps from Chorão. I wonder if his full name is Esperdiao
Matias Quadros or they were related in some way, for nowhere on the
internet can I find Major Quadros' full name, if he was a major in the
army nor full details of his precious gift of the statue to St. Patrick’s
Cathedral. Every webpage just mentions …”Gifted by Major Quadros of
Cincinnatus Town…”.
Like the statue of Christ the King at St Patrick's Cathedral, ours was
also ravaged by weather conditions over the years and we have recently
renovated it. Other interesting thing to know will be who was the sculptor
of these statues. A Karachi Goan perhaps and if so, whether he had
sculpted only these two statues or there are more around. It could
possibly be these were imported from Italy by Major Quadros(?), first the
Karachi one and then the one that was taken to Chorão, by person or
persons unknown to date. I am sure you will be intrigued to find the
history of the statues, similarly as I am, and shall eagerly look forward
to hearing from you soon. Kind regards.
Andrew Xavier Fernandes – Ilhas, Goa, INDIA
January 10, 2012 – Dear Menin, It is a
pleasure to be in contact with a Goan from Karachi. First of all I
apologize for my poor English; it is not so good as yours. Here in
Portugal we speak Portuguese, so I cannot improve my English. I have
studied Portuguese in high school here. I am a retired bank employee and
now write articles for a Goan magazine Ecos do Oriente (in
Portuguese)…Echoes of the Orient. Soon I shall send you some questions
about Karachi and roots of my father who died in 2006 here in Portugal.
Your website is very interesting. My best regards
Pedro Mascarenhas, Lisbon, PORTUGAL
January 10, 2012 - Hi Menin, I was
surprised to know that Karachi had a thriving Goan community. I was aware
only of Cyril Almeida but unaware that there were distinguished people of
Goan descent. What is the language spoken by Goans in Karachi? Is Konkani
spoken among them? Congratulations on your website and all the best for
the future. Regards,
Ranjit Neelakandani, INDIA
January 7, 2012 - Dear Mr. Menin,
First of thank you very much for hosting such a wonderful website. It was
my first visit to your website and I felt the good old memories of Karachi
in the 60s & 70s when I used to have parties with my Goan friends. I wish
and pray you are able to achieve your goal of a Diocesan Museum though
there are always difficulties in such a task. God Bless you.
Mohammad Akram Butt – Doha, QATAR
January 4, 2012 - Hi Menin! First of
all I would like to wish you Happy New Year 2012. I had great pleasure
reading about the Goans in Pakistan and their contribution to the country.
It is indeed an awesome effort on your part to research the vast areas in
which Goans have made a contribution and to honour them by making mention
of their names on your site. My email in particular refers to the section
music and bands as I have made note of a few discrepancies that I came
across. My aim is for you to have the correct information irrespective of
whether it gets corrected or not. Firstly, that my good friend the late
Alex Rodrigues a great musician was never associated with either Alamgir
or Sheikhi. I first started playing with Alamgir in the early 70's and
featured regularly on PTV's Sunday Ke Sunday and Jhankar. Later on I
decided to play for Sheikhi too on a regular basis helping him out with a
few compositions. If you would like to confirm that fact I would be more
than happy to provide you with the contact numbers of both those artists.
Secondly, the late Felix Carvalho also a good friend of mine and a
brilliant musician was never associated with Alamgir. The fact of the
matter is that Felix who also played in my band was not into eastern
music. For your information I was the first Goan to be employed full time
by Radio Pakistan as Music Director ( worked for 35 years ) and Pakistan
Television as a sessions musician as I am well versed in both Western and
Eastern music. I was also the first Goan to appear in a feature film "
Dhamaka" in 1974 (opening scene with band on stage) starring Javed Sheikh.
I also had the pleasure of playing along with Paul Gonsalves and The Duke
Elington Band and Dave Brubeck Quartet. This was also misreported in
Kaleem Omar's article (Nobody in Karachi whistles anymore) published in
2006. I was employed by Metropole Hotel at the time. I am now 84 years old
and my memory is as good as ever. I migrated to Australia in 2005 and was
a bit disappointed when I read that article online. I have tried to get
the contact details of Kaleem Omar but have been unsuccessful. If by any
chance you have his contact details please forward that to me so that I
can clarify the matter. I still play the sax with the U3A(University of
the Third Age) in Melbourne and jammed up with Don Burrows in Sydney a few
years ago. I hope the information that I have provided you gives you more
insight into the musical history of Pakistan. If I can be of any help and
if you need further clarification on the above matters please don't
hestitate to contact me via email or Facebook (Don Gonsalves) or
telephonic contact 0061-3-97007791. God Bless.
Dominic Gonsalves – AUSTRALIA
January 4, 2012 - Good evening! Salaam
sahib, I am from Mangalore Karnataka India. I was shocked to hear that
there are Konkans in Karachi! Good to hear about it that we aren't present
in one nation but beside our great lost nation Pakistan!!!!
Melwin Moras – Mangalore, INDIA
January 1, 2012 - Hi Menin! I came
across your website while looking for Goan associations to join. Are there
any Goan groups from Karachi here in London? It'll be great to talk to
you. Happy New Year.
Rebecca D'Souza – London, UK
December 28, 2011 - Hello Mr.
Rodrigues, I am a proud ex-student of St. Paul's High School Karachi. I
did my Matriculation from this wonderful school in 1967 with distinction
in six subjects. I am well settled in Canada now, but I still remember the
good old days of 1960-1967 when I was a student there. Currently one of my
nephews is a student of this school. Please include some history of my
'Alma Mater' on your web page and make me and my fellow ex-students proud.
Thanks and regards
Mahmood Abdul-Kader – CANADA
December 16, 2011 - Dear Menin, It is
so good to have the above on record. A lot of hard work must have gone
into collating it. I would like to mention one point in connection with
the staging of the Mikado - this was also staged in Dec 1956 to celebrate
70 yrs of the KGA. I have the programme with me, as my husband, Tiburtius
and I took part in it. I do not recall the performance of 1954. The above
may be of interest to you. Kind regards.
Lorna M. Gomes, UK
December 9, 2011 - I would like to
congratulate you on the commendable work done by Goans in Karachi. It is
my deepest interest to know more about your community. A question I would
like to put forward to you is that why didn’t you migrate to India after
partition? Why did you choose an Islamic country over a secular country? I
know we in India are also not 100% free of anti Christian riots, but we
are treated with great respect. Is there a sense of regret in your
community in not being in India? I hope my questions do not offend you.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Thanking you
Presly Mathai, Kerala – INDIA
(Hello Presly! Thank you for your compliments and query.
There are two answers that I can give you as my viewpoint: Firstly, (1)
That just before and at the time of Independence (1947) Goans who lived in
Karachi, India, found that this city (then coming under a new governance)
had many things to offer in terms of a good secured future, a
well-managed, clean & beautiful city with a very good civic sense, a
devoted & strong Church, visionary community leaders, good educational and
health institutions, job opportunities, complete freedom for all
minorities as enshrined in the words of the country's founder Mohammad Ali
Jinnah and a secular government that enforced law, order and respect for
all communities. Thus, they opted to stay 'back' to give themselves a
chance to live a better life than what Goa had to offer at that time.
Therefore, it is believed that they opted for Pakistani citizenship.
Secondly (2) those who were born after 1947 as Pakistani citizens for
obvious reasons were raised here in a very conducive environment all
through the 1940s, 50s, 60s and even to an extent the 70s. So there was
every reason for them to believe that they were first Pakistani Goans. As
a minority we enjoyed and continue to enjoy complete freedom when it comes
to celebration of Goan cultures and customs, and we continue to be
recognized as an educated, trusted and hardworking community. We have
great respect among the people of Karachi who are in the know-how of the
contributions made by Goans towards building/educating the city and in
general, Pakistan. Our revered schools - such as the 150-year old
legendary institutions St. Patrick's and St. Joseph's - are an epitome of
what the Goans have given to Karachi in terms of education. To this date,
some of our Presidents, Prime Ministers and scores of Ministers have been
educated in these schools and tutored predominantly by Goan teachers.
Therefore, I don't believe that Goans today would have any regrets
continuing being Pakistani citizens. The connection to GOA remains and
Goans from Pakistan make all efforts to join a Group of People (usually
about a 100) who visit Goa every year in veneration of the Feast of St.
Francis Xavier, to meet family & friends and also to enjoy Christmas! I
hope you will be satisfied with the answers to your query and if there is
anything else that you would like to know about the history of GOANS OF
PAKISTAN (
www.goansofpakistan.org ) do contact me.)
Regards -
Menin Rodrigues
October 28, 2011 - Hello Menin, My
name is Mario. We have not met but i came upon your website and wanted to
ask you a question. I read recently that folks that were born in Pakistan
and are of Goan heritage are now being allowed long term visa's to India.
After 9/11 it became increasing difficult to obtain a visa to visit India.
I am a US Citizen was born in Pakistan and both my parents were born in
Goa. If you could shed some light, that would be greatly appreciated.
Much Peace!
Mario I - USA
August 16, 2011 - Hi Menin! Just by
fluke I read your articles on your site about Goans of Pakistan/Karachi.
Wow man what a great site - it really brought back great memories to me of
all the famous names of the people, places, schools, events, situations,
buildings, acts and so forth. To tell you the truth it made me as if I was
there in place, in person, myself back in the late 60s and 70s. I really
loved enjoying reading it and I am sure I will go through it a lot of
times to swallow the whole nostalgic round trip you so nicely have put in
your story telling and writing. Keep up the good work and I am looking
forward to some more writings from you. I myself with my family used to
live at Fazal Manzil, besides SM Dias furniture shop and near Lawrence
Bakery. Take care and God Bless.
Sincerely Yours,
Mike Shee - DENMARK
June 30, 2011 - On behalfof the Board
of Directors of the Goan Association (UK), I thank you for yourvery kind
message - sent to the email address of our Chairman,Flavio Gracias. We
areextremely grateful for your support and would encourage you, your
fellowdirectors and members to introduce yourselves to us should you visit
the UK- whether when attending our Convention and Festival or at any
othertime. We have a vibrant and active calendar too during the year -
dovisit our website for more info. A Convention website will also be up
andrunning soon. Yourwebsite is certainly one of the most vibrant and
informative we have everseen and we note that a lot of good work is done
for yourmembers and community. May it long continue. With bestwishes.
- Anita Rebello - Public
Relations Director, GOAN ASSOCIATION (UK)
December 5, 2010: My name is Hubert
D'Mello and I now live in Toronto, Canada but was born in Karachi. I want
to commend and thank for your wonderful site about the Karachi Goans. It
is really
amazing what was accomplished by such a small and talented community and
you are to be congratulated for recording this information. My grand-uncle
was Augustus Rodrigues of the Rodrigues family of Britto Road (Dr. Frank
Rodrigues was his brother). He was the civil engineer who oversaw the
construction of Christ the King Monument on the grounds of St. Patrick's
Cathedral. Also, my father (Aloysius D'Mello, also from Karachi and a
nephew of Dr. Frank Rodrigues) was a recipient of the Tamgha-e-Khidmat
from Ayub Khan after the 1965 war in commendation for his service as
Deputy Secretary of the Board of Revenue. I was wondering if the web site
could be updated to reflect this? Thanks
- Hubert D’Mello, Toronto, Canada
November 10, 2010: I am a Karachiite
living abroad. I accidentally looked at your wonderful website “Goans of
Pakistan”. Although I am not a GOAN, of course, but I loved the way you
have preserved the glorious past of the city that I love and would die
for. I really appreciate the wonderful things done by the goans in
Pakistan and I abundantly agree to the fact that the amazing works by
these beautiful people for the country and the city should be highlighted.
I would also like to make mention of the two Goans that I know from
Karachi. Peter Ignatius Franco and his family and Warren Peter Fernandez
and his brothers (Amanzo and Carl). Both the gentlemen (Peter and Warren)
are very professional in their fields (peter is a Web Designer with
stunning abilities in Karachi and Warren is serving as manager HR in a
multinational in Karachi). The reason I mentioned of these gentlemen in my
email is that I have been deeply inspired with both of the hard working
men and their abilities in the early years of my academic/professional
life. That is the reason that I am still good friends with both of them
and would love to stay in touch with them forever. Good luck to all the
GOANS in Karachi and I wish they continue serving Pakistan as they have
done in the past. May Allah Bless you all.
- Zubair Hassan, Karachi
October 22, 2010: I have the honour to
say that I visited your website goansofpakistan.org which forward to me by
Mr. Neil Anthony Miller Texas USA and second website www
theoldpatricians.org forwarded by Mr. Azhar Karimjee. Both are found very
interesting and informative. It is true that Goans of Pakistan have played
major role in Pakistan in many fields like education, religion, medicine,
social/community services, music, band, stage drama etc etc. I also read
your interesting articles that appear in the Christian Voice from time to
time. The last article appeared on 15th August 2010 under the subject
Reflective Thought was also found very interesting. Thank you very much
for taking the time in creating and maintaining such a nice and wonderful
website
– Iqbal Kamdar, USA.
October 3, 2010: This is a message for
all you Goans of Pakistan, still remaining in Karachi and living overseas
in the far corners of this great big World, which with Genealogy does not
look so big after all. Well, for the past one year or so, I have been
actively pursuing a passion I have for genealogy and in my endeavours have
been highly successful not only for myself but for others. Through a
Genealogy tool, I have managed to make some very tricky connections. In my
own case, I have traced some 10,000 blood relatives (both living and
deceased), scattered round the four corners of the Universe and have on
three sides obtained the name of the Hindu convert in Goa in 1500s. I have
now decided to concentrate on connecting people from Karachi, Pakistan to
their relatives in India and the rest of the world. As I was a resident of
St Lawrence's Parish, I started my quest from there and it has so far been
interesting reading, helped along the way with information from my cousin
Zelia de Sa Miranda (New York). I still have gaps to fill and would seek
the help of people wishing to know about their past and relatives to
kindly contact me with details on my email faustodesa69@hotmail.com. Just
for your information, I am the son of Flora and Orlando de Sa and I
currently live in London. I look forward to hearing from you
– Fausto de Sa, London
September 8, 2010: Thanks for the
milestones list. It made me appreciative of the Goan community's
contribution in Pakistan. I am a Goan living in Bombay and visit Goa
frequently. I work in Bahrain. Goans, though a small community, have cast
long shadows. A few days ago I was reading about Dinesh D'Souza who has
written several best sellers in the US but who unfortunately appears to
have become a Protestant, the faith of his American-born wife. Then
there's Tony Fernandes, owner of the budget airline Air Asia, Malaysia,
and of course the two MPs in Britain - Keith Vaz and his sister (I've
forgotten her name. She was elected only a few months ago in the latest
general election there). I was also happy to learn that Fr Raymond D'Souza,
serving in Canada where his parents emigrated from India, energetically
defended the Pope in a substantial rejoinder to the New York Times which
had attacked the Holy Father in an article several months ago. You can
google to read that rejoinder. I have a query. Do Pakistani Goans speak
Konkani?
– Salvador Almeida, Mumbai, India.
August 4, 2010 - This is Muhammad
Bilal Awan, Engineering student from Islamabad. I read about you on
Wikipedia and visited your web-site
www.goansofpakistan.org . I
was really impressed by your personality and the important role the Goan
community has played in the service of Pakistan and the Catholic
Community. People like you are the assets of any nation. May Allah help
you and the Goan community through the future endeavors
– Muhammad Bilal Awan, Islamabad, Pakistan
June 15, 2010 - I thank you ever so
much for Goans of Pakistan site on the internet. I have gone through it
many times and have forwarded and mentioned your site to many Goans and
Christians. A am forwarding some information to you which I have received
from my cousin in England. Read it and see what you think of it. Maybe
some information can be helpful. I am a Goan living in Karachi. Thanks
again for your wonderful site. There is so much in it to make many of us
proud to be Goans. Thanks
– Tony Fernandes, Karachi, Pakistan
April 5, 2010: I have enjoyed reading
your web site Goans of Pakistan. I am not Goan my father came from
Mangalore when he was three years old, his father had a soda water factory
in Karadar and competed with Nusrvanjee.I wanted to inform you that O.B.
Nazareth is my father's second cousin and he is not a Goan. My father's
younger brother Archie Dsouza was as great hockey player in St Patrick's
school as a goal keeper and became quite well known after he stopped the
ball many times when St. Patrick's played against the Bhopal Raiders, he
was known as Archie makrani for his curly hair and that he stopped the
ball with his head when they played the Bhopal Raiders, Oswald Mascarenhas
the former principal of St Patrick’s was his class mate. I was born and
raised in Cincinnatus town and i left Karachi in 1972 I now live in Dallas
Texas and I have retired from the United States Air Force. We have a few
Karachitees in Dallas Gerry & Flavia Correa and her brother Derek Desouza.
Keep up the good work.
Thank you
- Cedric Dsouza, Dallas, USA
March 17, 2010 - Many thanks for your
kind communication of 16th instant. I do have some sepia coloured photos
of some of the "Deslocados" as we were called then, and I do intend to
write a few lines on the trials and tribulations of this part of the
Diaspora once in Goa, before they get lost in the mists of forgetfulness.
I am sure that there are many Goans in Karachi who would willingly come
forward with their photos taken then as well as write a few lines on their
contacts with us, once you put this little tete-a-tete on your website. I
would really love to relive those lost moments of my stay in Karachi and
thank you for your kind invitation to visit Karachi some time - if my old
bones (I'm 75 now) would allow me and if the climate of suspicion between
our two countries would subside. Not to put an end to our pleasant
contact, however, please let me know if there could be any possibility of
our meeting in Goa where we could then elaborate on the "Deslocados of Goa."
As a very important member of the Goan Association in Rüsselsheim,
Germany, permit me to say thank you for the good work you are doing for
the Goans in your area.
- Rodolfo de Sousa, Frankfurt, Germany.
March 16, 2010 - In your interesting
chronology "Goans of Pakistan", may I mention, you forgot to note that
many Goans landed in Karachi on their way to Portugal through Karachi
after 19th December 1961. I was one of the many who made it that way and
appreciate the six months that I passed there. I don't know how many
migrated but you may ask the Portuguese Embassy for the number of Goans
who passed that way. In passing I would state that I was in the group that
left Karachi for Lisbon, (after some tearfully heart-rending goodbyes),
and am now in Germany these last 40-odd years and wish to complete this
wonderful world-whirl by settling in Goa where I wish to complete my
life's cycle and try putting some of my experiences to the good use of my
country.
- Rodolfo de Sousa, Frankfurt, Germany.
March 15, 2010 - Very kind of you to
write. Thank you for your message and for the inclusion of your
informative website. It's very heartening and interesting to learn about
research efforts, such as yours, on the Goan Diaspora. My great uncle,
whom I've only met a few times in my life, was from Quetta, Pakistan. Now
in his elderly years, he lives in a nursing home in Toronto, Canada. He
moved there with his family about fifteen years ago and always recounted
his time in Pakistan with fondness. We Goans are quite the travelers! I've
saved the link to your website and look forward to learning more about the
community through the resource you've put together - thank you for sharing
the same with me.
- R. Benedito Ferrao, Mombasa, Kenya (Author: Goan Kenyans and the Crisis
of Identity)
March 10, 2010 – (Excerpt from Email)
my cousin Mark who spent his childhood with my paternal grandparents in
Bombay, has only a child's memories of them. When I asked him why he
showed no interest in our genealogy he replied that he cares about life
and the living not about the dead and the past. He said our ancestors left
Goa more than 200 years ago and there is no obvious way now to trace their
original birthplace. I know Frank D'Souza had an entry in British Who's
Who but that was only about his career. I have accepted that I will never
really know whether we were from Bardez or wherever. Where do your
relatives stay? Menin, I know next to nothing about you. How did your
family end up as Karachi Catholics? What do you do for a living? You sound
young, are you?
- Rita Grootendorst, London, UK
March 8, 2010 - I have been reading
what you have written about the Goans in Karachi and about your trip to
Goa last December. I put a special interest as I have friends in Karachi,
a Goan couple. They visited my place in Goa a couple of times but to my
luck I had met them only for 24 hrs but in those few hours I learnt a lot
of interesting things from them. Then there is Fr. Ken Viegas who is the
brother to this interesting couple. Her name is Cynthia and her husband’s
name is John who I think was working for in the Pakistan army. If you
could contact these three people they would share a lot with you. Or maybe
you already know them??? It’s a small world you know. They are very loving
and love to visit Goa especially in the rains. I myself tried to visit
Karachi from Saudi Arabia. Below I have put their name, address and phone
numbers and email. I am sure they would be thrilled to meet you. God Bless
you and your work as a journalist
- Lawrence Mascarenhas, Jubail-Saudi Arabia.
March 8, 2010 - You've done a fine and
valuable job on the Goans of Pakistan website. Thanks for it. I hope it
becomes bigger and better, and that you will include lots of other
writings, background and photographs about the people and places
associated with the long history of the Goans in Karachi. For instance,
your website should definitely carry Gen. Vas's very interesting
recollections of Goan life in Karachi pre-1947 that was carried on Goanet
some time ago. FYI, I have a personal connection to Karachi, as a grandson
of May Mascarenhas nee Cordeiro. She was a cousin of the late Cardinal. By
the way, the Cardinal's brother, Monsignor Anthony, survives in Mumbai.
And, besides me, there are two other writer-grandchildren from the
Cordeiro sisters of Karachi - Dinesh D'Souza of America, and Naresh
Fernandes of Mumbai. Both are significant in the context of contemporary
writers of Indian descent. Keep it up, Menino. Hope to see much more from
you on the website
- VM, Mumbai, India
February 12, 2010 - I just read the
article about your trip to Goa. I am based in Canada and work at downtown
for the City of Toronto. Yes indeed it's great that Goa is a paradise and
sad that we Goans are scattered all over the world like nomads. Anyway
that's the way of life and now that technology has brought us closer let
us unite and keep in touch and try to keep Goa a paradise always. I am
writing this email to you because my brother Simon D'Souza lived in
Karachi all his working career and married Sylvia the daughter of
prosperous business man. Now he lives in Canada and is 85 years of age.
You might most probably know him too. Simon was a sound engineer employed
by Film Factors and installed a lot of cinemas in Pakistan including the
famous Prince cinema which at that time I believe was the biggest in Asia
I was told. He is a well read man in Karachi. Would it be possible to
highlight him on your website? I am asking this because you said that any
Karachi Goans who wish to be highlighted are welcome
- Sunney D'Souza, Toronto, Canada
February 12, 2010 - I was happy to
hear that Goans are still living in Karachi when I read an article on one
newspaper a few days back here in Goa. This made me check on the net for
more information and I found your email and also came to know that you
give a lot of your precious time for this site. Well my name is Shastri
Rodrigues e Rebello. I live in Laxette vaddo Varca Salcette Goa. I was
trying to find out if I could get a snap of my paternal granduncle Joao
Cirilo Rodrigues e Rebello who was working in accounts department for
railways in Karachi. He retired and came back to Goa in 1944. I am given
to understand that he was a bachelor and was an active member in the
church in Karachi and that he even had donated an altar or statue in one
of the churches in Karachi. I wanted to know if any person who knew him in
Karachi would have his snap even a group snap. His was a family of nine (6
brothers and 3 sisters). We have a group snap of my grand father and his
sibling but this grand uncle is missing in the snap. I know it is a
difficult task to find out but I only request that by chance talking to
any old people if you could give me the information, I would be very much
obliged to you. Computers in this big world can get us very close no
matter the distance and time and I hope that some day might be able to see
my grand uncle’s snap
- Shastri Rodrigues e Rebello, Goa, India
February 11, 2010 - Read your
wonderful article about your visit to Goa. I lived in Bombay for 30 years
till I migrated to Canada. I visited Goa annually but only once for
Christmas week. Yes, I do agree with you there was no more comforting a
feeling than being there among your own with stars in every porch! I was
also in Bombay for that World Cup but only saw the game India lost to
Holland. I took my children, 15 and 12 years old to Goa this August and
they did not want to leave....When you go in summer, pray that the rains
have set in for a month or two, and the verdant fields and palm trees will
be a sight to behold. Absent of course will be the "goras", but that is
how Goa was and should be (entirely my views). What struck me was your
question of why Goans do not go to Pakistan to visit. Never gave it a
thought. But it has struck a chord in my heart and I will come there one
day
- Eugene Rego, Toronto, Canada
January 20, 2010 - I thoroughly
enjoyed reading your interesting article on Goanet. Earlier I watched the
video of you being interviewed by Frederick Noronha. You are very
articulate and came across as being tactful and gracious. I kick myself
for not attending the meeting despite strong urging from Frederick.
Incidentally I am from Betalbatim (though I did not go for the Christmas
Dance that you went to!). I was born in Dar-es-Salaam. Interestingly, our
next door neighbours and close friends there were a Pakistani family -
Butt. Though we kept in touch initially, we lost contact later and I have
no idea where they are.
- Xavier Cota, Goa, India
January 19, 2010 - Your posting about
your recent visit to Goa was like a ray of sunshine, after the acrimonious
debates on GoaNet in recent days, pitting RGs (Resident Goans) versus NRGs
(Non Resident Goans). Your post was heartwarming as it gave a true picture
of where Goa is today, dispelling the doom and gloom stories about Goa.
Despite the ravages of time, politicians, developers, migrants etc., the
real Goans are still around and life goes on in traditional Goan style
mainly in the villages. I attended the GoaNetters meet at Foodland/Miramar
Residency and appreciated your views about life for Goans in Pakistan,
dispelling the very slanted news we get from the Indian press. I am sorry
that I could not stay long enough to chat, as I wanted to beat the rush
hour traffic. I came to live in Goa, 8 years ago, after retirement in the
USA. I was born in Tanzania from whence I migrated to the USA. So coming
to Goa to retire was a leap of faith, but I never regretted the decision,
as deep within the psyche of each Goan is an intense love for our
ancestral home, a love probably instilled within us by our parents. We in
turn need to pass this love for Goa down to our children. You did that by
bringing your children to Goa. Next time, do spend more time in Goa to
attend the Festas, Ladainhas, and the 3-day wedding celebrations
consisting of the "Roce" ceremony (bathing the bride or groom in Coconut
milk) the Wedding day itself with Mass and Reception, and the "Pottone"
when the Bride and Groom with an entourage consisting of the entire
village return to the Bride's original home for another reception. The
customs are quaint but endearing. Welcome home to Goa once again, and may
we get to meet and have more of a tete-a-tete
- Vivian A. D'Souza, Goa, India
January 19, 2010 - Your site is very
well done and can be of heritage value to the many Goans of Pakistan
origin living here. I am originally from Kenya, but my last surviving
Uncle, Joseph Romeo D'Souza and his family lived there. He worked for
National & Grindlays in the pre-independence days. They are all here, but
he in his late 80s and is in a long term care home suffering from
dementia. Msgr. D'Souza, featured on you site, lives here. The article
below linked on www.goanvoice.ca explains. You may wish to correct the
spelling of his first name and surname on your site. I understand he will
be visiting Karachi very soon
- John D’Souza, Toronto, Canada
January 19, 2010 - It was really heart
warming to read your article on Goanet. Please feel free to share any
happenings with Goans in Karachi and also let us know if we can publish it
in Herald daily. My name is Cedric da Costa and I work with the Herald
daily in the business section. I also have a Sunday column on the Herald
Mirror called 'tiatr world'. Do keep in touch. Meanwhile here's best to
you and your family. When you are in Goa next, do meet up as I reside in
Margao
- Cedric da Costa, Margao, Goa, India
November 12, 2009 - I am trying to get
hold of late Anthony Mascarenhas's wife Yvonne Gertrude D'Souza, would you
have any contact details? It's wonderful that you are keeping a recorded
history of the Goans in Pakistan, best of luck!
- Nicolas Haque, Dhaka, Bangladesh
October 6, 2009 - Thank you for taking
the time in creating and maintaining the above site. Our children can view
and see that wherever Goans have gone, they have contributed to the
development of the country
- Patrick Mendes, Toronto, Canada
October 1, 2009 - You say yours is a
small endeavour. I think you must have spent many tedious hours of your
precious time in research and preparation, I don't want to take up your
time, but if you agree I can send you snippets from time to time. Jack
Braganza was my neighbour on Somerset St and also Simon D’Lima, I am proud
that they found a place in the pages of your site. Bernard Mascarenhas
perished in NY Trade Centre bombing on 11/9/2001. He was there on company
business and was my neighbour in Karachi and lived in Newmarket Ontario
- Hilary Pinto, Ottawa, Canada
September 27, 2009 - I am an
octogenarian who lived in Karachi for 50 years on Dundas St., off Elphi
and then moved to Ottawa, , where I live now with my wife of 50 years, who
was a resident of Somerset St., near Bliss & Co. on which site now stands
a small hotel. I visited Karachi in 2000. Having said that let me
congratulate you for your Footprints on the Sands of Time, which revived
happy memories of my time. Incidentally, my last job was with Mr. M.A.H,
Ispahani, a lieutenant of Quaid-e-Azam, I played a small part in the
publication of his book, Quaid-e-Azam Jinnah As I Knew Him, which is
acknowledged by him in the Preface. I also dealt with the estate of
Quaid-e-Azam under his leadership and visited Flagstaff House and Mohatta
Palace in the course of my duties. I admire you people, like Cyril
Almeida, Roland D'Souza and the Goan priests of my time that opted to stay
put and endure the present hardships of our fatherland. You are in our
hearts and minds and our daily prayers. We, Karachi Goans in Diaspora are
comfortable here with the quality of life but often we are overcome with
nostalgia. I remember being admitted to infant and junior classes in 1936
on the site which later became the Don Bosco Orphanage, where my teachers
were Miss Raymond, infant class and Miss Morris, Junior class, resident of
Duarte Mansion, and one Miss Menezes, Senior Class. There was also one
Miss Margaret teaching First Standard. Students dreaded her because her
punishment was severe. I escaped her class because I was double-promoted
from Senior Class to second standard where my teacher was Miss Ena
Nazareth. I also find no mention of her brother, Harry Nazareth, 5th
Standard Geography teacher in 1940 when his expertise was World War II. I
read Cowasjee in the DAWN, an old Karachiite, and he regrets the
disappearance of open spaces and heritage buildings like Bliss & Co. This
building was a masterpiece of architecture and it's a shame that it was
destroyed. I also notice there is no mention of Misquita Block, a great
achievement of the Goan community after Partition. I believe one Mr.
Marcel Castellino played a major role on this project. Your reference to
the 1935 Quetta earthquake brought back sad memories. My father was
employed in Lourdes Hotel Quetta as a chef, but in May 1935 we were in Goa
holidaying as a result of which we survived and I am able to send these
comments. I greatly appreciate the good research you have done and God
bless you
- Hilary Pinto, Ottawa, Canada
September 20, 2009 - Congratulations
on putting this wonderful website together, you have certainly done a
great job for the Goans of Pakistan. Keep up the good work
– Anthony & Jennifer Sales
September 20, 2009 - I browsed with
interest through your web site. It looks great and you've done a great
job. I looked at the social services page and would like to suggest that
you might want to mention my mom Betty Menezes, who gave her life to
working in this area. She spent a couple of years studying social services
in the US in the 50-ties but choose to come back to Pakistan to serve.
Technically she was not a Goan (just married to one), as I wrote earlier,
she was married to a Goan: Kenneth Menezes (Phillip Menezes' brother) who
was killed in an Orient Airways plane crash in 1953. She received a
scholarship to study sociology and social work at Fordham University in
New York and was there from 1957-1959. She chose to return to Pakistan to
serve the community. She worked for UNICEF and all of her spare time was
devoted to social services within the Catholic community. She was active
on the board of Lemmens Society - they ran medical clinics in a couple of
bastis in the outskirts of Karachi - plus other things I am sure) and was
involved in the CSS (I remember many meetings with Cyril Mendes and a Mr.
Sanyal and others). She was also a member of the Karachi Business and
Professional Women’s Club. She moved to Islamabad in 1970 when the UNICEF
office moved and was lived in Islamabad until she had a stroke in 1973.
She died in 1995. I think older Karachiites would remember her and perhaps
be able to give you more information. I was looking for the Christian
Voice from July - Aug 1995, which had an article about her. It is sad how
much information gets lost as people get older and die. Your website is
GREAT
– Winifred Menezes, Canada/Sweden
September 18, 2009 - Congratulations!
What a wonderful and great job you've done. I am sure this inspiration
came to you by the love and affection you have for your motherland. I am a
Goan and am working in Doha Qatar for Qatar Fertiliser Company (QAFCO). I
stay here with my wife, two daughters and one son. I love konkani and we
speak konkani in house. My father was an All India Radio singer of
yesteryears and has sung a lot of songs. I've inherited his liking for
konkani song composing and singing and I too have composed and sung a lot
of konkani songs. We've produced 3 konkani audio CD's. The maiden one was
with Lorna and the name of the CD was VIVA PENHA DE FRANCA as I belong to
Penha De Franca Britona. In 2007 I won the Best Lyrics award in KALA
ACADEMY GOA for the annual konkani drama competition. The name of the song
was PORIAVORONN (Eviroment). This song was sung as a Trio by my nieces and
was about Goans encroaching in fields, forests, rivers and spoiling the
natural beauty of Goa. I play acoustic drum and I've taught my elder
daughter Blena who is 16 years old to play keyboard, alto saxophone and
clarinet. She writes and reads solfegio. I’m proud to be a Goan and I love
to flaunt with my musical konkani. I always love to help expatriates like
me working in Qatar and I only do so when they ask me help in Konkani,
other wise I also show them that my family and I know to speak fluent
English sometimes better then them. I've two colleagues who are Goans but
are Pakistani citizens working with me. Their names are William and
Mathias. They too love Konkani and the Goan food. They love Konkani music
and when I go down to Goa I see that I get them some musicals from Goa.
Once again congratulations to you for this great job. I pray to God to
keep you, your family and all Goans safe and happy in Pakistan. I hope to
hear from you and read a lot from Goans in Pakistan. Regards to you, your
family and all Goans in Pakistan. God bless you
– Joeluis D'souza, Doha, Qatar
September 17, 2009 - Not sure if you
remember me, but I'm Barbara Lewis nee Rocha, sister of Tony Rocha. I
enjoyed reading your articles which, incidentally, were passed along to me
by friends and relatives. You have mentioned my papa's name, Mr. Pat
Mendes, and I was thrilled to see that. I remember you from my summer job
at the Sheraton Hotel and recall with fondness your story about the essay
you wrote in order to pass the MBA exam. Tell us more about yourself; we
would love to hear about the "present Goan successes" as we certainly
cannot rest on laurels of the past. In Calgary, we have not forgotten our
roots as "Goans of Pakistan" and enthusiastically celebrate our heritage
by going to the 2 annual dances organized by the Goan Association of
Calgary ( http://www.goacalgary.com/gachome.html ) and the Canorient
Calgary ( http://www.canorientcalgary.ca/ ). We are all doing well here in
Calgary and although the economy in the rest of North America is in dire
straits, Canada in general and the Province of Alberta in particular,
seems to be doing ok possibly due to its status as "Oil Country" - touch
wood! - Cheers!
–Barbara Lewis/Rocha
September 16, 2009 - I recently had
the privilege of going through your website "Goans of Pakistan" which
brought back old memories of our glorious past. I found it very
informative and inspiring that we Goans always made a difference in
Karachi. Keep up the good work
– Gerry Fernandes, Karachi, Pakistan.
September 16, 2009 - Great job! I will
spend some time reading the articles in it. Just a small note to say that
this is really great and so nice of you to think of this idea which I hope
will at least get some of our Goans thinking and getting together often
– Alfred Fonseca, Karachi, Pakistan
September 16, 2009 - Dear Family &
Friends, including the new generation. There's a new website come on-line.
This is the story of our elders and you will note some prominent family
members have made it on this site: Pinto's, Sequeira, Cardozo etc. Please
spread the news and forward this to your families and friends of the Goan
Diaspora. Enjoy!
– Lorraine, Canada
September 16, 2009 - Excellent site
and thank you for archiving the Goan community's contribution to the
development of Karachi, Pakistan. You have done a fabulous job and should
be commended for all this work and the quick update.I was born in Karachi,
middle daughter of Lawrence Pecus and Muriel Pinto both of Goan ancestry.
I remember attending movies in the late evenings on the grounds of KGA and
Christmas parties and dances inside the hall. My father, Lawrence, is the
son of Katherina Andrades and Vivian Pecus. Muriel, my mother, is the
daughter of Matthew Pinto and Olive Cardoza. Lionel Pinto (passed away)
was one of her brothers. Peter Sequeira is her brother-in-law now living
in New Jersey. Our family immigrated to Montreal during Expo '67. All our
close family members, uncles, aunts and cousins are now scattered all over
the USA, Toronto, Montreal and elsewhere. We only have a few close friends
now still living in Karachi, one of them is Sandra Mendonca and family.
Cheers from Montreal!
- Cheryl Pecus, Canada
September 16, 2009 - Thank you for
taking on this beautifully crafted website (home for the Pakistani
Goans).Your work was and is extensive by the level of details. I do have a
small wish list to add i.e. if it can be incorporated under a separate
section, but it may have already been considered by you and set aside: The
major buildings historically: FCCHS/ Misquita Gardens (Fatima Blocks);
Little Towns: Hussain D'Silva, Catholic Colony 1 and 2., The Churches,
Christ the King, St. Lawrence, St. Patrick’s, Our Lady of Fatima, St.
Jude, St. Anthony etc. - a little historical back-ground. Because the
buildings are still intact and beautiful, and are filled with memories for
all of us, Holy Family Hospital, Lawrence Bakery, The Vellozo Canteen, Dr.
Coelho (dentist), Christian Voice - has kept us in the loop, St. Patrick's
Technical School from which a lot of technically minded people have
emerged and been successful. Thank you for your consideration ! Please
keep up the good work
- Jackie Fernandes, Toronto, Canada
September 15, 2009 - Enjoyed reading
and reminiscing - I wonder if you remember my brother Joe and Pat D'Cruz.
They had a band called the Rhythm Swingtette. It's hard for you to keep
track of everyone, but you have done a great job
- Rosemarie de Souza, Toronto, Canada
September 15, 2009 - I did not, in my
wildest dreams, expect to drop you a line -- after my dismal experiences
with you, but I am a man of some principles and when a work deserves
compliments, I will not hesitate to say so. Yes, your website has been
well compiled. Another important reason was to see that my grandfather,
the late Dr. Capt Anthony Philip Rodrigues' name is noted fully. I could
not let that lapse be allowed to remain: he was just an orphan but, as Lt.
Gen Vas in his memoirs, put it so eloquently, 'devotion to duty, the
sanctity of a promise . . .' meant everything to him. Another reason, my
cousin and the daughter of Dr. Gabriel Francis Rodrigues, is a doctor in
her own right. Her name is missing: Dr. Pauline Quiterio nee Rodrigues.
Further, the great Anthony Stanislaus D'Mello, a classmate of my beloved
dad, finds no place in your website, to my knowledge. He founded the BCCI
and Cricket Club of India, which is housed in the Brabourne Stadium,
Bombay, and which he built. You have not, in the Armed Forces, listed Lt.
Gen Eric A Vas and Air Chief Marshal Pinto. You could get info on Pinto
from Yvonne (or Yolanda) Vas, who is both his sister and the sister-in law
of LG Vas. I knew her father, Quentin Pinto, who was once the KGA Hall
Superintendent and later built QP House, where, I believe, Ms. Vas now
resides. If I find any more omissions I will send them across.
- Alphonso Roy Rodrigues
September 15, 2009 - As a Karachi
ex-pat, having lived in Canada since 1971 your website will satisfy a long
held urge to delve into my heritage. My parents are Emerine de Souza, who
taught at St. Lawrence’s School, and Joe de Souza, brother of Herbert, and
I think Doris. I’ve been interested in my genealogy, and wondered if as
things go along, links to baptismal records etc. could be added in to do
some research. Roland de Souza and I took piano lessons together from
Celine D’Silva; I played the organ for St. Jude’s Church in Hussain
D’Silva Town until we left in 1971, and also played with the Keynotes (Cesca
Domingo, Joe D’Costa, Malcolm Fernandes, David Wilson, and Arnold Saldanha
were the others in the band at the time). I still am in touch with Noel
Ferreira, a classmate from St. Lawrence’s, who played bass-guitar with the
In Crowd, who also lives in Ottawa. Music is still a hobby/obsession with
me. I play with three bands here in Ottawa! Wicked Grin – very active on
the blues scene, The FoxyMorons, a Rock/Blues Band, and a third that’s
just getting under way. I also play and fill in frequently at St.
Leonard’s, our local church. Good grief….if you trigger responses like
this from everyone who logs onto your website, you must be swamped! All
the best, and be sure to let me know if you ever plan to visit Canada….I’d
love to hook up with you
– Everard de Souza, Toronto, Canada
September 15, 2009 - My Uncle Sidney
Vas and my brother Roy D’Souza also taught at St. Pat’s. By the way, this
is a great website and so rich in history. I’m sure a lot of people will
appreciate the time and effort put into this site. I have already learnt a
lot from it and have yet only read a few pages. Great work! Thanks
- Allan DeSouza, Toronto, Canada.
September 15, 2009 – Congrats!
Fantastic web site, keep it up....sure makes us proud as Goans to have
someone like you still in Pakistan highlighting the achievements of our
community ....In Kuwait, a vast majority of my friends are Goans from
India, and when they read that very well written first article of yours,
they were absolutely stunned to read all about our community’s marvelous
contributions to the PAKISTAN we belong to keep it up. God bless
– Rupert D’Costa, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
September 15, 2009 - Awesome site!! I
can see that you gave a lot of your time and effort to create this site,
for the benefit of all us Goans out here....Marie Anna Croning, Karachi,
Pakistan. Congratulations Menin! what a fantastic website!, I’ll be
forwarding this on to our network out here to share, it’s mazing,
interesting and creative and so informative, only you could of thought of
something like this!
– Jackie Rodgers, Toronto, Canada
September 14, 2009 - Firstly, let me
both congratulate and thank you for doing an excellent job on the Goans of
Pakistan project. Here are a couple of tidbits that you may or may not be
interested in… J.C. Misquita Bakery was started and run for several years
by my grandfather Dominic Diego Falcao; From 1958-1962, I was the official
piano accompanist on Radio Pakistan’s local talent program which ran on
the last Monday of each month from 10:00 –10:30 pm. Edward Carrapiet was
the emcee and many Goans and other Christians performed on this program.
Interesting that my signature tune at the start and end of the program was
‘Canadian Sunset’, and, I ended up in Canada in 1965!
- Alan Falcao, Toronto, Canada.
September 14, 2009 - Nice piece on the
Goans of Pakistan. Good to see my uncle Lt Cmdr Philip Menezes in there.
However (small oversight) you forgot to mention Colin DeSouza being the
bandleader of the Talismen-late 60's to mid 70's. Good job though. Thanks
- Alistair Fernandes, Toronto, Canada
September 14, 2009 - I just received
your website link from Susan deSouza. My name is Judy (formerly Sequeira)
and my dad is Peter Sequeira who is mentioned on your music page. I live
in Arlington, Virginia. My parents Peter and Phyllis live in New Jersey
and are still singing in their church choir there! Congratulations on the
impressive job you have done with this website! I left Karachi in 1973
when I was 18, and travelled back several times over the next 25 years.
However, already a decade has passed since my last trip to Karachi, so I
am enjoying the website with all the trips down memory lane and the names
of people and places I remember fondly. I would be grateful if you could
add my name to your email group
- Judy McCarthy, Virginia, USA
September 14,
2009 - CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! - Great site! If you ever have
the space for an ad on your site, would love to put the "Greatest Konkani
Song Hits" Song Book - currently on the Goan Voice, UK & Canada - check it
out here on the RH side (Ad 6): http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/ Cheers and
all the best!
– Francis Rodrigues, Toronto, Canada.
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