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February 10, 2011 – It is
gratifying indeed to see how the ‘Goans of
Pakistan’ website is touching
the lives of people who long ago left
the shores of their once ‘home country’ and are now ‘settled’ in another!
Though Pakistan for them is now simply a country where they once lived, it
holds the ‘key’ to their hearts and emotions. It is a place where they
have left behind the mortal remains of their near and dear ones, long-lost
brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and nostalgic memories of
people and places; and therefore, I feel they shall always have that
‘eternal’ connection to Pakistan. I am grateful to
God Almighty
for helping me to ‘find people and places’ and connect them to people in
all parts of the world where the Goan Diaspora lives. So please don’t
hesitate to ‘ASK’ for you shall ‘RECEIVE’ the information you are looking
for...for as long as there are people here who can still remember/recall
people and places of the halcyon days, there is HOPE! –
Menin Rodrigues (menin100@gmail.com)
January 15, 2012 - Hi Menin, Good
Afternoon! Could you please let me know if anyone knows a Simon D'souza
who worked in Bahrain for Cable & Wireless in 1980's. Someone from the
Bahrain Goans would like to contact him. Thank you.
Marion D’Souza – BAHRAIN
October 21, 2011 - Dear Menino, I was
browsing through your website on Goans in Karachi and came across an
'Almeida chowk' dedicated to an ex-police officer. I work for the Navhind
Times and would be glad if you could send me more details and put me in
touch with the family. It would make a nice story.
Regards
Derek Almeida – INDIA
October 18, 2011 - Dear Menin, Before
I introduce myself to you I like to thank you very much on behalf of
myself my husband Francis and my sisters Annie and Julie for visiting Tony
and meeting with Sr. Goretti and forwarding the photos. I was overwhelmed
and emotional as I have not seen my brother for 7 years. I am Irene
D'Souza Tony’s youngest sister. Both my husband Francis and myself visited
Karachi in 2004 before my heart surgery. Due to our ill health and
personal circumstances I have not been able to visit Tony but call him and
talk and happy to hear his voice. I spoke to Sr. Goretti and Tony and she
said that you have your own business, thank you Menin for making the time
in spite of your busy schedule to visit Tony for which I am very
appreciative your thoughtfulness. Thank you once again for all the trouble
you took, sorry I could not reply earlier as our computer was not working.
God Bless.
Francis & Irene D’Souza – AUSTRALIA
October 6, 2011 - Dear Menin, we,
Julie Christie, Irene D’Souza and I are writing to you from Australia, in
the hope that you will be able to help us. We are 3 sisters who immigrated
to Australia over 30 years ago. We have a brother, Anthony, in Karachi who
lived at Peace Haven, Catholic Colony No.2, all these years. We tried our
best to bring Anthony to Australia, unfortunately Anthony is
intellectually challenged person and we were not successful and not
allowed to bring him. We have been given to understand Peace Haven wants
us to find another place for Anthony. Having been away from Karachi for so
long and not having any relatives left who we can approach for help, we
are writing to you hoping you will be able to help us. Is there a place
run by our Church or Nuns where they accommodate people? Anthony is 60
years old. We earnestly hope you will be able to help us, or give us some
contact details where we will be able to get some help. When replying
please copy to Julie and Irene as well. Thanking you and awaiting your
urgent response. God Bless.
Annie Furtado – AUSTRALIA
June 6, 2011: Thank you for being
soconscientious in finding the answer to my question. I was very sadto
hear of Rudy's passing and that of his wife. Life is a fragile thing. I
havesince located his niece and hope to make contact with his brother
soon. Iremember Rudy's music skills very well. He was, indeed, gifted,both
instrumentally and vocally. Thanks again for your time and effort.
-Yvette JuddHarper, Canada
May 11, 2011: Your site, Goansof Pakistan, has just been
brought to my attention and I read withinterest some of the articles you
have posted. One in particularcaught my interest and as I read it, my eyes
fell on the name of thelate-50s band TheRockets. This led me to wonder if
by chance you might befamiliar with the whereabouts of any of its members.
One in particular -Rudy Wilson - was a friend of mine but we lost touch
many years ago. Iwill continue to read your articles. I'm sure I will
findmuch of interest and will also experience moments of nostalgia.
-Yvette JuddHarper, Canada
January 18, 2011: Hello! We would be
very grateful, if you could please give us the phone number/ e-mail add/
physical address of Fr Jimmy Desouza. We think he is in Christ the King
church in Karachi but are not sure. We would like to be in touch with him
after many years. (After whereabouts were given). Thank you ever so much
Menin, We are very thankful for this, with warm regards from Canada
- The Stouffville desouzas, Canada
January 13, 2011: Please note that my
name is Jude Girgol Alphonso, and I am from Karwar, Karnataka, India. Sir,
I have a few relatives in Karachi, whom I don’t know where and what they
do. I did meet one Mr. John Alphonso in Goa once 15 yrs back, i lost my
purse carrying his address and lost track of him. Sir i kindly request you
if you could find them for me, so that we can have a family reunion after
all these years. I am desperately waiting for this. Hope you will help me
find them if you can. My sincere thanks to you in advance
- Jude Alphonso, Karnataka, India
January 13, 2011: Read your article
via Google titled Footprints on the Sands of time was really impressed. I
live in Australia, originally form Bombay my family has had their roots in
Karachi and Peshawar. My Mum a Britto was born in Peshawar her father was
in the navy and my great grandfather worked for Telegraphs in Peshawar. My
mum’s father and his 2 brothers were in karachi and came to goa in their
latter years. My mum’s 1st cousins John Britto & his wife Alzira Britto
were in Karachi. John sister Catherine married my fathers's brother
Joaquim D'Souza. Catherine and Joaquim had no kids my aunt Helen D'souza
also lived in Karachi with Joaquim. Now you may wonder Why I am telling
you this; my uncle was active with the KGA and was on the committee quite
a few times he lived in Nazimabad in Hussein D'silva town he died in 2003
but had a good life we could never keep in touch due to the wars he
retired from Barrows welcome a pharmaceutical firm as the Genaral Manager
and worked as a management consultant after retirement and his sister
Helen was working in the adminstration department of the school attached
to St Jude’s Parish. I am told she is in an aged home run by Goan nuns. I
need your assistance to find her. I am told that John Brittos children who
are my second t cousins are in the USA and Canada; their names are Rita
and Lourdes (He had gone to the states on a scholarship in the late 60's).
I feel sad I would like to get the contact details of the aged home which
I was told is Marysvale but I have spent hours on Google trying to get in
touch with some one. Please email me and let me know if you can help. I
wonder if this will help Bishop William Gomes was from Karachi and
eventually was a Bishop in Pune in India, his brother Tibus and his family
still live in Karachi. Sorry to give you an ear bashing about my family
but much appreciated if you could help
- Cleta Noronha, Australia
December 19, 2010: I am trying to
locate an old friend, his Name is Dicky (Richard) Drago, his late father
was a very senior medical practitioner in Mirpurkhas, Sind, after 1962 I
lost track of Dicky, though I heard he may have gone to Switzerland. I
also knew his elder sister Patsy (Patricia) Drago and another one of the
siblings was Phillipa; as I do not have any Goan friends in Pakistan, I
tried to attempt a search on the net. I am hoping that you may be able to
help. (Dickey located through Philipa): That is wonderful news! Thank you
for the effort, My warmest wishes for a Very Merry Christmas! Am looking
forward to catching up with dear Dicky! (Writing to Philipa and me): Dear
Menin, Thank you for your help it is much appreciated! I am really excited
about connecting with Dicky after so many many years! Phillipa, I was one
of the "original" Braganza Boarders in Quetta along with Muzaffar Hussain
Shah and Khalid Latif, both from Mirpurkhas in those days, have run into
Muzaffar on ocassion, but he had no idea where dear Dicky was!! Thank you
both, Have a great New Year! God Bless
- Zahid Husain, USA
December 7, 2010: I am looking for
some contact information for Mr. Terrence J. De Souza. He is listed as a
male teacher on your web site. As you already know he was a teacher at
Saint Patricks and then migrated to the USA. I now live in the USA as well
and would like to get in touch with him. Any help from you is welcome.
Thanks
- Dilshad Peters, USA
November 16, 2010: Good Morning, I am
looking for my Uncle -Mr Francis Xavier Paes who lives (lived) in Quetta
Pakistan. Last known address: 10 D Askari 4, Rawalpindi, OR, c\o Sousa
Restaurant, Court Road Quetta, Baluchistan; c\o Maj Azra Sequeira, 11/2
Durrani Road, Quetta, Pakistan. How would I go about finding him and
contacting him? (No promises, but I will try! Menin).Thank you very much
for offering to assist me in trying to find my uncle. I was just wondering
if you had made any headway as my mother (Evelyn DSouza nee Paes) was
anxious for any word on her brother
- Dylan Dsouza, Canada
September 21, 2010: Hope you are okay?
My name is Ali Hamdani I live in Karachi but I’m Portuguese national my
enquiry was about a Goan teacher who could possibly teach Portuguese
language to my younger sister and brother as they want to give Portuguese
exam to qualify for there nationalities as we have been living between
Portugal and Pakistan from last Eighteen years. A help from your side
would be great and appreciated, waiting for your reply, Regards
- Ali Hamdani, Karachi, Pakistan
January 20, 2010: Thank you so much
for helping me with this search....I appreciate your kindness very much.
Have you ever been to the United States? I live in Hawaii but went to
college in New York and lived abroad for many years. My father was a
political science professor here at the University of Hawaii with his
specialty being India and Pakistan government; most of his students hold
high government positions in India, some in Pakistan and they spoke of
dedicating a school in his name many years ago but nothing materialized
here in Hawaii. There is a graduate/undergraduate lounge named after him
at the University. I could never really figure out why they chose
Rawalpindi as my
birthplace and will always be in search of this meaning, I will email the
person you gave me tonight and hope some things may unfold. Again, thank
you very much for your help
- Aloha, Alexis Friedman
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 tête-à-tête - Warmest regards,
- Vivian A. D'Souza
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