Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa in 1915, still holds special significance today as it is marked as Non-Resident Indian Day (NRI Day) in India. Since 2003, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conventions have been an annual affair. The day celebrates the global Indian community’s interconnectedness and their vital role in shaping India’s progress and identity.
The Goan diaspora is spread across every continent of the world. Goans work hard for years abroad to make a decent living for their families back home in India. With most fathers working abroad, they return on their annual or bi-annual trip to spend time with their family. However, with advancement in technology, one can keep in touch with video calls and instant messaging on different social media platform. One thing that always remains close to the hearts of these Non-Resident Indians, is their love for Goa. They keep a close watch on the current affairs, love listening to the latest Konkani songs and long to watch a tiatr. Many Goans take on the responsibility to unite Goans in celebrating feasts and organising cultural programmes abroad to keep their rooted to their Goan traditions while living abroad.
For Goans in the Gulf, Simon D’Silva working in Qatar, is a known name. Originally from Sao Jose de Areal, he has been in Qatar soon after his graduation to join his father. He has been the president of the Goan Welfare Association since its inception and has led the organisation in creating and developing the May Queen Ball from a Goan to an international level. This year will mark the 24th edition of the annual fiesta. “Apart from organising the May Queen Ball, the Goa Welfare Association also organises Sao Joao. These are two signature events that are known not just in the Gulf but throughout the world. We have also added an entertainment factor in Konkani as we had two screenings of films like ‘Nachoia-Kumpasar’ and ‘Home Sweet Home’ and also several tiatrs over the years,” says Simon.
Brunette Pereira, now calls Aberdeen, Scotland her new home. However, giving an opportunity, she would love to spend time in Goa anytime of the year. She coordinated the Konkani Mass Group for the first ever Konkani language Easter Vigil service at St Joseph’s Church, Woodside, in Aberdeen.
“Modern Indian women don’t wear saris as they’re too much effort, and it is extremely terrifying to drape a sari during winters in Scotland. However, one of my passions is to wear a sari. I make it a point to wear it twice a year, for religious feasts and Indian cultural events here in Aberdeen. A sari doesn’t need a reason to be worn,” says Brunette.
She further adds, “I love performing and singing songs in Konkani which is another passion that I religiously follow. I also encourage my children to speak in Konkani occasionally. I love cooking Goan traditional cuisine for feasts and occasions and attending Goan events throughout the year, hosted by the Goan community in Aberdeen and supporting them whenever possible.” Her social media posts are a testament to the lip-smacking Goan delicacies she recreates in Scotland.
Former Herald staffer, Frankey Fernandes, is based in Melbourne, Australia and provides weekly news capsules in Konkani through his show Susegad Danpaar which is broadcasted on Saturday but viewed all across the diaspora. Frankey, who traces his roots to Vasco da Gama in Goa was also instrumental in accompanying Fr Rob Galea from Australia to Goa for his first concert, which received a tremendous response.
“Goans wherever they may have settled around the globe act as brand ambassadors of their home state in their adopted country. For past four years Goan’s in Melbourne, Australia along with volunteers from Goa have been involved in producing the weekly Konkani language news bulletin, ‘Susegad Danpaar’ which gives important snippets of the weekly happenings in Goa to the Goan diaspora worldwide. It’s often encouraging to know that Konkani speaking diaspora eagerly await every week to watch the news in amchi mai bhas Konkani. This is only a small effort to promote Konkani language and also keep the Goan diaspora aware of happenings in Goa and the achievements of Goans in other countries where they keep the Goan flag flying high.
Pamila Rodrigues for the first time organised the celebration of the Feast of St Francis Xavier at the House of Commons in the UK that too in Konkani. Originally from Rachol, Pamila is currently working with the London Borough of Hounslow as Senior Systems and Training Support Officer.
“As a couple, to keep Goan traditions alive in our household, we take our children for a Konkani mass once a month in UK. We enjoy xitt kodi with rechado fried fish. Whenever we video call our family back home in Goa, we taught them basic Konkani which they can understand and talk to with their grandparents. We celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Conception on August 15 with pattoleos and San Joao with kopels and we tell them the reason why we are celebrating these feasts,” says Pamila, who is currently on a visit to Goa.
She further adds, “As a member of the Labour Party, I recently organised the feast of Saint Francis Xavier. I am part of church activities, where we organise Christmas Carol singing competitions or retreats, which are conducted by our Goan priests based in UK so that our Goan youth can attend those retreats. Whenever we have parties, we play Mandos and Konkani songs and most Goan homes are stocked with sausages, molle and paro. These are the little things that we hold on to very dearly because it is what makes us feel at home in a country which is not our home actually.”
Just as Goans act as cultural and social ambassadors abroad, they also work hard to keep Goan traditions alive, in different nations. It is also important to welcome them back with respect and dignity when they return to the motherland and make them feel at home