From: Ben Antao <ben.antao@...>
Tuesday, June 10, 2003 1:40 PM
>
>
> This morning after reading the piece 'Luis de Camoes Day' on TGF, I
thought
> I would share something interesting that I found in his book.
>
>
> However, on the pedestal of that statue was an inscription: Patria pelo
> mundo em pedacos repartida (quoted in the book, page 111.)
>
>
> Veiga Coutinho comments on this quotation, which means "The homeland is
> scattered in pieces all over the world." (My translation).
>
>
> Although Camoens was referring to the imperial Portugal of his time, I
feel
> that quotation could equally apply to Goans today, who are spread out all
> over the globe in a diaspora.
>
>
> Indeed, I might stretch it and say that the idea of what makes a Goan
might
> be better understood in the context of Goan diaspora rather than in Goa
> itself.
>
>
> Thought I would post this for your Zazen and comment!
>
>

The quotation could also apply to the Portuguese diaspora throughout the
world.

And it reminds me of the following words of the writer Fernando Pessoa
(1888-1935): "A minha patria e a lingua portuguesa" (My motherland is the
Portuguese language). Can we Goans not speak similarly with reference to our
own Konkani kanguage?

Jorge