I really enjoyed that piece from Melba. I belong to the Goan diaspora
having lived most of the time in Goa.When I went to Mumbay ( Bombay)
for my studies ( Engg)- not that I did not study in Goa- I studied in
the famous Liceu Nacional Afonso de Albuquerque( what a
nostalgia !). I always imagined that the Goans in Bombay were a kind
of second class citizens( I do not what Melba felt) and they spoke
English which, at that time, I thought it to be an inferior language,
perhaps because any Ladru and Pedru or Xencor spoke English in
Mumbai, but not so in Goa- Portuguese was spoken by a select class of
people. But now I stand corrected. Any Sacaram or Tukaram or Singh or
Kapoor speaks in English.The only thing is that they are blissfully
ingnorant of their atrocious language.I often laugh when I watch the
only English TV Channel in India. But I also laugh when I read the
Portuguee written in the Goan website in Portugal. Is it some kind of
SuperPortuguese of the Goans in Portugal? That bolash that Melba
mentioned woul smash the Indian biscut. But,of course, the Mumbai pao
bhaji reminds me of the bhaji of the Bounsulo in Panjim during my
Liceu days.
Nostalgically,
Telesforo




--- In goa-portuguese@..., "www.goa-world.com -Goa's
Pride" <goaworldtoday@y...> wrote:
>
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> Portuguez Tempar.....
>
>
> By Melba Mergulhão-Carvalho Antão
>
> I belong to the Goan diaspora with a Mumbai mind-set and
upbringing. Though the British were around in Mumbai for over 150
years, I'd never heard anyone - young or old - start a conversation
in Mumbai with "When the British were in India...." This sentence was
an introduction for a History exam paper, but, that's where it ended!
> Yet, as I grew up in Mumbai, my Mom (a die-hard Goan in
Maharashtra) would reminisce, "Portuguez tempar(during the Portuguese
times), we used to get lovely scented powder. Your Pond's talc is
nothing!" As Mom sat at her Singer machine sewing a Christmas dress
for me, she'd go nostalgic again, "Portuguez tempar, dress materials
came from Macaw and was smooth as a feather and soft as a whisper."
Mom was always in colonial times though she lived in democratic
Bombay. She reasoned, "What's the use of a government of, for or by
the people, if one is not satisfied with the material goods and
social conditions?" She'd also drool over the wonderful chicolade or
bolash of Portuguez tempar.
> I was, at that time, intrigued about these `wonder' rulers who
would keep their subjects happy with `wonder' sweetmeats. "What can
be tastier than a Cadbury bar," I'd think. It was the ultimate
chocolate for me then. "What's wrong with Bombay Dyeing or Gwalior
materials?" I'd question. But Mom had worn better stuff and eaten
more melting-in-the-mouth chicolade in the Portuguez tempar, I guess.
> Later, destiny brought me to Goa via marriage. And my ma-in-law
continued where Mom had left off. She'd say, "Portuguez tempar, there
were no robberies or murders - everyone was honest and hard-working.
We slept with our doors and windows open. Now, we fix grills
everywhere and still the thieves murder you in your sleep."
> "Portuguez tempar, we had so much fish that we'd use the extra fish
as manure in the paddy fields. Today the hotels and tourists grab the
best seafood. Where are the lobsters gone? Gone forever, that's what.
My grandchildren, poor pets, haven't eaten what I've eaten. There was
so much turtle and wild boar meat. Joao, (pa-in-law) would often
bring home a deer - and the whole village celebrated in excitement.
> Today hunting is banned `cos the animals are getting extinct, they
say. No one will admit that they cut down forests and destroy the
animals too. God created forests and animals for man to utilise and
not destroy and ban, I tell you!"
> "Portuguez tempar, our children were innocent and dressed decently.
Today, the TVs and movies have spoilt our tornates . Did anyone hear
of abortions, rapes, AIDs and SARS in Portuguez tempar? Saiba! What's
the world coming to? Thank God my days are getting over. Who wants to
live in this kind of world anyway," she'd mumble along.
> Pa-in-law often commented with delight, "Portuguez tempar, the
whisky had great punch - just one peg would give you a good night's
sleep. Those were the days my friend..."
>
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