ALEXYZ – Tribute to Rene Barreto

Book Review: Golden Goa Is Really A Romanticised Myth -- Teotonio de Souza
Excerpt from Joel D’Souza
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52243088@N00/3843458300/

[Goanet-News] INTERVIEW: Golden Goa Is Really A Romanticised Myth -- Teotonio de Souza (Maria de Lima Pereira)‏

The second revised English edition of Dr Teotonio de Souza's popular book "Medieval Goa - A socio-economic history" was released by NRI Commissioner Eduardo Faleiro at the GCCI Hall in Panjim on August 21, 2009. L-R: Guest of honour Dr Deobagkar, Vice Chancellor of Goa University, Faleiro and author Dr Teotonio R de Souza (based in Portugal, and head of the department of history, at Universidade Lusofona, Lisbon).

"Medieval Goa represented an effort to question the biases of the colonial historiography, while avoiding to fall prey to equally questionable triumps of nationalism" (Preface) "It focuses the stage-lights upon the rural population as affected by the bustling urban and metropolitan politics" (Preface)  The release of the meticulously researched history book, published by Broadway Book Centre and Goa-1556, was preceded by a lively panel discussion on "The Role of a the Historian in Goa Today", with well-known writer Dr Maria Aurora Couto as the main moderator.

The book will prove an invaluable guide to researchers in Goan history as well as a very detailed reference for source material. The cover illustration of the book is by celebrated Goan cartoonist Mario Miranda. Price 495 (HB), Rs.395 (Pb); PP 265.

From the 16th century, Goa was ruled by the seafaring Portuguese. Their political, religious and socio-economic policies had far reaching effects that seem to have led ultimately to their downfall and ouster from Goa after 451 years. Noted Goan historian-author and an authority on Indo-Portuguese history Dr. Teotonio R de Souza, presently Head of the Department of History at the Universidade Lusofona in Lisbon, Portugal, spoke to Maria de Lima Pereira on the subject and the soon to be released second edition of his book Medieval Goa

Q: Do you think your book is still relevant today, after three decades? Have the issues and concerns changed since the 1970s when it was first published?
A: When Medieval Goa: A Socio Economic History first appeared three decades ago, it represented a major break in the tradition of Indo-Portuguese historiography, until then markedly Luso-Indian, even when Goan native historians were the authors.

The colonial culture and the political climate were not helpful for the promotion of a critical approach. Mine was no more than a call for serious attention to the native sources, to balance the colonial documentation.

Now the scenario has changes tremendously and quite positively for the historians of Goa. The book remains relevant today, and it will continue to do so as a source book. Or else there would be no reason to publish such a book.

The second edition of the book has taken into account all the significant research and publications of the past three decades. This can be seen in the bibliographical essay and the final bibliography, besides additions in the footnotes of individual chapters.

Q: You brought out the Portuguese edition of the book in 1994. What has been the response to the book in the 'mother country'?
A: The response was very positive from the younger generation of post-1974 historians in Portugal. Actually, it was by insistence and assistance of one of them -- A. Teodoro de Matos, now retired professor of the New Lisbon University, and one of my co-promoters of the Indo-Portuguese history seminars -- that the Portuguese edition saw the light of the day.

Q: What would you see as your main concerns in Indo-Portuguese history? Why did you feel the socio-economic aspect was important in the 1970s? Do you still see it as important?
A: The main argument of the doctoral dissertation, which is now Medieval Goa, sought to correct one of the colonial biases in historiography, by giving special attention to the living conditions of the rural folk. It sought to understand what was the impact of urban development upon their lives.

Till this time, the focus of colonial historiography had been upon the Portuguese navigation and their military-missionary achievements.

During the most part of the 16th century, until the Portuguese lost their national autonomy in 1580, and North European rivals of the Iberians decided to enter the Asian markets, it was these factors which made the Portuguese sustenance upon the sea-trade ever more precarious, leading them to invest increasingly into the rural economy. In this way, the lay Whites joined the existing White religious in subverting the traditions of the Goan villages.

This is what led me to analyse the impact of this change upon the lives of our village communities from the beginning of the 17th century.

Q: The generation of readers of your 1979 edition were the ones who were born in the Portuguese era. Do you feel that this edition of the book will have a different response compared to the first one?
A: This we have to only wait and see. But the nature of the sources it provides certainly ensures that it will continue to be of relevance to any generation that may be seriously interested in Goan history. And the new generations with greater reason, because of their difficulties in accessing the original resources in Portuguese.

Q: In what way would reading this book help readers in Goa (or elsewhere) better understand the reality of the past?
A: It is hoped after reading this book with an open mind, people should accept and understand the socio-economic realities that were shaped by the prevailing politics and its impact. It is always true that present-day politics make it always somewhat difficult for the average citizen to accept critically what historians present.

One common belief defended by some political trends in Goa is to suggest that the Christian community benefitted from the Portuguese colonial era. The documentation in Medieval Goa does not sustain this opinion.

Had it not been for the collaboration of the Hindu and other communities to run the Portuguese fiscal system, tax-collections, local and regional trade and diplomacy with the native rulers, the Portuguese rule would have been short-circuited much before 1961.

Q: You book contests the 'Golden Goa' myth. but isn't it possible that Goa was 'golden' for some (the urban dwellers, those who benefited from colonialism) while a very tough and difficult place for others?
A: Here we have to make a distinction between the expression 'Golden Goa' as referred to by art historians in their studies of the majestic church structures of the 16th and early 17th centuries, and Golden Goa when this expression is extended to convey the impression that all Goans, or the majority of the natives, had an enviable standard of living.

Whatever the semblance of modernity the Portuguese colonial regime brought to India, Goa itself had to wait for it until the 18th century or almost the 19th century. That too was largely due to the English intervention in the economy of Portuguese India through the Anglo-Portuguese treaty, the setting up of the railway link, and forcing the end of the Inquisition.

During the Inquisition people were made highly vulnerable. They did not have stability in their personal lives -- no one knew when a loved one would be taken away by the authorities never to be seen again. It was either 'convert to Catholicism' or face discrimination in job-opportunities, or in other arenas.

Had it been a 'Golden Goa' for most of the natives, we would have not seen waves of Goan emigrants seeking their future away from colonial domination since the earliest times.

The main characters of Medieval Goa are the ordinary people of the city and the countryside. Their voice had been little heard. We must not forget though that the common people also included many ethnic Whites -- Portuguese and others -- who were just as much victims of the colonial and imperial adventurism of the metropolitan elites and authorities.

Q: What do you feel about today's problems of urbanisation as against the view that things were running well in Portuguese times?
A: Even at that time, urbanization was not always planned. One of the reasons Old Goa, the first city built by the Portuguese suffered repeated plagues was due to problems of sanitation partly caused by over-congestion and partly by the terrain and climatic factors. There was a population of 2,50,000 living in an area of two-and-half sq kms .

Urbanisation could and can be maintained as long as there is commercial gain, and not merely political will. There must also be technological know-how together with the economic capacity. At the a certain stage, the Portuguese simply lost their economic capacity for the reasons described, and lived on borrowed expectations and the use of excessive slave labour which in no way encouraged the use of technical know-how.

Q: What do you see as the lessons we need to learn from the socio-economic history of the past?
A: Those who have no memory have no future either.

Q: You are a noted Goan historian who has written many books on Goa and its history. Please tell us what you see as your important works?
A: Incidentally, I only research and write on Indo- Portuguese history. I will always focus solely on Indo-Portuguese history and any other links between the two countries.

Trying to understand Goa is a continuous process. No single work can be considered as finshed and complete. Having said that, my past publications include Goa An Economic History II; Vasco da Gama and India (co-edited, in three volumes) published by the Gulbekian Foundation in 1999; Essays in Goan History (Indian History Congress, 1986); Goa: Roteiro Historico-Cultural (Portuguese Ministry of Education, 1996). These and a century and odd research articles altogether represent this continuous process.

Q: What qualities are required to become a good historian?
A: Those really interested must keep an open and unbiased mind, must be inquisitive, multilingual, personally and professionally disciplined. They must be extremely adept in interacting with people as not all information required can be obtained from archives and libraries alone.

[First published in Herald, Aug 20, 2009 in an edited version.]
Medieval Goa by Dr Teotonio de Souza will be released on Friday, Aug 21, 2009 at 5.15 pm at the Goa Chambers of Commerce and Industry hall in Panjim. Published by Broadway and Goa,1556, it is priced at Rs 395 (pb) and Rs 495 (hb) and available by registered airmail mail-order internationally for Rs 800 (including postage and packaging) via goa1556@gmail.com

'Lonely' hi-tech generation reflects on faith and community in Church summer camp
http://www.indiancatholic.in/news/printnews.php?id=13121

SHANGHAI, China: A recent weeklong summer camp received a big thumbs up from Catholic university students in Shanghai after they were able to get closer to God and reflect on their spiritual side away from high-tech gadgetry.

Many of the 120 participants in the Aug. 2-8 program were attending the event for the first time. The students were given the chance to pray and adore the Blessed Sacrament during a one-day retreat, to test their knowledge of the Bible and catechism through contests, and to learn about themselves. Priests and nuns also shared with them about religious vocations.

A young man surnamed Xu, 20, said the Aug. 6 retreat was most impressive. After surrendering his mobile phone, the student learnt how to pray to Jesus and meditate with the Bible, adore the Blessed Sacrament and talk individually with a spiritual director. "It made me truly calm and nearer to God," he said.

Zhang Xiaolai, 21, was also moved by the peaceful atmosphere of the Taize-style prayers during the retreat. "In the simple melodies and silent prayers, we were inspired and some cried aloud. I guess such touching feelings can only be experienced through God's love," she reflected.

The young woman said she is determined to spend at least 20 minutes each day praying to Jesus, sharing with him all her feelings. Shanghai is one of many mainland dioceses that held summer activities for Catholic students during the vacation months of July and August. Sister Maria, an organizer of the Shanghai camp, said some students expressed their joy at the sense of community they experienced and felt sad thinking of the loneliness that would set in once they returned to their houses, university dormitories or flats. Most students are their parents' only child and came alone to Shanghai to study.

"I asked them if this high-tech era had brought them a richer life or had led them into a lonely existence," the nun told UCA News. She added that they showed her they had a desire for God, for spiritual nourishment and to be loved. Father John Zhao Shijie of Shanghai, another organizer, told UCA News on Aug. 17 that the diocese began summer camps six years ago. He said most Catholics learn catechism in childhood, but later get busy with high school life and preparations for entering university that leave them with no time to deepen their faith or join Church activities.

Thus, he sees the summer program for Catholic university students as crucial in giving them the opportunity to experience God and rediscover their faith. The program also encourages students to form small communities that can meet regularly for prayer, Bible-sharing and pilgrimages, enhancing their spiritual growth, he said.

This year's theme was "Where are you?" Father Zhao said this theme awakened the students to the fact that God is with them even if they are not aware of it, that God is calling to them even when they are preoccupied with material pleasures such as mobile phones, computers, games and money.

Campers are encouraged to experience God's existence in a calm atmosphere and to let God enter their lives, he said. In his observation, more than 60 percent of the almost 500 Catholic students who have taken part in the Shanghai summer camps have subsequently attached greater importance to their faith and attend Sunday Masses regularly.

"Youths are the future of our Church," the priest said. "At this stage in their lives, they need the Church to invest its time, human and financial resources in them and to care for them."

Father John Baptist Luo of Mindong diocese in Fujian province, also in eastern China, ran two summer camps for university students. Education in China has taught Catholic students to be ignorant about God, he said, so the Church "needs to affirm God's existence and enhance their affection for God and Church communities."

Courtesy: UCAN