Saturday, April 23, 2011
Saturday, December 25, 2010
PATRIOTISM IN ACTION: Goans in India’s Defence Services
PATRIOTISM IN ACTION:
Goans in India’s Defence Services
By Valmiki Faleiro
With Foreword by Gen SF Rodrigues, PVSM, VSM, ADC (retd), former Chief of Army Staff and Governor of Punjab & Administrator-Chandigarh.
Available at
GOA: Literati (2277740), Other India (2263306), Broadway (6647038), Mandovi (2427904), Noel D’Silva & Associates (9823120454 / 9096781714), Confidant / Golden Heart Emp (2732450), David & Co (2730326), Vardaan (9527463684)
SERV / RETD Def Offrs in Goa: O/o Sainik Co-op Hse Bldg Sty, Def Col, Porvorim (2417288)
MUMBAI: David & Co (22019010)
PUNE: Manney’s (26131683), Popular (25678327)
BENGALURU: Narayan (22865800)
DELHI: Ritana (24617278)
ONLINE (worldwide delivery): http://www.ritanabooks.com, http://goa1556.goa-india.org
[Seen in the above photo are:
(from L to R): Dr Francisco C Colaco, Dr Dhillon Dessai, Col (retd) John
AA D'Souza, Daisy Faleiro, Livia de Abreu Noronha, Dr Savia Viegas,
Brig (retd) Ian de Costa, Cmde (retd) Gilbert Menezes, Maj (retd) Venugopal
Nair, Secretary-Goa Rajya Sainik Board (partly seen)].
Contrary to public perceptions, Goa contributed a large number of senior officers to the Indian armed forces, says a new book on the subject.
Faleiro’s ‘Patriotism in Action’ lists over 350 persons of Goan origin, who have donned uniform in the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. There are many others whose names are yet to be recorded, says the author.
This new book was released by Ms Liva de Abreu Noronha at a well-attended function with family, friends, literary enthusiast and well wishers.
Col (Retd) John A A D’Souza regretted the declining number of defense recruits in Goa in recent times. He said there were misunderstandings over the job, and youngsters needed more information on competitive Central government jobs too.
In an emotional speech, writer and scholar Dr Savia Viegas stressed the importance of local histories which project the diverse aspects of Goan achievement, before this is all forgotten and disbelieved.
Dr Dhillon Dessai said the book made clear about the Catholic contribution to the armed forces from Goa, and praised the author— a former journalist and ex-civic chief of Margao— for taking on this task.
Another speaker at the event, Dr Francisco Colaco said the achievements listed in the book showed the bravery of the Goan. He cited stories of valour.
Faleiro’s book offers lists of officers killed in action, and those from Goa decorated with gallantry awards. There is also a listing of Goan officers who took part in ‘Operation Vijay’, the action which ended Portuguese rule in Goa, five decades ago.
Likewise, there is a list of Goan officers who took part in wars. In a series of articles, the book touches on Goan aviators, and the Goan “fascination for adventure”.
Faleiro says that many Goan officers, after retiring, have taken to doing works of compassion and charity. His detailed listing contains literally hundreds of names and dozens of events, which throws new light on a subject little was earlier known about.
Former Indian Army chief General, Sunith Rodrigues appreciated the author whom, he said, had “embarked on an ambitious task”.
The hardbound book, priced at Rs 600, is available in major bookshops around Goa and outside.
The author, Valmiki Faleiro, can be contacted via email: valmikif at gmail.com
[Links, photo jpg as received from Valmiki Faleiro,
forwarded to gaspar almeida, www.goa-world.com]
Friday, November 20, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
GOA felicitates Lusofonia 2009 medal winners
GOA felicitates Lusofonia medal winners
HERALD CORRESPONDENT/MAPUSA, JULY 24, 2009
The Lusofonia Games medal winners and coaches felicitated by Goa Olympic Association seen alongwith Sports Minister Babu Azgaonkar, Director of Sports Dr Susan D’Souza, Subhash Shirodkar, President of GOA, Vinayak Naik, Joint Director Sports (SAG), Ashraf Pandiyal, Tresurer of SAG and Gurudatta Bhakta, Secretary of GOA on Friday.
Goa Olympic Association felicitated the taekwondo and volleyball sportspersons who made Goa and India proud at the 2nd Lusofonia Games by bringing medals from Lisbon, Portugal.
The felicitation function was held at Hotel Manoshanti, Panjim on Friday, at the hands Sports Minister Babu Azgaonkar in the presence of Director of Sports Dr Susan D’Souza, Subhash Shirodkar, President of GOA, Vinayak Naik, Joint Director Sports (SAG), Ashraf Pandiyal, Tresurer of SAG and Gurudatta Bhakta, Secretary of GOA.
Speaking on the occasion, Babu lauded the entire Goan contingent saying. He said, “winning a medal is not important, but Goan sportspersons putting a brave face against their opponents who were mostly Olympians is commendable.”
Goa actually representing India is like a state playing country, he said adding this was a good opportunity for Goan players to know international standards.
Mr Shirodkar speaking at the occasion said that by participating at the Lusofonia Games the Goan talent is getting an international exposure.
Goa has got a big opportunity to get required infrastructure as the National and Lusofonia Games will be held in the State, and this will make Goa on par with international standards and bring national unity, he added.
He further said that the government which is felicitating std X students for their excellence in studies will also extend their support in sports.
The following sportsperson were felicitated by GOA:
In taekwondo, Chandan Lakra for gold (Rs 10,000), J Kavita silver (Rs 7000), while Sharol Fernandes, Reema Aranha, Rashmi Naik, and Anand Rajan for bronze (Rs 5000 each).
Taekwondo women’s coach Theophile Leo, men’s coach Gurumayum Sharma and volleyball coach Alex Noronha (Rs 3000 each).
In volleyball: Melinda Pereira, Melissa Pereira, Milagrin Mascarenhas, Monica Almeida, Synora Rodrigues, Kimberly Fernandes, Penny Rebello, Queency Rebello, Clarissa Rodrigues, Betty D’Silva, Sally Telles, and Shamal Gaoncar (Rs 10,000 for team).
http://www.oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=25011&cid=1
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
A Mixed Fare
A Mixed Fare
EDITORIAL
The Budget 2007-08 presented today in the Assembly by the Chief Minister, Mr Pratapsing Rane is neither inclusive nor populist in nature, notwithstanding the many subsidies, waivers and incentives. The major task before the government is to increase the share of agriculture in SDGP to 7.7% in the Eleventh Plan. The budget promises to provide subsidies to farmers for purchasing pumps, etc but evidence is lacking how these are pushing agriculture. The government intends to motivate farmers for cash crop farming away from rice. The prime task to define the land use pattern for paddy has not been undertaken, notwithstanding the government taking up the exercise of carrying out a fresh survey to update the cadastral maps and records of rights in the background of the recent controversy over scrapping of the Regional Plan 2011. It is interesting to watch that at a time when the government intends to increase the share in the GDP, it has opted for small increases in the allocation which invariably would be consumed by the inflationary trend.
Though the government has announced an increase in the financial assistance under Dayanand Social Security Scheme and has opted for waiving loans outstanding taken by the SC community and loans taken by SC /ST for construction of houses, it does not support adequate allocation. The DSS scheme itself would consume substantial budgetary allocation leaving no fund for other social works.
What is intriguing is the proposals to slash allocations for tourism and education. Tourism is important to the state’s economy. It is very essential to boost it in order to generate more avenues for small business and educated and uneducated employment. But its outlay is reduced from Rs 27.63 crore to Rs 23.12 crore. The allocation has been reduced when the number of tourists needs to be increased and besides, the department is planning to diversify in other areas like eco-tourism and medical tourism. The budget is silent on the mechanism as to how to keep the flow of tourists growing. The decline of 7 percent in tourist arrivals was first witnessed in 2004, followed by a decline during the last two years.
The budget has spared people from fresh taxation. It also provides more incentives for government employees. However, it has proposed an environmental cess of 0.5 per cent on the gross value of electricity bill for creating a special garbage management fund. But the budget is silent on the mechanism as to how to tackle the garbage problem which has been lingering for years. It also does not offer much to the industry except the entry tax exemption on machinery and equipment for new units and also to existing units who are investing at least 50 per cent or more on expansion and drawing a separate action plan for infrastructure development like roads, uninterrupted water supply and electricity to industries in consultation with the leaders of commerce and industry.
EDITORIAL
The Budget 2007-08 presented today in the Assembly by the Chief Minister, Mr Pratapsing Rane is neither inclusive nor populist in nature, notwithstanding the many subsidies, waivers and incentives. The major task before the government is to increase the share of agriculture in SDGP to 7.7% in the Eleventh Plan. The budget promises to provide subsidies to farmers for purchasing pumps, etc but evidence is lacking how these are pushing agriculture. The government intends to motivate farmers for cash crop farming away from rice. The prime task to define the land use pattern for paddy has not been undertaken, notwithstanding the government taking up the exercise of carrying out a fresh survey to update the cadastral maps and records of rights in the background of the recent controversy over scrapping of the Regional Plan 2011. It is interesting to watch that at a time when the government intends to increase the share in the GDP, it has opted for small increases in the allocation which invariably would be consumed by the inflationary trend.
Though the government has announced an increase in the financial assistance under Dayanand Social Security Scheme and has opted for waiving loans outstanding taken by the SC community and loans taken by SC /ST for construction of houses, it does not support adequate allocation. The DSS scheme itself would consume substantial budgetary allocation leaving no fund for other social works.
What is intriguing is the proposals to slash allocations for tourism and education. Tourism is important to the state’s economy. It is very essential to boost it in order to generate more avenues for small business and educated and uneducated employment. But its outlay is reduced from Rs 27.63 crore to Rs 23.12 crore. The allocation has been reduced when the number of tourists needs to be increased and besides, the department is planning to diversify in other areas like eco-tourism and medical tourism. The budget is silent on the mechanism as to how to keep the flow of tourists growing. The decline of 7 percent in tourist arrivals was first witnessed in 2004, followed by a decline during the last two years.
The budget has spared people from fresh taxation. It also provides more incentives for government employees. However, it has proposed an environmental cess of 0.5 per cent on the gross value of electricity bill for creating a special garbage management fund. But the budget is silent on the mechanism as to how to tackle the garbage problem which has been lingering for years. It also does not offer much to the industry except the entry tax exemption on machinery and equipment for new units and also to existing units who are investing at least 50 per cent or more on expansion and drawing a separate action plan for infrastructure development like roads, uninterrupted water supply and electricity to industries in consultation with the leaders of commerce and industry.
The Right Phrases
The Right Phrases
EDITORIAL
Mr Churchill Alemao’s all attempts to force the Congress leadership to succumb to his pressures have failed, and now seem to be backfiring. The leadership not only rejected his conditions for staying on in the party, but even conveyed to him that he was free to leave the party and could think of a separate future. This came as a jolt to Mr Alemao who made everybody believe that he was indispensable to the Congress and taller than other Congress leaders from South Goa in terms of popularity.
Mr Alemao has no doubt been always an irrepressible and outspoken politician. And like other smart politicos he can mouth the right phrases camouflaging his individual aspirations with public causes. He has been doing that for quite some time while being the Congress MP, but he has looked more like a fish out of water than a Turk who makes the politburo shudder. Choosing “right causes” at the right time is key to the success of a politician. From this angle too, Mr Alemao’s move to convene a meeting of like-minded persons on March 10 to raise the issues of Regional Plan, SEZ land allotment, Roman script and Mopa airport are not going to benefit him much. Even his allegation of misrule under Congress government will not cut much ice. Goa Bachao Abhiyan was formed to fight against the Regional Plan. With government agreeing to scrap the Plan, it would be a tough proposition for Mr Alemao to stretch this. Similar is the case with other issues.
He has not added to his popularity by harping on his demand: Allow me to contest from the Navelim assembly constituency. This has made it sound as though he had some personal scores to settle with Mr Faleiro. While doing so he forgot that it was not at all an issue which should have made the Congress leadership to sit up and think over the pros and cons. How could Mr Alemao forget that any political organisation, based on certain ideology, is above an individual? He should take lessons from political history.
In this background it is doubtful if his plan to lead an organisation that emerges as an alternative would take him very far. The space for alternative is already filled with the BJP and the NCP. It remains to be seen how many will be swayed by his rhetoric. Mr Alemao allowed his aides to float Save Goa Democratic Party in order to put more pressure on the Congress. Would people then have faith in his ideological outpourings? Whose identity the SGDP would try to protect: Goa’s or Mr Alemao’s? Goan identity could have worked for Mr Alemao earlier. In a scenario where all the political parties talk about day in and day out, it is not certain to what extent Mr Alemao will succeed in exploiting this issue.
Mr Alemao must know the success of any issue depends on the people’s acceptability. As it appears that the SGDP is only a forum to contest elections and nothing beyond that. Even the issue of fighting corruption sounds to be merely a boast, as Mr Alemao himself is involved in MPLAD fund scam. How could a leader whose credibility is suspect claim to be in the vanguard against corruption?
EDITORIAL
Mr Churchill Alemao’s all attempts to force the Congress leadership to succumb to his pressures have failed, and now seem to be backfiring. The leadership not only rejected his conditions for staying on in the party, but even conveyed to him that he was free to leave the party and could think of a separate future. This came as a jolt to Mr Alemao who made everybody believe that he was indispensable to the Congress and taller than other Congress leaders from South Goa in terms of popularity.
Mr Alemao has no doubt been always an irrepressible and outspoken politician. And like other smart politicos he can mouth the right phrases camouflaging his individual aspirations with public causes. He has been doing that for quite some time while being the Congress MP, but he has looked more like a fish out of water than a Turk who makes the politburo shudder. Choosing “right causes” at the right time is key to the success of a politician. From this angle too, Mr Alemao’s move to convene a meeting of like-minded persons on March 10 to raise the issues of Regional Plan, SEZ land allotment, Roman script and Mopa airport are not going to benefit him much. Even his allegation of misrule under Congress government will not cut much ice. Goa Bachao Abhiyan was formed to fight against the Regional Plan. With government agreeing to scrap the Plan, it would be a tough proposition for Mr Alemao to stretch this. Similar is the case with other issues.
He has not added to his popularity by harping on his demand: Allow me to contest from the Navelim assembly constituency. This has made it sound as though he had some personal scores to settle with Mr Faleiro. While doing so he forgot that it was not at all an issue which should have made the Congress leadership to sit up and think over the pros and cons. How could Mr Alemao forget that any political organisation, based on certain ideology, is above an individual? He should take lessons from political history.
In this background it is doubtful if his plan to lead an organisation that emerges as an alternative would take him very far. The space for alternative is already filled with the BJP and the NCP. It remains to be seen how many will be swayed by his rhetoric. Mr Alemao allowed his aides to float Save Goa Democratic Party in order to put more pressure on the Congress. Would people then have faith in his ideological outpourings? Whose identity the SGDP would try to protect: Goa’s or Mr Alemao’s? Goan identity could have worked for Mr Alemao earlier. In a scenario where all the political parties talk about day in and day out, it is not certain to what extent Mr Alemao will succeed in exploiting this issue.
Mr Alemao must know the success of any issue depends on the people’s acceptability. As it appears that the SGDP is only a forum to contest elections and nothing beyond that. Even the issue of fighting corruption sounds to be merely a boast, as Mr Alemao himself is involved in MPLAD fund scam. How could a leader whose credibility is suspect claim to be in the vanguard against corruption?
Rave Culture
Rave Culture
EDITORIAL
THE arrest of 250 youths, including 27 girls and some foreigners at a village in Pune from a rave party has certainly not come as a big surprise for the reason that for youngsters rave parties are the most popular form of entertainment. Rave parties are not an unknown commodity for Goa. The origin of rave parties in Goa can be traced back to the 1960’s with the influx of hippies. However the arrest the these youths makes it explicitly clear that the nature of the rave parties has now changed. In fact the rave parties have been the most sought after destinations for free availability of drugs. If these arrests are the indices of the popularity of the rave parties, this also underlines drug addiction has become a culture for the present day youth. Drug use is intended to allegedly enhance ravers’ sensations and boost their energy so they can dance for long periods. Drug addiction in India has of late emerged as a matter of great concern and there are about 3 million estimated victims of different kinds of drug usages. While the traditional moorings about self-restraint, social taboos and self-discipline are fast eroding, the stress for betterment of life in a fiercely competitive world is forcing youth to take refuge in the world of drugs. This is indeed a disastrous situation and the time has come to launch a crusade against the menace turning the families into crusaders.
EDITORIAL
THE arrest of 250 youths, including 27 girls and some foreigners at a village in Pune from a rave party has certainly not come as a big surprise for the reason that for youngsters rave parties are the most popular form of entertainment. Rave parties are not an unknown commodity for Goa. The origin of rave parties in Goa can be traced back to the 1960’s with the influx of hippies. However the arrest the these youths makes it explicitly clear that the nature of the rave parties has now changed. In fact the rave parties have been the most sought after destinations for free availability of drugs. If these arrests are the indices of the popularity of the rave parties, this also underlines drug addiction has become a culture for the present day youth. Drug use is intended to allegedly enhance ravers’ sensations and boost their energy so they can dance for long periods. Drug addiction in India has of late emerged as a matter of great concern and there are about 3 million estimated victims of different kinds of drug usages. While the traditional moorings about self-restraint, social taboos and self-discipline are fast eroding, the stress for betterment of life in a fiercely competitive world is forcing youth to take refuge in the world of drugs. This is indeed a disastrous situation and the time has come to launch a crusade against the menace turning the families into crusaders.
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