Sunday, May 30, 2010

GOVERNOR OF WEST BENGAL, MR. M.K. NARAYANAN, VISITS GOA CHITRA MUSEUM


GOVERNOR OF WEST BENGAL, MR. M.K. NARAYANAN, VISITS GOA CHITRA, MUSEUM OF THE PEOPLE OF GOA.


Goa Chitra, Goa’s first Ethnographic museum at Benaulim, Goa was graced by the Governor of West Bengal, His Excellency Mr. M.K. Narayanan, on the 30th of May, 2010. The distinguished Governor arrived in the state yesterday as a special guest at the Gomanta Vibhushan award ceremony that was held to honor Dr. Kakodkar at a ceremony held in Panjim. Amidst his tight schedule he made time to visit the Goa Chitra museum, Benaulim. Mr. Narayanan was accompanied by his wife and Ms. Pamela Mascarenhas from the tourism department. On arrival he was welcomed by Mrs. Aldina Gomes, Director of the museum and Ms. Maria Gomes Rebello, Chairperson, South Goa Z.P.

He was taken on a comprehensive tour around the museum by curator Victor Hugo Gomes, taking keen interest in the artifacts and the science behind every agrarian implement as well as other objects in the collection that showcase Goa’s rich cultural past.
His Excellency was very impressed with the sustainable organic farm and how it tied to the museum’s objectives to collect, preserve and pay tribute to Goa's unique heritage for future generations. A former national security advisor, Mr. M.K. Narayanan was fascinated by Victor’s dedication and effort to singlehandedly collect, preserve, and document and display the collection through self funding. In his message the Governor noted the following: “It is amazing what we can achieve with dedication, drive and the support of your family. Goa Chitra is history, philosophy, religion and ecology all worked into one. It is a journey into our ancient past indicating how modern our forefathers were in knowing how environment and nature works. Keep it up”.
Victor explained that the genesis of the museum began many years ago when he started collecting old, discarded implements and tools from attics and storerooms because he was saddened to see reminders of a way of life disappear. But as the collection grew, he was awed by the richness of the culture and heritage that these objects represented, and the knowledge and skills of our forefathers. His quest to collect objects and artifacts led him to travel the length and breadth of Goa, to the remotest of villages, speaking to the village elders, documenting the ethnicity and rituals associated with every item.
The governor expressed his surprise that no local body had taken interest in coming forward to provide funding to the museum." It is an amazing collection that reflects the history, culture, science and technology that prevailed in Goa. This gentleman needs our support and I shall do what I can in my power to support this museum and its ideas.”


Since the opening of the museum on 2nd November 2009, Goa Chitra has been graced by many distinguished guests that include the Union Minister of Tourism, Ms. Kumari Selja , the Governor of Goa, His Excellency Dr. S.S. Sidhu, the Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk, winner of the Man Booker Prize Kiran Desai, astronomer and Padmabhushan Awardee, Dr. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, Padma Bhushan and renowned Indian poet, lyricist and director Sampooran Singh Kalra Gulzar, eminent Indian poets Dr. Surjit Patar, Prof. Naseem Shafai, Ms. Sukhvinder Amrit, Dr. Arabinda Mitra, Executive Director, Indo-US Science and Technology Forum, Union Tourism secretary Mr. Sujit Banerjee etc. To preview the collection Goa Chitra has had over 25,000 people visit the museum and has gained local as well as national media attention. This project is recognised as an international product and has been the recipient of two International awards. The Fundacao Orient scholarship 2009 (Portugal) and the V.X. Verodiano Award 2009 (USA) for persons who preserve the well being of mankind through individual advancement in the field of art, music, literature, science, medicine or humanities.

The museum is open to public on all days except Mondays between 9.00 am to 6.00 pm. For further details call 08326579877, 08322772910, and 09850466165 or email goachitra@gmail.com

Victor Hugo Gomes can be contacted at House No. 498, Pulwaddo, Benaulim, Salcete, Goa - 403716, India
mobile:09850466165 landline:0832-6570877
Email: victor.h.gomes at hotmail.com

Photos by: Pantaleao Fernandes
Info source: goachitra


[As forwarded to gaspar almeida, www.goa-world.com
moderator, gulf-goans e-newsletter (since 1994)]

30/05/2010

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Taking Goa to the world

Taking Goa to the world
Published on: May 20, 2010

NT NETWORK

Designer, Wendell Rodricks has become one of the first Indians to showcase his collection at Sweden in Gothenburg, recently. This was a unique platform for Wendell to present something new and yet Indian at heart. He was accompanied by designers–Neelanjana Ghose and Rahul Mishra.

For this show, three styles had to be portrayed—classical Indian style, a mix and a European-Indian style.
This event was not merely one where fashion statements are made but it was more than that. “This show was more of a cultural statement rather than plain fashion” says Wendell while speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’ about his experience.

Whenever anyone thinks of Indian designs abroad, there are some clichés involved with it, like royal costumes from Rajasthan or Bollywood themes or some heavy embroidery work. “I tried to show the experience that just can’t be seen. I wanted to show the spirituality of India. I also added Goan touches to it as most of my fabrics are flowing just like the waves on Goa’s beaches,” adds Rodricks.
The show received a good response from the people around. This show was produced by Aschan and Co. Rodricks confirmed that they have been further invited for another show in October. He is also preparing for the new season of the India Fashion Week that will commence from September.

Apart from promoting Indian fashion on a global arena, he is now busy with his work on the kunbi saree fabric which he is all set to redefine and promote on a greater scale. “With this kunbi saree fabric we had only stoles before. But now we are weaving 25 sarees with this fabric and also men’s shirts. We have also made it in the eco-friendly fabric” concludes Wendell who is all eager to give the Kunbi fabric a better and a bigger platform.

This fabric is woven entirely with pure cotton and dyed with subtle colouring extracted from guava leaves and rice kanjee mixed with iron filings. The Kunbi weave also has sea shells and wooden beads woven in the weft. Rodricks is hopeful that weaving becomes a part of the education system in Goa so that village women and young students can earn a livelihood from the same.

http://www.navhindtimes.in/ilive/taking-goa-world

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Goa Chitra Celebrates International Museum Day

Goa Chitra Celebrates International Museum Day
With Senior Citizens of the State.



In compliance with the motto and philosophy of Goa Chitra, the museum threw open its doors to the aged and senior citizens of the state on international museum day. The theme selected by the ICOM was museums for social harmony. As a significance to integrate the aged into the main stream of Goan society, visitors from the home of the aged and senior citizens from across Goa were invited for a Free and special tour of the museum on the 18th of May 2010. Special tours were conducted personally by the curator and collector Victor Hugo Gomes at 10.00 a.m., 12.00 noon and 4.00 p.m. transport was sponsored by Ruby realtors and Evancio Quadros .

The event was met with an overwhelming response as busloads of aged arrived to spend the day at the museum. Armed with wheel chairs and walking sticks, they filled the corridors of the Goa Chitra museum echoing Konkani lexicon along with the curator and adding their own Portuguese translation. For Victor Hugo Gomes this was an equally emotional experience since it was not long ago that he heard similar stories from his grandmother.

For 94 years Mrs. Olga Da Costa, the oldest visitor to Goa Chitra, the day was an extremely emotional experience. With tears in her eyes she confesses to the surprise she felt to see tools and implements that she once so ordinarily used being put on display. To her it was going down memory lane when life was simple and everything had meaning and purpose.

Another senior citizen from the Benaulim Home for the Aged, Olinda was grateful for this experience. This land lady was definitely proud to see the ‘hando’ and promptly recounts her familiarity with the use of these tools. For Robert Fernandes, it was an instant connection not only to the implements on display but to the entire concept of preserving it for the future generations.. “How else would tomorrow’s youth know their ancestry?”

For Dorothy, her smile was enough to express her awe at the display. “In the past these were things that we would use every day, and now to see them on display makes me happy. Thank you for taking on this endeavour. It is not only us the aged but also the younger generation who shall be forever grateful. God bless you and your wife”

In their own wisdom, they knew that all they saw is now history and was grateful to this experience. One could feel the hesitance as they had to leave, because for many they had come home to their youth. The tour’s ended with a interaction over snacks and soft drinks served to the guests.

Goa Chitra, Goa’s first and only ethnographical museum, situated in Benaulim is open to public on all days except Mondays between 9.00 am to 6.00 pm. For details call 08326579877, 08322772910, 09850466165 or email goachitra@gmail.com.




_____________________________________________________________________

Goa Chitra is a tribute by its founder to his ancestors and to their way of life using age-old wisdom passed down through generations. It is an unique collection and display of traditional farming implements and other ancient tools of trade set up against the backdrop of a traditional organic farm.

Beginning with the original 200 privately collected items, the collections have now grown to more than 4000 objects on display. The museum nevertheless preserves its universality in its collections of artifacts in representing the culture of ancient Goa. Each of the artifacts is supplemented by information that was collected in situ by interviewing the elder members of the community and through the study of its application in daily life.

Reutilization and recycling of materials like wood work, doors, windows, pillars, railings and other materials and elements from over 300 demolished traditional houses that have been recovered by the designer contribute to the contemporary outlook of the structure with its blend of traditional elements and modern technologies.

The concept of the museum is in holding with the philosophy that resources in today's world should not be wasted if their use is not necessary.

Goa Chitra believes in reviving age old traditions through the museum display and outreach programs thus allowing the younger generation to share the wisdom of the past which would otherwise be irretrievably lost. This we hope will create awareness about nature, its influences, and benefits on human life.


19 May 2010
Benaulim, Goa, India


- As forwarded to www.goa-world.com
& gulf-goans e-Newsletter team via email.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Churchill Brothers Sports Club official meets with Al Qadsia Club representatives

Churchill Brothers Sports Club official meets with Al Qadsia Club representatives


Kuwait:



Peter Figueiredo, Marketing Manager and Public Relations Officer of Churchill Brothers Sports Club - Goa, India is seen giving the club memento to Al Qadsia Sporting Club officials, Adil Habib Qambar (Treasurer) and Ahmad Namar (Secretary) at the club house in Kuwait during their AFC Cup pre-quarter final match.


Photo & Info source:
Response Media | Response Events & Exhibitions | Tel: 00965 - 24810109/24814404 | Fax: 24834815 | www.responsekuwait.


May 12, 2010


www.goa-world.com
gaspar almeida

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

INVITATION


INVITATION

With profound gratitude to the Almighty and to our beloved benefactors,
The Cofre de Nossa Sra. de Lourdes, Utorda along with the Parish Priest,
Parish Pastoral Council and the entire community of the faithful of Utorda
coordially invite you for the Solemn Eucharistic celebration, blessing
and inauguration of the newly constructed Prayer Room, Sacristy and a
Community Hall on Thursday, 13th May 2010 at 4:00 p.m.
by Vicar-General the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman,
Rev. Fr. Jose Remedios Fernandes.



Fr. Brito Fernandes (Parish Priest)
Mr. Elvis Pereira (Treasurer)
Mr. Domingos Braganca (Attorney)
Mr. Antonio Pereira (Member)
Mrs. Emy Pereira (Member)