Mr Uday Bhembre, a Goan writer and an Advocate, in a recent article published in the Times of India and Goanewsonline on 17th January 2011, had, in his own dubious and pungent style, castigated Portuguese Colonialism. There was no mention of other Colonials.
Mr Bhembre was obviously taken aback by the heated debate on the Portuguese that took place on NIZ GOENKAR. He reserved his venom for the Portuguese.
Without any reference to “NIZ GOENKAR”, except for some of the words used, he has chosen to jump on his high horse, in his comfortable Mansion in Margao and deliver to readers, an idiotic lecture on Portuguese Colonialism.
Bhembre may be an Advocate, writer and an ex- Goan MLA. Perhaps he is still addressed as Dotor (Portuguese Etiquette).But this salutation does not make him an expert on History and neither does it give him a right to deliver just one side of the story.
His one sided view of Colonisation, is obviously part of his well, practised training as an Advocate. He has to protect the client he represents, even, to the detriment of truth or guilt. He is paid for this. Again as an Ex-Goan MLA, he has to follow the Party line. The Party line is not always in the interest of the Common man, but, for the benefit of the Party Members, Indian & Foreign Bank Balances, and “egos”, larger than Life.
The article written by Bhembre has not been received well by Indians all over India and has received no applause. Instead commentators on the Times Of India have been extremely critical of him and castigated him.
Mr Bhembre views History, in hindsight. He is able to be critical, again, in hindsight.
Goa and India today is undergoing turmoil and ghastly turbulence. The worst and most deadly form of Colonisation is taking place right now. We call it corruption. Bhembre has been a part of this turmoil, turbulence and corruption being an Ex- MLA. Worse he also claims to be a writer. Perhaps he is only capable of writing about the Portuguese and not Indian Colonisers.
Mr Bhembre in his article does not mention other Colonial powers. The British, who held the largest Empire on earth, and the biggest, chunk in India, or the French, or the Dutch or the Spanish. What about the Greeks, Romans, Turks, Ottomans, Mughals. Or the ,Ming dynasties, of China. What about the Japanese Imperial Empires. Perhaps a part of Mr Bhembre`s brains do not allow for these Colonisers. Only the Portuguese were known for the Inquisition and persecution, while the others were sinless and blameless. Perhaps perfect Colonisers.
Bhembre again believes the Indians were a unified race. This is very far from the truth. Indians fought amongst themselves. India in the period of History that Bhembre has chosen to analyse, were fighting bloody internal wars. The Indians were also fighting with the Muslim invaders.
He forgets that Hindus were also fighting Hindus over territory. This is why we have different States in India. All now unified under a Federation.
Bhembre forgets that India is split, on the basis Language and culture. Hinduism itself also has variances.
What about the hated Indian Caste system. This too is a form of colonisation where one group dominates another and imposes its rules. Who are the Indians here being persecuted. Who are the Harijans and untouchables? who dominates these castes of Indian origin? Which period of History did this begin?
Mr Bhembre must understand, to get a balanced and broader picture of History, he must understand the difference of being a Loyal subject of a King, and following the Kings dictate, and, living in a modern democracy.
Had Mr Bhembre, written his article , during the period of history he has described and criticised, I have no doubt he would have been sent to the gallows and had his head chopped for being disloyal to the King. This was also practised in India
Regardless, I am sure there are periods of history that as it evolved, gave us something good too. I guess Democracy is one of these evolutions.
Indians today still have a liking for many things British and it is also right that Goans too, have a liking for what was good about the Portuguese.
Goa and Goans today have only taken and remember what was good about the Portuguese. I do not see anything wrong about that. I am also sure Goans will equally deplore what was bad about the Portuguese. But again they had no control over that period of history. The internet and books and Newspapers were not a part of that period of History. Had it been, it might have been different
Mr Uday Bhembre too, must remember, that he had no control of the periods of history he describes in his article other than words that he uses to manipulate and to distort some of it in his Times article. Thanks to the media, now available to everyone
Mr Uday Bhembre, easily condemns Portuguese history and values…but he himself while an MLA, Writer and advocate was not able to change any of Goa`s “current” shameful history, while he was a part of it. Why not Mr Bhembre? Any explanation? Hiding something? Difficulty explaining your, ineptitude?
Today Goa is one of the most corrupt places on earth. It has become Lawless. It is not equitable, where every Goan shares in its wealth.
Goa today has been colonised by Land sharks, Corrupt & uneducated Politician’s, Corrupt Writers, Corrupt Advocates, Corrupt Policemen, not forgetting the Goa Desks based in New Delhi. What about the “GHANTI” colonies installed by your erstwhile Chief Minister and you colleague Mauvin Godinho?
Mr Uday Bhembre will be remembered too, as a failure, for his part in Goa`s recent history. In time there will be a lot written about his inefficiencies and deficiencies.
Mr Bhembre is trying to change the Historical mind set of Goans, while he has failed to change Goa, while he was a Politician and a Writer for SUNAPARAANT and other mediums.
Welcome to the Real world Mr Bhembre of 2011.
Being an Advocate, Ex-MLA or Writer, does not give you a right to re-colonise out mind sets. We will choose and decide what is right and dispose- off, what was or is wrong. It is but in our human nature.
Accept your own failure with grace.
Enjoy articles on NIZ GOENKAR
12 comments:
Well said Mr. Fernandes. This is not Bhembre but in konkani we say "BHEMRO" OR SNORT in English. The only thing we can do for such person is to blow from our nose. I had high regard for this man for being pro Konkani but they got dirty minde to fool the people of Goa. He was in close touch with the Bishop of Goa Raul Gonsalves. He is the one who forced Nagrik Konkani in the Church schools. Now all our Goans are suffering because of them. These are Hindu Bhramin's(Bamon) who manipulate to butter their bread. They think what konkani they write is pure. They like to call a dog" Kutro " not "Sunnem". It is time to call a spade, a spade.
This Uday Bhembre is now become a bhembro. To be honest Konkani was kept alive the the catholis of Goa and specially the Tiatrists and they used Roman Script for that. Even this bhembro was using roman script Konkani. I remember the old Konkani papers, first the daily DIVTTI, then the other daily UZVADD by Evagrio George, then CINE TIMES by Enclidas de Elly (printed from Bombay) then the GOA TIMES etc. We have "Romasis" by Reginald Fernandes, Caridade Damasciano Fernandes, Alloysius Afonso etc Which I used to read myself in roman script. Why suddenly the Indian type of Konkani by this bhembro? And now he is out taunting our Niz Goenkar. Go to hell bhembrea.
Udoi Bembro! Hey Bhembre, why do you still practice Portuguese Codes of Law in Goan courts? Why don't you fight against these Civil codes those still used in property and Civil matters in Goan Courts? Why is it "Portuguese Law' applicable when it comes to marriage dissolution or divorces in Goan courts till date? Have you fought any such cases as a dirty lawyer with references to Portuguese Law? Ask yourself. I personally believe that this kutro is siding with RSS ideology. Where is Chorchill who was fighting for Konkani when he didn't knew to talk English? The language issues won't help Goans in any case, cross the borders of Goa, you will realize what I say.
Now coming to the criticism of Portuguese regime in Goa, people like Bhembrem enjoyed peace and freedom. If he was practising his profession at that time, he would probably had not enough clients as crime rate was low or atleast not at all. The common man lived in total harmony and not like today. If Bhembrem is concerned about the state of affairs in Goa, he should be able to raise his voice against the Cowmuth government, the police atrocities, land grabbing, murders and the under-development of Goa. Bhembre is living in a fools paradise.
There rises another member "Bembro" of the right wing RSS. If Goans are referring and praising the past Portuguese history, it is because they have had enough of the Indian way of life. Compare the last 50 years statistics of crime and corruption, communal disruption, the destruction of the beauty of Goa and the list goes on. Today's government is made up of a bunch of uneducated MLAs some of whom thrive on criminal activities. Goans freedom to has been taken away, Marathi instead of Konkani with Roman Script is imposed upon us. We cannot express ourselves in a democratically. WE do not want the second airport, the Highways, the Konkan Railway is built against the wishes of Goan citizens. No one hears the cries of Goan Citizens. What freedom do WE have? It is easy for those that have a comfortable life to condemn those that do not have any. Goa is in need of a true Liberation by genuine Freedom Fighters.
@N.Fernandes...you have not left any space for me to add any thing about this Bembro. This Bembro was supported,morally and financially by the same Goans whom he is criticising. I have read his article on Times of India and it is hollow without any substance.
What colonial hangover and slavish mentality is he talking about? The colonial hangover and slavish mentality is seen among the Indians. Till today,they address even an office boy as "saar" and "madam". The Babudom bureaucracy is also a hangover of the British colonialists. The Indian Civil Service is also a remnant of the British colonisers. The post office, telegraph,railways, roads,ports and banking are also remnants of the British colonisers.
Tell Bembro to get rid of those Indian hangovers before he starts preaching to the Goans.
We Goans have a unique identity and culture and that is the Goan identity and Goan culture.
Oh! before I forget, the Times of India where Bembro published that article is also a legacy of the British colonials. Probably, he must have forgotten that two of the greatest editors of that newspaper were Goans. They were Frank Moraes and his son Don Moraes.
Now all Goans should blow their noses and fling the snort or bembre on this Uday Bembro.
Bravo Mr Fernandes, thats an apt response to that respected Bhembrett. Certainly he will have no answers to the questions raised or else let him come here on the forum and justify himself, rest assured he will be chewed up. We all love the portuguese way of life...real peace and security unlike the wantoness and hooliganism practised by todays ruling politicians and police. And Bhembret has no guts to cry foul over recent dirty events.
Bembro um palhaso indiano. Under your colonial rule Goa our beloved land is turning into a large sewage. Show us your plan of saving Goa. Seu besta RSS open your eyes. Goa after 61 has become third world
When I read the article of Adv.Uday Bhembre, I was filled with disgust, because I admired him as a lawyer and konkanist. I know that he also admired me when he appreciated the Year Book of Rachol Seminary on the occasion of the Marian Year in 1987-1988. Now I feel that he is misreading, distorting or relativizing the history of Goa. History of Goa is too complex to be simplified with a few negative strokes. I feel that the freedom fighters do not know enough history of Goa. If the Portuguese had not come to the island of Goa, there would be “no Goa” and much less “freedom fighters for Goa”… Being a lawyer, Udhay can turn black into white and white into black.
It is the Hindus who were welcoming the Portuguese in 1510. Afonso de Albuquerque has introduced or maintained good programmes for Goa. Conversion movement has several phases: it was tolerant (1510-1540), then when the Jesuits founded the College of St.Paul in 1542, conversion went full swing. Temples were destroyed in Bardez and more in Salsete. In Verna, the temple of Mhalsadevi was destroyed together with the house for the devadasis and the widows … Diogo Rodrigues destroyed temples. There were conversions. The First Provincial Synod forbade conversions by force in 1567.
The study of Konkani had also phases: Golden Age. Franciscans and Jesuits have developed it. Press was brought to Goa. Parish schools were growing, education, health care prospered. Village communities have been maintained (they have been destroyed by the Government during these 50 post-liberation years…), they have been followed by Panchayati Raj (which unfortunately has come down to the maximum corruption). The Portuguese Law continues. Yet, there is so much criminality, injustice, turmoil. There is erosion of values. The Government is corrupt, police is ailing, villages are deteriorating, agriculture is disappearing… Today’s political leaders do not improve the image of Goa in the world. In such state we need honest people to help Goa grow, otherwise Goa is gone…
Fr.Ivo da C.Souza
Insteead of attacking the past Uday Bhembre and the others who have vested interest in stoking fires should look at the cesspool they have made Goa today. Over the last 50 years we see how Goa is being destroyed infront of our very eyes. Look at the law and order situation, corruption, the crime, the robberies, the drug trafficking, casinos, prostitution, casinos encouraging gambling, destruction of our environment, damage from mining, slums, pollution of our rivers - the list never ends.
there are 2 types of bamons in goa one hindu saraswat bamons and other christian priesgt bamons these 2 communities rule goa by manipulating the religious sentiments . those people who bla bla about portuguese shouldnt forget that they were hindus 500 years age and their forefather were hindus and people who were persecuted in the name of religions by inquizitions is history and not some agenda written by foreign authors . the desrtruction of goa iss done by selfish politicians who are elected by people themselves and about migration its an international phenomenon justy like people of other places come in search of job people from go also migtrate to other places isnt it .its high time people of goa come out from the clutches of contractors of religion both hindus and christians and think positively about development of goa
Nilesh, you must be having some specific motive to intentionally comment on this long forgotten article. That too after a deep slumber. Don't know if you are just a new entrant or scratching something long overdue, unhealing wound. The issue here is not about caste, religion or Brahmanism, it is about ethics, the present situation and about those people who could not stand tall with a false ego. Sorry to see them falling down at the lightest wind. Let us not grind ourselves within the caste system. Let us be just Goans.
Nilesh Morajkar you are now inventing the new caste system. There are only one type of Bamons and that is Christian. The Hindu type are knowan as Brahmins.
And please stop your histrory narrations to us which you have not read. 500 years before , we were Hinuds and another 500 years before we were Buddhist and another 500 years before we wer Athist. Where we should stop till Stone Age ? Let me tell you I am proud and fortunate to be a Christian. It does not bother me if you want to go to HELL !
Post a Comment