by Prof. Louis Jose Dennis
renukadoc@hotmail.com
The decision by Goa Sudharop, a US-based NGO, to mark 2006 as the ‘Year of the Senior’, with various programmes, including essays by Senior Citizens of Goan origin from across the globe, speaks volumes of the love and affection the organizers have for those in the sunset of their lives.
The wise words of my elders “Participating makes you grow, award-winning makes you glow”, deeply rooted in my mind right from the days of my youth, have prompted me to participate with this essay on the topic “Reminiscences of my Goan Youth”.
During the days of my primary education in Portuguese, the importance of discipline was instilled in us by our teachers. This has been emphatically mentioned by me, because the teachers always moved about the classroom with a polished stick which was seldom used, but frightened us nevertheless. I remember acting in a Konkani play “Bhattkar” wherein the leading role of bhattkar (landlord) was played by me, to the amusement of the audience. Later in life, the fictitious role of a bhattkar enacted by me became a living reality in Curtorim.
I vividly remember the good old days in Curtorim, when I used to accompany my uncle, who was also my godfather, to our predio (property) comprising paddy fields, even in inclement weather. During the sowing season, the farmer used to sow the best variety of rice seeds in the fields, throwing them with a dexterity at which I used to marvel.
The non’ni (weeding) and transplanting of the paddy fields by the women labourers was interesting, as the women used to indulge in village gossip while performing their duties. Canja (rice broth) was provided by us during the short break at around 10 a.m. They made up a very jolly group that kept me amused with their jokes in Konkani. They addressed my uncle as 'Mapit Bhattkar' and would jokingly ask me when I would take his place.
The harvesting season was equally interesting with the women harvesting and the men tying the sheaves, which were brought to my forad (open space in front of our house) for the boil-mollni (threshing with oxen). The height of amusement for me was at the threshing and winnowing time. This took place from late evening till the early hours of the morning. The labourers were treated with rice-curry, salt fish and mango pickle, along with maddanchi-feni (an alcoholic drink distilled from coconut toddy) after which they started the threshing accompanied with lively Konkani songs which continued throughout the night, with maddanchi-feni flowing, and the singing of the rhythmic Konkani song, “Xekoi! Xekoi!”(Drink! Drink!). At midnight attol (a rice and jaggery sweet) was served, to the delight of the labourers. I used to watch all this till early morning, when I fell asleep in the balcony, only to be awakened by my uncle for breakfast. The paddy was stored in a granary with a koddo (bamboo mat placed around the grain).
I can never forget the paddo (coconut plucking) every three months. The paddekar (coconut plucker) would climb the tall coconut trees swiftly and fearlessly, wearing just a kashti (red loincloth). On reaching the top he would sing songs and whistle to let us know that he had reached the palm fronds. Then, loudly counting the coconuts, he would drop them to the ground, either in bunches or singly.
The May holidays were not complete without the mango plucking. Mangoes - Malcurada, Xavier and Monserratte - were stored in hay in one room of our ancestral house, and were relished by all those who visited us. Then again in the month of May, when all students studying outside Goa returned home, the Mocidade de Curtorim (Youth of Curtorim) of which I was the President, organized the traditional May Ball at Curtorim which was largely attended by the elite of Curtorim and the neighboring areas. Here the elders, all ‘suited and booted’, attended this Festa dancante (Ball) on the lookout with eagle eye for an eligible damsel for their son or an eligible macho male for their daughter. Arroz refogado (pulao) and orxata (an almond drink) were served to all those who attended the function, as the Ball continued till madrugada (wee hours of the morning) to the strains of a brass band.
On 18th December every year, St. Alex Church of Curtorim celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe popularly known as 'Kelleam Fest'. On the eve of the feast, relatives and invitees flock to Curtorim to celebrate the feast. San’nas, made from rice and toddy, are prepared in the copro (san’na oven) on the burning firewood, and the whiff of delicious sorpotel (a dish made from pork) is in the air. At the break of dawn the villagers of Curtorim, wake up to the sound of the popular Goan Alvorada (wake-up call), and the young and the old, decked out in their best, attend the High Mass followed by a procession and the benediction. By noon, a sumptuous lunch is dished out in every house. In the evening all go to the kermess (fair) where friends gather to celebrate the event. I remember I was given just quatro tangas (4 annas) by my uncle to spend at my discretion at the fair. But till today I cherish the memory as with this amount I bought kaddio-boddio, chonne and other sweets.
One Christmas season before the lotus bloomed in the main lake of Curtorim, the group “Curtorcares” in which I took part and which had been awarded the second prize at the Second All Goa Mando Festival at Panjim, performed the same Mando in a special canoe which went around the lake to the thunderous applause of the vast crowd that had gathered to witness this unique event.
Words fail me to adequately express my gratitude for this golden
opportunity afforded to me, a 77-year old, silver-haired senior citizen of Goan
origin. It was grabbed by me, for such an opportunity knocks at one’s
door just ONCE!
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An educationist, Prof. L.J. Dennis was Head of the Biology Department at Chowgule College, Margao. Presently Manager of the St Xavier’s Institute Primary School, Curtorim, he earlier held several positions including Deputy Sarpanch of Curtorim Panchayat, Member of the Jury of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum and District Governor of Lions Club International. Married to Alcina Nazareth, Prof L.J. Dennis has one daughter, Dr. Renuka - married to Anil da Silva - and two grandsons, Ashley and Aaric.