Vol. XL No. 17 Monthly Bulletin of the Bombay East Indian Association January 2016

BOMBAYEAST INDIAN ASSOCIATION

The next meeting of the

Managing Committee

of the Bombay East Indian

Association will be held on

Tuesday , at 7 p m

Members

, February 2 . .

The EAST INDIAN JOURNAL and other

information on East Indians available on our

website : www.tbeia.com

The Op-Ed Page THE BIG- BANN THEORYWhatsApp?

Jude H GomesA New Year. Twenty-Sixteen. Indian

Republic. Resolutions. Revolutions.

Time and again, sanctimonious

sermons are delivered on the lessons

history passes down to us, or, put

another way- the lessons we should

ideally and logically draw form the

watershed historical events,. Did that

hold water in 2015? It would appear

not. Will it hold water in 2016? Why

else would the countries in the West,

one after another, repeat the mistakes of

the past- the very mistakes that have

generated the West’s and the world’s

current nemesis?

So what’s in store globally for India in

2016?

A global downturn is outside our

doorstep. While equities might do well,

global growth will stay sluggish. You

won’t be able to find income without

risk. While sovereign wealth funds

might decline, countries will not be able

to afford fluctuations. The millennial

spending trajectory might be steeper,

but it’s to be hoped that the Refugee

problem does not drag the world

economy into the pits.

Our peripatetic leader’s shuttle

diplomacy, the latest making a

Christmas PitStop at Lahore, a

transformative moment on the

subcontinent, took everyone by

surprise. The hate-him-love-him-but-

can’t-ignore-him coinage comes

tailor-made as he does everything with

a bang! The pressing challenge is not to

stop the press of globalization, but to

do what Pope John-Paul ll had referred

to as a ‘globalization without

marginalisation.’

I call it Gomes’ Law of Creative

Anomalies. Some might say EIs have

no interest in this turkey shoot, when

we are only interested in gaothans, and

OBC, farmers, etcetera, but leaving a

c a r b o n f o o t p r i n t f o r f u t u r e

generations, or the lack of it, gains their

interest, while appealing to a younger

demography. It has now been proved

that the burning of paddy is a cause of

environmental pollution. Let’s not kill

the cash-cow.

That is why when an ideological

intolerance occurred a few months

ago, i decided to return my Award, too.

I remember entering the RWITC

Mahalaxmi Racecourse for the first

time in November 1970, and seeing the

Notice Board outside the Members

Enclosure reading: “South Africans

and dogs not allowed.” As if dogs are

literate! But discrimination existed

even then. And So I began hunting for

the Award in my study. My wife said,

wives generally being impervious to

male commitments of the high order:

what are you doing rummaging in the

study? Look at the dust you are kicking

up and disturbing all those spiders,

cockroaches and lizards. I said i was

looking for the Award I got as the Best

Young Writer for 1969? She said it is

hugely ugly, i almost threw it away but

since it is the onlyAward you have ever

E. I. JOURNAL JANUARY 201602

JUDE H GOMES - 9619169150

Adv. VIVIAN D’SOUZA - 9821148712

MS. THERESA AGUIAR - 9820791231

LANCY FERREIRA - 8097474482

PREM MORAES - 9867368669

MELVILLE D’SOUZA - 9820664075

WILFRED PEREIRA - 9820674420

Tel.: 9619169150

The Editor/ ManagerEast Indian JournalBEIA DeskSt Andrew's Road,Bandra west, Mumbai 400050

THE BOMBAY EAST INDIAN JOURNAL IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE:

Mr. Jude GomesMr. Wilfred Pereira, PR & GL

Contact onMr. Prem Moares

Please visit the website for information on East Indian issues, news andhappenings. You may report any such happening to , Editorof Bandra on Mobile : of Kirol onMobile : 9820674420

Very soon, we shall upload detailed information on the website pertaining to :

1. Wills2. Leave and Licence 3. Gaothan development 4. DP Plan 5. OBC

9867368669

9619169150 or

www.tbeia.com

Editor : Mr. Jude H. Gomes

Christine : 9821007588

won- a good journalist does not win

awards, I said, anyway where is it? I

want to give it back. You don’t even

remember who gave it to you and in

any case you need a cause, you cannot

just give it back. I have a cause; I said

huffily, a very powerful cause. She said

good, I am happy for you, now go to

Kalidas and get the Christmas

ingredients shopping done. No sense of

occasion, wives. A man has to do what

he has to do.

I almost belong to the Midnight

Children category of whom Salman

Rushdie wrote-”...it is the privilege and

the curse of the Midnight’s Children to

be both masters and victims of their

times, to forsake privacy and be sucked

into the annihilating whirlpool of the

multitude to be unable to live or die in

peace.” The Republic Day will

cont inue to s tand worthy of

celebrations if not for any other things

for The Tryst With Destiny, letting our

patriotic spirit soar on this Republic

Day on the wings of those immortal

a s p i r a t i o n s a n d r e m e m b e r

G o v e r n a n c e A l s o B r i n g

Responsibility! 2016 may be the last

chance, after which partisanship will

prevail in the slow march towards the

2019 elections.

Start-up EIs, Stand-up EIs, let’s take

advantage of the Dream Run.

Here’s hoping for style, substance and

freedom to do whatever we want in

2016, within the ambit of the law. Let

me end-not conclude- this column by

quo t ing Rober t Wi l son , “ In

conclusion, there is no conclusion.

Things will go on in 2016 as they

always have, getting weirder all the

time. Ja”

OSWALD CARDINAL GRACIAS shall celebrate

at 11.00 a.m. at Holy Cross Church, Kurla, Mumbai

- 400 70 . Preparations are on

way towards welcoming the Cardinal in traditional East Indian

way. Stalls displaying / selling various East Indian fares, items,

articles is also contemplated. Village associations shall work

towards this historic event under the guidance of

, Parish Priest, Holy Cross Church, Kurla under the

ageis of Bombay East IndianAssociation.

East Indian

Marathi Mass

on Sunday, 24th January, 2016

Rev. Fr. Nelson

Machado

E. I. JOURNAL03

JANUARY 2016

Fr Rudy FernandezAsst. Chaplain,

Shrine of Infant Jesus, Nasik.

Another Kandivli Miranda at the Nasik Shrine.

Over a decade ago, we had Fr Hilary

Miranda, S.J., former Chaplain and

Director of this Shrine. In 2015, we

have Fr Trevor Miranda, S.J. as our

Chaplain. Fr Trevor is the late Fr

Hilary’s nephew.

Fr Trevor was born on July 12, 1953 in

Kandivli of a devout and very

traditional EI family. After graduation

he completed his Law and then went

on to secure his management degree.

He joined the Bombay Jesuits at

Andheri on 1st July 1976 at Vinalaya

and was ordained into the priest hood

on April 5, 1986. He first served at the

Holy Cross Church, Nasik and later at

the Satpur Sub-Ventre. Later he

assumed duties in various places of

responsibilities in the Province offices.

Dr. Fr Trevor Miranda, S.J. is credited

with being the Founder and Director of

REAP (Rural Assistance Education

Programme). See E I Journal May

2008- “E I Chancellor of the Footpath

University. “

But what I find most striking about Fr.

Trevor is his profound depth. There has

been no small number of times that I

have approached Fr. with a simple

question or confided in him about a

complex concern. In doing so, I found

he possessed three exceedingly rare

gifts. First, he has an uncanny capacity

to listen. Next, he demonstrates no

quick impulse to give a canned

theological answer. Finally, he

provides a thoughtful, Spirit-led

insight that has never failed to

enlighten me. While these three

strengths might seem common and

obvious, I would heartily argue that

they are among the rarest you can find

in the modern world, and especially

coinciding in one individual. I feel I

may speak credibly on the virtues of

thoughtful interpersonal skills and

wise insight. Fr. Trevor is truly

blessed.

In addition to Father’s thoughtful

personal touch, I find the Mass he

conducts riveting. It was in these

Masses I recognized that what I was

witnessing – what I was a part of – was

a very Holy Event. The atmosphere of

Mass was suffused with deep

reverence. The lilting music, the

dignified readings, the intellectually

and mystically rich homily, and the

holiness of the Eucharist were all

guided by the ginger and steady hand of

our new Chaplain – Fr. Trevor. A deep

sense of community and a thirst for the

life-giving Body and Blood of Christ

were fostered. In Father was found a

model of someone genuinely and

profoundly tapped into the richness of

Catholicism which, in turn, made me

want to deepen my relationship with

Christ. In Mass, I find that the

experience of Faith is equally, if not

more, powerful than the intellectual

intrigue of Faith. For that, I am deeply

grateful.

There are few people in my life that I

really admire, that I really look up to,

that I listen to earnestly because I learn

something and am consequently made

better just because I listened. And even

though I said something far less

articulate and far less memorable, in

the end I want him to know how

valuable he has been to me. I want him

to know that my faith (and life) is richer

because of him.

I want to wish Fr. Trevor good health,

abundant grace and blessing from the

Good Lord as he works in the Good

Lord’s vineyards in Nasik.

I am proud to say that Fr. Trevor

Miranda is My Priest and My Friend.

God bless him.

(Readers who are Devotees to the

Shrine of the Infant Jesus, Nasik, will

recall Fr Rudy who is always present

in the campus of the Shrine,

celebrating Mass, greeting visitors,

talking to friends, relatives and old

acquaintances, always ready for a

chat. He also happens to be the

brother of Col. Vency Fernandez, a

former Editor of this Journal.)

The Following members were enrolledas members of the BEIA on 01.12.2015

Dharmai Jacob Joe Bandra West Life

Ferreira Vincent Malad West Life

Ferreira Ludvica Life

Ferreira Annabel Life

Ferreira Astrid Life

Lopez Francis William Dadar West Life

Lopez Marina Balbina Dadar West Life

Lopez Ayesha Perpetual Dadar West Life

Lopez Edsel Roque Dadar West Life

Muniz Roy Diago Bandra West Life

Prasad Aldrin Vincenty Andheri East Life

Pereira Jefferain Jerald Andheri East Life

Pereira Ingrid Jefferain Andheri East Life

Pereira Chrisann Jefferain Andheri East Life

Pereira Berein Anthony Andheri West Patron

E. I. JOURNAL04

JANUARY 2016

Calwyn D’Abreo

Oh, my beloved East Indian….gharavarti and trivia

In any composition of words that make

written history a unison of scholastic

demeanour and corpus rerum there is a

pattern that is observed by those who value

the essence of those times that have passed

by. In the annals of history and

notwithstanding the intricacy of time

being immemorial the fluency of the

culture still exists within the high ceiling

halls of our village seven room family

houses and the cluster of self occupied

residences having common partitions

inside villages that we call Gaothan and

Salsette. I am exposing the nostalgia that

even till this very day reverberates within

the compass and influence of a real East

Indian of Catholic origin and his habitat

found on the western coast of Maharashtra

and within talukas that boast of hamlets

that have catholic churches that signal

every baptized homo sapiens the Angelus

at seven after sunset and before the day

ends.

So much so for the attention one should

give to the East Indian community and the

frontline persona that they exhibit even to

this day and times. To experience an

original Kaka Baptista East Indian rolling

in the splendour of the past with a sense of

royalty they so much deserve for being

representative of an earlier monarchical

platform and simultaneously like a trident

you see them evolving into an independent

India where sprats and gora saab was

slowly disappearing into the oblivion of

time as if forgotten or disregarded.

Those were the days my friend of Kraft

cheese and the real cream crackers when

they made the best entre at an East Indian

evening party with boiled gram whilst the

ladies had ginger biscuits. The sheeg kaleji

on that special main road corner , the

jelebis at the junction in a packet soaking

with pure sugar syrup and the colloquial

term used …”Baba, hold from down….

because the down is wet….” after the

Sunday morning mass must be

remembered and filed as nostalgia. You

also said hello at the gate of the Church to

Bob tailor of undeniable fame for making

pant forks that never knew what a scrotum

is and broad well of death leg pants with

bottom widths that could smuggle in a

rabbit. Bob was still the saviour to many

Suit handovers as Bob made the waist

narrow enough for an altar boy.

Come, let me hear you deny this feeling of

those days and those times when life was

such a nuisance to negativity that there was

not those many stupid inferences of bad

happenings and stupid challenges that gave

you reflux at the end of the day. Those were

the days when ‘lengis ‘ was another sausage

casement and your family doctor could

never initiate a rectal temperature after an

over dose of toddy in Gorai or Tam Talao in

Bassein.

My reason for making mention of all this

otherwise long forgotten trivia or minutiae

is to attract the present generation of young

East Indians, in a Namo environment to

become seduced by the thought that in our

time ….like in those days…or when

grandpa Felix waltzed to Irene Goodnight

was so much more than EDM and Yoda as

fulcrum agents for mood swings than what

it is today. An East Indian never took a

sleeping diazepam to get into slumber…he

just took a chownee of home made liquor

brew or a swig of bee hive brandy and slept

the whole night on the chair with extended

leg rests. The family farm of many an East

Indian house wherever had outside the back

door behind the verandah a coup set up

with hens that laid English eggs with kind

of brownish anglo color shells and the

lovable family laytao, the piggy they all

called Jimmy to be slaughtered for the local

Feast on the hill and the booking at Santan

Pereira bakery to roast Jimmy well oiled

and crispy made for an experience that one

lived for amongst the East Indians. As I

write my mouth salivates and my nostrils

flare imagining the smell of pork roast and

the stuffing or the pudding in his hollow

tummy. Did Jimmy have flatulence and

hyperacidity because his stomach was so

full on the jentar table…. Never got the

recipe of the Christmas East Indian cake

mixture. What a secret to have and given to

daughters by their mothers and to daughters

in law if they towed the line of their mother

in law…. A bottle of East Indian masala

used in New Jersey from the same lot that

showcased balchow pickle in Rajan …the

end result of the raw material from

Kalidas and the sinew of four gaokari

women from Parel who pounded the

condiments to gun powder grade and then

filled dark colored empty beer bottles to

use at home and the rest to send to our dear

relatives who were meant to think of us in

their documented wills for our masala

gifts every year.

Today, like yesterday I am like others of

my time and age, an avid surfer on Google

and before I lose my testosterone to a

charity ball I am Facebook friends with

Sunny Leone and Pope Francis.

And with the new year beginning I submit

my valour and B Complex energy to my

fellow East Indians who also surf the web

for lace curtains on snap deal and Myntra

and connect with EWTN for prayers for a

healthy childhood for their sons and

daughters and for themselves. I petition

my State government to lessen the traffic

on the road so that I may walk and pray at

the same time whilst going to church on

Sundays without an accident. I look

forward to many social invitations from

those who like me and those East Indians,

brothers, cousins, neighbours who I

helped get their first apprentice Siemens

job and gave others a free lift to town and

have forgotten me , those who are jealous

of my persona and my connections with

those who matter. I forgive them for being

stupid ,for not inviting me for their Silver

and Ruby and ……..

And in completion of this conversation I

bequeath to my dear friends, a handful of

them, and as mundane as I am all my

Superman comics and my football boots I

used to a great advantage because they

made me look tough on the field and to

auction these priceless possessions when

the time comes and enjoy the benefits

during Bandra Feast over East Indian

roast Pigling and East Indian homemade

wine from aunty Esther. Till then I stay

renewed and joyous and jubilant and

cheerful and merry and in a festive mood.

You can, too. If you tried.

E. I. JOURNAL05

JANUARY 2016

TALKING AGRICULTURALLY

Jude H GomesThis month’s issue carries an

Advertisement for a large Farm for

Sale. This is not in Gorai, Manori,

Uttan or Salsette, but in Karjat. More

than 25 years ago, many of our East

Indians bought agricultural farms and

were the proud owners of such

“Farms”. Though, for the owners,

much pleasure was derived from this

ownership, and what their forefathers

had as an occupation, these owners ran

these farms for pleasure. I cannot deny

that I, too, have learnt and derived

much pleasure from these estates.

We have had the traditional form of

a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n f o r

generations. Technologies like hybrid

seeds and modern agricultural practises

helped in the green revolution.

Practically in all the developed

countries the population dependent on

agriculture is less than 10% unlike us

where still 60% find employment in

that sector.

In attending meetings of the

sophisticated ‘Karjat Farm Owners

Club’, one encounters new modes of

planting and transplanting. Ideas are

exchanged with visiting agronomists

and government officials on proper

plant nutrition. This not only

galvanises farm owners, but has also

made the Karjat countryside green,

while providing employment to the

locals, and creating marketing

linkages. It does not mean that I have

put my shoulder to the plough, but it

makes life interesting and there is no

greater pleasure than eating the fruits

of your Farm’s labor, besides you can

justify your time on the farm to your

other halves!

Some years ago, Gujarat underwent an

agro-revolution in micro-irrigation,

(MI), which saved water, fertiliser and

pesticides. While travelling the length

and breadth of Israel, one has to see to

believe the agricultural revolution this

desert country has undergone.

Gujarat and Israel had a supply of

e lec t r i c i ty a t n igh t , wi thou t

i n t e r r u p t i o n , a l l o w i n g t h e

agriculturalists to run their pumps on

3-phase electricity, thus saving the

costs of diesel powered pumps. This

allowed industry to have daylight

uninterrupted power supply and farms

at night. This also saved on precious

groundwater, too.

One offset for the members of the

KFOC, was to see and learn and

implement, the Saguna Rice hybrid

which has been developed with less

water and without sowing in mud and

transplantation. One must bear in mind

that ripening rice needs tons of water

and generates high heat. So was born

the Saguna Rice. The method used was

to take a crop using a soft bed covered

with plastic mulch and with drop

irrigation and without sowing in mud or

transplantation.

O n e f e a r s t h a t w i t h s u c h

experimentations, big agribusinesses

will step in with corporate farmers

taking over arable land. But it has to be

admitted that though in terms of GDP,

services may be contributing more than

agriculture or manufacturing to

employment. It is in agriculture that a

large part of our community, too, is

employed. Agriculture has suffered

because of lack of in fracture- cold

storages and grain storage silos. The

improvement in productivity of the

supply chain and reduction in the loss

between the farm gate and the

consumer can be favourably dictated

by government policies.

But the EIs success story in the

agribusiness is far from over.

-Rev. Fr. Prakash F. Tuscano, Gass, Vasai.

ST. GONSALO GARCIA

ST. GONSALO GARCIA. Native of

Vasai, Maharashtra.

St. Gonsalo was born around 1556 and

brought up in the coastal town of Vasai

near Mumbai. His mother was a saintly

women from Vasai region. He went to Japan as a

Catechist at the age of 15-16. He died on 5th February,

1597. He is the patron of the Archdiocese of Bombay

and Diocese of Vasai. His Feast is celebrated on 6th

February in many parishes of Mumbai and Vasai. Mass

in Marathi is given preference. St. Gonsalo pray for us.

- The B.E.I.A.

MOTHER TERESA

Mother is likely to be canonized.

will be

, o n 4 t h

September, 2016. The Christian

community throughout the world

hails the canonization of Mother Teresa. Mother

Teresa served the poor and the sick in Kolkata for

over 45 years. The Nobel Laureate was born to

Albanian parents. She was beatified by the then

in 2003.

MOTHER TERESA

S A I N T T E R E S A

Pope John Paul II

E. I. JOURNAL06

JANUARY 2016

E. I. JOURNAL07

News from Uncle Wilfred . . . (Mobile: 9820674420)

JANUARY 2016

We are grateful to for his graceful article/message on – a time

when we connect with people. This has made the readers united. The community has added relationship with

many.

We appreciate the CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

by Parish Priest, St. Anthony Church, Malwani and

by , former Editor of the East Indian Journal in the Examiner.

: by , former Editor, Suvarta, crusader of , well

known writer, speaker, preacher, activist of social, community and participant of the International Inter-Faith.

has appreciated the interesting articles published by the Journal Committee Members and Writers in the East

Indian Journal.

, our Chief Minister forAHappy Christmas and Peaceful New

Year with a request to consider welfare measures alongwith a E.I. Booklet of the East Indian community.

, Emeritus. . Presently residing at St. Pius College,

Goregaon and still very active in his pastoral services.

of Holy Magi Church, Gorai. . Very active in his pastoral and

community work in and around Bhayandar-Manori parishes.

. . Presently residing at Salvation Seva

Kendra, Dadar. We remember him for his pastoral contribution to the East Indian OBC cause.

(1815-1888) – Confessor – Physician will be celebrated on 31st January, 2016. He was a

teacher of the poor and the youth.

(-269) – Priest – Martyr is the Patron saint of the young couples who are engaged to be married.

Feast Day celebrated on 14th February, 2016

: will begin with from 10th February, 2016. Christians throughout the

world will begin a Spiritual Journey of 40 days in preparation for the celebration of EASTER. Ash Wednesday marks the

beginning of 40 day liturgical period of prayer, fasting and abstinence. EASTER will be celebrated on 27th March, 2016,

the RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

The State Government is planning to use the Salt Pans from Chembur to Mulund and

Malwani to Dahisar for housing purpose.

on Tuesday, 26th January, 2016 will be joyfully celebrated throughout India by the Indians. They

will joyfully join the FLAG HOISTING, NATIONALANTHEM and programmes.

Bishop John Rodrigues CHRISTMAS

APPRECIATION: “Do they know it's CHRISTMAS”?

Rev. Fr. Austin Norris, “THERE IS REASON FOR THIS

SEASON” Mr. IrwinAlmeida

APPRECIATION REV. FR. FRANCIS D'BRITTO HARIT VASAI

His Lordship BISHOP BOSCO PENHA 10th January, 1937

REV. FR. SANDEEP BORGES 10th January 1974

His Lordship BISHOP DOMINIC SAVIO FERNANDES 29th January, 1954

ST. JOHN BOSCO FEAST

ST. VALENTINE FEAST

HOLY SEASON OF LENT ASH WEDNESDAY

SALT PANS FOR HOUSING :

OUR REPUBLIC DAY

Religious

Dialogue

GREETINGS SEND TO SHRI. DEVENDRA PADNAVIS

Happy Birthday :

EAST INDIAN SINGING COMPETITIONS:

Sion, Vakola, Kalina, Oshiwara, Versova and Kirol

Adv. Godfrey Pimenta,Adv. Vivian D’Souza and Mr. NicholasAlmeida

Adv. Godfrey Pimenta, Trustee, Watch Dog Foundation

East Indian Singing Competition were organised at . The organising

committees headed by the Presidents of the respective village association deserve full kudos for their effective management

and staging of this East Indian Singing Competitions.

were honoured and felicitated at the East Indian

Competitions at Vakola and Kirol for their contribution to the enlightment of the dangers in the DPplan for the gaothans and

for organizing Parish / Village level seminars on that subject.

has pointed out many discrepancies in the new designated

Survey Report uploaded on the website of BMC on 7th January, 2016.

ALL MEMBERS WHO HAVEAPPLIED FOR THE ID CARDS UPTO 15.10.2015 PLEASE COLLECT THE

SAME FROM THE OFFICE URGENTLY.

NOTE: