Ben Antao's Goa - a Rediscovery

A personal view of the book  - by José Colaço It is very easy for me to write a few words about anything Ben Antao writes. Ben is a classic Goan journalist, and a writer’s writer. Having migrated to North America nearly 40 years ago, Ben saw his beloved Goa from a different angle – one of objectivity. And he would express himself on the Internet. The development of the Goa-related discussion lists afforded Ben  additional avenues  to put forth his views. Those were the early days of the first GoaNet. When that network went into a deep nine month coma, GoaLink kept the discussions alive until the new GoaNet was born sometime in 1998. Ben was back in form with his succinct posts. However, his views were not very welcome to the new inhabitants of the new GoaNet. So Ben Antao left to become one of the forces to develop the relatively small Goan Forum (presently the Goa-Goans discussion list).

Those were the early days of the first GoaNet. When that network went into a deep nine month coma, GoaLink kept the discussions alive until the new GoaNet was born sometime in 1998. Ben was back in form with his succinct posts. However, his views were not very welcome to the new inhabitants of the new GoaNet. So Ben Antao left to become one of the forces to develop the relatively small Goan Forum.

Ben was incensed by the attitude of Goans in Goa. To him, they had this “Please don’t lecture me on how to live my life; just send the money. Thank you” attitude. His writings of the time reveal his frustrations with the rampant corruption prevalent in Goa, and of its karmic acceptance by Goans. He noted “I am referring to corruption. Who is going to bell the cat? Certainly not me, because I know I can’t go home again.” This year, however, Ben added further credence to the age-old saying: You can take the Goan out of Goa,  but you can’t take Goa out of the Goan.

What changed?

It appears that Ben Antao finally saw in Goa some rays of hope: Rays of hope like Floriano Lobo who was working tirelessly against the mountain of corruption that has built up in the Goan ethos; Rajan Narayan who has taken it upon himself (along with his plucky foot soldiers at the Goan Observer) to take the fight to the hornet’s nest; Anthony Barreto who teaches at a school in his native village of Galgibaga; Ethel da Costa, the straight-shooting writer ‘from the heart’; Godfrey Gonsalves, the Margao-based civil rights activist, Cyril D’Cunha, his journalist friend from the 1960s; Tony Correia-Afonso and Dr. Francisco Colaco, the activists with voices of reason; and Cecil Pinto, the self-effacing, hard working, smart and articulate young man with a heart of gold.

And then, there was his native village of Velim, his family, and the homestead where Ben spent his childhood years as Herculano.

Late last year, Ben actually “Put his money where his mouth was” and contributed generously to the one instrument which has been fighting the corrupt ways of the system in Goa. That one instrument is the Goan Observer.
From a distance, Ben saw Rajan’s zeal and passion, and had NO second thoughts of supporting what he was doing for the good of his beloved homeland. Having seen the Goan Observer take off after a couple of teething problems, it was but natural for Ben to travel 10,000 miles to see the tree that he helped plant and develop.

Even so, with some trepidation, Ben traveled to Goa with his Italian-Canadian wife Marinella. Trepidations for sure as he remembered Fred Noronha’s Oct 22, 2003 objective post on GoaNet “For a supposed touristic(sic) paradise, Goa offers the visitor a rather raw deal. Getting in and out of Goa can be quite a challenge.”

But touching down in Goa changed all that. Ben Antao was a teenager all over again. And how that shows in his book GOA - a Rediscovery. In chapter after chapter, Ben cannot hide his unmitigated happiness at being back home and in the company of so many of his delightful Goan brothers and sisters.

Ben details his trip to the various corners of Goa. It appears that he had made up his mind. This time he was going to travel the length and breadth of his beloved Goa. And he did. Of all the chapters in GOA - A Rediscovery, the one which truly brings Ben’s delight to the fore, is the visit to Anthony Barreto’s home in Galgibaga. It is unlikely that Ben will ever forget those touching words of Anthony’s mother Dona Antonetta. Neither will any reader of this book.

GOA - a Rediscovery is a delightfully written little book, which is an absolute pleasure to read. Excellent as a gift item for any occasion.

Are there any negatives to GOA - A Rediscovery? Yes. The photographs could have been better. But then, Ben wasn’t really prepared for the treat his beloved Goa offered him. Not until he reached there and saw the feast for himself! No wonder, all he had for a camera - was the camera he took along.

 TGF rating 4 stars (max 5)

The book ($10 US) is available in North America from the author at
18 Geraldton Crescent, Toronto, Ont. M2J 2R6.
Email ben.antao@rogers.com

In Goa, write to Goan Observer, 9 Tropicana Apartments,
La Campala Main Road, Campal, Panjim, Goa.
25% discount on the price (Rs.150) is available.
Shipping and postage are extra. Email: goanobserver@hotmail.com