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Portuguez Tempar.....
Melba Mergulhão-Carvalho Antão
DURING PORTUGUESE TIMES!!
I belong to the Goan
diaspora with a Mumbai mind-set and upbringing. Though the British were
around in Mumbai for over 150 years, I’d never heard anyone - young or old
- start a conversation in Mumbai with “When the British were in India....”
This sentence was an introduction for a History exam paper, but, that’s
where it ended!
Yet, as I grew up in Mumbai, my Mom (a die-hard Goan in Maharashtra) would
reminisce, “Portuguez tempar (during the Portuguese times), we used to get
lovely scented powder. Your Pond’s talc is nothing!”
As Mom sat at her Singer machine sewing a Christmas dress for me, she’d go
nostalgic again, “Portuguez tempar, dress materials came from Macau and
was smooth as a feather and soft as a whisper.” Mom was always in colonial
times though she lived in democratic Bombay.
She reasoned, “What’s the use of a government of, for or by the people, if
one is not satisfied with the material goods and social conditions?” She’d
also drool over the wonderful chocolate or bolash of Portuguez
tempar.
I was, at that time, intrigued about these ‘wonder’ rulers who would keep
their subjects happy with ‘wonder’ sweetmeats. “What can be tastier than a
Cadbury bar,” I’d think. It was the ultimate chocolate for me then.
“What’s wrong with Bombay Dyeing or Gwalior materials?” I’d question. But
Mom had worn better stuff and eaten more melting-in-the-mouth chocolate in
the Portuguez tempar, I guess.
Later, destiny brought me to Goa via marriage. And my ma-in-law continued
where Mom had left off.
She’d say, “Portuguez tempar, there were no robberies or murders -
everyone was honest and hard-working. We slept with our doors and windows
open. Now, we fix grills everywhere and still the thieves murder you in
your sleep.”
“Portuguez tempar, we had so much fish that we’d use the extra fish as
manure in the paddy fields. Today the hotels and tourists grab the best
seafood. Where are the lobsters gone? Gone forever, that’s what. My
grandchildren, poor pets, haven’t eaten what I’ve eaten. There was so much
turtle and wild boar meat. Joao, (pa-in-law) would often bring home
a deer - and the whole village celebrated in excitement. Today hunting is
banned ‘cos the animals are getting extinct, they say.
No one will admit that they cut down forests and destroy the animals too.
God created forests and animals for man to utilise and not destroy and
ban, I tell you!”
“Portuguez tempar, our children were innocent and dressed decently. Today,
the TVs and movies have spoilt our tornattes . Did anyone hear of
abortions, rapes, AIDs and SARS in Portuguez tempar?
Saiba! What’s the world coming to? Thank God my days are getting over. Who
wants to live in this kind of world anyway,” she’d mumble along.
Pa-in-law often commented with delight, “Portuguez tempar, the whisky had
great punch - just one peg would give you a good night’s sleep.
Those were the days my friend...”
Melba Mergulhão-Carvalho Antão
4 Jun 2003
courtesy www.oherald.com & http://www.goa-world.com
**************
Indian Tempar.....
Melba Mergulhão-Carvalho Antão
DURING INDIAN TIMES
Judging from the response to the the middle, Portuguez Tempar it proves
that most Goans are nostalgic about those bygone times. Now let’s get down
to the Indian tempar when there’s more water in public drains than in our
taps or when we share our mauled roads with inhabitants of the animal
kingdom.
“Indian tempar, there aren’t any maids to do domestic chores - they’ve
flown away to the Arabian lands to wash and clean at dinar rates,” groans
housewife, Matilda Moraes hanging out her day’s washing. “In, Indian
tempar, there are no native labourers in our fields. They’re too
embarrassed to soil their hands with earth and sweat. They flock to the
offices, for a mini salary, pushing files from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m, six days a
week. Their efficiency level is mini too, of course. Heard the wise
Chinese saying? “A writer can’t
sew a cloak nor can a farmer write a manuscript.” In the meantime, we hire
migrants and then cry foul that `outsiders’ have invaded Goa in Indian tempar,” points out bhatkar Suresh Raikar.
“Indian tempar everybody is everybody’s `aunty’ or `uncle’ there’s no sir,
madam, bhatkar, bhatkarni or patrao,” grumbles Dona Alzira D’Mello e
Silveira. “I’ve become the `aunty’ of the village nustekars, poders and
dbobis! Says, Kaminibai, “Indian tempar, everybody goes to school and
college and yet our children are semi-literate and their degrees are not recognised after all the effort and money. Everyone carries a hefty file
of certificates but after every interview, the answer is, `We’ll let you
know.’, which in simple English means, you’ve NOT got the job! Because in
Indian tempar, qualifications don’t score but crisp bank notes, under the
table, do. In Indian tempar, you can buy anything, if you have the money -
from a driving licence to a newborn babe. Why, many still buy a husband
with a dowry. And many buy a wife with a Gulfie visa.”
Indian tempar, honest students study throughout the year to get the right
percentage. But the well-connected buy leaked papers and race ahead
of the
hardworking students. Is it surprising that the hardworking students are
tempted to join the knaves? Indian tempar, if your irmao is a politician
you can do the following with dadagiri : build a house in the neighbour’s
plot; get a telephone connection overnight; get a medical seat with 64 per
cent; get admission into prestigious schools without the domicile
criteria; get a government job without knowing the mai bhas of the land;
bump off your rival or ravish your colleague in broad daylight.
In short,
you can do anything in Indian tempar where the jungle law is supreme.
Is it any wonder, so many Goans contemplate on Portuguez tempar?
Melba Mergulhão-Carvalho Antão
25 Jun 2003
courtesy www.oherald.com &
http://www.goa-world.com
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