Taleigao Communidade celebrates 500 years
‘Gaunkars’ rue sewage and waste water in fields
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, AUG 20
The Taleigao Communidade marks 500 years of its existence on Saturday, August 21, the day of the annual Harvest Feast (Konsachem Fest), even as ‘Gaunkars’ citing unplanned developments that have cropped up on land belonging to the Communidade expressed serious doubts whether the tradition of presenting the first corn of rice will last another five years.
The President of this year’s feast, Vito Gomes, addressing a press conference, said despite all odds the Taleigao Communidade has managed to preserve the rights of the nine Gaunkar families that constitute the age-old institution in the village. As per old official records the Taleigao Communidade’s land admeasured 100 square kilometres extending upto the capital city and beyond, he stated.
Gomes, who is one of the nine Gaunkars, said, “Keeping up with tradition we will be meeting up with Governor, who is the custodian of Communidade land in Goa, on August 24 and presenting the damage caused to the fields that are inundated with sewage and waster water, a fact that can’t escape the naked eye.”
Advocate Andre Pereira, who is well-researched in Communidade affairs, and Sigmund D’Souza, ‘Gaunkar’ from Serula, maintained Communidade land cannot be acquired. They mentioned all those who have encroached upon Communidade land are unauthorised occupants.
Adv Pereira, who is a Gaunkar from Mormugao, said, “Gaunkars unaware of the law have failed to recover the land belonging to them from the occupants after the expiry of the ‘period of contract’”.
“Those holding the Communidade land continue to do so after their forefathers. It’s time the present ‘Gaunkars’ wake up and take what is rightfully theirs,” he stated.
Touching upon history, D’Souza said different versions of history were floating around with many believing that the Portuguese had conquered Goa. “In reality they were brought in by the natives to put an end to the oppression perpetrated by Adilshah of the Bijapur Empire,” he stated.
D’Souza said the history of Taleigao is unique because it was the first village to have been given the privilege of presenting the first sheaf of corn to the Portuguese Governor General in recognition of the help the villagers gave to Portuguese troops when they were starving for food in 1510 after being defeated by Adilshah.
Meanwhile, the President of this year’s feast along with Adv Pereira and D’Souza, Gomes, has fervently appealed to Gaunkars from around Goa to patronise the occasion to uphold the rich traditions and pledge to save the Communidades from further deterioration.
Fresh sheaves of corn from the fields at Bondya Bhat will be blessed by the Parish priest and brought to the Taleigao Church in a procession for the Holy Mass at 10 am. The festivities will go on upto August 24 when the first corn of rice will be presented to the Governor.
