21 Feb 2018  |   06:04am IST

Capturing the essence of Goemkarponn

With a series of short documentaries, Haresh Kakodkar has focused on the human stories behind some of Goa’s age old professions that provide a template of the Goan way of life in many parts of the state

 

In the day and age of malls and multiplexes, it’s easy to

forget that there once was a time when the customer and the family-run local establishment shared a familiar personal rapport. The owner of the neighbouring kirana store knew your name, knew your grocery list as soon as you walked in and conversations went beyond the bill and market trends, to inquiries about each other’s personal well being and so forth. These establishments, passed from generation to generation, were part of the social fabric of that locality.

Recently, Haresh Kakodkar from Curchorem decided to make small documentaries, talking about this way of live that is still seen in parts of Goa, to bring to the fore the faces behind these establishments, giving a more human touch to just the name of an establishment.

For instance, his presentation on Pandurang V Kamat & Sons went viral. Haresh spoke about Chetan Kamat, who holds a double degree but still prefers to look after his ancestral hardware business that was set up in 1972. His documentary spoke about how they are one of the most frequented shops in that locality and how Chetan had showed the way for the new generation of Goemkars.

There are many instances where traditional livelihood and occupations are no longer seen as the younger generation decides to choose other prospects; it is the tale of the local toddy tapper, the padekar, the farmer, the ramponkar and so many others.

While Haresh paid tribute to Chetan’s family for ‘staying strong with Goemkarponn at heart’, he showcased other people and families in a similar fashion. These include Vasant Mukund Naik, who has a shop selling limbu soda, falooda, lassi and cold drinks near the Curchorem railway station since 1972 and the sweet mart shop owned by Satyavan Naik Bandodkar that was started more than 60 years ago and, according to Haresh, is still going strong.

An interesting thing that has been happening since these posts were uploaded is that they have struck a chord with Goan audiences who are now sharing their stories in relation to these featured families or give examples of other such families.

Haresh, an engineer by profession, says that it was the word ‘Goemkarponn’, which was the buzz during the elections that made him take up this initiative. Another motivating factor was a chance encounter with a man originally from Mumbai, who was living in Goa for over a decade. He told Haresh that Mumbai has transformed to such an extent that the original residents have to search for their identity. How Mumbai had unsuspectingly slipped out of their hands through their own action and inaction and how the same thing could happen to Goa. “I thought I really need to get into the core of this and try to do my bit for Goemkarponn and Goa on the whole,” Haresh states.

Explaining why he chose these entrepreneurs as subjects, Haresh says that they carried a charm of Goa and it was endearing to see how they are fighting to sustain their businesses against commercialisation. “ I try to cover at least one subject every week,” he says.

Speaking about the experience of talking to these families and learning their stories, Haresh says it is really heart-warming; also, it’s fulfilling to watch how these stories appeal to the audience. “The reactions have been amazing. Many of their old customers are now abroad or settled in other towns. Some have called them from outside India and have shared their experience and memories. Some have come from other parts of Goa after watching these stories and given these establishments business. They stop and tell me all this and have big smiles on their faces. I can also sense that demand, when they ask me who I will feature next,” reveals Haresh.

He adds that sometimes the greatest joy is in seeing the reactions of the families themselves, on learning about the feedback their life stories are receiving: “I know of one son who was pleasantly surprised to learn about the kind of respect his father had earned in the community and this can be quite uplifting.” With the details these documentaries provide, Haresh hopes to encourage young minds to take up such ancestral businesses if they have any, promote the spirit of entrepreneurship in the younger generation and also to provide publicity to these existing establishments.

Speaking about his future plans, Haresh says that he will try and promote young entrepreneurs who have started their own small business as well as people in the fields of medicine, arts, and other areas, who have contributed to Goemkarponn, Konkani and/or Goa on the whole. An app and a Facebook page are also on the cards to help promote Goan businesses.

“Even if one person changes his attitude and starts following Goemkarponn in the true sense, I will feel this has worked. I am getting requests to come and promote Goemkarponn in other cities but my friends and well-wishers want me to concentrate on Goa first. In the future, I will definitely try to cover other areas but I alone cannot bring about the change. I would be more than happy if other like-minded souls would take it forward. Together we can make it happen for the cause and survival of Goemkarponn,” Haresh passionately concludes.