23 Feb 2020  |   03:17am IST

Portugal endures & endears, as links go beyond boundaries

The visit of Portugal President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Goa not only brought the state and country closer to Portugal, but also brought forward the Indo-Portuguese culture that still exists in Goa. The beautiful relationship between Goa and Portugal has been connected through arts, cuisine, music and literature. Café dives into these human links and what makes the connection between Jana Gana Mana and Heróis do Mar strong and stronger

Dolcy D’Cruz

It was like a visit of “one of us” from back

“home”, the feeling of oneness and above all familiarity. And it worked both ways. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa felt more familiar in Panjim and in Old Goa than he does in most other countries in the world and as for a section of folks in Goa, someone from where they once belonged was here.

Secretary of the Indo-Portuguese Friendship Society and a professor of Portuguese at Chowgule College, Margao and Rosary College, Navelim, Tolentino A Colaço explains his meeting with the President: “Goa was overjoyed and excited to welcome His Excellency Dr Marcelo Rebelo de Souza, the President of the Portuguese Republic, for his two-day visit to Goa, where in a series of agreements and Memorandums of Understanding were inked between Goa and Portugal. Upon the arrival, the President was welcomed with a standing ovation with a long thunderous applause, followed by the pre-recorded National Anthems of both countries. Almost everybody in the hall besides singing the ‘Jana Gana Mana’ also enthusiastically sang ‘Heróis do Mar’ with feeling. It was an excellent opportunity for many to sing it after decades, surely bringing back fond memories of the yesteryears.”

He adds, “The President in his address, exalted that Goa was one of the riches which India received from Portugal. He went on to say that Goa is different from the rest of the Portuguese communities spread over the world, emphasising that it was different in terms of history, culture, gastronomy, habits and customs and even religion. Hopefully, the visit of the President of Portugal to Goa will go a long way in cementing the ties between Goa and Portugal and help disseminate the Portuguese language in Goa through various institutions.”

A scion of one of the Goa’s oldest media owning families who divides his time between Goa and Portugal, with a home in both places, and the only one who requested not to be named said “As far as I know, the President had come to sign MOU and had contact with the locals. In general, the proximity with which India is approaching Portugal is interesting. There is a high level of ideas of the governments of the countries. India needs Portugal more than Portugal needs India. There are different sentiments that are reflecting and some are anti-Portuguese by a few organisations. Goa is a small piece of India but has more universal capabilities. Big India through small Goa wants to open the world. The President of Portugal is a warm-hearted personality who was telling us how different communities with Portuguese influence act and react. In Goa, he felt a warm approach in a short time”

Alumni of various batches of the Liceu Nacional Afonso De Albuquerque gathered for a reunion this January. Four of the oldest alumni who were felicitated included Adv CantalicioColaco, Adv Manohar Usgaokar, Maria Otilia de Menezes and Rafael Viegas. Viegas says, “The younger generation, even the non Goan students, are learning Portuguese now. They want to contact people from the other colonies of Portugal and study about the culture. Our generation talks in Portuguese and when we recently had our reunion, everyone was talking in Portuguese because we are at ease with the language. I feel the culture is diminishing with the new generation as all are getting anglicised now. Many families continue speaking in Portuguese and those children take Portuguese as their second language.”

Margarida Tavora e Costa, runs Nostalgia, Raia, a restaurant that has made its name by serving authentic Portuguese cuisine. She along with her nephew Nikhil Távora, recently opened Cafe Nostalgia in Fontainhas to keep the culture strong. “It has been tough but we are doing our own bit, especially with starting Nostalgia in Raia. Singing the Portuguese National Anthem brought back school memories but it is not that we don’t want to be Indians. We have families in Portugal and nothing can change the blood in our veins. Portugal is also open to Indians, they have Indian restaurants there; Bollywood films are shot in Portugal. We are regressing when it comes to keeping the culture alive here but my only desire is that we want only what’s good for us in India and we have to go with the flow,” says Tavora e Costa as she sets the restaurant for the iconic Nostalgia's Carnival Mask-A-Raid for Carnival.

‘Pastéis de Bacalhau’ (codfish pastry), ‘Peixinhos da Horta’ (fried French beans in batter), ‘Carne de porco à Alentejana’ (pork with clams and fried potatoes), ‘Bacalhau com natas’ (codfish with cream) ‘Arroz de Marisco’ (seafood rice) and ‘Sericaia’ (dessert made with eggs) are not just Portuguese dishes but also the ones taught at the first Portuguese Cuisine Cooking workshop conducted by Communicare Trust in association with IHM – Goa on February 1, 2020.

Elvino de Sousa, Manager of Communicare Trust and Maria Meireles were the chefs for this workshop. Born and brought up in Portugal herself, Elvino de Sousa understands the need to preserve this culture and has been doing so through her Portuguese language classes, cooking classes and her weekly Portuguese program ‘Hora dos Portugueses’, on RTPi, a Portuguese channel.

“The President gave a very nice speech and he was very humble and was taking pictures with everybody. I feel the link between Portugal has been maintained and there are so many people who are contributing to this factor. We have Orlando de Noronha and Sonia Shirsat keeping the magic of Portuguese songs and music alive, the recently held Monte Music Festival is one of the leading concerts in the music sector. There are language classes and cooking classes which receives a very good response. Goa has come quite a long way in preserving the culture,” says Elvino de Sousa.

Maria Ines Figueira, Director of FundaçãoOriente says that it is their job to keep the ties of the cultural aspect of the Indo-Portuguese ties strong. The centre has been promoting a healthy exchange by hosting various programs, competitions and providing scholarships. “This is part of the Goan culture as it is Goa and the culture has a Portuguese influence. We have to make sure there is a stronger exchange of cultures and solidify a bi-lateral communication. We have three scholarship programs for South Asian nationals who want to go and study on short or long term or Portuguese language in Portugal. There are also 4-5 performances from India that travel to Portugal within a year. We are hopeful of taking the exhibition of Vamona and Ganesh Navelkar to Portugal next year,” says Figueira.

When Figueira came from Europe to India nine years ago, she felt a sense of familiarity away from home. “Being Goa, it has had a big influence of Portugal. I was very familiar with the place, something that you don’t find anywhere else in India. I was received with open arms by everyone here,” she says.

Isabel Santa Rita Vas translated into English the play ‘Sem Flores NemCoroas’ (No Flowers, No Wreaths’ written by Orlando da Costa, the late father of current Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa. In a ceremony, she was given the opportunity of personally presenting her translation of the work to António Costa, who is of Goan origin. Speaking about the Portuguese culture existing in Goa, Vas said , “I wish it was more vigorously kept alive. Schools are trying to do it and Goa University offers full masters degree and elective papers to learn some Portuguese elements. Sometimes, I dream it could be more vibrant as there is so much literature that can be translated.

Camões-Centro de Língua Portuguesa, Panjim and Goa University also have the Visiting Research Professor Programme where excellent Portuguese scholars come to Goa. Many of them are Goan by birth and are now living abroad but the level of their contribution is extremely high. Goa University has to be give credit for it,” she says.

MariseD’Lima recently retired from the post of the Coordinator of the Chair and the faculty of the Department of Portuguese and Lusophone Studies at Goa University which offers bachelors and masters degrees as well as PhDs. “Most of the students come from other states that don’t have language institutes, especially from places like Rajasthan, Delhi and Gujarat and want to pursue courses for languages. The culture in Goa is still kept strong as people do speak Portuguese, eat the same Portuguese dishes and even the love for Bacalhau has not lessened; there are children and grandchildren speaking the language. There is even a temple in Portugal and there are businesses run by Gujarati who speak in Portuguese and trade spices,” says D’Lima.