Recently,
Google dedicated its Google doodle, easily the most watched illustration, on
Google’s home page to the fall of the Berlin Wall. That got Café thinking and it
decided to ask Goans, if Google decided to dedicate its doodles to Goa, what
events or moments would they pick.
The Cafe team
set out to ask three questions to
handpicked Goans The response was quite interesting. The questions were a) If
Goa had its own Google Doodle, then which events should the state highlight b)
Do you think it is important for Goan youth to get their sense of history from
caricature and illustrations, is that a good way to connect in this age and
finally with December 19 ( Liberation Day) around the corner, should artists
and cartoonists get together to do an illustration drawing project on the
liberation movement or other aspect of Goan society.
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Harsh Vardhan
Bhatkuly Publisher and editor rattled off a long list of events he felt that
were unique to the state. The Shigmo, Carnival, Feast of three kings, Narkasur
to name a few. With regards Goan youth getting their history from caricatures,
he said Mario Miranda ensured they did.
Goa, he said always
looked at itself through his eyes. It was always the way Goa had been depicted.
And with regards the final question, he said it would be a very good idea for
artists and cartoonists to get together and to do an illustration. He said
“There has to be a sense of humour from our public and from our public
servants. Many of them take themselves too seriously. I would like to see
something grand as we reach the 50 year anniversary mark”.
Sandesh Prabhudessai
felt it was important to highlight unique Goan customs like the Carnival, Jagor
in Siolim, the Milagres Cross in Mapusa, Temple of Mahadev which were all unique.
He said he wanted to highlight everything that highlighted communal harmony. He
also mentioned Mario Miranda when asked if it was ok to showcase the history of
the state through caricatures. He felt it was time to showcase the opinion poll
which was the only plebiscite held in a country.
Meanwhile, Fabian
Gonsalves one of the state’s most promising cartoonists said he would like a
negative and positive list for events to be highlighted in a Doodle. He said “I
would like to show hotels in Calangute where I stay, all empty with the
tourists sitting out on the beach cooking. “He said he had to be very careful
because the government did not like cartoonists very much and they were waiting
for a chance to crack down on someone or anyone. He did not see anyone getting
enthusiastic to come up with ideas as Goa approached Dec 19.
(Since
this is a conversation and an idea, we invite Goans from all walks of life to
engage in this and write in, on aspects of Goa which would be highlighted and
illustrated, in the imaginary Goan version of Google doodles. Please post on
our Facebook page or email at [email protected] with the subject line google
doodles)
