Just like proverbs, riddles too have a beautiful rhythm to them when the riddle is posed in Konkani, and called parkonnem. Mind you, these one or two-liners can have really simple answers but solving them can be nerve wracking. This verbal cultural heritage of Goa has come alive every year for the past three years through the annual ‘Parkonnem-Kitem Tem Sang’ riddle competition, organised by the Chicalim Bio-Crusaders, a village initiative in Chicalim in Mormugao taluka.
This year’s edition was launched by Goan Fadista Sonia Shirsat on September 5 and since then, the edition has featured parkonnim, the plural of parkonnem, by noted tiatrists and theatre personalities, activists and anyone who loves Konkani riddles. Till date, 31 riddles have been posed by Tiatr stalwarts like Prince Jacob, Roseferns, comedienne Janet, Antoneta de Maina, comedian Augustinho and Mario de Vasco and also Konkani actors like Rajdeep Naik, Suchita Narvekar, Prashanti Talpankar and comedian Paresh Parab.
What started out as a simple mind exercise, has now turned into the much anticipated question of the day. Convenor of Chicalim Bio-Crusaders, Cyril Fernandes, the mastermind behind the competition, is also a researcher who writes about Goan history from the tribals’ perspective. A casual chat with Inacio Gama from Sancoale left him dumbfounded when Inacio started asking him parkonnim. “During the Covid-19 lockdown, everyone was holed up inside their homes with no activities. I was working on my research and Inacio, who is very much connected to his tribal roots, started talking to me in riddles, parkonnim. He didn’t stop at one and I was amazed at how beautiful Konkani is and these parkonnim have more of a musical feel to it because of the language. I convinced him to speak more about the riddles and I documented it. I posted one riddle on our Chicalim Bio-Crusaders Whatsapp group and it got a great response,” says Cyril.
These riddles have been passed down for generations and sadly have been gradually fading away from living memory. These parkonnim were usually heard in the villages of Goa when there was not much entertainment and the evening was a time to catch up with friends after work. Simple fruits, animals and even activities can find their way into these complicated riddles. Through this competition, more people are learning-not just the language but also about the olden way of Goan life and simple objects which can be described very colourfully in Konkani.
A few of the parkonnim include, ‘ Edo So Por, Faar Marpak For-Kitem Tem Sang?’, ‘Halta Dholta Pai, Xendri Mendri Maim, Kuchur Buchur Bhurgim – Kitem Tem Sang?’ and ‘Hath Lailear, Nidonk Voita – Kitem Tem Sang?’ “This year, the competition has reached a wider audience, in Goa and abroad. There has been a great response and I have people from Australia and the UK, calling me early in the morning if I delay posting the riddles. They have sleepless nights until they get the answers, yet they look forward to the next riddle. It is also the first time that we asked tiatrists to contribute to the competition. Joaquim Rodrigues from Vasco has been instrumental in introducing us to the tiartists who have been very prompt with their riddles,” adds Cyril.
The competition comprises fifty parkonnim posed every day over a fifty day- period and at the end of it, the participants with the highest correct answers walk off with a unique heritage silver trophy, the CG Varkey Heritage Silver Rolling Trophy and Rs 5,000 in cash. The competition is named and sponsored by George Varkey and his family in memory of his father, who was the first Customs Commissioner after Goa’s Liberation. There will also be prizes for five runners-up which has been sponsored by Norman Noronha from Colmorod, who is currently based in Kuwait.
The first edition of the competition was won by Ashley Afonso and Raisa Fernandes in 2020. Last year, Aquilla Rodrigues, based in Kuwait, won the competition by answering all 50 riddles and she even travelled back to Goa to receive the Heritage trophy. “I participate in the competition for fun but these parkonnim or ummanim help me think and reminisce my childhood memories of Goa. More than winning the trophy, I enjoy reviving my memories of some old parkonnim and reminiscing on how my late parents, Bento Rodrigues and Maria Pereira, would pose parkonnim to me. This competition helps me bring back those fond memories and make them live again,” says Aquilla, who lost her father in 2006 and mother in 2016.
Born and brought up in Panjim, she was married in Verna and has been living in Kuwait since 1993. However, this simple mind game makes her feel connected to her roots. “True Goa lives through Parkonnem. I am truly grateful to Chicalim Bio-Crusaders for bringing this fun competition back to us. It’s like playing with Goans from afar. Even though I won last year’s competition, I am not an expert. I also have to think a lot and research as the answers can be quite tricky,” says Aquilla, who is still racking her brains to get four answers for this year’s edition.
The game is so contagious that many Goans can’t even concentrate on their daily chores without constantly thinking about the answer. “I once got a call from a noted social activist, who is quite an avid reader and she wanted to know the answer. Her request was that she didn’t want the answer to win the game but to only clear her mind and focus on the case in court,” laughs Cyril, explaining the height of addiction of the game.
There is a lot of research before putting out the riddles everyday. There are books and also websites that post parkonnim and this competition is based on entirely original parkonnim, truly testing the minds of the participants.
The game is easily available on social media, on the Chicalim Bio-crusaders Facebook page and the answers can be sent to the numbers mentioned in the posts. Anyone who wants to compete can catch up before the 50th parkonnem is out and send all the 50 answers in one go, too. However, the winners will be judged on who has the most answers right.
