A labourer, commonly known as ‘manai’ in Konkani, is busy toiling away,
digging a pit to place the last of the stones in order to fortify the
landlord’s boundary wall. It has been tradition for him to follow in the
footsteps of his father and that of his grandfather before him. Hard work has
been his state of independence not only for him but his wife and child, ever
since he decided to hold that pickaxe to earn his bread and butter. Besides the
‘manai’ is another man, the ‘padekar’; a coconut plucker, who readies himself
to climb a tall coconut tree in front of him. With a few strings of rope that
will be used as a hoist and his trusted ‘koiti’, he is all set to use the skill
he learnt from his father. And as he climbs the tall tree, risking a fall, he
does it with ease for there is pride in the service that he offers to his
community. On reaching the top of the tree, he hears the sound of the front
gate open. The landlord’s wife has just returned from the market with a female
coolie, traditionally known as a ‘bhadeli’, by her side. The ‘bhadeli’ has
dedicated her life to the service of transporting luggage to and fro as per her
customers’ needs and come rain or sunshine, she will be there, sitting in the
market, looking for an opportunity to make her living. Such was the picturesque
view in the yesteryears when it came to professions of a land we proudly call
Goa.
With time, much has evolved in Goa. For instance, the above
professions have given way to a whole host of new ones. The bhadeli, padekar
and manai find themselves being replaced as professions ‘of the state’, by
others. These include the likes of DJs, where it can arguably be said that Goa
produces some of the country’s finest; or perhaps dancers and MCs. Most of this
comes down to modernisation, wherein Goa has seen many of its finest move to
seafaring as an option for a brighter future.
This same modernisation has led to many options for people who
are willing to dedicate themselves to a passionate cause, and if done right,
can become a lucrative career option. For example, Lloyd Rodrigues from Raia
was always curious about electronic gadgets as a child. “I would open up
computers to understand what it was like on the inside and this interest led me
to become an IT Specialist with a reputed bank in the state,” he shares.
Another example is that of Trevor Kenneth Pinto from Mapusa, who now owns a
brand known for fashion photography. “I started clicking photographs on my
smart phone, and as time progressed, I invested in a camera and the other
required equipment.” When it comes to talent related to producing Electronic
Dance Music in the state, a young man that has carved a niche for himself is
Allan Dsouza. He shares his experiences, saying “Despite being a resident of
Raia, which is fairly quiet, my interest in music has led me to become a music
producer, and I have garnered much support from internationally renowned music
producers. “
To quote a popular music record by the famous Grammy Award
winner Bob Dylan, “The times are a changin’.” Time doubtlessly changes all
things. The nature of people and places, for instance. However, in the face of
said change, one fact remains constant; that Goa and its people, will always do
their homeland proud.
