Moderated by the publisher and owner of Goa 1556, Fredrick Noronha, the launch saw Xaxtikars of varied age groups come together to not just support Faleiro but also eager to read and know more about the town.
Faleiro in his book has written of how the village of Mathgram with a small mud stage would be the host to many programmes and dances later transformed into the city of Margao, a commercial capital city that has given space to many Xaxtikars and Goans to thrive.
“The work of this book began in the 1990s and since then I have been documenting facts. And finally I put all my thoughts and research into the book,” disclosed Faleiro.
Portuguese teacher and neighbour of Faleiro, Jeanette Barbosa had her group of girls Marvilhas de Margao sing some beautiful songs in Portuguese, Konkani and hymns that reverberated at Holy Spirit Church at the launch.
While popular web-developer Lynn Barretto Miranda did a special presentation on Margao calling it the Margao that you thought, the crosses and temples around Margao and the lineage of the city and the names of its roads. Lynn in a nutshell explained the story behind the many crosses and structures in Margao since 1770 and the revolt of 1890 that led to 23 deaths after a rigged election at the old Margao Camara (municipality).
The launch of the book also was special to the Holy Spirit Church, which re-launched its websites with special features, photo galleries of the 450-year-old heritage site and a comprehensive website for the church.
Fr Marcelino Rodrigues, assistant parish priest, along with Parish Priest Fr Avinash Rebello launched the website in the presence of author priest Fr Nascimento Mascarenhas. Tamsin Pereira, a friend of Faleior, introduced the book to the audience about facts and numbers in the book.
Valmiki Faleiro refused to launch his book and sat behind through the function making fellow noted Goan author Fr Nascimento Mascarenhas, Holy Spirit Parish Priest Fr Avinash Rebello and senior citizens Luisa Araujo Coutinho, Amelia Andrade, Goveia Pinto Soares to launch his book on the dais.
“I believe the book should sell by its contents and its information and not by a face of the author. Books have their own credits and don’t need glamour from the writer. I was insistent with publisher Frederick Noronha that I will not launch my book but watch from a distance,” stated Faleiro.
