Elsa Angel Rose
By birth, people are often part of one community or another. It is often based on location, religion, gender and many other social benchmarks, which could be easily referred to as ‘inherited communities’. But fast-forward a few years, communities and clubs started forming outside of the acquired ones, with a membership fee or something similar, where people could spend their leisure time socialising. What has been observed in recent years is the ‘nichification’ of such communities, in a way. Unlike the scenario where you pay a membership fee and try a bunch of diverse activities offered by the club or community, now you enjoy diverse options but within a niche. In Goa, locals as well as migrants who have settled here equally participate in creating and maintaining such communities. Increasingly, in Goa, there are many run clubs, Jive communities, wine-tasting communities, birdwatching, nature walking, gaming communities and more. What these niche or hobby/interest-based communities offer goes beyond learning about the interest. They offer long-lasting friendships, relevant networks that open the door to new opportunities and job options, like-minded people to spend time with and simply get by the day. Many a time, they might become a cure for feeling lonely and for the need to interact with people. After all, forming connections and interacting with people is found to be a stressbuster.
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“The best aspect of starting this running community is being able to encourage and get people into enjoying the world with a different perspective where they have a lot of love and respect for their surroundings. They are not just benefiting physically but also mentally by running on very scenic routes, beside rivers, creeks, sometimes through forests. Going out in nature works more like a mental therapy where we feel more relaxed and connected to nature,” said Anmol Raikar, a 26-year-old runner from Porvorim. Sharing more on how his run community goes beyond running, he said, “We don’t just run but also guide each other in other fitness-related topics, sometimes even generally encouraging each other in being better persons. We celebrate birthdays with each other, sometimes also festivities; definitely more than just runners, we’ve become friends, some like family.” Anmol’s run club, comprised of people in all age groups, meets 3 times a week for runs. Better health, making new friends and gaining social benefits, exploring new routes, and more are some of the boons of being part of a running community. But certainly, there are some grey areas that require attention, given that it is a community including all sorts of people. “As somebody who’s organising the runs, I personally need to deal with people with different attitudes, which actually helps me learn how to deal with such people. But sometimes, it’s also a little strict, where the group remains a mix of very enthusiastic and encouraging friends. It actually depends on the one who’s organising; if that person isn’t strict, then the group ends up being filled with people feeding negativity and gossiping about people,” shared Anmol.
GROWING UP WITH A COMMUNITY OF BIRDWATCHERS Aidan Fonseca, a 27-year-old naturalist and ecologist from Porvorim, started birdwatching when he was just around 11 years old. At the time, there wasn’t really a dedicated birdwatching community in Goa where people could regularly share sightings or exchange information. Facebook groups such as Ask ID of Indian Birds and Indian Birds became an important learning space for him. People could upload photographs and sightings, ask for help with identification, and learn from more experienced birdwatchers across the country. “Those groups helped me improve my knowledge tremendously, and over time I became confident identifying a growing number of species on my own. Later, my father started a Facebook group called ‘Birds of Goa’, which has now grown to over 20,000 members. It has become a platform where people can share sightings, photographs and observations, while also engaging in healthy discussions about Goa’s avian life,” shared Aidan. He added, “I also really value how close-knit and supportive the community can be. I remember that whenever a rare bird was sighted in Goa, fellow birders who had already seen it would often help others locate it, share directions and provide information so that more people had an opportunity to see the bird. That willingness to share knowledge and experiences, rather than keep sightings to oneself, is something I have always appreciated. It is this sense of community, along with a shared interest in birds, nature and conservation, that I enjoy the most.” In a world where communities are often inherited, these chosen ones give people the freedom to find their own people. And sometimes, all it takes is a shared interest to make a community feel like home. They create room for conversations, friendships and connections that may not have happened otherwise. In the end, it is not always about the activity, but about the people that is found along the way.
FINDING A PLACE AND A NEW HOME IN COMMUNITIES “I moved from Gurgaon (yes, I know!) where I had inadvertently lived for almost 20 years. I had lived in Goa earlier, but left around 1996 with the idea that I would be back very ‘soon.’ But the years just went by, and it was finally only in 2024 that I told myself, ‘Enough is Enough.’ So, I sold my apartment in Delhi and bought an apartment here; the best decision I ever made. I had some really good friends that I had made when I used to live here earlier, and we had remained friends through all these years. So, moving back was a cakewalk,” said Arthy Muthanna Singh, from Sancoale, the co-founder of SYLLABLES27, author of 70 books, creative writing facilitator and a storyteller. Arthy is part of a jive community which happens every Wednesday with Cecille Rodrigues. Besides this, she is also a part of “Stitch for Goa community and the Poets of Goa. Also, I am a regular at the Museum of Goa and the Museum of Christian Art and Sunaparanta, because Art is something I have always enjoyed and being here in Goa has given me the opportunity to indulge in all of these interests; something I did not get in Gurgaon,” said Arthy. The jive classes are held at a beautiful old house with a large compound. They take place every Wednesday from 7 pm onwards, with a typical group of around 35–45 people, ranging literally from all ages, from 8 to 84! “Since I have been attending Cecille’s classes at this venue since the very beginning, I have got to know some of them pretty well. I have got a few of my friends to join too, and they have become regulars too. I don’t take on any work meetings after 5 pm on a Wednesday. I pretend that I have another work meeting, but actually it is because I do not want to skip my Jive class! I come all the way from Sancoale. But it is really worth it. A great stress buster too,” shared the author about her community. She added, “I have been fortunate to meet some lovely, like-minded women there.”
