Behind the News: Voices from Goa's Press

also written for India Today, and a number of expat Indian publications published from overseas. What stands out is this journalist's sharp understanding

a limited way. I wrote few pieces for the Konkani-language papers such as The Goa Times and Ave Maria and the English-Konkani weekly, The Goan Sports Weekly. After Goa's Liberation, and till I

. I provided freelance services for both papers in the sports department. It was my dad's cousin, Felix Valois Rodrigues, who inspired me to

into t

rk in the sports department under CSA Swami . The news editor, S Krishnamoorty, popularly known as SKM, who regarded by m

nnected in Goa. After my graduation, he gave me an introductory letter to Lamberto Mascarenhas, w

en co-editor with Mascarenhas, and later promoted to editor. I took the letter

introduced me as a "chap" from "my village". It was true, we both came from Colva, but to a young

system. I couldn't believe a man of his stature could introduce me in such a d

tation as a novelist for his acclaimed book, Sorrowing Lies My Land. In subsequent years, I learnt a lot about Mascarenhas as a man and his role as a freedom fighter in the liberation struggle in Mumbai. One of his best friends, Pro

a's hand can be been throughout the book, and many English scholars have also been curious about it. Because of his alcoholism, it became easy for many to dismiss Mendonca's

such visit, I asked him if he would provide me with an opportunity to write for his magazine. He dismissed me summarily saying he prefers repu

onger belonged to Mascarenhas, but happy because I felt the new owners and the new editor would give opportuni

o Panaji and back twice would be difficult, so I had worn the suit and left home early morning. As soon as I told Mascarenhas that I was going to meet Bandodkar, Mascarenhas's face changed colour. He admonished me for wearing a su

Mascarenhas seemed piqued at me for wearing a suit. If I remember correctly, Fernandes said that Mascarenhas has a personal bias against Bandodkar reg

mo de Sequeira launched his paper, Goa Monitor . I applied for a p

Rodrigues never took up the position as he was to be under the editorial supervision of Madhav Gadkari, the then editor of Gomantak. Gadkari was fiercely pro-Marathi and my uncle felt his efforts to promote Konkani journalism would be subverted by Gadkari. To my surprise, Evagrio Jo

light o

paper suffered. I think it was also during this time that a group started an

ons unknown to me. This was my direction connection to Goa's journalism. Later on, I was offered a job at the West Coast Times, a daily launched by the House of

still a freelancer at the Free Press Journal or on its staff. By then, I was not keen on settling down in Goa. To me, Goa was still in the backwaters of journalism. To leave a city lik

He was scouting for talent for O Heraldo, then about to be turned into an English-language daily

lled Snowflake. When in Goa, my friend and I went to see AC, as he was popularly known, at the Casa JD Fernandes store in Pana

Indian Express in Mumbai, was joining as editor. Fernandes was in consultation with Menezes, I was told. At a second meeting, Fernandes informed me that Rajan Narayan was chosen to be the editor. I was surprised. I never had any admiratio

ter-publication from the Free Press Journal group. I forget what position he held at the Onlooker m

esent. A well-known scholar of Black studies was visiting Mumbai from the United States. Narayan carried with hi

hat-be in the government. Many journalists and some politicians told me that Narayan deserved the violent attack on him as his jo

ell composed. Just a month or so ago, someone gave me old copies of O Heraldo. Going through his column, I found his thoughts not very cohesive. He writes in a disjointed way. One thing I will agree, he writes strongly, not sparing those whom he targets. If carving a w

hol

s, once the leader of the toddy-tappers association and a candidate for the assembly, and a fell

es. To my surprise, he offered me a job as joint editor of a sports daily the Chowgules were then planning on launching. The other editor was to be Antonio

d. There was recession then on and I was finding it difficult to get a job in my fiel

uld happen if the paper failed to fly. He said he would absorb me in the public relations department of the Chowgules. I went to Sant Inez with one of the Chowgule officers to select a flat.

s daily. In other words, the workers would get lesser bonuses. The atmosphere in the press seemed vitiated. I was also aware of what happened to Evagrio Jorge. I was contemplating whether I should risk my Canadian i

ad told me that if I decide to accept the offer, I should finally meet Ramesh Chowgule who, I think, was the managing director of the Chowgule group. I believe the paper was never launched. To this day, I am not sure how the Chowgules c

associate. In fact, Mudaliar was passed over by the management after Bikram Vohra left to go to Khaleej Times in Dubai. Mudaliar and me had lunch one day in a Panaji restaurant and he seemed q

ed in a car he borrowed from Vohra, as his own car was unavailable, all the way from Panaji to Margao to watch a soccer match. I never asked Sardesai for

wn

m their visits, I notice that Goan journalism has grown since I saw it first-hand. It behooves well

w breed of journalists shows lot of guts and vitality. I once discussed the teaching of journalism with Fr. Pl

I am not aware if the centre is still operating. Fr. Faria

urnalism. There may be many who would dispute my suggestion on the basis that Moraes didn't do anything for Goan journalism

lism. Some of these journalists, who were also leaders, were in the forefront of Goa's liberation struggle. Maybe so, Moraes too

us in the history of the written word in India with the publication of the first-ever book in the country. Journalism is part of the written word and, hence, a college that fo