IIT to America my latest book

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Marianne de Nazareth

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Mar 2, 2024, 2:53:05 PM3/2/24
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My latest book is out for sale -- IIT to America a slum boys journey -- contact me for copies--

blurb: This story of true grit traces the amazing courage with which a young boy, Madhavan Pillai,

shakes off the shackles of poverty in 60’s India, to rise like a phoenix, out of the dirt and squalorof a slum in Madras, to achieve his dreams in the US. With unwavering determination, he turned that serendipitous entry into the hallowed portals of Loyola College, into a path paved
with only success, never forgetting his responsibility to his starving mother and siblings.

Driven by his belief that education was the key to extricating himself out of the morass of poverty, he achieved top marks in chemical engineering at IIT Madras, which led him only onwards and upwards. Persevering and triumphing against all odds, rising above every curve ball that life threw at him, Madhavan Pillai finally fulfills his dream of flying to the US on a graduate scholarship and that’s where he lives to this day after a successful career.


--

Dr Marianne de Nazareth
Former Asst. Editor, The Deccan Herald,
Freelance Environmental Journalist
Fellow UNFCCC, UNEP, UNWater
Editor Romantic Getaways https://www.bellaonline.com/


Braz Menezes

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Mar 4, 2024, 1:13:13 AM3/4/24
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Hi Marianne, is your book available on Amazon Kindle? I live in Toronto, Canada.
Thank you,
Braz

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Marianne de Nazareth

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Mar 4, 2024, 4:15:49 AM3/4/24
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Sadly the life of my protagonist has stopped the sale on Amazon. Therefore only I have copies of my book.
I can speed post in India.

regds,
Marianne




Victor Rangel-ribeiro

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Mar 4, 2024, 3:47:36 PM3/4/24
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Marianne, how has the life of your  protagonist stopped the sale of your book on Amazon?
Rgrds,
Victor




Marianne de Nazareth

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Mar 5, 2024, 8:51:53 PM3/5/24
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His wife does not want the world to know that her husband came out of a slum!

Such an inspirational story!
Marianne

Frederick FN Noronha

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Mar 5, 2024, 8:52:54 PM3/5/24
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The buildup over this mystery seems to be part of the promtion?
FN

Dr. Vivek Pinto

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Mar 6, 2024, 1:18:57 AM3/6/24
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As with all such matters, you said it, Fred.

Very perceptive, as usual.

Best regards,

Vivek

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Frederick FN Noronha

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Mar 6, 2024, 1:19:49 AM3/6/24
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All fine.
Except, I couldn't get promotion right.
Trying again :-)

Marianne de Nazareth

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Mar 6, 2024, 8:18:48 AM3/6/24
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Ok I just saw this mail in a back up of dozens of other emails!
No mystery guys about my book. 
It  is a true story written by me for a real person. For some reason the protagonist did not tell his wife he was working on his life story.
Once the book was done and published she put her foot down saying she did not want people to know he had come out of a slum!! No selling the book.
How will I face her millionaire pals in Chicago??
The book has been stalled. We are hoping someone can convince her.
Hes very ill with Myeloma. We had planned a launch in Bali.
Its a great book even if I wrote it. 
Fingers crossed she allows us to release the ban and sell it.
Meanwhile I have copies -- the first order we placed before she stopped us and so can send them to whoever is interested.

regds,
Marianne

Dr. Vivek Pinto

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Mar 6, 2024, 8:19:00 AM3/6/24
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Glad that all is well, Fred.

It could also have been 'premonition,' perhaps rightly, but you are polite.

Best regards,

Vivek

Marianne de Nazareth

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Mar 6, 2024, 12:08:48 PM3/6/24
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Ok I just saw this mail in a back up of dozens of other emails!
No mystery guys about my book. 
It  is a true story written by me for a real person. For some reason the protagonist did not tell his wife he was working on his life story.
Once the book was done and published she put her foot down saying she did not want people to know he had come out of a slum!! No selling the book.
How will she face her millionaire pals in Chicago??
The book has been stalled. We are hoping someone can convince her.
Hes very ill with Myeloma. We had planned a launch in Bali.
Its a great book even if I wrote it. 
Fingers crossed she allows us to release the ban and sell it.
Meanwhile I have copies -- the first order we placed before she stopped us and so can send them to whoever is interested.

regds,
Marianne
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Braz Menezes

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Mar 6, 2024, 12:08:54 PM3/6/24
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I was surprised to hear your answer Marianne, and hence did not react immediately. Now I am curious: Is the wife also from a ‘less-previledged’ social/ educational background? This may be why she does not realize that most ‘Rags to Riches’ stories do well.
Regards,
Braz 

Victor Rangel-ribeiro

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Mar 6, 2024, 4:10:49 PM3/6/24
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Dear Marianne, I'm even more confused after reading your explanation.... For example, what do you mean when you say "It is  a true story written by me for a real person"? All fiction (and nonfiction as well) is written for real persons, potential readers.
Please help. Perhaps I'm confused because I'm almost a centenarian? Jeanne?
Regards.                                                                                                                                                                                   Victor


AF P

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Mar 6, 2024, 6:40:52 PM3/6/24
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Perhaps she is referring to the fact, she was the ghost writer, co-writer, or biographer; or even the editor or a hands-on publisher.

Albert Peres

afp...@3129.ca
+1 416-660-0847 cell and text


Jeanne Hromnik

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Mar 6, 2024, 6:40:58 PM3/6/24
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Victor, I belief this is a roman a clef, i.e. a novel in which real people appear under invented names. Written by Marianne on behalf of 'a real person'.
Marianne, is that so?
Jeanne



Frederick FN Noronha

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Mar 6, 2024, 6:42:06 PM3/6/24
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Whatever it is...it is the most amount of curiosity created over any single book here... at least since this group was formed circa 2010. Regards, FN

Marianne de Nazareth

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Mar 7, 2024, 6:40:58 AM3/7/24
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Hi,
Gosh! let me explain my self -- slowly and clearly!
Six mths ago a professor friend in Iowa, Nebraska asked me to write a screen play about his classmates life. I refused as I did not know the person at all.
Then while holidaying with the boys in the US and London I read his email and reread it and agreed to write a book out of which a screenplay could be culled.
It was the true story about a boy out of a slum in Chennai in the 60's who was given a seat to study ( by  our Jesuits) rather than a peons job that he had gone to try for in Loyola College Madras.
It's written under the genre of novel for obvious reasons -- BUT its a true story.
No more spoilers!!
Please buy and read my book!  

regds,
Marianne

Marianne de Nazareth

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Mar 7, 2024, 6:40:58 AM3/7/24
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No ghost writer -- The book is written by me and the cover clearly has my name!!

M

Marianne de Nazareth

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Mar 7, 2024, 6:40:58 AM3/7/24
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Hahaha! Lets pray my work does not go in vain as she can say NO and my book and all my work goes into the trash!

M

Braz Menezes

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Mar 7, 2024, 6:40:58 AM3/7/24
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I think I may have resolved the mystery. There was a typo in the original response. If ‘life’ was changed to ‘wife’, there would be no story.


[Sadly the life of my protagonist has stopped the sale on Amazon. Therefore only I have copies of my book.
I can speed post in India.

regds,
Marianne]

Marianne de Nazareth

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Mar 7, 2024, 6:41:21 AM3/7/24
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No! She is from a middle class  background so thats why she is reluctant to say he came from a slum, instead of being proud of his achievements.

Marianne

Jeanne Hromnik

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Mar 7, 2024, 7:18:52 AM3/7/24
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Is this a case of 'where the boys are, someone waits for me'?
Only jokes. Tks for the cover. It helps to clarify matters.
Jeanne
Incidentally, my maiden surname is Nazareth, originating from one of the 3 groups of Nazareths in Moira, Goa.

Marianne de Nazareth

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Mar 7, 2024, 9:06:26 AM3/7/24
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Apologies!

Marianne

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Roland Francis

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Mar 7, 2024, 5:26:32 PM3/7/24
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Seems interesting Marianne specially in the context of a viral Whats App forward about a young man, also from Madras who after his IIT had a successful run in the US. 
I would like a copy of your book. Please tell me how to pay for it since it is out of your private stock, being unpublished.

Here fyi is the forward that tickled my interest. I cannot vouch for its authenticity but here it is.

There was a very brilliant boy, he always scored 100% in Science. Got Selected for IIT Madras and scored excellent in IIT. Went to the University of California for MBA. Got a high paying job in America and settled there. Married a beautiful Tamil Girl. Bought a 5 room big house and luxury cars. He had everything that make him successful but a few years ago he committed suicide after shooting his wife and children. *WHAT WENT WRONG?* California Institute of Clinical Psychology Studied his case and found *“what went wrong?”* The researcher met the boy's friends and family and found that he lost his job due to America’s economic crisis and he had to sit without a job for a long time. After even reducing his previous salary amount, he didn't get any job. Then his house instalment broke and he and his family lost the home. They survived a few months with less money and then he and his wife together decided to commit suicide. He first shot his wife and children and then shot himself. The case concluded that the man was Programmed for *success* but he was not *trained for handling failures*. Now let's come to the actual question. *What are the habits of highly successful people?* First of all, I want to tell you that if you have achieved everything, there is a chance to lose everything, nobody knows when the next economic crisis will hit the world. *The best success habit is getting trained for handling failures*. I want to request every parent, please do not only program your child to be *successful* but *teach them how to handle failures* and also teach them proper lessons about life. Learning high-level science and maths will help them to clear competitive exams but a knowledge about life will help them to face every problem. Teach them about how *money works* instead of teaching them to *work for money*. Help them in finding their passion because these degrees will not help them in the next economic crisis and we don’t know when the next crisis will hit the world. *"Success is a lousy teacher. Failure teaches you more."

Roland Francis
Toronto. 


Brian Desouza

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Mar 8, 2024, 4:18:48 AM3/8/24
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Hi Marianne

It's been a while since we emailed, and trust all is well.

I would like to buy the book. Let me know how to pay you etc,.

Rgds
Brian

Marianne de Nazareth

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Mar 8, 2024, 4:18:59 AM3/8/24
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Hi Roland,

Is there anyone coming from Toronto to India?

I could send a copy with him or her.

Its sad if the book is forever blocked by his wife as its a very inspirational story esp for this gen who need positive guides to get off their devices and work towards a goal.

regds,
Marianne

regds,
Marianne 

Selma Carvalho

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Mar 8, 2024, 6:35:39 AM3/8/24
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Only because the plot seems to thicken with each email, in Roland's forward, both the husband and wife are killed in a suicide-homicide, but according to Marianne the husband is sick with Myeloma and the wife is a superficial diva and is prohibiting the sale of the book on Amazon.

Curiouser and curiouser.
Selma

Marianne de Nazareth

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Mar 8, 2024, 6:35:48 AM3/8/24
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Brian hi,

Where do you live? I will have to speed post it to you.

Let me have your address please. Then you can gpay me.

Thanks
Marianne

Marianne de Nazareth

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Mar 8, 2024, 7:52:50 AM3/8/24
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Selma -- NOT really that curious at all! 
Fred -- this is for you too!!  

If you reread Rolands email slowly and carefully you will see that HIS is about some other boy and quite a different story from mine!!  See below his opening sentence!!

"Seems interesting Marianne specially in the context of a viral Whats App forward about a young man, also from Madras who after his IIT had a successful run in the US"
NOT my protagonist AT ALL!! It was some forward which he had got.

Sigh! Thanks for the excitement over nothing!

Marianne

Marianne de Nazareth

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Mar 8, 2024, 8:46:15 AM3/8/24
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Roland re reading your email --
1) my book is published or there would not be a book. I ordered 150 authors copies which luckily I have.
2) My protagonist is very much alive and has myeloma. His picture as a young man is on the cover. He lives in Chicago
3)  His wife has stopped the sales of the book as she does not want to be associated with a slum-- it had been listed on Amazon kindly check the notification is still up.  Read the blurb on Amazon
The blurb of my book is up there on Amazon and is NOT a viral whatssapp. Its a mans TRUE story not any forward.
4) If I wanted to sell my book in large numbers I dont need to come to this fora. 
I just have book reading where 30- 40 or more books get sold in one event across Bangalore or when I travel to see my sons in the US and UK. I helped Michelle Mendonsa Bambamwalle for her book -- Becoming Goan -- with an event sponsored by the KGA in the Catholic Club, Bangalore.
5) I thought this was a Goa fora to support Goan writers. Maybe I was mistaken with the word support.

Thanks for all the curiosity. I am truly shocked and dismayed.

Thank you all.

Marianne





On Fri, Mar 8, 2024 at 3:56 AM Roland Francis <roland....@gmail.com> wrote:

Frederick Noronha

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Mar 8, 2024, 9:03:46 AM3/8/24
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Don't worry. All publicity is good publicity.
There is no such thing as bad publicity for a book.
Try a ban. FN

Selma Carvalho

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Mar 8, 2024, 9:04:21 AM3/8/24
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Dear Marianne,

My sincere apologies. You are right. I did not read Roland's email properly. He was referring to a different book. It all got very confusing. I've known Roland over 25 years. He's a charming but confusing man :-) All is forgiven. Wishing you much success.

All best wishes,
Selma

Michelle Bambawale

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Mar 8, 2024, 11:28:31 AM3/8/24
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Thanks again for all your help and support with the Catholic Club and the KGA in Bangalore, Marianne. And for a copy of this book. 
Just catching up on the crossed wires in communication about your book here. Wishing you the best. 

Warmly,
Michelle 

Michelle Bambawale
Writer
https://www.penguin.co.in/book/becoming-goa
Tel: +91 8130666624
Instagram: michelleinsiolim
Twitter: michelleingoa


Roland Francis

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Mar 8, 2024, 12:29:22 PM3/8/24
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Selma, the two are unconnected. 
Just referred to the forward due to some commonality in the circumstances of the two different people - one of the viral forward and the other one of Marianne’s book.

Roland.


Eugene Correia

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Mar 9, 2024, 7:21:21 AM3/9/24
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The slum-to-riches story is not uncommon. However, such stories make interesting reading. The stories of some dalits rising up from their stations in life in India are heart-warming, to say the least. 
I wish I had the time -- and patience -- to read a "life story" now as I am trying hard to catch with reading books I have bought on the socio-political situation in Goa, as I am in Goa now. I have still more books to buy.
In between my -"serious" reading. I .made tome to read some "light" reading, including Becoming Goan.

 Eugene Correia


 

On Sun, Mar 3, 2024, 1:23 a.m. Marianne de Nazareth <mde.na...@gmail.com> wrote:
My latest book is out for sale -- IIT to America a slum boys journey -- contact me for copies--

blurb: This story of true grit traces the amazing courage with which a young boy, Madhavan Pillai,

shakes off the shackles of poverty in 60’s India, to rise like a phoenix, out of the dirt and squalorof a slum in Madras, to achieve his dreams in the US. With unwavering determination, he turned that serendipitous entry into the hallowed portals of Loyola College, into a path paved
with only success, never forgetting his responsibility to his starving mother and siblings.

Driven by his belief that education was the key to extricating himself out of the morass of poverty, he achieved top marks in chemical engineering at IIT Madras, which led him only onwards and upwards. Persevering and triumphing against all odds, rising above every curve ball that life threw at him, Madhavan Pillai finally fulfills his dream of flying to the US on a graduate scholarship and that’s where he lives to this day after a successful career.


--

Dr Marianne de Nazareth
Former Asst. Editor, The Deccan Herald,
Freelance Environmental Journalist
Fellow UNFCCC, UNEP, UNWater
Editor Romantic Getaways https://www.bellaonline.com/


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Gilbert Lawrence

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Mar 9, 2024, 10:20:59 AM3/9/24
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For Indians, (including Goans) going from near-poverty to near-riches in one generation is more often than not a personal story to most baby boomers (born in the 50's). The secret has been education.  We point out in our book how Goans especially girls graduated with college with graduate and double graduate degrees while their parents did not even finish high school.  This needs to be contrasted with the West which is grappling with "generational school drop-out and poverty."

The education has translated into affluence and often migration (internal or external). The diaspora and a job in turn had a profound social, economic and caste stratification effect on their relatives in the native land.  These has influenced society. 

Unfortunately, academics have called the changes due to 'Conversion and Colonization' rather that education, affluence and mobility.  Thes changes are clearly seen in post-colonial Indians who got an education, did not change their religion, and yet changed their diet, attire, way of life. So, the ancestors who were against 'crossing the sea' for fear of 'contamination' were prescient. 

We will surely see the right interpretations in Eugene's thesis on socio-political changes in Goa's; and likely he will be educating his professors in Canada, who still have the Eurocentric colonial mindset. 

Gilbert Lawrence.
Co-author: Insight into Colonial Goa 
published by Amazon and Kindle

Marianne de Nazareth

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Mar 9, 2024, 11:18:34 AM3/9/24
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Absolutely -- education is THE key. 
Not necessarily from the 50's but earlier when many Goans left for Africa to seek their fortunes and were educated.

Marianne

Eugene Correia

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Mar 9, 2024, 12:23:38 PM3/9/24
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Gilbert, to understand the political reality of Goa I recommend a recent book. Ajeeb Goa's zGajab politics, by Sandesh Pradhudesai.
Though I have reservations on the title and the author's thesis why the politics is "gajab", it provides a wide view of politics of the past.
In the overall scenario. One also gets a good understanding of social developments. In my brief meetings and talks with some post-61 generation adults the idea I get is that Goa's politics is not at all "gajab".
 Goa is in the ever-changing political landscape of the land. It doesn't follow a distinct pattern. 
Neither is Goa "ajeeb", though "touristic" without doubt. Nehru's word has been metaphorical to no end. What I feel is Nehru meant was that Goa is "unique". Some years ago I wrote an Op-Ed on this issue in OHeraldo.
Though it would be a Herculean task to garner impressions of post-61 generation, talking to some randomly I gather the generation is caught in the crosswinds blowing across the state. Maybe like a palm tree swaying with the gusty wind.
Eugene Correia
 


Jeanne Hromnik

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Mar 9, 2024, 12:23:44 PM3/9/24
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Gilbert Lawrence

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Mar 9, 2024, 2:03:38 PM3/9/24
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Not everybody boarded the 'Education Train' at the same time.  The pioneers that left Goa in the 1900s, laid the groundwork for those who left in the 1950s and 1960s.
Goans got a head start, thanks to the parish schools in Goa and in the diasporas.
The slum to millionaire story, thus is interesting because in subtle respects it is personal.  
Or the author makes it personal.

The real problem we have is that many have not appreciated the change.
Some in Goa and India (the numbers are getting reduced with each passing decade) still have the colonial mindset.
Post 1961, many continued to live the sussegad life of the bhatakar and empregado, yet the bourgeoise moved to the business class and those who hustle. 

Astute politicians feel and respond to the changes, while the academics and literati are chewing on their pencils.
Unfortunately, many are still waiting for the train that left the station. 

Gilbert

Eugene Correia

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Mar 10, 2024, 1:37:35 AM3/10/24
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Hi. 
I can take the book to Roland, as I am in Goa, If Roland so wishes. I am in Goa till end of May.
I can send Marianne my postal address in Goa.

Eugene 

Marianne de Nazareth

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Mar 10, 2024, 1:38:31 AM3/10/24
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Where are you doing your PhD?  
Everything is online so they should have your details. 
Write to your Alma Mater for help.
If you can provide copies of your Masters certificate and the year of passing you should have no problem as Bombay ( Mumbai) is well recognised.
In India you have to do everything personally or get some friend in Mumbai to help.

regds,
Marianne


On Sun, Mar 10, 2024 at 10:10 AM Eugene Correia <eugene....@gmail.com> wrote:
I can take the book, and can provide you me Goa address. I will be going end or early in June.
I am here to gather material for a doctorate degree, syill on hold, from a Toronto university.
I am asked to provide transcripts of my MA and Ba from Mumbai University, which I did abt 40 years ago.
I emailed my request to MU abt two weeks ago. UT no reply.
I don't know which dept to ask fir such transcripts, as I was never provided with them.

Eugene 

Frederick FN Noronha

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Mar 10, 2024, 1:43:55 AM3/10/24
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Comments about the growth of education in Goa have been made on this thread,  suggesting it grew in the "1950s and 1960s" (Gilbert) and "earlier when many Goans left for Africa to seek their fortunes and were educated" (Marianne).  Is there any reason why we are picking these dates (or migration to Africa) or any credible sources which mention the same? FN


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