FRIDAY: The status and need for thorough criticism in Konkani

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Frederick Noronha

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Aug 6, 2020, 11:07:03 AM8/6/20
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The fifth lecture in the series  "Konkani Vichar Vedika" organized by the Konkani Department of the Goa University, titled *The status and need for thorough criticism in Konkani (कोंकणींत परखड समिक्षेची स्थिती आनी गरज)* will be held on 07 August 2020 at 11:00 AM. This lecture will be delivered by Government College Khandola Konkani Department Head Prakash Vajrikar.
You can join this lecture by using the below link.

Please turn off your microphone and camera during the lecture. From: Dr. Prakash Paryenkar, Head, Konkani Department, Goa University.

Join Google Meet
https://meet.google.com/bgt-pgza-kcg

Join by phone
+1 321-701-3126 (PIN: 981198979)

Contact for more information:
+91 8390303546

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FN* फ्रेड्रिक नोरोन्या * فريدريك نورونيا‎ +91-9822122436  

augusto pinto

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Aug 6, 2020, 1:58:32 PM8/6/20
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Sounds interesting. I might join. I have some strong views on the subject. And I don't mind expressing them although I wonder if they'll allow me to. :)

Augusto
 



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antonio CABA

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Aug 7, 2020, 7:46:41 AM8/7/20
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“Augustbab , pott bhor hanslo”. But the thing is I had written at least a hundred words which did not go through. Only the first sentence came up. Don’t know how that happened. Sorry!

augusto pinto

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Aug 7, 2020, 9:18:31 AM8/7/20
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“Augustbab , pott bhor hanslo"

Henh! Hem re baba kitem ? Xemor uttran boroill'im ani him charuch bhair sorllim? 

What's this about? I've no idea. For those who don't understand, the sentence in quotes Antonio alias Richard Cabral means, Augusto had a hearty laugh. He followed this up by saying that he wrote a hundred words but only these four remained. Maybe Dr. Cabral is introducing us to a new form of literary criticism: - Cryptocism. 

Incidentally I did listen to the Prakash Vazrikar lecture and it was reasonably interesting. 

He gave a fairly comprehensive view of the state of literary criticism in Konkani, and although there were some things that could be contested and some things where the emphasis could be have been different, for example, about the contributions of Christian writers, who habitually get a miniscule recognition from Hindu writers compared to the people like Varde Valaulikar or Uday Bhembre. 

But by and large it was okay. The speaker was critical that there are occasions where, and he cited among others, the Vishnu Wagh 'Sudhirsukt' controversy, where he pointed out that the critical responses in English and Marathi were far more sophisticated and enlightening to this Konkani book than those in Konkani itself where the book was sought to be suppressed. 

Augusto 




sandra lobo

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Aug 7, 2020, 2:50:42 PM8/7/20
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Sorry for my ignorance Augusto. Bit owhat das the sudhir controversy about? Myself, o have difficulty in forming an opinion about the movement in face of the arguments ser um the table in para 1920's/early 1930's in Goa 





Sandra Ataíde Lobo

 

CHAM – Centro de Humanidades, FCSH/NOVA-UAC

tmn. ++351 930690459



De: goa-bo...@googlegroups.com <goa-bo...@googlegroups.com> em nome de augusto pinto <pint...@gmail.com>
Enviado: 7 de agosto de 2020 13:31
Para: goa-bo...@googlegroups.com <goa-bo...@googlegroups.com>
Assunto: Re: [GOABOOKCLUB] FRIDAY: The status and need for thorough criticism in Konkani
 

Albertina Almeida

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Aug 8, 2020, 7:33:49 AM8/8/20
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Hello Sandra,

For the Sudir Sukt controversy, maybe you can read the following two articles:



There is also a video of a panel discussion at GALF, and can share it as I find it

Regards,
albertina 

augusto pinto

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Aug 8, 2020, 7:34:19 AM8/8/20
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Dear Sandra,
Actually the controversial book of poems by the late poet-politician Vishnu Surya Wagh had played out a lot on Goa Book Club. 


Augusto 

Frederick Noronha

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Aug 8, 2020, 7:42:54 AM8/8/20
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The Wikipedia page linking to Sudhir Sukta, Vishnu Wagh and related background.  

Vishnu Wagh

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Vishnu Wagh
Press conference by MLA & Vice Chairman of ESG, Vishnu Surya Wagh, at the 43rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI-2012), in Panaji, Goa on 27 November 2012
Vishnu Wagh in 2012
BornVishnu Surya Naik Wagh
24 July 1964
Dongri, TiswadiGoaIndia
Died8 February 2019 (aged 54)
Cape TownSouth Africa
Occupation
  • Politician
  • artist
  • writer
  • poet
  • playwright
Notable works
  • Sudhir Sukta
  • Tuka Abhang Abhang
  • Sarpanch Bhagirath
Notable awards
  • Bakibab Borkar Award
  • Goa Ratna Award
Spouses
    Sharmila Rao
    (
    m. 1989; div. 2006)
      Aruna Chodankar
       
      (
      m. 2006⁠–⁠2019)
      Children4
      Member of the Goa Legislative Assembly
      In office
      2012–2017
      Preceded byFrancisco Silveira
      Succeeded byFrancisco Silveira
      ConstituencySt. Andre

      Vishnu Surya Naik Wagh (24 July 1964 – 8 February 2019) was a poet, writer, dramatist, journalist, politician and management consultant/ trainer, hailing from the coastal state of GoaIndia. He had been a Member of Legislative Assembly in Goa from 2012—2017 as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.[1][2] Owing to his fragile health, he had been on a break from his active career since 2016,[3] until his death in 2019.[4] His book, Sudhir Sukta, was a topic of much debate in 2017—2018 for its offensive language and content.[5]

      Early life[edit]

      Wagh was born in the village of Dongri in Tiswadi to Indu and Surya Wagh. He had three siblings - Ramrao, Smita and Jyotsna, and was the second child.[6] Being a smart child, he read all the books that his father had in the house multiple times. He was greatly influenced by writers like Khadilkar, Kanetkar and Gadkari. When a local library was opened, he became a regular visitor. The librarian, Raghuvir, used to advise him on the choice of books to borrow and read. He thus got access to mystery novels and Shringarik literature, which he used to read sitting in the Maalo (transl. attic) of his home. Due to some reason the library was closed, but by that time Wagh had become a Panch at their Village Panchayat. He reopened the Library. He spent a lot of time with his relatives and friends in Ponda. He acted in many dramas as a child artist, under the guidance of his father, Surya Wagh, who was an actor in his Marathi theatre group, Hauns Sangeet Natya Mandal. He used to enact famous mythological characters like Krishna and Rama in Dhalo performances.[7]

      His family was not very religious, but they were interested in BhajanKirtan and readings of religious texts. Wagh regularly attended the Kirtan programmes at the Shri Ram - Hanuman Mandir in their village. He used to devoutly listen to the Kirtankar. Once, one of the Kirtankars asked the children to lean Ramdas' ovya (transl. verses), which Wagh did and could recite perfectly. He had a good rapport with all the Kirtankars that visited the village ever since that incident. One of them, named Valimbe taught him about the whole art of Kirtan. Valimbe also remained touch with him through letters. Wagh also became close to Brahmanand Swami.[7]

      He won a rank at the Class X Board examination and went on to study science at MES College. He used to stay at his maternal aunt's place in Vasco. After being encouraged by his professors, he started participating in various competitions. He signed up at the Municipal Library in Vasco, made friends with other artistes and started writing and directing one act plays. It was during these days that he first ventured into journalism, drawing caricatures, dramas, poetry and elocution. The next year he got a first class, with the highest marks in Languages, but did not do as well in Science and Math due to lack of interest. He subsequently completed a BSc in Chemistry and Zoology from Dhempe College of Arts and Science. He actively participated in students' movements and was guided by Nandkumar Kamat. He was enrolled in Goa University, pursuing his MSc in Biochemistry, when his father died in 1987. He then decided to take responsibility and shifted to journalism in his second year.[7][8]

      Socio-cultural career[edit]

      Vishnu Wagh and team stage a performance at their village temple in Tiswadi in 2006

      Vishnu Wagh had been actively involved in the socio-cultural field for many years. Over the years, he indulged in poetry; drawing cartoons and caricatures; study of Vedic and sant literature, heritage, and anthropology; and had even been a part of environment campaigns.[9] He had been connected to Brahmanand Swami of Tapobhumi (who passed away in 2003).[10]

      Soon after completing his education, Wagh began his career by joining Newslink, an English publication of the Tarun Bharat group, and later joined the Tarun Bharat team in Belgaum (after Newslink was abruptly shut down). He also played a role in settiing up the daily newspapers, Vartamaan (funded by mine owners) and Sudarshan. He later went on to become the youngest editor of Gomantak.[8]

      He wrote over 20 plays in Marathi, three sangeet nataks (transl. musical plays), 18 Konkani plays and 16 one-act plays. He directed over 50 plays in Konkani and Marathi. Some of his critically acclaimed plays include Tuka Abhang AbhangSuvariTeen Poishancho TiatroDharmashree, and Pedru Poddlo Baient.[11] He also wrote six volumes of poetry and emerged as an eminent poet in these languages.[12] His poem, Shahar Ani Ganv (transl.Town and Village), features in the Class IX Marathi textbook of the Maharashtra Board of Education.[13]

      Wagh was also a part of Marathi cinema, after writing the lyrics of movies like Gadya Aapla Gaon Bara[14][15] and the screenplay of a few others, like Sarpanch Bhagirath.[16][17] He was also a powerful orator, known for his speech writing and delivery.[18]

      Wagh's work often talked about the oppression of the masses by the higher castes. He was a supporter of their rights, especially those of the Bhandari community.[19]

      He held the following positions:

      • Chairman of Kala Academy[20]
      • Vice-Chairman of Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG)[21]
      • Editor of the Marathi dailyGomantak[18]
      • President of Gomantak Natya Sammelan and Yuva Marathi Sahitya Sammelan[22]
      • Executive Member of the World Marathi Academy[9]
      • Spokesman of Akhil Bharatiya Bhandari Mahasangh[9]

      Political career[edit]

      Wagh's political career began in the 1990s with the Shiv Sena and the MGP.[12][23] Then, after 14 years of being a former general secretary and spokesperson of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee, Wagh joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on 30 October 2011, in the presence of senior BJP leaders — Laxmikant ParsekarMP Shripad Naik, and Manohar Parrikar.[24]

      He won the 2012 Goa Legislative Assembly election with a margin of 1219 votes from Constituency Number 14, St. Andre Constituency - consisting of the 7 villages of Goa Velha (St Andre), Azossim-Mandur, Neura, BatimAgacaim (St Lawrence), Pale-Siridao and Curca-Bambolim-Telaulim.[25]

      On 14 January 2016, he was elected as the Deputy speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly.[26]

      After Wagh's illness, his brother, Ramrao Wagh, was selected by the BJP as his successor to contest for the seat of St Andre in the 2017 Goa Legislative Assembly election. Ramrao is a professor working at Goa University, who holds a BSc degree in Physics and a masters in computer applications.[27] However, he lost to the Congress candidate, Francisco Silveira, who was in power before Vishnu Wagh.[28]

      Awards[edit]

      Illness and death[edit]

      In May 2016, Wagh suffered from a massive heart attack, resulting in significant kidney damage.[31] In August 2016, he suffered another heart attack, while at a public function in Panaji. He then underwent an angioplasty at the Goa Medical College (GMC) and was later shifted to Mumbai, where he was first treated at Hinduja HospitalMahim, and was later shifted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital at Andheri. This was due to the latter hospital's better neurosurgical facilities.[32] While admitted in Mumbai, he was visited by many celebrities like Nana Patekar and Mahesh Manjrekar. He was also treated by the Goan-born neurosurgeon P. S. Ramani.[13] Wagh returned to Goa in April 2017, when he was discharged. He had since been hospitalized multiple times.[3][33]

      Wagh died in his sleep on 8 February 2019, while on tour in South Africa with his wife.[4] His death was reported by his wife Aruna five days after, which caused his siblings to raise questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident.[6] In response to this, his wife issued a statement that Wagh had been admitted to Manipal Hospital in Dona Paula for the two months prior to his death, where he expressed an interest in not dying in a hospital room, and that he wanted to visit Johannesburg and Cape Town. She further shared a poem written by him in Marathi titled Marnyapurvichya Kahi Suchana (transl.Few Instructions to Follow Before Death).[34]

      Wagh was cremated with full state honours at Ponda on 17 February 2019. His body arrived early that morning at Dabolim Airport and was escorted by State Minister of Art and Culture, Govind Gaude, to his residence in Dhavali, Ponda. The body was then taken for public viewing and prayers at Dayanand Bandodkar Ground, Kashimath, Ponda. The funeral consisted of inter-religious prayers and a musical and literary tribute to him, and had many prominent attendees from the fields of politics, art and literature. The police presented Wagh with the salami shastra and the shok shastra. Wagh was later cremated at Ponda Municipal Crematorium, named Warkhende. The final rites were performed by Vishnu's son Priyadarshan, in the presence of Vishnu's younger son and his brother Ramrao. Some time later, then Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo issued a statement that Wagh must be awarded the Padma Shri for his work.[35][36]

      Reception[edit]

      More than twenty years ago, Wagh's acclaimed play, Tuka Abhang Abhang, caused public outrage for having depicted the Purohits murdering Sant Tukaram.[37]

      In August 2017, Wagh's anthology of poems, Sudhir Sukta (transl.Hymns of a Shudra), was declared to be the awardee of the Goa Konkani Akademi (GKA) Award in the poetry category.[5] This caused an outrage campaign on social media, which saw some of its more controversial verses being shared. In October 2017, the Goa government cancelled all the thirty-two literature and culture awards - the results of which were hitherto undeclared - including the one for Wagh.[38] Upon a complaint filed by Goan women's rights activist, Auda Viegas, an FIR was later registered against Wagh and the publishing house, Apurbai Prakashan (run by Hema Naik), under Sections 292, 293 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 4 of The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act. This was regarding the book's representation of women and castes.[39][40] A few weeks later, the BJP government, of which Wagh was a part of before his illness, issued a statement that the FIR would be withdrawn, as the "language used by Mr. Wagh in the book is the language of masses".[41]

      Personal life[edit]

      Vishnu Wagh was previously married to Sharmila Rao, with whom he had two children, one of whom is named Parth.[42] After their divorce in 2006, he married Aruna Chodankar, who is employed as an officer in the Labour Department of the Union Labour Ministry of India.[43] They had two boys together - Priyadarshan and Gagansurya.[44]

      See also[edit]

      Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vishnu Wagh.

      References[edit]

      1. ^ "Why no 'captain' for Maharashtra polls, asks Goa BJP leader". Mid-Day. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
      2. ^ "Profile of SHRI VISHNU S. WAGH (BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY – 14-ST. ANDRE CONSTITUENCY)". GOA BJP. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
      3. Jump up to:a b c "Ex-Goa dy speaker & writer Vishnu Wagh hospitalised"Business Standard India. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
      4. Jump up to:a b "Writer, ex-Dy Speaker Vishnu Wagh no more"oHeraldo. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
      5. Jump up to:a b Menezes, Vivek (28 August 2017). "Vishnu Surya Wagh and 'The Worm of Casteism'"The Times of India. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
      6. Jump up to:a b "Kept in dark about former Goa Deputy Speaker Vishnu Wagh's death, allege his siblings"The New Indian Express. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
      7. Jump up to:a b c Wagh, Ramrao (17 February 2019). "The one who influenced everyone : Baba". Navprabha.
      8. Jump up to:a b असा विष्णु, असाही विष्णु [Asa Vishnu, Asahi Vishnu]. Lokmat (in Marathi). 14 February 2019. Retrieved 16 February2019.
      9. Jump up to:a b c "Shri. Vishnu Surya Wagh | M.L.A"Goa Legislative Assembly. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
      10. ^ "Multifaceted Vishnu Wagh no more"GoaNews.com. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
      11. Jump up to:a b "Vishnu Surya Wagh awarded". The Times of India. 20 August 2003. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
      12. Jump up to:a b Sequeira, Devika (27 October 2017). "A controversy Wagh would have loved"The Times of India. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
      13. Jump up to:a b "Vishnu Wagh on road to recovery, says wife Aruna"The Times of India. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
      14. ^ "'Gadya Aapla Gaon Bara' Story, Video, Stills"Karamnook.com. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
      15. ^ "Gadya Aapla Gaon Bara"IMDb. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
      16. ^ "Sarpanch Bhagirath on Moviebuff.com"Moviebuff.com. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
      17. ^ "Sarpanch Bhagirath ( सरपंच भगीरथ )". 3 March 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
      18. Jump up to:a b c "Vishnu Surya Wagh wins P K Atre Puraskar"Business Goa, p. 58, August 2014
      19. ^ "Literature or politics, nothing could silence this tiger's roar"The Times of India. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
      20. ^ "Vishnu Wagh back in Kala Academy Chairman's seat"Herald Goa. 17 April 2015.
      21. ^ "Vishnu Wagh stripped of Kala Academy, entertainment society of Goa posts"The Times of India. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
      22. ^ "Goa Legislative Assembly - Shri. Vishnu Naik Wagh"Goa Vidhan Sabha. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
      23. ^ Naik, Kaustubh (24 February 2019). "विष्णु वाघांच्या जाण्याचे काही संदर्भ" Devanagari [Vishnu Waghanchya Janyache Kahi Sandarbh]. Lokmat (in Marathi).
      24. ^ "Vishnu Surya Wagh quits Congress joins BJP"The Hindu. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
      25. ^ "Wagh makes easy work of 'difficult' St Andre seat"The Times of India. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
      26. ^ "sant andre mla MLA Vishnu wagh was on Thursday elected as the deputy speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly"The Navhind Times. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
      27. ^ "Ramrao steps into brother Vishnu's shoes - Times of India"The Times of India. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
      28. ^ "Election results 2017: Goa CM Laxmikant Parsekar loses; close contest between Congress, BJP"The Financial Express. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
      29. ^ "The 'Tiger' takes charge". The Goan Everyday. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
      30. ^ Malkarnekar, Gauree (14 February 2019). "Vishnu Wagh: Champion Of The Underdog"The Times of India. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
      31. ^ "Vishnu Wagh survives massive heart attack, kidney damaged"GoaNews.com. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
      32. ^ "Vishnu Wagh returns to Goa after a 7 month hospital stay"ItsGoa. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
      33. ^ "Vishnu Wagh admitted to GMC, condition serious"The Times of India. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
      34. ^ "Kept in dark about death, say Vishnu Wagh's siblings"The Times of India. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 6 April2019.
      35. ^ "GA-WAGH-CREMATION"The Week. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
      36. ^ "Wagh cremated with state honours"Navhind Times. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
      37. ^ Parab, Sachin (27 August 2017). "शूद्रसुक्‍ताची लढाई" Devanagari [Fight of Sudhir Sukta]. Divya Marathi (in Marathi). Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
      38. ^ "Govt cancels 32 awards of Goa Konkani Academy"oHeraldo. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
      39. ^ Malhotra, Hansa (18 October 2017). "Who Is Vishnu Wagh and Why Is His 'Anti-Brahmin' Book Under Fire?"The Quint. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
      40. ^ Nair, Smita (18 October 2017). "Awarded, then trashed: Goa poet hounded for questioning Brahmins"The Indian Express. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
      41. ^ "FIR against poet Vishnu Wagh to be withdrawn: BJP"The Hindu. 25 October 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
      42. ^ "Matrimonial Suit No. 9/05/A"Official Gazette - Government of Goa. Series III No. 26: 2. 28 September 2016 – via Govt. Printing Press, Goa.
      43. ^ "Wagh's wife cries for relief"oHeraldo. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
      44. ^ "Wagh's family takes part in 'healing' session in South Africa; Pastor Lukau's video goes viral"The Goan. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
      • This page was last edited on 20 March 2020, at 06:22 (UTC).

      sandra lobo

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      Aug 9, 2020, 4:59:06 AM8/9/20
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      Dears Albertina, Fred and Augusto,

      Many thanks for the links. In fact, for some reason I did not follow the polemics but is impressive. I liked very much your text, Albertina.

      best wishes,

      Sandra




      Sandra Ataíde Lobo

       

      CHAM – Centro de Humanidades, FCSH/NOVA-UAC

      tmn. ++351 930690459


      Enviado: 8 de agosto de 2020 02:57

      Frederick Noronha

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      Aug 9, 2020, 5:13:12 AM8/9/20
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      Unfortunately, the issue got polarised between for-and-against. There are perhaps far more complexities to these issues involved. Among these are (1) the construction of the Bahujan Samaj concept, particularly in the post-1960s Goa (2) Power struggles between the traditional elite and ascendant power groups in contemporary Goa (3) Intellectual hegemony and the kind of challenges/resistance to it in the Goa of today (4) The intersection of casteism and communalism, and nuances of how these issues have been framed over the past six decades and more (5) Electoral politics, numerical strength, economic and business dominance, cultural hegemony within Hinduism and Christianity in Goa, traditional land ownership and tenancy legislation and strategies.

      To my mind, literature and the politics over literature cannot be seen in isolation of the wider social context. FN 



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      sandra lobo

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      Aug 9, 2020, 6:17:06 AM8/9/20
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      Dear Fred,

      I think that you are right about your comments and on the need to look at literature and politics of literature in the wider context, although I think that literature, like other arts, can and should also be appreciated for criteria that are internal to literature, otherwise we risk loosing sense of the magical capacity of creative writing to delight and move us. 

      best wishes

      Sandra




      Sandra Ataíde Lobo

       

      CHAM – Centro de Humanidades, FCSH/NOVA-UAC

      tmn. ++351 930690459




      De: goa-bo...@googlegroups.com <goa-bo...@googlegroups.com> em nome de Frederick Noronha <frederic...@gmail.com>
      Enviado: 9 de agosto de 2020 10:12

      Frederick Noronha

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      Aug 9, 2020, 6:19:31 AM8/9/20
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      True. But in this case, both camps were making their point based on the political implications of the words written, positions taken and histories depicted... and not because of the aesthetics of the literature or otherwise. FN

      sandra lobo

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      Aug 9, 2020, 5:48:32 PM8/9/20
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      I understood that and and am inclined to agree with your reading of the case under discussion, within my ignorance on the matter. It is troublessom that so many complicated tensions complicate life in Goan society, adding to a democratic crisis of freedom of expression that strikes not only India, but has in the complex moment lived in India very dangerous ramifications.




      Sandra Ataíde Lobo

       

      CHAM – Centro de Humanidades, FCSH/NOVA-UAC

      tmn. ++351 930690459


      Enviado: 9 de agosto de 2020 11:19

      augusto pinto

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      Aug 11, 2020, 3:12:51 AM8/11/20
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      While I by and large concur with the fox, there is a statement of his that I find repugnant: "Unfortunately, the issue got polarised between for-and-against" 

      The Sudhirsukt was never a simple binary. 

      There were always several strands of opinions that were floating around. 

      Sure, there were the Bamon types who hated  Sudhirsukt because it made a mockery of them and simultaneously challenged the hierarchical dominance of the Bamons. 

      But among the Bahujan itself, there were some who said, that all this while, Vishnu was supporting Marathi and writing in Marathi against the Konkani movement. Why should he be allowed to coolly come back to Konkani, and why should he get political mileage from it?

      They felt that by now saying he's come over to the Konkani side, and by writing that he was coming back to his mother, he was being hypocritical. 

      There were those who felt that Vishnu was being politically opportunistic, just like in his real-life politics, and that his moves were unwelcome. 

      There were also those who objected on the ground that there was a patriarchal streak in Vishnu, that the way he wrote about women was disgusting and patronising. 

      Among those who praised Sudhirsukt, were those from hitherto oppressed castes, who saw in Vishnu a champion, a leader. 

      But there were also upper caste/class people who felt that Sudhirsukt was excellent and certainly powerful poetry, poetry which could stir the emotions, by drawing upon ancient animosities but which didn't merely stir controversy (which it certainly did) but by bringing hitherto suppressed sentiments to the fore, it had in the Aristotelian sense, a cathartic effect of cleansing of the psyche.

      So if anyone is being simplistic about what was going on wrt Sudhirsukt, it is the fox. 

      Augusto 





      Frederick Noronha

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      Aug 11, 2020, 7:32:48 AM8/11/20
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      To say that something "was never a simple binary" (said in this debate) or that we "need more nuance" (often heard elsewhere) over a particular debate, is a rather "convincing" contemporary way of ...  saying nothing.  It just helps to get some wiggle room, and to temporarily distract attention from the issue at hand.

      So, that said....

      For the purpose of making my argument, I have attempted to focus on the wider issues at hand, and not the lesser significant side issues.  I am not ignoring the latter, just making the point that these are not the main issues due to which the entire debate arises.

      The "several strands of opinion", mentioned by AP, basically and undeniably emerge out of two broad positions, as below:

      (1) One camp holds that the book should be banned.  This comes largely from a perspective that it says the unmentionable, it is "casteist", it rakes-up issues of real or perceived caste oppression of earlier times, and overall takes the discourse in a "dangerous" (nobody used this word, but many implied it) direction.

      (2) The book deserves to be out there.  This is a reflection of positions such as "Free speech"/"The right to hold an opinion"/"Freedom of creative expression"/"I support the book"/"I back Vishnu Wagh's right to write it"/"The book raises important issues of caste-bahujanism in contemporary Goa", etc.

      As mentioned earlier, this full debate has little or nothing to do with literature and is almost entirely about politics.  This is in no way to detract from VW's skills as a wordsmith; but one can underline the point that none of his other works got 'noticed' in this manner.

      Very few people supported the book because it was great literature.  In fact, till the controversy unleashed itself with the suddenness of a Goan tropical storm, the work was hardly noticed.  This was the case even in the limited-sized Konkani Devanagari literary circles, let alone all Konkani circles in Goa or in Konkani circles nationwide writing actively in at least three scripts.

      A few additional points:

      (i) Vishnu's "supporting" Marathi or Konkani is a non-issue here.  Unlike some "language/script" ideologically-driven writers, Vishnu Wagh, to my mind, was very pragmatic.  To him, language as a vehicle -- to get across his ideas and issues.  He has written, spoken and been an orator or actor in Marathi, Konkani, English or Hindi, as the need arose.  He was fluent in all these languages.  I think he was learning slokas in Sanskrit.  So motives attributed by people are largely irrelevant in this case.

      (ii) The argument about the "patriarchal streak" (or, to put it more bluntly, male chauvinism) came, ironically, from those who opposed his book for the reason mentioned in (1) above.  The feminists who were not taking such a stand, didn't have a beef with this, as far as I understand.  Right, Tina?

      (iii) Of course, in Goa's easily polarised world, once a dominant section of the "upper" castes targeted his book, it would naturally be seen as a cause worth supporting, and resultantly be viewed as "Vishnu a champion, a leader".  But again, this is due to the basic divide that caused the controversy in the first place.

      To reiterate, Sudhir Sukt's excellence and "certainly powerful poetry" got noticed only after the raging controversy, the cancelled prize, newspaper articles, and a lot of punditry and side-taking over the same.  Why?

      That says something -- either about how we perceive the written word in today's Goa...  or the lack of any interest in the same UNLESS it blows up into a huge (political-caste-communal-linguistic) controversy.  Which is about the same thing....

      My point is different:

      * We are misreading Bahujan politics in post-1961 Goa, and seeing it through the lenses of some Phule-DMK movement, when the entire reality is quite different in the Goan context.

      * Caste in Goa has become a way of mobilising for electoral (and economic/political) purposes.  It is a complex game, and its players are willing to switch sides, to negotiate deals, to move in and out as the circumstances demand.

      At a midnight staging, I saw Vishnu's play [https://bit.ly/Vishnu-Play] which was a trenchent critique of the misuse of caste and religiosity.  But we also saw Vishnu help with his oratory and winning a very tough seat which played a crucial role to help the BJP come to power in Goa in 2012.  Are such issues not crucial in the debate too?

      It is not my argument which simplifies the debate.  What does this is that very logic which takes black-and-white positions over the row that errupted over VW's book.  Without taking the wider social reality into consideration, this cannot be understood.

      FN

      Albertina Almeida

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      Aug 11, 2020, 7:33:14 AM8/11/20
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      I don't necessarily disagree with Rico's concerns about issues that are little discussed,

      But, I think it is also Brahmanical not to  see that there already have been and are many positions that have been taken beyond binaries.

      albertina

      Frederick Noronha

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      Aug 11, 2020, 7:36:44 AM8/11/20
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      Hi Tina, to dismiss something you disagree with as "also Brahmanical" and thus halt debate on the issue, is, in fact, perhaps also Brahmanical :-) 
      Anyway, we might be ending up in what could be called an infinity loop. But it's also possible that there is no end to name-calling :-) Have a good day. FN

      Rochelle Pinto

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      Aug 14, 2020, 5:51:54 PM8/14/20
      to The Goa Book Club
      Frederick, 

      Thanks for your perspectives on Vishnu Wagh and caste in Goa -  if you could elaborate on how caste politics differs from the Phule-DMK perspective used to analyse it, or point to some articles on it, it would be very useful. 

      best, 
      Rochelle

      Frederick Noronha

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      Aug 14, 2020, 6:18:13 PM8/14/20
      to goa-bo...@googlegroups.com
      This is a longer debate. But in the faux-battles over caste in Goa, what we have repeatedly seen is the castes-almost-at-the-top fight those in dominant positions in the guise of battling "casteism". Those at the lower ends l remain where they are, leave aside any attempts at radical transformation, with a few token or strategic exceptions.

      Jyotsna Kamal put it well in her short essay "Hanv tosoch urtolo" ("I'll remain where I am"... if I recall the original Konkani title correctly) published in the EPW during a bitter Konkani-Marathi language war which made us all suffer from a temporary insanity.

      The above is true of "Bahujan"  politics (where, everyone but the Saraswat -- and including Chitpavans and Deshashtas -- is covertly or overtly thrown into the "Bahujan" basket). At the same time, the subalterns among the minorities are kept out for all but token inclusion when it sounds good on paper.

      It is also true in Catholic Chardo-versus-Bamon battles. One doesn't need to have any misplaced empathy for the latter to realise that the main participants in a Hundred Year War for Caste Supremacy are just seeing another opportunity, in the guise of "fighting caste/casteism". We see this emerge in debates even today.

      This much overlooked reality can be backed up with facts and figures, I guess, but would take some time and energy...

      Apologies for wrongly labelling it as Phule-DMK politics earlier, while writing in a hurry. What I meant was the sub-alternate nature  of the Phule-Dravadian movement politics... The latter, off-shoot political parties represent something else.... and are not particularly relevant here.

      FN

      On Sat, 15 Aug 2020 at 03:21, Rochelle Pinto <rochell...@gmail.com> wrote:
      Frederick, 

      Thanks for your perspectives on Vishnu Wagh and caste in Goa -  if you could elaborate on how caste politics differs from the Phule-DMK perspective used to analyse it, or point to some articles on it, it would be very useful. 

      best, 
      Rochelle 
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