Fwd: FUNDACAO ORIENTE-GOA, --- HONOURS --- Mr. PERCIVAL NORONHA

[Frederick FN Noronha फ्रेड्रिक नोरोन्या *فريدريك نورونيا‎]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: FERNANDO DO REGO <fernand...@yahoo.com>
Date: 24 April 2015 at 10:48
Subject: FUNDACAO ORIENTE-GOA, --- HONOURS --- Mr. PERCIVAL NORONHA
To: Fernando/Aurea Do Rego <fernand...@yahoo.com>
Cc: Percival Noronha <afa...@gmail.com>, Eduardo Kol de Carvalho <delega...@gmail.com>

Dear Friend!

This message is to share with you the news about the great event which took place in the FUNDACAO ORIENTE-Goa, on Saturday (18^th April) evening in order to honour and release a book of PERCIVAL NORONHA, the nonagarian of this Ward.

F.O. was the very first Portuguese institution that came to Goa after Liberation (19.12.1961) and after the Indo Portuguese relations were re-established when the “25 de April” (Revolução do Cravo) put an end to the dictatorial times (1974). A new era started and this Ward was chosen for their office in a residence that belonged to the FONSECA family. It happened twenty years back and Fontainhas was enriched along these two decades with more History with the various programs that it organizes, including the yearly “MONTE MUSIC FESTIVAL” in Old Goa with Indian and Western music, presented both by Hindus and Catholics.

Here I wish to make a suggestion to the F.O. that the same MUSIC FESTIVAL should be transferred to the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, Panjim, which was first built in 1541 as a chapel by the Portuguese, was replaced by a larger church, as seen now, in a wedding cake shape & much alike the Sacre Couer in Paris. In alternate years, it may also take place in the “ADRO” (The Churchyard) of the Church of Margao which celebrated 450 years a few weeks back with the release of a book “SOARING SPIRIT” by the well known journalist Valmiki Faleiro.

If the MONTE FESTIVALS are attended, say by 500 persons or less, these two suggested by me will delight some TEN THOUSANDS. If, you agree with me, my Friend, please support the suggestion by writing to Dr Eduardo Kol Cavalho, the present DELEGADO of the F.O whose e-mail goes at CC

A Remembrance of the past

One of most memorable session which I attended years back, was when FO paid homage to ORLANDO COSTA. He was a great friend of mine from the Liceu days (1940-47) and after a long chat, we wished with an “afectuoso abraço”, never thinking that it would be the very last one. That session also gave rise to something interesting: a friend of mine sent to me from Lisbon a Portuguese magazine which gave a detailed report .It was illustrated with two photos of the two speakers: one of Fr. Martinho Noronha (with the title of ‘MANOHAR SARDESAI’) and the other of Manohar Sardesai (with the title of’ Fr. MARTINHO NORONHA’)! I went with it to the residence of Manohar who on seeing it had a hearty laugh & commented: “MAKA PADRI KELLO. Fernando-bab?” (I was ordained as a priest!?).

I also appreciate in the F.O. is that their Motto and endeavors are NOT “LEVAR A CULTURA PORTUGUESA AO ORIENTE” and so they don’t make a point event to have all their sessions in Portuguese, when the HALL would be empty… - But who is this PERCIVAL? Here are some examples of his innumerous activities.

The Indo-Portuguese Friendship Society-Goa

Delivering a lecture on the topic, ‘Heritage and Indo-Portuguese Furniture’ organized by the Indo-Portuguese Friendship Society-Goa in Panjim , Historian Percival Noronha spoke of the piquant problem of parish priests selling off valuable antique furniture and ornaments from old churches. Not only artifacts in churches are being sold to the highest bidder, Noronha brought up the Cabo Raj Niwas where over the years, a steady stream of artifacts have been given or taken away. He also spoke of how haphazard modern constructions added to lovely old churches, were ruining their aesthetic purity. It is evident that we do not care for our heritage. As the Diocese of Goa had sold to the builders the rich lands in Caranzalem which the CONEGO DO SOUTO MAYOR had bequeathed to it, he stopped being a practicing Catholic that he was!

Portugal honors an Indian Historian

Portugal conferred one of its highest civilian honors to this Indian historian closely associated with Goa and its past. President Anibal Cavaco Silva announced in Lisbon that his country would honor Percival Noronha, one of Goa’s foremost historians and chroniclers of past, with the title of “Commander” of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator. The awards are given to Portuguese Diaspora and foreign citizens.

Dedicated Cooperator of the Governments

 Percival Noronha was a very important govt. officer during the Portuguese regime especially during that period when Gen Vassalo e Silva was the Governor.

After Liberation, he preferred to continue to give to his Goa all that could of his talent and experience He was the Chief Information Officer when Goa was liberated and went on to hold several key positions in the Goa administration, and is known for his work on chronicling Goa’s history. When Goa had its first Government of the late Dayanand Bandodkar, the Chief Minister would come to Percival’s home to consult him on many administrative matters in which he was not conversant

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet (CHOGM)

As the first Director of Tourism, he gave Panjim coastal green belt by planting thousands of Casuarina trees from Campal to Miramar, and was one of the architects behind successful organization of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet (CHOGM) in Goa during 1983. He took over the responsibility of training special guides. The training material he produced on historical places, personalities and monuments continues to be precious sources of information even now also prepared a detailed description of all the historic places in Velha Goa for the benefit of the PRIME MINISTERS of “CHOGM”, which included Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Pierre Trudeau, etc…

The Indian Heritage Society - Goa Chapter:

He rejuvenated the “Indian Heritage Society-Goa Chapter,” the first organization to celebrate world environment day, and published a souvenir on local environmental issues. He supported conservation and protection of khazan lands and salt pans of Goa and collaborated to produce model heritage conservation legislation.

Association of Friends of Astronomy

Noronha joined astronomy enthusiasts to found the Association of Friends of Astronomy. He spotted talent among students & youth and encouraged them in amateur astronomy. Several of those students went abroad to study advanced astronomy. In the year 1982 due to the zeal and perseverance of a Panjim resident & retired govt. officer Mr. Percival Noronha, the Association of Friends of Astronomy (AFA) was founded by a group of astronomy enthusiasts in Panjim (Goa).  

Basically dedicated to the appreciation and popularization of Amateur Astronomy the association was successful in founding The Public Astronomical observatory at Panjim (PAO)… The first public observatory in India to be funded by the government and run voluntarily by an NGO… In the initial years of formation the Members of AFA concentrated on stabilizing the organization by acquiring telescopes, instruments & infrastructure for the observatory; a modest beginning was also made in starting a library by getting astronomy and science books and subscribing for different magazines. Different activities like school programmes, lectures, study tours, exhibitions, workshops, star parties, competitions, quizzes, photography outings were started and are still being sustained by the present members.

The Christian Art Gallery

He worked closely with historian professor Teotonio Desouza to catalogue the precious heritage of Christian art scattered throughout churches & chapels of Goa and that led to establishment of “Christian Art Gallery” which Goa Never had. He continues to champion the conservation of 42 forts and defense locations of historical & archeological importance & organized a tour of the then minister Subhash Shirodkar to demand a ‘no development zone’ around major forts of Goa. Numerous scholars from Goa and outside tap him for information on wide ranging subjects. “There is no other authority in Goa on Christian art, urban history, Indo-Portuguese furniture and ivory,” asserted Nandakumar M. Kamat, a journalist, in an article in Navhind Times.

The Museum of Christian Art is one of the few institutions of its kind in Asia. It is run in the former colonial capital of Old Goa, home to heritage monuments today. When it was set up, in 1994, it was the only museum of Christian art in Asia. It was set up with the cooperation of the Fundacao Oriente and Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian, (Portugal) & the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), New Delhi. Earlier, it was located at the Seminary of Rachol, Salcete -Goa. Later for the convenience of the tourists it was transferred to the SANTA MONICA MONASTERY in Old Goa

The Museum houses a very important and unique collection of Christian art objects spanning from the 16th century to the middle of the 20th century. Recognized the world over as a perfect symbiosis of two cultural manifestations, Indian and Portuguese, these Indo-Portuguese Christian art objects besides their antiquity are known for their Indian (predominantly Hindu) contribution and whether ivory, silverware, woodwork or embroidered liturgical vestments, they are all of surprising richness and perfection. He continued this cooperation with the Church of Goa even after leaving it as related above.

Contacto Goa

Several years back, the RTP-I from Lisbon broadcast regularly “CONTACTO GOA”, arranged & presented by Mrs. Nalini Elvino de Sousa e Afonso. Many times Percival Noronha was projected with his opinions (even in the company of his Persian cat on the table while he works!), and so seen all over the Portuguese speaking world. What I cannot understand why in the R.T.P. programmes, we can never see a GOAN! Only in the news & from lately is ANTONIO COSTA, son of Orlando Costa, who may turn to be the new Prime Minister of Portugal, while its own. “CONTACTO GOA” also interviewed Goan politicians like the Eng. Manohar Parrikar, today the Defense Minister of India

His Heir

In one of my many visits to him, I asked him who would inherit his rich collection of books and documents so precious. Presto! Came a two word reply “XAVIER CENTRE”! All know that it is an institution that belongs to the Jesuits and founded by Dr. Teotonio de Sousa and to the X.C.H.R. where we went together many times.

The release of his book

My wife & I were pleased to be invited (once again) for the release of his book ‘PERCIVAL NORONHA’; “Um goes exemplar” on Saturday 19^th at the hand of the Consul General of Portugal, Dr. Rui Carvalho Baceira, in the presence of Dr. Joao Amorim, Director & member of the Exec. Committee of the Fundacao do Oriente-Lisbon.

Quite naturally the hall was full of guests from practically all over Goa like Loutolim, Curtorim, Divar, Betim, Pangim, Margao, etc., & the walls of the Hall are now decorated with paintings of the famous Goan TRINDADE, father of Angela Trindade. After speeches, Mrs. Aurora Couto did the introduction & the book was released by the Consul General of Portugal Dr. Baceira.

The book now released is a collectanea of his own articles at different times and curiously most of them are in English while the name of the book is “Percival Noronha: um goes exemplar”.

I did appreciate the real truth in this name. If F.O. had any phobias would call it “UM INDO PORTUGUES EXEMPLAR”. It is presented by an article of Dr. Carlos Monjardino, (Presidente do Conselho de Administracao da F.O.) enriched with many photographs from bygone days. There are also some “Depoimentos” included by the former Delegado of F.O. Goa, Dr. Adelino Rodrigues da Costa and the Goan Amilcar da Costa of this ward but actually in Brussels.

There are, my friend, just some of the activities of this gentleman that I knew from my childhood being also a resident of Fontainhas, just like another “Savant” Aleixo Manuel da Costa, author of the unique DICIONARIO DA LITERATURA GOESA in four vols. published by the Fundacao Do Oriente.

The future of the Portuguese language in Goa

Curiously, even though F.O. is a Portuguese institution, everything from the invitation to the speeches was in English thus confirming that the Portuguese language is little by little vanishing from Goa. It was only Percival Noronha, when he went to the mike to thank, did in Portuguese while the audience clapped.

As a matter of fact, PORTUGUESE language has never been banned in Goa after Liberation, but the social & political situations did not make it an essential language. Even otherwise, even the last “CENSO DA POPULACAO” done by the Portuguese in 1960, showed that out of a population of just six hundred thousand only 2.5% had declared Portuguese to be their mother tongue, & that included the Portuguese troops present in Goa Today the population is over one million

Even though the Portuguese in declining in Goa, I am pleased to inform that the Goa University whose Vice Chancelor is Dr. Santosh Shetye (also a son of this ward and grandson of Prof. Ramochodr Naik who was the last Director of the ESCOLA NORMAL) and under the direction of Dr. Delfim Correia da Silva (from Portugal) does conduct classes of Portuguese.

1.      for M.A. since 1987-1988.

2.      the B.A. is done in the Xavier College in Mapusa & Chowgule College in Margao, the Ph.D. will start soon.

In the M.A. there were 44 pupils & 222 for various optional courses offered by the Portuguese & Lusophone studies Dept. of the University.

The F.O. also conducts courses in Portuguese at various levels.

The Garden Cocktail Party

How poetic! After the meeting, a get-together took place in the manicured garden which must have been established decades back by the Fonseca family. It reminded me this poem of Tagore:

The Gardener

Who are you, reader, reading my poems an hundred years hence?

I cannot send you one single flower from this wealth of the spring,

one single streak of gold from yonder clouds.

Open your doors and look abroad.

From your blossoming garden gather fragrant memories,

 of the vanished flowers of an hundred years before.

In the joy of your heart may you feel the living joy that sang one spring morning,

sending its glad voice across an hundred years?

In this ambience, the Fundacao delighted the guests with Portuguese wines and “risóis de camarão” and other delicacies,. I think that in certain circles in Portugal, some call such meetings as “BEBERETE” what I find ridiculous because no one was a “Bebado” (drunkard) and it was a very interesting encounter of friends cheering with the “tchin-tchin” of glasses. What was missed perhaps would be MOUNT FESTIVAL style recorded music in the background like “fados e guitarradas”, the Goan Manddo… solos in konkanim by Sonia Sirsat and by Lata Mangueshkar, the Goan Nightingale.

These are, my friend, are my personal impressions of the homage paid to PERCIVAL NORONHA.        

I mark CC: to him in case any of you would like to write an e-mail to him and his (Phone No.: +91 832 2225726 Mobile No.: +91 0 9822125669). Please note that if you wish to phone, do avoid from 12.30 to 16.00 when he does his siesta! I also mark CC: to Dr. Eduardo Kol Carvalho to thank him again.

If you wish, please FWD: this message to your own friends who will like to know about Goa and may even know Percival Noronha personally and also of FUNDACAO ORIENTE.

With compliments

Fernando do Rego

Attachments:

1. Article in English which came in the Herald.

2 Some Photos.

--

P +91-832-2409490 M 9822122436 Twitter: @fn Facebook: fredericknoronha

Goa,1556 Shared Content at archive.org https://archive.org/details/goa1556