Belgão is what the Goans settled in Belgaum (now Belagavi) knew the place as. Believe it or not, but they often thought of their home as the ‘Centre of the Universe'. This book is their story.
It touches on issues you'd like to know more about—why did Goans settle in Belgão (and nearby Hubli-Dharwar) in the first place? How did they adapt and mingle, but yet retain their identity?
Here you find memories and experiences. Every contributor has something unique to mention, whether it is a special teacher, a lost uncle, the tiatr (Konkani theatre) in Belgão, or their heady schooldays.
The Goans of Belgão retained their Goanness without becoming isolated. Goans from Belgão, Hubballi, and Dharwad also went on to excel in the Armed Forces, religious life, Olympic hockey, business, and other fields while retaining the values, simplicity, and bonhomie they picked up from the community.
In the early twentieth century or earlier, Belgão became a beacon of opportunity for the Goan community. A place that offered the space to live and to grow. There, they could access an education that would unlock doors far and wide. With Goa under Portuguese rule, the educational system was not aligned with the needs of a wider, English-dominated world. In Belgão, the Goan community built connections, shaped futures, and created a legacy. These are their tales of their favorite teachers, memories of their school days, and the lessons that shaped them.
This collection paints a vivid picture of life in this charming, one-horse town in today's Karnataka (earlier Mysore, and Bombay State). This was where friendships were forged on school grounds, where every street had a story, and where nostalgia lingers in every corner. Each memory is a love letter to a time and place that shaped generations, and the charming stories left behind. This is a book for those who remember, and for those who wish they did.
Contributors: Derek Almeida, Neeta Baporikar, João Paulo Cota, Sunita D’Cruz, Gemma M. D’Cunha, Farah D’Cunha, George Fernandes, Franco Fernandez, Sharbelle Fernandez, Marcos Gomes-Catão, Uday Kini, Mervyn Maciel, Alphie Monteiro, Frederick Noronha, Bennet Paes, Luis Rebelo SJ, Agnelo Remedios, Alex Remedios, Sanaya Rodrigues, Josephine Sequeira, Uday Shankar, Clifford W. DeSilva, Olive D’Silva fdcc, Julius, Maryann, Meena De Silva, Vinette De Souza, Cecilia M. Suarez.
Clifford W. DeSilva (Ed) Daispora 2025. Pp. 240. Rs 500. ISBN 978-93-95795-28-9 (Book) ISBN 978-93-95795-21-0 (Ebook)
