September 2004

Vol    2004 September

Mangaloreans, who are they?

As time passes, and people of Mangalorean origin become part of other cultures and they mix more with these cultures and become something else.   Not that it is bad.  However, it is good to understand the reasons behind the nostalgia of their parents, and grand parents.   Why did they speak "Konkani" which was also the language of Goans.   How did words of other languages spoken in the districts enter the Mangalorean Konkani, and these are not found in the Goan Konkani.   Why are the food recipes of Mangaloreans and Goans similar.   Why, Why and Why?   This is only to give you an appetizer to your curiosity.   You can make further research by asking our elders and from visits to your ancients towns and villages.   READ MORE

Hurricane Ivan

Hurricane "Ivan" has just finished pounding the cost of Louisiana and devastated parts of Alabama.    Florida had its share of "Charley" and "Frances".   Some take it as natural disasters, and those who are of a religious bent see in these a warning from on high, as shown so many times in the Scriptures.    A cousin of mine recently wrote to me about what happened in Baton Rouge.    Please Read

Mangalore where I grew

Milagres Church is close by to Hampankatta, which is the central commercial area of Mangalore.   In 1934 when I was born it was very quiet and the Church was the central focus of Catholics.   The first church had come up nearly 450 years ago, but the Church which one sees, was built around 1920.    Read More

Chechnya and the Beslan Massacre

Recent terrorist attack on children of a Russian school, shocked many.   I too was shocked, but wanted to delve deeper into the matter, rather than just hear the comments of the TV anchors.   I have noticed in world affairs, that not everything seems to be as it is portrayed by the Media.   If people were that inquisitive, they would have guessed the real intentions behind the Iraq war, which many vociferously proclaimed. I think there should be more awareness among the people, who have to pay the ultimate price for the actions of their politicians.   Read More