TARVOTTI

'Tarvotti' munje (means) Tarvar kaam korpi dadlo. Saath darya poinn korchea
tarvank 'aag-boat' munnon Tarvoti apoithale. P&O Passanger liners like ss
Arcadia, ss Himalaya, etc were huge passanger liners (remember Titanic) that
provided Tarvotti jobs for many Goan and Mangalorean men, who worked for
about 10 months followed by a four to 6 month mostly unpaid vacation, until
their jobs were unionized or something in the late 70s..

So Tarum means large ship (passanger liner, cargo ship or Oil tanker),
Tarvar means on the ship and Tarvotti is a person working on such ship.

There is a building in Bombay called Tarvotti Bhavan, at 203 P D'Mello
Road.

TARVOTTI - A poem by Joel Morais

Tarvotti

Fudd'llean, fatt'llean, da'vean, uz'vean poi, sog'llech kodden udok dista,
Mollbar rat'chim noketram chok-chokta,
Tea noketrank polloun maka mhojea ganv-ghorchi yaad zata,
Kitem faido mhojem vhodd'llem ghor asson, hanv somdirant mhojem jivit sarta.

Vhodd'llim-vhodd'lim jev'nnam assat, punn jevunk jibek rucho nam,
Jednam hanv ghara aslo, tednam mhoje mai'n zaitem randhlem mhaka, punn hanv
jevunk nam,
Atam ti'nnem randd'lelle xitt-koddecho ugdas kaddum dollean'nim mhojea
bhortat dukham.

Zaito monam ni'all kelo, punn mhojem jivit mhaka somzonknam,
Soglle va'tten, sogllech kan'tte, punn gorche' bhagint khuim, ful'leant
fu'llam,
Vhoi ami tarvotti, meztanv lha'ram, toofananim khellun, cholloitanv gharam,
Saiba tum rakh amkam, bhiram'kull somdirant.

Zolmank mhaka hadlo tam'nin,di'llem mhaka zai'tem,
Aiz tankam mhoji goroz asli, punn potak lagon somdiracho rosto dorlo hanvem,
Porto baba etlo kednam, dolleant dukhan borun ,mhoje mai'n maka
vimchar'llem,
Pai ghora moron ghelo, pun mutt bhor mati galunk tarvotti putak noxib nam
zalem.

Jivit amchem Vadoll-mhod, toofanam,
Xati fu'lloun fudho kelo, tankam ami bieunk'nam,
Ami tarvotti todd sodhunk bhonvtaunv,
Me'lloth zallear ti amchi, punn melltoli kai dev zannam

Joel Morais
>From the historic village of Cuncolim
Edited by Floriano Lobo
>From historic village of Moira, a land of the Mad tarvotis.


One more article on Tarvotti heritage:

Tarvotti porom'pora

Goem Bharotachem ek lhanxem raj. Mhonntana Goenche Konknni uloupi, tarvotti
zale tor kainch ojap nhoi.

job on the cruise ship (tarvotti)

Adim tarvotti mama -avoicho bhav; vo bapaicho bhav-titiv; vo mavxecho
ghov-uncle; tarvachi viaj marun aile mhonnttoch tangelea lagxilea soireani,
poilim tanchea ghora vochun bhett diunk zai asli. Ho ek kaido nhoi aslo ponn
oxem ek nattem (relationship) adim cholltalem. Bhonink kedna kai tarvotti
bhavacher dixtt ghalunk distalem zalear bhav, bhoinichea ieneank ravtalo.
Adlea mon'xam sovem oput somzuch ani maia vostali ti aichea kallar disona.

In Retrospection…….Saligao Village.

" ST. ANNE'S CLUB OR KUDD IN BOMBAY---OFFSHOOT OF SALIGAO VILLAGE
COMUNIDADE.------II.

SANTA ANNA CLUB BOMBAY ( ESTABLISHED IN 1850).

"Here is a translation of the konkani version on Santa Ana Club handed to
me(Fr. Nascimento Mascarenhas), by Mr.Jose Carneiro, aged 82 years, on
04-08-1992. He completed the article on 02-08-2004. Unfortunately after nine
days he died on 11-08-1992.

The following is the text:

The elders aged over 70 years who hed resided in this Club while they worked
in Bombay, told me the story of this Club. According to them, Santa Anna
Club was established in 1850. However, as it is stated by some others, the
club came into existence around that period or let us say after the
foundation of St. Anne's Chapel( Saligao) in 1843.

Accordingly three or four ward members (capelistas), as cooks and butlers in
profession, thought of staying together and this was the beginning of Santa
Anna Club.

After some time due to lot of employment in the bangalows, they arrived in
Bombay but our brethren had no place to stay.They also thought of bringing
their relatives to employ them in Bombay. The number of the warders began to
increase, therefore it became imperative to have a big house. After much
search they got a big house in Cavel Street and they named it as " SANTA
ANNA CLUB".

When I was 15 years old, my father took me to Bombay to be admitted in a
school and with right he kept in this club (Kudd) in 1926 (Each member of
the club had right to admit his sons as junior members, I believe). This
Club was in Dabul and we were around 25 members. Besides these there were
around 20 others working on ships (tarvotti) who would return after their
voyage. In 1930 this Club was shifted to 'Horta Baixa". After five years
this club was again moved to Dhobitalao in 1936. Now there were 60 members
in this club (30 youth and 30 elders) besides sailors and those who worked
or cooked in private houses and stayed in the Club. The total number was 120
members.

There was a Manager to run the Club. The male boarders or warders
(Capelistas) could reside in this Club with right but if the wife of any
member wanted to reside over there, there was need of a member to stay as
guarantor (fiador) for her.

One of the strict rules was that all the members were to be in by 8 p.m for
the rosary unless they worked nights.

The feast of St. Anne was celebrated with solemnity and pomp, preceded by
novena, with sung rosary of St Anne etc.. The feast mass was celebrated in
the church. On feast day all were treated to a sumptuous feast day "
Festachem Jevonn"( banquet) and a dance was held at night. On the octave of
the feast day, a mass was celebrated in St. Anne's Chapel, Saligao, for the
intentions of the members and it was called " Bomboikaranchem Fest" (Feast
of Bombay members of the Club). If any member of the Club died there was
Death Benefit Fund (Mornnachi Sociedad) of the Club that would take care of
the funeral expenses, to which each member had to subscribe until he
remained member.

Finally in 1952 this Club came down and the members had no place to stay.
They began to dwell in clubs of different villages as Estrangeiros
(Strangers). In 1950, much before this Club collapsed, there was a move to
purchase a house (Club) on ownership basis and to make all the children and
elders its Life Members with Rs.100/- as life membership fee. For this
purpose a Committee was formed. The President being Mr. Assuncao D'Souza,
Mr. Bertha Souza as Secretary and Mr.Jose Carneiro as Treasurer.

The Committee sent a circular to all Saligaokars, those staying in India as
well as abroad like Africa, England, Abadan, Bahrain and other Gulf
Countries. At that time one required 15 to 20 thousand rupees to buy a
house. Money was received from overseas Saligaokars but those who resided
in the club did not contribute much . Hence after one year this idea of
having a house was given up and the money was returned to the donors with an
apology.

The money of the Fund of Santa Ana Club was sent to St. Anne's Chapel,
Saligao, on condition, 'that on the eigth day of the feast of St. Anne, a
mass is to be celebrated for the intentions of the club members'. This mass
is being celebrated till today

SANTA ANA SALIGAO SPORTS' CLUB, BOMBAY (ESTABLISHED IN 1944).

As many youth from Saligao were residing in Santa Ana Club in Bombay they
thought of having Santa Ana Saligao Sports' Club. This Club was registered
under "The Bombay Goan Athletic Association" for LUZITO CUP AND AVE MARIA
CUP, Foot-ball Tournament, to which two teams A & B Santa Ana Sports' Club
were formed. Around 40 goan teams took part in these foot-ball tournaments
and the players were to be from the same village in Goa, residing in
Bombay.This Football League took place on Dobitalao Grounds every
Saturday/Sunday and lots of Bombay Goans attended as spectators for these
Tournaments.

*Santa Ana Saligao Sports' Club Footballers:

'A" Team—Macky Lobo, Juzu Remedios (Capt), Casimiro Noronha, Alberto
D'Mello. Camilo D'Gama, Julio Carneiro, Manuel Mendes, Lucas Remedios,
Sebastian Martins, Augusto D'Mello. Maxy Saldanha.

"B" Team—Sales Remedios, Atanasio Pinto, Anthony Fernandes, Shany Lobo,
Champion Alvares, Cyril Vaz, Lynn Mendonca, Augustinho Britto, Milagres
Coelho, Jose Carneiro (Capt), Thomas Carneiro.

* For Goan Inter Village 'Cricket' Tournament .

Santa Ana Saligao Sports' Club Cricket Players:
John Correia (captain), Camilo D'Gama, Julio Carneiro, Juzu Remedios,
Agostinho Britto, Macky Lobo, Jose Carneiro, Sebastian Martins, Anthony
Fernandes, Maxy Saldanha, Adolf Figueiredo, Basil Fernandes, Sales Remedios,
Felizberto D'Souza

Sports Secretary : Mr. Jose Carneiro.(concluded)

Compiled by Fr. Nascimento Mascarenhas.

Konkani-English Dictionary
Ankddo=hook
Bhes=garb/vocation
Boddi=twig/stick
Bodok=duck
Dive-lights
Doia=pity
Dukor=pig
Dukhi-sad
Gaddo=cart
Gantt=knot
Ghantt=Bell
Gironn-mill
Hath=hand
Hatgaddi=wheel barrow
Heradari=traffic
Jaihirat=advertisement
Kakut=pity
Kantto=thorn/fork/pin
Kavayat=parade
Khusal=gay
Kir=parrot
Konso=corner
Montrimondoll=ministry
Moriad=modesty/honour
Khub=much
Mutt=fist/knob
Oddni=passion
Ontor=gap
Pan=leaf
Panvddo=stairéstep
Xikovpi=teacher
Porsum=garden
Rang=queue
Ruch=taste
Sal=peel
Samonn-kit/ingridient
Sang=say, bean
Sardine-tarlo
sodancho=usual/cquaintance
Somantar=parallel
Tarvotti=sailor
Tizori=safe
Vinnpi=weaver
Zomo=crowd/mob

The SS Britannia song (Konkani)

Sections

The entire village of Aldona was in grief over the tragic loss of its
beloved sons, following the sinking of the Britannia. The sadness took shape
in the form of a Konkani song SS Britannia* which was composed a short while
later. The song was sung at different occasions during those years, as
memories of the incident were kept alive.

While the SS Britannia song was largely forgotten as decades passed by, the
song was kept alive by the families of those Britannia sailors of Aldona,
who either survived or perished at sea.

The rare SS Britannia song on this website has been sung by Sheila D'Souza,
daughter-in-law of Britannia survivor, Albino D'Souza.

SS Britannia

Febreiache ikraver bhair ami sorleanv
SS Britanniacher Bomoi vochunk bosleanv
Satxim att passenger gheun ami ietaum
Hansum, khellun somdirarche dis kaddtanv
Oxe char dis ami kellea uprant passar
Panchvo dis ailo amcher ekdom marekar
Konnech ami chintlena aiz eit mhonn nimanno far
Britannia somdir giun korta kabar

CH: Soukas Britannia, voch tum bhitor
Sogliank amkam hea velar salvar tum kor
Adeus Britannia, ai churchure
Kednaim amchea sopnnat disti poddunk ie

Soglo lok nidun also tea vaporar
Dusmanan tarpitto marlo tea velar
Modian ratir kallok, sokallchea don horar
Rokddench kepttenam dilem sinal 'danger'
Vaporak na zalo ugot ravunk udkar
Satui minut urlona somdirachea laran
Satxim att lokak to gheun gelo thavak
Botti vorto-ie luskonn zaitia lokak

Ufeun ravleanv ami challis tarvotti
Zata titlea lokank mozot ami dili
Uprant na zalo ugot uddounk botti
Soglo lok buddtana martalo huo-vheli
Hem polleun dusmanachi zali khoxi
Birmot fuddteli team innocent bhurgeanchi
Vengo marun mhunnot amkam mummy-daddy
Fugar zaun melin moron vortolem taka ghatki.
________________________________

(* The song was composed largely on the basis of information provided by the
Britannia survivors at the time. However, evidence now suggests that some
'facts' of the song may not be accurate.)

(c) Misquita Family Website, 2004 -- All rights unreserved

Compiled From Various sources
M.DMello


http://www.goasu-raj.org/gen/articles/18.asp