Synopsis 'Tarvotteanchim bondolam'

Synopsis 'Tarvotteanchim bondolam'



‘Tarvotteanchim bondolam’ off late has taken so much space on the Goan Netter’s forum, I could not hold on with my views to eternity.

‘Tarvotteanchim bondolam’ to my knowledge was something like ‘a joke’ or may be even ‘Konkani Vopar’. I remember one more catch phrase ‘Padri-cho sermao unneak nohi’ (Priest sermon not meant for Sister-in-law)
I wander if the priest’s have ever taken it as an offence? But they are men of God. Aren’t they?

My father was a tarvotti, but not ‘bondolkar’. He worked hard first to get his three younger sisters married and then he got married late by 10-15 years. The salary that he earned was just enough to make the family ends meet. He was on the ship for 9-11 months and then lay-off for next 5-6 months.

He was not a ‘bondolkar’ but he did shed some light on the ‘Tarvotteanchim bondolam’ of his days, years after his retirement as I was old enough to understand his tarvotti life. If a honest tarvotti had to narrate their European, American or Japanese voyage experience to fellow Goan they used to poke fun ‘Tarvotteanchim bondolam’ as it was too good to hear. Back then (50s – 70s eras) the Goans were not exposed to the Print and Television Media as they are today. I wonder what would have been the Goan folk’s reaction if Tarvotti had to talk about Internet being used in West. If Present day tarvotti talks about his life experience people do believe him as we are not living in ‘Timbuktu’.

We do hear some ‘Tarvotteanchim bondolam’ in regards to work situation such as ‘kitchen helper’ trying to project as a ‘cook’. I guess these are harmless ‘bondolam’ because our society gives importance to position rather than the work you do. We, as a part of the society have encouraged these bondolam by refusing to give dignity to low paid work.

Now, we as a part of society have to be the catalyst to change the way we look at work and the worker. Longer we take to acknowledge ‘dignity’ in cleaning the toilet is as good as being an office manager or Chief Cook on the ship; we will continue to have these bondlolam and off-course migration. Our refusal to give dignity to work is one reason why our fertile agriculture land is now turning into a waste land, because no one likes being called a ‘Xetkamti’.

The ills of Goa are not because of the Tarvotti or Gulf-ies as some try to project on this forum. We all have a right to express our viewpoint, not to condemn. We, as a Goan civil society are collectively responsible for good or bad of the current situation in Goa. Is it Tarvotti or Gulf-ie who elect the people to come in power? Is it Tarvotti or Gulf-ie who sell’s the ancestral land to the highest price to the builder? Is Tarvotti or Gulf-ie who buys fish paying extra few rupees is bigger problem than Hotel’s in Goa feeding millions of tourist coming to Goa? Are food shortages or price rise because of Tarvottis or Gulfies as they only booze and hog when they come down to Goa? Who is ready to sell anything and everything (Check the costal belt) including our sons and daughters to anyone and everyone but a Goan or for that matter Tarvotti or Gulf-ie? Who are okay to share our houses with an unknown person for he/she pays good money but not own brother or sister and parents (we have new invention ‘home for the aged’).

I am neither a writer nor a thinker, or a teacher, or an orator and definitely not a politician. I am humble son of a tarvotti, now a gulf-ie, who for a living, work for the tarvotties has equal measure of respect and concern for a Captain or an AB (able bodied person). But above all, I am a Proud Goykar who seeks salvation not condemnation of Goykar, irrespective of his profession, caste or creed.

Many hands make work lighter; so let us join together as a Tarvotti, Gulf-ie and *NRG does not matter if you are a Goan from Goa or Bombay, Kenya or Tanzania, Canada or Australia and USA or Africa.

Utt Goykara!Viva Goa!


Agnelo Pinheiro

[Agnelo Pinheiro hails from Raia, Salcette, Goa
and presently works in Dubai, U.A.E. and can be
contacted by email at gift.pinheiro at gmail.com]

*NRG = Non-Resident Goan.


- as forwarded to goa-world.com on 4th June 2010.