THE GOAN DIASPORA: a Study of Socio-Cultural Dynamics in Goa
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THE GOAN DIASPORA: A Study of Socio-cultural Dynamics in Goa By Sachin Savio Moraes Thesis Submitted for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology Department of Sociology Goa University GOA December 2015 ii DECLARATION I, Sachin Savio Moraes, hereby declare that this thesis entitled ‘The Goan Diaspora: A Study of Socio-cultural Dynamics in Goa’ is the outcome of my own study undertaken under the guidance of Dr. Ganesha Somayaji, Professor and Head, Department of Sociology, Goa University, Goa. It has not previously fromed the basis for the award of any degree, diploma or certificate of this or any other university. I have duly acknowledged all the sources used by me in the preparation of this thesis. Place: Goa University Date: Sachin Savio Moraes iii CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the thesis entitled ‘The Goan Diaspora: A Study of Socio-cultural Dynamics in Goa’ is the record of the original work done by Shri Sachin Savio Moraes under my guidance. The results of the research presented in this thesis have not previously formed the basis for the award of any degree, diploma or certificate of this or any other university. Place: Goa University Dr. Ganesha Somayaji Professor and Head Department of Sociology Goa University, Goa Date: iv CONTENTS Preface and Acknowledgement vi-xi List of Figures xii List of Tables xiii-xiv List of Photos and Maps xv 1. Introduction 1-32 2. Theoretical Perspectives and Conceptual framework 33-49 3. The Making of International Migration in AVC-GOA: A Historical Perspective 50-86 4. Diaspora and Demographic restructuring of the Village 87-131 5. Diaspora and Women 132-165 6. Diaspora and Children 166-187 7. Diaspora and Elderly 188-22 8. Diaspora and the Socio-Cultural Dynamics in the Village 227-306 9. Conclusion 307-320 Appendices 1. Questionnaire on Demographic Profile 321 2. Questionnaire on Women and Diaspora 325 3. Interview Guide for Women and Diaspora 328 4. Questionnaire on Children and Diaspora 330 5. Interview Guide for Children and Diaspora 334 6. Questionnaire on Elderly and Diaspora 335 7. Interview Guide for Elderly and Diaspora 337 8. Selected Photographs from the Field 339 v 9. News paper reports 343 Glossary 344 References and Selected Bibliography 347 vi PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I was born in Bombay, a city approximately six hundred kilometers from Goa. I lived in Bombay until I completed my schooling from one of the prestigious schools of Bombay namely “Don Bosco” (Matunga). During the holidays I would stay with my aunt and grandmother in Goa, while at the other times I was in the boarding. I would have also been in Goa but my mother wanted me to finish my schooling from Bombay. After schooling I decided to complete my further studies in Goa, which was so close to my heart. On the other hand my own family members, especially my two brothers, grand- mother, aunts, uncles, and cousins gave me a source of motivation and affiliation to return to my roots. Besides my desire there was also a constraint that required that I should be in Goa. My father, passed away prematurely. My mother was the sole bread winner of the family for long and she worked abroad returning to us once in two years. Accompanied by my grandmother, I was therefore entrusted with the responsibility of looking after my younger brothers. However my brothers were not living with me, as they were kept in Don Bosco (Sulcorna) which is in Goa and is 30 kilometres south-east of Cuncolim the village where we live. It was only when each one completed their secondary education that they began to live with me. Faced with these responsibilities I took up the challenge of guiding and supporting my brothers, and taking care of myself with my paternal grandmothers’ support. I also realized how important it is to have a support, on which one could depend. My grandmother, brothers, aunt, cousins and me was the only family for me, though my mother was also a strong part of it, she was not physically a part of it, as she would return home for two months biannually. During the period she was away, the only binding sources were letters and phone calls. vii Being a member of a diasporic family and living in a neighbourhood where many women looked after their families without the physical presence of their male counterparts. I developed academic interest in the phenomenon of diaspora. In the year 2005 for my MA Sociology dissertation I worked on the effects of male migration on the women left behind. Apart from the auto-biographic roots of this study, I am also aware of the Social and Sociological relevance of diaspora for Goa as a sending society. The journey of completing this study has been a long one and there have been many people who have helped me all the way through. I consider it my duty to acknowledge their contribution and thank them as well. First of all, I would like to thank Prof. Ganesha Somayaji who is my guide, mentor and father like figure. He was ever enthusiastic in accepting me as his PhD student. He was my teacher at the University and from my university days till day has been a guiding force at every moment in my career. When you fall down the best words you can expect from anyone is ‘get up! Don’t give up’. Prof. Somayaji uttered these words quite often. He has been extremely patient and always encouraging and overall an empathetic human being, who truly encouraged and advised me in the right direction. Though he was busy in administrating the Department of Sociology, he was able to do justice in checking every single draft from the proposal till the completion of the thesis with utmost detail. I appreciate his time invested in providing me with insights and comments on each of my drafts. I now feel that I can write a logical paragraph. I have learned a lot from him and without him completing this dissertation would be difficult. viii I would also like to thank the Faculty Research Committee (FRC), which consisted of Prof. V. Afonso (Ex-Dean and Chair), Prof. Shyam Bhat (Subject Expert and the present Dean and Chair). Prof. Afonso was always enlightening with his critical and engaging comments. Whereas, Prof. Shyam Bhat has been a gentleman personified, always encouraging with his soft voice and humanistic approach. The comments from the (FRC) have fortified my thesis significantly. I am grateful to Dr. Joanna P. Coelho, my senior and friend at Goa University, for the numerous long, critical and engaging discussions on my research topic and for the warmth and advice in many aspect of my thesis. During my research I got acquainted with two of my seniors, who were pursuing their PhD along with me: Ms. Sonal Thakkar and Mr. Arvind Haldankar. I am extremely thankful to them for their friendship, constant encouragement and critical comments during various get-togethers that contributed to my growth. I am also thankful to the Dr. Gopakumar, University librarian Mr. Kedar Naik the AR (PG) for all the help rendered to me. My sincere thanks to all the students of the department of sociology, who boosted my confidence with their presence, at the various presentations that I made in the Department. I would like to thank my teacher Shri Alito Sequeira, who ignited that fire to do research when I first wrote a research paper in the course ‘Understanding Goa’. I learned a lot through his association especially when I did my M.A dissertation. Shri Siqueira was always heartening through unorthodox ways and has always had a lasting influence on me. ix My sincere appreciation goes out to all my teachers, at Rosary Higher Secondary and Rosary College Navelim for all their love, support and guidance at varied points in time. My special thanks to my sociology teachers Mr. John Mascarenhas and Mrs Iona Almeida for teaching me my first lessons of sociology and Dr (Fr) Walter D’ Sa (Principal St. Xavier’s College-Mapusa). My deepest sense of gratitude goes out to Dr. Afonso Botelho for his constant guidance, support and friendship. I would like to convey my heartfelt gratitude to Parvatibai Chowgule College, my past Principal Dr. R.V. Gaonkar under whose support and encouragement I registered for Ph.D. and the present Principal Dr. Nandakumar Sawant, who has been a rock solid support always. I am grateful to him for his empathetic approach and for myriad ways in which he helped me. I would also like to share a word of appreciation with Dr. E.M. Travassos for encouraging me from time to time. My sincere thanks to all my colleagues, ‘neighbours’ and friends in Parvatibai Chowgule College for all the encouragement and love, I am greatly indebted to my friend and statistician Mr. Kailash Gokhale for all the patience, help and hours dedicated in compiling the data to generate tables and the overall bond of friendship. I would like to acknowledge the help provided by Dr. Wilber Gonsalves (Mumbai University), towards the preparation of the data collection tool of questionnaire. My special thanks to my friends both past and present that includes Danica Menezes, Sarika Advilkar and Sobita Kirtani for their unconditional love, support and friendship. I would like to share a word of gratitude to my colleagues Ms. Raisa Cardozo and Ms. Freda Tavares for rendering help and support when I needed the most. I am also greatly indebted to my ‘stress sponges’ that are my beloved students both past and present, they have been able to x absorb my stress without even I knowing that I am stressed.