CULTURAL LOCATION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE IN THE GOAN SOCIETY By BIULA V. PEREIRA z o Thesis Submitted for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology - \- *- IDEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY ,4jtt , GOA UNIVERSITY GOA /414 V 6 \ A I \ 1 R INTARCH 20 \ ` Fe' 1 - \r--r- 3 64 DECLARATION I, Biula V. Pereira, hereby state that the present thesis entitled 'Cultural Location of Alcoholic Beverage in the Goan Society' is the outcome of my own study undertaken under the guidance of Dr. R. B. Patil, Reader in Sociology, M.E.S. College of Arts and Commerce, Zuarinagar, Goa. I further state that the study has not been submitted for any other Degree, Diploma or Certificate of any other University. To the best of my knowledge, the present study is the first comprehensive work of its kind from the area mentioned. Date: 28-03-2007 Biula V. Pereira ii CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the thesis 'Cultural Location of Alcoholic Beverage in the Goan Society' submitted by Biula V. Pereira for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology is the record of the original work carried out by her under my supervision. The thesis or any part thereof has not been previously submitted for the award of any Degree, Diploma or Certificate of this or any other University. 1" t4 Ap ,---------"Nit"tS" - /.,/c,$ it Et R li Date: 28-03-2007 -Reader in Sociology, ?. ----"'" M.E.S. College of Arts and Commerce, Zuarinagar, Goa, and Ph. D. Guide, Department of Sociology, Goa University, Goa. iii PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Alcoholic beverages are an important component in the Goan Catholic culture. It is associated with major events concerning the individual as well as the community. Its use is well defined by the occasion as well as by the social setting. As a child growing up in a Catholic family I was aware of alcohol being consumed quite liberally at all celebrations. I grew up thinking that alcohol consumption was part of our lifestyle. Eventually, the absence of alcohol in Hindu celebrations struck me. It was amazing that the Hindus served no alcohol while for the Catholics it was an integral part of the celebrations. This always made me wonder. There was in me a strong desire to find out how and why there was a difference in the lifestyles of two communities living in the same area, and sharing the same environment in Goa. At every celebration I participated, this question would keep recurring in my mind, and I was determined to study it. Among the Catholics in Goa, drinking normally occurs at occasions and at home. Drinking along with food, at restaurants, with friends and others, is acceptable. In the villages, the bars are male-dominated local drinking houses. Regular visits to bars are condemned. Why is alcohol consumption at bars frowned upon even though it is permitted at occasions and parties? Even a teetotaller visiting a bar is tainted with the same brush. Why? Why do only men visit the bars? As many bars have gambling tables, these have become places to squander their free time. Deviants and addicts are labelled bebde' . How did this labelling come about? What is the dividing line between bebde and other regular consumers of alcohol? iv The gender-wise gulf in alcohol consumption also always intrigued me. Why did some women consume it while others did not? Why were young girls discouraged from consuming alcohol? These were questions to which I was seeking answers. Later as I began my career as a teacher, I observed students consuming alcohol at picnics, camps, etc., as well as at occasions, but not openly as the adults did. Again the question came up: Why? Similarly, another peculiar feature was that at parties youngsters sat in a corner away from the crowd to consume alcohol. Why was it so? Initially, when I decided to register for my Ph.D., the topic that had occurred to my mind was 'alcoholism among the youth', because I was concerned about the youth, with whom I was closely associated as a teacher. However, in the course of time I found through extensive reading and discussion with my Guide Dr. R. B. Patil as well as other experts that such studies are available in large numbers and this is more a domain of social work. Therefore, I was looking for those aspects of alcohol consumption that were sociological in nature and not covered in earlier studies. The subject taken up for study was a very challenging endeavour. Keeping in mind the fact that Goa is identified with alcohol consumption, there are a number of restrictions and social mechanisms that monitor the consumption patterns. Many people contributed towards making this difficult task relatively simple; and I wish to express my sincere appreciation to all those who have directly as well as indirectly contributed towards the completion of this thesis. In the first place, my sincere and deep gratitude to my Research Guide, Dr. R. B. Patil, Reader in Sociology, M.E.S. College, Zuarinagar, Goa, for his supervision and constant encouragement during the research. Despite his busy schedules he lent his wholehearted support at all stages of my research work. I am thankful to Dr. Ganesha Somayaji, Reader and Head, Department of Sociology, Goa University, Goa. He was always obliging whenever I approached him with any problem regarding the study. I am also grateful to Dr. Shyam Bhat, Department of History, Goa University, for his support and co-operation. He spared his precious time especially in discussing and commenting on the third chapter, relating to the history of Goa. As the Vice Chancellor's nominees for my F.R.C., Dr. N. Shyam Bhat, Prof. V. Shivakumar, Dean of Social Sciences, and Prof. A. V. Afonso contributed with their observations at the presentations, all of which guided me towards embarking on qualitative research required for a study of this nature. I place on record my gratitude to Prof. N. Jayaram, who was the Head of Department of Sociology, Goa University during my period of registration. He fostered interest in this topic and developed it into a topic for a sociological study. I express my heart felt thanks to Prof. Dilip Loundo, Dr. Manish Thakur, Department of Sociology, Goa University, Dr. V. Sujata (presently in the Sociology Department, Delhi University) for their valuable suggestions. Discussions held with them were extremely beneficial in gaining insight into the topic and their suggestions enabled me to resolve some issues. I appreciate the efforts of Dr. Jaganth Sindhe, Gulbarga University, Karnataka, who helped me with the literature review. Various books lent and recommended by him vi during my visit to Gulbarga helped me immensely while reviewing literature for this study. I thank the University Grants Commission for granting me two years' leave under the Faculty Improvement Programme. I am also grateful to Rev. Fr. Fredrick Rodrigues, Acting Principal of Fr. Agnel College, who has always been understanding, supportive and obliging. I would like to thank Shri Albert Fernandes, Sub-Registrar, Goa University, who has always been obliging. I gratefully acknowledge Shri Ramesh Mangalekar, my co-research worker and Kum. Asha G. Naik, LDC, Fr. Agnel College, for their assistance towards the completion of my thesis. I also wish to thank Shri Oscar de Noronha, Lecturer in English, Government College, Pernem, for his comments on all the chapters. I record my sincere thanks to my colleague Shri Cajetan Fernandes of Fr. Agnel College, Pilar, for his valuable advice and suggestions during the initial stages of my work. I express my sincere thanks to Shri Julio D'Silva, my childhood friend, Shri Anand Jadhav, Horticulture Officer at Raj Bhavan, Goa and my cousins Smt. Chaya Gracias, Smt. Debby Couthino and Shri James Vaz for their availability and all their help. I would also like to thank Shri Milind Mhamal, our Librarian, Kum. Lucy Rodrigues and Kum. Rolita Rodrigues from the Computer Laboratory of Fr. Agnel College, Pilar. I also take this opportunity to thank my colleagues Shri Roy Gomes, vii Lecturer, Smt. Shilpa Desai, Lecturer, Kum. Angela Dias, Lecturer, all from Pilar College. My thanks are due also to Dr. Celsa Pinto, Director of Education, Government of Goa, for her valuable suggestions on the historical aspects of alcohol usage in Goa, particularly of the Portuguese regime. During the various phases of my research, I have benefited from the help rendered by Shri K. B. Rao, former H.O.D., Department of English, Chowgule College; Shri Vinayak Khedekar; Kum. Florence Rebello, Lecturer, Damodar College; Dr. Sharon D'Cruz and Smt. Succorina D'Cunha, both Lecturers at CES College; Dr. Muriel D'Costa, Lecturer, Chowgule College; Shri Vividh Pawaskar, Lecturer, Mallikarjun College; Shri Prajal Sakhardande, Lecturer, Dhempe College; Ms. Heta Pandit; Fr. Ireneu Diniz, SFX; Dr. Fr. Walter D'Sa, Principal, Rosary College, Navelim; Dr. Sr. Emma Maria, Principal, Cannel College, Nuvem; Dr. Fr. Victor Ferrao, Rachol Seminary, and Fr. Jesudasan, SFX, Pilar. It would not have been possible to complete the thesis without the co-operation from the respondents. Therefore, in all humility I record my debt to all the respondents from the four villages, as well as the other respondents who not only provided the material required for my study but also accepted me in their midst and provided the necessary information. They were earnest in their responses, committed to making time for me despite their busy schedule and kind in inviting me on specific occasions to witness significant rituals related to alcohol consumption events in their villages. Although I cannot name them all for want of space, some of them need to be mentioned because of their close association and immense contribution in selecting viii respondents and for introducing me to their co-villagers.