Pioneers with no Precedence- No Blue Print.

Pioneers with no Precedence - No Blue Print

by Hazel Cardozo

Behold the wonder of what we the First Fruits in Our Experimental Shamba of Life  or Fine Fish in the oceanic  splendor of coral reefs.

We lived as Brothers Sisters Cousins and Friendly neighbours raised to age 16 by School leaders, teachers, financiers 1900-1950 We now aged 80 and older are Blessed and have been for decades, through a similar experience of Universal Sisterhood that hovers over The Brotherhood from Sea to shining Sea.  

The One "sister" once minutes from my home in Vuga Zanzibar, now closest to me now - same time zone similar climate, seasons fauna and flora, was engaged in Kenya ( Nairobi?) December 1967 and Bride Holy Ghost Cathedral Mombasa June 1968. I was engaged In Mombasa June 1964 and Bride Holy Ghost Cathdral Christmas week Jan 65 Over our lives protecting, leading, guiding and intructing us were the Missionaries from Ireland Germany connected to those in Portugal adn France and other parts of Europe held togther by one man The Pope Holy Father in Rome. There have been 7 since my Birth. Pope Francis elected in 2013 was born Jorge Bergoglio -to Italian Immigrant Parents in Argentina. His Grandfather Francesco Bergoglio grew up in the Milan Turin area of Buisness Industry fashionand commerce. The fame and influence of Papal power gives honor to the Family Name. 

Men, women and children for centuries did little things in ordinary lives to contribute to a regional political identity or mode of governance. For Twenty Centuries human beings understood the Old World languages, lived out Tribes, Kingdoms, and Nations. It 500 years for a New World called "America" to create States where men would have the opportunity to do whatever they wished to do in order to excel in whatever field they chose to invent new ways to communicate and educate others. 

After the first Three hundred years of this 1700-2000, it was clear women and children were the ones best equiped to bring together extremes of MarX and MarY Our Century 21 glories in that SPACE - Special Particular Academic Community Education -made possible by Daughters of Europe Rising DOER and Sons of American Women Eagerly Responding SOWER.  Together these are found all around the Arctic Circle from Alaska through Siberia through the North Sea Across Canada where since 1955 Goans have settled down to do what salt does to food, yeast to bread and sugar to bitter drinks or medicine.

I grew up with persons I knew as "The GOANS" speaking on behalf of others as "We GOANS" with faces like those in my family. I became actuetly aware at age 13 -14 as to how and like who I looked, when Mom finally got a Fundi ( local carpenter) to make a low dresser with three way mirrors ( two side ones movable.) Before then it was Dad's Shaving Mirror above the sink or small one kept above a high dresser for Mom. By then Mid '50's Movies were show in theatres with wide screens and magazines were available at the local Library. Beauty, Success Celebrity Power fame and name were clearly for those Up North and to the Far North West from oiur tiny island ruled by a Omani Sultan I could not imagine that in a few short decades by the year 2000 Y2 K the Space agers would look away from Massive continents to the skies or to distinct distant islands as remote as Zanzibar had been for our Goans in India in 1900.  

My school companions and friends were "Goan" not becuase of race but because religioous practices and languages spoken or studied in Schools when Portuguese Colonization peoples imposed itself on the once well established as "Hindu Muslim other" peoples. Goa was then the gateway to the Biritsh Power making inroads into Maharastra and Central India. Rozina Visram ( Zanzibar Makerere and UK) has written her very readable history of this in "Women In India and Pakistan" Published by Cambridge University Press 1972.  She did not have a separate section for  Women in Goa.  In my childhood visit to India 1946-48 I only recall Karachi Goans, family in Santa Cruz and Bombay Goans on Marine Drive. My Mom's First Cousin worked for TATA family. As a result her Daughter IONA PINTO was favored for Miss Bombay 1960-61. She then represented India at the First Ever Miss International Pageant -in Los Angeles so that East Asia Japan could make Peace with the USA through Beauty ( women ambassadors of goodwill) after the devasation of Hiroshima Nagasaki. Iona was runner up Number 2 to Miss Colombia South America of the New World.

That New World gave way to our latest THIRD WORLD 1960..to 2000 moving at the speed of sound and Light coming from TV and hand held technology into the hands of children in their own homes. In the Pacific on many thousand islands- there have been less documented and few museum archival writings and texts to identify oppressors Invaders Colonialists Occupiers over 5000 years. 

Barack Hussein Obama was electable selectable and delectable candidate precisely because there was little or no precedence for a story like his parents had. A Very White Kansas Born Teenage Mom whose Dad was in the army with General Patton. Barack's Kenya Born African Dad was already Married with children in Kisumu. Both parents met as students at U Hawaii. Togther in 1960-61 they shattered 3000 years of history of shame blame name Fame game and offered a new possibility for PEARL HARBOR - which had a rude awkening and a reckoning DEC 7 1941.

I was born months later on Zanzibar Island. ! Life with the Hula Hula Life of Blue Hawaii has since been attracting to anyone who enjoys permanence of being the 51st State of the US of A. and not just Song festival or movie making as did ELVIS or HAWAII 5 0 or whatever Performance artists did.  WW11 really did issue in the Third World and really did say Goodbye to the Great of All Time GOAT Generation now 95-100 years old. Then came Baby Boomers and Gen X Y Z. 

As an older child of  9 March - August 1951 (my last visit to India) Pakistan GOANS were still speaking an looking like they did in 1948. They still kept Names of Saints and Portuguese Sur names. Those in Bombay however gradually change dress, first names, break marriage taboos essential in social religious ethnic purity or "Endogamy" and I saw the change, when I went back as "MRS C" from America as a tourist for 2 weeks in 1978 Goa was just another small state in India. 

Hong Kong and Singapore are examples of modernity in maternity in a Motherland with a History that reveals constant change. So too All Latin Roman Rite Catholic communities guided by the Pope. The British in East Africa insisted Goans be registered as Portuguese Catholic. Handwritten Baptism Certificates were ID in 19th Century Goa not form issued by Midwives or whoever assisted at birth. Village Priests also blessed the deceased before they were laid to rest in their Cemeteries till 1930- 40 The Exodus Migration Cyclo-styled forms came later. In those days every ethnic group tried to claim Hereditary, Inheritance, Homestead and Homeland Heritage. Today where immigrants dominate it is fashionable to explore life on a distant planet and to imagine how absolutely grand and wonderful life was 7000 years ago when the Indigneous folks had not moved much out of their Natural Habitats. The few Mixed up and Mixed in person werein Warrior Conquerors or Sailor Types in Seaports. All Risk takers. Today the majority are mixed up nad mixwd in all over North America coming in from all sides and from the skies abover airports. 

Days of Mourning, and Fasting and Days of Celebration with Lights Fireworks Dancing Singing are in the hands of the powerful influencers in Govt. Religious Political Social or Family Circles. Rural Villages now attract Corporations or Universities that produce Calendars they observe, and towards which all junior schools are oriented. UK had for centuries its own Christian Calendar for Oxford, Cambridge, London. Zanzibar followed both British and Omani Sultans. African in their remote Villages in Uganda had already succumbed by 1950 to the Dual life of Mixing in and mixing up. 

Hindus Muslims and Non Catholic who made up 50% of the Goa Population until 1948 now are more than 75% Very few "Portuguese" 98% in The Zanzibar Archipelago had their own distinct Ethnic Religious Social identity and gatherings. After WW11 and by 1955 the choice was clear to those Goans who had worked there for decades. They knew UHURU was coming. They did freely choose to go live UP North the "Home" of the White Aryan Christian Races or went to Canada, Australia or Former Colonies. India was never to be the same it had been during the 300 years of East India Company and The Raj. Bombay British influenced Colleges and Buisness till 1990 Then MUMBAI came to life..

Finally.

I do agree it is Better to see any face in front of us through which a voice is heard and heart known to a soul that can sense truth, than gaze at a Paintings or Statues.The same goes for Movie and TV Stars and other "Most" Powerful ? Influential ? Celebrities. For much of my life that was the only way I did "see" Saints in Heaven or Queen of England or for that matter the Sultana visiting other places..with face uncovered. Distant.  I was, am now, and will always be happiest with who I am with and what I have been given by fate life and my own choices. The faces, voices and actions of children always was bring hope joy and promise.  Tis the season to know that is who we were once - in 1940's who our parents were a generation before that - little children ! Now we can and must imagine them as now obtaining the Promises made by God after a lifetime of perserverance, endurance and assurance.

Hazel

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BACKGROUND DISCUSSION

On Wed, Dec 6, 2023 at 16:33, 'Hazel Cardozo' via kpzanzibar <kpzanzibar@googlegroups.com> wrote:


1 Yes, is my answer to your point that I only refer to those persons I knew as " The GOANS" or "WE GOANS" whose faces I could see in family and my Own Face -when Mom finally got a Fundi to make a low dresser with mirrors, Before then it Dad's Shaving one too hih above the sink or small one kept above a high dresser for Mom. My school companions and friends who were "Goan" were nit becuse of race but Portuguese Religion Culture and Colonization of a peoples once well established as "Hindu Muslim and other"

In my childhood visit to India 1946-48 I only recall Karachi Goans Bombay and family in Santa Cruz and Bombay Marine Drive- My Mom's First Cousin worked for TATA family. A a result her Daughter IONA PINTO was favored and put up for Miss Bombay 1960 61 She then represented India at the First Ever Miss International Pageant - so East Asia Japan - Los Angeles could make Peace through Beauty after Hiroshima Nagasaki Iona was runner up Number 2 to Miss Colombia South America

The New World gave way to our latest THIRD WORLD 1955- 1960..

In the Pacific there have been less documented and museum archival writings and texts to document Opressors Invaders Colonialists Occupiers older than 5000 years ago.

Barack Hussein Obama was electable selectable and delectable candidate because there was little or no precedence for a story like his parents had. A Very White Kansas Born Teenage Mom who Dad was in the army with General Patton. His Kenya Born African Dad was already Married with children in Kisumu. Both parents met as students at U Hawaii

The 3000 years of history of shame blame name Fame game was given a new a new reckoning.. PEARL HARBOR DEC 7 1941....
I was born months later ! Life with the Hula Hula Life of Blue Hawaii has since been attracting to anyone who enjoys permanence there and not just for a Song festival or movie making as did ELVIS or HAWAII 5 0 or whatever WW11 really did issue in the Third World.

As I grew older 9 March 1951 (my last visit to India) Pakistan GOANS were still speaking a looking like they did in 1948. They still kept Names of Saints and Portuguese Sur names. In Bombay many did change dress first names, broke marriage taboos.
I saw the change when I went back as " MRS C " from America as a tourist for 2 weeks in 1978 Goa was just another small state in India.


Second Point History reveals constant change

All Latin Roman Rite Catholic Goans from India aligned with the Pope were mandated by The British in East Africa to be registered as Portuguese Catholic. Handwritten Baptism Certificates were ID in 19th Century Goa not anything issued by Midwives or whoever assisted at birth. So Village Priests also blessed the deceased and saw then laid to rest in their Cemeteries till 1930- 40

Exodus Migration Cyclo-styled forms came later - In those days every group tried to claim hereditary Inheritance heritage Today not so. It is fashionable to explore life on a distant planet and to imagine how absolutely grand and wonderful life was 7000 years ago when the Indigneous folks had not moved much out of their Natural Habitats. The few Mixed up an Mixed in person werein Warrior Conquerors or Sailor Types in Seaports. All Risk takers. .

Your Third Point

Days of Mourning, and Fasting and Days of Celebration with Lights Fireworks Dancing Singing are in the hands of the powerful in Govt. Religious Political Social or FamilyCircles, and Villages now attached to Corporations or Universities that produce the Calendars they observe, and towards whom all junior schools are oriented.

UK had for centuries its own Christian Calendar for Oxford Cambridge London. Zanzibar followed both British and Omani Sultans. African in their remote Villages in Uganda had already succumbed to the Dual life of Mixing in and mixing up. Hindus Muslims and Non Catholic who made up 50% of the Population until 1948 in Goa have now less than 25 % ( and few call themselves Portuguese) by contrast 98% in The Zanzibar Archipleago had their own methods of Certification as to whe belonged in their Ethnic Religious Social group.

After WW11 and by 1955 the choice was clear to those who had worked there for decades. They knew UHURU was coming. They did freely chose to go live UP North " Home " of the White Aryan Christian Races or went to Canada, Australia or Former Colonies.

India was never to be the same it had been during the 300 years of East India Company and The Raj. Bombay British influenced Colleges and Buisness till 1990 Then MUMBAI came to life..


Last Point. I agree it is Better to see any face in front of us through which a soul can be felt and voice heard and heart known, than gaze at a Paintings or Statues. The same goes Movie and TV Stars "Most" Powerful ? Influential ? Celebrities. Yes that is the only way I did "see' Saints in Heaven or Queen of England or for that matter the Sultana visiting other places..with face uncovered. I was, am now, and will always be happiest with who I am with and what I have been given by fate life and my own choices. The faces voices and actions of children always was bring hope joy and promise
Tis the season to know that is who we were once - in 1940's -nad Our parents a genration before that - little children ! Now we can and must imagine them obtaining the Promises made by God after a lifetime of perserverance, endurance and assurance.

Thanks for writing
Hazel.
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Thank You Yvette.
We are Blessed through a similar experience- to understand the Term "sisterhood" in Our People in a deeper way.
You were engaged in Kenya ( Nairobi?) December 1967 and Bride Holy Ghost Cathedral Mombasa June 1968
I was engaged In Mombasa June 1964 and Bride Holy Ghost Cathdral Christmas week Jan 65 Together with so many others we have brought this sisterhood to North America and it has no limits in its extensions.


My dear Hazel,
Congratulations and blessings for your take on Goans. You have expressed what everyone of us Zanzibaries knew and grew up with.
Those days in Zanzibar prior to 1964 were idyllic days for EVERYONE regardless of religion, ethnicity or social standing. Zanzibar was named THE PEARL OF THE INDIAN OCEAN and lived up to its name. That is why many peoples from India chose to go to idyllic Zanzibar . Yes it was a very cosmopolitan island that fostered understanding, acceptance of religious differences, and friendships within the many and varied ethnic groups that made what Zanzibar was, once upon a time. All communities , I repeat, All communities , lived in perfect harmony from North to south and east to west. I have wonderful memories of my childhood in Unguja…my Zanzibar.


In those days, every community lived within the boundaries of its community dictates, thus making it safe for all of us to exist in perfect harmony. We, the children of all communities were looked out for by all the elders of the varied communities in respect for our parents, and without prejudice or ill-will. We all know this and have much to be thankful for forever and a day. Zanzibar was the envy of all the East African Colonies, and our school, namely St. Joseph’s Convent School, consolidated what our parents wanted for us their children, including the children of all other communities as well. What a blessing.


History from time immemorial educated us and I am so grateful that the British oversaw the development of this idyllic haven we called Zanzibar. Equally I am most grateful for the Portuguese and Spanish influences in Goa, our ancestral homeland that gave us our Faith and St. Francis Xavier, so many years after St. Thomas the apostle who bought Christianity to Goa in the year 70AD. We were and are the lucky ones, without prejudice or ill-will to any other ethnic or religious groups, ever.


When we look at what history is creating today with so much hatred and misunderstanding and no respect for life. Yes, we MUST be grateful for the gifts we received when we were once young and beautiful in our beloved Zanzibar. We are still that. Just look at the wonderful friendships that were fostered and remained to this day , albeit spread around the world. Let us be truly grateful.


So everyone, take a deep breath and don’t let negativity spoil our minds and thoughts which only foster hatred, ill-will and war. History is filled with such example, best forgotten. Let’s Not go there. Let us stay the way we were forevermore.


Hazel, I commend you for your brave stance. Stay as beautiful and knowledgeable as you are. You are one of Zanzibar’s gems.


Ben, you are another special gem from Zanzibar… thank you for this beautiful avenue of enlightenment you have offered to the membership. You are my ambassador to the United Nations. Proud to be your sister.


God bless All.

Yvette

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Mohamed Lodhi Wrote
Dear Hazel,

Thanks for your msgs with always interesting info.
I woud like to correct or perhaps add.
When the Portuguese invaded and colonized state/enclave of Goa, majority of population was Hindus followed by Muslims. After the liberation, Christians became the 2nd largest group. I had the privilege of employing all 3 from Goa in my office in Dubai 1985 to 2008. Portugal and Spain were obsessed with hatred of Muslims because they were ruled by them, so their intention was to fight against Muslims everywhere hence they destroyed many Mosques but not temples in Goa upon occupation.

When you refer to Goans, I assume you mean only Christians who like Europeans and Americans mix blood to produce new race. Its not correct but rather biased I think, as other races or ethnic groups do mix too.


History is written and narrated by those who are in power and often distorting facts to praise nd please themselves. Thanksgiving Day ! Do North America observe a Day of mourning for the invasion, massacre and occupation of native lands ??
Has a Native American ever been a senior minister in any Administration?

Majority of Brazilians have African blood, the nearest an African Brazilian came to power was a B grade minister of Culture in Lula's previous government. No Native Amazonian.
In Mombasa some investors to please the tourists celebrated 500 years of Vasco's arrival, whereas Coastal people opposed it because that was the disaster of Colonisation of Africa and Asia.


DISCOVERIES: We have been brainwashed into believing a lot of rubbish, Scouts like Burton, Speke, Livingstone, Cook discovering lakes, mountains,
Islands, people etc as if they never existed or were not known. Here I had problems with my paternal grandfather who rejected such claims and I was punished by teacher of history to spend recess break in detention class. Unfortunately, there are too many people who still believe this. nonsense.

My ancestors the Lodhi Dynasty were descendants of Taimur ( Timur Lenk), who in turn was descendant of Geghis Khan. Genghis, Hitler, Alexander, Peter of Russia etc. were all invaders, colonizers, murderers, rapists, looters, etc, no difference in their action. Now my question, what was GREAT about Alexander or Peter ??? What's the difference between these 3 I mentioned ? This is brainwashing and colonial hangover. Its time we call spade a spade.
This is how history has been distorted, taught to us and still continuous.


Re the photo of a lady from Zanzibar.
Most of those born between 1935 and 45 and lived in Old Town must remember this lady's elder sister Zarina who looked very much like her, More Zanzibaris knew Zarina than the Queen of Britain. For Zanzibaris like Seyyid Khalifa, Zarina was real, one cud see and hear her, whereas Queen was just a picture .
Keep well,
Mohamed