THE wife of the late Steve Jobs (former CEO of Apple), Laurene Powell Jobs, is one of the celebrity participants in the ongoing Kumbh Mela. Laurene arrived at the site of the Kumbh Mela with a 40-member entourage. She was following the tradition of the late iPhone founder Steve Jobs who had met an Indian guru before he returned home to Apple in the US of A. His wife Laurene had a dip in the river Ganga along with over a crore of other pilgrims on Maka Sankranti day. Several other foreigners including Russians participated in the Maha Kumbh this year.
OPINION POLL ANNIVERSARY
IT is not widely known that there was a lot of tension in Goa following the Opinion Poll verdict in favour of preserving the distinct identity of Goa. It may be recalled that by a narrow margin of 34,021 votes the people of Goa rejected merger with Maharashtra. Those who lost the battle of the Opinion Poll did not take it well. So much so the government had to impose a ban on meetings and parades for seven days. And the pro-Goa group was not able to celebrate its victory.
WHY INDIA LOST IN AUSTRALIA
THE Indian cricket team which won the World Cup last year was defeated by Australia in the test series. All the top batsmen like Capt Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant failed to perform. With this India has lost two test series under Gautam Gambhir. The coach is attributing the defeat of India in Australia to the fact that the top cricketers spend more time staring at their wives then the cricket ball.
LOSS OF GOAN IDENTITY
DR OSCAR Rebello believes that Goa is in danger of completely losing its identity, culture and heritage. This is because of the large-scale purchase of land by non-Goans. Oscar laments, “We as Goans must be the only species in history who have sold, bartered and given away our land for the highest bidder. Therefore we are in charge of completely destroying our identity, culture and heritage.” We have completely destroyed the sanctity of Opinion Poll.
RICH MIGRANTS CHANGING GOA
PRASHANTI Talpankar, professor at the DMC College in Assagao, believes that it is a small group of rich Indians who are a threat to the unique identity of Goa. The high-class Indian settlers use their resources to impose a culture of corruption, bullying and rudeness in Goa. In contrast, ordinary poor settlers from the working class have integrated and adapted with the Goan population. There is a third group of Goans comprising writers, artists and filmmakers, who have been relocating to Goa because they really love Goa and its susegad village ambience which is now turning into a mindless concrete sleaze ball jungle.
HINDU MILITANCY IN GOA!
WITH Uttar Pradesh celebrating the Kumbh Mela and Mamata Banarjee inviting the country to the Ganga Sagar, now former and longest reigning chief minister of Goa, Pratapsingh Raoji Rane, has decided to flaunt his Hindutva leanings. It may be recalled that Pratapsingh Rane is one of 10 Congress MLAs who defected to the BJP. Pratapsingh Rane and Vijaya Devi have issued a front-page advertisement to celebrate the Shree Dev Vitthal Panchayatan Saunsthan at Vithalpur-Karapur in Sanquelim. The Ranes are sponsoring a Bhagwat Gita Parayanam from January 16 to January 22, 2025. But the headdrew of Rane is akin to that of a Muslim fez cap in the advertisement.
PANIC AMONG MIGRANTS
WITH Donald Trump taking over as the president of the United States on January 20, 2025 the migrant settlers are going through a very anxious time. During the electioneering campaign, Donald Trump announced that he would be deporting illegal immigrants the moment he took over as president. The fate of Indians waiting for the green card and American citizenship is also in the balance. Even Indian origin children born in the US may not automatically get citizenship. There also seems to be confusion over the H1B1 visas which are used by IT companies to send highly qualified professionals to the United States.
FEAST OF ST JOSEPH VAZ
THE stage is being set for the feast day of St Joseph Vaz, the only Goa-born saint of the Catholic Church. Though Joseph Vaz was born a Goan he spent most of his time in Sri Lanka. In fact, he was canonized not for his contribution to Goa but for the miracles attributed to him in Sri Lanka. However, Joseph Vaz is considered the patron saint of Goa. There is a huge church built in his memory at Sancoale. The feast mass scheduled for celebration on January 16 coincides with the Opinion Poll victory of Goa.
KNIFE ATTACK AT BODGESHWAR
A GOAN who was suspected to be under the influence of drugs drew out a knife and charged at children during the annual jatra of Shri Dev Bodgeshwar temple in the open ground near Mapusa city. The police constables who rushed in to protect the children were injured in the knife attack. The police along with locals quickly caught hold of Ayush Naik and tied his hands and feet. The reason for the knife attack has yet to be clarified.
HOWARD HUGHES INVENTED THE BRA!
IT is not widely known that bra which women like to wear to support their bosom, in its present form, was invented by Howard Hughes, who was a pioneer in developing flying machines. Howard Hughes also was a film producer. He took up the challenge of providing support to the big assets of the actress Marilyn Monroe and applied the principle of aerodynamics to create a bra that could support and show off her breasts to their best advantage.
CM AT YOUNG LEADERS CONCLAVE
ON the occasion of National Youth Day on January 12, 2025 Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant inaugurated the Young Leaders Conclave. It was organized by Goa University Students Council in association with the Directorate of Higher Education and Department of Information & Publicity, at the Darbar Hall, Raj Bhavan, Dona Paula. The theme for this year’s celebration is Viksit Bharat 2047. Inspired discussions focused on the role of youth in shaping the future of Goa in the nation.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Dr Sawant invoked the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, quoting, “All power is within you, you can do anything and everything.” He emphasized the importance of self-awareness and self-development, stating, “Know yourself first, then only can you grow and develop.” He further stressed that individual growth is crucial for national development, urging students to seize every opportunity to enhance their personal and professional skills. “Opportunities will come our way, and it is up to us to grab them and pave our path to development,” he concluded.
Dr Virendra Singh Solanki, National General Secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP), also addressed the program, he highlighted the importance of the Student Union Elections in nurturing leadership qualities among youth. “These elections play a crucial role in motivating students and promoting good leadership,” he said, adding that the elections are the key to realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Dr Solanki encouraged everyone to read and follow Swami Vivekananda’s teachings, which he believes will significantly enhance personal growth and development. Viksit Bharat means Developed Bharat.
Other dignitaries at the program were Dr Bhushan Savaikar, director, Directorate of Higher Education; Vinay Raut, chairman, Goa University Students Council; Anshul Sinari, secretary, Goa University Students Council; along with students.
NEWLY RENOVATED SECRETARIAT
CHIEF Minister Dr Pramod Sawant inaugurated three newly renovated office spaces at the Secretariat Complex in Porvorim on January 14, 2025. These upgraded facilities will house the Department of Law & Judiciary, Law (Establishment) Division, and the Department of Protocol & Hospitality.
The spaces were previously allotted to defunct departments and left vacant, but they are now transformed to meet modern working standards to enhance operational efficiency. This initiative also allows for the relocation of two departments currently housed in the main secretariat building, optimizing space utilization and creating additional capacity for other departments.
Present at the event were Dr V Candavelou, IAS, Chief Secretary; Sandip Jacques, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Law & Judiciary and Legislative Affairs); and Sanjit Rodrigues, IAS, Secretary (Protocol); Shreyas D’silva, Under Secretary, GAD; Anju Kerkar, Joint Secretary, GAD.
The renovation was carried out by the Goa Handicrafts Rural & Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (GHRSSIDC) and was completed within the stipulated time frame. Vinay Raut, Chairman of Goa University Students Council, formally welcomed guests while Siya Kamat compered the function.
VMSCL: 10TH EDITION OF LEX INFINITUM
THE VM Salgaocar College of Law, Miramar (VMSCL), proudly inaugurated the 10th Edition of its prestigious international dispute resolution competition, Lex Infinitum, on January 16, 2025 at the college Conference Hall in Panjim.
Dharmendra Sharma, IAS (Retd), Chairperson of the Goa Real-estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), was the chief guest. In his address the chairperson elaborated about his knowledge regarding the persuasive and coercive mediation techniques, citing experiences from his past and emphasizing the importance of the former and volunteering to come within its domain. He thanked the participants for being a part of this edition of Lex Infinitum and wished them the very best for the competition ahead.
The inaugural ceremony was witnessed by Dr Shaber Ali G, principal of VMSCL; Anthony E Barretto, company secretary of VM Salgaocar Corporation, Dr Shruti Kamat Dalal, director of Lex Infinitum; Omkar S Gaonkar, president of Lex Infinitum; and Tashina Zahra Pinto do Rosario, vice-president of Lex Infinitum.
The ceremony began with a montage of pictures and clips of the 10-year journey of the past editions of Lex Infinitum, creating an atmosphere of nostalgia and anticipation. VMSCL students Nidhi Gawade and Sasha D’Souza gracefully compered the event, speaking about how the competition started and how far it had come. Short clips of Tom Valenti, Josephine Reyes, and Juan Pablo Schaffer were shown where they recalled the evolution of Lex Infinitum as they experienced it, as well as ex-presidents of the same.
Dr Shaber Ali welcomed the audience and appraised it about the nature of mediation, its history and the fact that it’s the best method for family matters and consumer affairs. Following this, Mr Anthony E Barretto proudly announced that the college had completed 50 years, and that this milestone was a testament to nurturing the legal minds of the next generation. Omkar S Gaonkar presented a brief overview of the competition.
The unveiling of the trophies marked a celebratory moment and the event concluded with a vote of thanks by Lex Infinitum’s director, Dr Shruti Kamat Dalal.
This year, Lex Infinitum attracted 22 negotiating teams and 12 mediators from around the globe, including prominent institutions such as the National University of Singapore (NUS), Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT), Sri Lanka, National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad. The event also features renowned dispute resolution experts such as Claude Amar, Adeline Guilhurn, EO Mendes, Dr Deevanshu Shrivastava, who will serve as expert assessors throughout the competition.
Some of the experts will also participate as resource persons in the Knowledge Sessions, a 2-day mediation course, running parallel to the main event. Lex infinitum promises to be a landmark edition, celebrating a decade of excellence, innovation, and global collaboration in dispute resolution.
LOKOTSAV-2025 FROM JANUARY 17TH TO 26TH 2025
Directorate of Art & Culture will be presenting a mixture of Folk forms & Handicrafts from all over India at the yearly (Folk festival) Lokotsav-2025 to be organized from 17th to 26th Jan. 2025. The Festival will be held at Darya Sangam, Kala Academy, Goa. Around 600 Folk artists will be presenting various folk dances and music of their states and also around 1000 craft persons will be displaying their Handicraft items during the festival period.
The inaugural function of the festival will be held on January 17, 2025 at 6.00 p.m at Darya Sangam, Kala Academy, Goa. The Chief Minister, Dr. Pramoc Sawant, will be the Chief Guest, Shri Sadanand She Tanavade, Member of Rajya Sabha, Shri Govind Gaude, Minister for Art and Culture, Dr. V. Candavelou, (IAS), Chief Secretary, Shri. Rohit Monserrate. Mayor, Corporation of the City of Panaji, Secretary Art and Culture will be the Guest of Honor. Shri. Furqan Khan, Director, West Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur and Shri Sagun R. Velip, Director Art and Culture will also grace the function.
Thematically designed stage will be the special attraction of the festival. This folk festival is organized by the Directorate of Art & Culture, every year joint collaboration of West Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur, Kala Academy, Sports Authority of Goa and Corporation of the City of Panaji. A perfect platform is given to artisans to showcase and sale their crafts. This is 24th year of Lokotsav in Goa and day day its popularity is increasing rapidly. The folk artists and craftsman from Rajastthan, Gujarat, Assam, Manipur, Haryana, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala including Goa are invited to present the folklore of their respective states in Loke 2025.)
Around 20 folk groups from Goa will be performing various Goan folk dances like Ganesh Vandana, Kunbi, Jagor, Dekhani, Veerbhadra, Tonya Khel, Mussal, Lamp Dance, Dhangar Dance, Ghodemodni, Goff, Mando, Talgadi, Morulo etc. on different days.
The artists from other states will perform the folk dances and Music like Mangniy Kalbelia, Bhavai, Chari Nrutya, Bahurupia and Puppeteers Rajasthan. Bihu be performed by Assam artists. Mewasi, Siddhi Dhamal & Garba from Gujarat. Pung Dhol Cholam, Thangta by the state of Manipur, Purulia Chhau, Natua Nrutya and Raibenshe West Bengal. The state of Maharashtra will present Lawni and Powada. Ghumar Pha Haryana will be presented. Gotipua from Odisha, Dheendhiya from Uttar Prac Dholukunitha from Karnataka. Total around 600 folk artists will showcase their talent during this mega festival.
Around 550 stalls will exhibit handicraft items from different states which includes Bandhani, Kathputali, Lakh Bengals, Leather bags Leather foot wares, Khadi, Kotha and materials, handmade garments, Carpets, Glass wear, Clay art, Furniture, Wooden Toys print, Appliqué work as well as Goan crafts will be displayed for sale.
The Goan people will also be able to enjoy the taste of the traditional food of Rajasthan, Gujrat, Haryana, Maharashtra including Goa from 10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.
The Cultural programme will be held every day during the festival where various folk dances/ music will be presented from 6.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. Exhibition will be op public from 10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.
A special “Tribal Craft Mela”, showcasing the and cuisine will be organised in collaboration with Directorate of Tribal welfare, Research Institute, Goa and Ministry of Tribal Affaires, New Delhi. This craft me special feature during the national level folk festival.
The painting and sculpture exhibition of Goan artists will be at displayed Gallery of Kala Academy in commemoration of Centenary birth year celebration Manohar Rai Sardesai” and “Dnyanpeeth Awardee Ravindra Kelekar” renown
A craft workshop on Mollela a traditional terracotta art of Rajasthan organised in collaboration with WZCC. Udaipur for the benefit of general lovers 20th to 24th 2025 from 2.30 to 5.30 p.m. at the Rehearsal hall, Kala Academy Goa. Interested applicant can enroll for the same.