Untouchability, casteism in Maharashtra

4) JmdHw$gmVrb, JmdHw$gm~mhoaMo OJ

{h§XwñWmZmV {~«{Q>em§Mm A§_b gwê$ Pmbm Voìhm `m XoemVrb ~hþVoH$ àm§Vm§Vrb g_mO ñn¥í`, Añn¥í` Am{U doJdoJù`m OmVr-O_mVtV {d^mJbm hmoVm. {~«{Q>em§À`m amOdQ>rV nmíMmË` {dMmam§Mo XoemV dmao dmhÿ bmJbo VgVgo nwamoJm_r nwT>mè`m§Zr Añn¥í`Vm {Z_y©bZmgmR>r bT>m gwê$ Ho$bm. _mÌ Xoembm ñdmV§Í` {_imë`mZ§Va Am{U H$m`ÚmZo Añn¥í`VmnmbZmda ~§Xr `oD$Zhr hr àWm {H$Ë`oH$ df} MmbyM am{hbr hmoVr. \$mXa Om{H$`a `m§Zr {h§XwñWmZmV Amë`mZ§Va Añn¥í` g_mOmÀ`m gm_m{OH$ Am{U AmÜ`mpË_H$ CÞÎmrgmR>r H$m`© Ho$bo. `m _hma g_mOmMr Ë`mdoiMr gm_m{OH$ pñWVrMr, `m OmVrÀ`m bmoH$m§Zm Ë`mH$mimV ^moJmì`m bmJUmè`m `mVZm§Mr _m{hVr H$ê$Z KoÊ`mgmR>r VËH$mbrZ J«m_rU g_mOOrdZmMr AmoiI AgUo OéarMo Amho.

_hmamï´>mVrb IoS>oJmdm§V Ë`m nyU© JmdmVrb bmoH$dñVr EH$mM {R>H$mUr AmT>iV Zmhr. H$mhr OU Amnë`m eoVm§da amhmV AgVmV, H$mhr {R>H$mUr Xhm-~mam Kao EH$Ì AmT>iVmV Am{U Ë`m dñVrbm dmS>r åhQ>bo OmVo. JmdMr _w»` dñVr åhUOo JmdR>mU. H$moH$UMm AndmX gmoS>bm Va JmdR>mU Am{U dmS>çm AemàH$maMr dñVr ~hþVoH$ {R>H$mUr gmnS>Vo. `m JmdR>mUm^modVr Mmoam-XamoS>oImoam§nmgyZ g§ajUmgmR>r VQ>~§Xr Ho$br Agm`Mr, `m VQ>~§Xrbm JmdHw$gy åhQ>bo Om`Mo. JmdR>mUmV åhUOo `m JmdHw$gmÀ`m AmV g_mOmÀ`m Cƒ dUm©À`m åhUOo ñn¥í` OmVrÀ`m bmoH$m§Mr Kao Agm`Mr. JmdHw$gmÀ`m ~mhoa ImbÀ`m OmVrÀ`m åhUOoM Añn¥í` OmVr§À`m bmoH$m§Mr dñVr Agm`Mr. `m Añn¥í` g_mOmV _hma, _m§J Am{U Mm§^ma `m OmVtMm g_mdoe Agm`Mm.

_hmamï´>mÀ`m OdiOdi gd©M ^mJm§V Añn¥í` g_mOmV _hma OmVrÀ`m bmoH$m§Mr g§»`m gdm©{YH$ AmT>iVo. `m amÁ`mÀ`m gd©M Jmdm§V _hmam§Mr dñVr AgVoM. `m~m~V _mZdd§eemók BamdVr H$d} `m§Zr åhQ>bo Amho {H$, ""BVa H$moUVrhr OmV KoVbr Var gmd©{ÌH$ dmñVì`m~m~V _hmam§Mr ga Xwgè`m H$moUË`mhr OmVrbm Zmhr. _hma ~hþg§»` H$moR>ohr ZmhrV. nU _hmam§Mr dgVr _wir ZmhrM Aer Jmdo _bm AOyZ AmT>ibr ZmhrV.""<sup>1</sup> _hma bmoH$m§À`m gmd©{ÌH$ dmñVì`m_wioM `m àXoembm _hmam§Mo amï´>, _hmamï´> Ago Zmd {_imbo Ago H$mhr g§emoYH$m§Mo åhUUo Amho. '_hma Am{U _hmamï´>' `m Amnë`m boImMm eodQ> BamdVr H$d} `m§Zr 'OoWn`ªV _hma nmoMbo {VWndªV _hmamï´>' Aem AdVaUmV Ho$bm Amho.

JmdHw$gmÀ`m AmVrb daÀ`m OmVr§À`m Am{U JmdHw$gm~mhoaÀ`m ~{hîH¥$V, ImbÀ`m OmVr§À`m g_mOOrdZmMo Xe©Z KS>dUmar H$mhr nwñVHo$ {dgmì`m eVH$mÀ`m gwédmVrg Am{U Ë`mZ§Va à{gÜX Pmbr hmoVr. {~«{Q>e Am_XmZrÀ`m H$mimV ñn¥í`m§Mo Am{U Añn¥í`m§Mo nañnag§~§Y, ~bwVoXmar Am{U JmdHw$gm~mhoa OJUmè`m bmoH$m§Mr VËH$mbrZ OrdZe¡br `m~Ôb {dídmgmh© _mZVm `oB©b Aer _m{hVr hr nwñVHo$ nwadVmV. Ë`mH$mimVrb g_mOOrdZmMm Aä`mg H$aUmè`m g§emoYH$m§À`m Ñï>rZo hr nwñVHo$ AË`§V _m¡ë`dmZ AmhoV. {̧~H$ Zmam`U AmÌo `m§Zr {b{hbobo 'JmdJmS>m' Am{U 1915 gmbr à{gÜX Pmbobo ho Ë`mn¡H$s EH$ AË`§V _hÎdmMo nwñVH$ Amho.<sup>2</sup> {dgmì`m eVH$mÀ`m gwê$dmVrVrb Aìdb B§J«Or Am_XmZrÀ`m H$mimVrb npíM_ _hmamï´>mVrb J«m_rU OrdZmMr ho nwñVH$ AmoiI H$ê$Z XoVo. aoìh. AboŠPm§S>a am°~Q>©gZ `m§Mo 1938 gmbr à{gÜX Pmbobo 'Xr _hma \$moëH$ - A ñQ>S>r Am°\$ AZQ>Mo~ëg BZ _hmamï´>' `m nwñVH$mVyZ Ah_XZJa, am`JS> (Hw$bm~m ho AmYrMo Zmd) {Oëho Am{U ZmJnya `m n[agamVrb _hmam§Mo JmdJmS>çmVrb ñWmZ Am{U Ë`m§Mr OrdZe¡br `m{df`r _m{hVr {_iVo.<sup>3</sup> (`m nwñVH$mMr _amR>r Amd¥Îmrhr AmVm CnbãY Amho. ⁴ ) Ë`mZ§VaÀ`m H$mimVrb åhUOo 1950À`m Xaå`mZ _hmamï´>mVrb Jm_rU g_mOOrdZmMr _m{hVr H$ê$Z XoUmao {d. _. Xm§S>oH$a Am{U _. ^m OJVmn `m§Zr {b{hbobo '_hmamï´>mMr J«m_rU g_mOaMZm' ho AmUIr EH$ _hÎdmMo nwñVH$ Amho. nwÊ`mÀ`m JmoIbo AW©emó g§emoYZ g§ñWoZo _hmamï´>mV 1951-52 gmbr gd}jU Ho$bo hmoVo. Ë`m gd}jUmVyZ hmVr Ambobr _m{hVr `m nwñVH$mV g§H${bV Ho$br Amho.<sup>5</sup> ñdmV§Í`moÎma H$mimVhr Añn¥í`m§Zm Hw$R>ë`m hmbAnoï>m§Zm Vm|S> Úmdo bmJV hmoVo `mMo {MÌU 1970 Z§Va à{gÜX Pmboë`m AZoH$ X{bV boIH$m§À`m AmË_H$WZm§VyZ ñnï> Pmbo Amho.

JmdHw$gm~mhoaÀ`m _hmam§À`m dñVrbm _hmadmS>m Am{U _m§Jm§À`m dñVrbm _m§JdmS>m åhUV AgV. _moJbmB©Vrb d¡Omnya Am{U J§Jmnya VmbwŠ`mVrb _hmadmS>çmbm 'amOdmS>m' AgoM g§~moYbo OmVo. `oWrb AZoH$ Jmdm§Vrb _hma bmoH$ e§^a dfmªnyduM {¼ñVr Pmbo Agbo Var EH${dgmì`m eVH$mV AmOhr Ë`m§Mr dñVr amOdmS>m qH$dm _hmadmS>m åhUyZM AmoiIbr OmVo. Y_mªVam_wio Ë`m§À`m gm_m{OH$ Am{U Am{W©H$ pñWVrV \$magm ~Xb Pmbm Zmhr `mMoM ho EH$ ÚmoVH$ Amho.

ImZXoe, _amR>dmS>m dJ¡ao n[agam§V JmdHw$gmMo ~m§YH$m_ XJS>mMo qH$dm ^|S>mMo åhUOo nm§T>è`m _mVrÀ`m H$ÀÀ`m {dQ>m§Mo Agm`Mo. JmdHw$gmÀ`m ~mhoa nS>Ê`mÀ`m dmQ>oda XadmOm Agm`Mm. nyduÀ`m H$mir doerMo ho XadmOo gy`m©ñVmnmgyZ gy`m}X`mn`ªV ~§X Ho$bo OmV AgV Am{U àË`oH$ doerda amIUrgmR>r dogH$a åhUyZ EH$ _hma ~gV Ago. Á`m Jmdmbm ZXrAmoT>çmgma»`m dmhË`m àdmhmMo nmUr {nÊ`mgmR>r dmnabo OmB© Aem {R>H$mUr Añn¥í`m§Mr dñVr nmÊ`mÀ`m àdmhmÀ`m ImbÀ`m ~mOyZo Ago. AemàH$mao daÀ`m OmVrMo bmoH$ ZXrMo nmUr àdmhmÀ`m daÀ`m ~mOyg ^aV Am{U ImbÀ`m OmVrMo, Añn¥í` bmoH$ àdmhmÀ`m ImbÀ`m ~mOyg nmUr ^aV. Ë`m_wio Añn¥í`m§À`m ñnem©Zo {dQ>mi Pmbobo nmUr dmnaÊ`mMm YmoH$m {Z_m©U hmoV Zgo.

ZXrda qH$dm AmoT>çm§da gm_m{OH$ CVa§S>rZwgma doJdoJù`m {R>H$mUr {d{eï> OmVtMo nmUdQ>o AgV. àdmhmÀ`m daÀ`m ~mOybm gd©àW_ g_mOmÀ`m gdm©V loð> Aem ~«m÷U OmVrMo nmUdR>o Agm`Mo, Ë`mZ§Va ImbÀ`m OmVtMo åhUOo _amR>m, _mir dJ¡ao ñn¥í` OmVtMo nmUdR>o Agm`Mo. ñn¥í`m§À`m nmUdR>çmImbr Añn¥í`m§Mo nmUdR>o gwê$ hmoV. Ë`m§À`m gm_m{OH$ ñVam§Zwgma åhUOo AmYr am_moer d Mm§^ma, Ë`mZ§Va T>moa, Ë`mÀ`mImbr _hma, _hmam§À`m Imbr _m§Jm§Mo nmUdR>o AgV. gdmªÀ`m eodQ>r Imbr ^§Jr OmVrMm nmUdR>m Ago.

_mÌ {dQ>mi Pmbobo Ë`m ZXrAmoT>çm§Mo nmUr Ë`mZ§Vahr dmhmVM amhm`Mo Am{U Xwgè`m Jmdm§V VoM nmUr Cƒ dUmªMo bmoH$ n{hë`m§Xm dmnaV AgV. dmhË`m nmÊ`mbm {dQ>mi ZgVmo Aer EH$ åhU _amR>rV Amho, Vr ~hþYm `m H$maUm_wioM Aem _`m©{XV AWm©Zo ê$T> Pmbr Agmdr.

H$mhr Jmdm§V gmd©O{ZH$ AmS> qH$dm {d{harVrb nmUr dmnabo OmB©. _mÌ _hma, _m§J, Mm§^ma, T>moa, am_moer Am{U H¡$H$mS>rgma»`m ImbÀ`m OmVrÀ`m bmoH$m§Zm `m VWmH${WV gmd©O{ZH$ {d{harda nmUr ^aÊ`mMr nadmZJr ZìhVr. Ë`m§À`mgmR>r doJio {dhra qH$dm AmS> Agm`Mo. _mÌ _hmam§À`m {d{harda _m§Jm§Zm nmUr ^aVm `oV Zgo. _mÂ`m AmOmoimV åhUOo KmoJaJmdmV 'amOdmS>çmV' åhUOo _hmadmS>çmV ñdV§Ì {dhra hmoVr, ho _bm ñnï> AmR>dVo. amOdmS>çmVrb `m {d{harbm JmdmVrb ñn¥í`m§À`m {d{harnojm df©^a A{YH$ _w~bH$ nmUr Agm`Mo Ago _mPr AmB© AOyZ gm§JV AgVo.

Á`m Añn¥í` OmVtZm ñdV:Mr {dhra Zgo Ë`m bmoH$m§Zm _J BVam§À`m _ohoa~mZrda Adb§~yZ amhmdo bmJo. gmd©O{ZH$ {d{harda ~amM doi C^o amhÿZ H$moUrVar Ë`m§Zm nmUr dmTy>Z XoB©b `mMr Ë`m§Zm dmQ> nmhmdr bmJo. nmUr ß`m`Mo Agbo Var Ë`m§Zr Imbr dmHy$Z hmVmMr Am|Oi Ho$ë`mZ§Va ñn¥í` bmoH$ bm§~yZ dê$Z nmUr AmoVV AgV.

Añn¥í`m§Zm gmd©O{ZH$ nmUdQ>o Iwbo H$aÊ`mV `mdo `m _mJUrgmR>r S>m°. ~m~mgmho~ Am§~oS>H$am§Zr H$moH$UmVrb _hmS> `oWo 1927 gmbr bT>m Ho$bm. VoWrb MdXma Vù`mMo nmUr Añn¥í`m§Zr MmIbo. _mÌ Var gmd©O{ZH$ nmUdQ>o Añn¥í`m§Zm Iwbo hmoÊ`mgmR>r AmUIr {H$VrVar XeH$m§Mm H$mbmdYr Omdm bmJbm. 'Añn¥í` O_mVr gmd©O{ZH$ {d{harda nmUr ^ê$ bmJë`mMo EH$hr CXmhaU Amåhr nmhUr Ho$boë`m 72 Jmdm§V {_imbo Zmhr' Ago {d. _. Xm§S>oH$a Am{U _. ^m. OJVmn `m§Zr 1957 gmbr à{gÜX Pmboë`m Amnë`m nwñVH$mV {b{hbo Amho.<sup>6</sup> g_mOgodH$ S>m°. ~m~m AmT>md `m§Zr Añn¥í`Vm àWoMo {Z_y©bZ H$aÊ`mgmR>r 1970À`m XeH$mV 'EH$ Jmd, EH$ nmUdR>m' `moOZm am~dÊ`mgmR>r _hmamï´>mV Midi am~dbr hmoVr. 'EH$ Jmd, EH$ nmUdR>m' `mM erf©H$mÀ`m nwñVH$mV S>m° AmT>mdm§Zr OmVrg§~§YmVrb Amnbo AZw^d gm§{JVbo AmhoV.⁷

'Cno{jV {¼ñVr g_mO' `m nwñVH$mVrb nwT>rb dU©Z JmdHw$gm~mhoaÀ`m {¼ñVr g_mOmÀ`m pñWVrda àH$me Q>mH$Vo, ''"Jmd VoWo _hmadmS>m' hr ê$T> Pmbobr AW©nyU© åhU {¼ñVrOZmZm V§VmoV§V bmJy nS>Vo. _mJmgdJu`m§VyZ {¼ñVr Pmboë`m§Zm _hma-_m§JdmS>çmVyZ amhmdo bmJVo. Ë`m§Mo ImUo-{nUo, amhUr_mZ, ^mfm d g§ñH¥$Vr Ë`m§À`m Añn¥í` ~§Yy§gmaIrM Amho. JmdmVrb gd© bmoH$ _mJmgdJu` {¼ñVr _mUgmbm åmhmaS>m', _m§JS>m' åhUyZM g§~moYVmV. AZoH$ {¼ñVr _hma ho Amnmnë`m JmdmVrb CƒdUu` Hw$Qw>§~m§Mo AmlrV hmoVo d AmhoVhr. JmdmVrb AË`§V hrZ XOm©Mr H$m_o Ë`m§Zm H$amdr bmJV. AJXr _mJrb XeH$mn`ªV _oboë`m T>moam§Mr {dëhohmQ> bmdUo B. H$m_o _mJmgdJu` {¼ñVr H$arV Ambo AmhoV. XmamoXmar qhSy>Z, Ë`m§À`mnwT>o \o$Hy$Z {Xbobo AÞ ImUmè`m Añn¥í` bmoH$m§_Ü`o {¼ñVrOZm§Mmhr g_mdoe AmhoM. Ë`m§Zmhr JmdmVyZ OmVm§Zm nmXÌmUo hmVmV KoD$Z d nmR>rda ~moahmQ>çm ~m§YyZ Mmbmdo bmJo d Ww§H$Ê`mgmR>r Odi JmS>Jo ~miJmdo bmJo.''⁸

h„r J«m_rU ^mJm§V gJirH$S>oM JmdR>mU, JmdHw$gy Am{U dog `m Jmoï>r B{VhmgO_m Pmë`m AmhoV. _mÌ `m OwÝ`m ~m§YH$m_m§Mr nS>PS> Pmbobr Agbr Var Ë`m§À`mer {ZJ{S>V g_mOaMZoV Am{U g_mOmÀ`m _mZ{gH$VoV \$magm ~Xb Pmbobm Zmhr. AÑí` ñdê$nmV `oWo AmOhr JmdHw$gmÀ`m AmV Am{U JmdHw$gm~mhoa OJUmao XmoZ doJdoJio OJ AmT>iVmV.

g§X^©:

1) BamdVr H$d}, 'n[any{V©', àH$meH$: Xoe_wI Am{U H§$nZr àm {b., 473, gXm{ed noR>, nwUo- 411 030, Xwgè`m Amd¥ÎmrMo Xhmdo nwZ_w©ÐU 1990, (nmZ 75)

2) qÌ~H$ Zmam`U AmÌo, 'Jmd-JmS>m' ; àH$meH$: h. A. ^mdo, daXm ~wŠg, 397/1, goZmnVr ~mnQ> _mJ©, nwUo 411 016 ({Vgar Amd¥Îmr, nwZ_w©ÐU 1995)

3) AboŠPm§S>a am°~Q>©gZ, 'Xr _hma \$moëH$ - A ñQ>S>r Am°\$ AZQ>Mo~ëg BZ _hmamï´>' Xr [a{b{OAg bmB©\$ Am°\$ B§{S>`m'; àH$meH$: dm` E_ gr E.npãbqeJ hmD$g, 5, agob ñQ´>rQ>, H$mobH$mVm, håào {_b\$moS>©, Am°Šg\$moS>© `w{Zìh{g©Q>r àog (1938); Xwgè`m Amd¥VrMo àH$meH$ S>m°. AemoH$ Jm`H$dmS>, H$m¡eë` àH$meZ, EZ-11, gr-3/24/3, hS>H$mo, Am¡a§Jm~mX, 431 003 (2005)

4) AboŠPm§S>a am°~Q>©gZ, '_hma bmoH$- _hmamï´>mVrb Añn¥í`m§Mm Aä`mg (^maVmMo Ym{_©H$ OrdZ)', AZwdmXH$: {^jw grd{b~moYr Am{U ñ_aU X{hdbo; àH$meH$: Xo. am. nJmao, gwJV àH$meZ, 780, d¡embrZJa, ZmJnya- 17, ({ÛVr`md¥Îmr 1991)

5) {d. _. Xm§S>oH$a Am{U _. ^m OJVmn, '_hmamï´>mMr J«m_rU g_mOaMZm', àH$meH$: Y. am. JmS>Jri, JmoIbo AW©emó g§emoYZ g§ñWm (àH$meZ nmMdo), nwUo- 411 004 (1957); (nmZ 10)

6) darbà_mUo, nmZ

7) S>m° ~m~m AmT>md, 'EH$ Jmd, EH$ nmUdR>m',

8) 'Cno{jV {¼ñVr g_mO', boIH$: àJV nXdrYa g§KQ>ZoV\}$ A§VmoZ _m. gmido, àVmn ~m. n§{S>V, gmoÝ`m~mny e§. dmK_mao Am{U Omogo\$ S>r AmT>md, àH$meH$: Á`w{bEg {S>gyOm (`oeyg§K), _mJ© àH$meZ, Wm°_g pñQ>\$Ýg {Zdmg, 2008 g§V pìhÝg|Q> _mJ©, nwUo 411 001, (1979) (nmZ 15 Am{U 16)

Bardeskars Part II , Goan Catholics settled in Maharashtra and Karnataka in 18th century

Articles on Bardeskars, Goan Catholics from Bardez taluka settled in border areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka in the late 18^th century and  published in Sunday supplement of  The Navhind Times, Panaji, Goa, on 23 August and 30 June, 1985. Bardeskars 23 June 1985

The Bardeskars Part II – June 30, 1985

The Bardeskar community, the Goan Catholics scattered in border districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, has maintained an unique social, cultural and religious set up there, akin to that of Catholics in Goa despite their migration two centuries back. Ppreservation of their mother tongue Konkani and lack of inter-religious marriages have been the major components enabling them to have a distinct identity of their own. Yet the community has never considered nor is considered by others as an 'alien' to the culture of their new homeland.

The last many generations of these Bardeskars have remained Goan Catholics only in their homes, often residing in the same areas in a village but still intermingling with the rest of the communities. They are typical Marathi people in the Konkan and Kolhapur regions of Maharashtra and Kannadigas in Belgaum district of Karnataka .

Konkani language, like their Roman Catholic religion, is an important factor maintaining their umbilical cords with their ancestral land, Goa. Obviously with the passage of time since their forced migration, Konkani language of Bardeskars has undergone tremendous changes when new words from either Marathi or Kannada were incorporated in it. Despite this, it is likely that many of the Konkani words used during old times and now almost extinct in Goa might be used by the Bardeskars even now. Besides, several of the old Konkani folksongs meant for various social occasions like marriages, ordinations and other religious services are still widely used by the community. Those studying the development of Konkani language will find ample subject matter for their research in the Konkani language spoken by the Bardeskars. There is a urgent need to collect the Konkani folksongs for posterity, lest they are wiped out in the passage of time.

Even to this date, Konkani language is widely used by Bardeskars in religious services like mass, rosary and litany. The liturgy utilised for religious services is in Roman script, the same script also used in Goa. However in spite of widespread use of Konkani in daily life, the Konkani literature movement has not yet reached to these regions while a few of the Bardeskar Jesuit priests like Fr Prabhudhar, editor of Marathi monthly 'Niropya', and Fr Caridade Drago, have carved a niche for themselves in Marathi literature, having a few literary works to their credit.

Another interesting factor about the Bardeskars is that despite having almost very less contacts with Goa for two centuries, they have not surrendered their rights over their properties in their original homeland. It is amazing that though the foreign rulers in Goa were always apprehensive of anyone entering the territory from the British India border, the Bardeskars having brought up and spent many years in Konkan,Kolhapur and Belgaum districts, stakes their claim on the 'Zonn' of the comunidade of the areas of their forefathers and continue to do so upto this date. During my stay in western Maharashtra and some parts of Belgaum district, I met many Bardeskars who introduced themselves as 'Gaonkars' of Aldona, Siolim, para, Tivim and other places in Bardez taluka.

It is said that the ancestors of these Bardeskars faithfully registered the names of their children in the records of their respective communidades (cooperatives) in their villages in Goa and that many of them managed to take the Zonn (share) from these communidades whenever they visited Goa, no matter how small the Zonn was. In the later stages when the Portuguese rulers took strong action against any 'foreigners' entering into the Goan territory, many of the Bardeskars are said to have come to Goa either to pay homage to their patron St Francis Xavier or for some other works through unguarded border villages.

Till recently before the Catholic parishes from Kolhapur and Konkan region were bifurcated from Goa archdiocese and linked to Pune diocese, all the records of the churches in these areas, dealing with baptism, marriages, deaths, etc were in Portuguese. The records giving vital information of the forefathers of the Bardeskars are still available in Ajra, Halkarni and other church parishes in Kolhapur districts .
The passage of time has failed to severe the Bardeskars from their past and they have often faithfully, sometimes rigidly, preserved it. The resistance to change according to new times, I think, is not so much due to the rationalisation but merely due to keep up the convention. For example, many young Bardeskars do not know the exact reasons behind some dos and donts in their community although they are willing to abide by it.
Consequently, marriages are not so common in the Bardeskar community between its various groups, belonging to different Hindu castes before their conversion to Christianity. The scourge of casteism – a practice which is officially banned by the Catholic Church and still prevalent in Goa - was carried by them to their places outside Goa. Various efforts are being made by the Jesuit priests who also belong to the Bardeskar community to eradicate the practice of casteism and as a result, some 'inter-caste' marriages within the Bardeskar community have taken place during the past few years. Some of the groups of Bardeskars are still averse to beef eating – a fact hinting at their high caste origin in Hinduism in Goa.
The celebration of annual feast is held even to this date at various chapels and churches in these areas as per the tradition of their ancestors in various villages in Goa. Thus, the Bardeskar community hailing from Siolim near Mapusa and settled in Adkur village in Chandgad taluka of Kolhapur district celebrates the feast of St Anthony. Two years back when a chapel was constructed there, it was dedicated to St Anthony of Padua, as is the case in Siolim.
Like Goan villages, here too one finds 'Confraria', the laymen hierarchy in church affairs and the distinction between the Gaonkars and non-Gaonkars. However fortunately there were no disputes experienced on the style of the recent Cuncolim controversy in the past over this issue.. The Church authorities here are making efforts to establish equality among all in the Catholic Church all over the world.
Thus having nursed and safely preserved their language, religion and culture, these Goans in neighbouring states have never faced the crisis of loss of identity in their new homes as they have firmly established their roots there.
Many of the Bardeskars have found jobs in the mills in Pune, Kolhapur and Mumbai while a few of them are teaching in educational institutions or running their own business.