A friend in Mozambique wanted her book in Portuguese to come out with a possible English-language translation in Goa. Even while I was thinking of possibilities, last afternoon I ran into my 1983 colleague Alvaro Leao Fernandes (who lives in a pretty home, alongside the Old GMC). We worked together in the Herald in 1983. I was not even out of college, and Alvaro, one of those caught in the ‘Liberation’-time confusion of 1961, was negotiating the tough transition from working in Portuguese to trying to make it in English.
These times meant different things to different people. Opportunity was opening up for us. The last Portuguese-language daily newspaper in Asia (O Heraldo) was shifting over to being an English-language daily. For another generation, the skies were literally falling down on their heads. Portuguese was a shrinking language in Goa. It’s even more so now. They were negotiating the choppy waters of shifting from one European language (though they had grown up with it, almost as if it was their own) to another!
Alvaro was a reflection of that generation. We often run into each other in Panjim. He on his cycle, me preferring to walk occasionally — that’s more personal than my made-by-Bajaj Platina 100 cc two-wheeler, and one gets a chance to meet many more persons anyway. Alvaro did some work awhile with my brother’s firm [http://www.opspl.com] in their attempt to localise Brasilian software into English. We often discuss the news, the world of newspapers, what we enjoyed reading … and sometimes about my old journalist colleague and friend Eduardo (Eddie) Rodrigues.
The purpose of this note is to share with you that Alvaro does Portuguese-to-English translations (and I guess the other way around too, but I didn’t ask). He’s not so much on email, but his mobile is 9270143992. Just thought that sharing the link might help one or even both sides of those looking (and offering). Hope something comes out of this.
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Tags: Portuguese, translations, Goa
FN: The View From My Window 
Business Standard
New Delhi, 18 January 2008
150 foreign delegates to participate in spices congress
Goa will host the 9th World Spices Congress from January 28. According to V J Kurien, chairman, Spices Board, the three-day event will see nearly 150 delegates from 33 countries participating in the event. Besides, over 225 Indian delegates will also take part in the event, he added. Addressing the media here, Kurien said that the number of foreign delegates might go up as registration was in full swing. Maximum number of delegates is expected from the US. Organised jointly by the All India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF) and Spices Board, the congress will discuss various issues pertaining to global spice trading under the theme ‘Harmonization — The emerging global need.’ This is the second time Goa is hosting the World Spice Congress. Jairam Ramesh, minister of state for commerce and industry, will inaugurate the congress on January 28.
That’s true. The Portuguese influence in Goa has been on the decline. We’re seeing the last of it, unfortunately. I am big on researching and visiting Portuguese relics in India. Maybe I’ll call Alvaro for a chat next time I’m in Goa.
hi fred
this is inacio Fernandes of goajmentor
I am here in goa working in verna
Nice to be back in touch INacio! Pls contact me at fn at goa-india dot org or 2409490 (anytime after 2 pm).