KARNATAKA GOAN ASSOCIATION
The various villages of Goa depicted at one of the events of the Karnataka Goan Association in Bangalore.
PANAJI
Goans have been moving to Bangalore in search of better prospects for a number of decades and the need to bond as a community quickly became apparent as Goans wanted to feel at home away from home.
Keeping Goans united and preserving Goan culture in Bangalore has been the focus of the Karnataka Goan Association (KGA) for over 50 years. Besides conducting events for the Goan community, the KGA has been reached out to by Goans in Bangalore in a number of ways.
GROWTH OF KGA
KGA Immediate Past President Ian Faria, who traces his roots to Candolim and has served as KGA president for two terms, told The Goan that the association was started for Goan families who were in Bangalore, and those who began moving to Bangalore in the 1960s and 1970s and wanted to connect with each other to maintain their Goan identity.
The KGA was started in 1974, and initial meetings were conducted mainly in the homes of Ian Faria and Brian D’Lima, which also functioned as the KGA office.
“The first KGA president was Adv. George D’Costa, who along with the five founding members Tony Curtis, Cyril D’Souza, Otto Santos, S X Verdes, and my mother Stella Faria – who, incidentally, is the only living member from this group – started the association,” said Faria, who previously worked in the merchant navy for 7 years, before turning into a builder for 14 years and is now a corporate trainer for leaders for the past 28 years.
“I have been closely associated with KGA activities ever since I was a boy and would watch my mother and the other founder members conduct meetings and plan activities in our house. My father fully supported these activities, though he could not organise them as he was mostly away - in the merchant navy.”
“My aunt was also involved in promoting Goan culture and would teach children and youth, Goan dances like the Mando and Corridinho.”
The Festo da Carnival 2024 hosted by the Karnataka Goan Association in Bangalore.
The association, which has remained uninterrupted since its inception, has grown to about 1,000 Goan families over the years and about 100 families are very active in the association.
“A lot of students who come from Goa for IT, engineering studies and jobs, also become temporary members and we provide them with facilities/benefits. Some of our members also offer them PG facilities. These students connect with our committee members in case of any need.”
ACTIVITIES
Ever since its inception, Faria said the association did a lot of social work and also helped a lot of people who were not financial well off.
“Some children had difficulty getting admission to schools and the KGA helped them,” said Faria, who has also written a book ‘On Leadership: Moving from Influence to Impact’ which will be published shortly.
“The KGA also runs an education and welfare programme, where part loans and scholarships are given to children of members for pursue further studies. The KGA also presents awards to children of members in the field of academics, sports and music, in recognition of their achievements.”
“The KGA organises hampers for lesser fortunate families during Christmas. Besides, KGA members also visit the sick and elderly at homes and hospitals.”
A key event celebrated by the KGA is the St Francis Xavier feast.
The Goan choir at the Mass to celebrate the Feast of St Francis Xavier in Bangalore.
“For the Golden Jubilee celebration 2023-24, we even invited Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao to preside over the Eucharistic celebration at the St Francis Xavier’s feast in December 2023,” said Faria.
“The KGA has also been celebrating the Carnival in Bangalore since the past 10 years. The carnival is organised in the premises of the Catholic Club and has become a popular event among the community. This Carnival is also a fundraiser for the KGA, which is used for social work and charity.”
The traditional Litany conducted at the grotto of the St Joseph school in October is another popular celebration. About 100 people come for the Litany in Konkani, which consists of prayers and a candlelit procession.
“The KGA also conducts an activity for senior Goan citizens in Bangalore. An annual Member’s Day, which also doubles up as our annual picnic, is organised on January 26,” said Faria.
“In an effort to promote Konkani, the KGA conducts Konkani classes for Goans in Bangalore who are not conversant in Konkani. The association even staged Tomazinho Cardozo’s Tiatr in 2024.
“All these events have given Goans in Bangalore the opportunity to meet up and bond as a community,” he added.
The KGA owns a property on the outskirts to the north of Bangalore.
“One member, Edward Rodricks donated this land and the KGA constructed a ground-plus-one house about 25 years ago, which has been rented out on an annual basis to generate funds. One room in the structure has been reserved for the KGA office records and store for carnival outfits and other props,” said Faria.
NEW LEADERSHIP
Mindful that the existence and continuity of the KGA depends on the next generation, the KGA has been actively promoting young members into leadership roles.
At the request of present KGA President Valerian Fernandes, Ian Faria’s son, Craig, has become the KGA vice-president.
“Besides, the KGA Secretary, Nikita Pereira, is the daughter of Wilma, our former secretary of the association. We want our young Goans to play a more active role in the association and have been encouraging our youth to get involved in hosting KGA events and activities,” said Faria.
The present KGA committee comprises Valerian Fernandes (President), Craig Faria (Vice President), Nikita Pereira (Secretary) and Bosco Andrade (Treasurer). Goans in Bangalore have been encouraged to contact the Secretary or the President for any queries relating to the KGA.
