Wednesday 2 April 2008

OF PET DOGS AND MUTTS

The Man had a lot of wealth. His father too. And so did his grandfather. The trick was, they knew how to keep it. Right from the days of the grandfather, they had been known to own dogs. The Man only followed this tradition. He tied the dog by a chain to the gate in the wall, that surrounded his house. The chain was long enough to keep others at a considerable distance from the compound wall, but short enough to ensure that the dog stopped a few feet short of the steps leading into his house. Like the sacred thread worn by the Man, this chain was the dog's sacred thread.
The only difference was that while the thread was a sign of limitless power to the Man, to the dog it was a sign of restraint.
The dog was also pretty hairy in some places, so it was difficult to know whether he had been castrated or not. But the dog was loyal. He kept a lot of unwanted elements out. And ensured that secrets never strayed out of the Man's house. So loyal was he that he even kept a daily ledger of the bones the Man threw to him everyday.
But not for nothing was the Man of the house, the MAN OF THE HOUSE. After some time, the man brought home another puppy which he reared inside the house, showering a lot of love on it. Everyday for a week, he would cuddle the puppy in his arms and walk by the dog. The dog would whimper and squeal seeking the Man's affection. But the Man ignored the dog. This routine continued exactly for a week, until one day the Man came out rushing and ordered the dog to rush a straggler and kill him. The dog did as ordered without any hesitation. The puppy was at the back of his mind. Chances were that the puppy would upstage him, if he did not listen to the Man. He killed the straggler without any mercy.
Later, in the day, a servant walked out of the house, a limp furry bundle in his hands. He laid it some distance from the dog and started digging a hole. He threw the limp body in it and covered the hole. It was the pup. Its neck had been wrung. The pup had served its utility. The dog whined, but it did not cry. Had it not been the pup, it would have been him.
The next morning, the Man stepped out of the house, face glowing. The Man offered the dog a prize. A hundred bones and a platter with his name inscribed on it and a warm quilt to lie on. He patted the dog's head and walked over the pup's grave on his way back home.

Vidyadhiraj Award for CM
NT Staff Reporter
Panaji, April 1 The president of Shree Samsthan Gokarn Partagalli Jeevottam Mutt committee, Mr Shrinivas V Dempo today announced the coveted Shree Vidyadhiraj Award for the year 2007, will be presented to the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat.Mr Dempo said that the name of Mr Kamat was under the consideration of the mutt committee for quiet sometime and the award is being given on the recommendation of the committee and the approval of Swamiji.The annual award is given to an individual in recognition of his meritorious services to the society in any field. The Shree Vidyadhiraj Award will be presented to Mr Kamat on April 8 during a special function to be held at the Shree Samsthan Gokarn Partagalli Jeevottam Mutt. Shree Vidyadhiraj Teerth Shreepad Vader Swamiji will present this award to Mr Kamat.The award includes a citation, shawl, Rs 25,000 and a replica of the thousand-year old banyan tree, which is situated in the vicinity of the mutt.The award was instituted to commemorate the 534th anniversary of the foundation of the mutt, which marked the process of unification of the fragmented Saraswat community. This day also happens to be the 35th anniversary of Shree Guru Peetharohan of Shree Vidyadhiraj Teerth Shreepad Vader Swamiji.

33 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

To be eligible for this award, do I need to be a Hindu and a Saraswat(euphemism for brahmin)?

Is it open to persons of other religious faiths, classes or castes?

In the parallel, I think the Master is Dempo, Diggu the adult dog.

Who's the pup?
Will someone please help me on my last question.

2 April 2008 at 13:42  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Brilliant... brilliant post

2 April 2008 at 13:50  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Penpricks... thanks for putting 2 pics; what about the third pic to represent the pup?

2 April 2008 at 13:57  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The "mutt" needs a kick in the butt.

2 April 2008 at 15:52  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Both are builders. Kamat and Devashri. Not constructive. But destructive.

2 April 2008 at 15:57  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Penpricks... The man had a lot of wealth. But did/does he get time to spend it?
Does the man get good sleep, or is he perennially sporting dark rings around his eyes?

Now coming down to reality. The forefathers left ALL of the wealth. This man will leave ALL of it too. Every second that passes he comes closer to that reality.

2 April 2008 at 17:49  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just had an interaction with Minister Aleixo Sequeira, at the power station, Opp the Nehru Stadium.

The chap had called for a meeting to sort out public grievances. He sat there in the presence of Vijay Sardesai, public and journos.

He was smoking!!

Not one journo took a picture although they could have. I didn't have a camera.

Photo journos are shameless.

2 April 2008 at 18:01  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To win this award you need to be an ardent GAUD SARASWAT, like digu who has no shame in inaugurating and being actively involved in filmiscial festivals such as SARASWAT FOOD FESTIVAL, as if saraswat eat different than their other Hindu fellow castes.

2 April 2008 at 19:22  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What is the contribution of this SWAMI to indian society apart from holding the powerful saraswat samaj togehter like a spaghetti sauce.

2 April 2008 at 19:23  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am a Catholic. Even the Church used to honour the rich with titles of 'Saints'. Even today, the Church only looks after the rich and powerful. Can any of us get the Bishop to bless our home. Where as the rich can woo him with their wealth and money.

The case of Bom Jesus Church is well known. Raul (the former archbishop) was not allowed to say the High Mass on December 3rd. Why? Because he was from a lower caste. A Bishop from Belgaum or else where was got to say the High Mass in honour of St. Francis Xavier (Patron Saint of Goa). That too in 21st Century Goa.

So what are we talking about caste system amongst the Hindu's. We ourselves should be ashamed of ourselves and the caste system that we still follow.

3 April 2008 at 00:49  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Caste system is the biggest impediment in the growth of a nation.
Each and everyone of us should give up this horrible system, and the process should start from politicians, rich, affluents, established, priests to downwards...

3 April 2008 at 02:54  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Now that he has declared himself AAM AADMI, Digu should set a noble example by rejecting this award as it is casteist, elitist and has nothing to do with aam aadmi.
But the biggest hypocrite AADMI that he is will do that??

3 April 2008 at 02:58  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thats a load of lies. Stop Communalizing this post with your nonsense.

3 April 2008 at 07:02  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anon: 03 April 2008 00:49
I not an expert in the subject matter, but from whatever little I know, I will try to reply.

"the Church used to honour the rich with titles of 'Saints'."
Mother Teresa's (of Calcutta) entire worldly possessions could be carried around in a tiny bag.

Fr. Maximillian Kolbe, swapped his life for that of a Jewish man. There was absolutely nothing in return.

Let's go to the founder of Christianity. History records that the competent authority, Pontius Pilate found Him innocent of all charges. Keep in mind that the Roman justice system was well developed and we still use many of the legal latin maxims even today.

"The case of Bom Jesus Church is well known"
Yes, it was transferred to the Archeologial Survey of India(ASI). The church authorities realised that this happened only when it was too late.

Because he was from a lower caste
How did you come to this conclusion? What is the basis?
More importantly, have you sought to hear their side of the story?

"That too in 21st Century"
Say 100 years form now, do you think that the people will think of us as 'advanced'? Not if one were to go by history.

"So what are we talking about caste system amongst the Hindu's"
Who is this "we"?

No person in this world should be ashamed of himself/herself. Every one (human) is a sinner. (Correct me if I am wrong but Mother Mary is the only exception)

P.S. I would have published the names of some websites off the internet. However, I have avoided doing so because Penpricks does not publish comments that carry a website name.

3 April 2008 at 07:46  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

There is no such thing as 'low' or 'high' caste in Goa. Not until the Portuguese left Goa. I will accept that there are different castes. If you talk to any of the senior folks they will readily admit that there were distinctions, but no one has an inferiority complex.

(If you look at Varanasi, the people that cremate the corpses are considered 'lower caste' but they are fabulously rich. However this is not applicable to Goa)

Pandurang Madkaikar is a ST, yet he is far wealthier than many.

In journalism, if you work for TOI you can conveniently call yourself 'higher caste'.

BTW, I'm an 'outcaste' (Hehehe)

3 April 2008 at 11:41  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anon: 02 April 2008 19:22

"GAUD" what's that ???

I thought there were only one type of Saraswats? Are there sub types?

3 April 2008 at 14:41  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

BTW, is the writer of this post an upper caste(Saraswat Brahmin) or a lower caste?
It is only in Goa where non-vegetarian Hindus refer to themselves as Brahmins. As a matter of fact, this only exposes the hypocrisy of these Brahmins(oops! Saraswats). Death to such non-vegetarian Brahmins. May they roast in hell.

3 April 2008 at 16:48  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

dears - the man has not just one dog, he has a lot of dogs indeed.The one you speak of might be the shaggiest but there are many others. There's one in TNT that wanted to rape a little maidservant remember. And remember how a then Judge named Salkar let him off. The High Court ordered the case to be reopened - prima facie he should have been suspended for moral turpitude but no, such dogs are the best. And there's the one who's the Principal of Dempo college, who every week does a plagiarised career guidance column in TNT, who tried to sexually harass a lecturer young enough to be his daughter. The G.S.C. A indicted him - the College Complaints committee has indicted him but what has the Master done? He appoints Salkar to do an enquiry and exonerates him. And does anyone care? Even penpricks? Long live dogs.

3 April 2008 at 19:31  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You said it, Anon 03 April 2008 19:31. Moral of the story? Penpricks is really going to the dogs!

4 April 2008 at 09:56  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anon: 03 April 2008 16:48

That's what makes Goa, uniquely Goa. Hindu's eat non-veg suff, but it is restricted to sea food, mutton and chicken (Wild boar and frogs - but that's now illegal in Goa).

I even had a Saraswat classmate who had no qualms of eating beef. But he is certainly the exception.
They don't eat dogs (like the Nagas), cats and Snakes (like the military guys do for survival training, that too raw)

(I know of so many that have travelled overseas, but were not thrown out of their caste for crossing the sea. Is this really a law?)

Generally, caste does not restrict anyone in Goa to do anything. However, wealth, networking do play a major role unfortunately. However, these impediments can be overcome.
Pandurang Madkaikar(ST), Babu Azgaonkar(SC), Dayanand Narvekar(Kharvi, yet a gold medallist Bombay Univ. for Law), Jitendra Deshprabhu (Viscount, now visiting the houses of his erstwhile subjects), Luizinho Faleiro(rags to riches), Ravi Naik(ice-cream cart vendor), to name a few, have adapted and been "successful" by society's standards.

But they have not been able to overcome death!

4 April 2008 at 11:50  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

All Chirstoas (including me) should accept the fact that even we have a caste system. I agree that even the Church goes by a caste system. I agree with the writer who speaks about Bishop Raul N. Gonsalves. yes there is not a single occasion when he was allowed to celebrate the high mass at Bom Jesus because of his caste. But as 'good' Christians we brush it under the carpet because we do not want anything to come in the open. I salute the writer who spoke about this and exposed it.
I think the rest of the Christians who wrote in just want to paint themselves in White (like our Churches)but the reality is that the caste system still exist amongst us Catholics.

4 April 2008 at 21:44  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anon: 04 April 2008 21:44
Hi brother/sister,

All people have faults, so why target only one community?

What prevents you from leading a virtuous life?

If my understanding is correct...
No one in the entire world can restrict a Christian from reaching the highest achievable level, that of being a saint. In fact every Christian is called to sainthood.

Christianity is filled with scandal. Jesus himself left Judas the traitor, as a reminder. All the apostles were rough men. Imagine, someone chopping someones ear off? Jesus associated himself with the sinners...not the mighty.

If people are deformed they need to be reformed... something like polishing a diamond.

If the allegations you make are true then, there is a hierarchy for addressing such matters. Let him lodge a written complaint. Let justice prevail. Writing on a scribes' blog, may not be sufficient.

We may live in the 21st Century and think ourselves wiser, smarter that the guy that came before us, but then the kid of today will perhaps think of us as old fuddy-duddies.

Ya, we perhaps walk with the nose up in the air thinking (tom-tomming) of how 'democratic' our society is...
Democracy isn't new. Pontius Pilate took a vote 2000 yrs ago. The question to the public was something like "Who should I release?"...umm democratic eh?... not to mention the symbolic as well as actual washing of his hands. (not in my name)

Technology has changed, but human nature hasn't!

The world is not a perfect place. Neither you nor I can escape these imperfections through the course of our lives.

4 April 2008 at 23:00  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Those who haven't realised who the pup is, read it again with an open mind!
The master has been properly identified, but not the other two! It's simple read carefully!

5 April 2008 at 00:11  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Last anon please tell us. Sincerely. I'm not that intelligent, honestly.

For the benefit of the 2-3 others like me, please tell us, just a name. It wouldn't take long to type.

5 April 2008 at 00:17  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey penpricks... give us some posts on the Marathi papers. The have wide readership in Goa with no corresponding posts on your blog.

Give us some real hard hitting posts on GT... not some budde-ke-bal(fluffy soft sweet), type posts.

BTW, I'm feeling real sleepy... Just wondering if there is a new post coming up now?

Can u let us know in your post when the next post is coming up, say a small text on the main page. Otherwise we are forced to check the blog, finding nothing new.

5 April 2008 at 00:44  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

TOI is the best.... they have taken the cream of GT, NT...
I feel being a goan....we should not be "J" about these guys... they will prove themselves and very soon small timers will be off the street. i guess you guys should trying putting stalls of lime water or food... its possible now since u are still a Journ and can manipulate with the system.. pls do something for your future before you regret

Mr. P

14 April 2008 at 19:05  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Mr P,

I think it's far more honourable to start limboo soda or food stalls, even if it's by manipulating the system, than to set up stalls on the pavements at
Gujarat Lodge, Panjim Market and Don Bosco's on Sundays, to sell the TOI subscription for Rs 299 per
year.
It's like selling 'Biknham' and 'Chonnem', isn't it Mr
P, whoever you are?
In fact, it's an insult to the 'Biknham' and 'Chonnem'
sellers of Goa, for, the minimum fare at their gaddas
is Rs 10 for a cone-shaped packet ('Hollo' in my
Sashti Konknni), unlike the 81-odd paise per TOI
edition that it works out to!!
But 'Chonnemkars' and 'Biknhamkars' need not get hurt
by the TOI exercise. Actually, the Bennett, Coleman &
Co exercise will make 'raddhi' cheaper for them. What
TOI is actually doing IMHO is selling the 'sports bag'
for Rs 299 and giving 'raddhi' free for the whole
year!
32 broadsheet pages in a day, I reckon is more than
sufficient 'raddhi' for any Goan 'chonnekar' or
'biknhamkar'. Besides, with the newsagents' grapevine
claiming that TOI's subscription roster has crossed
the 50,000 mark, there's bound to be a glut in Goa's
'raddhi' bourses, and the packaging material could
possibly be given away to the 'Chonnemkars' and
'Biknhamkars' for free! Don't know where such a
scenario would leave my friend Sanjiv Verenkar, who I
learn took the subscription despite the Raju Nayak-TOI
connection, purely as a business gamble. He hoped to
sell his TOI 'raddhi' and make twice the Rs 299 in a
year!!
Finally, to end this longish post Mr P, I'd like to
steal Miguel Braganza's signing off line..... MOG
ASUNDI.

Ashley do Rosario
Deputy News Editor
Gomantak Times.

16 April 2008 at 11:47  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Ashley,

You fail to remember that the GT has virtually a negligible readership base. In the last few years you have actually diminished in size and have been struggling for survival as a business unit. As a part of the erstwhile Mining Industry, you indeed were lucky that they did not close shop. Ever since the Sakal takeover, your English readership base never grew but diminished further.

GT to Goa will still continue to be considered as a Marathi vernacular daily with a naive and grossly immature, amateurish venture (read tabloid) in the English Mainstream Media Foray.

And yet you bring up the fact about ToI edition being a "raddhi". Well Ashley you are ludicrous. Seriously, No one is going to buy that statement, especially from a small time yellow rag that barely has a readership base that would make it stand out and be considered as a noteworthy daily.

As for the Bag deal (299/year), or 80ps /edition, for a real newspaper that the "Nation" has grown to wake up to and consider as a hmmm... beyond a shadow of doubt credible, all that we have to say to our new readership base is that we can sustain it while offering the customer a great Value for Money deal. Our professionalism in media coverage is unquestionable as compared to the unethical exploits of some of your jurnos. All I can say as of this moment is that the Goan consumer will definately get a taste of quality that all the 3 leading rags have managed to stiffle and murder (read rape) over these years,

As a budding jurno, Ashley, you have nothing to fear unless you doubt your professional ability and capability to handle a higher level to quality and media maturity ....only time will tell as I am sure that the educated and discerning Goan Consumer would definitely be able to choose between a quality product as time goes by(with or without bag deals). Would I be politically incorrect in saying that the Goan Consumer base has clearly declared its verdict towards your newspaper through your 10+ years of operation?

And instead of plagiarizing a signing off line, I'd rather go with.... DEV BOREM KORUM

Im sure penpricks will be so kind in posting this response the blog.

19 April 2008 at 22:54  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

why have you not published my comments you pro-GT Prick?

20 April 2008 at 10:36  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Mr P,

Does your name really begin with a P? I doubt it, going by the contents of your comment on 19 April 2008 at 22:54. Your name, according to me has to either be Samir or Vineet Jain!
Relax buddy. There are several factors in a newspaper pertaining to its business strategy, sustainability, cover price, selling price, etc., etc., that is beyond the domain and control of journos like you and me, or even the editor and chief editors of multi-edition newspapers.
The issue that we need to talk about is how much of our own journalistic judgement are we going to forego to 'accomodate' the newspaper's unscrupulous business strategies.
Are we willing and will we say 'No' to paid articles being published on the pages that we do?? Or will we say heck to our principles for the sake of the Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000 salaries?
Or will we allow the advertorials to be published as news reports as the newspapers did here in Goa during the 2007 Assembly election campaign?
I also do not subscribe to your view that circulations are directly proportionate to credibility in the newspaper business.

And my dear Mr P, please educate yourself on the meaning of the word 'plagiarize'. I haven't plagiarized Miguel's signing off phrase, I've only borrowed it.

MOG ASUNDI

Ashley do Rosario


And dear

23 April 2008 at 02:01  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Ashley what are you doing up so late at night?

Don't let someone deprive you of sleep.
The repercussions of sleep deprivation are not worth a reply to an anon.

Hey if you know the guy just call him up.

Unfortunately, the world is caught up in a selfish materialistic chase, at all and any cost. People who don't join in are ostracised. But then, no one is immortal.

Dev Bori Sokall Anvdetam :)

23 April 2008 at 19:54  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

After 10+ years of circulation, Ashley, your daily tabloid isn't increasing in circulation... People aren't buying yellow no matter how sensational the front page may be... it just isn't working Ashley. Great job on the editorials though, if I recall right your tabloid gave a tainted Forensic Doctor thee clean chit in the Keeling episode. Oh and the plagiarized plugs, I'm sure you of all people must be the resident expert on the art.

Chill, sorry if I gave you a couple of sleepless nights... on time to introspect on you competencies (or lack of)... Oh and this time don't stay up too long to draft a response, it takes a toll on your dayjob and loses a few more readers as a result!

24 April 2008 at 07:33  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I know Goa has 30% Christian and 66-68 % Hindu population.

Are there any census figures for percentage of Saraswat Hindus and Saraswat Christians in Goa.

Someone told me that Karnataka has 4 times GSB compared to Goa and Maharashtra put togheter.

4 June 2008 at 02:18  

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