GOAN KUDDS IN BOMBAY: GOING, GOING, GONE?

By Frederick Noronha

PANJIM, May 10: Fulgence Rodrigues was surprised when he recently
tried to get a place for his shipbuilding-qualified son at one of
Mumbai's kudds. He realised that the famous decades old clubs
of Goan expats in that city, that served as a gateway to a better
life for generations, are verging on collapse.

Shocked and saddened by the sorry state of affairs of these
institutions that played a crucial role in the history of Goan
emigration, Vasco-based Rodrigues is now all fired up to do
something that could safeguard the kudds.

Says he: "In the halcyon days of the fag end of the eighteenth
century and the beginning of the nineteenth, our farsighted
ancestors in their wisdom and for the benefit of visiting Goans,
founded clubs known in the vernacular language as kudds in
erstwhile Bombay, now renamed Mumbai."

"In the beginning they were like chummeries. Our village folk in
those days would migrate to Bombay, as it was a city of
opportunity, in quest of jobs", Rodrigues says.

Some went for medical treatment. Others for professional studies.
Many Goan youth, particularly Christians from simpler and less
affluent backgrounds, would go there in droves for a sea-faring
career.

These institutions provided low-cost accommodation, and friendly
mentors from among one's fellow-villagers. Today, with
allegations of suspicious deals by some of those in charge, and
pressures from land-sharks, these institutions face a bleak
future.

Recent amendments in the Rent Act mean that the real estate lobby
has "cast its greedy eyes" on these dilapidated properties, says
Rodrigues.

Even owners and landlords -- perhaps whose grandparents had
originally leased out these structures -- have tried to take up
eviction proceedings in Mumbai's Small Causes Court.

Some kudd secretaries have developed questionable links with
the builders lobby, and disposed off kudd premises, getting
free flats in the bargain for themselves. In the rumour mill,
some names of prominent individuals are already being mentioned.

Secretaries of the kudds are supposed to maintain accounts.
But, without supervisory control, some secretaries have allegedly
run amuck.

Migrant Goan villagers would arrive in Bombay by bus, train or
boat. Strangers in that huge and heartless city, the kudds
would offer them "shelter, board and facilities such as they were
accustomed to back home", says Fulgence Rodrigues.

This home-away-from-home offered them low cost boarding. Their
needs were often subsidised by other members of the kudd (or
village club), till they could find a job of their own. Prayers
were said at 8 pm sharp, and members also had to stay present for
the Sunday cleaning-up operations.

Collective funds fuelled the mess. Profits, if any, would accrue
to a general fund, which was "disbursed appropriately to those
members who would retire or leave the kudd in order to settle
down back in their respective villages or towns", says Rodrigues,
in a brief study of this issue.

Many clubs have large, spacious halls. Most are situated in old,
multi-storeyed buildings constructed in the nineteenth or early
twentieth century. Many buildings have become decayed, decrepit
and dilapidated.

Bombay's Rent Control Act froze the rentals taken from tenants.
This meant no repairs or maintenance was done on buildings.
"During a recent visit to Bombay, I was horrified at the
appalling situation in some of these kudds, which looked
abjectly pathetic," said Rodrigues.

Interiors of many kudds are on the "verge of collapse owing to
paucity of funds, and nobody seems to be doing anything nor
anybody comes forward to repair them," adds Rodrigues.

Fulgence Rodrigues believes that with institutions like the NUSI
Maritime Academy at Assolna and the Institute of Maritime Studies
at Bogda-Sada, Mormugao, Goa badly needs institutions like the
kudds to help its youngsters get access to better jobs offshore.

"Goa government has a Goa Bhavan in Juhu. But (the average) Goa
cannot avail of these facilities due to its distant location from
Greater Bombay, considering transport costs, travelling
inconveniences and bureaucratic hassles in booking
accommodation," says Rodrigues.

On the other hand, the kudds are located at prime and
convenient spots.

"I've visited kudds of villages like Chorao, Divar and Margao.
There are many Bardez kudds too. Most are located in areas like
Dhobitalao and Mazgaon. I was told that there are some at Dadar,
Parel, Matarpakaddi, and Byculla too," Rodrigues told this
correspondent.

Rodrigues says something badly needs to be done to save these
institutions. Interested persons can contact him at 555063, says he.

He has sought the support of former Goa Speaker Simon D'Souza,
and politicians like Dr Wilfred Mesquita. "I want to speak to CM
Sardinha and persuade him of the need for a detailed report into
the functioning of all the clubs."

He suggests the clubs could come "under one umbrella" to fight
against eviction attempts.

Rodrigues says that the prestigious Jer Mahal, in the centre of
Dhobitalao, is popularly known as a "mini Goa", and is full of
Goan kudds.

"It was a miniature capital of Goa and their cultural hub. Now
the kudds have fallen into utter neglect, and are on the verge of
extinction. Economic and social changes in the lifestyle of Goans
have had deleterious effects on the kudd system," says he.
Perhaps the growing affluence of Goans has also made us more
individualistic and selfish! (ENDS)