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ARTICLE : Goa kalavants: Comming out of devdasi mould
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To: SRH <ghen@netcom.com>
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Subject: ARTICLE : Goa kalavants: Comming out of devdasi mould
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From: ashok <ashokvc@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in>
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Date: Tue, 16 Jul 96 18:43:19 PDT
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Priority: Normal
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Resent-Date: Tue, 16 Jul 1996 09:58:39 -0700 (MST)
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Resent-Message-Id: <Pine.ULT.3.90.960716095839.24434A@mercury.aichem.arizona.edu>
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Resent-To: ghen@netcom.com
July 15, 1996
Title : Goa kalavants : Comming out of devadasi mould
Author : Pamela D'Mello
Publication : The Asian Age
Date : July 17, 1996
Devadasis in neighbouring states still languish in
humiliation. But over the past seven decades this caste
group, euphemistically termed "slaves of god" has
triumphed over adversity and become a major success story
in Goa.
Like in neighbouring Karnataka and Maharashtra, Goa too
had a system of temple-artists, which degenerated into
prostitution.
But concerted efforts by the community to extricate
themselves from this plight has made the Gomant Maratha
Samaj, as they are now known, a professionally and well-
educated, prosperous Goan community. Quite a few famous
Goan names in science, business, medicine and art and
even in politics, where it has produced two chief
ministers and a former president of the Goa Pradesh
Congress (I) hail from this community.
Kalavants (or artists as they were known) who migrated
out of Goa did well for themselves and distinguished
themselves in music. Some of the biggest names in Indian
music trace their roots to this community in Goa, though
the stigma unfairly attached to them probably compels
them to play down these links.
Prominent Gomant Maratha Samaj campaigners say Goa's
former devasdasi and Kalavant class of temple artists
were never temple dancers, but actually dancers in the
then flourishing temples.
Portuguese colonial rulers called them "balladares"
(singers). Later, with the religious intolerance of the
Portuguese rulers, the temples shifted and lost their
glory.
Kalavants fled to the neighbouring Bombay province, where
they had joined the music gharanas to perfect their art.
A few fell into prostitution, others became the
mistresses of the rich. Kalavants who remained in Goa
bitterly complain that they were exploited by temple
mahajans and dominant castes. But they began organising
themselves after the post- 19 1 0 liberal period of
Portuguese rule, when the Gomantak Gayan Samaj (Goa
Singers Society) was formed. It was broadened to include
other categories of temple workers and sub-castes.
In Mumbai and Goa, a kind of social reform movement
gained wind. Educated youngsters from the community were
keen to open nursing schools to rehabilitate women. Ibis
trend was particularly visible as Goa's first two chief
ministers, affluent mine owner D.B. Bandodkar and his
daughter, Shashikala Kakodkar, hailed from this
community. "There is a trend in the younger generation,
those who are better educated do not want to accept their
origins anymore," says writer Archana Kakodkar.
