Another Goa
Edition: 1st
Publisher: Goa,1556 and Broadway Book Centre
Published: November 16, 2009
Place of publication: Goa, India
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 192
First sentence: One monsoon day in 1983, college finished early for me.
Description: One of Goa's most visible writers in cyberspace, Frederick Noronha presents some of his favourite writing in this collection. Coming from someone known for his work with online communities, blogging, photography, and writing on the environment and IT, this book presents alternative perspectives on Goa. 

India's smallest state is facing a "population puzzle". Goa's population growth rate is below replacement, couples have babies later in life, childlessness is growing and yet such issues go  unacknowledged.  Besides, outmigration, land, corruption and the environment are key concerns that Goa needs to look more closely at, a new book just released suggests.

The book was released on National Press Day (November 16, 2009).  Noronha -- who has written widely for the outstation and online media -- selects 20 of his favourite works for this book. These issues seek to create a picture of a Goa that is often overlooked in the headlines and front-pages. 

One chapter looks at expats scattered far and wide, who attempt to retrace their roots in Goa, in the most diverse situations. 'Another Goa' looks at the writer's experiences with environmental journalism. Together with Keya Acharya of Bangalore, the author has co-edited a book of contributions by prominent Indian  environmental journos. Titled 'The Green Pen', it is to be released by Sage-India in Dec 2009.

Available at Broadway (Sant Inez, Panjim), the book includes a detailed analysis of Goa's experience with its own pioneering Right to Information Act passed in 1997. It delineates how a rather efficient law some got clogged with roadblocks in a few years time. 

Some off-beat interviews included ones with famed Goan artist F.N. Souza, whose works sell for millions, and the late Jagdish Nazareth. Gujarat-based Nazareth worked on promoting pro-biotic fertilizers, after being disillusioned with his mainstream management job.

Looking at the Goan diaspora, Noronha writes about the life of Pio Gama Pinto, who along with pioneers like Aquino Braganza was one of the few Goans who took the side of a Black Africa while it was still struggling for freedom and de-colonization.

Other articles touch themes of corruption, concerns over tourism in Goa, alternate local food, the Konkan Railway economic crisis, HIV/AIDS in Goa, and mining pollution. A couple of vignettes emerging from colonial Goa underline the simple and tough times of the past, and the treasure trail of Portuguese stamps.

One chapter focuses on how a Right to Information query helped unearth crucial details and draw attention nationwide to the shocking number of crashes witnessed by the Sea Harriers aircrafts operated by the Indian Navy.
Notes: Book available at Broadway Book Centre, 18th June Road, Panjim, Goa or via mail-order from goa1556 at gmail.com
Table of contents: pagenum: 1
class: chapter
title: Digging for roots; pagenum: 21
class: chapter
title: Land loot; pagenum: 27
class: part
title: Luso trail in stamps; pagenum: 31
class: part
title: Drinking iron; pagenum: 35
class: part
title: Capitalism, then; pagenum: 41
class: part
title: Crashing Harriers; pagenum: 49
class: part
title: AIDS in the 1990s; pagenum: 53
class: part
title: Population puzzle; pagenum: 79
class: part
title: Fertilizer rethink; pagenum: 87
class: part
title: Goan overseas; pagenum: 93
class: part
title: Corruption kills; pagenum: 101
class: part
title: A patriot's death; pagenum: 105
class: part
title: Tourism + 10; pagenum: 129
class: part
title: RTI logjams; pagenum: 141
class: part
title: 150 km for a meal; pagenum: 147
class: part
title: After Tehelka; pagenum: 155
class: part
title: Rail losses; pagenum: 159
class: part
title: The green pen; pagenum: 171
class: part
title: Remembering Souza; pagenum: 177
class: part
title: When journos err