Gawda artefacts to be displayed in Portugal

by JOAO SOUSA M
Posted on 2009-06-11
MARGAO- In recognition to the Gawda community in Goa, over 40 exhibits on costume, jewellery, toys and cane work will be displayed at various museums and anthropology institutions across Portugal from October to February.
The exhibition will be opened at the ISCTE - Instituto Superior de Ciencias do Trabalho e da Empresa, Departamento de Antropologia, Lisbon (ISCTE Institute, Lisbon under the aegis of the department of anthropology).
The exhibition at the Institute of ISCTE will be held along with Portugal-born anthropologist, Ms Claudia Pereira who studied the Gawda community in Goa for seven years. The exhibition will also be displayed at the National Museum of Costumes, Lisbon, Evora, Oeiras and other museums across the state. Exhibits from Goa Chitra will be displayed during the exhibition.
The founder of Goa Chitra, Mr Victor Hugo Gomes informed that he had recently visited Portugal through Fundacao Oriente to study the inventory systems followed in Portugal, besides the conservation of artefacts, display, storage, etc. He said that during his visit he went to several museums including the National Museum of Ethnology, Loures Museum and Orient Museum in Lisbon, Michel Giacometti Museum, Costume Museum, Vairao Museum in north Portugal and Olive Oil Museum in central Portugal.
He said he managed to impress upon the heads of the museums, about Goa Chitra and added that the museums have extended their support to the museum in Goa and have pledged to send anthropologist to study the artefacts. They have also promised to provide modern inventory system to Goa Chitra so that the information can help scholars from all over the world who study anthropology.
Further, he said that in Portugal awareness towards heritage and culture is very high and every municipality has a museum of its own. Most importantly these museums are managed by professionals as against bureaucrats in Goa. Mr Gomes said that the directors of all the museums were particularly impressed with the friendly nature of Goa Chitra especially the integrated design of farming method in the museum.