Contemporary Goan writing and art are navigating pressing questions of belonging, land, language, and social inclusion amid a period of rapid change, according to writers and poets at a recent MOG Sunday discussion at the Museum of Goa (MOG). The session focused on The Brave New World of Goan Writing & Art 2025, an anthology that brings together fiction, essays, and art criticism spanning Konkani and Portuguese works in translation, queer narratives, and reflections by artists, curators, researchers, and heritage practitioners.
The discussion featured contributors Heta Pandit, Janeita Singh, Annie Sengupta, and Glenis Mendonca, in conversation with moderator Aaron Monteiro. Conversations explored the cultural significance of Goan homes, the role of informal community spaces, and notions of public responsibility, while also delving into the complex identities of contemporary Goan artists who navigate multiple cultural worlds. The anthology highlights the value of retaining untranslatable words, documenting environmental and social transformations, and bringing historically marginalised narratives around caste, gender, and queer communities into the spotlight.
Speakers emphasised that translation, documentation, and critical engagement are crucial for sustaining Goa’s rich and diverse cultural voices during a time of rapid transformation. The discussion reflected a vision of Goan identity that embraces complexity, hybridity, and inclusivity, positioning literature and art as vital tools for understanding and shaping the state’s evolving cultural landscape.
Panaji, July 2025 — In a deeply insightful session at MOG Sundays, held at the Museum of Goa, Tibetan software engineer and cybersecurity advocate Lobsang Gyatso Sither recounted a lesser-known story of digital resistance. Titled “Tibetan Democracy in Exile,” the session shed light on how Tibetans countered state-sponsored cyberattacks from China by merging Buddhist philosophy with modern-day cybersecurity practices.
“In 2008, a pivotal moment came in my life with the release of the GhostNet Report,” said Sither.
That report—produced by Canada’s Citizen Lab—exposed a global cyber espionage network, affecting over 1,295 computers in 103 countries. These included high-value targets such as embassies and government offices. Sither, then a computer science student, found a calling that connected his skills with a greater cause: protecting the Tibetan community in exile.
After returning to Dharamsala in 2009, Sither joined Citizen Lab as an intern. His early work gave him direct exposure to how the Tibetan diaspora was being digitally targeted. In collaboration with the Tibet Action Institute, he helped launch a 2014 digital security campaign focused on Buddhist teachings—particularly the idea of “non-attachment.”
“Over 90% of attacks came via email attachments,” Sither said. “So we encouraged people to detach from attachments.”
The community-wide campaign encouraged the use of secure file-sharing and cloud services instead of email attachments. Remarkably, it worked. Attack patterns shifted. Malware was then sent via fake Google Drive links, forcing attackers to evolve. But the message was clear: Tibetans were learning, adapting, and fighting back.
By 2018, this work culminated in the creation of TibCERT (Tibetan Computer Emergency Readiness Team), a central body that monitors, reports, and educates the Tibetan community about ongoing cyber threats.
Even as recently as 2025, cyberattacks persist. During the 90th birthday celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, an impersonation website was created to capture data from well-wishers. The cloned website and malicious app links spread through Tibetan WhatsApp and Telegram groups, a new tactic in an old war.
“These attacks continue to evolve,” Sither explained, “but so do our defences.”
Sither also acknowledged India’s vital role in supporting the Tibetan community, especially in education. With over 90% literacy among Tibetans in exile, he credited the efforts of the Dalai Lama and the Indian government, particularly through the Central Schools for Tibetans (CSTs) and Jawaharlal Nehru’s early support.
As the “Year of Compassion” (July 6, 2025 – July 5, 2026) marks the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, Sither urged that this is also a time to honour India’s solidarity.
A quiet digital revolution continues—rooted in compassion, powered by code.
~ As part of MOG Sundays, Goan filmmaker Ronak Kamat screened his documentary ‘I Am Nothing,’ chronicling the life of reclusive artist Vamona Navelcar, whose journey spanned Goa, Mozambique and Portugal.
~ Kamat talks about his experience directing the film, eight years in the making, that included candid conversations with artists and collaborators.
Panaji, July 2025: According to Goan director and writer Ronak Kamat, the late Vamona Navelcar was a reclusive, but exceptional Goan artist from Pomburpa, whose life spanned stories from Goa, Mozambique and Portugal. An exclusive screening of I Am Nothing, Kamat’s documentary on Navelcar, was held at the Museum of Goa, Pilerne, followed by a discussion with the director as a part of its MOG Sundays series.
Navelcar, who died at the ripe old age of 91 in 2021, wasn’t someone who opened up easily to others and Kamat did not want to make him feel uncomfortable in the course of his interviews. “Instead of aiming for a swankier film, I thought, why not go for an honest film (with) Navelcar, two members of the crew and a simple setup where he could speak freely,” says Kamat, adding that the process of filming lasted eight years, which included engaging with various individuals associated with Navelcar.
In the course of his lengthy career as an artist, Navelkar twice received Gulbenkian Fellowships and won an international award in Monte Carlo. A master of line, his murals and bas-reliefs feature in collections across the world.
It all started when Kamat was in his second year of college, in the middle of filming his previous project Caazu, when Anne Ketteringham, author of Vamona Navelcar: An Artist of Three Continents, invited him to visit the artist’s home. “So we went and met him. I thought he was a great artist. I had heard about him, but I didn’t expect to be sitting and talking with him for four hours,” Kamat recalls. After that meeting, the director began asking around, speaking with family members, abstract artist based in Goa, Suhas Shilker, his initial introducer Anne Ketteringham and several others to learn more about the artist.
As Kamat dug deeper, he realised that, while many people knew of Navelcar, no one was making an obvious effort to preserve his story. “He’s not going to be around forever. He has so much to tell us about his life and his art, which is impeccable. So that was the impulse.”
During the shooting process, there were days when Kamat would arrive at the artist’s house with a plan and find Navelcar not wanting to shoot. “We would start chatting and after an hour, he would gesture to bring out the camera,” he narrates.He emphasises the importance of ethical filmmaking, saying, “I think that’s a big part of creating documentaries. Because otherwise everyone is so focused on just getting a film made.”
After completing a draft of the documentary, Kamat sought guidance from various producers, including Arindam Mitra, producer of Black Friday, a popular 2004 Indian crime film, but soon realised the need for an artist’s viewpoint to shape the film more thoughtfully. He then consulted Viraj Naik, an artist known for his printmaking and paintings.
Kamat is also known for his writing work for OTT platforms. His works have reached numerous film festivals worldwide and have won the ‘Best Documentary’ and ‘Best Short Film’ awards. His last short film, ‘Bare’, won the ‘Best Film on Women’ Award at the Calcutta International Cult Film Festival (CICFF) in 2021 and an ‘Honourable Mention for Best Director’ at the Eastern Europe Film Festival in Romania. I Am Nothing is now set to be screened in Portugal on September 5.
Panaji, June 2025 – The Museum of Goa (MOG) invites nature lovers, curious minds, and wildlife enthusiasts to explore a rarely seen side of Goa’s biodiversity through a compelling session titled “Whip Spiders, Whip Scorpions & Tarantulas: The ‘Not-So-Charismatic’ Wildlife of Goa.” This special edition of MOG Sundays will take place on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at 11:30 AM, at MOG’s campus in Pilerne Industrial Estate, Bardez.
Led by acclaimed biologist Prof. Manoj R. Borkar, this talk promises to shift the lens from Goa’s popular coastal and forest fauna to the secretive world of arachnids and arthropods that play a crucial yet uncelebrated role in our ecosystems.
Prof. Manoj R. Borkar is the Head of the Department of Zoology at Carmel College for Women, South Goa, and the founder of the Biodiversity Research Cell. A respected academic and passionate field biologist, Prof. Borkar has spent decades studying Goa’s flora and fauna, advocating for scientific literacy and ecological balance. His ability to translate complex biological phenomena into relatable narratives makes his sessions both informative and inspiring.
Why This Talk Matters
When we think of Goa’s wildlife, the spotlight often falls on its majestic birds, leopards, or marine life. But what about the organisms lurking under leaves, in dark corners, or beneath stones—creatures that many of us fear or ignore?
This session will demystify:
Whip spiders – shy, non-venomous arachnids with unique locomotion and sensory limbs
Whip scorpions – fascinating creatures with powerful pincers and a whip-like tail
Tarantulas – misunderstood giants of the spider world, critical to pest control
Prof. Borkar will discuss their ecological roles, adaptations, and the myths that surround them, offering a fresh perspective on creatures often deemed scary or insignificant.
Event Details
Date: Sunday, June 22, 2025
Time: 11:30 AM onwards
Venue: Museum of Goa, Pilerne Industrial Estate, Bardez
Entry: Free (Limited seating)
RSVP: WhatsApp your name to 7722089666 to register
Who Should Attend?
Wildlife and nature enthusiasts
Students of biology, environmental science, and ecology
Families and children with a curiosity for the natural world
Anyone willing to challenge their fears and see nature differently
This MOG Sundays talk offers a rare opportunity to appreciate the hidden heroes of Goa’s ecosystem. By spotlighting the ‘not-so-charismatic’ creatures, the session encourages a more inclusive and respectful understanding of wildlife. Come with an open mind—you may walk away with a newfound fascination for the creatures that crawl, creep, and quietly sustain the balance of nature.
Panaji, June 2025 – Much of the fish produce marketed as ‘fresh’ in Goa today is neither fresh, local, nor wild, according to marine conservationist, Dr Aaron Savio Lobo, who at a recent MOG Sundays talk at the Museum of Goa in Pilerne, also urged Goans to look beyond the ubiquitous snapper, chonak and kingfish varieties to enhance nutrition in their staple thali.
In his talk, titled ‘It’s Raining Fish – Hallelujah!’ Lobo also said that overfishing in the seas off Goa was reducing the ‘catch-per-effort’ ratio in the state, calling for a cap on the number of fishing vessels going out to sea. “The catch-per-effort is declining. We don’t understand how much fish is in the sea. The issue is too many boats chasing too few fish, which need to be regulated by limiting the number of vessels going out to sea.”
During the monsoon fishing ban, the Margao Wholesale Fish Market continues to offer seafood varieties like saundale (false trevally) and isvan (kingfish). Lobo revealed that many of these, including popular options like chonak, are farmed in other states and brought into Goa.
The marine conservationist said that there had been an erosion of fish diversity in Goa’s local diet due to class perceptions, tourism demands and market homogeneity. Bland, mass-produced varieties are replacing many nutritious species. “Some may look odd, but are perfectly delicious, diverse, and healthy, like the tambde balle or the red eel. It makes for a very delicious ambotik curry,” says Lobo. “Locals should go beyond the usual snapper, chonak and kingfish.”
India is now the third largest seafood producer globally, yet it ranks only sixth in wild capture fisheries, Lobo said, adding, that while aquaculture has seen a gain in momentum, wild fish remain nutritionally superior, rich in essential micronutrients like selenium, calcium and omega-3s, nutrients, that are often deficient in farmed fish.
Lobo also highlighted the rich productivity of coastal ecosystems during the monsoons, like estuaries that are fed by nutrient-rich plumes, creating a spawning ground for diverse marine life. Mudflats and mangroves are important for fish to breed and grow, he said, adding that areas like the Chapora river mouth are vital nurseries. Traditionally, Goans relied on dried fish and kanji to satisfy their fish cravings during the monsoon fishing ban; today, however, markets remain flooded with fish, often imported or farmed, like pangasius, roopchand and the Norwegian Atlantic Salmon, species far removed from Goa’s ecology, he said.
Dr Lobo also touched on the importance of seafood literacy and gave pointers to identifying fresh fish in the marketplace. “If something smells fishy, it probably is,” Lobo said, adding that while many rely on the gill colour and eye clarity to judge freshness, smell is the most reliable indicator.
He encouraged parents to teach their children to reconnect with fish ecologies by taking them fishing. “That’s what I do with my son almost every weekend. We go out first thing in the morning. I’ll take them around, get them to hack a fish. You need to be able to catch, kill and smell a fresh fish, and know the difference between a ‘fishy’ fish and a fresh fish,” he said.
