Lusophone Society of Goa

Milton Santos

On 3 May, the centenary of the birth of Brazilian geographer Milton Santos was commemorated. He is one of the leading figures in world geography and of fair globalisation, born in the state of Bahia (Brazil) and deceased in 2001.

Milton Santos earned his doctorate from the University of Strasbourg (France) and specialised particularly in the socioeconomic field, where he defended the idea of a globalisation based on solidarity and grounded in values different from those of the hegemonic world.

In doing so, Milton Santos complemented the Heartland Theory of the famous British geographer Halford Mackinder, who, over a century ago, developed one of the most influential geopolitical theories in history, proposing that control over Eurasia — the ‘heart’ of world power — was the key to global domination. Milton argued, however, for a globalisation based on solidarity and founded on values distinct from those of the hegemonic world. In its economic aspects, he analysed the role of corporations in the internationalisation of capital, financial flows and their implications for local culture. He theorised about and criticised aspects of the contemporary world. His ideas remain references for socioeconomic analyses of the world and, particularly, of the Global South. Read more →

An interactive session with the topic “New World Order – Relevance and Opportunities for India” was held  on 10^th January 2026, at Kare College of Law, Margao, Goa, organized by Kare College of Law together with LSG – Lusophone Society of Goa and the International Law Society, as well as with support from IGSG Indo German Friendship Society Goa. The resource person was Dr. Aurobindo Xavier, President of Lusophone Society of Goa.

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Timorese President José Ramos-Horta advocated a political and intelligent solution to resolve the issue of marking a small part of the land border between Timor-Leste and Indonesia in the Oe-Cusse enclave. “I believe we can find a solution for the border, which can be a political solution, because not everything is based on international treaties. The treaty was made by Portugal and the Netherlands more than 100 years ago and the land we are talking about is not the size of a football field,” José Ramos-Horta told the Timorese online newspaper “O Diligente”. Read more →

On November 21, 2024, the exhibition of the relics of St. Francis Xavier that takes place every ten years was opened at Old Goa. From November 21 to January 5, 2025 the relics will be displayed on a special podium, for the veneration of pilgrims. The body of Saint Francis lies in a silver urn which is normally kept in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa. On December 1, 2024, a mass in Portuguese will be held at 11 am in the Cathedral of Old Goa in honor of St. Francis Xavier. Read more →

It was certainly a return to Goa, says Renato Epifânio, president of MIL, the International Lusophone Movement, even if we had never been there – as we were, in 2018. In an exclusive article for the Lusophone Society of Goa, Renato Epifânio continues to say that looking, however, at the monuments, especially in “Velha Goa”, at the very typical neighborhood of “Fontainhas”, in Panjim, at the names of the streets, of the people themselves, it was certainly a return. A return, certainly, bittersweet. This historical memory is progressively vanishing and, if this inertia and erosion continue, in a few decades almost nothing will be left. Please read the full article in Portuguese: Read more →

It is the language and land that are the binding forces of Goan identity and the challenges in maintaining these are growing rapidly says Alexandre Barbosa in this article, exclusively for the Lusophone Society of Goa. He means that in recent years there have been numerous occasions when the people of Goa have protested against the changes in land use, and this stems from the fear that such changes would lead to a loss of Goan identity. For Alexandre Barbosa Goa, however, is not the only place affected by migration and land changes. This is a phenomenon across the world. What makes it relatively stark in Goa is the compactness of the place and its relatively small population concludes Alexandre Barbosa. Read more →

The Lusophone Society of Goa (LSG) and the University of Brasília (UnB), Brazil, organize a webinar under the title “BRICS perspectives in the new world order”.
Day and Time: Thursday, December 7, 2023, start at 8 am (Brazil time), 4:30 pm (Mumbai time, India), 7 pm (Shanghai time, China) Read more →

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On February 23, 2023, in Margao, Goa, a gathering was held comparing the journey made by Adriano de Sá in India in 1927 with another one made by the Brazilian traveler Marcos Lopes along a similar route but in 2022, that is almost a hundred years after. Marcos Lopes, based in Valinhos, São Paulo, Brazil, narrated his trip establishing comparisons with the impressions reported by Adriano de Sá in his book “Through India, Aspects and impressions”. Read more →

Reception at Radisson Blu. Some individialities and the Portuguese Consul António José Chrystêllo Tavares at the centre

On June 10th the Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities is celebrated in Portugal. The national holiday also marks the day of the death of the poet Luís Vaz de Camões in 1580, author of Os Lusíadas. Read more →

Relations between Asia and Africa are secular, with India and China currently being the main hubs of these relations in Asia.

India Africa
India’s relations with Africa date back several centuries. The presence of Indians in East Africa is documented in the ‘Periplus of the Erythraean Sea’ or Guide to the Red Sea written by a Greek author in 60 AD. The geographical proximity and easy navigability in the Indian Ocean were the main factors that contributed to the deepening of relations between India and especially East Africa. Read more →

Portuguese International School in Goa. Following a series of initiatives that the Lusophone Society of Goa (LSG) is developing in the project to implement a Portuguese International School in Goa, we have just received a response from the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic to a letter delivered personally to the President of Portugal Prof. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, during his visit to Goa. Read more →

Konkani and Portuguese in Goa

Konkani is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in India. It has its origins in a Sanskrit vernacular, with inevitable corruption of some words. It has been relatively out of reach of influences from other languages, with the exception of some Portuguese in the last three or four centuries and some Kannada during the period from the 12th to the 14th centuries. For this reason, it is much closer to Sanskrit than the Marathi language which is also spoken in Goa, particularly by those who profess the Hindu religion. Read more →

To increase the learning of foreign languages, the development of basic skills of communication and artistic expression are often used. Based on choreographed national and international dances, foreign language teachers work on the translation, pronunciation and reading of musical texts with the students a procedure which facilitates the study of foreign languages.

In the case of this event, the dance of Capoeira of Brazil is an interesting attempt to attract the students’ attention to Portuguese language teaching at the University of Goa. Read more →

The Portuguese language in both Goa and Brazil began to take root in the 16th century with the arrival of the Portuguese. But while in Brazil the indigenous languages ​​have gradually disappeared completely, in Goa there was an overlap of Portuguese with the local languages, mainly Konkani and Marathi.
During the last almost 450 years of Portuguese, the so-called Brazilian-Portuguese or Portuguese of Brazil was developed, a variety of the Portuguese language which is currently spoken by about 200 million Brazilians,whereas in Goa the Portuguese from Portugal with its own vocabulary and pronunciation developed and is used. Read more →

The friendly relations between India and Angola, existing since the times of India’s support to the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) in its struggle for independence, facilitated the establishment of a series of agreements at a cultural, scientific, technical and economic level.
Oil, gas and mineral resources are the main axes of collaboration at the technical, commercial and investment levels. Delegations from Indian oil companies such as ONGC Videsh Ltd., Reliance Industry Limited, HPCL Mumbai, Engineers India Ltd. and Mittal Investments UK Limited frequently visit Luanda to explore cooperation in the oil and gas sector and meet the demands of India’s domestic growth. Read more →

The relations between Goa/India and Brazil crystallized in the 16th century. After a golden age that stretched from the 16th to the 19th century, a certain lethargy followed in the first half of the 20th century. With the independence of the Indian Union in 1947, and until 1961 when Goa was annexed to India, Goa’s relations with the Portuguese speaking space revived for the last time and rather vigorously. Between 1961 and 1974 there was an eclipse of Goa’s relations with the Lusophony and a neglect of the Portuguese language and culture in the territory. After the resumption of diplomatic relations between India and Portugal in 1974, Goa slowly began to also gain a certain impetus in its relations with Brazil.
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The Museum of the Portuguese Language (Museu da Língua Portuguesa), a space that offers visitors a journey through the diversity of the Portuguese language, was reopened to the public on the 31st of July. The museum at Estação da Luz, a late 19th century building in downtown São Paulo, was destroyed by a major fire on December 21, 2015 and was completely renovated. Read more →

The Fundação Oriente (Delegation of India in Goa) organizes the sixth short story competition. These stories can be written in Concanim, Marata, Portuguese or English. Read more →

The first all-Brazilian satellite was launched in India in the early hours of last Sunday (February 28, 2021). The satellite, called Amazon-1, arrived in space aboard the PSLV-C51 rocket launched on the island of Sriharikota, India, and will have as its primary mission the observation and monitoring of deforestation in the Amazon region.

About 17 minutes after the rocket launch, the satellite split up and did its first planned activities, such as opening the solar panel, stabilizing its orientation to Earth, checking systems, and placing readiness mode.

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In a interview with the Mozambican newspaper “Notícias”, the outgoing High Commissioner of India in Mozambique Rajeev Kumar says the Indian Government considers Mozambique to be one of the priority partners in its cooperation with African countries.
Currently, Indian investments in Mozambique exceed 7.5 billion U.S. dollars, representing about 25 percent of the total invested by the Asian country in Africa. Rajeev Kumar justifies this amount with “the strong contribution of the companies OVL, BPCL and OIL India, members of the concessionaire that is exploring hydrocarbons, especially natural gas in Rovuma area 1”. Read more →

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Brazil’s government has received 2 million doses of coronavirus vaccine from India. Brazil’s Health Ministry announced that the vaccine landed in São Paulo on January 22 before being flown to Rio de Janeiro, where Brazil’s state-run Fiocruz Institute is based. Read more →

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Union Minister of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and Health & Family Welfare of India, Dr Harsh Vardhan

The 26th edition of DST- CII Technology Summit 2020 virtually organized by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) was held from 7th to 9^th December with Portugal as the Partner Country. The aim of the Summit was to develop scientific and technological cooperation between India and Portuguese researchers and strengthen the scientific partnership between research groups from each country.
India-Portugal trade crossed $1 billion mark in 2019, and Indian investments in Portugal crossed $350 million. Read more →

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LSG – Lusophone Society of Goa and IGSG – Indo German Friendship Society Goa, in collaboration with the Goa State Central Library, organized a visit to a Konkani tiatr at Kala Academy in Panjim on February 21, 2020. The Konkani word “tiatr” has its origin in the Portuguese word “teatro” (theatre).

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Delivery of the Letter to the President of the Republic by Aurobindo Xavier, President of LSG

The Lusophone Society of Goa (LSG) handed over a letter to the President of Portugal during his visit to Goa at a meeting in Panjim on February 16, 2020, asking him for institutional support in the implementation of a “Portuguese International School” (PIS) in Goa. The Society is initiating this private school project with the intent to promote both the Portuguese and the Indian culture and to facilitate the learning of the Portuguese language. Read more →

LSG – Lusophone Society of Goa together with BCCG – Brazilian Cultural Centre in Goa, is organizing a one day Brazilian culinary class. Brazilian Chef Bruno Camera of restaurant Churrascaria Brasil in Calangute and his team will demonstrate how to prepare some typical Brazilian dishes such as Carreteiro Rice, Brazilian Chicken Fritters and Moist Corn Cake. All ingredients for the recipes are available in Goa.

Previous registration is mandatory. Please phone or whatsapp 9763365050 or email projects@sh118.global.temp.domains

Date and time: January 16, 2020 (Thursday), 9.30 am to 1 pm
Venue: Institute of Food Crafts and Culinary Sciences, Agnel Ashram, Verna, Goa Read more →

Four Brazilian films will be screened in two institutions in Goa. The screenings are organized by the Brazilian Cultural Centre in Goa (BCCG) together with the Lusophone Society of Goa (LSG) with the support of the Brazilian Embassy in New Delhi. Read more →

The Lusophone Society of Goa (LSG) is pleased to announce the “6th Lusofonia Festival Goa 2020”. From December 2019 to March 2020 there will be several events, which will be announced successively. The annual Lusofonia Festival brings together events from various countries and regions which formerly were Portuguese colonies.

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As part of the 5th Lusofonia Festival Goa 2019, Lusophone Society of Goa is organizing a Brazilian cooking class. Three Brazilian hobby cooks will demonstrate how to prepare chicken bobó, prawns na moranga, fish moqueca and baked cocada. All ingredients are available in Goa. Read more →

Article of Aurobindo Xavier* published in Scroll.in with the Title

“What does Brazil’s new president-elect hold for India, China and the future of Brics?”

On October 28, far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro of the Social Liberal Party was declared the winner of Brazil’s presidential election, having obtained 55.1% of the votes cast. His opponent, Fernando Haddad of the left-wing Workers’ Party, bagged 44.9% of the vote. Bolsonaro, 63, will take over as president on January 1. Despite scarce campaign resources and no support from major parties, more than 57 million voters supported the former Army captain’s promise to fix Brazil’s ills: massive corruption, out of control crime and a faltering economy.

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The Consulate General of Brazil in Mumbai and the Brazilian Cultural Centre in Goa (BCCG) organized a Brazilian cultural evening in Goa. On 16^th December 2018 at Hotel Nanu Resort in Betalbatim, Portuguese speaking Goans and Brazilian residents in Goa joined for a happy get-together in the presence of the Consul General of Brazil in Mumbai, Ms. Rosimar Suzano along with Dr. Aurobindo Xavier, President of Brazilian Cultural Centre in Goa (BCCG). Goan musicians truly enthralled the audience with Brazilian songs.

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 The Lusophone Society of Goa (LSG) is pleased to announce the “5th Lusofonia Festival Goa 2019”. From December 2018 to March 2019 there will be several events, which will be announced successively.

“Goa – a platform for cooperation between India and the lusophone countries especially Brazil” is an article (in Portuguese) recently published in “Cadernos de Política Exterior”, a biannual publication of Instituto de Pesquisa de Relações Internacionais (IPRI) of Fundação Alexandre de Gusmão (FUNAG), Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the editors the article by Prof. Aurobindo Xavier, president of LSG – Lusophone Society of Goa, gives an interesting historical overview over the relations between Goa and the lusophone world. Read more →

During the 60’s, Brazilian music was reasonably well known and loved in Goa. Till today some of these songs still remain well enshrined in the psyche of Goans.

However, there has been a disconnect between the music then and the music styles and trends that evolved since the 60’s in the realm of Brazilian popular music, which today includes genres such as “musica sertaneja”, Brazilian rock, samba-reggae, baião, forró, etc. These genres are gaining audiences around the world but are yet to make an impact in Goa. Read more →

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Simples conversa em português

• Are you shy to speak in Portuguese?
• Do you have rudimentary knowledge of the Portuguese language?

Then this is the right way to start speaking Portuguese. Very, very slowly … at your pace. Read more →

Lusophone Society of Goa (LSG), in collaboration with BCCG – Brazilian Cultural Centre in Goa, is pleased to announce Brazilian Culinary Demonstration Class under the theme “Brazilian Regional Dishes”. Read more →

The Lusophone Society of Goa (LSG) is pleased to announce the  “4th Lusofonia Festival Goa 2018”. From February 15 to April 15, 2018 there will be several events. This year we will be  focusing on Brazil, as India and Brazil are celebrating 70 years of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.

One of the main events will be the International Seminar “Brazil-Índia/Goa, Seminar Focusing on Sustainability: Environmental, Social and Cultural Aspects”on April 5 and 6. Read more →

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A LSG – Sociedade Lusófona de Goa tem o prazer de informar que assinou em Dezembro de 2017 um Acordo de Cooperação com a Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Brasil. O acordo prevê entre outros a elaboração conjunta de projetos de pesquisa, de eventos científicos e culturais e de cursos e disciplinas compartilhadas. Read more →

Lecture by Dr. João Reis Nunes, Lecturer in International Relations, Department of Politics, University of York, UK.

This talk, organized by LSG – Lusophone Society of Goa, BCCG – Brazilian Cultural Centre in Goa and The International Centre Goa, examines the Brazilian response to the recent Zika epidemic in the context of the country’s broader socioeconomic and political context. It asks what other countries, particularly those in the Global South, can learn from the Brazilian public health response. It considers the shortcomings of the response and how they can be addressed in future outbreaks. At the same time, and looking in particular at Brazil’s community health worker programme, the talk discusses the extent to which the Brazilian case offers potentially innovative solutions for global health problems. Read more →

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On December 23, 2017 in the morning there was a Christmas party for children of a Goan orphanage and Brazilian children at Santo Antonio Orphanage in Senaulim, Verna. The event was organized by the Consulate General of Brazil in Mumbai and BCCG – Brazilian Cultural Centre in Goa. Read more →

There was a Brazilian Cultural Night at Hotel Nanu Resort in Betalbatim on December 23, 2017. Members of the Brazilian and the Goan community and their families attended this event of confraternization and friendship. The music group Cotta played Brazilian and Goan songs. Read more →

In order to strengthen the ties between Goa and Brazil the Lusophone Society of Goa brought together the Consul General of Brazil in Mumbai Ms. Rosimar da Silva Suzano and the mayor of the City of Panjim (Panaji) Surendra Furtado on 23 December 2017. Read more →

An important interview given by the Consul General of Brazil in Mumbai Ms. Rosimar da Silva Suzano to the daily “Herald” of Goa was published on 31 December 2017. Read more →

The Government of Brazil plans to award grants to foreign students for post-graduate study and research for admission in Brazil in 2018. Possible candidates must be accepted by a Brazilian Higher Education Institution (IES), public or private and have fluent Portuguese. Registration will be open in the period from August 1 to September 15, 2017. The Lusophone Society of Goa (LSG) is pleased to help candidates by the application and searching adequate universities for this purpose in Brazil. Possible candidates are requested to send  their curriculum vitae in Portuguese and an email contact to info@sh118.global.temp.domains

It is with great satisfaction that we inform you about the inauguration on 17^th March 2017 of the BCCG – Brazilian Cultural Centre in Goa – Centro Cultural Brasileiro em Goa . Read more →

The traditional “coreto” (bandstand) in the lusophone countries and regions

The Lusophone Society of Goa (LSG) is pleased to announce the 3rd “Lusofonia Festival Goa”. Read more →

Col. Decilio de Medeiros Sales from the Brazilian Army Command in Mormugao, at Goa Shipyard Ltd.

Col. Decilio de Medeiros Sales of  Brazil was present at the first Steel cutting ceremony to mark the commencement of the series construction of the new class offshore patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard at Goa Shipyard Ltd.  Col. Decilio de Medeiros Sales integrated the Brazilian delegation in an official visit to the Indian R&D institutions.  Read more →