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Kindle Notes & Highlights
In Kaner, we heard of a case of a primary school teacher whose surname was Godse and who lived in abject poverty. The teacher, his father and grandfather were sleeping outside. Since their surname was Godse, they were attacked, tied to their cots and burnt alive! Government or police was not doing a thing as the word was that there were orders from ‘above’ to let things go on and not stop the killings.
Post migration we dropped Deshpande from our surname. Goan Gaud Saraswat Brahmins have two last names . . . one of which is called ‘vangad’. Our vangad is Deshpande.
A Congress leader who later became chief minister of Maharashtra was leading from the front to finish off the Brahmins. He attacked us, threw us away and grabbed the property. Later Grandpa lost his mental health and died. Grandma stayed their lifetime, worked as a maid to earn living, and till her last breath (1981) fought against system. Post retirement, my father settled down in Belagavi. Now I am in Goa, far away from my ancestors’ place.
