Since Goa and
Mangalore are both situated on the coastal areas, the hot and humid climate,
the staple food of rice and love for seafood is common, so is the language,
Konkani. The people in both the places are friendly, but Goans are more extrovert,
liberal and a bit westernised, whereas Mangaloreans are more introvert and
conservative, with incidents of moral policing by certain groups in the recent
past tarnishing the image. On the face of it, Goa and Mangalore have many similarities,
but as you read on, you will realize though very similar, actually they aren’t
similar. The way of life in Goa is different from Mangalore. Goans and
Mangaloreans who have seen both the places will vouch for it.
Goa and Mangalore are both situated on the west
coast of India. Goa is a small state tucked in between Maharastra to the north
and Karnataka to the south. Mangalore is towards south Karnataka, with Kerala
border not very far. So the climate is hot and humid and the staple food being
rice is common. Both Goans and Mangaloreans love seafood. The distance between
Goa and Mangalore is about 5-6 hours by train. Both the places are served by
Konkan Railway. And both Goa and Mangalore are accessible by road, rail, air
and sea. Mangalore has an international airport with flights to and from Gulf
countries. Both have busy sea ports.
 |
| Mangalore skyline |
Many Goans work abroad or foreign ships or have settled
in foreign countries. A large number of Mangaloreans too work abroad in gulf
and other countries or have settled abroad for years. Many of them occupy
senior positions in reputed companies. Many Mangaloreans have their roots in
Goa, many of whom migrated during the reign of Adil Shah and later Portuguese
rule. They have gone and settled as far
as Kerala. Many of them still have their family dieties in Goa. Most of the
Mangalorean Catholics have migrated from Goa and adopted local customs and
traditions but haved retained their language. There are many instances of Goans
and Mangaloreans marrying and feeling at home as the environment, language, spicy
food and lifestyle is almost same as back home in Goa or Mangalore. And the
people of both places are outgoing, friendly and helpful.
 |
| Panjim, Goa |
Apart from being situated in the coastal area,
another common factor being both were under Portuguese rule, Goa was under
Portuguese rule till the sixities when the Indian army action merged Goa with
India. Mangalore was under Portuguese rule for a short period, as they were harassed and defeated by the
daring Abbakka Rani and later by Tipu Sultan. But later again the Portuguese
captured Mangalore, but somehow they couldn’t hold on to it for long as
Mangalore soon came under British rule as rest of India, and was brought under
Madras Presidency for goverence. Konkani is spoken in Goa. In Mangalore too
Konkani is spoken alongwith Kannada the state language, Tulu, spoken in South
Kanara district, Beary spoken by the Muslims. But there is a variation in the
Konkani spoken in Goa and Mangalore, just as there is a variation in the
Konkani spoken by Hindus and Catholics in Goa and Mangalore.
 |
| Mangalore International Airport |
Goa and Mangalore are known for beautiful temples
and churches. There are many ancient temples and old gothic design churches in
Goa, and same is the case in Mangalore, dotted with churches. Similarly you
find old Portuguese style villas and cottages in both Goa and Mangalore. Both
Goans and Mangaloreans are equally proud of their homelands, Goa and Mangalore,
including South Kanara district, they call as Tulunad. Mangaloreans are a distinct
people as compared to others in the state
of Karnataka. Sometime ago there was an agitation for a separate Tulunad,
comprising mainly South Kanara district and Udupi district, spanning from the
boundry of North Kanara up to Kasargod in North Kerala.
 |
| Flea market on beach, Goa |
In spite of
certain prejudices both Goan Catholics and Mangaloreans may have against each
other, the fact remains that that they belong to the same Konkani Catholic
culture. A Goan outside of Goa would get along better with a Mangalorean and
vice-versa. A Mangalorean would rather marry a Goan than a Catholic from other
Southern states like Kerala or Chennai.
 |
| Buildings in Mangalore |
Here the similarities end. Mangalore in a way is a
much more developed city compared to Goa, being a petrochemical hub, banking,
healthcare and education hub. Corporate offices and maajor IT companies are located here. Mangalore has the tallest buildings in South
India. Mangalore city and the beaches are the cleanest in India. With many big
malls, huge showrooms and big automobile, jewellery and appliances outlets,
Mangalore is a modern growing city. Here
the new modern towers and buildings stand in harmony with the ancient
structures. A well planned combination of the old and new. Since I visit Goa
and Mangalore often, I can tell you this with confidence. Goans too who
have visited Mangalore will confirm this.
 |
| Tourists at the beach |
Mangalorean cuisines are much better compared to
Goa as Mangalore has a wide range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisines, sweets and snacks. Mangalore is
known for its spicy seafood with popular restaurants catering to locals,
outsiders and foreign tourists. Every
early morning boats loaded with fresh and big fishes from Mangalore reach Goan
docks.
 |
| Village scene, Mangalore |
Goa is quite overrated than Mangalore and other
coastal cities from a tourism point of view. Goa is very much over hyped. But
because of the publicity an image has been created that Goa is a place to chill
out with family and friends. Goa is projected as beach and boozers spot. But
Goa is much more than that, which the tourists are not aware of. The projection
of Goa over the years has created this mindset on the outsiders and tourists
that Goa is just for fun and booze.
 |
| Sea side Resort, Goa |
Consumer prices including rent are lower in
Mangalore than in Goa. Goans are generally more extrovert, fun loving, and laid
back, whereas Mangaloreans are generally more reserved, serious, and thrifty.
Goans are more westernised, whereas Mangaloreans though modern, don’t make it
obvious. Many Goans have a soft corner for Portugal, whereas Mangaloreans don’t
even think of them, they have forgotten the Portuguese past. Most Mangaloreans
have even forgotten that Mangalore was once ruled by Portuguese, though for a
short period, but the older generation fondly remember the British rule.
 |
| District Commissioner's office, M'lore |
Goa has suffered due to unstable governments,
politicians and petty politics. Mangalore is a well governed city with much
more development in infrastructure, business, academics, medical care, which
has encouraged and started medical tourism mainly from Kerala, other states and
middle east. While in Goa the main thrust has been on tourism only.
 |
| Good time at the beach, Goa |
Mangalore scores over Goa in public transport.
Latest, clean and well managed private
buses and government buses run efficiently connecting all the parts of the city
and outskirts at a reasonable fare. Auto drivers are polite and run on meter.
Taxis too are clean and charge fixed fares. Whereas in Goa if you don’t have
your own means of transport, you are bound to suffer and spend time on
bargaining and shell out quite an amount on autos or other means of transport. Taxi mafia in Goa is famous as they not only charge exhorbitant fares to locals but tourists are harassed. They dont even allow app based cabs to run freely, creating hurdles in their way.
Also read: Mangalore - a tourist destination
MyPost
World’s largest all-electric
aircraft successfully takes its first flight
The world’s largest all-electric plane recently took its first
successful flight, that lasted about 30 minutes. The eCaravan aircraft is a
Cessna 208 Caravan plane, which was fitted with a750-horsepower electric motor
made by US-based startup MagniX and modified by aerospace engineering firm
AeroTEC. The aircraft, which is about 37 feet long, typically seats nine
passengers.
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Picture Post:
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| Murdeshwar temple, Murdeshwar, Karnataka |
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