I agree with you that active participants have really dropped to a low level. It could be many reasons but it's surely an indication that the many Ex Pats who used to be here in Goa have actually gone ( sold up and left ) so are no longer interested in participating or are participating in another forum for another country. I personally knew at least 30 people ( many of whom used to participate on a daily basis ) who have sold and left. ( Some but not all, were very negative on leaving and said they will never return or did not want to be reminded of the place. So of course they have stopped participating. ) Those that do return come back as 2/3 week tourists and quite naturally don't have the same interests, questions or issues as they did before and therefore also don't actively engage in the forum any more, which is no real surprise.

As for non British participants not being welcome I am not clear why the forum would be of interest to them anyway. Why would non British participate in the first place?. There are many French in North Goa who could be classed as French Ex Pats. ( mostly Vagator , Mandrem and Ashwem ) Few of the French have bought properties ( so don't have all the issues and Angst associated with that ) and most rent. That's quite normal too as in Europe there is a much stronger tradition of renting rather than buying. I know this from having lived and worked many years as an ex Pat in Europe. Most of the French live and work here in restaurants or as DJ's or have small businesses. They generally keep to themselves . They would never think of participating in this forum ( I know many of them). The Germans too have their own Group the IGSG who meet regularly in Margao and Panjim. They take a different approach again. Having lived and worked in Germany for many years I dip in and out of this group but know it would never occur to them to participate in a British ex Pats Forum. For what reason?

Not sure what other group of non British ex Pats are made to feel unwelcome. The Russians? I doubt their language capabilities would allow them. Those running businesses have their own closed group too, I am sure but maybe not online. Who knows!

Erinsgirl, my post referred to posters of "non British origin", usually British of Indian origin. Many have tried to participate but most not for long.
I myself have experienced a different responses to a post when I pointed out I am "white British", in fact once, a poster apologised for his answer "sorry I thought you were Indian"!!!!
Do you remember the concierge 'Indian Friend'? Not British but tried to be friendly and helpful, ended up resigning.

As I said the IndiaMike Forum has many participants but people with an actual interest in and integrating in the country they have chosen to be expats in.

(I know about the awful property problems, but they are familiar to Indian families also, just as painful even if reasons different, would not bore you further with their stories!!).

White British and yet you stated on this forum your ancestral home is Karwar...!

So I do have to justify
Our home in Karwar was built by OH's *grandfather. As a member of the family it is my home also, and has been for decades. Our children will inherit it. (What is left after much taken by Gandhi land reforms !!!).
Caring for it is something of a burden as well as great pleasure.

(Long ago ancestors were from Goa).

White skin and previous freckles if it makes you more comfortable

PS. Just realised my post may have misled, OH's (and mine now) family are ' local brown people' not Anglo/Indian or descendants of the 'Raj'.

Some positive interest by the UK today.

Gandhi statue unveiled near Churchill's in London

Jaitley and Osborne in discussions.

Gandhi XstatueX icon unveiled ... in London



AndyD 8-)₹

Statue/icon are synonyms.
Statues generally represent people at an older stage of their lives.

<g> AndyD

Books banned, films censored, churches attacked and a nun raped-not the first time either.....Orissa 10 years ago.Hindu fundamentalism on the rise.Anti-conversation bill.Finger print visas and full-face mug shots....RSS VHP BJP BD an alphabet soup of hatred simmering away on a stove fueled by ignorance and greed and a press scared to death by political threats and police violence.Gravy train politics greasing the road for a pure Aryanised India...where have i read about a similar situation occurring in the past ? Where is the India I once traveled through with nothing more than a Lonely Planet and a ruck sack feeling completely safe with a smile on my face ? Modernization at a price but who is going to pay the price of a ticket to this dream land in the sky ? Not that short arsed butcher from Gujarat peddling his false hopes to an electorate brain washed into thinking the future is bright with Modi at the helm.All he has to do is grow a small mustache and keep raising his left hand now and then. Wonder when hes going to build his holiday camps with a crematorium attached ?

Anti-conversation Bill???? Seriously, this concerned the 'forced' conversions of the past. Knowing the history of Goa as you do, what opinion do you have on that ????

I feel less safe in our midlands UK home!!! Can't imagine what happens there to the individuals wandering around grinning inanely

Majority of Indian people disagree with your thoughts, they would prefer to get rid of poverty, that there was more of when you were wandering.

Press scared to death what is your evidence of that???? How are people being brainwashed?? Main TV stations used to put out Congress propaganda.

Certainly, there are atrocities, with a billion population there will be many.

You didn't comment on Modi's speech regarding freedom for all religions. Why not?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/i...w/46402725.cms

Why do you have a dislike of Hindus????? Why continue to go to India?

Regarding Visa and Passport security, the threat of bombings does cause some concern!!!! Although I agree it is the innocent that are most inconvenienced.

Forced conversations ? This must have been at least 200 years ago so stop all this fanatical rubbish from some one who can never be a Hindu because you were not born one Bipat. Your beginning to sound like an old friend of mine who became brainwashed by the Hari Krishna religious fascists. He became more Indian than my local Newsagent, who was extremely embarrassed when ever he went into his shop.Stop being an apologist for a movement that would eye you with suspicion, just like Sonia Gandhi.To them, in street parlance, your just a reverse choc ice and not the real deal, so-to-speak.... Cannot argue with some one so myopic and dedicated to your adopted life style its embarrassing to me to even reply to your one sided statements

The word is "conversions" not "conversations"
It went on far more recently than 200 years ago, look it up!!

I am not a Hindu, that is my opinion, not relatives,---although I was once admonished by B-in-law for not attending church services. Same chap who a few weeks ago was trying to correct my explanation to the question "what is a Methodist" from a neighbour. Bit of a know-all in his old age (became a Sanskrit scholar in retirement).
I am agnostic (I think), so are some of my Hindu relatives.

You didn't answer my questions about your views

I think there is a little bit of myopia on your part on what really matters to the majority Indian population who voted overwhelmingly for the present government and that includes Christians and Muslims. Who are you or I to question that?

... and that from what appears to me to be an unusually one-sided Wikipedia entry.

AndyD

Andy, I was speaking generally regarding bought/strongly persuaded conversions. I mentioned Goa as PJ being keen on history might have read about it. Missionaries were coming to India from Europe long after that. Certainly there is paranoia in India regarding missionaries, I have had very 'vigorous' arguments with the relative mentioned above, me saying all missionaries are not bad, he is very admiring of many aspects of Christianity but the very 'm' word sends him into a frenzy.

Have been wondering/simmering since reading PJ's last post, how to become less of an embarrassment Should I get a divorce/disown the children or refuse to speak to the neighbours except the Christian/Muslim ones Pretend the present Government was forced on the people???

Haven't read the Wikipedia article, certainly the Christians of Karwar descend from those that fled from the Inquisition along obviously with Hindus.

PJ is just stuck in rant mode - you must admit his #2214 is a stunner!

I share his unease about the bile that is oozing out from under every other stone. Anyone suggesting that women (dead or alive) should be defiled in the name of religion should be treated in secure accommodation until they are cured.

AndyD