Shenoi Goembab

Waman Raghunath Shennoi Varde Valaulikar (23 June 1877 – 9 April 1946), known popularly as Shenoi Goembab, was a noted Konkani writer and activist.

He was born on 23 June 1877 at Bicholim, Goa. He attended primary school in Marathi till 6th standard and then joined a Portuguese primary school, where he completed "Segundo Grau" (roughly 4th grade). After discontinuing studies due to financial constraints he taught himself Sanskrit and English at home. He went to Mumbai in 1893 and continued with his studies there, completing High School in 1898.

Waman Shenoi was married to Shantabai in Mumbai and had two sons and two daughters.

He returned to Goa in 1899 and took up a job as a teacher in a school, but left it since he wasn't satisfied. He went to Karachi and worked there for some time as a clerk in the Lahore Municipality. He returned to Mumbai where he got married and later got a job with the Italian Consulate. Later he joined a German company, Meister Lucius & Bruening, as a stenographer.

Due to World War I, the Germans had to leave and Waman was left in charge of the company. He managed the company well in the absence of its management and on their return, he earned their praise. Later he was promoted to the post of a Secretary of the company. However, due to some disgruntled employees he was accused of mismanagement and left the company. After this he dedicated his life to revitalising Konkani.

It is believed that he earned the nickname "Goembab" when he was going along with his uncle Chintamanrao to Mumbai aboard a steamer. A friend on board the ship remarked to his uncle "I hear you are taking this Goembab (Gentleman from Goa) with you to Mumbai." The person may have meant it as a teaser or as a derogatory term but the young and idealistic Waman took it in his stride and later used "Shennoi Goembab" as his pen-name.

Waman had started writing in Konkani at the time he was working in Mumbai. His wife was illiterate but had a very good knowledge of Konkani language and folklore. He made her recite the tales and proverbs and put them in writing which were published later.

"Goenkaaranchi Goianbhaili Vosnook" (Goan migrants outside Goa) was a series of history lectures given by Shenoi Goembab at the Saraswat Brahman Samaj, Mumbai, in 1927.

Another historical book he wrote was "Albuquerquan Goen Koshem Jiklem" (How Albuquerque Won Goa).

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