"Our son asked me news of the whole world" were my grandfather's words at the dinner table following an interview I had with him. He was 90 and I was 21.

Over a period of five years prior, my paternal uncle, Riario Moniz, was inculcating in me the pride in the Moniz brand without my realizing it. I was born with a special gene that makes me love and take pride in my family and their achievements, and for that matter any Goan who has excelled in the public office.

I love my family and my Goan identity. This book celebrates the heritage of the four families, specifically over the time period of our parents' generation and their antecedents.

The families are the Moniz (a. k.

a. Menkar) and the Menezes (a.

k. a.

Godd, my mother's side), both from Curtorim. On my wife Ethel's side, the Pereira family from Margao (her dad's) and the Menezes from Raia (her mum's).

It is the intention of the author to guide the family members spread worldwide and future generations to "know their roots. " As a convenient one-stop reference, there are chapters which capture Goa's history, geography, migration of our ancestors the Saraswats, and social and cultural aspects of Goan village life, including our village cuisine.

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