Today, I suddenly remembered about Mohd. Jinnah, the man responsiblefor the division of India, along with Nehru, who, has also been thechief architect of the prevailing misery in Goa. During my collegedays way back in the late 70’s I read about Jinnah who was taken tocourt during India’s freedom struggle. The British judge irritatedwith his attitude, stubbornness and lack of respect, waving his fingerat Jinnah said “I see a fool in you” and Jinnah with a bow said “In that case I must be the mirror”.
Yes indeed ! As our Political elite led by Chief Minister DigambarKamat are all waiting for the “gong”, to start off the celebrations ofthe so called 50 years of liberation, they have to look withinthemselves and see what their conscience reflects in the mirror.Yes indeed ! In 50 years a lot can be achieved. As shown by theJapanese, more than a decade ago, Nagasaki and Hiroshima mourned fortheir dead and the destruction that was caused by the first two atombombs 50 years earlier and within 50 years both these devastatedcities look like any other Japanese cities. What an achievement it hasbeen ! yes indeed ! There is a vast difference between the Japanesemantra and the Goan mantra and it espouses the will to do and performon the part of the Japanese and our apathy or indifference to do andperform.
It’s been 50 years since the Portuguese left Goans shores, was thatliberation ? No my dear Goans, it wasn’t liberation, it was annexationby force, India forced it’s self on us, it wasn’t a choice as therewas no referendum like the opinion poll, our Goan leaders fell forconniving moves of some of the then Indian leaders and inherited theirlegacy of corruption and communalism. Goa was never a part of theIndian union prior to the arrival of the Portuguese, as there was noIndian union then, there is history to prove it, neither were we partto the Indian Constitution, so why did Goa become a part of India post 1961 ?
Fifty years of what are our politicians celebrating ? Goa’s freedomfrom dictatorship to the subjection to India, victims of their pseudosecular democracy ? What has Goa achieved as a result of it’s freedom? How much has the basic Goan quality of live improved ? Has the basicsituation changed or even improved in any way since 1961 ? At leastprior to 1961, we were Goans in Goa, living in security, today we arebecoming outsiders in our own land, living as insecure as a new bornbaby, as a matter of fact we have reversed our time machine to the eraof lawlessness. Goa is being mutilated and disembodied, even more withevery passing year. Why are the promises made by Nehru not fulfilledeven after fifty years ?
It is our culture, customs, traditions, festivals, occupations,hospitality, our very way of life and above all our language thatestablishes our unique identity, which is certainly different from therest of India and well respected around the world. The over fivecenturies of Portuguese rule had to have it’s effects on the lives ofGoans and that is the reason why Nehru had to promise Goa specialstatus to safeguard this unique identity.
Over the years due to the non implementation of this promise and thegreed of our own politicians, our unique Goan Identity has beendiluted and continues to dilute further, as Goa becomes a paradisesought after by the affluent as well as the downtrodden along withall the most wanted, from all over India and the rest of the world,flocking down to Goa in hoards with little or no thought at all.
The limited mining legacy left by the Portuguese has been turned intoa free for all orgy, butchering the very innards of Goa, that feedthem, whereas the pristine beaches have been taken over by drug lords,mafia and pimps. Crime and criminals have been feasting, courtesy ofthe politicians-police-criminals nexus.
Looking at the turmoil and chaos in Goa, we do need to look hardwithin ourselves, for our part in this degeneration of Goa through ourapathy and our inaction. In truth, it is we who are contributing tothe slow and agonising death of Goa, we should not be celebrating butinfact mourning for the 50 years of corrupt and communal ideologiesthat were forced on us through their pseudo secular democracy byIndia.
As I see the political elite all decked up for the celebration, I feelit’s utter shame and disgrace for Goans to celebrate 50 years of thisliberation that isn’t and that never was and will never be.
I wonder, what will our politicians see as a reflection of their conscience inthe mirror ? Epitomes of humanity or a disgrace to mankind ?
Goa !Take your pick.
Freddy Agnelo Fernandes.
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