Recently in my village I, first time in my life, attended the
village Gram Sabah Meeting where to my surprise everyone interested in the
progress of the village attended the Meet except some of the former village
leaders and former elected representatives of the village Panchayat.
It was surprising to see these local leaders showing no
interest in the village affairs while once when they were ruling the village
they were acting like local Maharajas and feudal lords as if the village
affairs belonged to them only. When they
were legislating the village affairs from the village Panchayat, they were
giving an impression that they were having monopoly and devine right to think
and act for and on behalf of the village and villagers.
But once they were sidelined from ruling the village
legislature they forgot their responsibilities towards their village. These
are not genuine village leaders having genuine love for the development of
their village but they are fake leaders. Such fake leaders are mushrooming all
over Goa and because of their step motherly love for their villages there is
not much development in our villages except that many of them made development
of their own Bank balance by looting the village exchequers and the villagers by
extorting bribe. Otherwise how they amassed huge wealth after their entry into
the local bodies and Legislative Assembly?
Many of them before entering into public life had no Cycle
but later on they purchased posh cars including foreign brand cars. Some of
them built Bungalows and Hotels costing
crores of rupees. From where they got the money? What is their income as legislators? Is there
any need to know that their wealth is looted wealth? And on top of it they are
shamelessly moving in society with their heads high. Most of these rascals coming
from the Catholic faith are flirting with the village Pe. Vigars who got no
marbles to preach from the Altar against these elected robbers. The village Pe.
Vigars are keeping their silence on these Catholic political leaders because
these leaders share a part of their loot with the Pe.
Vigars who for the sake of money will even sell the Church. Don’t we know that
Jesus was sold for 30 Coins by his own disciple, Judas?
There was a time when these village leaders while ruling our
village were acting as owners of the village but now being out of power they
are become non entities in our village. They have lost their sense of identity
though some of them have money which is not everything in life. When they were
in power they were acting in the village with the villagers very proud and
arrogant as if the power will remain with them permanently. They never realized
that the power will come like gypsy and also disappear like gypsy. Because of
their earlier pride and arrogance villagers hate them and precisely because of
this hatred they are shying away from public life in the village. They have no
courage to interact with the villagers as they used to do earlier because they
are afraid that villagers may spit on them for the sins they committed on
common people.
It is a pity now to see the defeated representatives roaming around as non
entities without any adoration by the public. Now not even a “KUDDO MUS” is
looking at them, so pathetetic state of affairs they are facing as far as
public life is concerned. Some of them have lot of looted money but who cares for
their money? Their money is their monopoly.
I hope all the current elected representatives will learn
some lessons from their defeated predecessors and act accordingly. Pride has
its fall. If they act proud, arrogant and harass the people then their turn
will also come very fast for the disgraceful life.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim,
Goa.
