WHERE IS OUR DIGNITY OF LABOUR?

Where Is Our Dignity Of Labour ?

Economics teaches us about the relativity of our wants, commerce teaches us about the balancing of facts and figures, whereas social science teaches about the dignity of labour. In Goa at the moment, our human resources are at a low, our rich fertile fields are laid waste, all the old labour force has somehow disappeared in to oblivion and we have been forced to hire migrant labour which at most times lacks skills but have to do with it, as there are no viable alternatives.

I have witnessed that most of us Goan folks, feel shy to do their own work and for the least or the smallest of chores we seek hired help, my dad always told me, “son, never feel shy or degraded, to do your own cores, infact one must hold his head high and do ones own work” since then I have never shied away from doing my own work, it keeps me busy and healthy and I don’t have to waste my time begging every Tom, Dick and Harry to do my chores, that I can do myself. Sometimes the weight of money goes to our head, that we don’t even bend to pick up our things and ask others to pick them up for us, is this what life is all about ?

No doubt we have to enjoy our lives with what we have, that does not mean we have make others do what we could do ourselves. There is such a hue and cry over the mass influx of migrant labour, there is no doubt that it is indeed bad for Goa but who is responsible for this influx ? It is the indignity of Goans along with the greed and self-centeredness of our politicians, that’s responsible for this quandary, were we not self-sufficient in the supply of labour till the last decade ? In my younger days I remember our village people use to all go and work in each others fields in turns and avoid hiring labour ? Can we do that now ? No, we are educated who wants to work in the field, we have enough money, Indian rupees as well as foreign exchange coming into our accounts, so it’s easier to buy rice than work in our fields, in villages people use to plant their own vegetables, today if there is a Belgaum “band” one has to buy vegetables at the price of fish which sometimes competes with gold.

In Goa with the riches that we have attained, we have forgotten our roots and look for people to do all our manual work, our youngsters at the moment, have just one thing on their mind, finish twelfth standard and go on the ship or finish graduation or the specialized services and go overseas. Skilled labour is almost non existent and hence we have invited the influx of migrant labour and our government helping them to government jobs for financial benefits and vote bank politics has not helped us either. Our Government has to adhere to the requirements of our younger generation and create an environment that will tap-in their talents by providing a suitable infrastructure in HRD to stop the brain drain that’s prevailing, youngsters should be in a way enticed to go on for further studies, by providing better jobs that will overwhelm their ambitions if not sustain them, only then will our youth believe in a future in Goa.

Our Government has given all help possible to people who want to go overseas, for studies or for employment, but has our government taken any steps to improve the situation back home and create opportunities that would pull those overseas back to homeland ? The prevailing circumstances created by our corrupt politicians is infact driving away more and more of our Goans out of Goa, and the cynicism just keeps on increasing and spreading like the bush fires in Australia.

A week back I came across an article which is an example for each one of us Goans, it gives us a ray of hope but we have to lay aside our pompous pride and place the attributes of dignity of labour to the fore and do something for ourselves and for Goa. This article is about a Goan, who is a qualified Mechanical Engineer, he started a small farm with just a few goats, but today he is the proud owner of a farm, which he has now diversified into rearing rabbits, ducks, turkeys, pigs, quails and exotic birds, as the exotic pigeons and fancy pets like fan tail pigeons, Jacobines, fancy fowls are increasingly being sought as pets, doing very well for himself at his farm at Chandor, at first people just laughed at him, calling him all sorts of names but today he is become the envy of all.

The success of this farm, sends out a very strong message for every Goan, a conservative thought the process might be but it allows us to believe farming and education can co-exist, dignity intact. If we really believe in dignity of labour, success is there for the making.

If only our government could educate our people especially in rural Goa, about all such possibilities and render help in starting such escapades, as the scope for such ventures in rural Goa is enormous and with guidance and expertise from the government, Goans would be much better off, instead of being asked to become watchmen and squeal like pigs !

Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Dubai - UAE.

WORLD CUP 2010 - IV.

Seen in the picture is Pele - a 17 year kid playing for Brazil in 1958 World Cup.

The third footballer who is expected to create ripples in this World Cup will be England's Rooney who is compared with Kevin Keegan. I disagree here too because after his retirement from first class soccer, British soccer is yet to produce another Keegan who was great all round footballer, great shooter, great runner and great cool tempered on the field while Rooney lacks all these attributes to become another Keegan though Rooney is good footballer shining only on British soccer arena.


Seen in the picture is final match of the inaugural tournament in 1930 at Uruguay.

Kaka of Brazil is another footballer to create a name and fame for him in this World Cup tournament and according to soccer pundits he will emulate the feat of Pele. Let me be clear now that there is no one on this planet to emulate Pele and will not be too, either, easily. Persons like Pele comes to this planet only once in centuries. Pele is Pele. After 1966 World Cup everyone equated Portugal's Eusebio with Pele but Eusebio himself in his autobiography written in Portuguese “Meu Nome e Eusebio” confessed that “Pele is Pele, he is great, I cannot emulate him even though Pele himself has said that I am now Pele”. Kaka is a great ball player but in front of Pele he is like a tip of an iceberg. Why in front of Pele only? Kaka is much lower in his standard than many of the former great players of Brazil.

According to me, in the current Brazil team there is not a single individual player whom I can really rate as ‘titanic footballer’ who will change the tide in favour of his team. This time Brazil will rely on team work where individual skill will not come to the fore. And if Brazil wins the Cup in South Africa it will be only because of collective team work and if they lose it will be only because of absence in their team of individual star players normally Brazil is known to field. To win the Championship you also need to have a Star player in your team. Currently there are no great star players in any of the qualified teams. Earlier Brasil alone was having in its squad not only one star but a constellation which helped Brazil to win the World Cups 5 times with confidence


Seen in the picture above is one of the top French players Platini.

Inspite of what I said above, who then will be the players who will steal the limelight during this World Cup? Will he be Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo or Rooney or somebody else? And who will then win this World Cup tournament in South Africa? Time alone will give the testimony to these questions. Till then, all the best to all the 32 teams.

Before concluding let us all as lovers of soccer pray sincerely to God to keep away all the terrorists from creating any act of terrorism during the entire period of World Cup. Let us pray to God to avoid another Munich Olympic type of disaster created by the Palestinian terrorists. First time hosting of World Cup in African continent is a big honour for the Black Africa and to get this honour Nelson Mandela personally worked very hard. May God Bless and protect all from any disaster during the World Cup 2010 in South Africa. Let us all lovers of soccer consider this World Cup is not only of FIFA and South Africa but also of all of us.

CONCLUDED.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

WORLD CUP 2010 - III.

Seen in the picture is Ronaldo of Brazil during peak of his form playing for Brazil.

Preparation period for World Cup tournament is very short now compared to what it was earlier. After the final Draw in January every qualified team used to go for its preparation rigorously for about 4 months continuously, some of the teams even going underground in order to fully concentrate physically and mentally as West Germany did for 1974 World Cup which they finally won by defeating Holland. Now it is really agonizing to see some players of the qualified teams have been just released by their foreign Clubs while few are still not released by their Clubs. In such a situation how can we have a homogenous team to play and fare well? In 1970 at Mexico World Cup tournament England as reigning champions went to Mexico as full squad one month before the start of the tournament after undergoing rigorous training for about 4 months before that just to acclimatize with the climatic conditions of Mexico. World Cup tournament is very demanding and challenging competition in which every player must reach to his highest peak physically and mentally and each player must know his other colleague on the field, how he plays and what are his weak and strong points. Co-ordination with every player is very essential and to attain it one must spend long time with his team mates thru regular training together. In this World Cup this attribute is lacking in many of the national teams and as such according to me the standard of this World Cup will not be as high as it is expected. Selected players are devoting more time for their foreign clubs rather than for their national teams because of lack of patriotism and craze for more money coming from foreign clubs for the players. Surely in view of this the standard of soccer in this World Cup tournament will be lower than the previous ones. Many of the selected top players for their national teams are already over used and also misused by their overseas top Clubs. These top players need some compulsory relaxation for their minds and bodies which they were not given before the World Cup tournament because there is no time. Hence, to expect miracles from them in the coming World Cup is asking Heaven from them.


Seen in the picture is Roger Milla of Cameroon after scoring a goal for his team.

Which players will make a dent into this World Cup and which players will receive more attention? Everybody says Argentinian Lionel Messi will be the player to watch since he is dubbed as second Maradona. Lionel Messi is no doubt a great player currently but to dub him as Maradona is not only lowering the greatness of Maradona but it is an insult to Maradona and his magnificent form of those days. Footballers like Maradona appears on the soccer field only once in ages. Maradona could single leggedly and single handedly win the match while Messi cannot, Messi has to depend on others to make his moves. Maradona was not only playing but more than that he was making others to play by accurately feeding his colleagues while Messi lacks this aspect. Maradona was using his brain better than his feet while Messi is erratic not only in his brain but also in his kicking the ball. Maradona had superb accuracy while Messi not. Maradona had magnet to his left foot while Messi not, not only for his left foot but not even to his right foot. Maradona's direct free kick from outside the box means sure goal while Messi's not. Maradona was playing the game of two men while Messi is all alone. After their defeat from Argentina in 1986 World Cup tournament Bobby Charlton was asked “why and how England lost?” For this Bobby Charlton an ex England player and the member of England World Cup winning team in 1966 replied thus “Because Argentina played with 12players, meaning, one Maradona is equal to 2 players”. Can Messi come to this level?


Seen in the picture is French skipper Zidane disgracing not only France but also football with the headbutt on Italian defender.

The other footballer who will create a mark in this World Cup will be Portuguese Ronaldo who being the highest paid footballer in the world will equal the feat of former Portuguese great Eusebio. Again I say that Ronaldo is nothing compared to Eusebio who could single handedly win the match while Ronaldo not. Eusebio was giving his life for Portuguese National team inspite of being a Mocambiqan Negro while Ronaldo inspite of being genuine White Portuguese is giving his life for money and not for Portuguese National team. Compared to Eusebio, Ronaldo is still a kid on the field while Eusebio was like a gigantic Panther. Eusebio had killing instinct while Ronaldo lacks this aspect. Eusebio had equal power in his both legs while Ronaldo is feeble in one leg.

TO BE CONCLUDED.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.