FREEDOM FIGHTERS FAILED GOA.

Who is responsible for the current ugly happenings in Goa?  Surely if not fully then at least partly the living Freedom Fighters of Goa for not doing enough after the ouster of Portuguese.  Before elaborating my answer let me be frank in paying my highest respect for all those Freedom Fighters who were sincere in their mission for the betterment of Goa and Goans.  That Portuguese rule in Goa had to come to an end is a sure fact otherwise I would also join the freedom struggle but after driving out the colonialists I will not sleep content with Pension and Tamrapatra. Instead I would mount more pressure on Indian government  either to leave from Goan soil as it did in Bangladesh or to give us greater autonomy on the pattern of Macau or Pondichery at least, as assured by Nehru.  But I would never keep silent on the re-colonisation process of  Goa by the Bharatis who are now lording over every segment of our Goa. 

By upsetting the demographic structure of Goa the Bharatis are deGonising Goa by creating more and more facilities for non-Goans to settle down permanently in Goa exactly the way Israel did in Palestine to dePalestine of Palestinians by inducting more and more third rate Jews from outside. This was the cunningness on the part of Israeli leaders to commit a silent genocide on original Palestinians in Palestine.  India is also following the same method on Goa.  The major portion of the Bharatis who are permanently settling down in Goa are from lower and mediocre segment for whom Goa is Eldorado. They get lot of facilities because they are bribed easily and to extort money and sex is easy from them. The facilities they get in Goa are like more than what Kuwaitis are getting in Kuwait.

What was the quality of our Freedom Fighters to think high for Goa and Goans?  Some of them in the garb of Freedom Fighters robbed the innocent people and even killed them.  In Siolim in late fifties who killed the local Regidor?   Again in Siolim Soddiem who captured the house of Casador Manuel Xavier and robbed his both Guns?  Who robbed the Banco Ultrmarino during the day time by showing Guns to the Bank employees?  Who came to the Salgaocar’s home with Guns to demand money?  Who were those who were robbing people near the Hilltop behind Parra Church?  And who were Krimidores who cut the tongue of a “Poder” in Anjuna falsely accusing him to be an informer to the Portugese Police?  While accusing many Freedom Fighters of committing cruel acts I salute the genuine ones.  They have suffered so much from the hands of Agente Monteiros and sacrificed so much for the sake of Goa but are they happy that their goals are achieved?

Some of them are feeling sorry to see the Goa  they dreamt is not realized.  They openly show their regret but why not act to put pressure on government to bring changes in Goa of their choice?  One of them was cursing present Goa and Goan rulers but none of them is coming forward to conduct at least a peaceful Dharna in Panjim to draw the attention of the concerned authorities to their grievances?  I know they are not young now, I  also know they are ageing but they can organize their movement peacefully. If nothing works then they must surrender their Tammrapatras and even Pensions because their goals are not achieved and as such it is wrong to receive rewards.  Those who are regretting now to involve in freedom movement for Goa are not even ashamed to disclose their regret.  They should have committed suicide, at least this will prove their sincerity.

 

A.Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel:7507394349.

LOOT OF GOA BY BHARATI SOLDIERS.

Going back to 1961 once again, a week after the conquest of Goa by the Bharati Serkar of Congress Party under Jawaharlal Nehru, the loot of Goa was started by the Indian Military personnel almost in all the cities of Goa.  What I observed in Mapusa and also in my village Candolim because of the proximity of Indian Military stationed at Aguada, I express it here.

We Goans then were very innocent and respectful to the authorities.  What Indian Military did then to us the Portuguez Military never did and precisely because of this, Goans trusted Indian Military personnel but they robbed us of the trust we had in them for their Uniforms.  A week after the invasion or to use a better word conquest of Goa, there was calm everywhere in Goa and people started moving freely all around Goa.  Shops with brand new foreign goods started opening in Mapusa where Indian Military personnel were roaming freely with their Chests out and Heads high as if Goa is their “Bapaichem Bens”.

Then they in small groups started entering the Shops checking the electronics goods such as Radio Sets, Wrist Watches, Cameras, Pens, Sun Glasses and other such costly commodities.  Then they started taking whatever items they wanted and just disappeared from the Shops without paying.  When one of the Hindu Shopkeepers at one particular moment out of frustration asked one Sardarji soldier to pay the money of the expensive Wrist Watch the Sardarji has taken from that Shop, the Sardarji replied thus: "Just shut Your Mouth.  We have liberated you”.  Seeing this arrogance on the part of Indian Military personnel, the Goan Hindu Shopkeeper was shocked. 

This very Hindu Shopkeeper on 18^th and 19^th welcoming the Indian Military in Goa with the slogan of Jai Hind, himself felt disgusted with the entry of Indian Military in Goa and felt like uttering loudly “Viva Portugal.  Salazar Zindabad and India Murdabad”.  But as he later on told to his friend, within me I already gave the slogans in praise of Portugal. Similar robberies and loot were also committed by the Indian Military personnel in the Gold Shops too.

Similarly, in Candolim Tinto a group of Indian soldiers stationed at Aguada entered the Casa Manica Bar and Restaurant and after drinking the expensive Whiskey – Brandy – Rum and St.Pauli Beer, refused to pay the bill. When the owner of the Bar asked for money, they threatened him with dire consequences. A heated argument erupted, one of the relatives of the owner while interfeering in between was manhandled by the drunk soldiers.  Then from distant one Catholic man Lapit Anton seeing this, came running and stopped the fight.  Then the Indian soldiers went back to Aguada of course by shouting bad words.  The owner of Casa Manica and his relatives all Hindus said “Ami adim asle tech bore aslet, hancheanim amchem ghatlem padd”, though they were the first to say Jai Hind to Indian troops going to Aguada.       

 

A.Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel:7507394349.

WAS 19TH DECEMBER A BLESSING OR A CURSE?

Was 19^th December 1961 a blessing for Goans or a curse?  By all means, Portuguez Raj from Goa should have been ended, I did not want the Portugues to rule over me and my Goa but neither I did want Delhi Portuguez to rule over me and over Goa.  According to my information, a few Goan Freedom Fighters after India got independence from the British, went to meet Mahatma Gandhi seeking his help to liberate Goa from the Portuguese colonialism.  Hearing their pleas, Gandhiji answered to them thus: “You want freedom for Goa from Portugues?  Today you are ruled by the Portuguese but once Portugues are ousted from Goa I am afraid you may be ruled by the Delhi Portuguez”.  How prophetic were these words of Mahatmah Gandhi!  What are we facing in Goa today?  We are treated as slaves of Delhi that is remote controlling Goa for its benefit. From Nehru’s time Delhi wanted to liquidate the existence of Goa and precisely because of this Nehru’s Congress agreed for having Opinion Poll to decide the fate of Goa with the hope that Goa will be merged with Maharastra and thus the identity of Goa will get liquidated.  But Goans have shown their real colours by voting against the merger and in this voting pattern Goan Christians played a heroic role. Kudos to Goan Christians for always supporting Goan causes.

Though there is a large number of Christians in India in the South as well as in the north yet Goan Christians are looked upon by the Indian politicians with suspicion as if they are anti-national. Even in Goa in some segments of Goan community, Christians are considered as less Indian while they are more Indians. In Goa from day one on 19^th December 1961, Christians are considered as pro-Portugues but in reality during the Portuguese rule in Goa none of the top businessmen were from Christian community.  In commerce and Industrial fields Christians have never enjoyed preferential treatment, Portuguez government treated Goan Christians as ornamental pieces only for decoration purpose.  Even in the job sectors, Christians lagged far behind for this reason they migrated to Africa and elsewhere for better dividends.

Because of the hatred against Goan Christians some non-Christians started bashing Christians immediately after the  ouster of Portuguese from Goa. They thought Indian Raj means only a Hindu Raj and they equated the word Hind to Hindus without knowing how the word Hind was originated.  When Indian capture of Goa became a reality, one Dhobi Esso by name  from Orda in my village Candolim started shouting loudly near the Church saying “Tumkam Christavank atam ami martelet, tumcheo Igorjo ami moddtelet, tumkam ami atam kobar kortolet, Jai Hind, Jai Maharaj, Jai Swaraj”. He acted like this because he was an ignorant man.  On 19^th evening in my village some fanatic Hindus like Balkrishnan started firing crackers at the Tinto especially in front of the Christians and their houses threthening them with dire consequences.  One Shamba Xet started abusing St. Francis Xavier and mocking Him with these words “Khuim assa re atam tumcho St. Francis Xavier, daddat taka porot Portugalak” as if St. Francis Xavier was from Portugal.  He was the Spanish missionary in Goa but foolish Shamba Xeth was an ignorant.  Somebody asked tauntingly: “khuim gelo re tumcho Forsulo” referring to St. Francis Xavier.

On that night at about 8.00 PM some fanatics came to the House of a prominent  Candolim doctor, Dr. Gustavo Monteiro and fired innumerable gun shots at his door to shoot him but God saved him.  In Arpora these fanatics came with Guns and Revolvers to shoot Fr. Mendonca the Principal of St. Joseph High School but before any untoward incident could happen, the alert driver of Fr. Mendonca from back side drove Fr. Mendonca to Bastora where he took shelter there till calm prevailed. These fanatics found only the Christians to target their communal agenda dubbing the Christians as Pro-Portugues.

The contribution of Goan Christians in the freedom movement for Goa was immense and cannot be compeered with any other Goan community.  The first persons in India and even in the sub-continent  to fight for freedom for Goa from colonial rulers were Goan Christians and that too they were Goan Priests from Candolim, Pintos Vaddo, coming from the aristocratic Pinto family.  It was also from the same locality another Christian freedom fighter the world renown Hypnotist Abade Faria came,  he got unique distinction to guide the French revolutionaries when he left  Goa and went to Portugal and from there to France.  Then after, it was yet another Christian doctor, Dr. Francisco Luis Gomes a parliamentarian in Portuguese Parliament who raised his voice for the freedom of Goa.

When Christians have done so much for Goa then why they are treated shabbily in Goa?  The communal forces in Goa are wielding strong power and thru this power these forces are preventing Christians from moving  ahead.  There is a silent genocide on Christians in Goa since 19^th December 1961 and the late Dayananda Bandodcar was the first Goan leader to perpetrate this silent genocide followed by most of the CM’s of Goa.  We never thought after the ouster of Portuguese from Goa such a communal politics will happen in Goa.  It is a tragedy that because of this communal politics the soul of Goa is disappearing from Goa. 

In view of what I wrote above, can I ask this question: “Was 19^th December 1961 a blessing or a curse?”

A.Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.