ELECTION & THREAT OF COMMUNALISM.

The greatest threat for us Christians now is Communalism whose promoters are all out to liquidate the minorities especially the Christians from this soil. In my land Goa the seed of communal virus was implanted on 18^th December 1961 itself when  the Portuguese Flag was still  flying in Panjim.   The idea to merge Goa with Maharastra was to liquidate the influence of the Christians.  The same tendency is carried forward now more forcefully with the backing of the RSS, the whole and sole of the BJP, that recently said, “by 2021 every Indian must be converted to Hindu Religion otherwise “Get Out from this land”.  And go where?  Is this land your fathers’ property to have your monopoly over it? 

My ancestors were living on this land much before  Portuguese, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism as religion came into being in this land. We the Christians are as strong citizens of our land as any citizen of this land belonging to Hinduism or any other religion. We came not from Portugal but Portuguese came to our land from Portugal and let it be known to fanatic communal Hindus that it was a Hindu leader who begged with Portuguese to come to Goan land to protect and save Hindus.  According to our family records, our ancestors  voluntarily got converted to Catholicsm without any outside forced influence nor with any inducement.  Our ancestors were very happy when Christianity came to our land with equality for all. This type of freedom and equality especially in the Hindu community then were denied to some segments of the Hindu society.  Why then, it is still existing even now. Our ancestors embraced Christianity with love for Christian principles and Christ’s teachings of love for fellow human beings while very many embraced Christianity as a mark of protest and revolt against discriminatory Hinduism.

 

The present BJP government is harping on the little development it made especially the Road building where the concerned MLA’s and Ministers got their commissions and thru this type of commission they have built their assets to crores of rupees as indicated in their recent declaration  on the election contesting forms.  Otherwise, how  is it possible for any Ladru-Shambu type of person to create such a mighty financial empire? Only such corrupt politicians can built their financial empires thru illicit money.  The development they boast of is not the real development, decorating of the Roads is not the real development,  creating employment avenues to our unemployed youth is the real development, providing government services uninterrupted to the citizens is the real development and providing normal facilities and life security to the minorities to live a fearless life will be the real development.  

Today minority communities in Goa are living in fear, the existence of the schools of Christians is harassed with the threat of withdrawal of government grants as if this money belonged to the government.  These schools serve all the communities and not only Christians though they are built by the Chrisitians only.  There is hidden agenda to uproot the Chrisitians from this land by using different dirty tactics. It is the duty of every citizen of this land to assure security to the threatened religious minorities, especially Christians in Goa in particular..

The current BJP government is supported by some Christian MLA’s with whose support the BJP government harms the interest of minorities especially of Christians but none of the Chrtistian MLA’s raises his voice against this.  They are like Judases ready to sell their Rabbi again for 30 Coins because they are power and money hungry.  Navelkars and Aldonkars must question their MLA’s with whose permission they aligned with the BJP government.  Again this time they must get an undertaking from them that they if elected will not align with the BJP. So too other Independents.  The others who are contesting the election in the name of BJP must be warned of this danger when they come to ask for your votes. It must be accepted that voting such candidates is not only a small sin but a big sacrilege for which there will not be any forgiveness.  Hence, will it be right to  elect them again? Unless we want to dig our own graves.

A.Veronica Fernandes.                

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TIATRO "MEULELEM NAKA SANDLELEM ZAI".

Antonette de Maina sings her solo

Today morning at 10.40 in Panjim at Kala Academy. I saw the new Tiatro “MEULELEM NAKA SANDLELEM ZAI” written and directed by Samuel Carvalho. It was a well attended Show which is based on our Konkani proverb “RANDLOLEM NAKA PUN SANDLOLEM ZAI” where Dolla, Mario Menezes, Semenca and Philip Almeida played their roles very well.   Hoewever Dolla’s role was super as a rich divorced mother of one son.  She looked majestic in her majestic costumes.

Semenca & Philip Almeida in a scene

Saby de Divar sings his political solo

It is a family story woven around the subject where the young girl refuses a nice proposal and opts for love marriage where before getting married the boy leaves her.  The role of the boy was beautifully played by handsome and youthful Philip Almeida while the role of his poor girlfriend was played appropriately by lovely looking attractive Semenca. A superb role of the father was played by Mario Menezes.

Semenca & Dola sing their song

A scene

The comedy part was handled by Comedians Jannet, Agostinho Temudo, Selvv, Richard and Ambe.  Agostinho was at his best especially in his sarcastically witty comments on Goan politicians, more piercingly on Luizinho Faleiro for his lust for power.   

Reagan sings his solo

Another scene

In the Side Show songs, the songs rendered by Saby de Divar, Reagan, Benny de Aldona, Dolla & Semenca, Antonette de Maina were worth listening. The duet Reagan rendered with Semenca was the most precious among all.

Seen above is lovely Dola

Com. Jannet sings her solo

                                                             Last scene

Norman Cardozo provided an excellent musical score.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

GREATNESS OF PORTUGUESE CULTURE.

It is said, Goans are by nature mild and soft people.  This is partly because of the long term influence of Portuguese rule in Goa for 451 years since Portuguese culture is mild,  soft and decent.   Even the top dignitaries coming to Goa from Portugal, given an opportunity to integrate with the local commoners, would create a very good impact of themselves.  Most of them proved to be humble just as I indicate below.

It was in 1958 when I was a student of Portuguese school in Candolim,  suddenly at 8.00 AM returning from Aguada, the Goa Governador Vassalo e Silva, appeared at the door of our class and wishing us “Bom Dia”, slowly  walked smilingly to the Platfrom where our Professor Oliveira was seated.  Then turning towards me, a skinny ugly looking shabbily dressed boy,  seated on the first bench,  asked in Portuguese “Do you have a Bag?”  Seeing him talking to me, a commoner,  thus, the Governador of Goa, I became nervous. Noticing my nervousness, he felt pity on me and humbly put his hand in my desk like a commoner and when he found the desk empty, he realized my proletarian background and humbly presented me one Bag.  During this whole episode, I found him a very simple, humble and a kind hearted man without any pride normally associated with  our disgraceful politicians.

Somewhere in 1959 during his visit to Portugal, Pe. Chico Monteiro from Candolim met Salazar in his office and while returning, Pe. Chico  forgot his Hat on Salazar’s table. After a few seconds walk, Pe. Chico heard calling him from behind thus, “Senhor Pardre – Senhor Pardre, Seu Chapeu !!”. Turning his back, Pe. Chico noticed Salazar personally coming running, putting the security men into disarray, to return the Hat instead of sending it thru his Peon.  This is yet another sign of simplicity of Portuguese culture shown by the Portuguese Dictator. Such simplicity and humility are not existing in our land because our politicians are barbarians.

The same type of simplicity and humility  I noticed in Portuguese Premier during his recent reception at Bambolim Hayat Hotel, on 12th of this month where I was one of the official invitee. During his interaction with the attendees, I found the Portuguese Premier Antonio Costa totally a simple and humble man, accessible to anyone without any pride normally associated even with our ordinary Panchayat member.

A.Veronica Fernandes.