DEGOANISATION OF GOA.

DEGOANISATION OF GOA.

If Goa remained as Goa till today then the credit for this should surely go to the Portuguese for colonising Goa for 450 years and thus keeping Goa secured for Goans as Goa and to protect the “GOYKARPON” of Goans, I repeat Goanness of Goa and Goans. Because Goa was under the domination of Portuguese, the influx of non - Goans and their FILTHY influence on Goa and Goans was non existent. When India got independence from the British, Goa was still a separate entity from India. When the constitution of India was framed the interest of Goa was not taken into consideration. Hence, we missed a lot to be Indians. Even when the National Anthem of India was composed, we and our Goa was not taken into consideration as a part of India. When British left India, Indian Government asked the consent of princely states to join the Indian Union but no such consent was solicited from Goa and Goans. With the backing of few tin-pot freedom fighters, Nehru’s Congress conquered Goa as if Goa is his father’s property.

When Portuguese was ousted from Goa in December 1961, Indian Government kept its CRUEL doors opened for CRUEL Indians to invade and absorb Goa the way they wanted. In the bargain most of the third class Indians started pouring into Goa mainly from Kerala and Maharastra in the beginning of Indian Raj. Their entry into Goa was facilitated and made easy by the Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party and their leaders namely Dayananda Bandodkar and later on by his anti-Christian daughter Shashikala Kakodkar. The early Malyalis who descended on Goa following the ouster of Portuguese rule in Goa were the classless Malyalis, not even third class, whom we call as “Rostad” who went on exploiting every segment of Goan community. Many of them were robbers, criminals and crooks of first grade. And as a matter of fact, the first person to be hanged in Goa at Aguada on 28th of January 1978 at 6.00 in the morning was a Malyali, Kumar by name who killed a child and her pregnant mother, cut their bodies into pieces and put them into boxes, at Caranzalem, Ilhas, Goa.

If Goan administration in the first general election itself had to fall into the hands of United Goans, till today Goa would have been much secured and safer place for Goans from every Goan community. But, no, Bandodkar and his MGP proved to be more colonialists then colonial Portuguese by handing Goa and its administration into the hands of Marathiwadi Maharastrians and deputationists from Delhi and other parts of India. According to one source, the then big man of Maharastra, Y. B. Chavan holding strong influence in Delhi due to his being the Defence Minisater of India, deputed especial emissary of Indian Government to oversee the first general election process of Goa with a clear instruction to manipulate the counting of votes, this emissary was from Punjab and since Goans at that time were not expert in the election, electioneering and vote counting process including stacking of ballot boxes, being novices in this election process, there was lot of mischief done thru the chickanery of Punjabi expert election manipulator otherwise UG would surely and rightly come to the power then itself and rule Goa under the able administrators coming from Christian, Hindu and Muslim communities. I still remember as a young school going boy how the trend was in favour of UG then but the Punjabi “chor” robbed Goa and Goans thereby denying Goans of their right to frame their destiny.

It is said in the Bible “Sword Beget Sword” and this is exactly what has happened to Punjabi and Punjab. Under the terrorist and fanatic Punjabi Bindranwale, Punjab was about to get some sort of independence or autonomy. Indira Gandhi sent troops to Golden Temple in Punjab and killed hundreds of Punjabis including Bindranwale. There was chaos not only in Punjab but also all over India. The religious sentiments of Sikh community was hurt by Indira Gandhi and her Congress party. To contain this chaos and to stop secessionist trend going on in Punjab, Indian Government sent an expert Super Cop, a Goan and a genuine hard core Goan, Julius Ribeiro who not only stopped the anti-Indian thinking of Punjabis but also killed the thoughts of having separate entity for Punjab. Sword beget Sword, those who fight with Swords will die with Swords only. A Punjabi tricked Goans into submission to MGP and a Goan used fair means to teach a very good lesson to Punjabis who were aspiring for independence for them. There is a saying in Konkani, “kelem tukam ani zalem makam”. So also, “korta tea mapan bhogta”.

What is the state of Goa now when I saw it with my own eyes a month back? Goa is no more what it was. What during the 450 years of Portuguese rule did not happen in Goa is now happening during the last 47 years of corrupt Bharati rule in Goa. Goa is become free for all Indians having lot of money collected legally or illegally. Every place in Goa not only in the coastal belt but also all over Goa, non Goans are purchasing Goan land, constructing their own houses, small and big and bunglaws and totally changing the demographic set – up of Goa. To one’s neighbourhood one see plots purchased by non-Goans and built their own residential houses. In my locality and in surrounding areas one sees only Ghanttis. Goykars are seen only in the Churches and for Tiatros otherwise everywhere you find non-Goans. They are acting like “dadas”, they are dominating Goa and also threathening Goans. Our “Rostad Bhattkars” are responsible to sell Goa to them and our politicians in the Assembly and Panchayats are equally responsible for promoting the sale of Goa to outsiders for Thirty Silver Coins like Judas Escariot. Good that MGP during its rule promulgated “Mundkar Kaido” making the Mundkar owner of his house and also some metres around his house otherwise the Goan Rostad Bhattkars would not only sell their properties to non-Goans and builders as they are doing now rampantly but along with their properties they would also sell the Mundkar houses along with Mundkars also, like slaves. At least this was something good MGP has done for Goa and Goans. Otherwise, MGP has laid the foundation stone for the destruction of Goa and Goans.

Now after selling their properties, Bhattkars are coming to an end in Goa and in my locality itself one has to take a lighted Lantern in his hand during the daytime only when the sun is directly overhead to see if any Bhattkar is vissible in the market place and all around. The once honourable and respectable word "SENHOR BHATTKAR" IS COMING TO AN END IN GOA.

The Goan Bhattkars have not done anything good for Goa and Goans, they have only exploited their Munddkars and poor Goans. Now their example is emulated by the local Sarpanches and other Panches by allowing builders to build legally and illegally big buildings in our villages against all the ecological considerations. By allowing the builders to construct huge buildings the local Sarpanches are getting as bribe, of course free of charge, One Posh Flat after every building of 10 Flats. In this way almost every village Sarpanch is becoming an owner of innumerable Flats thus acquiring huge illegal wealth. It is a pity that the local village administration is fallen into the hands of Ladru & Pedru type of Goans whose only motto is to make money by all means and thereby destroy the originality of Goa. And regrettably, our local Church leaders like priests and Nuns are supporting these local Rostad rulers. This is the quality of our Goan priests now.

In Goa now there are two types of non-Goan settlers who built their own dwellings, one type are rich who either purchase from builders big bunglaws costing 2 – 5 crores of rupees and they come to stay there occasionally, they don’t want to permanently settle in Goa, they like to come to Goa as tourists and go back. In the other category falls all the Rostad whom we call Ghanttis. They are like bees swarming all over Goa upsetting Goan culture, history, tradition, language and every decent aspect of Goan life. They dont return to their native places. These non-Goans are eradicating Goanness and Goans from Goa. They don’t even talk Konkani but impose their mother tongues on Goans. These non-Goans are having lot of money, from where? Nobody knows. We Goans cannot compete with them financially because we are not as wealthy as they are. We only talk wealthy and act as wealthy otherwise we are “pokou” internally. To stop them from further purchasing Goa we must bring pressure on Goa Government to make a law to prevent non-Goans from purchasing Goan land. Such a law is existing elsewhere in India. It is better to allow Westerners to purchase Goan land but surely not by non-Goan Indians. At least Westerners one day will go back to their countries of origin with their original nationality intact but these Indian Ghanttis will never. These Ghanttis speak the language not of thousands and lakhs of rupees but crores of rupees thereby tempting even for a hardcore Goan to sell his anchestral house for crores of rupees. I cannot understand in what direction we are going. God alone will have to protect us from the onslaught of outsiders and from going into extinction.

While this trend is speedily going on in Goa we the non-resident Goans residing in the Gulf and in the West cannot remain as silent spectators. Our Goan associations especially village based must work hard and try to purchase land and properties from their villages and localities. Land is fixed and gradually it will come to an end. Instead of depositing money in Goan Banks, NRI Goans must start vigorously to purchase any available piece of land in Goa. Land price in Goa is become like that of Diamond price. Goa is getting finished and if we allow to get it finished by non-Goans then we will have no place to live in Goa. Very shortly there will be a Goan convention in Toronto. All Goans gathering there must ponder over this point. It is useless talking of Goa and Goans from outside Goa and having Goan conventions when we are not doing anything to save Goa from extinction. We must not allow even our “Kombiancho ani Dukrancho Gudd” built by our grand parents to fall into the hands of outsiders. Even our “Kumau” we must protect because there is a party in Goa coming from outside Goa which is ready to buy even one square metre of Goan property, even if it is filthy. Can we do something to save us from extinction? Or the prophecy of St. Francis Xavier will come to reality when he said “My Goa nobody will take away but it will come into extinction for Goans”. It is high time now for Goans spread all around the globe to work hard to protect their ancestral land, properties and houses. We must slow down in organizing dances and instead think of how to save Goa. Once again I say that Toronto Goan convention must come out with some solution because West settled Goans can do much better to save Goa. But will they? I have my doubts because during the fight for separate statehood for Goa and language agitation in Goa other than Gulf Goans mainly the Kuwait Goans, all Goans were sleeping. Will they wake up now atleast? Or they will organize empty talk Conventions only? Otherwise expatriate Goan Associations and Goan Conventions “ghalat dobean”.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

DEATH OF DOMNICK MARTIN CORREIA.

Recently I was in Goa on my annual vacation. Suddenly on 27th of June 2008 I was informed that my friend Domnick Correia from Nagoa Bardez and a prominent ex Kuwait Goan has expired on the very day when he returned home from a Doctor with his medical report giving him clean chit of all his medical tests. Medical science decided one thing and God decided something else. The decision of God always takes precedence over all other decisions taken by human beings even on the basis of scientific evidence.

In front of God’s decision, science failed and it will always fail. In front of God’s judgment scientific judgments failed resulting in the death of Dominick Martin Correia. A week before his death on one Sunday I met him at Mapusa attending Konkani Tiatro along with his kind hearted and ailing wife due to her limping leg. We exchanged lot of pleasantries outside the hall and both of us we embraced each other. Earlier three years back when I went to his house with my wife to invite him for my Silver Wedding anniversary since he was witness to my wedding in Kuwait 25 years earlier along with his wife and children, he showed his dislike for me for not inducting my son into G.O.A. Maroons soccer team in Kuwait when in his own words he said to me: “you being the founder of G.O.A. (Maroons) you should not have done this. Your son plays so well and since Goa Maroons is your baby you should have inducted your son in Maroons”. This was his regret he showed to me. But my answer to him was this:

“Correia, how can I force my son to play for the team of my liking? It is his decision to play for whichever team he likes. He is a matured boy and knows what is good for him. Besides, how he will play for Maroons if Maroons is not showing any interest openly and expressly in him? He will not go like a beggar to Maroons to plead them to enroll him in their team. My son has his own dignity and prestige since he is the prestigious player being one of the best amongst us in Kuwait”. For this my friend Correia had no answer. I withdrew from Maroons because I realized it allowed in its fold people with cowboy mentality and not soccer development mentally. My coming out of Maroons was the result of my disapproval of the questionable and weak leadership of the organization where I could not do much to bring about the change. Hence, I withdrew with the consent of few respectable colleagues of mine in the organization who totally accepted my decision. Though I played a major role in the formation of G.O.A. (Maroons) in 1980 yet I was not the only person in founding G.O.A. Peter D’Souza and Domnick Correia were equally responsible for forming G.O.A.

The late Domnick Martin Correia came to Kuwait from Bombay somewhere in 1954 brought by his father and immediately got employed in one of the British contracting companies, M/s Kuwait Development Company. After working there for some time, he then left that job and joined the then prestigious Behbehanis in Carrier Air-conditioning Division and from here finally he joined Mercedes where he held a good post in the supervisory capacity and worked there till his retirement. In Mercedes, owned by Al Bisher & Zaid Al Kazemi he was highly respected by his top management for his work efficiency, sincerity and dedication, so also by the staff not only working under him but even others in the company and also the community members. Having close contact with the top management he used his influence to employ many Goans there, thought them the basics of the jobs and made them fit not only on the job but even in life. Many of the Goans who are till today working there it is only because of the goodwill of Domnick Martin Correia.

Because of his job, he created very good rapport with some of the top locals thru whom he helped many of the community members. Even people arrested for some minor and major misdemeaneours he got them released from Police Lock-up thru his influence. He was like a saviour for many of the rejected and distressed people. In Kuwait, we cannot forget two Goans who have done so much for Goans getting released from the Police Lock-up: one is Sheikh Agnelo now residing in Agacaim, Goa, and the second our late Domnick Martin Correia. They proved to be like Biblical “Bom Samaritans” during the critical times of many of the Goans. But inspite of doing so much for the good of the community members he once told me when I interviewed him for “Goycho Mog” Weekly in eighties; that he regretted the majority of those who received his help finally turned out to be ungrateful and betrayed him with a Judas Kiss. This is the main fault of our Goans because of which many time a good Goan is reluctant to help another Goan. And which are these Goans? Mainly Christians coming from “Ladru – Pedru” type of family background. Without proper basic family discipline at home under the good parental guidance nobody can acquire good habits. Now-a-days good discipline is not taught in schools and in colleges, they have their syllabus to complete and hence no time to discipline the students in good mannerism. Good discipline is not thought now by “Padris & Madris” because they have their own priorities. Good discipline is not taught now by unties, uncles and neighbours, they have their own things to take care first. And there is a saying in Konkani “Sezareani tor burgeank sambaulelim zalear mae ani pai kiteak zai also?”

Domnick Martin Correia was a great lover of sports and extra curricular activities, soccer being his forte in which he excelled extremely well as a player first and as an organizer secondly. While in Bombay he played as a stalwart in the forward line scoring innumerable goals for his village team in the Inter-village Goan tournaments conducted in Bombay. Then he played for the then mighty soccer team in Bombay “Pe. Agnelo” where he made a strong impact of his skill in dribbling and powerful shooting prowess due to which the then powerful Bombay outfit “Kohinoor Mill” spotted him. With this team he made a name and fame for him at Cooperage ground where great footballers of India played.

After coming to Kuwait as a young, energetic and bustling man, he joined “Blue Wizard” for which team he played at Ahmadi KOC Grounds and finally shifted to the gigantic Goan team “Young Goans” which even terrified Europeans teams at Ahmadi. The Young Goans of that time had great players in its fold, one of them was the late Stanley from Siolim who was while in Goa a regular for GOA XI along with topmost Portuguese Pakle players in a very stiff competition.

Amongst all his four sons, the eldest Tony emulated his father’s feat in soccer. Though Tony and I played together for many years for G.O.A. Maroons at Sour Grounds in Kuwait City and also at KOC grounds in Ahmadi, I found him extremely good yet those who witnessed the games and playing styles of both the son and the father, they say that father rates much higher than the son. This is a big credit to the late Domnick Martin Correia for his football playing skill. And according to one person who observed Domnick Correia minutely during his hey days as a footballer, if he had not come to Kuwait then, surely he would fit in any of the top Indian teams. Unfortunately lack of financial opportunities have destroyed natural talents in many of us in our home countries. Talking to his son Tony, when he came to Kuwait fresh from School, he was in such a top form that even the British players showed their admiration to his playing skills. I am yet to see another Tony Correia amongst us in Kuwait. His shooting power was just fantastic, his running skill with the ball was extremely well and his positioning himself on the ground to receive the ball was admirable. If he had not to come to Kuwait at that tender age, I am sure he would have been spotted by any of the top Goan teams.

Domnick Martin Correia since the inception of our competitive soccer in Kuwait 1979 was involved in the promotion of football at Sour grounds first by supporting Blue Razors (Blue Wings?) and then by being one of the founders of G.O.A. Maroons. His contribution for G.O.A. was great as a founder, organizer, financier and helper to some players in getting jobs. Such kind hearted and helpful people are not existing in our midst now. He was the genuine Goan having all the attributes of pristine Goan. He supported many of our activities for the cause of Goa and Konkani. A soft spoken and decent man with cool temperament but once lost his temper it was very difficult to control him. Though I was very much junior to him in age and in many other respects yet he valued my association and friendship. When I met him last month in Goa, his loving hug once again proved his liking for me. His death when he was still active and healthy was a great loss for us and for our soccer in Kuwait. As a befitting tribute to his enormous contribution for the promotion of our soccer in Kuwait a memorial soccer tournament should be organized or the tournament that G.O.A. Maroons orginses annually should be renamed as Dominick Martin Memorial football tournament. And as a befitting tribute to him for the inception and promotion of G.O.A. Maroons, a condolence meeting to mourn his death should be called immediately by the G.O.A.. Some of the new entrants in G.O.A. are surely not aware of the contribution of Correia to the formation, development and promotion of G.O.A. Maroons. His memory should be kept alive.

May His Soul Rest in Peace and may God give courage to all his family members especially his loving and devoted wife to bear this colossal loss. He was a very dedicated and responsible father to his children, a faithful and devoted husband to his equally faithful and devoted wife and above all he was a man of character having compassion for the weak and downtrodden. He was the only person in the midst of his colleagues having pure genuine Goan character. It is sad that such genuine Goans are coming to an end. Once again, May His Soul Rest In Peace. Domnick Martin Correia, you played your game very well and you entertained the spectators also very well. You have won the victories on and off the soccer grounds and your final victory will be surely in Heaven because you have done good for others.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

21st Birthday Remembrance - Ralph Gonsalves

“Darkness isn't the absence of light... it's the absence of you!”

RALPH GONSALVES
Born - July 11, 1987
Died - February 10, 2008

21st Birthday Remembrance
IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR MOST BELOVED...

Your sheer presence in our midst
Was always a real joy…
We laughed our hearts out
When you called yourself a 'Man'
Even though you were just a little boy…

Wonderful son, loving brother,
And a compassionate friend…
A loss in our family,
We're still unable to comprehend…
No matter how much we want,
God has his way…
Now, as we remember you
On your 21st Birthday,
We can only look up to heaven and say…
Dear RALPH… HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Fondly remembered by:
Dad: Roque, Mum: Joyce,
Brother: Russell, Sister: Janessa,
Bro-in-Law: Nazarius & Niece: Baby Narissa,
Family members and relatives.
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"To be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."
-Corinthians 5:8