G’bye Goa: Greed & Nemesis
By Valmiki Faleiro
Societies evolve, people change. Some for the better, with better standards of living,
their morals and culture intact. We’ve seen how Goa changed from emigration and
consequent in-migration.
“Those with a strong and dynamic culture absorb migrants and get enriched by them;
weak ones get drowned under a changing demography,” runs an epistle from Lisbon-
based Portuguese friend, Antonio Palinha Machado.
Goa’s positive cultural attributes were more or less intact until Dec-1961. After that,
gradually, they got snowed under. Not under migrants, but with a change from within.
The age of materialism dawned upon us. We changed. Goa changed, is still changing.
Unremittingly. Our values and our “Goemkarponn” of barely half a century ago changed.
We have all but lost them.
“Goans,” I wrote earlier, “were a devout and docile people, honest and hardworking.” Is
that description valid today? Greed is now a downplayed hallmark of the “Goan Identity.”
Old values were forsaken for a new one: money. In the race to make as much, as fast,
with the least possible effort, cash replaced character. Laxmi (goddess of wealth) ousted
Saraswati (goddess of learning.)
Greed replaced virtue. We are no more a simple, pious and contended people. Greed
now leads both the leaders and the led. It ushered an array of change, from politics to
demographics, which will soon reduce the pre-1961 Goan to a glorified anthropological
museum specimen. For that metamorphosis, we have only ourselves to blame.
We first cooked our goose, and now bray for the blood of migrants. If not for us, our land
wouldn’t go into the hands of “outsiders.” If not for us, our space would not be swamped
with squatters. If not for us – first, chiefly and last – we wouldn’t have elected politicians
of the calibre that catalyzed most of Goa’s ills of today.
Goan greed is reflected in election results. It is greed that makes us sell our souls at
elections, and repeatedly elect politicos hell-bent on destroying Goa. Don’t blame the
Dilliwallahs and the land sharks. Or even politicians. We elected them. We brought the
ills on ourselves, by the power of our own vote.
In the course of this column close to four years now, I’ve repeatedly implied that blame
primarily rests with the Goan voter … now, alas, substantially diluted by migrants, soon
to be irretrievably lost. Like the rich Goan who generally does not vote. Like the middle-
class that largely votes but gets carried away not by merit of candidates in the fray but
by their religion, caste and party label. Like the less privileged, both Goan and migrant,
that largely sells its vote.
In a newspaper interview a couple of years ago, industrialist Avdhoot Timblo suggested
the term “Goan Identity” was relative. Saying that Goans could only be “relatively pure”
(40, 50, 80 percent …), he held a book whose cover showed a Kunnbi woman and said,
“This was 100 percent Goan.” Evolution of the “Goan Identity” was inevitable. The need,
he said, was to steer which way we want to go.
Perfectly true, but who will do that steering, Avdhootbab? If you read ‘Gomantak Times’
(25 Sept. 2009, Page 2), a political party openly wailed of “financial inadequacy” in the
portfolios allotted to that party’s ministers in the current cabinet. Are such men capable
of steering anything other than public money into their own pockets?
Gabe Menezes, a friend who lives in Wimbledon-London (he’s native of Navelim-
Salcete) recently wrote, “As for Goans in Goa, within 50 years, surnames will survive but
all will be totally integrated into the vastness of India ... now eat your hearts out, mates!”
Our post-1961 road to nemesis was paved with greed. For under 30 pieces of silver, we
sold our souls. What’s the point in now crying hoarse about loss of the “Goan Identity,”
blaming migrants and politicians, when we must blame ourselves first? It is we, Goans,
onshore or offshore, who are responsible for our own doom.
Let’s reflect a bit more on that reality in the last paragraph of the concluding piece of this
rather long series next Sunday.
NARAKASURA BLUES: An accidental blast in Margao and explosives found at
Sancoale, both during Narakasura processions, may yield clues to the mindless spate of
Hindu idol desecrations across Goa in the recent past…
This one’s unbeatable. A 15-feet Narakasura effigy was reported stolen at Sada-Vasco,
in broad daylight. Forget the gods, even demons are not safe in today’s Goa! (ENDS)
The above article appeared in the Herald, Goa, edition of October 25, 2009.
October 25, 2009
October 23, 2009
BAN SANATAN SAUNSTHA (SS). By Godfrey Gonsalves.
BAN SANATAN SAUNSTHA (SS)
From: godfrey gonsalves (gonsalvesgodfreyji@yahoo.co.in)
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 4:15:23 PM
At public meeting held at Lohia Maidan Margao this evening 22/10/2009 under the aegis of the "Citizens for Secularism and Communal Harmony" the undermentioned resolutions were passed unanimously:
This gathering of concerned citizens for secularism and communal harmony unanimously resolves that:
a) the Govt of Goa should immediately ban the "Sanathan Saunstha" their premises should be sealed and their assets frozen
b) the Govt of Goa should probe the Margao blast case thoroughly and with due diligence
c) this gathering congratulates the role of the Goa Police and demands that they should be given a totally free handin the probe and any sort of political interference should not be allowed
d) the antecedents and past activities of the "Sanathan Saunstha " should also be scanned and their prossible links with other extremist organisations be also investigated. Their possible involvement in other anti-social activities particularly the spate of temple desecrations should also be checked
e) this gathering congratulates the people of Goa in general and Margao in particular for not falling prey to the evil designs of creating communal discord and expresses confidence that Goa will remain united in the face of all provocations.
With this the people have apparently armed the INC led coalition government in Goa to take necessary steps to safeguard the communal tolerance practiced by all leading communities in Goa for centuries.
The resolutions were read out by Mr Uday L Bhembre (Adv) and ex-Independent MLA Margao. Other speakers who spoke on the ocassion were Dr Francisco Colaco, Margao Dr Oscar Rebello, Panaji Mr J Barve Mayem Bicholim Mr S Kakodkar CA Curchorem.
Mr Bhembre reiterated the need to ban the "Sanathan Saunstha" now that there is "clinching evidence" that their premises at Bandora were indeed used to store incriminating material, and that those prima facie implicated were its members. He also called for strict scrutiny of the nefarious activities of the Hindu Jan Jagruti Saunstha, the Bajrang Dal etc as these were satellite organisations of the right wing Hindu fundamentalist parties and they have assumed albeit on their own to act as "Power of attorney holders" of the Hindu community to save it from devastation.
He also chided Mr Manohar Parrikar ex BJP Chief Minister of Goa and present Leader of the Opposition for demanding a CBI enquiry into the matter instead of condeming such dastardly intents of those thus far implicated ---when the Government of Goa had already constituted a Special Investigating Team (SIT) comprising of Mr Omprakash Kudtarkar SP and Bousset Silva Dy SP to investigate into 16/10 incident and also take the co-operation of the Maharastra Police who had detected the earlier incidents at Thane, Nasik and Malegaon . Incidentally at all these places the accused have died.
It is now left to CM Mr Digamber Kamat and the Home Minister Mr Ravi Sitaram Naik as many of those present at the meet who spoke to this writer felt, that they should act sternly to nip such incidents rather than allow the "terrorists" to gain a foothold and flourish with their nefarious designs. There are several incidents which the police are believed to have detected at Porvorim Cuncolim etc involving daamge to places of worship but the Government is weak kneed to strike fearing that it may either give the Opposition a chance to bolster their political vote bank or polarise the vote bank on communal lines. The people of Bandora and Ramnathi have also demanded a ban on the activities of the SS in their village.
Meanwhile there is a also a public demand that the Government of Goa should hnonour the driver of the vehicle carrying the troupe of Narkasura from Ponda on 16/10 which had stopped at the Shantadurga Temple Sancoale - Cortalim NH 17 B to participate in the competition there. For it was owing to the presence of mind of the driver a Moslem Mr Saab, who noticed a bag in the tempo containing a bomb -- ticking --- which prompted him to fling it out in the field when none of the occupants claimed the same. The blast would have other wise killed and maimed several of those gathered at the precincts of the temple on the Dipawali eve night.
Incidentally the second victim who was on a ventilator at the GMC died on Tuesday morning. Thus both the attackers (terrorist?) have since been dead. It is also learnt from a source which does not wish to be identified that an "attar" scented perfume a plastic bag bearing a "Khan" initials was recovered from the bag. Apparently had the bomb (almost four in all) exploded at the desginated spots there would have been several deaths and grievous injuries to the public assembled to witness the "Narkasura" competition that Diwali eve night at Margao .The retaliation would be burning of all Moslem establishments and households. It could easily replicate the communal events at Curchorem in June 2006.
It is also confirmed that the spouse of the Minister for Transport Mr Sudin Dhavalikar has been closely associated with the activities of the Sanathan Saunstha at Ramnathi and that the scooter owner Mr N Bakhle is his nephew. Though the Directorate of Transport website duly updated as on 6th October 2009 reveals the ownership of the scooter to Mr Bakhle the Directorate of Transport maintains that the website only reveals the original owner of the transport and non transport vehichles hosted on its website and subsequent changes on transfer are not recorded . In any case it is confirmed that the present owner a Mr S Naik of the scooter is also an activist of the Saunstha.
Margao will be celebrating the traditional festival of Dindi on 30th October, 2009 and there is a sense of nervousness among the people that a similar fate as that what was averted on 16/10 would repeat its ugly head.
A large number of Moslems present at today's meet were thankfull to the Almighty for sparing them the onslaught of communal backlash due to the blessings of deity Shantadurga and Our Lady of Grace. In the land of St Francis Xavier the Goencho Saib such events can never succeed was the common refrain of every Goan ever since that fateful event of 16/10.
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,BORDA,
MARGAO, 403 602,
GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
gonsalvesgodfreyji@yahoo.co.in
From: godfrey gonsalves (gonsalvesgodfreyji@yahoo.co.in)
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 4:15:23 PM
At public meeting held at Lohia Maidan Margao this evening 22/10/2009 under the aegis of the "Citizens for Secularism and Communal Harmony" the undermentioned resolutions were passed unanimously:
This gathering of concerned citizens for secularism and communal harmony unanimously resolves that:
a) the Govt of Goa should immediately ban the "Sanathan Saunstha" their premises should be sealed and their assets frozen
b) the Govt of Goa should probe the Margao blast case thoroughly and with due diligence
c) this gathering congratulates the role of the Goa Police and demands that they should be given a totally free handin the probe and any sort of political interference should not be allowed
d) the antecedents and past activities of the "Sanathan Saunstha " should also be scanned and their prossible links with other extremist organisations be also investigated. Their possible involvement in other anti-social activities particularly the spate of temple desecrations should also be checked
e) this gathering congratulates the people of Goa in general and Margao in particular for not falling prey to the evil designs of creating communal discord and expresses confidence that Goa will remain united in the face of all provocations.
With this the people have apparently armed the INC led coalition government in Goa to take necessary steps to safeguard the communal tolerance practiced by all leading communities in Goa for centuries.
The resolutions were read out by Mr Uday L Bhembre (Adv) and ex-Independent MLA Margao. Other speakers who spoke on the ocassion were Dr Francisco Colaco, Margao Dr Oscar Rebello, Panaji Mr J Barve Mayem Bicholim Mr S Kakodkar CA Curchorem.
Mr Bhembre reiterated the need to ban the "Sanathan Saunstha" now that there is "clinching evidence" that their premises at Bandora were indeed used to store incriminating material, and that those prima facie implicated were its members. He also called for strict scrutiny of the nefarious activities of the Hindu Jan Jagruti Saunstha, the Bajrang Dal etc as these were satellite organisations of the right wing Hindu fundamentalist parties and they have assumed albeit on their own to act as "Power of attorney holders" of the Hindu community to save it from devastation.
He also chided Mr Manohar Parrikar ex BJP Chief Minister of Goa and present Leader of the Opposition for demanding a CBI enquiry into the matter instead of condeming such dastardly intents of those thus far implicated ---when the Government of Goa had already constituted a Special Investigating Team (SIT) comprising of Mr Omprakash Kudtarkar SP and Bousset Silva Dy SP to investigate into 16/10 incident and also take the co-operation of the Maharastra Police who had detected the earlier incidents at Thane, Nasik and Malegaon . Incidentally at all these places the accused have died.
It is now left to CM Mr Digamber Kamat and the Home Minister Mr Ravi Sitaram Naik as many of those present at the meet who spoke to this writer felt, that they should act sternly to nip such incidents rather than allow the "terrorists" to gain a foothold and flourish with their nefarious designs. There are several incidents which the police are believed to have detected at Porvorim Cuncolim etc involving daamge to places of worship but the Government is weak kneed to strike fearing that it may either give the Opposition a chance to bolster their political vote bank or polarise the vote bank on communal lines. The people of Bandora and Ramnathi have also demanded a ban on the activities of the SS in their village.
Meanwhile there is a also a public demand that the Government of Goa should hnonour the driver of the vehicle carrying the troupe of Narkasura from Ponda on 16/10 which had stopped at the Shantadurga Temple Sancoale - Cortalim NH 17 B to participate in the competition there. For it was owing to the presence of mind of the driver a Moslem Mr Saab, who noticed a bag in the tempo containing a bomb -- ticking --- which prompted him to fling it out in the field when none of the occupants claimed the same. The blast would have other wise killed and maimed several of those gathered at the precincts of the temple on the Dipawali eve night.
Incidentally the second victim who was on a ventilator at the GMC died on Tuesday morning. Thus both the attackers (terrorist?) have since been dead. It is also learnt from a source which does not wish to be identified that an "attar" scented perfume a plastic bag bearing a "Khan" initials was recovered from the bag. Apparently had the bomb (almost four in all) exploded at the desginated spots there would have been several deaths and grievous injuries to the public assembled to witness the "Narkasura" competition that Diwali eve night at Margao .The retaliation would be burning of all Moslem establishments and households. It could easily replicate the communal events at Curchorem in June 2006.
It is also confirmed that the spouse of the Minister for Transport Mr Sudin Dhavalikar has been closely associated with the activities of the Sanathan Saunstha at Ramnathi and that the scooter owner Mr N Bakhle is his nephew. Though the Directorate of Transport website duly updated as on 6th October 2009 reveals the ownership of the scooter to Mr Bakhle the Directorate of Transport maintains that the website only reveals the original owner of the transport and non transport vehichles hosted on its website and subsequent changes on transfer are not recorded . In any case it is confirmed that the present owner a Mr S Naik of the scooter is also an activist of the Saunstha.
Margao will be celebrating the traditional festival of Dindi on 30th October, 2009 and there is a sense of nervousness among the people that a similar fate as that what was averted on 16/10 would repeat its ugly head.
A large number of Moslems present at today's meet were thankfull to the Almighty for sparing them the onslaught of communal backlash due to the blessings of deity Shantadurga and Our Lady of Grace. In the land of St Francis Xavier the Goencho Saib such events can never succeed was the common refrain of every Goan ever since that fateful event of 16/10.
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,BORDA,
MARGAO, 403 602,
GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
gonsalvesgodfreyji@yahoo.co.in
October 22, 2009
GOAN CULTURAL CENTRE-KUWAIT. DRAWING COMPETITION.
Santos Carmo
Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 11:38 AM
To: goa.kranti@gmail.com
Drawing Competition by Goan Cultural Centre-Kuwait.
A Drawing Competition will be organized by Goan Cultural Centre-Kuwait on 13th November 2009 (FRIDAY) at CARMEL SCHOOL - KHEITAN, Kuwait to commence at 4:00 p.m. sharp.
Participation Rules for Drawing Competition:* The competition is open to school going Indian children up to the age of 14 in three groups:
Group A - 3-6 years - (Colouring only)
Group B - 7-9 years - Theme: A River Side in Goa.
Group C - 10-14 years - Theme: Any Tradition of Goa.
* A maximum of one hour will be allotted to the participants. * 3 prizes will be given to the winners in each category. * Judges decision will be final and binding. * Only the Drawing Paper will be provided by the Organizers. Children are expected to bring their own stationery including crayons, colours, and brushes.* The winners of the competition will be awarded prizes and certificates at the Christmas Tree (Pai Natal) Programme to be held on 11th December 2009.
For further info, please contact Mob: 99472905 / 66567848 / 66955719 / 66806661 / 97549642 or email: goanculturalcentrekuwait@gmail.com
Kindly note the change in date and school - now to read as 13th November 2009 and at Carmel School - Kheitan.
Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 11:38 AM
To: goa.kranti@gmail.com
Drawing Competition by Goan Cultural Centre-Kuwait.
A Drawing Competition will be organized by Goan Cultural Centre-Kuwait on 13th November 2009 (FRIDAY) at CARMEL SCHOOL - KHEITAN, Kuwait to commence at 4:00 p.m. sharp.
Participation Rules for Drawing Competition:* The competition is open to school going Indian children up to the age of 14 in three groups:
Group A - 3-6 years - (Colouring only)
Group B - 7-9 years - Theme: A River Side in Goa.
Group C - 10-14 years - Theme: Any Tradition of Goa.
* A maximum of one hour will be allotted to the participants. * 3 prizes will be given to the winners in each category. * Judges decision will be final and binding. * Only the Drawing Paper will be provided by the Organizers. Children are expected to bring their own stationery including crayons, colours, and brushes.* The winners of the competition will be awarded prizes and certificates at the Christmas Tree (Pai Natal) Programme to be held on 11th December 2009.
For further info, please contact Mob: 99472905 / 66567848 / 66955719 / 66806661 / 97549642 or email: goanculturalcentrekuwait@gmail.com
Kindly note the change in date and school - now to read as 13th November 2009 and at Carmel School - Kheitan.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)