MIGRANTS AND THEIR "DADAGIRI".

After successfully organizing the Rally and public meeting in Candolim on Saturday, 18^th of this month, against the dadagiri of the migrants, somebody asked me “what benefit you people got by shouting on the street in Candolim?” “Bobo marun kitem melta tumkam”? My reply to such negative thinking people who are the living worms among us was this: “Bobo marun kaim mellona pun ogui ravon tori kitem mellta”?  At least by shouting there is a chance to gain something but by keeping silence you will never gain anything. We have people among us who will do nothing for the cause of society neither will they do anything good, on the contrary they will only discourage others from doing something good.  

Candolim village is unique in Goa, in India and in the world in the sense that it produced unique sons of this planet, they are Pintos and Abade Faria (Jose Custodio de Faria) in the same Vaddo called Pintos Vaddo where the public meeting against Migrants’ dadagiri was held on 18.10.14.  Abade Faria was born in Pintos Vaddo Candolim and he was the world renowned Hypnotist and the Pintos were the people from the same Vaddo that created Pintos revolution first of its kind in India against the foreign power rule over our land. Pintos and Abade Faria were renowned revolutionaries who daringly fought for the cause of freedom and justice.

In this same Pintos Vaddo, there was another daring man whose daring act in Kuwait somewhere in 1958 at KOC Center, Ahmadi, drew the attention of Portugal and its premier Salazar, so also of other European powers towards politically intellectual mind of Goans.  The name of this man was Antonio Maria Fernandes (Lapit Anton) while working in Kuwait for Kuwait Oil Company, on the National Day of Portugal, he collected some Goans and BOLDLY hoisted the Portuguese Flag and rendered the National Anthem of Portugal in the KOC Compound in the presence of people from different parts of the world employed at KOC.  The next day this news flashed everywhere and thus Anton got instant publicity especially in Portugal and in its colonies even drawing the attention of Salazar and British Throne.

The beauty, the peace and the greatness of Goa was destroyed by the non-Goans especially the lower level who descended on Goa immediately following the annexation of Goa by the Bharat Serkar. In fact most of the non-Goans who are coming to Goa since 19.12.61 are of third rate  with very low human character.  The first brutal twin murders committed on Goan mother and her child at Taleigao was by a non-Goan migrant labourer from Kerala,  Kumar by name and he was the first to be hanged in Goa at Aguada, in 1979.

These migrants rejected in their States come to Goa as slaves in search of better avenues and income and soon become masters of the places where they reside.  There is a saying in Konkani, “sankvar  boson – boson khuim ghanvkar zalo”.  This is what it is happening to these migrants.  In Candolim at new Araddy  there is one full tribe of them and during their Hindu Festivals they display their dadagiri by firing crackers at the residential places of the original locals thereby provoking the locals to confront them and thus create a Migrants – Locals clash. During the last Ganesh immersion procession, to show their dadagiri, the New Araddi migrants started firing not only Firecrackers but also  the “Gonnal” and “Suring” at the doorsteps of the locals by ignoring the pleas of the locals not to do the same, to prevent fire catching the houses of the locals.  This dadagiri of the migrants went to so far that one of the Ghanntti migrants was telling the other to throw the Firecrackers and “Suring” on the small Chapel situated close by there.

These migrants are preparing to wield a strong power in them in their respective localities like in New Araddi, Candolim where they are a strong group with strong money and muscle power.  The financial power of the migrants living in New Araddi is very strong, there are migrants living there who are driving posh cars.  They are made citizens of the locality with all the legal documents by the local politicians who are ruling the village. The migrants in Goa are a serious threat to the locals  but our local politicians do not care for these threats.  In every village where there are pockets of migrants there  are bound to be notorious migrants taking shelter there.  These migrants are even given voting rights in Goa without canceling their voting rights in the places from where they came. It is all because of the corrupt politicians.  Some of the worst politicians of Goa are from Candolim who are living a sinful and luxurious life by extorting heavy bribes for any local government job.

If Candolim villagers want peace in their village then they must dislodge the corrupt local bribe prone politicians some of whom are become crorepotis by extorting bribes for the government services they render for the people.  They are so shameless that they don't even feel shame to ask for bribe.  Some of these disgraceful politicians coming from disgraceful family background till yesterday were living like beggars but today they own Bungalows and other rich amenities by robbing the innocent people.  And on top of it they are performing religious rites in the Church like saints and such fake saints are good friends of the local priests. Because of such priests Believers and other sects are mushrooming in Goa.

Coming back to the migrants’  dadagiri, they are in the process of dictating terms to us even  for their daily wages.  Shortly they will boss over us with their physical might and act just as Nigerians did in Porvorim last year by calling their colleagues scattered all over to slaughter the locals.  The same thing will happen in every Goan village where the migrants are settled in big number like in Candolim and Calangute.  For this reason and to prevent the dadagiri of migrants the locals in every village must form a vigilante group linking these groups to every other such group so as to be a help to each other if there is any need at any time. As on now the villagers of Candolim has given a good lead and example for others to emulate but for their success the politicians in their localities must be kept out just as Candoicars did otherwise with their ulterior motives the politicians will destroy these groups.

The quality and the character of the migrants and other non-Goans are very ugly.  They are ruthless and hard hearted. They are morally corrupt, they don’t possess basic discipline and they are uncultured and uncivilized though exceptions are there.  They speak harsh language like “Sala Banchot” and “Chaku dalenga” and when time comes they put Chaku in your stomach and disappear from Goa in Konkan Railway which is a safe escape route for such people.  It is from this non-Goans influx into Goa after 19.12.1961 that Goans have learnt all the bad habits and finally gained superb mastery.   

Coming back to the Candolim Rally on 18^th of this month, during the meeting it was announced that “if the government does not take the necessary action within 10 days to control the wages of migrants, this movement will spread all over Goa”.  Hence, it is time now for the organizers to honour their word and move ahead as promised.  Otherwise, the local corrupt politicians as informed will destroy this movement for their selfish end. As it is, as per my information,  some local politicians with their ill gotten wealth are on prowl to purchase some of the persons involved in organizing this movement.  The outcome will be known soon.

A.      Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim,
Goa,

 

 

GOA LOST AND SOCCER WON.

It was a wonderful  football match yesterday between Goa and Kolkatta and the proceedings of same displayed there were vast improvement in Indian soccer, thanks to the induction of some non-Indian oldies who are past of their prime though still going strong.  Their presence in this tournament in fact in reality changed the standard of Indian soccer and also the mindset of the spectators and viewers who are glued to their TV sets watching the games of their favourites. Besides the involvement and presence in the Stadia of the celebrities namely Bollywood Stars, Cricketers and the Business Magnates gave a strong booster for this tournament  to further the promotion of Indian soccer.  The first step taken this season by the organizers will surely pave the way for the better days ahead for Indian soccer which will definitely improve vastly.

For better results the teams in the next season must make extra efforts to rope in some of the top footballers from Europe and South America even by spending some extra money if there is benefit for the improvement of Indian soccer standard and I am sure there is going to be benefit.  If necessary, FIFA’s assistance should be sought to help recruit top world class players on loan basis for a short period to make the sleeping giant awake in soccer.

Zico is not a God to change things for Goa team within a very short time even though he changed the standard of Goa team a lot as seen from the level of the game yesterday played by the Goans.  They had more possession of the ball, they had better control of the ball, their passing was more accurate thru the available gaps, their feinting techniques were vastly superior, their ball control was better and their stamina was enormous.  They had everything in their favour to win this encounter except luck just as Zico’s Brazil team of 1982 World Cup trained by that genius coach Tele Santana had everything in their favour except luck otherwise the Italian team trained by Enzo Bearzot and dominated by the newly resurrected Paolo Rossi would never win that crucial encounter against the mighty Brazil when the great white Pele played an heroic role.  If it was not for the two missed chances in the second half, yesterday Goa would surely get the maximum points.

The Goan team was also unlucky for not getting a Red Card to Fikru when he clearly head butted Goan defender.  If the American Referee was a bit strict he would have shown Red Card to Fikru and  Kolkatta would be in a weaker position thereby Goa getting into better position to win this match. All the three goals scored by Santos of Goa and Cavin of Kolkatta were excellent deserving highest accolades. However, the second goal scored by the Goan boy from Cancona for Kolkotta against his motherland Goa was more beautiful.  Cavin a rejected stone by his team for earlier matches finally turned out to be the cornerstone in yesterday match.  No doubt spirited Goan team lost the match but standard of Indian soccer won a lot.

 A.    Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

CRIMINAL INJUSTICE TO KONKANI.

Since the time of exit of Portuguese from Goa  I have been promoting the cause of Konkani, first as a small school going boy and later on as a young man from Kuwait.  When the issue of Statehood for Goa became known to prevent merger of Goa with Maharastra, fighting for the cause of Konkani became imperative.   When I went to Kuwait in 1975, the first movement of mine was for the cause of Konkani and that was to establish a Konkani Daily owned by the people.  The late Evagrio George was my link who was the man on the field in Goa.  All the earlier Roman script Konkani Dailies lacked the required funds to sustain and failed. Uzvadd was surviving on fringe but it was owned by Chowgules who were pro-mergerists and pro-Marathi. While busy in campaigning for starting of one people’s Romi Konkani Daily, suddenly I got the news that Evagrio George met with an accident and died.

Immediately then Gurunath Kelekar a freedom fighter, a staunch lover of Konkani and the editor of Romi Konkani Weekly "Goencho Mog" from Margao initiated his movement in Goa under the banner of Novem Goem Pratishtan (A trust) to establish a people’s Daily in Konkani in two scripts – Romi and Nagri.  For this project some of the Trustees along with the supporters of this cause travelled on foot all over Goa asking donation for this project.

According to all the learned NGP Trustees comprising Doctor, Lawyers, Journalist and activists,  all selected by Kelekar,  the budgeted amount required for this project was Rupees Five Lakhs.  Once one lakh was collected they promised to start first the Romi Daily and when the collection reaches to 5 lakhs, the Nagri script Daily would start.  This was the written assurance NGP given to the public and this view in mind they went all over Goa for money collection, this Yatra lasted for about a month. 

Since Kelekar was aware of my move for the people’s daily thru the late Evagrio George before his death, Kelekar asked me to support NGP which I immediately did by forming a new association in Kuwait known as “Novem Goem Pratishthan Kuwait Somiti” to raise funds for NGP project.  The Kuwait Somiti was formed with highly influential and intellectual Kuwait Goans  of which type are not existing now in Kuwait.  Mr. Alexander Menino Fernandes from  Colva was also responsible in the formation of this Somiti which was headed by one senior and highly reputed Goan,  A. B. Fernandes also from Colva.  Me as an initiator was appointed as Jt. Secretary along with Alexandre M. Fernandes.

Then we as a team worked very hard to raise funds for this cause first by contributing money from our pockets and then from others thru donations and also  by organizing Tiatros.  Within a short time we managed to collect one lakh which we sent to NGP, Goa and later on more.  The final amount we collected from Kuwait for NGP was a little less than 5 lakhs of rupees. This was our money from Kuwait alone but besides Kuwait, donations came also from other parts of the Gulf and elsewhere, however the Kuwait donation was much higher.

To raise the fund in this way  from Kuwait we the then Kuwaitcars worked day and night doing extreme sacrifices even putting our jobs and other facilities into problems, inconvenienced our personal and family life because to struggle to raise such a huge fund in a country like Kuwait where the local laws are so rigid is very difficult, especially during that particular time. But we all did it for the cause of Konkani.  Inspite of doing so much what was the result?  Not only Romi Daily NOT survived but Nagri Daily never realized even though we from Kuwait itself sent the required money as budgeted by all the educated trustees of  NGP.

It is very much hurting to write here that NGP trustees frittered away recklessly the people’s money by fighting among them like Cats and Dogs.  They failed miserably to maintain the trust people invested in them by acting irresponsibly. If it was their personal money they would act very cautiously but since it was from the public they made wrong use of it. In the bargain we from Kuwait lost our credibility in front of the people while thru NGP movement some trustees gained foothold in public life.  The two main trustees Dr. Rebello started accusing Kelekar and Kelekar to Dr. Rebello. In the bargain not only NGP came into extinction but with it the great ideal behind NGP also came into extinction thru the Criminal Injustice to Konkani Cause.

After NGP move, in coordination with the late  Mathanay Saldanha, I, as proposed by Mathanay, was to go to the Goans in Kuwat again with an idea of purchasing Goan land for Goans only thru their contribution just as we did for NGP.  The time was very ripe then to venture into  this project but when NGP failed us on Konkani front I felt shy to approach our people in Kuwait again and thus our second project of purchasing Goan land remained unfulfilled otherwise a good portion of Goan land would remain in our hands instead of going it into the hands of Delhivalas and other non-Goans who are become big Bhattkars in Goa.

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.