SAVE TIRACOL - SAVE GOA MEET.

SAVE TIRACOL - SAVE GOA.

 

 

Panjim Church

 

Under the banner of “SAVE GOA – SAVE TIRACOL”, a public meeting was held today in Panjim, at 10.30 AM, in front of the Panjim Church, organized by some youth who came forward to keep the momentum of the Tiracol campaign moving by awakening Goans on this issue. Some of the prominent faces seen on the forefront as organiers of this meet were Fr. Bismarque, Zico, Sudeep, Eliath and D. Pinto. Among the politicians seen there prominently were Reginald Lawrence of Congress and Swati of AAP.  Ironically, there was none from Tiracol especially from among those who spoke at Tiracol Meet. Neither, there was none from the Tiatrists circle though they are very much concerned of this issue.

 

Singing & playing music

 

Though small in number yet those who attended this meet did not care for the rains which at moment were very heavy. This type of meeting I see first time in Goa in the sense that it was a musical meeting where songs like Manddos, Dulpods, Dekhnis and other popular Konkani songs were rendered by the organisers with the accompaniment of music as seen in the pictures.  The attendees too participated in the singing thereby the whole event looked lively. In between the songs there were short speeches by the organisers. 

 

Seen Zico singing

 

The whole show lasting about 2 hours attracted lot of attention from the passersby as well who even by stopping their vehicles, two and four wheelers focused their attention on this meet and got acquainted themselves with the Tiracol issue and how the non-Goans there trying to usurp Goan land by force. 

Sudeep seen at right

Thru this musical meet once again Goans attending this meet, however small in number they may be, proved how important this Tiracol issue is for them. Tiracol issue is not of the people of Tiracol only, it is an issue of all Goans also.  Though most of the heavyweights of Tiracol Meet were missing yet in their absence nothing looked low.  Next time while organizing such meetings, appropriate publicity must be made so that every Goan is aware of what is going on below his nose.

                                                        Attendees also seen singing.

Though he was not present for this meet today neither at Tiracol last time, Claude Alvares must be complimented for firing a salvo on this issue. His awakening on this Tiracol issue has helped Goans like me to be sensitive of this issue.

A.Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel:7507394349.

REVOLUTION DAY OF GOA.

Yesterday, 18^th of this month, Goa marked the 69^th anniversary of the “Revolution Day” of Goa.  On this day 69 years back when Goa was under the control of Portugal, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia coming from other part of Bharat came to Goa and gave a call to Goans gathered at Loia Maidan Margao in big number to overthrow Portuguese government in Goa.  The Loia Maidan was named after Dr. Lohia much later. This is the story given to us by our freedom fighters and other Goan leaders as far as naming this day as Revolution Day since according to our said leaders the spark of Goan revolution was fired by Dr. Lohia on this date.    

With due respect to Dr. Lohia and all his colleagues who were with him on that day to defy the Portuguese regime, according to my information, Dr. Lohia was brought to Goa by his Goan friend Dr. Juliao Menezes from Assolna for rest and treatment for his sickness.  Being a ferocious freedom fighter against Britishers in Bharat, he became restless in Goa to fire a salvo against  the Portuguese rule.  Hence, to give a clarion call to Goans against Portuguese rule, he was brought to Lohia Maidan by his Goan friends.  While he was about to deliver his fiery speech for the gathering which was not mammoth but average, he was whisked away by the Portuguese security personnel and pushed to Goa border to cross on to the other side.  While leaving from Lohia Maidan he passed on his written speech to his Goan colleague but he too was arrested snatching from his hand the speech by the security personnel.

If this news is true, how his statue at Lohia Maidan depicts his pose  differently as if he is speaking? 

Secondly, I feel the first step for Goan revolution against Portuguese rule in Goa was laid by the Goan Catholic Priests from Pinto family in Candolim, Bardez, Goa centuries back,  before the birth of French Revolution. In view of this, I strongly feel that Pintos Revolt should be marked as the birth of Goan Revolution and not as 18^th June to salute Dr. Lohia.  I feel the trend to down play the efforts of Christians in Goa’s freedom movement should be stopped and they must be given their rightful place of course rightly and deservingly.  It is a history that said what Pintos did for Goa’s freedom none others did. 

Secondly, it was brought to light how shabbily the freedom fighters were treated yesterday at Azad Maidan by the authorities.  According to me the Goan freedom fighters are feeling the step motherly treatment they are getting from the authorities.  In this respect though they are right but according to me they must not expect anything from the government for being freedom fighters.  Their (only the genuine ones) struggle, sacrifices and sufferings are priceless and as such the same cannot be compensated with material benefits.

Yet my regret is that after the ouster of Portuguese from Goa they in totality remained inactive as far as Goa’s well being is concerned.  I don’t think they challenged Portuguese to see the state of Goa reaching to such an ebb where Goa is getting degoanised and recolonized by the non-Goans.  In most of the Goan freedom fighters I see nothing but craze for material benefits as if they joined freedom movement only for personal gains.  They are the only Goans who are capable of raising their voices in unison very vociferously against the authorities for the corruption they spread in Goa.  I am sure it was not their wish to see Goa is going to the dogs.  But to prevent it, have they done or doing anything concrete? 

 

The voice of freedom fighters is more audible than mine but did they raise their voice forcefully or they confined to the benefits they are given?  They are duty bound to shake the corrupt authorities in Goa spreading all round corruption.  If they still remain dormant then surely posterity will hold them responsible for their inaction because of which Goa is suffering today.  If necessary all the genuine freedom fighters must be ready to surrender their Tamrapatras and even pensions and other benefits as a mark of protest for what rot is going on in Goa.    

 

Rabindra Tagore surrendered his Knighthood to the British for doing injustice to Bharat and thereby created a history which means Tagore showed his displeasure over the treatment the British were giving to India.  In the same manner can our freedom fighters do?    

 

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel:7507394349.

 

VERONICA WAS SUMMONED BY POLICE.

Today, those who are eagerly waiting to know the outcome of the summon/call I had from Colva Police Station, please be advised that my article “Vulgar Tiatrists Threatening Me”  appeared in goa-kranti.blogspot.com, was reproduced by “NIZ GOENKAR” on 1st of this month.  Following this, there appeared 3 comments from three different writers in the same forum, one of them is very piercing.  This comment is available in Niz Goenkar below my article and it can be found if you browse Niz Goenkar archive.  It was understood that I am also responsible for this comment  or I am aware of the writer of this comment. 

In fact I have nothing to do with Niz Goenkar, I am not its moderator nor I am its owner.  On receipt of the complaint by Colva Police, I was called there to find out whether I know who that person is who wrote that comment.  My answer to Colva Police was "NO".

The details of the complaint will be disclosed once I get the copy of the complaint thru RTI which is under process.  On the basis of this, I will decide what next step I should take in consultation with my legal adviser. 

A.     Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
7507394349.