For the last so many months and years, many Goans have been calling for
Special Status to preserve Goa's Prized Identity. This was even promised by
Sonia Gandhi when she was in Goa campaigning for the Goa Lok Sabha seats.
But some how I feel that Central Government with their Local Party leaders
in Goa, have deceitfully re-worded this to say "Special Status as a
Financial Package"? What is the point of getting Financial Special
Status for Goans if Goans lose Goa? It was the Congress Party which gave the
orders to annex Goa without Goan Views, and at that time promised that Goa's
Identity would be preserved within India. Now this party is doing the very
opposite and conveniently ignoring the true calls for Special Status of
preserving Goa's Identity. Recently I read an article in the media that
Goans are fully Intergrated into India; I agree only from the point of
excessive corruption, destructive development, degradation of the
environment, pollution of land/water, looting of the state's resources by
Central Politicians and their local Corrupt Political Goan Agents, reduction
of the Goan Demographics to a non-goan populace etc In view of all the
latter, I wonder if susegad Goans (Goa and Overseas) have realised, that
they been cheated of their land, resources and its Identity for so many
years and if nothing is done now then all these will be gone forever!!
Arwin Mesquita, UAE
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1 comment:
Kixmet said: kind of ironic you write about the Goan Identity living a charmed life in the UAE!
Do try and flesh out the “kind of ironic” bit. One thing we must remember at least in modernity is to be able to see a voice, a call, a lament, heck even a riff on guitar (played in Goa or elsewhere), as rallying calls. One must not presume the charms or “haraams” of someone else’ life and certainly avoid such if one remotely attempts to live a christian existence. Voices must be allowed. Otherwise the freedom which most of we espouse and yearn for is a construct that has not been grasped. Also Goan identity cannot be restricted to within the confines of the Goan state proper or with the boundaries of India. An identity is not a card, but is a very extensive range of factors, not all good. They help us see possibilities and help see meaning or lack thereof in our lived reality. As Simone de Beauvoir said: To inhabit one’s body is a cause for celebration.
We are moved by many things and they show up in our expressions, including music. But these expressions have only so much validity as the physical truth encased in our lives. Give this some consideration. Share in peoples voices. If someone is rank or fallow call them on it.
Arvind wrote:
Recently I read an article in the media that
Goans are fully Intergrated into India; I agree only from the point of excessive corruption, destructive development, degradation of the environment, pollution of land/water, looting of the state's resources by Central Politicians and their local Corrupt Political Goan Agents…
COMMENT: One can only keep pointing these issues so much. Beyond that one can change oneself and attempt the same with those around you.
Best all.
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