We cannot hold back thinking of Goa of yester years: Beautiful, peaceful, clean and green. Our ancestors lived a pious life in harmony and brotherhood. Communalism was unheard of and politics did not corrupt the mind of Goans. It was his dream that Goa should remain peaceful and united and our identity preserved intact for posterity that our future generations may inherit what we leave behind for them to enjoy. With this in mind, Dr Jack de Sequeira vehemently fought the communal force in 1967 to save Goa being merged with Maharashtra. Alas! today this valiant “Goenkar bhav”, dotor Jack as he was affectionately known then, is a forgotten identity, very particularly by the politicians who enjoy power and sit in the august House as people’s representatives this day.
The present day politicians are a specimen of changing times, wolf in sheepskin. They get elected and then vanish for a term of five years only to be seen at election time again. Truly, they have repeated this pattern once again now that elections are drawing. Their supporters are seen active with all sorts of camouflaging strategies glorifying the politicians they favour seeking support for them. Quite surprisingly, some are seen knocking at the door of the parish priests in the villages in a bid to impress upon them to influence the catholic community knowing too well that in Goa the Church has an influencing power. If that be the case, the Church must guide its flock to vote decisively without seeking self gratification but in the best interest of the State.
Goa is already destroyed and finished, as many point out. Concretisation has given an ugly look to ancestral Goa and communalism is threatening to tear apart the communal harmony to divide Goans into rival groups. But all is not lost. We are on the threshold of a New Year, 2017, very crucial for us in view of the ensuing assembly elections. The choice of the candidate is in our hands. Lets us not fall for freebies and goodies. We must look for the character of the candidate who will perform with dignity and responsibility rather than be a jumping jack for convenience sake. Obviously when we vote this time, let us vote for Goa, vote for the future generation to survive.
