On this very day in 1987, Goa attained its Statehood Day becoming the smallest Indian state. It
was a Union Territory along with Daman and Diu from December 1961 onwards, when
Goa was liberated from Portuguese rule. Goa’s identity was very different 31
years back and with overdevelopment, being one of the factors lurking its head
on the horizon, Goans are facing an identity crisis. Everything close to the
heart of a Goan is undergoing changes and yet efforts are being made by the
young to keep Goans rooted.
Every year, Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA)
has been organising a program on Goa Statehood Day for Goans to express their
feelings towards the state. This year, the program is open to poetry, skits,
story or thought presentation which will be performed today, May 30, 2018 at
4.30pm at the DKA’s Reginald Fernandes conference hall, Panjim. “One of the
main reasons for statehood is the Konkani language. But it is sad to note in
recent times Goans shying away from the language. DKA makes all efforts to give
centre stage to all people so as to ensure the propagation of the language is
done as a continuous process. Last year, we had around 20 participants who
presented heart rendering poems on Goa. This year, so far, we have received 15
registrations and there will be more on the spot registrations. Like every
year, this year too they will have to recite their poems or any other item with
a theme ‘Goa or Goa’s statehood’,” says Vincy Quadros, Secretary of Dalgado
Konknni Akademi.
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Konkani music has evolved over the years from folk songs to the
music videos and songs on the internet. Antruz Ghudyo, a young cultural group
from Ponda, led by Gautami Hede Bambolkar has conceptualised the program
‘Chavar’ in association with Ravindra Bhavan, Margao which will be held on May
30, 2018 from 6.30pm onwards at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. The program will be a
glimpse into the musical journey of Konkani music through songs and dance.
“The program will begin with Folk songs and music followed by
Mumbai Akashwani Kendr music, Cantaram, Bal Gitam, Abhangas, patriotic songs,
and songs from Konkani albums which are now available on the internet. All the
songs will be performed live by singers including Akshay Naik, Vrutha Karmali
and Pravan Hede. Chetan Khedekar and his team are folk artists from Mardol who
will be singing and performing folk songs called Lok Gitam. The musicians will
include Vishnu Shirodkar on keyboard, Prakash Amonkar on octopad, Rohit
Bandodkar on tabla, Awdhut Chari on handsonic and dolak and Nihal Pai Kane on
synthesizer. Suvidha Naik and her team will be performing Antruz,” informs
Gautami Hede Bambolkar, who will also be singing for the program. The child artists
who will be performing are Sujay Haldankar, Vaidehi Jharapkar, Palia Agni,
Nikhil Gawas and Swadesh.
Sanjeev
Sardessai, a hands-on-historians and photographer has seen the changes in Goa
over the years. “I am extremely proud to be born on this land and have been
living here for the past 18 generations. We have our roots and branches in this
land. I wish development was much better in Goa and not just sideways and
upwards. The younger generation has to be more grounded then just on the waves
of the mobile. The present situation that Goans are facing is that they are not
having pride in their identity. Statehood has only given us more politicians
per capita than any other state in India. We received high quantity but not
quality. Instead of bonding the people of Goa with Goa, they are bonding
themselves with wealth. They are breaking laws when they should be setting
examples. There should be participative development in the state. Right now, I
feel Goans are in the middle of a see-saw where we have changes taking place
for the good as well as bad. Our ethos has dissolved,” says Sanjeev.
