Across the State there is a whole lot of anger simmering and it has been manifesting itself through a variety of ways. If there are mining dependents and taxi operators threatening to paralyse the State and the capital city respectively, if their demands are not met, there are a whole lot of other groups that are unhappy with the manner in which their Goa, and the way they see it, has changed. Their angst, however, is being voiced not through threats or loudly, but is highly visible on the social media and also seen through group chats, where at times it is expressed very creatively.
Take for instance the tiatrs and Konkani songs that have been the medium of expressing the people’s views of the political class and their decisions, often working as a mirror to society, at which one needs to merely glance at to realise what the social classes are thinking. While some are direct attacks at the establishment and sharply political, others come more subtly, but still manage to convey the message they intend to. Over the years the Konkani stage artistes and the singers have managed to bring in their message to the people through their tiatrs and lyrics, sometimes surpassing themselves in the quality of their art.
And, ever so often there pops in a video or a picture through the social media that forces one to sit up and take notice. Over the last few days, one such video of a Konkani song that is being circulated on various groups has done just this, at least to this writer. The strains of the music and the starting lyrics almost lull the listener to believe that this is a cover version of the old favourite Noman Tuka Goa, voiced by Shailendra Singh, and whose lyrics were written and music composed by none other than Alfred Rose in the 1970s, four decades ago.
But as the song continues and the visuals on the screen leap out, there kicks in the realisation that this is not a mere cover version or a remix of the original song, but a hard-hitting commentary of Goa as it is today. And it’s only when these new lyrics are juxtaposed with the original that the real essence of the theme emerges, and tells you what the singer of the new version wants to convey to his listeners.
Alfred Rose’s original lyrics are an ode to Goa as sung by a person who is not from the State. It talks of the sons of India hailing the State by singing in Konkani, calling it golden, blessed by the Lord with gifts, draped with fields, coconut trees, and with people who are smart in all ways. The new version is a lament by the son of the soil, who cries, with tears in his eyes, about the destruction of Goa by its own people, winding up with the call to save the little that remains.
Where the original song praises the State for being blessed with fields and palm trees, the new version pointedly says that buildings have been built on the fields and the land is littered with garbage. As an example in the original song the lyrics go: tum sobitaichem sogleamchench mogachem, tujea gopant khellonk anvdetanv (you are beautiful and loved by all, I yearn to play in your embrace) the new version says khabar korunk tuka tankam dislem borem, sade goenkar ami rodta (they felt good to finish you, we ordinary Goans but cry).
This may be a common refrain that is heard in every village tinto, discussed and analysed thoroughly, but this song – through its lyrics and the visuals – manages to capture the imagination of the listener and viewer. It is a cry going out to the Goans to protect the State from the rampant development. It ends with the appeal: todem urlam tem sambalunk zai, (the little that remains needs to be saved), before the words Save Goa scroll on the screen as the music fades away.
While a large number of people across the State are shedding a tear for the environmental destruction of Goa, there are others who believe in development whatever the costs. There are, therefore, two very distinct groups of people voicing their views on the various issues concerning Goa, with the government paying heed to certain issues and presenting a deaf ear to the others.
Take for instance the demands to keep mining operations going in the State beyond March 15. A delegation of MLAs has met union ministers on this, while the MPs from the State have also met with central leadership of the party on the issue. On the other hand the demands for stoppage of coal or for a relook at the Mopa airport have elicited no response, except for a sudden decision of a minister to order the stoppage of work at the airport site as locals have not been given jobs. The economic and environmental concerns voiced over the airport have not moved the government as did the question of jobs.
Which begs the question: What are ordinary Goans crying for? The environment or development? The answer would probably be both, but there has to be a middle ground found, where development will come without the high costs of a depleted environment. The State needs to discover this middle ground and needs to do it without further ado, if we are to once again sing the original Noman Tuka Goa with pride and still mean it.
(Alexandre Moniz Barbosa is Executive Editor, Herald)
