Killing us softly – Goan ‘ishtyle’
Soter D’Souza, Socorro
The recent proposal to carve out a third district for Goa, is nothing new. Such a ridiculous proposal was first heard of under the NDA rule in 2002. It is nothing but the British tactic of ‘divide and rule’. The larger plan seems to be aimed at administratively reducing the entire State of Goa to just three city corporations and thereby, do away with the Village Panchayats. Just like Mahatma Gandhi believed that India is in its villages, Goa too is in its villages. This latest proposal for a third district only manifests the government’s intentions for rapidly urbanising Goa’s villages, by destroying agricultural lands, forests, orchards and constructing mega housing projects, to accommodate migrants. The ultimate design is to minimise political influence, erase the cultural identity and destroy the sustainable livelihood options of the Goan people. The much hyped development and administrative realignment of Goa is all about killing Goans softly, and nothing else.
+++++
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
“Hindi Saptah” unnecessary
Gautham, California
The Indian government is celebrating Hindi Saptah for a week every September. The motive is to promote the use of Hindi and at a cost of 36 crores every year. A news item recently published says that there is no single national language in India. This clears the misconception that Hindi is the national language of India. Since all the 22 plus languages spoken in India are considered national languages, why does the government spend money and resources to promote just one language – Hindi.?
I am proud to be Indian with or without the knowledge of Hindi. Likewise, 65% of people in India who do not know Hindi, are also as patriotic like every other Indian. Imposition of Hindi as a common language to whole of India is not required and would not help to unite people. So what is the point in celebrating ‘Hindi Saptah’? Let us celebrate the diversity we have in India and try to preserve it for future generations.
Untrue myth
Umesha N Shetty, Florida, USA
Politicians of independent India found pride in a glamorous slogan like ‘Unity in Diversity’, but it is an irony that same ended up dumping ‘Article 351 – on Directive for development of the Hindi language’ in our constitution on us. Article 351 imposed Hindi on us and triggered the habit of pampering Hindi-speaking Indians in all initiatives. A quick review during the last sixty years gives plenty of examples of the trouble it caused. We are forced to learn and use Hindi everywhere and ended up preparing our home (town, city, state) for the benefit of Hindi speaking Indians.
It is time to stop spending crores of rupees for ‘Hindi Divas’ and ‘Hindi Saptah’ etc. We need to change ‘Language Act’ so that Hindi imposition will stop immediately. We need to exit 3-language policy and say good bye to myths like ‘Hindi is a national language’, ‘Hindi is spoken by majority, everywhere in India’, etc.
‘Hindi Divas’ celebration
Govardhana K N, via email
September 14 is celebrated as Hindi Divas all over the country this time, which is surely a welcome sign. There are 22 other languages in India and we expect the same treatment meted out to all these languages. India, known for ‘Unity in Diversity’, needs to provide equal priority for all the languages which are being spoken in the nation. As seen in Central Government departments, Hindi usage is being made mandatory, which makes ‘Unity in Diversity’ to lose its meaning. All regions should have the right to include their regional language in the offices. And all other languages should also figure on the celebration list just like Hindi.
Chorao bridge?
Babluis Pereira, Pomburpa
It hurts me to read in the local dailies that bridges are planned for the islands of Divar and St Estevam, at the request of Cumbarjua Congress MLA Pandurang Madkaikar.
What about the promises given during elections by successive MLAs to Chorao islanders about a Chorao-Penha de Franca bridge? Former Cumbarjua MLA Nirmala Sawant promised that a bridge would be built. The site was even fixed, but she failed to keep her assurance.
During the Cumbharjua by-polls in 2005, Margaret Alva promised us: “Elect Madkaikar and I will lay the foundation stone for the bridge.” Five years later, there is not even talk of the bridge, only breakdown in ferries. Chorao islanders should be wiser in future.
Baseless charges
Sahil N Naik, Porvorim
The NCP’s Trajano D’Mello has started targeting Youth Congress President Sankalp Amonkar on fictitious charges. Sankalp went all out to help the flood-stricken Canconkars who are grateful to him even to this day.
It looks like D’Mello wants to be in the news. In the past, he has also attacked Home Minister Ravi Naik. He should know that he will never get entry into the Congress even if NCP merges with it, which is likely to happen before the next election.
Can he tell us why he was sacked by Dr Willy?
Combination needed
Marcos Alemao, Varca
There is no doubt that Manohar Parrikar is an excellent administrator, a good orator and best opposition leader in Goa, but the party he belongs to is not a good one. As long as the RSS and Bajrang Dal belong to the same party, the image of the BJP will be tarnished. The recent statement of the BJP in Goa lends credence to this.
We in Goa, need a man like Manohar Parrikar to rule Goa in a better way, provided he comes out of the BJP and joins any local party like the UGDP. Goa needs a strong local outfit to save Goa from destruction in the hands of the Nationalist parties. If Parrikar joins hands with Churchill Alemao and both leave the national parties they are associated with and join a local party, the combination will be very strong to save Goa and Goans.
Twist to the ‘tale’?
Dominic Fernandes, Baga
Crores were reportedly spent on the protection the Nerul’s famed Coco beach, way back in 2006. Does a beach exist at Nerul now? One wonders what were crores were spent on? The River Princess ran aground ten years ago. Now, it serves as a tourist monument. The Chinese geo tubes lined up to protect the shore, the Vijay Mallya residence and the properties have failed. The structures at Dando are in violation of the 200 metre CRZ rule. This is the sordid tale of its beautiful coastline. There is corruption and greed at the river princess bachao manch. There is no scientific evidence that the ship is the sole cause for the gradual destruction of the Candolim shoreline. Clear logic points in the direction to its speedy removal. However, there is another twist to the tail. I feel this will happen only when corruption and greed for making money on a appalling “calamity” stops.
Please, no cheap publicity
Rupert Coutinho, Dubai
Colva is a beautiful village. It has a world famous beach but has been in the news off and again for the wrong reasons. Be it tar balls, sewage disposal, illegal coastal constructions, garbage issues and what have you. The locals in Colva need to be commended for their untiring efforts in tasting success in the anti plastic drive with the able support of the local parish priest Fr Diago and the local MLA Mickky Pacheco. Success obtained at this level leads to publicity and this should be avoided at all cost. Those at higher echelons and the local MLAs should get more involved at the macro level and address people’s critical problems like scrapping the MOPA project, which inconveniences Benaulim-kars and other issues like drug menace, garbage, sewage problems etc. Sorry, not at the cost of cheap publicity.
