Sushila Sawant Mendes
Twenty-five young and innocent lives were lost in a tragedy built on corrupt governance. The question today is Quo Vadis Goa? With the foreign rulers gone and the power transferred in the hands of our own people, it was hoped the Goa would be a land of milk and honey. Quo Vadis, Domine? or “Lord, where are you going?” in Latin, is said to be the question asked by St. Peter to Jesus, when he was fleeing Rome (and saw the vision of Jesus returning to Rome) during the persecution of Emperor Nero in about 64 AD.
December 10, is universally celebrated as, ‘Human Rights Day’ and closer home in Goa in a few days we commemorate December 19, as ‘Goa Liberation Day’, but December 6, will forever be etched in the mind of every Goan, Indian and the world as the day, when both human rights and the essence of liberation was thrown to the winds by the avoidable deaths of young innocent victims at the Birch by Romeo Lane Nightclub– a disaster caused by the flouting of every rule in the rule book. The structure itself was illegal, built on Khazan land, no adherence to CRZ or fire regulations, even required licenses were not taken. Who benefited from these irregularities?
Looking at how the Bardez coastline is shaping and with Goa being promoted as a domestic tourism destination of parties and gambling Goa is turning out to be a colony of the rich of Delhi. The Arpora tragedy has exposed what was known to everybody, but kept under wraps. The tourism belt thrives on illegalities and the so called safety audit has exposed the non-existence of the rule of law. The rule of law is followed only in breach.
In 1961, for many families who lived in exile, it was the nostalgia of returning back to their villages in Goa. Relatives inform me that even when they applied for permission to go to Bombay they were asked by police for the whereabouts of my father, a lawyer who voiced his opinions on the injustices faced in the then Goan society in newspapers and news magazines. For those imprisoned, it was family reunion after years of forced separation as many breadwinners were now released from jails.
Late Nora Secco de Souza, in one of her many columns on Goa, wrote on what she saw around her a few decades back, “a sordid story with the advent of industrialisation, allocation of desired ministerial portfolios, smugglers, drug traffickers, hoarders, criminals and black marketeers all enjoying political patronage, government and police officials demanding grease money for service rendered, the all pervading art of bribery and corruption had become a way of life”. The result was that Goa was no longer golden, the glitter had tarnished. She also wrote, “While thefts, murders and rapes are on the rise and remain undetected, the culprits go scot-free after an “intensive inquiry”, because invariably the police themselves are involved”. The systemic rot had already set in, although today not all policemen or women are, “bad sheep”.
Aloysious Soares, the first editor of the news-magazine Goan Tribune, had written on the, Goa Liberation Council–Bulletin of June 1955 an article, What of the future? A blue-print for Goa. As the French had agreed to leave Pondicherry, the Government of India had assured that it would be maintained as a separate State with its own administrative machinery and so would be the case of Goa. For the first time in its history, Goa would be governed by Goans in all matters that affect the welfare of the people–matters like law and order, education, public health, agriculture, trade and industry, public works, local government, legislation and public services. There was a nostalgia for good governance. These powers were to be exercised by the people of Goa through its elected representatives in the local legislative Assembly. Aloysius Soares never even dreamed that the elected representatives, would represent the real estate mafia and those out to sell Goa.
Nostalgia for good governance was always a core aspiration. Other aspirations in December 1961 were the restoration of basic civil liberties such as freedom of the press, speech, and association, which had been severely curtailed under Salazar’s dictatorship. Goans now sought the right to self-determination, to be masters of their own destiny a principle asserted by stalwarts like Luis de Menezes Bragança and Tristão Bragança Cunha. There was an aspiration for a more economically viable State with improved infrastructure and opportunities as Goa was underdeveloped, lacking sufficient jobs, schools, and colleges, leading many Goans to seek opportunities abroad or in other parts of India.
It is important to note that the aspirations were not entirely uniform. While the majority sought liberation and merger with India, a small minority wished to remain a Portuguese colony or desired a separate independent nation. Terms like, liberation, invasion and annexation were argued and contested. There were diverse opinions, with some expressing concerns about post-liberation governance and the preservation of Goa’s unique identity within the larger framework of India. Goans generally preferred being part of a democratic India rather than the dictatorship that ruled Portugal.
Goa today has successfully integrated into the Indian Union, as evidenced by its high GDP and literacy rates but struggling to retain its unique cultural identity while participating in India’s progress. However some Goans with Portuguese heritage who were not marginalised under colonial rule, occasionally express a longing for certain aspects of the past, citing better law and order or cleaner conditions compared to contemporary issues like corruption and unplanned development.
A significant concern across communities was the preservation of Goan culture, land, and identity due to a large influx of migrants from other Indian States. The “dreams” of the freedom fighters for a truly self-reliant and well-governed Goa have been hampered by political corruption, unemployment, and environmental degradation. This leads to the ironic situation where many young Goans seek opportunities overseas, often using their right to Portuguese citizenship to move to Portugal or the EU,
Goans’ primary concerns regarding post-liberation governance and development centre on environmental degradation, political corruption, instability and economic issues. Political defections and floor-crossings, have hampered consistent governance and effective policy implementation. Goa is witness to many agitations like the Ramponkars’ Agitation, Zuari Agro Chemicals Pollution Agitation, Nylon 6.6, Konkani Language Agitation, Konkan Railway Realignment, Meta Strips, Regional Plan 2011, SEZ’S etc. and presently against Coal, Double Railway Line and Tanmar Electricity Line and more recently the illegal nightclubs. There is widespread anger over the “rampant destruction” of Goa’s natural landscape, often by a nexus of politicians and real estate mafias. This unplanned infrastructure has led to chaos, inadequate basic amenities and a compromised environment.
Basic rights, like the right against noise pollution remains a far-fetched dream even after approaching the Honourable High Court. Good governance implies enforcing the law of the land. Environment, beaches, fields and hills are being slowly destroyed, water and air polluted, which makes #Goa2025 a poor mirror image of #Goa 1961. There is general lack of faith in government bodies and a feeling of being let down, irrespective of political parties. However the snuffing out of twenty-five innocent young lives should not go in vain. It needs to be a wake-up call, where every voice matters and must ignite the re-building of Golden Goa, once again.
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(Dr. Sushila Sawant Mendes is a Professor & Author in History, Independent Scholar & Recipient of Goa Government’s Best Teacher Award)
