Dolcy D’Cruz
We often hear our elders reminisce about a different Goa, a slower, gentler time when fruit trees lined the backyards and animals would wander through. Only a few vehicles passed by, and most people moved at a relaxed, unhurried pace. The gradual erosion of the susegad way of life has become impossible to ignore as ancestral objects are discarded in the name of modernization. Susegad isn’t about doing nothing; it’s about living life at a comfortable pace, without being constantly rushed or stressed. It’s taking the time to enjoy simple pleasures, to rest when needed, and to work with care rather than haste. It’s a mindset of contentment, where satisfaction comes from balance and presence, not from endless striving or pressure. Noted artist and author, Saligao-based Clarice Vaz finds pleasure in noticing the smaller and more meaningful things in life, which she documents in her art and writing. “The susegad lifestyle is slowly being lost, and that realisation is what pushed me to write my two books. I am a nurse by profession, and while visiting homes, I began noticing people throwing away their old ‘burkulos’, ‘tamiyos’, and even replacing traditional windows in ancestral houses with sliding glass. With their permission, I started photographing these objects, sometimes placing them in gardens as props. One image of a cat sleeping inside a burkulo became part of my first book, ‘A Song for Saligao’. That was when I knew life in Goa was changing,” says Clarice, whose artworks are currently on display at Carpe Diem, Majorda. She further adds, “Later, as more migrants arrived, I noticed we were adapting to them instead of preserving our own way of life, speaking more Hindi than Konkani and slowly drifting from our roots. This led me to write ‘Romalina’, a documentation of my family history and ancestry, tracing how I came to be Goan. The book also includes a brief chronological history of Goa. Both books have reached readers worldwide, with over a thousand downloads. Over the past two years especially, I have felt that this is no longer the Goa I grew up in. But culture is not static; it changes, and that is the nature of life. What troubles me is that many policies no longer feel Goan-centric, and development often seems disconnected from local needs. And there is a reason for it, we are like puppets, with the strings being pulled by the centre. It is Goans against Goans and we got to such a stage that Goans are to revolt against Goans to save what is remaining at least for Goans.” A historian who loves to share the love of history through meaningful talks, Sanjeev Sardessai has seen Goa evolve over the years. “We have totally forgotten the meaning of Susegad. The concept of Susegad has been misunderstood and has been lost in the sands of time. I define susegad as being content with what you have. That is the miracle rule of being happy. Today, susegad is being translated as being lazy. It is not so. Earlier, people were very happy with what they had. They were content with what they had. But today, there is more envy when somebody else does something better. Frankly speaking, the concept of susegad has been long forgotten by Goans because in being susegad, you can’t have targets. Today, everything is target-based. Earlier, shopkeepers would come at 9 o’clock, open the shop. By 12.30, 1 o’clock they go home and don’t come back till 4 o’clock and close at 7 o’clock and then go home. Absolutely Happy with what they had. Today, no. Today, greed has come in,” says Sanjeev from Porvorim.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
“Susegad has been tampered around with greed. The susegad lifestyle concept is not sold today. It has been actually annexed by other people, conquered by other people. We have been told what we are supposed to do. Goa has lost the lustre of what it was because Goa was being susegad. Content with what we had. Today, now people have come in and they have diluted it totally. The original Goan culture of being susegad is because Goans were totally connected to the culture of the land. Our present generation is lost absolutely. But those people coming from other states, they were so bonded with their culture, right from their parents and their childhood. But the Goan guy will sit on the fence, look at some parodied stuff called a Goan culture, not understanding whether it is Goan or it is not Goan. Our boat cruises, instead of singing Konkani songs, are singing ‘Bombay se aaya mera dost’. We are not proud of our culture and that is what has lost our hold over being Susegad,” he adds. Calangute-based Yolanda de Sousa Kammermeier is an internationally acclaimed artist, muralist, and gallerist and is currently curating an art exhibition with 42 international and national artists, ‘Artists and a World in Turmoil’. She doesn’t believe the susegad lifestyle is gone and she feels that Goans are still doing work but in a susegad way. “I don’t think the Susegad lifestyle is gone. We are still the same. Now, of course, times have changed. The Goan life around us has changed becoming more fast-paced, but it is not the Goan who has changed. It is the lifestyle that has changed due to tourism and the influx of people from out who don’t believe in Susegad. They believe in working even during the hours when they should rest, which we do and still do here. You will have all the Goan shops closed during lunch but the other ones are open till 12 midnight. I do believe our life is susegad but it’s not like we do nothing. That is the misconception that people have. They just believe we sit, we drink, we eat and we go to sleep which is not true. We still try to squeeze in a siesta. You get that short nap and then you are ready for anything. I don’t think people were doing it just for the sake of it or because they don’t have anything to do. It was because it gave them the energy to do their needed work later on. Susegad is not lazy. Susegad is taking life easy and doing it at your pace without being hassled about,” explains Yolanda. Marius Fernandes also known as Festakar Marius, has organised more than 125 community festivals with the focus on everything Goan. “As a Goan and Festakar, and choosing to live on Divar Island, susegad for me, is more than a word, it is a way of life. Susegad also means living at my own pace, within my means, surrounded by my people and rooted in my community in Goa. Susegad is not laziness, it is balance. It is choosing contentment over chaos and valuing peace over pressure. In a world that constantly pushes us to do more, earn more, and rush more, I believe in slowing down and appreciating what we already have. Living within my means gives me freedom, freedom from unnecessary stress and freedom to focus on what truly matters, family, friendships, culture, and community. Goa has always taught us to celebrate life without losing ourselves in the process. Festakar style is about joy, authenticity, and staying grounded. It is about enjoying a simple meal, sharing stories with neighbours, supporting local traditions, and respecting the rhythm of our land. To be susegad is to live fully, but calmly. It is to move forward without forgetting who we are. That is my Goa, and that is my susegad,” says Marius
