JOSE MARIA MIRANDA
Earth provides enough for every man’s needs, but not for every man’s greed – is the famous quote of our own Mahatma. Yet, it is amply evident in the policies, actions and deci sions of our Governments and elected representatives that it is greed and greed alone, in the name of development, which is destroying Mother Earth. And it is rather ironic that the people need to fight their own Govern ments to defend and save it. Death recently silenced forev er a voice which was raised with nerve and grit, a mind which re searched with pains, energy and intelligence and a heart which beat for Goa and its people, especially the humble, the voiceless and the suffering, whose struggles and cries for justice are now being seen through massive protests spread ing throughout our small State. The passing of Diana Tavares snatched from our midst another gutsy and knowledgeable cru sader, after we lost, in little over a decade, Fr Bismarque Dias, Dr Joe D’Souza, Siddarth Karapur kar, Sergio Carvalho and a few others, whose esteemed memo ries are etched in our minds and before whose contributions for a better Goa, we bow our heads in reverence and gratitude. Diana’s first innings with Goa’s never ending struggles and activism was perhaps with Goenchea Xetkarancho Ekvott in 2012, where she found Abhi jit Prabhudesai, Fr Bismarque, Sidharth and other members striving tirelessly to defend Goa. Instantly, dropping all her com mitments (teaching nursing and giving tuitions), she plunged fully and wholeheartedly in people’s movements, where I too had the privilege of encountering her and other fighters, whose untiring efforts to study issues affecting Goa adversely, impressed me and helped me in learning much of what I was not aware till then, especially about environment. Then on, Diana never looked back, knew no rest, neither Sun days nor holidays, working day and night for Goa and Goa alone single handedly, like an army. Diana’s contributions to peo ple’s movements are so immense, diverse and far reaching that they can never be fully documented. Her indomitable courage was such that whenever the powerful seemed too strong, and the peo ple helpless, she would lead local communities into fearless resist ance, turning tables often result ing in people’s victory. Struggles in Melauli and Sanguem against land grab for IIT, in Loliem, Poin guinim to defend plateaus, in Cur torim against a hotel, and various others of tribal and OBC commu nities for survival, are examples of her magical courage. This critical social change that she engineered reflected in her slogan “People’s Power is greater than People in Power”, and is thriving today in all the ongoing grassroot and just struggles, we see around us. Diana embodied the spirit of revolution, which she spread across Goa and saw many suc cessful protests in the past 14 years. Whenever Goa doubts or falters, her spirit and convic tion shall always strengthen us to march towards emancipation and freedom. She saw through every deception and lie, which enabled her to tear all the veils off, to separate the grain from the chaff, clearing the path for revo lution. The groundwater study of Mopa plateau she personally car ried out with Advanced Centre for Water Resources & Management (ACWADAM), Pune is the only relevant scientific study of our groundwater regime ever car ried out, where she conclusively proved that the plateaus and hills of Goa are the only hope for Goa’s water security, and that no con struction on plateaus can ever be justified. It was her cherished dream, which we hope to see ful filled sooner than later, that all the plateaus of Goa will, one day, be returned to nature and to in nocent cows and wildlife where they belong, so that human and other life forms may also survive. She learnt and mastered law and would write and critique even the most complex legal drafts to the astonishment of highly respected senior lawyers of HC & SC. She drafted, printed, filed and processed scores of petitions before NGT, HC & SC and other courts. These include challeng es to CRZ Notification 2019, RP 2021, 17 (2), 39A, transmission lines, double tracking, scores of hotels and real estate projects , bandharas, highways, and nu merous other instances of en vironment destruction. Secret plans for coal transportation, riv er nationalisation and numerous other concealed attacks on Goa were exposed through her re search and efforts. Scientific re search, laborious data collection and analyses, documentation and records she left behind are the greatest treasure for future movements. The driving force behind many people’s movements, her work in collecting data, counselling peo ple, collecting and disseminating information was instrumental in organizing unforgettable pro tests. She played important roles in several meetings, rallies and protests held against Mopa Air port, RP 2021, CZMP 2011, coal handling, infrastructure projects, river nationalization, legislative changes such as 17(2) and 39A. The preparation of drafts RP 2021 and CZMP 2011 and oth er activities of data collection, mapping, research and docu mentation were possible due to her leadership and monumental efforts. So also the Resolutions opposing coal transportation and river nationalisation adopted by over 100 panchayats. Speaking of Diana’s extraordi nary qualities, South Goa MP, Capt Viriato Fernandes says: “Histo ry has always, at the right time, thrown up leaders to fight against oppressors, when hope seemed faint. Diana was one such environ mental activist and a leader who arose when people were losing hope in the system. She not only dedicated herself to the cause of environment but also motivated and inspired people in villages to join the fight against coal, river na tionalisation, double-tracking, NH expansion, destruction of khazans and hordes of other destructive projects pushed clandestinely by authorities at the behest of cro ny capitalists. Even in her final moments, she gave every bit of her strength to fight for Mother Nature” The finest aspect of Diana’s work is that she never craved for name, fame, or any personal ben efit and always maintained a low profile. Her pain at every betrayal was immense, but her resolve to continue the good fight was al ways stronger. Like the Apostle Paul, she could exclaim: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness”. Dedication and commitment to our land, saving our environment for our good and of the future generations and continuing the struggles she espoused, will be the greatest tribute we can pay to the memory of this woman of substance, whose love and devo tion for her land and for her peo ple, we will do well to remember and emulate. (The author is a retired banker)
