Goa celebrates Goa Revolution Day today; in memory of the heroes who fought for their beliefs and for their land
Sixth edition of ‘Chandrakant Keni Memorial My Goa Quiz’ to be held today
People who were fortunate enough to know Chandrakant Keni personally say that ‘he lived a rich public life for nearly half a century.’ It was Keni who started the Goa Information Centre in the nation’s capital – with an aim to convince the Government of India that Goa was an intrinsic and inalienable part of India.
During a time when people in the power structure had to be convinced that Goa is ‘Indian’, the Goa Information Centre
showcased Goa’s ‘Indianness’. After 14 years of Indian independence, as Goa
rejoiced its liberation, Keni and few other Goans who were in Bombay, came back to Goa with a new challenge – to resist and combat Maharashtra’s plan to merge Goa into it. Keni, then editor of ‘Rashtramat’ – a paper that vociferously fought to keep Goa separate from Maharashtra. The
Opinion Poll was won by defeating the
motion. The battle then went ahead to gain recognition and Constitutional status for Konkani as a national language and as the State’s Official language. Such was
ChandrakantKeni’s contribution to the state that he so dearly loved.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that many Goans will join in the celebrations of Goa Revolution Day today completely unaware of the fact that it was on this day in 1946 that Dr Ram Manohar Lohia kindled the flame of freedom in the hearts of the Goan people by launching the Civil Disobedience Movement. Maybe it was this lack of
awareness that prompted Goa’s quizzing duo, Harshvardhan Bhatkuly and Rajiv D’Silva to conceptualise the ‘Chandrakant Keni Memorial My Goa Quiz’ – to make Goans aware of the history of their land and to honour the late journalist, editor, writer and champion of Konkani language.
Bhatkuly believes that the expression of love and respect is best done through a person’s core strength and interest. He says, “In our case, we thought the best way to honour the late Chandrakant Keni would be through what we love doing – quizzing. And in doing so, we have opened up so many interesting facts about the land that we love. As quizzers, Rajiv and I have been exposed to varied forms of specialised quizzing – business, sport, music etc. but there was no specific quiz on Goa – a quiz, where the entire content structure would touch about some part of Goa and
Goanness.” This is the first year that the duo is hosting the Goa Quiz on 18th June (Goa Revolution Day) as opposed to on 30th May (Statehood Day). Rajiv D’Silva says, “Every year, the process of content creation has made us more aware about the land that we live and thrive in. Every question, every answer is a discovery to things that we take so much for granted. Of course, we are unique. Our ethos, lifestyle, history, the arts, people, costumes, cuisine – everything is distinct. There is an
interesting factoid and story behind
everything that we call Goan. My personal experience is that I tend to remember facts much better if I have unearthed them at
a quiz.”
On a parting note, Bhatkuly says, “I am reminded of a gentleman who would visit Alfred Park in Lucknow every year to pay homage to Chandrashekhar Azad, who had died there. This was before the media and state authorities got wind of the situation and decided to make it a state ‘event’. Keni and the stalwarts that he rubbed shoulders with were true architects of modern Goa. As citizens, we cannot wait for the
Government of the day to pay respects or to honour their memory. Each one of us can keep their thoughts and memories alive and relevant by whatever little we can. Homage could be paid in any way – the idea is to remind ourselves of the
contribution that the departed soul has done to our land, our people.”
