Come October 20 it will be time to celebrate World Goa Day. It is a day of fun and frolic with the Goan diaspora all over the world getting in touch with their roots, a day or dancing and singing. This year however will be different. The virus has ensured that. However the virus has also ensured jobs in their thousands have been lost. Goa is full of seafarers sitting at home or trying to find a way to generate some income to feed their family. This is the case all over the world and perhaps it would be the right time for the diaspora to come together and help each other.
Franky Fernandes who has a Konkani program in radio in Australia and is also a mental health professional felt it would be different this year. He said “We have decided to celebrate it online this year due to the virus. The global pandemic has made us unite and look at each other's interest and help each other out in the changing circumstances given that many have lost jobs. Many Goans have returned home to India not knowing what the future holds for them”. He said as a mental health practitioner, the larger task for him was to provide mental support to members of the community. It could be a student who came here looking to study in some of the finest universities in Victoria and suddenly finds himself doing online studies from his suite or room unable to get a part-time job to pay for the educational loan that his parents have secured from an Indian bank. The reasons he said could be many like the student could want a part-time job or just a family member who has lost his job or the domestic issues that crop up due to various reasons.
Gerard Lobo the secretary of the Goan Overseas Association of Victoria felt the pandemic had opened borders and now everyone was virtually connected across all time zones. He said “Goa is developing at a very fast pace, our returning Goenkars will bring with them new skills and practices. This will give opportunity to train local talent and provide a world class living in Goa. It will be a wonderful opportunity for Goans to spend more time back home. In today’s digital world remote working and remote learning will certainly make it easier”.
Alwyn Henriques, President Goan Overseas Association NSW Inc Sydney, Australia said “ World Goa day is meant to be a special coming together of Goans, an enchanting celebration of what it means to be Goan and provides the Goan Diaspora all over the world a platform to celebrate Goan culture, dance, music and cuisine. With the many challenges posed by the current pandemic, this year's online celebration on 24th Oct is a significant demonstration of a united Goan global community innovating in the current circumstances to bring our unique Goan lifestyle celebrations to your homes”.
Isabella Fernandes member of the Goa UK Board felt the significance of celebrating the World Goa Day especially in the light of the pandemic was to bring the Goan diaspora together in solidarity. She said “There is so much stress and pain in life with regards to job losses and basically trying to make ends meet. Tough times for Goans and everyone all over the world but this comfort of bringing the Goan diaspora together give one a sense of belongingness and love. It's sad that some Goans had to return back home to Goa due to the pandemic but we shouldn't give up hope that they will all be back to where they want to be and lead a more normal life. In the meantime, we are showing that we are here if they just need to talk and if we can be of any comfort to them”.
Rene Barreto the man behind the World Goa day said it was time for the Global Goan associations to try and support business communities in Goa particularly in the IT business community. He hoped the NRI dept Goa would keep in touch with all the Goan associations.
Savio Riberio the man behind the Goan Alliance and Network and is based in Bahrain felt it was important for Goans all over the world to unite, to look at each other's interest and to help each other out in the changing circumstances given that many have lost jobs. Many Goans have returned home to India. They could be seafarers who have lost jobs. This he felt was very important given the unique culture of the state.
The challenges for the diaspora and the state are enormous as they will have to tackle issues never experienced by anyone before and that will require vision and sagacity.
