THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024
The hunger strikers – Amit Palyekar on the fifth day of an indefinite strike the others on a chain strike – were not stepping down on their demand that was demolition of the illegal structure that was nearing completion in the heritage area of Old Goa. Except for a few Catholic religious who had joined the protests in the preceding days, the Church had made no statement on the structure in the past months while the issue had raged. This changed when Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao stood up to speak a few words at the end of the High Mass that he had concelebrated. Speaking clearly, in the precise manner in which he usually does, the Archbishop brought up the subject of the illegal structure that so many others in the past days already had.
Announcing that the Church of Goa was in solidarity with those – no matter what their faith – who have taken up the cause of the protection of the heritage site, the Archbishop appealed to all those in authority to ‘refrain from any acts and decisions which are illegal and detrimental to the preservation of religious and heritage sanctity of Old Goa’. While that was the appeal he made, just before that the Archbishop came out firmly stating that ‘We should know that any undue or offensive interventions even by legitimate stakeholders in and around these monuments can have great consequences and even attract the derecognition of their world heritage status which would be a tremendous and severe loss to Goa’. It was a short statement but firm enough and it established without doubt the intervention of the Church of Goa that in past decades has played an important role in civil movements.
The message that also emerges clearly in what the Archbishop said is the fact that Old Goa is a site that is important to all of Goa and all Goans, and not just to the Christian community because it consists of churches that make up the UNESCO designated World Heritage Site. Above all else it has to be protected for its historic and heritage value. Pertinent to note also is that those on hunger strike are not all Christians but belong to different faiths. It is a very secular movement, and this has to be stressed. When a heritage site is threatened, all Goans come together. This is what makes Goa an ideal example of communal harmony and not just a symbolic one. Such respect for each other’s communities is important to maintain the traditional friendship that has existed between all communities. It has to be promoted further.
Later in the day the mood changed, after the government ordered the demolition of the structure and Palyekar broke his fast. It was a victory for all those who persevered in the quest to save the heritage site. Skeptics may not have thought that this would be possible, but the protest has yielded results. The efforts to save the heritage site of Old Goa should now be taken further with the focus on the structures that make up the site. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is one of the structures that is in urgent need of conservation. Much has been written about it, especially with respect to giving the exterior a coat of plaster to prevent the seepage of rain water into the walls. It has to be considered seriously as experts have confirmed that the Basilica is in danger. Interventions from the authorities should not happen only when there are agitations. The government has to be more receptive.
