SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Elwyn Decruz
Societies are built upon the four pillars of Well-being, Wisdom, Wealth and Wonder. Wisdom provides the tools that guide our efforts to maintain and sustain a state of comfort and good health, and to achieve an increasing and ongoing level of prosperity and abundance. Life is a constant endeavour to continuously and consistently raise the platform of existence to higher degree for each evolving generation, for this and all those to follow.
But without that enigmatic and curious state of Wonder, everything else would seem like living without meaning, without reason or purpose. “Wonder” is the background music that keeps chiming through our emotional and thought processes, through our memories and imagination, through our depressions and desires: Why are we here? Where did this wonder world that we find ourselves in come from? All other faculties we possess are embedded within us to support this ever-present state of wondering: Who are we? Where have come from? Where are we going?
While reflecting on the meaning life and its wonders, in this critical moment in the history of this Wonderful State, the current generation of the people of Goa are confronted with a harrowing combination of life-threatening and catastrophic situations that are poised, and determined, to destroy the most beautiful and peaceful State in the entire nation. The Wonder of Creation is the precious attribute that Mother Nature has given us an eponymous to develop and design the Goan character. The geography and greenery, the supreme bio-diversity, the intricate ecosystem; all this and much more, have resulted in what the world knows and admires about Goa and its people, true sons of the soil. As close to nature herself.
Elaborating and eulogizing about the Goan character demands volumes of prose and poetry, bits and pieces of which are strewn about in everything spoken and written about Goa, and about the heroes who have fought and won the events of the past, events that would have changed the unique features of this part of the country that we know today as Goa.
Yet, there is a new weapon in that character that is becoming resurgent and evident today: Responsibility. In the face of powerful forces that are gearing up once again to try annihilate what we know as Goa, a deep sense of responsibility is emerging. And what is the battle about, what drives the antagonists? Envy? Maybe, but that would be too simplistic to describe the intentions of the mindless enemy we now confront? Greed? Corruption? OK, but what is the most lethal weapon we can summon? Responsibility.
The current generation has this immense task to overcome and to realize that we are responsible not only for our own future but for every generation to follow. This battle has to be won, regardless. The stronger the will to win, the stronger the response must be. The higher the sense of responsibility, the greater the response should be. The degree of our response determines our and desire to win. We must understand that we need to fight to preserve the quality of our water, of the air we breathe, to preserve every inch of soil, every blade of grass, every tree, every drop of water, every rock, every creature. The life of every species endangered or not, every home, every neighbourhood, every community and its way of life, every farm, every orchard, every beach, every hill, every waterway, we need to remove every obstacle that threatens to alter and destroy Goa and the Goan way.
One who would live a life without responsibility, a life of zero social activity, emotional or otherwise, who is not aware or doesn’t care about anything around him, could be gracefully declared as “dead”. On the other hand, being fully responsible for all and everything around us, and even of people and places far away from us, is the mark of a person who is truly and fully alive. This newspaper each day brings us stories and events of brave, dedicated and responsible warriors who are out there standing up for what is right. Heroes, deserving of every commendable accolade of praise and honour. If we can, every one, everybody, must support them in any and every way. Not to do so would be a crime against the people of Goa.
These are encouraging times to see citizens of every strata of society, of every community, of all ages, who have exhibited a high degree of political maturity, and with the sword and shield of bravery and unselfish enthusiasm, going out to defend a cause that means life and death for the entire State. The high-voltage slogans, the focused action and unrelenting sacrifice on display on many crucial fronts gets the adrenaline pumping. A “Revolutionary” tag may seem highly appropriate at this time, but revolutions generally tend to tapper down and level out at a steady, but stronger frequency. If a new political group is to evolve, totally devoid of corruption and uncontrollable egos, the composition of such a group of leaders must crystalize from the most intelligent and noble cadre of the population.
Goa is a small but a politically potent State. A citizenry imbued with a gentle and gracious confluence of multiple criteria of social character, educated, skilled, a joyous blend of work and play, gifted with an enduring zest for life. This then is the legacy of a remarkable and exclusive bounty that nature has bestowed on this corner of the planet. And this is what they wish to destroy. Can the people allow this to happen?
The armory to wage this war and win is overflowing with the will and wisdom of the people who must take the battle to its logical conclusion. The foremost rule of democracy is that life must happen the way the people want it to be. Right minded citizens, as the Constitution demands, will obey the laws that come out of the legislature. We need to hold out until the next State Elections. Until that day arrives, we need to fight, and stall the process, as best we can.
(The author is now a permanent resident of Goa after many years of living in Mumbai, New York and London)
