Joseph Lewis D’Silva

Our ‘Mankulle Goem” is, heavenly made. It lies on the west coast of India where the white foam of Arabian Sea flows and where the fair breeze blows; and where the trucks move, the barges move, the export ship move, transporting ore.  It is a land mythically created from the sea by Lord Prarshurma’s arrow. ‘Vhodlem Goem’, is the home to the sacred relics of St. Francis Xavier, and a world heritage and pilgrimage site. Its countryside has lovely temples and beautiful churches. It is indeed “God’s Own Abode”; really a land filled with nature’s cream of bounties.

Our Sundor Goem is scenic. Yes, Goem is picturesque having serene villages, blue seas, shining sands, waving paddy fields, swaying coconut trees and hills. Goem is often referred to as a “beautiful nest of singing birds. Its music bands grow on trees”. The whole world has been mesmerised by Goa’s beauty. Tourists come here because their hearts bring them here, not their feet and when outsiders point this out to Goenkars, their chest swells a few inches in pride.

Goenkars are simple folks. They love their fish, ‘feni’ and football. Their lifestyle is called ‘susegad’ and their philosophy is 'don’t worry be-happy'. Therefore, some say, Goenkars are ‘festacars’. They cannot live without celebrating their feast/festivals and in attending weddings, birthday parties, etc, with their families. 

Goenkars are known for their hospitality. They open their door not just to friends but friend’s friends and even acquaintances, whom they have, probably, met a decade ago and might not ever meet again.

Goenkar’s Goemkarponn lies in tolerance. Goem has been the great melting pot of cultures and faiths. We Goenkars --- Hindus, Christians, Muslims, and others show our Goemkarpon by living in harmony with people of different faith and festivals. Religion is something within us. It is personal relationship with God. Where the hibiscus flowers are placed at the base of a crucifix and candles glow in shrines. Goenkars save their plurality and make the communal force melt like butter in a hot pan.

Goenkars’ tender wants are few. They expect that the newly-elected candidates will bring welfare to Goem  and will take care of Goenkarponn; by reverting all previous decisions from treating the grown up coconut sapling not as grass but coconut tree; by moving casinos to deep sea; by not destroying sand dunes  to make way for rich hotels; by not closing the liquor outlets lying within 500 meters from the highway because bars and taverns in the villages are an important part of Goan lifestyle over several decades, it is their important relaxation to ease their tired limbs, it is an important cup of appetiser; and lastly, by not amputating Goem with broad roads, converting fertile fields into concrete constructions changing our architectural identity.

Goenkar’s identity is getting dissolved slowly in the midst of varied cultures and traditions. Therefore, we do not want ‘baille’ (non-Goans) to fill our ‘dongors’ with slums. We do not want to transform this tropical paradise into a blood-drenched battleground.

That is what Goenkars want their sons, their daughters and their heirs to grow up in ‘Bangarachem Goem’. May the newly elected government stay in office as long as they want and never do things what citizens do not want?