SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Down the memory lane, I steadfastly remember running with other villagers’ for the various meetings. And later boarding the truck which was on the campaign trail of an anti-merger opinion poll rally.
I hardly knew or understood what the movement was all about then because I had no slightest knowledge of any politics. But as a young member of the brigade it was just fun all the way to move around in the truck where we were fed plenty of eatables and soft drinks which kept us energized for the day out. But the name of Jack Sequeira with his two leaves symbol was reverberating day and night, be it in the villages or at my home.
In due course of time or rather after some weeks or so I figured out the whole scenario and after attending some of the meetings got the correct message that we were fighting to save Goa from merging with the neighboring state of Maharashtra.
Ever since then, the MGP was a taboo for me to talk about as they were the ones who favoured the merger. And till date I still stick to that notion painfully however its an irrelevant party now though its only promoting selfish interest.
In subsequent years as I was growing the MGP did show their prowess by winning the first elections of Goa, then a Union Territory and Dayanand Bandodkar was elected as the first Chief Minister of Goa. Bandodkar with his pure charisma governed Goa to the best of his abilities for almost seven years but to my knowledge never sold Goa. Goans did love and approve his ways and means of delivering the goods even though there was opposition then.
In subsequent years MGP dominated Goan political scenario for yet another four years or so under the leadership of Shashikaka Kakodkar.
In between, the Governor’s Rule too was witnessed in the state of Goa until Goa was declared as a separate State of Indian Union in 1987 during the term of Indian National Congress.
But it was due to the hard fought ‘Opinion Poll’ of January 16, in 1967 that we enjoy the fruits of a separate identity in the Indian Union till date. The prominent leaders or personalities that gave a clarion call to Goans under the banner of United Goans Party with its two leaves as symbol. The two leaves were seen splashed in hearts and minds of every true Gõykar specially in South Goa. The tall leaders that withstood the storm of the times then were Dr Jack Sequeira who spearheaded the movement, Purushottam Kakodkar, one Sarmalkar and A.N.Naik whom I remember calling him as Babu Naik. There may be many others who sacrificed but these were the selfless visionary leaders who tirelessly worked day and night and overcame all the hurdles just to protect the interest of Goa and Goans. It’s worth remembering them today because these tall leaders never sold an inch of Goa. They never had selfish motives nor intentions but just welfare of the people and the state of Goa in their heart in its true sense.
What Goans are witnessing today is nothing but wholesale marketing of Goa by the politicians. Their greed has reached to such a high that they may even sell their own family to remain in power. Such is their voracious hunger for power and lust for money.
Goa today is in dire straits and is in need of a regional force to face the challenges of the present as well as future. No national party that boasts of high commands will ever be able to give Goa and Goans the justice of fulfilling our dreams. There can never be the same love for Goa from those who dictate the terms to Goans from New Delhi. They will not understand the needs of Goans. No high command whosoever can promise us that they will save Goa from further destruction. So, my dear Goans just forget and give up all those hopes on those parties presently buying and selling candidates whose high command dictates the terms in all respect, instead let’s take a leaf from the past and face the future challenges by building up a new regional party which is the NEED OF THE HOUR. Let there be once again a regional force to face the future challenges. And I bet, the Goans will wholeheartedly welcome it.
It’s high time to think out of the box now and work to forge unity at all cost and form a new regional force that will be totally Goa centric and which will ultimately take care of Goa and Goans for good. It is enough that we have seen from the present political parties’ tamasha who have done nothing but went on selling Goa to outsiders.
Goans have to think on broader terms and work specifically on regional terms which can be a life saver for every Gõykar. There is no dearth of leadership to take up these challenges. The likes of Dr Jack de Sequeira, Dr Mazarello, Loyel Furtado, Sarmalkar, Teotonio, Erasmo Sequeira, Enio Pimenta, etc., etc… are many amongst us who can take up the challenges in these times and give justice to Goa and Goans. All we need to do is some rethinking of Goa and Goans in the larger interest to safeguard and preserve whatever is left of our Bhangarachem Gõy.
