Society’ is indeed complex to define as it is dynamic, vibrant and constantly evolving. Nevertheless, most of the definitions will revolve around, among other factors- people, the interpersonal relationships, geographical or social territory, language, the political-cultural pressures etc. In this context, how easy or how difficult is the task of going about identifying or classifying anyone for that matter as a Goenkar, niz Goenkar or a neo Goenkar, non-Goenkar or any other variant of a Goenkar?
Though I take pride in being a Goan, I’m not too certain, about people’s assertion of me being a Goan. The uncertainty stems from the fact that I have encountered innumerable instances, when inquisitive noses, probed and poked me about my name, my unusual custom of suffixing two surnames, my lineage etc, before concluding-‘Tu amche mugo’ . Undoubtedly, it relieves me but, I fail to shake off the odd feeling of being a stranger in my own land. What’s in a name? Well, personally I’ve learnt there’s plenty of surprises and revelations in a name, which at times may prove to be far from pleasant.
Yes, we all have our pet insecurities and the winds of change, seems to have further fuelled the insecure environ. Since, time immemorial, the feeling of being discriminated have existed and propagated in society. Unfortunately, the prejudices we face because of our faith, our race, our gender, our political ideologies, our sexual preferences etc, seems to have infuriated with time. To my understanding these are nothing short of petty considerations that have attained monstrous dimension and exhibits a frightening trend. It brings to the fore the ugly fact as to how intolerant we are becoming as individuals and more so as members of society.
If one recalls Goa of yester years, harmony and tolerance was it’s very core. Sadly, the warmth and harmony once exuded by Goa seems to be ebbing with time. The brotherhood and affection shared by Goenkars and the famed Goenkarpon seems to be evaporating rapidly. A Goenkar visited the temple and the church with same sacredness. Religion which once fused and healed hearts today seems to divide and bleed hearts. Religion has been reduced to a tool in the hands of the politicians.
Leaders today, instead of being concerned about the poor and the marginalized section of society, seems to exhibit a dangerous trend of polarising society. We should not fall prey to it, neither be a party to it. What's more, the concept of systematic segregating people based on caste, religion, or place of origin is indeed frightening. It reminds one of Hitler's regime which indulged in the policy of herding Jews into specific areas or Ghettos. And the nightmare that was unleashed is indeed hideous.
Charlie Chaplin’s soul stirring quote rings an echo “… Don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you; who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel! Who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men-machine men with machine minds and machine hearts!...”
So let us not give in. Let us stay united irrespective of our caste, gender, place of birth what really matters is how sincerely we have espoused the cause of humanity. It’s about time to wake up from our deep neez and prove we are niz Goenkar.