With the state of Goa completing 28 years
of Statehood on May 30, 2015, the question
that needs to be put forth is exactly how
much we recognise of the effort involved
in Goa getting its statehood. On this day in
the year 1987, the
Union Territory of
Goa was accorded
the status of
State through the Constitutional (56th
amendment) Act 1987 and Goa Daman and
Diu Re-organisation Act 1987.
Expressing her views on the same,
Heather Fernandes, a student of St Xavier’s
College, Mapusa, says, “Having an identity,
Goa now has a personality of its own; it’s like
becoming a celebrity. We Goans are proud
of our uniqueness. As for our language,
Marathi would have overrun Konkani,
causing it to die and thereby leading to a
huge cultural loss for events such as tiatrs.
Goans are also known for the way they carry
themselves and our statehood has given
us the liberty to ‘be’. We are a little haven
of beauty on the
map of India and
our statehood has
ensured we stay
that way.”
For many, May 30 is still looked at
as the day when Goa’s unique identity
was preserved for posterity. However, for
generation next, the day that came as an end
result of a struggle by the people to protect
their separate identity as Goans is one that
passes by unnoticed. Café speaks to a few of
them to get a greater understanding of what
Goa Statehood Day means to them:
