Chicalim youth dance to “Jerusalema’ to save Goa

Music has been at the centre of many campaigns to rouse the
people. From building opposition to apartheid to building consensus to help the
starving in Ethopia in the 80’s, music played a pivotal role. Now another song
has sparked a challenge that has since lapped the world.  An  Angolan
dance troupe recorded themselves dancing to “Jerusalema” a hit South African
house track by DJ Master KG and vocalist Nomcebo in February, they sparked a
viral phenomenon. The “Jerusalema” dance challenge is
now here in Goa and has been used by the Chicalim church group who danced to
create awareness about environmentally destructive projects in
Goa. Neha Gawde, student secretary of the Chicalim youth summer club
said it was important to be involved in such a campaign because the future of
Goa was at stake. She said “We wanted to make people aware by visiting
different villages and doing flash mobs. We visit villages on a Sunday and then
perhaps couple of days later depending on the schedule of the people who are
involved in this campaign. We have so far visited 6
places. We went to St Jacinto island, Bogmalo beach, Miramar beach, Dona Paula
beach, Bambolim and have conducted two flash mobs at Chicalim circle”. The flash
mobs lasts a maximum of five minutes, they also have a street play where people
are informed about what is going on in Goa and also lay down a challenge to
other villages to step up to save Goa. People, she said who were present would
usually join in the dance and the response at Bogmalo where the people joined
in large numbers was encouraging. About
35 people from Chicalim were participating in this campaign and many were
working or students in schools and colleges.  They flash mobs usually took
place in the evening between 5.30 and 5 o clock. Steven
Chikle who has choreographed the dance said the people of Goa had to be
informed that the development that was being conducted in Goa was not
development and would lead to the destruction of Goa. The video was shot at the
Verna industrial estate by 7 note creation which comprised Jaime and Aaron with
the drone.  Steven said “We learned about the effects of the various
projects like Mollem, double tracking and coal would have in the long run. Goa
will not benefit. Politicians love saying the youth is the future but we have
turned it on its head by saying, Youth are the now not the future but the
future is ours.  We want to give a strong message to the government that
we will come out on the road and protest whatever the government is doing in
the name of development.  It is to protect our future. Whatever happens,
our future will be affected.  We are ready to train other youth in Goa to
join this challenge”. Eric
d’souza who was part of the flash mob from Mapusa said Fr Bolmax Pereira,
Parish priest of Chicalim, had called them to be part of the challenge. He said
it was important for the youth to fight the Save Mollem campaign, double
tracking, the cutting of trees and the movement of coal. Eric d’ Souza said it
was important everyone stepped out because if they did not it would be too late
and Goa would never be the same again. Cecille
Rodrigues was part of the flash mob in Miramar last Saturday. She said “We had
youth and adults from Taleigao  It was good to see youngsters taking part
in this campaign and it took me back to my days in college when we were part of
various campaigns”. She said the street skit was very apt with two men in suits
talking about buying out various parts of the state. One of them represented
the political class and other an ambitious businessman. She said they had to be
stopped. One
can only hope for the sake of Goa the Jerusalema Challenge catches the
attention of everyone because the future of the state is certainly at stake.