Popular Government-a Myth or Mystery!
Wake from your slumber to stave off destruction exhorts PETER FERNANDES
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Since Goa’s liberation, Goans have had the
privilege of being governed by a “Popular
Government.” Now, after almost half a century
of rule by a popular government in Goa, it
is about time we pause to reflect and take stock,
for the purpose of a better tomorrow. Has this
popular government served the people of Goa,
or is it a myth and/or mystery? Do the representatives,
elected by popular vote, truly characterize
the will of the people? Should the ball be thrown
in the people’s court? Did the populace genuinely
elect a worthy candidate to represent their needs?
At times, it is extremely complicated to decipher
the people’s code of conduct, as well as that of
the elected representatives. Questions such as
these, are being raised by several sincere and
concerned citizens on various forums. There are
no direct answers, nor solutions. Therefore, a
time for introspection is imperative. Possibly, the
long rule by the Portuguese may have hampered
our growth as a political entity. Even though
such a scenario could and would be true, we have
to ask the question, “How long will it take us to
educate ourselves, in order to overcome the impediment
of ignorance?”
For instance, if a representative is elected
through fraudulent means, which invalidates his
election, the question that would follow is, ‘is
the government comprising of such a representative,
a legitimate body’ Could we still call it a
“popular government?” These are ethical questions,
which should guide our political conscience
for the growth of
society. Therefore, there is a need to break the
myth and unfold the mystery, as we find ourselves
at the crossroads of our political development.
We have to acknowledge that a popular sovereignty
is government based on the people’s consent.
Government, established by the people’s
free choice, is expected to serve the people who
have sovereignty or supreme power. More often
than not, elections in Goa are contested with
money and power; not with a sincere vision and
good will of the people. The admired person
with a noble desire to represent the will of the
people is lost in the vicious circle of power and
wealth. How could a system legitimize such a
candidate as a choice of the people? Is this an
irony or tragedy?
It is saga of a tragic comedy. These illegitimate
legislators, nonetheless, have the audacity to delve
into a divine realm, without legitimate authority,
to invalidate the conscience of the people and
their relationship with their Creator. By enacting
the Anti-Conversion Law, they have proved beyond
a doubt the duplicity in their beliefs and self-centred
actions. Conversion Law (Freedom of Religion
Act) 1968, states that it is a crime to “convert or
attempt to convert, either directly or otherwise,
any person from one religious faith to another by
the use of force or by allurement or by any fraudulent
means nor shall any person abet any such
conversion.” The major national political parties
are party to this nonsense, as they play foul by
galvanizing the gullible people to join hands to
kill the spirit of love and brotherhood in a nation
which gave birth to some of the great religions of
the world. The BJP is mainly responsible for the
persecution, death, and destruction of life and
property, that the minority religious communities
in India, have been facing on an unimaginable
scale , to gain political mileage. The so-called secular
political party, Congress, has recently enacted
a similar law in Himachal Pradesh. They have purposely
disregarded the yeoman service provided
by the minorities in India, in their efforts to build
a peaceful and prosperous future for the Nation.
Therefore, a vital question comes to mind. Who
really has the power to hold prisoner the free will
of the people? Who can invalidate the act of the
individual to worship his creator? Consequently,
it is a mystery, but in India it is a myth. Hence,
another question we need to ask is, if politicians
have such a profound insight into the hearts and
minds of the people, why do we, the people, lack
similar insight when it comes to electing a legitimate
candidate? Should not the candidates who
entice voters with material goodies, be invalidated
and penalized?
The soul of the popular government is the people
who cast their votes. It is a sad, but true fact
that numerous people in Goa are so defeated
that they sell their soul as respectable citizens
for a paltry sum of 500 to 1000 rupees, or even
a can of gasoline, at the time of the elections.
They vote not to elect a popular government,
but to elect shameless candidates who buy out
these poor souls with their money and power.
And through their voting, these voters totally
eliminate the aspect of the future of our homeland.
Do these contenders and candidates have a vision
that will make a difference that will help make
better our State and society for the present and
future generations? Will they provide courageous
and energetic leadership that will bring progress
by saving the environment, provide advancement
of our culture, and develop economical wellbeing
for a peaceful society? The buying and selling of
votes in Goa is neither a myth, nor a mystery, but
a reality! The sobering fact is that we have been
electing these same mercenaries and money launderers
repeatedly lamenting with crocodile tears
that “We have no choice.” How can there be no
choice? The fact is that no good person wants
to contest elections, because they know that no
candidate can win an election without distributing
money. In fact, some political parties support
candidates with “win-ability” based on their
money power and wealth. Who is responsible
for causing such a void in our political system?
The myth is that there are “free and fair elections.”
For the past several decades, the ripple
effects of not electing a representative for the
benefit of the people, and society, have been felt
all over the State. It appears that now those
ripples are turning into billowing waves of devastation.
Wake from your slumber to stave off
the destruction, before these waves lap at our
shores and engulf the future of our society. Our
government persists in imposing its selfish will
on the people, and, in turn, the citizens have lost
their will to resist. Goa’s problems with “Mega
Housing”, “Sea Link”, “Sport City”, “Mining”,
“Sewage and Garbage”, “Parking”, “Water and
Electricity”, “Killer Roads”, “Drugs and Crimes”,
River Princesses” “Migration and Immigration”,
and “Unemployment and Corruption” are struggles
and conflicts of major proportions. These concerns
are threatening and hazardous stumbling
blocks, fracturing our society, and hindering our
development and progress as a stable and peaceful
Goa. We should ask ourselves, “What is our response,
and where do we seek a solution?” Popular
sovereignty is the belief that the legitimacy
of the state is created by the will or consent of
its people, who in this belief system are the source
of every political power. Will this just remain a
belief, or someday turn into a reality? Will our
people, one day, vote for honest, skilful, courageous
and wise leadership who will turn these
stumbling blocks into stepping stones, and pave
our way to an enduring and lawful society?
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Fairness and Fairness Creams
By Sajla Chawla
As a child I remember the frequent screaming of my otherwise
loving grandmother, “Come inside daughter, you will become
like charcoal if you play in the sun all day long”. As a sevenyear-
old, I figured my grandmother had a deep dread for the Sub
Saharan African black colour and great admiration for the British
colonial white.
“The British have gone Dadi, and they left you behind,” was my
usual gleeful retort. As I grew older, I realized my brother was
never pestered about becoming dark in the sun. Well, I just accepted
all these special concessions made just for ME!
Since the sons of the soil have shown great affinity for the fair
daughters of Europe, at the village carnival event this year, I was
supposed to play a Russian woman who is being chased by local
men—to depict the degeneration in contemporary society. But
again, the fair skin was the attracting point.
I have often been told how coconut milk can make one fairer,
just as applying cow milk can. And lately, all these home remedies
have been replaced by cosmetic fairness creams. The very individualistic
argument is that if it makes someone happier to become
fairer, well why not?! But the question to be examined is, “does it
really make you feel happier? Is the Fairness quotient equal to the
Happiness quotient?” If that were so, then all the fair women of
this country would be happy women. And I am sure we all know
better than that!
The moment one starts using a fairness cream, one admits to
one’s self, “I am not happy with the way I am and will become
happy if I look fairer”. Wow, that is some premise to build your
happiness upon!
From birth, women are trained to look at themselves through
someone else’s eyes. We are often told how to sit, how to behave,
how to take care of our looks, how to conduct ourselves in public
and how to serve others. Instead of being happy with ourselves,
we constantly try to be what is expected of us. And in trying to
excel in fulfilling that expectation, we find a misplaced sense of
self confidence and fulfilment.
Since most of my friends at some time or another, go for facial
therapies, I feel wistfully left out. So one weekend I too thought
of indulging in this pleasure. But my neighbour visited me,
wanting to teach me a new recipe that I had been asking her for.
We ground the masala, fried the ingredients the dish. Then, over
a warm cup of coffee, we exchanged many anecdotes about our
lives and discussed the many books we read. We connected as
two human beings. The whole experience was quite fulfilling, not
to mention the sumptuous red Goan masala curry, we ate that
day.
The next weekend I telephoned my neighbour and told him
that if he behaved well, I would send him a recipe that I tried. He
smsed me with a humorous reply. I laughed aloud on reading his
message. I also felt glad I had skipped the “feeling, peeling, healing”
facial. There was no way it could compare to connecting with a
good neighbour.
I, sometimes feel peer pressure, especially when most women,
I know, visit beauty salons, take such good care of themselves and
are so well-groomed. But I spend my free time writing for newspapers,
which become fish wraps the next day! Writing does not
make me Arundhati Roy, for sure. But it makes me who I am, much
more than a fairness cream would
