Contribution of Catholics
Dr Francisco Colaco, Margao
I sorely miss Valmiki Faleiro’s column ‘All and Sundry’ in Herald Mirror. This doyen of writers with a deft touch would every week pen a brilliant piece to make my Sunday complete. No topic was too small or too big for him to broach.
However, I must confess, I felt amply compensated by Valmiki’s recent series ‘Flying High’ in Sunday Mirror. Through a painstaking study, Valmiki details the unparalleled contribution of Goans in India’s armed forces. As I read, the real tales of virtue and valour by our own Goans, I shed tears of joy and pride. To further learn that among those who laid down their lives for our country there is an overwhelming number of Catholics, made me feel even more fulfilled.
Recently, at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, a large crowd gathered to pay homage to the late Carlos da Cruz, a great freedom fighter (who also fought against social oppression of poor adivasis). There I met the evergreen septuagenarian Dr Damodar Bhonsle, who graduated from Escola Médica de Goa. He preserves documentary evidence that covers many historical issues. My heart was filled with admiration when he showed me lists of freedom fighters – one prepared by the Portuguese before liberation and another by the powers-that-be thereafter. In both lists, the truth was glaring: Catholic names figured prominently (including a number of Catholic priests).
It has become a fashion nowadays to denigrate Catholics by calling them ‘pro-Portuguese’ and ‘anti-national’. The art of Catholic-bashing by vested interests is being cultivated with militant zeal. This is abhorrent! Those who, like me, followed the freedom struggle from close are too aware of the historical facts and of ‘turncoats’ (vira-casacas).
It must be re-emphasised, for the knowledge of all, that the contribution by Goan Catholics for the strength and growth of Mother India, in every field, has been exemplary. Their sacrifices will always remain carved in letters of gold, no matter the concerted attempts by vested interests to the contrary.
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Caranzalem park
Melwyn Pereira, by email
With hardly a couple of days to go for schools to reopen, and with the rains in the back drop, I decided to complete some important work in Panjim. I had plans to spend the entire day out in Panjim with my family. After completing my work we left for Caranzalem to visit the park, about which I had heard a lot. As we entered my daughter went straight to the end where there are rides for the children to play. I must thank the authorities concerned for keeping the park in proper order, which otherwise is hardly seen in Goa. I would like to remind the concerned authorities that the park is also a place for relaxation for adults likewise who often come to such places. The park which has benches at the entrance and at the far end is covered by lawn to around 70% area of the park. It does make sense as any park would look incomplete without the lawn. What really doesn’t make sense is that in the park there reads a board ‘lawn, do not enter’. Of what use is this park if the public in general cannot make use of this lawn? Of what use is this park if our children cannot run around? There is more pleasure in squatting on the ground rather than sit on those benches. Will the concerned authorities take a deeper look?
Princess still floats
Cedric da Costa, Margao
June 6, 2010 will mark the 10th anniversary since the River Princess got grounded at Sinquerim. It is indeed a sad day for Goa and Goans. It is also a day when Goans in Goa and the world over should sympathise with the residents of the Candolim-Calangute beach stretch. However, one person who will be singing like the proverbial Fiddler will be the damager in chief…Anil Salgaonkar as he has managed to make a small fry of all the babus in Goa. After all the efforts in removing the Princess failing, the Government must now in fact celebrate this day. Digambar Kamat, Mickky Pacheco, Manohar Parrikar and Mathany Saldanha who have dragged their feet in tackling this, must be felicitated. The NGOs in Goa too also should be honoured. I am sure Remo will oblige by performing and Digambar Kamat will rush to be the chief guest. He can also ensure steady participation from the crowd by getting bus loads of his supporters. This is the sorry state of Goa and the reality hurts…not just the present generation but also the coming ones. All for the aam aadmi of Goa!!
Saving Goa
Rina Fernandes, Ponda
Brilliant job done by Praxy Fernandes in the open letter addressed to the CM in the column Opinionated dated June 1. The message is loud and clear. Digambar Kamat, I hope you read newspapers. I strongly agree with every view mentioned in the letter. It is sad to see outsiders coming to Goa and over-powering us. What are we doing seeing our beautiful Goa getting destroyed in the evil hands of our politicians?. These corrupt ministers should be kicked out of our land and this can happen only when we Goans unite and raise our voices. How much freedom are we enjoying in our own land? Can we really call ourselves free? I wonder if the CM and his gang of looters and cheaters have a heart. For what are they amassing so much wealth and that too, by cheating common and innocent people? What should happen to all the wealth when not one of us is certain about life tomorrow? You may cheat as long as you like, but mind you, there is an all powerful God watching over all our actions. It is time for us, Goans, to unite as one big family and save our Goa from outsiders and evil politicians. Or a time will come when we will be outsiders in our own land. Let’s raise our voices. Let’s take a step towards making Goa, the Goa of our dreams – beautiful, bright, green and safe. This is the time to start… This is the time to make our presence felt… This is the time to write and shout aloud – Together, we can and will make a difference…
Time to act
Soter D’Souza, Socorro
The views expressed in the letter ‘Goa: Banana Republic’ (Herald, June 4) is a demonstration that though Goans have been liberated politically they continue to remain mentally and emotionally enslaved with a colonial mindset. By claiming that Goa was better under Portuguese occupation, we are indirectly admitting that as a society we Goans are unable to manage our own affairs responsibly and independently. We need someone with a stick and a carrot to make us function responsibly and effectively. That explains why national political parties, IAS officials and migrants boss over us. This would also imply that since our democracy is a failure, ‘We the People’ are absolutely unfit to act independently. What a shame after all the education, culture and economic progress we Goans boast of.
One cannot expect 70 years plus senior freedom fighters to relaunch a movement to rid Goa of the present rot. It should not be the case that someone should initiate the struggle and we will cheer from the side lines. Thereafter, one fine day we will also do the disappearing act, leaving the initiators of the movement with the sole responsibility of nursing their own creation. This reminds me of the popular Goan phrase, Tum fuddem voch re, ami tuje fattlean asach.
Filling the slot
Elvis Sequeira, St. Cruz
The Mahindra United Football team has been disbanded and will not be seen in action in the I-League from the coming football season. There are different sets of views and opinions as to who should occupy the vacant slot caused due to Mahindra’s withdrawal. Some opine that second last team on the league table should be retained in place of Mahindra whilst others opine that the number of teams in the I-League should be increased by retaining both the relegated teams. On the other hand, the AIFF fancies having an under 19 team tentatively called AIFF-XI which will directly step into the boots of Mahindra United without going into the actual procedure of qualification. It is simple logic that the last two teams are relegated to the second division, irrespective of their past laurels or the clout they enjoy within the corridors of power. A team that performs below par does not deserve to be retained.
So also, a team cannot be directly given entry onto the elite competitions without going into any qualifications procedure, thereby blocking the entry of a deserving team from the second division that meets the required criteria. In all fairness, the team occupying the third slot on the second division of the I-League should be promoted in the place of Mahindra.
CCTV’s, CM’s idea
Tony Pereira, Margao
Public memory is short, but they are not fools. If the Margao residents recall, the chairperson of Margao Municipal Council had installed punching machines so that the attendance of the employees was recorded. But it was our aam aadmi, Chief Minister, who saw to it that these machines were not installed as the employees threatened to go on strike. The chief minister has now come up with an idea of installing CCTVs in Government departments. The question that comes to mind is what is the use of installing CCTVs and who will monitor the same?. This idea can only be useful as a lot of money can be made from kickbacks after the tendering process.
Speak now for Goa
Arwin Mesquita, UAE
If at all one thing positive has happened for Goan identity, it is the fact that this critical issue has come out into the open; over the recent few months. The latter has been fueled by the so many activists and writers who are doing their bit for Goa and Goans. I kindly request those Goans, who have not said anything so far to speak their mind for Goa and our identity. Any civilised comment/opinion strong or even mild will certainly help!!
Obsolete high-masts
Prof Robert Castellino, Calangute
North Goa beaches are notorious for their poor lighting. The high-masts at some of these beaches, such as Calangute, are non-operational. They are now white elephants and monuments of bureaucratic neglect. The least the authorities could do is provide some additional lights in and around popular beach areas. The dim lights lead to a flight of tourists by sun-set. On the flip side, these dim lights provide the perfect ‘ambience’ for shady activities that allegedly take place at these beaches. The authorities may perhaps emulate the example of some southern States that have installed stand-alone solar-powered streets light. It is reported that these street lights, each with a single solar panel above the light to capture solar energy, are virtually maintenance free and cost-effective too.
