Goa is an ethereal paradise on earth in every sense of the term. It has a vibrant history, amazing culture, sweet language and unique identity. Its people are respected all over and have attained high positions in politics, industry and other fields abroad. Yet, why is our government reluctant to celebrate Goa? Why do we not celebrate our history, identity and ethos? If we do not celebrate our ethos, who will celebrate it for us? Will Maharashtra or Karnataka celebrate Goan ethos?
Why does this question beg to be asked? The reason is simple. Ever since the Opinion Poll, the Official Language battle and Statehood were won, successive Goa governments have failed to celebrate these very important landmarks in our post Liberation history. These three days are defining events in Goa’s very existence, apart from being intrinsic to our culture, identity, ethos and our very existence.
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The Opinion Poll victory with 48.25% votes for Union Territory status shows how we escaped with the skin of our teeth from being merged into Maharashtra due to the disastrous project of the MGP and its allies, with merger getting 45.10% votes. Should we not celebrate this stupendous victory? Should we not celebrate the fact that with the Opinion Poll verdict, for which Dr Jack de Sequeira and other tall leaders worked tirelessly, helped us protect our culture, land, identity and language? If we think in retrospect, wouldn’t it be a fearful prospect that we would not have a Chief Minister, nor any cabinet minister to represent us and instead we would have one zilla parishad member representing us, as a district of Maharashtra?
Don’t we need to celebrate the sacrifices of the many people and leaders who canvassed, shed their tears and blood to save Goa from being merged into Maharashtra? Therefore 16th January (1967) has to be officially celebrated by which ever government is in power, because it has to realise that the government and the ministers are in power because of the
Opinion Poll.
The Official Language battle too was one of the epoch making milestones in Goa’s history. Though Konkani is being spoken by 90% of Goans in their homes, a section of Goans led by the MGP espoused Marathi as the language of Goans from the beginning of the language controversy in 1963 till 1987. Elements from the MGP who had joined the Congress still held on to ‘Marathi as language of Goans’ and the Congress was literally divided down the middle, before voting for the
language bill.
It was thanks to the Congress High Command and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in particular that the Official Language Act was passed making Konkani as the Official Language, with Marathi to be used for Official purposes. It has to be respected that many use Marathi (in which they have studied) as a language of religion and culture but Konkani is the mother tongue of Goans. Hence 4th February (1987) has to be celebrated as Official Language Day in a proud and befitting manner and also in memory of the seven martyrs. The only regret is that Romi Konknni was not recognised as official script, which many see as a betrayal of the Official
Language Act.
It appears that because of political reasons, the Opinion Poll and the Official Language Day are not celebrated. The MGP government which came to power after the Opinion Poll in 1967 was antithetical to Goa being a separate Union Territory and since it was against its agenda, it did not celebrate the Opinion Poll day. It was only after the 1972 elections that the MGP decided to go for “working statehood” and give official status to Konkani along with Marathi. It is a shame that the Congress governments, due to deep political divisions, did not celebrate Opinion Poll and Official Language day, nor have the BJP government thereafter.
Finally, though there were divisions within the Goan community, politicians and elected representatives on the first two issues of Goa being a separate Union Territory and Konkani as the Official Language, there were no divisions within Goan community on the quest of Goa for Statehood. However, Statehood Day too is not celebrated in a big way with flag hoisting, fanfare, participation of school and college children by any party government.
The Goa Government and the people, irrespective of the political affiliations, should stand united and proudly celebrate these three important Red Letter Days — the Opinion Poll Day, the Official Language Day and the Statehood Day, since these are days that represent Goa’s History, Identity and Ethos, just as we proudly celebrate our Liberation, Independence and Republic Days.
