I have lived permanently in Goa for 17 months now, but have been visiting the State for 12 years. I love Goa, and have made some curious observations during this entire period!
One such observation is that some very good Goans (some of whom are my very personal friends now), work hard to fulfill their family obligations by earning for their family and putting food on their tables. Another is that there are many other Goans who whine and demand all sorts of freebies and handouts when they don’t deserve them, or work hard for them!
This ‘cancer’ that has been doing the rounds almost since Independence has also affected other sections of people from other States as well, the latest being one Hardik Patel, who is agitating for OBC status for a section of a particular community. The point here is: Where has the spirit of competitiveness and hard work gone from India, and Indians? Today, certain citizens demand privileges, and politicians acquiesce in order to sustain vote banks. I don’t have any respect for individuals or groups that do not work hard or compete fairly. That’s why I respect people like Narayana Murthy of Infosys because he never begged or whinged for contracts when his was a fledgling company years ago, but instead competed hard and fairly to build his company into the conglomerate it is today; the same applies to Azim Premji!
I know this State has a laid-back attitude which is OK at times, but it is NOT OK when Goa lags behind other States in terms of investment and development. The common remark I hear from, say, Bangaloreans who hear that we have settled here is, ‘Why did you go there, it is full of drugs, alcohol, mafias, gambling and prostitution, and Goans are SOoooo lazy?’ And business people doing well elsewhere are reluctant to set up shop in Goa primarily because of inherent laziness here.
So, I find it rather surprising to note that some Goans work on board ships, or go to large cities like Bangalore, Chennai or Delhi to work and prosper, but find it demeaning to do similar work in their home State! And almost every week I read letters/articles/comments published in Goan newspapers, as also comments by local leaders/panchayats/others that Goans are not getting guaranteed jobs in various projects that DO come to the State. Perhaps, it’s because employers know their credentials, and outside workers are willing to work harder to send money home to their families! Such dedication should be respected and not derided!
Some reading this may assume incorrectly that I hate Goans, but nothing could be farther from the truth! I believe in what the Holy Bible indicates to me – that even Jesus Christ was tough on laziness and bad practices, and minced no words about them. One has to be ‘cruel to be kind’ occasionally, and this is one such occasion!,” Come on, guys, change your attitude and let’s make Goa a really prosperous State together.
