In a world where the opportunistic chase opportunities, the words IN and OUT or leave or remain become completely relative. Six months short of fifty years since Goans voted during a historic opinion poll to decide whether it would become a part of Maharashtra or be an independent state, Goans across Britain, some in Europe and their families back home in Goa, will be watching the results of another opinion poll, this time in the UK, as their lives- yes literally – depended, on it.
The New York Times summarises Brexit succinctly. In a post and article it stated that BREXIT, “a portmanteau of the words ‘Britain’ and ‘exit’, is the nickname for a British exit of the European Union after the June 23 referendum asking voters: ‘Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?”
But this time, the connect of Goans with this opinion poll is not about identity. It cannot be. It is simply about economics.
And the irony is coming home. If in January 1967 they voted to be separate from Maharshatra, to protect Goa’s unique identity and prevent the influx of ghatis and other “Indians” on their land, Goans in the UK and those planning to go there armed with a Portuguese passport, will be the most affected if the people of Britain vote with the same spirit and vote “leave”, in other words vote for Britain to leave the European Union.
In many ways Britain and Goa are no different. As Ramchandra Guha wrote in a riveting piece on BREXIT a month ago, narrating a story told by him by English friend that when the President of the Lancashire Cricket Club learnt that a young fast bowler of his county was actually born in Yorkshire a rival county, the Lancashire wicket keeper Farookh Engineer, a Parsi from India, exclaimed to the bowler, “Bloody foreigner”. It akin to not just non-Goans being looked at as outsiders or even “Indians”, but even North Goans, seen as” foreigners” in South Goa.
Much of Britain, also hates “bloody foreigners” and if we look beyond county rivalries – “bloody foreigners” are those form the rest of EU and migrants, including Indians. Goans who come with EU passports, fall into that category of perception, for those who will vote on June 23, for Britain to leave the EU.
As Guha writes “Keeping ‘bloody foreigners’ out is a central part of their agenda; whether these foreigners are defined as Muslims (by the National Front), or as Muslims and Mexicans (by Donald Trump).The burden of the Brexit campaign is that too much exposure to foreign influences, too much hospitality to foreigners, is somehow bad for national morale, national self-respect, and (not least) national greatness. Keep the world at bay, the (somewhat paradoxical) argument runs, and Britain will once more be a major power in the world”,
It’s the same language many Goans in Goa speak, when it comes to protecting Goa and keeping outside influences out. Their arguments do have basis, as we see Goa slipping away at an uncontrollable pace. But when Britain speaks this language, the economic fortunes of many Goans in Britain and those to follow will be hurt.
This is simply because if Britain leaves the EU, then the benefits of health, education and unemployment doles, which Goans with Portuguese passports get as EU citizens, will stop. They will then have to spend five years or more to get a residency in England like anyone else who is not a citizen.
A recent Hindustan Times report quoted Rabi Martins, the Goa-origin counselor in Watford, North London says, “It is a walk into the unknown. Goans now need to rethink before applying for Portuguese passports, since the EU referendum will adversely affect them. Brexit will make it worse, but even a vote to stay in will make it difficult.”
This is because there will be tougher laws, which will drastically alter the ease with which ‘Portuguese Goans’, enter Britain straight from Goa Velha, Siridao or Agassaim, without even setting foot on “their” nation Portugal.
While it is not easy to take sides on an issue so emotive and yet maintain a balance, one can’t help but feel for a section of Goans, who have indeed taken advantage of historical benefits available to them and have settled in England by surrendering their Indian passport. If Britain exits the EU, they will suffer from double jeopardy- the loss of their Indian identity with no voting rights in India and the bigger loss of economic security in England by virtue of their Portuguese passports.
