This is in reply to ‘In search of identity and culture’ by Cleofato Almeida Coutinho on Herald dated December 17, 2014.
Few parts of India have a consistent history and identity as Goa and Goans have as part of Portugal, with equal status of citizenship, culture and claim to being a province of Portugal. When Goa and Portugal united with equal status they no longer had a different identity but one identity. This was the Eastern part of Portugal for more than two hundred years. This is in sharp contrast to the identity of India as that of a colony of Great Britain. India was exploited and plundered by its master since 1857, when the Indian Princely revolt was suppressed brutally and even before. Thus the armed forces action of Goa on December 19, 1961 was a blot on world peace process and non-violent and decent Inter “State” relationships in the world scenario. The writer has chosen to be totally silent on the notorious “Russian Veto” because of which now as a quid pro quo the Indian Government has atoned the Russian aggression on “Ukraine”.
It should be noted here that Manohar Parrikar is an open supporter of “dual nationality for Goans” precisely for the reason that Goans have a very strong claim to it considering the history of Goa and the equal status of citizenship with the Portuguese citizens shared by Goans for the past more than 200 years.
Advocate Judas Chagas e Silva, by email
