Show your love for
Goa on Valentine’s Day
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Tomorrow, February 14, is Valentine’s Day. The day, which is a widely celebrated occasion across the globe, is characterized by expressions of love and affection. However Valentine’s Day is not limited to romantic relationships and is celebrated with friends, family, community members and even pets and plants. Valentine’s Day is more about celebrating love in general. One does not need to be in a relationship to be loved. In fact, one of the most important forms of love is self-love.
Why not celebrate the day with our pets? They love us unconditionally. We see them as our life companions, best friends and even as family members, and most of us cannot imagine life without them. We can show love for plants, trees and even inanimate objects. This Valentine’s Day, let us show our love for Goa. Our lovely state is at a crossroads. With deforestation, hill cutting going on unabated across the state, our green cover is depleting at a rapid rate, it is time to grow more trees and protect the existing trees from being chopped down. We need to clean the neighbourhood and more importantly not litter the surroundings. Our greenery, our fields, water bodies, hills, forests need to be conserved for future generations. We need to preserve vast scenic natural beauty and paddy fields and swaying palms. We need to keep our beaches clean. The time to act is now. Goaness can survive only if Goa, as we know it, survives. Valentine’s Day could be the most opportune day to take a pledge to save Goa from further destruction.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Don’t we have the
right to dream big?
Every human being has the right to come up in life and when your motherland lacks those opportunities, then people start migrating for better lifestyles and opportunities. There are times that people try to migrate in illegal ways and end up getting deported. But as an Indian, when I saw my brothers and sisters chained and handcuffed, I just couldn’t control l my tears and wondered as to where had humanity gone?
We all aspire to move to greener pastures in life. Is it illegal to chase our dreams then?
Anita Fernandes, Verna
Resignation
long overdue
The adage ‘better late than never’ fits perfectly in describing the resignation of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who finally stepped down from his post. His resignation comes after nearly two years of ethnic violence in Manipur. Far from dousing the flames of discord among two major sections of Manipuris, Singh played a partisan role in the conflict, fanning the flames by standing resolutely behind his Meitei community. The ethnic violence has claimed over 250 lives in Manipur since May 2023, with both the Central and state governments failing to handle the volatile situation.
The crucial question now is who will take charge and how they will address the ongoing conflict. Singh’s resignation, however, cannot be considered as an act of closure in the context of Manipur’s woes. A lot more needs to be done, be it by a new CM or the Centre in conjunction with the state administration under president’s rule. True normalcy will not be achieved merely when the violence subsides, but when members of both communities can return home and live without fear or prejudice. Importantly, PM Modi, who failed to visit Manipur, must lead the way.
Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai
Power disconnection
without notice, unfair
The ongoing statewide drive by the Electricity Department of to recover pending power dues without any due procedure has sparked widespread concern among consumers. It should be noted that the consumer should get an advance notice of an impending shutoff.
Domestic and commercial consumers must ensure payment of their bills within the stipulated 30 days. It should bring the policy that if consumers fail to clear dues for three consecutive months, GED should terminate agreements. The reckless snapping of power supply to consumers for default in payment of bills is unfair. The consumers should be served notices before electricity supply is snapped for default in payment of bills.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Radio magic is
here to stay!
On 13th February as we celebrate World Radio day it takes us back memory lane to those golden days when radio sets and radio programs filled our room space and hearts with sheer pure your enjoyment. There would not be a house without a Bush , a Murphy , a Philip, or a Nelco and hundreds of other brands that ruled Radio Market.
Even when everything has been digitalised and AI rules the roost nobody – especially the generations of the pre millennium era can ever forget the way in which this magic voice through the sky has offered us everything – information, entertainment, instruction, advice and what not.
The Indian and the Akashvani are separable and who can forget those golden programs broadcasted by Vividh Bharati and Radio Ceylon . Generations of Indians grew up listening to Jaymala, Bhule bisre geeth, Hawa Mahal, Chhaya Geeth and the famous Binaca Geetmala.
Listening to radio no doubt rejuvenates one mentally. The happiness one derives from listening to music through radio truly is a class apart and that only radio lovers will know it. FM radios, no doubt has brought back people back to radio entertainment.
RJ’s were there in the past too and who can forget Ameen Sayani and his immortal ‘ Binaca geeth mala ‘ aired by Srilanka broadcasting corporation during 1970s, 80s and 90s. Radio, though the mode and form has changed a lot definitely is here to stay and will remain one of man’s best companion forever.
M Pradyu, Kannur
Freedom Fighters
must speak up
Goans woke up to the shocking news that about 35 armed goons allegedly broke into the house of Rajesh Sinary (Son of Goa freedom fighter the late Purushottam Sinary); and dispossessed the home of Rajesh, his wife and 6-year-old daughter! What is more shocking is the complacent attitude of the Anjuna Police in this matter.
I do not believe that the purpose of the Freedom Fighters ended in 1961 which resulted in the Portuguese being forced to leave Goa. Law abiding Goans are now threatened by goons and the establishment (including the govt machinery and the Police). Surely this is not the freedom the the Freedom Fighters fought for!
Hope Freedom Fighters and their children can speak up for Goa as this could make a big impact!
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
