Kindness can
work wonders
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Kindness or courtesy is not given as much importance as it deserves. Positive vibe of kindness can work wonders towards supporting friendship and unity. Especially, the quality of heaping benevolence on unkind persons may have an eclectic effect on the receiver as well as the giver.
Similarly, unexpected kindness is least expensive and most powerful of all routes to societal change. On a larger platform, a kind environment is necessary to push nations of the world to create a safe and secure place for all. In other words, kindness should be a global movement. An act of kindness has no race or religion.
It has no predilection for region and age either. Small gestures like allowing the opposite side to talk, observing and hearing out the distressed by talking less, lending a hand for the elderly across the road, opening the door for someone who generally does that for everybody, feeding the stray animals on the road, offering a seat to the old, disabled and women in public transport – are signs of kindness.
The joy of being kind can trickle to the body as well as to the brain. The initiative for the World Kindness Day came from the World Kindness Movement (WKM) back in 1998.
Ganapati Bhat, Akola
CJI exemplified judicial leadership
Justice D Y Chandrachud’s tenure as the CJI of India, which concluded last Sunday, was marked by transformative rulings and substantial reforms, carving out a unique legacy in the Indian judicial history.
The list of judgments penned by him is long and covers almost all aspects of law. They blend scholarship and jurisprudence and are likely to inform both future decisions and how the law is studied. Striking down the Electoral Bonds Scheme and upholding the abrogation of Article 370 are among his influential verdicts that stand pillars of his legacy. His decisions resonate not only within the corridors of the Supreme Court, but also in the lives of countless Indians whose rights and freedoms he defended. Through humour, resilience, and an unwavering dedication to constitutional ideals, Chandrachud exemplified judicial leadership. As India’s judicial landscape evolves, his tenure will be remembered as a testament to the power of law to uphold equality, integrity, and the spirit of democracy.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Negative vibes
on Goa tourism
Goa Tourism Department has reportedly filed a police complaint against an entrepreneur, whose post on X about the state of tourism in Goa had prompted several other travellers to post negative experiences about the State.
This has caused annoyance to local businesses. It is learnt that the post says, “Russians and Brits, who used to visit annually, have opted for Sri Lanka instead. Indian tourists are still visiting, but soon likely to ditch it, as word spreads about exploitation of tourists while there are so many cheaper comparable locations abroad.” Goa cannot be compared to Sri Lanka or any other tourist destination. The State promotes tourism in foreign countries through a variety of initiatives, including participating in international travel marts and exhibitions and spends crores of rupees.
Goa is exploring new emerging global markets to enhance its tourism potential. Dissemination of false data about tourism through social media is unacceptable. The State is known for its rich cultural heritage, adventure activities, festivals, nightlife, and cuisine. Visitors can witness colourful architecture, lush greenery, and breathtaking beaches. Goa is witnessing a surge in international tourists from countries like Russia, the UK, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, thanks to new charter flights. The State aims to enhance global connectivity to attract even more visitors. Negative vibes about Goa tourism from social media handlers cannot have an impact on the industry.
Nevertheless the Goa government needs to take strict action against those spreading misinformation through social media so that there is no recurrence.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Fundamental rights
of citizens
Democracy, which meant to curb the dominance of power and vested interests, is now in doldrums due to potent mix of religion and politics!
The Supreme Court has rightly ruled that no religion encourages activity that creates pollution affecting the fundamental right of health of citizens. In the case of Delhi, Diwali was used to senselessly burst firecrackers despite a ban when pollution is normally so bad that people’s fundamental Right to Health is thrown to the winds, whilst citizens suffer from drastic breathing and resultant life threatening problems! Why do people have to go to court to force the executive to act constitutionally in the citizens’ interest?
In Goa too, despite High Court orders, we heard crackers burst even after midnight on Diwali days with no consideration for senior citizens, the sick and children. The dogs were in panic and many pets ran away causing consternation to the owners/ caretakers! Encroaching on fundamental rights also occurs in the right to practice and preach one’s own religion and freedom of speech under many guises!
Unprincipled politics not only here, but worldwide, has led to the devastating wars now of Ukraine and Palestine leading to millions of displaced people, deaths, maimed and starving miseries of people and beautiful cities reduced to rubble. The war machine and materialism has triumphed over spiritualism and religion!
John Eric Gomes, Porvorim
Arrest god fathers behind job scams
A number of scam operatives have (are still) been arrested from different parts of the State for collecting lakhs of rupees and duping so many gullible poor people after promising them of giving guaranteed government jobs in Goa.
Surprisingly, no politician has been arrested in this cash-for-jobs scam so far and which is still unfolding across Goa.
Well, the scam operatives must have been definitely running this racket with the full backing and support of some politicians, especially from the ruling BJP government since the last many years in Goa. Otherwise, why are some BJP spokespersons in particular of late, suddenly seen getting so panicky and frequently holding press conferences to somehow defend and give a ‘clean chit’ for some of their own prominent powerful ministers in Goa?
I think that the government, instead of patting its back after arresting a few people since the last so many days to bully Goans, should appoint a Judicial Commission headed by a retired High Court judge to probe the scam.
Jerry Fernandes, Saligao
