Loss of heritage
This has reference to the article ‘Heritage lost’ (Herald, 16 December) wherein Tallulah d’Silva has written a powerful piece on the destruction of heritage – and how citizens who raise a voice are put down. And d’Silva cites Article 51(a)(f) of the Constitution of India, in terms of ‘fundamental rights’, to press it home that protesting the destruction of heritage is not an offence.
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A correct reading of Article 51(a), in fact, would say more than that. The article is not about fundamental rights, it is about the ‘duties’ of citizens. The section lists duties from (a) to (j), and the language of section (f) is:
“Fundamental duties “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture;”
A correct exercise of power by the state would hence be to charge citizens for NOT protesting the loss of heritage, as it is a DUTY to rise in protest, not the other way about.
S.Ananthanarayanan, St Inez
Lone survivor of
crash dies
Unfortunately, the lone survivor of the IAF chopper crash, Group Captain Varun Singh, succumbed to his injuries at the Command Hospital in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, wife Madhulika Rawat and eleven armed forces personnel also perished in the accident on December 8.
One may recall that Group Captain Singh had displayed extraordinary courage and skill to safely land a fighter aircraft that developed a snag during a test sortie at a high altitude on October 12 2020. As a result, the authorities decorated him with the Shaurya Chakra, the country’s third-highest peacetime gallantry award.
Our hearts go out to Group Captain Singh, his friends and family. May his soul rest in eternal peace and joy.
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
CCTV installed by
shop owners
It is understood that the Vasco police has recently asked the shopkeepers in the port town to install CCTV cameras in their premises for security reasons. This will obviously act as a deterrent to theft and shop breaking during the night. The CCTV footage will also assist the police in the investigation. The request of the police to the shopkeepers to ensure that the CCTV cameras are also focused towards the road besides the premises assumes significance.
It is common knowledge that the CCTV cameras installed by the various civic bodies along the road are more often not in a working condition due to lack of maintenance. The CCTV cameras installed by the traders will obviously be well maintained and in working condition as the shop-owner will look into its maintenance. Having the camera focused towards the road will help the police solve various other crimes which take place on the streets. The trader can always share the video footage from the CCTV camera with the police for solving a crime that takes place in the vicinity. In this way the shop-owner will be doing yeomen service to the society.
It is pertinent to note that now shops are now no longer restricted to the market area but every building has commercial establishments on the ground floor. Hence the CCTVs installed at the shops and focused towards the road will benefit the occupants of the entire building. It would be desirable for the CCTVs to have night-vision cameras.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Season of sleaze
and scandal
In a big jolt to the ruling dispensation, a prominent state cabinet minister was forced to resign amidst allegations of being involved in a sex scandal which was brought to light by the main opposition party. Predictably as is the wont of politicos caught with their pants down, the gentleman, a minister for ‘social welfare’ no less, absolved himself of all wrongdoing by denying charges (of course to be followed by a clean chit from the sarkar) and hold it…. sanctimoniously mentioned that he was stepping down in the interests of fair play and justice to ensure a fair and free probe (laughable in the extreme). Admission of guilt or even remorse? Pfft, forget it.
The CM of our election bound state was quick off the blocks to get in damage control mode, making all the right noises about examining evidence placed on record and taking appropriate (in)action. Mind you, the man is a repeat offender, having been booked along with 12 others under Section 354 for outraging the modesty of a woman, molestation and verbal abuse based on a complaint by the victim; this was during election campaigning at Vasco way back in February 2017 when he was the minister for power (and misusing his power for nefarious ends).
Such predators are a menace to society at large and their getting away Scot free despite irrefutable evidence flies in the face of criminal jurisprudence and reflects poorly on the justice delivery mechanism in the country; infact it emboldens others of their ilk to commit similar offences secure in the knowledge that they shall be protected by the state.
It is extremely distressing to note that not even an FIR has been filed in Goa against the errant minister, the strictest possible action should be taken against such individuals who besmirch the fair name of Goa.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Fading humanity
in human beings
This has reference to the article ‘Fading humanity in human beings’ by Julius Carvalho (Herald, 16 December 2021). I couldn’t agree more with the views expressed by Julius Carvalho on fading Humanity in human beings.
It is evident, humanity, over the years, has been fading from this earth although we do find incidents of humanity still being alive. But, these are few. It is true that people have got engrossed with modern technology and have forgotten what humanity is all about. With the touch technology on our mobiles, we seem to have forgotten the human touch. We touch the key pad of our modern gadgets more than we even tap another human being on his shoulder just to say a Hello. We would rather forward a Good Morning message to that person instead. People are very fast in forwarding videos which they think are sensational, without understanding the consequences of doing so. And, have we not come across people recording videos of some brutal incidents happening on the street rather than going out to help?
So, even in the midst of such a sad scenario, can we look forward to some hope that humanity will still be alive? Can humanity just fade away? Mahatma Gandhi has said, “Humanity is an ocean; if a free drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”
Melville X. D’Souza, Mumbai
Will of people
is supreme!
Apropos to “Process to demolish illegal structure begins: Sarpanch” (Herald December 16, 2021). People of Goa are once bitten twice shy. They are aware that the ruling elite has taken them for a jolly ride time and again. In view of this prevalent sentiment, the protest at Old Goa Heritage site continues unabated despite numerous pleas from the ruling elite to end the protest. But there is a deficit of trust. With elections round the corner, the protesters do not want to take any risks.
Soon politicians will be busy campaigning and promised made to the protesters will be forgotten in the hurly burly of electioneering. Now the sarpanch has assured the protesters that process to demolish the illegal structure is to begin soon. This clearly demonstrates the power of unity and non-violent method called Satyagraha. They are, even today, relevant and hold away. People of Goa score yet another thumping victory.
Gafaar Shaqoor, Margao
