Bodol zai or bodol dista?
In 2012 Goa Assembly elections BJP under the leadership of late Manohar Parrikar fought the election with a slogan “Parivartan Zai” and he blamed Congress leaders by naming them for scams and corruption.
He also said that if BJP comes to power all these leaders will be behind bars. The results bought a fractured mandate and BJP stitched an alliance and formed a government. During that full tenure not a single Congress leader was put behind bars as was promised during their campaigning. Now this time all political parties fought the 2022 elections with different slogans. Their campaigning was done using their respective slogans. Congress was campaigning with a slogan; Patki Serkar anik Ghatki Serkar;. TMC’s slogan was; Defeat BJP; AAP was campaigning with a slogan; Bodol Zai; BJP was not worried of all other slogan except AAP’s and as a response BJP came with a slogan ‘Bodol Dista’.
Now the scenario is, Goans are waiting to know whom we have voted for; Bodol zai or bodol dista; and that will be known only on March 10. Let’s hope for the best.
Natividade Fernandes, Cavelossim
Is BJP really ‘poaching’ Congress MLAs?
The article “Why is the Goa Congress getting nervous about keeping its flock together” (Herald insight, February 22) is rightly written. I want to ask Girish bab what was the reason to speak that future MLAs are getting “Poaching” offers first only before the results are out giving people of Goa bad news when you all including LOP Mr Kamat said that the new team will not defect as you all have taken oath in temple, Bambolim Cross, and gave in writing Affidavit which itself should be a weapon of trust with God and in court and still if they defect then be rest assured the Nature of God will be the final judge to take care of who ever goes against the oath if not people of Goa. Coming back to whether BJP will poach or not I would like to give small advice to Congress if in case your party MLAs poached like the last term then play the same game with BJP MLAs or with your ex MLAs who are now in BJP as looking at their history in Politics they will do anything if they are made Ministers as poaching real BJP MLAs is out of question as they are well deciplined karyakartas of the party and not like some Congress who are now in BJP.
Jerry D’Souza, Divar
Teachers mould the future leaders
Children must be thrilled that their schools have finally recommenced after this long drawn pandemic on account of which they were stuck with distance learning by way of online classes. Nothing can ever replace classroom education and the role teachers play in personally moulding our future in the Temples of Education.
For this we always need to remember them with gratitude. Great teachers can make a big difference in our lives, for besides making a lasting impression in the classroom they can have a positive influence in our life. Teachers are more than mere educators. They also play a role as a dear friend, counsellor and mentor especially in these challenging times students face. All this can never materialise through online teaching.
Fond memories of our dear teachers must forever linger. A regular teacher may merely direct us along the right path, but great teachers inspire, guide and challenge us to carve out our path in life. We should always remain grateful to all our dear teachers who impart us all the knowledge and guidance that helps us immensely throughout our lives. To them all, we should very respectfully be ever indebted.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Remembering two mega singers
Lata Mangeshkar who died on February 6, 2022 has left behind a plethora of songs to be remembered by everyone for generations to come. Apart from music, she owned a great collection of worldly possessions too. We pray that her soul may rest in peace in the abode of the Almighty God for all the good works she has done while she was living on this earth. She will always be remembered for her sweet and melodious voice. She was born in Indore (MP) on September 28, 1929.
On the other hand, Bappi Lahiri’s death on February 15 will also not be forgotten. Bappi Lahiri gave Indian cinema a youthful injection throughout the 80s and the 90s, He had a sense of style as loud as his music: Black shades, gold chains, gold rings, ornate jackets and jumpsuits.
His songs found popularity not only in India but across the whole world, notably in China and Russia. His music was all encompassing and very relatable, beautifully expressing diverse emotions while at the same time not being overmushy. No Bollywood composer understood, captured the then musical ecosystem like how Bappi Lahiri did.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
Real ‘Test’ for Rohit Sharma
The selectors did not spring a surprise by naming Rohit Sharma as the captain of the Indian test cricket team. It would have been a pleasant surprise if they had named someone else. Rohit has good credentials as a captain in various formats and for different teams like the Mumbai Indians. Having been selected for the top post in Indian cricket in white ball cricket, the test announcement was a mere formality. Obviously, the selectors do not want a clash of ego by pitchforking a youngster as the test captain. Indian cricket has had enough ego clashes of late.
Besides, from 2019 the stylish cricketer has sealed his place in Test cricket. The 34-year-old has already begun his new innings as Indian white ball cricket skipper by leading the side to series wins at home in one day internationals and T20 against the West Indies. He is seen as a cool and calculated cricketer who does not overtly display his emotions, and go over the moon. Although India is not Mumbai India, and Rohit’s real test will come in overseas conditions, there is nothing to believe that the ‘hitman’ would not succeed as a captain.
As a batsman, Rohit is known to knock the living daylights of the bowlers by tearing their reputations to shreds. At his best, he makes batting look so easy. But whether his natural instincts as an opening batsman will translate into a captain par excellence has to be seen. The job of the Indian Test cricket captain is said to be next to only the country’s Prime Minister in terms of coming true to people’s expectations. There are always more ‘experts’ outside the field, than on it, ever ready to offer their comments. Some are cricket pundits just for the heck of it. So, every step of Rohit will be dissected by these men and women.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
‘David Praggu slays the Chess Goliath’
A 16 year old chess prodigy Praggnanandhaa, did India proud by defeating the reigning and five time world champion Magnus Carlsen in 39 moves at the opening leg of the Champions Chess Tour which is a 16 player online rapid competition. This was an incredible achievement for the young lad, only two other Indians before him, one of them being the legendary Vishwanathan Anand have managed to get the better of Carlsen who has been largely undefeated.
It has been steady progress for Praggu who first won the Under 8 crown at the World Youth Championships in 2013, thereafter he became the youngest International Master at @ 11 years of age and a Grandmaster in June 2018. He also won the U-18 World Youth Championships in October 2019.
We now have another ‘little master’ in our midst who must be nurtured to win more laurels for India. Kudos little one, here’s looking forward to more magic from you in the game of 64 squares.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
