I recently stumbled upon an interesting article titled, “Brexit or not, Go-exit is on”, in Herald Café (dt. May 26) by Dolcy D’Cruz. “UK PM Theresa May decided to quit on June 7 for her failure to deliver Brexit, but back in Goa – Brexit or not – ‘Go-exit’ has become a natural phenomenon. Goan youth do not see any other place as one where they should look for opportunities to work and live. It’s always Europe and mostly England.”
A similar sentiment was echoed recently in Neurá, where I had the honour of raising the toast on the occasion of the golden anniversary of Fr Ventura Lourenço’s Sacerdotal Ordination. Fr Ventura is not only a good friend of mine but a model priest having remained ever faithful to the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The Church was replete with admirers. At the end of the Mass, Fr Mousinho de Ataíde, the incumbent Parish Priest of Neurá, thanked the congregation but did not mince words to affirm, “Today, you see this Church brimming with people, but I am pained to tell you that even during the important Holy Week services, our Church is well-nigh empty. Sad, isn’t it? Yes, the exodus of our Catholic youth to the UK, especially from these villages, goes on unabated.”
Dolcy cites many examples and ascribes many reasons for this phenomenon. When our entire political system is corrupt to the core and finding a remunerative job without paying a bribe here is a pipe dream, the young and the old, armed with a Portuguese passport, set sail to a different country and take any job on offer for the pounds it fetches. This helps them make both ends meet, provides their children with a good education, free medical facilities and more.
While this is certainly not a new phenomenon, the real question remains. Is this exodus going to increase? A pertinent question, especially today, as a large proportion of those belonging to the minority communities express fears of victimisation by right-wing Hindu majoritarianism, which unless reined in, will see minorities live in constant fear of discrimination. Here’s what an editorial in the Guardian has to say regarding the recent massive mandate to Modi, “The world did not need another national populist leader who pursues a pro-business agenda while trading in fake news and treating minorities as second-class citizens…Despite a spluttering economy five years later, Mr Modi has expanded his parliamentary majority. This is bad news for India and the world.” The Guardian explains, “The BJP is the political wing of Hindu nationalism, a movement that is changing India for the worse. Little wonder, as it stands for the flagrant social dominance of the upper castes of Hindu society, pro-corporate economic growth, cultural conservatism, intensified misogyny, and a firm grip on the instruments of state power. The landslide win for Modi will see India’s soul lost to a dark politics – one that views minorities as second-class citizens.”
With the recent massive mandate given to the BJP, the threat perception to minorities is seemingly on the rise. The results, according to me, reflect the mediocrity of the Indian electorate who gets carried more by fiction than facts, by rhetoric rather than veracity, by religious polarisation rather than the sad state of affairs in our country whose economy is in a shambles. What is more, a divisive and mendacious emperor is least bothered about ruining India’s soul…if that allows him to rip off hefty gains and permits him to rule even more forcefully like a Nero. The BJP’s landslide victory is not only an egg on our faces but a reminder of how much India as a whole has descended into an abyss where violence against voices of dissent is eulogised and mob lynchings are likely to become the order of the day.
Modi has vouched publicly now that his Government will do everything to win the trust of the minorities and will work henceforth without exercising any discrimination, but will he actually walk the talk? Your guess is as good as mine.
Permit me to say nevertheless, that watching the whole world in turmoil, gloomy thoughts come to my mind. I find a lot of consolation from a post forwarded by a friend entitled, “The era of persecution”, which I am abridging for want of space.
“The Christian of today forgets that Christianity was birthed in persecution”.
“Wherever the name of the Lord was proclaimed and preached in the New Testament early Church, there was trouble stirred by those who opposed the name of Christ”.
“Christianity cannot ignore the fact that persecution is a part of being Christian at both the personal and corporate levels. Because this world is currently under siege of Dark Forces vehemently opposed to those who are purchased by the blood of the Lamb.”
“So instead of asking the Lord to take away these troubles can we not ask Him to give us the courage to face them instead? When we are connected to His name, His Spirit dwells in us and fear recedes.”
History also teaches us that in this world, everything is passing. Monarchs come… have their heyday… and vanish into oblivion. Like Arundathi Roy, let’s only hope, that by the time we emerge from the shadows, the Nation we love so much, will not have too high a price to pay!
(Dr Francisco Colaço is a seniormost consulting
physician, pioneer of Echocardiography in Goa, column writer, singer/songwriter and past president of the State IMA).
