Having often targeted the Government and the politicians for the mess Goa is in and the sorry plight of Goans, I think it is time we introspect and look at ourselves, our attitudes and our own acts of omission and commission and realise how much have we ourselves contributed to this distressful scenario.
With a soft corner for my own kind – the Goans – I have rarely blamed us for the present situation, except that I often felt that our casual attitude, indifference and lack of support for just causes were responsible for the tepidity of our movements and agitations. Had Goans stood behind the genuine fighters of Goa, things today would have been different. Seldom did I point out that we were thus and in many other ways, digging our own grave.
One cannot surely overlook the immense contribution of migrant population in the development of Goa, particularly the labour class and the devoted activists some of who have done for Goa much more than Goans themselves did. But there is a limit to what Goa can take and in my view Goa has exceeded its carrying capacity.
I sincerely feel that, for our own good and for our own survival, we, Goans, need to castigate ourselves for the many ills that plague Goa today and most importantly mend our old outdated ways. We cannot be faulted for selling our land to outsiders, for anyone would do it to the highest bidder, when there are no restrictions imposed by the Government. And there is no guarantee that land sold to a Goan will not be resold to an outsider. There are people who due to financial difficulties need to dispose their property, but there are others who own large landholdings which they would love to hold back only if they were assured of being retained for posterity without encroachments and usurpations, which is impossible today in this lawless State and country.
We need to perforce acknowledge that we were neither enterprising nor hardworking, nor willing to take risks. We were, however, rightly proud of being honest and conscientious, at one time. But with “Liberation” came the liberation of these two virtues. Perhaps people have realised that in this country neither honesty nor conscientiousness have any place. Our greatest casualty has been the loss of our values.
Our pride has taken the better of us. Presumptuous, as we often are, we tend to look down upon those who, though much more qualified and intelligent than us, dress, think or behave differently from us. We also find some jobs and business below our dignity. It is this attitude that has primarily led to the exodus of our people to Europe, where we do the “less dignified jobs” which we would never undertake in Goa even if same salaries were offered. However, it is our easy going way of life that has prompted Goans to leave some of their traditional trades and pass the baton to migrants, as for example in case of bakeries. People have leased or sublet their shops to outsiders and are contented with paltry rents, instead of earning much more by running the business themselves. Goans take shops on lease only to sublet them later to migrants. Fruits and vegetable markets have practically been taken over by migrants – the fish business, partly, at least in Margao.
Another feature of our Goan “sossegado” life is the three or more hours of siesta time, whereas one does not find such relaxation among shops run by non-Goans. These generally open much earlier than the ones run by Goans and close much later, as they value their earnings, which more affluent Goans, don’t . In fact, some shops in Margao close as early as 6.30 pm. Of skilled professions like those of carpenters, plumbers, electricians, masons, etc. less said the better. They are in short supply and their place has been taken by migrants. Goans are not prepared to take up low paid jobs or well paid ones with some hard work involved. They will rather sit idle at home and live at the cost of family members abroad.
Feasts are good excuse to remain away from work. Domestic help among Goans is almost non-available. Most of the migrant maids work in half a dozen or more houses and earn good income. With smaller families and the younger generation having migrated, the elderly are at the mercy of outsiders for domestic help and to look after them during illness or disabilities. This over-dependence on outsiders is surely not a welcome situation but it is irreversible. It is bound to create social problems in future. Recently there was a fight in Bali between migrants and locals due to an assault on a Goan. Such incidents will tend to increase with the support of the politicians and even the Police. Goans are docile people and do not fit into lawless States like ours, where any dispute takes years to be settled and vacant properties are being encroached with impunity. It should not surprise us if migrants start occupying our vacant houses, with active connivance of the Government or politicians.
We must realise that it is we who have brought this disgrace upon ourselves particularly by our lack of unity and by electing the wrong people to suit our own selfish needs. Radical change in our mindset, outlook and particularly our mhaka kiteak poddlam and other selfish attitudes is imperative. Besides unity, the need of the hour is forming pressure groups to have laws enforced and helping in each other’s difficulties. Let us not take it easy. If we do not change, we are doomed.
(The author is a retired banker).
