I agree with Santosh A Helekar (A Central Indian First, Herald, 16th inst.) that Goa in its present shape did not exist prior to 1788. But Goa whether you call it Goem, Govapuri, Aprant, Gomant, Sindabur or any name whatsoever always existed, with indefinite boundaries. Likewise, the Republic of India in its present shape did not exist prior to 15.8.1947. Nevertheless, India whether you called it Bharat or Aryavarta or whatsoever has existed with equally uncertain boundaries, from times immemorial.
Historic India and the Republic of India are certainly not one and the same. The India of old had nebulous boundaries and encompassed most of what is now Afghanistan, and the whole of the present Republics of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and even Sri Lanka, and perhaps more. My contention therefore is that I am a citizen of the Republic of India only after 28.3.1962 when the Goa, Daman & Diu Citizenship Order came into force. There was no Republic of India before independence and therefore no citizens of the republic.
To put it in a different context, since Goa is part of India, I am a citizen of the Republic of India. On the other hand, Pakistan not being part of the Republic of India, no Pakistani is a citizen of the Republic of India. But Pakistan being part of historic India all Pakistanis are Indians. Likewise, prior to 19.12.1961, Goans were Indians in the historic context but not citizens of the Republic of India. Thus to be an Indian one need not necessarily be a citizen of the Republic of India.
The Republic of India is the not sole and universal inheritor of historic India. All the different political entities that now exist over the space occupied by historic India are equally entitled for the heritage of India. Citizens of all different countries in historic India are “Indians” and Republic of India has no monopoly.
As I have said earlier, the territory of historic India was ruled by different kings and the boundaries of each kingdom varied. No matter whether Goa was part of Central Indian or South Indian empires, at some point of time, it was still part of historic and geographic India, and will always be so. But as in the past in the future too, the borders may change. No political entity lasts forever. We continue to see in our own lifetime how new countries are formed, how borders change and how some countries have simply disappeared. No matter what happens to the Republic of India, Goa will continue to exist and will always be part of historic India.
