A rolling stone gathers no moss is an old proverb, credited to Publilius Syrus, who in his Sententiae states, People who are always moving, with no roots in one place or another, avoid responsibilities and cares. Inversely, a common modern meaning is that a person must stay active to avoid stagnation. Gathering moss is also one of the expression or dialect used to bring out that which is hidden. As I pen down these thoughts it just flares up with the thoughts playing at the back of my mind. What more could I say than, gathering moss!!!
Gathering moss from the pandemic or that which has been surfacing during these last two months… the by product of that which has been hidden over days and months together! Many issues did crop up during the pandemic beginning with the cutting down of hills at Sinquerim and the Calangute church property; the sheer rape of the Mollem Forest and Bhaghavan Mahavir Sanctuary, the double tracking of tracks, the Marine Project, the Sea Farers and now the recent transfer of the Goa Governor for not cooperating over number of issues, or is it for specifically saying, “that his requirement for functioning as Governor is very limited and he does not require any new Raj Bhavan building per se”.
This brings to mind an apt example of the hidden agenda. “At that time Herod the ruler had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl who brought it to her mother.” Mt 14: 1-11. Here we see the hidden agenda of Herodias, of doing away with John the Baptist, because he spoke the truth, and it disturbed her to the core. We have witnessed the same with the Governor – he was done away!!!
Recently, we have heard the Chief Minister say: state government has decided to construct a new Raj Bhavan and that initial processes like identification of land and its design could be tendered before next April. Well, there could be number of reasons, it’s maintenance; so too the expenses on paying its staff, etc. but does this mean that the government clears a proposal for the construction of new Raj Bhavan in a one day assembly session sideling number of other issues, that too when there is a financial strain? Is this the real reason (maintenance)? Or is it a back door entry for the Casino/to turn it into a Casino!!! For the government things change overnight and when real decisions are to be looked into, we get weird answers, polleunk zai; tache voir ullounk zai!!!
