Valmiki Faleiro was unique
It was so very devastating to hear about the sudden death of the Margao based renowned writer Valmiki Faleiro. He was a prolific and famous writer. As a journalist he was well respected for his accuracy and integrity in his reporting by always being non-partisan and fair. Valmiki also had a stint in politics by being the President of the Margao Municipal Council.
He may have ventured in other avenues too but never stopped writing. His writings will remain popular for generations to cherish and enjoy. The unique way in which he scripted what he had to convey using plain and pleasant vocabulary was outstanding as it could be understood by the common man.
Dear Valmiki, bidding you a farewell until we meet in that better world you have departed to. You will continue to inspire and motivate young Goans, especially those who opt to write by using the pen and crafting their words artistically just like the way you always did, truthfully and dutifully. Rest in peace my dear friend.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Nobel Prize for Medicine is suspect
Close on the heels of awarding the Nobel Prize in Medicine to Katalin Karakoram and Drew Weissman for their research in mRNA vaccines to fight Covid-19 virus, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for work on quantum dots was won by the trio Moungi Bawendi, Luis Brus and Alexi Ekimov.
The striking feature of award for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines by the Swedish Academy is suspect given the killing fields caused by the after effects of the deadly immunisation. The masterminds of the manufacturers and funders namely Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla and Bill Gates of Microsoft were booed for foisting the deadly Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on the innocent people across geographies, whilst the origin of the Wuhan virus remains elusive. Ironically instead of fighting the virus, conversely the vaccine has caused more damage to the DNA structure of human cells. Alfred Nobel the founder must be turning in his grave at the Swedish Academy in Stockholm for selecting undeserving candidates for the coveted prizes. The less said about the chemistry prize, the better, as the purported application of quantum dots in electronics and medical imaging is little known for the betterment of the society at large.
Everette Assis Telles, Margao
Vegetation on Colva beach is important
This has reference to the report ‘Colva locals take on Tourism Dept for cutting vegetation on the beach’ (O Heraldo October 5, 2023). It’s good to see the locals in Colva standing up to the authorities and protesting against the cutting of vegetation on the beach. The authorities do not seem to understand, rather feign ignorance of the importance of the vegetation which protects sand erosion and protects the environment.
It seems like we are on the road to suicide in view of the mass destruction of the environment all across the country. Look at what they are doing with the Aarey forest which was in the news for cutting of thousands of trees for the Metro car shed and now there’s some more destructive activity in progress. We all know the importance of trees but then what are we doing? The authorities all across the country need to come to the realization that we must stop all such destructive activities before we get destroyed ourselves.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Education can’t make them human
Recently three suspected ISIS terrorists were arrested by Delhi police. In fact, the more educated they are the more dangerous monsters they become. One of them was doing PhD. This is really astonishing to know the level of brainwashing these highly educated terrorists have gone through. The ideology of jihad for supremacy of religion is deep rooted and it is surprising to see the extent of their dedication towards their cause. Sleeper cells like this are very much active in India. Negative elements of the nation requires exemplary punishment. It can only be possible if our law makers pass a very stringent bill in the Parliament.
Is carrying out terrorist attacks part of their PhD research programme? Such people put the whole community at risk. Meanwhile most have agreed to reform their archaic rules to merge with main stream, there are some others who still adhere to outdated laws and want their community to follow them, by force or otherwise. It is a source of national pride that, despite the existence of sleeper cells and modules that were active in high density areas and engaged in subversive activities under the control of foreign handlers, the country has protected its sovereignty. Infact the Centre should confiscate their properties and demolish their houses!
K G Vilop, Chorao
Who let the dogs out?
A practice commonly noticed among dog owners in Goa is that they let their dogs loose whether they have compound walls or not! Very often we hear of people being bitten by ferocious dogs, only due to the negligence of the owners! Dogs when left neglected, unfed or just let loose, dirty the neighbour’s property or attack passersby! They even attack people on their own property by jumping across walls, just because these creatures are left unattended. Many others have an unpleasant habit of taking their canines on the leash to dirty private property or public roads. The reasoning goes like this –“The poop shouldn’t be in my yard! If it is in someone else’s yard, it is perfectly fine!” This is such pathetic civic sense!
Abroad, if dogs poop in public spots, owners have to dispose the poop or they are fined. There are others who keep multiple canines when they cannot take care of them. There are still others who keep dogs not for the sheer love of fauna, but they feel it is a status symbol! The behavioural analysis of such individuals claiming to be pet lovers tends to reveal interesting facts about the personality of the owner too. Hopefully, such owners will attain grey cells to keep their pets in their own homes, or take care of these canines so that they don’t pose threat to others.
Charlane Pereira e Rebello, Navelim
Government should introspect!
The ruling BJP dispensation has gone out of the way to grant Pragya Singh Thakur (an accused in the 2008 Malegaon bombings where 10 people were killed and 82 more were injured) on bail now on health grounds. The 11 criminals who were condemned to life imprisonment in the Bilkis Bano rape and murder of 14 members of her family case were given premature release, that too on August 15, 2022, and were given a rousing welcome with garlands and sweets. The ruling dispensation has not action against the Hindu Mahasabha workers led by Pooja Shakun Pandey who ‘reenacted‘ Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination on his 71st death anniversary, by shooting and burning an effigy of Gandhi in Aligarh, UP.
In Manipur, hundreds of people have died and arson, burning and murders are still going on unabated for the past five long months without any strong action from the ruling dispensation to quell the anarchy and bring peace to this small North eastern state ruled by BJP. Doesn’t it sound a bit odd when India has started accusing the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as protecting terrorists when he has protested against the murders of his citizens on his own soil, irrespective of the terrorist- tags they carry on their heads?
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
