Unlike present days where lifeguards whistle for any errant tourist it would be our guardians with their shrill voices warned us against the dangers of possible drowning. Warnings were many ‘don’t go too far, don’t stay long in the waters, don’t lift your dress too high and also don’t watch the packle/packlo(whites)’. Mind you this was not said with any abomination. Innocence and obedience prevailed, we were politely told that we should simply not look. And we did not. Honestly, foreigners, foreign tourists, wore their bikinis, swam, sunbathed and strolled. They were in groups, or with families or a couple. This is during late seventies and early eighties. If people today have to scream about anything then it has to be the dirty, plastic, stinking garbage, tar balls scattered, drunken tourists, luring males and not the bikini wear. Sudin has certainly become more popular then the B wear. When the comfort is for somebody else why are we getting uncomfortable about it?
Surely, this is all for political mileage. Why don’t we make a hue and cry about issues pertaining to us – the people of Goa?
We have accepted the two piece beach wear years back, and those wearing it are so unmindful about it. Why is it tickling us now? Why are politicians creating a ruckus and ruffling feathers for others? Maybe there is nothing to feed the media after the Tejpal bail. Is it that or some poor politician is feeling left out from the ‘games politicians play’?
Sadly, it seems that Goan tourism is surviving only on the bikini wear. Protect the tourist instead from rapes, eve teasing, murders and robbery. Give a fair deal to our guests in return for the foreign mullah. Are we justified in giving enough justice? Check more with the high rise of drowning deaths, drunken males ogling at women, clean up the beaches, give them their origin virgin look, let there be safety. Let us get our pride back to say we have the best beaches in the world.
It seems very easy to make off-track remarks and create sensation among the masses but to do something constructive and lucrative by fair means seems way beyond non-weighty comments.
Give tourism a fair deal, do not use women as the scapegoats to promote or demote anything. May they be wearing bikinis or swim suits this lifestyle has been accepted, from the time foreign tourists have come to this sun and sea state? To create a commotion in the 21st century on this is just plain game plan.
Do we clean up our beaches or do we clean up the bikinis? It is a moot question. Or else we keep a dress code for Goa and safety guidelines (I believe swords) when we go to pubs. It will be a veritable twist in the tale. May Sudin Dhavlikar and Pramod Muthalik give the final take on this matter? Do not ruin the already blemished name of our beaches – the pride of Goa. Go Goa otherwise it might be Goa gone.
