After introducing The Bhumi Putras Bill in the Goa Assembly, many people of the Goan Origin were disturbed, otherwise we are “Sussegad & Shanti people”. “Sussegad” here doesn’t mean lazy. For me it means slow, peace loving and contended.
Pakistan & India got freedom from the British Rule in the year 1947. Prior to Independence, Pakistanis were Indians. It was only after the partition they became Pakistanis. So we became two different nations or countries. Partition happened no doubt, but still we have our relatives in Pakistan, mostly in Karachi. People of both the nations are made to live as enemies by our politicians for the sake of their personal agenda. Goans got liberation after India’s Independence, after long 14 years. Why? Have we ever made a thought of it? No. To liberate Goa from the Portuguese rule came in the Indian Army, and then a lot of influx of people from different states of India.
During the Portuguese rule entry and exit had a lot of restrictions. My own people had to travel to Bombay by foot through the deep forests like many other fellow Goans,. Post Liberation, entry and exit became easy, so it was a free flow. Most Goans settled only in Bombay, because it was easy for them to do all process and formalities about seafarers.
Many people of Goan origin settled there and became Bhumi Putras there. They have got houses and property of their own and are living happily. In Goa a lot of influx happened because of tourism, business opportunities, employment,etc. The Gujurs are business people so they fell in love with Goa’s beauty and bought property and started business. The early bird was Birla who bought vast property at Zuarinagar. We got employment.
The influx of people from the other states of India is gone beyond bounds and we the original Goans are decimated and have become outnumbered. We have left our place of origin to seek green pasture elsewhere because of jobs we say. But they send us messages to save Goa. If you people loved Goa, you wouldn’t have had to leave Goa. Who says we don’t have employment in Goa. Did not our forefathers live for Goa? Education is good but we don’t know the meaning of dignity of labour. We have left these Goan shores for a better life and now crying hoarse to “Save Goa”.
A lot of wrong things are happening in Goa presently due to free influx of criminals and goons from other parts of India. We are not safe because we are not protected by law. Rapes, thefts, murders etc.etc. This influx has not happened overnight. It was slow and gradual. We blame our politicians and the Government, why don’t we blame ourselves?
Truth Is bitter, I would surely draw flak from fellow Goans for all this. I am an Indian and I have engraved my heart from my childhood school days from the textbooks pledge, that All Indians are my brothers and sisters and India is my Country. We are all Bhumi Putras of this great country called India. I have not kept anybody in my property by taking rent, although I have a vast property to build rooms and collect easy rent. I have not studied the Bhumi Putra Bill. We Goans have made them bhumiputras unofficially already.
