This article may perhaps ruffle many feathers. It is human tendency not to admit our faults and shortcomings and find excuses or scapegoats or blame others for them. However, truths are sometimes unpalatable or bitter and difficult to accept but, unless we acknowledge them, work on them and mend our ways, things will never change and we will be sucking our thumbs, as we do with the happenings in Goa, which were long anticipated, even in my own articles.
I was very young when Goa was merged with India. But I did realise that we tended to look down upon people, who came from the rest of India, and I didn’t really know why. But, the fact is that we did appear to have a superiority complex, which perhaps exists till today. We failed to realise how talented, educated and knowledgeable people from other parts of India were. It could have perhaps, initially, been because we took a dislike for Goa’s new administrators who came to be known as ‘deputationists’ and were in charge of various departments in the Government. I understand that most of them were authoritarian and unfriendly, probably thinking that they were dealing with “conquered people”. Eventually, there were demonstrations and even fasting by some people to push them out, which happened only after sustained efforts and demands from the people.
Today, we resent the migrants or ‘outsiders’, though we know we can’t do without them, especially for menial work. We are surely conscious that we are prepared to do any dirty work abroad, but not in our own land. Much of the development, which Goa has witnessed, especially in infrastructure, is thanks to the migrant labour. Though Goan labourers may produce work of better standard, we need to acknowledge that Goa is not only short of local staff, but that the migrants are more hard working. They would be prepared to work for longer hours or at night to finish a job, whereas our local labourers would be unwilling to oblige. Hence, many works which could be easily done at night, need to be carried out during the day, with much inconvenience to the public and traffic.
Perhaps the main reason why we work the way we do, is that we have not really seen very difficult days, unlike those who come here to make a living. These are people who have come up the difficult way and are keen in improving their standard of living. Their ways and hours of working are very different from ours. We do not seem serious in running our shops or business and are often very casual about it. We open late and close early. We can’t do without our siesta, which often extends beyond 3 hours. This is where we lose in this competitive scenario. We may soon see the migrant community overtaking us.
Another sad commentary on us, is that we have become very arrogant and aggressive. This observation, which I concur with, was also made to me by some young fellow Goans, who have lived abroad for a while and had also visited other parts of India. They were rather shocked that Goans have turned very arrogant, which is something they had not observed earlier. Such unpleasant attitudes are evident on the roads, in parking and in driving SUVs or other big vehicles. Taxi drivers, particularly at hotels are known for their unfriendly behaviour, which is surely detrimental to themselves and the tourist business. Recently, the driver of a vehicle, coming from an internal road, hit a car proceeding on the main road. However, instead of being apologetic for coming onto the main road recklessly, he started arguing, while his wife was pleading to be excused. Such incidents are not uncommon in Goa, even with aggressive postures. In our congested roads, such minor accidents could have been settled amicably without rancour and with a cool mind and understanding. After all, accidents are not deliberate, though less negligence and recklessness could have spared us some unpleasant moments
Several years back, in Panjim, in a shop selling very delicate items, a young man entered with a child. The shop owner, very politely requested the customer to be cautious with the child, as the items were breakable. The client reacted very arrogantly telling the owner: ‘I can buy your shop’. I dispense comments on this behaviour. But, it is really sad that today Goa has no dearth of the nouveau riche, some of whom have more money than brains. Such attitudes and behaviour will take us nowhere and the sooner we realize it, the
better.
Goans have really not seen or experienced abject or extreme poverty, as is evident in many parts of India. Luckily, almost everyone has a roof over his/her head and hardly would anyone go to bed hungry. We have seen plenty and that is what perhaps makes us proud and arrogant. Many Goans had properties, which, at one time, were not worth anything, but have today turned into gold mines. A good percentage of Goans have enough to live a comfortable life. But if we continue to take it easy and neglect our business or jobs, we may end up in losing to our competitors. When I had an opportunity to do some recruitment, I did opt for Goans, but I must say that my experience was not a pleasant one, though I still favour my Goan brethren.
The purpose of these lines is not to be critical of my fellow Goans or put them down. I am myself a through bred Goan, with a great love for Goa and Goans. It is meant to correct or overcome our shortcomings. It costs us nothing to be kind and spread love and goodwill around, instead of showing off our power or money. It will go a long way in erasing our own wrongs, which we forcefully need to acknowledge.
(The author is a retired banker)