Joshua D’Mello
I thank Mr Tadeu Gracias and Herald (Dec. 11, 2016), for making us aware of the Zarambo, its history, some uses, its rarity in Goa where it can’t easily germinate. It is a probably a miracle that this tree has germinated and survived. If not, it indicates a change in our Goan environment from the era it germinated.
The tree may have benefits which are not yet discovered. Once cut it is lost forever, even before finding them. I request help from our botanists, Navelkars and others to make us aware of the scientific name and more on this tree. For those wanting to visit it, one has to walk away from the highway at Navelim, walking 500 metres past the Rosary College.
I call upon my fellow Goenkars to wake-up and pass on to future generations what has been passed to us. I call upon the people to realise that we only have around 30 years in the “hot-seat” of taking decisions, out of the average 80 years we live in our common home: Mother Earth. We are considered too young or too old in the other 50 years generally.
We need to ask ourselves, do we need this bye-pass? After 1500 years of cultivation probably, after the hard struggle, of yours and my forefathers, does our generation have the right to fill up the field and irreversibly deny the right of cultivating it to future generations? A field destroyed is food wasted. Many in Vidharba, north Karnataka and around the world, cry for rains in their fields and we here waste and kill our fields. We import food from neighbouring states, but will they export when there is a drought? And they themselves have a shortage? We are losing our food banks called fields, or xetam.
The currency our body understands is food. When hungry, we cannot eat our cash, or cheques, or gold, but require just plain rice or other food. Similarly we cannot eat oil, petrol or diesel, all more expensive, than simple water.
Let us realise that life is a gift from God and earth is there for our need. Let us save the zarambo. It has many unknown benefits, which have to be researched. Do not kill this tree and our other flora and fauna. Increase public transport. Our roads are enough but our greed will never be. With 1000 crores we can buy 2000 buses for Goa and end traffic problems.
Save the area around Patto too. The mangroves waters stink, as one travels from Panjim towards Merces. Let us be aware that mangroves provide shelter to small young fish. Mangroves are a sponge, absorbing the extra water. Fill the mangroves in Patto, Santa Cruz and Merces Ribandar, and we will let our towns and villages drown.
I call upon Goenkars to pray for Goa, the souls of our ancestors, those who toiled for us. Let us use the spiritual world to help us in our physical world. As we believe in God, we believe it is possible. Let us Love Goa more than we hate its destroyers- for whom we have a duty to make aware and pray. Let us pray and do all that is possible in our reach and pray for what is beyond our reach.
Think Goenkar, chintai! I request all to pray, think and vote wisely.
