Each year we solemnly celebrate the Liberation Day in Goa. On December 19, 1961, the Indian armed forces entered Goa and with ease took over the reins of colonial administration which was totally scantly and ill prepared to take on the might of the Indian Army and thus the Liberation of Goa was a bloodless encounter and we Goans got the “fruits of self-governance” on a platter. Now that history of Goa Liberation is behind us, we are witnessing in Goa a sort of a second Liberation of this once an “Emerald Green State” from the “Brown Sahebs” of today, far different from the “White Masters” of the yore, prior to “Goa Liberation”.
The second Liberation sought to be directed by the “Executive of Goencho Awaz” interestingly is anticipated to commence from December 19, 2018. However, unlike the first liberation which was a sudden unannounced and an army directed movement, the second liberation is a drummed up civilian activity against the corrupt and anti people government propped up by the BJP at the Centre through activities directed towards defection, manipulations and misuse of the office of the Governor, against the mandate given by the people of Goa. That the toothless and the spineless opposition parties are doing precious nothing to stem the rot and liberate Goans from misadministration, non-governance and chaos is a matter for yet another essay.
We Goans surely need a revolution away from the politics of Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum.
On December 19, 1961, Goans did precious nothing to earn liberation and on December, 19, 2018, we would have only 10% Goans familiar to the independence movement in India and the liberation movement in Goa.
We have to learn from history so that we can avoid committing the same mistakes. As Edmund Burke said the only thing necessary for the evil to triumph and win over is for “the good men to remain quiet and sit on the fence”. Goa is surely degrading rapidly and Goenkarponn is taking up a new dimension due to the BJP which is now in power promoting gambling on casinos, the deleterious coal imports, the destructive Mopa airport, illegal mining and unsustainable tourism which is slowly displacing Goans from their once paradise on Earth – “Amchem Goem”.
The reasons why most revolutions and oppositions to misgovernance fails, is because we expect others to do our dirty work or our biddings. The revolution and liberation often requires sweat, blood, commitment and without vested interest at heart. God helps those who help themselves. If we want to see our “Mother Goa” liberated from the fangs of corrupt politicians out to destroy Goa through manipulations of the Regional plan and amendments to the rules of Town and Country Planning, each one of us must pick up the cross and follow our conscience, expecting absolutely nothing from the other Goans.
Each one of us must shoot, with the strength in our arms not over the shoulders of others or expecting that other Goans should bell the Cat. Success lies not in never ever failing but rising every time you fall.
