Oswin Gonsalves
The world we live in has totally gone materialistic and pragmatist. Do not get me wrong, it is for all to see. Moreover, there isn’t even an iota of doubt in it. Every single day we talk, see and hear about this. However, we remain silent when it comes to taking action against any illegality. Goa, the state which is our dwelling place, the Rome of the East, projected as the beautiful State of India, is being sold by none other than us. This is because we have sold ourselves into political slavery.
Every five years we get the opportunity to elect our representatives, but who do we elect? The same old people, who have only one ambition, acquire as much wealth as possible in the name of development and progress of the State and the constituencies. The result of all this? Destruction of forests, conversion of fields, shabby road developments, messy roads and erratic public services. There are those elected representatives that will tarnish innocent people’s image if they see any threat to their illegalities making them insecure. Hold on, is it development or is it devel-opt-men (men opted by the vices/evil to spread nuisance)?
Among all these are we, who remain silent and let these disgraceful activities go on? We wait for the other to act and do things on our behalf because we know that we have sold ourselves into political slavery. Sometimes our protests are temporary that gives advantage to these selfish people to do as and what they like. It isn’t a hidden thing of what we have witnessed in Goa over the last few days when the roads were damaged, landslides happening, properties put at risks as well as human lives, roads flooded and so much inconvenience. I don’t think I have seen such mess during the monsoons in the last 30 odd years of my life.
Goa is being affected by the virus and white ants of building lobby. The greed of these elected representatives supporting such building lobbies, is destroying Goa and its natural resources, harming the habitat and putting us on the path of destruction and agony. It is irrelevant which party has formed the government, if we chose these clumsy and unfit politicians, our Goa will be gone down the drains. No matter how much it is voiced out, no matter how much it is projected, no matter how many times we sensitise citizens it does not bear any positive results. Why? Because we are shameless, indifferent and many times irrational.
Are we going to learn from our mistakes? Are we going to bring about a change in preserving our land, our resources and our freedom or are we going to do the same things repeatedly? The damage is already done, but it needs to be stopped from getting worse. Before it too late, wake up and save Goa, break this slavery, live free.
