Margao: Against the
backdrop of the ‘citizen inauguration’ of the Opinion Poll Square on Monday,
‘Asmita Dis’ was celebrated on Tuesday at Fatorda, in commemoration of the 51st
anniversary of the historic Opinion poll in the presence of Chief minister Manohar
Parrikar.
It maybe recalled that on Monday evening, Town and Country
Planning (TCP) Minister and Fatorda MLA
Vijai Sardeasi had reacted to the citizen inauguration and had said it
‘proved once again that Goemkars haven’t lost their spirit or enthusiasm about
India’s only referendum that prevented Goa’s identity from being stolen’.
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In view of this, the scheduled inauguration by the chief
minister on Tuesday did not take place. Instead, CM Parrikar merely posed for
photographs next to the plaque along with those who had participated in the
Opinion Poll struggle and their family members.
“As some enthusiastic Goans have already inaugurated the
square yesterday we do not want to repeat the act today and instead shall only
pose for photographs,” said Vijai.
Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar, Minister for Rural
Development Jayesh Salgaonkar, Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo and MLA Alina
Saldanha also posed for the photographs.
Sardesai who was seen greeting each and every person present
and talking to various people about the significance of the Opinion Poll and
how it retained the Goan identify. “ There has been an attempt to erase the
opinion poll from the syllabus and curriculum. We will have to fight for it and
work too” added Sardesai while elaborating on the future plans to honour the
events of the Opinion Poll.
The whole square was abuzz with excitement as people were
discussing the historic moment and how their family members contributed to it.
The entire event was being recorded through a camera mounted on a drone.
“The D-day of the movement for independent Goa happened on
January 16 ,1967 and independence was complete with identity,” said Parrikar.
“The capital city has to host the next year’s Asmita Dis
celebration in a bigger way. Before the 52nd anniversary, the statue of Dr Jack
Sequeira has to be installed in the assembly and we will take the necessary
resolutions in the Goa legislative assembly,” said Calangute MLA Michael Lobo.
Subsequently they walked to the 38 plaques accompanying
either the family member or the Opinion Poll stalwarts to unveil them. A
photograph of the Opinion Poll warrior along with a brief note on the
contribution to Opinion Poll written in English, Devnagiri Konkani and Romi
Konkani formed the plaque. The plaques will be there permanently as they are
acrylic and the frames holding them are nailed permanently to the wall of the
walkway. Uday Bhembre was the only person who boycotted the programme and he
was not represented by any family member too.
While a band played Hindustani classical music during the
function as the dignitaries along with the representatives of the Opinion Poll
stalwarts and people walked to Ravindra Bhavan they were accompanied by the
traditional Goan brass band.
Former MLA Teotonio Pereira and Gurunath Kelekar were the
two stalwarts who were present personally while all others had their family
members representing them and Felicio Cardoso was represented by Gulab Editor
Fausto V Da Costa. Teotonio Pereira opined that there is a big difference between
the present MLAs and those of his time and added that even the common people
are speaking about the degradation in politics. “I am not saying all are bad,
but the few rotten apples are spoiling the names of all,” he said.
Even though it was an official function organised by
Ravindra Bhavan, Margao and the Directorate of Official Language, Government of
Goa, the whole road from Colva Circle to Ravindra Bhavan was decorated with
buntings of the Goa Forward Party Logo. Incidentally all the MMC councilors
from Fatorda were present for the function along with those owing allegiance to
the BJP but councilors loyal to the Congress or rather Digambar Kamat were
conspicuous by their absence. Digambar Kamat was also not seen at the function.
“I had invited him but he has not come and that is his choice,” said Vijai when
asked about it.
Ravindra Bhavan had organised various competitions for
school children right from 9 am under the theme “Goan Identity”. Nearly 200
students participated in the road painting held under the theme “Goa a
Paradise”. While 182 students participated in the painting completion in junior
category in senior category there were 151 participants. 94 students
participated in the fancy dress competition in junior category while there were
38 participants in the senior category. An essay competition was also held on
the topic Goenchi Asmitai and there were 37 participants in the junior
category, 60 in the senior category and 5 in the higher secondary category.
Ravindra Bhavan also had an exhibition where significant photographs of the
Opinion Poll era were displayed along with brief notes on various aspects of
the poll including pictures of leaders and women campaigners, of the campaign
and the counting.
