The State we are in

KISHORE AMATI / TEAM HERALD

As Goa started breathing free air in a democratic situation after its integration into India on December 19, 1961, over 450 years of Portuguese domination came to an end. The celebrations of being united with the Indian union or Bharat were hardly over when Goans found themselves in a completely different situation – to choose whether to preserve Goa and its unique identity by achieving full-fledged statehood or destroy Goa and its unique identity by merging it into Maharashtra. In what can be termed as the first battle among Goans, the Opinion Poll was conducted in January 1967 to decide whether Goa will be merged into Maharashtra or continue as a Union territory. Under the leadership of the father of Opinion Poll, Dr Jack Sequeira and others, Goans overwhelmingly decided against the merger of Goa into Maharashtra and Goa continued as a Union Territory. 

Rafael Viegas from Curtorim, who lives history through his collection of old newspapers and magazines, says, “The struggle to make Goa a separate state was mainly to preserve Goa and its identity. But we had not anticipated that Goa will soon turn into what it has become now. This is not the Goa that we fought for.”

If the ultimate aim in achieving statehood for Goa was to preserve and promote its identity, has it served its purpose? What has been the progress record in persevering Goa’s unique identity for which the elders made sacrifices? Konkani, the official language of Goa and the most important factor of Goan identity—is slowly and systematically being displaced from the Goan soil. There has been rapid increase in the Goan population. Viegas adds, “That time, the population of Goa was 5 lakhs, now we are 15 laks and I think the actual Goans are not even 50 per cent of the total population. Goa as a Union territory was far better off.” 

Goans fear that if the same influx continues, it won’t be late until Goans will be a minority in their own state. Maria Lourdes Bravo da Costa e Rodrigues, retired assistant librarian, Central Library Goa  says, “People from other parts of India have already come in large numbers and taken the land. Initially, when the first builders from out of Goa, Rizvi Constructions came from Mumbai, the Kamats and the Alcons fought tooth and nail to get them out of Goa. Now, everyone is sleeping and least bothered. There’s nothing much of Goa remaining in Goa anymore. With the present trend, with so many non-Goans coming into Goa and buying land, I don’t think it will take time for Goa to transform into a metropolitan city.”

The Goan elders, almost unanimously feel that statehood hasn’t served the purpose it was meant to – to protect the identity of Goa and its people. Goa of the yesteryears is almost lost and whatever little is left of it, will be gone before we know it. Maria, on a parting note, says, “It took us 20 years after the Opinion Poll to get statehood…though, I don’t know for better or for worse.” 

Govt confers Gomant Vibushan 

TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: The Goa government has conferred the highest state civilian award, the Gomant Vibushan, on journalist and writer Lambert Mascarenhas for his contribution to the field of literature.  Freedom fighter Mascarenhas joins Dr Anil Kakodkar (awardee for 2010 for science), architect Charles Correia (in 2011) and Dr Ragunath Mashelkar (in 2012 for science).

The committee constituted by the government Mascarenhas called Mascarenhas’ contribution to the field as “tremendous and remarkable.’

The awards were announced by the Art & Culture Minister Dayanand Mandrekar who briefed the print and visual media persons on the “ Gomant Vibhushan Award ” presentation ceremony in the presence of Secretary for Art & Culture Faizi O Hashmi and Deputy Director of Art & Culture Ashok V Parab. 

According to the government, the objective of this award was to honour and recognise renowed Goan personalities who have contributed to distinguished and extraordinary achievements and services in any field or discipline like art, literature, education, sports, medicine, social work, civil services, public affairs, trade, science, etc and also those personalities who through their admirable and exceptional work in their field brought recognition to Goa, nationally and internationally.

Mascarenhas born in 1914, after his education, joined the Monday Standard as a junior reporter and then worked as a sub editor for the Bombay Sentinel.

He joined the Onlooker as assistant editor before becoming editor of the Goan Tribune. 

Mascarenhas was arrested and sentenced to prison by the Portuguese government and worked in exile for a couple of years before returning to Goa in 1961 and becoming the joint editor of the Navhind Times. After three years there he founded Goa Today. His first book The First City was published in Mumbai in 1943. 

December 9 – 19, 1961:   Operation Vijay – Goa’s liberation by Indian Armed Forces. 19th   December is celebrated as Goa Liberation Day. 

Major General Candeth  appointed Military Governor of Goa

March 27, 1962:  Goa incorporated into the Indian union. Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu formed. 

January 10, 1964: First elections to the House of Assembly in Goa. Dayanand Bandodkar becomes Goa’s first chief minister. 

January 16, 1967:   Historic Opinion Poll. Opinion Poll unanimous to keep Goa and Goan identity separate 

1962-1987: Goa is a Union territory together with Daman and Diu

August 12, 1987:  Goa gains statehood becoming India’s 25th state. May 30 is celebrated as Goa Statehood Day

“I am confident that the people of Goa will steadfastly strive to make greater gains from the political transformation brought about by our statehood thereby paving the way for higher socio-economic growth and stability.

I congratulate and compliment the people of Goa for their intense interest, abiding faith and participative approach towards the strengthening  of democratic principles and the democratic way of life. It is, indeed, a matter of gratification that the parliamentary  elections were conducted peacefully in the state, in keeping with the peace loving  nature and tradition of the people. 

The people, I am sure, would ardently hope that their elected representatives would  leave no stone unturned to strive to fulfill and satisfy their genuine needs, desires, ambitions and aspirations, in order to improve the overall quality of life and  standard of living.

— Governor Bharat Vir Wanchoo

As our nation witnesses a major political change, I am motivated to ensure that our State extracts the maximum benefits of the same. I am also committed to the principle of equality of opportunity for all in employment and service delivery. With the existence of its rich diversity, Goa has set a high standard of unity and brotherhood, I thank and congratulate you all for that. 

Let us on this occasion work in unison and eschew differences if any to take Goa further to greater heights of progress and prosperity.

— CM Manohar Parrikar 

Goans got statehood on a platter unlike people of other states who had to sometimes shed their blood to achieve it.

I have always held the view that the state is not complete without its own cadre, High Court and grant of special provisions.

One cannot forget that Goa had a full-fledged High Court with five sitting judges having jurisdiction not only over the areas of Goa, Daman and Diu but had jurisdiction also over  Macau and Timor, for about four centuries.      

On special category status to Goa, it requires an amendment to Article 371 of the Constitution to empower the Goa assembly to enact law to protect and safeguard Goa’s land and culture that are inundated by land mafia .

—?Shantaram Naik, Rajya Sabha MP