This Goa’s daughter has taught all Goans to take our future in our own hands

It’s a story of sheer grit. And spirit. A spirit that comes from a sportsperson who has played Nationals for Goa and represented the nation in the Lusofonia Games in volleyball. Christie Dias did win games for her State and country but her real victory lies in how she played the game of her life. She is not only a huge inspiration for the youth of Goa but her story is also a reflection of how little the state does to empower young people.

Realising that her volleyball career would have an uncertain future and no guarantees of jobs and security, Christie decided to acquire skills that would make her self-reliant. And not have to look for government jobs or “take favours or use influence”. But how did plumbing happen? “Even I don’t know the answer”. She told Herald. “Perhaps it was God who decided this.” Reflecting on her journey she said, “I had a tenant who was a good plumber. I asked him to show me his work and then watched him closely when he did plumbing jobs.” These would include medium to big projects like new constructions or restorations. She soon learnt on the job and as a quick learner became very adept.

Soon the business grew and she is now equipped, with a team to handle work across Goa. Friendly, warm, trustworthy and very skilful, she is not just on the road to stability, but totally self-reliant.

But why didn’t she, like others, move to the UK and work, get married and raise a family. Her answer was touching: “Two of my sisters got married and moved to the UK. I wanted to stay back and look after my parents since I didn’t 

have a brother. And I wanted to have my own business and not depend on or work for anybody.”

Without quite realising the enormity of her achievements, Christie has done the following

(1) Defeated gender barriers and myths that plumbing is a man’s job

(2) Bucked the easy path of waiting for government jobs, and decide to acquire skills on her own

(3) Is totally self-reliant and sufficient and supports herself and contributes to the family income

(4) Has not followed the path of so many Goan youth who go abroad and work and/or get married and live abroad 

(5) Most importantly, she has shown what dignity of labour is all about

This volleyball athlete is a star because she has cleared the net of barriers that many either don’t or simply step away and take the easiest course

BUT HER HEROIC STORY IS ALSO A STORY ABOUT HOW LITTLE OUR GOVERNMENTS HAVE CARED TO EMPOWER THE YOUTH

All over the world, we see dignity of labour and respect given to all professions where a lorry driver and truck company owner can bond over an after-work beer. And women have far greater opportunities. As gas station attendants, bus and lorry drivers, mechanics and so on. In so many towns and cities, there is a large and dignified workforce which would be considered passe’ in India.

In Goa, the bright minds, the workforce and those with skills are all moving out.

ON BEACHES MIGRANTS SELL NON-GOAN WARES WHILE NO ONE SELLS GOAN HANDICRAFTS AND INSTRUMENTS TO TOURISTS

The Goans have left. On the beaches, most ‘Goan’ shacks don’t have Goan food, Goan waiters or even Goan owners. Migrants promising massages and more, sell cheap wares that are not remotely Goan, at exorbitant prices.

Our beaches can easily have stalls, shops, café’s all with a Goan touch, with Goan goods, handicrafts etc for sale. This would make local Goans self-reliant, strong, economically powerful and not dependent on the government.

And when you attain this level of economic self-sufficiency, no politician can ever entice you with money, forget actually giving you a bribe for your vote.

Government’s have systematically stopped activities that would showcase traditions and help those with skills earn

There is a true and beautiful belief that when you promote culture and tradition and activities that go with it, civilization can never get poor. Goa was always a shining example of that. Perhaps not any longer. From Carnivals to Shigmos to street festivals, to music on the streets played by local street musicians, to festivals like the Fontainhas Festival, each was not just a celebration of traditions, but of opportunities for people to earn and live off their traditional skills.

During these street festivals, there would be food stalls, music bands would play, and homes would become venues of music shows, art exhibitions or food sales. And everyone earned from joyous contributions of people, fellow Goans and good tourists who saw the real Goa, not a Goa where a migrant massages them on the beach.

These days, do we get our traditional food and drinks? Can you get toddy anywhere? Won’t a tourist be willing to pay Rs 200 or more for a glass of toddy? And won’t that money help in sustaining the almost extinct community of toddy tappers who of course need much more support to keep their skill and profession alive?

Skills have indeed been killed

So many traditions have been finished. So many skills have become extinct. Do we see Goan weavers and their beautiful work anymore, like saree work? Do we see musical instrument makers, do we see those who make handicrafts? These skills have been killed by the system that looks at only two things. Means to make money and put it in the pockets of the powerful.

Earlier Goans had opportunities, now they are victims of fixing

And yes, for these festivals, work and contracts were given to locals to fix the lighting, the sounds or paint the sidewalks or signages. No Panjim-based non-Goan contractor would corner all of this and give some peanuts to locals to carry out their sub-contracted jobs out as it happens now. Everything is fixed. That is why young Goans who cannot go abroad are desperate for even low paying clerical government jobs.

It is now that you will understand why Christie Dias and young people like her need to be saluted. She has, especially as a woman beating the system, taught every Goan youngster that there is an alternative. There is a way to tell those who rule the system, that there are people who will develop skills and be entrepreneurs without any government slogan or scheme. 

Above all she has told the system exactly this: “Try and give me a dark tunnel and I will light it with my own candle of opportunity and self-reliance”.