Nobody knows Goa better than we Goans do. Our culture, our traditions, our festivals, our dance and music the landscape of mountains and hillocks, forests and beaches are near and dear to our hearts no matter where we live in or what nationality one holds. Our birth relates to the plus 400 years of Portuguese occupation in Goa, we were born in India, we are Indians by birth and will remain so by heart and soul. The Portuguese had left their own legacy and it is acclaimed in social circles and everywhere and by everyone no matter they are Hindus, Christians and Muslims the main communities of then Goa Dourada.
Talking about the bulk migration of Goans to Europe, we will agree that it a historical incident, an opportunity given by European nations to their erstwhile colonies to opt for their nationality if one wishes. Goa being a former Portuguese colony, Goans took this advantage and many of us migrated to Europe mostly in UK. Make no mistake to believe that we took this step not because we are no more in love with our country of origin and its people, but for circumstances beyond our compare and changes that led us to travel with burden in our mind and soul to these distant lands of uncertainty to toil and earn a few £ or $ to improve our economic conditions and bring a little smile on the faces of our kit and kin back home
A Goan no matter who he may be, where he may stand, a millionaire or so common and simple man, has never forgotten his roots, he knows how much he miss his loved ones, the scentic land where he was born and brought up, his family, children, neighbours and relations at large, the festivals and other cultural traditions are second to none to his heart. He keeps smilling and does all those sacrifices silently for the obligation he has towards this brethren back home.
Yes, as to the gatherings we do organize dances and parties, we sing Konkani songs, we celebrate our village feasts with fervour and vigour inviting our Goan friends and families and a sizeable community of Hindus and Muslims who are our own, to spend some time with leisure and pleasure. To our grace to the Lord, we too, sing and orate our litany in Latin with tenor and second voices along with our young Goan friends accompanying violin and guitar, and that’s the true essence of our life, our culture, our traditions and nothing else. We feel proud to say that we are Goans and many a cultured European personality recognises us easily be it in our work place, Church or elsewhere.
Remember, all that we earn in Europe is being sent back home and by this act we do bulge our forex deposits, we buy land, construct houses, buy cars and scooters contributing our valuable foreign exchange to the national economy and finally side by side generating employmernt to skilled locals as well as migrants and when the end comes our corpses are being flown back to the very place where we were born that is Goa and interred in our local cemeteries.
Remember, you our learned politicians that utility services are truly rendered by Goans, there’s nothing wrong in it, but numerically they are a drop in the ocean. Today, Goans in London are security officers, team leaders, managers, warehouse managers, pharmacists, doctors, bus drivers to merntion a few. Where there is a will there’s a way, the current Prime Minister of Portugal is Mr. Costa a Goan from Margao and he has a very good rapport with Indian PM Mr. Modi, our authorities can do much more than words can say, but …….. We know our obligations after surrendering our Indian passport and issuance of a foreign one. We are obliged and grateful to the Government of India for granting us OCI status, Indian Mission abroad are giving the best of their services to our doorstep and if our efforts remain united the Portuguese Governmnet will more be pleased to give us a dual citizenship. Viva Portugal.
The announcement by the Passport Department in Panjim that last year 4000 Goans have migrated forfeiting their Indian passports and daily 15 new Portuguese passports are being issued is really a matter of concern. Goa’s landscape is being shattered by the winds of change and all this because our successive governments failed in their endeavour to give a gainful employment to the local Goan be he a highly educated or least on top of it mocking at us by our elected representatives be they old or new, is an insult to the injury.
In foreign lands we speak high of our country, volumes of our Goa and its beautiful palm fringed virgin beaches, sun and sand but unfortunately no land is now available for common, ordinary and orginal Goans. Goa is now sold to foreigners, Russians and Nigerians, to builders and land sharks of the metropolies and so to the drug lords by our own politicians for their own selfish benefits. On drugs issue, our society, our youth has been targeted which has become a matter of great concern to the parents and elders. The bar culture is dying but drugs are raising its ugly head and with its influence rush and negligent driving with no limit riding on the narrow roads and bridges, use of substances in dance and social parties by our youth are transmitting shock waves and sleepless nights to the concerned parents.
Look at the status of a present day politician, after being elected for the first term, in the second election he files his assets in crores. A simple man, after his term of first 5 years from scratch to a crorepati. From which source did he accumulate this amount? The image of Goa swindle in the eyes of the world. Honesty is no more the order of the day, crimes, drugs, rapes, illegal hutments, land fillings, encroachments of Comunidades, private or governmental land, is the order of the day.
Migrants encroached our age old Comunidades land and build villas and apartments, so the hutments without obtaining any licence and our authorities provided them with electricity, telephone, water and roads. Whose property is this after all? Has anyone got the power to regularized these illegalities? No, but our Government did it. This land of Comunidades is ours, saved for the posterity by our ancestors but now that all is gone.
Goans are scattered all over the world, they have not encroached an inch of land from others anywhere be in India or abroad, they reside legally, they do perform all activities which are basically of Goan essence and prestige, they bring back the cultural memories before the guests which are widely applauded and they come home to their mother land be it on holidays or for good with honour and dignity.
