By Sergio Carvalho
Our esteemed daily “Herald” has reported on the front page of 23rd June instant, two disturbing and yet revealing news, that lays bare the total contemptuous disregard for the concerns and sentiments of Goenkars, even though these have been articulated in a sustained manner, by various democratic and peaceful ways. The reason for turning a deaf ear and a blind eye by the Government of India, to every cry of Goenkars is clearly because, our culture and ethos, developed over thousands of years and crystallized during four and a half centuries in modern times, makes violence, rioting, burning, killing etc. totally repugnant to us. Violent response to any and every reason or excuse, like the one of the farmers of Thane (Maharashtra) as reported also on 23rd. instant, because of their objection to the proposed airstrip for the Navy, is a common trait of the people of every State of India and one that seems to bear the desired result for them. As the same Report indicates, a Meeting has already been convened by the Ministry of Defence, to discuss the issue. So obviously in India, violence pays!?
From 1962 onwards, Goenkars have had to plead and beg for issues of vital concerns for themselves, like not to allow the big State of Maharashtra to devour/merge our little Goa; for status of “State;” for recognition of our Mother Tongue Konkanni as the Official Language. Though ultimately we got these, it was almost as a favor and at the cost of immense heart-aches and lives of 7 young Goans, during our plea for recognition of Konkanni. All these should have been ours as a matter of fact, because these and more were officially promised to Goenkars by late P.M. Jawaharlal Nehru and others, before, during and after 19 December 1961.
And now the “Special Status”… After very enthusiast clamour by Goenkars in and out of Goa and promises with much fanfare by CM Manohar Parrikar and Mr.Narendra Modi during the last Parliament election campaign, it has been set aside, as a non issue, for the Government of India, notwithstanding our needs and safeguards.
The Government of India, be it Congress or BJP, knowing that Goenkars will not and cannot indulge in violence, chooses to ignore our pleas and concerns, even for Goa-centric IAS cadre.This is also because, we are a Conquered People(Supreme Court of India –“Mons. S.F.X.dos R. Monteiro V/s State of Goa”—AIR 1970 pg.329,S.C.) and a Conquered People have no rights and no right to make demands, but to accept the Socio-political lollipops that the” benevolent” Conqueror may toss our way.
It therefore follows naturally, that the Government of India hands over all the rights over Mopa Airport to the Navy; that large areas of land of small Goa has been handed over to the Armed Forces and more can/will be handed over, thus ultimately making little Goa like a battle arena, that can be prone to be targeted by India’s enemies, in the event of war. As a Conquered Land, we must not forget that every square inch of Goa belongs to the Conqueror and not to some individuals or to the Cummunidades.
Amen.
