By Datta Naik
Goa Forward has brought forward this word Goenkarponn and Manohar Parrikar, whom I would call as Chief Minister of North Goa since most of the Ministers in his cabinet are from North Goa, has borrowed this word Goeankarponn from Vijai Sardesai, Leader of Goa Forward. However the exact meaning of the word Goenkarponn is not clear. The politicians have got vested interests of keeping it ambiguous.
The citizens of Goa should, however, know what is Goenkarponn, what are its undercurrents and nuances. I would make two parts of Goenkarponn. The iceberg has one eighth of its surface visible above the sea and the remaining seven eighth of its surface are submerged under water. Similarly Goeankarponn has its visible and invisible dimensions. One can also term it in computer technology term as hardware and software of Goenkarponn.
Goenkarponn manifests itself visibly through our mother tongue Konkani, our flora and fauna, our traditional architecture, our religious traditions, communal harmony, Goan festivals, folklore, literature, art and culture. The invisible aspect of Goenkarponn is very important and crucial. It is manifested through various qualities of head and heart of the Goan community.
A Goenkar is essentially a jovial, happy go lucky, susegad person from the positive perspective. She likes to work hard and enjoys her leisure time. Goenkar is loyal and committed to her work. She is hard working and can take any challenges in her professional life. A Goenkar is highly hospitable and enjoys treating her guests with warmth and affection. The values such as love, kindness, compassion are essential part of Goan nature irrespective of her religion. Every Goenkar has a great sense of humor. It is manifested through folklore, tiatrs and cartoons. Compared to the population of Goenkars, the creative Goenkars in the field of literature, art, science and sport are very high. The average Goan is very frank and outspoken. Her mind is as transparent as the fresh flowing spring water.
A Goenkar thinks collectively and also acts collectively. Therefore there are words in Konkani such as “Dha Zanachi Budh” which literary means “Let ten people meet and decide”. “Gaokari” which later developed into Comunidade is a conspicuous example of collective farming of Goans. Some of the creative inventions such as Khazan farming, sluice gate (Manas), Hurrak, Feni, Puran Farming, fishing by way of Khutavani, Dipakavani, Rapon, hunting by Bhovandi are perfect examples of collective actions. Simplicity is another great virtue of Goans. A Goenkar is not greedy. Respect to elders and women is a family value which has been engraved in every Goan for centuries. A Goenkar is not quarrelsome and violent. Therefore there were hardly any cases of murder, divorce and rape prior to liberation of Goa. A Goenkar is highly religious. She believes that God will stand by her at all times. Many Goenkars, especially from Hindu Bahujan Samaj, have become teetotalers due to their religious convictions. A Goenkar does not mind doing any sacrifice for the sake of members of her family. A Goenkar is highly mobile and she migrates for the sake of jobs to foreign countries. A Goenkar learnt the importance of education few centuries back and the parents, even with abject poverty, have made great sacrifices to educate their children so that they can come up in life.
If one asks me which is the most important aspect of a Goenkar, I would unequivocally point out that it is honesty and integrity of an average Goenkar. A Goenkar will not compromise her honesty for the sake of money, fame or power and will never dishonour her commitments. However, I will have to segregate here that there are two aspects of Goenkarponn. One is Bahujan Goenkarponn and the other is Brahminical Goenkarponn. Bahujan Goenkarponn has simplicity and lack of greed but the same cannot be said about Brahminical Goenkarponn. A Bahujan Goenkar is honest and is a women of her words but history has proved that the other Goenkar is not. Brahminical Goenkarponn from Mhal poi who connived with Alphonso de Albuquerque to defeat Adil Shah to teh current ruling diepensation have proved that Brahminical Goenkarponn can dishonor her commitments and can betray at any given point of time.
When I think of Goenkarponn I ask myself whether Goeakarponn is full of virtues and free of vices? My answer is in the negative. The jovial nature of a Goenkar is making them lazy and lethargic and makes them indulge in conspicuous consumption. Sense of humor is overflowing into taking sadistic pleasure in finding faults in others, writing anonymous letters and turning facebook into defacebook. Entrepreneurship in Goenkars is decreasing by geometrical progression. Mobility which is a virtue is unfortunately turning into a vice and Goenkars are migrating abroad by selling ancestral lands and occupations. Instead of thinking and acting collectively, the mentality of “Hanv Sangta Ten Tun Aik” which means “What I say you listen” is becoming predominant. The conspicuous example is Vijai Sardesai taking a decision to back BJP without even bothering to consult his party President Prabhakar Timble who resigned not only as Party President but also as member of the party and members of the Executive Committee, Mohandas Lolienkar, Prashant Naik and Dilip Prabhudessai who mutely agreed to the decision. Lack of ambition is another vice which I have noted in Goenkars. Or else, Manohar Parrikar would not have resigned as Defence Minister and come to Goa as Chief Minister. It is like a big fish in the sea coming to a small pond to become king of frogs.
In the near future these vices in Goenkarponn predominate and overweigh the virtues, then we will have to say goodbye to this Goenkarponn because Goenkarponn is not the ultimate value. The ultimate value is humanity. If in the name of Goenkarponn politicians like Vijay Sardesai and Manohar Parrikar trample the values such as honesty and integrity , then this version of Goenkarponn has to be dumped into the sea.
(The author is Konkani writer, social activist and Businessman.)
