Please support this proposal by flooding the CM's mailbox, "2010' is a watershed year. 1. On October 5, 2010 it would be a century of foundation of republic in Portugal which led to a mini renaissance in Goa 2. It is being celebrated as birth centenary year of D. B. Bandodkar and poet Bakibab Borkar 3. It is International year of Biodiversity 4. Colonialism in India, Indian subcontinent and Asia completes half a millenium... Irrespective of the outcome of this proposal it would also test our own willingness to welcome dissent and dissenters. The event would not only be a big crowd puller but Ms. Roy may leave an indelible mark on our psyche after her visit...
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Dr.Nandkumar Kamat <nandka...@gmail.com> Date: Sat, Jun 19, 2010 at 9:03 PM Subject: Colonialism as a theme for IFFI-2010 and writer Ms. Arundhati Roy to inaugurate and make a speech To: cm....@nic.in To, The Chairman, Entertainment Society of Goa, (ESG) and The Chief Minister of Goa, This is a serious proposal. At the very outset my suggestion for IFFI (which I feel is too expensive and need to be scrapped, but that may not happen) is that it should choose a theme on "colonialism and peoples' struggles/movements across the world' for the 2010 edition. You would surely get good entries from decolonised countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. please note that Goa's freedom struggle was supported by many resistant movements in Asia and africa. The Government of Goa spends a lot of money on IFFI and invites Bollywood and Holywood celebrities for the opening ceremony. What ideas they leave behind?. This tradition needs to be broken and the government need to invite the Booker award winner, writer and crusader Ms. Arundhati Roy for the opening ceremony during IFFI, 2010 as a change. if she refuses to be a state guest then we would make her a "peoples' guest". Since IFFI may open on 50 th birthday of Ms. Roy it would be an appropriate occasion to honour her in the land of Abbe Faria, T.B.Cunha and Francisco Luis Gomes. Ms. Roy could also be requested to speak on- " Colonialism down 500 years" a topic which would be suitable considering the completion of 500 years of Goa's conquest by Afonso de Albuquerque, on 25 th November 2010 and foundation of colonial rule in Asia. Ms. Roy,, however controversial she may sound need to be given full freedom and opportunity to say everything and anything she wants to say in the best traditions of democracy and the spirit of "vade vade jayte tatvabodha". The people of Goa have never heard her directly. She had spent some time in Goa when she was young. She would love to revisit this place and may be that would inspire her to complete her new novel. The literary, cultural and political circles of Goa would certainly benefit from the presence of such a global personality. By inviting her on her birthday the government and state of Goa would be able to demonstrate that the most dissenting voice is given a public platform in this state and we're not a 'failed democracy'. I know that such a decision would need a lot of political courage on your part and ESG' s part. But Ms. Roy would be the fittest person to speak on Colonialism when the event in Goa has been a low profile affair. Please put up this proposal before ESG and get it discussed. I am sure that despite their personal opinions, the other members would not show any inhibition to support my suggestion unless they treat Ms. Roy as "political untouchable'. Let IFFI-2010 be declared open by Ms. Roy. Let her speech be iconic and memorable-kickstarting a new ideological and intellectual ferment in Goan society with ripples across Mandovi and the Arabian sea.... thanks Nandkumar Kamat -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA -- Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, GOA