(in Gomantak Times, ed. 31st December 2004)
"Christianity brought communal harmony by the 18th century" Dear editor, I have been keenly following the debate and controversy surrounding the VCD on Goa's freedom struggle. I have not seen the VCD but I know the intellectual jugglery resorted to by all those in the political sphere for the last twenty years. None can expect an honest presentation of the freedom struggle by the present government. I have hit out enough at this government. But the Congress is not "saintly" either. It had appointed a think-thank long time back and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Luizinho Faleiro had announced it but the names in the panel exposed the intellectual bankruptcy. Unfortunately, Congress does not have a single leader who has even a simple understanding of Goa's social problems. Each one had been a leader at some point of time due to the need of that hour. None came with any social commitment or any specific ideology. Once they were chosen as MLAs or became ministers, they presumed supremacy n every field. Today, none has any credibility and all are praying to heavens for the collapse of the Parrikar government on its own. There are no Hindus in Goa as defined by the Hindutva of the RSS/BJP combine. By the time, the BJP-led Government took over, there are at least a dozen identified castes amongst Hindus with very clear boundaries between them. The present rule is by manipulating various combinations and permutations amongst them. For 125 years, the RSS and eventually, BJP propaganda centered on Vedas, Puranas, Lord Ram, history, culture etc. But when it came to power, whether at the Centre or the states, it was only development, which clearly meant dividing the loot on caste lines so that one caste will always remain superior to others. Catholics or Muslims, who are always hated in the ideology, could also be used depending on lust for power and money of few from amongst them. IFFI is the latest manifestation of the above phenomena. Fortunately, since Goa is small, the common man is realising the meaning of Hindutva of the BJP. And the BJP think-thank is also learning that the ground is slipping under its feet. A new tool has become necessary to reach the desired goal. A communal divide is the most fertile ground. And Congressmen cannot be said to be innocent. The Congress Vichar Vibhag has given a fiery report on CD and against Hindutva. Eventually, hibernating Congress leaders may pour oil on it. Some time back, I had a detailed discussion with a senior Catholic Congress leader in the socio-political situation in Goa with a concern for the masses and my ire against anti-masses path followed by BJP government. He seemed to be convinced but said that the do not want any controversies but only development. I had to tell him that freedom and democracy were basically meant for the development of masses and not the material development. Why is the Congress indulging in the controversy now? If the definition of development is same for both the BJP and Congress (and with mediocre leaders on either side, it is) the common man and concerned citizens should start thinking afresh. Or else, if the Congress comes to power with the same leaders and with "same" intelligence, the funds for corruption and inducing corruption may be in multiples of that spent by the BJP government. Other social parameters are irrelevant and the goals of governance will be thrown to the winds, as of now. Socially, the brains in the RSS/BJP have perpetrated a caste divide amongst Hindus and the Congress may not do any better. This is the essence of the VCS controversy. Are there right thinking Goans? Can anybody dream of communal harmony of pre-1961? The Catholic missionaries did perpetrate atrocities in the 16th century but the same Christianity brought the best communal harmony by the 18th century. But social atrocities on masses continued till liberation. Who did it? They were Hindus. A separate documentary will have to be prepared to expose these atrocities. There are determined efforts to establish the same society now, the supremacy of a class. To hell with freedom, democracy, the Constitution and of course, India. Ramnath G Naik