The Departments of a) Art & Culture b) Tourism, c )
Official Languages and the other autonomous body Kala
Academy & semi autonomous bodies Goa Tourism
Development Corporation, Goa Konknni Academy take
pride in depicting our tiny 25th State of GOA on their
websites www.goagovt.nic.in and related links
that GOA ---- India's tiniest 25th State is the
"PEARL OF THE ORIENT" is a fulcrum point of races,
religions & cultures of East & West over the
centuries, that have provided Goa a multihued &
distinctive lifestyle QUITE DIFFERENT from the rest of
India. This they say is reflected in its folk
dances viz; Talgadi, Goph, Tonya Mel, Mando, Kunbi
dance, Virabhadra, Hanpeth, Gauda zagor, Ranmalem,
Fugdi, Ghode Modni, Lamp Dance, Musal Dance, Romat or
Mell, Dulpods, Morulem,Dhangar Dance, Sanjoao, Dekhni
and Zemado. (it fights shy out of ignorance? of
"Vira" etc)
It is also described as "TOURIST PARADISE" which
besided its Nature bestowed scenic beauty also has its
architectural splendours of its ---CHURCHES AND OLD
HOUSES --- ( 1510 - 1961)
Knowing full well that it is this fusion of culture
over 451 years (Goa (Ilhas-Tiswadi)conquered
25.11.1510 -Velhas Conquistas & 1763 onwards- Novas
Conquistas upto 19.12.1961 Liberation?) that give
Goans a personality of having communal tolerance
towards one and all ---unheard of in the rest of the
country.
But the shocking discovery and confirmed by a senior
Minister of the Goa Government is that --- the
Government of Goa till today ---NIETHER HAS A CULTURAL
POLICY NOR A TOURISM POLICY to reflect the above
ground reality which its profess propogates but does
not put into practice.
Even its LANGUAGE ACT has benefitted only 3% of the
majority Community viz upper castes conversant with
the devanagari script.
This view was also shared by a top bureaucrat of the
Government of Goa who had an informal interaction with
this writer at Kala Academy at the Akhil Bharatiya
Konknni Sammelan on the 12 th February. 2006
He also expressed surprise that the Western Music
Department of the Kala Academy appeared to have no
interest in promoting the fusion music to promote the
Mando Dulpods or the Vira dances etc which infact
reflected the true face of Goa in rest of the world.
Atleast he could vouch convincingly that domestic
tourists mostly in the metropolitan cities of India
know Goa for this fusion culture and therefore GOA
became a MUST VISIT destination in their itenary of
tours undertaken. (This is not to confuse with the
narcotic drugs oriented PARTY ZONES at destinations in
North Goa he added)
Even the Official language Act was against the
interests of 28% population of Goa in a sense that the
Konkani in Roman script was not given recognition nor
grants --- but MERE ASSITANCE -- as doles ---
depending on the "noises made" -- by the Government.
How also expressed surprise on how the State could
advertise "private old ancestral houses" and
"Churches / Chapels " coming under the Archdiocese of
Goa & Daman without paying them a pittance. This is
crass chicanery he added and blamed the Government for
playing second fiddle to the dictates of the vicious
tourism lobby.
Another bureaucrat admitted that today it was left to
the Government viz;
a) Chief Minister of Goa Mr Pratapsing Raoji Rane as
Head of the Kala Academy, and holding the portfolio of
the Official Languages as well,
b) Deputy Chief Minister of Goa Dr Wilfred A De Souza
&
c) Minister for Art and Culture Mr Digamber Kamat to
decide on funds allocation utilisation by way of
GRANTS SUBSIDY for ---- promotion of ART CULTURE
TOURISM & OFFICIAL LANGUAGES.
To set right this anamoly which will wipe of the image
of Goans in the immediate future with its demographic
composition changing rapidly ( 4.15 lacs non Goans at
last count ) It is therefore necessary that
a) those performing the East & West fusion dances
music folklore should demand that the Government of
Goa enact a CULTURAL TOURISM POLICY for the STATE OF
GOA AND ALSO SET RIGHT THE LANGUAGE ACT TO INCLUDE
DIVERSITY OF SCRIPTS;
b) all (i) owners of private houses and (ii)
Chancellor of Archdiocese of Goa & Daman & Diocese
Commission for Sacred Art & Heritage viz churches
chapels and other religious institutions ---- which
are liberally featured for promotion of tourism OR
other cultural programmes of the State Canaval etc on
their websites brochures (WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION OF
THESE OWNERS / AUTHORITIES ) SHOULD immediately serve
notices to the Directors of the various departments
concerned to
i)stop forwith publication of such literature
photographs etc until "due permission" is obtained
from them;
ii) on granting permission they should simultaneously
demand grants for maintainance or any other purpose
in return for using their houses churches for
advertisements
c) all the cultural clubs social organisations
institutions which promote the East West fusion art in
song dance or any other form and music should demand
immediate formulation of a policy.
d) minority institutions should also demand financial
assistance subsidy or grants for stringed wind
percussion or solid instruments ---flute, clarinet,
guitar, piano, violin, cello, accordion and the
tambourine required for performing of liturgical
services in churches or mosques on par with those
granted for other religious institutions "Bhajani
mandals"
e)diocesance run schools and others as well should
also demand that the Department of Art & Culuture
extend the scheme of supply of cultural equipment
should be extended to them as well for imparting "east
west" fusion music as distint from western music;
e) those institutions performing dances teatros etc
should demand that RAVINDRA BHAVANS set up for
promoting state CULTURE should honour those who
promoted EAST WEST FUSION CULTURE by naming premises
after such noted tiatrists singers etc
The writer found these views in conformity with those
collated after interaction with several public
spirited prominent citizens and cultural activists
priests nuns and lay persons.
Mr Churchill Alemao, MP Mormugao Parliamentary
Constituency and Dr Wilfred De Souza Deputy Chief
Minister of Goa ---should take up this matter with the
Union Minister for Tourism & Culture Ms Ambika Soni
MP and see that the UNIQUE EAST WEST FUSION which is
the true CULTURE of GOA is incorporated as a part of
the INDIAN CULTURE, GOA GOVERNMENT enacts a CULTURAL
POLICY and rectify the inconsistencies in the Official
Language Act. It is also incumbent upon the 13 other
Catholic MLA's to act similarly instead of being mere
servitors of the 3% upper castes of the majority
community who have been discreetly dictating /
implementing the "unwritten policies "of pre 1510 era
to relegate minorites and non Brahmin Hindus to second
class citizens post liberation .
GODFREY J I GONSALVES
BORDA MARGAO GOA
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
9822158584
__________________________________________________________
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