Dr Jack Sequeira resurrected The renewed tamasha after 51 years to erect statue has not lost on any one .It is a political move to gain mileage., The Congress when in power did precious little towards this issue., Now they are raising objections.,protests by boycott, Their formal, inconsequential celebrations , honouring sundry individuals without people participation at different Talukas was an eyewash. The GFP is moving forward politically much to the surprise of the voters, but at least they have brought the issue in sharp focus. .The MGP has no credible defense too offer, except that the people have forgiven them, as if re election is measure of peoples appreciation of defeat of merger? What is the presence of MGP in assembly. Their stalwarts like Shasikala, Rane , Kalap have long deserted the party for greener pastures which qualified the party to be disbanded having lost its avowed purpose. All the 40 MLA including, C.M, Ministers enjoying the power is only because the Goa is State by the virtue of Opinion poll ,that ensured its separate identity. Otherwise Goa would just be District with a Collector . Our composite culture, Konkanni language for which Goa is famous tourist destination would have long been hanged by the lamp post. Even than Marathi has been given back door recognition to appease the mergerists and favaoured in MOI
The statue of first CM at old secretariat should have been more than justified as the honour to him. A Samadhi at Campal is not a place of intended reverence to his memory.. The only gold Bandodkar trophy has lost its luster and shine. .Another Statue at Assembly Complex is totally misplaced and myopic vision. He did everything at his command to toil for merger. MGP its designation/.nomenclature suggests exactly that even though now its full form is tom foolery, with initials still maintained. Glorifying Bandodkar with exalted position on pedestal as the only monument in stone at New Assembly Complex is out of tune , reason, lacks credibility and has no meaning for independent Goa, which he tried to subvert with all his might .Though the Catholics were in minority, others supported the opinion poll in its victory. It is not minority Vs majority in clear margin .The press deliberately refrains from publishing the details of the results, which would have given clear vision to the present generation who desired its continuity and independence The growth as state is a barometer of success among the states of India The idea of statue is not the best in present times to perpetuate his memory .There should be separate place to raise the statues of all and sundry on the line of Arlington Cemetry for politicians to be alive in death if land resource is a constraint. His name has not found favour even to name a project .The father of opinion poll has been ignored and dumped historically.., BJP with MGP is only pandering and pondering on vote banks.. Statues at best only create awareness and, not curiosity to be conscious and dig deeper in their life., The plaque of installation is more prominent to make them indelible in sands of time. Canopy can protect from bird droppings and enclosure assure safety against inclement weather. Some like Mayati, Sadam Hussain. Idi Amin erected statues when alive and we know the fate of these monstrosities, Other statues have been confined, shifted to museums .Besides the statues are vandalized, destroyed creating communal tensions and flare ups. The statues are given milk bath once a year, garlanded with great fan fare and forgotten for the rest of the year., There is no maintenance at all. Statues are eyesores on the horizon Move away from this static idea, decaying notion of immortality of statues by annual forced respect.. The idea of pyramids is buried with Pahraos .Have annual day functions to commemorate opinion poll. , Honour many a unknown face like freedom fighters. Not instituting pensions, Are not those who fought to retain identity of Goa deserve recognition?, Establish a chair in university, let the movement be included in study by young generation, institute an scholarship, awards competitions at various levels, in his honour, promote research in the history of opinion poll tributes to him in song and verse, a referendum that was the only one in India and unconstitutional, providing no remedy against its outcome. Name some projects like bridges, hospitals, institutes ,social programmes gardens,, hold seminars, lecturers, etc a museum dedicated to Dr Sequeira . . Dr . Sequeira. with his stature deserves honour. Various small programmes that will resonate his memory. more frequently and purposefully to project that he is alive in death. Bring out first day cover and stamp in his honour. Open other useful projects for the benefit of the society to keep him in the monument of our heart and mind . The idea of opinion poll square, inaugurated in advance, renaming the stretch of the road and its protection is raising eyebrows. Have a special photo gallery of politicians to make them immortal, who otherwise lose all relevance when out of power. DR Sequeira worked for a cause not for an applause Use public sympathy to erect an statue, if that is the only means towards immortality. If one individual person needs to be honoured for separate identity of Goa it is none other than DR SEQUEIRA The controversies are favourite diet and pastime of politicians to divide voters, polarize to win election as promoters of illusive people interest. Only at Calangute, the private initiative has statue of Dr SEqueira, that is a pointer of others silence. that we do not need Govt patronage to honour our worthy Goans. He will not be gratified by our remembrance or insulted by our indifference , ingratitude by our failure to honour him. What would please him in his grave is our determination not to sell Goa, Goans and Goenkarpon and mortgage our identity for thirty pieces of silver like Judas Nelson Lopes Chinchinim.