It would be very appropriate that a statue of Goa’s first Leader of the
Opposition Dr Jack Sequeira finds a place alongside the first Chief
Minister Dayanand Bandodkar at the Secretariat Complex in Porvorim.
Successive governments despite their assurances have done nothing in memory
of Dr Jack Sequeira. But for Dr Jack Sequeira’s then tireless efforts
during that historic Opinion Poll which was held on 16th January 1967, Goa
today would have been reduced to a mere district if not a taluka of
Maharashtra with less than a handful of MLA’s representing us.
Though Dayanand Bandodkar may have initially been for merging Goa with
Maharashtra, he respected the people’s verdict and later
with Dr Jack Sequeira as the fiery voice of the Opposition they toiled with
a vision and passion towards the development of Goa. Unlike many of today’s
politicians who are self-centered, they had relentlessly raised and pursued
issues concerning the backward, down-trodden, and neglected communities of
Goa. Leaders of their integrity, honesty and commitment, we may now never
see in this age of political pygmies.
Dayanand Bandodkar and Dr Jack Sequeira dared to speak from their heart and
always did walk the talk. Only a few of such politicians still remain in
our midst and will also be always remembered for the good they have done
for Goa. About the rest and in particularly some of the current politicians
in power who have been steering and navigating Goa down the tube there will
be no obituary to write and no land remaining to even raise a Samadhi,
leave alone a Statue.
It is imperative that students today in our schools and colleges should be
made aware of the very rich and invaluable contribution to Goa by Dayanand
Bandodkar and Dr Jack Sequeira. They cannot be consigned as our forgotten
heroes. Dr. Jack Sequeira and Dayanand Bandodkar must be rolling in their
heavenly abode at the way Goa is being uncaringly misgoverned today.
As a school student I had the privilege of interacting with both Dayanand
Bandodkar and Dr Jack Sequeira. I recollect with nostalgia witnessing
those great debates by Dr Jack Sequeira in the Legislative Assembly and the
pointed but witty replies by Dayanand Bandodkar. Today the Goa Legislative
assembly has been reduced to a classroom kept entertained with the tales of
Birbal being narrated.
Politics today is no longer a mission, not even an honest profession. It
has been abridged to a scoundrel’s last resort. It has become a ruthless
business, with morals and ethics twisted, thrown to the winds, and long
buried deep in the slush of ignorance and thuggery. Those belonging to a
genre of politicians with qualities of head and heart cannot survive in
today’s political pitch as he has to be thick skinned and a hypocrite to
the core. Having to be always ready to breach and bend all the rules to
survive.
It is distressing to see and be witness to the continuing rampant
destruction and devastation of Goa. The BJP had promised a ‘Parivartan’ and
‘Acche Din’, but Goa is sadly by the day just getting further corroded
beyond recognition. It should have been the endeveaour of those in power to
at least salvage and safeguard what remains of Goa. Unfortunately Goa is
getting defaced at an electrifying speed. Posterity will never forgive the
current rulers for their selfish and dubious role in this irreparable
damage and destruction of what was once a beautiful Goa, the Paradise of
the East.
Aires Rodrigues
Advocate High Court
C/G-2, Shopping Complex
Ribandar Retreat,
Ribandar – Goa – 403006
Mobile No: 9822684372
Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012
Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com
Or
airesrodrig...@yahoo.com
You can also reach me on
Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues
Twitter@rodrigues_aires
www.airesrodrigues.com
