Is Goa being raped? That's the question photographer Rajan P Parrikar put forth through his exhibition depicting the changing face of Goa
CYRIL D'CUNHA Times News Network Goa has not yet reached the nadir of degradation. But, there is a scare that decadence could soon change the face of Goa on a whole. With towns being choked with concrete, the infrastructure here is failing to keep pace with the rapid growth. This phenomena was prominently captured by Rajan P Parrikar in telling photographs themed "The Rape of Goa". His pictures were recently on display at the Menezes Braganza Art Gallery, Panaji. Talking to the Goa Times, Parrikar, who holds a Ph.D in Electrical Engineering, said, "Goa does not have much time left." Real estate sharks and the mining lobby, with the help of corrupt politicians have devoured vast tracts of land, including prime spaces, which he says is a shocking tale of criminal assault on Goa's land, culture and identity. "The indiscriminate destruction of fields and hills are irreversible damages to be suffered by the next generations to come," a visibly angered Rajan said. After returning from the US, where he worked at the Silicon Valley in California, this resident of St. Inez in Panaji said that his heart wept when he saw the once pristine Goa being replaced by concrete. He came back armed with a course in photography and decided to capture these grim scenes to inform every Goan of the gruesome act. He also expressed anxiety over the migrant labour force brought in by the builders, who would displace the locals in due course of time. While development is crucial to every state, Parrikar questioned, why build only concrete structures? What about development of institutions of art, culture, music, farming technique, training local artisans and exploiting the traditional skills of the villagers? he asked. There seems to be no emphasis on this nor on solving problems of drinking water supply and electricity. He said that Goa was the last remaining haven of pleasant life in the country, still breathing fresh air and exuding natural beauty and we have to maintain it. He warned that there was already a stirring rebellion in the coastal villages, which was a good sign and hoped it would be a precursor of a better tomorrow.