What follows is a serialised 3-part story of a recent debate at Goanet. It was carried in the ‘Herald’ (Goa) editions between May 8-10, 2009. Happy reading, but if you’re threatened with martyrdom from boredom, please don’t click ‘DELETE’ before you’ve read the last four Paras at the bottom – they’re gist of the rigmarole that preceded! Rgds, v HOW GOANS ARGUE By Valmiki Faleiro The poll is over. People’s verdict lies sealed in EVMs (electronic voting machines.) To be opened May 16, after the entire country completes the voting exercise. The Sunday before polling in Goa, in a postscript to my ‘Herald Mirror’ column, asking readers to exercise their franchise, I added tongue-in-cheek, “In North Goa, you have one for the former (Congress/NCP), one for the latter (BJP). In South Goa, you’re luckier. You have one for the former, and a choice of two for the latter!” I was obviously alluding to Mathany Saldanha. That statement miffed Samir Kelekar and sparked a protracted debate on Goanet (www.goanet.org), the largest internet forum of Goans worldwide. May I share that exchange here. Among other things, it shows how we Goans argue our point! Samir and Uday Barad, who later joined issue, are both about the same age as I. Both hold doctorates in their fields from the USA. Both hail from Margao like me. I’ve met neither in person, but personally knew the dads of both, Gurunath Kelekar and the late Govind Barad. Hardly had my ‘Herald Mirror’ column of April 19 appeared at Goanet, when Samir fired the first salvo, captioned “Is Mathany communal?” He wrote: “I am amused to read … Valmiki Faleiro hinting at Mathany's fondness towards BJP. The question that needs to be answered is – is Mathany communal? Mathany did side with BJP as against the Congress. If Mathany gets elected, will he support BJP or Congress? “Mathany has made the following clear in the ‘Herald’ interview yesterday. That he will support anyone who has the good of Goa in their heart and in the policies. Sure dirty communalism can spring its head up anytime. But, I am sure we can trust Mathany not to side with Modi's version of politics.” I replied: “I have not suggested that Mathany is communal. But, please do say, is there any doubt who he will support if he wins? Why shelter under ambivalent utterances like ‘support anyone who has the good of Goa in their heart’? I give 10 out of 10 to Mathany on loyalty. There's none like him in the breed of Goan politicos today. If he wins, I have no doubt who between the UPA and NDA our dear Mathany will support.” A Dubai-based gent I know, Cedric da Costa, perched in: “The equation is simple, we do not have to go hammer and tongs against Valmiki Faleiro and his Sunday column. Every kid in Goa knows that Mathany has volunteered to be a surrogate candidate ... to deliver a saffron-blooded baby!” Samir surprisingly went off at a tangent, saying: “Jesus said – let one who has not committed sin throw the first stone. I would like to know the contribution of the following to Goa in the past few years: (1) Valmiki Faliero, (2) Digambar Kamat, and 3) Auduth Timblo. Only when they have done so, they have the right to comment on Mathany. Otherwise, they ought to shut up!! Jai Hind!” Surprised that the issue changed from Mathany’s loyalty to my ‘contribution to Goa,’ under a new title called “Contribution of Valmiki, Digambar, Timblo to Goa” I said: “Before you ask, follow your own (quoted) rule and tell us what your own contribution to Goa has been ‘in the past few years.’ Then, maybe, I understand what you want to know about me. Jai ho!” To Samir’s call on “contribution to Goa,” the humour columnist Cecil Pinto wrote: “Both Valmiki and Digambar have stood in elections for public office and won. They have contributed to Goa. I agree with you that Mathany is relatively a better choice but if you are asking anyone who is critical to first show what is their contribution to Goa then you should do first. What, Samir, is your contribution to Goa and is more (or better) than that of the three you have named? (Before Samir asks: my contribution is to have made a few Goans laugh occasionally.)” Samir replied: “Cecil says that Valmiki, Digambar have won public office and so have contributed to Goa. While I don’t want to comment on specific cases, and I will take their answer at face value, Cecil seems extremely naive about the whole concept of holding office. The raking of crores on holding office is a criminal activity and cannot be by any means called contribution to Goa. Indeed Valmiki himself through his column told us of crores being raked in by some current ministers. “As to what are my contributions. They aren’t much but surely whatever little they are, I am extremely proud of. As director of Infotech Corporation, I have fulfilled my duty keeping in mind the highest tradition of serving the people. Though I could have easily raked in crores, I not just refused but exposed those who were doing so. I had got at least one direct offer to hold another position with an offer to make crores in bribe money but I have refused to do so. “Let Digambar come out in the open and say the same thing about himself and my vote will be for the Congress. Let Auduth Timblo come out and say he is not destroying Goa and I will be with him. “As to Valmiki, I leave it to him to answer the question. Sure I know Valmiki has contributed to the public but that was a while back. As we know the situation has gone worse in the last few years, the temptations have become more, and it is more and more difficult to be upright in these days. Certainly, I am not accusing Valmiki but I would have expected him to lead the Save Goa fight. A person with his experience was what was needed now. I am wondering why he is taking an ambivalent stand at this crucial juncture.” Canada-based attorney (and author of a to-be released book series on Goan music), Francis Rodrigues, wafted in: “In a quiet corner of the magnificent St. Paul's Cathedral on Ludgate Hill in London, is a plaque to Sir Christopher Wren: "Lector, si monumentum requiris, circumspice" (reader, if you seek his memorial, look around). “Four centuries later, the same wisdom is offered to those who know nothing of Valmiki, and seek to be enlightened. His selfless record at Margao Municipality, his wonderful literary contributions, his concrete stance against corrupt bureaucracy, his firm resolve always, stand before him. “There are none so blind as those who will not see. How apt, that another great baroque poet from Wren's time, John Milton, penned that marvellous sonnet "On His Blindness", to describe just this quandary – that every man has his own station in life, and the contribution of many is hidden. Even if you knew nothing of Valmiki, read Milton's final lines.” ===(This is the first part of a three-part article. Part II will be published tomorrow.)=== Unsettled with Samir’s oblique taunt, I carried the debate further, with an unusually long reply: “Samir, if your idea of ‘contribution to Goa in recent years’ is to have got yourself nominated (by my friend Manohar Parrikar, when a BJP Chief Minister of Goa) as director of Goa Infotech Corpn and then ‘bitten the hand that fed you’ (with good reason, I know!), I'm afraid I would have little to say about my own ‘contribution to Goa in recent years’ – neither Parrikar nor Digambar deigned me fit to be appointed director on any state Corporation :-) “That apart, I would never blow my own trumpet to tell you and Goanet (what I've done or failed to do.) If truth be told, I think I have 'contributed' nothing. What I did when Municipal President of Margao in 1985-87, you ought to have known – or found out from old timers among the citizenry, councillors, perhaps even municipal employees themselves ... who hated me while I was in the chair, but I'm told feel differently today. “Why, you could have asked your own dad, who was a prominent Trustee of the 'Novem Goem Pratisthan' – at least he might have remembered how I got the then Council (that included present ministers like Digambar Kamat and Babu Azgaonkar, and former ministers like Luis Alex Cardoso) to adopt a policy that the municipality's advertising must go primarily to local newspapers ... Rashtramat & Novem Goem, both, alas, defunct. “You could have phoned friends who lived in Margao in 1985-87, who might have told you that this rascal ‘contributed’ nothing, but did make a slight difference to their experience with officials/staff when they visited the municipal offices on work. Or people in Malbhat or some other former pigsty places round town ... that one today even boasts of a noted hospital chain in India. “You made me open my mouth. But pointers are only what I will provide. “On your parting thought on me, may I ask, do you take me for a crusader? The Crusades happened long ago! This is the era of hard politics, money, and whatever more it takes. I'm not made of the stuff fit to be a politician. That's one reason I politely declined election tickets from established political parties, to contest the Goa Assembly polls from Margao. I will not name names (and embarrass friends who are around), but if you enquire enough locally, you will know I'm speaking the truth. “Are you suggesting that Digu Kamat and Avdhoot Timblo have done no good to Goa at all? I'm not saying they are saints – are you and I? “Take a break. Come to Goa. Ask around. Try and delve into the record of former MLAs from Margao. Heaven bless them, none are around, save my esteemed senior friend, Udaybab Bhembre. Then tell me who's done most for Margao. “Avdhoot Timblo. Granted, a mineowner (who may like to regard himself a nature farmer, of mineral ore.) You and I, and uncles and aunts, have some money. Have you – not me, to be sure – spared however a tiny of fraction of it for any ‘contribution’ to Goa? To keep for posterity a bit of Goan culture – like cuisine, music, folklore? At least Anju & Avdhoot have, like Shivanand & Dattaraj (never mind the 'Prince,' Anil.) “Please don't take a world view with the goggles of a horse. There's a limit to demonising people...” Dr. Jose Colaco, the pediatric from Nassau, The Bahamas, piped in, “Normally, when Valmiki says/writes something, I dare not challenge him. Alas, today, I must – for I believe that Valmiki is not stating the truth. Valmiki says he has contributed nothing. And yet, I read his contributions every week. Columns and columns is what Greek and Roman architecture is all about. That is what Valmiki does every week. Contribute columns. And yet, he says he is not contributing.” At this point Uday Barad joined the debate. “Are we up to discussing a joke about trios who are projecting themselves as savers of Goa? If so, I take liberty to explain this joke in nutshell. Timblo is finishing Goa at one end and projecting himself that he is for welfare of Goa at other! Digambar helps Timblo for all his misdeeds by even passing special ordinance to protect Timblo to circumvent Supreme Court orders!! And Valmiki is doing good patch-up work to calm down Goans on all the misdeeds done by Timblo & Digambar!!!” The writer (and another author-in-making), UK-based Selma Carvalho chirped in, “Barad, at least we know there is one sort of patch-up work Valmiki has not done. Posting articles by others and pretending they are his own work.” Uday responded, “Selma, writing articles or posting articles of others or writing provocations can in no way save Goa.....And if you have made contributions to save Goa than the trio in question please let Goanet know about it!” I replied to both, “Dear Selma and Uday, I can't be harsh with people like Uday and Samir. It's pointless discussing with those who keep shifting their premises. Uday postgraduates me from questions about being a ‘contributor’ to Goa in recent times, to being its “saver” – in league with my friend, Churchill Alemao. But let's give Uday his due. He spoke of an assumed joke (and I hope Samir won't take offence at being adduced as the joker!)” Samir came in again: “Hi Valmiki, thanks for an elaborate response. Obviously, your great experience in the public field shows in your response. However, first a few points to clarify: “Thanks for setting the record straight. Though I know of your contributions vaguely, the point is I was out of India from 1985 onwards, so I wouldn’t know the details. You are indeed someone a lot of people look up to because of your past contributions. “Thanks for honestly admitting that you are not fit to be a politician, but don’t you think the situation is dire enough in Goa for someone like you – even if you don’t deem yourself fit – to jump into, especially since you do have past experience of public work? Wouldn’t Goa be a much better place if you had accepted the MLA ticket that you talk about? “As for Digu and Timblo, your points are well taken. I know Timblo means well in a lot of ways and does huge philanthropy too, but I believe the current destruction of Western Ghats in the name of mining just cancels all that and much more. “I wonder what your views are on the following. Temperatures rising, water tables going down, greenery going off all due to hundreds of mining leases that are given out. Don’t you think mining needs to be stopped and alternate ways of development thought of? Ditto with mega-projects and building? Same with Digu. Aren't in other words Digu and Timblo presiding over Goa's destruction?” ===(This is the second part of a three-part article. Part I was published yesterday and Part III will follow tomorrow.)=== Kuwait-based Rabindra Pimenta, son of Goa’s first (1963) MLA from Curtorim, wrote: “I know Valmiki personally, and I have witnessed his contributions to Goa and Goans, closely, over the last several decades. And I must say his contributions are immense. “Apart from that, I must say that his record is impeccable. He is one upright man, whose credentials are innumerable. He is a thorough gentleman, down to earth, and his humility is unmatched. I simply don’t understand why Samir is raking non-issues. I do appreciate the manner in which Valmiki tackled the issue and silenced the guns.” The guns didn’t fall silent. Bangalore-based Samir rejoined: “The D-Day has arrived. And I am in Goa, proudly exercising my sacred duty, to vote on kator. I am not shameful about that. I do think that if you want to Save Goa, you got to vote for kator. If you want to save Goa from destruction due to mining, let us not just say things like ‘mining is a slow killer’, but let us actually do what we can do about it. If we want to save Goa from rampant construction, let us vote on kator. “Today as my bus landed at Ponda, even before 6 am Goa looked like heaven. When going towards Borim from Ponda, I saw the lush mountains on the left side, and the only thought that came to my mind – how long before they turn this mountain into red and take the iron out of this? Then, as the bus approached Margao, I only saw big buildings. The only old building that I could recognize was the PWD building in Fatorda which was built in the early seventies / late sixties and which is lying as a testament to the old. “Perhaps, people in Goa are resigned to the new reality. Perhaps many even have business interests in areas such as construction. But look at this – what if we could still make money and keep our business sustainable, that is one that does not destroy environment or convert Goa into a concrete jungle? I do think that with little thought, this is eminently possible. But only if we shed off the cynicism, and believe we can do it. Goenkara, aichea dissa "Kator" re Bhaaji! Vote for Mathany Saldanha.” The reader must have discerned the funny pattern of debating and the deliberate shift of goalposts. What started of as a political “choice of two” comment by me, got changed to the question whether Mathany was communal, when I had not even said that the BJP was! (Barring the Commies, all parties are communal, the difference being only in degree.) Overnight, Mathany’s secularism morphed to the contribution of three individuals to Goa, me included. Overnight again, it was not about contributions to Goa, but being “savers” of Goa! These are otherwise competent individuals holding doctorates from the USA in their professions. (The one who asked if writing is a contribution is himself author of some technical books!) I have seen this happen when two or more Goans discuss any topic. At Goanet, it could be worse. Forget shifting goalposts, posters could even forget the goalposts and chase the goalkeeper! That’s why I stopped debating on that otherwise worthy forum. I now respond only to comments on my ‘Herald’ column – that too, if the original subject line is not changed. Who was right and who was not on Mathany, May 16 will tell us. Do results of manipulative poll politics reflect the mind, or skew the verdict, of the people? May 16 may answer that one too! (This is the concluding part of a three-part article. The previous parts were published yesterday and the day before.) ====================================================================== The above serialised article appeared in the May 8-10, 2009 editions of the Herald, Goa
