JC wrote- That having been said I am not so sure that Baliga's assessment of Nehru is accurate, unless Nehru was really daft. I'd only say this about Nehru and ALL other politicians: They take decisions mainly for political expediency. I also believe that there is NO such thing as democracy. There is a facade being presented, and that is all there is to that. The thing we call Democracy is a mechanism used by some to make flowery speeches and extravagant promises to con the naive to elect a set of thieving dictators every 5 years. If you do not believe me ..... Try get an honest and scrupulous + principled man without money an "election ticket" ....and elected in 2010. If you are in doubt, call up Tony Correia-Afonso in Benaulim. Yes, He is an honest, upright and capable Goan and also a 'Bharati'. On the matter of Salazar, I would invite Vasant Baliga to expand on the effect of Salazar on the vast majority of Goans antes 1961; I will accept feelings as relevant IF they are based mainly and reasonably on known facts and not on propaganda, hearsay and revisionism. Just as one judges the state of health care in a country by the Infant Mortality Rate (and not what health care is only available to he wealthy), I suggest that the affect and effect of Salazar on Goa could reasonably be assessed on the basis of HOW the poor, indigent and elderly were managing during his stint. Additionally, here are some questions which may be reasonably asked: a: Do the vast majority of Goans feel safer in their homes and on the roads in 2010 v 1961? b: Is the environment better in 2010 v 1961? c: Is Goa cleaner in 2010 v 1961? d: In 1961: Was the standard of living for the average Goan living in Goa better or worse than the average resident of Savantwadi, Ratnagiri, Kawar and surrounding areas? e: Are the folks who ripped Goa's natural sources antes 1961 any different from the ones who are ripping it in 2010? I will skip the topic of the satyagrahis who crossed into Goa .... for now. I doubt 'satyagrahi' can cross any border in 2010 without meeting similar or even worse consequences. I conclude with this point: It is nice to know that Salazar (according to Vasant Baliga) is very relevant to feelings of Goans (in 2010). I hope the Goans, Baliga refers to, realise that they were recently (in 2010) considered quite irrelevant by Digambar Kamat. Sincerely, jc
My Response: Dear JC Baab, Greetings! As regards 1961,Nehru never regretted the take over of Goa but got his comeuppance the next year when the Chinese humiliated him and he died a lonely and broken man in 1964,his Panchshila and Non Alignment Policy in ruins,after he had to grovel before Kennedy in 1962 for Military Aid.The military takeover of Goa was, in my opinion, wrong and misplaced and was contrary to India's professed foreign policy at that time-Nehru spoiled the global image of India for temporary political gain and perhaps to divert public attention from other pressing matters.Although Salazar was adamant against negotiation on Goa,sooner or later Portugal would have negotiated-subsequent events proved that with the collapse of his fascist dictatorship in the mid seventies and the Carnation revolution. Democracy has it’s flaws,but is the only system where a robustly free press,independent judiciary and periodic elections hold people accountable.Dictatorship of any kind can never be a substitute.We saw that during the Emergency rule under Indira Gandhi.Corruption is presently endemic in India,including Goa and is eating at the roots of India's polity.The PM is personally honest but presides over a corrupt Cabal.Goa suffers in this regard,like the rest of India and has it's share or more of dishonest politicians. Now as regards development of Goa from 1961 onwards-it presently has the third highest per capita income of Rupees 1,06,000,just behind Delhi and Chandigarh.All economic,social and infrastructural indices show a great improvement in the last fifty years.In the Sixties there was no electricity and water supply in the villages and hardly any pucca road connectivity.Literacy is now at 80% as opposed to 30% in 1961.Healthcare access as also telecommunications and road connectivity have also vastly improved.There is no dire poverty in Goa, as we know it, as compared to the rest of India.Portugal did not invest adequately in Goa's infrastructure-the British did pay attention to India's infrastructure. a: Do the vast majority of Goans feel safer in their homes and on the roads in 2010 v 1961? Yes and No.The vast majority of Goans ,who lived in Goa, upto1961, were disenfranchised and lived in a continuous state of fear and were suppressed under a dictatorship-a small elite who toed the line and were part of the establishment reaped the fruits.Complete Freedom of Expression and Belief for the majority did not exist and there was no free press.However,law and order was probably better under a dictatorship,as it was during India's Emergency Rule. b: Is the environment better in 2010 v 1961? No-this is due to unplanned development and Urban Sprawl,like the rest of India.But who sold the land for this "development"? c: Is Goa cleaner in 2010 v 1961? No-Garbage keeps piling up as population has grown and civic services have not kept pace for garbage disposal. d: In 1961: Was the standard of living for the average Goan living in Goa better or worse than the average resident of Savantwadi, Ratnagiri, Kawar and surrounding areas? The standard of living was probably better in Goa from 1954 to 1961-Salazar poured subsidised consumer products into Goa from 1954 onwards-India was then a very poor country.The situation now is different and Goa is way ahead of the rest of India in terms of quality of life. But one wonders why a large number of Goans still chose to leave Goa and study and work outside Goa upto and including 1961. e: Are the folks who ripped Goa's natural sources antes 1961 any different from the ones who are ripping it in 2010? No-the Mining Lobby were the robber barons in cahoots with the Portuguese and Haftas per tonne were paid in Portugal for preferential treatment.Nothing has changed in that regard. Finally,if Goans from 1961 onwards were upset with Indian rule,there would have been some sort of an uprising and protests like in Kashmir-nothing of the sort has happened except on the Internet. Democracy is messy and imperfect- but the only way people are represented along with a free press and there is a considerable degree of accountability.Dictatorship or Fascism is not the answer anywhere in the World. The attached article written in 2004 by Pai Panandiker,a renowned Economist,is a fair assessment on Goa since 1961- http://www.india-seminar.com/2004/543/543%20v.p.%20panandiker.htm Best Regards Vasant Baliga * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ISSUES BEING DEBATED: In East Africa, despite colonialism, the British afforded the Goan a sliver of a socio-political voice. Read *Into The Diaspora Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho. Soon to be available in Toronto. Pp 290. Via mail-order from goa1...@gmail.com http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/