An edited version has appeared on the opinion page of OHeraldo. I am surprised that the column is titled, Impending Gloom. I only asked the question and further stated that Goans are unsure what the dawn of each will bring into their lives. I had also sent the editor a photo,but it didn't appear.
eugene ----- Freedom Thoughts By Eugene Correia If the sunrise over Goa's horizon on December 19, 1961 brought hope and expectations, does the daily sunrise brings in rays of gloom? On the occasion of Goa's 50th year of Liberation, Goans are unsure what the dawn of each day will bring into their lives. Goan society is divided into groups of optimists, pessimists and the unconcerned. Crosswinds are blowing across the land and Goa is in a state of upheaval -- emotionally, politically, culturally and economically. Metaphorically speaking, the land is swaying like its famed coconut trees in storms. Goans are desperately looking for answers that could be blowing in the wind. Just like India made its tryst with destiny in 1947, Goa made its tryst with India 50 years ago. India broke its colonial shackles on the fateful day of August 15, 1947 and Goa woke up to its freedom on December 19, 1961. India was embedded into British colonialism and Goa was an appendice in Portugal's body. Goa, the Portuguese pride called Estado da India, was an illusion for Goan nationalists who saw it as Salazar's strategy to safeguard Goa for Portugal. Freedom came but not how Goans would want it -- peaceful and serene. It also never came as many wished - handed to Goans as their own nation-state. It came with fireworks of Indian army rifles and thunder of Indian Air Force planes. The noise was enough to wake up slumbering Goa to a new day. Goans with Portuguese heartbeats probably felt that the sounds from blazing guns were the death-knells of Goa as they knew it and lived it. Many such Goans still feel the trembling noises in their bones. The very thought of Goa celebrating its freedom makes such Goans go into nostalgic hibernation. They find it hard to shake off their feelings for Portugal, their fatherland, and all things Portuguese, be it food, fado or football. It was an age in which such Goans, especially the elite, enjoyed the privileges that came from their social status. While some still wear their sympathies on their sleeves, many still remain shell-shocked. Those who cry Portuguese tears may be doing so in seeing Goa in a different hue than those with Indian eyes, which probably has tears of joy rolling from them on Goa's celebration of its greatest moment of history. The Goa of pre-liberation days was definitely different than now. During Portuguese regime, Goa remained frozen in time. No doubt the pristine beauty was intact as well as law-and-order conditions strictly enforced, unlike today. Freedom has its price and Goans have paid - and still paying - for being independent of colonialism. Critics may harp that Goa has moved from one type of colonialism into another, the latter meaning "Indian rule" or rather rule from New Delhi. In more than one way, Goans are their own masters. Goans choose their own government and how the government behaves and what it achieves or fails to achieve is what the Goans get in return in a democratic setup. At least Goans have a voice, unlike being "voiceless" under the colonial yoke. Nevertheless, the central or main leaderships of national parties influence their branches in Goa and in other states. Goa came under one of its regional parties, the Maharashtra Gomantak Party (MGP), and the party spurted Goa's economic and social development. In its early stages, Goa progressed marginally from being a import-oriented economy to an export-oriented or manufacturing economy. The economic environment has changed drastically. Whatever progress has been achieved so far should make Goans proud, though Goans would have wanted development at a rapid pace. Goa's steady rise among the smaller states has not gone unnoticed, and it is for reason of its prosperity that Goa enjoys high-capita income among all states. Aligned to this is Goa's trouble-free social landscape that encourages outsiders to set up homes and businesses. No wonder Goa makes it to the top five as the best places in India to live. Tourism, which has helped and shaped Goan economy, should be further promoted. Despite creating some ill-effects, tourism can remain one of the engines that drives Goan economy. But tourism needs to be watched for uncontrolled growth, just as mining is now keenly monitored and action taken, though belated, against erring companies. The "Brand Goa" slogan should not be over-utilized to market Goa in ways that could be detrimental to Goa's socio-economic health - and image. The Goa Dourado of Portuguese fame is now famously transformed itself into a model of voyeuristic delight, be it through escort services or massage parlours. Exotic Goa should not be end up being sexed-up Goa. No doubt the tourism and hospitality industry are blamed first for Goa's new-found image, well portrayed in the media and Bollywood films. How to retouch this image with sober colours that could regain Goa its moral serenity is a challenge for the government. Another disturbing issue that engages the Goan mind is that of identity. In the wake of large-scale migration of people from other states, many Goans have suddenly being seized with fear psychosis over losing their cultural identity. Cultural brokers think they have seen the writing on the wall and, therefore, they are making schizophrenic noises from Goan rooftops that Goan identity is going to be submerged by cultures from other states. Will Goans stand stark naked of their cultural clothes in a few decades if the prevalent trend of migration of non-Goans continue unabated? Will a Special Status for Goa prevent such a disaster? If Goans fear losing their "Goanness" or "Goykarponn", then they must find solutions. Those in the culture industry must come out with viable alternatives to prevent the loss or, even degradation, of Goa's cultural heritage. The government's Arts and Culture Department is perhaps doing its best. Today, social scientists talk of the "global citizen." Maybe, when the turn comes to celebrate Goa's hundredth year of Liberation, Goan identity would have undergone the phenomenon of "mongrelization." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------