[Goanet-News] B y t e s F o r A l l -- School Education Links (India)
][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] B y t e s F o r A l l -- School Education Links (India) Interesting links from the world of education in India from a talk by Anjali Noronha (noronha.anj...@gmail.com), on the Collaborative Learning Cafe, Oct 27, 2021 in cyberspace. Edited by Frederick Noronha / @fn +91-9822122436 fredericknoron...@gmail.com from a presentation by Anjali Noronha To listen to the talk/presentation, see https://archive.org/details/school-edn-india The next talk is on Saturday Oct 30, 2021. On the CLC. [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] TEACHER PLUS: Created in 1989, Teacher Plus is a magazine aimed primarily at the schoolteacher. It is a forum within which teachers can raise their concerns, discuss ideas, and share and update their knowledge. Teacher Plus discusses alternative ways of thinking and doing within the context of the Indian classroom, while recognizing the constraints that most teachers face, day to day. In addition, its aim is to foster a sense of community among teachers, of being a part of an important group of change agents. Teacher Plus is published monthly from Hyderabad. It draws from a large pool of contributors from across India, persons with experience in varied aspects of education, from primary school teaching to tackling board exams to the place of art and craft in learning, to child development and classroom management. Each month brings the reader a mix of thought-provoking features and hands-on activities that can be adapted for use in most classrooms. Teacher Plus is not a scholarly journal. It is a magazine for the practicing teacher who wants to keep up with trends in education and find ways to energise her classroom with new ideas and approaches. https://www.teacherplus.org/ Links to useful sites on how to become a teacher Shaping Young Minds: 6 Different Routes to Become a Teacher in India: https://www.mindler.com/blog/how-to-become-a-teacher-in-india/ What do Higher Secondary School Teachers do? https://tinyurl.com/ye3rux7p Teacher: How to Become a Teacher, Courses, Jobs, Scope, Salary (CollegeDunia) https://tinyurl.com/yju8j47j 7th pay commission pay scale for Primary, High School, PGT qualified, CBSC, AICET Teachers https://www.7thpaycommissioninfo.in/pay-scale-for-teachers/ Resources for teachers – books and magazines – online resources NCERT https://ncert.nic.in/journals-and-periodicals.php FROM THE ARVIND GUPTA TOYS SITE: "A Million Books for a Billion People": Downloadable films, books and articles by Arvind Gupta, Resources for Children by the Nature Conservation Foundation, Bangalore; 103 books illustrated by artist-activist Arvind Deshpande; books about scientists; books on science; community health guides (Hesperian Foundation); folk tales of science; books on chemistry; books on mathematics; books on education; books on anti-war/peace themes; books on the environment; Isaac Asimov's Science Fact masterpieces; children's books (NBT); Sunshine Magazine (Pune); Russian Classics in English; Inspiring Books; Books by Laurie Baker; Science Comics and Picture Books by prof Jean Pierre Petit; also books like The Single-Teacher School (and other books by the distinguished educationist JP Naik); books by DD Kossambi; and other titles in Hindi and Marathi. https://www.arvindguptatoys.com/ Sandarbh, a bimonthly in Hindi, was conceived in 1994 to meet this need. Sandarbh means ‘context’, and carries articles on various topics in Science and Education. These articles are meant to be a resource primarily for middle and high school teachers and students, who teach and learn in Hindi. The articles are usually in a informal style, and as far as possible are free of jargon. The magazine also serves as a means of communication between teachers across the country who write to us about their classroom experiences, activities and experiments that have worked and failed. Articles submitted to Sandarbh are often in Hindi, though many of them are in English and other languages as well, and are translated for publication. https://www.eklavya.in/magazine-activity/sandarbh-magazines Contemporary Education Dialogue serves as an independent open forum for researchers and practitioners to sustain a critical engagement with issues in education by engendering a reflective space that nurtures the discipline
[Goanet] GOVERNOR MALIK HAD CERTIFIED THAT CHIEF MINISTER PRAMOD SAWANT WAS ABSOLUTELY CORRUPT
It is absolutely erroneous and mischievous for the BJP to now accuse our former Governor Satya Pal Malik of waking up so late about corruption by the Pramod Sawant government. Infact as Governor Satya Pal Malik had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah giving them details of the omissions and commissions by this BJP Government here. But instead of acting against the accused, the Governor was unceremoniously overnight shunted out of Goa. During my meetings with Governor Malik, I could sense how very disturbed he was at the way Goa was being mismanaged and looted. Governor Malik was so modest, practical and someone who believed in delivering good governance to the poorest of the poor. A gregarious personality with a robust heart. He was indeed a good listener with a very clear mind and believed in achieving results. The very knowledgeable and well experienced Governor Malik was a person with a mind of his own who would never sign at the dotted line. A rubber stamp Governor he definitely was not. In the last over two decades. Goa has seen some very outstanding Governors by way of Lt Gen. J.F.R. Jacob, Dr. S.S.Sidhu, Mr. B.V. Wanchoo and more recently the formidable Mr. Satya Pal Malik, while we have also witnessed and had to put up with some from the other end of the spectrum on whom less said the better. Adv. Aires Rodrigues C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.in
[Goanet] B y t e s F o r A l l -- School Education Links (India)
][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] B y t e s F o r A l l -- School Education Links (India) Interesting links from the world of education in India from a talk by Anjali Noronha (noronha.anj...@gmail.com), on the Collaborative Learning Cafe, Oct 27, 2021 in cyberspace. Edited by Frederick Noronha / @fn +91-9822122436 fredericknoron...@gmail.com from a presentation by Anjali Noronha To listen to the talk/presentation, see https://archive.org/details/school-edn-india The next talk is on Saturday Oct 30, 2021. On the CLC. [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] TEACHER PLUS: Created in 1989, Teacher Plus is a magazine aimed primarily at the schoolteacher. It is a forum within which teachers can raise their concerns, discuss ideas, and share and update their knowledge. Teacher Plus discusses alternative ways of thinking and doing within the context of the Indian classroom, while recognizing the constraints that most teachers face, day to day. In addition, its aim is to foster a sense of community among teachers, of being a part of an important group of change agents. Teacher Plus is published monthly from Hyderabad. It draws from a large pool of contributors from across India, persons with experience in varied aspects of education, from primary school teaching to tackling board exams to the place of art and craft in learning, to child development and classroom management. Each month brings the reader a mix of thought-provoking features and hands-on activities that can be adapted for use in most classrooms. Teacher Plus is not a scholarly journal. It is a magazine for the practicing teacher who wants to keep up with trends in education and find ways to energise her classroom with new ideas and approaches. https://www.teacherplus.org/ Links to useful sites on how to become a teacher Shaping Young Minds: 6 Different Routes to Become a Teacher in India: https://www.mindler.com/blog/how-to-become-a-teacher-in-india/ What do Higher Secondary School Teachers do? https://tinyurl.com/ye3rux7p Teacher: How to Become a Teacher, Courses, Jobs, Scope, Salary (CollegeDunia) https://tinyurl.com/yju8j47j 7th pay commission pay scale for Primary, High School, PGT qualified, CBSC, AICET Teachers https://www.7thpaycommissioninfo.in/pay-scale-for-teachers/ Resources for teachers – books and magazines – online resources NCERT https://ncert.nic.in/journals-and-periodicals.php FROM THE ARVIND GUPTA TOYS SITE: "A Million Books for a Billion People": Downloadable films, books and articles by Arvind Gupta, Resources for Children by the Nature Conservation Foundation, Bangalore; 103 books illustrated by artist-activist Arvind Deshpande; books about scientists; books on science; community health guides (Hesperian Foundation); folk tales of science; books on chemistry; books on mathematics; books on education; books on anti-war/peace themes; books on the environment; Isaac Asimov's Science Fact masterpieces; children's books (NBT); Sunshine Magazine (Pune); Russian Classics in English; Inspiring Books; Books by Laurie Baker; Science Comics and Picture Books by prof Jean Pierre Petit; also books like The Single-Teacher School (and other books by the distinguished educationist JP Naik); books by DD Kossambi; and other titles in Hindi and Marathi. https://www.arvindguptatoys.com/ Sandarbh, a bimonthly in Hindi, was conceived in 1994 to meet this need. Sandarbh means ‘context’, and carries articles on various topics in Science and Education. These articles are meant to be a resource primarily for middle and high school teachers and students, who teach and learn in Hindi. The articles are usually in a informal style, and as far as possible are free of jargon. The magazine also serves as a means of communication between teachers across the country who write to us about their classroom experiences, activities and experiments that have worked and failed. Articles submitted to Sandarbh are often in Hindi, though many of them are in English and other languages as well, and are translated for publication. https://www.eklavya.in/magazine-activity/sandarbh-magazines Contemporary Education Dialogue serves as an independent open forum for researchers and practitioners to sustain a critical engagement with issues in education by engendering a reflective space that nurtures the discipline
[Goanet] Schedule for Saturday 30th October 2021
CCR TV GOA Channel of God's love✝ You can also watch CCR TV live on your smartphone via the CCR TV App Available on Google PlayStore for Android Platform. Click the link below. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ccr.tv4 Email ID: ccrgoame...@gmail.com Schedule for Saturday 30th October 2021 12:00 AM Rosary - Joyful Mysteries 12:23 AM Marian Reflections -6 - DCC 12:43 AM Unless a Grain of Wheat Dies… - Talk by Fr Valerian Vaz 1:00 AM Mass in Konkani for Friday 1:45 AM Jesus the Good Shepherd as the gate - Talk by Sr Shilpa 2:00 AM Saibinnichi Ruzai - Sontosache Mister 2:26 AM Devachem Utor - Utpoti - Avesvor 10 - Vachpi Orlando D'Souza 2:33 AM Testimony - Frenzie Gonsalves 2:52 AM Prayer for Healing from Cancer 2:59 AM Concert - Vem Cantar 12 to 15 yrs 3:47 AM Ximpientlim Motiam - Bhag 99 Undir - Fr Pratap Naik sj 3:59 AM Literally Goa - Dr. Fatima Noronha interviewed by Frederick Noronha 4:29 AM Hymn - Prayer of St.Ignatius of Loyola sung by Irene Rocha 4:33 AM Praise and Worship - Judy Parker 4:57 AM Magnificat (English) 5:01 AM 53rd Mando Festival - St Xaviers Collegicho Naad, Mapuca- Original 5:10 AM Lessons from Ruth and Naomi - Talk by Dr Silvia Noronha 5:28 AM Bible Project - Acts of the Apostle - Ch 1-7 5:34 AM Tell me a Story - Episode 7 - Noah build the Ark 5:43 AM Power of Forgiveness - Talk by Sr Saral 6:04 AM Our Father - Mundari 6:10 AM Hymns - St Bartholomew's HS, Chorao 6:14 AM Bhokti Lharam- Bhag 20 6:21 AM Sat Sovnskar - Talk by Orlando D'Souza 6:51 AM Song - Let's Care for Our Common Home - Fr Tomas Lobo 6:57 AM Sokalchem Magnnem - Saturday Wk 2 & 4 7:00 AM LSS - Holy Spirit and Baptism in the Holy Spirit - Dr Brenda Nazareth Menezes 7:35 AM Morning Prayer - Saturday Wk 2 & 4 7:38 AM Devacho Mog Ani Kaklut - Lindinha Albuquerque 7:57 AM Prayer for the Synod 2023 - Konkani 8:00 AM First Anniversary Mass at Nerul 9:02 AM Bhajan - Tu Paramananda - Fr Glen D'Silva sfx 9:11 AM Deliverance - Talk by Fr Thamburaj sj 9:35 AM Ximpientlim Motiam - Bhag 165 - Budda ani Bhogsonnem - Fr Pratap Naik sj 9:43 AM Jezuchea Nimannea Sat Utrancher Niyall - Br Malvino Alfonso OCD 10:12 AM Prayer for Vocations 10:13 AM Saibinnichi Ruzai - Fr Saturnino Colaco 10:45 AM Devachem Utor - Utpoti - Avesvor 11 - Vachpi Orlando D'Souza 10:55 AM Poem - St Teresa by Sandhya Fernandes 10:59 AM Tell me a story - Jonah followed by Keys & Strings Children's Hymns 11:26 AM Prayer for the Synod 2023 11:28 AM Angelus - English 11:30 AM Mass in English from Panjim Church followed by Daily Flash 12:17 PM Mog Korun , Kallzantan Bhogsun-ia - Fr Joseph da Silva 12:39 PM Song - Ek Katha - Anthem of Unity - Samuel Afonso 12:44 PM Apologetics - Mary - Talk by Steve Ray 1:26 PM Music - From Jazz Goa - 3rd Anniv 1:43 PM Parkhonnim - Interview by Daniel de Souza 2:15 PM What's Cooking? Season 2 Episode 4 2:42 PM Konkani Bhas - Bhag 5 - Fr Pratap Naik sj 2:58 PM Global Goan Virtual Choir 3:09 PM Obedience to God - Talk by Severina Fernandes 3:30 PM Deivik Kaklutichi Magnneam 3:39 PM Our Father - Aramaic 3:44 PM The Golden Brigade - Sr Inez Fernandes 4:00 PM Rosary - Joyful Mysteries 4:23 PM Do I have a Vocation ? Talk by Dr Sarita Nazareth 4:30 PM Senior Citizens Exercises - 14 4:54 PM Song - Thankful 5:00 PM Praise and Worship - Agnes Barucha 5:28 PM Bhogsonnem - Talk by Orlando D'Souza 6:00 PM Rosary of St Joseph Vaz 6:22 PM Prayer for India 3 6:25 PM Prayer for the Synod 2023 - Konkani 6:27 PM Aimorechen Magnnem 6:30 PM First Annoversary Mass at Nerul 7:30 PM Saibinnichi Ruzai - Sontosache Mister 7:56 PM Magnificat (English) 8:00 PM Beatitudes 7 and 8 - Sheela Alvares 8:38 PM Bhagevont Zuze Vazache mozotin Bhurgeancher Magnnem 8:40 PM Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco - Vocation Promotion 8:51 PM Prayer to the Holy Trinity - Prof. Nicholas D'Souza 8:53 PM Devachem Utor - Utpoti - Avesvor 12 - Vachpi Orlando D'Souza 9:00 PM Adoration 3 - St Anthony Church, Siolim 9:29 PM Ratchem Magnem 9:46 PM Career Guidance - Forensic Science 10:16 PM Psalm 95 - Read by Alfwold Silveira 10:20 PM Parish of the Week - Verna 3 10:47 PM 53rd Mando Festival - St Xaviers Collegicho Naad, Mapuca- Original 10:56 PM Literally Goa - Maria Ines Figueira interviewed by Frederick Noronha 11:22 PM Song - He's got the whole world in His hands 11:29 PM Youthopia - Chloe Charlene Fernandes - Archer interviewed by Mysticka Deniz 11:50 PM Bible Project - Acts of the Apostle - Ch 21 - 28 11:55 PM Hymn : Rochnar Atmea - Winston Colaco Donations may be made to: Beneficiary name : CCR GOA MEDIA. Name of Bank : ICICI Bank Branch Name: Panaji Branch RTGS/NEFT Code : ICIC015 Savings Bank Account No : 262401000183
[Goanet] Climate Change and Shakespeare.
If you read of mankind’s efforts to deal with the looming disaster of climate change, you will see the amazing likeness to more than one one of Shakespeare’s tragi-comedy-farce plays. It’s a tragedy. We are dealing with it in farcical ways and the whole thing is one bloody comedy. Take for example the notion of carbon credits. You buy them from some company or country that is making sincere anti pollution efforts and you use them to meet the restrictions imposed on you while continuing to pollute as merrily as you did before. Then look at the timelines you have set yourself. Instead of the next 5 or 10 years, you are looking at 2050 in some vague, undefined promises. Meanwhile hurricanes, droughts, flooding and every other nightmarish scenario that nature dreams up, continue with evermore force and destruction. The simple reason for all this watering down and procrastination is that each one fears for the economic consequences of doing their part. Australia thinks it can hide away in a global corner pretending they have other more pressing problems. The US with their political system cannot agree on even how to provide their poorer citizens with better health care and financial and housing security let alone agree on such a major endeavour. Their super rich resist even a mere 3% rise in their taxes, yes I meant three! Europe is sincere, but has no one riding along with it. China makes cosmetic changes but it is one country that never does anything unless forced to and no one seems to be able to force it to do anything. Africa and the South American continent are too busy with their ruling dictators filling up their pockets. Carbon is Arabia’s only livelihood and in India half the population is hungry, let alone worried about climate change. With a scenario like this, you can’t help feeling there’s nothing in the way of a grim global future where food becomes scarce, land and oceans polluted and flooded, icebergs and ecosystems vanishing and parts of countries flooded resulting in enormous population displacements. Everybody seems to have adopted the old Goan dictum - maka podunc nam. “I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And then I want you to act. I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if the house was on fire — because it is.” — Greta Thunberg, climate activist, at the World Economic Forum, Jan. 25, 2019 Peter Coy of the NYT tells us of the “Lets Fool Ourselves” syndrome paralyzing humankind. So you saved a forest. Was it ever really in danger. We’re all familiar with the riddle about a tree falling in the forest and making or not making a sound. Starting this weekend in Scotland, world leaders, diplomats and climate activists will be wrestling with their own version of the riddle: What does it mean when a tree does not fall in the forest? A tree that does not fall in the forest continues to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping protect humanity from climate change. The riddle is who, if anyone, should get credit for the tree’s survival. To answer that question, you need to know whether the tree was going to be cut down in the first place. If it wasn’t, it seems dishonest to claim to have saved it. Yet people will be tempted to take credit anyway. If you understand this problem, you will understand one of the main debates at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, or COP26, a meeting to combat global warming taking place in Glasgow from Oct. 31 through Nov. 12. Economists like the idea of using markets to control carbon emissions because markets provide lots of bang for the buck. For example, Switzerland recently reached agreements with Georgia, Ghana, Peru and Senegal in which it will effectively pay those countries to reduce their emissions and then claim the reductions for itself to help meet its national target for emissions reductions under the Paris Agreement of 2015. It’s more efficient to cut emissions in those lower-income countries, where there’s plenty of low-hanging fruit (like replacing inefficient cook stoves), than in Switzerland itself, which has run short of cheap and easy ways to reduce emissions. But governments need to make sure the markets are doing what they’re supposed to. Otherwise you run into the tree-in-the-forest problem: countries claiming credits for saving trees that didn’t need saving. That’s an issue in rich nations as well as poor ones. The San Francisco-based environmental group CarbonPlan said this year that forest protection efforts in California were over-credited by about $400 million. An investigation last year by Bloomberg Green found that the Nature Conservancy, the world’s biggest environmental group, was helping big U.S. corporations claim credit for the preservation of forests that were already well preserved. (In June, the Nature Conservancy said that an
[Goanet] Congresscin Goa a sinking ship
CONGRESS IN GOA ON THE BRINK High profile emissaries of Congress make a futile attempt to revive electoral fortunes Congress has lost support and trust of voters and taken them for granted for too long The erosion of values have hit the bottom The desertion by ten MLA,s ,then Faleiro and earlier Rane and Mavin have put the last nail in the coffin of Congress aspirations for revival and rejuvenation More dissertions are in store ahead Reginaldo has changed his mind temporarily due to his hurt feelings being assuaged as of now.The rats are jumping the sinking ship. All legislators were men of integrity untill selfish interest and hunger for power made them coin the word development Voters opine that most new aspirants are men of straw and cannot be trusted for their loyalty to party or principles. POACHING, intimidation, incentives and positions are great irresistible attractions to make hay while the sun shines and precedents are a galore.After winning no one has any controll on their wildest dreams Perhaps one way to stem the tide of selfish defections is to field 40% Women as the best alternative to Congress fortunes.Egos and infighting among legislators for position will be once again the bane of Congress. ThevCongress will be reduced to single digit with TMC and APP being top contenders for a change to oppose BJP of communal hatred. Congress is in for a rude shock of their hanging on their glorious existence of the past.The writing is on the wall Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
Re: [Goanet] Received Goanet
Sometimes,the problem is that the messages are going to your spam or some such trivial issue. Generally gets sorted out by removing the person off the list and adding him/her back. If anyone else faces the problem, do intimate. FN ᐧ On Fri, 29 Oct 2021 at 15:17, anamaria desouzagoswami < anamariagosw...@rediffmail.com> wrote: > Dear Rico, > > Just to thank you profusly that I have started receiving Goanet. Thanks > also for mailing the back issues. > > Kind regards > Ana Maria Goswami >
[Goanet] Celebrating Pakistan win an act of sedition
Pakistan win joy of celebration Our politicians has used extrme steps to certify their misplaced patriotism and identity of Nationalism .The bafoon who claimed it is victory of Islam has to be ignored.If celebration is an offence why did India in the first place play against Pakistan their arch rivals and enemy.Loss or win is part of any sports Every game with two National teams is like a war ,unfortunate the neighbour has been defeated in all such encounters at times humiliated. Sedition charges charges be levied agains L.k Advani for his utterances from their soil Sedition charges be enforced against the captain congratulating Pakistan team Why Sedition charges not levied against the top leader for unscheduled socialising stop, unvited against overriding protocol Why not similar action against Shidu embracing the military commander It is might of state to incarcerate students who are defenceless and accused of overenthusiasm willingly or unwillingly to such harsh treatment.Which statute do they contravene by celebrating win or loss of any team be it a friend or foe Extending liberties too far is a National disgrace Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
[Goanet] Khela Hobe in Goa? (Dhaka Tribune, 29/10/2021)
https://www.dhakatribune.com/opinion/op-ed/2021/10/29/op-ed-khela-hobe-in-goa Big intrigue in India’s smallest state, as Mamata Banerjee’s All India Trinamool Congress surges noisily into Goa’s political landscape in anticipation of legislative elections to be held early next year. This weekend, ‘Didi’ herself is in residence. She announced an overt challenge on Twitter: “As I prepare for my maiden visit to Goa on 28th, I call upon all individuals, organisations and political parties to join forces to defeat the BJP and their divisive agenda. The people of Goa have suffered enough over the last 10 years.” After promising, “together we will usher in a new dawn for Goa by forming a new govt that will truly be a govt of the people of Goa and committed to realising their aspirations,” she added the hashtag #GoenchiNaviSakal, which means “a new dawn for Goa” in Konkani. Earlier this week, three of the TMC’s brightest national stars also flew into the state, where they jointly addressed a “people’s chargesheet” against the incumbent BJP-led government and the Congress administration that preceded it, for “20 years of political instability, misrule, and suffering for the people of Goa.” Shaded by the Corinthian monument dedicated to Tristão de Bragança Cunha, who was “nationalist India’s first ambassador” in France in the 1920s, veteran legislator Prof. Saugata Roy (he was a Union Minister in Manmohan Singh’s government), popular entertainer and very recent BJP defector Babul Supriyo (a Minister of State under Narendra Modi) and the wonderfully eloquent Mahua Moitra levelled reasonably well-justified claims against the entrenched political class, that clustered in an expected vein; irresponsibility, incompetence, venality, cynicism, arrogance. So far so good, because extraordinary misgovernance is amply evident in this tiny, relatively wealthy and well-educated state after the decline and demise of Manohar Parrikar, its dominant political force ever since he first became chief minister in 2000 (between 2014-17, he left to serve as Narendra Modi’s defence minister). The disgraceful shenanigans got so bad, and were so far out in the open, that the BJP’s own appointed Governor Satya Pal Malik (he is in office in Meghalaya after leaving Goa under opaque circumstances) freely admitted to the news anchor Rajdeep Sardesai this week: “there was corruption in everything the [Sawant] government did. I probed the matter and told the prime minister about it [but he asked the same culprits who were responsible, and obviously they wouldn’t admit it, so] I was removed.” Still, even if every part of Goa’s electorate is perfectly cognizant of the problems posed by their entrenched political class, and also generally unstinting in their admiration for the outspoken rhetoric of the likes of Moitra, the great mass of Goan voters remains conspicuously dubious about whether the TMC presents any kind of workable solution. This is, of course, because Goa is not Bengal. What worked in one corner of the subcontinent cannot be assumed to comprise the automatically winning formula in another region with its disparate and distinct history, culture and identity. Thus, the first thing TMC got wrong in Goa is also its very first thing, period. >From the moment it announced entry for this electoral cycle, it has kept on peddling Didi and her party as “street fighters,” but this state has no history of poll violence, and Goans greatly value and safeguard their relative peace and harmony. For voters here, instead of a promise with potential, the “streetfighter” epithet comes off as an ominous threat, not at all assuaged because it is the old-school Goan politician - and recent Congress defector – 70-year-old Luizinho Faleiro who keeps repeating it every chance he gets. Even more significantly, the TMC has as yet failed to generate any persuasive answer for why exactly it helicoptered into Goa from across the country. When asked on Tuesday in Panjim, new entrant Babul Supriyo was notably unconvincing: “Goa and Bengal are connected by heart. Two states that play football. What is your staple food? Fish and rice. We do the same. In terms of our entertainment, the way we think, the way we eat, if you see the number of Bengali tourists who come to Goa every year, you will understand that this is a very natural destination for the TMC.” Jettisoning meaningless drivel to find the right mix and message to achieve its goals in Goa is not just a TMC challenge, it also puts the uncommonly hyped reputation of Prashant Kishore and his trailblazing Indian Political Action Committee at stake. Over the past decade, after starting the Citizens for Accountable Governance (CAG) engine substantially credited for Narendra Modi’s historic sweep to dominance in 2014, this unquestionably brilliant “political aide” (in his own description) has helped to engineer an astonishing string of victories against the arrayed forces of his previous cohort: Bihar
