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 expo
