Re: [Goanet] Anti-Goan Identity Movement

[Santosh Helekar]

I can understand the dilemma that Arwin is going through. It stems from the  
simple fact that he cannot clearly define what he means by his unique Goan 
identity, and understand what good its preservation does him. Perhaps, he also 
feels a modicum of discomfort in the realization that he is as much an Indian 
as he is a Goan, that there are many Goans who have less things in common with 
him than with non-Goans - things that have to do with religion, language, 
music, food, tradition, habits, rituals, customs, etc.

To defuse the fog he has created by fixating on preservation of his unique 
identity, he has to do nothing more than ask himself the following two 
questions:

1. Can he become a better Goan by separating himself from non-Goans?

2. Can Goa achieve greater prosperity by being insulated from the rest of India?

Cheers,

Santosh

--- On Tue, 7/8/08, Arwin Mesquita [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
The only dilemma I face is what do I answer people when they normally say to 
me (A) Goa  Goans are significantly different from rest of India one
example is Goa stands out for Tourism exceptionally vs. other states (B)
What do I call myself now that there is no such thing as Goan Identity. My
answers would most probably be (A) Its all mythical and there is no basis
and (B) I now call myself a Jolly Indian. Any suggestions from you are
welcome.
 

[Goanet] Anti-Goan Identity Movement

[anesimo56]

 Dear Arwin



Count me in as well.Once for all, let us destroy this myth of Goan Culture and 
Identity.It will save me answering questions about goa and its unique culture 
whenever i meet people from different parts of the world and Indians themselves.



Let all the down trodden Indians from those failed states and those so called 
minorities who are supposed be persecuted? and whose numbers are growing faster 
than the majority, come and settle down in Goa.They can occupy all the 
goverment and communidade land free of charge. Of course, the government can 
build plenty of housing boards as well with free elctricty and water supply.



The rich Indians can cut all the hills, convert all the agicultural land and 
have? mansions and villas with swimming pools all over. They can also bring in 
labour intensive industries as they will have plenty of manpower. The 
Government can legalise Gambling and prostitution as well.  



Stop celebrating all the cultural events. No more 
festa,zatra,carnival,shigmo,tiatros and nataks.No fish curry rice, eat roti and 
dal.No more wearing shirt,pant,shoes and dresses.



Do not immigrate to Canada,USA,Europe or Australia.They will brand you as 
Anti-National.



Then, all those Tourists-both Foreign and Indian- can experience a truely 
Unique Goan Culture!? 



Cheers

Anesimo? ?  



 

[Goanet] Anti-Goan Identity Movement

[Arwin Mesquita]

Dear Mario,



Ref. your post below; you are absolutely right. Thanks from bringing me to
my senses. What was I thinking; all this nonsense about Preserving Goan
Identity.



The only dilemma I face is what do I answer people when they normally say to
me (A) Goa  Goans are significantly different from rest of India one
example is Goa stands out for Tourism exceptionally vs. other states (B)
What do I call myself now that there is no such thing as Goan Identity. My
answers would most probably be (A) Its all mythical and there is no basis
and (B) I now call myself a Jolly Indian. Any suggestions from you are
welcome.



Thank God we are now, not like those fools who are ignorantly
working/supporting Goa's Mythical Identity i.e.

(A) Those thinking Goans are different from the Bengalis, Keralites, Tamils,
Gujaratis, Europeans, Americans etc. Surely we are all similar in Identity!!

(B) Fought in the 60's to keep Goa separate. What were they thinking? We
don't have an identity and should have been merged with
Karnataka/Maharashtra.

(C) Fought in the 80's for Konkani, including those who lost their lives. We
should probably change it now to Hindi, Kannada, Punjabi etc

(D) Despite having hectic schedules are fighting against mega-projects,
SEZ's etc We should allow these  change the demographics once and for all.

(E) Non Resident Goans who despite being faraway and working for the
Mythical Goan Identity e.g. The Goan Convention in Toronto with Goan
Identity as the main theme. Why are they wasting their valuable time?



We need to convert all these Goans into Anti-Goans  bury this Goan Identity
issue once and for all. Can we form an Anti-Goan Movement for the purpose?
On my August USA visit, can I meet yourself  all your
Anti-Goan colleagues to brainstorm what we can do for the latter? I have
some suggestions however for you  your colleagues to consider for this new
movement:

(A) Make Goa  fully cosmopolitan Indian State with Hindi as Language (or
better still a Globalised State); can be a good example for rest of India
(World)

(B) Encourage as many migrants as possible, give them voters rights, land
and if that is scarce I recommend we offer our properties  houses as well.

(C) Spread an awareness to convince Goans that it is no use holding on to
land and its better we sell Goa to the highest bidder and become vagabonds.

(D) Explain our side to these Foolish Goans that it's better to immigrate,
feel guilty about not doing anything for Goa  then Castigate those working
for Goa.

(F) Explain that we should have controls for decent living standards,
Language  Identity in our adopted countries, Goans in Goa are not entitled
to the same because they do not know the difference between a country 
state.



Kind Regards,

The New Anti-Goan.

Message: 10
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 11:26:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mario Goveia [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [Goanet]  Goan Identity is NOT Anti-Indian
To: goanet@lists.goanet.org
Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 14:08:45 +0400
From: Arwin Mesquita [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Is the need for Goa to preserve her Identity,
Anti-Indian?

Mario responds:

Memo to Arwin:

What Goan indentity are you takling about?

I thought Santosh had put a stake through the heart of
that old shibboleth.