Nehru, the Liberator Remembering Nehru as the Liberator of Goa from Portuguese rule. I remember that fateful day. I was in Goa for the summer holidays when news came flashing on the radio. On my way from Bogmalo to Vasco, I think I saw the Indian tricolour flying half-mast. As all politicians have their faults, like us all, Nehru had his too. However, it is ridiculous to blame him for Goa's freedom, as he was under pressure not only from defence minister Krishna Menon but the many Goan organizations working for the Liberation of Goa to take military action. Portuguese had ignored repeated requests to leave Goa peacefully. In the pro-Portuguese website, Niz Goenkar, A. Veronica Fernandes, under heading Nehru Were Cheated by Nehru, that the PM didn't fulfill his promise. The quote attributed to Nehru is not dated but said, "Somewhere in mid fifties, speaking in the Parliament, Premier Nehru said..." In his newest article on NG, Veronica has blamed Portugal for Goa's woes. Blame the past and present political masters, but largely the blame rest on Goans for what Goa has become. As for history, I don't give a dime to Veronica's knowledge. I have seen him as a player for the Sesa Goa football team. I believe he was activist for Konkani in Kuwait, now settled down in Goa. Whether Goans should have been given referendum or not is a political matter. Yes, legally the Supreme Court said it was "annexation". Unfortunately, Nehru died just two years after the Liberation. If Goa had a referendum and if Goa had been a new country, would it make much of a different? Goans would rule Goa, just as it is been done today. Would the result be different, politically? Goa was a part of India. India, as many ignorant Goans believe, did come after the British left. It wasn't united but divided into many kingdoms. The unification of India, was like many other nations, even the US and Canada. As one Jack said on NG that "The root cause of Goa gone to dogs its is Goans selling for hafty price their land, houses and even childrens for Indian dogs." For Mathew Fernandes said that "Jack will be none other than Urine Korea." (That's the nickname NG has given me). This Mathew has said many things against me in an earlier post on the Konkani Tiatr and Tiarist FB page. He is one of the many supporters of Goa Su-Raj Party, who has a big presence on Niz Goenkar, a site that allows use of foul language. Moving forward is the only option to Goans now and not harking back to old days. History cannot be undone, but Goa make itself proud again within the Indian framework. Special Status is another issue, and those who want to know why Goa doesn't qualify must do some reading on Indian constitutional history and politics. Even Floriano is rubbing the Special Status issue. Even Goans in Goa are not united in fighting for this cause, as there are two groups. One of them is sort of aligned to GSRP and the other is loyal to Alina Saldanha. Floriano pet peeve is "ajeeb Goans". May I ask him in what context Nehru said that Goans were "ajeeb." DId Nehru mean we Goans are "strange" or we Goans are "different"? To the best of my knowledge he was basing his words on the knowledge that Goans had a 'syncretic" culture, both Portuguese and Indian. Just like Pondicherry (now Puducherry), where there are still traces of French. Here is Jack's post on the same FB page:
Jack Thursday - May 26, 2016 Lazar(DLP) Nehru is death and gone this type of blaming exercise of Nehru won't help..Nehru never told Goans to sell their properties/Houses to Indian dogs..beleive me in Moira 50% houses/land is owned by non-Goans..Moira is village of Floriano(Goa Su-Raj)who is trying to conquer Goa even without wining a panchayat seat in his village...he cannot prevent non-Goans marginalising Goans in his village....so educate Goans not to sell their properties to non-Goans just b'cas of money.We all known Nehru is son of bitch but it wont help writting against him until and until Goans stop selling what is left of their to non-Goans. -- It's better not to twist things to serve one's political goals. If Goans feel they should vote GSRP to 'save" Goa, so be it. That's the way democracy works. There could be no Delhi-based "high commad" for GSRP, but the commander-in-chief sits in Moira. Eugene Correia