A Ramponkar fisherman returns home in his canoe and is met by a foreign expert serving in this developing country. The expert asks the fisherman why he is back so early. He replies that he could have stayed out longer but that he had caught enough to care for his family.
"And now, what do you do with all your time anyway?" the expert asks. The humble fisherman responds: "Well, I do a little fishing. I play with my children. We all have a siesta when it gets hot. In the evening, we have canji dinner together with the best catch of fish. Later I get together with my friends for some music, and a small drink...I enjoy the simplicity of life, my family and my friends" The expert interrupts: "Look, I have a university degree and have Studied these matters. I want to help you. You should stay out fishing longer. You would earn more and soon be able to build up a fleet of trawlers." "And then?" the fisherman inquires. "Then instead of selling fish through a middleman, you could negotiate directly with the factory or even start your own fish-processing plant. You would be able to leave your village and move to Mumbai, HongKong or Paris, or New York and run the whole thing from there. You could even consider putting your business on the stock market and earn millions." Besides, the foreigner said "being a Goan you are entitled to a Portuguese passport, you could migrate and join the Cod business and fish in the North Sea" See? "How long would that all take?" the fisherman asks. "Perhaps 15 to 20 years," the expert answers. " And then?" the fisherman continues. "That is when life gets interesting" the expert explains. "Then you could retire. You could move away from the hustle and bustle of it all to some remote village." "And what then?" asks the Ramponkar "Then you have time to do a little fishing, play with your children, have a siesta when it gets hot, have your supper with the family, and get together with friends for some music. & feni". You may send your kids to a good School, perhaps a Doutor in the family, and he could move to NY or Luxemburg. The sky is the limit what a trained Rampokar can do! According to Gandhi, Politics without principles, wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity and worship without sacrifice are all not acceptable. Gandhi's polity was based on his spirituality. And, where did Gandhi get this concept or principle? And how do we compare Gandhi with Bal Thackray, the Parivar friends besides Mathany and smugglers? Are we making progress? Or are we being manipulated by a foreign power? An after thought from the late -Franklin Delano Roosevelt ''The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those have little.'' In our Bangarachem Goem, we have the late commers who returned from their Cod business, formed political parties, good relation bureaus - some have written articles in the newspapers after a dose of feni, and our beloved land has been sold dirt cheap to Kannadis, Ghanttis and now to the film actors... The myth of being sussegad is a reality. Hic! X B Moidekar
