Cry Freedom By Eugene Correia
The lack of support and enthusiasm from the man in the street to the start of the celebrations on the august occasion of Goa's 50th year of Liberation is an indication that Goans care less for this milestone in its history. For the past five decades Goans have been debating what this turning point in Goa's history has brought them. Many wonder if it's a passage from liberation of foreign rule to misrule by successive elected governments. For the common folk, this event will too pass into history as did the 25th anniversary. By and large, Goans are dissatisfied with what has Goa turned out physically and, if it can be said, emotionally. The Goa of the period from 1961 to the 1980s saw Goa change slowly in its physical features and in its demographic make-up. But from the beginning of the 90s to date Goa changed far more greatly and in all directions, some good, some bad. Living in the current climate of corruption and scandals seem to have sapped the energies of most Goans. There are a few groups that are still displaying enough courage and political will to give the government of the day enough headach. As in all things, Goa has its own discontents to Liberation or Freedom or end of Colonialization. These Goans find nothing to cheer about in this event that has been eulogized by politicians of all ranks at the state and centre levels. The politicians can afford to gloat over such once-in-a-lifetime episodes as it provides them with the photo-ops and publicity they crave for, more so as elections are to be held in Goa next year. Those who think Liberation has not added any comfort to their daily lives are being unrealistic. These naysayers needn't look deeply into Goa's post-Liberation history to see the fruits of Liberation, as they are easily visible in many ways. They deliberately turn a blind eye to the progress Goa has made in all these years. The socio-economic indicators do not lie. It is futile exercise to compare lives of Goans today to that of late Portuguese period. There is no denying that Goans lived comfortable lives under the Portuguese; instead it was a period envied by those who lived outside Goa. But change happens, and Goans need to go with the tides of history. Contentment is not everything for those who seek freedom of the soul and voice to speak out against any wrongdoing and any act of dishonesty on the part of the rulers. A suppressed soul struggles to break free. It seems paradoxical that despite having material possessions and leading happy lives humans want to trade them to the constraints and travails of democracy. Such is global history of nations, India being no exception. Goa's post-Liberation experience with democracy had had mixed results. The constant political machinations and spurious proclamations from mouths of politicians have vitiated the society. There is no escape from this predicament. Goans needn't grin and bear it but keep the politicians pegged down by haranguing them at every opportunity and also by protests and marches. Occupy Panaji, Mapuca, Margoa, Vasco and Ponda must be the battle cry. A non-violent revolution is the call of the day. An ideological warfare against the wrongdoers, both of the political and economic kind, must be carried out relentlessly. True, a small bunch of Goans felt trampled under Portuguese feet. They felt that the foreign yoke was oppressive and no matter what comfort it brought to the body it was not enough to savour the soul. From rumblings of protest to armed fights early in Portuguese Goa, captured by Afonso de Albuquerque in 1510, to the gallant non-violent forays into the territory by satyagrahis and, ultimately, to military action on Dec 19, 1961, Goa came a full circle. The voices of nationalist Goans such as Tristao Braganca da Cunha and outsiders from Goa such as Ram Manohar Lohia rattled the Portuguese ears. Their sacrifices, along with the legion of nameless fighters, brought Goa into the warm embrace of India. Freedom came and those who were deeply hurt by the Indian action called it "aggression", "invasion" or "annexation." Whatever terminology was used by these pro-Portuguese Goans, the finality of it all was that Goa was reunited with India, its motherland. A new bond was forged. Some Goans who believed in Portugal as their motherland fled Indian shores, and those who remained are still nursing their wounds. It is a fringe group of some old-timers with Portuguese scales on their bodies.These are the remnants of Portuguese history in flesh and blood, much ignored in present-day Goa. Till three decades ago, they entertained the hope that the Portuguese would return to reclaim what was theirs, though Goa never belonged to Portugal even if it claimed it to be its Estado da India. They forget that the Portuguese came as conquerors and remained to enjoy the spoils of war. It is pertinent to see what has happened to Portugal today and compare its progress to that of India. Portugal has been reduced to a "basket case" whereas India has climbed into the top economic zone of the zone, an emerging economic giant. Portugal seems to be paying its price for its vanity for pursuing imperialist designs. Their possessions in Asia and Africa, which brought them large revenues, have gone and Portugal has been reduced to being a pauper. What do those who still cry for Portuguese presence or go into nostalgia over the Portuguese interlude of 451 years think of the current state of Portugal? If Goans, mostly young men and women and young families, are lining up to get Portuguese passports, they are doing it for economic reasons and for providing better educational opportunities for their children. It is doubtful if these Goans owe allegiance to Portugal. For them, the Portuguese passport is a passage from Goa, which is in turmoil with each day bringing no solace to its residents, into a new world - distant but alluring. Goans who are wailing in Goa are doing so because they feel they are helpless in the face of the political rulers who care a damn if the state is falling apart. But is the state falling apart? Far from it; the state is progressing, even if it is at a pace of a limping person. No country in the world or no state in India is free from problems. America and UK are currently battling the scourge of economic downturn. Goans who have migrated to the UK know first-hand how hard it is for them to stay afloat in the circling waters of economic woes. Goa is but a reflection of India, which is besieged by humongous problems that appear to be beyond solutions at this stage. Freedom opened the doors for all kinds of nefarious activities that the rest of India was used to. Political corruption, economic mismanagement and religious chauvinism took root, and Goa has remained mired in it. The fault lies squarely on the political class for creating the chaotic world of nepotism and criminality that is eating into the vitals of the state's body politic. The ministers have been caught with their pants down in the numerous scandals that have hit Goa in recent times. The cozy relationships between the ruling class and the business class and the underground operators, such as drug lords, sex ring captains, etc, has undermined Goa's image. Is Goa truly the new "crime capital of India" or "sex capital of India" as the media portrays it sometimes? Indeed, the crime rate has gone up and there has been an increase of sex workers, including foreign nationals, in some of Goa's most-frequented areas, such as its beaches, that leads keen observers to make such judgemental statements. Agreeably, these invasions of a different kind has inverted Goa's image from its pre-Liberated era, or less than two decades after Liberation, as a serene and peaceful place where one could enjoy its nature's bounty and lead a comfortable life in a society with few disturbing aspects, to its present one. If enumerated properly, the gains of freedom far outweigh the other negative points. It is always easy to blame the government for all ills but the people must realize that famous saying from Thomas Jefferson, "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." The government has failed on many counts because it cannot deliver on lot of its promises.Till very recently Goans were found napping as the politicians looted both the state's coffers and its morality. The "susegado" Goans woke up in the late 1980s and saw that their world is crumbling around them. Or rather, their paradise has been run over by the kind of things -- big buildings in the midst of villages, huge hotels on its beaches, large-scale illegal in its mountains - and people engaged in illicit activities from running sex and drug rings. It is only the rise of many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the coming forward of the intelligent class -- doctors, lawyers, journalists -- that the movement to correct Goa's wayward course has gained momentum. The Goan voice of discontentment has grown from a rumble to a shout, and its echo is heard loud and wide by the powers-that-be. What would it take for Goa to change itself to the delight of its people? Instead of just penance for past sins and renewed hope in their hearts, Goans must not let the political divide come in their way of keeping the government of the day on its toes. Goans cannot rely on the official Opposition to fight all or most of its battles. The naysayers would be better off if they don't just nod their heads in angst and frustration but keep on fighting the good fight. A vigilant electorate can change the dynamics of Goa. Goans crying aloud or crying in their feni glasses won't help. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------