Is there anything good at all to say about the Goa of today? My answer: Only that it is more tolerable than any other urbanised sprawl in India. That remains our only boast.
To any Goan over 50 years old who grew up with the kind of life we once took for granted, current-day Goa is a disaster on every front. To the ghatis and the Indian fat-cats who have moved en masse to our land, it is a big step up. But not for long, at least for the well-heeled bhailo. He came here hoping to escape his noxious toilet-town (which is just about every big Indian city & town) and now he realizes that Goa is headed in that direction. As I have remarked earlier, post-2000 Goa has attracted the worst kind of Indians. Goa isn't the only target of ruination by Indians. The same is happening in places of great beauty and serenity like Uttarakhand where there are sites of great historical and religious significance to Hindus. No place is sacred anymore. Your small slice of heaven will either be converted into a tourist zoo or a construction site for apartment projects. Consider moving to Svalbard or Antarctica. The brutes will get there eventually but you can buy some time for yourself. r
