Masked Gandhiji and Masked Minds Blind folding Mahatma Gandhi cannot mask the Truth. The Herald shows a photo of none other then Subodh Kerkar at Azad Maidan holding a blind-folded potrait of the Mahatma. This artist politician is the man on the digital archives of Prudent Media who accused the Church of ulterior motives in fuelling the anti-mega projects agitatation in Goa. He had the guts to speak out what many masked goans have been secretly propagating but that does not absolve an artist of the violent thoughts he harbours. Having Gods of all religions in the living room does not necessarily mean tolerance ot all faiths and sincerity of motives. Modern economy is about selling Gods and selling Gandhiji to fool the unsuspecting masses. The Gods have become a decoration for the studios that can fetch a big prize from foreigners. Violence of the thought is as grave as armed violence according to Mahatma Gandhi. Violence at Fontainhas in the name of nationalism is no different from violence of the armed maksed goons at the city restaurant. The violence against Aires and Prajal is no different from the violence unleashed against the poor and defenceless villagers of Nuvem, Margao, Benaulim, Colva, Carmona, Cortalim and Siridao at the behest of builders, lawyers, bureaucrats,activists and politicians. The elite have time to make a show when the life of their likes are threatened, but the very same masked faces at Azad maidan will not consider that the poor and marginalised also have a right to life. The clinics and patients of doctors never suffer when it is an elite agenda. The swords and daggers at Moti Dongor are of greater relevance than the earth movers, mortar and steel bars that pound the village environment day in and day out. The demolition of Babri Masjid or the attack on churches may be of little relevance to Satish when compared to the masked agenda of political forces to grab power at any cost.. Silence against the injustice from builders, real estate and lawyers is also violence, more worse than the goons of Babush. Masked agendas and masked exploitation of gullible goans at Azad maidan is also violence. Goans have had too much of this masked violence which time and again has been attempted from Azad Maidan and Lohia Maidan. The masked Goans were seen celebrating late night over dinner in a city club the victory of their masked exploits while those who innocently travelled to panjim from the christian lands of South Goa were back home ruminating the food for thought by masked men of politicians and builders. Goans shall definitely overcome violence when they unmask the forked tongues and minds that freely and proudly fly about town. Gandhiji may be blind folded but Truth can never be masked. We shall overcome.
-soter D'Souza
