[Goanet] Shri Eduardo Faleiro's speech at the 2008 International Goan Convention
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 2008 Toronto International Goan Convention Theme: Goan Identity And Networking Today. http://2008goanconvention.com/index.php Mario Miranda Festival, July 24-26, 2008 Old GMC Building http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-July/077732.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 2008 International Goan Convention, Toronto, Canada (Outline of the Speech by Shri Eduardo Faleiro, Commissioner for NRI Affairs, Government of Goa, delivered at the Inaugration ceremonies of the 2008 International Goan Convention, Toronto, Canada It is a great pleasure and a privilege to participate in this International Goan convention here in Toronto. I am given to understand that it has been well organized and that it is comprehensive. I compliment you for this. We used to hold a Global Goans Convention in Goa every year during the Christmas - New Year vacations. Reasons for discontinuing it in Goa. Last year it was held in Lisbon. this year in Toronto. Next year it may be in another continent. I understand that one of the subjects of this Convention is the question of Goan Identity. This is a very complex subject. Essential elements of a cultural identity are certainly language and soil but it is also moulded by several other features such as religion, history, nationality, etc. National identity is an important element of one's identity. The following are some aspects generally agreed upon. The Indus Valley Civilization (2800-1800BC) was the most advanced urban settlement of the time with well planned streets, drainage system, water supply, etc. I have seen it myself when I visited Mohenjodaro (in present day Pakistan) Jean Baptiste Tavernier, a Frenchman of the 17th century who spent about 40 years travelling on the Silk Road and several others of that time and earlier assert that India was then a country with abundant food resources and great wealth. A study by historian Angus Madisson of the Cambridge University held that India's share of world income was 22.6% in 1700 comparable to entire Europe's share of 23.3% It went down to 3.8% in 1952. Taxation on property and revenue during the colonial rule led to mass impoverishment and destitution of the great majority of farmers. At the time of its Independence, India inherited an economy that was one of the poorest in the world with industrial development stalled, agriculture unable to feed its population, one of the world's lowest life expectancies and a low rate of literacy. Since 1990, India's economy has grown at the rate of around 9%, the highest rate of growth in large economies after China. This has been accompanied by growth in life expectancy, literacy rate and food security. Goldman Sachs and others predict that by 2035, India will be the third largest economy in the world after the USA and China. However India faces the challenge of reducing economic and social inequalities and poverty remains a serious problem though it has declined significantly. It is felt across the world and more so in India itself, that India will meet successfully the present challenges and emerge as a Great Power within the first half of this Century. India like Canada is characterized by linguistic, ethnic and religious diversity yet both are strong nation-states functioning in a system of parliamentary democracy. Dr B.R. Ambedkar, our first Law Minister, whilst piloting the draft of the Constitution in the Constituent Assembly in 1948 had pointed out that Canada as well as India had federal Constitutions but also call themselves a Union. Regarding Goa. In 1956 am eminent Portuguese geographer, Orlando Ribeiro led a team of scholars to study Goan society and submitted a report of his findings to Prime minister Dr Oliveira Salazar. His report stated that Goa was the least Portuguese in its cultural expression even less than Guine-Bissau. It also said that there were cultured persons everywhere in Goa with no trace of rudeness, so common among the rural folk of Portugal. After Independence, there has been great progress particularly in the fields of Education and Health. Substantial advances have also been made in infrastructure development, such as electricity and water supply, roads and other forms of communication. There are still obvious deficiencies in all these areas but the progress is unmistakeable. Major problems have arisen as a result of what maybe called over development or unregulated development particularly in the coastline and beaches. Mass tourism and package tourism have transformed the landscape of Goa to the detriment of the local people. Rural areas in the coastal belt often look more like crowded western cities than villages. 1.25 million tourists visit Goa every year whilst the total population of the state is 1.15,illion. Mega construction projects even beyond
[Goanet] Statement of Shri Eduardo Faleiro, Commissioner for NRI Affairs, at his Press Briefing (May 13, 2008)
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5th Annual Konkan Fruit Fest
Promenade, D B Bandodkar Road, Panaji, Goa
16-18, May 2008
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-May/073789.html
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STATEMENT OF SHRI EDUARDO FALEIRO, COMMISSIONER FOR NRI AFFAIRS, AT HIS
PRESS BRIEFING
(May 13, 2008)
I shall be visiting Mozambique and Kenya from May 16-24. During this visit,
I shall meet the Goan community, other communities of Indian origin as well
as Foreign Ministers and other leaders of the two Governments. Goans
migrated in significant numbers to East Africa in the 19th and 20th
centuries. They formed the backbone of the Civil service, Railways and the
educational system in those countries. Some of them clamoured for reforms in
the colonial system and later inspired the movement for total independence
from European rule.
The visit is being organized by our High Commissions in Mozambique and
Kenya. I visited both the countries in 1987 as Minister of State for
External Affairs. Whilst this visit is in my capacity as Commissioner for
NRI Affairs of the Government of Goa, I have been briefed by the Ministry of
External Affairs so that the visit also contributes to advance bilateral
relations between India and those two countries. I shall be accompanied by
the Director for NRI Affairs, Shri U. D. Kamat.
* In Mozambique apart from my meetings with the Goan and other Indian
communities, I shall be meeting the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Science
and Technology and other senior leaders of that country. The number of
persons of Indian origin in Mozambique is estimated at around 20,000
families; about half hold Mozambican nationality whilst the other half have
Portuguese nationality. There are also about 2000 persons who are Indian
nationals. Persons of Goan origin have been in Mozambique for generations
and presently number around 1000 families. They celebrate the Goa Day every
year and invite members of other Indian communities as well as Mozambican
leaders. Our High Commission participates actively in this function.
* The Government of India under its international cooperation programme has
set up several development projects in countries of Africa to empower the
local people. It has offered a Cashew Processing Plant to Mozambique which
has already arrived there. The Plant will be installed by technicians of
HMT, Bangalore. A consortium of RITES and IRCON are working on the
rehabilitation of the Beira Railways. M/S Tata and Mahindra have a
significant presence in the automobile sector in Mozambique. The ESSAR Group
and Jindal Steel are also present there. Some Indian owned companies have
coal concessions in Mozambique. Lines of credit have been extended by the
Government of India for rural electrification, rural sanitation and
Information Technology projects in that country.
* My visit to Kenya will be broadly on the lines of the visit to
Mozambique. Apart from the Goan and other Indian communities, I shall be
meeting the Foreign Minister and some other Ministers of the Kenyan
Government. Kenya held General Elections recently and a new Cabinet was
sworn in earlier this month.
* A large number of persons of Indian origin including Goans, such as the
legendary Pio da Gama Pinto and Joseph Zuzarte Murumbi participated in Kenya's
struggle for Independence. At present, there are about one lakh people of
Indian origin and Indian nationals in Kenya. They play a vital role in
commerce and industry. The Goan community which used to have a fairly
sizeable presence in that country has shrunk to about 500 families. Goans
are mainly in the banking and IT sector. Some are also in business. Like
other people of Indian origin, a large number of them emigrated mainly to
the U.K., US and Canada and acquired British, American or Canadian
nationality or passports. The Goan Gymkhana in Nairobi was established in
1936.
* Students from Kenya come to India regularly for higher education. India
offers 30-40 seats every year in Indian Universities to Kenyan students
since 1964. Under the ICCR scholarship scheme, 15 scholarships for
undergraduate, graduate and research studies are awarded each year. Kenyan
Defence personnel have also been attending senior level Defence training
programmes in India.
* Kenya is a major exporter of agricultural and horticultural products and
there is good scope for cooperation in setting up agro processing industries
in that country. Kenya's tea industry is the world's third largest after
India and Sri Lanka and there is great potential for exports of tea
machinery to Kenya.
(ends)
[Goanet] THE CHALLENGE OF DIVERSITY
Cultural diversity is a fact of modern life and it exists now in practically all countries of the world. In addition to conventional elements such as race, religion and language, cultural diversity is accentuated by new factors including globalization, the breakdown of the traditional moral consensus, the emphasis on individual choice regarding issues like the place of religion in public life, family discipline, relations between parents and children and other aspects of life today. Cultural diversity is at the root of most conflicts, tensions and uncertainties in the contemporary world. Some have attributed the present international insecurity to the Clash of Civilizations whilst others advocate dialogue of religions and cultures to prevent such conflicts and bitterness. In 2001, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations and the Unesco endorsed the International Declaration on Cultural Diversity. A common assumption inspires both covenants. A multicultural society needs to find ways and means to accommodate diversity without loosing its cohesiveness and unity. Two approaches are rejected. Assimilation which requires minorities to abandon their own distinctive institutions, cultures and values to merge into the prevailing culture is to be avoided. This way is sociologically unlikely to succeed and is morally untenable in view of people's deep adherence to normative values such as religion. Similarly, unbounded multiculturalism which entails giving up the concept of shared values and identity in order to privilege ethnic and religious differences presuming that a nation can be replaced by a number of diverse minorities is unacceptable. Such a course of action usually results in undemocratic backlash, support for extremist parties, populist leaders and anti-minority policies. It is morally unjustified as it does not accept the values and institutions upheld by society at large. Regions that break away from democratic societies hoping to achieve a larger measure of self-government are not likely to enhance self-government and may rather weaken it. Cultural pluralism values diversity and implements policies of inclusion that cater to the requirements of all groups. The sensitivities of the minorities as well as of the majority need attention. Fundamental rights and fundamental freedoms of all are to be protected. The rights of the weaker sections are particularly important in a society that respects cultural pluralism. Intercultural dialogue is necessary both at the national and at the global levels so that contentious issues are resolved amicably. The more a nation harmonizes differences at home the greater is its ability to contribute to dialogue at the international level. Stronger the cooperation and goodwill among nations lesser the need to spend huge resources on arms and military strategies. Education has a crucial role to play in providing ethical and spiritual value systems that facilitate understanding of other cultures and civilizations. The Unesco Constitution begins with the words Since wars begin in the minds of men it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed. Education ought to promote tolerance, respect for diversity and friendship among peoples and nations. Educational institutions must be provided with a learning environment which contributes to tolerance, understanding and respect for diversity. They should be protected from teachings that promote extremism, intolerance and violence. India is home to diverse languages, religions, races and lifestyles. It is a vast country where questions of unity and diversity interplay. Yet, India emerges with an excellent record at managing diversity. This makes it possible to survive as a nation and to move ahead as the largest democracy in the world. The Constitution of India ensures that all citizens have equal rights and should have an equal opportunity. In particular, the principle of secularism enshrined in our Constitution is the best method to accommodate religious diversity and could be emulated across the globe. In a multicultural society, the State cannot be identified with any religious or cultural group and it should either be neutral or even handed in its approach to all such groups. Unity in diversity is the highest possible civilizational attainment. It is made possible through respect for choice in an atmosphere of mutual trust. (The writer is a former Union Minister and presently holds a Cabinet Minister rank in the Government of Goa. This article is based on his inaugural address to the International Conference Cultural Diversity: Convergences and Divergences at the Goa University recently)
