GOAN SOLIDARITY FOR CHANGE It is certainly an interesting development
When three well-known Goans publicly vent Their dissatisfaction about what has taken place In Goa recently and thus have tried to lay the base For a reversal of the evils that we face at present. But strangely, few have sat up and taken any special note Of what they've said, much less cast in their favour a vote Of confidence, or offered to join this cause Or offered it, in principle, any kind of applause. Does this a manifestation of the *sucegad *mentality denote? Or is it once again, the usual Goan failing of looking askance At any proposal that might another's prestige enhance? Are we still so blindly self-centred and egocentric That what someone else has proposed is dubbed eccentric, And even if sound, is not something we should advance. Consider this: here are three respected people, with no axe to grind, Who have taken the lead, being of the same thinking and mind. What earthly benefit can they derive By going out of their way to strive To take time off, a solution for Goa's ills to find? One would have thought that here were the seeds of a popular movement Against the universally detested Goan politicians that would have meant Their waking up to their responsibility, And acting with a measure of agility, To mend their ways, and if not, be isolated from the population they supposedly represent. There is still time for those in the community respected To do for Goa what is of them desired and expected - Stop sitting complacently on the sidelines, And take up the cudgels against the designs Of those who are, hand in glove, with those elected. May be the new forum should have only five points as a plan Of action, of what should and reasonably can Be put in place, As a kind of base, And be acceptable as counsel from some wise man. Then those who for Goa really care Will be able to clearly and openly share Their sentiments, while those silent Will have tacitly shown their intent And cannot then complain in despair. So if anyone is to take with any seriousness Our resentment against the present mess Then now is the time For us to get rid of the slime By responding to the forum with a resounding YES. - Shanti Dhoot RE: Message: 1; 31 May 2008 From: "Gabe Menezes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: New forum formed to save Goa Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> MARGAO Prominent Goan personalities, including noted fashion designer, Wendell Rodricks, noted singer, Hema Sardessai, historian Prajal Sakhardande and others, on the occasion of the 21st state day celebrations, once again urged Goans to be united and save Goa and its identity. They were speaking at the inauguration of a new forum, Goan Solidarity for Change (GSC), at Cota, Chandor. The forum is a global platform to unite all Goans and non-resident Goans to engineer a change, make a fresh start and transform Goa as India's most decent and non-corrupt state. The delegates also signed on the Chandor Panchsheela and a 56-point action plan, whose demand is that the Centre should grant Goa, special status on the lines of Himachal Pradesh to ensure that land is not sold to non-Goans. They are also demanding constitutional safeguards for the communidade and that they should be declared as national heritage of India. Besides, the forum also demands that Goans and non-resident Goans be given the first preference with respect to employment and enjoying other benefits in the state and no second term be given to elected representatives including at the village level, to eliminate political dynasties besides revoking of voting rights for non-Goans and migrants who are in Goa for 10 years or lesser period. Speaking on the occasion, Rodricks said he is proud to be a Goan and Goa is a special place and that all Goans should be proud of their land. He said that if Goans do not rise up, the state could soon turn into another Croatia, where identity of the original Croatians has been done away with, by other cultures. He said that if Goans are united, a change can take place and vowed to fight for the cause of Goa. Expressing similar sentiments, Hema Sardessai said that true Goa lies in the villages. She said villages should not be commercialised in the name of tourism and development. Speaking further, she said we have spoken enough and now it is time to do something to save the Goan identity and urged the people to keep their differences aside and unite to save Goa. Sardessai said she is not against tourism as tourists visit Goa to appreciate its beauty while on the other hand, the land sharks come here with the intension of destroying the state. The general secretary of GSC, Mr Manuel Caldeira said that the politicians are to be blamed for selling Goa to the land sharks and for unemployment among the Goan youth and other social problems. The president of the newly formed forum, Mr Luel Fernandes, and Mr Sakhardande also spoke on the occasion. http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=053157
