No N R G Energy by V. M. de Malar Nobody cares, but the Gomant Vishwa Sammelan starts today. Although there are thousands of Non-Resident Goans back in our homeland for the holidays, the organizers of this convention expect a turnout of less than 300; it's a waste of time even before it starts, a pathetic non-event where nothing significant is planned or expected.
This is all particularly disgraceful because there's never been a more opportune moment for the spectacularly diverse Non-Resident Goan diaspora to come together. Political and cultural divisions of the past are fading into insignificance, the colonial hangover that tainted previous decades has worn off, India is unstoppably resurgent and Goa's never had more allure. Plus, we need our diaspora now, at this time of great change and rapid transition, it's what Americans call a no-brainer, an obvious logical move. Alas, the administration is another kind of no-brainer, a shortsighted, deeply incompetent, often mindless, set of the usual suspects that never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Thus, we get this meaningless damp squib instead of productive dialogue between non-residents and the administration, this shabby and half-baked affair that's completely ignored by the thousands of successful expatriates who are here at this time of year. Yes, it's a real joke, but this year it doesn't feel funny. Numerically speaking, we Goans are almost insignificant, and at least half our number lives outside the state. When the polity, and the so-called leadership, willfully disconnects the state's administration from the expatriates, when a million non-resident voices are effectively silenced, the kleptocrats create a vacuum in which they can operate with a kind of real impunity, they can get away with virtually anything because local opposition can be bulldozed away, because they're persuaded that no one is paying attention. Activists always warn that silence can equal death. In 2006, the deafening silence from expatriates means the steady death of Goa as we know it, the Goa we cherish, the marvellous environmental, cultural, architectural legacies that our ancestors safeguarded through the centuries. We stand at the cusp of total degradation via tourism onslaught and illegal land conversion; the predatory forces have never been stronger or better organized. We need to rally together to defend the character of our blessed, unique, little homeland. And so we need our expatriates like never before, we need their support and strength in numbers, we need them to stay connected and informed as we face the coming threat. Diasporas can bear tremendous fruit, witness the economic miracle financed and engineered by the Chinese diaspora, or the meaningful role played by the scattered and disparate Jewish community in Israel. Here in India, the IT marvels of Bangalore are directly tied to the gains made by software engineers in California, and we're seeing a steady homeward flow of NRI's to the big cities as India's economic picture becomes more and more attractive. In Goa, too, we've undergone a kind of mini-renaissance when the Africa hands trouped home in the 70's, and that phenomenon could repeat itself. But, obviously, we can't rely on our political class to understand, appreciate, or foster much-needed and essential dialogue and interaction. For one thing, we've to accept that we have an exceptionally shortsighted and incompetent bunch and we can't seem to rid ourselves of them. For another, they're amazingly incapable, but they're not stupid; they're well aware of the advantages in a silent, seemingly acquiescent, diaspora. It's what allows them to try and bulldoze the Assagao hillock via stealth and bribery, it's what allows them to try and sneak in a horrifying Ordinance that concentrates far too much planning power in the most unreliable hands in the state, it's what allows them to siphon a constant stream of funds from insanely grandiose projects like inappropriate monorails and unnecessary convention centres. Here too, our system is broken, and here too we face a disaster unless we fix it ourselves. Forget the pathetic show that's starting today, we've got to find a working alternative to make every expatriate voice count because we need every ounce of diaspora muscle we can muster to face the coming challenge. Silence will equal death, failure will result in abject surrender, our blessed Goa's fate hangs in the balance. --------------------------------------------------------------------- VM is an early Goanetter, who put his money where his mouth is and returned to do something in Goa, while in his 'thirties. GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays, reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of mailing lists. If you appreciated the thoughts expressed above, please send in your feedback to the writer. Our writers write -- or share what they have written -- pro bono, and deserve hearing back from those who appreciate their work. GoanetReader welcomes your feedback at goanet@goanet.org --------------------------------------------------------------------- Goanet, founded 1994. Building community, creating social capital. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Take back & distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------