Both Floriano Lobo and Cecil Pinto have differing
views towards a common goal of amity and love for
nature and progressive thinking with regard to IFFI
project, while keeping in mind the development seen
properly DONE in 'other places' other than Amchem Goa.
Towards this end, let's ponder on the following:
Kuwait, 11th May 2004
The Lord came to Noah (a contender for
www.goa-world.com team) in Amchem Goa on 11th May
2004...
Same story: Earth was wicked, evil..... (we have some
'evil' like minded Goans here too)..... Noah was to
rebuild the ark and save two of every living thing,
along with a few good humans (not the bald and bearded
- special conditions apply).
"Here's the blueprint," said the Lord. "Hurry - in six
months I start the unending rain. Heard that Goa's CM
Manohar Parrikar is after his IFFI project a la Cannes
to turn Goa into a paradise against a minority of far
thinking Goans' will. I have had patience for too
long, the elections came, voters gave their opinion on
their beloved leaders, and now...... elections results
in two days...... Again I have to keep a watch on the
same Party.....Well, this time things might be
different ".
Six months later, the rain came down. The Lord saw
Noah weeping in his 'bolcao' - and no ark in his
'porsant' (backyard). "Noah," He roared, "where is My
ark?"
"Forgive me, Lord," begged Noah. "Things have changed.
I needed a building permit from the Panaji Municipal
Council. Although my ration card says that I hail
from the suburb village, Taliganv, I have PMC's rules
to follow. My Panchayat has befallen into the hands
of the PMC guys. I've been arguing with the
inspectors about the need for running water or a tube
well. The local well has no water due to no rains.
The wood, fixtures and tools prices have gone high, it
was election period, my Lord. All such material and
carpenters were in short supply. Used by all bold as
well as the beautiful, ugly, tall and short candidates
to display their banners and slogans.
My neighbors claimed I violated the neighborhood
zoning by building the ark in my yard. We had to go
together upteem times to the PDA and Town Planning for
a decision. The next hearing date is a couple of
months ahead. I have a copy of the notice in my purse
still.
Getting wood was a problem. There's a ban on cutting
trees to save the spotted owl. With the TV serials and
KBKP offerings, and the fast paced Goan life, nobody
sees a living bird, forget the night owl, anymore.
Even LIPTON TEA advertisements has some chirping birds
to get your attention.
The Forest Department is after me. The present day
officials are all sons and daughters of yesteryear's
MLAs and Government servants. Some of these MLAS,
long time residents of Bombay (now Mumbai) just got
into the chairs shouting Jai Hind, Bharat mata ki
Jai.... As soon as I tried to pacify them, the
Environmentalists barged into me. I tried to convince
the environmentalists I needed the wood to save the
owls. No go.
I gathered the animals, but got sued by an Animal
Rights Group. It's unethical to keep a wild animal
around your house. Do you keep the rare species as
pets? Are you an exporter of exotic wild life, animal
skin, do you have a permit, etc.... They searched my
house and even under the bed mattress. After saving
a lot, I had a Duraform Mattress on my old creaking
three legged bed - an antigue and a family heritage
piece. Now the just hanging fourth leg is missing.
Could it be the work of the investigators? They
insisted I take no more than two of each kind of
animal and bird, after I greased them with some
'sagvatt' (presents, if you do not follow - our
Portuguese culture).
Another authority officials came .... I fail to keep
tag on the different names .... we, Konkani lovers
have to bear with it at present as they are
Sanskitized.... Vishal Gomant Parishad, Vidhya Bhawan,
Mahiti Kendr, etc... They stated that I could not
build the ark without filing an environmental impact
statement on Your proposed flood. Do you have
feasibility study, one 'vhoilo' pan chewing official
threatened me.
Funny isn't it, Lord. I obey Your commands, but get
commanded by my fellow Goans and some 'Bailea'
officers listening to the dictates of those Goan MPs
whom I have voted to go to Delhi and enjoying at the
Goa Sadan. It's the policy of high command, Lord. No
ill-feelings or demeaning towards You, Lord.
I'm still trying to resolve a complaint raised with
the Human Rights Commission and Labour Department over
how many minorities I'm supposed to hire for my
building crew. Why I did not advertise on the
reservations for SC/ST and the Velips/Kunbi and other
OBC tribes in the Herald, The Navhind Times,
Sunarparant and Gomantak. Why did I forget Rajan
Narayan's Goan Observer and ofcourse Goa's Pride,
www.goa-world.com or www.goa-world.net . The
Opposition sitting MLA came to my rescue, but soon
found out that there was NO FOREIGN hand and vanished
in thin air.
The Bailancho Avaz and Ekvott and KONKANI Sahitiya
Sonstha went to the press and stated that there
should be some quota for women too, some quota for
Konkani as Mother Tongue! Things here are petty
drastic. When the mother herself cannot understand
Konkani, how can you claim that Konkani is the
mother-tongue of the candidate. You may think that
Goans are susegad, simple folks, but the reality is
very different. If this was a critical subject and
labour oriented project, why didn't I get it on the
Goa Gazzette and translated it into Devnagri Konkani
and Hindi. Did I approach EDC for a loan? If you did
not, we see something fishy here! Oh Lord, Noah
exclaimed. Do not involve the Ramponkars Ekvott here
please? They had many years of struggle in the
recent past!
The Customs Agency has seized my assets and bank
accounts, claiming I'm trying to leave the country
illegally. The Immigration Department got a wind of
my ongoing plans, and have stated that since I am not
a graduate of the Goa University (which is still to be
recognized in some foreign lands including the Gulf),
I will not get my IMMIGRATION Clearance NOT REQUIRED
stamp on the passport. We will 'tadipar' you if you
return, a lathi welding Hawaldar outside the
Immigration Department shouted. So, forgive me,
Lord, but it would take about five years to finish
this ark and my formalities."
Suddenly, to his astonishment and surprise, the skies
cleared, the sun began to shine and a rainbow arched
across the sky.
Noah looked up in wonder. Has the IFFI inaugural
ceremony commenced with a bang.... am I dreaming.....
he rushed to his decades old GODREJ refrigerator
(which was dripping, as there was a power failure),
opened a BISLERI soda, splashed on his face, cleared
his eyes, and rushed to his bolcao once again .....
"You mean you're not going to destroy the world
because of my shortcoming?" he asked.
"No," said the Lord. "The government already has."
-- Now, Cecil Pinto, Floriano Lobo, I await for the
election results .... to continue Part Two of this
story.
Until then, the government machinery will continue....
and already has ... in the making the IFFI on the
outskirts of Panaji (Panjim, still to me).
gasper
(Abridged from Lino B. Dourado's Aitaracheo
Kaskuleancho Ghello - all rights reserved).
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