Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660
Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/
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------------------------------- Distortion of History ------------------------------- This is with reference to the editorial dated December 22 on your daily. I am glad to see that you have commented editorially on the interference in our educational system by the Government of Goa.
The recent distribution of a VCD to all the schools in Goa purporting to contain information about the liberation of Goa is a gross misuse of authority by the Department of Education. The very fact that it has "ordered" the film to be shown in all the schools, and that it has asked each school to submit a "compliance report" is reprehensible.
The Department of Education does not have any right to compel any school to show any film produced or sponsored by it. The film itself is a rather crude attempt to sow dissension among the different religious communities in Goa.
It begins by (falsely) depicting colonialism as an attempt by the Portuguese to impose Christianity on the local people. By implication, the film asserts that the fight against colonialism was (and is) a fight against Christianity. This is a gross distortion of history.
The British, the Dutch and even the Danes attempted to conquer India primarily for economic reasons. That they were Christians is only incidental to their main purpose.
Colonialism is rightly considered to be unjust, and the fight against colonialism was necessary; but to equate political colonialism with religious oppression is to falsify the true nature of colonialism.
The film, however, is not an objective historical depiction of the freedom movement. It is a crude, ham-handed propaganda tool which attempts to poison the minds of our children and create in them communal hatred and intolerance.
The attempt of the Department of Education to force-feed the schools with this propaganda material needs to be strongly condemned. I do hope that the school authorities will refuse to show this film in their institutions.
Averthanus L. D'Souza, Dona Paula in a letter to the Editor ---------------------------------- HERALD 23/12/04 page 6 ---------------------------------- ======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy =======================================
