Second interview in The Future of Goa initiative on http://www.supergoa.com/pt/read/news_future.asp?c_news=489
Goa Hitrakhan Manch: «We survive on fighting for Goa and Goans» 30/12/2004 | Constantino Hermanns Xavier
The Goa Hitrakhan Manch is a social movement for Konkani language, which seeks to defend Goas identity and historical legacy. Composed of an engaged group of volunteers and social activists, the organization has been in the forefront of many Goan causes over the last few years and is known to have a strong base of supporters all over the state, especially among the youth. This is an exclusive interview with strong views on Goas history, language, identity and future.
I met four members of the Goan social movement Hitrakhan Manch back in December 2003 in Margao, capital of the Salcete taluka. The more than three-hour long conversation focused on Konkani language, Goas historical past and identity, its youth and the future of Goa.
Present were Prashant Naik (Spokesman), Eng. Shridhar Kamat (General secretary), Prof. Poornanand Chari (Convenor) and Prof. Nityanand Naik (Executive member). In this collective interview it was mainly Prashant Naik and Shridhar Kamat who spoke, with some minor interventions of the other two. The conversation started with a long historical background on Goa, by Shridhar Kamat.
EXCERPTS:
I am a non-practicing Hindu, we have here with us a practicing Catholic, but though the religion is different, concerning our way of living and our way of thinking, it is the same. This we have inherited from our forefathers. This is the identity or culture of Goa.
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Then the Court of Inquisition was established in India, which existed for centuries already in Europe. But today it is very wrongly seen as an institution for the trial of Hindus.
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Somewhere in the late 17th century the Church started to translated the Gospel and Bible and other religious writings into Konkani. Until then they had destroyed a lot of Konkani literature.
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there was always a suspicion in the mind of the Hindu people as far as the role of the Church is concerned. That suspicion is still there today. So what we found today is that the Marathi lobby, which appeared after Liberation, started to say that Konkani is Cristao or upper cast.
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Scientifically projecting the growth of Goans we would have been something like 10 lakhs. Our population today is 14 lakhs. So from where have come these 4 lakhs of people? Naturally from outside Goa.
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But there is one big danger. In Goa Goans should be given an opportunity first and not only after non-Goans.
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Opportunities in Goa were so scarce in the past that people were forced to migrate. You give them proper opportunities and they will not go. The question is that there is underemployment. You are paid less than what you deserve. It is also a question of human dignity.
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We stayed back in Goa as an option. The roads are dusty, the telephones do not work properly, to get cooking gas you have to stand in a queue, agreed. But then this is of our making. You get the system you deserve.
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The sorry state is that people migrate to Canada and then they question on Internet on what is happening in Goa. But they have migrated and opted out, for another nationality and then they are questioning someone who has opted to remain and is fighting over here.
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You find people, college students, still speaking in Konkani mainly in parts of Pernem, Valpoi, Bicholim, Sanguem, Quepem and Canacona. Mainly people in the Old Conquests opt for English.
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Though I am an office bearer and general secretary of the party, principally you can call me an activist with the GHM which is paying much more service to the people of Goa and Goans than my party.
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I feel that GHM should grow as Assam Gana Sangram Parishad grew. And the ll Assam Students Union Group. That is the way it should go.
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No matter who rules we will continue fighting for the betterment of Goa and Goans. BJP Government also has been in resistance like the Congress was.
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But I want to make one point clear. We are not fanatics. GHM major slogan is Goans First. Not Goa for Goans.
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Being arrested, fighting for Goa and Goans is our option, we survive on this. At times we have remained hungry for days together.
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Why dont you contribute to this fight in a way you can? Speaking over there in Konkani. Dont give us money, start speaking in Konkani.
The Future of Goa (see also previous interview with Minister for Tourism and Sports, Mathany Saldanha): http://www.supergoa.com/pt/read/news_ultimas.asp?type=4
Suggestions and articles welcome (see webpage for details)
Constantino Xavier
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