There seems to be a fresh gust of interest in the Raintrees [botanically Enterolobium saman or , earlier, Samania saman] that line the road named after the one and only popular Chief Minister of Goa, Bhausaheb Dayanand B.Bandodkar, whose 94th birth anniversary was celebrated today.
Thirty seven of these trees were sentenced to death in March 2002 to make way for the four-laning. The Botanical Society of Goa had joined the protest, then led by People's Movement for Civic Action [PMCA], and done all the home work on the tree. If most of the trees are still standing today, it is in no small measure attributable to the delegation of BSG [comprising of Dr.H.Y Karapurkar, Dr. A.G.Untawale and yours sincerley] that called on the then Chief Minister in transition, Manohar Parrikar , at the Secretariat. It was we who rebutted his claim that the Raintrees were soft-wooded [phoosfushith lankdachim] trees like the drumstick tree and were likely to fall during stormy weather. We had the data and the refence texts in hand. Part of the information had also been published in the PANJIM PLUS tabloid, with which I was then associated. I do not know if other protesters had done such homework and taken the issue to the lion's den, as it were.
The "Last Gasp", the tail piece of Bevinda Collaco incognito as " Whistle Blower" column entitled "With a Pinch of salt" in the oHERALDo of Sunday,12 March,2005, therefore, makes interesting reading. She writes," The majestic old trees on D.B.Marg,Miramar, are shivering with fear. They heard that the Botanical Society of Goa is back to look at them and give them some attention to keep them healthy. Remember the horror pictures we saw of those big old trees with their roots exposed or chopped? "
Like her new mentor and friend, Flaviano Dias of the seedy VCD fame [ both of which the Editor of oHERALDo has criticised in his column "Musings" on the same page as the Whistle Blower's sarcastic piece!], Bevinda needs a few lessons in Geography. He sent Ho Chi Minh from Vietnam to Indonesia, Bevinda puts the now controversial Raintrees of Campal into Miramar. Babi,Shabi poca differenca!
Perhaps, Bevinda's real target is me and not the BSG. Afterall, it was I who pointed out that her "Cristao" Braganca Cunha was actually christened "Tristao" by his parents. Flaviano's harping on his [TB Cunha's] burial in the Scottish cemetery does not change his name. Instead of whistling in the dark, it may be nice if Bevinda came out in the field[ Sheth] and blew her whistle. As they say in Konkani, be frank and say SMP....Shethar marr pillukh.
In the meanwhile, one would do well to read what Cecil Pinto has to say about the self-same Raintrees in his "Tongue-in-Cheek" article entitled "Operation Self-destruction" in the GOA TODAY March 2005 issue on page 56.Bevinda could also interview the residents of La Campala, Sand Dunes and other colonies and the private bungalows along the D.B. Marg and the councillors for the wards, Patricia Pinto and Ruth Surendra Furtado , to get to the heart of the story. Any literate person can write: s/he does not always know the truth. Obviously, the truth has not been revealed to Bevinda. I do hope she has not turned agnostic like her saffronized mentor.
The BSG will continue to render whatever assistance it can to the Corporation of City of Panaji and other organisations/NGOs to preserve the Raintrees as it has done in the past two years. During IFFI and immediately after the event, Goa was almost under Emergency rule with no scope for democratic dialogue or participatory governance. Even the Mayor of Panaji has admitted that he does not know what is the status of works on DB Marg. Fortunately, that dispensation is no more. It had clearly exceeded its brief and the tolerance limit of its electors.
On the other issue raised by the Whistle Blower [ SMP ?], the Executive Committee of BSG [ and I have been a member of the EC for the last 9 years without break, six years as the Sectretary] and the General Body of the BSG[ and I have attended all the ten AGMs] have never discussed the traffic islands, sponsorred by Wendell Rodricks or otherwise. If someone has made a remark about the plants and mud sculptures, it will be in his/her own personal capacity. I personally doubt that a BSG member will stoop so low. It seems to me that Bevinda has a fertile imagination and a drought of truth. Wendell is doing his bit through Green Goa Works. Let Bevinda state what she is doing besides nurturing canards and half-truths. If she wants a designer outfit from Wendell, she can pay for it from what she gets to toe her line.Unless the party that offered dogs to the Governor pays her similarly in kind....and in the appropriate gender!
Viva Goa.
Miguel Braganza
