Hi Gabe and Cornel, Reading many of your posts, on the subject of Goa exiting colonialism, one could fairly state that you two have intellectually been at the two ends of the spectrum. Yet, I was amused that in today's posts of this subject, both of you appear to be in agreement!!!
I was "amused" because both ends of the spectrum agreed: On blaming Salazar and Nehru AND on the resultant deterioration of many aspects of Goan life. You both with all due respects, embody the Goan attitude - blame someone else for our plight. Neither of you blamed the native and the Diaspora Goans for failing to make the efforts to find a solution to colonial Goa. The Luso-Goans who were in power did not want to give up their "hereditary fidalgo status" and neither political group really cared for the vast majority of Goans - the lower caste and the poor upper caste - Hindu and Catholic Goans. I am dumb-founded about the Luso-Goans who now bad-mouth Salazar. Yet their own forebears and freinds, propped up the Salazar regime in Goa in the 1940-1950's. Further they aided and abetted Salazar by throwing Goan freedom fighters into jail. Like the Congress party in India, why did not the Goan senior management in government and civil life not paralyze the Goa government by non-cooperation and resignations? History moves on! The intelligent and hard-working continue to work diligently to make the best of the situation. Others sit back lamenting on the situation, like many Goans regarding the pre-1960 days and related issues. Let’s look at how other groups in India (under the same Indian / Nehru Government) handled changes. In post-independent India, was neighboring Bombay State which encompassed the present states of Maharastra and Gujarat. The Gujaratis had the economic clout and the Maharastrians in the capital of Bombay had the vote. Bombay State split on May 1, 1960– with some violence. The two parties did not sit and cry and blame others. The Gujarati mill owners and others in Bombay closed down their (old) textile mills, moved out of Bombay, and built brand new state-of-the-art mills in Ahmedabad. They soon regained their distinction and exceeded their status and profits challenging even their former masters (Britain) and USA. The Maharastrians worked hard to develop their state and Mumbai into the fastest growing and most dynamic (financial and cultural) city in the world. Forty years later, neither side are into “whose fault it was.” Yet Goan intelligentsia, especially in the diaspora still find the topic of “1961” and related issues including Opinion Poll, very self-rewarding mentally and as a boost to our egos. Today, there is very little to show for it other that some social celebrations. And we call ourselves capable of enlightened self-government. Or is it more likely day-dreaming? :=)) I am sure both of you very intelligent guys realize this is a commentary on Goans in general and not on either of you in particular. Kind Regards, GL
