Dear Josebab,
I did expect a response from you to my post and have
not been disappointed!
To answer the points raised by you:-
<1: On what reviewable (researchable) basis did you conclude that the Vast
Majority of people in Goa were economically deprived (say in 1961)?>
I confess that my observations were based on personal
experience and knowledge, rather than on any published data,
but would maintain that they are no less valid for this reason.
The term "economically deprived" is a relative one and few will
deny that a majority of the common people ("gente do povo"), who
constituted the vast majority,were economically deprived when compared
with the minority privileged class. Many of the claims made in support
of the Portuguese regime were not borne out by the facts on the
ground. For example, in theory compulsory primary education was
supposed to be in force and there were government primary schools in
many villages. If this regulation had been observed in practice,
there should have been 100% adult literacy by 1961 and we all
know that this was hardly the case. According to my own "guesstimate",
hardly 15-20% of the common people were literate at that time.Today it
literacy stands at 82%!
<2: If the vast majority of the population was exploited,
WHO exploited them?>
Obviously the privileged class, under the patronage of the
Portuguese colonial regime.
<3: How was the exploitation reversed (if at all) after 1961.
By introducing popular rule under universal adult franchise,
empowering the underprivileged and enacting a slew of social and
economic reforms (not all of which were successful, one must admit)
<4: Would you say that for the average Goan family (without any person in the
Merchant Navy or in the Gulf/Africa/ etc) it was/is easier to make ends meet
in 1960 or in 2006?>
I can best answer this question by quoting two actual examples from
my own backyard. An ex-"mundkar" (who has bought his house and plot
plot by availing of the prevailing legislation) secured admission
to the Goa Dental College (again availing of the seat reservation for
his economic status) and is today a qualified Dental Surgeon
running two Clinics and driving two cars (more expensive than mine!)
His father was a "pastor"(shepherd) who looked after and grazed
cattle (belonging to his master) at the back of our house!
Similarly, the two sons of the illiterate "kunbi" widow who
buys our coconuts for sale in the market, have obtained the B.Com. degree
and are working as accountants. I have no doubt that there are literally
hundreds of such examples accross the State.
Good wishes.
Satyameva Jayate!
---Tony Correia-Afonso.
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