Response to Ana Maria de Souza-Goswami: At first, I am empathetic to Ana Maria's reaction. I feel the same when I see / hear someone blow-up Rs 5,000.00 on an expensive bottle of wine. Yet my perspective will be different if I were making or selling that wine. This brings me to the need to look at the larger picture, than our narrow perspective and interest.
Ana Maria's reaction (as a Goan) to visitors / tourists coming to Goa and blowing up Rs. 50,000 on a 1-2 night junket is disappointing. Would it be better if those tourists not come at all? Or come and spend the same amount of money staying in Goa for a month? How would the latter situation work out for their contribution to the Goan economy and drain on her resources? My guess is that social parties involving Delhiwallas would involve business and political networking. So I am disappointed that a well-traveled and educated Goan like Ana Maria did not take advantage of their presence in Goa, and tell us about the networking. I hope she welcomed these busy-bodies, empathized with them about their ultra-short stay and invited them to come back again. Hope Ana Maria encouraged them to make-up for their short stay by taking back to Delhi a lot of Goan bibique etc. and at least a six-month supply of feni, not to mention other Goan gifts for their relatives and friends. The above would be better rather than writing about the Goan kashti. Is that what her take-home message was from the party? I compliment the Delhiites for rushing home back to work, after a day or two of partying. Now I know why the country is doing so well. Would we want them to just lol around in Goa on the beach? And then criticize them for that too? I think these Delhiwallas should be thanked for choosing Goa for the short vacation. They could have gone to many other tourists spots in India and aboard. As far as their flying visit to Goa, they should be emulated for their dedication to their work. By visiting Goa and spending their money there, the ripple effect permits their money to reach the very people Ana Maria would like to see the money go --- and they will be our bhaus and bhoinims in Goa. Kind Regards, GL
