So far there has been no answer to my query as to who, besides Frank Moraes, were Goans who reached the "very top." in Times of India. Remember, the essay in the book, Bombaicar, said many Goan reporters at The Times of India married daughter of "Bombay aunties." Remember about the part where a section of Toronto women were shown in bad light. Since these sort of statements goes with being challenged, it shows that the majority don't care. When the Toronto women piece came, one ex-Africander who has been very active in the GOA asked me who the writer was and said that if he knew him he would give him hell. Some women who spoke to me also seemed very angry and wanted to know what if the writer has done any meaningful or academic research. The mailing lists and FB pages are there to voice one's opinions, however good or bad the opinions are. Just one poster on FB said that I was "shithead" and "rogue journalist" because of my contrary views to his and his ilk on the Liberation/Annexation debate. The person is from the group, which I have termed "pervasive class of Goans", who are blatantly pro-Portuguese and rabid anti-Indian. These people have the favourite website which promotes anti-Indian hatred. Today's piece my Adv. Radharao Gracias, who is also member of Goanet, questions calling oneself "Indian first and Goan later." Many non-Indians ask Indian-looking if they are Indians and rarely they ask if you are Maharashtrian or Goan. Radharao admits that India was one as a landmass in pre-historical times. The Portuguese interlude was just another period in Goa's history, which he has elaborated. The debate of Liberation/Annexation is good for academic analyses of Goa's historiography. Now that I am Canadian citizen, I say I am Canadian of Indian-origin. When asked further to define my identity I say I am Goan but Bombay-born and Bombay-educated. I am, however, an Overseas Citizen of India, and carry the OCI with me when I travel. No point in splitting legal hair over the issue. This issue now belongs in the domain of International Jurisprudence. Raddharao's UDGP has now been pushed to the fringe of Goan political landscape, while Floriano Lobo's GSRP has been hovering on the political horizen for about 14 years. Time to shed off this mentality, and play constuctive role in making Goa a new society. A generation of Goans have come and almost gone, and a newer one is rising.
Eugene Correia