------------------------------------------------------- CONVENTION OF THE GOAN DIASPORA FROM GOA INTO THE WORLD Lisbon, Portugal June 15-17, 2007 Details at: http://www.goacom.org/casa-de-goa/noticias.html -------------------------------------------------------
http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=05068 What Unites Us By Chandrakant Keni We the people of Goa are proud to call ourselves Goans. What is the identity of a Goan? Opinions may differ, but none can deny that a Goan is one who lives in Goa. Others may say that one who is born and brought up in Goa and continues to live in Goa is a Goan, although he may go outside Goa seeking employment or in search of a career. Then there are those who can be called people of Goan origin. They have left Goa for some valid reason or otherwise and settled elsewhere either within the country or outside. For all legal purposes they are citizens of the region in which they are gradually strengthening their roots. There are those who have left the shores of India and have opted for the citizenship of the country in which they have settled and still call themselves Goans. They, at the most, can be called people of Goan origin or descendants of the people of Goan origin. A generation may remember that their ancestors belonged to Goa. Subsequently they will become part and parcel of the country in which they live. Then there are Goans who have their roots outside Goa but have settled in Goa for more than fifteen years to earn their livelihood or to carry on trade and business. Not all of them have attachment for Goa but still legally they are Goans and are voters of the state. We should take cognizance of the fact that there are other categories of Goans who are attached much more intensely to the land and people of Goa and have emotional or blood relationship with Goans but they do not have the voting rights in Goa. Again there are people of Goan origin who migrated to other distant places in order to safeguard their dignity and honour in the wake of foreign aggression. These people have settled all over the western coast of India have attachment for Goa, which they consider as the land of their ancestors and family deities. How will you distinguish a true Goan and a casual Goan? The land of Goa and its sons and daughters are passing through a very critical phase of their history. Having gone through ordeals of the worst type during the five centuries of colonial rule, liberty and freedom with dignity and an opportunity to shape its own future dawned on Goa. But our people were not competent enough to shoulder the responsibility or exercise the rights given by democracy. We wasted all our rights and privileges by engaging ourselves into petty quarrels and non-relevant controversies, which we resolved subsequently at a very heavy price. We fought for statehood without knowing what it meant and what its implications would be. It has proved to be the handing over of a burning torch into the immature hands of selfish politicians who have scant respect for the electorate, which elevated them to the seat of power. They are playing the same old tricks of dividing people and ruling over them. The division is based on communal or religion grounds, which generates venom and poisons the society. We are getting so intoxicated that we take side of communal and sectarian forces forgetting our heritage. It is against this background that Goa is going to the polls shortly to elect a new Assembly. Elections are welcome not only because the term of the House is complete; but mainly because the outgoing House is destined to go down in history as one, which hanged in public squares the morality and democracy, the rule of law and norms of decency. It was high time that somebody intervened to save the grace and the face of Goa. But all our elders and preachers have become so callous that they do not think it necessary to intervene and cry a halt to moral, social and legal degradation. Where we were in 1961 and where we have reached today is a matter for introspection in which nobody appears to be interested. From the position of pride, Goa has been relegated to the position of shame and we ourselves are to be blamed for this degradation and the decay in moral and legal values, which our ancestors had zealously evolved and preserved. Do we owe anything to our ancestors? He who gives an answer in the affirmative should at least initiate steps in the right direction to wipe off the tears from the eyes of the motherland and restore it to its position of pride and respect. Election is an opportunity to correct past mistakes. We need not get ourselves engaged in debates and discussions or in chasing controversies, which are non-relevant and non-existing. The simple criteria should be to strengthen the bonds that unite the people of Goa, irrespective of their caste, religion, creed or political affiliation. The only bond that cements the unity of minds and hearts of Goans is the soil of Goa. Let us unite and save the soil of Goa forgetting personal considerations or party prospects. That is the only way to isolate the ever-increasing menace of those who have neither their roots nor hearts in Goa. -- DEV BOREM KORUM. Gabe Menezes. London, England ------------------------------------------------------- Goanet recommends, and is proud to be associated with, 'Domnic's Goa' - A nostalgic romp through a bygone era. This book is the perfect gift for any Goan, or anyone wanting to understand Goa. Distributed locally by Broadway, near Caculo Island, Panjim & internationally by OtherIndiaBookStore.Com. For trade enquiries contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------------------------------------
