Hei Folks, 10. Panchayat India link... check out this list ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
This is a posting in Issue 607 that is well worth a read. I would seriously recommend that you read it if you have not done so already. The spirit of the article is the basis of my gibberish that follows. Deepaloy says "I hope this starts a discussion of the merits and demerits of both systems and maybe we could then export the best practices to the rest of India for incorporation into Panchayats throughout India. Let Goa set the example." . The references are to the Communidade and the Panchayat system. My experience of these systems is cursory but I value the spirit of the author of the article. My personal experience of the Communidade was not impressive. The first was when I had to register my son at the Communidade. After a long time a Hindu clerk came to the office in my village. He wrote the name of my son and promptly asked me for what he called "emmoluments". I was not sure I understood at first but when the penny dropped I asked him to take a hike. The second time I visited Goa, I wanted to see the Communidade. Every meeting that was to be held was cancelled without any notification whatsoever. When I left goa I called the leader of the Communidade from abroad to complain. He was apologetic and very polite and promised to see me next time. It was as though I was in 'socol vado'. This sossegado attitude to public office or any office is not acceptable at any level. But that does not detract from the essence of what Deepaloy has to say about the systems. When I posted a new thread 'Goa a Lost Cause', perhaps I was being a little optimistic thinking that people would cease the opportunity to show their interest in the subject given the gripes we have about LOL 'Bhaillos' in Goa; Religious groups; Looting of Goa; Mischief of the Political Parties; Goan Culture ....... the list goes on. What response did I get. Not a sausage. Ok there was just one. When I queried the dearth of takers for the subject, I was informed that what interested the people most was chasing up their passports. LOL. I should not laugh of course. I must not forget not very long ago I too had to make sure that I did not FORGET my Passport. The 'soft' option is infinitely preferable to the 'hard' options. So I have total sympathy for those people caught up in finding an Exit strategy. What was disturbing is that the fright and flight of goans out of Goa is massive. It would beat the Dyson vacuum cleaner. No surprise that Goa is picking up indiscriminately anything with two hands and feet to fill the vacuum. I am no patriot when it comes to saving my own skin believe me:))). But for those caught with their backs to the wall, I congratulate the noble spirit of Deepaloy whose article I mentioned above. There is light at the end of the tunnel which I will go into. But I have a quote from a person who responded to my post with this sad experience "All they did was talk down to Goans, bad mouth Goans as "lazy, good for nothing, sossegado feni drinkers". Yes, sad but nevertheless laughable because there is an element of truth in it. Now take us mealymouthed goans abroad. The world is our oyster you would think. Multi car families, goans living it up in leafy suburbia, goans upwardly mobile on a freeway of class on merit, nothing to stop us now from the reaches of the upper classes, aristocracy and Royalty no less. We the more fortunate goans "lazy, good for nothing, sossegado feni drinkers" have found the elixir of our particular way of life and improved upon it. Not just feni, you name the drinks we have it smoother then feni Whisky, Bandy, Liquors, Champagne .... LOL. We are connoisseurs. Great. I wonder. We have been lucky to be fleet of foot. It could all change very very quickly. The resources of the world are not infinite. The next time the goans may not be so lucky especially if we become complacent. Goans have not seen real persecution. No we ain't seen nothing yet. But if you look at Europe, the land has seen blood bath after blood bath. Not so long ago Christian and Muslims we neighbours who partied together, played together, had fun together, had sleep overs in each others homes. They were in for a shock when religion was used to basically oust groups off the land. Serbia, Croatia, and the Balkans were aflame. The friendly neighbour became your rapist, torturer and murderer. The 'sossegado' goan with no experience of any other way of life will have to watch it and may not see things coming. They could be in for a nasty shock. Where do we go from a hot spot. Next stop the Moon or six feet under. It all happens very quickly. Now for the people in Goa, there is a different scenario. Very simply you are up against it already perhaps with no hope, no defense against real fears at your doorstep and 'Bhailos'. Your language, your faith, your culture, your land, your resources, your politics are at risk you fear. But the wind is in your favour. Take advantage of it. Have Hope and do something about it. My todo with Kevin Saldanha is that Hope is a better currency then Faith. But have a faith as an insurance policy if you have to. Goans are pragmatic when push comes to shove. India is on the card to becoming an international power house. It would be silly if the politicans of any flavour felt that they can compete on the world stage by pitting one group of their own population against the other. They will need every man to lend a hand to compete in the world. They need YOU more then you think. Goans in Goa are in a more fortunate position to any other in India I should imagine. The people of Goa are sophisticated with levels of skills that are necessary for them to be successful. I said this once to friends in the West, that it would take less then 6 months for a goan to get up to speed anywhere in the West. Goans have had a whole range of experiences. It is not just about education and religion or language. It is a whole lot complicated then that to quantify or qualify. India will need people already having the skills developed over time and the goan exposure to the West and ties to Goa will be added value. The attraction of India by the West today is not altruistic. There is a lot of geopolitics involved which we need not go into here. There can be little doubt that given the conditions the West would feel most comfortable in Goa. Indian governments past and present have been no fools particularly in the field of international politics. India has been exemplary. The goans are on to a winner with India on the rise to ascendancy providing they play their cards right. India may even encourage Christianity to bloom and blossom if only to have all the cards it needs in the pack. India is a diverse and mature civilisation and we can only hope people will act with responsibility as individuals and as a nation. Nations like people are attracted to what they can associate with. The West is comfortable with the goan. But it would be foolish for any goan to take the West at face value. Forget the 'sossegado' goan. Blink and you could be without your 'kasti' . It is fun to be out there in front and competing with the best but you have to have your wits about you. You can trust no one and mind the traitor within. We have had them too. Check your Goa Timeline. The Goans should seize every opportunity to make themselves less 'sossegado' and try to be up there at the leading edge whatever it takes them to do it. Deepaloy has the right spirit for it. India would welcome the power it gives to the elbow if the goans moved themselves forward. Goans could be actually heading for the Moon literally and not on a passport. The goans of "Goa" could be at the forefront in India's drive to international supremacy. So it can be a bright and brilliant future full of eastern promise. The 'sossegado' goan could be just a bad memory. There is no reason why your sons and daughters cannot look to a bright future given the advantages they already possess compared to the majority of Indians in India. I know it will require one to adapt. Goans abroad have had to adapt too. Just that for the Goans in Goa there will be no 'glass ceiling' to hold you back from the echelons of power. It is an opportunity for you to be writing your names in the sky. I recall coming to Goa once and I tried calling Mapuca on the phone from my home in Goa. I was unable to get through for hours. So I walked to Mapuca knowing that I could get there in a given time. We did not have a good TV at home I recall either. The next time I came to Goa, I was held up because of a problem with the airplane. Right on I was able to ring the UK using a mobile phone. We had just about started to have mobiles in the UK. They were too expensive but in Goa people were beginning to get mobiles too. Goa had closed the gap. People were watching TV using satellite dishes. My neighbour could get me the BBC news or CNN with no problem. All this progress in a matter of a few years. It does not take much to get Goa and Goans up to speed. The Goan in Goa without an Exit passport can safely hold his breath and say there is life without a passport. You see the light at the other end of the tunnel and you go for it. I recall thinking how I suffered compared to the better off. Looking back I feel I would have been poorer without the experience. It has all come enrich my life.and been in good stead though it was not fun at the time. I can tell you. And the Very Best of Luck to YOU. Gosh a pot belly and delusional drinks feels great. Best way to get a hangover is mix your drinks for the 'sossegado' goan. :))) I love that word. We are here today gone tomorrow. Damn it why not some 'sossegado' it is what makes us Goan. Cheers.
