ET TU CHURCHILL ?
By: Wilmix Wilson Mazarello
When Brutus, the most loyal and trusted lieutenant of Julius Caesar, joined
the revolt and stabbed him, Julius Caesar is said to have said in his dying
moments "Et Tu Brutus ?", meaning "You too Brutus ?".
These words came to my mind, on the 10th of October 2007, around 9 pm, when
I talked to Shri. Churchill Alemao, on phone, while he was still in Delhi.
The Executive Committee, of the "Romi Lipi Action Front" had just had an
emergency meeting and decided "enough is enough", Shri Churchill Alemao must
tell us, in clear terms, where exactly the issue of "Roman Script" stands in
the present "configuration" of politics.
The Executive Committee of the R.L.A.F, authorized me, to talk to Churchill,
and get the facts.
So I did.
This is how, more or less, how the telephonic conversation went, with Shri.
Churchill Alemao, on the 10th October 2007, around 9 pm :-
"Churchill-Bab, you had left the Congress Party in May 2007, because the
Congress Party was not accepting, the pro-people's issues, raised by you
then, right?" He said "Right".
"Now, you have joined the same Congress Party's Government, as a Cabinet
Minister, because now, they have accepted all your pro-people's issues,
right ?". Again he said "Right".
"Now, the people of Goa, who supported you, during the elections, want to
know, why has the Chief Minister, or his Party, not made any announcements
on those issues, till now. In particular, the people want to know, as to
when, the Government-sponsored "Amendment Bill to the Official Language Act"
coming up". To that, he did not reply immediately, but thought for a while
and then replied, "All my issues, have been accepted by Mr Digamber Kamat,
except the Roman Script issue".
On hearing this, I was shocked beyond words. I could not believe, that
Churchill Alemao, in whom the people of Goa had so much faith, had said
these words.
Some how, I gathered myself and asked him further, "Churchill-Bab, your
pro-people's issue of Roman Script was not accepted by Mr Digamber Kamat,
and you still decided to support, the same Government, you've been
criticizing, all this while ?". To that he started fumbling for words " You
see....., as soon as I am back in Goa I'll take you all, to Mr. Digamber
Kamat. Then we'll talk".
To that I told him "It's alright, we have nothing to talk about, with Mr
Digamber Kamat. We have already talked to him, on several occasions and we
know, what his thinking is, on the issue. If at all, we needed to talk to
anyone, it was you, because it was you and your Party, that made the
commitment, to the people of Goa, and not Mr Digamber Kamat. Now, that we
have already, received your reply, we will inform the people, where exactly
the Roman Script "issue" stands, on your list of priorities. Thank you very
much."
At this particular moment, this thought of "Et Tu Churchill ?" came to my
mind.
After that, Mr Churchill Alemao said a lot more things, which I cannot
repeat here.
But the information, which all his recent supporters, were anxiously wanting
to know, was received, ie. "Churchill Alemao had joined the Digamber Kamat's
Government, without getting any assurance from him, on the "issue" of Roman
Script."
Although, this thought of "Et Tu Churchill?" came to my mind, it did not
have the same depth of "feelings" as in "Et Tu Brutus ?" of Julius Caesar.
This must be, because for the "Roman Script' users of Goa, this is nothing
new. We have been let down, by many Politicians, many times, in the past.
Historically, at no time has "truth", ever won any battle immediately,
because "Truth" anywhere and anytime, has maximum "enemies"
We wish to assure the people of Goa, that "nothing is lost". At the most, an
"opportunity" is lost.
Ours, is a People's movement. People always, keep on seeking support of
politicians, from time to time, for their "movement", but never ever, fully
depend on them.
It is true, that we too, supported the newly-formed "Save Goa Front", during
the Assembly Elections of June 2007. We had a reason, to support them,
because, that was the only "Political Party" then, that openly declared,
their support to amend the "Official Language Act " to give recognition, to
the Roman Script, in their "Election Manifesto".
It is another matter now, that they do not feel the need to use it, to
bargain, for a "Cabinet-Berth".
We, in the "Romi Lipi Action Front" and all our supporters, firmly believe,
that we are with the "truth", and nothing can shake that "belief". Truth
always wins. Politicians may delay that "victory", but they cannot "deny"
it.
Let, "Et Tu Churchill ?" be a lesson for us, in our march to gain official
recognition to our beloved "Roman Script".
Wilmix Wilson Mazarello
(Convenor, Romi Lipi Action Front)
