Raj(an) Parrikar, I think you're missing the point... or choosing not to see it.
DNA testing isn't new. But thanks to VM's post on Goa-Research-Net, this indeed is the first test I've seen with all its details, elaborating on where the ancestors of a specific Goan have come from. Despite all the erudition of its proponents, I do believe this long-term perspective on human migration punctures the anti-migrant sentiment being whipped up these days, as if in-migration is something very new to Goa. Please tell me if you know of the DNA testing results of any other Goa-based ethnic groups, and what lessons one can learn from these. I suspect those who have been shouting the loudest are among the "most non-Goan". Specially when one takes into account the manner in which earlier Goan populations have been marginalised and colonialised. For instance, the aboriginal population here, of Gawadas, Kunbis, Velips and Dhangars. I would be interested to know what your own DNA tests show, Rajan, since as you say the tests have been commercially available in America for at least two years now. As for myself, I don't wear my Goanity on my sleeve, know that my ancestors came in from somewhere (though not Udupi unfortunately!), and don't think of ethnicity as an incurable fault-line that is bound to always divide people. So I wouldn't be surprised to find a thoroughly mixed gene pool in my DNA, from across continents, races and regions. As for the migration into Goa, I don't see it as the bogey you see, though it does throw up some issues. To me, the bigger challenges are not just targetting the fire at some hapless "ghanti", but making the ruling class of Goa (not just its politicians, but even the permanent government, chambers of commerce, professionals, middle-classes, etc) answerable for the pattern of anti-people economic growth it chooses. To ensure that the migrant can assimilate into the host population as others have done over millenia in Goa, and as we hope Goans will do in their own countries of adoption. To ensure that the migrant has a stake in the local society, so that he or she is not easily used as a cats-paw (as the politician is wont to do) against the local population.To tap the best skills of the migrants settling here, even as our own Rajan Parrikars and co opt to go Westwards for the better life. And to create sufficient infrastructure so that we don't have to fight each other for access to education and healthcare... just as neighbouring states have managed in places where Goans have flocked to for generations (whether Bombay or Bangalore). Just my point of view... FN > Gee, FN, your excitement is like that of a caveman who just > discovered fire. This test for DNA has been commercially > available in America for at least 2 years now. As recently > as Nov 2007, I made a reference to it here on Goanet. You > haven't been reading your homework assignments carefully > enough. Reread it here - -- Frederick Noronha http://fn.goa-india.org Ph +91-832-2409490 The Goa books blog: http://goabooks.wordpress.com Goa1556 (alt.publishing.goa): http://goa1556.goa-india.org
