Canada's total economy is based on migrants and is equally true with most nations to some extent. This may not apply to whole of India but does apply to Goa because of the massive unplanned construction activity that's going on. With this background let me move on to some prevailing actualities' in Goa. Today Goa is no longer a land of rich green, nor remained as sun-kissed land or as heaven with golden beaches. This is more because of our politicians. They looted and plundered our Goa out right and yet some Goans are still backing these politicians! Why? They don't even now the right answer! Strange but factual..not hearsay!!
With this actuality, let's see what our Goan history has to tell us! Since my childhood I have been hearing three words very prominently uttered by my father, grand father and even great grand father. These three words are heard from these persons even by my first daughter in Shivani who has last year passed out her engineering degree in Information Technology with honors. These three words are "Ghatis"; "Hippies" & "Negros". Since time immemorial Goans have described non-Goans as "Ghatis", specially the dark-skinned south Indians (the word Ghatis actually probably refers to the inhabitants of the Ghats). Since than till date Ghatis are always considered second class citizens by the regular Goans; though they are now more grudgingly accepted as a part of the scene because of various other reasons. But no right thinking Goan till date willingly would marry Ghatis nor will arrange a marriage of their children with Ghatis. Similar is the case with the word Hippies. Goans would call all white skinned foreigners as Hippies and foreigners with black skin were called Negros. Undisputedly this is the reality prevailing in Goa from time immemorial on these three words. Goans were equally caught in a mental fix those days to rate these persons! Hippies were placed as high class personalities, followed by Negros, and Ghatis were forced to look as third rate citizens. This was more because of fascination with white skin (mostly nude), obviously brought about by the Portuguese rule of 450 years (the longest in India of any Western power), during which the local Goans (non-whites) were apparently treated as second class citizens in Goa itself!! Travel anywhere in India, you will hear horror stories of how they - UPites, Delhites, Mumbaites, APites, Madrasis, et all - were humiliated on the beach in Goa in the past. They always complained that Goan locals shooing them away from the areas where foreigners were sun bathing, at times nude or topless, although the beach is a public place. This is still going on on some beaches like curious case of racial discrimination, probably brought about by the forceful manner of Goa's integration (liberation) into the Indian union, and the fond memories of the Portuguese by a generation of Goans. However, nothing has deterred the non-Goan Indian from coming to Goa, just to sightsee or to settle down here, work in the tourism industry, etc. The "Ghatis" are now ubiquitous; here, there and everywhere. After all, they are saying, it is also their country! And for very sure our politicians are welcoming them with open arms only to increase their bank balance in VOTE BANK!! Only difference is that the word Ghatis has been now redefined to cover vast influx of non-Goans in Goa. Now-a-days you find Goans calling educated non-Goans as migrants and to non-educated non-Goans as laborers and to this laborers will still continue calling them Ghatis! A strange thing is most likely to happen in Goa very soon is that Goans in Goa would seem to be out of sync with the prevailing reality in Goa? Knowing this very well our stupid Goans are up in arms with fellow Goan even when there is no issue.....we know our issue is different ..but we still prefer to scratch where it is not required!!! If we don't stop this attitude non-Goans will call Goans Ghatis like second rate citizens as we were called during Portuguese regime that too in our own independent mother land Goa. Can any true resident Goan tolerate this? I don't think even non resident Goan will ever like this to happen with our fellow Goans. Best regards, Dr. U. G. Barad
