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The Rape of Goa - A photo documentary
by
Rajan P. Parrikar
Venue: Menezes Braganza Art Gallery, Panjim, May 21-24, 2008
http://www.parrikar.org/misc/doc-notice.pdf
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The Rape Of Goa
by Naguesh Sardessai
Rajan Parrikar, US based electrical engineer, has his heart and soul firmly
entrenched in his motherland - Goa. It is very rare to see this love and
concern taken to such feisty level by expatriate.
The activist in Rajan is making a mark with a camera in hand and a soft
heart for company. After his hugely successful exhibitions, titled "Goa On
The Brink: A Photo Exhibition" which exposed the massive and irreversible
damage inflicted on the pristine landscape, culture and enviable lifestyle
of this tiny state, and "Goa - An Intimate Portrait" that captured the
pleasant side, Rajan has come up with "The Rape Of Goa" a heart wrenching
and informative photo-documentary showing at the Institute Menezes Braganza,
Panaji .
A must see for all the Goans, this documentary enlightens the lay people
about the level at which the rot has percolated and the looming of ominous
signs.
The exhibition, which is divided into seven sections curiously called
chapters, begins with the introductory pictures taking the viewers on a
joyful ride of unadulterated Goa. The grotesque face of Goa begins with the
pictures of construction sites in Tiswadi and Bardez talukas. The humongous
concrete structures, standing tall, send chill down the spine.
Then enters the mining and the proposed SEZ sites. Followed by exposure of
decay in human values due to massive cultural influx of petty credentials.
The drug abuse, import of migrants, proliferating slums, carelessly strewn
garbage, human trafficking and excessive tourism all form the part of this
chapter which should make any Goan squirm in their easy chair.
The last chapter titled "Selling Of Goa" - "Does Goa Belong To Goans
Anymore"? Shows few traditional Goan farmers and aged citizens stranded
between the devil and the deep sea.
The documentary concludes by asking the viewers a pertinent question: "Where
do we go from here?" Do we let all this sink us? Or do we, Goans, wake up to
a new morning, join hands, and defend our homeland? The photo-documentary
will be on till May 24.
http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=052354
