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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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HEMA AGAINST INJUSTICE IN GOA
It is thrilling to see that Goa's nightingale
Has against injustice decided to openly rail.
When someone of such repute
Refuses to remain mute,
Surely others should follow her trail.
She has protested against every glaring evil
That should cause a veritable upheaval.
It is time others who are also well known
In Goa, but are at the same time home-grown,
Should join the fight to restore our land to its status primeval.
Perhaps we will, as in the past, on such an occasion
Decide in time, our own individual equation,
Depending on which side our bread is buttered
And leave our minds to stay shuttered
Refusing to to let justice decide our persuasion.
Hema has in fact pointed out in detail, what ails our beloved land.
That should the government's immediate attention command.
Her ringing manifesto details aspects of Goan culture
Despoiled by more than one predatory vulture -
It cannot and should not be dismissed offhand.
If you think about it, Hema has had a successful career,
One in which she has been a resounding pioneer.
She gains nothing by pointing out Goa's flaws
Or in her espousing this cause
To the point of willingness to take to the streets as a volunteer.
This could well be the spark that starts a brush-fire,
That ultimately takes us out of the dismal mire
In which we now find ourselves caught.
It has left us in a mental state bordering on the distraught,
Wondering how to get to the Promised Land to which we aspire.
- Shanti Dhoot
RE:
Message: 2; 21 May 2008
From: "D'Souza, Avelino" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Goanet] Hema seeks special status for Goa
Hema seeks special status for Goa
by RAMNATH N PAI RAIKAR
PANAJI " Hema Sardesai, the sonorous voice of Goa, has advocated a
special status for Goa on the lines of Himachal Pradesh and said that
such a status would prevent purchase of lands in Goa by foreigners and
land sharks who want to make hay while sun shines on Goan lands.
If required, I am ready to come on the street in support of this demand,
she added.
The enemy of Goa can be anyone who promotes slums in the state for
developing vote banks or otherwise, she observed, adding, The enemies
can also be those who cut down the hills and bury the paddy field to
raise concrete jungles over them, those who run the drug and
paedophiliac operations in the state, especially in the coastal belts,
and those who long for Portuguese to return to Goa to restart the
colonial rule, she stated.
If the state is given a special status, then we would be able to
preserve the unique Goan culture, and showcase it before outsiders, Hema
said, predicting, Or else, every other culture will blend with the Goan
culture and our own culture would turn into a ~Bhelpuri culture.
Taking strong objection to linking tourism with indiscriminate
construction activities ongoing in Goa, the Goan singer said that these
were two different aspects.
The problem starts when the land sharks want to take advantage of the
image that has been given to Goa on the international level, Hema
observed. They should not only be banned in this state, but the people
should also interrogate the person/ persons at the government level, who
is/ are entrusted with the task of allotting areas for construction of
new houses, colonies and so on, she pointed out.
Hema also stated that the people of Goa should be officially informed by
the government through the newspaper notices about the hill cutting and
burying of paddy fields, if such acts have been given permission on the
government level.
Lamenting the gradual disappearance of the ~Good old days in Goa, the
internationally acclaimed singer said that though issues like Regional
Plan and special economic zones have united the Goans, we are being
hypocritical about the unity. Say for example, the people agitating against
the Regional Plan 2011
were not clear as to what they wanted and what they were fighting for,
with each one of the Goa Bachao Abhiyan leaders speaking about different
issue, she noted.
The religions in Goa had something above them called Goan-ness, and the
people had a feeling that they were more Goan than being a Hindu, a
Muslim or a Christian, Hema recalled, pointing out The singer, on a parting
note said that the Goans, who are themselves
selling their land only for money, with no mercy for the state, should
at least think for once before doing so, as to what the land sharks
would do to this enchanting region.
http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=052170
