Eugene Correia wrote: 1: Whenever I pass the now-named Lohia Maidan in Margao, I stand and imagine what may have been the scene that fateful day when Ram Manohar Lohia was arrested along with his comrade friend Dr. Loyola
2: Goa has come a long way from the days of Alvares. Today, it stands at the crossroads of history. It has progressed undoubtedly, but in the progress there have been many pitfalls. I 3: In Goa today, it would be wise to look at the development models from both the socialist and the capitalist perspective. 4: In the awakened state that Goa finds itself now, it is pertinent to remember the significance of June 18. The day awakened Goa to a new movement that ultimately culmitated in Goa become free from Portuguese rule. This June 18 Goan must resolve that the sleeping giant that is the Goan masses must not be allowed to go back to sleep and instead keep rumbling. 5: June 18 should also signal the day for a total revolution against corrupt ministers, panch and other public officials. Then only Goa could be saved and preserved. = jc's response: An excellently written article by Eugene Correia. I have a few questions & comments. a: re #1 - Which "comrade" and which "Dr. Furtado" was arrested along with Lohia on June 18? >From my information, Lohia was the guest of my "neighbour" Dr. Juliao Menezes. Furthermore, at a private meeting between Lohia, Menezes and José Inácio de Loyola, (a proponent of Goan nationalism), Furtado was called a "Loyalist" for wanting to have Goan Nationalists to develop and decide the anti-Salazar course forward. Adv José Inácio de Loyola is a different individual from Dr. Alvaro Loyola Furtado (both of whom are intellectual giants respected for their integrity). This is the first time I have read that "Dr. Furtado" was arrested along with Lohia. b: re #2: Goa indeed has come a long way from the days of Peter Alvares, who I believe was NOT a Goan and had not lived in Goa. He was another of those 'commie' Krishna Menon type opportunists who wore "socialist" clothes. On what basis was Peter Alvares nominated for the North Goa (Lok Sabha) seat ...and what exactly did he do for his constituency? One thing is for sure: Peter Alvares set a trend for the North Goa constitutency. From that time onwards - a "representative" was foisted upon them from without. That representative did absolutely nothing for the constituency and (except until recently....at least) never won re-election. They were all One Term wonders. c: re # 3: What we see today in Goa is a combination of alleged socialism, rabid capitalism and hera-pheri (also known as Gol Mal) Thanks to the part-time socialist Sashikala Mugabe Kakodkar, land was swiped from Goans and given to those who worked on the land - courtesy the Mundcar Act (mine-owners having been exempted). I invite Goans to check which land is the back-bone of this "concrete degradation" that Rajan Parrikar and JoeGoaUK have been documenting. Is it not the land which was swiped courtesy the Mundcar Act, and via the illegal conversion and Squatting (Adverse Possession)? d: re # 4: What awakened state? Goans are not asleep - They are either just permanently dazed or in perfect denial. Through a deliberate process of 'denial of jobs for qualified Goans" (Thank you Bandodkar and the MGP), Goans have had to look for difficult jobs in the inhospitable Middle East. The increased cost of living (post 1961) meant that Goan families HAD to send their children to find work in the desert. They could no longer live off the local fish and the produce of their fields. Their fish became scarce as it went elsewhere and their fields were swiped, So, the Eugene Correias of this world .....awaken yourselves up. e: re # 5: It is good to live in dreamland and denial. Read Lionel Messias' post and weep. Goan wealth is being swiped every day. Look at who is swiping it....and How much....and Weep (This is only for those who have a conscience) Those who plan to revolt (publicly) against "corrupt ministers, panch and other public officials" (as Eugene Correia IMHO is suggesting) please understand this: Power lies where it lies. The June 18, 1946 incident in Margao will be a kindergarten picnic in comparison. This time ...it will be the real deal. Just in case you did forget, please review this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtHgwtgj-pY Pay special attention to the scenes starting at 1:40 and 2:07 minutes respectively In conclusion: Thank you Lohia and Menezes for suppressing the aspirations of Goan Nationalists like "Dr Furtado". Thank you also to ALL those Freedom Fighters who helped bring this chaos and corruption into being. Remember what the amigos of Mario were told before they decided to create a similar situation elsewhere. You Break it, You own it. yes....Lohia, Menezes and other FFs...Justify your suppression of the real Goa based anti-Salazar nationalists for all you want BUT remember .....you broke it ....you will forever own it. Thank you for absolutely nothing! jc
