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2008 Toronto International Goan Convention
Theme: Goan Identity And Networking Today.
http://2008goanconvention.com/index.php
Mario Miranda Festival, July 24-26, 2008 Old GMC Building
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-July/077732.html
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2008 International Goan Convention, Toronto, Canada
(Outline of the Speech by Shri Eduardo Faleiro, Commissioner for NRI
Affairs, Government of Goa, delivered at the Inaugration ceremonies of the
2008 International Goan Convention, Toronto, Canada
It is a great pleasure and a privilege to participate in this International
Goan convention here in Toronto. I am given to understand that it has been
well organized and that it is comprehensive. I compliment you for this.
We used to hold a Global Goans Convention in Goa every year during the
Christmas - New Year vacations. Reasons for discontinuing it in Goa. Last
year it was held in Lisbon. this year in Toronto. Next year it may be in
another continent.
I understand that one of the subjects of this Convention is the question of
Goan Identity. This is a very complex subject. Essential elements of a
cultural identity are certainly language and soil but it is also moulded by
several other features such as religion, history, nationality, etc.
National identity is an important element of one's identity. The following
are some aspects generally agreed upon.
The Indus Valley Civilization (2800-1800BC) was the most advanced urban
settlement of the time with well planned streets, drainage system, water
supply, etc. I have seen it myself when I visited Mohenjodaro (in present
day Pakistan)
Jean Baptiste Tavernier, a Frenchman of the 17th century who spent about 40
years travelling on the Silk Road and several others of that time and
earlier assert that India was then a country with abundant food resources
and great wealth.
A study by historian Angus Madisson of the Cambridge University held that
India's share of world income was 22.6% in 1700 comparable to entire
Europe's share of 23.3% It went down to 3.8% in 1952. Taxation on property
and revenue during the colonial rule led to mass impoverishment and
destitution of the great majority of farmers. At the time of its
Independence, India inherited an economy that was one of the poorest in the
world with industrial development stalled, agriculture unable to feed its
population, one of the world's lowest life expectancies and a low rate of
literacy.
Since 1990, India's economy has grown at the rate of around 9%, the highest
rate of growth in large economies after China. This has been accompanied by
growth in life expectancy, literacy rate and food security. Goldman Sachs
and others predict that by 2035, India will be the third largest economy in
the world after the USA and China.
However India faces the challenge of reducing economic and social
inequalities and poverty remains a serious problem though it has declined
significantly.
It is felt across the world and more so in India itself, that India will
meet successfully the present challenges and emerge as a Great Power within
the first half of this Century.
India like Canada is characterized by linguistic, ethnic and religious
diversity yet both are strong nation-states functioning in a system of
parliamentary democracy. Dr B.R. Ambedkar, our first Law Minister, whilst
piloting the draft of the Constitution in the Constituent Assembly in 1948
had pointed out that Canada as well as India had federal Constitutions but
also call themselves a Union.
Regarding Goa.....
In 1956 am eminent Portuguese geographer, Orlando Ribeiro led a team of
scholars to study Goan society and submitted a report of his findings to
Prime minister Dr Oliveira Salazar. His report stated that Goa was the least
Portuguese in its cultural expression even less than Guine-Bissau. It also
said that there were cultured persons everywhere in Goa with no trace of
rudeness, so common among the rural folk of Portugal.
After Independence, there has been great progress particularly in the fields
of Education and Health. Substantial advances have also been made in
infrastructure development, such as electricity and water supply, roads and
other forms of communication. There are still obvious deficiencies in all
these areas but the progress is unmistakeable.
Major problems have arisen as a result of what maybe called "over
development" or unregulated development particularly in the coastline and
beaches.
Mass tourism and package tourism have transformed the landscape of Goa to
the detriment of the local people. Rural areas in the coastal belt often
look more like crowded western cities than villages. 1.25 million tourists
visit Goa every year whilst the total population of the state is
1.15,illion.
Mega construction projects even beyond the coastline have had a negative
impact on the lifestyle of the local population.
It is perhaps necessary that the local Government should formulate a
development strategy which provides employment to the local people whilst
being less dependent on tourism. Furthermore, mega buildings which destroy
the rural environment in villages should not be permitted. (ENDS)
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Tri Continental Film Festival 2008
July 25 - 30, 2008
Goa, India
http://www.moviesgoa.org/page/tri_continental/
http://www.moviesgoa.org/tricon/schedule_2008.pdf
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