----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help others be BETTER INFORMED ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre (GDRC) Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- Desecration Aimed at Fomenting Social Instability -------------------------------------------------------- Vandalising Religious Places
by NANDKUMAR KAMAT Strategic planning and short-term strategic alliances sometimes sow the seeds of large scale and unprecedented disasters. The Hindu gentry in Goa unhappy under the Adilshahi rule planned a strategic opportunistic alliance with Afonso de Albuquerque in 1510. The Hindu emperors of Vijayanagara were also shortsighted. Albuquerque had his own expansionist plans. Seeking only temporary peace, he did not issue an edict in the name of the King of Portugal promising that his successors would never disturb the social and religious fabric of the conquered Indian territories. Between 1545 to 1567 more than 600 Hindu temples, several Jain bastis, dozens of Muslim mosques were desecrated in a frenzy of destruction unprecedented in Asian history. It was the darkest period of Goa's history impressively portrayed by professor Patrick Ferdinand in his English play 'Rape of Goa'. At least a quarter million Hindus had fled Goa. It has taken the Goan society four centuries to put behind this painful past. Goa's freedom struggle was a shining example of Hindu-Christian unity and solidarity. Democracy deplores desecration. Petty thefts in religious places are common in Goa. Most of these thefts are related to the uncontrolled trade in Goan antiques. But even the thieves would not generally desecrate idols. Therefore the successive incidents of desecration of Hindu religious places and idols have to be seen as a part of some kind of mysterious organised conspiracy. Whereas the Portuguese had unleashed state sponsored terrorism against the Hindus and Muslims - the recent incidents of desecration in globalised Goa have horrified the state and even benumbed the minds of the intelligence sleuths. It is definitely not an act of a single individual. The immediate aim behind this conspiracy seems to be to foment social instability ? create an atmosphere of mistrust, suspicion and communal hatred. The long-term aim may be to destroy the reputation of Goa as a peaceful, liberal, hospitable place and a paradise of social harmony. Such a conspiracy has deep and serious social, cultural, economic and political implications. Another aim seems to be to divert the attention of common people from more serious problems affecting the quality of their lives. People of any religious denomination easily get worked up when such incidents occur with high frequency. Indignation is followed by frustration and anger especially when they sense that the state has failed to ensure security to their sacred places. Politicians always fish in troubled waters and feed on the fear psychosis of common people. Goa cannot afford to create such an environment of insecurity and fear psychosis. Goa has more than 2000 Hindu religious places not including the wayside shrines. It is practically impossible for the police to provide security to all. It does not matter if the government needs to engage national security guards, other paramilitary forces or contract the work to expert private security agencies- under the current volatile atmosphere the security of religious places especially those considered vulnerable needs to be guaranteed. If a few more serious incidents of desecration occur, then the people may be compelled to demand an imposition of the Presidential rule. If all the incidents of desecration of Hindu temples and sacred idols since September 2004 are plotted on the map of Goa an interesting pattern emerges - except the incident at Bambolim in September 2007 almost all the incidents have occurred in a belt of South Goa between Vadem-Kurdi (Sanguem) to Khadapabandh-Ponda (April 2008). Cacora, Sheldem, Tilamol, Curchorem, Paroda - the choice of locations and the temples also show that those who were involved were thoroughly familiar with these places and had studied the religious and ritual almanac. They knew perfectly about their entry and escape routes and also the time to strike. They also ensured that no eyewitnesses would be around when they struck. This is not possible unless the perpetrators are familiar with the places for many years. The swiftness of their operations could have been aided by mobile-based communication. They must be also keeping track of village gossip, rumours and following the progress of police investigations through the press. Now, why are they concentrating in a particular belt and leaving out the densely populated areas? The police need to find the answer immediately. The desecration does not appear to be the work of hired anti-social elements or professionals. Since December 2007, there is a spurt in these incidents and probably the recent incident at Paroda may not be the last. If the police strengthen the network of their formal and informal informers in the above belt, then probably they would achieve a significant and shocking breakthrough. The security for all remote and lesser known Hindu religious places in south Goa needs to be tightened in anticipation of more planned attempts of desecration. To send the police on the wrong track some desecration attempts may be planned in north Goa too, so the police need to also anticipate such deceptive diversion strategy. The police need to identify the mastermind behind the frenzy of desecration. The police need to form village watchdog groups and monitor all the visitors to the religious places likely to be targeted. The government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for unmasking the persons behind this heinous conspiracy. But it would need voluntary co-operation from the local people. Would Goa build a polarised society where Hindus alone would fight against the desecration of their religious places and Christians and Muslims against theirs? Who would benefit from such communal divisions and polarisation? The hard earned social stability of Goa is a precious inheritance, which we all owe to future generations. Without ensuring social stability there would not be any scope for economic progress and sustainable development. The soul of Goa?s villages lies in age-old social stability. People live under an atmosphere of mutual trust. After the desecration incident the people of Cuncolim, Hindus as well as Christians had raised their voices unitedly. They had shown the same spirit to fight against environmental pollution. In several villages of Goa there are agitations against ongoing desecration of ecology and environment. People are already concerned about environmental instability. Now there would be an added concern, the fear of losing social stability. The fear of constantly living under an atmosphere of mistrust, suspicion and hatred. The religious, social and political leadership needs to immediately engage in a dialogue if they would like to see a safer and secure, secular Goa. The state has to use all the means and forces under its' command impartially to unmask the face of the evil which is hell-bent on tearing the social fabric of Goa. --------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 20/10/08 page 12 --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ---------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ---------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------------------------------------------------------
