Dear Friends,
My reply has appeared in today's GT, albeit with some changes. It is appended
here:
Sub: Answers first, debate later
Tomazinho Cardozo (GT, 23/06) is using his well-practised ploy to run away from
telling the truth. I had questioned statements which he repeatedly made on GT.
And I had also questioned those very statements in GT in September 2008. Then
too, he had promised to give the answers, but never fulfilled the promise. In
fact, this is his modus operandi. The questions are: (a) If Dalgado Konknni
Akademi was established in 1989, how could it publish in 1988 a booklet
prepared by its own committee, (b) in what way does that booklet contribute to
the avowed objective of fighting the injustice meted to Konkani in Roman
script, (c) what were the activities undertaken by the Akademi in pursuit of
this objective between June 1989 and May 2004, (d) which is the "authority" to
decide "this issue"? (e) will this "authority" attend the debate that he
proposes? Obviously, a debate is not needed to answer the first three
questions; and the last two MUST be
tackled even before the debate is planned. So why is he shying away from
answering them? He knows that a WRITTEN and PUBLISHED debate survives as a
document which can be referred to and verified / debunked at any time,
anywhere; but an ORAL one can never get to the truth, even if televised, since
it is easily forgotten, and there is enough opportunity to bluff your way
through. And Cardozo has cleverly used this subterfuge too often. One
example, witnessed by many distinguished persons, should suffice.
During a History Hour at Xavier Centre for Historical Research, Porvorim,
Cardozo accused Uday Bhembre (the speaker of the evening) of communal writings.
When Bhembre challenged him to provide the proof, he said he would do so
'tomorrow'. That 'tomorrow' has not dawned till date i.e. almost four years
down the line.
"When cornered in an argument, throw a paperweight at your opponent" is an all
too familiar tactic of a particular breed; a leopard cannot change its spots!
Instead of truthfully answering my questions, Cardozo has wasted his "precious
minutes" on a fishing expedition. He refers to my being appointed on some
statutory bodies. I do not know whether any politicians had a hand in that.
But I can say that: (i) I have NEVER gone to any politician’s house or office,
nor was my consent obtained prior to publishing my appointment in the Gazette.
(ii) I have NOT DERIVED ANY BENEFITS from those appointments; so I fail to
understand what "goodies" he is referring to. If he has any information in
this regard, I invite him to come out with the details OPENLY, without
reservations!
Since his statements have REPEATEDLY appeared in GT, it is the inalienable
right of every reader of GT to know the truth about them. It is unthinkable
that each and every GT reader will attend the proposed debate or has - I, for
instance, don’t have!- access to the channels which might beam it. Therefore,
this is no ALTERNATIVE to answering the questions on GT itself - its readers
should not be bypassed. The proposed debate can cover many other points which
will have to be lined up beforehand, so as to avoid a pandemonium for which
politicians are famous.
I hope he will muster enough courage to answer my questions. He can PROFITABLY
utilize his regular column instead of "wasting his precious time." If he
wishes, he can put any questions to me too; and I shall gladly answer them, the
editor permitting.
Yours truly,
S. M. Borges
I fail to understand why a veteran and prolific columnist like Tomazinho should
refuse to defend his own writings in the very place where they appeared. If an
alleged ofence has occurred in Goa, why file a case in a Calcutta court?!
I trust he will respond positively this time around, at least.
Sotachench zoit zatolem.
Mog asum.
Sebastian Borges
Cricket on your mind? Visit the ultimate cricket website. Enter
http://cricket.yahoo.com
