To Goanet - Yesterday as I was driving along the river promenade in Panjim, I could see all the IFFI stalls in place along with decorations bereft of taste (I hear it is the handiwork of Francisco Martins, in which case no further explanation is necessary). Throughout the entire promenade, it was difficult to spot a Goan. The whole place was a giant ghatipalooza. Neither was there any sign of Goan influence at any of the food stalls which were also manned by - you guessed it - ghatis. It was a sorry sight - swarms of loitering ghatis, their dismal body language, the spitting, the urinating, the lack of public graces and on and on. There are now more ghatis in Panjim than in central Bangalore (true story).
Early morning drives through Panjim reveal that the promenade has turned into a semi-permanent sleeping digs for ghatis. Panjim is on the fast track to becoming like Mumbai Once these ghatis stick, there will be no turning back. The only humans out at 6 am in Panjim are the ghatis. And the Goan boys getting off their casino whorehouse duty. This is what Goans have gotten out of tourism - our boys have turned into pimps. Most Goans haven't seen Panjim at late nights/early mornings. It is a disgrace. The entire stretch from around the old Secretariat becomes a parking zone for the gamblers and fornicators on their night out on the water. Well, if this is what Goans want.... r
