There are some people who think that Goa would remain the same today as it was in 1961. Yes, those were hard times in the world. India was no better. However, with the passage of time, India has shown great progress and so has Portugal. While I am not making any attempt to make a comparison of 'progress', positive or negative, the fact remains that we all move on. No one can guess how Goa would have turned out today, had the Portuguese still been there. So a discussion in that direction is futile and worthless. However, no one can deny one important fact: Ever since Goa was annexed by India, Goans have been side tracked. Look at the facts: Pre 1961, our Goan brothers held majority of senior positions in the Government. Today, our Goans are nowhere near the top, barring a handful few. So if you ask me, the fate of Goans have not changed at all. Then comes talk of progress. Nothing special or extraordinary there. What has happened is just what would normally evolve anyway. A nominal progress that happens all over the world, a progress that is more in some places, less in some. Then let us talk of the evils that have descended upon Goa with the annexation. Corruption, bribery, cheating, were traits that the Portuguese never tolerated. One would end in jail without questions asked. Today there is no fear of the law, and the result is the sad state Goa has gone down to today. Men of my generation are on the wane today. It is sad to see kids try and pass remarks about what Goa was. Try to remember. Think back: there were rules for everything unlike today, rules that were followed in those days. There was discipline which is non existent today. Look around you. Which are still the most beautiful buildings in Panjim and Margao? The monstrosities that are lately built, or the good old ones that have withstood the test of time? Let is not be blinded and hoodwinked by the Indian babus. It is time we Goans did something about our Goa. Let us tell our grandchildren and remind our children about the glory that was Goa, and let us work to bring it back. Chase the Indian cheats out of Goa and take control once and for all. Let us not be fooled by the shifty politicians who are the stooges of the Indian Governement. Let us be careful and vote for good people who have Goa in their hearts, Goans who will work hard for a change.
Viva Goa, viva Goencars. Raj Rajesh Dessai Message: 4 Date: Fri, 28 May 2010 07:51:44 -0400 From: "J. Colaco < jc>" <[email protected]> To: [email protected], "Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!" <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Goanet] Mega project by Mumbai based builder Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 ?Oscar Lobo <[email protected]> wrote: Could Mr. Frederick Noronha, our well known journalist in Goa, kindly give us an account of Goa after 19 December 1961 to date without being sarcastic in any way or form! How did Goa and her sons and daughters benefit after the so called "liberation"? "Zeal without knowledge is like fire without light" --- Dear Oscar, 1: I believe that it is quite unfair of you to ask Frederick Noronha to 'give an account of Goa after 1961 to date'. To the best of my knowledge, he wasn't in Goa or anywhere on planet earth in 1961; perhaps, Aida was. Let us allow her to (if she wishes) clarify her words. To me, it appears that we could possibly end up discussing Goa based on a mixture of some truth and some conjecture, admixed with hearsay and selectively factual and conveniently revisionist 'history'. 2: I also do not believe that FN was being sarcastic when he responded to me. It is possible that this is how we Goans 'discuss' topics. Normally, only politicians use this tactic of deflection to avoid reflection. I invite you to read the following excerpt from Profile of Eminent Goans by Clement Vaz ? Concept Publishing 1997 ..... Do ponder (just for a moment or two) on how the late Aloysius Soares allegedly dealt with a book written about Goa. Instead of considering whether or not the Boman-Behram book was being factual,he apparently decided to 'do an FN'. Also do note what apparently happened to Mr Soares when he criticised a speech by Nehru. Did someone say that there was Freedom of the Press? And would someone wish to advise us about the late Norman Dantas? good wishes jc
