True, old Jak's talk touched an emotional cord and Jan 16th should indeed be Goan Identity Day (what ever is left of it). The phrase "Zalach paaije..." still hounds ones visual memory, the dirty orange lotus, forever the fleur de mal!
That said, the old chap Jak was was aloof and I doubt he cared much for the people of Goa. He was withdrawn....very likely, his caste, his snootiness and his relative wealth made it so (who knows). Therefore, not a great leader, just a simply at the right place, right time with the right speech. He was the dictator, a guy who had the right message but never in touch with the people. There is the other doktor dude from Saligao, pretty much the same. He will tell you stories of what he did for Goa....all squat. These guys never understood what it meant to be a leader, not had too much of a vision. He simply had time on his hands, never embraced the Goan people, never much cared for them, rather dictated to them from their perches. These are the presidents set by these folks resulted in the present crop of gaaunti-leader (pardon the expression, there is no other phrase to describe the robber-baron politicians of today). Anyways, these are stories of the past and will soon be forgotten. What one would like to throw stones and part-take is a big name-change action (something like the Concani movement)......remove all names of desi 'leaders' from Goan monuments. Imagine, which idiot named the Vasco football ground after Tilok, Margao ground after Nuru, the dirty GMC after his grand son? Why not call the Vasco ground after Goa's greatest ever football club, Vasco (http://vascosportsclub.com)...the Fatorda ground after commentator Benao and the GMC.....be my guest, it ain't matter.
