It's important to give second thoughts before making a wild statement such as Rupert Coutinho has done by proclaiming that Goa is doomed. Whatever the current state of affairs in Goa, it does not warrant such negative thinking. Rupert may be one of the few doomsayers. Ever since India acheived Independence, many Englishmen proclaimed India's doom. But see where India has reached economically. There has also been social and cultural progress. Where India has failed is in its political ream. Taking states into consideration, Goa has made tremendous progress in economical, social and educational fields. The cultural front has been steady, as little can be changed in the cultural lives of people. Forget the "susegado" phenomenon. I find it irrelevant in today's Goa. Though retail business still goes almost dead in the afternoon for people to take their seista, Goans do not lie idle. Most of them work for the major part of the day to earn their daily bread -- and butter. If Carmen finds hope in the doomsday scenario spun by Rupert, she is not alone. The many rallies and agitations for causes that affect Goans show that the political will is alive and kicking. Meetings, morchas and rallies may lack numerical strength but then nobody expects all Goans to take part in such demonstrations. Many who are affected by issues such as of Medium of Instruction, Dabolim Airport, River Princess, etc. often join the public rallies. The increase in the number of NGOs in Goa shows that Goans are politically active Some new NGOs are fighting the same causes that the old ones were fighting for. Some NGOs seem to be aligned with political parties and some to sectarian groups. No doubt it all looks like a political sorpotel but it is a worthy one. The important issue at stake is how to combat corruption. We need Anna Hazares in Goa, but it would remain to be seen if such noble souls will be avail to stem the rot that is eating into the vitals of Goa's political and social fabric. The cenral government itself is at a loss how to fight corruption and the arrests of Suresh Kalmadi in the Commonwealth Games scandal and A. Raja in the 2G scam provide some assurance that the things are moving on the right track. Nobody knows its final destination. I won't be surprised that both Kalmadi and Raja go scot-free and some officials pay the price. Such is the nature of Indian politics. Goa fits into the Indian pattern. How could it be different? If the malaise starts from New Delhi, no state can avoid from being a victim to the evil of corruption and nepotism. The corridors of power in New Delhi and in many states are full of crooked ministers, MLAs and bureaucrats. The Supreme Court has shown some guts in forcing the government's hands to deal with corrupt ministers and politicians. Indians must at least be happy and proud that they have a clean prime minister in Manmohan Singh. As far as fighting corruption goes, he is made in the same mould as Jawaharlal Nehru. Goa should find someone like Manmohan Singh in its chief ministers to come. Digamber Kamat has proved that he does not posses any Nehruvian trait. He is at least knee-deep in the murk that is surrouding his goverment. If someone else comes in his place would it garantee a clean government, one that is free of monetary kickbacks from the business world and free from all sort of nefarious activities that results in ministers making personal gains in money and kind. Goa's saviour lies in finding the right person to lead Goa on a path of good governance. Finding such a person in the crop of politicians is like finding a needle in a haystack. Or, specifically in Goa, finding it in the chikol. Rupert's impassioned cry over Goa's gloomy future and Carmen's equally impassioned plea for holding hope are, as my Eddie says, two sides of the same coin. I would like to me the person who flips the coin in the air and prays it does not come down.
Eugene Correis
