Title: Freedom fighters out of date! By Cyprian Fernandes Source: Goan Voice Newsletter 26 June 2011 at www.goanvoice.org.uk
One of the most excruciating questions newly independent countries have had to face is: what do we do with our valiant freedom fighters? Once freedom is obtained, there is no role for the freedom fighters. The battle has been fought and won, the colonial oppressors have retreated out of the country and a new constitution, law and order are the instruments of justice in the new country. More often than not, there is no place for the historic fighters. True, some are usually absorbed into the national armies, others find a niche in politics, a few go into business, especially farming but the majority have nothing to do. Once the fighting is done, the rank and file must hand in their weapons and go back to being simple Mr Citizen with no special privileges or perks, just the thanks of a grateful nation. And that is as it should be, the gratitude is eternal but it is always time to move on! In South Africa, after majority rule was obtained from the Afrikaners, thousands of the African National Congress freedom fighters found themselves disenfranchised. The fighting was over. In desperation, some of them are suspected of turning to crime. To this day, the freedom fighters test the national consciousness of South Africa. One thing is certain; there is no definitive role for freedom fighters. It was the same in Kenya. While the feared Mau Mau were feted and celebrated at independence in 1963, soon they found themselves wondering what they had been fighting for. Not all were given the land many of them had died for. There were no business opportunities or jobs for a redundant group of guerrilla fighters who did not have the requisite skills newly independent Kenya required. A small residue of the Mau Mau is currently suing the British Government for abuse and suffering. Although there is an official Mau Mau Veterans Association, there is no official role for the former fighters. It is the same in Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, China, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, a host of Francophone countries, various countries in South America and elsewhere in the world. Freedom fighters in Burma and Tibet are on active duty as the men and women in Libya, Yemen and Syria. India honours a very long list of brave Freedom Fighters on Martyrs Day on January 30 each year. India's march towards independence was inspired by acts of self-sacrifice and bravery, epitomised, of course, by the one of the greatest martyrs of them all: The Mahatma. For all the blood they spilt in the cause of freedom, the loss of limbs, crippled bodies and deaths of the most horrific kind, the lot of the former freedom fighter is restricted to honour and remembrance in the pages of history. In virtually every country, while the former freedom fighter is honoured and respected, there is no mandated or constitutional role for them. I have tried but have not found any. A freedom fighter's use-by-date has no life after the battle has been fought and the victory won. Why then, I ask myself, does Goa have an active association of freedom fighters? Why are there active freedom fighters in Goa anyway? Whose freedom are they fighting for and from whom? Surely they are not committing any act of treason by fighting for freedom from India! Nor is there any suggestion that they are attempting make an unilateral declaration of independence! So, why do they exist? Beats me. Way past their use-by date, they must be the equal of everyone else with no special privileges. During the current debate on English as the MOI, there has been considerable abuse showered on Goa's freedom fighters and while I confess some ignorance of the freedom fighters, for someone outside looking in, I am astounded that such an organisation should not only exist in Goa but is supposedly feted and wields a certain degree of power. Surely this should not be true in today's Goa. Comments to Cyprian Fernandes: [email protected]
