OHeraldo Aug, 15, 2013 Re-imagining Goa
Eugene Correia Ever since Benedict Anderson's book, Imagined Communities, came out in 1983, there has been mixed debate on how elites shape nationalism in multi-ethnic societies. Goan nationalism followed the pattern, with some elites, particularly Tristao Bragança da Cunha, leading the charge. Anderson's thesis maintained that it was the printed word, both literature and media, that produced nationalistic fervour. The anti-colonial writings of the Goan leaders brought the non-elites into the fold of the struggle for freedom, just as the writings of Indian leaders had created the groundswell for pushing out the British. The Indian struggle was to serve the political goal of the Indian National Congress. The leaders of the party invoked and organised its members and the masses to the cause of Indian nationalism. In the long and bitter fight to remove the British colonial yoke, the leaders brought people of different religions into the mass civil-disobedience movement. A faction of Muslims under the leadership and command of the Muslim League whose main leader was Mohammed Ali Jinnah maintained a separatist stance. Goan nationalism drew inspiration and momentum from the success of Indian nationalism. After India attained Independence on August 15, 1947, Goan nationalists got the much-needed boost to strengthen its movement for winning freedom from Portugal. Diplomatic failures with a stubborn Antonio de Oliveira Salazar forced India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's hand in sending the armed forces to bring the colony into the Indian Union. The satyagraha movement on the principles enunciated by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi did not fetch Goans its desired goal. In their frustration and in the face of stiff opposition from Portuguese masters, satyagrahis occasionally turned violent. In one such attack, these fearless Goans, aided by other Indians, secured the colonies of Dadra and Nagar Haveli in 1954. It was a shot-in-the-arm for the freedom movement. Heeding popular sentiments, Nehru shed his pacifism for armed action. If it was tryst with destiny for India on August 15, 1947, it was embrace for Goa with the motherland on December 19, 1961. It was the rise of a new dawn for Goa, as a tumultuous history of colonialism finally came to an end. On this day of celebration of India's forward march as a new nation, it must be remembered that nationalist Goans played a minor but significant part in inspiring India’s freedom struggle. In a sense, these brave natives were the torch-bearers of India's freedom because of their revolts against the Portuguese masters. The natives bore the brunt of Portuguese cruelty and the stories of their sacrifices and deaths fuelled Indian nationalism. Even after decades of being a free Goa, a small section of Goan populace still hold on to Portuguese legacy. A large part of this sober group is formed of the elites of Goa. Goa's awakening to a new life changed the social dynamics of former Portuguese enclave. These elites no longer enjoy the respect and social status accorded to them by the common folk during the colonial rule. Liberation has levelled the playing field. With their privileges stripped off, these former elites share the same rights as every other person. The paradigm shift has been in population with fellow-Indians from other states coming in large numbers. The slow demographic changes in the early decades of freedom have has now attained a disturbing level, wherein the very existence of Goans is threatened. This has automatically set off alarm bells in cities and villages of the state. To become a state by itself was a painful and agonising period. The anxiety and fear of merger with Maharashtra was enough to send Goans into a tizzy. Thankfully, better counsels prevailed and the centre agreed to a proposal of an Opinion Poll. The Opinion Poll was the better option in the given circumstances. Goans had frowned upon Nehru's successors for not living up to his promise to give Goa the option of either staying within the Indian Union or opting out as an independent country. The taking over of Goa itself was heatedly discussed in global forums, including the United Nations Organisation. Portugal lost out in forcing India to give up its newly-acquired territory because of Soviet Union's veto. It was a lost cause from the beginning but Portugal hadn’t seen the writing on the wall, the same way it hadn't taken Indian threats to invade seriously if Portugal failed to solve the issue peacefully in India's favour, as did the French in Pondicherry. That’s in the past, but there still remains a disenchanted and disgruntled section of Goans who adhere to the notion that they are Goans per se and not Indians by any definition. They shoot their poisonous barbs in cyperspace against India and a majority of Goans who genuinely consider themselves both Indians and Goans. Foreign-based Goans, many of them Portuguese-passport holders, use pen-names to write articles and post comments dipped in vitriol against India and its supporters. As Portugal's “kindness” in letting Goans apply for Portuguese passports is resulting in the exodus of Goans and with the looming danger of the State getting swamped by newcomers, Goans have no alternative but to seek protection of their land and heritage under Special Status. With the government having fallen in line, the Movement for Special Status (MSSG) and the Goa Movement for Special Status (GMFSS) must sink their differences and merge into a single, cohesive unit. A couple of years ago, Special Status looked like a pie-in-the-sky, and now it’s hovering on the horizon. On this day, let's re-imagine Goa.
