Margao the cultural and commercial centre of Salcete
South Goa District was in the news again and for a
different reason.
Of the five sacred trees of India (commonly known as
the "Panchavati") viz Peepal(Fig tree) , Banyan,
Indian gooseberry, Bengal Quince and Asoka; Pipal is
regarded as the most sacred tree since the Indus
Valley civilization. It is believed that it is on this
tree Lord Vishnu and other deities reside. The
sanctity of this tree is not only among the Hindus but
also among the Buddhists It is worshipped in many
parts of India as a benefactor of mankind and is
supposed to possess power to bestow fertility. It has
mythological, religious and cultural significance.
There was this Pipal tree in Margao New Market the Old
Station Road or F L Gomes Road Opp Bank of India and
where the controversial Santas Almas Chapel (has been
making news for the wrong reasons of a shoe-maker and
a photo-frame maker having their shops right in the
Chapel premises in utter disregard to the sanctity of
the place of worship, due to the clandestine support
of the Margao MLA Mr Digamber Kamat)
Surprisingly on the pretext of pre monsoon branch
trimming excercise undertaken by one Mr Dinu Chari he
finally got the entire tree cut leaving a naked temple
where Lord Damodar the symbolic Rakhondar Protector of
Margaoites is worshipped every Monday by all and
sundry especially the traditional traders
(posorkars)and bazaarkars.
As synonymous with Goan naming of places --- viz
chinchecodem, vhodacodem, piplacodem or pericodem this
place was rightly called "Pimpalkatta". But now with
this demonising act of one individual Mr Chari it is
most likely that a new name will have to be coined for
this place which leads to the Mahatma Gandhi Fruit
Clothes and Vegetable Market.
There were post cutting protests and the most vocal
was the traders community from the Margao Market Mr
Abhay Massurkar resident of Old Market who lodged a
complaint against the cutter. Efforts to get in touch
with the Forest Department by this writer proved
fultile (owing to non working day Saturday and
Sunday)to ascertain whether permission was sought to
cut the tree.
The Police are not expecting any communal overtones on
Monday 11 July 2005 as of now according to one
personnel this writer contacted from the Local
Information Bureau officials an arm of the Goa Police
to keep abreast of sensitive matters.
However when this writer contacted the ex Municpal
President of Margao Municipal Council Mr Santosh Poi
Raiturkar who has since joined the BJP having been
denied the INC ticket for the third time in succession
he stated that it was wrong to cut the tree and
suspected political motives behind the move.
According to him the area belongs to some Verencars
but this needs to be ascertained from the City Suirvey
Office Records only on Monday he said.
It may be recalled that the space in the Pimpalkatta
was a trading point since the early thirties.
According to one Mr Quensarkar (now modified to
Kesarkar traditional barbers) who owns an
establishment in that area traders from as far as AVCC
Assolna Velim Chinchinim and Cuncolim and Betul would
come with their wares in bullock carts and use the
area behind the Santas Almas Chapel to enter the main
market. Just opposite that was the Cinema House now
closed down. Infact in Goa village boundaries are
demarcated with banyan trees and now with Hindu
fundamentalism gaining ground it is not surprising to
see "ghumtis" springing up at all such trees "as the
new places of worship" > It is a ploy to collect money
from commuters and vehicular traffic passing by as
these venues have flower fruits aggarbati sellers in
the vicinity. The Pimpalkatta had also its share of
such vendors and it is not known what will be the next
move. Some say that a temple is being constructed
others say that there are plans for re locating the
temple to avoid the congestion at this market
junction.
It was somewhere in the late twenties that the shrine
of Lord Damodar came up at the foot of the over 110
years Pipal tree (Fig tree)and since then it has been
worshipped.
Prospective politicians and councillors seek blessings
for their entry into public life by paying obeisance
to the Lord Damodar here.
Incidentally in recent years since the late eighties
the Sarvajanik (Community ) Celebrations of Lord
Ganesh is celebrated with week long entertainment
programmes showcasing the cultural and communal
tolerance towards each other community in Goa.
This writer asked a few of those present whether they
had objections and some were vocal on the point that
there is a tendency to protest on almost every thing
under the sun; whether it is the shifting of the
temple at Selaulim Dam site or the cutting down of a
Banyan tree at Assolna or the cutting of a similar
Banayan tree at Raia there are always protests but
politically motivated they allege. They have least
regard to safety of human beings and attribute
religious conotations to such acts.
What happens if the gusty winds crush the innocent
vendors? allege some. They cite instances in Pilar
Panaji where Banyan trees have crushed vehicles man.
But what is lost site of is that with the mushrooming
of concrete structures in the cities of Goa and on the
pretext of widening roads the PWD has successfully
hotmixed the trees upto the bark of the tree. This
stupidness is the cause of the trees falling off when
gusty winds blow. It is akin to suppressing the roots
from receiving any water or air circulation for the
roots obviously when gusty winds blow the long drawn
branches do not provide leverage for the base
withstand the oscillations and they are uprooted
obviously striking at man's folly and lack of
foresightedness. The ward XIV Councillor Ms Auda
Viegas was not availble for comment.
But while there may be myths which abound the
sacredness of this tree by an irony of fate or sheer
coincidence Mr Vidyhadar Chari the older brother of Mr
Mr Dinu Chari of Khareaband who was otherwise unsound
(Charis -key makers) committed suicide on Saturday
afternoon.
Could this be the wrath of the sacred Pipal tree some
wonder in disbelief.
GODFREY J I GONSALVES
Borda Margao Goa
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