The Departments of a) Art & Culture b) Tourism, c ) Official Languages and the other autonomous body Kala Academy & semi autonomous bodies Goa Tourism Development Corporation, Goa Konknni Academy take pride in depicting our tiny 25th State of GOA on their websites www.goagovt.nic.in and related links that GOA ---- India's tiniest 25th State is the "PEARL OF THE ORIENT" is a fulcrum point of races, religions & cultures of East & West over the centuries, that have provided Goa a multihued & distinctive lifestyle QUITE DIFFERENT from the rest of India. This they say is reflected in its folk dances viz; Talgadi, Goph, Tonya Mel, Mando, Kunbi dance, Virabhadra, Hanpeth, Gauda zagor, Ranmalem, Fugdi, Ghode Modni, Lamp Dance, Musal Dance, Romat or Mell, Dulpods, Morulem,Dhangar Dance, Sanjoao, Dekhni and Zemado. (it fights shy out of ignorance? of "Vira" etc)
It is also described as "TOURIST PARADISE" which besided its Nature bestowed scenic beauty also has its architectural splendours of its ---CHURCHES AND OLD HOUSES --- ( 1510 - 1961) Knowing full well that it is this fusion of culture over 451 years (Goa (Ilhas-Tiswadi)conquered 25.11.1510 -Velhas Conquistas & 1763 onwards- Novas Conquistas upto 19.12.1961 Liberation?) that give Goans a personality of having communal tolerance towards one and all ---unheard of in the rest of the country. But the shocking discovery and confirmed by a senior Minister of the Goa Government is that --- the Government of Goa till today ---NIETHER HAS A CULTURAL POLICY NOR A TOURISM POLICY to reflect the above ground reality which its profess propogates but does not put into practice. Even its LANGUAGE ACT has benefitted only 3% of the majority Community viz upper castes conversant with the devanagari script. This view was also shared by a top bureaucrat of the Government of Goa who had an informal interaction with this writer at Kala Academy at the Akhil Bharatiya Konknni Sammelan on the 12 th February. 2006 He also expressed surprise that the Western Music Department of the Kala Academy appeared to have no interest in promoting the fusion music to promote the Mando Dulpods or the Vira dances etc which infact reflected the true face of Goa in rest of the world. Atleast he could vouch convincingly that domestic tourists mostly in the metropolitan cities of India know Goa for this fusion culture and therefore GOA became a MUST VISIT destination in their itenary of tours undertaken. (This is not to confuse with the narcotic drugs oriented PARTY ZONES at destinations in North Goa he added) Even the Official language Act was against the interests of 28% population of Goa in a sense that the Konkani in Roman script was not given recognition nor grants --- but MERE ASSITANCE -- as doles --- depending on the "noises made" -- by the Government. How also expressed surprise on how the State could advertise "private old ancestral houses" and "Churches / Chapels " coming under the Archdiocese of Goa & Daman without paying them a pittance. This is crass chicanery he added and blamed the Government for playing second fiddle to the dictates of the vicious tourism lobby. Another bureaucrat admitted that today it was left to the Government viz; a) Chief Minister of Goa Mr Pratapsing Raoji Rane as Head of the Kala Academy, and holding the portfolio of the Official Languages as well, b) Deputy Chief Minister of Goa Dr Wilfred A De Souza & c) Minister for Art and Culture Mr Digamber Kamat to decide on funds allocation utilisation by way of GRANTS SUBSIDY for ---- promotion of ART CULTURE TOURISM & OFFICIAL LANGUAGES. To set right this anamoly which will wipe of the image of Goans in the immediate future with its demographic composition changing rapidly ( 4.15 lacs non Goans at last count ) It is therefore necessary that a) those performing the East & West fusion dances music folklore should demand that the Government of Goa enact a CULTURAL TOURISM POLICY for the STATE OF GOA AND ALSO SET RIGHT THE LANGUAGE ACT TO INCLUDE DIVERSITY OF SCRIPTS; b) all (i) owners of private houses and (ii) Chancellor of Archdiocese of Goa & Daman & Diocese Commission for Sacred Art & Heritage viz churches chapels and other religious institutions ---- which are liberally featured for promotion of tourism OR other cultural programmes of the State Canaval etc on their websites brochures (WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION OF THESE OWNERS / AUTHORITIES ) SHOULD immediately serve notices to the Directors of the various departments concerned to i)stop forwith publication of such literature photographs etc until "due permission" is obtained from them; ii) on granting permission they should simultaneously demand grants for maintainance or any other purpose in return for using their houses churches for advertisements c) all the cultural clubs social organisations institutions which promote the East West fusion art in song dance or any other form and music should demand immediate formulation of a policy. d) minority institutions should also demand financial assistance subsidy or grants for stringed wind percussion or solid instruments ---flute, clarinet, guitar, piano, violin, cello, accordion and the tambourine required for performing of liturgical services in churches or mosques on par with those granted for other religious institutions "Bhajani mandals" e)diocesance run schools and others as well should also demand that the Department of Art & Culuture extend the scheme of supply of cultural equipment should be extended to them as well for imparting "east west" fusion music as distint from western music; e) those institutions performing dances teatros etc should demand that RAVINDRA BHAVANS set up for promoting state CULTURE should honour those who promoted EAST WEST FUSION CULTURE by naming premises after such noted tiatrists singers etc The writer found these views in conformity with those collated after interaction with several public spirited prominent citizens and cultural activists priests nuns and lay persons. Mr Churchill Alemao, MP Mormugao Parliamentary Constituency and Dr Wilfred De Souza Deputy Chief Minister of Goa ---should take up this matter with the Union Minister for Tourism & Culture Ms Ambika Soni MP and see that the UNIQUE EAST WEST FUSION which is the true CULTURE of GOA is incorporated as a part of the INDIAN CULTURE, GOA GOVERNMENT enacts a CULTURAL POLICY and rectify the inconsistencies in the Official Language Act. It is also incumbent upon the 13 other Catholic MLA's to act similarly instead of being mere servitors of the 3% upper castes of the majority community who have been discreetly dictating / implementing the "unwritten policies "of pre 1510 era to relegate minorites and non Brahmin Hindus to second class citizens post liberation . GODFREY J I GONSALVES BORDA MARGAO GOA [EMAIL PROTECTED] 9822158584 __________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner now. Go to http://yahoo.shaadi.com