The Enemy Within

The Enemy Within


Goa, a jewel on India's crown as it was known, was blessed with beautiful pristine beaches on it's west coast and high range of mountains called the western Ghats on it's eastern border, full of diversely rich forms of flora and fauna for it's crown, along with different species of wild life as it's inhabitants and rich varieties of ore for her underbelly. The very geographical location had made Goa a paradise, call it the Maker's or Nature's generous gift to the people of Goa.

The first chapter in Economics tells us that, our wants are unlimited and the truth is, they are insatiable too, and in the quest to be the masters of commerce and economics, greed evolved as the worst evil, that has taken over in totality the human mind, body, heart and soul. As vision is blurred by greed, people fail to see the long term disasters that await them, in their pursuit for short term gains. Goa is the prime example of this great folly.

We have heard the moralist story of the goose that laid the golden eggs, umpteen number of times since we were kids, yet we fail to learn the ethical moral of the story, when faced with reality. It's not just a story for building up morals in kids, but also for grown up adults, not to fall prey to glandular greed.

Today, Tourism is the bread and butter of most Asian developing countries, each competing with the other to get the lager slice of the tourism pie. Goa was struck by the hippy culture which started off on it's pristine beaches way back in the late sixties, and thus spread the word of the new found jewel to the outside world, Goa, in it's virginity was a sight for sore eyes, tourists then flocked to see this new found paradise on earth, and over the years the word of Goa's serene scenic beauty spread like wild fire and thus Goa was posted as the top destination in world Tourism.

Tourist were attracted to the natural beauty of Goa, mountains full of trees, fields lush and green, springs, rivers, lakes and most of all the endless clean pristine beaches, the generosity, simplicity and the good will of Goans added to the flavour, more than making up for the lack of basic infrastructure that the western world was used to, but they still made a bee line, over and over again and still they couldn't get it out of their system.

Now with the ever increase in tourism, the seeds of evil greed were sown, politicians and bureaucrats forgot their promises to work for the good of man and sold their souls to the devil, looking for ways and means, more foul than fair to enrich themselves, using the clout of their political power and position, taking optimum advantage of gullible Goans. Preservation of our natural beauty to enhance tourism was forgotten and corruption flourished and became the 'modus oparandi', the name of the game. Land being acquired and sold to the highest bidder and unwarranted development in the form of mega housing, putting more pressure on the already weak over burdened infrastructure, destroying our hills, fields and plains started the rape of virgin Goa.

With increase in tourism, criminal activities too increased, drug trade at it's highest, murders and rapes everyday occurrences, gambling and prostitution flourishing, our corrupt politicians and police patronizing criminals for their share of the spoils, our pristine beaches littered with waste, shacks and beds, some areas even cordoned off by elite mafisos. The maiden has indeed lost her most precious virtue, she has been violated. Goa is no more virgin.

The lives of coastal Goans have become a living hell, as basic amenities are atrocious and prices of land, housing units and durable commodities rising steeply, law and order situation are at it's worst and to add to all their woes, the mother of all woes CRZ has come in furry destroying the homes and devastating the lives of poor Goans. How will the poor coastal Goans survive? Or will they have to move to the cities to survive, creating a vacuum in coastal Goa ? Why do they have to pay the price for the greed of some men in the name of commerce and economics?

Mining has no doubt contributed a great deal to the coffers of the Goa Government, initially even the limited form of mining had an adverse effect on ecology and the water bodies, but not to a great extent. Now with wealth dangling in front of our noses, overtaken by greed, we have gone full throttle, shredding the underbelly, least interested in the devastation and havoc caused to the crowning glory of the western Ghats, displacing it's very inhabitants, the wild life and destroying the water bodies, a life line to the very existence of human and wild life.

The rural villages where rampant mining is carried out, have had to bear the worst atrocities, air pollution being on the high, not only most of their houses are covered in dust but they also have to breathe in the dust, causing health problems. The field which the people of these areas lived on, were rich and fertile, today they remain barren and scorched, covered by the rejects and the unfertile dust of mining. Their wells, ponds, springs and streams have gone dry over the years. Police and politicians have become puppets of the mining barons intimidating and harassing the locals who are fighting for their right to survive. How will these people survive in their villages? Or will they have to move to the cities to survive creating a vacuum in rural Goa? Why do they have to pay the price for the greed of some men in the name of commerce and economics?

The cities too are congested and polluted with the infrastructure crumbling, sewage overflowing, garbage becoming a monstrous issue with no solution in sight, traffic ever increasing, parking vastly inadequate and unplanned, taps more often dry, than running, bulbs and tubes more often off, than lit, life in urban Goa, is already mired in misery, so how will rural and coastal Goa survive in urban Goa? More importantly will Goa survive?

Mining and tourism are the main sources of income for the Goa government, but at what cost ? When nature is destroyed the ambience changes and this in turn, can lead to a catastrophe, as we all saw in the case of floods at Canacona. The fury of nature is what man has failed to conquer. To survive we have to respect nature and live in ambience with nature.

We blame the politicians for all the ills in Goa and it's true, they are the culprits, they are the traitors, they are the rapists, but the million dollar question is, WHO ELECTED THEM? The enemy is within, we need not go far in our search, it's each one of us contributing to the rape of our beloved Goa by our inaction, doing nothing, to right, the wrong we did in electing the corrupt, the selfish and the heartless, we are our own worst enemies. We need to get our priorities right and elect good people, with ethics, honest, hardworking and with true love for Goa in their hearts, to run Goa. This is the only choice we have. Are there any takers?


Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Dubai/Nuem, Canacona
Jan 28, 2010

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/28065
www.goa-world.com

GBA's Ultimatum To The Government

GBA's Ultimatum To The Government

Venita Coelho in her article, 'Back to square one' on Herald dated 23rd Feb, has exposed the conniving, devious policies of the Kamat Government, the original RP 2012 was forced into the bin by the Goan people led by the GBA. It was the united front put forth by the GBA that forced the corrupt Kamat Government to back off and then it came up with RP2021, which infact was just a reincarnation of the RP2012 and more confusing.

The RP2021 was infact even more erroneous, where a lot of major structure and zones were conveniently missed out, misrepresented and misinterpreted and placed before the masses for public participation, deadlines were extended and people's proposals were submitted even after all the effort and time that the activists and the people put in to rectify the anomalies of the draft, nothing seems to have changed. It's been nearly a year now and the Kamat Government has failed to bring forth the final draft of RP 2021 for public scrutiny, to see if the people's proposals were enacted upon.

Meanwhile the Government making use of the loopholes in it's own laws, continues to support and abet projects that have been objected by the public, without divulging any information to the public on those projects, taking the Goan people for a jolly good ride. The corrupt Government of Mr. Kamat has not listened to the peaceful pleas of the people and the degradation of our environment and our ecology continues unabated while we have been seething in anonymous rage, watching and waiting for the finalisation of RP2021.

Enough is enough, this Kamat Government has been known for creating a surfeit of issues and then digressing from them, without actually trying to solve them in earnest, believing that given time, people tend to forget these issues. We do need to ramp up our compulsions manifold to ascertain our convictions of protecting Goa and Goans and not let our efforts be stymied at every turn and junction by the skewed perspectives of our corrupt politicians. It is high time we take a firm stand, to protect our interests, for a better future for ourselves and our children.

The GBA has rightly given the corrupt Kamat Government an ultimatum, as the people of Goa have been left with very little sartorial choices and the only option left, is to take to the streets and admonish the Kamat Government not to take the Goan people for granted. I sincerely hope and pray that the people of Goa will fully support the GBA with mass participation and force the corrupt Kamat government to pay heed to the demands of the people of Goa and abdicate it's seditious policies.

We have done it before and we can do it again. GBA Jai Ho !!

Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Feb 23, 2010

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/28511
www.goa-world.com
________________________

As published in Herald / 23 February 2010


Back to Square One

- By Venita Coelho


Well, here we are back to square one 'fighting one more time' to get a Regional Plan that we are happy with. What a long journey it has been all to end up in the same place all over again. Three years ago Goa spilled out onto the roads to protest a Regional Plan that was disastrous. So vociferous were the protests and so many were the protestors that the Government actually cancelled the RP2012 and promised that it would include the people's sentiments in the next plan. While the next plan ended up making no one entirely happy, there was a window for villages respond to the plans and to fill in a questionnaire asking for the development they wished for their own villages. It was months of hard work for both the GBA and various villages. I got laryngitis, twice, after explaining day after day just exactly how to tackle the RP2012. GBA members ended up exhausted and mentally drained. With no official training from the government, village regional committees and concerned citizens struggled with the task set them. Deadlines were extended time and again, but finally it was done. We heaved a sigh of relief too early, it now turns out.
All that hard work has gone into limbo along with the Regional Plan. There are no assurances as to when the Regional Plan will be finalised. Neither do we know what exactly is going to be finalised in it. Will the village plans made by the villagers hold importance or be swept aside by the government's plans? Will what we have asked for clearly as villages, be respected? What kind of development will finally be foisted on us? There are no answers and above all there is no Regional Plan. Like the Holy Grail, it remains lost in the mists of government procedures. And in the meantime, the doors have been flung open. While we wait eternally for the RP to be finalised, permissions are being handed out hand over fist. Amendment 16 an 16A is a nice little loop hole through which any project can be shoved once it is branded government project. When the Pilerne Action Committee asked for details of building NOC's handed out while we wait for the RP to finalised, the terrifying official reply was that they were numerous and details could not be given without diverting the staff from day to day work. You can imagine the volumes of NOC's that have been handed out! While we, good citizens, patiently wait for the Government to do the right thing, the government itself is busy subverting its own laws by using this window to pass neumerous projects which it refuses to inform us about.
We have been taken for a royal ride. Like children being diverted with a lollipop, we were handed the RP2021 with so called 'peoples participation'. That participation was never quantified, nor was it made clear whether it would be respected or included in the final plan. And, having taken the bait, while we waited around for the RP to be finalised, it was business as usual behind the scenes. There is no gentler way to put it we have been made absolute fools of. What are these neumerous projects? What rules do they follow? Do they respect the areas marked out in the RP2021? Under what guidelines are they being passed? The government can't inform us it would take diverting the staff from day to day work to give us these answers.
In this context it comes as a relief that the GBA has decided to hand out an ultimatum, saying it will take to the streets from 4 March if this passing of projects is not stopped, and a date is not set to finalise the RP. We have done our best to co-operate with the government like good law abiding citizens, working within the parameters the government gave us. But enough is enough. When the government breaks its own laws, creates convenient loop holes, and chooses to keep citizens in the dark about its activities then that government has lost its right to civil obedience. It's time to take to the streets again. That seems to be the only language this government understands. We have fought this fight before and we will do it again. Let the government beware! This time we are wiser. You can't fool all of the people all of the time Mr Kamat.



http://www.oheraldo.in/newscategory/Opinions/14
http://www.goablog.org/posts/goa-bachao-abhiyan-save-goa-campaign/

Goa's Categorically Categorical Chief Minister

Goa's Categorically Categorical CM


Goa's CM Digamber Kamat has categorically stated that there is no question of giving new mining leases and indicated that he had written to the Centre not to consider mining proposals for environmental clearances from Goa. Should Goa sigh, a sigh of relief? Or is it like many others, just another categorical statement by our categorical CM?

During the last assembly elections our CM had categorically stated that Congress in Goa would not succumb to political blackmail, so how come, there are traitors in his cabinet? After the Margao blast our CM had again categorically stated that, Goa will not tolerate terrorist elements on it's soil, so how come the institution connected with the bombers, is still very much breathing, breeding and active, and the politician with links to the institution is still a member of his cabinet?

Our CM had umpteen times categorically stated that the half buried mermaid off the Candolim coast would cease to be a landmark for environmental depravity? Isn't it still there as a tourist attraction, displaying our Governments lackadaisical attitude towards environment protection?

Our CM had also categorically stated that the perpetrators in the swords case in Margao would be brought to justice at the earliest. Does anyone know categorically what happened to the case? In the garbage case, even after categorically stating that it would be sorted out at the earliest, it's still a monstrous issue.

During the last Parliamentary election the CM had categorically assured, coastal Goans, that they would do all in their power, to protect their humble dwellings from the CRZ axe, has it categorically happened?

Last year CM Kamat had made a categorical statement that a comprehensive mining policy would be in place before January 2010, which now has been pushed to mid-March, there was yet another categorical statement made by our CM that stern action would be taken against illegal miners. Has illegal mining ceased to exist in Goa? Has any categorical action been taken against erring miners ? So why can't our categorical CM for once stop his categorically categorical blabber and give us some categorical action?


Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Feb 24, 2010
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/28528
www.goa-world.com

The Ethics Of Politics In Goa Has To Change

The Ethics Of Politics In Goa Has To Change



Goa's coalition government, was infact just a marriage of convenience, it was not a relationship that was built on trust, integrity and fidelity, infact it was full of deceit, hypocrisy, distrust and of course adultery. The premarital bonding it's self, was a disaster, wherein the odd spouses refused to sign the dotted lines of book of convenience and the mass wedding was in disarray, only after prolonged deliberations and discussions, on the terms of plump positions and status in the family business were assured, only then was the marriage finally solemnised amidst pomp and gaiety, with the blessing of the elite in-laws from Delhi, Bombay and Goa itself.


Although it's been more than two years for this marriage of convenience, things are far from hanky-dory, as expected the marriage has been rocked by claims of infidelity and domestic violence and was on the verge of collapse, on more occasions than not, but managed to survive, only because, the greed and the enticement for plump positions and status, was all, that the spouses were interested in. The wellbeing of the family and the community 'To hell with it' !

The forty year itch hit this marriage of convenience pretty early, we could even call it the 40 days itch and now the wide cracks are really showing and the cantankerous couples are becoming bolder, vociferous and even shameless, washing their dirty laundry in public. Their insecurities are most certainly obvious and getting worse by the day. The frequent visits to the marriage councilors, set up by the in-laws in Delhi and Bombay are become more of a habit than a necessity and that too at the cost of the tax payer, even as Goa is mired in debt upto it's neck.

In the last couple of days it looked like this marriage had reached the point of no return, the aggrieved spouses had formed an union called the G7, initially it did sound something like the elite group of industrial nations called the G8, G7 may not be as famous or as powerful as the elite G8, but are surely a force to recon with in paradise lost called Goa. From the very first day, this marriage was bound for the rocks but somehow managed to survive even the latest storm, but for how much longer it will hold on ? Only time will tell.



For some decades now we have seen the quality of governance deteriorating at a very rapid rate, so much so that today it's become a cesspool of corruption and greed, and only getting worse. The G7 movement is a further reminder to the Goan electorate, that our elected representative are only concerned about their welfare and least bothered about the wellbeing of the general public or our state. Our MLA's and Ministers have been too busy with issues that are extraneous to Goa and Goans, rather than in relative issues that are seriously affecting the day to day lives of Goans and are burgeoning into major impediment in the path of their progress.



While there are infinite number of critical issues, that we Goans are drowning in, our politicians hardly seem to have the time or the inclination, to take up these issues in earnest, whereas they have ample time, to trade in trite banalities against each other to promote, protect and safeguard their own personal selfish interests. This is not something new that's been happening in Goa, it's been going on for a couple of decades now, and it's rather very unfortunate that we Goans have accepted or allowed it continue without a cringe or even a twinge.



We are all aware, that most of the funds that Goa receives for development, somehow vanish into thin air without a whiff, it's only common knowledge where all the conduits lead to, even as we struggle to survive, with the more than two decades old infrastructure at our disposal, which is outdated and outpaced by the ever growing population and to make matters worse, we have allowed, the rampage of destructive development, to overburdened our already tattered and battered infrastructure which infact has, paradoxically brought an overall degradation to the quality of life in Goa. As far as constructive development in concerned, I am sorry to say that, Goa portrays a very digressing and polarised landscape at the moment.



Disparity is what rules Goa today, every nuke and corner of Goa is up in arms, agitating for it's very own survival, so much so that, while our politicians behave like petulant kids, agitations have become a part of our intricate lives. Our elected representatives, ensconced in their ivory beds with greenbacks for mattresses and inflated bank balances for a pillow, hatching unsuspecting and intricate plots to destroy Goa and inflate their own fortunes, have consigned our dreams and aspirations of a golden Goa to oblivion and this is what we have brought on ourselves, by electing these unambiguous swindlers.



We seriously need to contemplate and get our priorities right and put our act together. For long we have thought, that good governance was the preserve and prerogative of the central parties. History has been a witness to various events, where greatness was sacrificed at the alter, and mediocrity selected for the crown, but now we should be wiser, shouldn't we ?

The ethics of politics in Goa, have been deliriously obtuse, if not egregious. What conjures up an air of sadness is not just the quality of governance on offer, but the absence of any pride or even the will, to seek and elect good people, in Goa today. We most certainly, need to immediately change this aspect, if Goa and Goans have to survive, revive and thrive and this attitude should not be transient in anyway, but firmly imbedded in the mind and heart of every Goan at large. A change is what, is required and for that, it's our perception that has to change, so let us all be the change that we want.



Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Dubai - UAE
Mar 24, 2010

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/28971

Tar On Goan Beaches Has Become Seasonal

Tar On Goan Beaches Has Become Seasonal


In Goa a lot of things are seasonal, Goan weddings too are mostly preferred during the holidays, Diwali, Christmas or the summer Holiday. So also harvesting, and the conventional fruits too have their seasons, so do dogs, apart from all these, during the end of the summer, April, May we have another season for tar balls to make way to the shores, I have been a witness to this absurd phenomena for a couple of decades and as time goes by the amount of this unhealthy and unwarranted residue just keeps on increasing.

The whole year round we have visitors from all over the world visiting Goan beaches and our coastline, although our beaches are far from being what they use to be, they are still accessible, but come April, May we are stuck with tar deposits all along our coast, in our village because of the smallness of the seafront it's appalling to see four to six inches of tar all along our beach front making a mess of our beach, the only option we have is to set fire to it late in the evenings, otherwise we have to wait for the heavy monsoons to come and wash it away.

During this particular season every year this aberration makes it's presence felt, affecting sea life, birds and us humans as well. Most of us in the village like to have a dip in the sea before we proceed to the spring which is just a few steps away from the sea, but during this particular time, if you venture into the sea, you could have a tan that the Africans could envy, and the tar even reaches the spring, making it unusable.

Though our authorities have been notified about the tar deluge no action has come forth. What can be the source of this highly pollutant chemical compound?

From were does this tar come? Can it be the ships, barges, oil tanks or even the Zuari Agro-chemical factory? This particular phenomena occurs year after year without fail. So there must be some one or some people, who do some process which results into the pollution of our beaches and our environment. Our Authorities have to find this source and stop this deadly deluge.

Although year after year this particular problem is highlighted by the media, our authorities have not taken any action nor have they come up with any action plan to stop this aberration. Countries like Japan, Singapore and the USA have placed stringent law against defaulters polluting their water, and even a stain or a blob in the sea by the vessel, will immediately invite repercussions that will give the defaulting companies or the owners, sleepless nights and burn a huge hole in their finances as well.

Why can't we have these stringent laws in place to protect our beaches and our environment ? If one visits the Cutbona jetty in south Goa, it's appalling to see oil and diesel spilled all over the floor as well as the water and nobody cares, over the years, the shell fish, cockles, mussels, snails and oysters have all but disappeared from this area, even the crabs smell of oil. When will our authorities wise up or will they ever?


Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Dubai - UAE

________________

Link article:
PANAJI: Sea water bringing along blobs of viscous material and depositing these on the beaches of Ashvem in the north and Benaulim in the south is turning tourists away. As summer draws to a close, the sea churns out all the dirt and the grime in the form of tar balls that wash up on the shore.

At Ashvem beach, while some tourists and locals alike on Friday seemed unfazed by the floating grime, others preferred not to venture into the reddish brown water. "The water leaves a sticky film on the body," said a middle-aged tourist.

Though this is an annual feature, the government hasn’t ever made special plans to clean the beaches of these tar balls. Director of tourism Elvis Gomes said the maintenance of hygiene on Goa’s beaches has been tendered. "The contractors have to monitor cleanliness and hygiene on beaches," he said. But the contractors do not seem alive to the problem though these contracts extend up to the end of May.

Tar balls are formed by the sea whipping up the oil heavy polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons lying at the bottom of the sea formed by the oil discharged by ships when at port. "When the sea starts churning, they cohese from liquid fractions into solids," Dr Joe D’Souza, a microbiologist said. He added, "sometimes, if the density is less, they float on the surface like foam."

A study conducted some years back by Dr D’Souza had collected two separate samples of tar balls from the beaches of Goa and sent for analysis to PetroLab GMBH, in Speyer, Germany. Using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry the analysis of the tar balls revealed the presence of 16 polyaromatic hydrocarbons of which benzo(a)pyrene and naphthalene are known to be highly carcinogenic.
(Times of India)

Also view
http://www.goaaquatics.com/gallery_goa.html

Goyem kaal, Goyem aiz, Goyem faleam astolem ?

Konkani Speech - by Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
(Global Goan Convention - Muscat 2009)

Goyem kaal, Goyem aiz, Goyem faleam astolem ?

Your Excellency, the Indian Ambasador to the Sultanat of Oman Mr. Anil Wadhwa, Amchea sogleamchea volkicho ani apurbayecho Goy'cho put, videxi aslolea Bharat Nagrikamcho Commissioner manadik Shri. Eduardo Faleiro, her mukeli Soire ani mojea bhou mogall Goy'karano. Aiz vhod khuxallkai ani obhiman maka bhogta tumchea mukar ubo ravun bagh ghevounk hea no-via ak'kea sonvsarant ximpodlolea Goy'karamchea maha-mellaveant, ani upkar attoitam Dr. Mario-ache, thannem maka ho soyoug dhilo mhunn. Hanv tumcho abbari Dr. Mario. Argam attoitam Oman Goy'karanche ani magtham tumkam uppot bessanvam sorgimchim.

Hanv tumkam ek prosn vichartam ani ravtam tumi to sogot eka tallen ditoleat mhunn, Ami Goy'kar ? Anik ek paut tumkam vichartam, ami Goy'kar ? Khosle Goy'kar ? Nizache Goy'kar, Hoi ami nizache Goy'kar, sarkem asa, punn ami thondanuch nizache Goy'kar mhunn ucharlear zaina, ami tem khorneanim dhakovunk zai, amchea holddeant asunk zia, poile swater niz Goy'karachem khaliz, niz Goy'karachi Konkani jib amchea thondant ani Goy' mattecho mog, husko ani dhasti dhavunk zai amchea rogtant, rakhunk ani samballunk amche Goy mattek, nistor mon'xeanchea hatatlim, je Goy' mattek broxtacharan bhorun thicho bolathkar korunk sodtat, thedna-ki amchean mhunnonk zata, ki, oi ami niz Goykar mhunnon. Asa hem amche sovem ? Ami khosle Goy'kar ? Jivak borem dislem itke soggot niz Goy'kar hangasor asat tem polloun.

Maghtam amchea mukeli Pauneam ani heram Soiream thaim, thannim okmanit zauvchem nhoi, jedna hanv uloitam amchea aamdharam ani rajkarbaream-chea khortutam voir, punn tem borea monan, somzun ani nittai-er haddunk vavurunk moji khalti maghnim tumche sovem.

Amche Maim baxen ek mhunni asa “vellachi ghoddi ani somdirachi sukti bhorti, khonnakuch ravona” “time and tide waits for no men” he mhunnent soglemch sott asam. Hoi, mogall Goy’karamno, vellachi ghoddi ani somdirachi sukti bhorti khonnakuch ravona, faleam kitem astolem vo kitem zat’tlem, khonnachean sangonk zait ? Faleam khonnen pollelam ? Aicho dis gorjecho, aichem kam faleam keddinch soddchem nhoi, mhunn amchea purvozani amkam sanglam. Amcho ani amchea burgeamcho fuddar boro zat’tlo zalear aizuch ami vauvrunk zai, aichea kortutamchem amkam faleam mukamoll distolem. Vellachi ghoddi ani somdirachi sukti bhorti khonnakuch ravona ! Time and tide waits for no man.

Aiz ami ektovleam, somsarant ximpodlolea Goy’karamchea maha-mellaveant “Galfant asl’lo Goy’kar” ho hettu ghevun. Videxant asl’lea dor eka Goy’karachi chintnam ani sopnam asta, ami kedna Goyeam pavtole-gai mhunn, punn hatunt ek motto prosn uprasta, Goy’eant amkam kitem rauvta ? What awaits us in Goa ? Or what do we go back to ?

Adlea temparlem bangarachem Goyem amchem, irrvea zadhamni borlelem, ghirestkayechem bhandar tem aslem, tiche ankvar suropayecho ani sundortayecho onnbhov ghevunk, baile desantle toxech purai Bharatant rauvpi zantte toxe nentte axeta-let, udenttechem Roma-xar mhunn ucharlolem, Bharat desheachea mukuttar loklokit thik mhunn pacharlolem, turistamchem tikkan mhunn porgottlolem, kitleai pauvti bhetton, thanchi thaan (thirst) bago nasli, anikui bhettonk tim axetalim, bailo lok ximittacheo vhod imaroti pollounk eanat, nam mhunnon vingle dongor vo nixonton zallim mollam, bailo lok ganvchea nitol swast vathavoranak ani ankwar suropayek bulta, ani hench ami sambalunk ani vadovunk moji sorkara thaim maghnim, and it is the natural beauty of Goa that needs to protected, preserved, nourished and harnessed to develop our tourism industry.

Ami addlea tempachem jednam chinttanv, (the good old days) tednam amkam, amchea sadeponacho, udharponacho, mog-moipasacho ugdas ieta, khoslich dhasti nastonam jietalet, swast vathavaranacho, swas ghevun, nitol udik pieun, ghorchem pikoilem jevon jevun, ani somdirantlem tajem nustem khavun sukki asle. Soglem sovai aslem ani sompeponim mello, Ghoram amchim disa 24-voram ugtim aso, khonnui to zanv, vatsuream kednach portim naslim, te dis ekdomuch annondache asle. Aiz te dis amkam mevot-gai ? Aiz ami toxem khorunk xoktanv-gai ? Will we ever get those days back ? Nam, Aichi poristiti toxi nam. It is certainly different now. Unfortunately things have changed drastically.

Koslem duvens Goy’eank laglam ? Udorgotichea narrear amche irrve dongor ani zaddam nanch khorun udoileant, dongor foddun, xetam bhorun amchea peryavaranacho satyanas khela, vhod vhod imaroti bandun amchea disadispotea jivitache halo-val keleat, hea mega housing-ant, ghoram ghevunk Goy’karank putvota ? Nam, mogall Goy’karano, tor hem khonak ani kiteak bandthat ? He udorgothiche paunde nhoi, him noxtachi paulam zavun asa. Osli noxti udorgoth Goy’karank kityak zai ? Hanv mhunnona Goy’chi udorgoth zanvchi nhoi mhunn, but what we need is constructive development and not destructive development. Ami amchem atrun pollun amche paim sodunk zai. Ami 21-via xenkdeachi vatt thankthanv punn azzun-i amkam favo titli bijli ani ghoroz titlem udok Goy’karank poile swater mellona, zaite khelle ganvani loak sanjeche 5-hora fudden tube light-i pettoun dhovortat, kiteak, tilsanz zatoch teo pettonat, bijili pavona, toxench zaietch khelle ganvani “public” nolla-xim vo tankara-xim aidonachi vhodli khota (line) khorun, axen udkachi vhatt poletat, osle poristetent amcho sorkar maha-imarotimk khoxi porvangi dita ? Zait amche rajkarbari oslea ganvani azunhoi pavunk nant ?


Mina vorvim anik ek vhod odruxt Goy’cher ailolem asa, khudd amchea Vidhan Sobeant, zababdharechea mon’xan mutlam ki, zaite amche aamdhar ani montri akaidixer minant baghidar asat mhunn, azuni 40-sam voir akaidixer mina khonni-ni, min khaddit asat, hem itle sobemazar cholta astonnam, amcho sorkar kuddea-chem dhong ghevun asa. Bharatache Unch niyailayen (Supreme Court) hukum ghatlolo asa ki, khuichea-i “rakon mapllelea” swatimchea (protected areas) 1-Km bhountim, min khadunk zainam mhunn, totakpachi ghoxt mutlear, Peryavaran Mantralayan, oslea 3 (tin) zageancher min khadunk, Goy’eant porvangi dil’li asa. Unch niyailayecho kitem respet ?

Amche irrve dongor ani mollam amkam anik kitlo tem mhunn dhektolet te amchean sangonk zainam, hem orixit noxt amchea swast peryavarancho ani nitol vataverancho bosm kortolem. Bharat sorkarachi eauzon asa purai Bharatant zomniche 33% (tokke) irrve asche mhunn, aslolea tea ranache 50% (tokke) tor noxt khorun udiole, tor 33% khuiche urtole ? Sorkarachi hi eauzon Goy’chea peryavaranacheo khel-bai-io xeo distat. Sorkar cholovpi munisuch aplea sorkarache kaide moddtat tor, kaide anik kiteak ? Minachea vatharant zaiteo baim-eo sukleat, khondare, toleo ani zori pasun noxt zaleat, varea baxen, udokui mon’xakullak ekdomuch ghorjechem. Mon’xean, peryavarana borobor ani tichea sangata paul marchem, nhoi tor munis sandtolo, anik ek mhunni asa, “vetak cukot tor vaunvak sukta” uprant roddon faido nam. Udorgothchea nanvan, poixeamchea axen peryavaran noxt khorop sarkem nhoi, kiteak mon’xeakullacho fudhar peryavaranacheruch asa.

Ak’kea sonvsarak loak peryavaranam khatir zuzta punn amchea Goy’ant, khonakuch poddonk nam, ami peryavaranacho valor zanna zavun-uni to mandun ghenant. Poixeamche axen mon’xak khuddo kela, poixeamchea fuddem amkam anik kainch dissona, oxem khorun ami peryavaran sambalche boldek, tem noxt khorpac amcho tenkko dila, ani hachi amkam zap dhinvchich podteli. Je porim ami vethanv te porim 33% irrvem Goyem kedinch asonk xokchem-nam.

Amche montri mhuntat, minamcho dhondo anikui fuddem vorcho punn thacho peryavaranacher, ani mon’xeamcher unnean unnem osor poddcho (minimum impact). Goy’eant min khaddunk laglear kitlim vorsam zalim? Anik unnean unnem osor mhuntat to khoslo ? Mina khonnitli mati denvun amcheo nodi purvot aileo, ani vaunvtea udokachi vhatt bondh zavunk paulia, baimeo, toleo, khondare sukot aileat ani uloleanchem udok noxt zavun, mon’xank toxem zonvarank khotro asa, pikavolichea xetant, minachi matti poddon xetam noxt zaleant, mina-khonnichea vatharani roste sarke nasson zaite obgathak sompodleat, toxench thea vatharant tanchim ghoram ani pempde (lungs) dulan bhoron asa, ani kitlech, torechea duvensak sampodlole asat, zalear ho unnem osor koso zavunk xekta, ho unnem osor zalear, choddan chod osor kitem astolo ? Parman-hatiyaramcho attak (a nuclear holocaust), Goy’eant, Purtugez tempar thaun min khadtat tor amchea sorkaran azunui “mining policy” kiteak mandunk nam ? Bailea, ontrollavelea praneank ti mandunk ravta ? Are we waiting for the aliens to draft it for us ? Hea vhel’lar, hem ekdomunch mothvachem ki ami hea modur ani ekdomuch gorjechea prosnacher amchem lokx ghalun ani goroz podlear forsanui hea odruxtacher zoit zoddunk, amchi Goy’chi nazuk sobitai ani sundortai amchea fudlea pindgeank sambalchi.

Hea amche cholvolint amchea ammdharani ami montreani dudvamchea forsan mining-gak ani bilder-rank aplo tenkko dil’lo asa, thor osle porititint Bab Feleir-acho kitem vichar ? Goy’chem nixonton zanvchem ? vo Goyem sambalchem ?

Goy’eant kaidea mandavoll ekdomunch bigodleli asa, brostachar ek dhanvte ghadiea sarko, ekdomunch hat-bhair paula. Hakach lagon, amcho Goy’cho sorkar, halta-dolta, adlouta, khod-khodta ani amchea pulam baxen kedn-ai podunk xokta. Kaido-vhevosta amcheam rostem baxen biglot asa, kaim dissam poilim tin disank 10-modim mel’lolim, bomb funtleat ani disan dis choreo, khui pauvlam amchem Goyem ? Brostachar, udhorgothichea paundear ek vhod adkhod zaun asa, zo meren brostachar vostolo te meren Goy’eant khoslich udhargoth zaunchi nam.

Kaido mutleli vost fokt amkam ghoribank, poixe aslole mon’xank khoslech kaide lagonat, amche aamdhar montri chodxe tanchea poxeamchea forsan akaidixer khama koteleank aplo tenkko ditat ani innocent mon’xank pidhapid formaitat. Je kaidean, aplea hok’ak khatir, mina ani “mega project-tam” virud zoggodtat thankam rokdech dhorun, bondkhonint ghalun, pidhapid ditat, ani “encounter” khorun marpachi dhomki passun ditat.

Amchem, bolaikechem, toxench xikxon kendrachi poristiti itli bigodloli asa ki, bitor voichem poilem, 100 paut chintchem poddtat, amcho monis vo burgo, hatunt bitor vo hache bhair boro astolo-gai mhunn ? Hakach lagon zaitech ghorib, zanchekodde tankona, te pasun aplea mon’xank ani burgeank “private” hospitalant ani scholani dhadtat. Aiz Goy’ent hi poristiti zal’li asa.

Ami amchea burgeank ani fudlea pindgank kitem dhovrunk sodtanv ? Khosli girestkai ? Ami sokt chintunk zai, ani aizuch chintunk zai, vellachi ghoddi ani somdirachi sukti, bhorti khonakuch ravona. Amchem adlem, kaalchem Goy’chem chinttun amchim kalza-monak sontostat, suseg-shanti mel’lta, Amchea aichea Goy’chem chintlear dolleant fokt dukham ietat, ani amche ghirestkai ektaupache axek lagon Goy’chi suropai ani sosnikai khobar khorun udoit zalear, faleam Goyem astolem ? Atam vell paula, khorneani amchem niz Goy’kar-pon rakunk, Uttat Goy’karam-no, “vellachi ghoddi ani somdirachi sukti bhorti khonnakuch ravona,” “vethak cukot tor vanvak chuktole”. Faleam Goyem aschem zallear Rakkon khorat Goy-mattechi.

Hea soggot noxtank ek zabab asa, ani thantuntleannuch Goychem ani Goy’karamchem boreponn zavunk zata, them mhutllear bore nitol monnache ani nitol khalzache mon’xank niudun haddunk, je fokt Goychea ani somajeachea borepnna pasot vauvurtole, Goyeant borem sason zai tor, sason choloipi bore asunk zai, thaka lagun moji khalti maghnni Bab Faleiro thaim, zo Congress sorkaracho ek vorixt khambo zavun asa, magtham ieta thea elisanvant bore nitoll, Goy’cho ani Goy’karamcho husko aslole ummedvar amkam divunk.

Baxon khobar khortam, Swargi Ravindranath Tagor-achea utrani “hea tol-moleantlean ani koxtantlean uttum-di mojem Goyem” “Through all this turmoil and tragedy let my Goa awake”

Peryavaran rakhat, Goyem rakhat, Bharat Jai ho, Goyem Jai ho, Viva Goa

Dev borem khorum.

[Source: http://goanidentity.blogspot.com/2009/11/konkani-speech-freddy-agnelo-fernandes.html ]

Tip The Den, Mickey !

Tip The Den, Mickey !



As kids most of us must have played 'hide and seek and tip the den games one time of the other, both are similar but tip the den is certainly the more exciting one, as kids it was very exciting and enjoyed it too, it did not require to many kids as well, could be played even between just two kids, with not much space required either, one could play it anywhere and everywhere. In villages even today, every time I watch kids play that game a smile lights up my face and takes me back in time, to the good old days of yore.

While playing this game we hid, not just behind trees or structures but also in some of the most difficult of places not worried of the dirtiness around or the availability of light either, we just made ourselves as invisible as possible, leaving the poor soul (the den) to spot us before we tipped the den, sometimes a few of us would come in a group out of nowhere and tip the den, leaving the den confused and immobile. For kids it does sound good but when the grown up's play this game, they look ridiculously silly.

Last couple of day the media is all about our Hip Hop politician Mickey playing tip the den with our security services and I am sure he is going to tip the den even before our den, the police, realize it, making them look utterly foolish.

Mickey Mickey Mickey where are thou? asks the security services, how can a man of your stature and acumen do this to us, when we supported you in all your endeavors, acted blind to all your aggressions, even against our very own, and time and again reached late to curb your favourite indulgence the direos, we even let you drive your expensive all terrain vehicle the Hummer without registration, helped you by delaying the FIR filed by your wife Sara, and the complain by the Engineer whom you had slapped. Even in this case too we will help you as much as we can, now just because it's fresh news, everyone is interested, but after a while everything will be forgotten. We have been so nice and accommodating and why do you like to make us look foolish in front the Goan people?


Most of us know the fire brand politician who got his kicks by breaking every rule in the book or on second thoughts, he could have been ignorant of the rules, a .
possibility knowing his personal limitations. He was a tailor by profession, he then goes to Bahrain where he struggles and in some years reaches the land of opportunities called USA, like a lot of migrants his stars seemed to have shone too and out of a nobody he suddenly becomes everybody's envy, as he lands up in a fortune that nobody had dreamt off.

He than comes back to Goa flaunting his newly acquired riches and locks horns with our Great Churchill Almeao and before anyone could say Alleluia he kicks Churchill'sbackside and wins the election from the constituency of Benaulim and voila in no time showing his muscle and money power becomes a minister, if one dud can become a Minister or even a Chief Minister why not the other? So starts the political life line of Mickey. He even went to the extent of owning a football team but then as the football governing body of India did not bow to his ethics he withdrew his team. But as it is said it's impossible to straighten the tail of a dog, so also the problematic life style of the flamboyant Mickey.


Old habits are hard to die is an old axiom which is very much applicable to Mickey, his inherent temper and his flair for expensive cars, women and equally fast lifestyle were not the perfect panaceas for all his ills and did put him in a lot of trouble both personally, as well as a politician and the latest episode has culminated into Mickey playing tip the den with the security services. How far and how long it's to go? We'll have to just wait and watch.


Mean while speculations and anxiety over the situation grows the bereaved family has to go through muck and acrimony. This is indeed tragic. In any crime the guilty must be punished, but isn't it true that every crime should be treated equally? Every individual has to be given justice? Does not our constitution give justice for all ? So, when so many other equally questionable suicides, murders and abetments are just ignored, while only a few are looked into, why is the life of this young lady so important and that of the others so worthless? Are we seeking justice? Or are we seeking revenge? Or are we seeking political mileage? In fulfilling our political agendas we just do not mind whom we trample over or what distress we cause to the other, as long as we get the publicity.



Freddy Agnelo Fernandes
Dubai - UAE

June 8, 2010


http://www.nme.com/awards/video/search/goan
http://goanfocus.blogspot.com/2010/06/tip-den-mickey.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ia9CTFzZwg&feature=player_embedded#!
http://goanamigo.blogspot.com/2010/07/tip-den-mickey.html
Posted by Goa-World.COM