Many of our Goans holder of foreign Passports and cozily settled down in the West are questioning me, saying “why I am not leading a movement in support of the independence of Goa from the illegal occupation by India”?
Their contention is this that since I spearheaded the movement in Goa to create awareness in India for the liberation of Kuwait, so, why I cannot do the movement for getting independence for Goa?”
Their second contention is this that since from Kuwait I struggled to get Statehood for Goa, hence, why can’t I do similarly for independence for Goa?
Through this forum, I counter question them by asking, “Why can’t they do the same by being abroad?” Somebody is telling me that Veronica you are a coward and because you are so you are not touching this topic.
In fact I will be the happiest person if Goa is independent nation because by being a part of Bharat, Goa is losing its identity and characteristics existing prior to December 1961. I feel hurt to see the difference between Goa then and Goa now and also Goans then and Goans now under the command of Bharat.
In half a century of Bharati domination Goa lost 50% of its pristine attributes and by the time Goa completes a century under Bharati rule, Goa will be totally submerged into Bharati attributes, namely: culturally, socially, linguistically, demographically, physically and in all other aspects. Then Goa will lose its total identity and become like any other part of India with all corrupt Bharati attributes.
If it was not for our campaign and our financial support from Kuwait Goan community, Konkani movement would never gained the push that it did gained. For the success of Konkani movement in Goa, Gulf Goans in general and Kuwait Goans in particular played a stellar role while our brothers in the West remained silent observers without contributing anything. When Konkani got success by being official language of Goa then only Goa was conferred with Statehood. At least the Soul of Goa was saved by getting separate Statehood thereby permanently eradicating the fear of Goa’s merger with Marathi Maharastra.
Otherwise from the ongoing trend in Goa the current Goan politicians for a price would sell Goa to Maharastra by even surpassing Bandodkar’s strategy of merging Goa with Maharastra.
What Bandodkar and his MGP could not attain the current money greedy corrupt Goan politicians would do for a price. They would not mind selling Goa to Maharastra; some of the Goan politicians are known even to sell their wives and daughters for money and political power. Some of the current Goan politicians belonging to some of the political parties are of this dirty character.
It must be noted carefully that Veronica was not the only architect of the success of Goa-Kuwait Solidarity movement in Goa in support of the liberation of Kuwait. In this successful movement Caetano Joao from Merces, Manuel Fernandes from St. Cruz, Sheih Agnelo from Agacaim, Roland Martins from Mapusa and many others patriotic to this cause played a stellar role, no doubt Veronica initiated this movement but the entire success of it cannot be attributed to Veronica alone though Veronica played a majestic role in this movement as none played.
Thru this movement Kuwait Goans did not physically liberate Kuwait from the illegal occupation by Iraq but surely created a strong awakening in favour of the liberation for Kuwait thereby bringing heavy pressure on Indian government to toe its line in support of Kuwait’s liberation since in the beginning India’s stand on this issue was Hamletic.
Similarly Veronica was not the only person for the success of Konkani movement in Kuwait starting from "NovemGoem" movement. Besides Veronica, Alexander Fernandes and A.B. Fernandes both from Colva Salcette played stellar role to attain success for Novem Goem movement. Additionally Avertano Furtado, local Tiatrists and other Goans too played their part very well for the success of Novem Goem movement in particular and Konkani movement in general.
Many of those who played stellar role in the promotion of Konkani movement from Kuwait are living a retired life in Goa but nobody on forefront in running the Konkani movement in Goa remembers these ex Kuwaitkars. To locate them in Goa you need not need a Binocular, they should not be treated as forgotten heroes of Konkani movement in Kuwit. Even the efforts of the Dogs of Konkani promoters in Goa are highlighted in Goa by the Goa based Konkani associations but of none from Kuwait in particular and Gulf in general for promoting the cause of Konkani from Kuwait in particular and from the Gulf in general.
Coming back to those Goenkars holding foreign passports and settled down in the West, many of them will remain only talking Goans, doing nothing concrete for Goa. Most of them have even sold their ancestral houses and properties to non-Goans in Goa leaving no traces of their Goanness and on top of it how they gather courage to talk of their affiliation to Goa? Some of them will pen down their majestic ideas on internet because its access is free of charge.
At least we thru our movements from Kuwait saved Goan “Kaxtti” to protect our private parts otherwise Marathivadis from Maharastra would bare our Marbles even in Ratnagiri and Malwan.
Recently there was a huge gathering in UK for one Goan festival where everyone was nostalgic of Goa by depicting Goa. But what have they done for Goa to protect their roots in Goa? How many of them bade final adieu to Goa by disposing of their ancestral houses and properties? Will they and their children return to their roots?
With their money power they should purchase Goan land and properties, construct hotel and small scale industries. At least Kuwait Goans joined together and by pulling their financial resources started hotel industry in Goa.
Very shortly there will be Goa Day marked around the expatriates Goan arena. What will be its purpose? To dance and eat Goan Sorpotel and depict Ballroom Dance as Goan culture? Or to do Goan awakening to protect Goa and Goan interest in Goa? The promoters of Goa Day will do nothing worthwhile for Goa and Goans in Goa as in the past they have done nothing. I have no hope in West settled Goans with foreign passports to do anything better for Goa.
Those who are questioning me by remaining in the West with foreign passports, I advise them to form a group, come under one banner to fight for justice for Goa from the illegal annexation of Goa by Bharat and raise this issue forcefully in the West. Give a memorandum to the UN because many of you are closer to the location of the UN. Let there be a noise and debates that side because that side is more important to make Goan voice more audible. Making noise in the West will give better dividends.
Even Francis Luis Gomes about 200 years back made noise for the cause of Goa by campaigning in the West including in France and it created good dividends. Let the world know the genuine grievances of Goans. It is easy for West settled Goans holding foreign passports to raise this issue than for Goans in Goa or in the Gulf holding Indian Passports.
Can any west settled Goan come forward for this job? Sermonising me and others will not help. What we did for Goan causes from Kuwait in particular and from other Gulf countries is unique and unforgettable even though Goa based Konkani leaders pretend to be ignorant of this fact.
When we organized Rallies in Panjim for the cause of Kuwait, none of the Konkani leaders and promoters supported us openly by joining in our rallies when we from Kuwait so much helped the Konkani movement in Goa. They failed to support us when we needed it. When we laughed they too laughed with us but when we cried they still went on laughing only oblivious of our tragedy. It is a sign of ingratitude. Will such people appreciate the wonderful job done by Kuwait Goans for the cause of Konkani? Never.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
