Minister Sudin Dhavlikar in the Assembly yesterday said that Portugal must first apologise to Goa for mercilessly ruling over Goans. He also appreciated the role of Bharat of ousting the Portuguese from Goa because of which he said he and his colleagues are become legislators in Goa.
For the kind information of Dhavlikar, an MGP product, if he and others are enjoying the benefit of legislators in Goa, the credit should go to Dr. Jack de Sequeira for leading the fight to get victory in the Opinion Poll 50 years back. Sudin Dhavlikar’s Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party under its anti-Goan boss Dayananda Bandodcar wanted to liquididate the identity of Goa by merging Goa with Maharastra and if they had to get the victory, there would not be Legislative Assembly in Goa. In this case, Sudin Dhavlikar and all the legislators would not be legislators. Hence, it was the anti-mergerists who are responsible to make Dhavlikar and others as legislators.
Secondly, though I disapprove of the colonialisation of Goa by the Portuguese, yet I see from the historical point of view that the Portuguese did not invade Goa just as India did on 19.12.61 but they were invited to take the possession of Goa by the then rulers of Goa because the local non-Christian people were fighting among themselves.
Many of the woes of Goa were the making of Portuguese dictator Salazar whose persecution was faced even by the Portuguese citizens in Portugal which was worse than what our elders have faced. If it was not for the Portuguese we in Goa would be practicing some of the worst cruel practices. It was Portuguese that gave us Goans certain decency and life standard which was absent in other parts of India. In 1961 December the living standard of Goans was much higher than that of average Indians elsewhere beyond the boundaries of Goa. Today if we as Goans admired and liked by the other Indians and foreigners it is only because of the discipline and manners inculcated in us by the Portuguese. This discipline and manners are still missing in other Indians. If today tourists from India and abroad are coming to Goa it is only because of the peaceful atmosphere existing in Goa inherited from Portuguese rule and also to enjoy the fusion of Western and Eastern cultures existing in Goa due to Portuguese rule. I am grateful to Portuguese for this good influence though I repeat that I disliked their colonialism of my Goa.
If any Portuguese has to apologise to genuine Goa lover Goans like me then it must be the then Foreign Minister of Portugal Mario Soares for signing the surrender treaty of Goa to Bharat without consulting us, the Goans. Mario Soares acted worse than the dictator Salazar. Secondly, it is the Mahastrawadi Gomantak Party of Sudin Dhaulikar that has to apologise for Goans for trying to liquidate Goa’s identity, culture, language and tradition by merging Goa with Maharastra.
While we are blaming the Portuguese can we ask ourselves how different are we now under the Bharati rule? Goans are treated now like third grade citizens of India. Our tails are held tightly by the Delhi Central government. If we want something good for our Goa the Central government refuses forcing us to come on to the streets. See one major demand of Goans that is Special Status for Goa is denied for us for so long by both the Congress and BJP. There is no law and order in Goa as it was during the Portuguese regime. The governments of Goa and India are harping on the hoax of democracy but I ask what is the use of democracy if you have no basic life amenities such as life security, employment facilities, equal social status etc.? Indian system is discriminatory while Portuguese not, for this reason Portuguese gave us the same facilities as to their own citizens.
After analysing everything, I feel we were better off and better treated during the Portuguese regime but not now. Now Goa is plundered in all sides by the Indians coming from all over India. Earlier it was not like that. Now under Bharati rule Goa is administered and ruled by the third grade administrators and rulers who are looting Goa like hell. An average Goan now is not happy with the rule of Goans as well as of Central rulers. They are not good for the cause of Goa and Goans but they are good for themselves and for their nearest and dearest. I dislike this Bharat for all the ills it created in Goa but do not accept the Portuguese colonialism. Neither I like the colonialism of Goa by New Delhi.
A.Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel:7507394349.