Day 0.
Why 99 Goa has come to existence?
The editor & publisher of 99 Goa (the author) has as of today completed 40 months and 17 days, residing permanently in Goa.
The author's relationship with Goa, which started as a "love", swing to "love-hate" and then for some time, off-late has been hinged to "hate". So much so that, appalled by the wide-spread apathy & greed of aboriginal,inhabitants and tourists of Goa prompted the author to leave this place permanently.
But it's not easy to leave anyone or anything, which you love dearly, isn't it?
And also, introspectively, while I had the whole world to blame; the fact of matter was that, I did not do anything, which could help a bit in changing the status-quo of this 'once a paradise, now a hell'.
This has been haunted me for a long time now, and while the 'thought' of leaving this place/state has not left me, a better dawn dawned upon me, which led to this 'thought', that for the while, I am still here; I might as well, at least obliterate this 'personal shame' of not doing anything to change the 'status quo'.
At least while, I would leave, I would have the satisfaction of having tried, not only with the 'conduct', but also 'courage'.
'99 Goa' is an EXPEDITION in that regard, to put, the everyday things in Goa, in such a perspective, that all the 3 stake-holders of Goa (aboriginal, inhabitant & tourists) start questioning and then endeavouring for a "Better Goa!".
This is a personal 'professional' endeavour also in the regard; that I have started to love to hate, almost all the journalists in the country (baring a 'chosen' few), but I have nothing to 'show' how the game should be played in 'recent times'. 99 Goa is thus, also an effort to legitimise my 'bitching' about the current journalistic standards in the country.
The only way to play the game, is to be in the game. The only way to fight, is to be in the arena.
Like as of the most of the things in my life, if not all, I am not sure, where this leads to me, but also, my ambition knows no bound. But the fact of the matter is that, the coolest thing in the world happens, when you take on something which is closest to your heart, with a child like enthusiasm, only as a side-project.
Since someone else has almost the copyright on 'Day 1', I am going to outsmart him and the mantra at '99 Goa' is going to be 'Day 0', ALWAYS.
By all means, this EXPEDITION would only last till I am here (and I don't see too many more months here), but I hope even if I leave, someone else would come forward to carry this forward. But on second thoughts, I might not ever leave.
'Better Goa!' has to be ingrained as a personality trait, in all the 3 stake-holders, that's the only way, the only way Goa can survive.
Excelsior Goa, Goemkars and all the rest!
PS : Image from today’s edition of newspaper ‘Lokmat’ about the destruction of beach front of Agonda beach in Canacona, at South Goa due to heavy rains and rising sea-water levcels.
Ps 2: The ‘greed’ and ‘apathy’ is evident.
