Mr.Sequeira and Mr.Bandodkar looking at "36" on 36 and wondering, whether it was worth it?
Present state of State of Goa s the betrayal of both "54" and "46" of 1967.
20 Years before Goa gained statehood,on 30th of May 187; there was this famous "Opinion Poll" was conducted in 1967. 54% of the voters of Goa, then voted in favour of being an independent entity. With the current state which Goa is in, the descendants of those 54%, are feeling betrayed?
After Goa's liberation from Portuguese rule in 1961, the question of its future status arose. There were divergent views regarding the integration of Goa into the Indian Union. Some advocated for Goa's separate identity, while others proposed its merger with Maharashtra, our neighbour state with linguistic and cultural similarities.
The Indian government decided to conduct an Opinion Poll to determine the preference of the Goan population. The poll allowed residents of Goa to cast their vote on the following two options:
a. Option A: Goa to remain a separate union territory with its own legislature and administration.
b. Option B: Goa to merge with the state of Maharashtra.
The Opinion Poll was held on January 16, 1967. The majority of Goans voted in favor of Option A, with 54% choosing to keep Goa as a separate territory. Option B received 46% of the votes. The result was seen as a mandate for Goa's continued separate identity within the Indian Union.
The United Goans Party (UGP), led by Mr.Jack de Sequeira, advocated for Option A, arguing for the preservation of Goan identity and cultural distinctiveness. On the other hand, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) supported Option B, emphasizing the linguistic and cultural affinity between Goa and Maharashtra.Mr.Sequeira was not only pivotal in this "Opinion Poll" but also in the liberation of Goa.
The vote, then for a separate identity of Goa within the Union of India, was also for the fact, that Goa and Goans get their fair due share after the independence from Portuguese.
Now, if Mr.Jack de Sequeira would look back from the heaven, with those 54% who voted for an "independent Goa" within an "Independent India", what would be their sentiments?
Now, let's come back to the rest of 46%, who voted for Goa being made a part of Maharashtra. While they lost in the Opinion Poll (led by MGP); it was the sustained efforts of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and its leaders that led to the formation of the state of Goa. The MGP, under the leadership of Dayanand Bandodkar, played a crucial role in advocating for statehood and negotiating with the central government.
Difficult to say, what would have been Goa, if it was amalgamated with Maharashtra.But, if Mr.Dayanand Bandodkar and the rest of 46%, those who voted for Goa being made a part of Maharashtra; but ultimately made Goa an independent state, would look into the present state of the state, what would be their sentiments?
The “36” which Mr.Sequeira and Mr.Bandodkar would be pondering over from the heaven, and it’s anybody’s guess, what they would be feeling right now…
1.)36 Years hence, aboriginal Goans are still crying for potable water; while Chief Minister goes out in front of the country and tom-toms that everyone has tap water in Goa.
2.)Electrified Goa, but absolutely poor quality power and that too at the whims and fancies of Power department.
3.)Foodgrains distributed through PDS, rotten and infested with insects and maggots.
4.)Potholed and dugout roads. Haphazard repairs and hot-mixing, without any technical sense or general sensibility.
5.)Entire 99 Kms of coastline at the mercy of those who are developing big resorts, apartment complexes, hotels and shacks.
6.)Goans opting to stay abroad due to lack of jobs and suitable opportunities via the back-hand route of Portuguese visa, rather than in their own state.
7.)Land being grabbed for the sale to outsiders by local natives, including MLAs.
8.)Elected representatives selling their soul for the unquenchable thirst of theirs for money and power. Hopping parties, whoever gives them the best offer.
9.)Safety of both aboriginals and tourists who come here for the beauty of the state, in doldrums.
10.)Justice being reduced to not only a distant dream, but often a lie, whispered by those who have gone deaf.
11.)Panchayats being reduced to only a means to an end of those having money to get everything they desire.
12)Marginalization of people, between the "haves" and "havenots".
13)Governance neither of the people, nor for the people; only a sham of "by the people".
14)Hills and trees being cut rampantly, in the name of development. Destroying the very tenet, for which Goa once stood. pristine green beauty.
15)Goans fighting to save their own homes and farmlands from the Projects which are being undertaken not for the greater good but, for the greater greed.
16)Use of administrative powers and law enforcement to suppress the citizens voices, who are trying to put the truth, in front of Goans.
17)Livelihood of traditional Fishermen dwindling every day, due to the apathy of government towards them. While those with bigger Boats are getting fatter and fatter.
18)Empty promises being made by all and sundry in the Government, without any professional or moral obligation. As they believe, they answer to no one.
19)Legislation being brought in assembly, passed without discussion, only by voice vote, filled with loopholes and lacunae, so that those with money can exploit it easily.
20)When "Section 144"becomes the favourite tool of the administration, not to maintain law&order, but to suppress dissent against the government.
21)No liability on government officials or ministers, who fail to perform their duty, and do not deliver "services" which they are liable to,as public servants.
22)Transcending Goa, from a "Hipipe" destination to a "drugs" destination.
23)Goa Police serving not common people, but people with power and money.Going blind before cash.
24)Public servants recruited not on merit,or proficiency; but how much they are willing to pay as bribe.
25)Garbage lying everywhere, except the roads and streets along the "Babu" offices. No one cares and no one disposes.
26)When robbers and thieves start finding Goa, a very lucrative place to conduct their operations.Police tom-toms abut the number of mobiles recovered.
27)When Central Jail like Colvale become a 2-Star Hotel, with almost everything available, which money can buy.Jailors and Jail staff licking boots of prisoners for money.
28)When public money is spent with utter disrespect for the benefit of very few, building bridges which have to be shut-down every two months. Buying a Solar boat, which never sails, only floats.
29)When,the dumbest way to make a "Smart City" in the world, makes the entire mission an Orphan' because no one ready to take the blame of utter failure.
30)Child Rapist and Land grabber elected representative roam around freely and with gutso, knowing they are above law, and nothing will happen to them.
31)When Goa becomes synonym to, everything illegal is possible and tolerated here, as long as you have political patronage and money power.
32)When elected representatives side only with the Party supremos and, and not with common people. Mahadayi lost for a cause, which they lost.
33)Where media is reduced to "His Master's Voice" predominantly. Every other platform becomes persona-non-grata.
34)Goa where the number of jobs Goans get actually is is not even 0.01%, announced for Goans by the government.
35)The state where greed rules the roost, leaded by the "Specials" and followed by "Commons".
36) When Goa is "Susegaad" no more.
The decision of Goa being a separate entity, under Union of India and later being a separate state were supposed to have significant positive implications for Goan politics, governance, and the preservation of Goan cultural identity. But now, if Mr.Sequeira and Mr.Bandodkar would look at it from heaven, they would be writhing in pain and anguish.
What did they envision and what has happened actually?
If anything both of which they would agree in heaven right now, is that; Goa of today is not only a betrayal of "The 54" but, also the betrayal of "The 46".