"Tables On The Edge" at Arambol, Goa; make aboriginals on the edge, resulting in a Murder.
"Both sides of the Coin" Story; while giving a clean chit to Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte. After all there are only so many things, he can manage. "Collateral Deaths" of 4-5 are perfectly acceptable
Yesterday (Republic Day) evening at Arambol, a local aboriginal person Amar Bandekar was assaulted by a group of workers working at a shack, supposedly over a petty issue of Chair & Table being placed by the Shack, very close to shore. The argument soon got flared up into a fist fight, sadly culminating into the death of Amar.
The details are very few upcoming so far, as in what actually has happened; as so far there are no eye-witness accounts.
As one walks from Mandrem beach to Arambol beach at the evening and back (Mandrem and Arambol have one contiguous shoreline), as it gets darker closer to Sunset; the Tables and Chairs start coming up at shoreline.
Table-Cloth put up and then mandatory candle lit; the table awaits the Guests for drinks & dinner and so does the staff.
The problem aggravates when, the tide has turned around mid-afternoon; and around sunset, water is up, forcing US to walk through between the tables lined up even without wanting, the serenity of the evening walk is destroyed through bad antics of rowdy tourists and their boisterous noise. But, there is no other option.
But, the locals have learnt to take their walk with a pinch of salt.
As it is, there is no point in nagging the Waiters; they do, what they are being told. Extremely fruitless exercise.
With tens and tens of Shacks closed and dismantled at Girkarwada last year, following High Court's orders; the situation is still far much better this year.
Giving the Shack workers a benefit of doubt; because as an eye-witness have seen many a times; Indian Tourists demand that their table be shifted closer and closer to shoreline; so that they can have the most bang of their buck.
Their entitlement comes from the fact, they are paying for their food and drinks at the shack and hence, where they park themselves is their prerogative, as well as "birthright"; after all, Civility has vanished from India.
Mandrem-Arambol beach during glory days of Tourism in Goa, was alive till late mid-night; with Tourists preferring to walk to go from one Restaurant to another, rather than hopping on and off from their bikes; and taking a detour.
After all, Straight line is the shortest route.
So, over so many years, we have learnt to live with this menace of Shack Tables on shoreline.
Also, to how many Shacks you would go and tell them to move the Tables back?
They all are same, they all do same thing.
Suppose, if one Shack has placed their Tables right at shoreline; and the other one has placed its Tables behind sensibly; which shack, the Tourists would prefer, specially the local Indian Tourists; which make most of the Shack's clientele at night. Very easy to guess, right?
Despite the closure of many restaurants and illegal Shacks between Girkarwada (Arambol) till the Vailankani Statue at Southern end of Arambol; there are still tens and tens of illegal and non-official Shacks and Restaurants at Arambol, specially at Madhlawada and Khalchawada.
The official shacks at Arambol are barely in twin digits. But, everyone of those restaurants park Tables at shoreline, at evening.
With how many, would one keep picking fight?
With local activists and so called "Social Workers" visiting Mandrem Police Station last night, demanding "Justice" and highlighting the "The Table Issue"; seems to be oblivious of this menace so far and have suddenly woken up, only after someone has been killed.
Till 25th of January 2025, all was well for them. Some of them are die-hard supporters of Mandrem MLA, Jit Arolkar. Where were they till then?
Ironically, these same "Activists" and "Social Workers" did not highlight "The Table Issue" when local MLA Jit Arolkar and Tourism Minister of Goa, Rohan Khaunte came to inaugurate a Beach Seafood Festival at Arambol, about a month back or so.
Just about a fortnight back, Goa Police did a round of entire stretch between Keri and Arambol beach, with PI himself leading; and even then "The Table Menace" was not raised with them?
While every Beach Shack does this same thing, why Amar Bandekar picked an issue, with that particular Shack is not known. And he being a regular evening walker at the shoreline, should not have got aggravated.
Since he was friend of many, including local Politicians; still he failed to get the issue resolved through peaceful means, officially is bewildering.
Or may be he tried, but nobody bothered, because it is "Season" time and everyone wants to mint money and less bothered about the ditch in which their village is falling.
With no eye-witness, one can only speculate; as no one knows what happened; but even when the "Table" is placed somewhere; and you want to get it removed; you request them properly and not start doing unwarranted stuff, yourself. That in legal sense is called "Trespassing".
If the Shack where this incident occurred was a licensed one by Tourism Department, Bandekar would have shot a video; and informed the Department.
But it also happens, that prior to Senior Tourism Officials visiting the shoreline, the word is passed down and everything gets in order, for a day or two; and then back in business with bang; with "Tables On The Edge".
And this is not a figment of imagination, but have watched the scene once this season, LIVE. This is about a Shack, which is not very far from the said place, where this unfortunate incident happened.
This also brings to fore the very important question, as in why the workers and waiters at Shack, are on the edge?
From the incident at Candolim where a group of Doctors were brutally assaulted, to the murder of a Hyderabad Tourist at Calangute and now the Murder at Arambol; all along the coast they seem to be on the edge and ready to fight.
While so called "Bamboo Massage" is not uncommon and had been perennial in Goa, earlier it was reserved solely for rowdy Indian Tourists, who despite many requests would indulge in fowl behaviour; but then, the situation never used to get so much aggravated as to warrant a lethal assault.
So, what has changed?
When you have come from outside the State, it is imperative and pertinent that, one respect the aboriginals & local customs and heed to their legitimate requests.
At the worst,if something is looking like going out of hand, one immediately informs his "Patrem" and sit quietly, till then.
But then, these Shack workers, mainly from Himachal Pradesh; have now come to believe, that they own Goa.
Over a period of years and repeat visits, year after year, they develop contacts with all the "right people" by helping them with touting for Guest-House Rooms, Taxi and Scooter rentals; and in turn besides "commission", they also earn the sobriquet "My man” or “Mera Aadmi" from the same locals and coupled with "Free Hand" given by their Boss (One has to be reasonably influential with wide contacts to run either an Official or Unofficial Shack in Goa), why won't they believe, that they own Goa.
Also they are a "Dog Pack". So why fear anyone, be it the locals or Goa Police?
Let's look at another aspect of it, by giving them a benefit of doubt; though this does not mean, that you grievously assault anyone, specially an aboriginal.
Almost all of these Shack Workers, majority of whom are Waiters; do not earn any Salary.
They are placed on "Commission" basis.
And that's why at the stretch close to Khalchawada and near Main Beach Parking; you would find Waiters accosting the passers by.
So the way it works is that, if you bring a bunch of Tourists to a table; and serve them, the Waiter gets 10% of the Commission of the entire cheque amount.
If they do get to manage some Tips, thats extra.
Besides this they only get rudimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner and alcohol at night and sleep in extremely filthy quarters.
And thus to get their Tables filled, they place it closer to the shore at night, because it is much more easier to catch Tourists and also keep on serving the table(s) already occupied.
The thing to also note that yesterday was Republic Day, when many Tourists from even nearby Maharashtra flock to make it a momentary occasion.
So days like such, the Weekends or Independence and Republic Day; are the days to catch up on lost earning both for Shack Owner (legitimate or oherwise, because its Goa, so you can guess easily) and the Staff.
And it is expected that, Shacks would go out of their way to get more and more Tourists.
Amar Bandekar was himself a Businessman, running a Tourist business at Arambol. Despite this, on Republic Day evening,decides to pick a fight, is utmost bewildering.
At such hundreds of occasions, over the years, persons like the author; have managed to either give them the leeway; or not visit the Beach at all. After all, when you at Shore 365 days a year, to keep once sanity maintained; 10 or 12 days not visiting the shore, does not matter at all in a year.
What is most unfortunate that, it takes someone's life, to get the issue of "Table On The Edge" highlighted.
May be a week or so, things would remain dormant; and then it would be back to business. You know, what I mean, right?
Essentially, someone lost his life, for no reason; which would not make any effect on how Tourism is conducted at Arambol.
The only people who would be forever affected and distressed would be the family & friends of Amar Bandekar, with a permanent scar.
Tourism Department of Goa, led by illustrious Minister Rohan Khaunte; who just shunted out his Director of Tourism, as a face saving exercise; after intense criticism of Tourism in Goa in National Media; would issue a lame statement again, that Department cannot oversee each and every Tourism related business.
But Of Course, at least "Official Shacks" to whom license have been issued with certain mandatory conditions listed out in Contract, could be thrown to mandatory surprise checks?
If the Licensed Ones toe the line of Tourism Department; they would themselves make sure that "Illegal Ones" do the same.
It is "common Sense", right?
But then, at which tree, we are barking?
It is much more easier to organise "Visit Goa" stalls in Europe and elsewhere; rather than doing mandatory checks on Licensed Places of Department.
As the Custodian of Tourism in Goa, all that Rohan Khaunte was expected to do is to keep Check and Balances on licensed Shacks.
And this is not something new, last year, at the fag end of Tourist Season, 80% of the licensed Shacks at Calangute-Baga belt were found flouting rules.
Not by Tourism Department, but Goa State Pollution Control Board.
Last to last Saturday, a 27 Year old Female Tourist from Pune died in a Paragliding Incident at Keri Plateau next to Arambol; the agency was not licensed.
But was operating with impunity as if the Owner is Son-In-Law of Rohan Khaunte’s daughter (Un-Officially Of Course).
Tourism Department was ironically served a memorandum by Keri Panchayat, way earlier to stop the Paragliding activities; but no cognizance was taken by Tourism Department. Why?
It is too easy to guess.
Welcome to Goa.
Come February, The Tourism Department Officials of Goa would start doing their mandatory rounds to Guest Houses and Hotels in Air-Conditioned Toyota Innova hired by Department; collecting Cash as bribes sheepishly and shamelessly.
So, there is a lot of more important things for Tourism Department to do.
With self-promulgated figures coming out of no where of Tourists arrival in Goa this year; for Rohan Khaunte; 4-5 Deaths related to Tourism is acceptable "collateral damage".
Summer would be soon arriving, and then, its time to fly for Khaunte & Co, to exotic destinations at the expense of aboriginal Goans (One of whom was murdered last evening) tax payers money to promote Tourism in Goa.
Hands are always full for Rohan Khaunte; like appearing in "Curly Tales" promotional video; acting like he is the Messiah and Harbinger of Tourism in the State.
We all know, the Government of India’s, Semi-Official YouTube Channel "Curly Tales" right? Go and Watch it.
What is deeply saddening, is that despite being an aboriginal resident of Arambol and a Tourism related businessman; having seen how the scene has evolved over the years; and how "business" is now conducted in North Goa Tourist infested coastal belt; he decided to pick a fight.
He so unfortunately paid for it with his life; but his family & friends would keep on paying for that, till they are alive.
One should know, which fights to pick. Only those, which are worthy.
While it just another day for Tourism Minister of Goa ,Rohan Khaunte in Porvorim (err Paradise).