PANJIM: Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai, in a free-wheeling and exclusive conversation on a wide range of issues, underlined Goa’s prestigious legacy of harmonious living and preservation of heritage and cultures.
While Herald will run the full interview this week, some important aspects of the insightful conversation have been gleaned.
The Governor has significantly said there was no need to do a post-mortem of incidents during the Portuguese rule and acknowledged Goa’s heritage and harmony. He said that during the Portuguese rule, “Exceptional circumstances were existing (I don’t want to go into details) here where (there was) Christian propaganda. In other parts of the country, there were no such incidents but those are part of the history, and conducting a postmortem over that and blaming anybody is not good for the country. I don’t believe in it.”
These important remarks will go a long way is further preserving and strengthening the bonds of harmony that continue to exist in Goa. This view from the highest office in the land will further strengthen Goa’s harmonious fabric.
Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai was speaking to Herald TV in an exclusive interview for its Newsmakers weekly show.
Speaking of cultural heritage, the Governor elaborated, “As far as cultural heritage is concerned, when I visited certain churches and interacted with the people I found that the present Christians and Hindus are respecting each other and following our traditional customs irrespective of caste or creed. This is a good trend. When it comes to social harmony, Goa is a super State.”
During the conversation with Herald, Governor Pillai also spoke about preserving the cultural and heritage ethos of the State. He pointed out that the villages in Goa have an incredible scope to boost tourism in Goa while also keeping the present scenario of tourism intact. “If we go to villages without defacing the present tourism sector, we can protect our cultural and heritage ethos of Goa.”
When I visited villages in Canacona, I wondered how to attract foreign and Indian tourists for them to visit cultural sites exclusive in Goan villages,” said the Governor adding that as an outsider he was intrigued by Goans’ culture.
Elucidating about the possibility of villages becoming pilgrimage centers, Governor Pillai said, “When I visited these villages I wanted to attract not only tourists from foreign countries but also domestic tourists. For instance, in Canacona, the most famous Parushurama temple exists. All South Indian people (flock there)–Parushurama is the concept behind their States and villages. Secondly, there are only two Brahma temples in India, one in Goa and the other in Rajasthan. I’m from another State, when I see this I’m very much interested,” Governor Pillai said, implying that villages have a huge potential for tourism.
On his visit to Goa’s island village, Divar, the Governor was quite impressed by the people’s demand for the preservation of the present system of crossing from the mainland to the island by ferry. “In most places, the people demand a bridge, but I am quite happy with the people of Divar, they do not want their culture to be tampered with, they have specifically voiced their demands against a bridge,” he said.
Observing that the village of Divar is beautifully decorated with a Church and a temple, the Governor pointed out how cordially people live in the village. He claimed he was quite happy to witness the people of different religions in Divar living in unity. He said that this example should be presented before the people of India. “The people of Divar living cordially is a classic example that should be presented to the rest of the country as people not only live in peace not only culturally but also religiously,” he added.