It was on January 16, 1967, that Goans voted against merging with Maharashtra and chose to remain a Union Territory. As Goa celebrates its 56th ‘Asmitai Dis’ (Identity Day) or Opinion Poll Day, Herald spoke to some eminent Goans and sought to know whether Goa has managed to strengthen and preserve its culture, identity and uniqueness
Goa doesn’t seem to be Goan anymore
To me,
as a Goan, Opinion Poll is history now, because Goa doesn’t seem to be Goan
anymore. Our culture and language are dying because of the mass migration of
Goans to other parts of the world. The geographical boundary will remain till
prosperity. Goans fought hard but lands today are not with Goans. Presently,
people are from the second generation, but it will be difficult to find
third-generation Goans in the future, it will be like Bombay where people from
different parts have settled down
Adv
Zilman Coelho Pereira, Former Advocate General
There has been a disturbance in culture and identity
An
Opinion Poll was held in Goa to find out whether people wanted a separate State
or to merge with Maharashtra. But the people of Goa decided that Goa should be
a Goa and its culture which had developed uniformly after 450 years of
Portuguese rule should be maintained in the larger interest. Today, there has
been a disturbance in culture and identity because of various immigrants
settling in Goa from various parts of India. This has disturbed the original
identity. Still, Goa goes on its own because of the Uniform Civil Law
applicable to all Goans. Uniformity of law preserves the integrity and equality
of every subject which is subject to the Uniform Civil Code. There may be some
skirmishes and weaknesses in the course of years because of vote banks which
have been created by immigrants and preserved by politicians
Adv
Surendra Desai, Senior Advocate, Panjim
Unplanned development for greed of money is the order of the day.
I am
happy with the results of the Opinion Poll. We had high hopes. It was fought to
retain Goa’s identity and preserve it. But unplanned development for the
greed of money is the order of the day. Today the money issue has been more
politicised. Most political parties are more into drama than for people’s sake
and I hope that the people of Goa will realise it sooner or later. The culture
of Goa has not remained the same, it is diluted. I am not particular about it,
we all Indians are one. But what our politicians have done for this State, the
people of Goa still have not opened their eyes
Adv
Joseph Vaz, Panjim
Every election is an Opinion Poll and we Goans have missed the
bus
We won
the Opinion Poll by the skin of our teeth you can say. Nevertheless, it was
accepted by the people of Goa and the Central government. For me, every
election is Opinion Poll and I feel we Goans have missed the bus. When
elections come we are making mistakes
Christopher
Fonseca, General Secretary, AITUC
We have
been successful in keeping the unique identity of Goa across the World
It was
a referendum initiated by the Government of India to decide whether the people
of Goa want a separate Union Territory or to merge with Maharashtra. I am happy
that we are successful in maintaining the uniqueness of Goa, its culture, and
the friendliness and behaviour of the people. There has been little dilution as
time goes by. But still, we have been successful in keeping the unique identity
of Goa across the world
Dr
Shekhar Salkar, Oncologist
Those
who occupied positions of power were never seen in the Opinion Poll movement
The
significance was that after 3,000 years for the first time, Goans got an
opportunity for self-rule. We won the Opinion Poll and Legislative Assembly and
Union Territory continued. Because the Assembly continued we could pass the
Official Language Act that gave us cultural identity and we attained statehood
within four months.
Today successive governments have failed us and it has become difficult to make
Goa a model State. One of the reasons is that those who occupied positions of
power were never seen in the Opinion Poll movement and do not know the
objectives behind the Opinion Poll victory.
Uday
Bhembre, Author, Former MLA, Margao
We
have not been able to preserve our culture
The
people of Goa voted against the merger and the State continued as Union
Territory till we attained Statehood after Konkani was made an Official
Language. I don’t think we have been able to preserve our culture, though Goa
has an amalgamation of Portuguese and Goan culture. But Goa has maintained
communal harmony and age-old religious amity
Adelmo
Fernandes, Citizen Journalist, Vasco
Those
who have migrated from Goa should return to their land
January
16 is an important day for Goa because Goans decided against the merger and
retained Goa’s identity and culture. By and large, Goans do not want to be
entrepreneurs and many do not want to work and want government service. This
attitude has to change. Those who have migrated from Goa should return to their
land, start their own businesses and provide employment to locals. This will
definitely preserve Goa’s unique cultural identity
Adv
Pundalik Raiker, Taleigao
Goa is yet to tell its beautiful story to the world
Goans
have always been a mirror to the country at large showcasing how diverse people
and religions can live together amicably and how they can keep exchanging
cultures amidst the same. We as Goans have a task at hand to preserve this
identity while also telling the world that Goa isn’t just about sea and sand.
Goa is yet to tell its beautiful story to the world. Let’s work to do that
-
Anwesha Singbal, President, Konkani
Bhasha Mandal
Over-emphasis on tourism for revenue generation has destroyed
Goa’s uniqueness
The
Opinion Poll helped the State to safeguard geographic separation which helped
the State maintain its identity. Konkani language got recognition. It is the
people who retain their culture. But the over-emphasis on tourism for revenue
generation has destroyed its uniqueness. To a large extent, the diversity of
Goa is under attack
-
Adv Cleofato Almeida Coutinho, Senior Advocate
Mhadei
diversion has to be stopped and we have to bury differences to come
together
Today’s
burning issue of Mhadei diversion water has to be resolved to save Goa the way
our earlier population saved Goa. We have to bury our differences and have to
come together to save Goa and that is the best remembrance of the Opening Poll.
Let us take an oath that at any cost we will keep our identity as it is
-
Prakash Velip, Former MLA and UTTA President
We
need to preserve Goa’s natural environment and our hospitable, secular
lifestyle
Whether
Goa or any other region, the traditional culture will be always under challenge
due to communications technology, liberalisation, migration and immigration. As
economic pursuits change, culture will change. It just can't remain static.
What we need to preserve is Goa’s natural environment and our liberal,
hospitable and secular lifestyle. It is enough that if we preserve it, we can't
strengthen it
-
Prabhakar Timble, Writer and Columnist
Unplanned tourism, political mess, and heavy corruption have
badly affected Goa
Years
ago our leaders worked hard to keep the identity of Goa alive. It was a fight
against mighty Maharashtra and its tall leaders. Over the years, we failed to
maintain our identity. The influx of migrants has damaged Goa’s cultural
foundation. Unplanned tourism, political mess, and heavy corruption have badly
affected the State’s socio-cultural environment.
-
Anant Agni, Writer, Headmaster of Ravindra Kelekar Dnyanmandir
We’ve voted for people who along with defectors have destroyed
Goa’s demography, culture, identity
Goans
voted to win the historic Opinion Poll but we have voted for people who along
with defectors have destroyed and ruined the demography, culture, identity, and
Goa's beautiful uniqueness. Today Goans in Goa do not know where they are
- Dr
Jorson Fernandes, Social activist, and politician
Culture
and identity are being sold by our very own people and political rulers
Goa is
slowly losing its unique culture and identity which is being sold by our
very own people and political rulers. It is important to preserve our cultural
heritage because it keeps our integrity as a people. It is our voice and we
must not lose it before it is too late
-Surendra
Furtado, Former Panjim Mayor
Intentions
of Opinion Poll crusaders led Dr Sequeira have been betrayed by
politicians
The victory of the Opinion Poll led
us to gain Statehood. In my opinion the intentions of the crusaders of
Opinion Poll led by then Leader of Opposition Dr Jack de Sequeira have been
betrayed by politicians and elected representatives of every political party.
We have converted self rule to dictatorial rule
-Trajano D’Mello, Political analyst
We
are now on the verge of losing culture as fallout of Goa being promoted as drug
and sex tourist destination
Goa has a distinct identity related
to the world. This identity would have been completely destroyed if Goa was
merged with Maharashtra. Victory in the Opinion Poll enabled Goa to preserve
both identity and culture to a significant extent though the politicians'
penchant for migrant influx has diluted it to some extent. However we are now
on the verge of losing the culture as fallout of Goa being promoted as drug and
sex tourist destination. Our tourism has saturated as it has lost out on
nature, serenity and cleanliness front and to compensate it government is
sacrificing our cultural heritage
-Rajendra Kakodkar, Activist,
Curchorem