Chandor – a village rich in history, heritage and culture -- By Nisser Dias

Surrounded by hills and fields with Kushavati river passing through one end of it, lies a very historical village, rich in history, heritage and culture which is the reminder of both our original roots, the Portuguese era and modern day. This village which is today called Chandor was earlier known as Chandrapur the erstwhile capital of the Kadamba rule in the 6^th to 11^th century.

Lies about 15 kms East of Margao. Chandor has seven panchayat wards.

Kadamba dynasty had made Chandor as their capital until 1054, when the rulers moved to Govepuri now known as Goa Velha. When Muslims invade them in 1312, the Kadambas returned back to Chandrapur only to be driven away by the Portuguese.

To this date there are tell-tale signs of their presence and the village has become an archaeological site because of the foundation of an 11^th century temple, mud fort and a headless monument of Nandi bull which is believed to be the mode of transport of Lord Shiva being preserved at the site.

Besides another reminder of the Kadamba presence is a stone where the queen before committing suicide had cursed the villagers for not helping the king at the time of his defeat by the Portuguese

The ancient Chandor was once a port of international repute and a great capital where trade and commerce flourished through the Kushavati river and was known as a port town.

After the Portuguese invaded Goa in 1510 they defeated and killed the Kadamba king Harihar and imposed their rule and Chandrapur became Chandor along with conversion to Christianity. During this period many Portuguese mansions were built. Though many are being maintained today there are lots others in dilapidated conditions. The village boast of the famous heritage house the Braganza house.

Jesuit priest Fr. Heras on his discovery of Chandrapur in 1929, found a very old and shattered image of Nandi, Shiva’s bull, believed to be affected adversely by the 13th century

Muslim raids on various temples of Goa. It dates back to the 7th century indicating that there was a temple at the site. According to a book ‘Village Goa authored by Dr. Olivinho Gomes he mentions that the Nandi bull is, said to be the second biggest in India after that of Mysore. It also mention that the Muslims after their invasion of the Kadambas cut out a large part of its stomach to see if it contained diamonds, pearls, or other precious stones, broke its mouth to see if there was any treasure hidden in it, chopped off the tail to see if they could find any precious stones in its arms. Seeing that it did not have anything in it, they broke its legs, dislodged it from the seat of stone and turned it up-side-down, to see if there was something underneath it, but without success.

This monument has been declared to be of national importance under the ancient monuments and Archaeological sites. Remnants of the only mud fort built by the Kadambas is situated in the Chandor but it is in bad shape.

Chandor is one of the three villages in Goa which celebrates the feast of Epiphany (The Three Kings Feast) the other two being Cansaulim and Verem.

Chandor is the home of many prominent teachers, doctors, advocates, bankers and businessmen.

Bragança house

Braganca house is synonymous with Chandor. It was built in the 17th century with all the grandeur, grace and elegance. The artefacts show-cased by the family members are a feast to the eyes, besides

The great Salon, a large ballroom with the floor made of Italian marble, antique chandeliers from Europe adorning the ceiling, ornate teak and rosewood furniture carved out by Goan carpenters of that era.

Apart from its exquisite furniture and Chinese porcelain from Macau, it also houses a collection of family portraits, dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The library is believed to be the first private library in Goa. It has almost 5,000 leather bound books in Portuguese.

Curse of Chandor

There is perculiar belief in Chandor because of which neighbouring villages do not give their daughters in marriage to a boy from Cotta ward.

The story goes like this: When the Portuguese invaded Chandrapur it had a Kadamba King Harihar as its ruler. The people of Chandrapur did not defend him in the battle against the Portuguese and the king was killed.

The queen was furious at her people and committed suicide but not before cursing the villagers. “She is said to have beat her feet on a stone outside the temple  and pronounced that henceforth every woman of this village will become a widow” The stone with her foot print is still maintained.

Mussoll

Another tradition that the Goankars ‘Kshatriya’ of Chandor has passed on to its generation is the Mussoll dance. The basic theme of the performance is to celebrate the victory of the Hindu King of Vijaynagar, Harihar, over the Cholas in the early 14^th century.

On the second day of carnival 10 Catholic males of the upper caste, decked in traditional attire - a dhoti, a jacket, a colourful turban, ghungroos (ankle bells) on the left foot- and carrying a musoll (pestle), gather at the mandda khuris. Before starting the dance at the chapel bells of the chapel are peeled.

After lighting candles and reciting a Christian prayer before the cross, the mussoll dance is performed by pounding pestles into the ground. The entourage then march in procession holding lit torches to the San Tiago chapel, where the sequence is repeated. From here, they march to each and every house belonging only to the Gaonkar families performing the mussoll dance.

The lyrics hail the king “Hari haracho khel khelayta,  Khel durgabhayr shivo dita” and then goes on to recount the glorious times of King Harihar of Vijaynagar and his magnificent fort and how the fort was eventually captured. Finally it passes on message about the destruction of the town of Chandrapur and its people. Incidentally, Portuguese defeated the King and people refused to help or defend him but for centuries now they will allow the tragic past fade.

The Alma Khuris

This was just a cross in the olden days. In the 80s there were lot of desecration and vandalism of crosses and small chapels. In the year 1982 on the eve of ‘All souls Day’ a Hindu Krishna Gabo Bandodkar began building this cross and was joined by late Fidelis and other villagers in the dead of the night. Krishna’s effort is today proclaimed as the ‘true secular attempt to break the then trend of mischief perpetuated on this day’. These words are engraved on the stone on the compound of the cross.

 

Marginalization of Goans must not be tolerated – By Jose Maria Miranda

Jose Maria Miranda

Having watched helplessly our beloved land being destroyed and disfigured by our greedy and selfish rulers, past and present and their accomplices, some from outside but many from our own soil, Goans being overwhelmed by a heavy and uninterrupted inflow of migrants, the time has run out for us to unite and go all out to stop such attempts which are solely aimed at marginalizing Goans and making them irrelevant in the political and electoral scenario of the State.

Though belatedly, we may still manage in salvaging what is left of Goa if this last opportunity afforded to us, is availed of to send the crooks home and elect few good people, who truly love Goa. The process of disfiguring Goa and crushing its distinct identity was a well conceived plan of the Indian rulers, at the time of the so-called Liberation, carefully executed thereafter with active connivance of Goan politicians and mostly outside bureaucrats. Even the most preposterous movement of Goa’s merger with Maharashtra, with its own leaders realizing, in hindsight, what a blunder it would be, was part of this long-term plan. It goes without saying that if today Goa is a preferred tourist destination, it is not alone because of our beaches and the scenic beauty of this place but also because our culture is a fusion of East and West, of the people’s savoir faire and savoir vivre.

Freedom of the Press and expression was suppressed by the Portuguese in Goa. Perhaps, this made us highly submissive and docile. But many Goans of yesteryears stood up to the might of the Portuguese and yet, in a democracy, we have turned into a spineless, meek and cowardly lot, over-tolerant of the abuse of power and highhandedness of a highly authoritarian, despotic and fascist Government. The crude, insensitive and irresponsible way this government goes about giving orders and implementing works with least regard to environment and ecology and the sentiments and livelihood of the people of Goa, as if this State is its private property and Goans are some cattle, bound to follow its directions, is highly reprehensible.

It is not alone the police who were treated inhumanly by being served food unfit even for animals, during BRICS summit. Poor women coming all the way from Canacona, Quepem, Shiroda, etc. to Margao to sell their produce like vegetables, mashmelons, etc. were asked to stay away for four days when they squat nowhere close to the dignitaries’ route,

while handcarts were seen moving freely through the town. Who pays for their losses on the produce and livelihood as also of the fisherfolk prohibited from fishing during the period? Anyone with two inches of sense uses such opportunities to help the locals earn some additional income, but not so with selfish imbeciles who deprived our people of their daily bread. Though I hold no brief for our taxi drivers’ tantrums amounting to biting the hand that feeds them, it was grossly unfair to hire, for BRICS a Delhiite, who took only a few Goan taxis and apparently went back without settling some dues.

As it is, Goans are struggling to get jobs and are compelled to migrate, either to other States or abroad to earn a decent income. This sad exodus is a testimony to the impotency of this government in providing employment to locals. Yet, it is using the EC to delete names from electoral rolls of those who, for this sole reason, obtained Portuguese passports and are desirous of trying their luck abroad. One wonders whether the government and EC took similar pains to ensure that migrants, having voting rights elsewhere, are not enrolled here or whether bureaucrats were in fact instructed to ensure the contrary. Our rulers, being proponents of Hindutva, are averse to the West and their culture. Yet, the Central Govt. finds it expedient to seek support, aid and cooperation from the West. Millions of Indians also enjoy western hospitality and nationality, have made west their home and are unwilling to return because of the mess this country is in. Has the EC gone an extra mile, as it is doing in case of Goans, to ensure that they too have no voting rights in India?

No self-respecting individual will tolerate being discriminated and treated shabbily in his own land. I recall the protest in Margao in 60s when MG minister Tony Fernandes called Goans second-class citizens. Today, we are treated worse than that. Goans are too docile and decent to take up cudgels to fight the threat to our very existence posed by heavy influx of outsiders and preferential treatment given to them. This is bound to have serious repercussions, particularly when one’s identity and culture are in danger.

Razing of tribal huts in Nirankal

The anti-migrant agitation in Usgao and the incident of razing tribals’ huts in Nirankal are signs of things to come. It is not right that those who came here to earn a living be driven away. But, it is equally unfair that undue advantage be taken of Art. 19 of a Constitution dictatorially imposed on us, to import people to destroy the character of our land and the identity of our people. The farce of the BJP in demanding Special Status and the false promise of the PM were attempts at throwing dust in our eyes and eventually promoting the opposite. This government, while gifting us with some cosmetic development, is diverting our attention from their larger plan of destroying Goa and Goans, through marinas, port at Betul, nationalization of rivers, etc which will eventually kill our small communities, their trades and livelihood solely to satisfy their bosses in Delhi and their magnate acolytes. It is imperative that we destroy them and their plans before they destroy us.

GSIDC fails to complete work in time for BRICS and now abandons it. -- By Nisser Dias

It has been a week since the international summit BRICS has concluded and along with it the work on the 4 lanning of Old Market-Colva road also seems to have been abandoned by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC).

The work of the extension of the road and the multi-channel drain on either side of the road has been abandoned and not a single worker can be seen carrying out constructive work.

This is causing a lot of heartburns among the residents and the business community along the 3.5 – 4 kms. stretch. Residents and businesses are suffering. Stores, restaurants, hotels and showrooms along the stretch do have proper access to their homes and establishment. The muddy road is causing a lot of dust pollution with the movement of the vehicles which is getting into homes and shops. Water lines have been damaged during excavation and water is stagnating infront of commercial cum residential complexes.

GSIDC, had commenced work on this road during the last week of August. During the time 10 – 12 heavy earth moving machinery could be seen working at a time of daily basis. Some machinery was used to demolish structures that had come up in the acquired land, others excavating just roots of huge trees, some earth moving machinery was used only

to dig trench for the multi-channel drain, some were used to fill excavated mud into trucks to charter it. Basically work was being carried out at a rapid to get it completed for the BRICS summit but it completely missed the deadline. Even the chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar had boasted that the road would resemble the Parliament road in New Delhi.

79 year old Jose Gomes says it is causing inconvenience, “we have difficulty in getting the car in the garage, our doors are windows cannot be opened because of dust and all the ten houses in the row are facing the same problem”. He is upset also because GSIDC cut three of his high yielding mango trees, “they were planted in the acquired area but they were

giving shade, the government could have put benches under them alongside the extended road”. “The contractor said they would complete the work fast but after BRICS I can’t see a single worker all along the stretch”.

Suchita Naik runs a general stores, “the road looks open and broad but they have complete it, my customers or suppliers do not proper path to walk on, I do not want to make it an issue but they have to complete it at the earliest, but there does not seem to be any workers maybe they will commence after diwali”.

GSIDC chairman Dr. Pramod Sawant when contacted seemed unaware of the work being abandoned and assured to immediately ask his manager to get in touch with the

concerned contractor to know the status of the project.

The managing director (MD) of GSIDC is Manohar Parrikar’s boot licked Sanjit Rodrigues. This is not the first project that he has undertaken and left underdone. Miramar-Dona Paula is another road which GSIDC had taken and after almost five years it cannot be completed because its MD is inefficient.

Basically Sanjit Rodrigues is a qualified cook who even worked in the a star hotel for a brief period before being made the deputy collector and posted in Margao. And he used to write legal orders without having qualifications to do so. Being a ‘Yes sir’ to Defence Minister then chief minister has helped him to grow. What does he really understand of engineering to be made the managing director of an infrastructure development corporation.

First he put the people of Miramar-Dona Paula into  trouble and now people of Benaulim and Colva.

Congress should display its performance sheet instead of a charge-sheet against BJP -- By Nisser Dias

Nisser Dias

“Having learnt from out past mistakes, the entire Congress is now galvanised right from the booth level to meet the expectations of the people so as to regain their faith”.

“In your hands is Failure report of the BJP led State Government containing a list of U-turns, broken promises, brazen scams and saga of bad governance”.

The above lines are authored and signed by the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Luizinho Faleiro in their so called ‘charge-sheet’ against the BJP government in Goa.

Without a shadow of doubt, we have fallen from the frying pan into the fire when Goa rejected the Congress and gave an opportunity to the BJP to make right the wrongs of the Congress. Nevertheless we were pushed to the precarious situation by the Congress itself.

If we had to give a mandate to Congress in 2012, it would mean we accepted their rule with high corruption levels, nepotism, family raj, sky rocketing prices and list goes on. So BJP was the natural option in 2012 with no other regional political force. And they also duped us just like the Congress. So Faleiro should stop lecturing us on bad governance of the BJP as Congress has achieved ‘Doctorates’ in corruption at all levels.

One can safely say that Congress has created opportunities for corruption and BJP has encashed them. For example setting up of an airport at Mopa is Congress’ doing, SEZ is Congress’ baby, casinos were invited by the Congress. The road to Goa’s destruction was laid out by the Congress and the BJP paved it. Congress and BJP are two sides of the same coin. Parrikar and Luizinho are both humble out of power and both are arrogant when they attain power, there is no difference between them.

Hence both Congress and BJP, just like Parrikar and Luizinho are equally to be blamed for the destruction of Goa and also the situation we Goans are in as of today. This is the ground reality.

That aside, the Congress has released its so called charge-sheet to highlight 25 failures of the BJP led government. This is also typical or rather synonymous with Luizinho Faleiro. ‘Black paper, White paper and now charge-sheet are common terms of his parlance.

But he should understand that the masses are aware of the U-turns and betrayal of the BJP government. What we need to see the ‘white paper’, ‘black paper’, ‘charge-sheet’, ‘report card’ or ‘performance sheet’ of the 9 Congress fellows in the assembly from 2012.

The Congress should come out with a charge-sheet on them. Opposition Leader in the Assembly – the fossilized Pratapsing Rane was mum in the Assembly throughout the term. The only party colleague who stood the test of time of the BJP government is Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco and presently he stands sidelined in the Congress.

Coming to last para of the introductory message of the GPCC president in the chargesheet he has released on the BJP government, “I stand before you with a promise of rejuvenated Congress which will strive to provide people centric governance in which we shall endeavour to give flight to the aspiration of every fellow Goemnkar while committing to preserve the ethos and spirit of ‘Goem’ and ‘Goemkarponn’ at all cost”.

The congress has betrayed, back stabbed Goans and raped and gang-raped Goa for all the years it was in power. And now the Congress is again begging to trust them. We have seen and experienced the arrogance that engulfs the Congress’ fossilized leaders once they come to power. GPCC president Luizinho Faleiro is simply not nick-named ‘Salazar’

GPCC President Luizinho Faleiro

by the Goans and if press-persons are asked they will recite volumes of his arrogance when in power.

Special mention has to be made to the word ‘rejuvenated’ we fail to understand what Faleiro is talking about. Most of the party functions one can see the same old faces most of whom have been rejected by the people. We need to see fresh faces of dynamic young men and women who have a different perception for Goa. Young Goans who want to see a developed Goa, Goa where youth are not forced to leave their mother land to seek employment overseas, Goa where our culture and traditions are revived, where government policies are designed to suit the needs of Goans but sadly Congress does not promote such individuals. They want same old individuals who have graduated to fill their personal accounts the moment power is handed over to them.

The people would have reposed faith in the party only if ex-GPCC president John Fernandes was backed by the Congress high command to clean up the party of turn-coats and traitors.

John Fernandes

He did begin the clean-up of the party but the aged foogies ganged-up against him and was replaced. The current situation is Joaquim Alemao who all the while proclaimed himself as ‘loyal soldier’ has threatened to contest on ‘people’s ticket’ if not allotted Congress candidature. Can we forget Francisco Sardinha was denied ticket to contest South Goa Parliamentary seat even though he was an MP, the repercussion were his son contested to split the Congress votes. That Congress candidate Reginald Lourenco would not win the seat is a different issue but the revenge or vindictive element was present. But at the same time Francisco would not also win the seat.

People had appreciated John Fernandes’ efforts to kick-out turn-coats and traitors out of the party but the Congress big-wigs worshiped these corrupt leaders and still continue to do so.

Just like the voters had got fed-up with the Congress and reduced them to a single digit in the 2012 election, BJP too will meet the same fate but that does not mean the people will vote for the Congress. Today there are options before the voters and voters will exercise their franchise responsibly and with fore-sight.

 

BRICS mismanaged -- By Jose Maria Miranda

Jose Maria Miranda

BRICS was surely a golden opportunity for Goa to obtain central funds for its development and to showcase the State as an international tourist destination. If these two objectives were dominant in the organizers’ minds, preparations would have started in right earnest, at least six months back. Had, for example, the Margao-Colva stretch been widened prior to monsoons, the mud would have set and the extended portion ready for being hot mixed, before the Summit. Now even the old stretch was badly hotmixed in a hurry, with some portions already peeling off and the widened stretches unfit for traffic. Delays in completing works for major events are a regular feature with shoddy and sub-standard execution and no accountability for such wastage of public funds. Perhaps these events are actually meant for pocketing some funds, much needed at election time. The main question is whether Goa is geared for such big events with the poor infrastructure that we have and the growing and chaotic traffic scenario prevalent almost regularly. The CM cum Home Minister appears bothered only in appropriating credit for the show and deriving political mileage, oblivious of basic humanness in treating our policemen with kindness and dignity, which is evident from reports of long duty hours and lack of food.

Police went without food and water for 12 hours. They survived
on what public gave them. When they were fed by govt. it was
fit for animals

Another issue which should put to shame our Defence Minister is the inability of Navy to construct a helipad at Cavelossim, to facilitate airlifting of dignitaries. One wonders if large tracts of land taken over by the Navy cannot be utilized even for such extraordinary and rare events, especially considering the security risks involved to the dignitaries and the inconvenience to the general public, what good is it to allow our Armed Forces to grab our scarce land for so called Defence purposes?

Dozens of Maharashtra registration Innovas have been brought for the event and only a few Goan ones have been hired. Is it that Goan

Cockroach in the pulao
served to cops on
BRICS duty.

vehicles were not available or was preferential treatment given to outsiders?

CM Parsekar threatened to get his “weapons” out to tame Panchayats and Gram Sabhas opposing mobile towers. But in Sankhali his own MLA Dr. P. Sawant opposes a tower near the Health Centre. Perhaps the good doctor has made some medical discoveries, whereby people from his constituency are liable to get affected whereas those in South Goa are immune to this danger.

Old Market to Colva road a day before
BRICS

Omission of Goa’s name in BRICS logo, against the norm, followed till date, was a major unpardonable blunder highlighted by the Vice-Chancellor of Goa University, whereas our own CM finds it a non-issue. For Parsekar Goa and Goans are irrelevant as long as the event can get him much needed funds. However, what is most unfortunate is that our Ministers and MLAs fail to raise such issues forcefully, leaving the impression to be yes men contracted solely to nod their heads.

 

Aam Admi Party in Goa seems to be ‘khichdi’ party - By Nisser Dias

Nisser Dias

One of the co-ordinators of Aam Admi Party is of the opinion that their ‘Goa Dialogue’ is a bluff. Hats off to this well known man, he had the guts to say it. He went on to add, “if the villagers suggest an issue out of the box then it can be added in the manifesto”. This can be interpreted as that the masses are bothered only with the same issue like MoI, official language, Mopa, Mobile towers, Coconut tree or grass, disposal of garbage, casinos, nationalisation of rivers, Port at Betul, the list can go and on. And AAP does not have the slightest of idea what stand it should take on these issues. Their one point agenda is to come to power riding on the popularity wave.

Just like a well respected personality tried to sully the waters and confuse the minds of villagers over the MoI issue during the Goa Dialogue at Benaulim by saying, “the needs of the people in Salcete might not be the same in Ponda or Bicholim”. He should know that issues are not decided or adopted at taluka levels. It should be decided upon what the majority population wants if our democracy stands by the principles of ‘government - Of the people, For the people and By the people.

He was trying to find an escapist route as AAP leaders have not no clue on what stand they should take, simply because if they state they are for mother tongue as MoI their support base will erode immediately all over the State and if they take a stand to adopt English, again they will come under attack from language protagonists. Hence AAP wants to fool people by being a fence sitter or rather safer to say they leaders themselves are divided on the issue which is called ideology paralysis.

The very fact that AAP does not want people of Goa to know what their decisions will be if they come to power is a form of corruption because they are hoodwinking the Goans.

Secondly the list of candidates released so far is a clear indication of ‘khichdi’. Candidates in south Goa are opposing airport at Mopa, but their candidate for Mandrem constituency is a supporter of airport at Mopa. Their candidate from Ponda taluka is a strong supporter of MGP ideology which means he supports Marathi for being made the official language of Goa which means he supports Hindu right wing organization Sanathan Saustha who have a permanent camp here in Goa.

One of the senior co-ordinators of Benaulim constituency is a strong proponent of Devnagri script for Konkani and a strong critic of Roman script. We are yet to know the minds of the candidates named in Salcete like Benaulim and Velim.

These examples are just the tip of the iceberg. The working or machination of functioning of AAP is strange or rather opaque though they might glorify the term transparency.

Thirdly without any shadow of doubt in my mind AAP candidates if elected in Goa will be on a short leash of businessmen like the builders, hoteliers, doctors, brokers and real estate agents who under the garb of bringing a systemic change in administrations and governance  want to yield power indirectly. Basically they will want their successful candidates to just lend their shoulder to rest the gun but the trigger will be in the hands of these convenors and co-ordinators. And if the bullet that is fired by convenors and co-ordinators ricochets, the MLA will be the fall-guy.

We have seen the functioning of AAP Supremo or rather its dictator Arvind Kejriwal and that of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is a one-man-show. But since Goa is far away from Delhi the co-ordinators and financiers in Goa will be the real drivers and successful candidates will only be the ‘Yes men’. Convenors, co-ordinators and especially financiers could have easily bagged the tickets. Some convenors and co-ordinators have thrown their hats in the ring but the financiers do not test the waters simply because their lucrative businesses (builders) will get affected if they fail to get the people’s mandate hence they don’t want to take the risk but undoubtedly they want to indirectly wield power through manipulation and deceit.

At the moment the individuals whose names have been declared as candidates are already indebted to their respective constituency co-ordinators as the candidates feel that their co-ordinators have rooted for them which might be or might not be the fact. But one cannot deny that co-ordinators have also acted as observers and they have monitored which individual was attracting more voters.

Another observation is that after the second round of names were declared there have been a lull in the AAP campaigning. It is either that the constituency co-ordinators and volunteers have felt that once the candidates are declared it is their job to carry on their campaign. To some extent it could be true but the co-ordinators or the party after declaring candidates enters a second stage and that is to keep its members together who must have surely be aggrieved for not bagging the party candidature. Basically it means keeping ‘dissent’ at bay and create an atmosphere of working for the success of the party.

So this brings us to the question that is on everybody’s mind, ‘how is AAP different from other political parties’? At the moment it feels that AAP sympathisers and supporters will vote for their candidates but the successful candidates or MLAs will be answerable to the party convenors and constituency co-ordinators instead of the people.

Jai Hind!!!

 

Goans unhappy with present administration – By Jose Maria Miranda

Jose Maria Miranda

As Goa goes to the polls in less than five months to elect a new Govt. the talk in our “balcaoes”, market places, roads and offices is obviously about elections and the prospects of various political parties and candidates. While, in the last elections, Goans had very little choice, this time around, both in terms of parties as well as candidates, we are a bit better placed, though the choice still appears difficult. However, what seems clear is that  just like people, in a strong anti-incumbency wave, decimated the powerful Congress, leaving it with a few seats, mostly won on personal popularity of the candidates, the electorate, this time, they are in similar mood towards the BJP. How far this attempt will be successful is to be seen.   

Election time needs also to be introspection time. The political parties and the MLAs need to introspect into their lapses, failings and particularly their deliberate wrong doings, which are sometimes prompted by compulsions but also often for own selfish gains. As humans, we are all guilty of sins of omission and commission. We may be liable for punishment for the latter but perhaps not always for the former. However, when such acts are committed by those in power or those duty-bound to safeguard the interests of their constituents, they may often escape the law, but perhaps not the wrath of the people. Accountability is generally a dead word in our system and no Party wishes to enforce it, because it suits them. And elected representatives fail to be accountable to us too. The voter is generally ignored and even forgotten for almost the entire period of five years, but, in the last few months suddenly turns into a VIP. Even a bankrupt government, which fails to fulfill commitments of doles, payments of debts, etc. and indulges in large borrowings, turns over-generous and offers all types of sops to the electorate, without bothering about denting the exchequer further.

The BJP had played fairly well its role as Opposition, though in most shameless U-turns, it eventually went the Congress way. Similarly, it was expected of the Congress to go all out to demolish the BJP inside and outside the Assembly, through RTIs, Courts and Lokayukta by exposing its misdeeds. However, its weak role, perhaps because it lacked moral authority, will again go against the party. In fact, the Opposition must always have a dynamic, vociferous and tenacious team that will investigate every move of the govt. True, that with the type of courts and judicial system we have, this is not an easy task, but it would help keep the rulers on their toes.

If corruption and family raj played a big role in the drubbing of Congress, failure to adhere to the Manifesto, highly dictatorial rule, trampling upon people’s wishes in servile submission to Delhi’s bosses, destruction of environment and suspicious deals indicative of cuts and corrupt practices are issues that BJP cannot get away with. Hence, despite a few development projects, like bridges, new or broader roads, etc, which the BJP needs to be credited with, the people of Goa rightly consider them worse than the Congress and will never pardon them particularly for their autocratic ways, bordering on fascism. While

Despotic attidude and dictatorial instructions

Parsekar and Parrikar’s most despotic attitude on Defexpo is still fresh in our minds, Parsekar’s latest threat to take out “his weapons” against panchayats and dictatorial instructions for installation of mobile towers, overriding people’s concerns shows his degree of intolerance, which Goans should not tolerate anymore.

Leaving aside Mopa, which is the biggest scam in the making, with waivers and compromises with GMR, obviously at a price in nick of time for election funding, another source for this, among the many, is the BRICS mummit, where preparations appear to have been deliberately delayed, so as to allow sub-standard and hastily executed works, thus enabling better profits. Watch the Margao-Colva road by next monsoon, if not before. The road widening near the traffic circle in Nagoa was being done with hotmix poured over plain mud, as I myself witnessed and I understand this has happened at various places. One also wonders whether felling of dozens of trees to widen roads was necessary for a one-time event and whether damage to the environment is being compensated by planting trees elsewhere.

One could fill volumes with exposures of misuse and wastage of public funds by BJP. Their authoritarian decisions on various issues like IPB, Panjim ODP, where FAR is proposed to be increased, dredging of rivers, Tiracol and Tuem projects etc. are all either money making rackets or servile submission to Delhi’s dictates, which go against local people’s interests. Despite these and CM’s protection of his bro-in-law, caught in bribery case, beach cleaning scams, Parulekar’s Serula Comunidade issue, etc yet BJP MLA Dr. Pramod Sawant’s has the audacity of proclaiming that his party is not involved in corruption. 

While all this ought to have dented BJP’s chances, yet it may not happen as opposition forces are divided. To my mind, the confrontation between BJP and BBSM is only to throw dust in the eyes of anti-BJP camp and keep it happy that the other camp too is divided. Let us not console ourselves that their division is real and be shocked that they have eventually reached an understanding, as they all share the same ideology.

 

Sheena -- the new voice in town -- By Nisser Dias

Talent like truth never remains hidden, it has to surface for someone to notice it. In most cases it is the parents who perceive and in some instances it is the teachers. 25 years old Maria Sheena Gracias is an orphan brought up in Lar de Santa Terezinha Pajifond, Margao.

Maria Sheena Gracias

  

Right now people must have not heard about her but she is surely making her way up the singing world in Goa. One who have not delved into her past could say it is a little too late for her, but it is not true she is part of a very famous choir and sings for Operas. She could not sing for bands because of restrictions and discipline adopted by the orphanage but she has no qualms or regrets about it as she believes that opportunity knocks at the right time.

Sheena story began when she was in the sixth standard at St. Joseph High School, Nagoa Verna. Her talent for singing was first noticed by her teachers Rose Mary and Joseph. From there on there was no looking back for her as both the teachers supported and promoted her to sing during various functions in the school. She says that when was in the VIII they made her participate in the interschool competition when was won the 2^nd prize in English catergory.

Sheena story which began at 11 years is on the rise today because of lots of support from teachers, mentors, friends and priests who went out of their way to encourage her to pursue singing.

Recently she made it to the finals of an all Goa singing competition. Though she was not the winner she is not disheartened but says this is her first experience performing at such a huge audience.

She is all praise for Fr. Peter Cardoz who she calls her backbone. In 2009 he gave me an opportunity to sing for his choir and then Opera. “I underwent voice training under him for my 2^nd grade”. Sheena says Fr. Peter gave her the opportunity to sing the opening song for an opera. That she was also part of the St. Francis Xavier opera.

Earlier during her school days she completed 1^st grade in keyboard from Trinity College of Music, London through her trainer Ludvico Correa from Agassaim who introduced her to Fr. Peter Cardoz.

She is all praise to Carmelite priests who encouraged her to pursue singing. Carmelite priests in Margao are incharge of the Lar de Santa Terezinha. “Both former director of Lar Fr. Alvito Fernandes and now Fr. Archie Gonsalves allowed me sing and showcase my talent in Goa as well as abroad. “Goan band Genesis wanted a female singer in their group as they were supposed to perform in Dubai, I was allowed to accompany them and it was a dream come true firstly because I always wanted to travel to that country and secondly because I was performing with professional band and singing on stage for the first time”.

“God has always been there for me, sometimes I feel God is partial to me”.

Director of Lar de Santa Terezinha Fr. Archie says that Sheena is blessed with the singing talent and we support her.

Sheen goes on to praise Genesis band member, “Zico Fernandes is very helpful, he was very supportive of me during my performance recently, I was nervous to perform at Ravindra Bhavan for finals last week before a huge crowd but he was by my side like a pillar”. Out of 120 participants from all over Goa, Sheen was last 17 participants singing in the grand finals.

Though she did win the prize she does seem to be disappointed as she claims that she did not participate to win but to get a platform to showcase he talent.

Talking about her future plans Sheen said that she wants to pursue her career as a beautician at the same time make a mark as a singer. After completing SSC, she opted for vocation training in beautician course and currently runs a parlour in Fatorda. She also disclosed that she has bagged the leading role in an upcoming movie.