Change of mindset required Change of mindset

Arwin Mesquita wants Goans settled abroad and those of the Catholic community to do more to improve and therefore protect Goa
During my schooling years in Kuwait I was overwhelmed by the Goan community or shall I say the Goan Catholic community via the various functions and tiatrs. I perceived Goa's identity as Catholic, but to my gradual realisation Goan identity was actually an amazing cohesion of the Goan Hindu, Catholic and Muslim entities.I think many Goan Catholics don't appreciate the fact that Hinduism in particular, has had a significant positive foundation/influence on the Catholic community and that both these dominant religions together have shaped Goa's very unique identity, making us different, from other Indian and global communities.
I think with respect to Goan identity, both Goa's predominant religions can't do without each other. But then, we see divisions among these religious communities to the effect that most of Goa's critical identity issues are not addressed. This benefits politicians (corrupt ones) and non-Goans who (with respect) are taking increasing control of Goa and making us irrelevant in our own land i.e. the disunity/suspicion amongst religious groups are pushing Goans towards extinction.
For instance, despite the fact that a significant amount of Goans relate to Roman Konkani, this script is being opposed. Do Goans prefer to promote Konkani or to see non-Goan languages get increasing prominence via the backdooruncontrolled migration, migrant vote banks and other factors. Let's understand that Konkani (Devanagiri and Roman) will be irrelevant if Goans become a minority in Goa.
I will address issues in my Catholic community. Goan Catholics must realise that the first clear casualty of Goan identity will be Catholics themselves and in the immediate run, it will be all Goans, including Hindus and Muslims. We Catholics will have only ourselves to blame and in my view, we are significantly responsible for Goa's deteriorating identity, for the following reasons:
a) Often unnecessary sales to outsiders for short term gains
b) Konkani being shunned by the so-called educated/elite class
c) Migrating to the USA, UK, Canada, Australia appears to give an imaginary boost to the self-esteem of many Catholic Goans; many of whom then come back to "hopeless Goa" looking for prospective grooms/brides for themselves or siblings
(d) Most Goan emigrants seeking permanent (not temporary) overseas residence, give various excusesbetter life, education for kids etc. I appreciate that there are economic reasons for emigration, but let me pose the following questions:
1) Do we really lack a long-term vision to see that the economic power is shifting east and so, do Goans really need to go west today?
2) Why can't well-off non resident Goans use their resources to improve Goa and realise the very better standards that they use as an excuse to emigrate?
3) What about true value of material gains versus the actual social/value losses?
4) Yes, there are reasons for specific emigrations but then can't they give back anything to Goa or have they abandoned the land of their ancestors?
5) Don't we appreciate that all developed countries were actually backward and it's the residents there who "made it happen"? Now, many Goans (particularly in the Gulf) are migrating to those countries instead of trying to develop their home to the desired standards.
I think that together, we can make Goa a world class state. It's easy to run away from problems and emigrate, but is this right in the long run? The Goan diaspora has the world's best practices but only a few have/are giving back to Goa. I believe that most issues causing Goans to emigrate can be resolved, some immediately, some in a reasonable time frame and some in a bit more time. The Goan diaspora can play a key role in the latter with their global skills/strengths, but will they?
There are many cultural events and conventions in Canada, Australia, UK, USA, surely all these will not be relevant if Goan identity is extinguished in Goa. Sometimes, I think that with the exception of a very few, most of these events are just socialising opportunities for the Goan diaspora and there is actually no serious will to do anything for Goa.
In politics, we Catholics are slaves to deceitful "secular parties" and vote for Catholics irrespective of how much his/her image is tarnished? Many of our Catholic religious leaders blindly call to vote for secular parties. Are they really secular or are they wolves in sheep's clothing? How different are these parties versus the labelled communal parties? I think they do more damage to Goa with their migrant vote banks that change demographics, create social imbalances and manipulate democracy.
Then there's water contamination, illegal conversion of agricultural land, facilitating large scale land sales to wealthy non-Goans, unnecessary mega-projects that destroy the fragile environment and again change demographics, coercion/strong-arm tactics/false police cases to subdue genuine activists fighting for Goa, deliberately flawed employment policies for illegitimate monetary gains from outsiders which works against Goan employment and forces Goans to leave Goa etc.
I am not lobbying for any particular party but rather want to ask Catholics to vote for the right candidate for Goa. If we really want to back secular parties then let's demand that they put up good and untarnished candidates. Else, let's put up people's candidates via the gram sabhas. It is high time we Catholics take a long hard look at ourselves and realise how our actions/non-actions are destroying Goa and its identity. Let's change our mindset else we probably will deserve what becomes of us.
The writer is based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The views expressed are those of the writer.
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