The proud "Goan Identity"

I resume writing this column (in the form of a Blog) after a gap of nearly seven years. And I consider it  a great pleasure to be back at it again. I will be attempting to write this blog once in a week, and upload the same every Saturday.

Honestly, Goa did not mean much to me until I was eighteen. My love affair with Goa started when I was studying at Govt. Dental College, Hyderabad. Having been born and brought up in Goa, being away from my family and friends I had grown up with, was simply too much for me. I began to miss my beloved Goa and Goans like mad. Probably the famous old saying "absence makes your love grow fonder" began to have its effect on me.

There are many places in the world that are a lot more beautiful than Goa. I don't know why, but for me, Goa is the best; and I love it very dearly. There is something about Goa which touches the hearts of everybody. And once you are touched by this 'magic of Goa',  you can never be the same again... you are permanently in love with Goa.

I am sure it is the same 'magic of Goa" that attracted the famous 'Hippies' to Goa in the early 70s. They loved Goa and Goans very dearly, and went out of their way to introduce Goa to their friends in the West. And thanks to their word of mouth publicity, Goa began to attracts tourists from the world over. And today, it is acknowledged as one of the most preferred  destination for tourism.

I am convinced, Goa has a unique identity which makes it different from others. Before I go any further, I wish to clarify that I am a  very broadminded person, and that I have a clearly defined "plural identity". I am proud to be an Indian, just as much as I am proud to be a Goan. My two identities co-exist, and complement one another. I will not do anything that will 'hurt' either of these two identities. 

A few years ago, a well known south Goa Cardiologist and social activist asked me if there is anything called "Goan Identity"? I told him that "Goan Identity" is very much there. However, it is something that cannot be described in words. It is something very sacred, and can be only "felt" only by the hearts and souls of people who love Goa (its land and community) very genuinely. 

I explained to the honorable doctor that "Goan Identity" is something very deep. Our identity is a lot more than our language, food and culture. I told him our identity is ROOTED in the legacy of love and 'reverence' our ancestors had for our land and community. I reminded him that many of our forefathers sacrificed their lives and careers for the sake of our identity. 

The way Goa is sold and abused, I am not too sure how many of us, the so called 'Goans' of today can honestly claim to have a "Goan Identity". I am convinced, it is only those  present day Goans, who continue to take care of their land and work for the genuine development of their community can claim to have a true "Goan Identity.  It is time every self respecting Goan wakes up to this reality!

A few years ago, I was invited for a closed door meeting to discuss the issue of "Devnagri v/s Roman Konkani Script Issue". Many distinguished VIPs of Goa were present for that meeting. And surprisingly, almost all of them said that "Konkani language is "Goan Identity" . I seemed to be the odd man out when I told them that, 'Konkani' is only a "means of communication" between the various members of our Goan Community. 

I went on to tell the above gathering that Goan Identity should be seen and defined as a "sense of pride in belonging to our ancestral land and community". I told them, that if we continue to loose our ancestral land  to others, and remain indifferent to the needs of our community, a day will come when Goans will loose their "Goan Identity". And I do not want that to happen! 

Many people tell me Goa has gone to dogs. And I agree with them. Yes, even dogs have a 'self pride' of their own. They will jump and attack you, if you act funny with them. I am not a dog. And I have great pride in my "Goan Identity".

I did work for the cause of "Goan Identity" in the past, on a limited basis. The compulsions of a busy dental practice had tied my hands in the past. I have decided to break free. Today I want to devote more time for this cause, and work for it passionately. And even if I am the only one, I am prepare to make the necessary sacrifices, and pay the price for it.

I will tell you more of this in my next Blog, next Saturday. And in the mean time, join me in saying "Cheers to Goa and Goan Identity". Cheers!