Paralysing Goan Ego-Soter

https://www.heraldgoa.in/Review/Voice-Of-Opinion/Paralysing-Goan-Ego/124724.html

The social distress in Goa is becoming increasingly visible and vocal. Goans feel their social, economic and political space in the State is diminishing with what seems to be the government’s uppermost priority of promoting migrant business interests, plundering the natural resources and worshipping tourists as Gods. 

Instead of addressing the cause for growing discontent among Goans, the toxic nationalist mindset in government is seeking to make political capital of this situation by giving it the colour of an ‘anti-India’ sentiment to polarise society. The saviours of Goa and Goenkarponn have more than often turned out to be exploiters of Goan sentiments to forward their own ambitions, further fuelling the feelings of betrayal, anger and hopelessness. Initiatives for ‘parivartan’ or ‘change’ are actually only reactionary outbursts rather than proactive processes. The primary issues get swept under the carpet to maintain the political status quo to help power brokers. The result being that new socio-political alternatives and young visionary and credible political leadership in Goa are not being allowed to emerge. 

The bug in the process for change is the Goan denial of having any role in the current social, economic and political mess thereby blaming and projecting the cause for the problems onto others, most conveniently the politicians and the migrants. Any Goan who refuses to tow the popular sentiments of the Goan mob, and instead advocates a smart approach to the problems, gets cleverly defamed and rejected as being a BJP mole or a Congress stooge. 

The Goan society ought to understand, and it needs to do so urgently, that any ‘Change’ cannot start from without but has to begin from within. This is what Gandhiji meant when had said, “be the change you wish to see in the world.” Social and political change cannot be purchased off the shelf from the market like clothes and other consumables. There are no readymade remedies which will act as short-cuts to social processes other than those requiring sacrifice, commitment, patience and perseverance. Hurling abuses at politicians and migrants or replacing governments is not going to arrest the degeneration. Court verdicts may only help stagger the destruction and negative propaganda on social media is more an act of cowardice. Goans need to admit that the political rot originates from within Goan society as a result of the huge Goan Ego which resists any attempts for bringing about rational thinking and self-realisation. Change can only come about with a honest and courageous assessment of the problem, a humble admission of the ugly realities and a will to act prudently, discerningly and definitely.

The present behavioural condition of Goan society can be likened to a family affected by alcoholism or drug addiction. The family never blames its own and resists taking responsibility for the problem. The blame is always on the law enforcers, drug peddlers, bootleggers or some envious neighbour. They want the addict to change but avoid looking at their own behaviours which equally contribute to the progress of the disease. 

In fact, the elected representatives to government who adhere to ethical politics tend to become unpopular and get condemned as useless. This is why a honest and sincere person entering Goan politics could only be suicidal as long as society does not change its political thinking and behaviour. The abusive and corrupt politician has been successful because they have understood this delinquent psyche and the rules of this dysfunctional game.

‘Goenkarponn’ cannot survive in a market driven economy and a consumer mindset. It was always about self-governance through communidades, which were the equivalent of panchayats in other parts of the country. It was about self-reliance which gets well summed up in the popular Goan proverb, “ghantta voilo yetolo ani khanddar kaddun ditolo mhonn ravlear kamamch zaunchinant”, meaning ‘no work will be accomplished if we wait for someone from across the borders to come and assist us in carrying our responsibility’. 

Goans will have to take up all types of occupations to meet the social and economic needs of society. If Goenkarponn has to survive, Goans will have to take up menial jobs like sweeping the streets, cleaning sewerage and lifting garbage for the local bodies, a job currently executed by migrants for Goan society. The process of change has to evolve through diverse opinions converging into common ground for action. A hundred questions by Goans before biting the bait of change can be far more productive than an unquestioned commitment to what appears popular, only to feel cheated and betrayed later. To get a fair view of the murky ground reality in Goa, one needs to step out of the Goenkar mentality and have a glimpse of the problems from a migrant’s eye. What Goa desperately needs is not political game-changers but social reformers. The paralysing Goan ego has to be tamed if any positive outcomes are to become possible.

(Herald Review, 31 December 2017)