A beautiiful letter to HERALD by A S Prabhu from Moira
The last governor-general of Portuguese India was General Vassalo de Silva, who became a household name in Goa because of his affability towards his people. The then Portuguese Prime Minister Dr Antonio de Oliveira Salazar had delegated all powers to him, except to surrender.
When the situation in Goa became tense, sensing trouble, he flashed a message to Lisbon. In response, Dr Salazar replied: “We have abiding faith in the Patron Saint of Goa, St Francis Xavier,” and added, “Goa ninguem levara nas por si acabara,” translated: “Nobody will take Goa; it will vanish by itself.” He advised the Governor to blast everything and flatten Goa if the Indian Army invaded. To this the humane general replied: “O que eu fiz nao posso fazer desfazer,” translated: “Whatever good that I have done cannot be undone.”
What a prophecy. Today, Goa has been destroyed by our 40 monsters, and reduced to rubble. Our hills have been bulldozed to make way for mega housing projects. Our green fields are now concrete jungles. There are no water bodies, and the mangroves have been butchered.
There are rules and laws, but who cares? Everyone turns a blind eye to this destruction in the name of development. My own village is slowly becoming a concrete jungle. Water has become scarce, but there are nearly half a dozen swimming pools in collusion with the authorities. NGOs have become spineless. My heart bleeds for Goa. What legacy are we leaving for posterity?
The last governor-general of Portuguese India was General Vassalo de Silva, who became a household name in Goa because of his affability towards his people. The then Portuguese Prime Minister Dr Antonio de Oliveira Salazar had delegated all powers to him, except to surrender.
What a prophecy. Today, Goa has been destroyed by our 40 monsters, and reduced to rubble. Our hills have been bulldozed to make way for mega housing projects. Our green fields are now concrete jungles. There are no water bodies, and the mangroves have been butchered.
There are rules and laws, but who cares? Everyone turns a blind eye to this destruction in the name of development. My own village is slowly becoming a concrete jungle. Water has become scarce, but there are nearly half a dozen swimming pools in collusion with the authorities. NGOs have become spineless. My heart bleeds for Goa. What legacy are we leaving for posterity?
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