True Goans are :
1. Individuals of Goan parentage, whether living in Goa or abroad, who feel for Goa and demonstrate their deep commitment towards Goa.
2. Erstwhile non-Goans including the labour force from the surrounding States who have contributed to Goa, and have made Goa their home both physically and emotionally. They have given their heart and sweat to Goa .
The Goan spirit is a composite of Kunbi, Hindu, Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist, Maratha, Portuguese, Saraswat, Aryan, Dravidian, Rajput, Kannad, Arab, Turk, Jewish, English, Konkani, Marathi, Gujrati, and now Hindi, Malayali, Telegu, Sikh and Punjabi influences.
Even so, True Goans are individuals who will publicly pronounce that they are Goans first irrespective of their lineage e.g. Maharashtrian, Gujrati, Punjabi, Malayali etc.
Mere birth in Goa or long time residence in Goa does not make one a True Goan. It might qualify one for a Goa residency certificate or a Goa ration card, but NOT for being accepted as a True Goan.
For that, an individual would have to demonstrate genuine inbuilt support for Konkani, dekni & dulpods, and Goan cultural events like tiatr, mando festival, zatra and shigmo.
True Goans are also most likely to protest loudly against the derogatory terms used by Maharashtrians & Gujratis to describe Goans i.e. Maka Pao, as also the derogatory Nehru, Brit & many North Indians'-term for Goans i.e. Goanese!.
True Goans will do all in their ability to prevent the further filthification of Goa and the further pollution of Goa's once pristine environment.
Anything less than this total commitment to Goan-ness will indicate that they are anti-Goan or at best are only Paper Goans i.e. Goans of convenience.
Goans have seen horrendous violence which lead to the near obliteration of Buddhist temples, the Vijayanagri Hindus and Golconda Muslims butchering each other for decades, repeated violent Maratha incursions, and the the most horrible Inquisition perpetrated by Right Wing Catholics under the watch of the Portuguese.
And yet, Goans are amongst the most peaceful, happy, fair minded, hospitable but direct, people in the world. Is it because they have seen the worst and learnt a lesson from the violence of others, or the last 200 years of Portuguese rule in Goa were fairly docile or they are inherently a decent people like most Indians ?.
It is most likely, a composite of all the above.
Goans have made the right choice of shunning religion & politics based violence which is threatening to destroy different communities around our world. All of us will benefit from working together. We are different and yet one. We will succeed best if we continue to accept our individual differences and avoid imposing our own language, culture and religious dogmas on others.
We are all good people. We are also intelligent people. We should incorporate the positive qualities of others and shun their negatives .
We, Goans, are after all a perfect example of : OUT OF MANY....ONE PEACEFUL PEOPLE!
Yes out of many one peaceful people with all crooked leaders. North Indians are real assholes to use the term Goanese instead of Goans. This shows what kind of education is imparted in North India.
ReplyDeleteOur Ministers and politicians have sold our citizenship to the ghantis who now call themselves Goans. Along with the ghantis these ministes and politicians should be exiled.
ReplyDeleteGoans of all the three main religions, be it educated or non-educated have always stood out to be tolerant and have great communal harmony. Seeing this as a weakness Our politicians gave taken us for a blind ride and yet we are forgiving. But the same tolerant Goans will one day wake up be United and cake on the Corrupt Government. Believe me blood will be shed, being out numbered it will be more of the Goans.
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