DIGU THE MODERN MARIE ANTOINETTE by Freddy Agnelo Fernandes

During the school days we had to learn about the French Revolution, in there the person I hated most was none other then the Queen, Queen Marie Antoinette, her overwhelming arrogance overflowed when she said, the peasants could eat cake if they could not afford bread. Bread at that time was the basic meal of the poor, the peasants as they were called. Queen Marie Antoinette from the comfort of her palace and silk gowns could not evaluate the misery of the common men or the then Aam Aadmi of France. That happened in the latter half of the 17th century.

Now in the early part of the 21st century we have a similar situation in Goa, with CM Digambar Kamat playing the depraved Queen to perfection, but here he gives the people cake rather than bread, how generous ! In the heart of Margao city the two public toilets that I know of, lie in dire state of hostility or in an utter abhorrent state, one at the old bus stop near Shabina Restaurant and the other in close proximity to Royal Foods near the pickup stand and our erstwhile CM has now given us air-conditioned toilets.

Many years ago I was a victim of urinary infection when I had no choice but to use one of these public toilets, I still remember, even the few minutes that I had to be there, I had to close my eyes as they were burning from the urinary fumes and had to hold my breath throughout the ordeal because of the repugnant smell that emitted and to top it all I ended up with a severe urinary infection, since then I have never ever used these public utilities and I am not sure how people survive this mayhem on their visits there. I just cannot even pass a few meters from these two places and I make sure I am on the opposite side of the road when nearing these monstrosities or aberrations, which instead of giving relief to the people under attack within, pose a deadly health threat to the general public.

Development is certainly good and I have read a lot of congratulatory message to the CM on the air-conditioned toilets, but the million dollar question is, are we Goans in extreme need of air-conditioned public toilets or are we in dire need of some of basic amenities? There could have been a lot of essential things that this enormous amount of money could have been used for, but no, our CM is not bothered about them. Novelties are good, but how long will they last ?

Our government cannot maintain a few normal toilets and he has given us air-conditioned toilets, we would rather have the bread than the cake that we can ill afford.

What would be the cost of maintaining a normal toilet with natural ventilation all around ? And what would be the cost to maintain an state of the art air-conditioned toilet ? If our government cannot give us a hygienic and clean normal toilet, how long will to be before we choke ourselves with the stink in an air-conditioned toilet which will be even more unhygienic as there will be no natural ventilation.

Let me explain it a little more in detail, I am sure many of us have been to air-conditioned bars or night clubs where there are plenty of smokers around, what happens when we get back home ? Not just our clothes but our whole body stinks of smoke and the clothes cannot be worn again without washing. If the air-conditioned toilets are not maintained, these toilets will be breeding grounds for more illnesses and diseases than serve as comfort or luxury toilets. I can assure, that people visiting them will carry home more germs and illnesses than some stray dogs.

I wonder what was the intension behind these state of the art air-condition toilets ? Was it development ? Was it showing off to the world ? Or the most likeliest, was it 10% or more, commission for installation and maintenance ? In a place like Dubai where the novelty of air-conditioned bus stops has withered off in no time, do we seriously think that the novelty of air-conditioned toilets will last in a place like Goa, where most of the users will be from the north eastern and the south central frontiers, most of whom are yet to see a normal toilet leave alone an air-conditioned toilet ?

So should we thank our erstwhile CM for this great gift, that we are not sure, how many of us would dare to venture into without any worry ? Or will it be a one more curse on the CM’s portfolio ? As for me I have learnt my lesson, I would prefer the ignominy of Rajan Parrikar or Joe GoaUK photograph me doing “it” in the open and stay healthy rather than suffer infections to some precious and vital parts of my anatomy. What about you ? Are you game for the cake that our CM has offered ?

At the height of the French revolution Queen Marie Antoinette was executed by “guillotine” (neck chopped off) for treason. I wonder what would be Digu’s fate if there is a Goan revolution ? Food for thought! - Freddy Agnelo Fernandes