DOCTOR OSCAR REBELLO! GOA NEEDS YOU by Nisser Dias

Last week the people of Goa or rather the niz Goenkar woke up to a rude shock, no it was not a dream; infact I pinched myself to make sure that I was not dreaming while reading the morning newspaper. The simple caption said, Dr. Oscar Rebello resigns from Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA), it was a jolt to me even though I had expected it long time back and I was gasping for breath.

Then the stark reality dawned upon me that the few publicity hungry members in the GBA had finally managed to hound the charismatic Goan leader out of the umbrella organization that was trying to save whatever remains of Goa from our greedy politicians and self centered builders.

Dr. Oscar has become a household name in Goa for his dedicated struggle and fiery speeches against the draconian Regional Plan 2011, which finally forced the government to withdraw it. He is known as the only person in the GBA besides Patricia Pinto who took on the might of politicians, builders and others who sought to benefit from the RP 2011. His charisma, oratory skills, character and down to earth attitude endeared him to the masses as a genuine Goan, who at any cost would not dash the hopes and aspirations of like-minded Goans. He connected with the masses with such magnetism that his call for a mass movement against the rape of Goa would never go unheard or ignored. Dr. Oscar had struck a chord in the hearts of the Goan masses from all walks of life. During his public speeches, he spoke to everybody present; he felt the pulse and heart beats of Goans and translated them into his words. And the people could feel that his words were not just promises, but he meant what he said. Such was his appeal and the people of Goa saw a genuine leader in Dr. Oscar Rebello.

Undoubtedly, some the publicity hawks in the GBA sensed that this true Goan was stealing the show from under the feet. I call it a show because; for those particular lot in the Abhiyan, it is just another agitation but for Dr. Oscar it is a cause.

For him it is a cause because he tried to find a solution to it and not only agitate for the sake of agitation. For those some it was, “let the mess continue”. It was here that the leadership qualities of Dr. Oscar came to the fore, of course in a short span; his oratory skills had become legendary as he spoke from his heart. Like an old saying goes, ‘Deeds speak louder then words’ but in Dr. Oscar’s case he deftly showed that his words and deeds were attuned to each other and that showed the character, quality and calibre of the man.

The comment ‘let the mess continue’ indicated the thought process of publicity mongers in the GBA, I can point out lots more but I prefer to give them the leeway as in their own sense and mind tried to make GBA dynamic.

But what I will not accept is that after all these years Dr. Oscar Rebello was lashed out at, even to the extent of one member started using the print media to tarnish Dr. Rebello’s image. Of course initially they tried to move him out by trying to convince him to contest election, but when he rejected the proposal, they had no other option but to initiate other methods.

And he bore it all for years showing high tolerance level, for the love of Goa and Goans, but when this same group started spreading canards about Dr. Oscar integrity, honesty and uprightness, he rightly decided to call it quits.

The field is now open for his detractors to match his skills, none will come up to his knee levels, because Dr. Oscar had put his soul and heart into saving Goa. Those running the show now are riding on his wave trying to gain publicity. All those who had sincerely worked to expose the evil designs behind draconian Regional Plan 2011 and took the fight to the government have since been silenced though they are still with the Abhiyan, but the pompous lot is now running the show.

Of course I also say that it is not the end of the road for the activists trying in their own way to save Goa and its ethos, yes, we should also not move under his shadow inordinately nor can we depend upon him alone to lead the agitation on and on; but at this juncture when the land in the Goa has become cynosure of all eyes we cannot afford to lose or rather chuck Dr. Oscar Rebello aside because he led by examples and showed the way to carry out a fight. We should not forget that he made the chief minister of the state to travel 35 kilometers to meet the activists and that too when other leaders tried to unsuccessfully convince the CM to meet them. As of now, has any of the office bearers of GBA the clout to make the CM of the state travel almost 50 kilometers to hear their grievances, I do not think so. Dr. Oscar could do it because he commanded respect and more importantly the fear that this man could mobilize masses.

Yes the office bearers have belatedly urged him to consider his resignation, but the same request was not made when he quit as the convener. I dare challenge those ruling the roost in the GBA today, to display the vibrancy Abhiyan exuded with Dr. Oscar as its convener, none have it. For GBA to regain its radiance again it needs Dr. Oscar Rebello to be at the helm of affairs and not just a member and if this is offered to our beloved, fearless leader he should not reconsider it, but morally accept it and lead the Goan masses in their struggle to save Goa’s hills, fields, the coastline along with Goan ethos. Yes, Dr. Oscar Rebello, Goa needs you.