Uphold spirit of 18th June
June 18, Goa Revolution Day, commemorates the challenge to the colonial Portuguese rule in 1946 by Ram Manohar Lohia, along with Dr Juliao Menezes. While this day honours the bravery of freedom fighters and is marked by events, it also prompts reflection on the current state of Goa. Today, out state faces rampant destruction—its land is sold off to outsiders, and its hills, fields, and ecosystems are vanishing. Pollution threatens the state’s natural resources, and its unique identity is eroding. Adding to the irony, many Goans now seek Portuguese citizenship, indirectly aiding political forces that continue to exploit the state. To truly honour the spirit of June 18, another revolution is needed—this time to protect and preserve Goa’s environment, culture, and future.
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Unfair travel advisory
The US sounded an alarm on travel to India. It has issued a travel advisory, cautioning its citizens of increasing rapes and crimes. Citizens have been advised to take extra caution in central and eastern India. This is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. India must retaliate in a tit-for-tat move by issuing an advisory for Indian travellers to exercise utmost caution while travelling in the US. Unprovoked gun violence is on the rise and mindless mass killing, fuelled by the gun culture is increasing. Moreover, Indians are being seen as job takers and are being despised by locals, especially young citizens.
Robert Castellino, Calangute
Playing with fire
This is with reference to the fire that broke out on June 21 in the storeroom of an explosive manufacturing company at the Verna Industrial Estate (NT, June 22, 2025). The company is a supplier to the Indian defence forces. The fire, suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, destroyed gunpowder, ammunitions and bullets (live and spent) worth crores of rupees and reduced them to ashes. The timely call by the security personnel to the Verna fire station and the rapid action by firefighters saved the establishment. As per reports, in March 2025 the company’s godown at Naqueri-Betul was gutted in a fire. The company must investigate whether the two episodes were natural mishaps or otherwise. Hosting an ammunition manufacturing facility in such a location is fraught with danger. A few months back a blaze gutted several cars outside the workshop of a prominent car company at the Verna Industrial Estate. Factoring in all the incidents and also the highly density of population and establishments in the estate and its vicinity, the government could nudge the ammunition company to shift to an alternate and safer site far from the madding crowd.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
Key to peace
This is with reference to the piece ‘Virtue of Tolerance’ (NT, June 23, 2025). It is an insightful, informative piece on the subject of reality. It is important how we look at the other person’s point of view. Sagarmal Jain has aptly explained as to how we look at reality through photographs of one and the same tree from different angles. Neither of them can give the complete and true picture of the tree. And so it is with our dealings with others in society. We all think we know everything about the other person judging from one side of the story, but the reality is something else. This is where the virtue of tolerance comes in. We need to be tolerant of the person’s thoughts, his faith, his beliefs, etc. Acceptance of the other person as he or she is, is the key to peace and harmony in society.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Loss of a legend
Making debut in Test cricket at the age of 32, yet grabbing more than 100 wickets (totalling 114 in 33 Tests) with the milestone of ‘century’ achieved in just only 28 Tests, certainly was not a mean feat on the part of Dilip Doshi. His match haul of five wickets despite struggling with the pain of fractured toe, enabling India to win the 1981 Melbourne Test (with the series tied 1-1) will forever be remembered by the Indian cricket admirers. Doshi, who passed away on Monday, was an embodiment of a perfect gentleman with a lion-heart.
Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata
Games for bonding
Popular sport disciplines unite people like nothing else. Additionally, connecting minds and communities is an undisputed benefit besides keeping loneliness away. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) in association with the World Health Organisation observed the Olympic Day on June 23 to commemorate the founding of the IOC on June 23, 1884. In India, the IOC joined hands with Abhinav Bindra Foundation and Reliance Foundation to mark the day. “Let’s move” is the worldwide theme, and “#Let’s Move +1, India” was chosen as the theme in India to highlight the physical and emotional bonding power of sports. Nearly, 80 per cent of youngsters across the globe are not able to meet the minimal activity level to keep them fit and fine. Moving, or walking in general terms, implies the benefits of shedding physical inertia.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
