Optimism, of a cautious kind, can help us to go further in 2026
As the old calendar gets ready to move off our walls and our minds, looking back at the past twelve months in Goa invites a mix of memories, scents and flavours. We might also wonder where, and how fast, the year vanished.
Maybe our minds compress routine, repetition and low-novelty days into a tight bundle. We are left with only the moments which stand out in our memory’s landmarks. If those are few, the rest of the calendar feels sparse and fast-moving. Besides, there is the constant digital overload; this cuts time into tiny, forgettable fragments. So, no surprises if we end up feeling as if we walked an entire year without leaving enough footprints to prove it. The first quarter of a century is getting over.
So, what should one look back at, from a Goa perspective? How? Some regret? Hope, anticipation, optimism or concern?
Yes, Goa has had its share of regrets in 2025. Our loss of green. Beaches turning more vulnerable to encroachments or violations of coastal zoning. The slow fadeout of Goan youth from playing a more vibrant role in local life, due to diverse, complex reasons. A quiet retreat of local languages, both Konkani and Marathi, from playing a more key role in a multilingual society. Heritage structures insufficiently cared for, and traditional occupations fast shrinking. Governance moving to opacity, publicity consultations insufficiently done, waste management stuck in loops of promises. Or, public health improving slowly but yet to manage to take care of Goa’s needs, civic patience stretched as transport, parking and urban planning running into questionable visions.
The nightclub inferno made international news for the wrong reasons: 25 people died due to illegalities patronised by the government machinery.
On the other hand, let’s not overlook the positives we have. A citizenry that is assertive about its rights. A cultural ecosystem where theatre (including tiatr), indie music, literature and film collectives keep sprouting in unexpected corners; to which value is added by also the recent settlers to Goa. Goans abroad who carry their homeland lovingly, feeding back skills, networks and solidarity. A culinary sector that draws wows from the world. Sporting and musical talent totally disproportionate to Goa’s size. Micro-entrepreneurs undertaking new initiatives in some areas of Goa. Infra works are on a roll. Local scientists, scholars and archivists documenting Goa’s ecology, history and memory with quiet rigour. Concerned greens fighting for forests, rivers and coasts. Libraries, book events and reading circles that prove Goa’s intellectual pulse is alive and even growing. (Goa has formulated a far-sighted library policy but it requires a strong push from the government.) A lingering, stubborn everyday civility –which survives even amid political brawls and tourism-belt chaos. The fallouts of the Arpora fire tragedy may be good for the state, as there will soon be regulation of nightclubs, SOPs, safety covers, better checks, etc.
For those mathematically inclined, the Year 2025 has a few neat numerical quirks too: it is a perfect square year: 2025 equals 45², something that happens only a handful of times each millennium. It also sits snugly between two prime-numbered years, 2023 and 2027. The year is divisible by 3, 5, 9, 15, 27 and 75, so it has a rich factor structure. We need to hear more from numerologists and recreational mathematicians what 2026 holds….
Looking forward while glancing back in human terms, Goa needs a proper mix of optimism and caution as we anticipate times ahead. Focus is needed on tremors beneath what might misleadingly seem like a laid-back surface. Goa needs to carry forward a sharpened awareness and a readiness to defend what makes us all feel like more than just a spot on a tourist map.
