EDITORIAL
The government needs to play a proactive role in preserving Goa’s asmitai
Today is the anniversary of the Goa Opinion Poll held in 1967, a pivotal moment in Goa›s history. If today Goa is a state in the federal structure of the Indian republic, it is thanks to all those who worked to oppose Goa’s merger with Maharashtra in the historic referendum. Goa is a melting pot of many cultures that helped shape its unique identity, and the Opinion Poll saw Goans vote to preserve this identity of theirs.
The poll was held to allow Goans to decide whether they wanted to merge with Maharashtra or maintain their distinct identity as a Union territory. On this day, 81.7% of Goa’s electorate turned up to decide its fate. Of this, 54.2% voted to keep Goa separate, against 43.5% for the merger, and thus Goa’s unique cultural and linguistic heritage was preserved. The Poll was also a triumph of secularism. If the result had gone in favour of the merger, Goa would have been a taluka of Maharashtra or, at the most, a district of the neighbouring state. The poll›s outcome paved the way for Konkani to be recognised as the official language of Goa more than 20 years later.
While that vote was an assertion by the people to preserve their identity and Goa’s ethos, today we need to introspect whether that identity and cultural ethos continue to survive or if something needs to be done to preserve it.
Goa has gone through a series of metamorphoses. Political, cultural, and economical. With improved socio-economic conditions, which meant availability of jobs, Goa saw large in-migration. In the past 12 to 15 years, Goa has changed drastically. Its beautiful lands are being taken over by concrete jungles, which mainly cater to people from outside the state. On one hand, the state has been seeing a huge out-migration over the years, while on the other, more people from outside are attracted to Goa, more so post-Covid.
Fifty-eight years ago we fought to retain Goa’s “unique identity,” but what is the status now? We lament that the cultural identity is getting diluted.
Goa’s identity and cultural heritage are indeed its biggest strengths, and protecting them is crucial for preserving the essence of ‘Brand Goa’. People come to Goa as tourists or make Goa their home or second home because of what Goa has to offer—natural beauty, green cover, culture, cuisine, festivals, rural-urban profile, the people, communal harmony, peaceful living, etc.
For all this, the people have to be involved but more importantly, the government has to play a pro-active role. The Centre has failed us in the past. Both the main political parties assured of giving Goa ‘special status’ but they let us down.
The state government can still do a lot. Protect and preserve traditional villages, which are an integral part of Goa›s cultural heritage. Protect the land. Encourage and support initiatives that foster hospitality and promote Goa’s spirit of warmth and welcome. Encourage and support initiatives that foster communal harmony and promote Goa’s spirit of tolerance and coexistence. Protect and conserve Goa’s forests, which are not only essential for the environment but also a key part of its cultural heritage. Promote sustainable tourism practices. Konkani must be promoted in a big way. Migration needs to be reduced. Opinion Poll Day must be celebrated in a grand manner every year. Will it happen?
