Pg8 Edit:Layout 1 6/18/2010 10:10 PM Page 1

OHERALDO
OPINION
www.oheraldo.in
Pg8
O HERALD O
Vol No CX No: 157 Of Portuguese Colonial Hangovers
Goa, Saturday 19 June, 2010

post-colonial lusophony or inventing paradigms 50 years after 450 of colonialism, queries teotonio r. de souzA
CRZ pre-draft
is no good D ecolonization resulted in lowering the flags
in former colonies, except in the premises
of the diplomatic missions of the former
bare when occasions arise for commemorative
exercises. Their essays make us perceive the Por-
tuguese modernity as a mix of the saintly perfume

T he National Coastal Protection Campaign (NCPC), a col-
lective of fishermens organisations, has jointly rejected
the Ministry of Environments (MoEFs) pre-draft CRZ
2010 notification, which had been put up for discussion. At
their meeting in Kolkata, the NCPC described the draft as
being anti-people, anti-environment and pro-industry.
Ever since vested interests pushed the central government
to take undue advantage of a report by Dr M S Swaminathan
to propose a new CRZ law that would have veritably opened
up the Indian coastline for the hospitality industry and SEZs,
the fishing community has been up in arms. So strong was
their reaction to the proposal and so universal its condemnation
in most quarters that Union Environment Minister Jairam
Ramesh was forced to call for a review. The review was based
on consultations with the various stakeholders at a number
of locations within the country. Many of the consultations
were tumultuous. At the end of the process, this new pre-
draft was released.
The traditional fishermen say that most of the concerns
and issues raised during the public consultation process un-
dertaken by Minister Jairam Ramesh between August 2009
and March 2010 have been ignored in this pre-draft, despite
public assurances from the minister that these would be taken
into consideration. They are concerned that the pre-draft,
far from providing an improved legal regime that would better
regulate destructive development on the coast and protect
the livelihoods of traditional fisherfolk, is grossly inadequate
to control what they call the ongoing rampant construction
and industrialisation of the Indian coastline. They say it also
fails to address the dwelling and livelihood rights of the
fishing community, providing only token concessions.
Of particular concern to the fisherfolk in West Bengal, for
example, are the proposed nuclear power plant at Haripur, a
chemical industry hub in Nayachar and a special tourism
zone in Mandarmoni and Bokhali. The pre-draft, they say,
treats all these as permissible activities subject only to the
requirement for statutory clearances.
Many of the recommendations contained in the Final
Frontier Report submitted by the M S Swaminathan review
committee in 2009 have been completely ignored by the min-
istry in the draft. For example, the committee had recom-
mended a moratorium on new ports until their cumulative
impact was studied. But the pre-draft has no provision what-
soever to control the growth of ports. It does not even prescribe
that ports should be at least 25km away from critical habitat
(CRZ 1) areas. At present, over 300 ports are proposed along
the Indian coast. Of these, over 200 are already notified. This
would mean a port every 25 km along the coast.
Unless the ministry determines the carrying capacity of
Indias coastline with reference to development projects, it
would only be opening up fragile coastal areas to unsustainable
colonial powers. But the complex nature of colo-
nial relations built over centuries, is still unrav-
elling itself and not always in line with the overt
political pretensions of respecting the dignity or
feelings of the former colonial subjects and their
new independent or autonomous states. This dif-
ficult and slow process shows up, despite sly ef-
forts of some, when occasions arise to
commemorate some past event that is dear to
the former colonialists in the context of their na-
tional history.
The discovery of the sea route to India was
one such event in the recent past. The Portuguese
official interest in joint commemorations ended
in failure, but it did not prevent both the Por-
tuguese and Indian scholars from organizing
stock-taking exercises. In this November, it
will be the 500th anniversary of the conquest of
Goa by Afonso de Albuquerque, the founder of
the Portuguese colonial empire in Asia. Some
Portuguese scholars are itchy and one Coimbra-
based researcher voiced his surprise on Goa Re-
search Net about an eerie silence. One quick
and provocative response from a respectable vet-
eran US-based Goan novelist was: I have an eerie
feeling that old wounds are being allowed to
heal...
Such commemorative anxieties or hangovers,
represent the continued colonial tendency in
post-colonial moulds to conceive the history of
ex-colonial people as a chapter of ones own na-
tional history. This is precisely what D.D. Kosambi,
a Goa-born Indian cultural historian denounced
in strong terms, and challenged the Goans to re-
construct their history as a process of their de-
velopment across times, both more distant and
more recent than the European colonial interlude.
This advice does not in any way call for ignoring
any historical markers, but the calendar and the
agenda need not be dictated by outsiders. If the
Kadambas, the Vijayanagara rulers, the Adil Shahi
sultans, the Chatrapatis and Peshwas were still
around, how many other historical events would
Goans have to commemorate?
The eerie silence has been broken by Angela
Barreto Xavier, a Lisbon-based Goan historian,
whose Invention of Goa I reviewed in Herald (3
Jan 2009) under the caption Gudhameva Jayate
(http://www.scribd.com/doc/9690046/Gud-
dhameva-Jayate). She has just compiled a dossier
on Goa 1510-2010 for the journal Ler Histria
Tongue in cheek
HistoricAl explorAtions
(n. 58 2010, pp. 7-135). Admittedly, very little
time at disposal did not permit her to plan a
better job. She is happy though, with what she
has achieved. She has presented us with a col-
lection of six essays contributed by three Indians
(including one Goan) and three Portuguese schol-
ars. The front cover is illustrated by a late 19th
century or early 20th century Barreto Xavier
family photo in a nice and classic studio pose.
We should appreciate the initiative of their de-
scendant-historian Angela Barreto Xavier to force a
reflection on the colonial past with warts and all.
The collection of essays brings some brave
new ideas of Jason Keith Fernandes and less
known information about Gerson da Cunha by
Filipa Vicente. Jason seeks to draw a parallel
between the colonial manipulations of Afonso
Mexia and a present-day Association established
in 1995 for defending the traditional rights of
the Goan village communities. He also strays into
reflections about equal citizenship that was
granted repeatedly to Goans at various times.
of need and Greed
mogarins (?) and much else that made the
Apparently because it was never put into prac-
tice? He refers to the Portuguese republic. It was
earlier done by Marquis de Pombal. He could
check earlier cases when some Catholic Goans were
refused titles of nobility on the grounds that they
could only be conceded to Portuguese citizens!
Historical rigour is not obviously a forte of the
anthropologist-sociologist Jason Keith Fernandes.
With the exception of Filipa Vicente (whose work
I reviewed in Herald of February 22 ) and to some
extent Cristiana Bastos (who has added to what
we knew so far about the Goa Medical School),
all the other essays contain a rehash of obiter
dicta and hardly laudatory for the Portuguese
pioneering role in introducing Asia to early moder-
nity. Filipa Vicente seeks to explain why so much
of the brilliant work by Gerson da Cunha remains
unknown in Portugal. This is only a foretaste of
her more detailed study in preparation.
Pamila Gupta and Nandini Chaturvedula have
produced fine pieces that unintendedly convey
well, much that needs to be dissected and laid
of the incorrupt body of St Francis Xavier that
overwhelmed the pious and the scent of the
bailadeiras irresistible despite legislative and in-
quisitorial efforts to exorcise them. Even though
Afonso de Albuquerque initiated his imperial con-
quest of Goa with the ruthless bloodshed of
nearly 6000 Muslims in Goa, his project of mixed-
marriages, despite oppositions of some kind,
continued down the centuries with generous
shedding of sperm rather than blood. It even
helped comparing more positively the Portuguese
colonialism as we can read on p. 112.
In the essay of Paulo Varela Gomes the promised
novelty of a new perspective is hardly clear, and
much of his historical narrative is far from new.
The example of two churches of Telaulim and
Divar, associated with Fr. Antonio Frias is gener-
alized to the whole of Goa and other regions of
the Padroado in India. We are told that Goan
priests took charge of the parishes and did not
have to negotiate with the rulers in the planning
and construction of their churches. A tall claim
indeed. That is why the Goan priests had to be
accused of sedition and deported to Portugal in
1787 in the incident called Conspiracy of Pintos?
Besides insufficient use of sources, including up-
dated studies in Konkani about the churches,
Paulo Varela Gomes could re-check if Mateus de
Castro wrote a treatise or a few pages, and if
that was written in Portuguese or in Latin. That
could be a test of his research accuracy.
The back cover is illustrated with a colourful
image of some Indian spices. That makes me
think of Portuguese sarrabulho converted into
sarpatel, just like the other conversions, including
that of Goan souls. The process goes on and in
post-colonial times, Indian recipes are cooked
in European kitchens, producing what may result
into Luso-Indian culinary art. Translated into
academic research, it is easy to dole out some
euros to some young Indian researchers, satisfying
thereby the self-interest of career promotion and
the latest demands of the research-funding agen-
cies for institutional partnership and internation-
alization. The European chefs will continue
inventing the post-colonial recipes, just as they
did with oriental ones in the colonial past. Qual-
ified and cheap Indian labour will be available
to provide a good helping hand. Caveat Emptor!
By Adelmo Fernandes

development. Port development brings with it industries,
power plants, railway lines, highways, hotels, SEZs, and the
requirement of intensive settlement areas to house the man-
power for all these. When most existing Indian major ports
are operating below capacity and so many minor ports are
completely defunct, does India need all of this?
Goa has its own problems. The countrys hospitality industry
wants the 200-metre no-development zone to be opened up
to construction. Businessmen from New Delhi have been in-
discriminately buying up land in this no-construction area
over the last three years, in the expectation that the central
government will soon open it up for development and they
will reap a windfall. They must be denied. On the other hand,
the houses of our fisherfolk are slated for demolition. This
must be stopped. The pre-draft provides for neither. It must
not be allowed to pass.
N
ot so long ago the Goa Chief Minister made a startling state-
ment which caused quite a flutter among the citizens of
state. He told the aam admi that he does not need their
votes. The Hon. Chief Minister could have probably set some sort
of a record by being the only politician in the entire universe to
have passed such a remark. The plain truth is that no individual
has survived and will ever survive in the world of politics without
the support of his people. Making such a statement could probably
mean committing political suicide. The Chief Minister has probably
forgotten the dictum a friend in need is a friend indeed. There
could have probably been several reasons for him to pass such a
comment. He could probably have been in a bad mood or he could
be over-confident. Or he could have even been arrogant at that
point of time. Many say that the most probable reason could be
that he does not bank on the votes of the local people since he
has his own vote-bank which probably consists of migrants. After
all any vote counts, any vote is good enough to come to power.
Such a statement can be likened to a person telling his or her
spouse that he does not need him/her anymore. Be that as it may,
every human being has needs. Some needs are vital for our very
survival, other needs are not so necessary while we do not need
some of our so called needs. True happiness lies in knowing our
needs and differentiating them from our greed. It is but natural to
need something, but the trouble starts when greed creeps in. Our
Chief Minister has, in a way demonstrated, that he is not a greedy
person; he has no greed for the peoples vote. Whether this will
sound his death-knell will be known at the time of elections. We
need everything that has been given to us by the Almighty. We
need the air we breathe, the food we eat, the house we live in and
the money we earn to make a living. But then, when it comes to
money-matters, greed tends to overtake our needs. That is when
the trouble starts. Someone rightly said There is enough in this
world for everyones needs, but not for everyones greed . It is be-
cause of the greed of a handful of people that the needs of the ma-
jority of the people cannot be taken care of. This is probably one
of the main reasons for the ever-widening gap between the rich
and the poor. True satisfaction is when you learn to live within
your needs. There are two things to aim for in life: first to get
what you want; and after that to enjoy it. Only the wisest achieve
the second wrote Logan Pearsall. But then there could be a thin
dividing line between need and greed. So much so, that some
may actually find it difficult to know whether they are in need or
if it is greed. That is probably why the word need rhymes with
the word greed. To be clever enough to get all the money, one
must be stupid enough to want it wrote G.K. Chesterton.
But then what is true about money is not true about votes. You
cannot be considered stupid if you, as a politician, crave for all
the votes. So it would seem suicidal for a seasoned politician
to tell the electorate that he does not need their votes. After
all no politician can have enough of it (read as votes or money).

Letters to the Editor is well developed. North Goa is not. For

Sex capital
Irineu Gonsalves, Verna
It is with intrigue that I read the news report
Sex in the city? (Herald, June 17) and your
timely editorial Sex for sale?(June 18). Does
Goa need these unscrupulous websites to
promote her in such a cheap and nasty man-
ner? The whole world knows Goas beauty.
We need not stoop so low to attract tourists.
There was a time when Goa was Indias
virgin territory. But in the 80s, Goas rape
began. By 2000, the end of innocence was
there for all to see. We rightly blame the
politicians for all the destruction and the
concretisation. Who do we blame for this?
A lie can easily pass for truth, if enough
people say it is true. When dozens of web-
100 Years Ago
PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS
19 June, 1910
Kings Birthday
At Bicholim some theatre lovers are
going to stage a play to commemorate
the birthday of His Royal Highness D.
Manuel II, the King of Portugal.
PWD Labourers
It is reported that many rogues from
the City of Nova Goa on being arrested,
were sent to serve as labourers in the
Public Works Department.
Student Caught
A student from Calcutta was caught
red-handed while selling a pistol to an
individual who unfortunately happened
to belong to the Secret Services.
Severance Payment
It is reported that the Appraisers, who
were exonerated from the services at
their own request, are still awaiting
their payments for the services ren-
dered.
sites give Goa a bad name, what can one
expect? Before that happens, our government
should swing into action. Or do we want Goa
to be called the Sex Capital of India?
Whats wrong?
Errol DSouza, Porvorim
Thank you for the news report Sex in the
City (Herald, 17 June). While it may come
as a shock to some village Goans, escort
services are definitely for real in urban Goa.
Even some well educated Goan girls are reg-
istered with such escort services indirectly.
But frankly, in my opinion, I see nothing il-
legal or wrong in such fun escort services,
as long as it is between two educated con-
senting adults. Escorts services are available
all over the world, and they are here to stay,
one way or another.
Bhopal in Goa?
Eulalia A DMello, Fatoda
The Bhopal gas leak killed and maimed thou-
sands. Many are still suffering. Here in Goa,
how safe are we? Are hazardous chemicals
being transported safely? In case of an accident
or leak, what are the steps to be followed?
Industries dealing with hazardous materials
like Zuari, Syngenta, Kaiga, HPCLs LPG plant,
Metastrips, Industrial Estates, etc, surround
us. What are the safety and pollution control
measures being followed? Somebody needs
to tell us.
Ripening raids
Soter DSouza, Socorro
The recent seizure by the Food and Drugs
Administration (FDA) of mangoes ripened
with toxic chemicals appears to be an eye
wash, after media reports exposed their
negligence. Other fruits and vegetables be-
sides mangoes are exposed to high doses
of toxic substances, and sold 365 days of
the year in the markets without any action
from the authorities.
Does this not amount to terrorism? The
FDA through its dereliction of duties is abet-
ting this crime. The government spends
crores of rupees to eliminate Naxals and
terrorists. Why doesnt it declare an all out
war against food poisoning? Or is it a part
of the governments Golden Glow?
Letter of the Day
No more jumping chicken!
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
The monsoon has set in. The frogs are coming out from their hibernation. Now, the
poaching of frogs starts in right earnest. Catching of frogs is prohibited by law, but
poaching still continues. Already, five cases have reportedly been booked against
poachers.
Poaching of frogs can have an adverse effect on our biodiversity. Frogs eat mosquitoes,
which also breed during the monsoon. Last year, there was an outbreak of Chikungunya
in Goa.
Officials from the Forest Department should conduct surprise raids on eateries that
have been serving frog meat. If they are caught serving jumping chicken again, the
licence of these eateries should be withdrawn.
Where is Mickky?
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
It is really surprising that for the last two
weeks, the Goa police have been unable to
nab former Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco
and his PA Lyndon Monteiro. The police
should not succumb to any political pressure
to hush up or cover up this very serious
case. Mickky Pacheco had himself stated
that Goa was Indias rape capital. Our beau-
tiful state is emerging as a crime hot spot
with so many of our ministers and MLAs
charge sheeted for serious offences.
Why slam Cricket?
Mauro Fernades, Anjuna
The OPinionatED article Soccer World cup
unites the world by Jerry Fernandes (Herald,
17 June) is puzzling. No doubt the Football
World Cup is truly the biggest sporting
event under the sun. But what has it got to
do with Cricket?
Both are totally different sports, each with
a charm of its own. Let us hope both flourish.
One cannot change personal preferences.
Bollywood and Cricket have unique emo-
tional bonds among Indians that no force
on earth can change.
Patronising migrants
Rolf Fernandes, Margao
Goans are being marginalised by institutions
like MPT. Just as the camel kicked out the
Arab from his tent, Praveen Agarwal, with
the help of legislators like Mauvin Godinho,
is driving Goans out of their homeland. It
is a reality. Goans in Sancoale, Vasco, Chi-
calim and Dabolim are in a minority.
Our coastline is receding. Our rivers are
polluted by sewage from casinos run by mi-
grants. The drug menace is flourishing with
patronage from Goan politicians and their
sons to the migrant drug mafia. Goans are
being flushed out of this territory. But the
Goa government is sleeping and allowing
patron saints of migrants like Mauvin God-
inho to destroy Goa.
Another revolution
Joel Morais, Cuncolim
The first revolution against Portuguese rule
started from the historic village of Cuncolim,
and I am proud to be the son of that village.
After liberation, what Goa and Goenkars re-
ceived is there in front of us today.
Were things so bad during Portuguese rule
as compared to the present situation? Goa
needs another revolution to clean the entire
system.
Shamocracy
R Fernandes, Margao
Mr Chief Minister, Goa could have been a
model state. Instead, there is utter chaos
with MLAs poisoning panchayats, and pa-
tronising drug dealers, builders and miners.
Mr Manohar Parrikar, the Opposition should
be able to keep the Ruling Party in check,
not just make complaints. Every Goan knows
that rave parties are run by MLAs and that
drugs flow freely. Why doesnt Parrikar ex-
pose these people? Is it because his own
MLAs are involved?
Our shamocracy is of the crooked, by the
crooked and for the crooked.
City of floods
Cedric da Costa, Margao
The Goa Chief Minister, who is also the Mar-
gao MLA for the past 20 years, inaugurated
a water fountain at the Aga Khan Park in
front of the Margao Municipal building. But
Margao needs more than such cosmetic
gimmicks. After the rains, water logging
from clogged drains is the order of the day.
This year, like all previous years, the Margao
Municipality didnt bother about the drains.
Apparently, it wasnt aware that the monsoon
begins in Goa in June each year! It is time
the authorities learn to think with their
heads.
Slumbering Sardinha
Marcos Alemao, Varca
Wow! South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha has
finally woken up from his long sleep and
given a clean chit to Dabolim Airport (Herald,
16 June). But he was himself instrumental
in bringing Mopa airport when he was the
chief minister of Goa. Has he recently re-
alised the importance of Dabolim Airport?
What guarantee is there Sardinha-bab,
that Dabolim airport will not be closed when
Mopa become a reality? Try your level best
as MP to stall the Mopa Airport if you really
love Goa and Goans.
North vs South?
Robert Castellino, Calangute
Opinion seems to have polarised on Mopa.
The people of North Goa are all in favour of
Mopa, and people in the South are all against
Mopa. I do not know how much the people
of North Goa will benefit from Mopa or how
adversely it will impact the people of South
Goa.
One thing I do know for sure is that North
Goa is in dire need of development. Goas
development is bottom heavy. South Goa
proof of this, just open your morning
newspaper and turn to the Power Shut-
down column. Virtually all the areas men-
tioned are in the north. When you turn
on your water tap in the morning, if you
find that the tap is dry every other day,
be sure that you are in North Goa!
Costly shuttle
Florie Dias, Chinchinim
The KTC shuttle buses plying from Panjim
to Margao do not take the passengers
up to the Margao market, but instead
make them get down at the KTC bus
stand and take a city bus to go to the
market.
This causes a lot of inconvenience to
passengers. We waste another 20 to 30
minutes by the time the bus reaches the
market. Besides, it costs another Rs5 for
the city bus, in addition to the shuttle
bus fare of Rs22. Daily commuting ex-
penses come to as much as Rs54 to
and fro! The new KTC Chairperson
needs to look into this matter at the
earliest.
Double standards
S B Dias, Margao
It was interesting to note the muted re-
sponse of the United States when the
ship carrying aid to Gaza was attacked
by the Israelis leaving eight activists dead.
But it had a strong response to the North
Koreans, when South Korea alleged that
its ship was torpedoed and sunk by a
North Korean submarine. Why the dif-
ference?
Had a country other than Israel (a long
time US ally) been involved in killing the
activists, it would have incurred the wrath
of the US. Countries like India, China,
Turkey and other US allies should ques-
tion its response to the situation.
Letters should be 150 words or less in length, and
should have the writers name, address and tele-
phone number. The editor reserves the right to
edit letters for size and readability, and to delete
any personal attacks or libellous /objectionable
matter.

Printed and published by Vinayak Pai Bir for and on behalf of Herald Publications Pvt Ltd. Printed at Herald Publications Pvt Ltd, Plot No: L-135, Phase II, Verna Industrial Estate, Verna, Salcete, Goa. Published at PO Box 160, Rua Sao Tome, Panjim, Goa - 403001. Editor-in-chief: Mr R F Fernandes. Editor: Ashwin Tombat
(Responsible under PRB Act). Regd Office: St Tome Road, Panjim, Goa. Tel: 2224202, 2228083, Fax: 2222475 (all Editorial); 2230535, Fax: 2225622 (Advertising); Margao: 2737689. Mumbai Office: 16-A, Bell Building, 2nd Floor, 19 Sir PM Road, Fort, Mumbai - 400001 (Tel: 22840702/22844908). RNI No: 43667/83.
HOW TO CONTACT US: mail@herald-goa.com For press notes, general queries. junioryouth@herald-goa.com Junior Herald & Careers. heraldmirror@herald-goa.com Sunday Mirror. reporters@herald-goa.com For Reporters. business@herald-goa.com For Business news. editor@herald-goa.com For
Letters to the Editor. sports@herald-goa.com For Sports news. advt@herald-goa.com For Advertisements. 2day@herald-goa.com For Herald 2day. tiatr@herald-goa.com For Tiatr Reviews and Reports. Disclaimer: Except for the editorial above, articles and letters in Herald represent the views of the concerned
authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Herald editor, publisher, and/or owners.