TWENTY-ONE TICKMARKS FOR THE TWENTYFIRST CENTURY
By Frederick Noronha

Twentyfirst century? After all the hype we've been hearing, it
has almost become a cliche. Let's anyway make use of this
opportunity to chart out a balance-sheet of Goa's strengths and
weaknesses. But before doing so, let's go back in time to the
mid-eighties.

Those were the years when the Goa University was still housed in
the Goa Medical College campus. Times when officials were
optimistic about the state's first varsity, and when it was still
fashionable to hold conferences on 'futurology'. It was during
one such meeting that the fate of Goa in the twentyfirst century
was being discussed.

Perhaps that came under the influence of the hype brought on the
by the Rajiv years. Those were Congress years in Goa, and both
bureaucrats and politicians -- who subsequently changed colours -
- were anxious to please the then-rising Gandhi star. Now that
the future is on us, and twentyfirst century is already here,
what can Goa expect in the years ahead?

Corrupt politicians, amazing success stories of Goans abroad and
at home, a largely unresponsive media (not playing its role of
keeping the people in touch with governmental activities and
ventilating their grievances), the growing potential of Goa's
people, a bloated bureaucracy, a state which earns the goodwill
of people in the rest of India and abroad...  we have them all.

Where do we go from here? Let's hazard a guess on what could be
some of the key factors that could shape Goa's destiny, and that
of her people, in the century that is just beginning.

WHO REMAINS IN CHARGE: In colonial times, it was the interests of
Lisbon and a small local elite that remained in charge. After
1961, one elite was replaced by another, though disguised under
claims of democratisation. In the 'eighties and 'nineties, we
have seen the growth of powerful lobbies -- right from the
corrupt to criminals -- who have taken over. Who calls the shots
in Goa will be crucial in determining the direction this state takes.

EDUCATING OUR PEOPLE: In the twentieth century itself, we got a
glimpse how rapidly the meaning of 'education' has changed.
Knowing merely to read and write can no longer be considered to
be sufficient. To be 'literate', one would have to know to use
computers, cope with the outside world, and manage the growing
challenges of life. You'd probably also need to know how to make
yourself self-employable. Will Goa be able to provide the
institutions that its citizens need for this purpose?
Particularly its youth, who need this so badly?

EMPOWERING THE STATE: When they talk of empowerment, politicians
simply mean building up support-banks that are strong enough to
see them through at election time. But Goa's majority is still
poorly-educated, and deprived of access to fulfilling their
potential because they do not come from a 'high' enough caste
group or simply lack the means. If this section lags behind, Goa
cannot prosper.

CASHING-IN ON EXPAT TALENT: Decades ago, the best and brightest
left Goa's shores for lives abroad. Today, communication and
international travel means they are ready to share their skills
with us. Are we ready to make things easy for them to engineer a
reverse brain-drain?

CORRUPTION, AND GOOD GOVERNANCE: Undeniably, the best of efforts
will come to nought if Goa remains an abysmally-governed state.
But even if the situation seems gloomy, there are signs of hope.
Increasingly one can see the impatience with bumbling and
bungling politicians. It is anyone's guess as to how long their
tactics will be tolerated by the honest taxpayer.

BUILDING A CARING SOCIETY: Our ancestors -- despite their other
many failings -- left behind a society that cared. From the
'kudds' of Bombay to the institutions for the indigent, and
schools run without any profit motives, these initiatives helped
to make Goan society what it is. Over recent years, these
institutions have been steadily dismantled. What new coping
mechanisms will come up to take their place?

GOANISING THE IN-MIGRANT: So far, Goan society's response to the
migrant coming to this state has been largely one tinged with
chauvinism. But the fact is that Goa itself is a patchwork quilt
of many people, of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Surely, others
coming in now can also get blended into this salad. Instead of
directing our ire against the migrant, we need to integrate them
into our society. And make sure that Goa can gain the best out of
their presence here. If Goans in Britain can talk of integration
there, why can't we do the same when the shoe is on the other
foot, here?

INCLUCATING MORE TOLERANCE: Goa has that image of being a easy-
going place made up of gentle people. Actually, we're rather
intolerant. In colonial times, religious tolerance was
institutionalised. After 1961, it became a little bit more
camouflaged, but was very much present. Even today, most of us
have very fixed ideas as to what is 'Goan' culture, food or who
can claim to represent this state. In reality, there are many
different 'Goas', and each one's idea of our state varies from
the other's. Let's take time off to appreciate one other's point
of view, and acknowledge the differences in perception.

BUILDING UP OUR USPs: Our traditional music schools have all but
decimated. Politicians and score-settling writers virtually
decimated English primary education. Pressures of daily life are
making us less relaxed. And our levels of money-mindedness is
spurting. Some of the very traits that made us what we are are
vanishing fast. Can we build up some new Unique Selling Points, fast?

OUR SMALLNESS, OUR STRENGTH: Sometimes, it pays to be small.
Small regions are forced to be flexible. Take the case of
European nations like Sweden or The Netherlands, with their
limited population. It is anybody's guess why they speak English
so well among all on the sub-continent, and how they've
benefitted from it. Goa too can make use of its size, provided
our 'statesmen' don't have ambitions of reducing it to another
third-rate Belgaum or Mumbai.

LETTING ALL WINDS BLOW: As suggested above, smaller countries are
compelled to learn to cope with others. Goa has been flexible in
its dealings with the outside world. Even if nobody can praise
the fallouts of colonialism, the openness of Goans that was
thrust upon them has helped them to travel and thrive across the
globe. But are we maintaining our openness to the outside?

PEOPLE BEFORE PROFITS: For years now, the government has been
colluding in promoting profits before people. This is done by
advancing arguments that sound convincing. Factories are need to
create jobs, never mind if they grab vital electricity and water,
and create only a few low-paying slots that nobody wants to take
up in the first place. On the other hand, environmentalists have
fallen into a similar trap by seeking to protect Goa like a
Picasso. But unless the people are put into the picture, either
approach is futile if not outright unfair.

GIVING-UP ON GULLIBILITY: For many years now, diverse quarters
have been taking Goa for a ride. Earlier, the Portuguese managed
to play on religious sentiments to justify their rule in Goa.
Post-1961 politicians did very much the same. If a minister is
caught in some scam, he knows he can appeal to his caste-group.
If scamsters want to make a fast-buck from the savings of
someone, they come to Goa. This factor, that has allowed Goa to
be repeatedly taken for a ride, has proven to be very costly for
this state.

PREPARING THE FUTURE GENERATION: It was generations of Goan
mothers who sacrificed and gave their children a chance to
compete in the globe. Are our policy planners capable of doing
some strategic planning to think ahead over what can be done to
build up on this?

NEED TO BE BETTER INFORMED: While Goans believe the myth that
they love to eat, drink and make merry, how serious are we in
equipping ourself intellectually? Where are the public libraries
in the state? We surely could learn a thing or two from the
Malyalees or the Bengalis, who have very interesting attitudes
towards knowledge.

GIVING UP THE PAST: Caste, communalism, corruption ... these will
have to go in the new century if we are to forge ahead, and not
move in reverse gear back to the sixteenth century. So would
nepotism, narrow-visions and the intense form of bickering that
Goans often take to in no time, though the same people can be
extremely friendly when they want to.

GENDER-JUSTICE: Women's groups have been campaigning for this
over the past decade-and-more. But is it their job alone? And,
are they any closer to their task? It is in the interest of
everybody if women get their fair share in society. Even our men
wouldn't be so stressed out playing the role of 'men' then.

TAKING POLITICIANS LESS SERIOUSLY: These jokers are responsible
for much of the mess we are in today. Yet look at the space
devoted to them by newspapers. See the prominence given to them
in social life. Look at the way they manipulate men of religion,
including priests in cassock, to bask in the latter's piety. Can
we instead focus on those doing laudable work? Or on the issues
that really make a difference to the lives of the lakhs of Goans?
Are our mediapersons listening?

RECOGNISING OUR OWN: Goa has still failed to build mechanisms
that would allow it to recognise its own achievers. We appreciate
a Leander Paes only when the international media highlights his
achievements. We don't even know who a D D Kossambi is. Almost
nobody knew of Keith Vaz here till long after he became an MP.
Lata Mangueshkar is still given a rather cold shoulder for a
variety of complex reasons. And does anyone bother about who
F.N.Souza is?

CENTRE OF THE WORLD IS NOT EUROPE: In colonial times, when we
studied the history and geography of Portugal, it was perhaps
natural to think on these lines. But are we today at least
convinced that, as far as we go, Goa is indeed the center of the
globe? And that we can do a lot of things here, including do work
that is really relevant to our society?

FOCUSSING ON OUR STRONG POINTS, ADMITTING OUR WEAK ONES: Goans
tend to be sensitive to criticism. A piece such as this has to be
written with trepidation. But accepting what's wrong with our
society, with the aim of working towards a solution, is no sin.
Let's have an open attitude on this.

Despite the problems that one tends to see at close quarters,
it's hard not to be optimistic. There are positive signs coming
in on many of the above fronts? Can we sustain them? Or will we
succumb to the negative forces? We're already in Rajiv Gandhi's
much talked-of twentyfirst century... and time will tell.

Frederick Noronha fred@vsnl.com  Ph 27 14 90 or 27 86 83