The Travesty at Anjediva!

This historic place for Goan Roman Catholic pilgrimage is about to be desecrated by the Indian Navy

TGF editorial on this travesty

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Salus Correa
13 Jul 2002

The subject of the Indian Navy's plans with regard to Goa's Anjediva Island, is very soon going to become a very hot controversy.

As a Goan, I was very sad when I first read the news, but on further thought I realised that we are just clinging to 'things'. I know the Church on the Island has a lot of historical value, but considering the circumstances as they stand now, the Navy should be requested to give due respect to the structure and maintain it for posterity.

As regards the services that are held twice a year or so, these services can be held on the mainland. Catholics have to wake up to the fact that 'we' are the church, and the structure / building only has sentimental and historic value.

If the island is needed to help with the security of the nation, that should certainly take precedence to everything else. We can definitely show by example that we are willing to share or part with our treasures.

After all, the strength of our faith lies not in the structures, but in our hearts and souls. I know a lot of you will disagree with me, but in an era of confrontation in the name of religion,
we Catholics must show the way and lead by example.

Then only can there be a little more peace in the hearts that matter! Give till it hurts,
and the rewards I know will be legion!

God bless us all
Salus

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Venantius Pinto
Jul 14, 2002

Hello Salus,
I agree with you. However, a nation that professes secularism (at least for the eyes of the world) has to understand the merits and advantages of maintaining it religious spaces. One side may narrowly look at the anguish caused at loosing a religious space as "clinging to things", but it does not have to be seen that way. For the living Christian, the knowledge that the church may be made redundant (although it is sparingly used) and without sufficient attempt by the professed secular State at helping maintain it--will diminish its sense of feeling that we all belong together.

On the other hand, I would feel, it would be egalitarian of the Armed Forces to maintain the church and make it available for services and visits. I presume the forces have the infrastructure to do so.

This act would resonate well with communal, secular, political, religious forces as well as the
international community. The Church could even go so far as to suggest having a presence where it serves the naval personnel by its deeds and not proselytizing.

It behooves all Christians to LOVE GRATUITOUSLY despite what one may encounter.

These are a few thoughts.
Venantius

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Floriano Lobo
Jul 16, 2002

Dear Salus,
It is also said that "It is in giving that one receives"

Well, about giving till it hurts, is something that I have always found difficult to absorb.

Now a days one is expected to give not until it hurts, but until it makes you naked and raving mad. And all you get for it is a big kick on your backside.

How about our governments' taxation policy?? An ordinary citizen bleeds paying taxes all his working life, that too if he/she is lucky to have one. And what does he get in return? Dayanand Pension scheme???

Giving comes easy. Especially if it was earned by someone else and not the giver. I challenge anyone who has worked hard for what he has, to give it freely away until it hurts.

Re: Anjediva Church, just because the Navy wants to establish its secret facility does not mean that they have to destroy the heritage structure.

Let the Navy, for once, show that it can preserve/ maintain something, as against its work mantra of destroying everything in its path.

Besides, the Sea Bird facility at Karwar mainland is lying pristine until now as against the crores of tax payers' money that have been spent on acquiring the land.

Let the Navy start by developing the Sea Bird base and make arrangements to shift from Dabolim, lock stock and barrel. And if that be done, then Anjediva church will be a very small price to pay.

As I have said earlier, giving something away that one has not what worked for, for something in return is prudent and will maintain a balance on give and take. The navy occupied Dabolim on temporary basis. It is a civilian airport and must remain that way. Goa's successive governments have slept on this issue and the navy has become bolder and bolder until it has begun to see Dabolim as its legitimate domain. The people who want to give away Dabolim to the navy and shift the civilian airport to MOPA are fools indeed. The monstrosity that is MOPA must be stopped at all costs.

Floriano Lobo
Goa Su-Raj

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Subhash Paradkar
15 Jul 2002

The use of places of worship require extra-ordinary sensitive handling and public relations. Indian Navy has a cultural obligation to meet with the local community and priests, and request them the sacrifice needed for the national security.

Like any other Indian, Goans will stand by the nation in times of need. In aftermath of Kargil, earthquake in Gujarat, and floods in Orissa, Indian Christians here in the US from all over India were very charitable in term of donations.

The Church can be preserved as a historic place.

My career has been in US Defense. In my humble opinion, any physical movement or demolishing the place any worship is not necessary to defend the nation. It would send a wrong message around the world

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Venantius Pinto
Jul 15, 2002

Hello Subhash,
Good to hear your comments. I would have said the same if it was any other place of worship. For instance, I have visited many forts in Maharashtra and seen the dilapidated condition of some of the temples and in a couple of cases as in Vasai -the churches.

One can understand that a place of worship might be made redundant on account of time, the population moving away, dwindling of the faithful, or it not having caretakers; but we in India have not yet reached the point-I believe, where places of worship should simply be erased of their devotional essence and being.

Subash, there is of course a lot to be gained by good public-relations and its transference into yes, of course--international relations. Even former totalitarian governments understand this and use it to their advantage.

I also believe that the martial disciplines have a responsibility to be caretakers of the physical manifestations of various faiths and more so in India. This is an ethic of the warrior.

There are enough Christians and others of various beliefs within the naval establishment who I feel will relate to the possibilities of this encounter.

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Commodore Gilbert Menezes Indian Navy(Retd)
Jul 17, 2002

Folks,
Having served in the Indian Navy for 30 years ( and enjoyed every bit of it), I take strong exception to wild allegations that the Navy's working mantra is to destroy everything in its path. This mantra only applies to enemy warships and not to heritage buildings!.

If anything, the Navy, which takes many of its traditions from the Royal Navy, has taken great pains to preserve old buildings like the Castle barracks at Bombay, and the 100 year old buildings of the Naval Dockyard at Bombay.

At Naval bases all over the country, churches, temples, etc are always given their due respect.

Regarding the Dabolim airport, many people are probably not aware that quite a few civilian airports in the country are controlled by the Navy and Air Force, especially when they contain strategic assets. Dabolim is one such airport which has dual uses.

Over the years the Ministry of Defence has built up very large infrastructure to support Navy fighter, reconnaissance, and helicopter facilities.

I, personally, would like to see this airport solely utilised for civil aircraft, but knowing the extent of defence infrastructure located here, I do not think that it would be cost effective for the Navy to move out easily.

The Mopa project, however, is completely politically motivated by vote banks and money.

Regards--Commodore Gilbert Menezes IN Retd

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Floriano Lobo
Jul 18, 2002
 

I thank the good "Commodore", for acknowledging the Navy's mantra. I sincerely apologize for not having limited my reference to the 'enemy' only.

There was absolutely no slant meant as I have only the highest regard for our fighting forces. We take it then that the Navy will certainly give due consideration to the Anjediva Church and preserve it as a monument of priceless heritage.

Let us all save our bile and ease out of the Anjediva affair.

As far as the naval expansion is concerned, by virtue of being a tiny state, Goa will not be able to sustain the naval growth that is naturally expected to grow in leaps and bounds. Therefore, the navy, the government of Goa and the central government must see to it that this aspect is taken into consideration before making concrete defence plans in Goa for the future.
Goa too, is expected to grow, but not at the cost of its forested and agricultural lands. If it were, Goa wouldn't be Goa at all.

Goa is already witnessing the unplanned and unbalanced growth and it is not a matter of pride to anyone, less still for Goans. But this is reversible given the will to do so.

The Sea Bird Base at Karwar has been the right choice. Besides it is just a stone's throw away from Dabolim. It wouldn't make any difference if the naval or air force aircrafts landed at the Sea Bird or at Dabolim. It is my layman's views of course and I could be totally wrong. As I see it, developing Sea Bird at Karwar would ease the pressure on tiny Goa.

I would rather refrain from talking about cost effectiveness where India is concerned. The crores that are meant for legit development are seen stashed in cupboards, refrigerators and attics, and which serve no purpose. If we could control the greed in high offices of this country, we would have been the super power already.

As far as MOPA is concerned, I am happy to note that I am not the only one who sees red.

Floriano

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Readers reactions welcome. They will be posted in toto (minus abusive lingua). Some editorial adjustment e.g. spell check, re-format  etc will be applied.

TGF
 

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TGF editorial on this travesty

to access  Jorge de Abreu Noronha's: In defense of Our Heritage  click here

to return to The Liberation of Goa debate on TGF click here

to return to Religion and Society articles on View from the Beach click here

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Igreja and Ruins photographs courtesy Jorge de Abreu Noronha, a Goan Catholic pilgrim who has traveled all the way from Lisbon to Anjediva - braving the difficult waters of the Arabian Sea.

TGF acknowledges GoaNet for providing the avenue for some of the above views.