WHO ARE TRUE GOANS

TGF

January 9, 2002

True Goans are :

1. Individuals of Goan parentage, whether living in Goa or abroad, who feel for Goa and demonstrate their deep commitment towards Goa.

2. Erstwhile non-Goans including the labour force from the surrounding States who have contributed to Goa, and have made Goa their home both physically and emotionally. They have given their heart and sweat to Goa .

True Goans clearly understand the diverse nature of Goan heritage and accept it without an iota of reservation.

The Goan spirit is a composite of Kunbi, Hindu, Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist, Maratha, Portuguese, Saraswat,  Aryan, Dravidian, Rajput, Kannad, Arab, Turk, Jewish, English, Konkani, Marathi, Gujrati, and now Hindi,  Malayali, Telegu, Sikh and Punjabi influences.

Even so, True Goans are individuals who will publicly pronounce that they are Goans first  irrespective of their lineage e.g. Maharashtrian, Gujrati, Punjabi, Malayali etc.

Mere birth in Goa or long time residence in Goa does not make one a True Goan. It might qualify one for a Goa residency certificate or a Goa ration card, but NOT for being accepted as a True Goan.

For that, an individual would have to demonstrate genuine inbuilt support for  Konkani, dekni & dulpods,  and Goan cultural events like tiatr, mando festival, zatra and shigmo.

True Goans are also most likely to  protest loudly against the derogatory terms used by Maharashtrians & Gujratis to describe Goans i.e. Maka Pao , as also the derogatory Nehru, Brit & many North Indians'-term for Goans i.e. Goanese!.

True Goans will do all in their ability to prevent the further filthification of Goa and the further pollution of Goa's once pristine environment.

Anything less than this total commitment to Goan-ness  will indicate that they are anti-Goan or at best are only Paper Goans i.e. Goans of convenience.

Goans have seen horrendous violence which lead to the near obliteration of  Buddhist temples, the Vijayanagri Hindus and Golconda Muslims butchering each other for decades, repeated violent Maratha incursions, and the the most horrible Inquisition perpetrated by Right Wing Catholics under the watch of the Portuguese.

And yet, Goans are amongst the most peaceful, happy, fair minded, hospitable but direct, people in the world.  Is it because they have seen the worst and learnt a lesson from the violence of others, or the last 200 years of Portuguese rule in Goa were fairly docile or they are inherently a decent people like most Indians ?.

It is most likely,  a composite of all  the above.

Goans have made the right choice of shunning religion & politics based violence which is threatening to destroy different communities around our world. All of us will benefit from working together. We are different and yet one. We will succeed best if we continue to accept our individual differences and avoid imposing our own language, culture and religious dogmas on others.

We are all good people. We are also intelligent people. We should incorporate the positive qualities of others and shun their negatives .

We, Goans, are after all a perfect example of : OUT OF MANY....ONE PEACEFUL PEOPLE!

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