Welcome to The Goan Forum©

Goa is a tiny state on the West coast of India. The people of Goa are known as Goans.

Goa is known the world over as a premier tourist destination. Yes, it is still different from other parts of India, in some measure, courtesy the Portuguese influence. Those not convinced may wish to travel to Ratnagiri, a few miles north or to SadashivGhad, a few miles south, and see the difference for themselves.

After 450 years of Portuguese colonial rule, Goa was fully  incorporated into the Indian Union on December 19, 1961. As far as TGF is concerned, this action is irreversible. Goa is now an integral part of India.

Even so, TGF believes that every process needs airing and discussion. This open dissection of events is beneficial to the future. For it is only from the past that we learn  lessons which will help us live  the present and plan the future.

There are many Indians who believe that a Goan who raises any question about India, is anti-national. That incidentally is exactly how the Portuguese dictator, Antonio Salazar and his cronies in Goa, behaved when a Goan raised questions about Portugal.

The Goan ethos, psyche, music, cuisine and way of life is a composite of many influences especially Indian and Portuguese. The problem arises when some individuals with an anti-Indian bias remain blind to the very rich Indian component which is central to being a Goan, and the anti-Portuguese elements who are trying desperately to deride, suppress and eliminate the Portuguese component.

Intellectual Goans did not accept thought&speech control  from the tunnel-visioned  Portuguese then, & are unlikely to accept it from tunnel-visioned Indians now.

Those who haven't really experienced Goan life in Goa - especially in Goan villages and at Goan cultural events, are unlikely to share the same feelings as those who have.

We request you to please keep keep an open mind as you surf this site.  Some of the diverse views on this site might incense you. Please realise that this is about us, our feelings and our views - disparate as they are.

Intellectual Goans said to the dictator Salazar: " Please do not tell us how to feel". There are many Indians who would like to mould us, Goans to feel according to how they believe we should feel. We say to them "Please.....allow us our individuality. We are a happy, peaceful, fair minded and easy going people, but we are not stupid".

On this website, we welcome different view points. Most of our contributing authors are thinking individuals. There are vastly contrasting views and postings. We believe that this variation of thought and difference of opinion is healthy.  We are happy to post, sans edit (except for uncouth language), any post even and especially if it criticizes our view point.

Hopefully, from all this, will come a common understanding of  how Goans feel, what they feel and the fact that they aren't brainless sheep. Hey...... just imagine.......Goans actually think and have feelings!

Imagine that!

TGF

Panjim, Goa : January 18, 2002

welcome aboard

No matter who says what, you should accept it with a smile and do your own work.
Mother Teresa
 

Satyameva Jayate - Truth always Wins
 Upanishads