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SEZ IrregularitiesJose Maria Miranda, Margao

If the Goa Government has to compensatethe developers when and if the three ap-proved SEZs are denotified, the question, who should pay the compensation, willsurely arise. It is a fact that approvals forSEZs were not only given in haste, withoutcomplying with all the legal formalities. FIRsfiled by activists and organizations againstpermissions given, have reportedly not beenregistered for reasons known only to thePolice and politicians. The SEZ VirodhiManch and the Movement against SEZs have

forced the Government to drop the SEZs.They will face a greater task ahead in

ensuring that not a paisa from the Govern-ment exchequer goes towards payment ofcompensation.

The activists may have to knock the doorsof the Judiciary if and when the questionof compensation arises. It is only whensuch tenacity is shown, and matters aretaken to their logical conclusion, that politi-cians and bureaucrats will be accountablefor their actions. If compensation is to bepaid, were the developers in the knowand took advantage of the illegalities ingetting the necessary permissions? These

issues may prove a deterrent to many. Withthe Governments involved in illegalitiesthe country might eventually have to berun by the Courts.

Shoddy InvestigationStephen Dias, Dona Paula

The news item Mahanand acquitted a sec-ond time (Herald March 7) is really shocking.Such acquittals, are common in Goa, dueto shoddy investigations done, intentionallyor unintentionally. In a case like Ma-hanands that seems clear cut, Goans ex-pec ted h im to be sentenced toimprisonment for a few years. But sincethe investigating police officers failed intheir duties, the Court had to acquit theserial killer: for lack of evidence.

It is time the Chief Minister and HomeMinister look i nto the issue, and ask theInspector General /Dy.SPO of Police foran explanation about their inability toconduct a proper investigation of thissimple case. All this makes me question

why the investigating officers are trainedelsewhere in India, in handling cri minalcases.

Remembering Rebimbus Reo Cunha, MoiraThe name Wilfy Rebimbus will undoubt-edly ring a bell in every true-blue Konkanimusic buff s heart, especially those whohave been regaled with his melodiousvoice for more than half a centur y. He wasin-fact a living legend of the Konkani musicworld, a master of lyrics and tunes. TheKonkani Kogul (Konkani Nightingale) as

Wilfy Rebimbus was affectionately called,completed more than 50 years of compos-ing and singing Konkani songs 3 years ago.He was literature in Konkani , he neveruse title for self publicity like otherGoan singers. Sadly, no longer will thissweet voice be ever heard live again, asthe doyen of Konkani music passed awayrecently. We Goans will miss him forhis quality work and humble person. Heart-

felt condolences to his bereaved singer wife and family.

Driving Licence for NRIsTony Borges, Ucassaim

Goa has a sizeable population of NRIs work-ing in different countries , especially theGulf s. Most of these NRIs visit Goa oftenfor a vacation, medical treatment, familyreasons etc. The ability to drive their own

vehicles has become essential for themsince they are pressed for time and other-wise have to depend on public transport, which is a time-wasting, frustratin g ex-perience. The existing rules of Goa requireeven NRIs holding driving licence of theirdomicile countries to undergo trainingand a driving test to procure a licence.This is another tedious and time-con-suming process, and most NRIs are dis-

couraged by this method, Many Indianstates allow NRIs holding driving licencefrom other countries, including the Gulf,to obtain a local driving licence on pro-duction of the foreign country driving li-cence. This procedure is easier for theNRIs who can then obtain within a coupleof weeks.

The Road Traffic Department in Goashould to consider relaxing the existing

rules to enable NRIs to obtain a local driv-ing licence based on their foreign countrydriving licence.

Religion Not CasualCaetano A Rodrigues, Navelim

It is very shocking and degrading to hearthe Holy name of God being used in a ver ycasual and derogatory manner in the Eng-lish movies telecast on TV. The Name ofGod and Jesus Christ is sacred and not tobe taken in a casual and unholy manner.It would be immensely appreciated ifsuch vague words and images are

blurred/blackened while screening themovies/news items. I request the govern-ment to censor m ovies that have the Holyname of God in their dialogues/speech/ac-tion in audio or written modes duringtheir telecasts. Also, the display of ven-erated religious symbols/images on thetrousers, underwear of wrestlers, fightersetc., must be stopped for they degradethe very sanctity of our faith. Also showingfashion parade and vague scenes in the in-terior of Place of Worship dedicated toGod as their background must be stopped,as such vulgarity hurts our religious andmoral sentiments.

One Big FamilyMilagrio Rodrigues, Margao

Hats off to Mr. Lawrence Fernandes for hisletter Are Christians And Muslims Related? (Herald, March 1). It was indeed an excel-lent and logical letter. The Holy Bibleand Quran reveals that , not only are Chris-tians and Muslims related, but the wholeof humanity is one big family. But then,how do we account for the violence un-leashed by Muslim extremists on infidels

in recent times. The Holy Bible holds theclue, if we analyze the prophetic wordsspoken by the angel to Hagar about herson Ishmael when she was pregnant withhim. If we take into consideration the factthat Ishmael is respected in Islam, thenhere are the words, He shall be a wild man.His hand will be against all men, and allmens hands against him: and he shall pitchhis tents over against all his brethren. (r

Whats in a name?

PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

13th March, 1910.

India a densely forested countryIt has been vehemently expressed thatin the earlier past, which is obscured inthe morning dawn of histor y, India wasa densely forested country.

Portugal rejects Englands pro-posalIt is said that in 1839, England had pro-posed to Portugal that the former ac-quire its possession of the State of Indiawhich was rejected by the Marquis Sade Bandeira by stating that the Por-tuguese colonies were the integral partof the Portuguese Glory.

Portuguese German Pivotage

The Portuguese Government requestedthe Company Krupp from Germany toexpedite urgently to Lisbon a gear de-nominated as Pivotage.

English-Dutch sign defense pactLondon reports on a rumor going roundthat Germany have proposed to the Gov-ernment of Holland to sign a defensepact.

OPINIONwww.oheraldo.in

Pg8Vol No CX No: 72

Goa, Saturday 13 March, 2010

Letters to the Editor

Letter of the Day

Scientific DisastersAnthony J Simoes, Dona Paula

In recent weeks, the Letters to the Editor published in the Herald seems to haveturned into a battle-ground for scientists and fundamentalists. Scientists seethemselves as rational secularists and custodians of world sanity. Others are tothem, fanatics operating on the lunatic fringes of fundamentalist, evangelistic religiousgroups. Scientists should realize that todays environmental disasters like globalwarming, climate change, polluted oceans, ozone holes, etc., are the result of theirnon holistic, tunnel vision approach to knowledge. Science, because of its intrinsiclimitations, leads to specializations, which is an exercise in counting trees whilst

ignoring the forest. The world is a victim of this phenomenon. To this recipe fordisaster, if egoism and pusillanimity of the award-seeking scientist is added, weend up with the deadly, toxic cocktail of worldwide ecological disasters.

About 60 years ago, the scientific world proclaimed D.D.T. a miracle chemicalthat would solve the worlds food problems by destroying pests. We are still payingfor this fiasco which has instead, degraded and destroyed the world more than anydestructive weapon . The use of L.A.B. in detergents has diverted effluents fromwashing machines into wetlands, estuaries, lakes, rivers, etc. to render many water-bodies organically dead.

The additives and/ or preservatives used in food technology have been a hugescientific disaster too. The last two generations have suffered its ill-effects in theform of cancer and obesity. Hundreds of millions of people have become walkingbarrels of lard, or the walking dead of cancer. Thanks to science, today we havemore people making a living out of cancer than those dying of it. The same can besaid about A.I.D.S.

Science first makes money in killing people and then makes money by pretendingto cure them.

Printed and published by Vinayak Pai Bir for and on behalf of Herald Publications Pvt Lt d. Printed at Herald Publications Pvt Lt d, Plot No: L-135, Phase II, Verna Industrial Estat e, 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 qu eries. 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 ForLetters 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 concernedauthors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Herald editor, publisher, and/or owners.

Satans Design

by Samir Khan

And recall when We asked the angels toprostrate themselves before Adam, allprostrated themselves except Ibls (Satan),who said: Shall I prostrate myself beforehim whom You created of clay? He thencontinued: Look! This is he whom Youhave honoured above me! If You willgrant me respite till the Day of Resur-rection, I shall uproot the whole of hisprogeny barring only a few. Thereupon

He retorted: Be gone! Hell shall be therecompense and a most ample one of whatsoever of them follows you.

(Holy Quran 17:61-63)

These verses from the Holy Quran nar-rate the story of Satans fall from Paradiserevealing to mankind the fact that theirdefiance, imperviousness, and their per-sistent pursuit of evil was tantamount tofollowing in Satans footsteps, the onewho has always been mans mortal enemy.By following in Satans footsteps, Manfalls into a trap which Satan had laid forhim from the very beginning of time. Satanhad threatened, at the very beginning ofhuman life on Earth that he would nevercease in his efforts to mislead Mankind.

Satans statement, I shall uproot thewhole of his progeny meaning that thathe would cause mans feet to swerve fromthe path that leads to his well-being, andinstead take him on a road that leads tohis destruction. Since Man has been in-vested with the vicegerency of God, heis required to be constant in his obedienceto Him. Any deviation from this, is similarto uprooting a tree by its very roots.

Satan misleads Man by making himcherish false expectations, by tempting

him with rosy promises which have norelation to reality. And this he does, toprove that man does not deserve the ex-alted status which God has conferredupon him. The only way for Man to defeatSatans design, is to remain firm in obe-dience to God, to turn only to Him forguidance and help, and to trust in andrely on Him alone. Any other coursetaken, means that man will certainly endup falling into Satans trap.

Paths of Wisdom

Whenever someone refers to the Goa In-quisition, good many informed (?) GoanCatholics recall wit h misgivings Pri-

olkars study that marked the fourth centenaryof that institution. He had included in his pub-lication the account of Charles Dellon (1687). Avictim of the Goa Inquisition, Dellon displayedcourage to break the silence that the tribunal ofInquisition routinely imposed upon its victims ifthey were lucky enough to leave its dungeons.

Dellon denounced to the world, his first-hand

experiences, and the European rivals of theIberian empire made the best of it for their ownreasons to construct a Black Legend. A.K. Priolkarwas aware that an Indian writer who undertakesto tell it (the story of tyranny and injustice)can easily be accused of being inspired by ulteriormotives (Panaji, Rajhans Reprint, 2008, p. ix).

It is important to note that much sensitivityto this topic even in our days is misplaced, andpermits political misuse of public ignorance of atragic chapter of our past. Goa was fortunate tohave a Museum of Christian Art due to generousinitiative of Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation andan enlightened support of Goa Archidiocese. ButGoa needs also a Museum of the Goa Inquisitionin order to enable Goans to confront criticallysome of its deep-seated historical traumas whichaffected all classes of Goans, and not just onegroup or another, as is often wrongly presumed.The colonial disciplining was aimed at all natives.

Prof. Charles Boxer reviewed the book in 1964favourably in the Bulletin of SOAS in London(Vol. 27, No. 1: 233-234): a dispassionate andobjective account of the Goa Inquisition from1560 until its final abolition in 1812. It is difficultfor a non- Roman Catholic to write with restraintabout the so-called and self-styled Holy Officeof the Inquisition, and indeed there is no particular

reason why he should. But Dr. Priolkar has certainlyachieved this feat.

The study of the Goa Inquisition continues tointerest the scholars worldwide and we have ben-efited from their findings and insights. In 2004a Brazillian lady scholar from Rio de Janeiro, CliaCristina da Silva Tavares, produced her doctoralthesis on Jesuits and Inquisitors in Goa (Lisboa,Roma Editora). T he second half of the book con-centrates on the insular Christianity of Goa,where the Christianity was encircled by an oceanof different and deeply rooted religious-cultural

traditions.The author seeks in this context, the efforts

of the Inquisition to fulfil its mission and theefforts of the Jesuits to proceed more tactfully intheir missionary strategy, including their collab-oration with the Inquisition as its deputies andpromoters.

The Goa Inquisition was under strict watch

and was even advised by its higher authorities inLisbon in 1632 to be respectful towards the Societyof Jesus. The book provides interesting clues forfurther research on the intricacies and intriguesinvolving the functioning of the Goa Inquisition,and leaves a reader with an appetite for more.Here i s an illustration.

A Jesuit Provincial of Goa, Fr. Antonio Andrade,had been secretary of one of the biggest inquiriesconducted into the alleged abuses of the Goa In-quisitors. Before being Provincial and deputy ofthe Goa Inquisition, Fr. Antonio Andrade had been

superior of the Jesuit mission at Agra and hadvisited Tibet. He was keen to return to Tibet aftercompleting his term of Provincial, but he diedpoisoned while he was rector of the Jesuit collegeof St. Paul! The case was investigated by the GoaInquisition, but ended without any definite con-clusions about the suspects!

Very different in scale and scope, is the re-

search of Francisco Bethencourt , at one timeresponsible for the National Library of Lisbon.Presently based in UK as Charles Boxer Professorof History at Kings College, London, he editedjointly with Kirti Chaudhuri 5-vols. of PortugueseOceanic Expansion 1400-1800 (2007). The Por-tuguese version had come out earlier as Histriada Expanso Portuguesa (Crculo de Leitores,1998-9).

The author made his debut with a History ofthe Inqusitions of Spain, Portugal and Italy ,pre-sented as doctoral dissertation to the European

University Institute in Florence, and publishedin Portugal in 1994. We have now a revised andupdated English version entitled The Inquisition:A Global Histor y, 1478-1834 (Cambridge Univer-sity Press, 2009). T his work provides a vast andcomparative scenario which calls our attentionto multiple and conflicting interests that wereserved by this Institution, ecclesiastical in itsorigins, but was predominantly political in theIberian empires, and served as a tool of socialcontrol until other institutions arrived to replace

it.What researchers elsewhere have not done,

and are unlikely to do is to look for the hurtsthat survive in the descendants of the thousandsof the victims of the Goa Inquisition till date. TheWestern scholars often tend to concentrate onthe New Christians (converted or crypto Jews)who were the preferential target of the Inquisition.The list of those who were condemned to deathby the Goa Inquisition need not also be exagger-ated.

However, there were thousands of the nativevictims, including Christians, Hindus and Muslims,who may have been punished with relatively lightsentences, but that often sufficed in the traditionalcultural ethos to disrupt and even destroy theirpersonal and family lives for good. We can thinkof husbands, wives or children taken away fromtheir homes without an idea of when they wouldreturn, or would return at all. Many such victimsmoved out of Goa, several ended their lives asforced-labour in gunpowder factory and galleys,others were deported to serve in distant colonialoutposts.

The Europe of the post-colonial times is todayopen to recognizing the short and long-term con-sequences of it s past. There are fundings availablefor collaborative projects in which the participation

of the former colonial subjects is crucial becausetraditional and cultural linkages are vital for iden-tification and interpretation of many historicaldata.

Such a project to unveil the full impact of theGoa Inquisition is still awaited. Many Goanswho were forced into diaspora, and also severaloutsiders brought to Goa by the Inquisition,have the right to piece together their fragmentedmemories and disrupted histories. It could serveas the basis for a post-colonial reconciliation ofpeoples.

It seems that the best way to sell a product, is to rake up a con-troversy. Many works of art sell like hot-cakes when surroundedby controversy. Classic examples of are the paintings of renowned

painter M.F. Hussein, the CD controversy in Colva, the KaranJohars blockbuster My Name is Khan. Thanks to s ome self-styledmoral policemen the movie became a hit not only in India, butin far off Britain and Russia too. Why dont our Goan film producerstake a hint from this fact and produce a movie called My Nameis Santan? It could probably become an instant hit since thename of the film is shrouded in mystery. Whats in a name?

asked William Shakespeare. Probably not much importance wasattached to a name during the era of the great bard. But nowadays,everything depends on your name, and more importantly, yoursurname. There are several religions in the world. Ones name ina way is linked to ones faith. Hence a Joao or a Caitan or aBostiao is easily identified as a Goan Roman Catholic.

It appears that post 9/11 Americans are averse to the surnameKhan. SRK has had trouble at the airport in the USA because ofhis surname on many occasions.

Having a name is our birthright. But incidentally this is oneright that we do not have a say in. Our parents decide our namesfor us, the name by which we are known even after we die. Asurname is a legacy that is passed down from one generation toanother. It is said that a man lives a generation; a name to the endof all generations. In most communities the world over, it is thewoman who changes her surname to that of her husband whenshe ties the knot. Among the Hindus women even the name ischanged. With a new name these women are expected to start anew life in their new home. But then there is also a darker side

to changing of names. Those affiliated to the underworld frequentlychange their names to hoodwink the long hand of the law. Theout-laws have several aliases. They use them according to theneed of the time. Another famous Shakespearean quote is, Arose by any another name would smell as sweet. In todays world,a terrorist by any other name would be as deadly. There is a saying,The tiger dies and leaves a skin; man dies and leaves a name.Now whether a person leaves a good name or a bad name dependson the individual.

Besides the name and the surname one also has a pet name.Many a times a pet name is a shortened version of the actualname. In Goa Bernadette becomes Benny and Jerominobecomes Jerry short and sweet. I sometimes wonder aboutthe difference between a pet name and a nickname. A nick nameis not something you change in the nick of time. It grows alongas you grow old. A nickname probably shows that you are ingood nick. Be that as it may, some names are common, somenot so common, others are very rare. Some names are easy topronounce, other are real tongue-twisters. But many names con-

tain the name of a saint or a God or even the godfather. Butthen, some names are in fact the names of several Gods. Oneexample that comes to mind is that of the former spin-bowlerand now a cricket commentator Laxman Shiva Rama Krishna. Itis the result of the combination of the names of four Gods.Some would like to believe that ones name has a lot of bearingon ones personality. T here is an advertisement which says thatChintamani has no chinta (worries) but only money. So muchfor ones name.

Goa needs a Museum of the Goa Inquisition to help Goans understand this traumatic time writes Teotnio R. de Souza

Goa Inquisition For Colonial Disciplining

100 Years Ago

OHERALDO

OHERALDO

By Adelmo Fernandes

Tongue in cheek

Bhausunfinished tasks

Goas first chief minister Dayanand Bahusaheb Bandodkaris being celebrated these days, on the occasion his birthcentenary. In office and after his death while holding

the post, Bhau has become a legend over the years. Withtime, the legend has only grown.

Bandodkar represented the social forces that presided overthe changing destiny of Goa at a crucial point of time. Histenure in office marked the change-over from the ancien regimeto more egalitarian times.

But, having said that, it wouldnt hurt to be more critical ofthe past. At least some of the hagiography of Goas netas of

yesteryears comes from the class of politicians and otherswho have gained immensely from their politics. To that extent,going by such praise alone is akin to getting carried away bya one-sided position.

Obviously, much depends on what we want to believe. Isntit strange the way in which our politicians, controversial thoughthey might be, get praised and build records which seem veryenviable in hind-sight?

Unfortunately, we are yet to have more texts by politicalscientists that paint a more realistic ba lance sheet of what ourpoliticians have achieved. One of the more accessible bookson Bandodkar is by N. Radhakrishnan, whom this State wouldknow as the aide to many a Governor of Goa. While Bahusahebhas earned praise for empowering some of the sub-altern sec-tions of Goan society, reading between the lines would alsosuggest the points where his policies were lacking.

Both Bandodkar and his United Goans rivals could be faultedfor building their power on a communal politics in Goaeven if of a less-than-blatant kind. At the same time, it has tobe conceded that the local unit of the then Nehru-led Congressgot caught up in a form of caste politics here, which made itunrepresentative of wider Goan society. The allocation oftickets for post-Liberation Goas first elections in 1963 is acase in point. Till today, Goa has to cope with the communal-

caste basis of local politics, though the bulk of MGP and UGPleaders have since merged into the Congress or the BJP, oftentaking their old beliefs with them.

If Bahusahebs tenancy and mundkarpolitics have drawnmuch praise from their beneficiaries, these also need to becritiqued. Such laws created new classes of landlord, someowning entire huge hillocksas tenants of cashewnut or are-canut gardensthat earlier belonged to the comunidades.Besides, while the middle-landowners got adversely affected,the large bhadkarscame out unscathed and went on to becomesuccessful politicians in some cases. No wonder that, till thisday, Goa doesnt have any land-ceiling laws of its own.

Tenancy politics have resulted in a bitter fruit today: it contributedsignificantly to the sharp decline of Goan agriculture. Besides, in aState where out-migration was rife, the mundkarlaws also badly af-fected many families who had settled out of Goa and lost theirhomes to people claiming to be mundkars.

Villagers protests against mining give a hint of the manyunsorted problems on this front, and post-Bandodkar govern-ments have also failed us in a big way here.

History might have been different if the little-understoodpolitics behind the sudden formation of the MGP did not haveto happen just before Goas first elections in 1963.

While the goal of social transformation in Goa was certainl ylong overdue in Goa, it is still a rather faulty and incomplete

mission. As NGOs working in Bahusahebs constituency ofMarcaim (Madkai) point out, even today, the rural situationthere itself is far from happy. Researchers like Biswaroop Das,studying disparity in Goa in the 1980s, noted thateven inMGP timesinterior Goa was getting less than its fair shareof development and infrastructure, compared to the better-off coastal areas. Those who praise Goas first chief ministerneed to go beyond words to ensure social justice to all.

Historical Explorations