THE LOST PARADISE



Many lotus-eaters still dream of Goa of yonder days when life was so calm, so safe, so many other things! It is like a lost paradise. One hears still of the Portuguese times when there were no robberies, and one could sleep at night with doors and windows open without fear of thefts! Someone offered an interesting explanation for that beatific state of affairs! What was there to rob? And even the robbers need light to run away with their loot! There was no electricity anywhere in Goan villages. There were cases of robbers who fell in the village wells when pursued! Nowadays, most Goan houses are loaded with electronic and other goods, and even grills do not guarantee safety!

We leave out the opinions and dreams! Still the old «sossegado» image of Goa and Goans continues to persist. Liberation and economic development has brought its problems and the Goans have a price to pay! After all it is the market economy! And has the «feni» consumption declined? Much of the speed of Goa's modern life continues to be fuelled by feni! Incidentally, the Portuguese found it in Goa when they arrived. Not the caju feni however! But with limited revenue sources the Portuguese administration found in the licensing of new taverns a good source of income. That is what the minutes of the Goan provincial congresses (held in Goa in imitation of the Indian national Congress) early in this century have recorded. Portugal still continues to be one of the largest producer, consumer and exporter of wines until today. As «good» traditional catholics (a bill is going to the Portuguese parliament shortly to grant religious freedom to all denominations!) the Portuguese trust in God, and also in good wine («in vino veritas»)!

Mário Miranda's cartoons have left many images of Goa's «sossegad» life-style. More recently Alexyz has been capturing the version of the new generation! Incidentally, you may go directly to his web gallery at http://www.goenkar.com/gallery/alexyz. Alex is an outspoken and original cartoonist. He has paid his price, and was sidelined (deliberately or otherwise) by the conservative newspaper proprietors in Goa. He is now in the net, where nobody can be sidelined!

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