‘O Heraldo’ proudly offered its readers the front page of edition dated May 30, 1987, the day Goa attained statehood. In a rare gesture, O Heraldo published my front page editorial “Tryst with Destiny” .
By Rajan Narayan
On August 15, 1947, at the stroke of midnight, after unfurling the national flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of the independent India, in a voice
choked with emotion announced that India had a tryst with destiny. On May 30, 1987, in the twenty-sixth year of the liberation of amchem bhangarachem Goem, on the momentous occasion of the
achievement of Ghottakraj, every Goenkar and every son and
daughter of the red soil of Goa will renew his or her tryst with the Goan destiny
For today, Golden Goa will be added as a flower to the fragrant
bouquet of the Union of States of the Indian Republic.
For today, amchem bhangarachem Goem, after 25 years as a
Union Territory, will become a full-fledged adult, an equal member of the Union of States, which is the Indian Republic.
For today, the unique and distinct identity of amchem bhangarachem Goem, which was guaranteed by Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru immediately after liberation, vehemently reiterated by the people of Goa in the Opinion Poll, and re-endorsed by every Goenkar during the two-year long bitter struggle for installing Konkani Mal as the lady of the house, is being formally fulfilled.
For today, Konkani Mal will be acquiring her own house and the crown of Statehood will be placed on the proud head of Konkani Mai.
For today, the soul of Floriano Vaz and the souls of all those who fought and died for Goa’s liberation will find solace with the
fulfilment of the twin aspirations of the Goan people. For today, the efforts of Eduardo bab Faleiro, Shantaram bab Naik, Purushottam bhau Kakodkar, Sulochanabal Katkar, Mauvinbab
Godinho, Luizinhobab Faleiro, Udai bab Bhembre and of Pundalik bab Naik, to mention only a few who fought for the fulfilment of Konkani and Ghottakraj, will bear fruit
And today is a momentous day for every son and daughter of the red soil of amchem bhangarachem Goem. For, from today, Goenkars will be masters of their on destiny.
From today, Goenkars will assume total responsibility for their own destiny themselves. For, from today, it will be for Goenkars to decide their own
fortunes, their own future and the future of coming generations. For from today, every son and daughter of the rod soil of Goa has to ask himself or herself not what Goa will do for them but what they will do for Goa.
What they will do, working together to make Goa truly golden. What they will do, what they can do, what they should do, to ensure that all the dreams all the aspirations and all the hopes of every son and daughter of the red soil of Goa will be fulfilled.
For today is the day when every Goenkar, when every son and daughter of the red soil of Goa, will have to re-dedicate himself or herself to build a strong, vibrant Golden Goa.
For today we will have to stop saying “aum kitem korum’. We will have to stop saying, “Faleam korum-ia’. We will have to stop saying, and stop other people from saying, that Goans are susegad. That Goans cannot take charge of their own destiny.
From today. Goa is a full-fledged state. Today wo achieve Ghottakraj formally. From today every son and daughter of the red soil of Goa will be the master or mistress of his or her own destiny.
It is a solemn occasion. It is a historic occasion. May 30, 1987, marks a new beginning. The beginning of a new era in the history of Golden Goa. A new beginning in the life and the destiny of the sons and daughters of the red soil of Goa
The time has come to forget all our old differences. The time
has come to bury the past. The time has come to march towards the future. The time has come to renew our commitment to the Goan destiny.
And how shall we fulfill our dreams of a Golden Goa? How shall we work together to wipe every tear from every eye? How shall we ensure that everybody will be happy and nobody will feel any pain?
Utt Goykara! You have demonstrated time and again in the past that you can climb the tallest mountains and swim the most turbulent oceans. You have demonstrated time and again that no task is too formidable for you. That no challenge is too great for you.
That no job is big for you. You have demonstrated time and again that the Goan genius can scale any heights and overcome any obstacles. That the spirit of the Goenkar is indomitable. The future beckons. The 21st century beckons. Your new destiny as the newest and the brightest state of the Indian Union beckons.
And let it not be said that Goenkars did not rise up to the challenge. Let it not be said that the Goenkars did not renew their tryst with destiny. Let it not be said that when opportunity knocked on the door, the Goenkar said ‘go away. Let it not be said that Goenkars did not rise up to the new responsibility and the now obligations they were asked to shoulder.
The publisher, the editor, the staff, and the readers of the Herald have been part of the struggle for the fulfillment of the twin aspirations of the Goan people. And today, on this auspicious day, the Herald re-dedicates itself to building a strong, vibrant, golden new state of Goa
Viva Ghottakraj, Viva Goenkar