EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS!

CHIEF MINISTER Dr Pramod Sawant launched educational videos focused on the foundational stage I at Mantralaya, Porvorim on March 15, 2024 Speaking about the program the CM said  these videos are designed specifically for teachers, aiding them in training and facilitating foundational education. The aim is to teach students about the concept of “Panchgynanendra” in the foundation course of education. Further detailing the videos Shailesh Sinai Zingde (Director Directorate of Education) said the 27 educational videos aim to enrich creative learning for students. The aim is now to expand this initiative to encompass 100 videos. The entire project is developed in-house and curated in collaboration with teachers and students from various government-aided and unaided schools across the State, with no associated costs. An MoU was signed between Directorate of Education and TCS iON in the presence of Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant Town & Country Planning Minister Atanasio Monserrate. Present for the function were Prasad Lolyekar (IAS, Secretary, Education),  Harsh Nagpal and Chandramouli B (representative of  TCS iON), Dr Russell De Souza (assistant professor, selection grade-SCERT), Paul Fernandes (State Programme Co-ordinator-Media/PR) and officers of the Directorate of Education.

THE NAME IS BOND! ELECTORAL BOND!
 THE Supreme Court (SC) has opened a  Pandora’s Box asking the esteemed State Bank of India (SBI) to declare the purchasers and recipients of Narendra Modi government’s electoral bonds. After a lot of ouch moments SBI declared that only 22,217 bonds were purchased between April 1, 2019 and February 15, 2024 and 22,030 bonds have been redeemed by political parties.

The second Pandora’s Box was to be  opened on March 15 when the SC has asked the Election Commission of India to display the list given by SBI. The date is significant as in ancient Rome it was marked by several religious observances and was a deadline for settling debts. In 44 BC, March 15 became notorious as the date of the assassination of Julius Caesar, which made the Ides of March a turning point in Roman history. In Shakespeare’s play “Julius Caesar,” a warning, “Beware of the Ides of March,” was given to Caesar about March 15 and of which his wife had a premonition and pleaded with him not to go out of the house….

Anyway, good luck to the corporates who liberally contributed and bonded well, to the political parties who enjoyed their patronage and to us the people of India. Let us wait and see what kind of beans are going to get spilled and skeletons tumble out of years of politically termite-eaten cupboards.  

— Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem

RECONCILIATION DAY

GOOD Friday is the day we commemorate the death of Lord Jesus Christ when he was crucified on the Holy Cross at Calvary. Though many Catholics follow the traditions faithfully of doing their Lenten confessions and following the season faithfully, there are few  who are looking for total reconciliation by way of fasting and penance.

There are still a few people from the parishes who have excluded themselves from the Church and the parish, for reasons best known to them. As the Novena of the Divine Mercy begins from Good Friday, this should be an occasion for the Church to observe Holy Saturday as Reconciliation Day and visit those people who have been excluded from the Church. They are the Lost Sheep, which the Good Shepherd (parish priests) has to go out to look for.

The strayed sheep may also be having a dangerous sting with the various other people and may lead others astray. They have left the Church and now the Church should receive them back to their flock by a special service either during Easter season where the lost sheep will be granted total forgiveness and accepted back in the flock.

Holy Saturday should remind us to reach out to all the people who have strayed away from the Church and bring them back, thus making the Season of Easter more meaningful. The parishes could organise the â Reconciliation Day on a Sunday during the Easter Season.

–Cajetan Peter D’Souza, Mumbai

REMEMBERING GOA’S FIRST CM!

 ON March 12 we observe the birth anniversary of Goa’s first chief minister, Dayanand Bandodkar, who assumed office on December 20, 1963 and continued as chief minister till his sudden death on August 12, 1973. Affectionately referred to by all as “Bhausaheb” he relentlessly raised and pursued issues concerning the backward, down-trodden and neglected communities. He toiled with a vision and passion towards laying the foundations of Goa’s development which he very ably managed, including Daman and Diu with just two ministers during his first term and later three.

As a school student I had the privilege of interacting with Dayanand Bandodkar and I recollect with nostalgia witnessing those great debates in the Legislative Assembly and his pointed but witty replies. Dayanand Bandodkar dared to speak from his heart and always walked the talk.

It is imperative that students in our schools and colleges today learn about the very rich and invaluable contribution to Goa made by Goa’s first chief minister, Bhausaheb. He must not be consigned as a forgotten hero in time!

 –Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar