JOSEPH GETS CITIZENSHIP!

A GOAN Catholic who had migrated to Pakistan after Liberation has been conferred Indian citizenship under the Citizens Amendment Act (CAA) passed by the Modi government. The act makes Hindus Catholics and all communities with the exception of Muslims eligible for Indian citizenship. Joseph Pereira, who migrated to Pakistan before Liberation, returned to Goa in September 2013. He is married to Goan Martha Pereira and is living in Cansaulim. It is not clear whether he came back to Goa on a tourist visa or was an illegal migrant.

Under applied for citizenship under the CAA and was granted it. In fact, the certificate was presented to him by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on August 28, 2024. There is a large Goan community in Pakistan mostly living in Karachi. Prior to Liberation Portugal and Pakistan were close friends. When India imposed a blockade on Goa, the Portuguese colony used to get necessities and luxuries by air through Karachi. Indeed, there was a private airline manage by the CMM group which used to operate between Karachi, Goa and Daman.

NEW CRIMINAL LAWS WORKSHOP

CHIEF Minister Dr Pramod Sawant inaugurated a workshop on the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam for All India Services officers, organized by the Goa Institute of Public Administration & Rural Development (GIPARD) at Ella Farm, Old Goa, on August 29, 2024.

The CM emphasized the new criminal laws’ role in modernizing and aligning India’s criminal justice system with contemporary societal needs. The workshop was an excellent opportunity for officers to familiarize themselves with the new laws and stressed the importance of using the iGOT Karmayogi platform for additional information. Commending the innovations introduced by the prime minister and home minister the CM Sawant reiterated  commitment to achieving a Vikasit Goa by 2047, citing Goa’s progressive moves such as the Uniform Civil Code.

Chief Secretary Dr Puneet Kumar Goel praised the extensive training provided and acknowledged the contributions of Dharam Chand Jain, IPS, Former Special Director, CBI, as the workshop’s resource person. Dharam Chand Jain, IPS, Former Special Director, elaborated on the key features of the new criminal laws. Alok Kumar, IPS, Director General of Police, and all India services  officials were present for the function.

The event was compered by Samruddhi Ganapule, with Vasudev N Shetye proposing the vote of thanks.

PANELTY FOR INFLUENCERS

THE Uttar Pradesh government’s chief minister, Yogi Aditiyanath, has introduced stiff penalties on those filing anti-national posts online. This will enable UP to harass social media activists. UP will follow a carrot-and-stick policy. Friendly influencers who support the government and promote government policy will be entitled to rewards of up to Rs8 lakh a month. All influencers will have to register with the Department of Information of the government of UP. Nowhere has it been defined what an anti-national post could be. This gives arbitrary powers to the UP government.

TELEGRAM MAY BE BANNED

THE social media platform Telegram may be banned. The founder president of Telegram Pavel Durov has been arrested in France on charges of using the platform to promote pornography. The more serious charge is that the platform is used for promoting terrorism. Pavel Durov is of Russian origin and has been supporting Ukraine.

He has been described as a bachelor who is the father of over a 100 kids. Interestingly, the managing director of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, has come to the defence of the Telegram chief claiming it is an attack on the freedom of press. Telegram is reported to be used even for the manipulation of the NEET exam in India.

CURBS ON UK STUDENT VISA

THE United Kingdom has cut down sharply on student visas. This will affect Indian students who are planning to study in the UK. Heads of British universities claimed that international students lack basic English language skills. Indians are the largest group of international students in the UK, followed by the Chinese and the Palestinians. Most of the Indians are doing their master’s courses. It is suspected that a lot of Indian students find illegal jobs in the UK. Indians on student visas cannot take up full time jobs.

ARCHERY QUEEN DOES IT WITH FOOT!

AMONG the participants in the para-Olympics in Paris is Sheetal Devi, an archer, except that this archer is handicapped and without hands – she operates the bow and arrow with her dextrous footwork. Sheetal has won several gold medals in the Asiad, the Commonwealth Games and even in World Cup.

Not surprisingly the Tata jewellery brand Tanishq has paid tribute to Sheetal Devi. India has a very good record in the Para-Olympics. A matter of pride is that the principal coach and manager of the Para-Olympic team is a Goan, Victor Vaz.

ME-TO MOVEMENT IN KERALA

IN the wake of the submission of the Report on the Exploitation of Women by the film industry in Kerala, a lot of actresses have come forward to name and shame some top stars of Mollywood. The casting coach is very active in Mollywood and young women cannot fulfil their dreams without pleasing top producers and directors.

The report claims that a small mafia of film producers and actors controls the Mallu film industry. A Bengali actress who worked in Bollywood has filed a case against actor Siddique accusing him of rape. The Kerala government has set up a special investigative team to look into complaints of actresses and young women who have been exploited by some top producers and directors.

IIT ALUMNI GIFTING E-BUSES

THE IIT Alumni counsel is planning to gift 500 electric buses to the Kadamba Transport Corporation in Goa.  The object is to set up a green transport grid in the state. Already electric buses are operating on several Panaji routes. The Goa government and the IIT alumni council will set up a new company called Go Goa Limited under the Companies Act to facilitate the induction of electric buses into the Kadamba transport corporation. The charges will be nominal and the service will be operated on a no-profit, no-loss basis. 

BANGLA ANCHOR KILLED

A YOUNG 32-year-old anchor of a Bangladesh satellite channel was found dead in a lake in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. The son of the deposed former Prime Minister Shaikh Hasina has called it an attack on the freedom of the press. Several media organisations which were close to Shaikh Hasina have been shut down. Shaikh Hasina continues to take refuge in India since there is no other country willing to offer her asylum. The BJP claims that attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh continue.

MURMU SPEAKS OUT ON RAPE

IN a rare intervention President Droupadi Murmu has expressed concern over the brutal rapes in Kolkata in West Bengal and Badlapur in Maharashtra. The president has called for strict action against rapists and molesters of children. Murmu claims that she is horrified for what is happening. Murmu  also called for stepping up of safety in hospitals and schools.

In Badalpur in Maharashtra the police have recovered CCTV footage of the accused sweeper entering the school on the day of the incident. It may be recalled that two very young girls aged three and four were molested in the toilet of the private school run by some BJP leaders in Badlapur.  

 SPORTS AWARDS TO ATHLETES

MINISTER for Sports Govind Gaude presented sports awards to outstanding Goan athletes for their achievements in winning medals at the 37th National Games, as well as at international and national events, including the Para Championship. The function was organized by the Sports Authority of Goa in Panjim on August 27, 2024. Gaude congratulated the athletes for their dedication and perseverance in bringing pride to Goa.

The minister dwelled deeper into the mindset required for achieving excellence in sports. He spoke passionately about the importance of cultivating an inner drive that transcends mere participation. “Passion is the key,” he said, “Without a genuine liking for what you do, success becomes a distant dream.” He also highlighted the significance of mental discipline and self-control in reaching one’s goals.

Drawing inspiration from Padmashree awardee Muralikant Petkar, Gaude recounted the story of India’s first paralympic gold medalist, who triumphed despite severe physical limitations. “Petkar’s story is a testament to the power of will and the human spirit. If he could overcome such adversity and achieve greatness, so can you,” He urged them to set their sights on competing at the international level, not just at the state or national levels.

“Champions are those who face challenges, handle criticism, and rise above controversies to prove their worth,” Gaude said. He also urged the athletes to dream big and consistently practice, not just during the lead-up to major events. He concluded by advising athletes to play not for monetary rewards, but to bring honor to themselves, their state, and their country. He emphasised that respect and recognition are more valuable than financial gains.

The event also saw the presence of Secretary (Sports), Swetika Sachan, IAS; Arvind Khutkar, Director, Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr Geeta Nagvenkar, Executive Director, SAG,  Kedar Naik, Director (Admin) SAG, Vivek Pawar, Assistant Director, (Program Section, SAG) along with other dignitaries.

UNDER THE BLUE SKY ALL ARE EQUAL! 

THE colour blue, symbolic of the Dalit movement in India, and digital prints, animated films and family artefacts linked to India’s marginalised communities, took centrestage at Siddhesh Gautam aka Bakery Prasad’s debut solo exhibition, “We The People (Too),” at the Museum of Goa (MOG) in Pilerne, which was unveiled on Sunday, August 25, 2024. 

Speaking at the weekly MOG Sunday talk, Gautam said that the colour blue, a predominant feature of his mixed-media artworks, is inspired by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s belief that “Under the blue sky, we are all equal.” 

“Because we are different, just as the sky is also different and the same at one time. My blue is not sad. My blue is hopeful that there will be a blue sky and we all will be equal under it,” Gautam said at his lecture, which coincided with the inauguration of his first solo show in India, “We The People (Too).” 

The show celebrates the contributions of Dr Ambedkar, Savitribai Phule, Phoolan Devi, Dr Anand Teltumbde and several other activists and social reformers in their struggle to be equal in the country. Gautam’s artworks portray the struggle of marginalised communities to achieve true freedom. The exhibition which is on till September 8 features his distinctive mixed media works that tackle caste inequality and social justice. His minimalist yet impactful style combines digital prints, family artefacts and animated films to challenge notions of independence and social progress.

“My art is a dialogue with history and society. It’s about questioning how far we’ve come in achieving true freedom and equality. The exhibition is a reflection on the progress we’ve made and the challenges that remain,” says Gautam, whose artist name Bakery Prasad stems from his fondness for baked goods. 

His grandfather, the artist said, is the major inspiration behind his distinct art style. Orphaned at the age of five, his grandfather began commissioning local artists for portraits of him and his father, sparking Gautam’s interest. “My grandfather used to think that his father was a spiritual guru and that is how he would describe him to the artists. So, there are a series of paintings that depict my grandfather’s fictional father growing old alongside him. My colour palette is directly picked from these images, which utilised a lot of blue.” 

Gautam’s early life was shadowed by the shame and taboo of being Dalit, leading him to falsely claim upper-class identity: “I had to rewrite all my stories about my grandmother cooking fish or pork, changing them to stories of her making kadhi (curry) and other vegetarian dishes,” he said. Adding that only when he met a mentor abroad that he realised that solidarity can be found amongst the oppressed. Following the realisation, he finally embraced his identity as a Dalit and started using his artwork to voice out an  ode of Dalit oppression.

Freedom, according to Gautam, is subjective and every person in this world seeks some or the other kind of freedom. And for Dalit people in India, freedom is as basic as being considered a human being. “We just want to be acknowledged as humans, not as Dalit people or broken people. We come in every colour, shape and size. We are as human as anybody else. We are as evil as any other human. We are as generous as any other human. But to be considered a human is very important,” says Gautam.

The artist has lectured at various universities and colleges, including Tufts University in New York, Oxford University and the School of Oriental and African Studies, United Kingdom, the University of Vienna and the Hague-based International Institute of Social Studies. The core thought behind his art, according to the artist, is to start a discussion on the variability of freedom, “Basically, the idea was to discuss what freedom means to different sorts of people,” said Delhi-based Gautam. 

RAVINDRA BHAVAN, CANACONA

CHIEF Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, in the presence of Speaker-Goa Legislative Assembly Ramesh Tawadkar, Minister-Art and Culture  Govind Gaude, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequiera, MLA and  Vice-Chairman-Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation,  Kedar Naik, MLA, Ulhas Tuyekar, Chairperson, Cancona Municipal Council, Sara Naik Dessai,  inaugurated the newly constructed Ravindra Bhavan in Cancona on August 27, 2024. This is named after the Lata Mangeshkar Kalangan.

This iconic dream project of Canconcars is built at the cost of around Rs60 crores with a seating capacity of 780. While declaring the main auditorium as the Sanjay Bandekar Auditorium, the CM said, they were taking into consideration the demand of Canconcars and as requested by the Cancona Municipal Council. He said a frame of the late Sanjay Bandekar will also be installed in the auditorium to keep his memories alive.

The Ravindra Bhavan is modern and far ahead of other Ravindra Bhavans in Goa. The CM stated that this building has not only been built with the intention of providing facilities, but also with the aim and objective of the government to create good artists and keep our art alive. This complex should be used not only for drama and tiatr but also for career guidance orientation workshops, innovation and start-ups, research and innovative programs of students. It should be used for multipurpose use from farmers conventions to IT and pharmaceutical seminars. The youth of Canacona have acquired the art of innovation and research — they need some training which will be imparted. 

Ramesh Tawadkar commented that after seven years the dream of Canconcars of Ravindra Bhavan has come true. Now the  project of  highway to Canacona from Cuncolim side will be the next important project in the coming years. The water supply project costing Rs93 crore will also be completed at the earliest. 100% underground cabling of electricity will be completed in the next four months. Tawadkar said that human development is of utmost importance as compared to infrastructure development, by 2030 Cancona will be a model taluka wherein all sections of the society will be brought into mainstream development.

Govind Gaude in his turn said that Canacona is known for artists, especially tribal and folklore artists and the Ravindra Bhavan is dedicated to them. The Directorate of Art & Culture supports artists by giving them the stage besides financial support. Remembering ex-sports minister and son of Canacona the late Sanjay Bandekar, he said the land was acquired by the Sports Department and later transferred to Art & Culture due to his efforts. Gaude concluded that an artist does not happen overnight, for that, perseverance and hard work are important. He appealed to the youth to stay away from bad addictions.

Chairperson-Cancona Municipal Council Sara Naik Dessai also spoke on the occasion. The Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation has built the project for Directorate of Art & Culture on a plot area of 8,306 sq mts. There’s a main auditorium and all other accessories/facilities required for the auditorium such as green rooms, cafeteria, rehearsal hall. Also a conference room, art gallery, four green rooms, four classrooms, Taluka library with Library Management System and RFID tagging of books, two dormitories for visiting artists, administrative offices and parking bays for 60 four wheelers, 131 two wheelers and two trucks.

Councillor Ramakant Naik Gaonkar; Director, Goa Biodiversity, Pradip Sarmokadam;  Sarvanand Bhagat; Director, GSIDC, Anita Kavlekar; Managing Director, Harish Adkonkar,  Chimulkar and others were among the prominent persons present. State Level Forest Vegetable (Ran Bhaji) Festival organised by the Shree Balram Charitable Foundation in association with Goa State Bio Diversity Board and Directorate of Agriculture was also held on the occasion and this was inaugurated by Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira.

Dishes of various forest vegetables were presented by various schools. Fifty-two types of forest vegetables were showcased at the festival. Staff of Art & Culture presented a welcome song with a dance performance, while Director-Art & Culture Sagun Velip welcomed everyone and Deputy Director Milind Mate proposed the vote of thanks. The CM also met senior officers of the various government departments in the presence of District Collector, IAS, Ashvin Chandru and issued various directions.