HOW GOA HAS CHANGED!

BEING born and brought up in Goa I have seen Goa of the good old days which was a place where discipline and rule of law prevailed. Right from Portuguese days to even after 20 years after Liberation there was much discipline on roads and public places including shops, cinema houses and football grounds too.
Respect for the law was evident right from Portuguese days when even people riding a bicycle double seated would get down, spotting a policeman at a distance, and go walking with the bicycle held in hand. It’s another matter that they would go double seated after the policeman couldn’t be seen.
This thing is still etched in my mind and signifies respect for law. At public places people used to stand in queue and there were many occasions in the past, where one had to be in a queue whether it’s outside ration shops or buying tickets for a cinema.
There were insignificant instances of robberies and thefts, forget about murders. The first murder that rocked Goa was somewhere in 1964-65 wherein an employee of Dayanand Bandodkar, carrying cash for disbursement of salaries for their mining staff, was murdered. It was another matter that the culprit was apprehended the same evening.
What’s happening now? Or for that matter in the last more than 30-35 years? No discipline, no respect for law, neither any fear of law. Rapes, murder, loot, going on practically every day in Goa, and not to speak of road accidents day in and out — the sole cause is lack of discipline and no respect/fear of law.
There’s a fear among the minorities too but this has happened in the last few years.
—Arun B Naik, Caranzalem, Goa

DRUG RACKET OR YOGA?
A WELL-KNOWN international yoga guru was recently arrested for allegedly being a drug dealer and operating from an ashram near Pragya Giri hills, Dongargarh in Chhattisgarh. Previously he had changed his name, address and resided for 20 years at Patnem beach in Canacona, South Goa. There he owned a centre that offered wellness and certified yoga classes and he has travelled to over 100 countries.
Investigations revealed over 10 registered NGOs which apparently were conduits for a well-oiled narcotics racket. Foreigners attended expensive detox workshops, retreat packages and spiritual healing programs. Their frequent presence did not set the alarms ringing and no one was wiser as to what transpired in the centre.
As per a cop, the “guru” has never been linked to any criminal case in Goa yet, he seemingly had a deep network to channel drugs. His luck ran out while he was setting up a similar centre in his native state and was caught with 2 kg of cannabis.
The above instance may be just the tip of the proverbial iceberg since there are several yoga and fitness centres, spas, etc, that cater to tourists. Foreigners especially get carried away by our traditional wellness methods. It appears that when the government encourages “spiritual” tourism it has been misinterpreted by anti-social elements.
It is time that the police come down heavily and bust suspicious centers and deal with an iron hand. Already the scourge of drugs is entering the hinterlands of Goa and this needs to be nipped in the bud. That is another story.
—Sridher Iyer, Caranzalem

US INDIANS EXPERIENCING RESENTMENT
AN American-Indian has posted a video, now gone viral, detailing the groundswell of resentment against Indians in America. And when America sneezes the West catches a cold. The resentment has spread to Canada and the entire West to a more, or less extent. Indians are disliked more than others, yes, more than others, probably because they are hard working and smarter than the local citizens seen as local job thieves.
But the current resentment is because Indians are “too loud” in everything they do or say and that they try to push their own culture in America, instead of assimilating the American culture. Diwali, for instance, is an official holiday in the state of Pennsylvania and New York City in addition to several other places.

This is vote bank politics. It would be naive to believe that American people are happy with these holidays. Build your temples by all means, but don’t go to town with your celebrations. Instead, celebrate Independence Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day…even if you don’t believe in it, with the same joy and fervour as people of other faiths celebrate Diwali and Holi in India.
Indians must understand that they are a small minority wherever they go and that they have been accepted by the government but not by the local people! They need to integrate with the cultures of their adopted countries. They may celebrate their festivals but not be loud about their celebrations. They need to participate and celebrate in local events, with gusto.
Moreover, Indians are accused of being clannish — from Gujaratis to Punjabis, Tamilians to Malayalees, they hang out together. This is resented by the locals. Indians need to adopt their new identities and leave their old cultural baggage behind. When in Rome do as the Romans do.
—Robert Castellino, Calangute/Mumbai