FRANKLY FRANK: Goa too is fighting an internal war

The world today is gripped by uncertainty. Wars rage across continents, economies tremble, and the very idea of normalcy seems like one distant dream. Closer home, in our mankulem Goa (our beloved, tiny state), the storm may not be one of bombs and missiles, but make no mistake, we too are at war.

We don’t have fighter jets flying overhead or air raid sirens sounding through the night. But we do have fly-by-night operators who want to make the most of our land, our resources, and our hospitality. Land sharks, casino dealers, and tourist touts, Goa is full of them.

Goa’s cruise tourism unfazed by global tensions

We in Goa are caught in a battle we’re still trying to define, one we’re fighting without a strategy, and one we are unlikely to win unless we regroup. The most heart-breaking part? This war has been inflicted upon us with the support of our own.

Here is a war not marked by uniforms and trenches, but by bulldozers and bribes, manipulations and muffled voices. Our own political class and compromised government departments are silently abetting the destruction of our land, culture, and identity.

We in Goa are caught in a battle we’re still trying to define, one we’re fighting without a strategy, and one we are unlikely to win unless we regroup

Our very own are bartering away our fields, forests, and beaches, not for public good, but for personal gain. It hurts to say that they don’t even hesitate to tweak land laws and go to the extent of regularising illegal developments on ancestral lands. This makes our fight so much harder.

Today, no one wants to follow the law. People walk with impunity, emboldened by their godfathers in the corridorsof power. Many choose silence because they’ve taken favours from them. When illegality unfolds in front of them, they can't raise their voices. Reason: They’re trapped in the web of political patronage.

With bated breath, Goan fields await the season of cultivation

Goa is slipping into an abyss of lawlessness. Murders and horrific accidents happen with such frequency on our roads that they no longer shock us. Reckless drunken driving is shrugged off as the new normal. One is left to wonder: where are the police and their intelligence?

Goa has become a land of unearned opportunities where anyone can land up, enjoy themselves recklessly, and walk away with no consequences. The law seems to have closed its eyes. How tragic!

Farm to table: A day in the fields of Goa's Curtorim village

If things stay the way they are, then God help Goa. Whatever good remains will be lost, and we will be left with nothing but regret. We will be forced to live in fear because those who now treat Goa as their playground have no stake in its future. For them, this is just a holiday home.

'Mog asum', that’s how we say it in Konkani and in Goa

It’s time we made a distinction. Goa must continue to be a welcoming place, but only for those who respect and love it. Well-meaning outsiders who contribute positively should be embraced.

But those with no care for Goa’s heritage or people must be called out and kept in check. It is our responsibility to recognise who is here to help, and who is here to harm.

Discover Goa's living traditions and heritage in its market lanes

And just as importantly, it’s time we acknowledged the rot within. The political class, too many of whom are only interested in dividing us for power, must be exposed. We must stay alert, or risk falling prey to their games. Power is their only goal and without it, they are nothing.

The decay we see today is not accidental, it is deeply political. But the solution is not despair; it is awareness. Goans must empower themselves with ground-level knowledge. An informed, united, and intelligent resistance is the only way forward.

The political class, too many of whom are only interested in dividing us for power, must be exposed.

This war we’re fighting can only be won if we come together. United not just by emotion, but by truth, facts, and conviction. Let this be a turning point. Let this be the moment we refuse to stay silent.

But, first, acknowledge this war we are fighting is real. Wake up from your slumber. Don't stay complacent. It's time you decide which side you are on.