Goa Diary

Self-styled descendants8217; of the inquisition victims in Goa are clamouring for a papal apology to the Goans. But the church thinks this is unlikely. Depending on the reports submitted by historians from various western countries the Pope is expected to apologise to the descendants of people who suffered during the inquisition. It will come about in the year 2000 when the Catholic Church enters its third millennium. However a church spokesman denied that the Pope would apologise specifically to Goans. 8220;Goa was under Portuguese rule during the inquisition and an apology to Portugal would include Goa as well,8221; he told this diarist.

Nostalgia Time

Talking about the Portuguese past, almost forty years after the Indian army marched into Goa and drove thecolonial Portuguese into the Arabian sea they boarded waiting ships off Marmagao harbour there are still mixed reactions to Goa8217;s liberation.

A widely-read weekly column in a local newspaper has Goa8217;s senior citizens reminiscing about the former regime. And 8230; as generally believed by expatriate Goans supporters and opponents of the Portuguese are evenly matched among the Hindus and Catholics of the state.

So we have Hindu banias 8230; from Daman and Diu on the same wavelength as a dotor8217; holding forth, with supporting documents from the Indian government, about how Goa was 8220;annexed8221; and not liberated. Of course an equal number would quickly jump in with pictures of atrocities being inflicted by policemen from Mozambique to subjugate the local people.Recently a source from the Portuguese consulate in Panaji told this diarist that such debates are only of academic interest. A good many freedom fighters had sent their children to Western Europe taking advantage of Portuguese laws, according towhich persons born in Goa prior to the state liberation and their children are considered Portuguese citizens!

Babies on Sale

Last week when some activists managed to get a doctor arrested for selling babies abandoned at his hospital to childless couples, the incident indicated that a major racket could exist behind the incident. Bu now it seems some sections of the Goa administration itself are giving the sale of babies a semblance of legitimacy. Law Minister Kashinath Jhalmi openly told the media recently that it would be difficult to outlaw the sale of babies.So what8217;s next ? Granting licences to doctors in the state to sell babies?

Tailpiece

Recent government statistics show that manual labour enjoys highest dignity in Goa, or does it? A farm hand, for instance, earns almost Rs 120 for a day8217;s work with the minimum wage pegged at Rs 50. But then educated office boys are available for employment for less than Rs 2,000 per month. Is the government missing something?