Mumbai outreach association celebrates Diamond Jubilee acknowledging challenges; casts wary eye on February Assembly polls
GOA comes alive through music
It was sun, sand, sea, surf, susegade and celebrations on December 5, Sunday, as Mumbai’s Goan Outreach Association, with its fitting acronym GOA, marked 60 years. The Association’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations took place at a Kurla venue with song ‘n’ dance, cultural performances and awards for children for excellence in education, “all following COVID protocol,” said Wency Pereira, president.
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The GOA, with its 4,000 plus member base, operates out of its Mulund office. Said Pereira, “As we began preparations for the 60-year milestone, it was with a mix of pride and wonder that we realised what started as an outreach programme to help a tiny community connect 60 years ago still exists. It is tough to remain relevant for six decades in a fast-changing world, especially in these times.” The GOA marks Goan festivals every year in Mumbai. “It is a way of keeping the ‘Konkani’ lingo and culture alive. We encourage our members to converse with their children and youth in Konkani as conversation is the lifeblood of the language,” said Pereira.
Retaining culture is no cakewalk, but it is time to celebrate today
Business push
The Association is into boosting entrepreneur spirit among Goans. “We promote Goan food by encouraging Goan restaurants, do some branding for them on our social media pages, we need to build an inclination for entrepreneurship for Goan youth. Years ago, Goans came to Mumbai or went elsewhere for opportunities. If we create an atmosphere of entrepreneurship, now, among the youth, maybe they will go to Goa and create opportunities there. That, too, is an important part of preservation,” he finished.
Sebastian Sequeira, trustee, GOA; (right) Wency Pereira, president, GOA
Online presence
Mumbai’s Sebastian Sequeira was GOA president for 22 years. Today as trustee, he says the association shines like a diamond “because of its staying power”.
“We have to redouble our efforts to retain our bonds and culture,” said Sequeira. “The lockdown, ironically, closed borders but it opened doors for GOA. A lot of Goans overseas connected online with the association in these two years.”
Property sold
For Sequeira, “Today, local Goans form barely 50 per cent of the populace in Goa. Years earlier, people migrated because of education, or livelihood opportunities. Today, education is good in Goa, yet we see Goans leaving, many for the West too. Old Goa properties are being sold to non-Goans, who have arrived to live there. Businesses are being set up by outsiders, with a much sharper instinct and an astute eye on the profit books. All this is part of change, and happening in communities elsewhere too, but the association has to recognise and somehow find that balance between changing times and retaining our local customs and culture.”
The elections
On the political front, though, even as GOA in Mumbai celebrated six decades, things were heating up in Goa. The place will see Assembly elections in February 2022. Arvind Kejriwal was in Goa, talking about women’s empowerment, hoping that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) makes a breakthrough in the polls. “The Congress”, said Sequeira, “few years ago, was the one and only party for the people of Goa. Now, people seem to have lost faith in both the Congress and the current BJP. We have AAP trying to make inroads, we have the Trinamool Congress (TMC) making a foray… generally, I see people are totally confused.”
For Adv Alexander D’Souza, Mumbai-based convenor of United Christian Front (UCF), who was the Guest of Honour at the GOA function on December 5, “The Goa elections will see the Congress and BJP go neck ‘n’ neck. Remember, the Congress was the single-largest party in 2017 but BJP won Goa because of political manoeuvring. The Congress will change its strategy this time around, and is banking on a law protecting the rights of locals.”
Sequeira stated as a sign-off, “There will be very high interest in our association naturally for the Goa polls. The run-up shows people are going around in circles. It is going to be a real ‘jalebi’ of an election.”
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