A file photo of Fr Bolmax Pereira along with Chicalim youth during a mechanised farming activity in the fields.
As Goa celebrates Statehood Day, it is also a moment to reflect on the values and vision that shaped our understanding of belonging to this land. Goa’s history is deeply rooted in struggles to protect “Goechi Mae”, its fields, rivers, mangroves, communities, and identity. Statehood is not merely a political milestone; it is a reminder of our collective responsibility to preserve Goa’s soul for future generations.
Inspired by the vision of self-reliance, Rev. Dr Bolmax Pereira, a dedicated priest, renowned botanist, educator, and environmentalist, encouraged communities, especially young people, to reconnect with agriculture and sustainability.
This vision led to the creation of the Chicalim Youth Farmers Club (CYFC), which he nurtured not simply as a farming initiative but as a movement to build self-reliant, environmentally conscious youth equipped with practical skills and a spirit of service.
Today, that legacy lives on in the fields of Chicalim.
The CYFC, nurtured under Fr Bolmax’s mentorship, has become more than a farming initiative. At a time when agriculture was fading and fields lay abandoned, we, the youth of Chicalim, chose to return to the land. What began during the uncertainty of the pandemic transformed into a determined effort to revive farming, restore fallow land, and inspire self-sufficiency among the youth.
Fr Bolmax was also a firm believer in social consciousness and youth activism. He encouraged us not only to act but also to think, question, and remain curious about the world around us. He believed that young people must be socially aware, politically mindful, and courageous enough to stand up for what is right. He prepared us to become active citizens and guardians not only of our village but also of this state and its future.
Yet the greatest tribute to Fr Bolmax lies not in memory alone but in continuity.
The CYFC has resolved to take his mission forward, to continue the fight for Goa’s environment, agriculture, and ecological balance. The struggle is not simply against pollution or disappearing farmlands; it is against forgetting who we are. Every revived paddy field is resistance against neglect. Every mangrove planted is protection against ecological destruction. Every young person stepping into the fields is a declaration that Goa’s future need not be built only with concrete, but also with care. Every voice heard is a promise to protect Goa from crony capitalists.
A file photo of Fr Bolmax Pereira along with Chicalim youth during a cleanliness drive on Mangrove Conservation Day at Cortalim on July 26, 2025.
Fr Bolmax strongly believed that youth are not just the future of Goa, but also its present, and that the future belongs to them.
As Goa marks another Statehood Day, we, the youth of Chicalim, stand as proof that Fr Bolmax’s vision did not end with him. His dream of reconnecting Goans to their land continues to grow in muddy fields, green saplings, mangrove restoration efforts, connections with schools and colleges for the cause, and determined hands willing to fight for a better Goa.
The greatest celebration of Goa’s statehood is not found in speeches but in action. Today, we, the members of CYFC, give a clarion call to each and every Goan to come forward and be a green guardian, an eco-ambassador for protecting the very land that makes Goa, “Goa”.
For us, the CYFC, this is not merely a tribute. It is a promise that Fr Bolmax’s fight will continue, and his legacy will live on through every seed planted for Goa’s tomorrow.
Getting back to our roots, where our identity and security lie, would be the greatest honour we could give to our mentor, Fr Bolmax, on Goa’s Statehood Day.
[The writer is treasurer of the Chicalim Youth Farmers Club.]
