Renaming Vasco
One understands that the port town has been renamed after a Maratha warrior. Where is the need for a town, or any other place for that matter, in the state of Goa, to be named after a Maratha warrior? Goa can boast of many niz-Goenkar stalwarts, both pre- as well as post-Liberation. Their names can be given to any town, village or road that may need a change of name.
Joaquim Correia-Afonso, Benaulim
I was not surprised to read about how Vasco has been renamed Sambhaji. The name changing politics of important towns of Goa started in late sixties and early seventies by the then Chief Minister of Goa Dayananda Bandodkar. The first victim was Panjim, which was changed into Panaji. Then came the turn of Vasco, which was changed to Sambhaji.
The approval for Sambhaji was withheld by higher authorities and hence officially Vasco remained as Vasco only. But suddenly today the Sambhaji resurfaced and should be challenged. When there was a move to introduce the name of Sambhaji for Vasco, the famed Tiatr trio of Conception-Nelson-Anthony conducted an open trial of Bandodkar singing a song that ran like this -
Ghanvchim navam boldop sang him koslim kamaji
Ponje aslem poi tem kelem Panaji
Vasco aslem tem Sambhaji, Margao kon zanna konaji
Maguir mapsa urlam poi tem korat bahuji
A Veronica Fernandes, Candolim
Authorised collections?
I visited the shrine of Bom Jesus at Old Goa along with members of my family during the novena week, and was happy at the excellent arrangements made by the church to ensure that pilgrims were not put to hardship both within the church and in the church compound where masses were celebrated along with novena prayers. However, what surprised us most was the collection drive undertaken by persons outside the church compound, frantically running about with money boxes from one end of the road to the other, soliciting donations.
While the normal church practice is to stand in one place with a collection box in the church premises, the present system has raised questions about the bona fides of those on the roadside. As a result, devotees are hesitant to make a monetary contribution. Probably a church announcement on the public address system would have helped to clear the doubts.
A F Nazareth, Porvorim
Irresponsible actions
Every school going student in India is taught to respect the Indian national anthem. It is another matter about why the national anthem is introduced in cinema halls by legislation, since 2003 in Maharashtra by NCP. What is disturbing is that spectators take law enforcement in their own hands and chuck people who do not stand out in spite of having valid tickets. Intimidating and the showering with abuses, short of physical assault, were the actions of the people on that day? Could there have been better civilised alternative response?
Even though there is no constitutional codification, it is morally binding and is no more a personal choice to stand for the national anthem. Standing up during National anthem is not a barometer of displaying patriotism publicly; the national anthem and flag are national identities and every citizen must show due respect as a matter of pride and honour.
Nelson Lopes, Chinchinim
