THE GOAN NETWORK
Suitcases are being packed, boxes are being filled, and a few of the last families are preparing to leave. As they pack away the life they had built at the St Inez Government Quarters, one question remains: while belongings can be taken along, what does one do with the memories left behind?
A COLONY FALLS SILENT
The once-rambunctious grounds of the quarters have now fallen silent, but the stories of those who have lived here remain. As part of the Goa government’s major redevelopment plan, several ageing public buildings in Panaji and elsewhere are set to be replaced by new structures. The first phase includes Junta House on 18th June Road, the Government Garage on MG Road, Prashasan Stambh (the administrative building), the Circuit House at Altinho, the St Inez Government Quarters, divided into Plot 1 and Plot 2, and the KTC Bus Stand in Vasco. The redevelopment is being carried out in phases. While work on St Inez Plot 1 has already progressed, the remaining buildings are at different stages of relocation, renovation, redevelopment, and eventual demolition.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
The quarters once held many families, several dreams, and a place everyone called home. But as the notices came in, residents had to pack their lives and move to the accommodation allotted to them. “Here, everything was close by; this is like the main area. My school, my child’s school, everything is within reach. There, we will have to set everything up again,” says an occupant of one of the last families, who is shifting on Sunday. “I came here in 2014, and we indeed work for the betterment of the government itself. Somewhere, I felt bad that they told us to shift without giving us much of an option,” she shares. Her child, who attends a nearby school, will also have his daily routine changed until everything is settled, she adds. “I remember when I first came here; everyone was really nice to me. All six flats in this building were occupied. It was almost like a whole family,” she says with a wistful smile.
MEMORIES THAT ENDURE
For former residents too, the process of leaving the quarters was just as emotional. Urmila Wagh, a medical yoga therapist who once lived in the quarters, recalls being disappointed when her family first moved to Panaji, leaving behind a large house. “My first thought was, ‘Which concrete jungle has our father dropped us into? Where are my trees and mountains?’ The thought of keeping doors closed was itself unimaginable. But as time went on, this became a family,” she remarks, adding that almost the entire group of friends who once ruled the grounds of the quarters are still in contact with one another.
SAFE & SECURE PLACE
Another former occupant remembers the quarters as a safe and homely place. Having lived there for 23 years, he says the accommodation was particularly convenient given his frequent travel. “I used to travel a lot for long periods of time. When I was given the quarters, it was affordable and very secure accommodation,” he shares. “I have very fond memories of that place,” he recalls.
FRIENDSHIPS THAT REMAIN
Sanjay Dhavalikar, writer, senior journalist and former Goa State Information Commissioner, remembers the endless cricket matches and the glasses broken in the process. “The bonding everyone had back then was very strong. I have lived there during two very important phases of my life, first as a student and then as a working professional,” he says, calling it one of the most memorable and best times of his life. “I know time changes, and it will be taken down. But I hope whatever new comes up will have the same environment that we had,” he adds. What he misses most, he says, is the family-like and friendly atmosphere that prevailed there.
“There was a time when other children used to get jealous because our gang was very well known as the St. Inez Government Colony group and we used to have so much fun,” remarks Sangeeta Nayak, a school counsellor. “Leaving it was indeed very hard and emotional for us. In fact, even now, simply thinking about that time, my eyes tear up,” she mentions. Diwali and 31st December programs were celebrated with much enthusiasm and games. With preparations beginning almost a month in advance, the celebrations went well into the night. “If you ask any of the occupants who used to live there during our time what they miss the most, they will all say the same thing. I miss the friends that the colony gave me,” she says. Wagh shares the same sentiment. “I can go on and on about our memories, but the pure, incorruptible and clean bond which was created between us, be it girls or boys, is something I miss the most,” she reckons.
For those who lived here, the St Inez Government Quarters were never just government accommodation. People moved in, children grew up, friendships were made and, over the years, many moved away. Now, as the remaining families prepare to leave and the buildings await demolition, another chapter is coming to an end. What will come up in its place is yet to be seen, but for those who once called the quarters home, the place will continue to be remembered for the life they shared there.
