GOA RESOURCE FILE
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- Title
- GOA RESOURCE FILE
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RF_IH_18_SUDHA
•
IMPORTANT:
Factual information in this Directory is liable to change
from time to time.
Tourists are advised to consult their Travel agents or
the nearest Govt, of India Tourist Office/Depart
ment of Tourism, Govt, of Goa, Daman and Diu for
up to-date information.
GOA, DAMAN AND DILI
The Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu, comprising three distinct
districts, geographically apart from each other, covers an area of 3,814 Sq. Kms.
and is inhabited by over 10 lakhs of people. The Goa district which covers
3702 Sq. Kms. is divided into 11 talukas for administrative purposes and acces
sible by road, rail, air and sea. Goa is bounded by the States of Maharashtra
on the North and Karnataka on the East and South. Daman and Diu are
contiguous to Gujrat.
The territory which was liberated from 451 years of Portuguese colonial
rule on 19th December 1961 has two representatives in the Parliament and a
Legislative Assembly of 30 members. Panajl is the capital of the Union
Territory.
GOA
Crescent-shaped GOA famed in myth and history, snugly eseonced
between the Sayadri Ghats to the East and the Arabian Sea to the West
is 65 kms. at its widest from East to West, whilst its maximum length
North to South is 105 kms. The terrain is intersected by hilly spurs running
down from the Western Ghats (Sahyadris) and a number of streams which
together with canals form an important waterways network for Inland navi
gation and irrigation. The most important rivers are Terekhol, Chapora,
Mandovi, Zuari, Sal and Talpona. The entire land covered with verdant forest,
coconut, cashewnut and mango-tree groves, interspread with extensive paddy
fields for cultivation of rice, the staple food of the people, offers a marked
and refreshing contrast to the arid hinterland.
The long coastline breaks into enchanting estuaries and bays which mark
off Idyllic, palm-fringed beaches like Colva, Calangute, Harmal, Vagator,
Miramar, etc., which have already become household names the world
over and which together with the plethora of ancient and historic monuments,
temples, forts and churches form the core of attraction for tourists who
flock in their thousands every year to this sunny and hospitable land.
2
Panaji, the capital, situated on the left bank of the Mandovi river Is a
picturesque town with beautiful red-roofed houses built in the Latin-type
architectural style with imposing balconies and ample verandahs, also boasts
of a few modern multi-storeyed buildings, well laid gardens and avenues lined
with guhnohur, cassia and other trees.
The Bombay steamer calls daily at the harbour in front of the imposing
Secretariat edifice, except during the monsoon. The nearest airport is at
Dabolim (29 kms.) and the railheads at Vasco-da-Gama and Margao 31 and
35 kms. away respectively. The modem inter-state bus-stand run by the
Kadamba Transport Corporation is the hub of road transport, serviced by
luxury and semi-luxury buses.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Area
Population
Altitude ...
Climate
Summer ...
Winter
Rainfall
Clothing required
Languages Spoken
Tourist Season ...
3,702 sq. kms.
10,07,749 (1981 census figure)
Sea level to 1,022 metres.
Mean Max.
Mean Min.
32.7*0
24. "C
32.2'C
21.-3C
350 Cms. from June to September.
Tropical clothing throughout the year. Light
woollen can be worn during December and Ja
nuary.
Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, English and Portuguese.
October to May (November to February pleasant).
TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
Air
Sea
Rail
Goa is connected by I.A. flights from Bombay.
Belgaum and Bangalore.
M/s. Mogul Lines operate sailings during fair
weather (Oct. to May). Reservation can be made
at M/s. V. S. Dempo & Co. (Travel Division)
Opp. Customs Wharf, Panaji, Tel: 3842, New
Ferry Wharf, Bombay-9, Tel: 864071.
Note: Group concession ranging 10% to 50% is
granted for deck class only on production of
bonaflde certificate.
Goa is connected by metre-gauge line with Londa
junction on Miraj-Bangalore line. Convenient
station for Panaji Is Margao.
3
Goa Is connected by road with all the major towns
in India.
Road
To Panaji from
Route & Distances In Km
1 — Ahmcdabad
2 — Aurangabad
3 — Bangalore
4 — Belgaum ...
5 — Bombay
6 — Calcutta (Howrah)
7 — Cochin
8 — Daman
9 — Delhi
10 — Diu
11 — Hubli
12 —Hyderabad
13 — Kanyakumari
Bombay, Panvel, Mahad, Sawantwadl
...
Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, Sawantwadl
...
Hiriyur, Hubli, Londa, Ponda ...
...
...
Londa, Anmod, Ponda ...
...
Panvel, Mahad, Sawantwadl
Sambalpur, Nagpur, Jalgaon, Pune
Mangalore, Karwar, Margao
Vapi, Bombay, Panvel, Mahad, Sawantwadl
Agra, Indore, Dhulia, Nasik, Pune
Una, Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad, Bombay ...
Londa, Anmod, Ponda
Yagdir, Mudgal, Hungund
Trivandrum, Mangalore, Karwar (Cape Co
morin)
Bangalore, Hiruyur, Hubli Londa, Ponda ...
Karwar, Margao
...
Hassan, Jog-Falls, Astoli
Satara, Kolhapur, Amboli-Ghat, Sawantwadl
Chaudi (Canacona), Margao ...
Jammu, Delhi, Nasik, Pune
Cochin, Mangalore, Karwar
Allahabad, Jabalpur, Nagpur, Jalgaon, Pune
Amboli-Ghat, Sawantwadl
Gadag, Hubli, Londa, Anmod, Ponda
...
Bellary, Hospet, Hubli, Londa, Ponda
...
Chaudi, Canacona, Margao
11 — Madras
15 — Mangalore
16 — Mysore
17 — Pune
18 — Sadashi vgad
19 — Srinagar ...
20 — Trivandrum
21 — Varanasi
22 — Kolhapur ...
23 — Hospet
24 — Guntakal
25 — Karwar
1234
706
598
157
594
2487
833
787
1895
1536
184
757
1133
920
371
696
458
100
2785
1046
2049
246
315
445
103
Distance between important places in Goa:
(1) PanajI — Mapusa 13 kms. (2) Panaji — Margao 35 kms. (3) PanajI
Vasco-da-Gama 31 kms. (4) Panaji-Agacaim 17 kms. (5) Panaji — Dabolim
Airport 29 kms. (6) Margao —Dabolim Airport 29 kms. (7) Vasco-da-Gama
— Dabolim 3 kms. (8) Vasco-da-Gama — Margao 30 kms. (9) Panaji — Vagator
22 kms. (10) Panaji — Tirakol 42 kms.
INTERNAL TRANSPORT
A.: Surface Transport:
Tourist taxis, yellow cabs, motor bike taxis and auto rickshaws are
available throughout Goa.
B. Water Transport:
I — Dona Paula-Mormugao: Operated during the fair weather (Sep
tember to May) at regular intervals.
H —Launch service from Panajl Central Jetty to (1) Aldona (once
a day) (2) Britona, (3) Naroa (twice a day) and (4) Verem.
IH — Flat-bottom ferry for transhipment of vehicles and passengers
across unbridged rivers are operated at the following places:
(1) Aldona — Corjuem, (2) Colvale — Macasana, 3) Old-Goa
— Dlvar (4) Panajl — Betim, (5) Pomburpa — Chorao, (6) Slolim
— Chopdem (7) St. Estevam — Tonca, (8) Keri — Tiracol, (9) Cortallm — Marcaim,
v
CONDUCTED SIGHTSEEING TOURS
Tours by luxury coaches accompanied by Government approved Tourist
Guides, are being operated by Goa, Daman and Diu Tourism Development Cor
poration Ltd., Tourist Hostel, Panaji (Goa). The tours start from and end at
the Tourist Hostel, Panaji (Goa). The details of tile tours are:
1.
South Goa Tour — 9.00 a. m. to 6.00 p. m. — Rs. 28/- Non AC Coach.
Rs. 35/- AC Coach.
Places covered
Panaji — Old Goa Churches — Shri Manguesh Temple — Shri Shantadurga Temple — Margao Town — Colva Beach — Mormugao Har
bour — Vasco-da-Gama — Pilar Seminary — Dona Paula — Miramar
Beach.
2.
North Goa Tour — 9.00 a. m. to 6.00 p. m. — Rs. 28/- Non AC Coach.
Rs. 35/- AC Coach.
•
Places covered
Panajl — Altinho Hillocks — Mayem Lake — Shri Datta Temple — Arvalem Water Falls — Mapusa Vagator Beach — Anjuna Beach
— Calangute Beach —Aguada Historical Fort.
3.
Pilgrim Tour — 9.30 a. m. to 12.30 (Noon) — Rs. 12/-.
Places covered
Basilica of Bom Jesus — Se Cathedral — Shri Manguesh Temple —
Shri Mahalsa Temple — Shri Ramnathl Temple — Shri Shantadurga
Temple.
5
1.
Beach Special — 3.00 p. m. to 7.00 p. m. — Rs. 12/-.
Places covered
Calangute Beach — Baga Beach — Anjuna Beach — Vagator Beach.
5. Holiday Special on Request — 9.30 a. m. to 6.00 p. m. — Rs, 15/-,
Places covered
(A) Bondla Wild Life Sanctuary.
(B) Terekhol Fort.
o
6. Goa Darshan Tour — 8.30 a. m. to 7.00 p. m.— Rs. 25/-,
EX — Margao/Vasco.
Places covered
Margao — Colva Beach — Shrl Shantadurga Temple — Shri Manguesh
Temple — Old Goa Churches — Calangute Beach — Panaji — Miramar
— Dona Paula — Pilar Seminary — Marmagoa Harbour — Vasco.
Also Tours No. 1 and 2 start from and end at Tourist Hostel, Mapusa.
Tel: 2794.
Daily cruise starts at 6.00 p. m. from River Navigation Jetty.
Opp. Tourist Hostel, Panaji.
Charges: Rs. 25- per head.
(Children below 5 years will not be charged).
Please Note: —
1. Children above 5 (five) years are charged full.
2. The minimum booking for each tour is 10 seats.
3. The tour operates and terminates at Tourist Hostel, Panaji except for
tour no. 6 which will leave from Margao/Vasco.
4. South Goa tours and North Goa tours will operate on alternate days.
o
"TOURISTS ARE OUR HONOURED GUESTS"
HOTELS WITH ROOM RENT FROM RS. 150/- AND ABOVE
1. AGUADA HERMITAGE
Sinquerim, Bardez-Goa.
Air Conditioned
Facilities.
2. * Fort Aguada Beach Resort,
Sinquerim, Bardez-Goa.
Tel.: No. 4401 to 4408.
Gram: FORTAGUADA.
Telex: 0194 206.
3. * Hotel Fidalgo, 18th June Road,
Panaji-Goa.
Tel.: 3320 to 3332.
Gram: MABEREST.
Tlex: 0194-213.
6.
23 4 Welcome Group, Cidade de Goa,
Curia, Dona Paula-Goa — 403111.
Tel.: 3301 to 3308 (8 lines).
Gram: CIDADE
Telex: 194 257 DON AIN.
4.
8 Hotel Oberoi, Bogmalo Beach,
Dabolim Airport.
Tel.: 2191, 92, 2510.
Gram: OBHOTEL GOA.
Tlex: 0191-297.
OBGAIN.
7.
The Taj Holiday Village,
C/o. Fort Aguada Resort,
Sinquerim, Bardez-Goa.
Tel.: 4415 to 17.
5.
* Hotel Silver Sands, Colva Beach, 8. Majorda Beach Resort,
Majorda, Salcete Goa 403713
Goa.
Tel.: 3181 to 82,3896 Margao.
Tel.: 3645-46, 3651.
Telex: 0196-234.
Gram: SILVERSANDS.
MBRIN.
Telex: 011194 25 2 ALCO.
(Panaji-Goa).
€
HOTELS WITH ROOM RENT FROM RS. 75/- AND ABOVE
1. 5 Concha Beach Resort,
1. * Estrela Do Mar,
Calangute-Goa.
Cobrawaddo (Baga).
Tel.: 56.
Calangute-Goa.
Gram: CONCHA.
Available from August to May
only).
2. * Coqueiral Holiday Home,
Kamotim-wado, Candolim.
Beach, Goa.
5.
* Hotel Nova Goa,
Dr. Atmaram Borkar Road.
Panaji-Goa.
Tel.: 4575 & 4576.
Gram: KAMBROS.
3. * Dona Paula Beach Resort,
Dona Paula-Goa.
Tel.: 4256.
Gram: O Pescador.
Panaji-Goa.
Bombay Tel.: 231536.
6.
* Hotel Mandovl, P.O.Box 164,
Panaji-Goa.
Tel.: 4481 to 4485.
Gram: MANDOVI GOA.
Telex: 0194 226.
• Air Conditioned
Facilities.
7 * Hotel Metropole, Avenida
Concessao Road, P. O. Box 77,
Margao-Goa.
Tel.: 3552, 3556,3557.
Gram: METROPOLE.
8.
Q
9.
Hotel Bala Do Sol, Baga Beach,
Calangue-Goa.
Tel.: 3277, 3278.
Gram: GOA TOURS.
Telex: 0194 256 Panaji.
Margao; 0196 21.
Hotel Delmon,
Gaetano de Albuquerque Road.
Tel.: 5616.
Gram: ALCON.
Telex: 194-252 ALCO.
10. * "O Camarao Beach Resort”.
Next to Tourist Hostel.
Umtawaddo — Calangute.
Bardez-Goa.
Gram: CALANBEACH.
11.
Hotel Flamingo, Rua de Ourem,
Panaji-Goa.
Tel.: 4765.
12.
Ludovicl Tourist Home, Dando,
Sinquerim,Bardez-Goa.
Gram: LUDOVICI.
13.
Lapaz Hotel, Swatantra Path,
Vasco-da-Gama Goa.
Tel: 2121 to 2126 (6 lines),
Gram: LAPAZ.
Telex: 0191-191 LPAZ.
14. '■’ Prainha Cottages, By the Sea,
Dona Paula.
Tel.: 4004.
Gram: PRAINHA.
15.
Hotel Goa International,
Tonca, Miramar.
Gram: INTERNATIONAL.
Tel.: 5716 to 17.
• Air Conditioned
HOTELS WITH ROOM RATE FROM RS 25/- AND ABOVE
Panajl:
Ambika Hotel, Church Square, Tel.: 4987; Caravanserai Tourist Unit, B-l,
St. Mary’s Miramar, Tel.: 5339; Guimaka Guest House, Near Ashok/Samrat
Theatre. Tel.: 2119; Hotel Campal, Near Agenda Sequeira, Campal, Tel.: 4531
(6 lines), Telex: 0194-304; Hotel Aroma, Cunha Rlvara Rd. Tel.: 4249, 4811,
3519, 5657, Gram: HOTEL AROMA, Hotel Neptune, Malaea Road,
Tel.: 4447, 5727. Gram USMANIA; Hotel Samrat, Dr. Dada Vaidya Road,
Tel.: 3318, Gram: SAMRAT. Telex: 0194275; Hotel Mayur, Miramar, Tel.: 3174;
Hotel Dunhill Palace, Rua de Ourem. Tel.: 3476; Hotel Riviera, Rua de Ormuz.
Tel.: 4118, Gram: Hotel Riviera; Hotel Sona, Rua de Ourem. Tel.: 4426, Gram:
Hotel Sona, Hotel Solmar, D. B. Bandodkar Marg, Tel.: 4555 to 56, Gram:
Solmar; Hotel Sangam, Mala, Tel.: 2307; Hotel Dolphin, Panaji-Old Goa Road,
Sao Pedro, Tel.: 4189, Gram: DOLPHIN; Hotel Vlhar Lodging and Boarding,
Near Head Post Office; Keni's Hotel, 18th June Road, Tel.: 4581 to 86; Liberty
Air Conditioned
Facilities.
Guest House, Near Don Bosco High School, Tel.: 3219; London Hotel, Miramar;
Mayfair Hotel, Dr. Dada Valdya Road, Near Mahalaxmi Temple, Tel.; 5952,
Gram: CHICO; Minerva Lodge, Near LIC Office, Corte de Oiteiro, Tel.: 358-1;
Mandovi Pearl Guest House, Behind Tourist Hostel Tel.: 3928; Noah’s Ark,
Bamboo Motels & Hotels, Verem, Reis Magos, Tel.: 5770/4860, Gram: BAMBOMOTEL; Prakash Lodge, Opp. Azad Maidan, Tel.: 5676, Royal Beach Hotel,
Miramar; Temperance Guest House, Afonso de Albuquerque Rd. Tel.: 3268;
Vistar Hotel, Afonso de Albuquerque Rd. Tel: 3247; Lord’s Guest House, Near
Cine El-Dorado, Tel.: 3857; Central Lodging, Behind General Post Office.
Tel.: 4992. Hotel Missel, Ribandar Goa. Tel.: 5007, 5794.
Margao: (35 kms. from Panaji).
Goa Woodlands Hotel, Minguel Loyola Furtado Road, Tel.: 3121 (5 lines).
Gram: Goawudland; Hotel La Flor, Erasmo Carvalho Street, Tel,: 3402
(5 lines), Gram: Hotel La Flor; Hotel Annapurna, Lodging & Boarding, Near
Railway Gate, Tel.: 2760, Gram: Margao-Goa; Mabai Hotel, Opp. Municipal
Garden, P. O. Box 365, Tel.: 3638, 3654, 3655, 3327, Gram: Mabai; Hotel
Greenview, Near Railway Station, Station Road, Tel.: 3546 (Off!); Kakoda
Tourist Lodge, Curchorem, Margao Main Road, Ban Seu Kakoda, P. O. Curchorem; Hotel Gold Star, Isidoro Baptista Road, Tel.: 3861 (5 lines), 3388, 3677,
Telex: 196-207 KRAPEIN.
Vasco-da-Gama: (31 kms. from Panaji):
Hotel Zuaii, Tel.: 2127, 2128, 2129, Gram: Hotel Zuari; Chicalim Tourist
Resort, Chicalim, Tel.: 2417, 3192, Gram: Arsco, Telex No. 0194 298 Rajin;
Tel-Jose-Mar Tourist Rest House, Opp. M.P.T. Institute; Hotel Anapuma
Municipal Market, Tel.: 3185; Maharaja Hotel, Rua Leopold, Flores, Opp, H. P.
Tanks, Tel.: 2269, 2748, 2559, Gram: MAHARAJA.
Ponda: (30 kms. from Panaji).
Hotel Pearl, Tel.: 41, 243, Gram: Hotel Pearl; Hotel Padmavi, Near Bus
Stand.
Maptua: (13 kms. from Panaji),-
Hotel Bardez, Tel.: 2607; Motel La Joy, Porvorim, Tel,: 5533, Gram: Joy;
Hotel Hilltop, Alto Porvorim.
Calangute: (16 kms. from Panaji).
Ancora Beach Resort, Sautavado (Baga); Barbosa Cottages, Information
Bureau, Calangute Beach Road, Tel.: 54; Cavala Beach Resort (Baga), Tel.: 29;
Calangute Beach Resort, Umtavado; Hotel Riverside, Baga Beach; Klsmat
Mahal Tourist Home, E-l/221, Gauravaddo; Penku's Lodging Umtavado Palmar
Cottages, H. No. 1202, Umtavado; Pinto Beach Cottages, House No. 81/9,
Dr. Sardessai Bus Stop. Candolim; Royal Hotel: Sea View Cottages, Balro
Sauntavado; Oseas Tourist Home, H. No. 1388, Near St. John's Chapel, Umtavado; Holiday Beach Resort, Murad Vado, Candolim Beach; Meena Lodge,
Cobrawado, Calangute, Vivenda A Beira Mar, 368, Candolim; Hotel Souza
Lobo, Calangute Beach; Xavier Tours & Hotels International Baga Beach;
Greenfield Cottages, Morod Porhavaddo, Calangute.
Colva: (40 kms. from Panaji).
Sukhsagar Beach Resort, Tel.: Office 3661, 3666, 3888; White Sands
Hotel, Tel.: 3253; Tourist Nest Hotel, 4th Vado, Colva; Mar-E-Sol, Sea View
Cottages.
Anjuna/Vagator: (22 kms. from Panaji).
Vagator Beach Resort, Fort Chapora, Tel.: 41, Gram: Vagator/Anjuna;
Vales Happy Holiday Home, House No. 361; Punam Guest House, Anjuna
Beach, Nobel Nest & Rest, Opp. Chapel Chapora.
HOTELS WITH ROOM RATE BELOW RS. 25/Panaji:
Bharat Lodge, Near Head Post Office, Tel.: 4862; Belvilla Lodge, Miramar;
Church Side Lodge, Near Immaculate Church; Corina Lodge, Near Post Office;
Delux Lodge, 31st January Road; Goa Lodge, Rua Afonso de Albuquerque,
Tel.: 3152; Glemar Lodge, Near Cine National Theatre; Gujarat Lodge, 18th
June Road, Tel.: 3931; Girasol Lodge, Near Govinda Building; Hotel Republic,
Opp. Secretariat, Tel.: 4630; Hotel Imperial, Near Old Bus Stand; Hotel Madhavashram, Near Hotel Mandovi, Tel.: 4823; Hotel Venite, 31st January Road,
Tel.: 5537; Kiran Lodging & Boarding, Near Sachivalaya, Tel.: 4820; La Vista
Lodge, Near Patto Bridge, Tel.: 4765; Matruchaya Lodging & Boarding, Near
Municipal Garden, Teh: 4889; Miresh Lodge, Ram Niwas, Agacaim — Panaji
Road, National Guest House, Near Cine El-Dorado; New Gujarat Lodge, Rua
Heliodoro Salgado, Tel.: 3767; New Punjab Lodging & Boarding, Near Muni
cipal Garden, Tel.: 3475; Naguesh Bhuvan, Dr. Atmaram Borkar Road,
Tel.: 5676; Palace Hotel, Behind Secretariat, Teh: 4810; Gram: PALACE
HOTEL; Rameshwar Hindu Lodging & Boarding, Near Mahalaxml Temple,
Teh: 4776; Rajesh Lodge, 18th June Road, Teh: 4039; Safari Hotel, Opp.
Municipal Garden; Sanman Lodge, 18th June, Road, Teh: 3892; Sundar Lodge,
Caetano de Albuquerque Road, Teh: 4326; Satkar Lodge, Ghanekar Bldg.;
Krishna Lodging and Boarding, Near Mahalaxmi Temple, Teh: 3179;
Tourist House, Family/Dormitory Wing, Rua de Ourem. Teh: 5031,
4932; Udipi Lodging & Boarding, Near Head Post Office; Sunrise Lodge, Opp.
Sushila Building, 18th June Road Hotel Ajanta, Opp. Old Bus Stand; M/s.
Karuna Guest House, Taleigao; Kismat Lodge, Opp. Municipal Market; Roshan
Guest House, 3rd Floor, Roshan Manzil, Ormuz Road.
10
Margao: (35 kms. from Panaji).
Centaur Lodging, Station Road; Carolina Hotel, Near- Cine Lata; Damodar
Lodging & Boarding, Station Road, Tel.: 2394; Dilkush Cafe, Station Road,
Tel.: 2739; Durga Hotel, Khareband Road; Dhond's Anand Bhavan, Station
Road, Tel.: 3427; Hotel Gokul, Behind Grace Church, Tel.: 3118; Gemini
Hotel, Station Road, Tel.: 2208; Hotel Bambino, Fr. Miranda Road, Tel.: 3134;
Hotel Naaz, Khareband Road, Tel.: 3201; Hotel National, Station Road; Hotel
Neptune, Rua Martires, Near Hari Mandir, Tel.: 2379, Gram: Usmania; Longuinhos, Near Indian Airlines Office, Tel.: 2130, Gram: Longuinhos; Laxmi
Lodge, Station Road, Tel.: 2679, Gram: Laxmi Lodge; Milan Lodging &
Boarding, Station Road, Tel.: 2715; Royal Hotel, Near Bank of Baroda,
Tel.: 2203; Sunrit Hotel, Near Railway Station, Tel.: 3226/3227; Seva Samiti,
Tel.: 2626, Gram: Swastik; Swagat Lodging & Boarding, Gomes Road, Tel.:
2268; Twlga Lodge, 413, Abade Faria Road, Gram: TWIGA; Vishranti Lodge,
Opp. Sunlit Hotel, Near Railway Station, Tel.: 3226; Goa Guest House, Jose
Inacio Loyola Road, Tel.: 2257; Kiran Hall, Junta House, Tel.: 2208/2546,
Gram: Gemini; Hotel Noor Jehan, Near P. W. D., Don Bosco Road, Fatorda,
Tel.: 3893; New Gujrat Lodge, Near Cine Lata, Tel.: 3614, 2850; Hotel Rayan,
Bernard de Costa Road; Hotel Rukrish, Francisco Luis Gomes Road, Near Taxi
Stand, Tel.: 3709.
Vasco-da-Gama: (31 kms. from Panaji).
Hotel Bismarks, Next to Damodar Temple, Tel.: 3165, Gram: Messias; Hotel
Rebello, Vadem, Tel.: 2620, 2610 Gram: Rebello Hotel; Hotel Marcel, Francisco
Luis Gomes Road Tel.: 2646, Gram: Marcel Hotel; Hotel Pravasi, Tel.: 2389;
Hotel Ricon, Tel.: 2965; Manish Lodge, Opp. Tilak Maidan, F. L. Gomes Road,
Tel.: 2419, Meghdoot Lodge, Swatantra Path, Tel.: 2785; Railway Retiring
Room, S. C., Tel: 2398; Sultan Lodge, Opp. Municipal Market, Tel: 2507; Twiga
Lodge, Near St. Andrews Church; Udipi Lodge, Opp. Bank of India, Shridhar
Building; Vandana Lodge, Next to Khalap Mansion, Korlim Niketan; Indira
Lodge, Opp. Bharat Petroleum Installation, Tel: 2484.
Ponda: (30 kms. from Panaji).
Barve Lodge; Geetashram Lodging & Boarding; Navayug Lodging &
Boarding, Tel: 175; Prashant Lodging & Boarding; Tourist Cottages, Bondla,
P. O. Usgao.
Mapusa: (13 kms. from Panaji).
Hotel Safari, Opp. Mamlatdai- Office; Lodge Jankishankar, Kanekar Build
ing, Tel.: 2401; Sumant Lodge, Feira Baixa; Sirsat Lodge, Tel.: 2419; Hotel
Poornima, Ansabhat, Tel.: 2480; Norman Julian Hotel & Travel Service,
H.. N. 495-521-522, Cotarbat-Aldona.
11
Benaulim: (42 kms. from Panaji).
'O Palmar’ Benaulim Beach Cottages; Palm Grove Cottages, Ho. NO. 149,
Vaswado Benaulim; L’Amour Beach Resort, Benaulim Beach, Goa; Carvan
Tourist Nest, 1409, Opp. Bank of Baroda, Benaulim.
DHARMASHALAS/AGRASHALAS BETWEEN RS. 3/- TO RS. 12/Agrashalas of Shri Ramnathi Devasthan, Ramanathi, Bandivada, Ponda-Goa, Tel: 33; Agrashalas of Shri Shantadurga, Kavlem, Ponda, Tel: 57;
Manguirish Saunsthan Agrashala, Mangueshi Ponda. Tel: 31: Agrashala of
Shri Mahalsa Temple, Mardol, Ponda.
ACCOMMODATION MAINTAINED BY DIRECTORATE OF TOURISM
0
„
Sr. No.
__
,
Name of Hotel
'1.
(a) Terekhol Fort,
Tourist Rest House,
Terekhol, Tel.: 48,
(Sawantwadi
Exchange).
(b) Dormitory,
Terekhol.
_ ,,
Particulars of Rooms
ociisuu
uh season
(15th Sept, (16th June to
to 15th June) 14th Sept.)
Twin Bedded
(Single Occupancy)
Rs. 30/Rs. 20/-
Rs. 25/Rs. 15/-
Per Head
Rs. 8/-
Rs. 8/-
2.
Lake Resort, Mayem,
Tel.: 94.
Twin Bedded
(Single Occupancy)
Rs. 30/Rs. 20/-
Rs. 30/Rs. 20'/-
3.
Tourist Home, Patto-Bridge, Panaji,
Tel.: 4757, 5583, 5715.
Per Head
Rs. 8/-
Rs. 5/-
4.
Tourist Dormitory,
Britona, Bardez-Goa.
Dormitory (Floor
accommodation)
Re. 1/- (for student)
Rs. 2/- (for others)
5.
Tourist Cottages,
Farmagudi, Ponda.
Tel.: 177.
Twin Bedded
(Single Occupancy)
Rs. 15/-&
Rs. 30/Rs. 10/- &
Rs. 20/-
RS; 12/-&
Rs. 25/Rs. 8/- &
Rs. 15/-
6.
(a) Tourist Resort,
Molem.
(b) Dormitory.
Twin Bedded
(Single Occupancy)
Per Head
Rs. 25/Rs. 15/RS. 87-
Rs. 20/Rs. 12/Ra 57-
7.
Youth Hostel, Miramar,
Dormitory
Rs. 8/- (per bed)
Tel.: 5433.
Sr. No.
Name o£ Hotel
Particulars ot Rooms
Season
Ort Season
(15th Sept. (16th Juno to
> 15th June) 14th Sept.)
S.
Tourist Hostel, Vasco,
Tel.: 2673, 3119.
Twin Bedded
(Single Occupancy)
(Double Occupancy)
Additional bed
Family Room
Rs. 20/Rs. 30/Rs. 10/Rs. 50/- (four beds)
THE RATES OF ACCOMMODATION IN THE HOTEL ESTABLISHMENTS
UNDER THE CONTROL OF GOA, DAMAN AND DID TOURISM
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD., TOURIST HOSTEL, PANAJI
(15th Sept to
15th June)
Rs.
I.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
Tourist Hostel, Panaji, Tel.: 3390, Gram: TOURHOTEL
Single room
35.00
Single room with additional bed
50.00
Double room
70.00
Double room with additional bed
80.00
Special room
85.00
Special room with Air-conditioned unit 100.00
Room No. 602/603 (6 beds)
(i) bed
20.00
(li) group or family
90.00
(16th Juno to
14th Sept)
Rs.
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
85.00
12.00
60.00
II. Tourist Resort/Cotttagcs, Calangutc, Tel.: 21
a) Single room (sea view)........................
b) Single room with additional bed.............
c) Single room (rear side)........................
d) Single room with additional bed ...
e) Double room
...................................
f) Double room with additional bed
h) Special suite with Air-conditioned unit
50.00
70.00
40.00
60.00
75.00
85.00
145.00
20.00
30.00
20.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
65.00
HI. Tourist Dormitory, Calanguto
a) Bed ........................................................
10.00
8.00
40.00
G5.00
25.00
40.00
IV. Tourist Cottages, Colvtt, Tel.: 2287
a) Single room..............................................
b) Single room with additional bed.............
©
13
(15th Sept to
15th June)
Rs.
(IGth June to
14th Sept)
Rs.
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
75.00
25.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
V. Tourist Hostel, Mapusa, Tel.: 2'94
a) Single room...................................
b) Double room
........................
c) Four bedded ...................................
d) Six bedded........................
e) Suite.............................................
REMARKS
1. Every additional mattress will be charged at Rs. 10/- and Rs. 3/- for
children between 4 to 12 years old on both the seasons.
2.
As and when the air conditioned unit does not work, Rs. 15/- are to
be deducted from the rent.
3.
Maximum period for stay is seven days but it may lie extended upto
fourteen days at the discretion of the concerned Manager only if such
accommodation is not required by any other visitor.
PLACES OF INTEREST
Panaji: The Capital of Goa, Daman and Diu — a small and charming city
on the left bank of silvery Mandovi River with modern houses, fine gardens
and statues. Enchanting panorama unfolded from atop Altinho (Hill Top),
Miramar: (Gaspar Dias 3 Kms.). A lovely golden beach of soft sands
girdled with palm trees facing the blue Arabian sea.
Dona Paula: (7 Kms.). An idyllic and picturesque picnic spot. Commands a
fine view of the Zuari estuary and Mormugao Harbour.
0
Old Goa: (10 Kms.). East of Panaji lies the site of city of Old Goa.
Founded by Adil Shah, in the first decade of 16th century, it was being deve
loped by them with a view to shifting their capital from Bijapur. However,
Afonso de Albuquerque made a short work of it when he stormed and took
over to house the centre of power of the Portuguese colonies.
i) Basilica of Bom Jesus: Built in 16th century. Most popular and fa
mous of all churches in Goa. The mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier,
kept in a rich silver casket, are enshrined here.
ii) So Cathedral: Most imposing of all churches at Old Goa, Its
vaulted interior overwhelms the visitors by sheer grandeur. The Cathedral
has five bells of which one is the famous Golden Bell, the biggest in Goa
and one of the best in the world.
ill) Church of St. Francis of Assisi: Entrance and the choir are in
Manueline style, the only fragment of its kind in the East. Interior is
Illustrated with exquisite paintings.
iv)
Rome.
St. Cajetan Church: Built in the style of St. Peter’s Basilica in
v) Church of Our Lady of Rosary: One of the earliest built in Goa,
bears an inscription about the rcconquest of Goa by Afonso de Albuquerque
in 1510.
vi) Nunnery of St. Monica: Built like a fortress, is significant of its
massive walls and buttresses. It is the only nunnery in Goa.
vii) St. Augustine Tower: Close to the Nunnery is a lofty tower
defying the torrential rains. The tower is one of the four of Augustine
Church that once stood there. The Church when intact was perhaps the
biggest in Goa.
viii) Viceroy’s Arch: One of the gates of Adil Shah’s Fort it was
renovated by Portuguese and was the gateway of Goa for Portuguese
Governors. Every incoming Viceroy used to disembark at this place.
Bets Magos Church: (7 kms. from Panaji) The Reis Magos Church was
constructed in 1555. It is one of the earliest churches built in Goa and the
first in Bardez Taluka, dedicated to the three Magi-Kings — Gaspar, Melchior
and Balthazar, who according to legend were guided day and night by a star
to Bethlehem to greet the new born child Jesus.
Shri Mangesh: (22 Kms. from Panaji) at Priol-Ponda Taluka. Il is located
on a hillock surrounded by rolling green hills. Though small it has an air of
distinctive elegance. Its lofty white tower at the entrance is a landmark of
the countryside. This is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Shri Mahalsa: At Mardol, 1 Km. from Shri Manguesh temple. The deity
worshipped is an attribute of Vishnu (Mohini during the fight between Devas
and Asuras). Main festivals: Zatra (February) and Navaratra.
Shri Gopal Ganapati: (26 Kms. from Panaji) at Farmagudi-Ponda, amidst
beautiful natural surroundings near Bandora. The Portuguese Viceroy attacked
the fort of Ponda in October 1683 but had to beat a hasty retreat at the
sudden appearance of the Maratha King Sambhaji with a large army.
Farmagudi commemorates this event. The stone image of Gopal Ganapati was
discovered by herdsman while grazing cattle near the hill and later installed
in a small shrine with a thatched roof. The temple was built by Late
Shrl Dayanand Balkrisluia Bandodkar, an inhabitant of the place: and first
Chief Minister of Goa. The idol made of metal aliojr was consecrated on
April 24, 1966. It is a good specimen of Indian temple architecture syn
thesising both ancient and modern.
Shri Shantadurga: (33 Kms. from Panaji). Sumptuously built at Kavlem,
dedicated to Shantadurga, the Goddess who mediates between Vishnu and
Shiva. Rich and beautiful Gharbhakuda or the holy of holies where the deity
is kept.
(*)
Shri Kalikadevi: (14 Kms. from Mapusa): At Kansarpal. It is said to
be about eight hundred years old. Divided into two outer halls, supported
on seven rows of four pillars has a stage to perform dramas on festive
occasions. The inner shrine contains the revered image of the Goddess "Kali",
a fierce form of Devi. Agrashalas (Rest houses) surrounding the temple
provide facilities for lodging to the visitors.
Shri Dalia Mandir: (37 Kms. from Panaji) — Sanquclim. The century old
temple of Trimurthy (Hindu triad) has a backdrop of a beautiful hillock
covered with dense groves of areca palms. The most important festival which
is attended by devotees from all over Goa, is Datta Jayanti which falls in
the month of December. The deity is believed to have cured many people of
unsound mind.
Shri Sapta Koteshwara: (37 Kms. from Panaji). At Narve-Bicholim —
favoured deity of Kadamba Kings. Its original temple was situated in the
island of Diwadi. It was destroyed by the Portuguese and the idol was shifted
to its present site at Narve (Bicholim). Many years afterwards in 1663 A. D.
Chatrapati Shivaji ordered renovation of this temple at the present site
during one of his campaigns to oust the Portuguese. The linga worshipped
in this temple is having facets and is known as “DHARALINGA”.
Shri Shantadurga: (14 Kms. from Mapusa) at Dhargal-Pernem. Circa
1500 A. D. when all the temples in Bardez were destroyed by the Portuguese,
this Goddess was removed at Sanquelim. It was the time of the notorious
Portuguese inquisition in Goa. Therefore, in Circa 1550 A. D. this Goddess
was taken to Dhargal in Pernem Taluka which also formed part of Sawantwadi
principality. The “Zatra” of tliis Goddess is held in the month of December.
The temple has beautiful natural surroundings.
Shri Bhagavati: (28 Kms. from Panaji). The temple, situated by the side
of the main road is said to be more than 500 years old. Two life size images
of elephants in standing position made of blackstone on either side at the
entrance welcomes visitors. The Goddess Bhagavati-Ashtabhuja In a standing
position..on a.high pedestal is aw imposing-.. The DussehraJs celebrated with
gaiety from Asvin Sudha Pratipada to Poornima, when over 25 thousand
devotees assemble at the temple.
Shri Shantadurga (Kunkalikarin): Fatorpa (Quepem). Originally from
Cuncoliem village in Salcete taluka the goddess was removed to Fatorpa in
16th century during religious persecution by the Portuguese. The annual zatra
which falls in the month of Pausha Shuddha Navani attracts thousands of
devotees from all over Goa.
Shri Malikarjuna: (40 Kms. from Margao, at Canacona). The southernmost
taluka of Goa is believed to have been constructed during the middle of
16th century by ancestors of the Kshatriya Samaj. It was renovated in the
year 1778. The temple has massive wooden pillars with intricate carvings.
There are 60 deities around the temple. Rathasaptaml in February and
Shigmotsava in April are the festivals of note, which draw large crowds.
Shri Damodar: (22 Kms. from Margao at Zambliavli-Sanguem). Situated
in the picturesque surroundings on the bank of the Kushavati river, popularly
known as Panti. Near the temple, the river is regarded particularly holy and
is said to have medicinal properties. The deity is worshipped by the Hindus
and Christians alike. A week-long celebration of Shigmo is packed with
programmes which include a colourful fair exchange of GULAri (echrO),
collective meals and presentation of shows on popular legends and folk culture.
Temple of Shri Mahadeva at Tambadi Surla: (70 kms. from Panajl). The
only specimen of Kadamba — Yadava architecture (13th century) available
in Goa.
Bondla Forest: (55 Kms. from Panaji). A fast developing wild life
sanctuary.
Margao: (35 Kms. from Panaji). In the hinterland of Southern Goa is a
thriving commercial metropolis linked by rail to the rest of India and Mormugao
Harbour. It has fine parks, gardens as well as imposing modern buildings.
Jama Masjid: (26 Kms. from Margao, at Sanguem). Built in the last
century the Jama Masjid was completely renovated in 1959. The new structure
is remarkable for its harmonious proportions and elegant simplicity. It has
four minarets whilst the entrance facade is flanked by two elegant turrets
surmounted by pillared kiosks. A dome-shaped kiosk rises in the centre of
the four minarets. Festivals are celebrated here with due solemnity and eclat
by the rejoicing devotees.
17
Colva: Beach: (About 6 Kms. from Margao) — Colva Beach Is the pride
of Salcete and the only rival to Calangute by its scenic splendour. Here sand,
sea and sky bland in enchanting natural harmony unspoilt by man.
Vasco-da-Gama: (31 Kms. from Panaji). A modern well laid out city
close to Mormugao Harbour. It has beautiful and extensive avenue and
gardens. The air terminus of Goa at "Dabollm" lies on the outskirts of the city.
Mormugao Harbour: (34 Kms. from Panaji) — (Four Kms. from Vasco-da-Gama). One of the finest natural anchorages on the west coast of India
and the hub of intense maritime activity. Passengers and cargo ships call here
from all over the world.
Pilar: (11 Kms. from Panaji)—Important religious and educational
centre of Christian missionaries. The Church, Seminary and School atop
hillock command a magnificient panorama of the countryside around a fine
view of Mormugao Harbour and Zuari River.
Calangute Beach: (16 Kms.. from Panaji) The Queen of Goa beaches and
the most popular holiday resort in Goa for its scenic splendour. Excellent
accommodation facilities are available particularly at the Tourist Resort.
Kapitsa: (13 Kms.) Capital of Bardez Taluka, is at the cross roads of
the network of highways covering whole northern Goa. It has beautiful
layout with gardens and a Church. Weekly fair on Friday is held at the
modern streamlined market and attended by large crowd.
Other Places:
Mayem Lake: (35 Kms. from Panaji). Surrounded amidst rolling green
hills is an ideal picnic spot.
Aguada Fort: 18 Kms.; Arvalem Waterfalls: 39 Kms.; Bogmalo Beach:
29 Kms. (Near Dabollm Airport); Dudhsagar Waterfalls: 60 Kms. (Accessible
by train); General Light House at Aguada. (Visiting hours 16.00 to 17.30);
Jama Masjid: Sanguem — 58 Kms. Note: All distances are from Panaji.
Museum and Art Galleries:
Archaeological Museum and Portrait Gallery, Old Goa; Gallery Esperanca.
Opp. Merces Church, Vadi Merces; Museum of Goa, Daman and Diu Ashirwad
Building, 1st floor, Santa Inez, Panaji.
18
Parks and Gardens:
Panaji: Municipal Garden, Menezes Braganza Park, Children’s Park.
Margao: Municipal Garden, Aga Khan Park.
Mapusa: Municipal Garden.
Festivals and Fairs:
1.
Hindus:
Shimgotsav: All over Goa, Special celebrations at Panaji; Mapusa;
Vasco-da-Gama and Margao, Zatra: Mangeshi; Nageshi; Ramnathi; Kavlem:
Madkai; Kundal; Shlroda; Khandepar; Borim; Kaplleshwari; Mulgaon; Fatorpa;
Amona; Shirgaon; Mashel; Mala-Panaji; Mapusa; Veiling; Karmali and Calangute. Mahashivratri: Arvalem; Ramnathi; Kavlem; Nageshi; Shiroda; Brahma
purl; Shirgao; Kasarpal; Fatorda and Panaji. Rangapanchami: Kasarpal and
Zambavlim. Ramnavmi: Partagal — Canacona. Chaitra-Purnima: Borim; Sanquelim; Nageshlm; Chandranath; Cudnem Sanquelim. Gokulastami: Narvem-Bicholim. Ganesh-Chaturthl: All over Goa. Deepawali: All over Goa. Navratra
Utsav: At all Hindu Temples. Special celebrations at Shantadurga temple;
Nagesh temple; Mahalaxmi temple; Ramnath temple, at Ponda and KalikaDevi
temple at Kasarpal. Dasrotsav: All over Goa. Kojagiri Purnima: Mardol-Ponda.
Dattajayanti: Sanquelim.
2.
Christian:
January 6 — Feast of the Three Kings at Reis Magos, Cansaulim and
Chandor; February 2 — Feast of Our Lady of Candelaria at Pomburpa. Al!
Saints Procession on Monday following Sth Sunday in Lent-Procession of the
Franciscan Third Order (only other besides Rome) at Goa Velha.
1st Sunday after Easter —Feast of Jesus Nazareth at Siridao; 16 days
after Easter — Feast of Our Lady of Miracles at Mapusa; 24th August — Festi
val of Novidades - Offering of first sheaves of the rice crop to the Head of State.
1st Fortnight of October —Fama de Menino Jesus at Colva; 3rd Wednes
day of November — Feast of Our Lady of Rosary; 3rd December — Feast of
St. Francis Xavier (Patron Saint of Goans) at Old Goa; 8th December —
Feast of Our Lady Immaculate Conception, Panaji and Margao; 25th Decem
ber — Christmas.
3.
Muslim:
Urus of Shah Abdullah at Ponda — 17th Zilhaj (February).
Places of Worship:
A)
Hindu Temples:
(1) Shri Saptakoteshwar Temple, 37 kms. from Panaji at Narve on the
bank of River Mandovi in Bicholim Taluka, is an ancient Shiv Temple.
(2) Shri Vithal and Datta Temples, 38 kms. from Panaji, at Sanquelim
(Sankhali) in Bicholim Taluka. Deities enshrined are Lord Vithal and Lord
Datta, respectively. (3) Hanuman Temple at Mapusa. (4) Datta Mandir at
Mapusa. (5) Maruti Temple at Panaji. (6) Mahalaxmi Temple at Panaji.
(7) Shri Gomateshwai- at Old Goa. (8) Shri Bhagavati Temple at Pernem.
(9) Shri Vetal Temple at Chopdem, Pernem. (10) Shri Morjai Temple at
Morjim, Pernem. (11) Shri Ganapati Temple, Ponda, Khandola, Marcel.
(12) Shri Manguesh Temple, Prlol, Ponda. (13) Shri Mahalaxmi Temple, 30kms.
from Panaji at Bandora, Ponda. (14) Shri Mahalsa Temple, 23 kms. from
Panaji and Mardol in Ponda Taluka. (15) Shri Naguesh Temple, 29 kms. from
Panaji one of the ancient Hindu temples of Goa dedicated to Lord Shiva at
Bandora Ponda. (16) Shri Ramnath Temple, 31 kms. from Panaji at Ramnathl,
Ponda. (17) Shri Shantadurga Temple, 33 kms. from Panaji at Kavale, Ponda.
(18) Shri Damodar Temple. Vasco-da-Gama. (19) Shri Vijayadurga Temple,
24 kms. from Panaji at Kcrim-Mardol. (20) Sapteshwar-Bhagavati Temple
at Mandrem-Pernem.
B)
Roman Catholic Churches:
(1) Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, Panaji — 17th Century. (2) Our
Lady of Fatima, Panaji — Shrine in the compound of Don Bosco High School,
a modern structure built in 1970. (3) Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa,
dedicated to Infant Jesus. (4) Se Cathedral at Old Goa, dedicated to St. Cathe
rine. (5) Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, Calangute. (6) Colva Church
dedicated to Child Jesus. (7) Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, Margao.
(8) Church of Our Lady of Miracles, Mapusa. (9) St. Andrew's Church (built
in 16th Century), Vasco-da-Gama. (10) Mae de Deus Church at Saligao.
C)
Christian Seminaries:
(1) Pilar Seminary —11 kms. from Panaji. (2) Rachol Seminary — 40 kms.
from Panaji, in Salcete Taluka. (3) Saligao Seminary —10 kms. from Panaji
in Bardez Taluka.
D)
Protestant: (Christian Methodist Church).
(1) Panaji: At Goa Medical College Chapel, services at 09.00 hrs. every
Sunday and on 3rd Sundays at 17.00 hrs. (2) Ponda: at the Chapel near Bus
Stand, at 18.00hrs. every Saturday. (3) At Hospicio de Clero Chapel, Margao at
17.00 hrs. on 1st Sunday's and on 3rd Sunday’s at 09.00 hrs.
20
Holy Communion service is held every 1st Saturday of the month at
Panajl, Ponda and Margao. The services are in English.
E)
Gurudwaras:
(1) Gurudwara Singh Sabha, Mangor Hill, Vasco-da-Gama. (2) Gurudwara
at Betim, Bardez.
F)
Mosques:
(1) Jama Masjid, Panaji. (2) Madina Masjid, Vasco-da-Gama. (3) Safa
Masjid, Ponda. (4) Namajah at Bichollm.
MISCELLANEOUS
Airlines:
(1) Air India, Hotel Fidalgo, Panaji, Tel.: 4081. (2) Indian Airlines, Dempo
Bldg., D. Bandodkar Marg, Panaji, Tel.: 3826, 3831, 4067, Gram: INDAIRLINE,
Telex: 0194-219. (3) Indian Airlines Dabolim Airport, Tel.: 2788. (4) Indian
Airlines Agents, Rau Raje Deshprabhu, Old Market, Margao, Gosalia Bldg.,
Tel.: 2477. Vasco-da-Gama, Tel.: 2403. Mapusa, Tel.: 2440. Panaji, Tel,: 5763,
Automobile Association:
W. I. A. A.: Tourist Hostel, Panaji.
Banks:
Nationalised and other banks have their branches in all the Important
towns in Goa.
Book Stalls:
Almost all the important hotels are having regular book shops. In addition
there are other establishments in the important towns and cities.
Bontiques:
(1) Boutique, Dr. Pandurang Pissurlekar Road, Panaji. (2) Fashion Fun,
Near Post Office. (3) Marlse, Opp. Police Headquarters. (4) M/s. Akbaralli
Habib Veljee. (5) Q. do Carmo Lobo, Hobbies Stamp, Notes and Coin Expert,
Near P. O. Altinho, (6) Auto Boutique, I. N. S. Hansa Road. Vasco da Gama.
Chemists:
All the cities, villages, and beaches have got regular chemist services
available.
Cinemas:
(1) Cine Samrat-Ashok, Panaji. Tel.: 5574. (2) Cine El-Dorado, Panaji
Tel.: 4927. (3) Cine National, Panaji, Tel.: 3854. (4) Cine Vasco da Gama,
Tel.: 2257. (5) El-Monte, Vasco da Gama, Tel.: 3399. (6) Cine Lata, Margao.
(7) Cine Metropole, Margao. (8) Cine Vishant, Margao, Tel.: 2088. (9) Cine
Alankar, Mapusa. (10) Cine Gulmarg, Rlbandar. (11) El-Capitan, Mapusa.
(12) Cine Prashant, Curchorem. (13) Cine Dattaraj Theatre, Pcrnem (14) Hira
Talkies, Bicholim.
O
Clubs:
There are service clubs in the territory which meet regularly in the
prominent hotels.
Conference Halls:
Panaji:
(1) Azad Gomantak Dal Memorial Hall, Tel.: 3808. (2) Goa Chamber of
Commerce and Industry, Tel.: 3420/4223. (3) Hotel Mandovi, Tel.: 4481 to 85.
(4) Institute Menezes Brazanza, Tel.: 4143. (5) Swami Vivekananda Hall, Junta
House, Tel.: 4098. (6) Tourist Hostel, Tel.: 3396. (7) Hotel Fidalgo, Tel.: 3320
to 3332.
Margao:
(1) Club Harmonia Hall. (2) Gomantak Vidya Niketan, Tel.: 2605. (3) Hotel
La Flor, Tel.: 3402. (4) Hotel Metropole, Tel.: 3556. (5) Kiran Hall, Tel.: 2208.
(6) M. C. C. Club, Rajendra Prasad Stadium, Tel.: 2531 (7) Municipal Hall,
Tel.: 2122. (8) Woodlands, Tel.: 3121 (5 lines).
Mapusa:
(1) Laximibai Tar Memorial Hall. (2) Sirsat Lodge, Tel.: 2419. (3) St.
Andrew’s Fclicidadc Hall. (4) Tourist Hostel, Mapusa, Tel.: 2794.
Vasco da Gama:
(1) Hotel La Paz, Tel.: 2121. (2) Hotel Zuari, Tel.: 2127 (3) Tourist
Hostel, Tel.: 2673, 3119.
Sinquerim:
(1) Fort Aguada Beach Resort, Tel.: 4401.
Garages:
PanaJi:
(1) Auto Park Sirvoikar, St. Inez, Tel.: 5076. (2) B. N. Thakur, Garage
(Fiat), Tel.: 3252/3251. (3) Garage Matmo, Dada Vaidya Road, Tel.: 3113.
(4) Mandovl Motors (Agent for Volks Wagon), Tonca, Tel.: 3107. (5) Angle
Auto Centre, Dr. Shigaonkar Road, Tel.: 4381.
Jlaryao:
(1) Narcinva D. Naik, Tel.: 3143. (2) Virgincar & Sons, Tel.: 2771.
(3) Jose Francisco Dos Santos, P. B. No. 211, Vidyanagar, Tel.: 2659.
Vasco da Gama:
(1) Auto Service (Ambassador), Tel.: 2421, 2422.
(2) Kamat Garage, Baina.
(3) Goa Automotive, P. O. Box 190, F. L. Gomes Road (Matador),
Tel.: 2339, 2422.
Guido Services:
Services of trained guides are available on request to Directorate of
Tounsm, Government of Goa, Daman and Diu, Tourist Home, Patto,
Panaji, Tel.: 5583, 5715.
Charges:
No. ot Persons
Type of assignment
Half day
Upto 4 persons
Rs.35/5 to 15 persons
Rs.50/15 and above to the maximum of -<0 persons
(Thereafter Rs. 1/- por additional
person) Rs.65/In addition to above, a guide is also entitled to:
Full day
Rs. 50/Rs. 65/Rs. 80/-
(1) Payment of Rs. 15/- only as lunch charges in case 2 hrs. break
for lunch is not given at the Head Quarters or the lunch is not paid for.
(2) Transport charges such as taxi/bus and rail fares (first class) or
other incidentals. (3) In case a guide has to stay overnight outside the
Head Quarters, party engaging him should make suitable arrangements
or meet expenses on board and lodge or pay a sum of Rs. 15/- per night.
Hair Dressers:
Hm/n HeleDn Hair Dressers- Near Post Office, Panaji, Tel.: 4149. (2) Mag’s
TtniM!
TS' Opp’ Azad Maidan, Panaii. (3) Janata Hair Dessers, Marchon
ng, Margao. (4) Rene’s Hair Dressers, Luis Miranda Road, Margao.
(5) Ruth Hair Dressers, Borda, Margao. (6) Sarita Hair Dressers, Margao.
(7) Monalisa Beauty Parlour, C/o Hotel Metropole, Margao. (8) Hair Dresser,
Tourist Hostel, Mapusa Tel.: 2794. (9) Marina Hair Dressers, Tourist Hostel,
Vasco da Gama.
Handicrafts Emporium:
At all Major towns of Panaji, Vasco, Margao etc.
Information Centres:
(1) Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, Daman and Diu Tourist
Home, Patto, Panaji, Tel.: 5583. (2) Tourist Information Bureau, Government
of Maharashtra, Tourist Hostel, Panaji, Tel.: 3572. (3) Tourist Information
Centre, Government of Karnataka, Velho Bld., Panaji, Tel.: 4110. (4) Tourist
Information Centre, Government of Goa, Daman and Diu, Municipal Bldg.,
Margao, Tel.: 2513/3766 (5) Tourist Information Centre, Government of Goa,
Daman and Diu Vasco da Gama, Tel.: 2673/3119. (6) Tourist Information
Centre, Dabolim Airport, Tel.: 2644. (7) Tourist Information Counter, Govern
ment of Goa, Daman and Diu, Western Railway Station, Bombay Central
Tel.: 396288. (8) Tourist Information Centre, Government of Goa, Daman and
Diu, Marine House, Diu. (9) Tourist Information Centre, Government of Goa,
Daman and Diu, Near Jetty, Nani Daman, Tel. 514. (10) Tourist Information
Centre, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Panaji. (11) Government of India
Tourist Office, Church Square, Panaji, Tel.: 3412. (12) Tourist Information
Counter, Government of Goa, Daman and Diu, Stall No. 5, Kadamba Bus Stand,
Panaji. Tel. 5620. (13) Information Centre, Department of Information KTC
Bus Stand, Stall No. 6, Panaji-Goa.
TRAVEL AGENTS/TOUR OPERATORS/G. S. As
(1) Aero Mundial Ltd., Panaji, Tel.: 4831/3773/3559, Telex: 0194-250.
(2) Chowgule Brothers, Opp. Captain of Ports, Panaji, Tel.: 5266, (agents for
B.O.A.C.), Telex: 0194 237. (3) Jet —Air Transportation Pvt. Ltd., GSA for
AIR FRANCE, GULF AIR, BANGLADESHBIMAN, British Caledonian Air
ways, Philippine Airlines), Opp. Municipal Park, Panaji. Tel.: 3891, Telex:
194-278, Gram: JET AIR. (4) Goa Tours, 2-May Fair, Dada Vaidya Road,
Panaji. Tel.: 3277, 3278, 5195. Telex: 192-265 (llnkin). (5) Menezes Air Travel,
Rua de Ourem, Panaji. Tel.: 3264 Grams: COSMEX — GOA. Telex: 194-251,
MENZ-IN. (6) National Travel Service, (GSA for KUWAIT AIRWAYS
CORP), Hotel Fidalgo, Room No. 121, 18th June Road, Panaji — Goa, Tel.: 3321
to 3329. Telex: 194-278, GRAMS: AIRKUWAIT. (7) Trade Wings Ltd., 6,
Mascarenhas Bldg., Afonso de Albuquerque Road, Panaji. Tel.: 4235/5178/4930.
Gram: TRADEWINGS, Telex: PJ-0194-202. (8) Thakkers Travel Service,
Thakker House, Vasco da Gama, Tel.: 2362, Gram: THAKKERSERV (for
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Indonesian Airways). (9) V. S. Dempo & Co. Ltd.,
24
Custom Wharf, Panaji, Tel,: 3842, Gram: AIRTRADE. (10) Space Ways Tra
vels, Xavier Villa, Near Football ground, Calangute. (GSA Airlines, LOT,
Police Air Lines).
Tour Operators:
Goa, Daman and Diu Tourism Development Corporation organises sight
seeing tours within and outside the territory from Panaji, Mapusa, Calangute,
Margao and Vasco. In addition to this there are number of agencies organising
tours within Goa and outside.
Libraries:
(1) Central Library, Panaji. (2) Centro de Cultura Latina, Panaji (3) Mahalaxmi Hindu Vachan Mandir, Panaji. (4) Maharashtra Information Centre,
Panaji. (5) Saraswatl Vachan Mandir, Panaji. (6) Gomantak Vidya Niketan,
Margao. (7) Municipal Library, Margao. (8) Municipal Library, Mapusa. (9)
Janata Vachanalaya, Vasco da Gama. (10) Municipal Library, Vasco da Gama.
Music/Gen. Stores:
(1) Pedro Fernandes & Cia, Near Post Office, Panaji (Branch at Margao).
(2) New Music Art, Near Govinda Bldg., Panaji. (3) Paiva Music Centre,
General Bernard Guedes Road, Panaji. (4) Jacques Musical Stores, Vasco da
Gama. (5) Mayekar Stores, Shop No. 68, Municipal Market Mapusa. Wholesaler
and retailer in Cashew nuts/liquors.
Post Offices:
(1) Head Post Office, Panaji, Tel.: 3704. (2) Sub Post Office: Margao,
Vasco da Gama, Tel.: 2264, Calangute and Colva etc.
Prohibition:
No Prohibition.
Shiker Outfitters: — Nil.
Shipping Agents:
There are number of Shipping Companies in Goa accepting Cargo/goods
for any part of the world.
b vurgu/guuuo
Restaurants and Cafes:
All the major towns in Goa like Panaii
and important beaches are having good vegeUrian/no^-vegetar^nTsUurants"
Sports and Recreation:
(1) Goa Bridge Association, C/o Club Tennis
Panaji-Goa. (2) Golf —Nil. (3) Hiking — Goa Damn
elation, 6 Anand Niwas Swami Vlvekananda Road p “
elation, P. O. Box 33, Panaji - Goa
3^61 ’
2nd Floor, Ghanekar Building Jose Falcao Road,
DlaS’ Miramar’
"
ASS°’
ASS0’
(INDIA)’
LOCATIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
Bus Stand, Terminus
Directorate of Tourism
Steamer Jetty
Martyr’s Memorial
Indian Airlines
Air India
General Post Office
Historical Archives
Secretariat
Tourist Hostel
Immaculate Conception Church
All India Radio
Patriarch Palace
Municipal Garden
Museum
Circuit House
Cine Samrat/Ashok Theatre
Police Station
Central Library
Medical College/Hospital
Cine National (Cinema House)
Jamma Masjid
Cine El Dorado (Cinema House)
Maruti Temple
State Bank of India
Mahalaxmi Temple
Youth Hostel, Miramar
Miramar Beach
Indoor Stadium
Junta House (Passport Office)
Kala Academy Theatre
Municipal Market
ROADS
R 1 — 18th June Road.
R 2 — Afonso de Albuquerque Road.
R 3 — Antao de Noronha Road.
r 4 — Cunha Rivara Road
R 5 — Dr. Dada Vaidya Road.
R 6 — Dayanand Bandodkar Road.
R 7 — Dr. Atmarama Borkar Road.
R 8 — Dr. Pisurlenkar Road.
r 9 — Dr. P. Shirodkar Road.
R 10 — Gen. Bernard Guedes Road.
R11 — Gen. Costa Alvares Road.
R 12 — Heliodoro Salgado Road.
r 13 — Swami Vivekanand Road.
DeSGoveXdJl,trOoS Bn1”6 De*ar“ Information and.Publicity,
and PrintedTt?he ^r^eTp^t D,V°r DePartment °f Tourism
vmvernment Printing Press,Panaji, Goa-J, 50000-8/1984
There's
this window
in your mind
Open it to gather the silver off the surf, the honey gold scattered on the sands, the earthy reds of the churches,
the saffron and the white of the temples.
Take in incredible sunrises and sunsets that tinge the sky into a palette with all shades of scarlet.
Touch the crowds surging around the festive floats, the mela stalls, the weekly bazaars, the ferry landings.
Or, find yourself an isle of peace in the green heart of a mango grove orTTpaddy field.
Discover your pwn Goa. May you never lose i..
Important information
Climate: Summer 24°C-32.7°C
Winter 21.3°C-32.2°C
Rainfall 350 cm (June—Sept.)
Tropical clothing throughout the
year. Light woollens in
December- January.
Languages English, Portuguese, Hindi, Marathi
spoken : and Konkani.
Transport & Communications
Dabolim
Goa is connected by IA flights from
Bombay, Belgaum and Bangalore.
Air India, Hotel Fidalgo, Panaji.
Tel: 4081.
£
Indian Airlines, Dempo Building,
D. Bandodkar Marg, Panaji.
Tel: 3826, 3831, 4067.
Indian Airlines, Dabolim Airport,
Tel: 2788.
Indian Airlines Agents, Rau Raje
Deshprabhu, Old Market, Margao,
Tel: 2477. Vasco da Gama, Tel: 2403.
Mapusa, Tel: 2440. Panaji, Tel: 5763.
Rail : Connected by metre-gauge line with
Londa junction on Miraj-Bangalore
line. Station: Vasco da Gama.
Sea : M/s. Mogul Lines, sailing during
September to May, subject to the
weather conditions. Resv. at
M/s. V.S. Dempo & Co., Opp. Customs
Wharf, Panaji. Tel: 3842.
Road : Connected by road with all the major
towns in India.
Busdepots: Panaji, Margao, Vasco da Gama,
Ponda, Mapusa.
Hotels : To suit all budgets from Rs.5/®
a day to 5-star luxury.
Tourist Please contact Department of
homes : Tourism,Government of Goa,
Daman & Diu,Tourist Home, Patto,
■Panaji, Tel: 5583.
Conducted For details, please contact
Tours : Booking Counters, Tourist Home,
Patto, Panaji, Tel: 5583 or
Tourist Hostel, Panaji, Tel: 3396
Shopping : Pottery, brass vessels and artifacts,
coir articles.
Airport :
Airlines :
Designed and printed by Everest Advertising Pvt. Ltd.,Bombay.
Published by Goa, Daman and Diu Tourism Development
Corporation Ltd., Panaji (Goa) for Department of Tourism,
Government of Goa, Daman and Diu.
Information on Goa/Goans.
I wish to congratulate the writers on the above in the K.G.A.
Newsletters, and whilst hoping for still more such writings would
suggest to our youth the following books on Goan history, contain
ing during exploits of conquests at Masangano, Mozambique and
other past Portuguese outposts in Africa and Asia, besides the
crucial part played by Capt. Pinto for Maharattas in their final
battle against the English, army and navy commanders, the disco
very of Northern Australia before the Dutch, scientist (opthalmist)
Gama Pinto, discoverer of hypnotism Abe Faria from Candolim who
partook in the Napoleonic Revolution, literalists like Francisco
Luis Gomes and Prof. Correia Afonso, adminis'rators, ministers,
governors and ambassodors like Bernardo Peres de Silva, Bentecourt Rodriques — candidate for President’s post hi Portugal,
authors of Konkani like Mons. Dalgado, Bishops and Missionaries
abroad like Ven. Fr. Jose Vaz, etc. following the footsteps of Goa’s
Patron Saint Francis Xavier who still reminds us of our missionary
past. About 700 years back we were a self ruling Kadamba Kingdom
with our last king Jaikeshi II with capital at Chandor, betrayed by
his brother to Capt. Ibo Batuta (Arab) before the arrival of Mohamedan rule, and including even territories beyond the Ghats around
Belgaum. Old Goa has the richest Mosque in the East. Goa was
the Emporium of the East, where all nationalities were attracted for
trade, with outpost at Ormuz and Malacca, its missionary influence
covering as far as Cape Town and Shangai, and Mons. Rodolfo
Aquaviva S.J, Martyr of Cuncolim was a choice of great respect in
Akbar’s Court for many years. What was a Great Metropolis and
Rome of the East fell gradually, to be later in a status of ultramarine
Province and Estado de India viv-a-vis a mere Territory today
even behind the Tribal states of North India, and in spite of its
boosting the Rupee with its tremendous mineral wealth perhaps more
than industrial Bombay the youth has to emigrate for various rea
sons, lamenting perhaps the Glorious Past.
Whilst Bihar in the North is regarded as the worst crime state
it would have appeared in the press lately Goa as the worst bur
glary state; but how come the change so soon? And what ahead!
The vulgarities of Carnival! Goa in a Mask.
4
Yours faithfully,
......................................
Sd: P. Cardozo.
BOOKS ON GOA HISTORY
1)
2)
3)
‘4)
Medieval Goa by Fr. Theotonio De Soza, S.J.
History of Goa by Fr. Claude Saldanha, S.J.
Eminent Goans by Dr. Peregrino D’Costa
History of Goa by Prof. G. Moraes.
ARTICLES
■' In this newsletter we are reproducing a very interesting and
nostalgic article written by one of our Goans residing in Toronto,
Canada. We would like the members to emulate writer’s love
of Goa, and bring out similar articles of their -own villages in Goa,
so that the younger generation which has been out of touch with
their homeland, becomes aware of their rich customs, traditions
prevailing, and heritage and are proud of the same".
SALIGAO OUR VILLAGE HOME
Saligao always exudes a warmth and friendliness which the
passage of time has not disturbed. In this litle village which is
ajjput 3170 hectares; and has a population of just over 4264, are
households, and in them lived our ancestors. It is one of
nine vilages which forms Bardez and lies to the north of Goa.
Goa itself is a pin-point on the map of India; for it is just
3806 square km. in area, and at its longest point is 105 km. and
in width 90 km. Compared to our present home, this is small; but
it is unique, and Saligao which is HOME to us, is even more so.
There is some doubt as to the origin of its name —- some
believe it comes from ‘sal’ a tree, like teak, which grew in a parti
cular part of the village called ‘Soliem’. Others think it might
have been called from ‘sal’, which is a type of rice grown in many
villages. The third origin from ‘shala’ which means school; and we
have had quite a few of them! One derivation we are sure of is
‘goan’ for that means village.
Well, who are we? This quest for identity hits us some time
of our lives. I have tried to collate as much material, as I could,
and wish to share it with you, for it might fire a longing to visit
Saligao some day.
We are of an Aryan stock called “Goud Saraswats’” who
moved from Northern India in turn pushing down south, the orij^^l Dravidians to whom the land belonged. Some of these people
are still found in Saligao and they live quite close to the church.
Being of Indian origin, we were Hindus; but accepted Catholicism
when the Portuguese conquered Goa at the beginning of the six
teenth century.
Bardez was handed over to the Franciscan missionaries as their
mission field, and the friars went about baptising. It was by no
means an easy transition for the Hindu philosophy was well steeped
in our forefathers; and only because of a better livelihood, some
consented to accept Christianity, and changed their Hindu names to
Christian ones; taking on Portuguese family names from their sponsrs. who acted as god-parents. These were mass baptisms with whole
•
7
families taking on a similar Portuguese name such as DeSouza or
Fernandes and that is how most of Saligao became Catholic. It is
possible to trace back and to arrive at one’s Hindu name from good
records which have ben maintained, and are still available in
Mapuca.
Why did this happen? Well, jobs were given to Catholics and
it is sad to say that those who did not change their religion did
the menial jobs — I remember hearing my grandmother being add
ressed as 'bhatkani’ and I was called bai’. Did we take advantage?
We probably did, but as New Canadians slipping into a Western
way of life and sharing Christian beliefs has made adjustment easier.
Till 1873 the people of Saligao were affiliated to the Church
at Nagoa and had only small chapels in the village itself, but a^^
that year the beautiful gothic structure was put up and today it is
a landmark. The statue that stands in grandeur in the church was
donated from the Mae de Deus church in Daugim, near old Goa
when it was dismantled. It was the time of the malaria epidemic
which destroyed the land around Old Goa and the contents of the
church were distributed to other villages.
It is an exquistite piece of art chisselled by a Goan craftsman
and beautifully painted. It was brought in great solemnity to Saligao
and installed in a prominent place — many have prayed before it
for. it is said to be miraculous.
For this reason we, Saligaonkars gather together each year on
the first Sunday in May, and believe me it is our turn now, for
the twenty-four hours of that Sunday in some part of the world
there is a gathering of community.
Ten days before the feast on a Thursday is the ‘fama’ which
is the announcement of the forthcoming festivities. The ‘gonals’
are fired after the angelus bell at noon. Thereafter for nine days
consecutively the 'salves’ are held. There is feverish activity in the
church, both religious and social, from then on leading to a cidh
cendo on the feast day. Each day is allocated to a diferent partW
the village; and each vies with the other to compete in the deco
ration of both the interior and exterior of the church. On the day
before the feast is the vespers’. Each evening there is a fireworks
display, music and sale of food.
The feast day of course is the special day and the High Mass
and Procession are solemn. Every family prepares a special meal—
the squeals of the pigs going to the slaughter fill the air for days.
The elders distribute monetary gifts to the children of the family,
which is spending money for the fair, that travels to the village
that day. The vendors are both Hindu and Christian.
8
Village life is centered round the church bell; for it'acts like
the daily bulletin announcing the angelus, the joyous events like
weddings and the sad times when death occurs when the melancholy
chime is like a dirge.
The Saligaonkars are very conscious of education, and people
from all over Goa have studied in the Mater Dei school and the
Lourdes Convent, but even before that, there have been private
schools, from where famous men and women got their beginnings.
These names are recorded in the village diary, I am sure, and I bet
that some of yours will be added to it. So be it.
As can be seen from those of us around, we have certainly
come a long way from our humble beginnings of life in a Village.
Jjfc cannot, however, discount the sacrifices, nurturing, and help
Wm our ancestors. We are now in the midst of a country where
materialism appears to be the centre of life. Are we to forget bur
simple ancestors, who ingrained religion, with an honesty of pur
pose, into us at an early age — and cling to material possession?
Are we going to take on the mere trappings of a Western life —with fine houses, flashy cars and great possessions, and replace our
well known endowments of honesty, integrity and hard work for
mere ‘Bucks’, loss of religious fervour, marriage breakdown' and
loneliness! Only our young men and women can answer this ques
tion . Go out into the world with heads held high- —> and God be
with you all.
NOTICE—I
ELECTION OF YOUTH MEMBER
TO
THE EIGHTH MANAGING COMMITTEE,
KARNATAKA GOAN ASSOCIATION, BANGALORE
To,
All KGA Youth,
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the KGA
^touth will be held at 5-30 p.m. on 20th June 1982, at Rajendra
Wnjhi Institute Mahatma Gandhi Road (opposite Utility Building),
Bangalore, to transact the following business
Agenda
I.
To receive and adopt the report of the Youth Sub Com
mittee, for the year 1981-1982.
2.
To elect Youth Member to the Eighth Managing Com
mittee, Karnataka Goan Association, Bangalore.
Note :
1. All Youth between the age of 18 and 28 years Who are
financially dependant on the KGA Member, or is a member of the
Association in his own right, and Associate Student Members will
9
be eligible to vote. They will be issued with ballot papers'by the
Committee on arrival; provided that the KGA membership of their
parents or their own has not lapsed, due to non payment of sub
scriptions. Electoral Roll of all those who are eligible to vote at
the elections is available for scrutiny with Mr. Thomas Viegas,
Treasurer KGA, at the Catholic Club, Museum Road, Bangalore,
Youth are advised to check the roll for its correctness.
2. Youth elected to the Managing Committee if not already
a member, will have to enroll himself as full fledged member before
the General Body Meeting which will be held on 25th July, 1982.
3.
Youth Member elected will form his Sub Committee, and
will introduce the members selected by him to the Eighth Managing
Committee after it is elected,
sd—
(Amir Barreto)
Hony Secretary
Karnataka Goan Association, Bangalore
NOTICE—Il
AIR SERVICE TO GOA
We have been informed by the Indian Airlines authorities that
they have introduced a Boeing 737 service betwen Bangalore - Goa
with effect from 1st June, 1982. The Air Service Schedule will be
as follows
(Avro)
Tues, Thurs and'Sat ... Dep Bangalore ... 1-10 pm direct
... Arr Dabolim . . . 2-45 pm
... Dep Dabolim ... 3-10 pm
via
... Arr Bangalore . . . 5-40 pm Belgaum
Fri and Sun (Boeing 737) Dep Bangalore... 7-30 am
>
Arr Dabolim . . . 8-15 am
■'
'
Dep Dabolim . .. 8-50 am direct
Arr Bangalore. . . 9t45 am
BOOK-POST
if under I Ivar ed please return to :
Hon. Secretary, KGA
Flat E I, Sth Floor, 30 Norris Road, Richmond Town Bangalore-560 025
Published by the Managing Committee, KGA, Bangalore.
Mr. J.A. Barreto,
Printed at :
Pauline Press 44, Ulsoor Road, Bangalore-42. Ph: 50246
MINING
WHAT
( A
IS
HAPPENING
TO
THE
WORKERS?
Scholar talks to a mine worker )
GOA.
AUGUST - 1931
WHAT’S IN THIS BOOK AND WHERE:
...
•••
2
♦•■
8
...
4 •«
13
...
...
...
19
5. WHY DON’T WE HAVE AN IRON PLANT? &
What about the Future of Mining
...
...
...
23
6. HOW BIG IS MINING? - Mining as
Goa1 s Back-Bone .
...
...
...
31
...
36
1 . STUDY MINING - What For?
•••
2. HOW IT STARTED? - The Fortugueso
Days.
...
3. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? Production
Rises and Workers Fall?
...
4. WHERE’S THE ORE? - Mineral
Deposits of Goa.
7. WHY WRITE THIS BOOK?
...
3. MINING: KILLING NATURE.
...
...
...
39
9. WORK & WORKING CONDITIONS.
....
...
...
43
10. UNIONS- WORKERS STRENGTH.
...
...
...
48
11. WHAT IS CESS? & What doeo it do?
...
...
...
52
...
...
65
...
. ..
67-7
12. AFTER ALL THIS - What do We do Now?
• ..
13. TABLES.
000O000
2 -I
1-
«STUDY.MIHI2JG!
■■ V.'H-IT FOR?'
EX ££ tt ~ — £2 55 S3 » S3 SS C3 EX t= ~ S
03 C! ZB K3 «
R* T suppose y-u ^ord,
The Ohowgule’s Pelletisation
plant is going to cloeo.
i'oor chape,
The workers have no
they will have to leave Bale,
choice in these matters.
I suppose that
After 15 years of working
for a big company, you take what you get, and go away.
Scholar ;
Worker
:
What do you all intend doing about it?
What can we do?
Their management and union will have
to do something.
We have a different union,
It is
for their union to decide.
Scholar :
Worker
:
But don’t you think you should support them?
What support can we give?
After all they belong to
another company.
And these mine owners, all of them,
do the same thing.
They open a mine vdien they want
and close it when they want,
do it.
Ho bod,y knows why t?iey
We do not know their
But the '-orkers suffer.
But we know the problems they cause the
problems.
workers.
Scholar :
But if you knew their problems, would it be of help
to you?
Works r
;
I mean if you studied the problems of mining?
We are only workers on the mines.
work, get our wagos.
We do oui’ day’s
If we have a problem we co to
the unions or try to settle it with the management by
ourselves,
Then why should wo break our heads trying
to study the mining industry.
We are not tho owners
of the mines or the management.
Studying the mining
3
industry or its problems is the bus! ns so of the
management .
Scholar
Well, the minins industry ie like a farm.
If we are
working on a farm and the trees in our farm are in
good heal th then we can demand a just wage and be euro
of our future employment.
If the trees are giving
small quantities and poor quality fruit, then our
wages will be low.
If our trees arc- in very bad
condition and Bay die anytime, then we will lose pur
jobs.
If we say that looking after the trees ie the
•bhatkar’s" business it could be dangerous.
If all
the trees die, then the bhatkar can sell the trees
for fire wood and sell his land and live off the in
terest he gets on the money.
But what about us?
We
will lose our jobs and wo do not have big money that
brings us interest.
So, we have to ma.e sure that th«. trees are in good
health.
We have to force t e bhatkar to apply the
necessary fertiliser and use the medicines to kill the
insects which destroy the trees.
Because if the trees
If the
are in good health then we are in good health.
trees die then we die with them.
True, the mines are owned by the mine owners according
to the law.
But actually they belong to us all because
our livelihood depends on them.
suffers, we suffer.
closed.
If the industxy
See Bale pelletisation plant is
Who suffered?
170 workers suffered.
...4/-
They
4 -s
lost their jobs.
The plant belonged to Chowgules,
and the workers aro on the street.
Worker
:
Scholar :
But what can we do about such problems?
Birst we have to see the problem and understand it,
then we con work out some solutions and force the
management to accept our demands.
there for otherwise?
’.That are unions
If the roads on the mines are
very bad the drivers stop their trucks and force
the management to repair the roads, don’t they?
That is because they know the problems and they know
the solutions.
So knowing our problems is the first
step <
Worker
:
But the mining industry is not like a tree, it ie so
big and so complicated.
Some people call it the
BACK-BONI; of Goa, because of the money it brings in.
Other people call it the BLACK-BOMB of Goa, because
of the black money the managers end w'neowners make
in exports.
How could a simple head like mine undsre.
tan! these problems?
Scholar :
The mining industry is big and complicated, but your
head is not so simple. You do know about the tricky
ways in which the managers make black money.
So
even if the industry ie big end complicated we can.
understand it’s tricks. You can.
be a few difficulties.
a long book.
Of course there will
One is reading.
This is quite
And reading like any other work is a
matter of habit.
Just like you took a lot of time
to get used to your present work, reading is going
5 -J
to be a bit difficult, to begin with*
There are
also some big numbers and big words, in keeping with
the size of the Industi , but I shall
ry to make
them as simple as possible«
worker
:
But how big is the industry, how much noeay do the
nineownars make with the exports?
Scholar :
Could you tell
There is a lot of money in the industry.
Big money.
For example, the exports last year i.e. in the
year April 1980 to March 1981 were over 12 million
tonnes in iron ore pellets, fines and lumpy.
million means 120 lakhs of tonnes.
12
This, amount of
ore can fill up 24,000 barges of 500 tonnes each or
43 lakhs Terex dumpers ( 25 tonnes each dumper).
Money wise this ore was worth sore than 160 crores
or 1600 million rupees!
money.
Worker
:
This is a very large sum of
We cannot even imagine it.
And all this ore was produced by the workers in Goa!
How many workers are there?
Scholar :
There were about 6,000 workers on the mines and of
course there are others who are required:
service
contract drivers, barge crew, port workers.
These
people are said to be ‘indirectly employed’ in the
mining industry because they do not work on the
mines but their livelihood depends on the mining
industry.
Thue in Goa it is said that about 22,000
workers are employed indirectly in mining.
...6/-
t- 6 -t
Worker
t
How do you coma to know all those numbers?
Do
you get them from the management?
Scheier x
No.
Management does not give muoh information,
especially about money matters.
secret.
They keep it a
Such information is available with the
Government offices such as Hax*magoa Port Tznist,
labour Commissioner, etc.
Worker
x
Then, this information oannot be correct.
If you
say that the value of iron ore exports is over 160
crores, it must be actually muoh. more than 300
150 crores ’black*.
50$ to mine owners and
50$ to Government officers.
The Government officers
crores.
and the mine owners are all one.
If the mine-owner
gives the officers of the Government 10 rupees then
the officer will show 100 rupees worth ore as Rs.50
only.
Scholar x
There is no use of studying such figures.
Well, you are right in a way.
Everybody knows that
there la a lot of *b_.aak* in the mining industry and
no-body knows how much ’black* there is.
But my
point is, if we want to know how much money is going
under the table, thon we first have to study how much
money is going on top of the table.
Once we know
what is going on top, then we can try and guess what
is going on down.
Worker
:
Do you agree?
I’m not sure of that.
The mine owners are very emart
You will never come to know what is going ’under-hand
But how did these mine owners become lakh-pa this and
croro-pathis .
I hear that Chowgule’s father used to
be a rather poor man,
on
But look at Chowgule, he is
of the biggest industrialists in India.
he has now bought half of Gujrat.
They say
He must have been
blessed by the Gods.
Scholar :
I do not know about what the Gods have given Chowgule
or any other mine owner.
But I do know that he cer«
tainly grew big with the mines.
As mining production
increased the Chowgule’s profit increased; and he
has become a very wealthy man today.
Worker
:
Scholar :
I see.
And how did the mining profit become so much?
As the mining production increased the profits
increased.
Worker
:
But how could production increase
Oh that is obvious.
so much?
Scholar :
:
.
;Worker
:
Production increased because big * handling machinery*
•.was brought..
That is also obvious.
But the question is how such
small mine owners could become so big and organise sue
a big and profitable industry.
I suppose all that is
very complicated and we will never understand it. It i
a matter of luck.
Scholar :
The mine owners were lucky.
Perhaps these mine—owners were lucky.
We don’t know.
But what we can study is how a small mining industry
became so big.
Worker
t
Scholar j
How?
We will have to study how the industry started in the
. past and how it grow.
Worker
:
O.K.
...8/-
8
2~ raan
°HOW
12 STARTED"
==>=t =ss: = «sssisiassat“=:
The
Scholar :
Portuguese
Days:
It seems that in the -Iden days all 'he iron was
made in Goa. and. the iron, ore for this iron taken
from the mines in Goa.
These miners and iron-makers
wars from Havelim village in Salcete.
Worker
t
Scholar :
How long ago was this?
I don’t know.
Must be very long ago, may be hund
reds of years ago»
Worker
:
Scholar $
Hov? do you know this?
This is written by a scholar in a book called
’Etonografia da India Portaguasa’,
Worker
:
If they could make iron in Goa before, then why can’t
Why do we have to send the ore to
they do it now?
Japan?
What was the production in those days and
how did they make the iron?
What does the Portu
guese book say?
Scholar :
I don’t know.
I did not read the book.
Only a smell
part of the book I found in another Portuguese book
called ’Goa e as praeas do norte*.
This second book
did not say anything more about the old days.
Worker
:
Scholar :
Oh.
But your question about why we do not make iron in
Goa today is interesting.
We can discuss it later.
But first let us see how production has reached to
this high level.
Worker
:
O.K.
Scholar j
German experts did some ’prospecting*work
in this century*
early
But -the first world was came in
1914 and the work was stopped.
Worker
s
Scholar t
Then when did it start again?
In 1941, 51 tomes of ore was exported.
The ore
was carried by carts from the mines to the riverside*
Worker
5
Yes I have heard of this from our elders:
They said
that in those days there was no machinery end all
the ore was taken out by digging.
Tha Gaudda
people from Salcote used to do this work.
were no trucks, etc.
There
The 'sorting’ of the ore was
done by their women folk, and the carts would carry
this ore to the country craft which would take the
ore to Marmagon.
All the workers used to be under contractors end they
had to work 10 to 12 hours per day.
Bach mine had.
upto 5000 workers, and their housing was very bad.
Scholar :
Worker
How do you know all this?
Well, My uncle u jd to be a con factor, and it was
through his influence I got thia job.
Now of course
there are no contractors and he is running a shop
in Usgao.
Scholar :
Oh.
Any way.
5200 tonnes.
And by 1946-47 production reached
The Portuguese Government gave a free
hand to the mine-owners.
There were no labour
officers, safety-inspectors and no Unions.
Worker
»
Without the unions the workers must have had a very
hard time in those days.
Not that we are much
...10/-
10 -i
bettor off now.
But those people were certainly
much worse off before»
But what was the production
tonnag® by the time the Porwgubse left?
Scholar ;
let me See.,.. It was over 6 million tonnes in the
year 1960-51.
Works r
t
Government figures?
Scholar $
Tas,
Work®?
May not b® correct,
j
Because my unole told me that
th era wore some mine ownera who used to rob ore
without informing the Government.
Scholar t
I do not know about this.
Perhaps.
No books bring
those thing®.
Worker
i
But 6 million tomes io a very big number.
How many
workers must have been there to produce this?
Scholar :
But by then trucks and barges had started coming.
Shis machinety and some handling machinery started
arriving in the 5’J S*
Sb about . 2,000 workers were
working on the mines.
Plus those indirectly employed
I
Worker
:
could not find out how many.
32,000 workers!
of ore.
and they produced 6 million tonnese
But you said that there are about 6,000
workers and they are producing over 12 million tonnes
of ore today.
I euppose it is all because of
machinery.
Scholar i
Yes.
a^flf the readers want to know how much ore was ex
ported from Goa in each year from 46-47 to 60-61 ,
they may eoe page 68 of thia book
•
£/
IWbrkar
J
11 “t
But how did 6 million become 12 million and
32000 become 6000 in just 20 years?
Scholar ’
That we shall die use,.,.,
DIAGRAM SHOWING NUMBER Of WORKERS EMftOXfO
TO PRODUCE IRON ORE [lUMP/ FINES] PELLETS >8 MANGANESE ORE
?>ltOOO WORKERS
A A Z& A ,£k Z?k
Key ~
Jfl 1000 WORKERS (MEH «- vJCMEn ON IRON
ORE .MONGRnESE MINIS)IOOO IRON or£,mC-n vjorkcrs
§
A.
A jfe.
1000 IRON ORX, v*0MEn workers
&.
too MRNGRNtSE MINE , HEN vJORKERS-
I77Q-7I
HW HH;
HHHHHH
/£&> ZBk
JL
Exports
production
O
100 MRNGRNESE mine , WOMEN
VJ.ORKERS ■
I MILLION Tonnes OF IRON ORE (.Lumpy or Fines) I million tonnes oF Lumpy IRON
0Re •
-liZS^ZS
I MILLION TONNbS OF IRON ORE
Fines-
I MILLION tonnes of PELLETS-
Z&AAAAAA.AAAZExports
X_
production
m±x3o.
I LflKH TONNES OF MRNGRNESE ONO FERRO MftNGftNESE ORE•
"HOW DID THIS HAPPEN" ?
3-
■a a—=x a a •= a: st a= = al sx a> a s M st
PRODUCTION RISES AND WORKERS
FALL ?
tonnes become 12 million
6 million
tomea
. & il 2
32,000 wprke.rs become 6OOC workers
(From 1960 to 1930)
Scholar j
In the early 60’s the handling machinery started
coming.
Worker
:
Yes, I remember this.
then.
I was working as a greaser
One Marion Showel? arrived at the mine some
time around then.
Scholar t
And as this machinery started coming workers started
losing their jobs.
In fact by 1965 a little more
than 6 million tonnes were produced by 12000 workers
only.
Instead of the 6 million tonnes by 32,000
workers, in 1960.
See the first two lines of the
diagram on the left side.
Worker
:
In fact in ’67 v en they starte’ giving ’fixed letters'
e.
i.
making us permanent I was not given a letter. ,
But I had already learnt driving as a greaser and with
the help of my uncle who knew the manager very well,
I
was taken on training as a driver after being idle
for six months.
The mukhadoms, etc., were mostly
given ’fixed letters’.
But the poor people from
the Gaudda Samaj were sacked.
They had worked honestlj
and sweated ’blood* on the mines, but no letter was
given to them.
In fact I can tell you this much that
the contractors and the company often got together
and cheated the workers,
Shoee.workers could not
even, read■ •’..sad write. ■
Scholar i
And very xew.svww*-B wuo had managed to learn
driving or had some very good influence with the
management got jobs.
Worker
:
But the production is still 6 million tonnes in
1965, when did it start rising?
Scholar :
It oust be around 1968 when the mine owners stiirted
importing large sised ’handling machinexy’.
The
demand for iron ore started increasing and production
was increased to meet this demand.
machinery required very few workers.
But this new
So even though
more than 15 million tonn.ee were produced in
1975
oaly 7000 workers Wei’s employed.*1 See the diagram ca
page 1 2.
Worker
:
Scholar :
I can see this from the third line of your drawing.
£ nee this big e'aed handling•machi
One more thing.
nery cost a lot of money, only the big mine owners
could buy it.
So a lot of small mine owners had to
go out of business.
Worker
:
I can also tell you that women workers who must
have been in thousands at the time of liberation
lost their jobs.
In fact your drawing shows only-
1000 women in 1975.
These must be the women who are
doing the cleaning and giving we,ter to the workers
who work on the mines.
Scholar :
And what happened after 1975?
There was a ‘recession’ in the steel industry in
Japan, and production fell...
Worker
»
Scholar l
What is ’resession*?
'J?his la a situation when the dsmarti for steel faXla
and hence the domand for iron ore also falls.
Xf
th® demand for iron fall tho prise® for ore also falli
Worker
s
This must bo one of Gods evroes to ths iadustxy for
going deop into the earth s„.,d taking out mud and
giving it to Japan.
Scholar 5
I
don’t think so.,. I think that recessions nrs man
made» .
Worker
i
Hsn Made!
Who makes them?
and Why? ,
Scholar I
X don’t know.
Scholar :
But the problem about going into the earth and
I am told that emo o&n study those
things and X have not done so.
talcing out mud does disturb nature and cause prohlomo.
We osn. discuss this later.
Work si”
:
Scholar t
Worker
i
So there ar® two things you have to tall »e later.
What are they?
You said you will, tell me why we do not mak® l?on
in Goa today and. ■"he seeond le t^e probiama that
nature ha© because w& take mud from inside the earth.
Schole-r :
Worker
t
Scholar i
Right. '
Whnt did this ’ recession* ■ do in Goa?
Xtota of things.
S'lrst the production fell*
Second y
since the costs fell the min® owners were forood to
produce iron ore more cheaply.
This they did by
bringing in heavy machinery which required very
little labour.
3o you can. see that production of
nearly H million tomeis in 1980 was done by only
You' w see- at <jrt tins- Xas^'
about 5000 worker®.
lino of ths dla^rasi.
•jfk-ex*
t
'
Wot^n wrftwa &i avs.'ff: si’n®-
owners *era out c
the Indus tty,
Tea X suppose s»<
Aifter a? ■» assail min® owners a-?®
like women wb.on eoapansd to th«®« giants
/ Yew.
th*? table $wi on
69 vhiok
show® th© number of man awl wo sen esqs.iayod
and •px&duetlon for e&ch year frara 1060 to
15»SO„7
irkar
i
But you ®r® only talking about iron or@4
about manganese.
What
Shaw aunt b* a lot of maganas#
being exported also? .
jholaa* 1
Sot so fflueh*
Shor® asro about sne or two lakh tomw'
of fflan®ane&® ors asp w tad ®aoh year fra si Ooa»
Beoldes sgangsneee unlike iron oro (Somes in ©m-11
f»e it cismsM' be easily
pockois &J.sts£ ths hillo*
aeshanised,
Hsnce about 1000 workers are ■wos'fcing
or. the^e aiinoK»
table on m j?o shows the . roquet lea of
&s Otfw -wih the m»b&r ai inor* a«w. wow^
employed fstiin 1940 to 19? J
srker
»
So that is all we have in mining.
“holar :
Ho*
rtfkes*
Bauxite?
!
It’s not over yet.
\>& «ls$ Ixava Bauxite.
I have heard of this.
But what is it
used for.
tholar 1
Bauxite, le ua®d is a&fee Blumlitluin*
tottneo of SauKlte was sxpsrtod.
In 19S0. 17ih';Z
A v«?sy small «i!..<.--«
tity ooapafed to Xs’on os?s and mcsiganesa.
;rte$r
:
nelar t
But where are thes®
minsc?
let ua study where ow diffarant oren &«>
in different parts of 0o*»
X will ehw you tSxiv-
...17/-
17
on the map.
But before that let us finish this
thins about Bxpor 3.
Worker
:
What is there in this export business.
All the
ore is going to Jaian.
Scholar :
Not exactly.
In 1930 only 74 per cent of the ore
went to Japan.
Worker
t
Scholar :
Where did the rest go?
About 11 percent went to Rumania, a country in
Europe, and 6 percent went to South Korea.
rest went to other countries like the United
States.
Worker
:
I see.
Now will you show me the map?
The
IS
MINERAL DEPOSITS
legend
IRON OBE feSPOSir
' &1CHO1.1H PovouPau otnosrr
2.SftNS,ut<.lrt-VEL(,VtM PlUt dPCsiT
J.PlSftuPLtN CaPOSiT
PoiCU L OlPOSlT
&(zC'/RN«H-.<10u.ftKNtM DEPOSIT
t. Sftnai. DLPosrt
7.C0CU -SHI0-S6 DEPOSIT
? SfiNTONS- EOST, UtPOSH
-ftpsSIAM-MtuilNA DEPOSIT
iORNOMB-CAHOVA-CAnvORIH- HWU» OlCetxT
llVKOOflMO-ftNO-OD- SlR'CttU OLPObrt
11. SULOOftHA OEPOST
‘3. Nt.TURl.IM OtPebrt
fi5flWGftH5.3EOaE OEPOilT
R. Rivomr deposit
P>.MnTtiA-CRNWOREH-NftNEuiM DEPOSIT
C. PlRl-fi - wCTuRmH C.EPO5IT
D."fVOO- SRi-Oi'M DEPOSIT
i. TRlRuui-VH-lENfi DEPOtaT
BftUBlTff PROSPECTS
>• CiPLiBfl&fl
ESS
PlRtR
t. ontiouM - c-rmsoR area
1
SxVtTTi*
0; JIM
3. auEuosstM-'vtRN*’ ftpjR fiatA
I. Q>iTiH. PORVOR1M
5. PORvORiM
t. MOPR
7. Cfii.nNt.vrE
\ "7^--- fiRMflOLtM
9. PErnem
to. MRRtrlM
U. CfiHOR u>M
©CuxiTE DEPOSIT
»- e>i.7uL
SOURCE- REfrlONRl Plan FOR goa
!«. 19
"WH3R3'S
4THE ORE"
ssss===s = = »«==«== = =a=x
MIH3RAL D 7OSITS
Scholar :
OP
GO
This is a map of Goa showi ’s the deposits of di
fferent types of ore, in different colours.
Worker
:
I see.
It looks nice but... but is a bit confu
sing .
Scholar :
The red lines show the area where iron ore is found.
Trie blue lines show the deposits where manganese
ore is fo und .
:
Worker
And the green is Aluminium.
I did not know that
there were Aluminium mines near Panjim.
Who’s
mines are they?
Scholar :
Well they are not Bauxite mines.
The green dots
Dean that only prospecting has been done and some
Bauxite deposits are there.
The Bauxite mine that
is presently running is in Betul.
If you notice,
in the north there are mainly iron ore mines end in
the south mainly manganese mines.
Between Usgao and
Sanvordem we have both iron and manganese deposits.
In 1972 the total Iron Ore reserves in Goa was esti
mated at 407.4'5 million tonnes.
Of this 87.41
million tonnes were lumpy ore with 58% Grade and
324.02 million tonnes was made up of fines and powder
with 62% Iron content.
That means about 80% of the
iron ore is in fines.
Worker
:
But how much iron ore is there in Detapo’s mine in
Bicholim?
Scholar :
I cannot say that.
Because the map does not show
the mines according to their owners.
Perhaps we
.. .20/-
20
What this map
will have to make another map.
shows arts the total different deposits divided
into 14 parts.
S' the mines from Assnora to
Bicholim and Advalpale become one such part and
is given the No.1.
Nearly half of Goa*s ore,
She biggest deposit in fact,
/~If we want to know how much ore is there in
this deposit ws have to see page 71
and we
find that this deposit has about 26 million
tonnes of lumpy aad 131 million tonnes of
powder and finss,^'
Worker
i
I see.
I told you that the mine owners will
never give this information.
We cannot make cut
how much iron ore is there in the mines we work.-
Worker
:
At the top the ore is usually lumpy end low grade-,
and helot; this there are fines,
I was trying to
see it in the map.
Scholar :
You are right.
But the map does not show this
ei the r.
Worker
;
You should make
map that showt everything clearly
and does not hide anything.
use of such things.
Otherwise what is the
In any case how much manganese
is left in Goa.
Scholar s
Again in 1972 1.12 million tonnes of ore were there
in the manganese section.
Worker
:
Very small compared to iron ore.
/"ihe table on page 72 shows the reserves in manganas
in each of the deposits, on the map.^J/
g«= 21
Worker
t
Scholar .
And what about your Aluminium,
Bauxite began to
a exported onl
Only the Betul area is mined,
in the 1968®
Th© estimated
reserves in Bauxite is 7,17 million tomes.
Worker
:
So if there is so much iron ore and Aluminium, why
don’t they puts plant to produce iron and aluminium,
This would give our people a lot of employment,
If they could do it hundreds of years ago, why
can't we do it now with all this modern machinery?
Scholar s
We’ll discuss that as soon as we finish this.
Worker
What is there to finish?
:
Scholar ;
This is the main point.
You see when compared to the rest of India our ore
reserves are small and of poor quality.
India
exports a little over 20 million tonnes of iron
ore and Goa exports about 12 to 13 million tomes.
Worker
:
This cannot be.
If more than 50$
expox'teu
. **vw can you t?«*y that our reserves
are small and of poor quality?
the ore is
Do you feel that the
Japanese would simply come to Goa to take our ore.
They are very intelligent people, and they know that
Goan ore is good, that is why they come here.
This
must be one of the tricks of the mine owners and the
Government to pay ua less wages by telling us that
our ore is not as good as the rest.
Scholar t
In fact Goa's 407 million tonnes are only 5$ Of
India’s total reserves.
Our oro has 56$ to 62$ grade,
while the grade in other parts of India is 63$ to 68$
22
Wo have only two large deposits, one o£ which is
Th® rest are all small deposits.
in Bicholim.
In
other parts of India that are hijls upto 200 meters
high, 400 meters broad, ana a few Ians. in length,
each of these hills taay hs,v® upto 1000 million
tonnes of ore, more than two times the ore in the
whole of Goa *
Worker
s
And with such good deposits they cannot export even
half of India’s ora?
Anyway I have not gone to
see, so I cannot argue with you.
Scholar :
You see they cannot export muoh because to export
the mines have to be near the Harbour.
Take Bihar,
it has some very good ore, but to be exported, ths
ore lias to travel for thousands of kms. to the port
of Calcutta.
This makes the ore very costly for
the Japanese.
But in Goa within two or three hours
the Barges reach
transport.
Worker
:
Scholar :
'he harbour.
f- it is cheap to
That is why the Japanese like Goan ore.
Oh. I see the point.
Now let us go to the point of the iron plant...
...23/»
"WHY DON'T WE HAVS AN IBON PLANT"
5-
S5 83 S= as ~ KK ss tX fflt -» 25 S3 «• «S S= —J« S3 53 =2 SJ St =5 W SZ 3S K» «3 S3 ZZ S3
& WHAT
Scholar I
A30t
THS FUTURES C
MINING
Many people and some big erwerte had suggested to
the Government of Goa to have an iron plant and on
aluminium plant.
Worker
:
Scholar :
And what does the Government say.
I will tell you what the Government says.
The
Government says that to produce iron we need coal
and there is a shortage of coal in thia country,
besides the coat of the coal from other states ie
very high.
3o -it bis .not practical to have an
iron plant.
About Aluminium plant - the Government
says that it will require a lot of electric power
and there is no power in Goa.
We get little power
from Maharashtra and Karnataka but it is not enough
for our present needs, leave alone for an aluminium
plant•
Worker
:
So that is all the Government has to say.
No power
means no aluminium plant, and no coal means no iron
plant.
False.
How could those people in the olden
days make iron without coal,
ejti&
why can’t we have
it now?
Scholar :
The reason is that they used to make very little
iron so it was O.K. foi' them.
But today to make
such a small quantity say half a kilo will not bo
practical.
Japan.
It will be cheaper to buy iron from
Worker
:
This whole argument sounds vezy funny to me.
It is
cheaper to send ore to Japan and. bring back iron, '
then, to make iron ierec
How can Lt be?
Bo they
have a aiagician there who ff kes iron without coal?
Scholar :
Worker
:
No- in fact they import the coal from other countries
This does not make sense to me.
We cannot bring
coal from other states like Maharashtra because it
is too costly,- and the Japanese thay can carry ore
from Goa, maybe coal from Africa and etill sell
metal to us at huge profits.
say?
What do you .have to
So you think that the Government information
is correct?
Scholar s
I don't know I am telling you what I have heard
and what the Government has written about this.
I
have not seen any study on this point.
Worker
:
So when it comae to the main point of helping the
Goan people there is no study.
the Government?
What is the use of
We have to depend on the Japanese
people to buy our ore.
And when those small eyed
people who can see ore in far off places like Goa,
feel like making a recession, they will do it, and
our workers have to suffer,
on for ever.
Scholar :
This will go on and
Thez-e is no futuz-e,
No, not exactly. It is true that if there is a
recession the workers will suffer.
not go on forever.
But this will
It will end in maximum 20 years
from now.
...25/-
Worker
:
How can you say that?
Ahem. Of dourse the crj
in Goa will be ox -r-
Let us sen you said that •
were about 400 million ton ■ ©s of iron ore, in
1972,
If we produce about 13 raillion tonnes of
esport type ore end 2 million tomes-of reject-
that makes it 15 million tomes per year,
Thai
means 15 million tonnes multiplied by 27 year?
gives us about 400 million tonnes. So 27 years .
1972 our ore will be over.
That is 1999,
So i
years from now, and that too if the Japans t: > de.
make recessions.
Scholar :
Worker
:
Am I right?.
Yes.
So what is going to be the future of the inductand if mining is the back-bone of Goa.,
What :■ 1
be the condition of Goa without its back—b :>e.j?
Scholar :
Worker
:
I think they are important questions?
liut why snoula. we worry?
These problems will -',•
a long time to come and by then we will be aid i
will have retired.
And of course the G-over;r
must have thought of these questions and plannee
for the future.
Scholar :
Well, I think these questions are important, t
even if we will not be there, our children will
there and we have to see to their future.
Worker
:
Of course,
I have made plans for my children..
They are now in school and as far as their futu
is concerned I have been keeping money re ,;.ul.
3 — 26
in the bank.
This will help to see -them through.
But as far as Go;
s future is c<_ warned, the
Government will have to se-
to that.
How can. you
expect me to see to it?
Scholar :
In fact the Government has thought about the future.
In 1976 the Government asked a very famous organieation of scholars to study the problems and make
future plans for Goa.
This organisation is called
the Administrative Staff College, and is at Hyderabad,
Scholars from that college came and studied the
problems and said that in 1973-79 there would be
18,000 workers on the mines.
Worker
:
How can you say that.
They should have known that
the recossion will mean that the mine owners will
try and reduce their cost by bringing in more
machinery so that they can pay less by having a
smaller number ox’ workers.
Scholar s
Yes, they should have known it but I don't know
why they wrote what they did.
serious about their work.
Perhaps they were not
They not only said that
but they also said that by 1982-83 there would be
20,000 workers on the mines.
Worker
:
Lies.
It is quite obvious that if the mine-owners
are going to bring in more and more machinery as
they are doing at present that the number of workers
is certainly going to decrease.
Scholar
Worker
: By 1987-88 they expect 21,000 workers on the mines.
:
More lies.
...27/-
8- 27
Scholar x
By 1992-95 they expect that there will be 21,500
workers on the rax is,
Worker
s
Still more lies.
All lies.
By 1992-95, i.e. 10
years from now there may be.no mines at all. How
oould they say there will be 20,000 workers in
1982-85 when there are only 5000, or a little more
workers today,
Scholar :
I think that what you say is absolutely correct.
The mine owners will bring in even more machinery
and reduce the number of workers.
This will take
place very slowly and it will not be felt suddenly.
Only when each worker*s turn comes to go, he will
realise it.
Take the Bale pelletisation plant.
They have closed it, 170 workers have lost their
jobs.
However, slowly they may make it, about 5,000
workers who are directly employed in the iron ore
mine's, nearly 500'..’ ’orkext who are employed in
manganese and other mines and about 22,000 workers
who are employed indirectly in barges, ports,
etc,, will be jobless*
Worker
:
Latest by 1995,
The mine owners have realised this situation and
hove prepared for the future.
The Dempo’s are
running a Dairy in Karnataka, and the Chowgules have
taken the Sirgao ship building plant to Gujrat.
They have some other factories also like explosives,
cement and fertiliser.
money there.
Scholar :
They will continue to make
But where will the workers go?
So what can be done about this?
28
Worke r
:
Scholar s
Worker
:
Scholar :
Why do you ask as?
How can I say?
uneducated persoi ,
You cannot t-cpeot me to answer
I an an
such questions,,
Only learned people will know the
answer to this,.
What is the answer to this problem?
Well I don’t know either.
And how am I to know?
This is a very serious problem.
The way things are,
nobody cares about ths problem.
The Government
tells us what you call lies.
Worker
s
It is also the scholars.
I am sure the mine owners
have paid them to tell lies.
I have seen so many
times that some 'experts* come to the mines to study
the problems.
They see the mines then go to the
guest house.
There they are given drinks, foreign
drinks and good food like chicken by the management.
They may be even giving them money.
I don't know.
But onoe this is done the 'expert* will eay whatever
the management wants.
Scholar :
I
think something like that may happen sometimes.
But the workers aiv not interested, even though it
is-heir future that is uncertain.
Worker
:
Yes.
The Unions....
Why don't you discuss this with the union
leader.
Don't tell him that I told .you to discuss
this with him.
But just see what he says and tell
me .
Scholar t
At the rate things are going it seems that there
is little hope for the future.
Anyway let me tell
...29/-
you why they say that mining is ths backbone of
th© econoiuy.
Worker
:
By the way what's your name?
Remaath Palekar.
Scholar j
Which village do you come irom?
Reamath *
My native village is Peraea,
But my uncle was a
contractor and that is how I landed on the mines#
After this is over I cannot go back because two of
my brothers are staying at home#
I have also
taken a little money from them and given them my
I hope to buy a small piece of land
paddy fields.
here and do some small business here itself.
Of
course I don’t know when I will be able to build
a house.
I hear CESS gives .some money for building
houses for workers.
And if nothing of this works
I will go back to Psrnaa.
My brothers will never
say ‘no’ to me.
Scholar ■
By the way I
hou’1
like to know something about the
CESS schemes in this nine.
Ramnath :
I will tell you what I know.
THE CONTRIBUTION OF MINING
TO GOA'S ECONOMY
XnovSiTRUs , COns.tr-.
tiOn , Eu&cTRit rry .
flCrRtCUUTuRE , FORESTRT , FlftHtNCr ( HH1MBL HuSbRNORv .
TRqoE .TRRMSPORT , Q.RNHIN6 , PUFbUIC flOMi
STRUT 10 N , ETC .
IQ60
TOTfiL FU.X7fg LAKHS
1968-69
TOTAL R*. M)0 LAKHS
1979- flo
TOTAL fU.
-M LAKHS
TOTAL
LAKHS
31
6-»’how
big as mm8
csfts 53 sa w ra w t: «s sa ss =x ss sa » ts s» sas
MINING A
Scholar s
GOA*S BACK BQ?'l
Bcononiste ooo
Raima th $
Who ax'© SconomiEts?
Scholar s
Economists are people who study the money matters
of a country by using big words.
Ramnath t
Are you an economist?
Scholar ?
No.
Ramnath ;
I eee.
Scholar s
What did you say about economists?
They have studied and found out the total production
of all the goods in Goa and have measured it in
Rupees.
Raamath s
How much is it?
Scholar s
In I960 the total value of Go?.’s production was
Rupees 2718 lelehs.
Shis is called, the Net Stats
Domeetie Product.
Now our problem is to find out
now much of this was given by th® mining industry.
The economists have dons this too.
It is 18$.
Do you understand me?
Hannath j
Now let me see.
What you are telling me is that
one fifth of Goa'a money in the year 19^0 came from
mining, Right.
Scholar :
Right.
You can see it in -the diagrmu
The red. part
of the circle shows the contribution of the mines to
Goa’s economy.
Rsmnath :
I See.
Scholar :
You see the blue part « it show© other industries.
And from where did the rest come?
..e52/»
..
.
.
together in ths pit of cur mine alone* And. the
'■ •
- ' '■
"
’
number of workers there may. be. .,lp.pp -.each. nothing
'
compared to mining*.
Scholar s
...
Tes .in terms of else and. number.of workers.they toay
bo small*
But not in terms of money*
For example
" ' The Zuari Agro Chemicals Fertiliser Plant alone
has a production value which is bigger than the
entire mining industry!
Kemnath s
Zuari brings more money to Goa than the entire
money of mining!
False.
Scholar :
Actually you are right and I am right also.
Rsmnath :
How?
Scholar s
You see when we are counting for the Net State Domes
tic Product we count the value of production.
But
we do not count how much of this money cornea to Goa.
Det me give you an example.
If the production of a
bag of Urea costs Rs. 100 then we count this figure
in the Net. State De estic Product.
But of these
Rs.100, may be Rs. 50 will go for raw materials, Rs.25
will go to repay loans of the World bank, Rs.20 will
go as profits to the Birla’s.
Now since the raw
materials are coming from outside, the loans ax’©
being
paid outside and the profits are going to
Birla’s and others outside Goa, this means’ that 95 Rs
of every hundred are going to people outside Goa
and what actually comes to Goa is Rs. 5,00 of evezy
hundred i.e. it goes to the workers, after all
there are about 700 workers there.
Rarmath i
But the same in raining.
Machinery ie also bought
xrom foreign countries?
Scholar :
Of course
But that is all that goes outside Goa.
a part of the profits too, as the mine owners are
starting industries outside Goa with the profits
from the mines.
But there are about 30,000 workers
directly and indirectly employed who get wages and
nance though we may eay that mining brings in 7.2
percent of Goa’s production, it may be. more important
to the cosranon man than Zuari.
Por example when
Zuari -went on strike for 6 months only the workers
and a few others suffered.
But if the mining indus«
try closes then not only the workers but also all
those who are dependent on these wo risers such as
ehop keepers, petrol pump workers, buses that carry
people, etc., will . xffer.
Stoke t a following cases
When the mechanical ore handling plant was started at
i-Iarmagoa to load ore to the ship, the plant needed
only 1200 winchmen and gangmen as compared to 4576
needed for manual loading in 1972-73.
This means
that about 3776 workers lost their jobs.
Do you get
ray point?
Bamnath i
I see.
So what you are trying to say is that even
though the big Zuari type of factories produce a lot
of money they are not so important, but the mining
industry is important because of the money it gives
to the people.
Scholar :
Yes.
Exactly.
...35/-
35
Ramnath :
So in ths future, after mining is over we oannot
I was thinking that even
depend much on industry.
if we can’t have an ix*on plant at least we can have
other big industry like chemicals etc.
But you say
that this will not help much because fewer people
are employed.
Scholar :
That’s right.
Ramnath :
Then what do we do?
Scholar :
Agriculture perhaps?
Ramnath :
But how can we do that.
I can tell you this that in
the mining area all the best fields, producing the
highest yields are destroyed by rejects.
I can give
you full details of this.
But tell me why are you so
interested in the workers?
I am asking you this
because most of the scholars who come here generally
come to study how to increase production and improve
the quality of or.,
for that.
Sven Japane e scholars come here
Of course there are a few who are interes
ted in studying the workers and their problems.
But '
in my opinion they are all for the management•
They
come here perhaps to convince us to do something that
we don’t want, but the management needs.
That is why
I said that they were pro-management. .
Scholar :
I’ll tell you that.
You must tell me about the
problems of the fields.
Ramnath :
Definitely.
...36/-
56
7Scholar :
"WHY
WRITS
THIS
BOOK?"
X2=S =3 =2: » XX KS ~= SX ss -3 =3 S= = S£ ;• XX -J S)T=
You see most scholars like all other people are
workerst
They o.r.- paid to stud;- a particular
production, just like you are paid to drive a truck.
The maintenance of the truck is not your Tsaponsi*
bility hence you would tako the truck to the workshop
if there is a problem.
Similarly scholars are paid
by management or some other people to study produc
tion.
They may discover something wrong with other
things, say with the condition of . the machinery, but
that is not their business.
If they try and raise
this problem they may lose their job.
Ramnath t
What about Government Scholars?
Scholar :
Like all other Government servants.they may not take
their job seriously or perhaps as you have said the
management might be giving them something.
know.
I don’t
We have ee'i what the Hyd ?abad experts had
to say about mining and we ’mow what is the actual
truth.
Now there is a society in Valpoi called RUSTI
Rustic is interested in helping people to understand
the future problems and work out solutions. So they
asked an organisation in Delhi called the Indian
Council of Social Science Research to give some monej’-
to study the problems of eight Goan communities.
One is mine workers.
Now this organisation in Delhi
gives money for studying different problems of the
people.
problems.
They normally publish big books on these
Such books are called
’ research studies
...37/-
Th© Director of Rustic and. I felt that if we are
going to study people's probions then the first
■>eople who should read about it am the people
themselves.
So there is no point in bringing out
a big book with difficult words.
It would be better
to write a simple book where the problems are
clearly seen.
Ramnath :
I see.
Rut why do you need to discuss with me if
you need to write this book?
Scholar :
Discussing with you is important because, one, it
helps me understand how you see the problems in
mining.
Secondly, it helps you learn how I see the
problems of the mining industry.
And finally, if
I am going to write a book for mine workers then I
should know what they are interested in, otherwise
how can I write a book for somebody.if I don't know
him.
Writing a book is something like writing a
letter.
If I know the person I am writing to, then
I can write about some things of common interest.
If I do not know the person then how can I write?
Ramnath :
Well... I don't really understand exactly what you
Scholar :
Yes, we ax's working part time.
are saying.
But, are you paid?
But I also get
financial help and other necessary facilities from
other organisations and unions.
They are also
interested in the workers education.
Ramnath :
Are you permanent?
Scholar :
No, I am employed for one year.
Ramnath :
And then will you become permanent?
...58/-
38 »:
Scholar ;
So.
I may be able
o work another year if the
study continues or I would, hr re to look for some
otlier work.
Ramnath :
You better try and. get a permanent job.
young now, you do not understand.
become quite difficult.
You are
The future could
If you want to get married
you will not be able to.
And so you will use some of this information, for
your book?
Scholar :
Ramnath :
Yes.
I will use some of the information for the
book.
But I will not mention your name.
I am not afraid.
You could mention my name.
But
some things that are personal I would not like.
This is because the management may think I am being
personal and try to take revenge.
they are.
me a memo and then suspend me.
But I am not afraid
I will tell you about the fields,
Wat’s your name?
Scholar :
Jose B' Souza.
Ramnath :
Rrom where?
Jose
I am from Banjim.
:
You know how
They will find some other excuse, show
x- 40
Ramnath :
Rejects mean that the Japanese don’t want that
ore.
It nay be low grade, or it may be lumpy while
the demand is for fines.
Jose
:
Yes.
This is exactly the problem.
Because of the
demand of the Japanese people, we are forced to
produce ore of a particular type in a particular
way which destroys our social life and wastes our
iron ore.
Some people call this ' environment erosion
’ Bnvironment ’ means what surrounds us, nature, etc.,
and ’Erosion' means the slow destroying,
Ramnath :
I see.
When it comes to health, our health is also
spoilt because of dust.
You can clearly see the dust
and with more mechanisation the dust has increased.
The amount of dust that goes inside oui’ lungs is
And can you keep your house clean.
unbelievable.
Ho, never.
In the entire mining area in Goa you
will find dust in
very corner of the house, even
in the food.
Jose
x
In fact dust is said to lead to a disease called
•silicosis'.
Ramnath :
It effects the lungs.
Also there are cases of T.B.
I think that the main
reason is dust.
Jose
:
There is also the problem of the forests..
When a
hill is mined a large part of our forest is cut.
The continuous cutting of trees lend to change in
rain patterns.
Some Bay that this mainly is the
reason for less rain in the last few years.
:» 59
8—
Ramnath :
"MINING:
=
==== = = = =KILLING
=i=======NATURE"
= = == =
You see when the management removes ore the top
Layers of the hil' a ere usually : ejects.
'They are
Hence they -are piled in one heap.
low grade ore.
In the monsoon the rain water washes away this mud
into the fields.
Jose
:
Ramnath :
And the fields are spoilt.
Not only that.
Who suffers?
The Bhatkar runs to
the management and gets compensation, but what about
the cultivator.
He gets nothing.
no compensation,
Sometimes the management may give
No fields, no croi
him a service contract truck, and with that everyone
stays quiet.
And if you say that we have to go to
agriculture, where are the fields?
:
The rejects also go into the river and thereby spoil
Ramnath :
Yes in fact many people say that the bund in Bicholiir
Joe e
its natural path.
broke because, of the rejects that have been going
into the river for the last so many years.
Of course
the Navhind Times will deny it, it is Dempo's paper.
All papers are mine owners' papers.
true story come?
No where.
Where will the
It's not only that,
these rejects also go into our wells and pollute the
water tha,£^ Wfer drink.
Who knows how many diseases
are caused because of this water.
Jose
:
So the main .problem is rejects.
Ramnath :
Yes.
Jose
But Why are these:re Je cts?
s
...40/-
s«- 41 -5
Ramnath :
And I oan tell yon that the Service contract tracks
can survive mainly because of this.
They illegaly
carry fix's wood.
Jos o
:
I would like to know something about the service
co.ntract
trucks.
But the bargos in the river
also create some problems.
The bunds near the river
are broken because of the barge movement and the fiel
in the river die.
That may be one reason why the
fish catch in Goa is going down.
Ramnath :
I see... So that means that we must not have industry
because industry creates all these problems which
you call ’environment’.,., What did you call it?
Jose
:
1 Environmental erosion’.
No.
But what I’m saying
is that industry must be planned in a way that does
not destroy pur present life and future hones.
VZe
should protect our future and hence plan the
industry,
Ramnath :
Jose
I
Ramnath j
I suppose this requires some more detailed study.
Yes it does.
But I can tell you that nobody here is interested in
all these problems.
Bach one is fox' himself.
use of discussing all these matters.
Nobody
So what is thi
thinks of the other men or the future.
Sven if you go
to do something good, they will suspect you and if
something goes wrong they will all throw stones at
you.
There is no point in discussing these matters.
No doubt, they are important.
But this
...42/-
J- 42 -!
is what I think*
Jose
j
Ramnath :
Of course you can writ® and try."
But wo can also discuss present hay problems.
Yes we should discuss these matters.
Wages.
is the moot important thing for every one.
I will get at the end of the month.
This
What
How much over
time I will earn.
Jose
:
Yes, we should discuss the conditions of working in
the mines today.
s- 45
9-
Ramnath :
"WORK AND WORKING CONDITIONS”
sass353zicsa32:sus3s33xs:=sassna
Well things ars quite different now from when I
Joined in the 60*s.
Jose
:
Ramnath :
How?
Well then I drove a 10 tome truck and that too,
the ore was hand mined.
The truck took at least
15 to 30 minutes to fill and I could rest a bit.
But what they did; ' The management gave me
one
increment and put on an Euclid, -then after a few yea
another increment and I had to drive a 25 tonne
Terex dumper.
So you see, While, I was doing about
8 trips of 10 tonnes in the old days.
Today a
25 tonne truck is filled in 2 to 3 minutes, so I
do 20 trips of 25 tonnes.
That means I used to
carry 80 tonnes of production in the old days, but
today I carry 500 tonnes of production,
I have got for it?
And what
Nothing much; for 6 times more
work I got only two increments of about Rs.20 each.
So you can see that there is not only less work with
mechanisation, but even the few workers who are
left are doing much more work,
Jose
t
The ’experts* call this ’work intensification’.
That means they study how more production can be
got by using the same number of workers in the same
time.
Ramnath :
Ahem,.,. Then those experts have certainly studied
this mining area very well.
Otherwise they could
. not get 6 times more production from my eight hours
...44/-.
8- 44 *i
work,
Beside© the tension in driving is ouch more
uss,
With sc man • trucks and &«. e of the service
contract drivers are so fart we have to ba more
careful*
Jose
8
Ranmath t
Tell me about the service contract.
I can show you a copy of the contract*
who has a truck has left it here.
A friend
It is in english
and I cannot read it*
Jose
s
^hem...» This contract says that for 40,000 rupees
deposit, the company will lend you its truck to
ply as & contractor*
They will pay a certain price
per tonne per trip, and that you have to carry
47,500 tomes per year, and that this contract has
to be carried cut for 6 years.
t Yes but there is another thing there.
Ramnath
You see that
they deduct about 1 or 2 rupees per trip, and when
this deduction reaches the sum of Rs, 3,25,000.00
they transfer the truck in your name.
Jose
t
Ramnath s
But in the contract nothing is written.
Yes I know it is not written in the contract, but
eo far the company has not cheated any one.
I camo
say about the future.
Jose
8
• Ramnath :
But Ramnath, hew long does it take to reach Rs*3,25,
You see, according to ths contract, it should take
about 6 years.
But it all depends.
If you drive
your truck carefully, it could take upto 8 or 9
years*
But if you drive your truck with speed,
♦ *.45/-=
45 -8
then it may take even 5 years.
Of course. that
is bad for the ta cfc, and the dx Wo '
Jose
t
Bssmsth s
But who are the drivers?
I <ssn say that 90$ of the trucks are not driven
by the people who sign the contract.
SJhey are
driven by the drivers
Shese drivers are paid abo
Ks.600/«» per asonth.
And they are forced to drive
for sjors than eight hours®
Otherwise all the
truck earnings will be epoujgh to pay their
salaries aloae.
And these tracks X’se told started, arcund 1974»
Jose
tShis was the tine that the Eianagesaent s were looki"
for ways to reduce costs,
Shis system is big profit to the management«.
Bainzsath
they are not responsible for the drivers®
do not have to give them overtime.
E'ir
So the;
fhay don’t ha-
to give any labour facilities, no C3SS, nothing*
Iso uaioa trouble, etc®
stake a huge profit.
So che managements really
Do you think they Have given
out so many tracks jiust like that?
By the way,
how raany trucks are there of this type?
Jose
i
I think there are over 1500 such trucks in Goa and
nearly 8000
sorters saust be dependent on them <aii
as dx’iver or mechanics, etc.
Ramxath :
5fhe contractors sliso benefit.
plus he gate a truck.
He makes some money
Of course by the time he ge
the truck the value of the truck may be only 1 l&h
while he has paid back in work Be.3,25,000.
But
46
feea he has the satisfaction of doing his own
d-Tv* ■•>- S »
<Fosg
i
But a-hat about the drivers, mechanics, etc.
are the real ettJfesers,
53hey
They do not get any of
tine -facilities that you get ?.s Etine workers.
Sos
study should be rn.de to sea if the?/ can get CSSS
and other facilities.
Sasmtn •
You &re right there.
same story.
But then it is always the
’Whenever any devolopstent takes place
it is always the small xaan who suffers.
I told y<
about the cultivator.
Jose
:
But what about Salaries?
Are you satisfied with
them?
Saasnath :
®ho is satisfied with his salary?
X have already
told you Z am giving six tines more production
but am I getting -lx times more 7-ay?
all.
Ko.
Kot at
Z used to get about 3*50 in the 604 o and now
I get about 900.
You will say that it*s nearly
three times more, but the prices have gone up five
times.
So in fact you can say that I was better o
in those days then X am now.
You. should make some
such study to find out if the wages have been rais
in keeping with the production, the profits and
the cost of living.
I can tell you; then you will
-eeffis to know how we are being fooled by the nine
owners.
By the way I hear that the Salgaoncar Coxs;
are paying very good salaries.
Is it true?
*- 4? -i
Jose
You can see for yourselfs
Hex® are a few cases,
look at the tab—js—
27atu.ro of work
Bantnath
$
. Tears
of
Service
Sotal Salary toe
din,? U.D.A.
>9c
1967
Driver
2t
220
1371
Boyer Shows! Operator
20
200
137
Mechanic
20
500
146
Asst. Mechanic
79
He.5/day
80
Clerk
20
226
124
Mines mate
21
128
97
Blasters
21
218
97
So the difference is not so much after all.
rupees her® s».d. there.
A f
tod the mana, gess ent b keep
teUixs ue that we are the best
paid iron mine
workers to Indic.
Joe &
s
SShat 1® somewhat true.
Bamnath
s
.But see the production-we are giving.
We are exj
ting more than half of India's ore.
It is not tl
isansgeaent or the mine oners tho produce*
us.
Jose
:
It ii
We do the heavy work and they take the pro.fi
But don't you fight for your benefits?
Don't yc-’.
have jm Union?
Hamnath
t
toezn.
I shall tell you about unions...
...43/-
t- 43
10—
Hasm&'uix s
« XHsIONSj W0HSBR3 STHBSGWHs **
««ssatssaxa»«sm»saxsexsc3e
First there were no uaiors and no one knew about
■thee either.
Bui there was a bey working with, ue
His name uas Gopal*
He had worked in Bombay, end.
he told us that we must form aa ualoE4
I uaa new
but x thought it would be a good ides.
I was ale«
young,
So in the basining the union was formed in the 9 lx
sfe took eoKe 25 paisa membership
oh
the quiet.
Bi
one would contact another snd get his naaa and soj
Sfobody knew whether his neighbour had Joined the
anion or not.
Finally when we had. more or less
majorityt e meeting was celled outside the comp ar:
area, near the well*
people.
But who oasse?
Only three
Everybody, maybe even 1000 people paid,
but only three p, jple went for ; xe meeting.
She
management eaxac to know th t Gopal was behind this
and he was thrown out,
now.
X do not know where he io
But he was a very intelligent fellow.
After that the union leaders came and through thes
we learnt the correct ways of running an union,
registration and all that business.
In the early
days the management and Eiineovznerc put up a strong
fight.
They did not want unions.
But that time 1
workers were strong and we fought back and won.
management were forced to accept our demands for
recognition of union, security of service and pay
...49/-
*
according to govsmmeiat sales, leave, ate,
of Qixr good fe-oys had -to suf fex',
Jobs.
Many
They lost their
The managetsfrt would, find sone excuse and.
suspend them,
$lse case wotud so to court,
how long csa a worker wait?
thar job*
3u*
H® hae to find aac-
Ths ease takes years,
And if the wor
ker wins, the sadageatent goes to high court,
As&
finally, of course, the ssaw-geffient know the Judges*
3y the way, you have all, these figures# tell «e
how many unions are the to :
Jose
s
Thia table shows ths-inining unions:
T7as:s of the union
■j. Gera. JiLao labour Welfare
Union
Heesberehxy
>500
AITUC
Sop. Mine Workers Union
CXTV
635
3# Chow gale 3mplo?zees Union
CITV
3022
Statuona Mina, Metals &
Mineral Workers Union
IKTUC
300
2.
4.
5# Miners! and Metal Trading
Corporation Workers Union
—
136
6. Voice of Mine Wox’kers
~
«-
IHTUC
-
7» Station Mine Workers Union
3aanath :
Affiliation:
I knew that our union was the biggest.
know about th® other unions#
I do not
But in our. unions thing;
are not like before.
Jose
:
2ra not the unions interested in. the problems' of the
workers, like the ones we havs discussed?
Bocsaatk s
You cannot blame the aai&a.
Ths workszs.
$h-
It is the members.
can a leader lo?
depends on the workers unity*
leaders,
Hie strength
People blame the
.They say that the leader rob the workers
take money from the Management.
anything about that*
I cannot say
Because people simply talk*
But I know that the workers are not disciplined.
and united like they were before *
of hi® own pocket*
all*
Each one thinks
Hobody cars.s for the good of
All these problems, you have discussed,
Who will care?
I don’t think anyone would.*, But
you could try.
After all, how can we say anything
before trying*
And you. wt discuss these matters
with the leader and see what he says,
If you go
to see, there are so many other problems her©*. TaS
for example CSSS,* * *
i’ose
t
Sanna th t
What about CESS?
It gets so nmoh-'aoaey.
But where does it go?
how much money does it get per year?
sc that?
Wel2
Can you tell
And what is the meaning of CESS?
**5l/«
OSS
FROH
W TO
mi
MEDICS1, t. FRCiUTtES
« Ro. ih&.OM
EDVCfiTJON
= Ro. a ,10.934
RECRE/ITIOH
>Rd. J,5O,7S9
©
OT'HSR EXPENSES
3 6»- 99,?7«
TOT fit EXPEN&TUKS * R*. 1^,10, oc&
Jose
'
What we- call CBSf
istJae progr^ai ';© conducted by
the Iron Ore Mines labour Welfare ?uzid Organisation
Ehis is a Central. Sovemmeat programs with it®
Head Office in New Delhi.
£hay have been collecting 0.25 psise per tome
of ore, produced from ths sine owners.
Shis pay**
sent is coiled ccss»
S&mnath $
Joes
t
,’ihst is the total collection?
Well, last year it was 33 lakhs or 3.3 million!
^*If you want to know details of each of the
years, see page 73. it shows CESS collec
tions & expenditures from. 1958 onward s^y
Eanmath s
Jose
Where is the money spent?
i ■ Ehe diagram on the left side mow® you where the
CESS funds have gone last year.
Hamna-th :
I see,
Medical ie the biggest expenditure.
It is
62$! nearly 15 lakhs! Only 1$ for water supply,
I
told you, where there is real need there is ho
Boney spent.
If we had good water we would not
need to run to their doctors.
What is the typist
doing?
Jose
i
Ehat shows the expenditure for th® office and other
expenses to run the prograrawe.
Eannath ;
1
is too much for the office.
And what is *oth-er
expenses’?
Jose
:
.iny other expenses that do not come under the other
heads of expenditure.
Eamnath t
What other expense© can there be?
Ehst has gone
s- 53 -s
into th® pocket of the offiser®«
Jose
s
Samath i
I don’t know.
Every time we talk about black snoney, you talk
lake the Management,
Sv® aybody knows’ that there
Is ’black* going on and they pretend they have not
seen*
Jose
s
St is true th&t there 1® a lot of cheating
everywhere but wo cannot say anythix>g till we
get proof.
Saanstfe 3
Proof?
Sow caa we have ths proof?
ths facte,
They have all
.If they are clean they should publish
where th© money is spent each year in. a simple way.
Then w® san. go and see for ourselves the facts*
Bist they will never do it.
They will be caught sad
their fun will toss to an end.
tinue this way forevez-.
also s
So they will con
And I will give you proof
This happe, ad in Pale «
I. e management asked
CSSS for one or two lakhs f ■ provide drinking water
for the workers.
They did ^OGG rupees worth work
emi. the sms old. dirty water continued going t© the
houses,
Jose
$
1 asked the CSSS, officers this point*
They said
tka-t the Chowgule were ssot given the money*
Raats&th i
Naturally*
They were caught.
If the uxiioia. did not
take action what would have happened?
They wold
haw token the money ©nd perhaps built one sore
fertiliser project,, somewhere in Punjab -this tisne*
There is no use talkisig about these things.
It
...54/-
s- 54 *•?
goes on every whore and nobody knows hmr to stop
it.
But I told you this? because you wanted proof.
But who has decided that these are good programmes
for workers?
Jose
s
She progr&seiee have been decided
by e Central
Advisory Board in Delhi and they are the followings
1 ) HSAXTH
2)
BDVCA2I0N
3)
BSCHSAOJrOH
4)
HOUSING
5)
WA2SR SIXETLX.
£~A. detailed list of scheme© is given on page 74. .J7
Rararath s
Jose
Jose
:
And these people decide where the money should go?
No..
?or that there ie a local advisory board.
th ;
Who are they?
5
Let cse see....
7 think they are-?
1. A.N.Noik - Labour Minister- Chairman.
2. Rashiss — Welfare Commissioner *• Vice—Chairman.
3.
Vasudeva Deapo - Kine owners Representative.
4.
Cipriano D* Sousa «» Mine Owners Representative»
5.
V. A. Gauns — IHT'JC - representing workers.
6.
S, N. Karsiali - INfUC - representing workers.
7.
Ida Coelho Botelho - Womens representative.
8.
rlaraakanth Khal&p - M.L.A’s representative.
Hemnath. s
Who has decided the labour representatives?
Jose
All that is done in Delhi.
5
Shis cosi&ittee is suppo
sed to study the applications for grants and pass the
budget given by the Panj iso office.
Raranath t
But when did this CSSS business start?
Jose
s
Actually it eaxie to Goa la 1964 but like all
Government prograasnes it started functioning in
1963 only®
Sannath.
s
Only 4 years delay is gco~, Itcs such worse
sometimes*
Saamih
t
Jose
s
1>H,g AL ? Ki
Sell se this® 14 lakhs in sae&LceQ. expenses, where
has it gone?
$ell about 10 lakhs was spent cm the hospital
and 4 lakhs was given to the managements for the
dispensaries.
Ressnath
s
The Hospital is not bad»
At least it is cleaner
than the Banjdni Hospital,
But often there is
shortage of staff,
l?or ezgusplw now there is no
doctor for operations®
Also we have often to
go ovct and. get medicineB,
But people who *0 not work on *he mines also come
there ®
Joee
s
Tea®
She Government of Goa is supposed to pay
for ths©*
In fact the Government paid Ks,9*00,000
to Cess for murrain® workers who went to 5Jisca
hospital between 74 sxd 78®
In. fact nearly ?0$
of the patient at the fisca hospital are no»»ts£ns
workers®
Baffinath
t
Thar® is one more problem,
Only some companies
give workers transport to go -to the hospital®
small cotapanieE never give,
small man has to s^^ffer,
She
This m-scss that the
As far as the DlsspenBaries
®. *56/-
«- 56 -s
are concerned, they ara there only in the bis
companies, where there are mechanised mines and
few worke ■”'?’c
But thars there is semi-mechanised
rsining and the number of workers is large there is
It's the
no dispensary.
mko
story.
And I can
tell you that the doctors in the dispensary ana
not at all good.
good,
Bew of then, very few of them are
What is the number of dispensaries?
There are 54 dispensaries and they are run by the
Jose
manage tie nt with grants from CSSS.
As f&r ae the
doctors are concerned, it may fee because most
doctors do not like to cose to this area where there
is no social Ilf® for them.
Hence only those who
cannot get iobs anywhere else come to the mines.
Bsmnath ;
Jose
:
ijuite right.
They work here, out of boredom.
There are also two ambulance vans of CSSS.
One at
the Tisca Hospit- ' and the other at Bandodkar mines
at Velguem.
Besides that there ere T.3.hospital
beds reserved for mine workers In Banjisj.
In 80-81
no patients occupied these beds, though there were
10 cases of 2.3. reported at the Tisca Hospital.
Eamnath ;
JIaturally if a 2.3. cass goes and sleeps in the
hospital who will look after his family?
A disease
like T.B., which is caused by the mines - when it
effects the workers - he should be given full pay.
Besides you eaid that there were 10 esses, but I.
can tell you thei’e are 100’s of oases in the mines.
...57/-
57
Nobody says that they have T.3, * because they are
afraid that they will lose their Jobe,
oases of my friends.
ua,
Jose
s
I know 2
They have told no one except
They take treatment from private doctors,
I think what you said about full pay is right,
Them ax*e also such schemes for leprosy ana cancer
patients.
I think that no person has gone for
these schemes because he will have, to give up
his Job.
For mentally sick people also there is
a scheme .
Hsuanath t
There are mentally ill people- in the mines, but
the problem is that whan they get serio.us’ the a.ans.
gents nt throws them out of their Job, and then who
will take interest in them?
shocks in Fanjira.
Besides they give
I know of a case where after a
shock ho is alright for two or three days.
after that ’..e is worse than, before.
But
He does his
nonsense with more force, io if he is angry for
being given, the shock,
Jose
:
1 think you have a point there,
I am alec <juite
against the px*esent way of treating mentally ill
people •
Hemnf’.th. t
I hear they give help for those $>ho meet with
Jose
Tee they give help if the accident makes ths
accidents?
:
worker incapable of working or if he dies.
They
give Is. 25O/“ grant and monthly allowance of Ks, 50
s-
to Rs, 75.
58
-s
In 1980-81, 10 assets and 20 relatives
of those who died got a total of Re.6,663.35.
They
also give artificial limbs (hands and legs) when
a worker loses his limb.
Nobody got it this year.
However, this is only for workers who earn less
than Ke.500.00 per month.
Ramus, th ;
Jose
:
There are no such workers hers.
When & worker suffering for T.B., Cancer or mental
xllnees is in hospital, he may get a monthly allowan-
ce
of Es.55 to 40 per month.
Two 2.B. oases and
one cancer case got a little ever Hs.600 in 1980-81.
CBSS also gives grant of Rs.20 to a worker who needs
epees.
Kasina th :
This is a stupid scheme.
a scheme«
I have never heard of such
If we axe to get the Rs.20 we will have
to go to Psnjim at least 2 times and fill up may be
100 forms.
This will cost ub much more than Rs. 20,
So after we get the grant we will cow to know it is
a lose.
Jose
i
Yes it is a very impractical scheme.
This may be
because people who draw up the schemes in Delhi
do not know the conditions here.
2Rasmath t
EDUCATION;
Correct.
How can they know?
of travelling here?
Do they know the cost
Do they know the management here
In fact I can tell you of another such CESS
stupidity;
Thio is the Scholarships scheme.
Only
children of workers who earn less than Rs.200.^0
...59/-
?•» 59 «:
Nov tell
per month eaa get -these scholarships.
me is there any worker who gets leas than ?.s.200
per month*
Jose
t
According to the CEE ; t there are 422 student®
Tes.
who were given such scholarships in 1930—31., and
the total anount distributed was over 1 lakh
rupees.
Seamath ;
Mors cheating.
t?he CESS officer must have sent
his children to school with the money he collected
to pass the scholarships.
And bow ranch do they
give for this mid-day seal programme?
Jose
:
About Rs»1 ,37,000 wes spent in giving sneale to
school going children of mine workers.
353
students also got uniforms worth He,5000.
This
uniform scheme is also for those whose parents
do not eam more than Es«500 and hence vary few
workers get this facility for their children.
CSSS also give Es 2000 - grant for establishing
libraries in the mines but no library got it this
year.
Hguanath t
We have a library hare, but very few read anything
otiier than newspapers.
X don’t know why.
If th®
management could get Es.2000 grant then we could
have really good books.
And what about these
film shows?
3Jose
:
E E C R 3 A T X 0 N;
As far as the money side is concerned they spent
Rs.40,000 on the films they hired, in 1980-61.
...60/-
Zc»
•»;
*
A3.e<f tho club.- run by the mnagement can get 5C^
concession fox' bua.w'ixtig and sone grant fw smusl
espenditure for th© dub,
ftavuath j
Z will
you, fthat T co® to know, when X was
working for Salgaoncas?’ s»
badsdsten court»
They built an in—door
Can you believe it,
^h±s Qcsscg
jscst workers had swfe even hoard of, leave elons
seen,
And X can tell you* that it is very expensive
garaeF ’But they built it,
Why?
So that the asm*
g©ra could have a good time with the CBSS money,
Who knew those doyc what they were doing#
said they were building cv' hall#
®hey
We t/ore hagpy#
But you can see ^.at has tocos® of the hall today..
X have not gone‘there--oipx’'^' X left Se.lga<mcar’a
two years back,
Jc-se
t
She C.E3S'hlM> gives ,gr®at® for. sport«■ aaterlals#
T.-. ■■he ; or-’.r 'l9'r’C:-f
this ochonee-
db.put ;Rs,6jOf ’ were spent under
Sh.;v al«> give grants’ for organising
^f! ^rant ie about Rs#5^00
per year o.r 5te 500 per function#
In 19£0««8'? the
grratt ca^ra .-^to jRs»S500f for all ths fussetiono
that C£3S ga-ve financial help to,
Baisnatb s
'ay chovld this graiat bo s^.v&3 Ofilsr to the nsam-
getasnto?
Xf the wix^r.'Siri-3' or the unions Could get
tbu?.3 graiit we could havo organised very good
*’v^.
Jose
t
4
”o now gxowsds
■
built with CBSS funds’.in
,.,67/~
61 ">$
1980-81*
But they give Rs*3000 for building a
ground if the in*s.xi.-..«ment wants*
Rasmath j
They also lend mike and ’pendals’, I an told, for
a vary cheap rate,
Re,1 per loud speaker system
and Re, 15 per ’pcndal’*
Jose
t
Rasnath :
Sew atony people take feea
There ware four cases last year*
Workers are paying 100*s of rupees to hire such
things fi«oe pi"irate people*
Why can’t they inform
all the workers of these facilities*
of our big problems*
This is one
Because we ars ignorant we
do not get tiw facilities that are due- to us*
And
what about this housing scheme?
4Jose
:
H 0 V S I N 5*
The CSSS has two schemes to give grants to manage—
wonts to build quarters for workers*
This
year
only one grant f< ■ 8 houses was ■'•anotioned to
Bsndekar’s at Sir.yao Mines-
Rsunnath s
But what ie the use of building such big buildings
for workers if the mines are not going to ba there
for at least 20 years*
Jose
s
That ie a good point,
X think that some over all
planning needs to be done so that the houses may
be usefu.ll even if the mines die*
a scheme to ’build your own house’*
There is
also
You can get
Rs,600 subsidy and Rs, 900 loan,
Raana-fe ?
V.ho can build even a hut for cowa with Rs, 1500
today?
*,*62/-
Jose
;
But this scheme as only for those earning lees than
Ss«5C0 P&n? month
She ^oke is, if you e»m les® brvi
Rs,500 you can’t even think of building a house in
your dreams and if you ©am more than 500 you cbe
think of it.- but 02BS does not think of helping
you,
5Raraasth s
> g S a
S Q S J? Z X?
Vihat shout th© water supply a ©heroe?
Vfaere vac the
sonsy, that smell 1% spent?
Jose
$
X don’t know.
But no now schemes were saactiomd
in ths year .1980-81,
The subsidy could have been
got by the management to build a well or to aiato
arrangements to supply clean drinking water to
workers by pump etc.
Raronath ;
3cae
z
Rajssatfe ,
Are. these all their prograromes?
Yes.
So you see the problem with. CBSb,
People in Dslhi
who know nothing about Goa are deciding what is
good end what is bad,
They arc not keeping An
ssixsd what is good for all workers or fox* our
future,
Depending on th© wishes and X suppose
bribes of each management prograxsaes are being
sanctioned, by local officer®,
3oao
t
Aloo imxny worksx*© who are working on the min©® do
not get any facilities from CBSS,
service contract drivers,
Such as the
You know C2SB will
collect 50 yaiso per tome, from July this year,
63
That means 6 million rupee© I
Hssmth <
That is certainly
do about it?
But what can wo
lot of money.
They will spend it as they like and
we will ba the losers.
Jose
We «ou2,d try to put pressure on the nsanageiasnts
i
to bring programme© that are useful to workers
today anS in the future*
But which arc those programmes?
Kemnath i
Some study will
hav«3 to bo mdo by oom® expert people.
Jose
Yes,
s
Bor example wo could ask a doctor to study
how boot use could bo made of the money that 1&
spent on medical facilities and the drinking water
problom.
We ssa then ask the doctor to give very
practical solutions and demand that C23S bring such
programmes OR, w© could, try and study how the
housing expenditure abowld fee plana el.
It should
bs done in such a way that the houses do not
become useless in 10 years time,
Yoe but ar® yuch doctor® available?
Ramnsth 5
Jooe
I think they «rs( but wo have to look for them,
s
I
know one ouch doctor who will be willing to help,
I see,
Raronath t
But all these matters will have to be
discussed with the union leaders,
I think you should
meet them,
Jose
But what is the use of the union if the workers
«
will not come forward.
Hwonsth
t
The workers will com forward, if they are explained
the whole issue clearly and eimply and if they see
»*,64/"
64 «s
that they can benefit frota this*
Perhaps your
book will help, no?
Jose
$
gatnnnth s
I hope so*
The drawings you showed m® can help to mke things
quits sloar.
And froai whore did you get all
the nwabere and figure0?
Sas a
t
They are available in different books*
is®
give you a list erf books I rsad to collect this
information,
/"a list of books used for each chapter its
in page
&3jnsath i
What do you intend to do after yous* book le- prdxi«
ted.
S&se
i
I think 1 should diecues that with you.
65 -j
la- '
Ramnath »
Ahos,
So T asked you what you will do after your
book eecios out?
Jose
s
Well you see this study is a four year programme*
Shia is ths first yeas’*
So I thought It would bo
beet to diaauss souse overall pxxsblstau of the mining
industry*
Ramnath s
Yes,
That may be good*
praetlcal*
f
But thera ia nothing
It ia all very general*
What we have
di»ouased Is vary general<
t
Joan
l,hat,s right*
How that we have dis-cuss ©d. and &&&n
ao aangE yuaxhlsras wp can ohooee nanus particular
topic fox* detailed study to give practical solutions*
• «-----
__
*Sr£rtll DWrhisatt i&TSatt 44t-fcwk jj,.
i - -aa 43■■-■->
- T«
X.
Ramnath 1
S-
-rt-~ TXflUf-
I cannot say,
' **
qtudr
X will have to think about all th®
things you have said., and perhaps road your book.
When will it oosne out?
Jose
t
Ranmath s
j'lay be In one year*
Do eeiid me a copy*
But X think* that tho uxiion.
leaders should knowt what will be the test dojfttnd
to take up,
the union,
Joee
s
Then you can sake your study and teip
You should discuss this with them*
But as you have said the unions is not ves*y oso-ful
unless the asabarship supports it,
Raraaath :
That is true.
But the loaders will explain it to
...66/-
<sur lacsX ootwlttoes said they will then toll «*<
1’hem a meeting will be a ailed and
about it*
ueaieifSXonK nateen*
Jose
*
Oettld act such & meeting b© held after the book
is prlntod?
2h«n all th® workers eould partislpate
in residing What should be the topio and the deaand«
Saanath {
it is a &&&& idea*
doissess&ay*
Spocxally In these d»yg of
But X do not know Hew praetleal it to»
Tow «an speak te the union leaders and tsy*
B’xt
the worhjers will have to road your book and undwt^jtsnd.lt*
Jose
j
X don’t knew,
Ifou oan try*
....
Xes I think we can tsy*
Ssamath s
Aiid don’t-w^rty# if you naad..j^?/ help X will give
" “’-- ,
you full support,
£ eon give you a lot aow
taformatl os* " And do»X-t--.fja,.g.et to send ss© yom*
book*
Joao
■■-■- •■-■■■ ‘~~~-
T "'“fehtwk yo'u»
Raanath <
SH3?*“f»T»nk-t-vu» ‘^ftesup^-you ax*>
Why
doing it ■.'or out1 gooT^isS''th© good of all'--th®
©f 9o&*
ateV'UlsXi
.«uv/ IMfisi -Building,
W«2?
Hall,
Atfalliffl, ?A5?daai-f
m -4«3602s
I- 67
1«
Growth of Oare 5?a?&ff‘£a fchreug?*
Ka«ta&go« 7 art.
s
St
^^cduc-Siott and Btoplaymaat- in
Xrss 0»s Minas is Sea,
& 4 (I960 » SO)
*69
?koauction sad Eeipl-oywat in
Manganese Mnas la (*&&,
99
(1960 - S1 )
-70
EBtissatse of iron Oi?® Jtessswas
Is Goa.
9e
44
-71
«*
««
-72
5,
4t
s.
Eetk.jste® of M&fif/aaasa
In jt>e. t
(1946«47 te &Q^
asarvee
SBSS CelXsatlen ssid jlfs^enditss^
Is Ssas
4> tf (19^ te Mas‘<^xf31 )-73
7.
list si1 Velfars Sehstfiae fas1
Mlnsyfe (CESS?.
d4
99
3.
®he boafeg aad Ke^Ofts used ^oa?
tills fccuste.
4b
$. 0
Gt
«74
Srowth of Ore Si ffie cf ths Me eisgoa
®omag«s (in ’000 tonnes)
Yeats
1946M7
52
1947—48
75
1948-49
156
1949-50
144
1950-^1
259
5951-52
515
1952®5?
852
1952-54
1402
1954-55
1187
1955—5^
1561
1956-57
2077
1957-58
2042
1958-59
1973
1959«60
4585
1960-61
6217
Source*
”Seleatod Statisisles*1 ■» Mineral Ore Ssportsr*®
Association, San^lta, Qoa«
ooOoo
She fol: wing table aha we i .$ pwduotioa e fas a q&& (ttkalvAing
bls els iassh c**€) &isi the av&^age numbes? sf ws’ksi’s eraployed pes?
day# An the ferea os’f fflinssj
— AM -VJ <M« <OU MG Mi MSI lGS» (ua *G2 -JS GM
tear
Jhrodtwti an @£
iWXX <33?O
'
Men
(in *000 tames)
*•« «s* Ajo «A» .*» -«&» .W ffl3 CS w-X
1960
5,926
1961
1962
6,596
1963
5,509
6,052
1964
1965
1966
196?
6,130
-WJ «ra
go
«iu m ^a. 4-j»
f6i
■« mu
H6
■CS
'
<B
6,584
6,718
6,75'1
fist al
Weagii
hsw
cs« «®s
*j •«, «xj wsi
32,649*
«
SKd
»
tfi
an
6,042
1,758
7,800
9,238
12,478
9,604
3,240
3,215'
9,456
3,156
12,819
12,612
3,010
2,486
10,359
2,471
10,213
1,815
1,230
8,975
7,186
1968
6,857
8,864
1969
1970
7,657
9,138
7,853
1971
1973
10,235
7,74^
7,160
1973
1974
11,435
11,985
12,225
;
5,956
3,402
5,402
3,613
1,001
7,615
6,403
1975
1976
13,50g
14,795
:
':
5,939
6,002
1,147
1,122
7,124
1977
1978
11,362
j
»
a#
M
0
€»
«
5,000
1979
1980
S,759
12,960
■
13,805
11,874
7,086
a.
i “ “ ““
♦ Zrcm &j ata&ganefse alm wt>2*k©4*S,
1, Xaformtion
by the Biissetajmts ef Xndust^es an
Mines, 0ov@aias4ftt
0«a, Dam &rsd
i’&nJimjG&fe,
2. Infoymsitlon taken tram fiafcle 2,29i,* Average dall y
mn&i&yi&isi-t An ffiilnc?® in Oca* -3FACS SOOK OS
Jart I«
3« Inforraation given by the Oentijal Ama t* Lab aux1 OcmbI*’
a slexis 5?, V*,T.sa©,0®ss«
Q9&Q&
70 — x
T A B L 3
-3
PRODUCTION AMD BMPLOYMSNT IN MAHGANBS3 MUTES IN GOA;
I960 to "98Q
The following table shows the production of Manganese and.
Ferro-Hangansse ore in GOA, and the average number of wor
kers employed in the miness
Year
Production of
Manganese
(in ’000 tonnes)
1960
253
1961
171
402
1962
1963
-
-
-
568
566
455
322
1023
883
284
360
229
348
513
708
51
173
527
344
393
275
871
668
217
208
435
497
426
415
469
380
850
414
549
420
405
463
819
1012
357
244
777
578
89
43
118
1973
1974
114
150
1975
1976
154
92
1977
1978
80
1980
-
1967
1963
1979
-
Total
-
112
1971
1972
Wome n
-
1965
1966
1969
1970
Men
-
194
102
1964
Number of workers
employed
334
966
806
54
88
98
1- Information given by the Directorate of Irslustries and
Mines, Government of Goa, Daman and Diu, Panjim, Goa.
2- Information taken from Table 2.29 "Average Daily employ
ment in the mines in Goa, Daman and Diu", FACT BOOK ON
MAN POWER - Part I.
ooOoo
Satimates of reserves of Xrem Oyo in Goa in 19£j2
31 .
No,
iteuae ox -she deposit
,.■» M w I. w w a. .w -•* cw «*pc »»»««>«. *.» -:a co .-■> M
n. u. » m I» « «> <r» :> t,
Xrtaany ore} 2owder ore!! Tot al
& u. nails* and fines J
,„„£4n_iniliion t,oaasG<w cr. mb cm. Ka w» «s «
1. 3 ich ol io- Ad volpale
2. Sanque Him-Velguem-Psl e
26.03
131 .22
157.30
13.16
115.42
3. Pissurlem
4. Poicul
5. Govenem-Eolcamom
6.79
102.26
18.78
6. Sanai
7. Codli-Shigao
1.03
1 .23
0.10
14.06
1.65
3.40
0.27
55,43
20,30
1.17
0.33
14.83
3.68
9. Maulinguem—Barasan-Vilie m
10. Hi vo na- C era o na - C anvo x-e m ~N are 1 im
13.66
11. Undorna-Angod-Siri gal
12. Sulcoma
0.51
0.62
0.09
13. Neturlim deposit
14. Betul
1.52
0.71
•»
15. Mis cellane oue
Totals
0.19
0.16
87.41
4. 63
0.17
41.37
16.62
8. Santona-Oosti
4.62
25.57
2.63
0.05
4. 95
0.60
0.67
2. 23
2. 20
0.19
2.36
320.02
407.43
SI. Mo. of the deposits whose reserves are indicated in this table,
are the same SI.Mo. used for the Mining Map on page 18.
Source: figures computed from : Regional Plan for Goa, Volume Two.
s- 72 -s
TABLE
•» 5
EBtimated and. Indicated. Reserves pg Black Ito a. Ore and Mangaaeoe;
Haue of the deposit
Alack iron ore
(in toimee )
1 . Rivcjna deposit
Manganese ore
(in tosaaee)
23,215
4,36,257
2. Mates, Canvorem-Navelisn
-
2,40,910
3. Birla-Neturlim deposits
2,25,795
1,80,309
4. Tudon-Saligini deposit
3,195
1,32,438
5. Talauli-Vilicn deposits
7,317
39,592
6. Miscellaneous deposits
3, 57,125
2,00,381
6,26,647
12,29,837
Tot a It-
The ores which contain 6 to 20$ manganese and the balance iron
upto a total metal content of 55$ are termed as Black Iron Ore
Manganese ore proper, generally contains manganese ranging from
25 to 45$ and the average is around 38$.
Source: Regional Plan for Goa, Volume two.
ooOoo
TABLE
-6
The following table shows amounts collected by the CESS organisa
tion and the total amount spent on various welfare schemes, in each
year from 168 onwards.
Year
1968 (5/68 )
Expenditure incurred
in Rs.
snount of Cess collected
in Rs.
54,90,980.00
20,44,495.00
45,200 . 00
1968-69
1969-70
95,800.00
2,44,707.00
20,99,272.00
1970-71
7,00,400.00
23,03,654.00
1971-72
11,08,700.00
25,73,659.00
1972-75
13,89,700.00
18,91,000.00
31,64,005.00
17,41,600.00
not available
20,30,500.00
21 ,30,557.00
not available
24,91,000,00
24,71,000.00
1975-74
1974-75
1975-76
1976-77
1977-78
1978-79
1979-80
1980-81
31,65,807.00
29,37,000.00
24,66,000.00
30,00,000.00
30,08,000.00
32,93,000.00
33,05,000.00
24,70,000.00
The balance between collection and expenditure is kept in a
’consolidate d fund * at Delhi0
For example in the year 1980-81:
Collection
*>
Expenditure
Balance :-
»
33,05,000.00
- 24,70«000,00
ffi§&2§&§00&00
This balance of Rs. 8,35,000.00 will be kept at Delhi as a
•Consolidated Cess Fund*.
Sourcet Iron Ore Hines Labour Welfare Organi sation,
Panjim Office.
00O00
74
WELFARE SCHEMES FOR,MINERS
IRON ORB KIl.-SS LABOUR WELFARE ORGANISATION GOA
AND
MAHARASHTRA
SI.No.
H S A L TH
1 , Grant-in-aid for dieper.sa_y services.
2. Scheme for financial assistance for construction of
dispe nsary build ing«
■ 3. Grant in aid for maternity centre.
4. Supply of artificial limb.
5. Ratal and serious accidents benefit scheme.
6. Scheme for treatment of miners for mental diseases.
7. Scheme for treatment of iron ore mine -workers suffering from
C 3&C C X* ♦
Scheme for reservation of beds in 2.B.Hosp ital.
Treatment of iron ore miners suffering from T.B. Domi ciliary
treatment.
10. Instruction for using ambulance vans.
11. Provision for mobile medical units.
12. Scheme for leprosy relief for iron ore miners.
8.
9.
HOUSING
13.
14.
15.
Low Cost Housing Scheme
New Housing Scheme.
Build, your own House Scheme.
16.
17.
financial assistance for implementing water supply scheme.
Scheme for sinking of 'wells in iron ore mining areas.
18.
19.
Scheme for award Of scholarships to miners’ children.
Financial assistance for furniture and educational equipment
to scnools located in mi-.ing areas.
Mid-day refreshments to miners’ children,
Grant-in-aid for libraries.
Scheme for establishment of central library cum reading room
Supply of school uniforms to children of minors studying in
Primary Classes.
Rules for supply of text books. .
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
W A T B R
SUPPLY
EDUCATION
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
Grant-in-aid for welfare centre.
Grant-in-aid for provision of sports ground.
Scheme for organising sports, games and cultural activities.
Scheme for establishment of Audio Visual sets.
Holiday home for miners.
Hiring of public address system (microphone)
Provision of radio sets and loud speakers.
Sources
Welfare Schemes for Miners,
Ministry of Labour,Iron Ore Mines Labour
Welfare Organisation, Panjim, 1978.
A note on the
15 year Perspective Plan
for
the Development of Goa, Daman & Diu, prepared by the Administrative
Staff College, Hyderabad, on a consultancy paid for by the Goa
Government.
For circulation among those, interested in the Goa Dialogue and
among people interested in these questions generally.
Introduction
In 1976-77, or thereabouts, the Goa Government of Mrs* S. Kakodkar
invited consultants from the Administrative Staff College, Hyderabad,
to prepare on a professional consultancy basis a long term plan for
the development of Goa, Daman and Diu. The Staff College is one of
the most prestigious management institutes in the country. The team
of consultants from the College was headed by Mr. E. 0. Maciel, who
has since joined another organization in Bombay.
What emerged from the consultancy exercise is now known as the 15
year Perspective Plan for the development of Goa, Daman and Diu.
The plan, it is needless to say, was prepared -without consulting
leaders of opinion, leaders of different communities and associations
and certainly, the Goan population at large.
The Goa Government of Mr. Rane has accepted the plan in toto, which
minor modifications (these are not real changes, but merely increases
in certain sector outlays).
So, for the next 15 years, Goa's development and yours may take the
shape outlined by a bunch of non-Goans, who juggled statistics offered
by out various departments, and wrote the report while sitting in one
of the fanciest management institutes this country can boast of.
What fojLLows is a summary of the. Per spec tive Plan and other technical
details. This summary is for your information. You are requested to
read the entire document - there are two xeroxed copies in circulation
among our circle (Government had decreed that the Plan Document should
remain "restricted" in circulation. So much for what is said about
our democracies).
The Perspective Plan's life is from 1978-1993•
This period will synchronize with the three 5 years plans of the
Indian’ Government as follows:
1978-1983
Sixth Five Year Plan
1983-19.88
Seventh live Year Plan
1988-1993
Eight Five Year Plan
2
The objectives of the Perspective Plan are as follows:
1)
To solve the problem of unemployment of both educated and
uneducated in the territory in 10 years i.e. by the end of the
Seventh Plan period (1978-1988).
•2)
To double the State Domestic Products with an overall growth
rate of 7$ per year, so that the per capita income is also
: doubled from Rs.1270 to Rs.25^0.
3)
There will be more emphasis on the development of the hitherto
neglected, backward, inland talukas.
M-)
Better land use and of the environment in the settlement of the
Goan population.
5)
The plan greatly emphasizes conservation and ecological balance.
6)
Rural developments
7)
Special attention to poor and backward classes of the Goan
population.
Silent features and quoted from the Document
1)
This is a 15 year Perspective Plan, a long-range, long-term
view of the Goan economy. The argument is that only in long
term planning of this sort, can one for see and accomodate for
the minimization of various imbalances in the economy.
2)
The approach followed in the preparation, of the Perspective Plan
is one based on "resource endownment" i.e. the resource poten
tialities available in the economy and the territory's needs
and capabilities to harness them in future - a "management of
resources" approach.
3)
In the past fifteen years, the basis objective aimed at in the
various developmental programmes were self-sufficiency in
opportunities and raising the general standard of living of the
people.
h-)
Both the objectives of increasing the agricultural income and
the need for self-sufficiency in foodgrains can be achieved only
if the irrigated areas to the net sown area in the territory
is increased to at least 30-35$ from the present 9.8$.
5)
Mining cannot be an all - time asset. Precautions are to be taken
sufficiently in advance to prepare for the day when the assets
will no longer be available and when a large number of persons
employed in this major industry would have to be shown alternative
avenues of employment.
3
6)
But this occupation - fishing - has reached a .stage that it can
no longer be carried on along traditional lines. It is difficult
to tap the availability of marine resources to the maximum by
depending upon the practice of fishing with non-mechanization
and better and modern techniques of management.
7)
A perspective plan can neither be definitive nor mandatory. It
outlines major trends of development that are desired or expected
in the long run, talcing demographic, social and other factors
into account. A short term plan (like the five year plans) is
generally prepared without taking stock and accounting for the
long term effects of the Outputs on the total system. Such a
development leads to several imbalances which in the long tun
influence the economy negatively.
8)
Between 19.70-71 and 1975-76, the growth rate of the Goan economy
was 8.4$. The per capita income went.up to Rs.1224.94 from
Rs.915*70 in 197O-71> Compared to the all Indian figure of
Rs.695.
9)
The population per bank office is 6,000 compared to the national
average of 29000.
10)
Population growth rate
Urban population growth rate
. Influx of outsiders
11)
The plan requires the following conditions for making Goa
self-sufficient in food:
:
:
:
37$ (national average : 25$)
125$ (38$ national average)
1.37 lakhs
The net sown area must increase from 1,33,575 ha to 1,60,000
ha between 1978-1993.
Irrigated area must increase from 10,000 ha to 60 ha in
the same period.
■ "
Die growth rate in paddy cultivation daould be 5$ instead
of 2$ as at present.
Bae yield of paddy per ha should increase.
There are seven chapters, two statements on outlays, and four
appendices. The Chapters are as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Profile of the Economy: pp 1-21
Approach. Issues and. Objectives: pp
22-30
Macro-Economic Framework: pp 31-52
Sector-Wise Analysis and Proposals: pp 53-284
4
Agriculture pp 53-69
Animal Husbandry pp 70-80
Fisheries
PP 81-93
Forestry
PP 94-103
Industry
PP 104-144
Mining
PP 145-154
Tourism
PP 155-181
Irrigation
PP 182-192
4.9 Power
PP 193- 203
4.10
Transport and Communications pp 204-220
4.11
Education
pp 221-238
4.12
Social Services pp 239-250
4.13
Rural Urban Development pp 251-264
4.14
Co-operation
pp 265-275
4.15
Institutional Finance pp 276-284
5.
Organizational Arrangements: pp 285-294
6.‘
Financial Resources:' pp 29 5-303
7.
' Plan Formulation, Implementation, Monitoring and
Evaluation
pp 304-309
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
Statement 1:
Sector-wise plan outlays'for the Perspective Plan
period at 1970-71 prices.
Statement 2:
Detailed sector wise sixth plan outlays'at current
prices.
Appendix I:
Population Projections (1978-1993)
Appendix II:
Estimates of Urban and Rural Distribution (1978-1993)
Appendix III:
Projections for Working Population in Goa, Daman
and Diu (1978-1993)
Appendix IV:
Estimation of Daman for Labour Force during the
Perspective Plan period.
Background Material
Lokayan 16/17 May? 1981.
■ GOLDEN GOA THAT’WAS
(From Marg special issue bn Goa)
Golden Goa is the legendary name given to the paradi sal landscape
on the western coast of India.
The beauty of nature, with the blue bays, creeks, and inlets.of
water lapping on the' shores of wooden hills and valleys and at times
kissing the long’ stretch of beaches, make a dramatic setting for. the
good lif e, and through the centuries waves of‘people from the mainland
came and settled here and built up intimate cultures.
The Portuguese adventurers of the sixteenth century made Goa
harbour the base for their ambition and to found a maritime Empire.
With the gunboats came the little ships carrying churchmen, and soon
under imperial orders, the local population was asked to seek the
Christian faith.
Strange enough, a rich synthesis emerged in the building of.'
churches, cathedrals, chapels and the incidental crafts of ivory and
woodcarving, in the hands of Portuguese and Spanish master builders
and the local artisans*
The resultant architecture was a Baroque style of unique tropical
splendour, unmatched, in any other colonised part of the world.
The tiny strip adjacent to the cost and the main rivers, is as
protected as it was isolated by the natural barrier of the Western
Ghats and dense forest. Geographically, therefore it is a secluded
country lying between tiwo major cultural regions, the Marathi and
Kanarese. The local language, Konkani-^ is not (as is often ’supposed)
a sort of pidgen Marathi but a fully differentiated language derived
from Sanskrit and the Prakrits on a line paralled with that of Marathi
.and Kanarese. Konkani has many Portuguese, Arabic and Marathi
.
.additions nowadays but until recently the locality of birth according
to not only district but village group could be ascertained from a
person's local Konkani variant.
Some little ironies strikingly refute the stereotype image of
Goans as facile exponents of westernisation. While the gastronomy of
the region is not surprisingly among India s most spectacular, what is
much less appreciated is that Goa is a centre of Hindu pilgrimage, ancestral shrines drawing people from many parts of India. In fact,
one of the sole remaining temples in India still dedicated to the
worships of Brahma is is Goa, and possesses moreover one of the
finest MURTI, idol of the South. Is it not a significant irony that
the one voice which-the millions throughout India love as the very
voice of Mother^India belongs to a woman who hails from Goa? How
many of her admirers know that Lata Mangeshkar^ greatest of the movie
playback singers, bears the name of Sri Mangesa, most revered deity
of Goa, in whose famous temple hear. Ponda, her family had given
service for unnumbered generation's? *** Excerpts culled out from the
Marg Publications, Golden Goa, 1980.
GOLDEN GOA: My Foot I
.
'
The GGVARASHTRA (Goa),-after 19 years of euphemistic liberation
has been systematically sapped of it's riches arid is fast heading
towards a 'land of the Jackals'.
2
Goa today flooded with an influx of people from the neighbouring
states, who, besides eating into,, the. economic, and land resources of
the Govarashtra, are threatening.to devour the Goan-'ethos* culturally
and socially-as well.
Wide-spread phenomenon of "Educated Unemployment" of a large
number of Goah youngsters; break neck speed In the exploitation of
Goa's iron ore, manganese, and mineral resources by politically
influential private mine owners/exporters; ruthless moving down of
strategic .and'valuable forests by an aggressive and corrupt lobby of
forest contractors systematic efforts to eliminate the traditional,
rural-tffied self-employed cottage occupations like toddy tappers,
ramponkars (Country boat fishermen), Carpenters, potters, artisans,
dhangers and velips (Hill tribes) by. introducing every mode of
eliminating factors vis-a-vis their occupations, are some of the
notorious achievements of the various governments that have ruled
and rule Goa till today.
Despite’19 years of much trumpeted'self rule,, there are several
hamlpts in Goa which do not enjoy the benefit' of potable water,
electricity, medical services, transport, schools and proper roads
and paths.
On the other hand, while .the feverish private mining .activity has
turned out yester year petty shop-keepers and vegetable sellers into
mul, t-.i -mi Hi onai.res, vast tracts of fertile green lands and habi tanions
have been swamped by-mining rejects rendering paddy and coconut culture
impossible to thousand's of'agriculturi st s in Goa, with total impunity
to the codified mining laws and regulations® At this hour buried under
the heavy weights of dust as- far as Goa and it’s Government isconcerned!
■
Horticulture like coconut, cashew,, pineapple, chiku, papayas,
plantations‘which-would'have been the only future for. Goa are being
monopolised by the rich;multinationals and non-Gdan businessman/'
politicians who.have bought up large tracts of green land, at Sanguem,
Quepem, Canacona and Satari Talukas, at a throwaway prices. Similarly,
a large'percentage of hotels, tourist peraphernelia, business inlets
land outlets are'today monbpolised by a large number of . non-Goans, who
in turn import non-Goan labour- at marginal (starvation level)
salaries: and yages.
' ’
'
The few big. size industries that gate crashed, into Goa for the
love of its cheap land soft loans, subsidies and other incentives
(and not for their love of Goans; have donated Pollution to the
various rivers and estuaries of Goa. Whether it be Zuari Agro Chemicals
Madras Rubber Factory or.' Ci ba Geigy or the. various prawn processing
plants scattered 'all over Goa. Their only benefit to Goa are the large
number of slum type illegal hutments to house their non-Goan labour.
The various 3 star and 5 star hotels, "Tourist Resorts" and
"Enclosures" built all over the Goan territory have not only rendered
Goans aliens in their own homeland but they have turned out to be
exclusive enclaves of epicurian affluence and vulgur entertainment
with unsatiable appetite'to'consume the best produce of the Goan
Society. While hundreds and thousands off genuine tourists are forced
to spend their nights on foot paths, pavements and public gardens.
Goan beaches, bus stands and railway station on the other hand, have
been systematically turned into centres of nudism, drugging, filth and
profligate prostitution all encouraged by the Governmental authorities
under'the clumsy banner of "Tourism industry". Undaunted by universal
failures'like in, Sri. Lanka, Phillippines arid Kandala in India the
existing Government is busy lobbing for an EPZ (Export Promotion Zone)
to invite multinationale through the back door under the dubious
slogan of 'employment for the local population*.
3
Besides carrying the yoke of the non-Goan bureaucrats and
businessman the Goan masses are today saddled with a brood.of young
politicians who have formally joined the national mainstream in the
realm of "corruption", "nepotism" and "political turn coatmanship"»
They are in league with the rich mine owners, liquor distillers,
land lords, forest contractors, saw mill owners, cashew nut wholesalers
big time transport operators, real estate and houring contractors,
mechanised fishing boat owners and with the business community at
large which are the de facto oppressors of Goans. Whereas, vast
multitude of people are left today groping in darkness to find their
constant friends and check mate their permanent enemies* In brief,
every existing politician today stands potentially doomed by his
faulutes - despite the tall publicity and face lift given to them .by
the Goan media.
Let me remind you and our fellow Goans that it won't be long
before Goa is turned into another Sahara* The "desertification'1 process
of Goan economy, minerals, land and forest resources, classical man
power potential, and it's unique cultural ethos which began since 1961,
has already yielded encouraging results for the die-hard enemies of
Goa and Goans at large. What with nearly 40$ non-Goans residing in
Goa and a bunch of Goan vested interests to assert their predominance
over us?
»
'■ Will you let "The Pearl of the East", "GOLDEN GOA", "The Star
of the East" to be converted into another dead meteor?
Think like the Goans feel,
Speak as the Goans do - Konkani,
Be as the Goans are - Socialists.
LEO
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“BOLAIKINI”
The Home of Health
DR. (MRS) M. COREIA ALFONSO
On the 15th April 1978, we had the blessing of
Bolaikini—The Home of Good Health. The word
“Bolaikini” means good health in Konkani. It was
a dream come true after many years of thought
and careful planning. It is now a centre of my scattergd medical practice and also a place where we
launch out into, the many social welfare
schemes we would like to introduce in our villages.
Benaulim is a typical Indian Village located in
South Goa having a population of 10,000. It lies
on the west coast amidst swaying coconut palms.
The people are mostly fisher-folk and carpenters.
The aims of Bolaikini are to inform and edu
cate the people in public health and hygiene with
a concern for human values and at the same time
be a centre of medical aid which would be given
free of cost to the deserving. The Catholic Hospi
tal Association was approached in this regard for
drugs and other assistance.
Working in rural areas does bring out prob
lems quite different from those faced in urban
practice. Basic problems like sanitation, hygiene,
r^Ke disposal have to be dealt with by the doctor
a™ great deal of time is spent making people
conscious of the importance of clean and healthy
surroundings and personal hygiene as a means of
ensuring good health. Amoebic dysentry, helm
inthiasis and malaria are great scourges with
which we are confronted in our village practice.
This year we have placed great emphasis on
child care and health and we have gone all out to
invite mothers to bring their babies to the Clinic
where they are weighed at each visit and advice
given on infant care, feeding and innoculations
against Diptheria, Whooping Cough, Tetanus, and
Polio BCG. The children commonly suffer from
Helminthiasis and Calcium deficiency.
One of the great Socio-medical problems we
face here is chronic alcoholism. As South Goa is
a large coconut growing area, the production of
palm alcohol or “fenny” is a prosperous home
industry and heavy addition to alcohol is fairly
common. We at Bolaikini have tried to start
going out to these cases to explain the evils of exc
essive drinking. A great deal of tact and patience
is required in such cases and though we have not
had any successful case so far it is certainly not
due to lack of trying!
Besides being a medical centre, I have been
trying to project Bolaikini as a social centre to
deal with the various cases which are peculiar to
village society. 1 have found quite a few problems
do arise in the case of our young domestic women
servants, who due to economic reasons and lack of
education, are forced to seek work at a very
early age. So when the Clinic is not in use, we
have made the waiting room available for holding
classes in Crochet, Embroidery and Tailoring
which will be of benefit to these girls.
We do hope, to invite specialists in the field of
Ophthalmology and early cancer detection to Bol
aikini, which will certainly go a long way to meet
the medical requirements of our Village, and the
cases which require specialized care, will be refer
red to Centres in Margao or Panjim where they
will get the necessary medical aid. We also will
try to rehabilitate them as much as possible.
India is a land of villages and no less a person
than Gandhiji opined that the future of India lay
in her villages. The Janata Government at the
Centre has rightly set about reorienting the priori
ties in planning economic development to shift the
emphasis from the urban to rural sector. It is in
this context that the importance of projects such
as ours at Bolaikini has to be considered. We feel
that in our own small way we have a vital role to
play in the exciting task of nation-building.
A discussion paper
A
PERSPECTIVE
FOR
SOCIAL
FREEDOM
INTRODUCTION :
Among the many papers circulated and presented at the Western Zonal
Civil Liberties Conference, Bombay, Oct. 19-21, 1980, was one on
" The Many Faces of Authoritarianism ".
As attempts had been made to circulate this paper in advance of the
Conference itself, to enable participants to study it at leisure, so
at the Conference proper the presentation took the form of a brief
summary, a re-statement of the purpose, and a further attempt to
extend and deepen its position.
This paper, now (A) records that presentation, (B) develops, a pers
pective for social freedom as a continuation of and a counter-point
to the many faces of authoritarianism.
A - THE PRESENTATION:
I -
Summary: The discussion paper on " The Many Faces of
Authoritarianism "
a - argues that authoritarianism does not exist in the
sphere of Politics only but also in other social
spheres.. It is equally necessary to study this pheno
menon in all spheres for its manifestations are inter
linked;
b - itself takes up five such spheres for examination:
Social, Cultural, Religious, Economic and Political;
c - studies the phenomenon of authoritarianism in each of
these spheres.both subjectively i.e. from the point of
view of the individual e.g. attitude and objectively
i.e. from the point of view of the social milieu e.g.
social structures;
d~- also studies it in depth i.e. in space and time, or,
if one prefers, as a process and as presently manifest.
Authoritarianism is studied both as a concrete reality
and in its historical development. For this purpose a
distinction is made between Authoritarianism and Autho
rity. The latter is seen to be the 'historical truth'
of authoritarianism i.e. the source of its origin and
of its continued persistence. Authoritarianism is
seen as 'corrupt authority'.
The above constitutes the main argument/thesis of the Paper.
The rest is by way of examples, illustrations, quotations,
etc. to explain and bring out the main thesis for the
purpose of establishing a prima facie case so that there
can be further enquiry into the matter.
II-
Purpose: Specifically what is the reason why the Paper
takes up the question of Authoritarianism in the
way it does ?
- It does not take up the question to study it merely
academically - though this too is done;
- It does not take up this question to merely describe
the phenomenon - though this too is important and is
attempted;
- It does not take up this question merely to interpret
i.e. to comprehend the phenomenon of authoritarianism
- though this too is essential as a starting-point.
. ..2.
2
It takes up this question of. authoritarianism- •-
- as a necessary and essential part of the struggle against
authoritarianism;
.
- so that the struggle is carried on more effecitively and
efficiently;
- to do away fully and finally with authoritarianism as
a dominant aspect of social life for all time to come
i.e. to ensure the triumph of "freedom'1, social freedom,
over authoritarianism for the foreseeable future 1
In order to achieve this it is necessary not only to grasp
the reality of authoritarianism at the Intellectual level
but also to pose concrete steps for its eradication. This
is what we propose to undertake here.
Ill-
Counter-point:
e) Social Freedom in the modern period must mean the exer
cise of rights. The rights to hold, express and pursue
as individuals, groups, sections, classes, societies
their respective view-points keeping in mind only the
historical development of human kind upto the present
time.
b) This can be done with benefit we believe only if the
following principles are widely accepted:
- as regards Attitude - the principle of the one-ness
of humankind;
• as regards Social Structures - the principle of
expansion and deepening i.e. the drawing in of more
and more people at all levels - from mere.partici
pation, through active execution, to decision-making
and implementation -, 'and over widening of interests
to cover the whole range of human activities for any
given individual, group, section, class or society.
More, specifically, in this country we' suggest greater
attention to and emphasis on :
- the principle of social equality in the social sphere;
-' the principle of People's Culture in the cultural
sphere;
- The principle of the sanctity of individual belief
in the religious sphere;
- the principle of the collective guarantee of basic
human needs e.g. food, shelter, clothing, education
and health in the economic sphere, and
- the principle of competence and ability in the
political sphere.
(It is these points that we will elaborate upon in the
second half of this Paper)
IV - Concluding Remarks: The point is that in this period as
never before authoritarianism pervades every dimension of
collective life, of social human relationships, albeit in
varying degrees. This total pervasion threatens to utterly
destroy all the freedoms that humankind has won through
centuries of struggle. In other words, the authoritarian
form of social relations acts as fetters on the further
development and progress of' humankind. The choice then is
between authoritarianism and destruction or freedom and
survival. The very practice of the art of the latter leads
to the diminution and ultimate elimination of the former.
.. .3.
3
B - THE PERSPECTIVE.
I - Attitude: Looked at from the point of view ®f the subjective
i.e. from tha t of the individual, it is the type of attitu
de that one holds vis-a-vis other human beings that is the
raw material, the plasma, which under certain given conditions
e.g. with power as the ability to condition and shape the
lives of others, gives rise to authoritarianism.
Broadly speaking such attitudes can be classified as follows:
a - The attitude of absolute uniqueness. Such an attitude
divides the world into 'I' and 'them', into 'me' and
'others'. It is reflected in such 'sayings as 'Hell is
other people'. Historically it is to be seen in messiahs,
prophets, mystics, absolute monarchs, 'great leaders',
dictators, monopolists-of-truth i.e. know-it-alls, selfrighteous, confirmed rebels, etc.
Such an attitude sees the..'I' as distinct from all other
human beings in absolute terms which means that it is
either more or less human than all other human beings.
Eithpr way it encourages the rise of authoritarianism in the former case the 'I' tends to authoritarianism
being super-human,in the latter the 'other' tends to
authoritarianism the 'I' being sub-human.
b - The attitude of absolute sectarian uniqueness. Such an
attitude replaces the 'I' of the above by 'We'. It
divides the world of human beings into 'we' and 'they'.
It is reflected' in.such sayings as " We are the chosen
people", " We are the protectors of democracy ", " We
must uplift the masses " and in such phrases as ' the
white man's burden ', ' the life-giving message ', etc.
Historically this attitude has been manifest in communalism, elitism,, national jingoism, male chauvinism,
brahminism, oligarchism, intellectualism, etc. At pre
sent it is to be observed most clearly in politicians
who believe that .it is they and only they who 'run' the
country and in 'captains' of industry and finance who
are convinced that it is they and only they who bring
about progress. It is also to be observed among intel
lectuals, scientists, neoliterates, noveau riche, etc.
Of course in all these cases the underlying attitude
takes a variety of form and expression and it is neces
sary that all these be distinguished and separately
understood.
But there is another type of attitude possible that is the
raw material, the plasma, which under the same condition of
power gives rise to Social Freedom and not to authoritaria
nism.
Such an attitude believes in the fundamental one-ness of
human-kind even as it recognises and insists on individual
differences. In fact it holds that individual differences are
at all possible precisely because there is an underlying
commonality. If this was not so .there could not even be re
cognition as no such recognition is at all poss'ible between
absolutely unique beings.
This attitude sees all history as the history of the human
race and common men and women as the creators of that history.
It sees every individual human experience as a validly true
experience and 'objective truth' as the pattern woven by the
intermingling of• ijhese .various subjective truths. It believes
that every individual can and in-fact does participate in
this 'objective truth' and therefore can come to comprehend
and grasp it. It is highly critical of any opinion that tends
.. .4.
4
to make 'objective truth1 che preserve, monopoly, prero
gative, of any individual, group, sect, race, class,society
• r section less than that of all human-kind, past, present
wand future.
'
It claims that entire history has been the gradual evolu
tion of this view. In the political sphere it points to the
struggles for democracy, in the economic sphere it points
to. those for socialism, in the religious sphere it points
to the demand for the right to individual beliefs, in the
cultural sphere it refers to the struggle for individual
expression and in the social sphere to that for personal
independence.
It argues that all education, science, coiTjmupipation,
social organisation, etc. would be meaningless if not wellnigh impossible, if there was not a. deep underlying common
ality between human beings. In fact it states that autho
ritarianism itself would be impossible if there was not a
common-ness between the dominating and the dominated, the
exploiter and the exploited, the oppressor and the oppres
sed.
Within this context then it sees authoritarianism as an
inadequacy, a misconception, a subjectivity, a self-aliena
tion and therefore destructive. It sees authoritarianism
as a mistaking of the part, of the individual or sect, for
the whole. It sees authoritarianism, therefore, as resul
ting from ignorance, pettiness and trivialisation of human
potentiality.
In accordance with its principle that every experience has
a certain validity, the attitude that leads to Social
Freedom sees in the experiences and lives of authoritarians
like Napoleon, Hitler, Mussolini, the Shah of Iran, Stalin,
important lessons for others who would follow an authori
tarian path and in the lives and experiences of the victims
of these, lessons of significance for those who still re
tain an authoritarian like attitude and even sometimes
irreponsibly express themselves in favour of authoritaria
nism.
Such an attitude also recognises that while attitudes may
give rise to social structures, it is also true that social
structures themselves strengthen,;induce, perpetuate atti
tudes. It is understandable therefore that in a society
in which authoritarian structures predominate the greater
majority of people should take such forms as the only pos
sible ones of human relationships. It is only through the
study of the historical process i.e. the study of the
experience of humankind, that it is at all possible even
to visualise structures other than those that are dominant
at any particular period of time. But the meaningful
study of history itself presupposes the acceptance of the
possibility that the experiences of others have some rele
vance to oneself.
■II- SOCIAL STRUCTURES: It is clear that the social structures
necessary to express, concretise and perpetuate such an
attitude.for social freedom must be radically different
from those of authoritarianism. We suggest that social
structures for Social Freedom musthave the following cha
racteristics :
a - They must be self-expanding: (i) drawing in more and
more people, (ii) extending themselves to embrace ah
ever widening range of- human activities.
5
This is in keeping with an att '.tude that credits every
human being with a certain insight into the truth and
every human experience with a certain validity.
b - They must be self-deepening: (i) permitting and in fact
encouraging people to deepen their commitment from pas
sive participation, through execution, to decision
making and implementation, (ii) probing the most funda
mental experiences both 'as they are to be found at the
present time and as they .are to be discovered in human
kind's earliest experience.
Two points need to be noted here :
(i) There is a relationship between the expansion of
experiences and their deepening, one giving rise to
the other. At the same time this is not a necessary
connection as cen be seen in existing cases of ex
treme and, it may be said, 'over'-specialisation.
(ii) Even with these two characteristics a fundamental
break has been made with authoritarian structures.
These latter tend to ever narrow themselves both .
regarding interest as well, as in excluding others.
For instance they make birth a factor of admittance
e.g. brahminism, or certain material requirements
e.g. money, degrees, or even colour and sex e.g.
racism, male chauvinism. In the modern period it
is linkage with a geographical area that mav give
rise to such exclusiveness e.g. national jingoism.
This is not to say that all these are equally au
thoritarian/ but the test must be in the tendency
of existing structures to open out or to narrow
down.
History clearly shows the tendenefy for the opening
out of and. increasing complexity of social struc
tures. Authoritarianism seeks their narrowing dovTn
and simplification. But people themselves make his
tory and if they have not learnt its lessons they
are condemned to repeat it. Hence in the present
period the prospect for authoritarianism is a very
real prospect. Perhaps so real that it may be more
realistic to permit them to learn through their
real experience than to expect them to learn through
deriving the lessons of history. Such a position
is Itself an indicator of the extent to which the
lives of common people have been impregnated by
authoritarian structures.
We are now in a better position to apply the above general observa
tions which we believe are true irrespective of time and place, re
latively speaking, to the specific conditions prevailing in this
country. In doing this we will attempt to take up each of our five
spheres of interest for independent examination. We are aware that
they are inter-related, but we also believe that at.least for the
purposes of analysis and elaboration they can be dealt with separa
tely i.e. there has been uneven development between them. This means
that in this context they can be dealt with individually and speci
fically and in fact this is exactly what needs to be done.
I - IN THE SOCIAL SPHERE - THE NEED FOR SOCIAL EQUALITY.
If we examine the social conditions prevailing in this country
we note that minimum impact has been made by the concept of
Equality when applied to existing social structures. Legally and
politically at least some tribute has been paid to this concept
e.g. embodiment of this principle in the Constitution, the prin
ciple of one adult, one vote. True this is not enough. True
even that it is sometimes, if not most often, used as a cover up
.. .6.
6
to perpetuate inequality but the fact remains that it has been
given objective validity and this enables those’ concerned to
the more easily point out its inadequacies and its abuses.
There has not even been such objective validation of this
principle in the social sphere. It has been taken for granted
that its politico-legal embodiment suffices. How terribly in
adequate this has been - granting good intentions - can be seen
in the fact that i..i giving 'legal' protection .to scheduled
castes and tribes, their social inequality has been structural
ly perpetuated and politicians playing on caste feelings. This
has become so common a feature that when the composition of
any body is announced the first thing one looks for is its caste
composition.
Is it at all surprising then that our society is reft by caste,
class, communal, regional, sex differences ? Indeed it would
have been very surprising if this was not the case seeing that
little or no structural changes have been made towards social
equality.
In keeping with our general approach we believe that as astarting point there must be both a change in attitude and a
change in social structures.
And we believe that the basis for a start :has already been laid.
The political frame-work of this country unites the people as
political beings. If this unity is given social currency a step
towards social equality will have been taken. In other words
we are suggesting a re-construction of society on the basis of
citizenship.
The modern concept of 'Citizen1 precludes differences on the
basis of caste', class, sex, race, region, whatever. Its con
comitant is that any one w!to, practises these to that extent
deprecates and foregoes one's claims to citizenship and to
whatever benefits one may derive from the same. In brief, in
their social roles individuals should be judged by how close
they approximate to the full concept of citizenship. This means
that the attitude when perusing lists of 'prominent citizens'
should not be, as at present, to look for their caste, communal
or other affiliations, but:rather to examine how far in their
social lives they have indeed practised citizenship. Looked at
from this point of view an entire list may be composed of the
members of one corrmunity and yet it would not at all be rightly
called communal for every one of the individuals on it may ac
tually practise citizenship in their social dealings.
It will immediately be seen that no one merely to give a list
a broad-based appearance will be able.to take advantage of his
caste or community as at present tp get inclusion in it.
Once this way.of looking at things is accepted it will also be
seen that a whole new range cf possibilities opens out. For
instance a standard form of address 'Citizen', could be adopted;
citizen organisations around a whole range of activities could
be started; the focus of social studies could be the degree to
which individuals, groups, sections, classes practised the prin
ciples of citizenship. Above all public figures, moulders of
public opinion, media etc. could be judged according to~whether
they were 'good' citizens or 'bad' citizens.
One wonders how the present makers of public opinionwould fare
if such a criteria were tobe applied to them.
■!.”
> •
?'
■ .'
.... 7.
7 -
Let us see what happens when we apply our proposed criteria iio
concrete situations. For instance when we hear of a farmers'
agitation we react to it depending on our degree of sympathy/
antipathy with/to farmers. Even when we hear that they have
been tear-gassed or arrested. How many of us, when the latter
happens, are concerned with the question of whether their citi
zenship rights were infringed or not ? This is brought out
even more sharply in the case of deaths in encounters. A.head
line reading: Police kill Naxalite in Encounter* leaves us cold.
Oh Naxalite> we say, probably he deserved it. Haven’t we for
gotten that he is a citizen ?
The point we are trying to make here is that we tend tc confuse
economic, political activities with social ones. Farmers as
farmers are engaged in an economic activity. When they protest
for their rights they are protesting as a social section, they
are like any other social section, students, teachers, govern
ment employees, industrialists, workers, whatever. The fact that
what unites them is their common economic activity should not
.blind us to the fact that while protesting they are no more en
gaged in that economic activity but in a social one. THEY ARE
NO MORE FARMERS BUT CITIZENS WHO HAPPEN TO BE ENGAGED IN FARMING
ACTIVITY FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD. Therefore, any breach of their
citizenship rights is a matter of concern to all citizens.
If it is held that farmers, or any other section for that matter,
in exercising its citizenship rights e.g. the right of associa
tion, the right of protest, pf dissent, is engaged in anti-social
activity and has hence forfeited its right to citizenship then
it has to be conceded that only ruling politicians are citizens
and others non-citizens. (And that too only as long as they are
ruling as can be seen by the activities of Congress (I) members
during the Janata regime).
Many will say that this in fact is the position in practice. The
point is a) do the majority clearly recognise this ? b) Do they
wish that it continue to be so in the future ?
We suggest that none but the most foolhardy of ruling political
sections will dare to state the position as in fact it is. Even
if our proposition that the need of the time is Social Equality
on- the basis of citizenship - the only basis that unites the
people of this country on an equal footing - has no other result
than to make clear to one and all the position as it is, it will
have fulfilled a great service.
II-
IN THE CULTURAL SPHERE - THE NEED FOR A PEOPLE'S CULTURE:
There are, broadly speaking, two current views about culture.
One holds that culture is the activity of the few, writers,
artists, intellectuals i.e. the elite, the 'cultured* and all
others must to the best of their ability imitate, adopt,acquire
this culture, the rest generally being taken to be 'uncultured*.
An extension of this view is to be seen in such.activity as
•taking culture to the masses'-most manifest in 'progressive'
theatre, street-plays, etc..
The other view is that culture actually springs from the acti
vity of the masses and it is the forms of expression developed
by the masses that constitutes true culture. According to this
view, the expression by individual writers, artists and others
is nothing but the formal, specific conaretisation of this
'mass culture'. However, once so formalised it is accessible
only to a section of the people, the privileged, who then stylise
and ritualise it to the point where it is unrecognisable by the
.. .8.
8
people as their own product. At this point it begins to domi
nate them and they have to bear it as a burden, it becomes
oppresive. As a result the people become culturally passive
and begin to imitate where once they were creative. Thus the
culturally exploitative system is itsel'f perpetuated. The
.’.Few1 now determine how the many shall express themselves, if
at all; what forms they will use; what materials, and whatever.
This development is to be seen most clearly in the so-called
developed countries, where, as a reverse process, a counter
culture is developing. Both the utter sterility of western
culture and the weirdness of she counterculture should be
warning signs to,us' to initiate' adequate steps before it is
too late.
The relationship between a sterile culture and authoritarian
trends can be historically seen when one considers the tinsel
grandeurs of the Court of Louis XVI before the French Revolu
tion, the -Tsar's Court prior to the Russian Revolution, the
support given by the elite of Germany to the house painter
Hitler, etc. In our own country the Government is certainly
not averse to patronising the arts. In such a situation to
what extent can the arts reflect reality ?
Accordingly we support and intensify the call for a 'People's
Culture'. By this we mean due recognition of and equal oppor
tunity for the flourishing of all forms of self-expression
regardless :of mode and material. In other words we want to
witness a cultural explosion.
Having said the stove, we really have said little. The point .
is that a great'majority’of the people have lost'all ability
to express themselves. The persistent authoritarianism prac
tised in the other spheres of life coupled with the domination
by the ’cultured1 in this sphere has rendered them expression
less e.g. 1 Aakrosh1.
The problem then is how to render 'dumb* people expression-ful
Merely taking 1 culture' to the masses can only prove counter
productive for the in-.-built disparity will convince them that
they themselves can never be 'cultured'. Of course, all the
time they are ... even dumbness is a form of expression. Onae
again refer to 'Aakrosh'. The point here is that it is but one
of a million forms of human expression and making it the only
form is to that extent a de-humaui.sa.tion, a trivia I is at ion of
human potentiality, a sterility.
In this context we suggest the following for a start..:
e - the creation of a congenial environment: (i) due recog
nition of and (ii) encouragement to all forms of selfexpression, regardless of mode and material - be it in
mud or be it in bronze, be it crude or refined;
b - analysis and exchange of information on as wide a scale
as possible on how works of art come into being. It
would surely help a lot to know that genuine artists,
writers, intellectuals rarely have a 'good' time, they
are themselves plagued by self-doubts, fears, depressions
and what have you. The public all too often see only the
finished product and all too little know of the sweat and
blood, tears and toil that have gone into it. If they
knew this they Would realise to.o, those who have the
desire for it, that with-equal pains they could be equally
creative, if not more so.,
9
Doubters should not fear that the disclosure of human
pains would put people off from creative activity.
What puts them off is the belief that geniuses, ar
tists, creative writers, et al are bom not made.What
puts them off is the belief, too often realised in an
elitist world, that despite all their pains they can
never be truly creative to the point of winning the
recognition of their fellow human beings. And only a
fool, or a fraud would want any other sort of creati
vity.
c - developing latent artistic talents by reaching through
demonstration. If artists and writers and others of
-that genre could work in public places, instead of the
seclusion of their studios, one wonders what the
effect would be. We are reminded of the first mle in
a book of photography: "Never show your mista-kes".
Such a rule could have been thought of only in a
highly competitive, elitist society that takes itself
to have come upon this earth as perfect. It makes
nonsense of the saying that it is human to err.
These are offered only in the nature of suggestions. They
are neither complete in themselves nor comprehensive in their
totality.
However before we move on, let us attend to one more fear.
If every one participates in creative self-expression will
not standards decline ? Sure they may seem to for a while but surely that is the best way of ensuring the best standards
for the longest possible time ? What standard is it that
sees only itself ? That takes itself for granted ? That is
afraid of any challenge ?. And after all who should set the
standards' of culture ? Those who have never participated in
active cultural activity or,those who buy the best seats,
the largest and most sophisticated T.V. screens and radio
sets or build the air-conditioned auditoriums that are inau
gurated by the most ignorant and truly uncultured and uncouth
politicians ?
Ill-
IN THE RELIGIOUS SPHERE - THE NEED 3F0R SANCTITY
OF INDIVIDUAL BELIEF.
One of the most universally held principles in the modem days
is that of the sacredness of the individual. This belief is
taken to such an extreme in the west that whenever mention of
freedom is made, it appears that one of the constraints to
such freedom.is the regulation of society. Hence the problem
is often posed as Society v/s Individual as though these two
entities were necessarily antithetical.
With all that, few, either in the west or the east seem to
be particularly concerned with what the individual sees as
most sacred to himself/herself namely,, his/her inmost beliefs
and aspirations.
The religious sphere of humankind deals with a space-time
dimension other than that which is the normal basis for its
activity. Generally speaking humankind is concerned with
the here and now. In its religious i.e. spiritual activity
it is primarily concerned with the hereafter and beyond.
Looked at from the point of view of the subjective, religious
activity appeals to the inmost human beliefs and aspirations.
It deals not with the possible but with the desirable. It is
the source and the repository of values.
.10.
10
Let us take an example. Human beings see instances of injus
tice all around them. In their first encounter, they may not
even be aware that the instances that.confront them are ins
tances of injustice. They are just instances that happen.But
when humankind begins to develop a notion of justice, then the
instances come to be recognised for what they are. Now what
is the use of a notion of justice if.it cannot be implemented?
So the structures for the implementation of justice are gra
dually developed but the development of the notion generally
takes place faster than the structures and this discrepancy
is seen as 'injustice'. When the notion has developed to such
an extent that all instances of injustice offend, the need
arises for the postulation of a spacd-time dimension that will
correct these instances of injustice so that Justice will
triumph. This is done in various ways by various religious
but always and necessarily in a space-tome dimension other
than the one in which we normally operate.
In other words in religion we deal with a world perfect in
our conception in which all the 'evils' that corrupt this
world will either no more exist, or they will have a welldefined place - usually meant for our enemies, never for
ourselves.
Clearly there is a relationship between how we see this world
and how we see a world as we would want it to be, so also
there is a counter-relationship between the world as we would
want it to be and our relationships in this world e.g. our
behaviour.
It is an historical fact that in the past relatively few and
that too to varying degrees, either had the inclination, or
the time and energy to worry about the world as it should be.
Most were fighting for survival in the world as it was. But
now that position has drastically'changed. Humankind has the
wherewithal i.e. the productive capacity to meet the material
requirements of physical survival for every man, woman and
child. That this is not done is precisely due to the manner
in which men and women view themselves both in the present
and the future.
For instance why worry about the future if the present is
just as we want it to be ? Why worry about ecology arid envi
ronment if the present moment is all that counts ?
On the other hand there are those who are only worried about
the future and are least concerned about the present. They
have inevitably to rely on the services of others, e.g. god,
.the great leader, geniuses, prophets or whatever to make that
future come true for them.
However more and more are coming to realise, surely and cer
tainly, that it is not enough to worry about the immediate
but it also necessary to think about the future, if for no
other reason than to ensure that their present activity does
not go waste. This is again most sharply.seen in the west
where many are calling for a return to spirituality i.e. for
a consideration of humankind on a plane transcendent to the
presently existing space-time one.
But now we face a new problem. Even while some men were being
concerned about the transcendental or spiritual plane, insti
tutions were being developed in the here and now, • originally
to retain and develop those insights but which in course of
time gave up the unequal struggle and were content to remain
...11.
11
and flourish very much in the here and now. Physically these
are the churches, the teriples, the mosques, the synagogues,
whatever. At another level there is the hierarchy of the
priesthood and mullahs and swamis and whatever. At yet ano
ther level there is the body of rites, dogmas, customs, tradi
tions, whatever. The result is that according to standard
belief the entire hereafter and beyond has been entirely
monopolised by the cartel of existing religious doctrines and
beliefs.
— This is clearly ridiculous. The future is not anyone's to have
and to hold. If a few could visualise it in the past with some
degree of validity,. at. least .the population explosion of the
present century should have blown the premises of such percep
tions bey«nd redemption. There are at present over four thou
sand million human beings inhabiting this planet with 'n'
number of aspirations, many of them contradictory and conflic
ting, in the course of a life-time. To expect that a few hun
dred creeds, leave alone 'the one true creed', most of them
developed hundreds of years ago under totally different condi
tions, are sufficient to encompass all these aspirations is to
be naive beyond belief i
In such a situation the only sensible thing to do is to leave
every other human being to his/her aspiration and belief.
So we suggest that society should treat religieus institutions
as any other social association and membership to the former
should be deemed as significant as membership to the latter.
It is, for instance, surprising to note the emphasis paid to
religion in secular India. Official forms invariably contain
a column for religion as’though for social purposes belonging
to a religious faith had either more or less importance than
belonging to a golf club.. In fact in a secular country the
latter should' be deemed to be of greater importance for only
a privileged few can belong to golf clubs. Then again when
the census is taken the population-wise figures of various
religious faiths are recorded. To what purpose ? 'And finally
it appears that in secular India only established religions
are recognised. One wonders what status, if any, an atheist
has in this secular country.
The shallowness of our secularism in practice is seen when the
fate of members of minority communities teaching in minority
institutions is considered. In the name of minority rights,
ordinary citizens are debarred from the rights that other
ordinary citizens enjoy, such as they are. Minority Rights
are. not for the minorities but for the institutions of the
minorities and for the representatives of those institutions.
Under cover of protection of minorities, what really takes
place is exploitation of the minorities and in fact they are
turned into second-class citizens.
Such contradictions will be inevitable every time we try to
institutionalise aspirations.
IV - IN THE SPHERE OF ECONOMICS - THE NEED FOR COLLECTIVE
GUARANTEE OF INDIVIDUAL MATERIAL NEEDS.
Believe it or not to-day's world is a surplus world. Undoub
tedly in a country like India where huge percentages of a huge
population barely manage to survive at subsistence levels, are
ill-housed and ill-clothed, have little or no education and
suffer from chronic ill-health, to hold such a belief is
difficult. But reference to the relevant authorities and a
little simple arithmetic will convince anyone that it is a
...12.
1?
surplus world in which we live, at least as far as material
human needs are concerned.
If never before in history have we seen such levels of pro
ductivity, it is also true that never before-have we seen
such levels of waste. Never before has so much time and
energy in terms of human effort gone into the production of
weapons of destruction of every shape and'size and kind. Only
a society with over-surplus could indulge in such wastefulness.
But, one may object, what benefit India if the world is sur
plus when so many in this country are deficient ? There is
a lesson to be learnt, a benefit to oe gained albeit not in
immediate material terms and that is that it may not be so
very important to survive after all, materially, if due atten
tion is not paid to the manner of survival. What worth sur
vival if it then become the source of destruction ? And there
is but little doubt that western society, be it capitalist or
communist, is on the verge of self-destruction. And, further,
according to some the reason for this is nothing but the very
success of its programme for meeting the material needs of
its members.
Of course our sages had in the past warned us that man did not
live by bbead alone. But it is for the first time in history
that the truth of what they taught is being witnessed in prac
tice on such a large scale.
Our own history has shown us and continues to show us that
our material needs must be met so.that we can grow and deve
lop. But western history also shows us and will continuously
show us that having granted this it is necessary to make a
qualification. The material needs of human beings must be
met, true, but at the same time, other human needs cannot be
neglected.
What in effect does this mean ? For an individual it means
that while it is essential for one to look after one's mate
rial needs, one must also ensure that one has time and energy
to devote to other necessary human functions. For a society
it means that not only the people who meet its economic requi
rements are to be regarded as its productive members, as is
all too often taken for granted in present-day society, but
they also essentially contribute who only stand and stare 1
If this is true, that it takes all kinds to contribute to the
welfare of a society and that such contributions are comple
mentary and not necessarily competitive and hence cannot all
be reduced to one common denominator, cash, then it must fol
low that any society must work out ways and means to ensure
that the material needs of those not engaged in material pro
duction must be met by society itself'. Failure to see the
problem in this manner led western society to its present
state of permanent crises, seeing it in' this manner, albeit
inadequately, enabled Indian society to survive for almost
3,000 years, if not more.
This means that in its own interests and even in the long term
interests of its producers of material needs i.e. its spinners
of money, society cannot permit them alone to define its na
ture. But if the other sections are to participate in the
definition in a meaningful manner, their material needs have
to be guaranteed. Else will they themselves not be forced
to forego their own activities howsoever essential in order
to merely survive ? After all this is precisely what happened
....13.
13
in the west, is it not ? There every human function has come
to be measured in terms of cash be- it -then-dollars or pounds,
francs or marks. And once currency is devalued so also is
human life- i Most are agreed that jbrobably the one thing that
the world has too much of in themodern period, often said to
be the height of civilisation, is people 1!
But, some one may object, if their material needs are guaran
teed to them will it not make people lazy ? Quite so. Undoub
tedly in the beginning and for a short time, many who have been
conditioned to think that man lives for bread alone will take
it easy when that bread is easily forthcoming. , But these will
be the exceptions and that t^c for the transition period, and
one cannot ever entirely rule out the exceptions.
However to think that they will be the rule and not the excep
tion is to again fall into the same trap that human beings work
only for bread. If so why the deuce are people in the west
still continuing production when, according to reports, they
have lakes of milk and mountains of butter and cheese ? Why
the dickens are so many so occupied with developing weapons of
mass destruction that will eventually wipe out the very bread
that they have so laboriously produced ?
The point is that human beings labour, yes. They labour for
bread, yes. But that they labour only for bread, no. Human
beings have many types of'needs, that class called material
needs represent only one type out of many. All these types
are equally important•though they may have varying degrees of
importance for different individuals. Nonetheless societies
have to take into account all these.types and so organise them
selves that there is adequate scope for all these needs to be
met. Else those societies will be skewed and ultimately col
lapse. In to-day's world ,in which there is sufficient scope for
material needs to be mpt, .society must release its productive
forces in other directions.
What practical application has all this for our country ? It
means that :
-
-
the rich and affluent should be made directly responsible
to ensure that every man, woman and child is adequately
fed, housed, clothed, healthy and educated with no demand
made on the recipient. The richer and more affluent bea
ring the greater responsibility;
that in any social activity, money should be at a discount.
Credit should accrue in terms of active contribution,
labour, the least credit going to such contribution in
terms of money, which is after all past labour, dead labour;
it means that producers should have precedence over
consumers;
it means that value will have to be reckoned in terms of
the functionality of the product and its service to society
and not in terms of what is known as present market value
- which can easily be manipulated. In such a set-up who
think you will spend time and energy in developing weapons
of destruction ? Only the truly idle can spend time on
such dangerous toys.
Above all it means that the problem does not lie with the
economic system adopted,, whether it be capitalism or com
munism, but indeed in whether ,material needs are seen as
the primary needs of human beings or as only one type of
such primary needs.
...14.
14
IN THE POLITICAL SPHERE - THE NEED FOR
COMPETENCE AND ABILITY.
In the present period humankind is divided into political
societies, that is societies are organised fundamentally
on political lines e.g. nation-states. And individuals
are political beings. 'I am, therefore, I am a political
being'. The former proposition means, as has already been
stated in 'The Many Faces of Authoritarianism 1, that the
most fundamental form of authoritarianism in the modern
period is that of political authoritarianism. The latter
proposition means that thougn, when individuals come into
this world they, enter it as political beings, e.g. whether
they are legitimate or illegitimate, even whether this
distinction is at all recognised, yet if they are not to
remain merely political beings all their lives, at some
point they must be able to say, 'I am. a political being,
therefore, I am1.
This was not always so. History is replete with instances
when societies where organised on other than political
considerations e.g. on religious lines as. for instance
Ancient Egypt and the Holy Roman Empire; on division of
labour, as for instance Slave Society and Caste Society;
on relationship to land, for instance Feudal Society; on
relationship of individual to society, for instance Capi
talist Society of the 19th Century.
This means two things: i) It, is .possible to have the orga
nisation of societies on other than on merely political
basis., ii) It is possible for human beings to be. other than
mere political creatures. These itself have two further
implications: i) It is possible for a society to have dif
ferent social structures at the same time to deal with its
different aspects e.g. social,equality combined with poli
tical authoritarianism as for’ ins’tance in present-day
western societies, or collective guarantee, of material-needs
combined with political authoritarianism as in China and,
perhaps, Russia, ii) Hence the first principle for any
adequate social perspective for the present period cannot
confine itself merely to the consideration of just one or
two aspects of a society but must take into account as many
aspects as there are historical experiences and the rela
tionship of the individual to each--and every one of these.
Else, as has happened in the past, re-structuring of in
adequate social structures in one sphere will merely result
in the appearance of the same structures in another e.g.
the Communist Revolution in Russia which did away with the
authoritarian regime of the Tsar, primarily a social.autho
ritarianism, and replaced it with that of Stalin, a political
authoritarianism.
Presently the position in this country can be said to be
as follows :
- the people of this country are constituted into a
society on political lines e.g. nation-state, the
Constitution, the ultimate authority of Government
in. all its functions i.e. Executive, Legislative and
Judiciary. It was said of the British Parliament that
it could do anything but make a man into a woman and
a woman into a man. It can said of the government of
this country, on the actual basis of experience, that
it can convert normal, healthy, reproductive human
beings into impotent, sterile creatures. The point is
whether we are human beings or not, even in our most
•..15.
15
private parts, physical or mental (perfectly sane men
can be forcibly locked up in lunatic asylums, mad-houses),
emotional or spiritual, (Freedom of Religion Bill) is net
so much a matter of genetics, as some have it, or of
psychology, as others do, or even of anthropology, philo
sophy '->r logic or whatever, but of a pplitical decision
embodied in a legislation.
(Those who are innocent
enough to question this should talk to the victims of
forced sterilisation, read books like 'One flew over the
Cuckoo's Nest' and 'Catch-22', meet 'stateless persons',
etc.)
-
While this is the fact, the form it takes is that all
this is done with common consent i.e. in a democratic
manner meaning thereby the rule of the majority. The
implication being that if it is done with the consent of
the majority anything goes. There are two points here:
i) The theoretical question of whether a political majo
rity, emphasis on the word political, can meaningfully
decide on each and every aspect of social life, not to
mention individual life; ii) the practical question of
whether adequate structures have been established to
meaningfully determine the will of the majority on all
issues that are at present deemed to be outside the
sphere of .politics ’generally understood.
In the absence of (ii) what is to prevent those capturing
political power determining the lives of crores of people
and claiming that they do it in the name of the majority?
And in fact is this not precisely what is happening ?
Political parties', as political parties, come into power
on the basis of professed aims and objectives, manifestos,
and then once in power proceed gaily to carry out all
aims and objectives but the stated ones, except perhaps
incidentally. In no other sphere of social organisation
be it sports clubs, associations, societies, and least of
all in corporate bodies do we tolerate such nonsense. But
we appear content to.do so in our political organisation:
which is the most fundamental of all to us.
Now why does all this happen ?
We suggest for two main reasons:
i) Because of the uneven development of the perception of
various individuals, groups, sections, classes, etc. of
the reality, duet to their mainly subjective historical
experiences;
ii) Because of the inevitable lag between the deeper processes
of history as they are working out and will make themsel
ves manifest in the future and their immediate manifesta
tion in the here and now.
From the point of view of the subjective, we suggest, inter
alia, two more reasons: i) Choice i.e. they do not see the
political reality as the priority e.g. the starving man wants
bread not politics; the emotionally unstable man wants psycho
logical relief not freedom; the spiritually-alienated man wants
his dreams and his utopias - and he does not want to have to
work for them; the sexually starved want sexual liberation,
what care they for your politics ? So also the money-maker
wants security; the intellectual wants his games and the student
wants his fun.
(So just how smart were we when we said that
political organisation was the most fundamental of all to us? )
(ii) Ignorance i.e. there may be many who see it the way we do
but do not know what to do about it, or if doing do not
know how to make that <3oing the more effective and effi
cient.
....16.
16
It is primarily with (ii) that we identify and who constitute
our main concern. To the extent that our reading of the his
torical process has been accurate, the process itself will
educate those who have made the choices. Ourselves ignorant,
we can but work with those who broadly see the matter as we
do ands see the matter as we do and seek to bring about a
common experience as a starting-point to making our interven
tion in History, deeper, wider, efficient and effective.
To them we ask: How about demanding competence and ability
in our politicians ?
Surely if we do this in terms of their self-stated aims and
objectives, in their manifestos, election promises and assu
rances given in times of crisis, we will a) show up the pre
sent incompetents and futilities, b) get them replaced by
more compe tent and able people who will have to see, c) that
the problem is not in the personalities but in the structures.
Surely also we wil] be able to enlist many from (i) to our
endeavour for regardless of what they think about politics
they will be with us on the question of competence and
ability. Is this after all not what they demand from their
suppliers of bread, that they supply it regularly; from their
psychologists; from their Board of Directors; even from their
spiritual gurus - that they guarantee that their system works?
Surely also we will thus be making'a step towards bridging
the lag mentioned above and also bringing about a certain
even-ness of historical experience to wrinkle out the un
evenness .
And finally, the best part, in 'demanding competence and
ability in our politicians, we will be demanding the same
of ourselves in our political activity and therefore tend
to be relatively less ignorant- at th? end of the process
than we were at the beginning.
Here we have to mention that when we first casually referred
to the need for competence and ability in our politicians
there was an immediate reaction that we were tending to fas
cism. To say the least we were very much surprised. We have
found modem dictators to be highly incompetent despite the
tremendous facilities at their command. Let us considdr :
Where did Napoleon end up ? Elba ? St. Helena ? Where
Mussolini ? Where Hitler ? And Stalin.the professed inter
nationalist - whatever happened to his Comintern and why ?
and what about the Shah of Iran ? And what the fate of our
own 'great leaders' ? Those who think that in the present
day competence and ability in political figures will lead to
fascism have another think coming.
CONCLUDING REMARKS :
I
II
-
The attempt was made to define the problem of authorita
rianism in the present day in the proper ' THE MANY FACES
OF AUTHORITARIANISM'.
This attempt was sought to be taken further at the time
of its presentation and discussion. A brief statement
of this is given at the commencement of this paper.
17.
&
17
III - This paper then seeks to take the original attempt even
further by developing II and providing a counter-point
to I.
IV - All this is sought to be done on the broader platform
of Civil Liberties and Human Rights but only as one
activity of any number of others. Hence it may be seen,
at one level, both as an attempt to draw out the impli
cations of all such activities and in the very process
give them a perspective.
- This, we believe, makes for a disciplined, flexibility
which is precisely what emergent social structures will
have to have in the coming future. The more consciously
this is done, the greater the self-discipline and the
greater the flexibility.... and so the better.
Goa, January 22, 1981.
CITIZENS' COMMITTEE FOR
CIVIL LIBERTIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
A
discussion
THE
Paper
MANY
FACES
OF
AUTHORITARIANISM
APPROACH :
Generally when people talk of authoritarianism they tend to
think of it only in political terms. Thus, we refer to .an
authoritarian regime, an authoritarian government,etc. This
tendency is further confirmed if we ask for words synonymous
to 'authoritarian'. We will probably get such answers as,
'dictatorial', 'despotic', 1 autocratic','totalitarian1, etc.
This is not to say that the fact of 'authoritarianism' exis
ting outside the sphere of politics is totally unrecognised,
but it is to emphasise the point chat by and large the pheno
menon of 'authoritarianism' is seen as political. And if it
is seen as mainly political than quite obviously the required
attention is not paid to it in other spheres and its various
appearances therein.
L'fst there be any misunderstanding we must’ clarify that we
agree that 'political authoritarianism' at the present time
is the most virulently dangerous form that authoritarianism
takes. It is also the most manifest form. However, (a) since
our aim is not merely to present a description of authorita
rianism, nor to do an academic study of it, and (b) our belief
is that 'political, authoritarianism' itself would not at all
be possible if authoritarianism did not exist in a more or
less concealed form in other spheres of human relationships,
e.g. social, cultural, religious, economic, etc., it is our
purpose, in this paper, to draw attention to the many forms
and faces that authoritarianism takes. We hope, thus, (i)
that people will be conscious of the concealed forms of
‘social authoritarianism', 'cultural authoritarianism1',
'economic authoritarianism', etc., and (ii) that being .so
conscious, they will take necessary step’s to deal with it in
these spheres too. The total result should be, once again
hopefully, not only a more efficient struggle against 'poli
tical -authoritarianism' as it exists but even a virtual
impossibility for it to arise again, .or having arisen to
sustain itself, once it has ibeen defeated in its present
form.
Since it is beyond the task of this discussion paper to
examine authoritarianism in its every appearance, detail and
specificity, that being left to a host of more specialised
papers (those with a flare for research work please note),
here we will examine it broadly both as an attitude and as a
social structure and as it so appears in the following
spheres: cultural, social, economic, religious and political.
EXPLANATION : At this point it may be in order to attempt to
explain what we mean by our use of certain words.
A
-
Authoritarianism: Too often while struggling against
authoritarianism we tend to throw out with it all forms
of authority. In doing this we deny the historic truth,
the historic necessity, of authority i.e. the historic
truth of authoritarianism itself from which it derives
its strength and^enables it to persist despite all the
attacks launched on it. In the process we weaken the
struggle against authoritarianism by alienating those
who sense this necessity/truth and are repelled by
what they take to be a fundamental anarchy. There is
need therefore to clearly distinguish between authority
and authoritarianism and show when the former degene
rates into the latter.
....2.
A
discussion
THE
Paper
MANY
FACES
OF
AUTHORITARIANISM
APPROACH :
Generally when people talk of authoritarianism they tend to
think of it only in political terms. Thus, we refer to -an
authoritarian regime, an authoritarian government,etc. This
tendency is further confirmed if we ask for words synonymous
to 'authoritarian'. We will probably get such answers as,
'dictatorial', 'despotic', 'autocratic','totalitarian', etc.
This is not to say that the fact of 'authoritarianism' exis
ting outside the sphere of politics is totally unrecognised,
but it is to emphasise the point chat by and large the pheno
menon of 'authoritarianism' is seen as political. And if it
is seen as mainly political than quite obviously the required
attention is not paid to it in other spheres and its various
appearances therein.
L-tet there be any misunderstanding we must clarify that we
agree that 'political authoritarianism' at the present time
is the most virulently dangerous form that authoritarianism
takes. It is also the most manifest form. However, (a) since
our aim is not merely to present a description of authorita
rianism, nor to do an academic study of it, and (b) our belief
is that 'political authoritarianism' itself would not at all
be possible if authoritarianism did not exist in a more or
less concealed form in other spheres of human relationships,
e.g. social, cultural, religious, economic, etc., it is our
purpose, in this paper, to draw attention to the many forms
and faces that authoritarianism takes. We hope, thus, (i)
that people will be conscious of the concealed forms of
'social authoritarianism', 'cultural authoritarianism',
'economic authoritarianism', etc., and (ii) that being so
conscious, they will take necessary steps to deal with it in
these spheres too. The total result should be, once again
hopefully, not only a more efficient struggle against 'poli
tical -authoritarianism' as it exists but even a virtual
impossibility for it to arise again, .or having arisen to
sustain itself, once it has 'been defeated in its present
form.
Since it is beyond the task of this discussion paper to
examine authoritarianism in its every appearance, detail and
specificity, that being left to a host of more’ specialised
papers (those with a flare for research work please note),
here we will examine it broadly both as an attitude and as a
social structure and as it so appears in the following
spheres: cultural, social, economic, religious and political.
EXPLANATION : At this point it may be in order to attempt to
explain what we mean by our use of certain words.
A
-
Author!tarianism; Too often while struggling against
authoritarianism we tend to throw out with it all forms
of authority. In doing this we deny the historic truth,
the historic necessity, of authority i.e. the historic
truth of authoritarianism itself from which it derives
its strength and/e'nables it to persist despite all the
attacks launched on it. In the process we weaken the
struggle against authoritarianism by alienating those
who sense this necessity/truth and are repelled by
what they take to be a fundamental anarchy. There is
need therefore to clearly distinguish between authority
and authoritarianism and show when the former degene
rates into the latter.
....2.
2
Authoritarianism then may be said to be corrupt authority.
It is an authority that bases itself on the privileges/
advantages of authority without any of the latter's compe
tence, ability, duty, responsibility. As distinct from
authority, authoritarianism is to be known by its constant
tendency for expansion over increasing numbers of persons,
over increasing numbers of spheres, and over time i.e. in
perpetuity.
Historically, for instance, we can note many ways and means
by which authoritarianism has sought to perpetuate itself.
The simplest and most general has been by seeking to derive
itself from the very fact of birth i.e. by the' establish
ment of dynasties, caste, etc. Thus a great warrior would
become king and then kingship would itself become heredi
tary. Thus also the greatest rogues and rascals Could claim
themselves to be ’pure1 only because they were born brahmins.
Unable to sustain itself through either competence or abi
lity (authority properly so called) or unwilling to do so,
authoritarianism has always sought at a particular period
of time to maintain itself through the use of physical
force wherever this has been possible. In different cir
cumstances it has done so by the propogation of myths and
superstitions. Thus authoritarianism seeks to maintain
itself through the exercise of violence and through ins
tilling fear and these may be either physical or mental/
spiritual.
Yet another way in which authoritarian, 'm extends and per
petuates itself is through investing c .twain social func
tions with more than their competent authority, converting
them into 'positions' and institutionalising them so that
mere occupancy of the same carries with it a general au
thority having nothing to do with competence or ability
e.g. bureaucracy, church hierarchy, political posts. Thus
most -modern states have done away with emperors, kings,
rajahs, but, as in India, the institutions of Prime
Minister, Chief Minister, Minister, Governor, etc. persist.
B
-
AUTHORITY: Authority arises from a certain competence or
specific ability in a definite area and does not seek to
expand outside that area. The competence or ability that
gives rise to authority may be due to knowledge and/or
experience, direct or acquired. It is valid authority only
as long and in so far as the bases of the competence or
ability are valid. Since authority is based on competence
and ability it is not afraid of criticism, is willing to
give reasons for its actions, does not normally impose ar
bitrary regulations, etc.
It is important to note that since authority is based on
a certain competence or specific ability in a definite area
and is valid only as long and in so far as its bases are
valid, over space and time authority tends to negate itself.
In this it is the complete anti-thesis of authoritarianism.
Normal instances of the acceptable exercise of authority
are teacher-student, doctor-patient, professional-layman
relationships.
However, the exercise of authority carries with it certain
privileges/advantages unrelated to its basic competence or
ability. It is the existence of these privileges/advantages
that has led and leads to the expansion of authority beyond
its original field of competence and ability and causes it
to degenerate into authoritarianism.
3.
3
C
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ATTITUDE : By attitude we mean inclination, disposition,
tendency of any unit ( be it an individual, group, orga
nisation, section, whatever ) to any thing (concept or
phenomenon) in its real or ideal form. Authoritarianism
may be concealed or manifest. By authoritarian attitude
we refer more to its concealed or incipient form. Exam
ples of authoritarian attitudes are: "The masses cannot
think for themselves, they must be led"; " The masses
are indisciplined, they must be disciplined"; Goebbels'
dictum that if a lie is repeated often enough it comes
to be taken as the truth. As against this examples of
non-authoritarian attitudes would be; the underlying
principle of democracy that given all relevant informa
tion, the average man is - apable of making the choice
best suited to his interests; the belief that it is the
masses that make history; the dictum that one can fool
some of the people some of the time but not all the
people all the time.
It is necessary to study and struggle against authori
tarian attitudes because it is these that, given favou
rable conditions, establish and perpetuate authoritarian
structures and/or reinforce those already existing. In
turn existing structures give rise to attitudes for
their very reality lends them a certain credibility.
D
-
SOCIAL STRUCTURES : By social structures we mean the
more' or less established pattern of social relationships
Examples of authoritarian social structures are: the
police force as "the guardians of law and order" imply
ing thereby that people are 'naturally' lawless and
disorderly; the courts of law as dispensers of justice,
equating law with.justice ( tnere could be unjust laws,
couldn't there ? ); even speaking of a government with
the implication that there are governors and. governed.
In the religious sphere we have the case of religious
institutions that make one of their tasks the safe
guarding of the 'purity of doctrine',the upholding of
morals, etc. as though common people were bound to
desecrate by their mere touch and were immoral to start
with. In the cultural field there is the facile equiva
lence of literacy to intellectual ability as if to be
an illiterate was to be some sort of moron. There is
also the all too easy acceptance of academic qualifica
tions as indicators of competence - often in fields
.totally unrelated to those in which the qualifications
themselves have been obtained. In the economic sphere
there is the all prevailing cash structure by which it
is supposed that the one who has a great amount of cash
knows the most about the needs of people - irrespective
of how he came about the cash in the first place. And
in a decadent caste ridden society like ours does one
have to give examples of social authoritarian structures?
Attitudes are to be distinguished from social structures.
The former are subjective responses, the latter are
objective social realities. When attitudes have/gain
general acceptance, are embodied in institutions and
are backed by sanctions, they may be said to have become
social structures.
We may now be in a better position to state some of the
characteristics of authoritarianism.
1.
Authoritarianism derives its strength,in a general sense
from authority but unlike the latter is based neither
on competence nor on any specific ability. Whatever signs
of either competence or ability one may find in any form
of authoritarianism are subsidiary and accidental.
-
4
-
2
-
Since it is not based on any competence or ability, autho
ritarianism establishes, maintains, sustains and perpetua
tes itself by violence physical, psychological, mental
and spiritual.
3
-
Being based on violence, authoritarianism works through
imposition. Looked at from the point of view of its victims
this means they are terrorised and oppressed.
4
-
Since authoritarianism is largely irrational, it cannot
bear criticism and it cannot, fundamentally, justify itself
through reason. For authoritarianism the very act of
reflecting)of questioning, is tie most dangerous' form of
subversive activity.
5
-
Looked at subjectively i.e. from the point of view of indi
viduals, authoritarianism can be seen to be an attitude.
Looked at objectively, from a general or common point of
view, authoritarianism can be said to exist in prevailing
social structures. Social structures arise as the fruition
I of certain attitudes under favourable circumstances, but
given the structures the specific attitude of a person
caught up in them is irrelevant. That is why any attack on
authoritarianism that seeks to be successful cannot afford
to divert itself by attacking personalities but must attack
the structures themselves. Even a saint caught up in au
thoritarian structures, would be forced to act in an autho
ritarian manner.
6
-
Authoritarianism is not merely a political phenomenon but
a general social one. Undoubtedly in the present day it
manifests itself most sharply in the political sphere but
historically this was not always so. In medieval times in
Europe for instance, authoritarianism was seen most sharply
in the religious sphere e.g. the domination of the church;
during the rise of capitalism and colonialism it was seen
most sharply in the sphere of economics, e.g. the almost
hundred years of rule of the East India Company. In fact
even in the present day, in the international scale, the
present dominant form of authoritarianism is economic e.g.
the multi-nationals, World Bank and IMF, etc. And it is
clearly to be seen, through the back-up provided by the
armed forces, the reliance that authoritarianism places on
physical power e.g. Chile, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, etc.
In ancient India, authoritarianism in its dominant form
manifested itself in the social sphere e.g. the caste
system. Since these various forms of authoritarianism hove
never been fundamentally dealt with they still persist even .
upto the modern day and it is our contention that they'make
possible, maintain, sustain and perpetuate political autho
ritarianism. Unless all forms of authoritarianism are
actively dealt with at the most it will disappear in one
sphere to' make its appearance in another.
7
-
Authoritarianism using the form of authority but not its
content, employs the use of force, in all its forms,crude
and subtle, to establish itself. Once having established
itself it seeks to expand in any particular period through
the setting up of authoritarian institutions and over
periods of time through heredity e.g. the establishing of
dynasties, the caste system, inheritance of private property
etc.
I
4
•
....5
5
8
-
The key criterion to distinguish between authority and
authoritarianism is to examine the tendency in terms of
numbers and over time. Since authority is based on a
certain competence and on a specific ability, it is
restricted in area and in time and hence acceptable
authority will tend to negate itself. A teacher teaches
and in the very act of teaching dispenses with himself,
makes himself superfluous. A doctor cures and in the
very act of curing makes himself superfluous. Authorita
rianism on the other hand seeks to expand and expand to
cover more and more spheres of activity,(e.g. govern
mental interference in every sphere of human life, the
activity of multi-nationals in every corner of the world);
to cover more and more numbers of people and over greater
and greater periods of time e.g. the tendency of laying
down eternal principles ( doctrines, dogmas ) that may
never be questioned but have to be accepted on blind
faith.
9
-
Following from the above authoritarianism is also to' be
known in the distinction it makes and institutionalises
between the One - the great leader - or the Few - the
elite, the privileged, the ‘intellectuals' - and the
great faceless, dumb, indisciplined, ignorant masses.
10
-
And over time it is also to be observed that the 'select'
'the inner circle' keeps getting ever narrower either
through splits, or through 'purges' or whatever, ending
in a clique or caucus. This very narrowness makes it
possible, in unfavourable circumstances, for other
similar authoritarian forces to assert themselves by
'palace revolutions', 'coups d'etat' and what-have-you.
As against this, non-authoritarian tendencies make their
appearance in times of crisis, then dissolve themselves
into thd masses, to reappear again when necessary. These
draw in more and more people at a direct, participative
level; throwing up leaders and discarding them in a
seemingly chaotic, anarchic manner but in the process
making more and more people conscious of and qualified
to deal with their own social reality. They therefore
meet the requirement of acceptable authority in that
they make themselves dispensable, they render themselves
superfluous, turning their energies to other fields.
,J?hey do not develop a vested interest in clinging to
authority beyond their competence and ability.
We are now ready to examine authoritarianism as it appears
in the various spheres of our interest: social, cultural,
economic, religious and political.
1
-
■
SOCIAL AUTHORITARIANISM : Social authoritarianism arises
from the division of society into the Elite and common
or ordinary men - the elite always being a special,
privileged minority. In a complex society like that of
present day Indian society the elements that compose the
elite come from varied sections of earlier elites that
break up and intermingle e.g. landed gentry, the finan
cially affluent, feudal remnants, professionals that
are socially successful, etc. and include their proteges.
In short what is referred to as 'the upper crust'.
Though there is much infighting among these elements,
since they do not comprise a homogeneous whole as in
earlier days, they are united in the use of the 1st
person plural, 'we', when referring to themselves and
the 3rd person plural, 'they', when referring to the
common mob. What the elite are crazy after is 'status'.
6.
6
The attitude of social authoritarians is to be seen in their
believing themselves somehow superior to the general run of
human beings. They are also mortally scared of the mass of
common people, and seek to isolate themselves as much as
possible. This fear expresses itself in two ways: through a
disproportionate aggressiveness when ~deal~inq with inferior
beings' or in the attempt to totaTl~y~ignbre~tlTe'i~r~very--- existence.
They seek to perpetuate their brand of authoritarianism by
establishing exclusive clubs, organisations, associations/
etc. and developing their own weird rigmaroles and rituals.
Membership of these clubs and acquaintance with these ritua
ls than qualify one to be conside-ted as a member of the
elite. Both are sufficiently complicated and time consuming
to ensure that the majority that consists of working people
is excluded.
In modem India where there is such a lot of talk of democr
acy and socialism, social authoritarians have a terrible
feeling of insecurity. Hence they would welcome the most
repressive measures against the masses ‘to teach them their
I. place1 .
The main role of social authoritarians in the present day in
this country is to instil a paralysing sense of inferiority
in the common man so that he may not seek to better his
situation. When successful their victims too come to aspire
to the symbols, standards, values that they have set before
the common people and in the process the victims themselves
participate in perpetuating this brand of authoritarianism.
In earlier times membership to the elite was generally a
matter of birth but nowadays a lot of money can overcome this
handicap - especially if it is unearned. Social authoritari
anism is closely linked to and reinforced by cultural autho
ritarianism which we will now examine.
2
-
CULTURAL AUTHORITARIANISM : Cultural authoritarianism arises
out of the division of society into the cognoscenti - the
knowledgeable - and the ignorames - the ignorant. In the
present cultural climate this distinction is based primarily
on literacy - the literate are taken to be as somehow all
knowing and the illiterate as totally ignorant. In a country
like ours which has almost two-thirds the population illit
erate, the impact of cultural authoritarianism in the form
of the emphasis of the written word over the spoken one can
well be imagined. In a more specific sense cultural autho
ritarianism consists in the privileged, the ruling classes,
setting up their culture as the only culture.
The attitudes of cultural authoritarianism are, as to be
expected, very subtly expressed. Referring to a man of the
masses, say a peasant or worker, one may hear such a phrase
as "He is so sincere but oh dear so uncultured". A more
subtle form is an 'intellectual1 telling a layman, "My
dear fellow why don't you read some more about this topic
before you come to discuss with me" or even "You cannot
understand these concepts they are too abstract for you".
And listen to this one referring to a person in high
position, "Please don't ask for his resignation, after
all he is a gentleman";
7
7
These examples show that for cultural authoritarians
the form is more important than the content, especially
when that form is one that has been adopted by them;
that scholarship is adequate substitute, if not far more
important than original thinking and research; and that
if one confirms to their 'culture1 i.e. one is 'gentle
manly', than all is forgiven one including inefficiency
and corruption. The cultural authoritarians perpetuate
themselves through academic institutions and the monopoly
press. In this country the pattern of both they have
taken as hand-me-downs from the same source that they
have taken their culture i.e. the West, mainly British,
Portuguese and French colonial culture, which they have
assiduously maintained and reinforced especially
through their bureaucracy, over 33 years of Independence.
However we must warn that their very attempt to preserve
the decadent makes possible the rise of another set of
cultural authoritarians who seek to replace tne domination
of western culture with an ancient Indian culture, equally
esoteric and unrelated to the aspirations of the people
as the first. Though they differ in the type of culture
they would like to impose, both groups of cultural
authoritarians are the same basically and are together
opposed to the rise of a People's Culture.
In the present context when a massif attack is being
launched against authoritarianism in all its forms and
on all fronts, cultural authoritarianism has a key role
to play. It has to strive desparately to restore the
rapidly eroding credibility of authoritarianism. Being
the most flexible of the various forms of authoritarianism
cultural authoritarianism has to attempt to adjust
itself to the fluctuating fortunes of the. struggle with
just one aim before it; to minimise the loss to autho
ritarianism as a whole. The ultimate defeat of author
itarianism will not be possible without a cultural
revolution, which itself entails developing an alternate
culture, a people's culture.
The more general roJe of cultural authoritarianism is to
brainwash the people into believing that only one culture
is either desirable or even possible and that is the
culture of the dominating classes, the culture of the
privileged. Like economic authoritarianism, cultural
authoritarianism cuts across national boundaries. So
local i.e. national cultural authoritarianism is backed
up by and reinforced by international i.e. western
cultural authoritarianism. This is to be seen clearly
in the attraction the foreign universities hold for
our 'more promising youth'. They are slaves of western
culture. Cultural authoritarianism is closely linked
to religious authoritarianism from which it arose and
the examination of which we will now take up.
3
-
RELIGIOUS AUTHORITARIANISM ; Religious authoritarianism
arises from the division of society into 'the chosen',
the 'true believers' and the heathens or pagans.
Nobody nowadays calls those who follow a religion other
than his heathens or pagans openly, but religious-minded
people do believe this nonetheless. After all every
religion believes that it is the only true one. By
implication all other religions must be false. Hence the
followers of these religions must be 'groping in
darkness'.
8
Within each religion itself this division takes the form of
the true interpreters of doctrine or dogma and the followers,
the latter to follow blindly, unquestioningly. If they refuse
to do so they are termed heretics.
Unlike other forms of authoritarianism that rely on this
worldly or material sanctions, religious authoritarianism
relies mainly on other-worldly or spiritual sanctions. Though,
we see, historically, that it has not been above using thisworldly sanctions whenever it could e.g. the Inquisition.
Religious authoritarianism expresses itself in such attitudes
as 1 we have the true message, we must not only convey it to
others but convince them of it for the good of their own souls'
'Others~are poof,u3®niightenr.d creatures who can only bo’savq£
by -agreeing with us'.
This form of authoritarianism embodies itself in religious
institutions that are for the most part strictly hierarchical.
The strength of these institutions can be seen from the fact
that religion has dominated men's minds and their activity
ever since man came to walk this earth. The fundamental
authority for religion is man's deep-lying spirituality. This
need of man has been distorted entirely into religious
authoritarianism. The answer to this form of authoritarianism
is not a people's religion, for there can be no such thing,
but rather to recognise that spiritual experience is a
strictly personal experience and each adult should be left
entirely free to follow his/her inclination in this regard
with minimum restrictions e.g. that he/she does not interfere
with the inclinations of others. A good start would be to expose the people to the teachings oF~all religions equallyjso
t h a t ~they~could find out for themselves which, if any, they
would like to follow. The present position which is to leave
the "fate of most people to the religion in which they are
born guarantees that they will be suitably brainwashed in it
and accordingly perpetuate religious authoritarianism. In
the ultimate analysis this is so that political authorita
rianism can perpetuate and expand itself. History shows us
that at all critical moments religious authoritarianism has
either closed its eyes and shut its mouth in the face of the
most blatant political authoritarianism or has even actively
supported it.
The role of religious authoritarianism is to ensure that the
aspirations of the people never rise to such an extent that
they activate the people to the point of taking into their
own hands the determination of their natural and social
reality?"Religiousauthoritarianism seeks to do this in
two ways, generally speaking, (i) by propagating that these
realities have been brought about by some superhuman force
and human beings can do little or nothing about them,
(ii) it is not the task of human beings to change their
reality in any case but rather to submit to it. The thrust
of religious authoritarianism then is to make people
;
passive and impotent.
4
-
ECONOMIC AUTHORITARIANISM: Economic authoritarianism arises
out of the division of society into the 'haves' and the
■have-nots' or better, into the exploiters and the exploi
ted. The theory behind economic authoritarianism is that
it is a dog-eat-dog world and the one that can get to the
top of the heap and stay there is top dog. How he gets
there is of no relevance though sometimes the law of the
jungle is quoted as justification. The motto of economic
authoritarians is, 'Each one for himself and the devil
take the hindmost'. Of course it must be noted that this
motto is the one adopted not in an equal situation - there
9.
9
has never been such in all recorded history - but
when economic authoritarianism has already become
well entrenched so that the have-nots are-sure to be
out of the race even before they start.
The attitude of economic authoritarians is to be seen
in theit belief that whatever material possessions
they have is the result of their hard and honest
labour and if others are not as well of as they it is
merely because these others are lazy, dishonest,
moronic and what-have-you. They also claim that their
special ability to take what they call 'risk' - which
is in fact only their ability to out-manoeuver others
of their ilk-marks them' as some sort of superior
beings on which the rest _>f mankind is dependant.
They often forget or conveniently ignore the fact
that what is called 'economics' came into being onlyin the last few centuries and the world got along
very well without it for thousands of years. They
also forget or choose not to see that in the last
few centuries during which we have had economics
we have also witnessed human misery and man-made
devastation and destruction as never before. Economic
authoritarianism perpetuates itself, through two
institutions that, in the short time that they have
been in dominance, have penetrated the very depths
of social life, namely: money and the market. Because
these two institutions made their appearance at a
time when mankind made tremendous progress in his
understanding of the physical universe, they have
come to be seen as the cause of the same to such an
extent that few people are even able to visualise
'
a world without money and without exchange. Or even
one in which these play an insignificant role. The
concomitant of this has 'been that money and exchange
have penetrated the most intimate human relationships
e.g. mothers selling their children for cash and
mates being bought, sold and exchanged on the marr
iage market e.g. the dowry system. The result has
been the dehumanisation of human beings and their
objectification. "Every man has his price !",i’No
word of God or man goes north ten thousand pounds";
In such a context it is inevitable that any grat
uitous act must be looked upon as that of a knave
or a fool, that the most irfnocent and spontoneous
actions must be searched for hidden motives, that
a man's worth must be measured by the material
possessions•he has. Inevitably too those who speak in
the name of the exploited must be looked upon as'
potential exploiters and empirical examples pounced upon
with glee to 'prove' the point. Another result is the
widespread belief that nothing can be done without
money. It is money that makes the mare and man go roundi
Because of its deep penetration of social life economic
authoritarianism is the keystone on which poliJ teal
authoritarianism rests. We have already seen that with
money one can achieve 'status'. It is an open secret
that with money one can obtain academic degrees and even
control the cultural life of a society and there are
sufficient historical examples to show that with money
one can wash away one's sins and reserve one's place
in the after-world 1
10.
10
The role of economic authoritarianism is to further reinforce
the functions of the other forms of authoritarianism and
specifically to deprive the people of the means by which they
can control their own lives- by propagating the myth that they
can only do so with money, something that- in fact they cah
never have. Thus the people are sent on a wild goose chase
while the various forms of authoritarianism happily consoli
date and expand themselves.
The key to the struggle against economic authoritarianism
lies in the organisation of people on a nexus other than
money and the division of labour other than on the basis of
exchange. Prior to the rise of capitalism societies were so
organised. Clearly in the modern days we cannot adopt such
ways as they.had, but equally certainly we can study those
forms of organisation to gain the needed insights. We make
bold to say, for instance, that there were many sound princi
ples in the form of organisation of the society which
subsequently degenerated into the caste system. Those princi
ples, as well as others, including the historic truth of
capitalism that made it such a revolutionary force initially,
can be recovered and worked together with the most modem
knowledge to bring about a more rational and human organisa
tion of society.
Economic authoritarianism backed and reinforced by cultural,
religious, social forms of authoritarianism gives rise to
Political Authoritarianism which once established turns on
those who brought it about and shapes them to its own ends that it may daily grow more powerful and fearsome. (One is
reminded of the dragon tales of old. Time and agr.in one finds
that the legends and folktales of-yore had more penetrative
insights into human reality than they are generally given
credit for.)
POLITICAL AUTHORITARIANISM: Political authoritarianism ccmes
into being because of the division of society into those who
exercise power and those who do not. Power here is understood
as the ability to make decisions affecting a large number of
people, with or without their consent. Historically, at least
from the last thousand years or so, this ability lay with
monarchs and their advisers/sycophants . With the rise of
■democracy theoretically at least this power came to be in the
hands of the people. However in the system then devised the
people exercised this power through their representatives.'
As social life became more and more complex and the tasks
of managing social affairs became increasingly more specia
lised/ the representatives became ever more remote from the
people. The result was that instead of the representatives
being dependent on the people, the people became dependent
on them for without them the people would have to spend far
more time on the 'affairs of state' then they - the
majority - either were willing to do or felt themselves
capable of sparing, for whatever reason. It was at this
point that the base was laid for the rise of political
authoritarianism. When talking of any form of authoritaria
nism it must be remembered above all that the people can
in no way shirk their responsibility for making such a
state of affairs possible in the first place. Attitudes of
political authoritarianism' are expressed whenever reliance
and emphasis is placed on 'leaders', government and its
various organs, politicians, etc. They are embodied in
such statements as, "What this country requires is a
leader of the stature of
", "If only government
functioned efficiently and honestly then everything would
be alright", "What we require are honest men at the helm
of affairs". These make authoritarianism possible. And
those who talk of leading the masses, disciplining them,
make it a reality 1
11
^ost, if not all, the existing political and governmental
institutions are blatantly authoritarian in character
e.g. Centre State relations as evidenced in the dissolution
of Assemblies in '77 and '80. There is enough said and
experienced in this regard to make further elaboration here
quite unnecessary. A cursory study of the recent pamphlet
"Know Your Rights" brought out by the CPDR, Bombay, will
show even the doubting th©-nnas^es -chat though in theory
citizens are supposed to have rights, these are in
practice so hemmed in with provisos and exceptions and
discretionary powers on the- part of the authorities that
they are all but non-existent 1
The one possible exception in an otherwise dismal scene
is the right to vote. How ^ragile that is recent experience
has shown very clearly. The frightening thing about the
Emergency was not so much that it could at all have been
imposed but the fact that for all purposes not only its
imposition but all the acts done under it were apparently
well within the law i
It is our considered belief that the struggle against
political authoritarianism can be neither a sporadic nor a
hit-or-miss affair. It' has to a sustained, thorough and
well-planned campaign that strikes at the very heart of
authoritarianism itself. And it has to concern itself not
only with attempts to check the onslaught of authoritaria
nism but also with constructive reorganisation of
practically all existing political institutions from the
grass-roots up.
CONCLUDING REMARKS; The fundamental struggle of the present
period is that between Authoritarianism and Freedom. The time
when these were remote, abstract questions is rapidly drawing
to a close. More and more the struggle is going to be presented
in its concrete, immediate reality. If this is granted there
are a great many conclusions that derive therefrom. Perhaps the
most significant is that neither authoritarianism nor freedom
are understandable apart from human relationships, and human
relationships are not to be understood apart from human beings.
And in the modern period human beings must necessarily be defined,
if not entirely at least in part, by .the choices made by
individuals. This places a fair amount of responsibility on
those who assert that they are concerned with the struggle
against authoritarianism. Some of the questions that they must
face are : In what form ? To what extent ? Under what conditions?
For what purpose ? In What manner ?
A BRIEF SUMMARY :
- This is a discussion paper, not a finished and final
document.
- The paper argues that generally 'authoritarianism 1 is
seen only as one aspect of it i.e. political authori
tarianism, whereas there are many faces and forms to
authoritarianism and all these have to be taken into
consideration.
12
- A distinction is made between authority and authoritarianism
a criterion is posited to enable to distinguish between them
and certain characteristics of authoritarianism are noted.
- In developing its argument the paper studies authoritaria
nism from two angles i.e. as an attitude and as social
structure'and in five-spheres of human relationships;
social, cultural, religious, economic and political.
- In each sphere it is shown how authoritarianism is possible
the specific attitude in that sphere that is indicative
of it, the structures that sustain and perpetuate it,
general remarks and possible action to counteract it.
- The argument ends stressing the importance of the struggle
against authoritarianisam in the present period, indicating
the nature of the struggle and' the terms on which it must
be carried on.
- CITIZENS' COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL
LIBERTIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS -
GOA,
September 4, 1980.
A/ •
fT 3
So'icir- vZksMo
Oofl
*2.
WORKSHOP
on
An
Alternate
Research
and
of
Approach
to
the
Education
in
Science & Technology
Management
at
Institute of Management
Bangalore
Indian
June 23 - 27, 1980
THE
TRADITIONAL
DEMAND
APPROPRIATE
IN
INDIAN
By :
-
FISHERMEN
OF
INDIA
TECHNOLOGY
THE
FISHERIES
SECTOR
Christopher Fonseca, M.A.(Phil.), LL.B.
Matanhy Saldanha, B<Sc<i
Secretary,
Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott.
(All Goa Fishermen's Union)
Chairman, National Forum for Catamaran &
Country-Boat Fishermen's Rights
and Marine Wealth.
-
Urban Lobo,
DIG (Lotldon)? MICEj misTRUCTE,
MASCE, MIE (India).
Chartered Civil & Hydraulic Engineer.
Presented on behalf of s National Forum for Catamaran & Country
Boat Fishermen's Rights and Marine Wealth, Cansaulim, Salcete,Goa.
COJJTBNTS
Page No.
Synopsis.
1
1®
A Broad View of Fisheries Sector in India-
2
2.
The Ecology of Fish in Shallow Waters.
3
3.
Passive Traditional Modes of Fishing,
Trawling cum Purseining and the Ecological
Balance.
3
ij-.
The Human Tragedy Caused by Mechanised
Trawlers and Purseiners Fishing in
Shallow Waters.
1+
5.
World Wide Depletion of Fish Catch Due
to the Reckless Trawling and Purseining
The Consequent Trawler Rush to the
Indian Ocean and the Criminal Role of
International Aid.
5
6.
Scientific United Nations Fishery
Surveys Reveal Poor Marine Resources
in the Indian Oceah.
6
7.
The Philosophy of Fisheries Development
in India Today®
7
.8.
6.5’ Million Fishermen of India Demand
Appropriate Technology in the Indiah
Fisheries Sector.-
9
Conclusion.
11
10a.
Annexure ’A,1..
12
10b.
Annexure 'B1
13
10c.
Annexur.e ’ C ’
15
11.
Bibliography. .
16
9.
- 1 N
0
P
S
I
s
The traditional (artisanal) fishermen of India who consti
tute a community of 6.5 million people fishing with 1,92,000
country-boats and catamarans, 2.7 million gear and tackle con
tributing 70$ of the total fish catch are today facing acute
economic distress due to the reckless and indiscriminate fishing
activity of 16,500 mechanised fishing trawlers and purseiners
in shallow inshore waters, owned by 8,000 persons employing di
rectly and indirectly 1,65,000 persons and contributing around
30$ of the total fish output. The shallow inshore waters being
vital fish nurseries it is necessary to have stringent control
of all human activity in this area.
The traditional techniques of fishing are passive to the
ecology being slow, gentle, of low intensity. Whereas the
"trawling" process ploughs the seabed and destroys fish breed
ing, and "Purseining" is overefficient and destroys young life.
Both trawling and pur seining destroy the ecological balance.
This has already led to decline in fish catch of the country.
This sophisticated mechanised technology is today being misused;
instead of going out in the deep sea and capturing resources
beyond the reach of manual labour, the trawlers and purseiners
have in fact turned inwards towards the shallow waters, killing
fish eggs, causing destruction of the dedicate fish ecology,
and alarming depletion of fish resources, cutting the traditio
nal fishermens' nets, reducing their daily fish catch and bring
-ing abruft human strife and suffering to millions. Leading
fishing nations have already had such bitter experiences and
have moved towards control of mechanised trawling and pursein
ing. The same developed nations, having exhausted their re
sources, are now desperately attempting a rape of the thirdworld fish resources, including India, using direct and World'
Bank aid. It is important to remember that the tropical oceans
like the Indian Ocean, have low fish resources. It is our con
tention that all the "trawlers" and "purseiners" should logi
cally, fish beyond 50 metres depth zone as "mechanisation" in
the fisheries sector is meant "to reach beyond the hands of the
traditional fishermen", in order to exploit the untapped fish
resources.
Our Indian economists and technocrats continue to drag us
down the suicidal path of indiscriminate "mechanisation" in
the fisheries sector on the Western model, which is totally un
suitable to the Indian background.
The traditional fishermen of India demand that any "moder
nisation" must have three attributes:
(a)
the new technology must not be deleterious to ecology;
(b)
it must raise the productivity of existing labourintensive units without displacing any labour, and
(c)
it must raise the standard of living of all the masses
without leading to concentration of wealth among the few.
- 2 -
The fields of "appropriate" technology suggested ares
-
manufacture of small engines upto 15 HP for traditional
craft to increase fishing hours;
-
improvement of canoes;
-
manufacture of small fish preservation units;
- improvement of fish drying methods, and
- cheap radio communications.
**
1.
A BROAD
VIEW
* * *
**
OF FISHERIES
SECTOR
IN
INDIA
1.1
India has a coastline of about 6,500 kilometres studded
with over 2,000 fishing villages and an equal number of landing
centres... The exploitable fidaery resources in the two million
square kilometres of Exclusive Economic -Sone (E.E.3.) is estima
ted around 4.5 million metric tonnes.
1.2
The Coastal Marine Fisheries in India was traditionally
exploited by the indigenous crafts such as Catamarans, Dug-out
Canoes, Plank Built Boats, Beachseine Boats and others. The
number of such crafts in the Marine Fishing Sector are about
60,000 catamarans, 75,000 dug-out-canoes, 35?000 plank-built
boats, 9j200 beach-seine boats and 13,000 other types of boats,
totalling 1,92,000 boats approximately. We shall for the sake
of classifications call these fishermen as traditional or "Non
mechanised". Thdre are nearly 2 million people directly enga
ged in the traditional fishing sector in India who comprise a
community of 6.5 million and contribute nearly 70$ of the to
tal annual fish yield of the country, using 2.7 million gear
and tackle.
1«3 In order to assist the traditional fishermen to obtain
a better return of harvest by extending their area of operation,
mechanisation of fishing crafts-was encouraged since the incep
tion of the First Five Year Plan. At present there are 16,500
''Mechanised Fishing Vessels" engaged in "Trawling" for prawn
and "Purseining" for pelagic varieties of fish like mackerals,
pomphrets and sardines. These "mechanised fishing vessels,
owned by roughly 8,000 persons, a large percentage of them
Non-fishermen, account for 30$ of the total annual fish catch
in India and give direct and indirect employment to nearly
1,65,000 persons.
3
1A While efforts were being made to "Modernise" the fishing
industry by introducing trawling and purseining in the fishing
sector, the necessity to establish deep sea fishing was also felt
in order to ensure exploitation of fishery resources to the ful
lest extent. The emphasis on. deep sea fishing gained further
momentum with the declaration of 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone
(E.E.Z.) At present the commercial deep sea fishing fleet con
sists of nearly 200 vessels and is supposed to double in number
by 1982/83.
2.
THE
ECOLOGY
OF
FISH IN
SHALLOW WAJERS
2.1
The 6,500 Km. shallow coastal waters of India along with
the connecting network of rivers estuaries and the intermediate
backwaters together form a vast ecosystem, which are the nurseries
of India's fish resources. This ecosystem include the water edge
plant growth, sea weed, the warmer rich nutrient tidal waters and
the soft clayey mud sediments which are pulsating with benthic
life which is food for the fish and encourages biological produc
tivity. Fish life is fond of the warm shallow waters and they
swarm both‘in the larvae stage and in the adult stage in muddy
waters and some go further upstream into the backish river waters.
Fish eggs are laid in the soft mud and the coastal edges and grow
into larvas. some larvae float into this zone from the deeper
waters and rhey breed in this vast ecosystem for quick growth un
til they attain a particular size before returning back to the
sea. The large reproduction of small fish in shallow waters
attracts bigger fish from the deep sea who come in to eat small
fish. The shallow coast becomes an attraction for the pelagic
and demeral fish shoals of the deep waters, as they come to feed
on Jbhe small fish life on the coast. This biological interaction
creates a vast population of big and small fish in the shallow
waters. This is what forms the central core of the fish ecosys
tem of the shallow waters along India's coast.
2.2
This vast coastal nursery in shallow waters supplies the
fish to both traditional fishing and mechanised trawling. It is
therefore, imperative to control all man-made activity in this
shallow water fish reproductive zone and also in the approaches
to this zone so that nothing destroys or even discourages this
vast natural fish nursery, which gives lakhs of Indians their
staple food and supplies and supports the Indian fishing industry.
Any disturbance or destruction'of this delicate ecology ultimately
reflects in depletion of fish stock, drastic decline of fish
catch and ecological imbalance.
3»
PASSIVE TRADITIONAL MODES OF FISHING, TRAWLING-GDM-PURSEINING AND THE ECOLOGICAL BALANCE.
_3«1 The traditional methods of fishing by Rampons, shore-seines,
gillnets,cast nets? drift nets and hooks and lines are all slow
gentle and of low intensity. The hauling of the rampon nets on the
beach and the trailing< of the light battom weights is slow and
gentle, one operation alone may take several hours. The tradi
tional methods of fishing can therefore be correctly termed as
"Passive'''.
3«2 Trawling on the other hand is conducted by dragging
heavy weights and beams on the sea-bed in order to squeeze the
prawns out of the
sea bed. This process of dragging has
a ploughing effect on the sea bed in which the fish eggs and
larvae breeding in the soft sediments are brutally killed. Since
the shallow water is a "nursery" teeming with millions of under
size fish these also get entangled in the trawl and are killed
by disturbance and abrasion denying them the chance of breeding
and propagation of fish population. The constant repetition of
dragging in the same areas finally kills even the benthic life,
sea weeds, and other sea vegetation in the sea bed on which the
fish feeds and which also have the function of purifying the sea
water by renewing the oxygen content.
3»3 The dragging of weights also raises the sediments causing
turbidity of waters which together with the noise drives away and
deflects the new fish shoals from the deeper waters which want
to enter the coast for feeding and spawning and stops replenish
ment of the fish population. Watch the trawling operation from
the shore of any fishing village in India. You will see a flo
tilla of trawlers advancing in naval formation dragging their
nets for prawns. This intense, simultaneous, continuous criss
crossing of dragging operations, carried on day and night by un
limited number of trawlers, ultimately kills all the life from
the sea bed, giving it no rime for natural biological regeneration
and thus converting it into a vast underwater barren desert.
3 •*+ The same results ensue from "Purseining" which is meant
to tap pelagic fish resources. Purseining as done in India is
highly overefficient and destructive method which leaves no scope
for young pelagic fish species and shoals to grow and proliferate.
Thus the ecological equilibrium built over centuries is being
destroyed indiscriminately by trawlers and purseiners by their
"Mechanical Pollution" resulting in the collapse of fish ecology
bringing economic crisis for the fishermen and high prices for
the common man.
3»5 Such indiscriminate and reckless exploitation by trawlers
■uid purseiners without scientific conservation management, has
caused the decline of the
edible crab, sea shell food, prawns.
mackerals, sardines and other varieties. (vide Annexure A, B, cj.
THE HUMAN TRAGEDY CAUSED BY MECHANISED TRAWLERS
AND PURSEINERS FISHING IN SHALLOW WATERS.
million strong catamaran and countryboat coastal
fishing people of India, are facing today a crisis of bare sur
vival after 2? years of indiscriminate mechanised trawling and
purseining in shallow waters. • The 2> years of Indo-Norwegian
tr.wler Aid has brought economic distress to fishermen because
of misuse o.t technology. Instead of going outwards into deeper
5
waters, the mechanised, boats turn inwards to shallow waters and
fish in the area that is essentially within the reach of human
labour.
4.2
Mechanised fishing trawlers and purseiners meant to tap
the fish resources in the deeper waters are found violating the
centuries old "Easementary Rights" enjoyed by the catamaran,
country-boat fishing people of India to fish in waters abutting
to the coast without the adverse intrusion, interference of ca
pital-intensive, labour-saving, highly-depletive, super efficient
and irrational!sed technology.
.4.3 Thus the mechanised fishing trawling and pur seining has \
been denying lakhs of traditional (artisanal) fishermen of India*
their basic fundamental right to carry on their profession and
occupation as enshrined in the constitution of India Article
J
19/1(g). It is to be noted in this regard that the traditional
fishermen of India pay taxes on their fishing implements to carry
on their profession and hence are legally entitled to secure an
adequate fish catch to earn their livelihood.
4.4
The flagrant trampling of their traditional fishing rights
in shallow waters has resulted in killing of fish eggs, destruc
tion of the delicate fish ecology, alarming depletion of fish
resources, disastrous decline in their daily fish catch, devas
tation of their livelihood, forcing them to keep their fishing
tools unutilised, rendering lakhs of fishing people under-emplo
yed, unemployed and impoverished.
4.5
The invasion by mechanised fishing trawlers and purseiners'
into their peaceful occupation together with the cutting of their
nets, have resulted in violent clashes causing in the last two
years over 60 deaths, thousands of arrests of protesting fisher
men demanding their Fundamental Right to pursue in peace their
labour-intensive, highly skilled, rural based occupation using
a fishing technology that is highly selective and efficient.
5.
WORLDWIDE DEPLETION OF FISH CATCH DUE TO RECKLESS
TRAWLING AND PURSEINING THE CONSEQUENT TRAWLER RUSH
TO THE INDIAN OCEAN AND THE CRIMINAL ROLE OF IN_______ ______________ TERNATIONAL AID._____________________
5.1
After several decades of reckless trawler fishing, resul
ting in drastic decline of fish catch the world’s leading fish
ing nations like Norway, Iceland, Peru, and Britain have imposed
drastic measures regulating fishing methods, netmesh size, fish
ing, effort and catch. The ECM nations impose strict quotas on
their member countries and the OECD countries have banned tech
niques such as purse-seining which are stunningly over efficient
but highly depletive, destroying marine life and aquatic ecology.
Norway has banned trawling and fish factories in some zones. In
fact after years of indiscriminate mechanisation, there is now a
trend back to softer smaller scale fishing technology. From 1979
onwards Norway Jias banned the construction of new trawlers and
has infact drawn up a programe of sinking a quota of existing I
6
trawlers every year after paying due compensation to the owners.
Trawling is being cut down and vessels are shifting to passive
methods of gill netting and long lining. In 1980, 30 trawlers
have been sunk.
5 >2
By 1975', having destroyed the marine resources of their
own high seas and after the Peruvian fishing collapse, the deve
loped countries unilaterally pushed the marine boundaries of
their exclusive economic rights from 12 nautical miles to 200 nau
tical miles and have rushed in with armed naval vessels to con
serve their fish wealth against international deep sea trawler
intrusion. Meanwhile since 1975", these richer nations are rush
ing into the less exploited regions like our Indian Ocean under’ j
the cover of "Joint Ventures" and "Co-operative Fishing Ventures",
but in fact they are plundering our seas in order to feed their
own fishing industries.
5-3 The International aid agencies are adopting a subtle but
criminal role in this new strategy to further the interest of the^
developed countries into the Indian Ocean. They provide the funds
and the know-how for fishing surveys and the high capital-inten
sive infrastructural facilities like fishing harbours, boat
building yards and processing facilities. A string of fishing .
harbours are under construction around the Indian coast. Scores
of United Nations FAO experts, World Bank delegates and foreign
trawler delegates are flooding New Delhi extolling the virtues
I
of deep sea trawling.
5 A They are in fact manipulating our technocrats, planners
and politicians who lay down policies in New Delhi to leave our
seas open to international depredation, to accept this highly
sophisticated fishing technology which will eventually cripple
our fish ecology, rape our seas of its fish wealth, rob our under
nourished masses of the cheapest source of protein food, scoopout our fish food to feed their pig, cattle and chicken farms,
which in turn will feed the already overfed consumers of these
developed industrialised nations.
6.
SCIENTIFIC UNITED NATIONS FISHERY SURVEYS REVEAL
POOR MARINE RESOURCES IN THE INDIAN OCEAN
6.1
The prolific growth of fish life in the ocean depend? on
the temperature of water, penetration of sunlight, the availabi
lity of rich fish food nutrients in the water, and the existence
of deep ocean currents which bring up the fish food from the
ocean bed. These favourable factors exist mostly in the tempera
te ocean where cold and warm ocean currents meet, producing there
by vertical upwelling currents so necessary for growth of fish
life. Such rich fish zones occur in the belts around the world
where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet the Artic and Antartic
Seas. The tropical oceans like the Indian Ocean are therefpie-.bynature all poorer in fish resources.
7
6.2
This scientific fact is proved by the FAO World Fishery
Statistics of 1975 which show that the few countries bordering
the Artic Ocean, USSR, Japan, Korea, Norway, Denmark, Iceland,
Canada and USA caught 50% of the entire world catch. The scien
tific pelagic fishery surveys conducted by the United Nations
FAO for the last 5 years of the SW Coast of India, have also
indicated poor sparse shoals in the Indian Ocean due to pressence
of pockets of low oxygen and absence of upwelling currents.
6.3
Currently accepted fish resources estimates of Indian
waters place the annual sustainable yield at ^.5 million tonnes
of fish out of which about 50% lies in shallow and inshore waters
upto a depth zone - 50 metres; kO% in the depth zone 50 - 200
metres and balance 10$ in the depth zone beyond 200 metres depth.
Meaning 50$ of our entire fish wealth lies in the shallow waters
and inshore waters upto a depth of JO metres. This zone extends
to a distance of average
20-25 km. from the shore. In terms of
distance measurement, 100 fathoms is equal to 100 kms. in the
West coastj while 100 fathoms is equal to 50 kms. in the East
coast.
6.M- Current annual yield data highlights the fact that as
much as 70$ of the available sustainable yield in the shallow
waters and inshore zone of 0 - 50 mts. depth is already being ex
ploited by our traditional coastal fishing people who have been
feeding our coastal millions with fish for centuries; an undoub
tedly excellent performance by any standards of efficiency.
6.5
Therefore, any new additional mechanised fishing effort
can be justified only if it is applied strictly beyond the 50
metres depth zone only. Deep-sea vessels and mechanized craft
must therefore fish only in the regions that lies totally unex
ploited today? that is, beyond 50 kms. away from the Indian
coast. This is where the Taiwanese, Korean, Soviet Japanese and
Thai trawler pirates are fishing with open defiance today robbing
our Indian fish wealth, while our Indian trawlers are fishing
shamelessly in shallow waters robbing the fish shoals from our
own Indian fishermen, Besides causing overfishing, depletion of
fish resources and destruction of ecology.
7.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA
__________________ TODAY______________________________
7.1. There is a school of thought among our Economists,
management inputs and government technocrats that progress and
change is linked with sophisticated Western technology. The
argument is that the size of the catch must be increased if
everyone has to get more. The emphasis is on growth at any cost
rather than on equitable distribution.
7.2.
They forget that western technology is designed to suit
the high capital and low labour availability of those countries
and which India must not blindly follow. They forget that even
after 30 years of striking but indiscriminate industrialisation
in India, 46$ of our people still live below the poverty line
and earn less than two rupees per day; that these 300 million
people, in abject poverty, still suffer daily hunger, malnutri
tion, starvation and even death, They forget that a technology
can bring economic growth with social justice to the masses in
India only if it reduces poverty and hunger and increases food
and employment at the same time; that introduction of a new tech
nology in India must not displace even one single existing occupation and must net accentuate inequalities.
7.3.
According to the Central Marine Fisheries Research Insti
tute, the 6|- million members of the traditional fishing community
living in 2,000 villages using nearly 2 lakhs fishing craft and
2.7 million gear and tackle, account for 70$ of the total marine
fish production, 60$ of the earnings from marine export and 0.5$
of the country's GNP, Can India's fisheries development plans
for 1978-83 totally ignore this sector however poor?
7.4.
And yet this is what was said by the Agriculture
Secretary on 28/9/78 on the sixth plan priorities for fisheries
development. Speaking to the Central Institute of Fisheries
Education, Bombay^ he spoke about "Financial Credit for fishing
fleet. Survey of fishing zones. Fishing harbours for expand
ing fleet. Improvement for handling, storage, processing and
marketing. Massive extension of developed technology, provid
ing the consumer with quality fish and fish products like fish
cutlets. Joint ventureswith foreign firms and charter of
foreign vessels to boost deep sea fishing, a similar toned
address was delivered by mr, B.V. Swaminathan, Union Minister
of State for Agriculture to the Association of Indian Fisharies
Industries on Sth June 1980,
7.5.
Nothing was spoken about the human being for whose bene
fit planning is said to be done; nothing about the 6^ million coastal
fishing people who are a national resource waiting to be utilized
to achieve the plan targets; nothing about the human tragedy
they face today and their protection. An the talk was about
just trawlers, harbours, processing and joint ventures, and get
ting more foreign know-how, capital and exchange,
7.6.
In recommending indiscriminate introduction of mechanised
boats and importing deep sea trawlers without first exploring the
resources, unmindful of the tragic experience of over mechanisa .
tion over the last 30 years, it appears that India's Fisheries
Plaiyiing philosophy consists of just blindly importing western
capital intensive sophisticated mechanised technology, flying to
international Seminars held in 5 star comfort, securing finance
from foreign aid agencies, insensitive to the misery of the 6J
million coastal fishing people,
7.7.
That is the tragedy of India, That is our tragedy today,
ho wonder the Indian masses look upon the Indian Economist, Planneri management input and technocrat as a social parasite born
of Indian conditions and Western orientation and ambitions.
9
8.
FISHERMEN
OF INDIA DEMAND APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY
IN THE INDIAN FISHERIES SECTOR.
8.1
The traditional fishermen of India do need a new technology
which will raise their standard of living. After all, it is a
genuine and valid aspiration of all the suffering working masses
to expect the enlightened crust of this nation to help them rise
from the sinking bogs of poverty and not merely to misuse them
for their political votes during elections.
8»2 But any new technology introduced must mesh into their
existing Indian economic condition and then be able to raise it
bodily to a higher economic standard. Every Indian economist
knows and preaches to the world that ours is an underdeveloped .
economy in an over populated matrix. Any plan of 'MODERNISATION*
therefore must have 3 attributes. First, the technology must not
be deleterious to the ecology, otherwise the fish resources will
dwindle and bring ultimate misery. Secondly, the new technology
must raise the productivity of the existing labour - intensive
units without displacing any labour and causing unemployment?
Thirdly, modernisation must raise the standard of the entire mass
of people without concentrating wealth in a minority at the expen
se of the majority - i.e. modernisation must be income distribu
tive.
8*3 To summarise therefore, any plan of modernisation Of fi
sheries, any new technology, any mechanisation to be appropriate
to the Indian context of today must be ecologically appropriate,
must be population appropriate, and must be income equality ap
propriate.
8.4
But what do we see in India and in fact over all South East
Asia after 30 years of mechanisation in the fisheries sector?
We see thousands of trawlers and purseiners, many with World Bank
aid, recklessly raping the waters for shrimp, Maokerals, Sardines
to feed the flatulent bellies of the west, causing a drastic de
cline in the fish resources due to the violent effect of trawling
and purseining on fish breeding, the cutting of nets and destruc
tion of fishing crafts of the traditional (artisanal) fishermen
masses with impunity due to the currupt political and intellec- ,
tual powers that back such technology and machines.
8.5
In brief, our Economists, Planners, and Rulers over the•
last 30 years are blatantly guilty of having prescribed for us
intensive mechanization with low labour context . a medicine
which is perhaps in the hi^ily developed and underpopulated eco
nomy of the west, but is a poison in an underdeveloped and Overpopulated economy of the East (India).
8.6
The need of the hour is therefore an appropriate techno
logy that is basically cheap, simple and less capital-intensive,
which is labour,intensive to continue employing our millions and
yet efficient in productivity and which can benefit every fisher
man in the country.
8.7
This can be in several forms;
10
a) First the motive power?
Small outboard, and inboard motors, from 3 H.P. upto 15 H.P.
could be fitted to the existing fishing crafts and catamarans in
order to reduce manual rowing time and increase the fishing
hours, thus raising production. The motor will also extend the
operational radius into new fishing grounds. It must be clari
fied that these machines cannot be used for trawling and pursein
ing, which destroy the ecology. It is disgraceful to note that
whereas India has exploded a nuclear device, shot sattelites
into space and gone into deep sea trawling, we do not yet manufac
ture a simple 5 H.P. Kerosene outboard or inboard engine which the
traditional Indian fisherman is crying for. This will confirm
that 'development motivation' of the last 30 years has been copied
from the West to benefit big-business, with total disregard for
the masses.
b) Second field of appropriate technology is the boat ?
The simple Indian canoe and catamaran is based on the use of
timber. But both timber and the craftmen are becoming scarce.
Cannot some of the genius of our Fisheries Research Institutes
be used to adopt moulding techniques with indigenous organic
fibres and resins to produce cheap, light, simple craft for our
fishermen? After all, so many brains are active" in the manufac
ture of new fibres to clothe the fashionable few who guide oui’
destinies.
c) The third field of appropriate technology is preservation of
fish;
I |
Today the length of time of one single fishing operation is
determined by the period within which fish catch remains fresh.
The traditional fisherman has no new technology to preserve his
catch so as to extend his time of fishing output. Cannot our
brains produce cheap small cold storage units based on kerosene
for use on boats and on beach. After all, our technocrats have
mastered already the art to keep our hotel rooms, office-rooms
and even cars in 5-star cool comfort.
h) The fourth area of new technology is drying fish for mass
consumption s
The sun is the greatest free source of energy we have and lit
tle research is needed to produce a cheap device which.will keep
the drying fish clean, free from predators and neatly packed for
sale. After all the Central Fisheries Institute in Bombay is work
ing whole hog on producing tasty fish cutlets for feeding the ri
cher urban families.
e) The fifth development in appropriate technology is cheap radio
communication. ;
“
~
For use of fishermen who face the hazards of nature and are
often totally lost at sea. This should not be beyond the capacity
of our electronic and telecommunication genii who can otherwise
bounce messages from satellites for the use of our ruling elite.
11
8,8, We are convinced that the galaxy of brains that are to
day engaged in planning for the fisheries sector should radically
revert their vested policies and research towards Govt,of India
subsidised trawlers, purseiners and deep - sea fishing vessels:
Rather, even a little effort on their part in the realm of the
highly potential and innovative traditional fishing sector can
usher in a "Blue - Revolution" in all the Coastal Villages of
India with nothing but minimal costs to the country's exchequer.
In case these "brains" are incapable of such a re-orientation,
they make fit cases as sinking weights on several hundred traw
lers and purseiners which we visualise will soon be sunk due to
their devastating and depletive fishing methods.
9,
COKCLD8IOK
9.1. We reiterate here that we are not "nostalgic" about the
traditional (artisanal) fishermen of India-or their various
methods of fishing. It so happens that the traditional fishing
methods are both ecologically sound as well as efficient, from
experience of the last decades,
9.2, Moreover, they are capable of getting better catches.
,
What is needed is an appropriate technology to supply a few enabling modifications, accessories to their fishing crafts and a I
few devices to increase productivity without labour displacement 1There is no doubt that the 6,5 million traditional fishing
people of India can fully exploit the 0-50 m. depth zone,
provided the existing mechanised fishing trawlers and purseiners
and deep sea vessels are compelled by legislation to go further
out i.e, beyond 50 m. depth zone and such a legislation is
strictly enforced, Also, the Govt, ought to stringently enforce
the minimum mesh size for every type of fishing gear.
The preservation of the coastal fish ecology is most important
for the economic upliftment of the millions of fishermen, and
not a luxury and hence any technological change must be ecologi
cally sound to save the country from collapse of the fishing
Ecology,
12
ANNE-KUHE
'A'
Total Marine fish landings during 1970 - 1979 (in metric tonnes)#
Sr,No,
fear '
Quantity,
1.
1970
10,85,607
2.
1971
11,61,389
3.
1972
9,80,049
4.
1973
12,20,240
5.
1974
12,17,797
6.
1975
14,22,693
7.
1976
13,52,855
8.
1977
12,59,782
9.
1978
14,03,607
10.
1979
12,12,082 ##
#
Despite there being 16,500 Mechanised fishing trawlers and
purseiners in operation, the total annual marine fish catch
has become more or less stagnant around 13 lakh, metric
tonnes,’
##
Approximate figure,
Cfr: CMFRI ; Marine Fisheries Information series,
Extension. Series,
Cochin, India,
Technical and
No,9, May, June, July 1979,
13
A N H EX ORE 'B1
Total "Mackeral" landings during 1970 - 1978 (in metric tonnes) #
Sr,No.
Year
Quantity
1.
1970
1971
1972
1,39,206
2,04,575
1,08,971
79,423
37,46.2
45,947
65,497
62,136
2
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
85,233
N.A,
Total "Sardine" oil sardines cum lesser sardine landings during
1970 - 1978 (in metric tonnes) #
Sr,No.
Year
Quantity
1.
2.
1970
1971
1972
1975
1976
1977
1978
2,82,217
2,70,544
1,88,850
2,52,918
2,10,597
2,71,357
2,69,262
2,15,854
2,20,916
1979
N.A,
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
#
1973
’ 1974
During the years 1971 - 1978 the Maritime states of Kerala.,
Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra introduced 250 purseiners.
k highly efficient method in catching fish shoals, generally
pelagic fishes, to boost up the production of Mackerals and
Sardines,. Has the production increased in any way?
- 14 -
MAGKERALS:
From table I it is seen that the Mackeral landings
during 1970 to 1978 showed wide fluctuations* A
minimum of 373462 metric tonnes was recorded in
1974 and a maximum of 2,04,575 metric tonnes
recorded during 1971 • The landings in 1978 formed
only 42/ of the highest catch recorded in 1971 when
there were only a handful of "Purseiners"»
SARDINEs
During the years 1970 to 1978 the sardine catch
showed wide fluctuations (table II) A minimum of
1,88,850 metric tonnes was recorded in 1972 and a
maximum of about 2,82,200 metric tonnes was recorded
in 1970« The sardine catch during 1978 accounted
for 85/ of the highest recorded in 1970.
Cfr.
CMFRIs Marine Fisheries Information series, Tech
nical and Extension series, No«9o may - july 1979,
Cochin, India*
15
AN ffl EXURE
'C'
Total Shrimp - Panaeid Prawns and non panaeid prawns landings
during 1970 - 1979. (in metric tonnes)
Sr.No,
Year
Quantity,
1.
2.
1970
1971
1972
1973
19741975
1976
1,21,691
1,4-8,84-3
1,63,84-9
2,03,4-69
1,70,178
2,20,751
1,91,4-27
1977
1978
1979
1,70,4-641,79,856
1,75,800 #
3.
1973
4-.
5.
1976
7.
8.
9.
#
Despite the rapid increase in the number of shrimp catching
mechanised fishing trawlers to over 16,000 in number and
their intense fishing activity, the "Prawn" yields have got
"fixated" around 1,80,000 metric tonnes.
Moreover the rich prawn grounds off Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra
Pradesh, Gujarat, Pondicherry and Goa are already showing
signs of being over-fished by shrimp catching trawlers.
In the above mentioned figures the minimum prawn catch was
recorded in 1970 of 1,21,691. A maximum of 2,20,751 was
seen in 1975. During the years 1976, 1977, 1978 the prawn
landings formed 87$, 77$, and 82$ respectively of the highest
recorded in 1975.
Cfr,
CMFRI;
Marine fisheries Information Series, Technical
and Extension series, No.9, May - July 1979,
Cochin, India.
16 -
19)
Gunnar Saetersdal
Needed: Nutrition - First Fishery Policies.
"It is time to stop cash - Cropping Ocean food resources,
CERES, July - -august, 1979.
20}
Junko Yamaka: Overview of the Japanese Fishing Industry,
PARC. INF Paper
21)
Ketkar K, : Trawler Depredations Deny Fishermen's Livelihood,
Economic Times, 4th hay 1978,-
22)
Kurien J. : Entry of Big Business into Fishing, Ecb E Politi
cal Weekly, 9th September 1978, PP 1557 - 1565,
23)
Kurien J : Social Factors and Economic Organisation -of the
Traditional Small Scale Fishermen of India Social Action
Vol. 30 April - June 1980,
24)
Lobo, Saldanha, Fonseca : Conservation of Fishery Resources
in the Shallow Waters of Goa and Socio - Economic Pressu
res of Development, NIO Seminar, Prospects for Fisheries
Development for Goa April 22nd to 23rd 1978,
25)
Marine Products Export Review 1978 - 79; The Marine Products
Export Development Authority, Cochin - 682016.
26)
Mohan K.P, ; The Situation of Indian Fishing Industry and
Indian Fishermen, CONCERN,. ISI Documentation Centre,
Bangalore, March 1980 PP 14. - 16,
27)
Moorjani M.N, : Present Status of Fish Processing Industry
in India NIO Seminar, Prospects for Fisheries Develop
ment April 22nd and-23rd 1978.
28)
Myrdal G, : Asian Drama, An Enquiry into the Poverty of
Nations, 1968,
29)
Okada Osamo and Junko Yamaka : We won't Let the Sea Die,
AMPO, January 1978.
30)
People V/s. DEL MONTE
31)
PNAG, July 1977, Peter H.J.U, L, : Collapse of the Peruvian
Industry. Fishing News International, London, 21st
Jan. 1978.
32)
Planning Commission •: Draft Fifth Five Year Plan, 197*+ - 79,
Vol. II
33)
Report of the Committee on Delimitation of Fishing Zones
for Different Types of Fishing Boats, 1976 - 78,
Printed at Cherry's Printers, Kabor, Cochin - 682017.
34)
Silas E, G, et al ; Exploited Marine Fishery Resources of
India, A Synoptic Survey with Comments on Potential
Resources, CMFRI Bulletin 27, March 1976, Cochin.
16
19)
Gunnar Saetersdal : Needed; Nutrition - First .Fishery Policies.
"It is time to stop cash - Cropping Ocean food resources,
CERES, July - August, 1979.
20)
Junko Yamaha; Overview of the Japanese Fishing Industry,
PARC. TNE Paper
21)
Ketkar K, : Trawler Depredations Deny Fishermen's Livelihood,
Economic Times, 4-th ^ay 1978,
22)
Kurien J. : Entry of Big Business into Fishing, Eco <1 Politi
cal Weekly, 9th September 1978, PP 1557 - 15&5,
23)
Kurien J ; Social Factors and Economic Organisation of the
Traditional Small Scale Fishermen of India, Social Action
Vol. 30 April - June I98O.
2^)
Lobo, Saldanha, Fonseca : Conservation of Fishery Resources
in the Shallow Waters of Goa and Socio - Economic Pressu
res of Development, NIO Seminar, Prospects for Fisheries
Development for Goa April 22nd to 23rd 1978.
25)
Marine Products Export Review 1978 - 79: The Marine Products
Export Development Authority, Cochin - 682016.
26)
Mohan K,P, ; The Situation of Indian Fishing Industry and
Indian Fishermen, CONCERN, ISI Documentation Centre,
Bangalore, March 1980 PP 1k- - 16.
27)
Moorjani M.N. ; Present Status of Fish Processing Industry
in India NIO Seminar, Prospects for Fisheries Develop
ment April 22nd and 23rd 1978.
.28)
Myrdal G. ; Asian Drama. An Enquiry into the Poverty of
Nations, 1968,
29)
Okada Osamo and Junko Yamaka : We won't Let the Sea Die,
AMPO, January 1978.
30)
People V/s. DEL MONTE
31)
PNAG, July 1977, Peter H.J.U.L. : Collapse of the Peruvian
Industry. Fishing News International, London, 21st
Jan. 1978.
32)
Planning Commission ; Draft Fifth Five Year Plan, 197^ -■ 79.
Vol. II
3
33)
Report of the Committee on Delimitation of Fishing Zones
for Different Types of Fishing Boats, 1976 - 78
Printed at Cherry's Printers, Kabor, Cochin - 682017.
3*+)
Silas E.G, et al ; Exploited Marine Fishery Resources of
India. A Synoptic Survey with Comments on Potential
Resources, CMFRI Bulletin 27, March 1976, Cochin,
18
3?)
Sivakumar Dilip Kumar, and Vasant Kumar : From Toori to
Thirty footer : A Preliminary study of the Political
Economy of Fishing in Tamil Nadu, Bulletin, ed.
Dr. Malcolm S, -^diseshiah, Madras Development Seminar,
Series, Vol. IX No.12, December 1979.
36)
Standard of Living of the Indian People : Centre for Moni
toring Indian Economy, Bombay, May 1978.
37)
Subba Rao N. s Import of Trawlers - Need for a Fresh Look :
Economic Times, 23rd September 1978.
38)
The Indian Fisheries Act, 1897, C^-ct IV of 1897),
AIR Vol. 9, Pgs. 108 - 117. •
39)
The Marine Products Export Development Authority Act, 1972,
Act, No.13, of 1972, AIR,
40)
The Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf. Exclusive Economic
Xone and other Maritime Eones Act, 1976, Act No, 80 of
1976, AIR,
41)
Technology is Advancing.1 What About People?
Newsletter of Acfod July - August 1978.
42)
Venkateswaran P.R. "Cold Chain from Catch to Customer,"
Fish Processing Industry in India Proceedings or
Symposium 13th & 14th February 1975, Mysore, PP. 41 - 44.
43)
Wagle S,N, ; Marine Fisheries Plan Unrealistic: Economic
Times, 23rd September 1979.
44)
Whose Development? : The case of Japan in Asia : Asian
Action, Nov - Dec 1978
45)
Press reports from: Blitz, Business Standard, Economic Times
GOMaNTAK Free Press Journal. Hindu, Hindustan Times,
Maharashtra Times, Navhind' Times, Statesman, Indian
Express, Times of India, West Coast Times. Current.
46)
Journals : Business India, Economic and Political Weekly*
India Today, Sunday, This Fortnight.
Asian Action
I2NFA FIVE) POSITION PAPER.
THE NEED FOR FORUMS FOR INTELLECTUAL CONCERNS.
RODUCT ION.
" The world appears a mite different from tiny Goa on the
West Coast of India than it does from California, USA
" To a people that has an unbroken tradition extending
almost 5,000 years, to a people that has followed a serene way
of life for most of that time and had attained levels of
culture when the people of the West still lived as barbarians,
to a people that preached ecology and the one-ness of life
(veneration of the cow and the principle of ahimsa, non
violence) while people in the West were still busy slaughtering
each other and one another, the problem H of a world heading
for imminent disaster)I appears a little differently.
" The problem appears thusly: How come that despite all
our knowledge, all our traditions, all our experience, the
turbulent upstarts of just three hundred years ago have been
able to push themselves and us to the brink of disaster ?
Clearly despite everything, there was something missing in our
wisdom ? A very serious question : Had we over-emphasized our
non-violence to the extent of forgetting, or at least neglec
ting, the first law of life: the law of self-preservation of
the species ? And disregarding this law, and its implications,
we had become soft ? ........
" If'this is so, then clearly our first task is to go
back to the sources, the roots of our own traditions to find
out where we first started becoming over-confident. But when
we do so we must always keep in mind the experience of the last
three hundred years for equally clearly that experience could
not have been contained in those roots, or how come it came
about at all ?
(Extracts from a letter to an American in California).
" c) The third question: Do existing Social Sciences need
to undergo a thorough overhaul ? Both in subject-matter and in
methodology ? Or is it that they are adequate and 'what remains
is but to develop a mechanics, a technology of social engi-
neering ? (Personally I think we require as radical a change
in the social Sciences as Einste: .n brought about' in the
2
iysical sciences ).
" Since the matter has come up I hope to write position
aper on it. Here I will merely indicate the problems :
The dominant trends in the social sciences have mainly
developed in the w§stem cultural milieu. And, at least,
in the so-called 'Third World', in the 'developing'
countries, this very.cultural milieu is itself being
seriously questioned. This debate is to be seen most
clearly around the question of development itself - and
you must be quite aware of this. At a more fundamental
level a cultural critique of colonialism is being
posed
.........At an even more fundamental level
questions regarding the very nature of human beings
will be thrown up
.
.
..............
Specifically then if we in India, an underdeveloped
country, a 'poor' country, an ex-colonial country, have
to be able to assert our dignity, our humanity, our
rightful equal place in the community of human-kind, we
have to be able to develop
..... a Theology of Man
adequate to the modern complex world that is going to
become even more complex and enriching in the 21st
Century.
" To do this we have to redefine the social sciences
from the reality of our experience. And for this we have
to get the best available brains..... You may see that
we have daringly called for 'Pure Research' in the
Social Sciences - at a time when 'Pure Research' is
under heavy attack. Is the West scared in its pants of
'Pure Research1 developing in the so-called under-deve
loped areas of the world ? Even more so than a nuclear
conflagration ?
2
-
Quite apart from the above there is another aspect to the
question. There is at present a dual crisis in the social
sciences even as they are defined at present, a) There
are, for instance, two clearcut and opposing schools of
thought, the traditional and ^he marxist. Th_s is to be
seen most clearly in the sphere of economics
" This duality is also to be seen in the spheres of
Psychology, Sociology and Philosophy, not to mention
History.
3
3
" If one probes deeper one finds that there are a multi
tude of sub-divisions within each of these broad trends
that I have called 'schools'. In other words even accepted
Social Sciences are : n a state of confusion and chaos.
b) Perhaps due to this, perhaps due to structural res
traints dedicated individuals who seek to sort out these
problems in the academia - the colleges, universities and
official Centres which have been set up supposedly for
this very purpose - find that they are unable to proceed
in any meaningful manner. They find themselves isolated,
and if determined enough to proceed, harassed. The end
result generally is that they are unable to continue with
the research they are interested in to any meaningful
extent.
3
- The third reason for the "Forum for Intellectual Concerns"
is that activists in the field are demanding more relevant
research work, Research that takes into account their
experiences, makes their work more significant, explains
their difficulties and shortcomings and, most important
of all, opens out new avenues for continued action and,
if I may say so, experimentation. "
(Extracts from a letter to a German in Stuttgart, W.Germany)
A R G U M E IJ T- :
Consider 1 - India as a geographical entity is fairly welldefined and easily identifiable due to its natu
ral boundaries. The people living within this ter
ritory have,
over the ages, developed an equally
definable and identifiable tradition. A tradition
that dates back from at least vedic times and
both in age and in continuity is amongst the
oldest and richest in the history of humankind.
The threads of this tradition are interwoven with
its religions; Buddhism, Jainism, Brahminism and
the Bhakti cults;
- with its philosophies, Nyaya, Sankhya, Vedanta,
and its psycho-techniques, Tantra and Yoga;
- with its Architecture: Khajuraho and Konarak
- with its Art and Music and Dance-Drama;
t with its Language and Literature;
- with its Social Structures e.g. caste system;
- with its village communities e.g. the
panchayat System;
- with its family institutions like the joint
family, its folklore and customs,
and what have you.
....4.
4
Can it be that just some three hundred years of
recent western civilisation invalidates centuries
of human experience merely because of some possi
ble breakthroughs in economics, politics, milita
rism and the Science of Destruction ? Or rather
does the major historical contribution of the West
lie in what NOT to do if one desires the humane
and human survival of humankind in harmony with
nature ? What are 300 hundred years of history as
against 3000 ? Are answers to these questions
possible ? Desirable ? If so, what has to be done?
Consider 2 - India was colonised by the greatest of modern
imperial powers, Britain, at the height of its
eminence. What impact did this have on Indian
Culture and Tradition ?
Did it, for instance, do away with the caste
system or rather did the caste system subvert the
colonizers and their beliefs e.g. Christianity
in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Mangalore and Goa ? The
'white sahibs' as super-caste ?
Has its famed Science become corrupted or no by
Indian 'superstition* ?
What about Indian inglii, yaar ?
And its renowed parliamentary democracy, is it
not undergoing unexpected transformation in local
conditions e.g. the phenomena of defections,
regionalism, linguistic states, etc. ?
Above all did not the might of the British Imperial
Power meet its Waterloo in India in a typically
Indian way ? Who but Indians would have thought of
combatting the greatest military power of the time
with non-violence, non-cooperation, non-taking-of-
food, non-movement (satyagraha) et al ?
Were these/are these mere aberrations/transitional
phenomena ? Many in India itself think so. On the
other hand more and more westerners are turning to
India for ways out from their own predicament e.g.
Martin Luther King, the IRA hunger strikers, etc.
Can we at all meaningfully examine these questions?
Which course must India follow - the path of vio
lence or of non-violence ? Of pragmatism or of
truth ? Was it wrong all the time and the West
right ? Or is it the West that flounders in error
and India had and has the de
insiahts ?
5
How can we go about knowing ? What is required
to bo done ?
Consider 3 - According to some criteria India is amongst the
15 of the least' developed ' nations in the world.
Indians are poverty-stricken, illiterate, overpopulated, backward, primitive, undernourished.
You mention the unmentionable and India has/is it.
But then India is one of six-seven powers that
have exploded a nuclear device, among the half-a-
dozen or so nations that have their own satellite
launching capacity and have orbitted satellites.
It is way up in industrial and manufacturing
capacity, in turn-out of engineers,doctors,
scientists; etc.
What does this mean ? Are there two Indias in fact?
Are these totally unrelated or are they symbioti
cally connected ? Or is it that the very basis of
the criteria adopted is flawed ?
Can we know
do to know ?
Should we know ? What do we have to
Consider 4 - Granting for the sake of discussion that it is
Western Civilisation and Culture as presently
understood that will see the transition of human
kind into the 21st Century, less than 2 decades
away, and it is western concepts that will prove
most fundamental in defining and determining the
nature of that transition, which will these be ?
In the sphere of thought: Existentialism ?
Positivism ? Linguistic Analysis ? Marxian Dia
lectics ? Anarchic Socialism or Neo-Hegelian
Idealism ?
In the sphere of material needs: Market economy
as expounded by Keynes, Friedman and others or
Political Economy ? What about Gandhian ?
In the sphere of social relations: Will it be
those that .emphasize social stratification or
those that emphasize social change ?
... .6
6
In the sphere of politics: Capitalism ? Comunism?
Developmentalism ? Un-developmentalism ? Northenism ? South-ism ? Great Power-ism ? OPEC-ism ?
Arabism ? Islamic Fundamentalism ? At the dawn of
the 21st Century where will India lie in the
rat-race ?
In the sphere of psychology: Will our ideas of
sanity and insanity be as at present ? Will the
'N - Bomb' and other such destructive radiation
devices be hailed as.the foremost inventions of
the most progressive powers/people and will all
those who cannot or will not appreciate this be
rated as Subnormal/Abnormal/Backward/Primitive
or just plain "Maniac Humane" ? (Did you know
that schizo-phronic means "broken-hearted" ?)
Is it possible to elicit answers to these ques
tions ? Is it at all necessary ? How.can we know?
Consider 5 - Over half the population of India is illiterate.
It is said that a sizeable percentage is exploi
ted, oppressed, dominated. It is said that this
should not be so. Accordingly a goodly number of
people are spending a lot of time and energy, not
to mention resources, both at official and
unofficial levels, to bring about a change in
this state of things. They require relevant back
up in research and study.
Can the existing research and study institutions
do this ? When they are supposedly 'set up for
the very purpose of perpetuating the existing ?
If not how come they have not been doing it all
this time ? Or have they ? What do the records
say ?
Granting such change is desirable and possible
how is it to be brought about ? How ensure that
one form of exploitation/oppression/domination
is not replaced by an equal other ?
How do literates go about understanding the
thinking processes of illiterates ? How do the
'liberated' understand the enslaved ?
7
What is the difference between 'observer knowledge'
and 'experiential knowledge' ? What are the rela
tive merits and demerits of each ?
How ensure that knowledge of the exploited and
oppressed is not used against them as has happened
in the past ?
Consider 6 -An entire body of work is developing outside the
mainstream. It started with 'Critiques' developed
into 'Counters' evolved into 'Alternatives'.
Is the pace of off-mainstream institutional forms
to cope with this growing body of the counter
culture in step ?
Are there a growing number of -
- Discussion groups ?
- Study Cells ?
- Research and Study Centres ?
- Forums and Platforms, for the continuing and
systematic and evaluatory assessment of all
this work ?
True there are Documentation Contres as alterna
tives to standard Libraries but has their role
been adequately recognized ? Are they being encou
raged ? Is their work being given meaningfulness?
STATEMENT.
1 - This paper seeks simply to assert the urgent need for
Forums for Intellectual Concerns. It seeks to establish
this need on the basis of 6 propositions which can be
seen independently or as inter-related. If any one of the
propositions holds the paper will deem that its assertion
stands established.
2
- It will be noted from the manner in which the Paper has
sought to establish its position that there are no a
priori limitations put either on the spheres of question
ing - from the psychology of individuals to the study of
ancient civilisations - or oh the range of such questions
- from the most concrete: 'What can we do ?' to the most
abstract: 'What will be the shape of things to come in the .
21st Century ?'
. .. .8
8
This implies certain assumptions about the nature of intel
lectual activity itself. First and most important: It is
not a waste of time and energy.
3
-
From the nature of the questions posed it will be noted that
the Paper arises is a specific socio-cultural-political
context and its first and most immediate significance is
within that context. This, however, in no way rules out
long term contextual change but it does mean that such
change can come about only in and through the present.
4
-
Finally it must be clearly stated that the Paper argues for
Forums for intellectual concerns not because there is no or
limited intellectual activity taking place. Quite the reverse.It is precisely because there is intense intellectual acti
vity taking place among the common people of this country
that there is the need for an increasing number of such
forums to give such activity greater currency and circula
tion, added significance and extended meaningfulness.
This paper acknowledges and supports whatever is being done.
Without such effort this Paper recognises that it itself would
not have been possible. It calls for the intensification of what
it sees as a very worthwhile and necessary process. It sees
itself as but a moment in that process.
Raia,
August 21—22, 1981
Hugo D.
- Media
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