Past few days TV channel in Goa put out interesting narrative on Vanxim Island titled "Goa's abundant island?" with Herman Gomes as an anchor. Click here to youtube view and here for facebook watch. It's also available on Instagram here. The sudden gateway to Vanxim and the accompanying commentary sounds almost vengeful of some creatures who are responsible to the projected reality of Vanxim and narrator declaring a war on Ferry service.
Let's take deep dive into the trajectory on what the video clip tries to convey and what we understand.
It starts with disclosure on why focus on Vanxim. The reason cited is existence of Ferry boat. The narrator escapes to express that before Ferry boat system there were only canoes for centuries.
Then Ferry moves, camera pans on the Cross on in the rocks in Mandovi river. Narration then starts saying that it was constructed in memory of doctor who was drawned in the middle of Mandovi on the way: one of the well known lies peddled (so far online) as truth over past two decades. Surprisingly no one in Vanxim is aware of this drawned doctor. Camera then suddenly gets fixed to some stone inscriptions making unsuspecting consumers of this video believe that these inscriptions are from the cross in the middle of Mandovi while in reality no such inscriptions exists. Inscriptions are captured introduction from some other cross, wonder why?
Latter in the video Marius Fernandes from Malar says the drawned doctor was a father of Mario Soares and then says of Mario D'sa. There is no consistency in the narrative that Marius tries to sell. Mario Soares was the President of Portugal who betryed Goa with his treaty with India while he served as Foreign Minister of Portugal on 31 December 1974. There are two Mario involved. Not sure as to whose father is involved here in drawing. We need to get death certificate of the two fathers of two Mario's.
Then narrative proceeds on to Vanxim Church and the writings of the wall first time. Comments are fine at the time.
Then there is narration on Miraculous cross of Vanxim. Again this narration is fine.
Then camera begins to focus on locked doors, broken homes and abandoned houses. It seeks to create a stereotype that all houses in Vanxim are locked, broken and abandoned. There is reference to Sao Mathias Sarpanch with no name mention being from Vanxim, why then Sarpanch's house, door and lock was not focused upon and she interviewed? Why only two elderly women interviewed from Vanxim and three interviewees from outside Vanxim imposing their narratives on behalf of Vanxim? Where do Savio Monteiro and nameless lawyer resides in Vanxim? These questions are pertinent because video ends with words "people of Vanxim have spoken out". Vanxim Island has just two eldrrly women residing? Was the video capsule meant to be sort of sealer on public opinion?
There is an advocacy statement in the narrative that Vanxim needs "better transport facility apart from ferry". In both the elderly women interviews this thesis that Herman Gomes puts out but fails to stand waters. In the first interview elderly lady simply says island needs better Ferry facility and also health facility (doctor). In the interview with second lady Herman himself thrusts subject of Divar-Vanxim bridge head on. She says yes bridge is needed. Then Herman himself checkmates and point out that if bridge is built the builders (real estate) will take over Vanxim.
Narrative then proceeds to desperate levels. It invents character of girl from the island who decided to get married. Then on the day of marriage Ferry broke. Bride still reached her wedding destination though late. How did she reached;not told. Name of bride; not shared. Year and day of this incident; not disclosed. Whether Ferry was repaired or she went in canoe; not disclosed. How late was she for her wedding nuptial; not disclosed. It looks to be imaginary invention to create market for Vanxim bridge. Or what else? Why was it not told that on the day of weddings in Vanxim there were two Ferry boats plying between Divar and Vanxim whole day on 01 January 2014? Something not in place about this video.
What is most interesting about the video is that the narrative goes that it takes minutes to cross the Vanxim Ferry. And it's true. It doesn't take hours. Seven minutes to be precise but not disclosed in the video.
Then Video returns back to the Church and dishes out interesting interpretation of the writings on the front wall top of the Church. Narrator actually goes berserk and desperate in konkani "people are forced to worship God because government doesn't care!". Incredible hermeneutics! It means if government had to care then people would not worship God. The question pushed under the carpet: Did the office of Goa Archbishop care before selling Vanxim in 2006?
Herman Gomes also makes unusual comparative claim that "Divar is famous. Vanxim is not famous." Herman Gomes cleverly avoids pointers towards infamous sale of Vanxim through complex machinations of corruption in the office of Goa Archbishop on February 11, 2006 by the one who is Cardinal currently. Why so?
Unnamed lawyer (why his name not given) is giving his advise on how Vanxim can be protected in three parts:
1. Through declaring Vanxim as biological Hotspot.
2. Through declaring Vanxim as Ecologically Sensitive Zone
3. Through declaring Vanxim natural cover.
Well appreciative suggestions but looking at track record of the way things have happened in past even water at Survey no.8 of Vanxim (Capao) nearly 48,000 sq.mets has been declared as settlement Zone. These suggestions can be taken by legally literate and politically illiterate and immature people.
Vanxim can be protected by always remembering and publicly recalling that Vanxim is ruined up due to the corruption in the office of Goa Archbishop. We need leadership here to move ahead.
Some Savio Monteiro speak in the video about the oncoming(?) real estate project in Vanxim. He starts his narrative with disapproval and shock but then arrives at rather strange conclusion that Vanxim agitation was motivated by Chaos. This is a very serious charge that creates ground to suspect the motivation and the agenda of this video. Was it designed as surgical strike against people of Vanxim?
Who are the behind the scenes operators and motivators of this video? Is this corporate operation on Vanxim to sell off idea of bridge? It looks to be considering bridge and retaining walls are two necessities required for corporate takeover of Vanxim.
Herman Gomes has spoken nothing about illegal sand mining on Vanxim Island that takes place daily at night.
History has records of journalists who indulged in paid journalism and had to pay for it after they were exposed. One of them was national daily in Goa. Another one was working for Goa based TV channels. There are some more too.
Two years Chief Minister and Cumbharjua MLA tried to push through bridge agenda for. They did not succeed. Perhaps some vested interests have conceived mind control program now. Statement of Savio Monteiro make it clear that the video is directed against Vanxim agitation. Vanxim agitation led by late Maggie Silveira has created daring legacy as the President of Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa Unit. No one should have any misconceptions that fire of her zeal and intensity of love for the Vanxim Island lives on through the blazing trail she has left behind. Herman Gomes, Savio Monteiro, Marius Fernandes and everyone else need to remember and honor this. Vanxim is made what it is due to rot of corruption in the office of Goa Archbishop. They are the ones who have opened doors of Vanxim to corporates and real estate sharks. Superficial narratives like this will be responded with counter-narrative everytime.
Please leave our Vanxim Ferry alone!
