Thursday, 5 November 2015

Hand shake



My right hand I extend

Awaits you to reciprocate

A friendship in struggle

On the banks of Zuari River

Struggle is on

Battle lines drawn


On one side are fisher people

On the opposite side are trawler owners

On the one side are fisher people

On the opposite hand are Luxury hotels:

Grand Hyatt and Aldeia de Goa.

On the one side are fisher people

On the opposite side are Marinas.


They all battle for land

On the banks of River Zuari

They all battle for space on river water for fishing

They battle technology and echelons of power

How long, how far

The battle is to spark fire?


How wide, how deep

Trawlers are to play havoc with ecology?

How long State is to condone the damage?


The land that hosts Goa University

Tribal people cultivated cucumber, chilies and more

People displaced to build Goa University

People forced to get into fishing.


And now it’s new breaking news:

Marina in Nauxim

Marina in Sancoale

Fishermen from close and far

Sought to be pushed to periphery

Marinas needed to boost high end tourism

Fisher people but pushed to dead end.


Once Goa University kicked out tribal people

And they turned into fishermen of Zuari River.

Now MPT kicks them second time

And they are to turn into burning coal.


Logic of the system pretty simple and clear

Kick everyone who is not a Brahmin

So don’t worry we are still friends

And I extend my hand for a hand shake.



Sebastian Rodrigues


1 comment:

  1. Beautifully sad, in desperate need of sincere handshakes for Goa's wellbeing

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