Goa Assembly: Then and Now

Prakash Kamat in Panaji
JULY 16:
Sorrowing lies my land of Goa......

Goans,wherever they are, have been severely outraged by the sordid political turmoil and subsequent drama that unfolded ahead of crucial monsoon session of the State Assembly in Goa. Everybody is disgusted and pained,and  have been wondering....what is the nadir to which Goan MLAS have been stooping every passing day.
My good friend Bhaskar Assoldekar who is Goa cordinator of Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), a Delhi-based organisation which pursues the cause of transparency in electoral process and reforms for democracy,always says Goa must get good elected representatives and good governance. Alas!
Pained at heart Mr. Assoldekar posted to me today a....

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

GOA ASSEMBLY: THEN & NOW:

As we pass through arguably one of the biggest turmoils in the history of Goa Assembly ( next only to 1980 turmoil when every one joined Congress I under Pratap Singh Rane with No Opposition left except Khalap & Babuso Gaonkar who remained in MGP), my thoughts take me  back to an incident  in the rainy season of 1964- exactly 55 years ago.

Late in the evening, at the end of the day’s proceedings in the Assembly, a MLA from South Goa( Identity is intentionally not revealed to maintain the dignity) in the then ruling MGP Party had a brief discussion with UGP MLA from Margao who owned a car and immediately shared the back seat of the car with him right outside Adil Khan’s Palace ( Assembly site then).
They drove straight to Margao in a hurry. He not only stayed overnight with UGP MLA at his residence in Margao but even had the audacity of driving back with him to the Assembly the next day!
Next day, this news spread across the Assembly like a wild fire. Then CM Bandodkar was furious. He called the MLA to his chambers and in his unique style, verbally fired him for the “unpardonable act” ! CMs typical question to MLA was, “which Goddess your family believes in ?” When the said MLA was asked to “swear by the name of the Goddess” that he is not joining the opposition and managing a coup, the MLA started sobbing. MLA then told his part of the story.

And this is what he said- “ Bhau, yesterday, the Assembly session got over at 7 pm. The last bus to Margao was at 7.30 pm. If I was to take that bus, I would not have been able to get the last bus from Margao to my home town in South Goa. I checked up if I could join him in the car. He said it is fine. When we reached Margao bus stand, the last  bus for the day to my home town had already left and it was raining very heavily. I didn’t have enough money Bhau to stay in the hotel, so I accepted the offer of staying overnight at his place! Since he was anyway coming to Assembly Session today, I joined him today also. I am very sorry, Bhau !!”

Yes, there were only 7-8 MLAs who had cars then! Rest all attended sessions by taking public transport! Even today, as I recall this incident, I get goosepimples for sheer innocence and the sense of commitment with which  Goa’s MLAs  behaved and acted then!

Look at the typical fatherly but naive approach of Bhau asking him to “swear by Goddess”! And once he swore that was taken as “Absolute Truth” with no further questions! Bhau also apparently rushed to Margao MLA ( who was his personal friend) to apologise for the allegation he himself had made! Bhau had felt guilty! Look at the simplicity of the MLAs then!

Certainly lot of water has flown under Mandovi Bridge since then. The walls of Old Vidhan Sabha and the new one as also private chambers of ministers and MLAs must have been mute witness to this  paradigm shift .

Then

    Now