Its Carnival time in Goa right now !!! time to feast and make merry... Here is King and Queen Momo at the Carnival parade in Margao who rule during the celebrations time of Carnival ... this the time when one and all are invited to visit Goa...

To all my Friends here on Rediff iLAND and to all the bloggers on Rediff iLAND.... from the sun

and the surf and the lovely beaches of Goa, Here is Wishing you a very Happy Holiday Season ...

To one and all a Very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2008... that may bring all your wishes come true in the New Year !!!

by

Brian Antao, Ph.D.

Goa is challenged by many problems that come in the way of its steady development and really being the Number One Model state in India. Though many a government has made it a goal to develop Goa as a Model State, but so far this has remained a pipe dream. At times the plans for development have been too pie in the sky like the Regional plan 2011 that witnessed the widespread revolution from the people across Goa and saw the birth of many agitationist groups. This is just one example where the force of the people shut down the hastily drawn up plans of the government, where not much thought went into the process. Development of Goa must take place to keep pace with the changes taking place in the wider world around us and in the rest of the country. But much thought and planning has got to go into the development process. Let us take stock of the overall steady pace of development that takes place in our susegad Goa, and what implications it has for our Goan livelihood.

First of all, Goa is perhaps the Number One state in India where it comes to political instability. We have had as many Chief Ministers in as many years in the last couple of decades, and with such political instability there is very little progress that the state can achieve. Despite this fact We Goans seem to be quite proud of this record and keep on voting in the political instability. It is high time for us Goans to wake up and smell the coffee, and vote intelligently so as to elect a majority government to power that will stay in office for the full term. Instead of time and again returning these fractious mandates, that allows the great game of Goan political Horse trading to go on.

Next we Goans seem to have made it a fashion to taking to opposing many a good development policies of the Government. What used to be a peaceful Goa, one now sees a Goa that is sprinkled with many a agitationist groups formed to fight almost anything and everything that the Government or many a times even the private enterprise attempts at developing. This is not a good and healthy trend for the progress, development and prosperity of Goa. The state government has embarked on the development of SEZs in the state. And now we see another pot boiler of an opposition brewing up. Many of the opponents to the development of SEZs have threatened another Nandigram in Goa. The question to ask of all these people, is why are they trying to ape these isolated agitationist incidents like Nandigram, instead why can't they say we will be like Chennai and allow the growth and development to prosper including even that of SEZs.

If you look at India in a larger context this is exactly what has been happening. Compare to China since it began its reforms, it has steam-rolled ahead, with full co-operation from its people, the rate of progress and development have been phenomenal. Take India, when the reforms began with Rajiv Gandhi, till today, India has not achieved even half the progress and development as China, that is because we Indians are like a "basket of crabs" in-fighting with each other. Mahatma Gandhi started the concept of peaceful revolt against the external enemies, the British, the modern Indians have abused the concept for anything and everything to revolt against the government. With the Leftists and the trade- unionists and the vast mis-guided who have taken upon themselves to form anti-establishment NGOs opposing anything progressive and developmental, such as the Nuclear deal that the government takes upon, how will this country of ours develop at a healthy rate as China.

The other thorn in the path of progress and development is the opposition in the government. It is sad that the opposition takes its job rather to literally to being the opposition, and does not believe in "constructive opposition". In a vibrant modern democracy such as ours the opposition should be willing to arrive at a consensus with the ruling government on many an important development agenda for the greater good of the state. Instead of opposing for the sake of opposing and misguiding the public against the policies of the government. For this we have to make sure that we elect the right people to the government, so that we can leave the government in their safe hands, and then there is no need for all these watch dogs to keep a watch on what the government is doing.

We Goans have to learn to think intelligently for ourselves and question the motives of these people who try to lead us into opposing the developmental policies of the government. We should not simply follow the herd mentality or simply try to want to be the one to throw the next stone. Think for yourselves that the Government is trying to achieve some progress and development and is working for you. It is trying to uplift your well-being and create more opportunities for you.

Lets us look at a large percentage of the Goan youth and what type of jobs they have been seeking or getting mainly as cooks and butlers on sailing ships or in the Gulf. Is this the Goan heritage we would like to be proud of. If you look at the employment advertisements in the two major English dailies in Goa, all the positions regularly advertised for are all for low-level positions, not very many positions are for top managerial executive posts. So are all Goans only fit to work in only low-level positions ?

There are three local engineering colleges and one national engineering college in Goa, but where are the sufficient job opportunities for the graduates passing out from these colleges ? The majority of the graduates of these colleges seek employment outside the state in cities such as Bangalore, Pune etc. So the government is doing something to create more opportunities for the graduates of these colleges right here in Goa, by way of the IT parks SEZs etc. and we see the many short-sighted and misguided again opposing the progressive and developments undertaken by the government.

Yet there are some clamoring for an IIT or an IIM to be set up in Goa. Now how will an IIT or an IIM being set up in Goa benefit Goans directly ? These are central institutions, whose admissions are based on an all-India entrance exam, and the number of Goans getting into these institutes would be hardly one or two. If these institutes would be setup in Goa, they would only provide nice serene campuses for non-Goan students from all over India to come and enjoy. Instead we should develop our existing local Goan institutes and improve their standards and bring them up on par with the IITs and the IIMs.

Sports is another area where much effort needs to be put towards developing Goa into a power house. In sports enough emphasis has to be given to developing sports right from schools to collegiate levels that really prepares the athletes for professional levels, as it is done atleast in the USA. The high school competitions and intercollegiate competitions should be organized professionally, so that the youth get a feel for professional play early on. The GFA seems to be making some good moves signing MoU with Portugal clubs and Manchester United atleast here we do not see the antagonists protesting the developments. But we do see some protests being made against the proposed new development of the cricket stadium. Now the new full-fledged cricket stadium in the state which is seriously lacking, will provide a good opportunity to the state cricketers, as well as will provide more opportunities for getting more International matches hosted in the state.

The development of Tourism only remains unabated in Goa, that too because of its natural assets. One development that has picked up is the hotel industry, and there are enough number of Hotels sprung up all across Goa, and developers still looking to build more hotels. These hotels have been good in providing low-level employment to Goans, however the top-level jobs at most of these hotels are taken by many non-Goans and even Foreigners holding the top management posts.

Medical tourism has good potential to develop in Goa, particularly with the many super-specialty private hospitals. However there is much to be desired with the state run hospitals, though the government has taken some initiatives to make some developments and improvements at the Goa Medical College.

There is one more thing that needs to be said about tourism, Goa attracts such a large number of Foreign tourists from all over the world, and at the same time time Goa is supposed to be a prime investment destination, buts Goa seriously comes close to last in the country when it comes to attracting FDI investments in the state. The government while it is moving ahead in setting up its industrial parks and SEZs should not only look at locally for industries to fill up these enclaves, but should broaden its horizons globally and make attempts to attract the much vaunted FDI sources which more than often provide attractive sources of employment.

Well Goa can correct its course and embark on an all round course of development, not just the kind of development of building concrete jungles. It needs to start with electing majority governments that will last comfortably through the full terms and will then have the opportunity towards working a progressive and developmental agenda for the overall growth and development of the state. Secondly we Goans have to stop this mode of agitationism and taking to the streets to oppose anything and everything. Examine all the issues for the pros and the cons. We have to think intelligently and examine why is it that the government is trying to do what it is it that it is trying to do, After all it is a government of the people, by the people and for the people and just trying to serve the people, do not get carried away by a few paranoid antagonists preaching the domsday to you !!!.

(This article appeared in The Herald Editorial section on 22/12/2007)

by Brian Antao

Why is that India's movie industry, answer to Hollywood, Bollywood, which claims to make the most movies in a year, in financial dire straits, tottering on the brink of bankruptcy. Bollywood's claim to fame in its attempt to compete with Hollywood is that it makes many more movies in a year than its rival. Movies are an "Artistic" production, where the "Quality" matters and not the "Quantity". In terms of "Quality" none of the hastily mass-produced Bollywood hits come anywhere near in comparison to a carefully crafted Hollywood hit. Bollywood is like a decrepit old automobile factory producing the same old single-model line of cars that are out-dated and no one wants to buy any more. Whereas a successful automobile company is one that keeps up with the times, continuously upgrading its models diversifies its product offerings and has a broad selection of models that cater to the individual tastes of different cross-sections of consumer groups.

What ails Bollywood?

1. The single one-dimensional song and dance interjected formula.

2. Mediocre, melodramatic "overacting".

3. Lack of appreciation that motion pictures are "Artistic" creations.

4. Lack of creativity and originality

5. Lack of Business savvy by the Bollywood production companies.

Use of a Single Formula

Bollywood productions have been patterned along the lines of a single model or formula, the song and dance-interjected one, originally based on the timeless Hollywood classic "The Sound of Music". Dame Julie Andrew's sequence singing, "The hills are alive with the sound of music" in the picturesque mountainside has been replicated almost like a template in every other Bollywood production. These one-dimensional productions are no different, say for example if all Hollywood productions were Mickey Mouse animations. Is Bollywood really so lacking in originality and creativity? In many of the Bollywood productions the song and dance interjections keeping popping up like commercials do in TV programs. Maybe Bollywood could employ an ingenious strategy of associating product commercials with these pop-up song and dance break-outs and in the process generate an added stream of revenue! At the same time these song and dance breakouts are as annoying and stick out like sore thumbs. When you watch a Bollywood movie on video or DVD, one has the ability of fast-forwarding through. It is probably fine, making two or three romantic musicals a year, based on this formula. But the so-called high action dramas end up being dissonant and schizophrenic when interjected with the same formula. Imagine the Hollywood hit "Terminator", with Arnold Schwarzenegger breaking out in song and dance in the middle of the action! This formula being so abused that it is, is the prime reason why Bollywood productions don't sell any more.

In Hollywood on the other hand, every production strives to be unique and original, a complete opposite of the Bollywood philosophy. Anything that closely resembles something being done or made before, or any purveyors of a "formula", lacking originality or creativity, is mercilessly chased out of Hollywood. Bollywood really needs to grow out of this single formula based system, and adopt a free form approach that promotes original and creative "artistic" ideas, promotes experimentation with concepts that are new. Not to mention that this single formula approach stifles creativity and originality. The biggest damage that this one-dimensional approach does is portray, India a nation of great diversity, as a single stereotype in the International cultural exchange. The Walt Disney Company, which started out with making the Mickey Mouse animated features, has not limited itself to simply mass-producing Mickey Mouse animations. Disney has since broadly diversified, and in a year produces a wide range of distinct films that have only a common theme of being "Family entertainment". While Bollywood's claim to fame it that it produces the maximum number of films [or flops] in a year. A close look at the fewer films that Hollywood makes, span a wide spectrum, are unique, original and most importantly are a great success "financially". The range of movies released in a year by Hollywood, will at the most include one or two musicals, the rest range from a few animations, a few selections that address kids entertainment, a selection of Family entertainment, a few comedies, a few spy thrillers, a few action adventures, a few horrors, a few science fiction, a few suspense dramas, a few historical epics, a few educational and information rich productions, a few "extreme" productions as well. Now how does that range compare to the 800-odd banal Bollywood productions made in a single song and dance interjected formula! What is the audience that Bollywood targets its productions? The dismal sales are to a small cross-section of cheap thrill seekers that go to see these movies to merely gape and ogle at the "heroes" and "heroines" and see the belly dancing. That is really what Bollywood's audience appeal has come down to. The busy working professional, the educated, literate masses, Intellectuals etc., for whom two hours of entertainment time comes at a premium, have many more options for entertainment today, than waste those two hours on watching these hackneyed Bollywood mass productions.

Mediocre Melodramatic Overacting

In terms of "Quality" of a motion picture, the performances of the cast are a major factor. The major Hollywood hits are distinguished by superlative performances by the leading cast. A serious problem that plagues Bollywood is the sub-standard acting talent. Many of Bollywood's stars that make their career inroads to the movies via the modeling route, may have pretty faces and figures or even gorgeous looks, but many of them lack the "acting" talent. In Bollywood, a melodramatic overacting performance is considered to be a great acting performance. But a melodramatic over-actor, is not really a skilled actor, is one who cannot tone down his expressions to portray a realistic character that you find in the streets. The ability to be melodramatic and have outbursts of emotion is not what Oscar caliber actors are about. On the other hand, an Oscar caliber actor has the ability to accurately portray what a real life person in the streets does. That is precisely the reason why Hollywood based Melodramatic overacting action "Heroes" such as Steven Segal etc., never get any notice from the Oscars. The Oscars are reserved for stuff that "Thespians" are made of. The secret underlying the skills of the Oscar caliber Hollywood actors is a very involved, and rigorous acting discipline called "Method Acting" (for more details see the book Challenge for the Actor, by Uta Hagen). Hollywood legends such as Al Pacino, Robert DeNero, Marlon Brando are the Maestros, the Senseis, the tenth degree black belts of "Method Acting". Defenders of the Bollywood tradecraft claim that they are making "escapist" fantasies for the common man (or is it the sub-intelligent one?) to relieve his burden. But the very same common man who once put up with these mediocre performances has now gotten wiser and tired of it and has grown more demanding and expects more, which is why these don't sell as well anymore. The Star Wars movie series are pure "escapist fantasies" but none of the acting performances are melodramatic overacting, but strive to be "realistic" which makes these movies very "believable" at the same time and hence more entertaining.

Motion Pictures are "Artistic" creations

The bragging rights that Bollywoods stakes claim to, making the most movies in a year, is its very doom. Bollywood moviemakers are wrapped up in mass production in numbers, like an automobile factory. Motion pictures are not a mass produced commodity but "artistic" creations. A typical Bollywood heavyweight director claims to be extremely busy, involved in mass-producing 10 movies in a year. On the other hand Steven Spielberg, a Hollywood legend director, is even more busier meticulously crafting just ONE artistic production in a year. A good motion picture of the type of a Hollywood blockbuster hit, involves intricate time consuming hard work to achieve that level of perfection. Beginning with the script and story selection, getting a script accepted for production in Hollywood is more difficult that getting admission to one of India's IITs! The scripts that make it involve more work and preparation background research etc. than the amount of work needed to prepare to pass the IIT entrance exam! Most of Hollywood's hits are tied to "realism", often fictionalization of real events; even the most exotic fantasies are made "believable". A little secret or "Formula" (for the benefit of the uninitiated, formula seeking Bollywood movie makers) in achieving this realism is setting the fantasy in a real world context. For example "Saving Private Ryan" is a fictional story cast in a realistic World War II context. In the making of "Saving Private Ryan" Spielberg accurately recreated World War II settings, which "adds value" to the motion picture, additionally being able to provide some educational and information content as well. Most Bollywood "escapist" fantasies have sub-zero educational and information content and are often "misleading" and disinforming. This is because most of the Bollywood scriptwriters are in the business of mass production, remixing and rehashing the same-old-stuff in the same old formula. Bollywood seems to be filled with the lazy and the uninitiated looking for the easy way out of seeking a "Formula" and a short cut to success.

The biggest Hollywood hit of all time, James Cameron's "Titanic" is truly a masterpiece in its creation, finely crafted in artistic detail, involving painstaking background research and preparation. Don't be mislead into thinking that the movie, "Titanic" is really about the romance, but in fact it is really the re-creation of the Titanic disaster, the romance is added in only to make the presentation "entertaining" else it would be a dull documentary. "Titanic" was also one of the more expensive movies made with a huge budget, but was money well invested, as it broke all global box office records. So as the American business saying goes, "You have to spend money in order to make money". In the making of "Matrix Reloaded", the entire crew, spent 8 months in pre-production preparations, getting every detail right and fine-tuned before beginning shooting. In the same way the top Hollywood stars are busy with usually one or two such involved productions in a year, while our Bollywood counterparts boast of having an extremely busy schedule of being booked with 10 movie projects for the year, thus hastily running from project to project, rendering superficial performances. For note, Indian born emigrant to Hollywood, M. Night Shymalan is a up and coming director having made a few good hits, notably "The Sixth Sense" starring Bruce Willis, which is a very original film of high artistic quality, a role model for Bollywood to emulate! An Epic movie based on Indian historical culture was "Gandhi" based on the life-story of Mahatma Gandhi, an intricately detailed production, made by the West, but accurately preserved the Indian setting and cultural details. If Bollywood had undertaken the making of "Gandhi" it would have been in the standard formula, with Gandhi breaking out in pop-up song and dance sequences! A number of Bollywood personalities were involved in the making of "Gandhi", but they did not quite seem to learn much from their experience in making this colossal epic, and improve their trade and craft.

Lack of creativity and Originality

A good Hollywood script is very much like a good painting, where a Picasso fills in the canvas with intricate details, as compared to the typical Bollywood script which is like a half done, half-baked, half empty canvas filled with gaping holes, with just splashes of paint strewn randomly. Again, one wonders how India could be so bereft of creative and original writing talent. "Screenwriting" is not just mastery over the technical mechanics of word-processing, but more about the original and creative aspects of artistically crafting the entire story and presentation in the form of a Picasso canvas painting. India has such a rich and diverse culture, that these one-dimensional Bollywood productions do great disservice to. India is an ancient civilization from which many unique and original, educational and informative motion picture projects can be based. For the uninitiated Bollywood moviemaker these need not be boring documentaries. Take the recent Hollywood hit "Gladiator" based in the ancient roman civilization, but presented in a contemporary context in a very entertaining way. So the "Gladiator Formula" could be very easily used by the Bollywood moviemakers to exploit and produce movies about anecdotes from ancient Indian civilization before the British occupation. Another recent Hollywood hit "Wild Wild West" is movie based in pre-independence American era, again, cast in a contemporary context in a very entertaining manner. The "Wild Wild West Formula" could be used to produce movies based in the pre-independence, British occupied Indian era. By the way don't get carried away that "Wild Wild West" has a song and dance sequence in it!

India has fought three wars with Pakistan, and the "Saving Private Ryan Formula" could be used to make a few movies based on the Indo-Pak wars. Then there's the widespread Indian Diaspora across the globe, where a number of movies can be made about the many struggles Indian immigrants have undergone. So there is so much fertile ground filled with possibilities all deep in Indian culture and tradition for making a lot of very creative and original Indian movies that at the same time are of substance, educational and informative. This does not mean that you will be "aping" the West, (something many Bollywood movie makers are worried about) you will only be using the latest and advanced western "movie making technology". The Chinese global hit, "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" was made using latest and advanced Hollywood motion picture "Technology", while preserving the deep Chinese cultural setting and by no means aping anything from the west. In fact the latest Bollywood release attempting to draw audiences with claims of showing 17 kissing scenes is really a "aping the west" gross and desperate attempt by an industry that absolutely lacks creativity or originality. Besides these 17 kissing scenes are really so gawky and awkward, mediocre acting and directing by a set of individuals who seem to have no real life experience of kissing nor seem to know how real people kiss.

Lack of Business Savvy

The major Hollywood production companies such as The Walt Disney Company etc. are full fledged Wall Street corporations, that employ MBA graduates from Harvard etc. for running the management and marketing functions. For these companies, undertaking a motion picture project is a major business decision, made after a careful business analysis, and not based merely on the choice of the script. However good the script may be, a careful business analysis is done to see what the market returns will be, what cross-section of the audience will the movie appeal to, how well will it be received by a global audience, what "lasting potential" does it have, is it a "fad script" that will be out-dated in a year or two. Hollywood has access to such market data, such as audience profiles, individual tastes of different sections of the populations, brand and channel marketing, and all the latest business, and technology used by any of the other major corporations such as Microsoft or Nokia. Most of the Bollywood production companies in contrast are "Mom and Pop Shop" operations, small-time operators. Another problem that plagues Bollywood is nepotism, and the nexus with the underworld (A reason why so many Bollywood movies feature plots based in the Indian underworld). These elements are in it for making a fast buck, with little regard for "quality" or "artistic creation". Hollywood on the other hand is a strict "talent-driven" meritocracy, where the casting calls are made to carefully select the right cast that will truly represent the story, and not just throw in a few popular names. While making "Amistad", Steven Spielberg did not settle on any known star or big name actor for the lead role of the African slave, but searched far and wide till he found Djimon Hounsou, (at that time a little known, struggling model) who was from the same African native background in which the character was based in, and was also fluent in the regional dialect, which Spielberg wanted to portray accurately. However great an, actor, there are limits to one's acting range, and the more distant an actor is to the reality of the character, the more unrealistic the performance is. Which is why in casting calls, Hollywood movie makers, don't necessarily look to retrofit in big names, but look for personalities that closely match the characters, which then results in a well made motion picture, that automatically sells. Bollywood's casting is however is often skewed towards just throwing big and popular names, hoping that these big names will then draw the masses to the theatres. That really is the biggest folly in Bollywood's making where the shrinking audiences are only those that go to the theatres to simply see the big named heroes and heroines and belly dancing!

Finally, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan sometime back expressed his dislike of the moniker "Bollywood" in a speech in South Africa. He is quite right, and the term Bollywood probably originated as a disparaging remark from a condescending source. As part of the growing up Bollywood needs to do, besides re-inventing itself is also finding a fresh, creative and original identity for itself. The new identity, it must then etch out high on a mountainside in the backdrop of Mumbai! Keeping with the 'Hinduvta" trend in the country to change the historical names of major cities, such as Bombay to Mumbai, Madras to Chennai, Calcutta to Kolkata, a good new name for Bollywood might be "SonaNagar" or "SapnaNagar"!

by

Brian Antao, Ph.D.

Nature of the article: Observations

Recently a writer in one of Goa's daily complained that Goan's have the worst "crabbed mentality". Supposedly he was referring to what is more commonly called as the "Basket of Crabs" mentality of constantly working at maliciously bringing down people, or not letting another succeed. Apparently when you put live crabs in a basket, one is assured that none will escape as the crawling crabs constantly drag each other down to remain within the basket. Well this attitude is more predominant across India and much less so in Goa.

One should not of course confuse "healthy competition" with the crabbed mentality. Healthy competition is good that pushes the envelop of one's performance to higher levels of achievement.

The "basket of crabs mentality" more prevalent across India was on full display in regards to India's master batsman Sachin Tendulkar. Who was gifted a glitzy sports car and the central government waived the import duty on the gift. The waiver of the import duty was well justified and deserved considering the fact that Tendulkar has made great contributions to Indian Cricket. Such waivers are often afforded to leading sportsmen in many countries, Footballers in Europe etc. and nobody complaints about it as people appreciate the greater talents and contributions that these individuals make. But we saw a hell of a raucous being raised on the Import duty waiver, people making, so much so that the government had to withdraw the duty waiver. Now, that is a prime example of the predominant "basket of crabs" mentality that exists across India, motivated by envy and jealousy. Tendulkar is a talented and gifted sportsman and regarded as one of the best of the world. And you will find that it is always the un-talented, lazy individuals who have no skills and are unable to be successful that devote their devils mind to plotting "basket of crabs" strategies. It is a similar set of individuals who also feel the need and compulsion to resort to corruption to succeed in life. Not to mention the Hypocrisy, these same groups of people who made the noise about the import duty waiver, now turn and cheer Tendulkar on his batting performance.

Goa is a more close knit society, and probably India's only peaceful truly secular state, where people of different religions have been living harmoniously. Though some politicians of late have been fermenting communal tensions with irresponsible and juvenile lamentations of Goa's more global reputation of being the Rome of the East, instead wanting to saffronize it to a parochial Kashi of the east, when there already exists a real Kashi in India. Recently some vandals defaced a Christian statue in Ponda, perhaps a first of such kinds of incidents. Such incidents are caused by the seeds of hatred and communal tensions sowed in the minds of vandals by irresponsible lamentations made by communalist-centric politicians. May be the politician concerned is in no way directly involved in this incident. But one can to a certain extent blame these inciting comments to have sown the seeds of vandalism. We have another communalistic tension centered on a chapel in Margao fermented by a hardened bigot.

In a recent Financial Times book on business leadership that I was reading, the author points out that business, political leaders etc. must think through three or four times on what they say or do in public as their actions have far reaching ramifications. This is particularly a good lesson to many an Indian politician who goes about shooting off his mouth in an irresponsible manner with total disregard about the effects of the public outburst would have at large, particularly on impressionable minds. Recently in a speech one of the BJP leaders attempted to be-little Mrs. Sonia Gandhi by saying that she does not speak without referring to paper. Actually it is more of a compliment, that Mrs. Gandhi is a responsible politician who comes prepared and thinks through the comments she makes in public. The recent incidents surrounding interference with the freedom of the press, prominent politicians have been saying that "freedom of the press" comes with the price of bearing responsibility. Well the same applies to politicians as well, as their "freedom of speech" also comes with the price of bearing responsibility as to particularly effects on impressionable minds, directly or indirectly, inciting tensions and hatred etc.

In the same above-mentioned book, the author distinguishes between two types of personalities the "travelers" and the "passengers". Travelers are those who go out on a journey and truly experience every aspect of it. Passengers are those who are merely in it for the ride akin to some one who indulges in a ride on a roller coaster in a theme park only to compile a resume of the places they have been. We have many of the Goan politicians of late making frequent trips to visit different countries, the reason being to study how things are done in these countries. Firstly one must say that there is a lack of originality and creativity on the part of these political trips that feel the need to copy a system present elsewhere. In terms of the results achieved they can best be described as being mere passengers on these journeys, having brought back very little in terms of true experience and "insight" gained from undertaking the trips.

Another attitude is best characterized by the Hindi expression "Ando Mein Kanha Rajah". In a blind men's world, the one-eyed is King.

My favorite parable is the Indian folklore, the one about "The Elephant and the seven blind men". Where the seven blind men wanted to touch the elephant to get a feel for what the elephant is like. Each blind man touched a different part of the elephant. The blind man who touched the tail proclaimed that the elephant is like a rope, another who touched a leg claimed it was like a tree trunk and so forth, being blind of course, none had a truce conception or appreciation for what the big complex elephant is really like. This problem is particularly prevalent with many Americans who have no appreciation what the wider world (the complex elephant) outside of the insular island that America tends to be, and view the rest of the world as a rope that can be pulled in any direction. What one now sees is that America which won the two recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, but in the process, the nation as a whole has "Lost its peace of mind".

The problem that plagues Goa to a large extent is that the dominant Hegemony in Goa is filled with many one-eyed kings and the seven blind men who lack a conception of what the complex elephant is like but have their own stubborn dogmatic view that they have touched the elephant and it is like a rope! Which is another major stumbling block to progress in the state. Many of these one-eyed kings tend to feel threatened and insecure when faced with an ordinary two-eyed, and are scornful of what a two-eyed has to say. Like they say that prejudice is not a virtue, but tends to cloud one's vision of the world.

In an op-ed article that appeared in the National daily the "Asian Age", a certain hardened "communal" politician was addressing a large section of democratic proponents as "these secularists." On the contrary it is more apt to refer to his coterie as "these bloody communalists". Communalism is a selfish system that centers on a single dominant community that is antagonistic to others. A dictionary definition for communalism is "Strong devotion to the interests of one's own religious or ethnic group rather than those of society as a whole." Communalism is also synonymous with being parochial and narrow-minded and backward thinking. Where as secular is synonymous with being democratic. A dictionary definition of secularism is "The view that religious considerations should be excluded from civil affairs or public education" which is the pure form of democratic government, that which is also followed in the major democracies in the developed countries. And India's constitution is also defined to be a Secular, pluralistic Democracy.

Part of the problem seems to be the fundamental psychological one, where one does not know to distinguish between "Right" from "Wrong" to put it in the former US President George Bush Sr. typical mannerism of speech "Communalism Bad very Bad . Secularism Good very Good". The distinction could not be simpler than that!

By

Brian Antao, Ph.D.

Goa has a unique program in the country as far as Computers in education goes, which is the Cyberage scheme. The Cyberage scheme has brought computers to the reach of a large majority of Goan high-school students, and recently the program has been extended to the Higher-secondary students as well. Following up on this Cyberage scheme, it is time for Goa to be the leader in a related area To formally introduce a compulsory subject on the basics of computer technology in the high-school curriculum.

Many Goans, both students as well as teachers seem to be at a loss for words on what to do with the computers that they have got through the Cyberage scheme. Many are techno-phobic and have not even availed of this facility. For many these computers, or more specifically the personal computer (PC) is seen as just a way to access the Internet and for email. Using the PC for Internet access, email and chat is certainly one good home use for the computer. Email has evolved to being a business standard for communication in the developed countries. The "Chat" programs such as Yahoo!Chat, MSN etc. are good ways for the new tech-savvy youngsters to engage in-group discussions with their friends-circles. Access to the Internet gives one the gateway to the entire world of the global world-wide-web, where if this access is used intelligently, provides a wealth of information on a myriad of topics. In this regard a lot is needed in Goa in terms of improving the broadband Internet infrastructure. The government has undertaken an ambitious project to provide broadband Internet access throughout the state. The government has also embarked on implementing e-Governance widely across the state.

Now that we have the essential ingredients, the computers provided by the Cyberage scheme and a good broadband Internet infrastructure, we need to address the issue on how to progress Goa to being the leading Computer savvy state in India. Goa can take a lead in this direction by introducing a new compulsory subject on Computers in the high-school curriculum. This would be in the form of an additional compulsory subject and would best be introduced from standard Eight (VIII) upwards to H.S.S.C. standard Twelve (XII). With the S.C.C. and the H.S.S.C. Exams upgraded to have an additional compulsory paper in "Computer Technology".

The subject of "Computer Technology" introduced through the early high-school stage would ensure that Goa's high-school graduates are computer-savvy. This subject of "Computer Technology" would be based on teaching many of the basics of computers, starting with the basics of Boolean algebra and discrete mathematics, to use of different software packages such as Word processors, spread-sheets, databases, elementary computer programming etc. High School students should also be encouraged to utilize computer packages such as the Word processor for writing up their home-work assignments, term-papers, reports etc.

A basic outline for introducing the compulsory subject "Computer Technology" in the high-school curriculum would be as follows:

Standard VIII: Elementary Boolean Algebra—this is all about computing with binary numbers, and introducing the students to the binary number system, and the associated binary number algebra. For the most part high-school students by the time they reach standard VII, have completed and achieved a fairly good level of mathematics training. So it would not be too hard on them towards the end of studying the binary system of numbers and elementary Boolean algebra. Having a good grasp of the binary number system is critical for being good at computing technology. As a computer processes everything in terms of bits, numbers in the binary system, just ones and zeros. All forms of data, including text characters are converted through the layers of software and hardware that a computer system is made up of and ultimately gets computed in the binary form. In addition the syllabus would also contain elementary computer basics, such as what the computer is made up of, the generic architecture a central processor, memory, storage devices, display and input devices.

Standard IX: Elementary Discrete Mathematics this topic builds up on the formal theory of binary numbers and Boolean algebra and is an essential theoretical foundation for good computer understanding. In addition to this mathematical component the syllabus would also contain intermediate computer basics, which builds up on the content covered in the previous year. Discrete Mathematics includes topics in basics of set theory, logic, combinatorics and graph theory. The fundamental mathematics taught in these two years is critical to understanding computer languages and to the development of good programming skills. Discrete mathematics is an exciting and rapidly growing area of mathematics, which has important applications in many high technology areas. For example, "secure" Internet communications, efficient storage of data and robust communication networks.

Standard X: Elementary data-structures -- A data-structure is an elementary and essential building block, which is used to develop computer programs. It is essential to have a good grasp on the different types of data-structures that are used in the different styles of computer programming. More details on the computer architecture, how computers are connected to each other and talk/communicate with each other, and how the computer connects to the Internet. Included would be a few technical details on things like email, and Computer laboratory assignments on using the Word processor, spreadsheets and "intelligent use of the Internet" to access information.

Standard XI: Introduction to computer programming The topics covered in standards VIII-X lay the formal theoretical foundation essential for a good understanding of computer technology, not just the software aspects but hardware as well. The syllabus would cover all aspects of computer programming using the C-programming language, which is best suited as a computer programming language to instruct on all aspects of programming. Using the C-programming language some basic hardware dependent issues, such as memory allocation etc. also need to be addressed, which gives the student a good understanding on the need to be aware of certain hardware related issues in software design and development. In addition the choice of C-programming language is very convenient to set up Computer laboratories, as a public domain GNU C compiler is available under the Linux Operating system, making it very inexpensive to set up Computer laboratory assignments.

Standard XII: Computer Organization and Networking The syllabus for this course would cover more formal architectures used in computers, microprocessors, data storage etc. The syllabus would also include essentials of computer networking both the hardware elements, and an elementary study of computer software networking protocols. Computer laboratory assignments would include experiments with programming with the computer software networking protocols.

With the above new stream of a compulsory subject in "Computer Technology" introduced in Goa's high-school curriculum. Goa's high-school students would be the first in the nation to be receiving a high-quality computer education as part of their high-school education, thus making the Goan high-school graduate very computer savvy. The syllabus chosen above for the compulsory subject of "Computer Technology" is based on instilling the core fundamentals necessary for a good understanding of computers. These fundamentals of computer technology would better prepare the students to apply computer technology in any discipline that they wish to specialize in after H.S.S.C.

In addition to introducing the "Computer technology" compulsory subject in the high-school curriculum. With the students being granted computers via the Cyberage scheme, it is important that the students put the computers to productive use. Thus in addition it should be also be made mandatory that students submit all their homework assignments etc. making use of their computers. Using the word processor to write essays, using email to communicate with their teachers. The teachers should be accessible to their students via email. Where students can email their teachers any questions or doubts, and the teachers email back responses.

Another much needed and easily affordable extension of the Cyberage scheme is providing each "recognized" high school in Goa with a computer server to network their computers. The schools should develop their own web portals and get it professionally hosted, along with acquiring an email service. Teachers and students from Standard VIII upward each would have their own email ID, and can use email for communication. Even though the Internet is quite proliferated in Goa, sadly, not even the major high-schools in Goa have a web site or email contact information with the principals, teachers etc. Using a password-based access, teachers in high-schools can post home-work assignments on their high-school's web-portal, and encourage a mechanism for students to digitally submit their home-work assignments online. The grades on the home-works and various tests and exams would also be posted on the school's web-portal. This form of interaction would introduce a framework of e-learning in Goa's high-school curriculum. A similar e-learning infrastructure could easily be adapted to the higher-levels of education in the state, at the Goa University and its various affiliated colleges.

(The author has considerable experience in research and development in computer technology, He has an earned Ph.D. In Electrical and Computer Engineering from Vanderbilt University, USA, and until recently upon his return to Goa was a Professor of Computer Engineering at the Padre Conceicao College of Engineering, Goa.)

India has proven to be an attractive destination for FDI,
but lags far behind China in this regard. There is great
potential for India to gain in the FDI inflows if it
liberalizes the now stringent FDI norms in the retail
sector, particularly if it allows up to 100% FDI in the
multibranded retail sector. Estimates are that India's
retail business has the potential to grow by over
$400 billion over the next 15 years. This estimated retail business
cannot be achieved unless the government immediately
liberalizes FDI across the retail sector particularly in
multibranded retail.

Let us look at the current retail scenario in India it is
largely composed of the small traders and hawkers many
pawning of their wares off street corners, many of them do
not even have a tax liability. Hygene is a major concern and
many diseases can be spread through this setup of the small
trader/hawker community. Price controls is another issue as
none exists, as these traders are at a liberty to quote what
they wish and it has become a system where one has to bargain
with them. Most importantly the concepts of Consumer satisfaction
do not exist.

Now step in the Organized retail, with their big establisments
well organized setups, clean and hygenic setups, good customer
service, controlled prices, no need to hassle and bargain,
they have goods return policies, Wide variety of choices, great
bargains on prices and discounts. These are heavens for the Customers,
with all the amenities.

The modern Organized retail are the next generation step in the future
that will help India achieve its estimates of $400 billion growth in retail
business. The current retail establishment which can best be described
as the jopadpati traders will only take the country backward.
Now we have to look at these developments at the same way as we are trying
to clear out the slum dwellers out from Mumbai and bring in High rise
developments. We may not be exactly looking to clear out the jopadpati traders
but we simply cannot afford to live in a backward era with them being our
sole service mechanism. They have to make way for the high rises that is the
Organized retail. And a solution to the small traders who may be displaced is
like what has been done in many of the developed countries, these small traders
who have the skill and experience of working with the retail business can be easily
absorbed in the Organized retail sector.

To the trade unions and the Leftists who are opposing the entry of the Organized
retail and FDI in the retail sector, claiming that they are protecting the
interests of the small traders, these are really short sighted. India is supposed
to be one of the world's true democracy, and in such a true democracy we expect a
free enterprise, where there has to be an equal opportunity for everyone to set up
their business, compete freely and thrive. The Organized retail is trying to make
an entry in a free enterprise and do their business, these Leftists have no right
to tell them that they cannot do business. If the small jopadpati traders feel
threatened by the entry of the Organized retail, they should be willing to compete fairly
with the organized retail, develop their own niche and continue to thrive. These
Leftists and trade unionists that oppose the Organized retail are being really
anti progressive and are not seeing that they are coming by the way of hampering
the progress and development of the country and by their actions will only keep the
country backward.

Organized retail can be in the form from Indian corporations or from MNCs through
FDI, for which the government has to open up the entire retail sector, particularly
the multibranded retail sector to 100% FDI. Opening up the multibranded retail sector
to FDI will see the entry of large retail giants such as CareFour, Kroger, HomeDepot
etc. These will provide to the Consumer many different shopping options. The government
has to see that it is the consumer that it has to satisfy first when it comes to making
policy decisions in the retail sector. Because the retail business services the consumers
and without the consumers, the retail business will crash. What the consumers demand is
better service, better choices, better options and most importantly and better retail
infrastructure. Opening the retail sector to FDI will help develop India's non-existent
retail infrastructure, such as the supply chain, distribution etc. and not to mention
the high quality employment the the FDI in retail will generate. Opening the multibranded
retail sector to FDI would also make available imports to the consumer, thereby
increasing the level of consumer satisfaction.

The most important thing lacking in India today is a world-class retail infrastructure,
and with a projected retail business growth of $400 billion in the next 15 years, the government
has to take steps to ensure that there will be a world-class retail infrastructure in
place. With our current jopadpati traders we surely cannot hope to achieve those estimates.
Only a big entry of Organized retail and liberalization of FDI in retail across all sectors,
particularly in multibranded retail will help achieve these targets.

(This article appeared in The Herald editorial section dt. 15/12/2007)