Date: 18th October, 2024
The Goa Government’s plan to wipe-off temples destroyed during the Portuguese era located on Comunidade lands, and to build a so called ‘Smarak’ temple, is nothing short of a blatant attack on our heritage. As a proud Zalmi Gaunkar of Morombi-O-Grande I disagree to such an initiative whereby as the rich cultural and religious legacy of Goa is sold for the benefit of a few land-grabbing families. Why Should We Gaunkars Allow Real Estate Mafias to Seize Our Ancestral Lands for Their Own Greed? During Portuguese rule, the temples were destroyed. The present Governments initiative is to wipe off the remains of temples only to benefit land grabbers instead of reviving the Hindu and Gavkari system.
Comunidade lands, held by us for centuries, are not for sale to the highest bidder. These lands are not just property—they are the heart of our heritage, from generations to generations. Now, the government, in cahoots with developers like Bhutani Infra, is pushing to turn them into mega real estate projects. Are we really going to sit back and let this happen?
By clearing sacred temples destroyed during the Portuguese era, the government is not only erasing our spiritual heritage but also dismantling the very identity of Goan Communities. These temples may have been physically destroyed, but our connection to them, our customs, and our traditions have lived on. Yet now, those same lands, meant for Zonkars/Gavkars benefit, are being sold off under the false pretence of ‘development’—which really means filling the pockets of a few influential families.
Why should our sacred lands, which our ancestors fought to preserve, be sacrificed for this shameless land-grabbing scheme? When I spoke to the 80-year-old Poojari of Mahadev Temple in Chimbel, he rightly said, “The structures may have been destroyed, but our religious customs are still alive.” This sentiment reflects the deep spiritual toughness of our people, but that too is now at risk under the Government’s latest moves.
The collapse of the Gaunkari system opened the floodgates for encroachments, and now that the prime properties are sold, the remaining sacred lands are next on the chopping block. The government’s plan—issuing a notification under the Archaeology Department to create one ‘Smarak’ temple—sounds like an effort to eradicate Hinduism in Goa, but let’s not get fooled. This is just a smokescreen to seize control of our lands, consolidate temples, and pave the way for more real estate projects. The Cabinet’s amendment to the Code of Comunidade, which allows the sale of Comunidade land granted for cultivation if 20 years of rent is paid at once, is a direct assault on our rights as Gaunkars. This is not development—this is theft.
What kind of governance is this? First, Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant proudly announces plans to rebuild temples destroyed during the Portuguese era. In the same breath, the Cabinet approves the sale of Comunidade lands to those who will exploit them. And now, the CM himself is rubbing shoulders with real estate mafias at events, celebrating the destruction of our heritage for their financial gain.
Why should we Gaunkars allow our sacred land to be sold off for the benefit of a few wealthy families? These lands are our identity, our history, and our future. “Are we—The Goans, The Gaunkars—going to sit idle while the government betrays us, or will we fiercely defend what is rightfully ours?
Advocate Kripa Gurudas Pilarnekar
(Zalmi Gaunkar Village Morombi-O-Grande, Merces, Tiswadi – Goa)