Victories and Losses

While the processes of elections have both losers as well as winners, these rules have become complicated over the years due to several factors. While some may be satisfied with the procedures associated with elections, some others do not share these sentiments. The performance of diverse parties in election often leads to a scrutiny of their losses and victories. Although despair and associated reactions are natural for supporters of the losing side, sulking is the wrong reaction towards the results. What is the appropriate reaction in such scenarios?

 

Although his family is renowned in Margao for the ‘Golden Needle’ which is a bridal lounge and a tailoring studio, Alden DoRosario who currently resides in Boston with his family is popular for another reason among Goans and their diaspora. What began as a game played by Alden’s friends on social media soon evolved into something more significant. ‘Uttor’ is a game made in Konkani that is inspired by the popular game on the internet “Wordle”.

The mastermind behind "Uttor".

Alden managed to quickly code it in a few hours and host it online at https://www.uttor.org. Word games typically help people by making them remember words which aren’t used everyday. Similarly ‘Uttor’ forces people to recall Konkani words they wouldn’t normally use. Thus this game is an excellent method to improve people’s Konkani vocabulary and speaking skills. It is helpful in teaching Konkani to children too. Rather than getting to memorize words, it will help them to learn Konkani in a fun environment. Apart from cherishing their moments of victory children will learn to think on their feet.

                                                               A glimpse of the game

Wordle’s popularity has resulted in opportunities for indigenous languages to be promoted. Besides Konkani, this game has been translated to many languages. In such a scenario it’s an added honour that Konkani is the first Indian language for the game’s translation. Apart from this Alden has enjoyed success with other ventures too.  Chitika, an online advertising network which Alden started along with his co-founder after borrowing $7 from their wives, occupied the no 2. Spot behind Google Adsense in the contextual advertising space.

The Logo of Chitika

 

 

Presently Alden is working on a usability testing online platform called ‘Poll the People’ which he began with his daughter. It focuses on helping businesses make decisions leveraging a tactic called ‘Usability A/B Testing’. Technology offers a means of uniting people, it leads to many success stories and allows people to join forces for a better Goa, and an improved world.

The logo of Poll the People

 
RJ Joed Almeida of Radio Indigo 91.9 FM, Goans residing in diverse places like Alden are a part of online WhatsApp groups. Such tactics are crucial as both Goans who reside in Goa as well as those who live in various parts of the globe strive to improve Goa.  People who seek a prosperous Goa must ignore narrow-minded people who make comments like ‘People who went out of Goa should be concerned with their lives there and not bother abut Goa’ 

 

An example of a WhatsApp group connecting Goa through ideas

We live in a world where the intentions of people are not always straightforward. We need all the help we can get, not just for a better Goa, but for a better world.