An Example from Agriculture

A question that will arise in the minds of many readers regarding this article is the timings. People who read my blog posts regularly will detect a pattern. I usually associate the efforts of diverse Goans with political developments in Goa. As the elections in Goa have concluded recently, what is my intention behind this blog post? Let me illustrate this with the help of an example.

 

In a state that is renowned for tourism, Cleto Avito Fernandes is an inspiration for others. Apart from being a 12th Std student of Science in Don Bosco Higher Secondary School in Panjim, he leverages the passion he has for agriculture into kitchen gardening. He not only grows his own produce, but sells it too to other areas of Goa.

Cleto and a glimpse of his kitchen garden

Cleto was introduced to the world of agriculture in 7th Std through a trip to Kulem or Colem where he decided to spend his summer vacation. The lush greenery of Colem was a different atmosphere from the city of Panjim which Cleto was accustomed to. His uncle who was a priest belonging to the Society of Pilar was posted in Kulem during Cleto’s visit.

Cleto in a recent trip to Taleigao in June 2021

The Pilar Fathers have around 500 sq meters of land in Kulem for growing vegetables. Cleto’s first lesson about the world of agriculture was the tilling of the land which resulted in a lot of boils on his hand. This was followed by a lesson on the planting and the watering ladyfinger seeds. As he was there for 10 days, he not only oversaw the growth of this crop and learnt more about it, but also planted the seeds for his future in agriculture.

Children planting crops in Taleigao

When Cleto was returning home, his uncle gifted him some seeds which he tried growing. Unfortunately many seeds were destroyed either due to neighbourhood dogs or excessive rain during that particular year, though two plants survived this destruction. Viewing the signs of progress on these two plants Cleto took additional care of them by watching YouTube tutorials and with support from his uncle. This tactic yielded its rewards when harvest time came, and he got around 10 ladyfingers per plant.

 

This motivated him to begin the kitchen garden on a larger scale with vegetables such as Radish, Red Radish, diverse varieties of Brinjals and others. He also attempted the intercropping of Marigolds during the period in October when Mother Mary’s statue visits households. He purchased a garland of Marigolds and tried cultivating Marigold’s from the dried flowers of the garland. Although it was his first attempt in doing this, he had a bumper crop.  

Brinjals from Cleto's kitchen garden

He soon added various vegetables that can be grown in Goa. He has begun an experiment of cultivating sweet potatoes on Laterite soil which he has been successful in. In the initial stages of his kitchen garden he used cow dung as manure but now he uses a BSF compost barrel. He recently came across Panchagavya, Jeevanamrut, Ghana Jeevanamrutham that are manures of excellent quality. While Panchagavya is excellent for the growth of trees that bear fruits, Jeevanamrut and Ghana Jeevanamrutham are ideal for trees that bear flowers and vegetables.

A Jackfruit tree in Cleto's garden

Readers too can leverage this passion of Cleto towards their states, as enthusiastic individuals are the solution to counter the people who are active only during the time of elections. This can result in people developing unconventional ideas for their states, alert citizens, journalists who speak the truth always. When people join forces they can accomplish wonders. This approach is crucial as a new government takes shape.

Point to Prove

From the diverse routines that individuals follow to protests in which they strive to garner attention, people prove themselves to the world in several ways. An unequal world exists where despite sections of a society soaring to great heights only a handful realize their significance. Ankur Kankonkar who hails from the village of Kindlem in Canacona is an example of people who swam against the tide and joined forces with 2 like-minded people to devise “Kapslock.in”, a platform that enables budding entrepreneurs to kick-start their vision. 

 

Although the individuals who started this venture along with Ankur are no longer involved with the company, their presence lives on through a digital agency that handles clients across various sectors in Goa, India and the world. Gradually losing his eyesight due to a condition called ‘Retinitis Pigmentosa’ his eyesight began deteriorating in 2009 when he was in the 2nd year of pursuing his Bachelors in Pharmaceutical science at ‘Rajaram and Tarabai Bandedkar’s College of Pharmacy’ by the ‘Ponda Education Society’. 

 

As a result of his medical condition he found it difficult to view the practical examination, other papers and was forced to quit his course. The transition of a sighted individual to 100% visually impaired person was sufficient to drive him to depression and initiated a stage where he didn’t know what to do. Prior to losing his sight Ankur used to cherish sports and he was an extrovert. Eventually he got back to operating computers using screen readers, and started going out with family and friends which also doubled up as sources of support. 

His morale was further boosted when he heard the inspirational story of another blind person from Delhi called Kartik Sawhney. He was the first blind person from India to pursue the science stream in 12th std from ‘Central Board of Secondary Education’ (CBSCE) board, though he wanted to get into the ‘Indian Institute of Technology’ (IIT), that didn’t deter Kartik from the path he wanted to choose. He completed his education in the U.S and currently works at Microsoft.

Reading about Kartik was sufficient to inspire Ankur to do something with the abilities that God has blessed him with. Ankur began exploring various options and settled on B.Sc. Computer Science. It initially proved to be an issue since Ankur had discontinued Mathematics in his 12th std. As he approached ‘Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education’ with his academic plans, the board was doubtful regarding a blind person’s ability to cope in Mathematics. His persistence prevailed in the end and he was able to answer the examination of Mathematics and Computer Science in the end. When he returned to do the course of B.Sc. after a period of six years, he was much older than all his classmates. Despite these differences the staff, teachers and students were very cooperative.

His curriculum comprised of Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science. Before his class could begin he had resolved to obtain the highest results in his class and achieved the same in the first semester itself and then proceeded to obtain 94.5% in Goa University in all the nine subjects in his curriculum.
This made him the source of a few headlines by the chief minister of Goa late Manohar Parrikar in the Goa Legislative Assembly. He continued this trend of obtaining the highest marks in his class while pursuing an M.Sc. in Information Technology from Parvatibai Chowgule of Arts & Science

 

Instead of working for someone for experience, he opted to start a firm of his own. Just like Ankur everyone has a responsibility towards various things along with a point to prove. Elections are in example of circumstances where people have a point to prove. People leverage various tactics to lure people to their side like resources to purchase members of their rivals, kicking of several initiatives just a few months before elections and the famous tested plan of mixing politics and religion.

 

At times when I hear ‘entities’ terrorizing other religions and calling themselves ‘Indians’ I wonder whether such individuals are responsible for swapping ‘humans’ for Indians. Will people have the guts to replace such divides with harmony and focus on issues like jobs which should matter

 

Emerging Hope

From Dhar Mann to Jay Shetty there’s no shortage of inspirational videos on social media. As millions watch these videos they get inspired with positivity to counter the negativity that surrounds them. Hope isn’t restricted to merely social media. From festivals to a subtle hint in movies we encounter diverse sources of hope in life. Hope is often associated with internal dilemmas but more often than not hope can extend beyond internal conflicts. 

Apart from being a third year student of ‘Bachelor of Science’ in Chemistry at ‘Dnyanprassarak Mandal's College and Research Centre’ in Mapusa, Ornella Menezes also has a part time business in which not only does she design beautiful crochets, but she teaches the same to others.  Though she initially began designing crochets when she was 12 years old, she only started selling it from 2018 after drawing inspiration from a pop-up bazaar in which she and her friends sold handmade items.

Ornella crafting her masterpieces

In 2019 she took her creativity up a notch by collaborating with Wendell Rodricks in which she designed various accessories for a show called ‘The Zentangle Collection’ in October 2019 which was held in Delhi. She proceeded to work with a designer from Saligao and is presently working with an international fashion designer from New Delhi called JJ Valaya.
 

A model of 'The Zentangle Collection" wearing a necklace designed by Ornella

 

Her designs are not restricted to tablecloths, but it includes earrings, necklaces, doilies, table runners and table covers as well. She customizes her orders too based on the orders she gets. She gets a few of her orders from WhatsApp groups and also from her Facebook page called ‘Ornella Creations’. As is the case with numerous businesses, she faces obstacles like encountering customers who don’t appreciate her artwork and end up saying it’s too expensive. She persists despite such negativity as she is aware that she doesn’t require the help of people who only end up demotivating her.

Masterpieces designed by Ornella  displayed by Wendell Rodricks in Panjim

She also finds the task of balancing her academic life with her part time business a difficult one as she gets plenty of orders and not enough time to complete them. As a result of these time constraints, she works on the designs in her free time in class. Just as Ornella took the time out from her hectic schedule, we can also take her example to be a light in the lives of others. Doing this will go a long way in helping individuals as the whole of Goa.

Ornella

The political scenario in Goa is an excellent example of the darkness as well as the light. Due to the former members of the ‘Congress Party’ in the ranks of the ‘BJP’, there are many who have given up hope on the Congress. The notion of the light as well as the darkness exists in the entire political scenario in not only Goa, but in other states and countries as well.

 

Its common knowledge that there is a shortage of workplaces in Goa, though the governments that have ruled Goa should have been alert to it, unfortunately their priorities were elsewhere. ‘Save Mollem’ and ‘Aarey movement’ are evidences that some parties think that our green cover is expendable. Is development turning us into monsters?

An inconvenient truth is we have the remote control to almost everything by looking after ourselves. When better jobs, educational facilities and healthcare facilities come to Goa the entry of outsiders is inevitable but by being narrow-minded and listen to the venom of ‘Revolutionary Goans’ are we really protecting Goa?

It is only due to the historic ‘Opinion Poll’ that we have a place to call home along with shameless politicians to destroy it. We can protect Goa at the grassroots level by promoting Konkani including both the scripts Romi and Devnagiri. One of the reasons parades are held on Red Fort probably is to remind India of its history. Similarly while we speak Konkani each of us are in charge of preserving Konkani.

That doesn’t mean English has to be treated as the enemy. We all have to work in unison to protect Goa. This blog probably wouldn’t have seen the light of day if I wasn’t a former student of St. Aloysius in Mangalore. Along with the memories I made there, I also got the inspiration of my blog through the project which I had to do.

If all of us become proactive, creative and have the attitude of seeing the light at the end of a long tunnel, Goa will never be doomed, let us stop giving our remote control to people who don’t know the meaning of altruism. It’s time for ‘being Goan, being smart’