Technological developments and the advent of television and social media may have elbowed out radio waves from the scene. But 'boomers' and early 'Gen-Xes', cannot forget the soothing sounds of tunes and programmes broadcast by Akashvani-Panji in their growing up years.
'Kandlam Vollam', Chauder, Yuvavani and English music hour 'Your Favourites' were some such programmes that earned AIR's Panaji station a huge following in those years.
Also, the Konkani spoken by the presenters and announcers in those times was a virtual lesson in public speaking, which is why some of the bloopers by the radio station's announcers in recent months have come as a shock to many of the radio station's followers.
Take this one, a few months ago for instance. The announcer was reading out a news tid-bit related to a foreign visit of India's Minister for External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Shockingly, he was referred to as "Bharatacha Bhaile Bangodicho Mantri".
According to an Akashvani-Panji aficionado (the use of 'aficionado' and not 'fan' is deliberate here) yet another horribly wrong usage of words happened more recently in a programme about Bollywood star and former 'Miss World' Aishwarya Rai-Bacchhan.
Many across the globe consider Ashwariya as the world's most beautiful woman ever and during the programme one of the participants in the discussion said that she had many fans in the USA. It was however said in Konkani and this is how it went: "Aishwairya Rai-che Amerikek zaite ponkke assat...
These seemingly "Google-Translate" jokes aren't funny and all that we can say is: Quo-Vadis, Akashvani-Panji??
Assagao antics: From
demolition to deal-making
The week in Assagao kicked off with the drama fit for a soap opera. Imagine this: an ordinary Goan family, rooted in the Bahujan samaj, found themselves at the epicentre of an audacious, illegal demolition of their humble abode. Adding spice to this already heady mix was the villain of the piece — a non-Goan protagonist, rumored to be in cahoots with the infamous real estate mafia, hell-bent on evicting our unsuspecting family. Naturally, this story stirred the pot of public sentiment, simmering with the flavor of local injustice.
What ensued was nothing short of a theatrical cacophony. Media hounds, politicians, activists, and social workers descended upon Assagao, each trying to outdo the other in a grand display of sympathy and moral support. The climax of this spectacle was the arrival of the Chief Minister himself, who pledged not only to rebuild the partially razed house but also to unleash the full wrath of the law upon the culprits. Ah, the sweet promises of justice!
However, just as the plot thickened and the audience leaned in for the next twist, the narrative took an unexpected nosedive. Late Wednesday night, the beleaguered family executed a flawless 360-degree pivot and withdrew their complaint. In a move straight out of a political thriller, they struck a mysterious deal with the very antagonist who had orchestrated their woes.
Two glaring lessons emerge from this satirical saga. First, it seems Goans, much like everyone else, can be swayed by the right incentive. Second, heed this warning: steer clear of civil disputes — they have a way of turning the tables on you when you least expect it. Poor Anjuna Police, left to pick up the pieces of this farcical fiasco!
The shenanigans: When
police aid the wreckers
The murky deal-making between the aggressor and the victim in the Assagao house demolition case remains a mystery, but one aspect is glaringly clear: the Anjuna police played a role so dubious it could easily earn them a pride of place.
When faced with a law and order crisis, a citizen's first instinct is to seek refuge and protection from the police. So, naturally, the distressed family of Assagao, whose home was on the brink of demolition without any notice, did just that. However, instead of finding allies in their hour of need, they found the police acting more like accomplices to the aggressors.
The police’s performance in this saga could be the plot of a dark comedy.
Their delay tactics were so blatant it seemed they were auditioning for a role in a tragic farce. They confiscated the key to the JCB (the demolition machine), only to leave the machine conveniently at the site, practically inviting the aggressors to restart it with a duplicate key.
As the house faced imminent destruction, the police in charge, along with his merry band of subordinates, finally rushed to the scene — only to find the damage already done.
Adding to this farcical episode, there was an accusation of abduction against the aggressors.
Yet, in true bureaucratic fashion, it took the police almost 24 hours to register a complaint. And they only did so after the local MLA intervened.
What a disaster series for the men in uniform and their reputation!!
