Rice, Bangda Curry and Petrol

Bangda curry and rice is the usual delicacy that any Goan would like to have in the afternoon irrespective of the season. It is a usual practice for majority of citizens in Goa to have it in the afternoon and go off to sleep. Many who are unable to have it at their home or get it for their lunch packed for office rush to the nearest hotel to catch a piece of their favorite fish.

I wonder if the fish has realised its importance and goes hibernating for 3 months in rainy season. Poor Goans have no choice but not to eat their favorite Bangda. An old saying, "a man is happiest after having good food," Goans try to find out various ways and means eat what they like the most. Some days they try dry Bangda, some days they venture out to buy whatever fresh Bangda is available in the market for twice more than the normal price.

Hotels also prepare for this season. Prices of the delicacy goes up 2 or 3 folds. Does this stop Poor Goans to stop having Bangda? The answer would be NO they can not. Maybe they will have it once every 2 days but they will shell out that premium to pacify their wants and desires. Do they protest? NO they just crib about the price. POOR GOANS I feel sad for them.

Now what is surprising is that on July 5th 2010 these very Goans ensured that whole of the tourist destination called Goa comes to a grinding halt. All private buses, shops, medical stores and even restaurants decided not to function in support of Bandh called by the opposition political party. They were protesting for little more than 5% hike in petroleum prices. Claiming this has resulted in all round price hike specially the tomatoes which were available at 40 rupees per kilo. All of them or rather maximum of them sat at home and enjoyed the brilliant weather, probably had Bangda for afternoon and their siesta also. Some of them even decided to meet their friends and went out on their vehicles maybe forgetting the sole reasons that they were protesting against the costly fuel that was consumed for their joyrides.

Unfortunately the non-Goans like me who don't have kitchen or a vehicle to my disposal was stranded. Traditionally guests are treated like gods in India, but not on that particular day. I had to walk 7 kilometers to a railway station and managed to buy a packet of biscuits and tea at about 3 in afternoon. And that was my breakfast.

Kind of driving habits Goans have leaves a lot of scope for saving atleast 10-20% of fuel. But, they will still not do it and chose to support a useless shut down which can serve no cause other than silly political millage for the opposition party. Crores of business lost, lakhs of people inconvenienced and thousands of guests like me go on with that rumbling sound in their stomach. But our Goan brothers and sisters decided to feast on costly Bangda and their siesta.