I’ve never been to Goa. If I had to travel all the way from Delhi to visit a state that has lush greenery, beaches, Portuguese monuments, good food and a rich history, I’d rather go home to Kozhikode and spend time with my parents.
Goa is now a ‘destination’, a ‘vibe’, a ‘lifestyle’ and a critical ingredient of most bucket lists. At least that’s the impression I’ve gleaned through my friends, colleagues and social media. Visiting Goa is to experience ‘a way of life’. But what exactly is this ‘way of life’? Booze, beaches, sunsets, fenny, scooter-rides, parasailing, bind dates? I personally know a few people who have decided to retire in Goa after spending all their working lives in the metros of India. It’s easy to see what has driven the real estate boom in the state.
Way back in 1979, Gita Mehta (Naveen Pattnaik’s sister) had written evocatively about the hippies of Goa in her wonderful book – Karma Cola. Today, while the hippies may have retreated, they’ve been replaced by the Indian tourist.
When tourism becomes the mainstay of a state’s economy, such tensions are bound to erupt. Without adequate town planning and zoning, most tourist states will end up becoming concrete sprawls. While visiting these places was once considered an experience in itself, we now have “experiential offerings” from resorts and homestays—because the actual act of visiting the place no longer feels like an experience.
Anyways, all this rambling was triggered by this thoughtful piece by Kaustubh Naik on ‘How to belong in Goa’.
I may have to visit Goa soon—my daughters have been pestering me for years. Their reason? “Everyone in our class has been to Goa except us!”
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