Goa, India’s smallest state on the western coast, is renowned for its stunning beaches, lush landscapes, and a distinctive cultural heritage shaped by centuries of Portuguese influence. As a former colony, it retains a significant Catholic population—with iconic sites like the Basilica of Bom Jesus, home to the sacred relics of St. Francis Xavier, attracting pilgrims worldwide. This blend...
The Tourism Divide in Goa: Two Regions, One Identity at Stake
Goa, India’s beloved coastal gem, is famous for its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and relaxed way of life that attracts millions of visitors every year. Yet, behind this picture-perfect image lies a clear divide between North Goa and South Goa—two halves of the same state that have grown into very different tourism destinations. North Goa throbs with energy and...
Lack and Lethal Desire and the Burning Night Club
In Jacques Lacan’s psychoanalytic theory, human existence is structured around lack—the fundamental absence at the heart of desire that propels us endlessly toward an unattainable object, the objet petit a. This elusive “object-cause of desire” sustains illusions within the Symbolic order of laws and social norms, while concealing the traumatic Real that lurks beneath. The devastating fire at Birch...
Taking Control over Absurdity That Rules Us
In the tropical embrace of Goa, where golden sands whisper promises of escape and the Arabian Sea cradles dreams of leisure, a troubling shadow looms large. This once-idyllic haven has become a stage for what can only be described as governing absurdity—a chaotic symphony where fleeting fantasies eclipse sustainable futures. The recent devastating fire at a popular nightclub in...
Between Counting Heads and Converting Hearts
https://www.youtube.com/live/VMx8g-91j3g In the closing days of the 2025 St. Francis Xavier Novena, Fr. Albano Fernandes stood before thousands in Old Goa and preached a great sermon on the visible shift in the way we celebrate and live married life. But a certain person who had a large bridal entourage that numbered twenty took it personally when there was no...
Goa’s Fall into the Risk Society: The Arpora Nightclub Fire as Murder by Negligence
On the night of 6 December 2025, several people had walked into a nightclub called Birch by Romeo Lane in the village of Arpora, North Goa, looking for music, drinks, and escape from routine of daily life. Unfortunately , some of them never walked out. A silent death came in the form of fire . The flames spread quick...
Data-Driven Policing and Crime Prevention in Goa
Goa has long enjoyed a reputation as a relatively safe paradise of sun, sand, sea and nightlife. Even under Portuguese colonial rule, the rate of crime was very low. While we can still bask in the susegado and secure culture of Goa, beneath the surface, the state has been grappling with a steady rise in certain categories of crime—drug...
The Rising Political in the Politics in Goa
The fact that one finds that the winds of the elections seem to have begun to blow in Goa, we seem to notice a reassembling of the political in Goa. What is the political? What makes us political? How it is related to politics? There is the political in the politics that makes us political. It is the political...
THE NEW AGE PRINTERS, LAUNCH FR. VICTOR FERRA0’S ‘DE-SCRIPTING KONKANI’ — PRESERVING TRADITION AND BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO THE LANGUAGE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfRgsKcOShs Borim, October 21, 2025: “De-scripting Konkani: Unveiling the Heart of a Language”, authored by Rev. Dr. Victor Ferrao and published by The New Age Printers, Verna, was formally released at St. Francis Xavier’s Community Hall, Borim. The event, organized by Dalgado Konknni Akademi, The New Age Printers, and St. Francis Xavier’s Church, brought together scholars, clergy, and...
A Deepening Crisis of Law and Order in Goa
Goa, India’s picturesque coastal state, has long been a symbol of serenity, with its golden beaches, lush landscapes, and vibrant cultural heritage drawing people from around the world. However, in recent times, particularly throughout 2025, this idyllic image has been shattered by a alarming collapse in law and order. Incidents of violence, gang rivalries, and petty crimes have surged,...
