Standing Up from Armchair Activism

In India, WhatsApp groups discuss politics threadbare, giving armchair activists an audience to vent their views. I try not to read or respond, as the rants aggravate my ulcers and anxiety and overwhelm me with an impending sense of doom.

This year, nearly half the planet from about 80 democracies—including India, South Africa, Mexico, Venezuela, France, the UK, and the US—are voting or have already voted. We live in hope for the future of democracy and fight with all our being (or as much as our smartphones will allow) against the rise of fascism. Some of us live in countries with both the numbers and the influence on world politics. Others see themselves as upholders of democracy for the civilised world, or so they would have us in the Global South believe.

After years of distrust and disappointment in democracy, I realised that if I wanted to die in peace, I needed to do more than write eloquent WhatsApp and Facebook posts, forward suitable liberal videos, and post on my Instagram story. I was lulled into lethargy by the armchair activist rhetoric: “We are not the vote bank. We are a minuscule minority. Our votes won’t count.” In May 2024, when the biggest democracy in the free world went to the polls, I voted. I was proud of the ink on my finger, which showed my commitment to the democratic process in this country no matter how messed up it may be. 

The Siolim Story

In March 2024, the residents of Siolim came together and took to the streets to protest the mass murder of our ancient trees when over fifty big old beauties were slaughtered for road widening. The killing of a huge flowering mango tree was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. Regular citizens did their duty. Petitions were filed in the High Court. Goa Foundation’s Norma Alvares argued the case. Stay orders were obtained. I joined the Save Siolim Trees community. Siolim was seen as a beacon to the rest of Goa. St. Anthony was thanked. It was not a victory, just a reprieve. David may have won one battle, but Goliath was biding his time to return with rolling tanks for the village swordfight.

In May, the Save Siolim Community protests extended to the Oxel Spring where construction was underway for a huge luxury villa complex with private pools. The data suggested this would lead to the centuries old medicinal spring drying up. Already the neighbourhood was struggling with a water shortage. At the protests the Sarpanch was questioned about permissions, documentation and due diligence. I showed up for the protests and signed petitions. I learned about road width, holding capacity, bio diversity register, heritage sites and other important issues.

Living in Goa since June 2020, I wrote a book, Becoming Goan—a contemporary coming-home story that was published by Penguin Random House in December 2023. It was my way of voicing my concerns about the destruction of Goa’s culture and biodiversity. I had spoken about these issues during my book tour in different places. Many artists I confided in consoled me with, “Michelle, our responsibility is to record, to write, perform, paint, draw, sing, photograph, film. You have done your duty as a writer. You are better than the rest who just write on social media and lament that Goa and the planet are headed for doom.” This did not seem enough. As much as I dislike politicians and the fact that they thrive on chaos, facilitate genocide, deny climate change, start wars and undermine women’s agency, it was time for me to step out of my comfort zone.

A view of one of the construction sites

One evening, while walking Haruki in my vaddo and watching the patra go up for the fourth project of luxury villas, next to two others and an apartment complex on a small private road with no access to water, electricity, sewage or garbage collection, something snapped. I was sick of my own apathy. I swallowed my fear of facing the Panchayat—memories of lost house papers haunted me. Braving the heaviest July rainfall, I headed for the Siolim Marna Gram Sabha on Sunday, 7th July. Police officers took their seats at the back of the hall. I had been warned against attending these meetings. “It could get ugly. Tables and chairs are often thrown. Be ready for fisticuffs.” I wanted to see democracy in action. Soon after 10:30 a.m., despite the pouring rain, eight Siolim Marna panch members, including the sarpanch and the secretary, took their seats at the head table. There was an agenda. I watched in awe as the democratic process unfolded. The secretary read out the minutes from the previous meeting. Petitions had to be filed four days in advance to be included on the agenda. Responsible citizens had filed theirs.

Two more sites on the same corner.

Concepts of holding capacity for Siolim’s water, electricity, traffic, garbage collection, and disposal were discussed, proposed, seconded, and minuted. Mega projects were debated and dismissed. The TCP Section 39 (A) which has terrified Goans across the state about the speed of land conversion, was discussed, proposed, seconded, as was the banning of liquor shops within 100 metres of schools and religious places. Water and electricity shortages and rampant construction were lamented. The Health Officer who was a guest speaker was cross questioned about the mounting health hazards - open sewage on construction sites and the rising cases of dengue in the village. Citizens raised questions and concerns and got some answers. Attendance was recorded. Eighty percent of the meeting was in Konkani, and for the remaining English was spoken. Plastic water bottles and microphones were circulated. Both sides had come prepared. Some people spoke up. It was mostly civil. One panch member was targeted; she was thrown under the bus by the rest at the table. Were there cracks in their well-laid plans? The elephant in the room, responsible for the tree felling in the name of road widening, stayed off the agenda. I wasn’t on the agenda but needed to know about permissions for all the construction sites moving quickly to completion in my vaddo. "How and where were they approved? What about the access?" I addressed the sarpanch in English. He asked, “Who are you? Where do you live?” I looked over at my Panch member. He waved in recognition. I was told to put my complaint in writing and the Panchayat would get back to me with a report.

I had been warned about complaining and reporting: “You will get death threats. Be careful. The corruption goes all the way to the top. No one will support you. Are you ready to go to court?” Others mocked, “You want to save Siolim? You’ve just come, you have no idea about how things work here.”

Bharat and Kunal were supportive as they had to listen to my rants about the destruction in my vaddo most afternoons at the lunch table. “Go for it. Since you feel so strongly about it.” I consulted a couple of Good Samaritans from the Siolim Community who knew the legal process; they have been fighting for years to file RTIs (Right to Information), process petitions, present at Panchayat meetings and pursue matters in the High Court to stop the destruction. They checked the draft. I understood that as part of the process to go to court, is to file an RTI to get details of road width, water and electricity supply and sewage and garbage disposal. I signed it, stuck the two five rupee revenue stamps and filed the RTI on a wet Wednesday morning. I hadn't slept the previous night with the fear of being targeted by the other side. There were a few others at the Panchayat that morning, all doing the same. My ward member welcomed me; he didn’t seem concerned. It was just a regular day at the office for him. The clerk processed the paperwork and put the required inward stamp.

The third step as an active citizen in July involved attending a VDC (Village Development Committee) meeting on Saturday 20 July. The required government officials from water and electricity did not show up, but the brave PWD man did. We asked questions, and he attempted answers. Citizens were not happy and wanted answers about flooding roads and frequent power cuts. A fellow resident and urban planner made a presentation on rainwater harvesting for Siolim We asked how we could implement the plans.

Wilma Rodrigues of Saahas Zero Waste is speaking. The moderator from WWF and other panelists from CII and ITC's consumer division.

The fourth leg was when I was on a panel as a concerned citizen and author, at the launch of Saahas Zero waste and WWF project

inaugurated in South Goa. As a small literate state Goa can be an example for the country to organise and manage waste. However, with a high tourist population one of the major contributors to the garbage menace it also has the dubious distinction of the highest usage of plastic per capita. The next item on my concerned citizen agenda is to figure out how to work on garbage collection and waste management in Siolim so that it is segregated, collected, and recycled to contribute to the circular economy.

I needed to do my bit beyond carrying my reusable bag and water bottle and for Panchayat to be more than a show on Amazon Prime.