Friday, June 29, 2018
On your Mark, Get set…….
1912, Titanic sank after
colliding with an iceberg during its maiden voyage. The same year India
introduced registration of motor vehicles. On one hand the unsinkable sank, the
other hand a nation got moving on wheels. At the same an idea took flight with a
small community in a remote island; Bandra, in today’s erstwhile city of Bombay
in India, which got into a ‘Dependence Movement’. Way before even India could
get ‘Independence’. India was fighting for Independence from the British, and
here was a community getting together in ‘Dependence’ of each other and uniting
their land as one society. If today Bandra is known as the ‘Queen of the Suburbs’,
Salsette can pride to be the crowning glory.
A ‘Dependence Movement’ founded
by Francis Anthony Cyril Rebello, where he believed that indigenous Catholics
of the land, should possess their own property and not be ousted by others, and
also to safeguard their rights as well as to encourage other Catholics to buy
property at concessional rates, led to him setting up many Co-operative
Societies. In 1918 when nationalism within India was intensifying, Salsette
Catholic Cooperative Housing Society was registered. A society run by a
microscopic community in India; Catholics, yet a towering beacon of how effectively
cooperative societies should be governed and a role model which has won many
accolades.
A history where affluent land
owners donated vast amount of land towards the cause of the society. In
contrast to today, where the affluent instead of donating would look at land
grabbing. India today is getting splintered on communal lines, and here is a community
that is binding stronger in ‘Dependence’ of each other. A community whose focus
is ‘community living’, and today has clocked a century in unity and strength.
They have another 900 years to go with the lease they got from the government of
that time. Journeying a time span of 100 years was not easy, especially at a
time when India was under British rule. Surviving the dark period of Indian
history to its present day glory, is thanks to the visionary leadership from
its founding Father to the present day of committee members. Strongly committed
and zealously dedicated to keep the society united and gifted to future
generations.
From the challenges in history of
India being a colonial state, to the present day challenges India is facing,
the dynamic present day committee is ensuring that the sun does not set on
Salsette. Recently when the society planned its centenary celebrations, it was
an event planned over a long period with creative talents from the Society and
other members of the neighborhood. A grand celebration which got washed out by
unexpected pre-monsoon shower. Many of the performances could not be staged,
but whatever little could be showcased, did show the tremendous potential of
its youth and their talents. There was no sadness with the downpour, but welcomed
positively as ‘showers of blessings’ for the best to come for the society. An
attitude where every cast of the show who performed or could not perform came
forward to take a bow, to a thundering applause that dimmed the sound of
thunder of the rains. They will be again putting up the show soon, as in
Salsette they not only believe ‘that the show must go on’, but also the Society
must go futher, forward, stronger and united.
As the society is ensuring a
peaceful and harmonious ‘community living’, there are many in the community
leaving. Leaving for greener pastures and fortune in foreign lands. For the
ones who stayed on for generations and look forward to many more generations to
continue staying, it is from dust to green, to gold. As some in the committee
have reached their golden years in age, they look forward to the youth to take
the legacy forward. Similar to the Independence struggle and sacrifice of
Indians in the freedom movement, there was a lot of struggle and sacrifices in
this ‘Dependence Movement’ of the Salsette society. India today is in a
struggle and turmoil of uncertainty. So too would there be unseen challenges on
the Salsette society. Then the founding Father and members to follow had a
vision. Similarly Salsette needs visionary youth to come forward. Come forward
where the society could be taken to greater and bigger glory. A society that
could be raced forward, where the current capable, dynamic and enthusiastic
members are there to flag off the youth….On your mark, Get Set…….Salsette.
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