Fighting the tenants in Goa
As absentee landlords in Goa we face terrible issues of trying to assert our rights on the land belonging to our ancestors. Originally our ancestors lived on the land and in a house, they had built, but slowly over time, their children did not want an agrarian lifestyle and so left for greener pastures. My Grandpa Hipolito was one such landlord who left for Nairobi to find his fortune. He was educated and decided to be an accountant and not a farmer anymore.
Can you imagine our shock to see what they have done??
The heirs of the original tenants who were meant to till the land not "grow" double storied buildings and join the panchayat decided to split the large property between the four of them! Lucky the talati of the village alerted me knowing we two old souls keep coming to look after and maintain the ancestral house in Furtavaddo. The talathi had filed SIX cases with the deputy collector and so we decided to jump in and fight back when we heard the crazy value the land had gone up to.
Stylish double story building, demolishing our family home by half.
I stood in the Deputy Collectors office, armed with just the form 1x14 showing Dad's name as owner. I was trembling but resolute. Six of them stood there with their lawyers. I spoke up when their lawyers loudly proclaimed that they had come to 'regularise' the building! I promptly intervened, by now angry at their gall to build on land which did not belong to them. I spoke to the Deputy Collector saying " My father tried to settle with them for years, he was a Wing Commander in the IAF and tried through the ministry -- I have letters to prove it. I know, I saw all the documents Dad had drawn up and flying down from New Delhi to fight, poor guy." Today I have a legal inventory with which to fight them.
Look at how they have broken down our ancestral house on the land
I showed the Deputy Collector the photos I had taken. Thank God for phones today. He is a young IAS officer and immediately saw the injustice happening. He rang his bell several times and called in his staff. I want a show cause notice issued he said very calmly. Next hearing -- on --- date. See that the notices go out today. This is agricultural land -- I need an explanation."
I was trembling with his response. I knew here was an educated young man who could see us older folk fighting for our ancestral land.
However, the fight is long and hard, and we cannot keep running to Goa. So, we spoke to Fr Valerian of the Saligao seminary who had linked us with a tough lawyer in Panjim. The case is on -- they are trying everything in the book to break us. I won't budge now, but staying in the house in Volvaddo is dangerous now. So, we live elsewhere when we go.
It's a fight, I won't give up. I understand now why my architect brother relinquished his share here and took Mums easy peasy house instead. But we are Furtados--gauncars and I do not intend giving up in a hurry. No sibling help just threats and nothing to support us. But I can hear the promises I made Dad on his death bed, and I hope we are able to stay their march forward and bring them to the negotiating table. I am so grateful for the help my husband gives me. He need not, but he understands.
