Who’s the real Goencho Saib - Saint Francis Xavier or Lord Parshuram?

What an unnecessary issue at a time when Goa is struggling with far more serious problems like land conversions, hill cutting, corruption, Regional Plan, 39A and so much more.

Over the past few days, I’ve heard speeches by some speakers raising a rather unusual point. According to them, “Goencho Saib,” used in reverence by the Catholic faithful for Saint Francis Xavier, should instead be reserved for Lord Parshuram, and not SFX. Really? This feels so misplaced.

Every faith has its own rich, unique expressions and iconography - like “Hallelujah,” “Amen,” “Ganpati Bappa Morya,” “Har Har Mahadev,” “Jai Shri Ram,” “Salaam Alaikum,” and so on - each rooted in distinct traditions and emotions. These chants are not interchangeable slogans. You don’t strengthen devotion by borrowing another’s identity or questioning their beliefs. It is ironic that a civilisation with thousands of years of heritage would feel the need to appropriate a term that has long been used in devotion by another faith. Hindus traditionally refer to Goa as “Parshuram Bhoomi,” a belief rooted in their faith, and this has long been respected by all. So why reach for terms that belong to another faith’s tradition? 

Goa is known as the “Pearl of the Orient,” where East meets West - a fusion of traditions and cultures. This is Goa’s unique USP compared to the rest of India: its natural beauty combined with a blend of diverse cultures and traditions. And we are fighting to destroy this uniqueness?

When Goa should be drawing more global visitors through its openness and progressive spirit, what message are we sending to the world by stirring such needless, divisive issues?