Goanet Digest, Vol 21, Issue 205

Send Goanet mailing list submissions to
	[email protected]

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
	http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
	[email protected]

You can reach the person managing the list at
	[email protected]

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Goanet digest..."


Today's Topics:

   1. Read: "A novelist responds: ?More interesting to map the
      sensibilities of diasporic (Indian) writers? (Vivek Pinto)
   2. Women's reservation a political fiasco (Nelson Lopes)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2026 18:58:09 +0900
From: Vivek Pinto <[email protected]>
To: Goanet <[email protected]>
Subject: [Goanet] Read: "A novelist responds: ?More interesting to map
	the sensibilities of diasporic (Indian) writers?
Message-ID:
	<CAH3OY9y9t3uwQFDrzHYx7iVfymgkGm1k7n2f_B9YneKiPok9DQ-JsoAwUIsXosN+BqQ9rBEUg@public.gmane.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

By: Amitabha Bagchi
Published in: *Scroll*
Date: April 18, 2026
Source:
https://scroll.in/article/1092153/a-novelist-responds-more-interesting-to-map-the-sensibilities-of-diasporic-indian-writers
*Note:* Please access the source to read the entire article.

"Novelist Amitabha Bagchi reacts to Girish Shukla?s viral article which
contends that almost all Indian writers of significance live outside India."


------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2026 22:04:25 +0530
From: Nelson Lopes <[email protected]>
To: "Goa's premiere mailing list, estb. 1994!"
	<[email protected]>
Subject: [Goanet] Women's reservation a political fiasco
Message-ID:
	<CACCOymLw9CkXvV_RsndW2cVQMeWUNgdOZe--B7N+WW7MbXAvxQ-JsoAwUIsXosN+BqQ9rBEUg@public.gmane.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

---

**Women?s Reservation: A Political Fiasco?**

The issue of women?s reservation appears to have been reignited more for
electoral advantage than for genuine reform. One must ask: why burden the
nation with a sudden surge in numbers when meaningful representation could
have been achieved within the existing strength? A two-thirds reservation
could well have been accommodated by ensuring proportional inclusion of
women from SC, OBC, and other communities within the current framework.

The reluctance of male-dominated political structures to yield space to
women is evident. Instead of addressing this imbalance sincerely, the
proposal leans towards expanding quotas, which, for various reasons, has
yet to materialize. The requirement of delimitation and prolonged debate
should have preceded such a major reform?especially given the foreseeable
resistance. Pushing it forward without consensus has only ensured that it
remains in cold storage.

Politically, however, it serves as a convenient handle for upcoming
elections. The question remains: how many women are actually represented in
politics today, and how many are given winnable seats? Male chauvinism
continues to be a significant roadblock. What prevents ruling parties from
voluntarily allocating 33% of seats to women or ensuring stronger
representation in the Rajya Sabha? Symbolic gestures, such as appointing
women to high offices like the Presidency, do not substitute for
broad-based representation.

At a time when women voters increasingly influence electoral outcomes,
offering sporadic concessions or cosmetic measures does little to address
the core issue. Even now, there is little preventing meaningful legislative
action?except perhaps the unwillingness to relinquish entrenched power,
dominance, and influence. Politics, being a field with minimal formal
barriers to entry, should ideally be more inclusive. Yet, the perception
persists that opportunities are being denied, particularly to those who may
not fully grasp the structural constraints at play.

Until there is genuine intent to share power, women?s reservation risks
remaining more of a political slogan than a transformative reform.

**Nelson Lopes**
Chinchinim

---
Nelson Lopes
Chinchinim
https://lopesnelsonnat.wordpress.com


End of Goanet Digest, Vol 21, Issue 205
***************************************