Should Divar Island build a bridge?

Before you begin, let me clarify that this is not a detailed analysis on the social and political context of Divar Island. Read it like one of those Bikram and Betal stories, or a business school case study if you will. I would love to know your answer to a simple question in the end.

We were standing an old mango tree that is a few centuries old on the side of a road in Divar Island. Centuries ago, women carrying goods to sell in Divar used to rest under the tree before they walked all the way to the market. To ease their plight, Portuguese administration built a simple structure where women could unload their baskets without having to bend down. The structure, while visible, is not in use. But the Mango tree is a resting place even today for people getting to Divar Island on hot sunny days.

Our guide who tells us this story continued, "A few years ago, there was a proposal to build a bridge to ease travel between the rest of Goa and Divar Island. However, residents of Divar Island knew that the bridge will make Divar like the rest of Goa, which is crowded, commercial and full of strangers. So even the young people at Divar voted against the bridge and have decided to only commute using the ferry". He paused for effect and then pointed to the lush green pastures on both sides of the road, "The people in Divar Island take their Susegad seriously. You will see this as we engage with this community".

Even as he was speaking, one of the younger tourists was fidgeting with the phone. He had rented a car in Goa and as he was onboarding his car on the Jetty, his car hit something and refused to start. Unfortunately, there was no car mechanic in Divar Island and he didn't know any mechanic in Panjim who can come over in short notice. He had agreed to park the car by the river and join us in a different car. Every once in a while, he reached out to the guide to see if any help is on its way. "This is Divar Island - Nothing is going to happen to your car. We will sort it out", assured the Guide.

As we were driving, the guide continued, "you will be surprised to know that there are no hospitals in Divar Island, despite a population of 2500 people. However, till today there has not been a single casualty due to medical emergencies because the community is so well-knit. Anytime anyone here has a medical emergency, the ferry is here before they reach the river and the drivers personally ensure that people reach the hospitals on time". Someone in the car made a joke about how both people and cars don't have doctors in the island - The young man joined the laughter anxiously.

From inside the car, we see the school and the Panchayat office on the side. The guide introduces us to one of the residents who is now a musician and adds, "People in Divar Island are never late for anything because they have to be on time for the ferry". She smiles and adds, "There is one bus that connects our homes to the Jetty. If we are late by a few minutes, we will be an hour late to school or college". Did she study in the school in the island? No, she says. She went to a school and now a College in Panjim. "So you have been taking the ferry everyday?", one of them asks. She smiles knowingly and says there is just no other way. "But so do all of us who live in this island".

We later visit an older lady who lives in a hundred year old Indo Portuguese house. She points to her plates full of Bibenca, Alle Belles and Baklavas and adds, "These plates were bought in Macau, which used to be a Portuguese colony as well". I ask her whether she grew up in Divar - "I studied here in Divar, in the school you must have seen. We were in Panjim after we were married and now I am back here." It is clear she enjoys hosting people in her house as she tells us stories of people she has met. I ask her if there are hotels in Divar? "They have just started a wellness centre, which is quite famous. A lot of them have Airbnbs in the island though", she adds. She takes me out and points me to the house next door which is in ruins. "This used to be my relative's house. I have bought it to make it an Airbnb as well. A lot of the tourists have told me that they will stay here as soon it is ready".

I am reminded of the heritage houses in the Latin Quarters of Panjim where most of the houses that were well maintained were the ones that became guest houses. The ones where people lived were in different levels of disrepair. The people with the large houses in Divar will soon follow suit to monetise their properties in order to maintain them. I ask her about the bridge and whether they should build one. She doesn't answer me directly and adds, "You know when I was young, the last Ferry was at 8 PM. Today we have till so late."

By then, it is dark and all of us had to make our way back. The guide couldn't find a mechanic in the island or anyone who can come over. He promised to get a mechanic first thing in the morning. Till then the young man can leave his car on the road by the river. "Would anything happen to it?", the young man asked anxiously. "This is Divar. Nothing will happen to your car. You can pick it up tomorrow", said one of the residents.

I met the young man accidentally the next day - Apparently the mechanic did come to Divar the next day and fixed his car. The car was safe the whole night.

If you have gotten this far - let me ask you: If you are a resident of Divar Island and a vote is in order - Will you vote for a bridge?

And if you did, would love to hear your thoughts on the comments on why: Are you voting for a bridge so that girls in Divar can get to school on time? Are you staying with the Ferry so that the distinct culture of Divar is maintained? Or is your answer somewhere in between?