Bhadel, a sculpture of Honesty, brings glory to cultural Madgao

 It’s a sculpture of Bhadel, a traditional tribal woman of Salcete taluka, who has been doing all kind of hard work in the Madgao market for years together.

Datta Damodar Naik of CD Homes has taken this initiative.

Goa’s eminent freedom fighter and veteran writer Gurunath Kelekar wanted Goa government to build a statue of Bhadel at the entrance of Madgao city, calling it a Statue of Honesty, like how America has a Statue of Liberty.

 Former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had even felicitated almost 140 Bhadels of Madgao in 2011.

 Since no government is taking interest, Madgao-based businessman and writer Datta Damodar Naik chose a traffic island in front of Gomant Vidya Niketan and assigned artist Subodh Kerkar to erect this sculpture of Bhadel.

He has great respect for the honesty and hard work of these tribal women. 

Like motorcycle pilots of Goa, Bhadels of Madgao are known for their honesty and hard work.

They help the shopkeepers to unload their goods, even as heavy as cupboards, in groups as well as individually.

And they also work for the customers to carry their goods to their vehicles and even to their houses, on feet. They system is still prevalent.

They system is still prevalent.

They come to the market from their neighbouring villages, have their lunch in the market, take a nap and go back to work. 

But the number of these honest workers is diminishing very fast. Hardly 20 have remained in the Madgao market.

80-year old Reta Pereira has been there in this noble profession for the last 65 years. And Jaquin Carvalho for the last 60 years.

Datta Damodar Naik wants also his other businessmen colleagues to create such sculptures of common men and women, who have been serving our MogachemGoem.

Create such photo points for selfies.