The state was once a poster for all things exquisite with breath-takingly beautiful landscapes and seafronts, villages nestled in the greens, laid-back way of life. Goa turned to commerce, tourism, real estate development almost with a vengeance in the 2000s. Two decades later, the development fuelled by the post-pandemic rush, is making Goans see their ethos and ecology wane; even local cuisine is on the backburner in places. The Goa story cannot all be about tourist footfalls and elite homes at the cost of its natural wealth – this hope comes from Goans willing to raise voice, join forces, and protect their land.