VASCO
Reacting sharply to Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar's outburst aimed at him, former minister Jose Philip D'Souza respected Veer Savarkar as a great freedom fighter, but insisted that the auditorium at Ravindra Bhavan at Vasco should be named after any acclaimed Goan.
While Parsekar has denied there was any proposal to name the Ravindra Bhavan at Vasco after Veer Savarkar, the issue has fuelled a debate in the port town since an auditorium at Ravindra Bhavan was named after Savarkar.
Most have shared D'Souza's views that the auditorium at Ravindra Bhavan should have been named after a Goan icon.
D'Souza, who is also the State NCP president and the persons instrumental in constructing the Ravindra Bhavan at Baina said: “The auditorium should have been named after any of the famous icons from Goa.”
Responding to Parsekar's dig at him, D'Souza added: “I respect Veer Savarkar as a great freedom fighter and a famous artist. But instead of naming an auditorium in Goa, his name should be reflected at the national level like naming an airport or a national road after him.”
Echoing similar views, Andrew Alvares, added: “If Goan artistes are not honoured in Goa then what is the use of bringing laurels to Goa through their art?”
“I doubt Goan artistes will be honoured in other states. As a Goan, I respect the great leader and freedom fighter Veer Savarkar, but I am a Goan at heart and will definitely welcome if the auditorium at Ravindra Bhavan had been named after a Goan artist,” added Alvares.
A budding artiste, Lila Naik, opined that Goa did not lack in famous personalities. “Before naming the auditorium, the committee should have invited suggestions from public. The committee cannot decide unilaterally a name for the museum, hall or an auditorium,” said Naik.
“While we respect Savarkar's contribution to the nation, this (auditorium) was not the place to be named after him,” added Naik.
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Nothing wrong in naming Ravindra Bhavan after Savarkar: Khadapkar
VASCO: Ravindra Bhavan (Baina) Chairman Shekar Khadapkar has insisted that there was nothing wrong in naming the auditorium after freedom fighter Veer Savarkar.
Incidentally, the main auditorium at Ravindra Bhavan was officially as the Veer Savarkar auditorium in the presence of Power Minister Milind Naik at a function on January 1, to mark the second anniversary of Ravindra Bhavan at Baina.
“The names of great leaders and freedom fighters have been given to so many roads, national structures and stadiums. In the same way, we should be proud if an auditorium is named after a great freedom fighter like Savarkar,” said Khadapkar, while speaking to The Goan.
Seeking to explain the process involved in naming the auditorium after Savarkar, Khadapkar said: “The name was placed before a committee and suggestions were invited from committee members. Since no suggestions came forward even after 15 days, it was decided to name the auditorium after the great freedom fighter, Veer Savarkar.”
Incidentally, Khadapkar was a director in the committee, which was headed by Power Minister Milind Naik, when the decision was taken to name the auditorium after Savarkar. Khadapkar took over as chairman of Ravindra Bhavan on December 27.
