PANAJI
Internationally acclaimed Goan artist and painter Padma Vibhushan Laxman Pai was cremated with full State Honours at the Mathagramastha Hindu Sabha crematorium in Margao in the presence of friends, family and disciples.
The final rites were performed by Pai’s only son Aakash who arrived from the US to bid farewell to his father. Draped in tri-colour, Pai was given a gun salute by the Goa Police before his remains were consigned to flames.
While Chief Minister of Goa, Dr Pramod Sawant visited Pai’s ancestral home at Comba in Margao to pay his homage to the late artist, the Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat, Goa Forward party president Vijay Sardesai, director of Higher Education Prasad Lolayekar, writer and industrialist Datta Damodar Nayak, artists and several of Pai’s students were present at the crematorium.
Members from Pai Fondekar, Mauzo and Sambari families, along with several close relatives and prominent citizens of Margao were also present at the crematorium.
“A son of the soil and proud Goan, Laxman Pai was an artist of international repute, and his contribution to the Goa College of Art is unforgettable. Goa was symbolic in all his paintings. Goa will always remember this great artist for his work and his contribution to the field of art,” said Digambar Kamat while paying his homage to the late artist after the gun salute by the Goa Police.
Speaking at the crematorium Vijay Sardesai mentioned that Laxman Pai has taken Goa forward in the field of art. “Pai is the symbol of Goan art and there should be an art gallery in his name in Goa. All over the world art galleries are important tourist attraction points but unfortunately our State is not paying attention to this fact. But we must have good art galleries,” demanded the Goa Forward leader.
