the goan I network
PANAJI
President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday singled out Goa’s societal thrust to women’s empowerment and termed the Goa Civil Code and its emphasis on gender equality as an example for the nation to emulate.
Goa is the only State in India that follows a civil code, a legacy of the Colonial Portuguese rule, which has been talked of as a model in the contentious national debate for a Uniform Civil Code to be adopted by the country.
Kovind singled out the Civil Code for praise in his short speech at the civic reception hosted in his honour at the NIO’s auditorium in Dona Paula, where he evoked a resounding applause for beginning his speech in the State’s official language Konkani.
“Majya Mogall Goenkaranno, tumka sogleank Maye Mogacho Nomoskarr,” Kovind began to a thunderous applause.
The President praised the people of Goa for what he called their “pluralistic culture” and their famed welcoming nature.
In the season of football with the FIFA world cup currently in progress in Russia, the President’s reference to Goa’s football culture and prowess also stood out.
Parrikar also spoke of the President’s journey from a small Kanpur village to the highest constitutional office of the country in Delhi. “It’s a saga of great determination and hard work,” Parrikar said, praising the President’s focus on education in rural areas when he was a Rajya Sabha MP.
The President praised Goa’s football culture and also spoke about the State’s many football clubs. He mentioned footballer and Arjuna awardee Brahmanand Sankhwalkar, who he recalled was the captain of the Indian football team from 1983 to 1986.
“Players like these had taken Goa’s name high as a footballing State,” Kovind mentioned.
He also praised Goa for its tourism and mentioned the freedom fighters who struggled to get freedom from Portuguese Rule.
The President was accompanied by his wife to the civic reception which was attended by around 300 people. Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar was in the audience while Poriem MLA Pratapsingh Rane was on the dais alongside Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Governor of Goa Dr Mridula Sinha.
The reception was an hour-long affair in which Parrikar welcomed the President and the First Lady and thanked him for accepting to grace the 30th Annual Convocation of the Goa University.
“Your participation in the Convocation ceremony and your words of wisdom will go a long way in inspiring students of the university to achieve higher levels of success in their future endeavours,” Parrikar said in his welcome speech.
