PANAJI
With teary eyes and heavy hearts, thousands of Goans paid their final respects to their beloved ‘Patrao’ “ Agriculture Minister and former Chief Minister Ravi Sitaram Naik on Wednesday. From Canacona to Pernem, and from Sanguem to Calangute, people from all walks of life gathered in Ponda to bid goodbye to the veteran leader who served Goa for over four decades.
Naik, 79, suffered a massive cardiac arrest at his hometown and was shifted to a private hospital in Ponda town where he was declared dead around 1 am. He is survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. He was laid to rest with full State honour, with a 21-gun salute by the Goa Police, in his own private property. His elder son Ritesh, accompanied by his younger brother Roy, lit the pyre.
Naik’s mortal remains were brought to his residence in Khadpabandh, Ponda, later at night, where an endless stream of mourners arrived to offer prayers and floral tributes since 1am “ the moment the news broke of his demise.
Leaders cutting across party lines, including Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Ministers, MLAs, former legislators, senior political leaders and bureaucrats, joined the public in paying homage. Sawant was present at the residence from morning till final rites. Goa Governor P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Union Minister for State Shripad Naik, MP Sadanand Tanavade also paid their last respect to Naik and met the grieving family.
As a mark of tribute, the State government declared a public holiday on Wednesday and three-day long State mourning “ October 15 to October 17.
Emotional scenes unfolded at Khadpabandh as people recalled Naik’s accessibility, humility, and trademark humour that endeared him to many. Naik was one of the tallest leader of the Bhandari Samaj, as the leaders recalled his fight to grant OBC status for the community and living rights for Kul-Mundkars.
The pool of people included elderly, senior citizens, middle-aged and youth, irrespective of gender. Naik’s supporters who worked with him day and night, since his early political days, and for whom he was their strongest pillar “ were seen crying endlessly and recounting
fond memories.
People from diverse communities came together in a rare show of unity to honour the leader who had connected deeply with the grassroots.
Thousands gathered for his funeral procession, which later moved through the streets of Ponda amid chants and prayers, marking the end of an era in Goa’s political history.
At the final rites, Sawant said that Goa lost a stalwart and it is one of the biggest loss, not just in the political circle but for the State as a whole. “He was a leader of masses …he was a grass root leader…his contribution in the State politics, administration will always be remembered,” he said.
Naik was seven times MLA (six times from Ponda assembly constituency and once from Marcaim assembly constituency) as a candidate of parties including Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Congress and the BJP over the years.
Naik was twice the chief minister of the coastal State, the first time from January 1991 to May 1993, leading a coalition government of the Progressive Democratic Front. He also served the shortest term as CM “ six days, in April 1994.
