MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday assured the Goa Legislative Assembly that the Tilak Maidan in Vasco will be officially renamed as the Keshav (Bal) Gangadhar Tilak Stadium, in honour of the great patriot and freedom fighter whose contributions to India’s independence movement remain deeply respected.
The assurance came in response to a demand raised by Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar during the Zero Hour, coinciding with the Jayanti (birth anniversary) of Lokmanya Tilak, observed annually on July 23.
Salkar urged the government to give full recognition to the historical figure by renaming the stadium in his complete name.
“The stadium in Vasco is currently named Tilak Maidan and is owned by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA), managed by the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG). But calling it just ‘Tilak Maidan’ doesn’t do justice to the legacy of such a visionary leader,” he said.
He further added, “Lokmanya Tilak was not just a freedom fighter but also a scholar, author, and patriot who ignited the spark of nationalism in the country. Let’s give him a true tribute by renaming the stadium as Keshav (Bal) Gangadhar Tilak Stadium.”
Salkar also proposed the installation of a life-sized statue of Tilak at the venue, along with a brief account of his life and contributions, so that future generations can be educated and inspired by his legacy.
Sawant responded positively, acknowledging the contribution of Tilak to the freedom movement and agreeing that the stadium deserved to reflect his full identity.
“We will initiate the process of renaming the stadium as Keshav (Bal) Gangadhar Tilak Stadium,” Sawant said.
The move has been welcomed as a significant gesture to honour one of India’s earliest and most influential national leaders, whose call for Swaraj became a rallying cry for independence.
