the goan I network
PONDA
The former deputy speaker Vishnu Surya Wagh was cremated on Sunday in Muktidham crematorium at Ponda, following the guard of honour from Goa police. The last rites were performed by his elder son Priyadarshan Wagh.
The mortal remains of noted writer, who had passed away in South Africa on February 8, reached the State in the wee hours of Sunday and were then taken to his residence at Dhavali-Ponda. Later his body was kept at the Dayanand Bandodkar ground at Kashimath-Bandora to enable public to pay their tributes.
His wife Aruna Wagh along with sons Priyadarshan and Gagansurya, brother Ramrao Surya Wagh, sisters Smitha Somnath Naik and Jyotsna Praveen Chumbalker, and other members of the family were present.
Sharmila, former wife of Vishnu Wagh, along with son Parth also paid their last respects at the Dayanand Bandodkar ground.
Top political leaders also attended the final rites. Among those who paid their last respects included Minister for AYUSH Shripad Naik, Speaker Dr Pramod Sawant, Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, Housing Minister Jayesh Salgaonkar, Power Minister Nilesh Cabral, Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte, Urban Development
Minister Milind Naik, Sanvordem MLA Deepak Pauskar, Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar, South Goa MP Adv Narendra Sawaikar, former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar, Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavalekar, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, Ponda MLA Ravi Naik, Tivim MLA Nilkanth Halankar, Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, Former Minister Ramesh Tawadakar, Deepak Dhavalikar, Jose Philip D’Souza, GPCC president Girish Chodankar, Ganesh Gaonkar, Mahadev Naik, Dayanand Mandrekar, Rajendra Arlekar, Vishwas Satarkar, Siddharth Kuncoliekar and Lavu Mamledar.
From the literary world where Wagh had earned a gigantic reputation, writers Ramdas Phutane, N Shivdas, Dilip Borkar among others besides musicians were present. Deputy Collector Kedar Naik, SP Arvind Gawas and other officials also attended.
Many of Wagh’s followers and fans of his literature paid their last respects to the departed writer. His body was kept at Dayanand Bandodkar since 9 am, and after receiving the guard of honor it was taken to Muktidham at around 4 pm.
Minister for Art and Culture Govind Gaude, who arranged the whole programme, while paying his tributes said that the last rites are done as per the wish of Wagh.
“Vishnu described Goa through his literature. He was a great writer. We will always remember him,” Gaude said.
Noted musician Yograj Naik, Balkrishna Marathe and others paid a musical tribute to Wagh by performing the Konkani and Marathi songs penned by him.
A multifaceted personality, Wagh had earned accolades with his acting, writing dramas, poetry and other forms of literature. He was also known as a good cartoonist.
Michael Lobo commended the literary contribution and said he should be bestowed with the prestigious Padma Shri award. “He was not only an actor and political figure, but he was good orator and writer. He should be awarded Padma Shri”, he said.
