the goan I network
MARGAO
Governor Satya Pal Malik took time off his busy schedule on Monday to pay respects to the great socialist Dr Ram Manohar Lohia at the historic Lohia Maidan, crediting Dr Lohia and Deen Dayal Upadhya for inventing non-Congressism in 1960’s, paving the way for the success of Opposition politics in the country.
On a personal visit to the Lohia Maidan on Monday morning, the Governor said “we owe everything of us to Dr Lohia. I have come to pay respect to him”, the governor said. While leaving Lohia Maidan, the governor promised that he will do whatever he can do to spruce up the Lohia Maidan befitting the historic place.
The Governor pointed out that he has been Lohia’s disciple since his student life. “I know the man. He was one of the greatest freedom fighters and a thinker”, he added.
Claiming that it was Lohia, who shaped opposition politics in the country, the governor said Dr Lohia along with Deen Dayal Upadhya for the first time invented non-Congresssism in 1967, adding “It was only after this that opposition politics succeeded in the country”.
Terming Lohia as a great man, Malik said “we owe everything of us today to him. To pay respects to this great man, I have come here”.
When the media drew his attention to the sorry state of affairs at the historic maidan, with the planned beautification of the place yet to see light of the day, the governor said “whatever I can do, I will do, be sure”.
The governor spent some time at the historic maidan after paying floral tributes, first to the freedom fighters memorial and later at the life-size statue of Dr Lohia. He was briefed by Vikas Desai how Dr Lohia arrived in Goa at the invitation of Dr Juliao Menezes at Assolna before both -- Lohia and Menezes -- descending in Margao the next day to launch the liberation struggle.
The governor listened attentively to veteran journalist Anil Pai, who explained to him the sequence of events, right from Lohia’s arrival at the house of Dr Menezes at Assolna, culminating in his defiance of the Portuguese to give a clarion call to the people of Goa to liberate the state from the colonial power. He was told that the life-size statue of Lohia was installed at
the Lohia Maidan at the initiative of Margao MLA and Opposition leader, Digambar Kamat. And, when told that the Lohia Maidan plays host to the official function of the Goa Revolution day, attended by hundreds of students and citizens, the governor told Margao Municipal Councilor Avinash Shirodkar that he will attend the Goa Revolution Day function if invited by the organizers.
