It is six long years since Satish Sonak left us so unexpectedly on April 7, 2017 leaving us all astounded. He was a great selfless warrior who worked tirelessly, seeking justice for the poor, downtrodden and the oppressed. A true Goenkar he always was and will continue to inspire us all to do our bit to carry his mission forward. Satish Sonak was a truly remarkable gentleman who cared about his fellow human beings, championing the causes particularly of the less privileged and disadvantaged strata of society around him, willing to stand up and dared to be counted where others feared to venture. A true friend and companion of the poor, deprived and voiceless.
Right from his student days Satish Sonak was an avid reader and fiery orator, whether in English, Konkani or Marathi. He also contributed thought provoking articles to several newspapers and interviewed on television several eminent personalities in various fields of public life. Doing justice to his profession as a lawyer he became one of the foremost human rights crusader, taking up many causes such as the rights of women and children, marginalized tribes, the physically and mentally disadvantaged, anti-corruption and the rights of the common man.
Even in death, his donation was the gift of his precious eyesight to another human being. Satish Sonak was indeed an inspiration to all and particularly the youth of Goa who are now the only hope for our fast sinking State. We will all one day depart this world, but our Goa must truly live sans all this lip sympathy and rhetoric talk of a Golden Goa. We all have to strive for a better Goa and that would be living up to the hopes and aspirations of the great fighter that Satish Sonak always was.
