JAY JOSHI
Manohar Parrikar was a leader who had innovative ideas, and a number of initiatives and schemes envisioned by him had a deep impact on Goa. With the leader’s passing, Goa has indeed lost a visionary who set the state on a path to transformation that will continue for years to come. Even as his power and political stature rose, Parrikar continued to remain grounded, pragmatic, simple, and approachable for Goan people. As Goans paid respects to their Chief Minister, many fondly remembered how the leader had touched their lives.
“I salute Parrikar for the courage he showed during demolition of Baina slums. The place had brought a bad name to the town,” said Surekha Desai fro Priol, who spent her schooling years in Vasco. “Some people say that it led to certain harmful elements to spread to the rest of Goa, but I would not agree entirely with that. Demolishing Baina made the area a lot safer, and broke-up a dark entity that could perhaps be used as vote-bank.”
On the other hand Saidatta Kundaikar, a Verna-based Engineer who now works out of Mumbai believes that the cyber-age scheme implemented under Parrikar’s leadership changed his life.
“Empowering Goan students with computers back in 2003-04 gave Goan students a phenomenal advantage in terms of familiarity with machines and exposure to technology. This becomes apparent to me when I meet engineers from Maharashtra and other Indian states today. At a time when every Goan science student was getting a computer for a nominal price, aspiring engineers in many other states of India were struggling to get access to the machine. Thus, the initiative is helping Goan engineers like me beat competition and Goa ahead in career even today,” avered Kundaikar.
Panaji-based Ayurvedic doctor Gautam Khandeparkar had for long respected Parrikar for the latter’s interest in education. The respect only deepened when Khandeparkar got an opportunity to interact with the politician. “When I was starting my clinic in Panaji, I wanted someone who has high regard for education to inaugurate the facility. Hence, I went to Parrikar who was at that time the Leader of Opposition” recollects Khandeparkar. “When I requested that he come, he instantly agreed. However, he had to reschedule the plan owing to other commitments, and he personally called me to inform that he couldn’t make it. Then he gave another date, and promptly arrived on the same.”
Khandeparkar also informed that Parrikar had played an important role in giving a boost to the Ayurved college at Shiroda. The college was short of funds and could not pay stipend to its interns, When the interns went on strike for the same, Parrikar, who was then chief minister personally came to meet the agitating students, and agreed to most of their demands. The government then began to contribute to the college towards stipend which continues to this day, stated Khandeparkar.
Noted Goan stand-up comedian and mimicry artist Saidutt Kamat, who also performs mimicry of Parrikar among other personalities recounted that the chief minister in a way helped gain him recognition. “I first met him first when I was in SSC. He was the chief guest for a programme where I performed mimicry. Among other personalities, his own mimicry was included in the performance. Interestingly, he liked it and blessed me saying ‘keep it up’ reminisces Saidutt. He said, “Two years later in 2012, he was the chief minister and was visiting Kala Academy. There was heavy security, and I could not get to meet him. However, he saw me, recognised me and personally came to greet me.”
Kamat stated that later, as he uploaded his mimicry videos on social media, he would come to know from different people that chief minister Parrikar enjoyed his performances, and one day, the chief minister himself called up and praised Kamat’s work. “He also gave me the best advice for career as comedian,” says Kamat. “He said, ‘appreciate the positive feedback you receive, and if someone has negative comments, call me. I will do the rest!”
Parrikar’s simplicity touched not only Goans but also others from around India and the globe, and Twitter was flooded with personal stories from people recounting their memories of meeting the Goan politician.
A technical professional from Mumbai, Anurag Dixit shared the entire story of the friendship he had developed with Parrikar over the years.
“ I met Parrikar for the first time in 95-96, during my industrial tour. He had become MLA for the first time and he being from the same department as ours had come to meet us. It was more than a formal visit and I realised for the first time a politician could be cool” posted Dixit.
He further narrated that he had the opportunity to meet Parrikar again, and took a taxi to head to Goa Legislative assembly. When the driver began telling him stories of Parrikar’s grounded simplicity, Dixit dismissed them as tales, but soon found to his shock that Parrikar also knew the taxi driver. The chief minister also went on to personally keep in touch with Dixit, the story stated.
Maria Writh, a German writer who has been studying and living in India for a long time also had deep respect for Parrikar. “Seeing Manohar Parrikar say “how’s the Josh” brought tears to my eyes. What love for India. What sense of duty at such advanced stage of his illness”, posted the writer on Twitter “Don’t say “all politicians are bad”. No. There are selfless Yogis among them. #Parrikar was one.”
Social media struck a poignant note as it paid last respect to this towering Goan leader who also left a deep impact on the nation as a whole as its defence minister. A number of netizens remembered Parrikar’s contributions such as One Rank One Pension, and his role in Uri surgical strikes.
