Goa CM Manohar Parrikar passed away at the age of 63 on 17 March, 2019, after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. The nation mourned his death, and so did people across party lines.
Parrikar passed in the midst of his 4th term in office, leaving behind a coalition government in Goa that will have to scramble to fill his shoes.
A state funeral will be accorded to him, and the National Flag will fly at half-mast in the National Capital & capitals of states & UTs.
He will most likely be remembered from his last few public appearances. Hooked up to a nasogastric tube yet still soldiering on, overlooking bridge projects and other work despite his frailness.
And that’s the same spirit that made him such a valuable member of his party, and a stalwart supporter of the cause.
But it wasn’t just his unfailing spirit in the face of adversity that made him a popular leader. It was also his reputation for honesty, level-headedness and dedication.
A graduate in metallurgical engineering from IIT-Bombay in 1978, he would earlier split his time between business and party work.
In 2000, he started his first term as Chief Minister of Goa just a few months after he lost his wife to leukaemia.
Infrastructure in Goa under his watch is said to have made great leaps. He was also instrumental in the fight against illegal mining in the state.
In fact, he was frequently credited for BJP’s success in Goa. His style of governance and political acumen contributed to the rise of his party in the state. He was known to be open to opinion, but also very decisive.
People around the country are mourning the loss of this political giant who had no airs. He was taken before his time, and is survived by 2 sons and a grandson.