Manohar Parrikar – The IITian CM

One fine day, Goa witnesses the wonder of wonders (rather India witnesseth)… The ex Chief Minister is waiting in a bus line to catch a bus… The people are not only astonished but give him a respectable walk by… But the gentleman he is, refuses… He stands in the queue and waits for his turn…

He is Manohar Parrikar…

The 4 times Chief Minister of State of Goa…

A very humble man…

A human being first, then a politician…

A man trusted by even his opponents…

An Aam Aadmi of every sort…

Born in a business family, He joined Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at a very young age. He became a sanchalak (local director) of the local RSS Shakha he went to. Parrikarji has often expressed considerable pride in his RSS background, saying that he learnt “discipline, progressiveness, nationalism and social responsibility from the RSS” He was sent to BJP, to build up its organisation in North Goa. And thus started his contribution towards building of BJP brick by brick in Goa.

An IITian, he specialised in metallurgical engineering. If not mistaken, he is the first IIT alumnus to be elected as a MLA and also Chief Minister in any state of India. He continued with his business even then and maintained the utmost integrity of not mixing business with politics. He never lived in the Chief Minister’s residence, but lived in a 2 BHK flat with his son.

A leader of the people, he has always been to places and people where he was expected to. Instances of him rushing to aid of the people in their hours of need rightly earned him the title of “Son of Goa”. One will find many Goans in the interiors of Goa, reminiscing instances of their lives of meeting Parrikarji with a problem and getting it solved with a priority. Many of them still share seeing him drinking tea at a local tea stall or eating food at one of the local restaurants, such was his reach and simplicity.

His preferable mode of transport was a Scooter. Many a times he visited Goa Vidhansabha, Parliament House and travelled to meetings on his Scooter. Once a guy in Goa travelling in a branded four wheeler hit his scooter. He just kept up his own speed and caught up with the guy at a signal, who arrogantly said, ‘I’m a rich wealthy person from Goa.’ The person on the scooter just removed his helmet and said : ‘Well, I’m the Chief Minister of Goa.’ This is Manohar Parrikarji.

A simpleton as he is, the day he was summoned to New Delhi to take over as the Raksha Mantri, he took an auto rickshaw to the Goa airport carrying his one suitcase. It is said that he used to was his clothes by himself. The crumpled shirt was his trademark and one even remembers seeing the same crumpled shirt when he was boarding the PTT – 40, an indigenous plane developed by India.

With Him as Raksha Mantri, India executed Her first surgical strikes in Kashmir. The most awaited, most sought and most finely planned strikes were executed under his guidance.

His coordination with the PMO and his readiness to work for 16-18 hours a day, shows his dedication towards the country. He brought transparency into the defence deals. He is one of the foremost contributors towards a corruption free South block in New Delhi

A born fighter, he fought against his ailments in his last days as Chief Minister and kept on working till it was medically allowed. Rarely have we seen a person work with a tube in one’s nose. He even presented the State budget in this state. His question to his admirers, in one of his last public meetings, asking, “How’s the Josh?” exemplifies his way of working.

The country today has lost an able administrator, a dedicated son, in his demise. May God give his soul, the rightful place it deserves. The country will always remember this Great Son.

Will end with a prayer from the Ishavasya Upanishad

वायुरनिलममृतमथेदं, भस्मांतं शरीरं

ओम, क्रतो स्मर कृतं स्मर, क्रतो स्मर कृतं स्मर

(Let my pranas merge into all prevailing air and let this body be burnt to ashes,

Om, O my mind, remember what you did! O my mind, remember what you did!)

(Written in collaboration with ABHIJEET KHANDARE http://lovenirvanalife.wordpress.com )