Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday led the State in paying tributes to Goa’s first chief minister Dayanand Bandodkar on his birth anniversary.
“Tributes to Goa’s first chief minister Dayanand (Bhausaheb) Bandodkar on his birth anniversary. We remember his invaluable contribution in building a strong foundation for Goa’s progress,” Parrikar tweeted.
TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai’s tweet read as: “Paying tributes to #Goa’s 1st CM Dayanand Bandodker on his birth anniversary. His election & tenure brought about the first democratic revolution in India with the rise of the Bahujan Samaj. He will be remembered for his far reaching land reforms and his focus on education and health.”
IT Minister Rohan Khaunte also tweeted his tributes saying, “Tributes to Bhausaheb Bandodkar on his birth anniversary. A true son of soil, his leadership as the 1st CM of Goa is an inspiration even today. A leader of the masses, he worked tirelessly to uplift the backward & downtrodden & gave utmost importance to providing education for all.”
Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant stated, “Salutations to the first CM of Goa, visionary late Bhausaheb Bandodkar on his 108th birth anniversary!”
South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar said, “My tributes to philanthropist, social reformer, leader of the masses & 1st CM of Goa Late Dayanand@Bhausaheb Bandodkar, on his birth anniversary. @narendramodi @manoharparrikar @BJP4Goa”
Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo said, “Bandodkar was a visionary leader and an educationist. He has done many good works. While remembering him we have to take his legacy forward.”
PONDA: Floral tributes were paid to Dayanand Bandodkar on his birth anniversary at Farmagudi-Ponda, on Tuesday.
Instead of paying their tributes together as one family, the political leaders in Ponda preferred to pay their tributes separately to the first chief minister of Goa.
After paying his tributes, former chief minister and sitting Ponda MLA Ravi Naik said that Bandodkar’s birth anniversary should be remembered as ‘Sports Day’ in all schools and colleges in Goa.
He said that in 1992 when he (Ravi) was the chief minister, he had started to celebrate this day as ‘Sports Day’ to reach and recognise Bandodkar’s work among the student community.
“But successive governments failed to celebrate this day as Sports Day,” he bemoaned.
He appealed to Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude to start celebrating Bandodkar’s birthday as Sports Day at government level.
Meanwhile, after paying his tributes to Bandodkar, PWD Minister Ramakrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar said that the first chief minister’s policies helped people of Goa to empower with education. “Bhau (as Bandodkar is fondly called) helped to preserve Goenkarponn through his ideal work, but today some politicians are taking advantage of it,” he mocked.
Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude too expressed similar views. He said that due to Bhahu’s visionary contribution towards education, the Bhahujans became literate and leading the path of development.
“Bhahu created an ideal situation for us to live with self respect,” Gaude said.
MAPUSA: Tributes were paid to Goa’s first chief minister Dayanand Bandodkar on the occasion of his birth anniversary at Calangute and Mapusa, on Tuesday. His contribution towards the progress of the state was fondly remembered.
At Mapusa, MMC Chairperson Ryan paid floral tributes to Bandodkar and garlanded his statue. Others attending the function include BJP Mapusa Mandal President Damodar Lanjekar, ex-chairperson Sandeep Falari, MGP candidate Vinod Phadke, North Goa District Congress President Vijay Bhike, councillors Raj Singh Rane, Tushar Tople, Sushant Harmalkar and Swapnil Shirodkar.
At Calangute, local MLA Michael Lobo garlanded the statue of Bandodkar on the village beach.
“Bandodkar must be standing up there and watching what is happening in this small State of Goa. Everyone is running after power. Take forward the legacy of Bandodkar; we need his blessings. There is a need for Goans to think positively and support the good things,” he said.
The function was attended by Sarpanch Shawn Martins, Deputy Sarpanch Sudesh Mayekar and panch members.
