As Goa prepared to celebrate Diwali on October 20, the festive spirit was overshadowed by the sudden demise of Agriculture Minister and former Chief Minister Ravi Naik. His passing has created a profound void in the Bhandari community and the wider Bahujan population, particularly in Marcaim and Ponda, his electoral strongholds. Residents remembered Naik for his extraordinary journey from humble beginnings to national politics and his lifelong service to the people.
Born to a poor farming family, Naik rose from being a volleyball player at Jawahar Club Ponda—representing Goa at the 1976 Senior National Volleyball Championship—to serving as Councillor, MLA, Chief Minister, Home Minister, and Member of Parliament. He was a grassroots leader who championed tenant and mundkar rights, forming the Kul Mundkar Sanghatana and taking legal battles up to the Supreme Court.
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“Ravi’s greatest achievement was securing rights for farmers and Kul Mundkars. He spent his own money to challenge landlords and stood firm for justice,” said Bhai alias Gurunath Naik, a Bhandari Samaj leader.
His contributions to education were equally notable. As Chairman of Ponda Education Society, he established Higher Secondary, BA, BSc, and Pharmacy colleges at Farmagudi, giving local youth access to higher education without the need to travel to Panjim or Margao.
Naik also spearheaded major infrastructure projects including Rajiv Kala Mandir, Ponda Sports Complex, Sub-District Hospital Ponda, three bypasses, Marcaim and Kundaim Industrial Estates, and the Dayanand Samajik Suraksha Yojana. He actively promoted women’s self-help groups and Samaj melavas, fostering unity within the community.
Politically, Naik was elected MLA seven times with the MGP, Congress, and BJP, including six terms from Ponda and one from Marcaim in 1989 when he became Chief Minister. He was instrumental in helping the Bhandari community secure OBC status and was known for his strict law-and-order measures as Chief Minister and later as Home Minister (2007–2012).
Devanand Naik, President of Gomantak Bhandari Samaj, said, “We have lost a towering leader.”
Despite frail health in recent years, Naik remained deeply connected with the people, recently felicitating 400 Samaj members at Rudreshwar Temple, Sakhlim, where he stood for nearly four hours to honour their achievements.
In tribute to his passing, the United Sports and Cultural Club, Ponda, cancelled the Narkasur Vadh Competition 2025, which was previously scheduled to take place in the town.
Ravi Naik’s extraordinary journey—from a farmer’s son to a national politician, social reformer, and Bahujan champion—has left an irreplaceable void in Goa’s political and social landscape. His vision, achievements, and enduring connection with the people continue to be deeply mourned.
