17 Feb 2022  |   06:35am IST

A doyen of Goan politics—Teotonio Pereira passes away at 92

People from all walks of life remember him as true son of the soil, a gentleman, a musician, sports and theatre enthusiast and a true fighter for dignity of the State and the Konkani language

Team Herald

PANJIM: Former MLA Teotonio Pereira passed away after a brief illness at a hospital at Mapusa on Wednesday. He was 92.

Pereira, a four-term MLA from St Andre constituency was the only surviving legislator of the first Goa Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly.

Pereira was elected on the United Goans Party in 1963, 1967 and 1972 and on Congress (U) in 1980. He fought during the Opinion Poll to retain Goa as a separate identify, to make Konkani the Official Language of Goa and to attain Statehood.

Pereira was the owner of Paulo Travels, one of the oldest travel operators in the State.

Pereira was a senior politician who has part of Goa’s history – Liberation of Goa, First Legislative Assembly, Opinion Poll, inclusion of Konkani in the 8th schedule, Statehood”, dawns of hope and dreams of a golden Goa which were close to his heart.

In his constituency, he had his ear to the ground and felt the pulse of his people. He was one with them. 

A fiery orator, a Goan to the core, he lived the Goan ethos, participating enthusiastically in church choirs, tiatrs and Konkani operas. 

As sports enthusiast he encouraged youngsters to participate in sports, initiated, sponsored tournaments level to inculcate a sporting spirit in them.