Team Herald
MARGAO: As the birth centenary year of India’s iconic cartoonist and Padma Vibhushan awardee Mario Miranda begins, Madganvcho Awaaz has called on the government to mark the occasion with national-level tributes.
They are urging authorities to initiate official celebrations, exhibitions, educational programmes, and the construction of a commemorative monument to honour the legacy of the legendary Goan artist.
“Mario Miranda captured the essence of Indian life through his art and left an indelible mark on generations. As we enter his 100th birth anniversary year, it is only fitting that the government steps up and ensures his contributions are celebrated in a manner befitting his stature,” Prabhav Naik of Madganvcho Awaaz
stated.
Naik emphasised that commemorating Miranda’s centenary is not just about remembering an individual, but about recognising a cultural legacy. He also highlighted that other eminent Goans, including Padma Bhushan award-winning painter Laxman Pai and acclaimed cinematographer K. Vaikunth, alias Vaikunth Kuncolienkar, are also entering their birth centenary years and deserve similar recognition.
“Celebrating these milestones is an opportunity to reconnect young people with our cultural history. Many of these figures are not widely known to the newer generations, and public commemorations would help reintroduce their lives and contributions,” Naik said.
He criticised the tendency of routine government events to consume large budgets without yielding lasting cultural value. Instead, he advocated for redirecting a portion of those funds to meaningful centenary celebrations that would enrich communities and promote intergenerational learning.
“These are not short-term events. Centenary commemorations have deep educational and cultural value. They promote unity, instil pride, and reinforce shared identity. They also ensure that public spending contributes to long-term societal enrichment,” he said.
Naik also called for the inclusion of public exhibitions, school programmes, documentaries, and dedicated monuments as part of the celebration plans. He stressed that preserving Goa’s heritage involves more than safeguarding monuments—it also requires honouring the lives and stories of its people.
“The government has both a responsibility and an opportunity to keep alive the memory of Goans who have made significant contributions to our culture and identity. Let us not allow their stories to fade into oblivion,” Naik urged.
He reiterated his earlier appeal to the government to initiate official commemorative events for all three Goan icons whose centenary years fall in 2024–25.