Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa today needs a non-political, independent, militant, non-compromising and selfless students’ movement like it was in the ‘70s and ‘80s. This was the opinion expressed by over 35 former student leaders gathered at Mano Shobha Kalaghar at Loliem, Canacona, to launch a series of debates called ‘Ganthval’, unfolding the history of the students’ movements of the ‘70s and 80s, which fought against the MGP and the Congress regimes.
During an interaction with the younger generation, they also emphasised that they could achieve in their respective careers mainly because of the students’ movement that developed leadership qualities in them.
“The credit for whatever I am today goes mainly to my participation in the students’ movement that made me fearless and confident in asking questions and fighting against injustice,” said Dr Subodh Kerkar, a nationally renowned artist of Goa.
Young teachers Gargi Satoskar and Smita Kamat shared their experiences of how successfully they had fought the refusal of giving 50 per cent bus concession during their student days in 2007 and 2013 respectively. When they said students are denied the bus concession even today, former student leader Mohandas Lolienkar pointed out that it is a gazetted notification issued in 1979 and no bus operator can violate the law. But the students need to fight back if the blanket bus concession is denied like the two brave girls.
Adv Cleofato Almeida Coutinho, while speaking in detail about the marks scandal agitation against then Education Minister Francisco Sardinha, who increased the marks of his niece for GMC admission, demanded that the over four-decade-old Justice Batta Commission report should be published at least by the present BJP government. Sardinha had to resign as the education minister much before setting up the Commission.
Dr Mukul Mahatme elaborated how GMC resident doctors and medical students, along with the student community across Goa, had unitedly fought the issue of GMC seats being reserved for three categories.
Besides young fighters like Satoskar and Kamat, students and younger generation including teachers like Aniket Khanolkar from Ponda, Palash Agni from Goa University, Prabhav Naik from Margao and Rucha Prabhudesai from Chowgule College as well as Sanjay Komarpant spoke among many others who attended the function.
Other former student leaders including Avinash Bhosle, Dilip Borkar, Amol Navelkar, Dr Meenacshi Martins, Agostino Antao, Devendra Prabhudesai, Prashant Naik, Dr Sabina Martins, Prashanti Talpankar, Dr Vidyadatt Verenkar, Rohidas Gaonkar as well as Adv Albertina Almeida participated in the debate.
Sankalp Gaunkar, a student of VMS Law College, moderated the session on the 50 per cent bus concession issue while Dr Sachin Moraes moderated the session on GMC scandals. The audience also paid homage to all the former student leaders, who had departed the world.