Excellent tribute! Sent from my iPhone
> On 07-Jan-2018, at 9:08 PM, Aires Rodrigues <airesrodrigu...@gmail.com> wrote: > > REMEMBERING MY TAI ON HER BIRTH ANNIVERSARY > > > > By Aires Rodrigues > > > > Today is Shaskikala’s Kakodkar’s birthday anniversary. In her death on > 28th October > 2016, Goa lost a great leader. Goa’s second Chief Minister, Shashikala > Kakodkar was known as ‘Tai’ to us all. She took over the reins of Goa on > August 12, 1973 following the death of her father, Goa’s first Chief > Minister, Dayanand Bandodkar. Shashikala Kakodkar had the distinction of > being India’s third lady Chief Minister, the first being Sucheta Kriplani > (Uttar Pradesh) and the second being Nandini Satpathy (Orissa). Shashikala > Kakodkar had a very firm grip over the administration unlike some of the > subsequent Chief Ministers. Goa’s Iron Lady she was. > > > > As a friend of the family, Shashikala’s three sons Yatin, Sameer and Abhay > we played together as children. Shashikala’s three boys were brought up as > normal kids never ever pampered or allowed to play truant unlike most > children of today’s tribe of politicians. In spite of her busy schedule as > Chief Minister, whenever I was at her Porvorim residence at lunch time, she > made sure lunch was served at her hands. > > > > In 1979 the student community proved to be a formidable force to be able to > challenge the then Government headed by Shashikala Kakodkar. It was the > kindling of student activism in Goa. It was our desire that the student > community in Goa should get 50% bus concession. The powerful bus owner's > lobby was being fully supported by the Shashikala Kakodkar Government. The > student agitation launched on 1st January swiftly spread from Pernem to > Polem and within 13 days the Shashikala Kakodkar Government decided to > graciously concede to the demand of the student community for 50% bus > concession. > > > > During the same student agitation, on 7th Jan 1979 Shashikala Kakodkar was > being felicitated at Azad Maidan on her 44th birthday by a committee headed > by the late Mr. V.M Salgaoncar. As she was not conceding to our demand for > 50 % bus concession we decided to demonstrate and disrupt her felicitation > function at Azad Maidan. We were successful and ended up with VM > Salgaoncar’s Mercedes car badly smashed in that chaotic evening. It was > just a coincidence that I later graduated in law from VM Salgaoncar’s > College. > > > > Shashikala Kakodkar was definitely never vindictive. Though I was a very > close family friend of the Kakodkar family, Shashikala respected my right > to oppose some of her government’s policies and decisions. And for this I > respected and always held her in the highest esteem. She was more than a > "Tai" to me. She was always very concerned about my well being. > > > > A true tribute to Shashikala Kakodkar would be for Politicians and people > in authority, by virtue of their positions to be ready for both bouquets > and brickbats. They should know that their lives and (mis)deeds are under > the public scanner and are more than likely to be exposed at some stage. > Freedom to fearlessly fight against social ills is the very hallmark of a > true democracy, but unfortunately some of those who ride to power on a > contrived electorate are unable to withstand such a scrutiny. > > > > After being Chief Minister for 2084 days, Shashikala Kakodkar graciously > conducted herself even after being out of power. She at all times kept > herself abreast with issues concerning Goa. We should always remember the > enormous contribution of this great lady towards the development of Goa and > in particular the upliftment of the downtrodden Bahujan Samaj. My fond > memories of Shashikala Kakodkar will never ever fade away. > > Aires Rodrigues > > Advocate High Court > > C/G-2, Shopping Complex > > Ribandar Retreat, > > Ribandar – Goa – 403006 > > Mobile No: 9822684372 > > Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 > > Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com > > Or > > airesrodrig...@yahoo.com > > You can also reach me on > > Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues > > Twitter@rodrigues_aires > > > www.airesrodrigues.com