Floriano Lobo - the ‘Anti-National’ who fought hardest for Goa Sad to hear of the passing of Floriano Lobo
As an activist-politician and founder of the Goa Su-Raj Party, he stood among the earliest voices advocating “Goem, Goenkar, Goenkarponn, though maybe in somewhat different words.” Much before there were social networking platforms such as Orkut and Facebook, he championed Goan identity and ethos in early online spaces like Goanet, Goa-related Yahoo groups, and the Navhind Times’ Cybervoices forum, which was a very popular one during the early turn of the century. I still remember our regular debates and discussions on these platforms - he was spirited, passionate, sometimes vociferous too, yet always so very courteous. Whenever I wrote something, he would call or message with a word of appreciation. In recent years, one could see he had become less active online due to his health issues, but the warmth and sincerity of those earlier interactions remain unforgettable. For those who knew him well, Floriano was much more than an online activist; he was someone who always showed up where it mattered. He was an integral part of civil society, often seen at protests and public agitations, standing firmly with causes that needed a fearless voice. When the Miramar beach privatization was planned, and though he wasn't even a resident of Panjim, he opposed it tooth and nail. As one of the speakers during the public protest meeting. I can recall his words: “We don’t want Miramar to become another Calangute or Baga.” The impact was huge, Parrikar soon shelved the idea. Miramar still remains the beautiful place that it is, for the morning or evening walks and for soaking in the peaceful bliss of the sea and nature. Preserving Goa’s natural beauty, resisting reckless development, and protecting the fragile cultural fabric of this State were not political stances for him, he was connected to these causes very emotionally and personally. His political journey through the Goa Su-Raj Party, which he founded, reflected that very conviction. The party’s vision document strongly defended Goa’s identity against demographic pressures and ecological threats. Even though electoral success eluded him, the ideas he championed - once dismissed as too idealistic or even “anti-national” by some hardliners - have today become central themes in Goa’s political discourse. At heart, he was a simple, idealistic Goan who wanted to safeguard Goa’s special status and unique cultural fabric - a vision later embraced by leaders like Manohar Parrikar and Vijay Sardesai. He was merely voicing it long before everyone else did. In many ways, Floriano was a voice ahead of his time. Rest in peace, Floriano bab. I will miss the numerous debates and discussions we had over the years. On many issues we agreed to disagree; on others we found ourselves perfectly in sync. But through it all, his sincerity, courage, and unwavering commitment to Goa never changed. "Goem, Goenkar, Goenkarponn" has lost one of its earliest, most vocal fearless warriors. His legacy will live on in the very battles that Goa continues to fight today. Regards Sandeep Heble
