Manohar Parrikar, a prominent Indian politician, left an enduring legacy marked by simplicity and impactful leadership. His career spanned significant roles, including multiple terms as Goa’s Chief Minister and a crucial period as India’s Defence Minister.

Wiki/Biography

Manohar Parrikar was born on December 13, 1955, in Mapusa, Goa, into a humble Marathi Gaud Saraswat Brahmin family. His upbringing blended Catholic schooling with a strong foundation in Hindu revivalism through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He attended New Goa High School and Loyola High School, before pursuing Metallurgical Engineering at IIT Bombay, graduating in 1978.

Even before IIT, his involvement with the RSS was significant, rising to the position of Mukhya Shikshak (chief instructor). After his engineering degree, he returned to Goa in 1989, becoming a Sanghchalak (local director) – the same year Goa achieved statehood.

Family, Caste & Wife

Parrikar hailed from a business family in Parra village. His parents were Gopalkrishna Parrikar and Radhabai Parrikar. He had two brothers, Avdhut and Suresh. In 1981, he married Medha, and they had two sons, Abhijit and Utpal. Sadly, his wife passed away from cancer in late 1999.

Career

Parrikar’s political journey began with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His initial attempt at the 1991 Lok Sabha elections was unsuccessful. However, he was elected to the Goa Legislative Assembly in 1994. He served as the Leader of the Opposition from June to November 1999.

His first term as Chief Minister commenced on October 24, 2000, ending on February 27, 2002. Re-elected in 2002, he faced a brief period of minority government in 2005 before regaining his majority. The Congress party, led by Digambar Kamat, defeated the BJP in the 2007 elections. However, Parrikar led the BJP to victory in 2012.

He played a key role in proposing Narendra Modi as the Prime Ministerial candidate in 2013. Following the BJP’s central government victory in 2014, he was appointed Defence Minister, a role he held from November 2014 to March 2017. He then returned to serve as Goa’s Chief Minister once again in March 2017.

Despite facing serious illness in 2018, he continued his duties, famously presenting the Goa budget in January 2019 with the phrase “How’s the Josh!”.

Controversies

Throughout his career, Parrikar faced various controversies. These included criticism for renaming schools and for the cost of a delegation to the FIFA World Cup.

He also drew attention for a statement comparing L.K. Advani’s political relevance to the aging of a pickle.

Awards & Honours

His achievements were recognized through several awards:

• 2001: Distinguished Alumnus Award, IIT-Mumbai
• 2012: CNN-IBN Indian of the Year
• 2018: Honorary Doctorate, National Institute of Technology Goa

Facts

Several notable facts highlight Parrikar’s unique personality and contributions:

• He was the first IITian to become an MLA and Chief Minister in any Indian state.
• He was fluent in Hindi, English, and Marathi.
• His preference for half-sleeve shirts, even in Delhi’s cold winters, was well-known.
• He was known for his love of fish and his approachable nature, often dining at ordinary homes.
• He oversaw the Indian Army’s surgical strike in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in September 2016.
• He considered 13, his birth date, a lucky number.
• He secured the affection of Goan voters across religious, caste, and economic backgrounds.
• He established Goa as a permanent venue for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2004.
• His legacy includes the implementation of the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme for the Indian military.

Summary Table

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