PARIKKAR HAI NA !!
This is a story of a man who I thought set high benchmarks of good governance.
I m about to complete my Post Graduation in Business Management from Goa Institute of Management, 1.2 lac Rs. of my course was paid thanks to Parikkar’s initiative of Interest Fee Loan. I did go many times to Goa Education Development Corporation, which earlier never existed. Surprisingly I was updated by emails which I regularly checked. I also was selected for Goa Scholars a scheme by which Goa Government pays for student’s fees as a scholarship. But couldn’t make it as my residential address shifted and missed the interview. Never mind a dozen students got it.
The head of GEDC ( I believe) was a gentleman was extremely co-operative with my family and myself. I usually thought government servants were suckers. I did try to meet the CM many times, regarding issues like financial assistance for Goan Students in GIM while purchasing Laptop. I did reach his lobby twice, but couldn’t meet him personally.
I did go for the IFFI, couldn’t imagine old GMC where students from nearby schools used to urinate on, could turn out to be host of an international reputation. I coincidently saw myself a row in front of Amitabh thanks to Mr, Parikkar. I did watch Motorcycle Diary based on Che Guevara inspiration to socialism which was inspiring thanks to Mr….
We had fantastic placements this year in GIM; don’t know if there is a correlation between Governance and image of a B school. Anyways when TCS was on campus I was their assistant, one of the HR recruiters suggested if it was possible for her to see the St. Xavier’s exposition.
.I went in flashback, of days when I had to change 2 buses to go to Ponda, and yes there was no By Pass then.
And in free time we did go there, the entire team of TCS recruiters where spell bound with the traffic organisation, parking, and logistics. They asked me about Mr. Parikkar.
They do come to Goa regularly, but Panjim was no more the same, it looked heavenly for them.
I used to wait in Private Buses, for long, frustrated not able to do anything but keep patience, sometimes walked out from the bus, sometimes called the police but no success.
Watched girls being touched by “Conductors”, but then some man came in power, coincidently the buses started ,moving, so did the cops, and somehow I developed the habit of interfering in others problem in the bus.
Many of my schoolmates are now doing the MBBS. When I ask them what changes they see, they say don’t tell to anyone there are many government hospitals coming up with super specialties, but it’s on cards.
I used to frequently go to Miramar with all my pals to Bhel Puri, then this man came in power, and coincidently we had cleaner, at least looked, standardized and higher perceived quality. There was this scare of Jaundice and then my friend who owns a restaurant was telling me about quality checks at his place.
There were days when I walked along Mandovi, which was polluted with bottles on its river bank. I did go twice to Panjim Municipal corporation gave complaints, did call someone from the site again. But no action, then after some months of this new guy in power, I saw some women and men in Fluorescent colored uniforms cleaning the place.
My family finally bought a car, my Dad who is physically disabled was promised financial assistance, by one of the government bodies. And now he has a license and roads worth driving on.
There are memories of me going for picnics to Morjim beaches via a ferry from Shiolim. For almost a decade I think I saw some construction of bridge happening, I wondered how the people there could handle emergencies like Ambulance on ferry. Then this man came in power, few years and then I went on that bridge.
Was there a Bus Stand at Panjim for local buses, I don’t recollect for the last 2 decades. Was there a Bus for Altinho where for decades Chief Ministers resided? Yeah it is now.
In GIM Campus we have around 80% students who are from all over India; they keep envying Goa for its leadership. The guys from Bihar are gaga over our CM and his work.
Two of students here met with accident they received amazing healthcare at GMC, ask them about Government Hospitals in their states.
They do see Mr. Parikkar in restaurants, Market, all shocked with questions in their mind where is his security, why is he so fearless, where are half dozen cars of his.
One of my pals stays close to Parikkar’s house in Mapusa, I did see his house, first question Is that his house, you mean the CM stays in a small house like that. The same question ponders over my mind I pass everytime.
One day I went on Motorbike pilot, asked him what he felt of the Government, he said this was the first government which cared or thought for them, ‘ My basic requirements are subsidized’ he said, his children will get good education I hope thanks to Mr. Parikkar.
I was once involved in organizing a team for a Youth Conference in Panchgani- Asia Plateau, landed up meeting the cream of some higher secondary schools, had to show them a Video CD, and guess what all of them had a computer, thanks to Mr Parikkar.
With the CD I also remember the Freedom Struggle of Goa based Documentary which was to be shown to all schools. I believe that too was based on inspiration from Mr. Parikkar, it was nice to see how all School heads watched and boycotted the documentary, I couldn’t see the movie. But I hope Mr. Parikkar has accepted the verdict of the school heads. May be in his pursuit for Goa nationalism or regionalism, he couldn’t see the reality of communal divide or may be wanted truth to be larger than life or should I say bloodier than reality, but I did watch Passion of Christ, good movie, hope that wasn’t bloodier than reality.
I did read about no competitive tenders for the IFFI, may be Mr. Parikkar and company were biased for that. But reality is IFFI happened. And GIM’s new Director Dr. Karlo, founder Director of IIM-K, told me on 3 months before that IFFI will not happen, ‘I have built IIM-K, I know how much time it takes’. May be he did not know what Mr. Parikkar was.
Last year GIM hosted All India Management Institutes (AIMS) Convention, the Chief Guest was Mr. Parikkar. The new just sworn in Director of AIMS committed to add atleast 100 more B schools under it. Mr. Parikkar while concluding questions with all audacity as to where the new Chairman of AIMS plans to get the ‘good’ faculty and promise quality education, should the focus be on increasing B schools under the umbrella or improving quality of education. The audience was representation of all academicians of Management; you should have seen the applause.
Last weekend I went to Cotigao Wildlife sanctuary, read on internet that few animals found, due to large scale hunting, and when I did reach there, there was young dynamic Forest Officer, who started his own niche good governance in that forest. And yes I did see animals, and lot of pug marks. And 2 new cottages in case you plan to stay.
As everytime I walk in Panjim in the evenings or go for a drive parallel to the Mandovi river, the only thought that keeps coming in my mind is ‘Till Goa or till Panjim lives, Contribution of Manohar Parikkar will be remembered’.
As anyone can swim with the current, only the one with great perseverance and guts can swim against the current and it is only who is remembered.
Jai Hind
Navendu Shirali
