Robin Viegas TRIBUTE: SHASHIKALA KAKODKAR, 1935 TO 2016 - The life and times of Tai & the party she nurtured
Her passing also marks the fall of another pillar who lived in an era where political acrimony never offset social graces. Politics was still fought in a manner hard and bitter, power was still sought, the political field was still a minefield and yet, principles dictated politics. And principles outshone pelf. And in doing so, both her principles and her politics worked. For her, for her party and for a Goa which believed in regionalism as the mantra for self protection, preservation and growth. To many though MGP did not include all. For large chunks of Salcete, MGP was the 'other' and to many in the MGP, Salcete was the land across the proverbial mountain of discomfort and distrust. But it took a Shashikala Kakodkar to bridge that or even attempt to bridge that. ------------------ GL responds: Read the accounts and tributes by various Goanetters on Mrs Kakodkar, former CM of Goa with interest. Their writings covers the (sad) state of Goa's politics from 1970s - LESS THAN A DECADE AFTER GOAN SELF-RULE. As a distant observer of Goa's politics and with no ax to grind, the ups and downs of the MGP, its successes and failures is a precedent and reflection and of the sad state of Goa then and now and in-between. Goan politics was once the poster child of horse-trading with elected politicians switching parties and going to the highest bidder.... and the resultant corruption and bribing of ruling politicians and political parties as the working norm. So all these praises, even with the benefit of hindsight and the observations of outcomes, by some stalwart Goanetters leaves me confused in their logic and analysis. Yet do not feel bad. Today, there are handful of vocal / stalwart Goanetters who belong to the 7% of Indian-Amricans that support Donald Trump for US President despite four choices. That is the gift of democracy Regards, GL
