Manohar Parrikar (1955-2019)

Manohar Parrikar (13 December 1955 – 17 March 2019) was an Indian politician and a former Chief Minister of Goa. He was born in Mapusa, Goa, and completed his schooling in Margao. He obtained a degree in metallurgical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, and went on to work for the Indian Defence Ministry as a technical consultant.

In 1994, Parrikar entered politics and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was elected to the Goa Legislative Assembly in 1994 and was appointed as the Minister of Education in the first BJP-led government in Goa in 1999. He later served as the Chief Minister of Goa from 2000 to 2005 and from 2012 to 2014.

During his tenure as Chief Minister, Parrikar was credited with bringing in several reforms in the education sector, including the introduction of the Goa Common Entrance Test (GCET) for admission to professional courses. He also played a key role in attracting investments to Goa, particularly in the IT sector, and in improving the state's infrastructure.

In 2014, Parrikar was appointed as the Defence Minister of India in the Narendra Modi-led government. He was widely regarded as an able administrator and was credited with bringing in several reforms in the defence sector. Some of his major achievements as Defence Minister included the implementation of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, the signing of the Rafale deal with France, and the successful surgical strike against terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 2016.

However, Parrikar's tenure as Defence Minister was also marked by controversies, including allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal and his handling of the Doklam standoff with China. He was also criticized for his health, which had deteriorated significantly during his tenure as Defence Minister.

In 2017, Parrikar resigned as Defence Minister to return to state politics and was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Goa for the fourth time. However, his health continued to deteriorate, and he was frequently hospitalized for treatment. Despite his ill health, Parrikar continued to work and was actively involved in the administration of the state.

Manohar Parrikar passed away on 17 March 2019 at the age of 63 due to pancreatic cancer. His death was widely mourned, and several political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, paid tribute to him for his contribution to the nation.

In conclusion, 

Manohar Parrikar was a respected politician and an able administrator who made significant contributions to the development of Goa and the country as a whole. His tenure as Chief Minister of Goa and Defence Minister of India was marked by several achievements and controversies, but he remained committed to serving the people until his last breath. He will always be remembered as a leader who put the interests of the nation first and worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the people he served.