Walk down memory lane: When Manohar Parrikar asked 'How's the Josh?'
On January 27 2019, reeling from the vagaries that body is put through after cancer treatment, Parrikar, with a pipe in his nose asked an audience while inaugurating the Mandovi Bridge in Panaji – how’s the Josh? That moment epitomised Manohar Parrikar’s je ne sais quoi, the unique abilities that made him such a successful CM and Defence Minister.
On January 27 2019, reeling from the vagaries that body is put through after cancer treatment, Parrikar, with a pipe in his nose asked an audience while inaugurating the Mandovi Bridge in Panaji – how’s the Josh? That moment epitomised Manohar Parrikar’s je ne sais quoi, the unique abilities that made him such a successful CM and Defence Minister.
Coming from the land that gave us the phrase susegad, Manohar Parrikar never had what the millennials call ‘chill’.
He was a man who loved to hustle, to take challenges heads on and whether it was as Goa CM or as Defence Minister, a job he was hand-picked for by PM Modi because of his stellar administrative skills.
The 5.1 km long, four-laned "Atal Setu" was opened to public by Union Minister for Road Transport and National Highways Nitin Gadkari in presence of Parrikar, Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik and other ministers from the state.
The bridge had become the third such link over the river to connect Panaji with North Goa.
Wearing a defence cap and medical appendage attached, Parrikar, 63, charged up the audience when he asked them "How is the Josh", a popular dialogue from Bollywood film "Uri The Surgical Strike", which had become popular with many politicians including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"How's the Josh?, How is the josh?, How's the Josh?... I will transfer my josh (enthusiasm) to you and sit here and speak a few words," said Parrikar, 63, in his first ever public speech in the last one year. It was a reminder than nothing could keep him down.
Program plan of Shri. Manohar Parrikar’s final journey -18 March 2019.
9:30 AM to 10:30 AM: Shri. Manohar Parrikar's mortal remains to be kept at the BJP head office, Panjim.
10:30 AM: Shri. Manohar Parrikar’s mortal remains to be taken to Kala Academy, Panjim.
11:00 AM to 04:00 PM: Public to pay their final respects to Shri. Manohar Parrikar.
04:00 PM: Funeral procession of Shri. Manohar Parrikar to Miramar
04:30 PM: Vidhi at MIramar, Panaji.
05:00 PM: Antim Kriya of Shri. Manohar Parrikar.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is no more, President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted on Sunday evening.
Sixty-three-year-old Parrikar, who was battling a pancreatic ailment since last year, breathed his last at his residence. The Central government has announced national mourning on March 18 following the demise of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.Parrikar, who was battling a pancreatic ailment since last year, breathed his last at his residence in Goa on Sunday evening. He was 63.
The National Flag will fly at half-mast in the national capital and capitals of all States and UTs.The state funeral will be accorded to Parrikar. A meeting of the Union Cabinet has also been called at 10 am on Monday
Also Read: Manohar Parrikar - the blunt-speaking talented administrator who was always high on josh
Kovind wrote Twitter, "Extremely sorry to hear of the passing of Shri Manohar Parrikar, Chief Minister of Goa, after an illness borne with fortitude and dignity. An epitome of integrity and dedication in public life, his service to the people of Goa and of India will not be forgotten".
Also Read: Goa: Common man's minister Manohar Parrikar passes away, condolences pour in on Twitter
Read: India will be eternally grateful to Manohar Parrikar, tweets PM ModiA three-time Chief Minister of Goa, Parrikar had been in and out of the hospitals since February last year. It was in October that the state government made a formal announcement about the BJP leader suffering from a pancreatic ailment. He had undergone treatment in the United States as well as Delhi.
Parrikar took charge as the Chief Minister on March 14, 2017, and held the office till his end. He had previously served as the Chief Minister of the state from 2000 to 2002, 2002 to 2005 and from 2012 to 2014.
An engineer from IIT-Bombay, Parrikar led BJP in 2012 to victory and became the Chief Minister. He was made the Defence Minister in 2014 and was succeeded by Laxmikant Parsekar as the Chief Minister of Goa.
Considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Parrikar served as the Defence Minister from May 2014 to March 2017.
Born in Mapusa in the coastal state of Goa, Parrikar studied at Loyola High School, Margao. In 1978 he graduated in metallurgical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology.
Parrikar was also one of those leaders who rose in ranks from RSS to BJP. Parrikar had joined RSS even during final years of his school days and later became the Sanghchalak at the age of 26.Often referred to as the 'Chief Minister of the Common' by many, Parrikar was known for his simple style of living and for being easily approachable by the citizens of Goa.
Parrikar is survived by his two sons- Utpal, an Electrical Engineering graduate from Michigan State University, and Abhijat, a local businessman. His wife Medha passed away in 2000.