MAN OF THE YEAR

They are Goa's Finest; who have done their state proud

Taken from Goa Today, Magazine - August 1996 issue

1985 - Pundalik Narayan Naik :

The year 1985 may not have been Pundalik Naik's most eventful, but it surely got him started on his mission - getting official recongnition for the Konkani language. At 33 he was already an acknowledged Konkani writer - he had won the Sahitya Akademi Award - and was leading the Konknni Porjecho Avaz...

1986 - Julio Francis Ribeiro

In April 1985 Julio Ribeiro, India's top cop went to Punjab and took over as Director General of Police. It was a period when Punjab was under the most relentless terrorist attacks. As Ribeiro took stock of the situation, the terrorist discovered there was now someone to fear. His exploits in Punjab, earned him national recognition.

1987 - Eduardo Faleiro

From being the MLA representing Curtorim to strolling the corridors of South Block in New Delhi, Eduardo Faleiro has come along way. Donning the mantle of Minister of State for External Affairs, Faleiro set his sights wide and began a tireless crusade against apartheid in 1987.

1988 - Keith Vaz

The first Goan to be elected to the British House of commons turned out to be Keith Vaz. At the age of 32, Vaz, an MP elected on the Labour Party ticket winning back the Leicestershire seat from the Conservatives made the news in Britain. A lawyer by profession, Vaz, is described as a dashing campaigner.

1989 - Ramakant Khalap

The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party was its lowest ebb when Ramakant Khalap took over the reins of the Party and in a short span brought the party to the threshold of power. It was a stupendous effor in the elections of November 1989 from Khalap. He led the movement to oust Speaker Dayanad Narvekar.

1990 - Gen Sunith Francis Rodrigues

When Lt Gen Sunith Francis Rodrigues took over as the 16th chief of Army Staff, there was no other name considered for Goa Today Man of the Year 1990. A 'tthinking Soldier', as he has been described, had once again become army chief. Now retired, he has made his home in Goa.

1991 - Leander Paes

At 17 years six months Leander Paes became the National champion, but what put this lad under the spotlight was his magnificent victory in the US Open Junior Championship one year later in 1991. Even as we go to the press, the 127 ranked player is a match away from an Olympic medal.

1992 - Suresh Shankar Nadkarni

He headed the country's largest financial institution ans was a Padma Bhushan awardee. Suresh Shankar Nadkarni was chairman of the Industrial Development Bank of India, a leading financial institution in Asia, which under his stewardship prospered admirably.

1993 - Kishori Amonkar

Surprisingly, the noted Indian Classical Music vocalist is the only lady to have graced the pages of Goa Today as Personality of the Year. With the Sangeet Natak Academy and a Padma Bushan to her list of Awards, Kishori Amonkar is indeed the high priestess of Indian Classical music.

1994 - Charles Correia

In the field of architecture the name of Charles Mark Correa stands out prominently. And when he pocketed the Premium Imperiale (the Japanese equvalent to the Noble Prize) in 1994, it was the high point of his career. for the 64 year old Correa, it was recognition of three decades of his career.

1995 - Remo Fernandes

Remo Fernandes has carved a niche for himself among the country's topmost pop rock musicians. Even today, some of his Hindi Film songs top the lists. But Hindi pop is not what Remo is all about. Remo's fame rests not just in India, but in the rest of Asia and Europe as well.