Matanhy Saldhana expired after massive heart attack
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 21 March 2012 06:19 IST
Tourism, forest and environment minister Matanhy Saldhana expired after a massive heart attack today morning.
He was 64.
He started getting pains at around 2 am and rushed to the city hospital immediately by his wife.
“The heart attack was massive and we could not save him”, said Dr Oscar Rebello.
Dr Rebello even called other colleagues in order to save him. But it was futile.
He breathed his last at around 3.30 am.
Saldhana had returned home at around 1 am after attending Shigmo festival in Canacona.
After getting the news, chief minister Manohar Parrikar also rushed to his Taleigao residence.
Saldhana, basically an activist and environmentalist, was elected for the second time from Cortalim, this time on the Bharatiya Janata Party ticket.
Earlier, in 2002, he was elected as the United Goans Democratic Party and had served as the minister in the then Manohar Parrikar-led government as the tourism and sports minister.
Born on 24 October 1948, he was once again sworn in on 16 March as the minister in a five-member cabinet of Parrikar.
A teacher by profession at Don Bosco Highschool in Panaji, Saldhana has been associated with almost all the major social issues, may it be of Konkani language, environment, fishing or even Konkan railway from the student days.
He was the founder and chairman of the National Fish Workers’ Forum, general secretary of Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott, member of International Collective of Fish Workers and several other organizations including Konkani Bhasha Mandal.
Saldhana had taken initiative in fighting major issues like pollution of Zuari Industries in Sancoale, Konkan railway realignment as well as to make Konkani the official language of the state.
He had also taken initiative in forming Gomant Lok Pokx in late 80s and was its founder general secretary.
They were also running an English weekly "The Goan Weekly", raising several vital issues confronting Goa.
There are easier things in life than finding a good man. Its like trying to nail jelly to a tree.
Mathany was a good man.
Alas, every one praises them only after they die.
Its a sad day! No doubt about it.
Eternal rest give unto him O lord and let perpetual light shine upon him, May his soul rest in peace.
Shamir Deniz
May Matanhy's soul rest in eternal peace. Deepest condolences to the bereaved family.
We have lost a Great Soldier of Goa, who was voted to represent the ethos of Goans....A true Goan fighting for their rights..a void has been created..May his Soul RIP
May his soul RIP. Goans will miss the great paersonality,clean politician and active member of goa assembly.
Shri Matanhy Saldhana, A wonderful Goan person, learned luminary of Konkani Bhasha, widely acclaimed soldier of the poor will be remembered by all of us for years to come.
May GOD rest his soul in peace.
Its a black day!! Goa's administration has lost a diamond from its crown. The loss is irreparable.
May his soul rest in peace.
I still can't believe that Shri Mathany Saldanha is no more, a true goan who thinks about goan's betterment.. Goa has lost a great politician.
May his soul rest in peace.
Monumental loss to Goans and personally for Parrikar.
I remember he once said, "I am not a weather-cock to change positions as the weather changes."
More so, especially since he was among the more learned politicians and a man of principles and integrity, a very rare qualities among the present breed of politician.
Rest in Peace.
We lost lost a true friend of nature and Environment of Goa
May his soul rest in peace
Today is a dark day in the Annals of Goa's Administrative Affairs. Shri Mathany Saldanha, Minister of Tourism, Forest and Environment in Goa Govt. is no more. In his passing away Goa has lost a Statesman of high calibre.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Deep condolences to the bereaved family of our dear departed and all the people of Goa, on the colossal loss.
A few persons who stick to their Ideologies and principles and their word and mathany was one of them. A big blow to Goan Politics. The Teacher who had shown the principles and Ideology and simple leaving.
This is such tragic news.Amongst the rare honest politicians we had ...w have lost him.
A tru NizGoenkar... RIP!
QUIT SMOKING!! QUIT SMOKING!! QUIT SMOKING!!
May his Soul Rest in Peace. It's a big loss to his family, friends, and Goa & Goans at large. A great personality has been lost. I salute him for all his good contributions. His smiling face will be missed by almost all the people of Goa .
We pray God to give courage to his family to bear the great loss.
SAd sad sad!!....being soo far away...yet it hits soo close to home!..
A TRUE leader of Goa, ..He had soo many plans, but looks like God wanted him to himself..
R I P dear Mathany!..Goa has lost one of the Best!....:(
A GREAT LEADER AND A TRUE GOAN...MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE...
He was a clean politician with a heart for goans. as he was my class teacher, I had great respect for him. We goans will miss him a lot.may your soul rest in peace
He was one Politicians who got salutes fro every right thinking person for sticking to his ideologies, principles and simple way of living.....He looked so tall among most of the present day Politicians...His loss would be a big blow to Goa and it's people....I salute the Politician ...May his soul rest in peace....
May his soul rest in peace.
Let his ideas for betterment of Goa in General and Cortalim in particular be fulfilled by BJP.
Mathani is known for smoking. I urge all your MLA's if they smoke to quit this habit for our better future.
Keny
May his Soul Rest in Peace. Its a unfathomable loss to his family, friends, and Goa & Goans at large. For the first time feeling sad on a politician's demise. Feels as if someone close to me has passed away.
Mathany was a different type of soul altogether. He belonged to that rare tribe who didn't sell themselves for the lust of office, cash or power. And there are very very few such people in Goan politics. When the previous BJP govt. was pulled down by its allies for selfish gains and the power brokers expected Mathany to join the gang too, he had said, 'I am not a weathercock to change sides with the wind', a man of principles indeed.
I wish the doctors could have saved him, just the way the doctors in England saved Patrice Muamba, the Bolton player, who suffered a massive heart attack while playing on White Heart Lane.
I will miss you my dear leader ;)
This is a big shock to me. I think Goa has lost a true son, a dedicated, selfless and honest individual who committed his life for the good of Goa. It is not often that you find people of the caliber of Mathany operating in Goan politics. A big loss to Goa and the current govt. May his family have all the strength to bear the great loss.
We have lost a greatest treasure. may his soul rest in peace.