José Matanhy De Saldanha
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José Matanhy de Saldanha (
Konkani __NOTOC__ Konkani may refer to: Language * Konkani language is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in the Konkan region of India. * Konkani alphabets, different scripts used to write the language **Konkani in the Roman script, one of the scripts used to ...
: Juze Matani de Saldanea; 24 October 1948 – 21 March 2012) was an Indian social activist, journalist, former Member of the
Goa Legislative Assembly The Goa Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the state of Goa in India. The Assembly meets at the Goa State Legislative Assembly Complex in Porvorim, Bardez. The Eighth Goa Legislative Assembly consists of 40 members. The assem ...
and school teacher, who campaigned for Goan identity, values, and culture. He also served as a Cabinet Minister in the
Government of Goa The Government of Goa is a state government created by the Constitution of India and has executive, legislative and judicial authority of the state of Goa. It is headquartered in Panaji, the capital city of Goa. History The governor's is large ...
with portfolios of Tourism as well as Science and Environment.


Early life and education

Matanhy was born on 24 October 1948, to Jacinto de Saldanha and Maria Alacoque Viegas in Carmona, Goa. He studied at various schools, and studied at the S. Tomas School in his native village of Cansaulim. He later pursued higher studies in Christ College, Bangalore, where, aged around 17, he would share the money sent to him by his father with the poor, and teach them ways to be self-sufficient. He also studied in
Belgaum Belgaum (Kannada ISO 15919, ISO: ''Bēḷagāma'', ), officially known as Belagavi (also Belgaon), is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka located near its northern western border in the Western Ghats. It is the administrative headquarters ...
. Matanhy had degrees in Science and Education. He also obtained a master's degree in Arts (Political Science) from the Bombay University (now,
University of Mumbai University of Mumbai is a public state university in Mumbai. It is one of the largest university systems in the world with over 549,000 students on its campuses and affiliated colleges. , the university had 711 affiliated colleges. It was est ...
) in 1988.


Social activism

Besides being a teacher at the Don Bosco High School in
Panjim Panaji (; , , )also known as Panjim, is the capital of the Indian state of Goa and the headquarters of North Goa district. Previously, it was the territorial capital of the former Portuguese India. It lies on the banks of the Mandovi river est ...
from around June 1974/5 to October 2008, Matanhy also took up the causes of the poor and downtrodden. In the 1970s, Matanhy campaigned for the ''Ramponnkars'', (traditional fisherman of
Goa Goa (; ; ) is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is bound by the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north, and Karnataka to the ...
) to prevent trawlers from fishing within 50 metres of the shore. He formed the ''Goenchea Ramponnkarancho Ekvott'' (Association of Goa's Traditional Fisherfolk) and helped stop the discharge of effluents from the Zuari Agro Chemicals factory into the
Arabian Sea The Arabian Sea () is a region of sea in the northern Indian Ocean, bounded on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, Gulf of Aden and Guardafui Channel, on the northwest by Gulf of Oman and Iran, on the north by Pakistan, on the east by India, and ...
, near Velsao. The pollution was killing fish, the staple food of Goans. His campaign was described as Goa's first successful movement against industrial pollution. In the late 1970s, with Urbano Lobo and others, he campaigned against the destruction, for mining, of the
sand dunes A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, flat ...
on the beaches of Goa. Matanhy was also associated with the Konkani Language Movement in Goa. He was himself a member of the konkani Bhasha Mandal. In the early 1990s, Matanhy protested against Nylon 6,6 and, in the late 1990s, against the smelting plant, Meta-Strips. Matanhy was also associated with other movements like the
Konkan Railway The Konkan Railway (abbreviated KR) is one of the 19 railway zones in India with its headquarters at CBD Belapur in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The Konkan Railway line from Roha to Thokur is operated and maintained by Konkan Railway co ...
re-alignment issue and the anti-
Special Economic Zone A special economic zone (SEZ) is an area in which the business and trade laws are different from the rest of the country. SEZs are located within a country's national borders, and their aims include increasing trade balance, employment, increas ...
agitation. He was the convenor of the anti-SEZ group, called the "Goa's Movement Against Special Economic Zones (GMAS)". Saldanha was an active participant of the
Goa Special Status Special Status for Goa is a proposal to make the state of Goa as an entity with additional powers within the Government of India. Proponents of the idea have argued that Government of Goa should be given certain powers by the Indian Government by ...
movement and believed that Special Status to Goa was needed in order to preserve the state's unique culture and identity.


Political career

In the late 1970s, Matanhy established the "Gomantak Lok Poxx" party. In the 2000, Matanhy was elected to the
South Goa South Goa district is one of two districts that together constitute the state of Goa, India, within the region known as the Konkan. It is bounded by North Goa district to the north, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. It ranks among t ...
Zilla Panchayat. In 2002, he was elected as a member of the legislative assembly from Cortalim constituency as a candidate of the
United Goans Democratic Party United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) is one of two formerly dominant political parties in the Indian state of Goa. UGDP has its base amongst the Christian part of the population. It was founded in 1983 by Churchill Alemao. UDGP in Jharkhand ...
(UGDP). In 2004, he was inducted in the Cabinet of the
Government of Goa The Government of Goa is a state government created by the Constitution of India and has executive, legislative and judicial authority of the state of Goa. It is headquartered in Panaji, the capital city of Goa. History The governor's is large ...
headed by then Chief Minister of Goa,
Manohar Parrikar Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar (13 December 1955 – 17 March 2019) was an Indian politician and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party who was the Chief Minister of Goa for three terms. He also served as the Union Minister of Defence ...
. He was given the portfolios of Tourism as well as Sports and Youth Affairs. In February 2005, then
Governor of Goa The governor of Goa is the nominal head of the Indian state of Goa. The governor is appointed by the president for a term of five years. P. S. Sreedharan Pillai became 22th governor on 7 July 2021. Powers and functions The governor has: *Exec ...
S. C. Jamir dismissed the
Manohar Parrikar Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar (13 December 1955 – 17 March 2019) was an Indian politician and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party who was the Chief Minister of Goa for three terms. He also served as the Union Minister of Defence ...
-led government after high allegations in the state legislature. The
United Goans Democratic Party United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) is one of two formerly dominant political parties in the Indian state of Goa. UGDP has its base amongst the Christian part of the population. It was founded in 1983 by Churchill Alemao. UDGP in Jharkhand ...
(which Saldanha represented in the Assembly) withdrew support to the Parrikar government. Parrikar was asked to prove his majority, by the Governor. Though the UGDP withdrew support, Saldanha, who was away in Spain on an official visit at the time of the political developments, contradicted the party's stand and conveyed his support to the Parrikar government. He sent a fax message to the Governor pledging his "unconditional and unqualified support" to the Parrikar government. After Parrikar's dismissal,
Pratapsingh Rane Pratapsingh Raoji Rane (born 28 January 1939) is an Indian politician who has served as the Chief Minister of Goa a record seven times and was also the former Leader Of Opposition in the Goa Legislative Assembly. He has been a Member of Legis ...
of the
Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party, or simply the Congress, is a political parties in India, political party in India with deep roots in most regions of India. Founded on 28 December 1885, it was the first mo ...
was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Goa. Saldanha was disqualified by then Speaker of the Goa Legislature, Francisco Sardinha, in August 2005 upon a disqualification petition filed against him by Jitendra Deshprabhu, spokesperson of the
Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party, or simply the Congress, is a political parties in India, political party in India with deep roots in most regions of India. Founded on 28 December 1885, it was the first mo ...
. However, the Goa Bench of the
Bombay High Court The High Court of Bombay is the High courts of India, high court of the States and union territories of India, states of Maharashtra and Goa in India, and the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. It is seated primarily ...
set aside Matanhy's disqualification in 2011. Matanhy unsuccessfully contested the elections to the
15th Lok Sabha Members of the 15th Lok Sabha were elected during the 2009 general election in India. It was dissolved on 18 May 2014 by President Pranab Mukherjee.Indian National Congress-led United Progressive Alliance won 44 more seats than the previous 14t ...
from the
South Goa (Lok Sabha constituency) South Goa Lok Sabha constituency (Mormugao prior to 2008) is one of two Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituencies in Goa in western India along with North Goa. Assembly segments Presently, South Goa Lok Sabha constituency comprises 20 Vidhan ...
as a candidate of the
United Goans Democratic Party United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) is one of two formerly dominant political parties in the Indian state of Goa. UGDP has its base amongst the Christian part of the population. It was founded in 1983 by Churchill Alemao. UDGP in Jharkhand ...
(UGDP). In January 2012, Matanhy quit the
United Goans Democratic Party United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) is one of two formerly dominant political parties in the Indian state of Goa. UGDP has its base amongst the Christian part of the population. It was founded in 1983 by Churchill Alemao. UDGP in Jharkhand ...
(UGDP) due to UGDP forming an alliance with the Goa Vikas Party. He later joined the
Bharatiya Janata Party The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP; , ) is a political party in India and one of the two major List of political parties in India, Indian political parties alongside the Indian National Congress. BJP emerged out from Syama Prasad Mukherjee's ...
and contested as a BJP candidate from the Cortalim constituency in the
2012 Goa Legislative Assembly election The Goa legislative assembly election was held on 3 March 2012, to select the 40 members of the Sixth Goa Legislative Assembly, as the term of 5th Goa Legislative Assembly ended in March 2012. The result was announced on 6 March. The Bharatiya ...
. After the BJP gained majority in the
2012 Goa Legislative Assembly election The Goa legislative assembly election was held on 3 March 2012, to select the 40 members of the Sixth Goa Legislative Assembly, as the term of 5th Goa Legislative Assembly ended in March 2012. The result was announced on 6 March. The Bharatiya ...
,
Manohar Parrikar Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar (13 December 1955 – 17 March 2019) was an Indian politician and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party who was the Chief Minister of Goa for three terms. He also served as the Union Minister of Defence ...
was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Goa. He inducted Matanhy Saldanha in his Cabinet. Saldanha was allotted the portfolios of Tourism as well as Science and Environment. After Matanhy died in harness, his widow Alina Saldanha contested by-elections from the Cortalim constituency as a BJP candidate and was elected unopposed to the Goa State Legislature. She was later sworn in as a Cabinet Minister in the Parrikar government. Alina Saldanha holds the portfolios of Museums, Environment and Forests.


Death and burial

After attending the '' xigmo'' (spring festival) in
Canacona Canacona (), historically known as Kanvapura, is a city and a municipal council in the district of South Goa, Goa state, India. The Canacona taluka includes Patnem, Chaudi, Poinguinim, Loliem-Polem, Agonda, and Gaumdongre. Chaudi is the ...
the previous night, Matanhy suffered a massive heart attack in the early hours of 21 March 2012, and died at 3 am in
Campal Campal is a neighborhood located in the northern part of the city of Panaji, the capital of the Indian state of Goa. It is completely located on the island of Tiswadi, one of the talukas in the state of Goa. The neighborhoods name derives from ...
,
Goa Goa (; ; ) is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is bound by the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north, and Karnataka to the ...
. He was buried at the cemetery of the Catholic Church of Saint Thomas, in his native village of Cansaulim, in the evening of 24 March 2012. His funeral mass was led by the Archbishop Patriarch of Goa e Damão, Filipe Neri Ferrão and around 100 priests. The funeral was attended by around 10,000 people. In her eulogy, his wife Alina Saldanha said he wished to live after death. This was based on his faith in the Catholic Church's teachings.


Legacy

A statue of Matanhy Saldanha was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Goa,
Manohar Parrikar Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar (13 December 1955 – 17 March 2019) was an Indian politician and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party who was the Chief Minister of Goa for three terms. He also served as the Union Minister of Defence ...
at Cansaulim on 24 October 2014. The
South Goa South Goa district is one of two districts that together constitute the state of Goa, India, within the region known as the Konkan. It is bounded by North Goa district to the north, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. It ranks among t ...
District Collectorate Building in Fatorda,
Margao Margao (, ) is the commercial capital of the Indian state of Goa. It stands on the banks of the river Sal. It is the district headquarters of South Goa, and administrative headquarters of Salcete sub-district. It is Goa's second largest ci ...
was named in honour of Matanhy as the "Matanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex".


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saldanha, Jose Matanhy Activists from Goa 1948 births 2012 deaths Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Goa People from North Goa district United Goans Democratic Party politicians Goa MLAs 2002–2007 Goa MLAs 2012–2017