By Melvyn Misquita –
It is not often that the Church in Goa pays rich tributes to the leader of a party not renowned for its secular credentials.
But the departed Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was no ordinary leader and when Archbishop of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Ferrao expressed his profound grief over the death of Parrikar on Sunday evening, he was, in a sense, also mourning the loss of a special relationship between two institutions, Parrikar as chief minister and the Church in Goa.
Parrikar’s respect and support to the Church in Goa had not only won him praise from church leaders and the catholic community, it had also earned him severe flak from many within the BJP and RSS, but that did not deter Parrikar from pursuing this relationship with the Church.
Cordial Relations
Parrikar shared very cordial relations with Archbishop Ferrao, to the extent that many even believed that the two leaders were “very close” to each other. Archbishop Ferrao admitted that Parrikar had “respect and consideration” for church authorities in Goa and “would sometimes seek their opinion before coming out with far-reaching decisions for the benefit of the State.”
Whether to greet the archbishop on his birthday or even to inform him of his departure as union defence minister to New Delhi, Parrikar was a frequent visitor to the Archbishop’s House and never hesitated to contact Archbishop Ferrao as and when the need arose.
Archbishop Ferrao was also comfortable interacting with Parrikar on widespread issues and, if needed, even questioned some of his policies, knowing fully well that Parrikar would pay serious attention to his advice and opinion.
Such was the rapport between the two leaders that when Parrikar was elevated as Union defence minister, Parrikar had met Archbishop Ferrao for an informal meeting even before submitting his resignation to Governor Mridula Sinha.
Even when Parrikar had been diagnosed with cancer, Archbishop Ferrao was concerned about Parrikar’s declining health and had even urged all Catholics to pray for his speedy recovery.
Resources Support
Parrikar never hesitated to respond to the Church’s request for new or improved infrastructure and even expedited projects for the Church.
Archbishop Ferrao was particularly grateful to Parrikar “for going out of his way to help organize the last two Expositions of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier in Old Goa and for creating a lasting infrastructure in that hallowed place.”
Parrikar had even made a special bypass to the highway within a record 65 days, to ensure smooth traffic movement during the 2004 Exposition.
Such was his concern after a major fire in the Bom Jesus Basilica on October 21, 2004, barely a month before the 16th Exposition, that Parrikar inspected the church premises and assured the government’s readiness to sanction financial assistance to repair the damaged portion.
Archbishop Ferrao said there were many other social infrastructure projects undertaken and completed during Parrikar’s tenure, which would “remain as a lasting tribute to his remarkable administrative skills.”
When the archdiocese decided to shift the Novena and Feast of Goa’s very own St Joseph Vaz near the old church site at Sancoale in 2018, a proper road and streetlights were needed at the site. Parrikar lost no time in expediting the works and completing infrastructure on time for the major catholic event.
Parrikar had also taken interest in ensuring the speedy completion of the St Joseph Vaz Spiritual Centre at Old Goa and many other Catholic projects across the State.
Beyond Secularism
As chief minister of a state with a sizeable Catholic population, Parrikar was mindful to the minority community’s apprehensions over radical groups and fundamentalist leaders, as well as the Catholic community’s freedom to profess their religious and cultural beliefs.
When Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik, who earned notoriety for the Mangalore pub attack in 2009, announced his desire to set up a branch of his right-wing outfit in the State, Parrikar was aware that his presence and activities could disturb peace and stir up communal tensions. Parrikar took decisive action and banned his entry in the State in 2014, ignoring strong protests from pro-Hindu groups, a ban in force till date.
Given his respect to the Catholic community, Parrikar did not hesitate to go against the trend of other states banning the sale of beef and even threatened to punish those obstructing the legal import of beef, inviting the wrath of pro-Hindu and cow welfare groups.
Hedging Risks
In his condolence message, Archbishop Ferrao did not forget to recall Parrikar’s appreciation for the contribution of Catholic educational institutions in Goa.
One of Parrikar’s biggest decisions, safeguarding government grants to existing Catholic schools already imparting primary education in English in 2012, had led to a major fallout with his fellow RSS ideologues, causing irreparable political and social consequences between Parrikar and his long-time confidante and Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) convenor Subhash Velingkar.
While church authorities insisted that these Catholic primary schools were well within their right to get grants and that, attempts to deny these grants amounted to discrimination against the minority community, Parrikar had to face intense criticism from Velingkar, the BBSM and, ironically, even some priests from the archdiocese, when he ensured that grants were not denied to the Catholic primary schools.
The BBSM had even alleged a conspiracy between Parrikar, the BJP and Archbishop Ferrao, claiming that Goa BJP conducted its politics on the advise of the Goa archbishop and adding that the BJP had been appeasing the minority community on the advice of the archbishop. Church authorities have consistently denied the allegations as baseless and unfounded.
Despite Parrikar’s respect for the Catholic community in Goa, he will be remembered for at least two major lapses and controversial decisions: trying to cancel Good Friday among others from the list of state holidays and bringing out a CD on Goa’s freedom struggle projecting Catholics in poor light. Parrikar was roundly criticised by the Catholic community, prompting him to withdraw the decisions.
Recalling the incident, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Secretary General and Goan Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas said in a condolence message that Parrikar “was honest to admit that the decision to cancel the Good Friday holiday in Goa was an error, respected sentiments of the Christian Community, restored the holiday and never looked back.”
The Church in Goa and CBCI have expressed gratitude to Parrikar for the collaboration and support he always offered the Church and his sensitivity to the needs of the Christian community.
Summing up, Bishop Mascarenhas had this to say: “The Church in India will remain ever grateful to him for his kindness towards the Christian community, despite occasional disagreements which were always sorted out through dialogue.”
“We can truly say that Goa and India have lost a great leader and the Christian community has lost a sincere and honest friend.”
Main picture caption:: File photo of Governor Dr Mridula Sinha, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao at the Bishop’s House at Altinho in Panjim on the occasion of the Christmas celebration in 2017.
[Courtesy: The Goan]