Mar 18, 2019, 2:38 PM IST
Born
December 13, 1955, in Mapusa, Goa
Died
March 17, 2019, in Panaji, Goa
Affiliation
RSS mukhya shikshak, sanghchalak and swayamsevak
Key organiser of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement
Posts
CM of Goa:
2000-2005
2012-2014
2017-2019
Defence minister of India: 2014-2017
Ailment
Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on October 27, 2018
School
Loyola High School, Margao
Completed secondary education in Marathi
Higher education
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, 1978
First IIT alumnus to serve as MLA of an Indian state (Goa)
Remembered for
• Displayed indomitable spirit in his fight against cancer; worked as long as the body permitted
• Transparent, efficient and fast decision making in a hitherto sluggish defence ministry
• Initiated investigation into AugustaWestland VVIP chopper scam
Quotes
After Aamir Khan alleged his wife is scared of living in India: “If anyone speaks like this, the person has to be taught a lesson of his life”
“Going to Pakistan is the same thing as going to hell”
Awards
1. 2018: Dr S P Mukherjee Award at 2018 Swarajya Awards on October 26, 2018
2. 2018: Honorary Doctorate by National Institute of Technology Goa on September 28, 2018
3. 2012: CNN-IBN Indian of the Year in the politics category
4. 2001: Distinguished Alumnus Award IIT-Bombay
Family
• Wife Medha died in 2001
• Two sons: Utpal, an electrical engineer, and Abhijat, a businessman