Reflections on Ravi: From the Volleyball Court to the Secretariat

 

Reflections on Ravi: From the Volleyball Court to the Secretariat

​By John Aguiar

​The news of Ravi Naik's passing has unlocked a vault of memories. To the world, he was a former Chief Minister and a titan of Goan politics. To me, he was the man who called me "Kamal Haasan" and the leader I stood beside since our youth.

​The Early Days: Building a Movement

​Long before he was a household name, Ravi was a man of the people.

• ​The Athlete: I remember watching him dominate the volleyball court for the Jawahar Club of Ponda. His athleticism was a precursor to the energy he would later bring to the political arena.
• ​The Mentor: Even before he was given his first political ticket, Ravi was already at work. He would take me along to late-night meetings in remote villages and local temples, building the foundation of his support. No matter how late the discussions went, he always made sure to drop me home safely in the middle of the night.

​Champion of the Grassroots

​Our bond was forged in the struggle for the common man.

• ​The Mundkar Struggle: Together, we formed the Goa-Daman-Diu Kul Mundkar Sanghatana. We toured every corner of the state, resolving the deep-seated issues of tenant farmers.
• ​Action in Canacona: I vividly recall when journalist Ajit Paingankar broke the news about illegal tree felling in Poinguinim, Canacona. Without hesitation, Ravi headed there, and we stood our ground to protect the environment.

​A Career of Service

​Under the guidance of Shashikala Kakodkar, Ravi rose through every rank of our democracy:

• ​Local Governance: From Corporator to President of the Ponda Municipal Council.
• ​State & National Leadership: Serving as MLA, MP, and eventually Chief Minister.
• ​Personal Pride: It was a full-circle moment for me when I began working in the Information and Publicity Department while he served as the Information Minister.

​The "Kamal Haasan" Bond

​What I will miss most is his wit. Because of my curly hair, Ravi always insisted I resembled the actor Kamal Haasan. It became our "thing."

​Even four days before his death, when I met him at the Secretariat, he didn't want to talk about heavy politics. Instead, he started making fun of me with that familiar twinkle in his eye, reminding me once again that I was his "Kamal Haasan."

​Ravi Naik was a leader of the Bahujan Samaj, but to those of us who knew him from the start, he was a loyal friend who never forgot where he came from.