Waman Radhakrishna passes away

Sandesh Prabhudesai
12 November 2001  

Waman Radhakrishna, 71, a veteran freedom fighter and journalist, expired today at his residence here.

Wamanbab, as he was popularly known throughout Goa, had actively participated in Goa's liberation movement. Born in Vengurla village of neighbouring Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra on 6 May 1931, he was arrested at the age of 24 years for participating in Satyagraha on 26 January 1955 and imprisoned for four years.

Leaving his post-graduate studies after BA to participate in the liberation movement, he was publishing regular bulletins against the Portuguese rulers while inspiring the youth to participate in the movement.

After Goa was liberated in 1961, he joined 'Gomantak', Goa's leading Marathi daily and retired as an associate editor. Rather than sitting in the office and producing desk stories, Wamanbab preferred actual field work.

His contribution to Goa's investigative journalism has helped the Goan society to prosper immensely as he always went to remotest parts of the state and brought to light the miserable living conditions of the downtrodden there while highlighting poor infrastructural conditions compared to cities.

Though he never participated in active politics, Wamanbab was one of the close confidants of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, which ruled Goa for 17 years from 1963. However, being a hard-core socialist, he never believed in following the party line blindly but was also a strong critic of the ruling party's wrong actions.

His books on the political history of post-liberation Goa as well as critical analysis of the MGP have remained as Bible of political journalists in the state. He was also a literateur, bagging several prestigious awards for his novels.

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