->Ohwaitamin at 21:54, 19 November 2021

2021-11-19T21:54:14Z

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{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = José Matanhy de Saldanha
| birth_date = {{birth date|1948|10|24|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Carmona, Goa
| death_date = {{death date and age|2012|03|21|1948|10|24|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Campal]], [[Goa]]
| occupation = Teacher, social activist, politician
|spouse = [[Alina Saldanha]]
}}

'''José Matanhy de Saldanha''' ([[Konkani]]: Juze Matani de Saldanea, जुझे मातानी द सालदाञ; 24 October 1948 – 21 March 2012) was a [[Goa]]n social activist and school teacher, who campaigned for Goan identity, values, and culture. He was also a journalist, a member of the [[Goa Legislative Assembly]] and a Cabinet Minister in the [[Government of Goa]] with portfolios of Tourism as well as Science and Environment.<ref>{{cite news |title=Goa's new Tourism Minister dies after heart attack |date=21 March 2012 |publisher=NDTV |url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/goas-new-tourism-minister-dies-after-heart-attack-472624}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Matanhy was born on 24 October 1948, to Jacinto de Saldanha and Maria Alacoque Viegas in Carmona, Goa.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shri. Matanhy Saldanha |publisher=Goa Legislative Assembly |url=http://goaassembly.gov.in/member.php?id=81&flag=MLA&aid=7}}</ref> 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]].

Matanhy had a degrees in Science and Education.<ref>{{cite news |title=Matanhy set to battle for S Goa seat |date=20 April 2009 |newspaper=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Matanhy-set-to-battle-for-S-Goa-seat/articleshow/4421987.cms}}</ref> He also obtained a master's degree in Arts (Political Science) from the Bombay University (now, [[University of Mumbai]]) in 1988.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lok Sabha 2009: Matanhy Saldanha |publisher=National Election Watch |url=http://myneta.info/ls2009/candidate.php?candidate_id=3215}}</ref>

==Social activism==
Besides being a teacher at the Don Bosco High School in [[Panjim]] from around June 1974/5 to October 2008, Matanhy also took up the causes of the poor and downtrodden.<ref name="targetgoa birthday">{{cite news |author=Prajal Sakhardande |title=Today is Matanhy's birthday..... |date=24 October 2014 |publisher=targetgoa.com |url=http://www.targetgoa.com/PRAJAL-SAKHARDANDE/Today-is-Matanhy-s-birthday/1614 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In the 1970s, Matanhy campaigned for the ''Ramponnkars'',<ref name="targetgoa birthday"/> (traditional fisherman of [[Goa]]) 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]], near Velsao. The pollution was killing fish, the staple food of Goans. This was free India's first industrial pollution protest. It led to a central act regulating pollution.<ref name="targetgoa mourns">{{cite news |author=Roland Martins |title=GOACAN mourns the death of Mathany Saldanha |date=23 March 2012 |publisher=targetgoa.com |url=http://www.targetgoa.com/goabuzzdet.php?bzid=3578&&id=3 |access-date=25 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924113232/http://www.targetgoa.com/goabuzzdet.php?bzid=3578&&id=3 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the late 1970s, with Urbano Lobo and others, he campaigned against the destruction, for mining, of the [[sand dunes]] on the beaches of Goa.<ref name="targetgoa mourns"/> Matanhy was also associated with the Konkani Language Movement in Goa. He was himself a member of the konkani Bhasha Mandal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Matanhy Saldhana expired after massive heart attack |date=21 March 2012 |publisher=goanews |url=http://www.goanews.com/news_disp.php?newsid=1987}}</ref>

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]] re-alignment issue<ref>{{cite web |title=Is it on the right track? |publisher=DownToEarth |url=http://www.downtoearth.org.in/indepth/is-it-on-the-right-track-30296}}</ref> and the anti-[[Special Economic Zone]] agitation. He was the convenor of the anti-SEZ group, called the "Goa's Movement Against Special Economic Zones (GMAS)".<ref>{{cite news |date=24 December 2007 |title=Anti-SEZ agitators warn tourists in Goa |author=Prakash Kamat |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/antisez-agitators-warn-tourists-in-goa/article1973782.ece}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Matanhy doubts Centre's SEZ intentions |date=15 August 2010 |newspaper=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Matanhy-doubts-Centres-SEZ-intentions/articleshow/6313582.cms}}</ref>

Saldanha was an active participant of the [[Goa Special Status]] movement and believed that Special Status to Goa was needed in order to preserve the state's unique culture and identity.<ref>{{cite news |title=Goa was deceived on special status: Matanhy |date=16 December 2011 |newspaper=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Goa-was-deceived-on-special-status-Matanhy/articleshow/11125744.cms}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Give special status for Goa: Matanhy |date=29 August 2008 |newspaper=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Give-special-status-for-Goa-Matanhy/articleshow/3420099.cms}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Matanhy criticises Cong over special status |date=17 April 2009 |newspaper=Herald Goa |url=http://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/The-Sunday-Roundtable/matanhy-criticises-cong-over-special-status/26393.html}}</ref>

==Political career==
In the late 1970s, Matanhy established the "Gomantak Lok Poxx" party.<ref>{{cite news |date=26 March 2012 |title=The Matanhy Saldanha I Knew |author=Lionel Messias |newspaper=Outlook India |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/the-matanhy-saldanha-i-knew/280358}}</ref>

In the 2000, Matanhy was elected to the [[South Goa]] Zilla Panchayat. In 2002, he was elected as a member of the legislative assembly from Cortalim constituency<ref>{{cite web |title=Goa Assembly Election Results in 2002 |publisher=elections.in |url=http://www.elections.in/goa/assembly-constituencies/2002-election-results.html}}</ref> as a candidate of the [[United Goans Democratic Party]] (UGDP).<ref>{{cite news |title=Mathany, the principled social activist |date=21 March 2012 |author=Miguel Braganza |url=http://www.targetgoa.com/goabuzzdet.php?bzid=3562&&id=3 |access-date=25 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924113230/http://www.targetgoa.com/goabuzzdet.php?bzid=3562&&id=3 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2004, he was inducted in the Cabinet of the [[Government of Goa]] headed by then [[Chief Minister of Goa]], [[Manohar Parrikar]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Minor changes in Goa Cabinet |date=15 June 2004 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/06/15/stories/2004061502601300.htm}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He was given the portfolios of Tourism as well as Sports and Youth Affairs.<ref>{{cite news |title=Minister to streamline Tourism Department |date=14 July 2004 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/07/14/stories/2004071403010300.htm}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In February 2005, then [[Governor of Goa]] [[S. C. Jamir]] dismissed the [[Manohar Parrikar]]-led government after high allegations in the state legislature.<ref name="Frontline Goan drama">{{cite news |title=Goan drama |author=Anil Sastry |date=12–25 February 2005 |work=Frontline |url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2204/stories/20050225005112100.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Parrikar govt dismissed in Goa |author=Sandesh Prabhudesai |date=2 February 2005 |publisher=rediff.com |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/02goa3.htm}}</ref> The [[United Goans Democratic Party]] (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.<ref name="Frontline Goan drama"/> After Parrikar's dismissal, [[Pratapsingh Rane]] of the [[Indian National Congress]] 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]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Another MLA disqualified in Goa |date=10 August 2005 |newspaper=Deccan Herald |url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/aug102005/national14242200589.asp}}</ref> However, the Goa Bench of the [[Bombay High Court]] set aside Matanhy's disqualification in 2011.{{Verification needed|date=August 2021}}

Matanhy unsuccessfully contested the elections to the [[15th Lok Sabha]] from the [[South Goa (Lok Sabha constituency)]] as a candidate of the [[United Goans Democratic Party]] (UGDP).<ref>{{cite web |title=South Goa Election Results |publisher=elections.in |url=http://www.elections.in/results/south-goa-ga.html}}</ref>

In January 2012, Matanhy quit the [[United Goans Democratic Party]] (UGDP) due to UGDP forming an alliance with the Goa Vikas Party.<ref>{{cite news |date=11 January 2012 |title=GVP-UGDP: Advantage BJP |publisher=goanews |url=http://www.goanews.com/blogs_disp.php?bpid=293}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Matanhy quits UGDP over Cortalim; to join BJP? |date=12 January 2012 |publisher=goanews |url=http://www.goanews.com/news_disp.php?newsid=1834}}</ref> He later joined the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Matanhy Saldanha joins BJP |date=14 January 2012 |newspaper=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/matanhy-saldanha-joins-bjp/article2800664.ece}}</ref> and contested as a BJP candidate from the Cortalim constituency in the [[2012 Goa Legislative Assembly election]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Goa Assembly Election Results in 2012 |publisher=elections.in |url=http://www.elections.in/goa/assembly-constituencies/2012-election-results.html}}</ref>

After the BJP gained majority in the [[2012 Goa Legislative Assembly election]], [[Manohar Parrikar]] was sworn in as the [[Chief Minister of Goa]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Goa: Manohar Parrikar sworn in as Chief Minister |date=9 March 2012 |publisher=NDTV |url=http://www.ndtv.com/assembly/goa-manohar-parrikar-sworn-in-as-chief-minister-470837}}</ref> He inducted Matanhy Saldanha in his Cabinet.<ref>{{cite news |title=Manohar Parrikar sworn in as Goa CM |date=9 March 2012 |newspaper=dna India |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-manohar-parrikar-sworn-in-as-goa-cm-1660265}}</ref> Saldanha was allotted the portfolios of Tourism as well as Science and Environment.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

After Matanhy died in harness, his widow Alina Saldanha contested bye-elections from the Cortalim constituency as a BJP candidate and was elected unopposed to the Goa State Legislature.<ref>{{cite news |title= Alina to be a minister within a fortnight: CM |date=21 May 2012 |publisher=goanews |url=http://www.goanews.com/news_disp.php?newsid=2189}}</ref> She was later sworn in as a Cabinet Minister in the Parrikar government.<ref>{{cite news |date=9 June 2012 |title=Alina Saldanha sworn in as Cabinet Minister |newspaper=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/alina-saldanha-sworn-in-as-cabinet-minister/article3507878.ece}}</ref> Alina Saldanha holds the portfolios of Museums, Environment and Forests.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Minister: Smt. Alina Saldanha |publisher=Goa Vidhansabha |url=http://www.goavidhansabha.gov.in/member.php?id=159&flag=CM}}</ref>

==Death and burial==
After attending the ''[[shigmo|xigmo]]'' (spring festival) in [[Canacona]] the previous night, Matanhy suffered a massive heart attack in the early hours of 21 March 2012, and died at 3 am in [[Campal]], [[Goa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navhindtimes.in/content/tourism-environment-and-forest-minister-matanhy-saldhana-breathes-his-last-early-wednesday-m |title=Tourism, Environment and Forest Minister Matanhy Saldhana breathes his last on early Wednesday morning after suffering a massive Heart Attack | iGoa |publisher=Navhindtimes.in |accessdate=2012-03-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424004924/http://www.navhindtimes.in/content/tourism-environment-and-forest-minister-matanhy-saldhana-breathes-his-last-early-wednesday-m |archivedate=24 April 2012 }}</ref> He was buried at the cemetery of the Catholic Church of [[Thomas the Apostle|Saint Thomas]], in his native village of [[Cansaulim]], in the evening of 24 March 2012. His funeral mass was led by the [[Patriarch of the East Indies|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.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

==Legacy==
A statue of Matanhy Saldanha was inaugurated by the then [[Chief Minister of Goa]], [[Manohar Parrikar]] at Cansaulim on 24 October 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Matanhy Saldanha stands tall at Cansaulim |date=25 October 2014 |newspaper=Herald Goa |url=http://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Matanhy-Saldanha-stands-tall-at-Cansaulim/80154.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Matanhy Saldanha stands tall at Cansaulim |date=25 October 2014 |publisher=GOACOM |url=http://www.goacom.com/goa-news-highlights/23140-matanhy-saldanha-stands-tall-at-cansaulim |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726002926/http://www.goacom.com/goa-news-highlights/23140-matanhy-saldanha-stands-tall-at-cansaulim |archivedate=26 July 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The [[South Goa]] District Collectorate Building in [[Fatorda]], [[Margao]] was named in honour of Matanhy as the "Matanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex".<ref>{{cite news |title=South Goa collectorate named after Matanhy |date=31 May 2013 |newspaper=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/South-Goa-collectorate-named-after-Matanhy/articleshow/20358438.cms}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=South collectorate named after Matanhy Saldanha |date=31 May 2013 |newspaper=Herald Goa |url=http://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/The-Sunday-Roundtable/south-collectorate-named-after-matanhy-saldanha/51889.html}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saldanha, Jose Matanhy}}
[[Category:Activists from Goa]]
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:Members of the Goa Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Goa]]
[[Category:People from North Goa district]]
[[Category:United Goans Democratic Party politicians]]

José Matanhy de Saldanha - Revision history

->Ohwaitamin at 21:54, 19 November 2021