Born

December 13, 1955, in Mapusa, Goa

Died

March 17, 2019

Affiliation

RSS mukhya shikshak, sanghchalak and swayamsevak; a key organiser of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement; BJP politician

Posts

Chief Minister of Goa: October 24, 2000-February 27, 2005, 2012-2014, 14 March 2017-March 17, 2019

Defence Minister of India: 2014-2017

Parrikar proposed the name of Narendra Modi as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate before the 2013 party’s parliamentary elections convention in Goa

Other aspects of career

Elected as BJP MLA in the Goa Assembly of Goa, 1994

Temporary setback: In 2007, the BJP under his leadership was defeated in the Goa election by the Congress led by Digambar Kamat

Victorious again: The BJP won 24 seats against the Congress’s nine in the Assembly

Dual victory: In the 2014 general election, BJP won both the Lok Sabha seats in Goa

To facilitate status of Union minister, elected for Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh

Ailment

Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on October 27, 2018

School

Loyola High School, Margao; completed secondary education in Marathi

Higher education

The 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 ministry

•    Initiated investigation into AugustaWestland VVIP chopper scam

Acts Opposition did not like

1.    In 2001, turning 51 government primary schools to RSS-affiliated Vidya Bharati

2.    Approving an ‘excursion’ for six MLAs, including three ministers, to 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil that cost the state exchequer Rs 89 lakh

3.    “If anyone speaks like this (like Kiran Rao, as alleged by her husband Aamir Khan), he has to be taught a lesson of his life”

4.    “Going to Pakistan is the same thing as going to hell”

5.    Questioning India’s nuclear doctrine of “no first use” 

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