( National Students Union of India ) Goa- State President. Sanjay R.S.
Like his father, Sanjay Roque Santan started his public life
at an early age while in high school by participate in the 1979, 50% concession
struggle of Goan students, Public transport on strike he is known to
have walked the whole distance from Velim to Panjim to participate in the
struggle. He was the front leader in the HSSC marks scandal which rocked the
Government of Goa in the early 80’s. Together they won free education for all
in Goa up to degree level. People close to
Sanjay say that he has worked closely with AICC(I) leaders namely Ramesh
Chennithala of Kerala, Mukul Wasnik, Farid Arrifudin, Manish Tewari and Oscar
Fernades for Congress President Rajiv Gandhi, He was Goan student
representative to Bombay University student council in 1985. He was appointed
as State president in 1988(1988-1995). As the State President of National
Students Union of India(NSUI), frontal organization and the student wing of the
Congress party, under his leadership Goa- NSUI won several University students
councils for the Congress party. Names of his office bearers from the Congress
house, Panjim files are Vice-President Daniel Britto, Sandesh Padiyar, Orlando
Menezes, General Secretaries , Uttam Raut Dessai, Chitra Shriwaikar, Clemente Desouza, Treasurer Agnelo Fernandes,
South Goa District President Amresh Ramesh Naik, Joint secretaries, Merwyn
Fernandes, Amul Dessai, Legal cell, Eddison D’Cruz. Medical Cell Zelio Dmel
Sanjay is known by his associates for his aggressive work
ethics, basically warrier at the core, after the 1989 All India Congress, AICC(I)
session in New Delhi he got into open confrontation with the Goa Pradesh
Congress Committee, GPCC(I) top brass for not implementation the party aims and
objectives of grass root level party building putting up a bold face that
nobody was spared. As the member of the
Congress Pradesh candidate selection committee for All India General election
of 1989 and 1991 a state apex body for the selection of wining candidates for the
Congress party he stood for Rajiv Gandhi’s intention to deny part tickets for
economic offenders. In1989 Sanjay was under age to contest Assembly Elections. All
his state office bearers say Sanjay had
a clear vision, wanted to eradicate corrupt elements within the party and was
campaigning for a law to keep economic offenders and criminal convicts out of the
Democratic process. He wanted to review all Goan land sale transaction and
suspicious power of attorney under Congress rule in Goa in the interest of public. We here in Panjim are waiting for his reaction to
Lokpal law. Having seen his classmates suffered and his academic life disturbed
by ‘always absent teacher’ who was a politician he also wanted teachers out of
active politics.
Sanjay was the Chairman, All Goa Anti-Smoking and Anti-Drugs
Campaign and submitted recommendations to Goa Government to end smoking and
drugs in and around college campuses. He
was part of the NSUI delegation to the
1989 International Youth Conference held in Korea, 1991 he was part of 11 member South Asian United Nation delegation to Manila, Philippines to study urban and rural poverty. In 1993 he
submitted case studies to United nations
with regards to Safat, Kuwait, Dubai and Manama, Bahrain labour conditions to press for minimum wage and dignity of
domestic/commercial labour in oil rich
countries. In 1994 he was part of a 6 member Capitalist Economics Forum to
study Presidential form of Democracy in Washington DC, USA and Parliamentary form of Democracy in London, UK.
At a press briefing in Panjim on 22-23st May 1991
following the tragic assassination of AICC(I) President Rajiv Gandhi at the
hands of LTTE, himself physically shaken and choked he expressed shock and sorrow at the life cut
short of a leader who had all good intentions for the people of India, there on
in the absence of genuine leadership Sanjay is said to have found himself in a
vacuum, his work grind to a halt. Despite several requests from his side of
stepping down he was told to continue and tried to work under the leadership of
Narasimha Rao AICC(I) President and Prime Minister. In 1991 he lead the Goa NSUI delegation demanding to erect a life size statue of Rajiv Gandhi in the Goa Medical College
Complex, Bambolim, Goa. A copy of a resignation
letter from Congress house Panjim, NSUI files, dated 21st Dec 1995 addressed
to All India NSUI President, Salem Ahmed the whole state committee signed and
resigned ‘to make way for the new committee’ , some time there after he left
this country and is heard to have settled in USA, is married and has a son. Sanjay’s
well wishers are waiting for his return to Goa the place he and his family loves.
Descending from the ancient royal family which ruled south Indian mainlands for over a thousand years, Sanjay’s family still occupies and live in one of
their royal premises by the beautiful foothills and in the grandeur of the 12th century
Kadamba Jayakeshi I Southern Capital site Velliapura in present day Velim,
South Goa and according to the Kadamba Coterie resource he is the 42nd successor to the founder of reign of Hangal.
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…ref:/ Kadambas the royals of South India, Our proud
heritage. The secrets of Velim.
Kd/PhD.pap.
…:-mater permitted by the original research author for research purpose.