PANAJI: Four days before his sudden demise, veteran actor Nana Patekar, while speaking at an event in Goa on Sunday, recalled his close friendship with former defence minister and Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar and paid tribute to the late politician’s humility.In probably what could be Patekar’s last public speech before his demise, he described Parrikar as a friend he was proud to have had and that he was someone that he looked up to.“Manohar Parrikar has been my friend. One should be proud of such a friend,” Patekar said.“He was a close friend and younger than me in age. But it is our good fortune that such a person was born among us, as he saw such things that he felt moved to do them. In such a small life, he did so many great things with humility,” Patekar said.Parrikar last served as Goa’s chief minister. He died in Goa on March 17, 2019, at the age of 63 after battling cancer. During his final months, Parrikar continued to attend official engagements despite his deteriorating health.Patekar highlighted Parrikar’s determination to continue discharging his official responsibilities while battling cancer. Praising his resolve, Patekar recalled how Parrikar was working with an “oxygen cylinder attached to him.”Patekar’s remarks offered a personal perspective on Parrikar beyond his political career, focusing on the former chief minister’s qualities as a friend among those who knew him personally.
