Panaji: On Monday, Condolences are pouring in from across the length and breadth of the country for Goa Chief Minister and former Union Minister for Defence Manohar Parrikar who passed away earlier today. A charismatic leader who changed the face of Goan politics, Parrikar enjoyed widespread support of Goans from all walks of life and was often regarded as the "CM of Commons". What most people do not know is that Parrikar was the first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) alumnus to occupy the office of a Chief Minister (CM) and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA). In fact, his alma mater IIT-Bombay conferred upon him the Distinguished Alumnus award.

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Here it is to be noted that Parrikar addressed the 55th convocation of IIT-Bombay in 2017 where he told graduates of the premier institute to take up jobs in development and social streams. An eyewitness who was present during his address at the time had told media outlets that the former Defence Minister also asked students to join politics and the Indian security forces.

Read the statement "Why can't IIT graduates, who have had the best engineering education in the country, take up academics and run some of these colleges, and transform their quality?" Parrikar had then said according to Business Standard. Reports had also suggested that the four-time Chief Minister played a massive role in the establishment of IIT in Farmagudi, Goa. IIT-Bombay released a statement saying that the demise of Manohar Parrikar came as a shock to the institute. "The institute condoles his demise,".

Parrikar was known for his effective decision-making skills and perfectionist approach to operations. However, his last budget speech delivered on January 30 of this year saddened many who were used to seeing him as an energetic statesman with zero tolerance for incompetence.

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