The Encounter

Dr. Wilfred De Souza 

A Jorney With An Exceptional Leader of Goa

Dr. Wilfred Anthony De Souza (1927) has been a prominent and exceptional politician of Goa. His political career has spanned over a period of forty years in which he has been the Chief Minister of Goa three times and for most of his political career, he has held a variety of ministerial portfolios. Dr. Willy, as he is popularly known, is a household name in Goa and in the Goan Diaspora. As a B.C. Roy Awardee, the highest honour for Medicine and Statesmanship in India, he has singlehandedly, dominated the political establishment for half a century since the Liberation of Goa from the Portuguese rule.

The protagonist plays a double role: privately, as a family man with a medical profession and publicly, as a volatile and robust politician. Being a highly respected surgeon and an equally controversial politician, his life is packed with incidents and episodes which are tied up with the real life and political existence of the people of Goa. His actions of political upheavals, toppling and reinstating governments, liaison and partnership with the top leaders, Presidents, Governors, Chief Ministers, International Leaders, Diplomats, Bureaucrats and businessmen, are irresistible. He played a singular role in achieving Statehood for Goa and making Konkani its official language. At 84, he is still very active and is an undiminished political force in the State.

The work has been fashioned to read like a novel, shorn of all the pretences of a biography. It is a dialogue.It is fully authentic. The dialogue is based on the actual conversation the author had with his central character.

Each chapter is ensconced – in the beginning and at the end – in a thought provoking social and political environment. It provides the right atmosphere for debate by the intelligentsia.

Wilfred De Souza’s life may be described as colourful and controversial. But even his worst detractors vouch for him being a clean and honest politician of Goa. His life can have lessons for individuals as well as organizations.