On the full moon day of the seventh month Ashwin of the lunar calendar, of 2022, one of my most beloved friends from the last three decades, Anant alias Sandesh Salkar passed away, after struggling dreadfully with death for almost a week.
Working for the period of 28 years in the vernacular press in Goa, as the Bureau Chief, the Associate Editor and the Editor after completing his higher education with the flying colours. Instead of serving in the government or in the educational institutions, he preferred to work as a journalist not randomly, but by his own choice. Wherever he worked, he made it a point to dedicate himself for the chosen path with an intense degree of devotion.
Though he secured the first rank in the roll of honour in the merit list of Goa Board of Higher secondary education exam and graduating successfully, he began his career as a full time journalist and a prolific writer. His essays, poems, editorials have always been thought provoking.
Through his writings, he won the appreciation of readers and gave them the exact picture of the situation without taking side of any parties or the cult in the most cultural ways. As a journalist, he always remained neutral and refrain himself from taking the political favour for achieving honour, amassing money or securing any selfish goal that will always hold his name high in the arena of journalism of Goa.
He was a voracious reader of varied books that helped him to master the art of writing in Marathi, Konkani and English. Though a talented poet, essayist, he rarely came forward to participate in the literary festivals and seminars or published any book, however continuously began to work zealously as the journalist of the highest calibre and integrity, with the emphasis on the humanitarian principles and values.
Born in the landlord family of bygone days, he never put claims for inheriting the property of the forefathers, but was determined to earn for the family on his own talents and skills.
He has acclaimed name and fame in the field of translation. The well known fashion and lifestyle journalist Ethel D'Costa's poetry collection was translated from English into Marathi, which won a lot of appreciation for him from the readers. He had achieved mastery in translating the articles from English to Marathi and Konkani and vice versa. As the Bureau Chief or the Editor of the newspapers, he had taken utmost care to provide the forum for the activists to express their views and opinions efficiently and thus helped in protecting the environment, wildlife and ecology.
He possessed immense potentiality as the journalist to enhance the values and credentiality of the news items that were published in the newspaper where he was working. He wrote thousands of articles and editorials highlighting the pains and sufferings of downtrodden people and helped them to get justice in various matters.
From the days of college, he was fondly involved in reading varied forms of literature that helped him to shape the personality as the writer and efficient journalist. With the untimely demise of Anant Salkar, a big void has been created in the field of Goa's journalism. His life and work will remain as the torch light for the youth who want to establish their career in the journalism of Goa for the years to come.
He remained always against nepotism and corruption, and was living happy family life with the wife Arundhati and the sole and multi-faceted daughter Mekhala in a small ancestral house in the mining-affected Pilgao village of Bicholim.
After his death, the bereaved family of Anant Salkar, who was known fondly among the villagers as Babush might not be having big bank balance or the fixed deposits, but the wealth of ignited minds having immense love and gratitude for his personality, work and career will cherish his memory for the long period. A disciplined and man of the principles, is no more but the brave decision of the family of donating his body to the Goa Medical College, has made him eternal by remaining the most faithful to his name Anant that denotes,
A- Agile,
N- Nationalist,
A- Active,
N- New ideas and
T- Trusted companion.
His daughter Mekhala, even after securing more than 97 percent marks at the SSC exam, joined the Arts stream and after obtaining the distinction in M.A. (Part -1) in English at Goa University, will certainly fulfill the dream of achieving the honour of the Ph.D. His wife Arundhati, working as the Manager of Ideal High school, Pilgao will not give away the mission launched by her husband for giving the quality education for the rural children in the mining affected village. The death is certain and sure for all living beings, however, when it appears untimely, it result in enhancing the pain and agony. Working persistently for the noble cause and mission launched by the departed soul, we can console ourselves.
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